Chapter 20
~ XIX ~
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A/N: It is an AU of my own AU of pre-Thor. You can check chapter 11 again or it can be read as a separate story. Please enjoy!
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Thor sought Loki out who avoided everyone. Loki stayed by himself, reading, mastering magic, talking to a circle of serious people. Loki completely avoided Thor and his bunch of friends.
At first Thor thought it good. But soon he realized how he actually missed Loki very much. Loki, his quiet serene presence beside, his quick mind, his jokes, his wit. As time went, Thor felt his life lacked something entirely important. His brother.
But Loki seemed to not mind his own being in the shadows. He greeted Thor as always, like nothing changed. But it did. Loki cut himself from Thor, purposefully. And Thor didn't know why.
Loki left Thor to learn ruling without him, preferring to visit other realms and stay there for a long time.
The Avengers. Thor, waiting for something.
Or to be more precise, someone. Loki had to come back today from Alfheim.
Thor rushed to Bifrost as if burned. The others followed him confused.
Sif didn't like Loki's unconscious hold on Thor, but she knew not how to change it.
'Brother! It's so good to see you!'
Loki let Thor hug himself, only patting the wide shoulder once in greeting.
'Thor.'
'I've missed you, Loki. Would you like to dine with me? There are some new faces I want you to meet and-'
'Unfortunately, I have to report to father about my trip. It... could take some time. So... Go without me, Thor. I won't be missed I'm sure.'
'You will! I haven't seen you for so long-'
'Sorry. Let's go back to the palace. You could tell me what you were up to. My tales are not so exciting, I know.'
'I will hear them!'
A chuckle. 'Another time. So, shall we?'
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It started way back. Thor's friends wanted to play a cruel joke on still young Loki, but he overheard their plan. It seemed Thor was all in, even if he simply got persuaded into hurting Loki. They wanted to leave him in the forest alone and lie to the grown ups until morning. It would teach Loki not to laugh at them when they failed at stupid lessons. Weapons were much too interesting to stupid books anyway!
Loki, after being neglected for days by his parents when he fell ill took it too close to his heart, but the realization stayed with him for years.
He could no longer trust Thor, nor other Aesir not to hurt him. They were so eager to push him to the void, Thor knowing he feared the great heights. Since that day Loki has stopped trusting his brother. He knew it was just a child's mean joke meant to be soon forgotten.
But the child never forgot.
So Loki made a distance between himself and Thor, dismissing and ignoring Sif and the Warriors Three altogether, like they never existed.
And they didn't, in Loki's mind. Why dirty his day seeing them? Thor was the perfect candidate for their foolish endeavors.
Only Thor wasn't prepared to gain friends but lose a brother, his BEST friend in the world.
But Loki made a decision. He was no longer a naive trusting child. Thor could have Odin and Frigga, and Sif and all of Asgard at his feet.
But at least he wouldn't have him.