Fjölkyngi
Thor's Perspective
The halls seemed to stretch on forever. My steps echoed, ricocheting off of the walls as I hurried down the endless corridors. My eyes scanned the world around me as I searched for something I could not find. My brother had been busy as of late, and of course, I was in need of his attention. Yes, we had our differences. He enjoyed the bickering, or at least I assumed he did. He often started fights just for the sake of it, but I suppose I was equally at fault for keeping the arguments going when I could have walked away. Still, I wanted to see him. I had learned shocking information that I wished to clarify.
I found him reading in the library. Why I did not think to look there first eluded me, but he was there. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, spine straight, posture perfect. In the back of my mind, I could hear our father scolding us about our table manners. I stood there for a moment, but if he noticed me he said nothing. He, instead, continued to read his book.
"You are learning magic with mother?" The words tumbled out of my mouth stupidly before I was able to shut myself up. It was the sudden volume that caught Loki's attention. He said nothing as our eyes locked. The world closed in around us, leaving us struggling to find purchase lest we fall into the abyss beneath. He had been busy, but I was too stubborn to admit to him that I missed his company. Slowly, he glanced back down at the page he was on. A sigh escaped his lips as he closed the book, setting it aside with a carefulness that left my head spinning violently.
"What does it matter?" His response was curt, and part of me was unsure what to say in reply. He turned his attention to me when I did not speak, arching an eyebrow as he stared at me. His expression softened. "I never took you as one that was interested in such things."
"I do not understand it," I explained, shrugging my shoulders. Loki hummed softly in thought, and a small smile spread across his lips.
"Yes, you wouldn't, would you?" He was baiting me, but I didn't care. It wasn't that I was stupid enough to be lured in, but his tone begged me to bite down on his hook. I did because it meant that he would speak to me, even if it was only to fuel his ego.
"...You do though, and it is amazing," I answered simply. That was a reply Loki did not expect. I could tell by the way his eyes widened, and his eyebrows rose. He was silent, and I knew that he was struggling to fully process what had been said.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said you understand it, and that alone is amazing enough."
"You think it is..."
"Yes, I do. How is it? Studying with mother...? I have heard about the magicks in stories, but I wish to witness what you can do, brother. If able, of course. Perhaps there are rules to this sort of thing that I am...unaware of?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Loki responded before waving a hand dismissively, "Well, actually, yes. There are rules, but nothing about this particular matter. Why are you interested in this all of a sudden? Surely you did not just find out."
"I did."
"Did you? I never tried to keep it a secret. Were you not even remotely curious as to where I disappeared off to?"
"I was, but I figured you would not say," I explained softly. Loki did not answer immediately. He seemed to be thinking about what I had said, his brows furrowed and leaving lines creasing his forehead. He eyed the book that rested on the table before his eyes met mine again.
"I suppose that was not far from the truth. There is a good chance I would have told you that it did not concern you."
"Yes, I'm sure of that. You are Loki, and that is a very Loki thing to do," I stated, matter-of-factly. He eyed me with an incredulous expression, but he said nothing. I beamed, a wide grin spreading across my lips. "Do enlighten me."
"I doubt I should. Your brain would most likely melt, and what a mess that would be to clean up..."
"Loki," I warned, eyes narrowing slightly. He glanced my way before a sigh escaped his lips.
"Alright. Alright. You truly wish to see what I can do?"
"Yes. I have said so."
"...yes, but you may find it not nearly as impressive as you had initially hoped. My magic is...one of subtlety."
"You? Subtle? That is a new one, yes."
"...you big oaf. It is about the cunning, not the...oh, nevermind. I am wasting words on you."
"Brother, I kid. Show me. I am sure I will be far more impressed than you assume," I persuaded. He huffed, but I could see the last of his reserve slipping from him. I meant what I said. Loki was a showy creature. He lived to impress and amaze. It was he that made me confident in my own strengths, bolstering my ego. Perhaps he saw me as the dog under, but I did not care. I knew that he and I were different, but I knew that we both had things we excelled at.
He saw this, despite viewing me as inferior, and he showed me my own light when I was overwhelmed by our father's.
"...I will show you."
Those four words meant everything to me. My brother had never been one to show vulnerability or open up in ways he could avoid. It was at that moment, hidden in the tone of his voice, that I realized how important these magic lessons were to him, how afraid he was to mess up in front of me, and how he was trusting me to bolster him.
I would.
Forever.
He showed to me, then, his magic. His facial features softened, lips thickened. His hair grew, coming to rest around his hips, still consisting of raven black waves. His eyes remained a shocking emerald, staring into my own. Curves appeared where there had been none prior, and my gaze fell to rest on his chest. I saw the faint outline of breasts underneath his thin clothing.
I took him in, breathless. My stare locked with his.
Without meaning to, I told him I thought he was beautiful.