One
Thor was the first to reach the Jewel of Time. He closed the stone in his hands. The stone was hot and vibrant. He could feel the alien power spreading through his skin as if penetrating his flesh and running through his veins.
He didn’t know how it worked or what he should do. Then he just pressed the stone into his hands with all his might, and he wished. He wished with every particle of his being. He wanted to go back to some point in the past when Loki still alive.
Thor sees his companions approaching him. They were amazed and cautious. Stark, the good Captain, Lady Natasha, and Banner right behind. All asked what he intends, what he will do, and beg caution. Everything about the Infinity Stones was unpredictable, so they had to calculate, think, and plan. They had to bring everyone back.
Too late. When Thor finally has the stone in his hand, he only wants one thing: his brother back.
Thor didn’t have time to feel guilty. No one would have to die if his plan worked well. All souls lost during the Infinity War will be restored.
The energy flows through him, and the Stormbreaker awakened. They are one now: Thor, the jewel, and the hammer. Stormbreaker opens Bifrost, but there is something different now. The jewel is controlling the hammer and the portal.
Suddenly everything is dark around him.
Stormbreaker disappeared. The jewel still shines in the shell of his hand. He doesn’t hear any sound. It's cold. He is plunged into emptiness, and into darkness. Miles and miles of absolutely nothing in sight.
He's alone.
Did he do something wrong? Did Time Stone's power be too much for him to endure and he died? Is this the ultimate Ragnarok and its punishment is to be stuck in emptiness for eternity... alone?
Thor thinks of Loki again. And your heart fails a beat by remembering all that they have suffered and all that they have lost. All that he lost.
If he could not have at least his brother by his side, Thor wished fate would grant him the same end as his parents, his people, his friends. Loki.
If there is a Reborn of the Gods, and all of them rise again in a new age, will Loki return with him? Is your brother there?
Loki is, he was a Jotun. Can a Jotun share the same fate as an Aesir?
"No resurrections this time."
No. Jotuns do not come back to life after Ragnarok. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth of the Aesir is not the same for the Jotuns. Loki will not be back.
Inadmissible!
No. Thor cannot accept that. This cannot be final. It cannot be. He'll have his brother back. Fate has to allow that.
What is Thor without Loki? What is Loki without Thor? If there is not one, then there is not the other.
Thor cries out in pain. His throat hurts, but he does not care. Thor cries and his sob echoes in the silence.
"Please take me to my brother," he implores, incessantly.
Incessantly.
Incessantly.
He loses the notion of time.
He does not feel anything else.
The emerald light emanating from the jewel begins to envelop him again. Thor feels warm and comfortable.
The environment around you begins to illuminate and to gain color and form. Black turns to gold. The cold turns to heat. The nothing becomes a cool breeze. Silence is filled with distant voices and music, and sound so undeniably happy. Thor can hear the birdsong coming from outside the window.
He's sitting on a bed with a huge window to a beautiful sunny day. Time Stone is gone from his hands. He looks around and takes a moment to realize where he is. The place is familiar and strange at the same time. Thor has not been there for many years. He is now in his old room in the palace at Asgard.
It is Asgard that he sees through the window, imposing and golden in all its glory.
He feels the tears come back to his eyes. Is it real or is he dreaming?
"What are you doing, Thor? Your coronation is in an hour. Allfather will rip your head off if you're late."
Thor turned quickly to the voice that had just entered his room. It was Loki.
It's Loki.
A young and still innocent Loki. His face still had the delicate, and soft features of someone who has just emerged from youth. His hair was short and perfectly combed back. Its light and elegant ways. His smile easy and without rancor.
Loki was still saying something else, but Thor did not listen. Thor got up and approached Loki, pulling him into a tight hug. Thor needed to feel it, to make sure it was real. Thor hugged him so tightly he felt Loki gasp. He felt the heat of Loki, the smell of Loki. It really was him. Loki was alive!
Loki was slowly wrapping his arms around Thor.
Thor heard himself sobbing, he could not stop himself. He felt Loki's hands stroking his head.
"Shh... It's okay." Loki said in his soft, warm voice. Thor had almost forgotten this sweet and gentle side of Loki. "What is it, brother? Why all this commotion?"
"I missed you so much." That's all Thor can say, and he forces himself to free Loki.
"You saw me at dinner. Yesterday. Remember?"
"Yeah, I know. It seemed an eternity to me."
Loki looked suspiciously at him.
"I didn't know my absence was so felt," Loki said cautiously, putting some distance between them. Thor was so close. "Usually, you make it sound like it is the opposite."
"Forgive me if I have been negligent with you or if I have hurt you in any way. It was never my intention. I have been selfish and arrogant and immature. And I never realized how some things I said or did hurt you. You have every right to be angry with me, I understand."
Thor took a deep breath.
"I think you're amazing, Loki. I know I've always joked about you and your magic, but the truth is that I always admired you. His magical abilities, his intelligence, his cunning, his handling of words. I never said that, because I assumed that you knew. I always imagined that it would be the two of us against the world, side by side. I don't want our paths to separate, ever, because... I cannot imagine my life without you in it."
Loki is deeply touched by those words. He looks at Thor intensely, as if seeing him for the first time. Loki has bright eyes of affection, emotion, and gratitude. For the first time, Loki has no words. He walks away and sits down on Thor's bed. Loki looks at his brother again. Thor is standing in front of the window. The sunlight against him creates a golden contrast on his tanned skin and golden hair. Thor looks so radiant.
Thor approaches the bed and sits next to Loki.
"I'm still not ready to be king. I still have a lot to learn to take on such a responsibility. It takes more than strength and ability to hunt to govern. It's not just winning battles, let alone initiating them. It requires intelligence and cunning, diplomacy, and knowledge of the laws. You have these abilities. So if our father insists that I be king, I will insist that you stand by me. We will rule together. "
Loki feels a little dizzy. He never imagined Thor saying that.
"There cannot be two kings, Thor."
"Who said?"
"The law," Loki replied, smiling.
"When I am king, I will change this law. And you will reign with me."
"There is only one way for me to rule with you, Thor, I would have to be your queen."
"Royal Consort is a more appropriate title?"
Loki raised his eyebrows.
"You are crazy?" Loki did not know whether Thor was serious or whether he was trying to be ironic. Loki blushed a little, intrigued, realizing that Thor was really reflecting on it.
Thor is not surprised to realize that he was sincere. That shocked him a little. He never thought of Loki like that, did he? No doubt this explained a few things. Was he so desperate to have Loki by his side that he would be willing to do that?
Thor also realized how strange and absurd this statement seemed to Loki. Especially when this Loki still believed they were blood brothers.
"I'm just saying I'm going to find a way to run Asgard together. It's your right as much as mine." Thor finally said.
"I do not want the throne, to be your advisor would be a great honor. All I want to do is be recognized as your equal, Thor."
"And you go, brother, I promise." He shook Loki's hand warmly.
Thor got up and went to get his armor. The day of your coronation, again. He would have some words with Odin.
Thor was again euphoric to realize that he would probably find his mother in the great hall. Yes, this day will be wonderful!
After a few minutes struggling to put on his leather quota and tighten the straps that held the armor attached to his body, Thor asked Loki for help.
As Loki helped Thor put the rest of his armor on, he noticed Thor's constant gaze. This behavior intrigued him and made him feel very self-conscious. Loki felt vain about having his brother's attention to himself. But he suspected that would probably change as soon as Thor reached the Great Hall and was surrounded by admirers, beautiful women, and his noisy friends. However, Loki was also concerned about Thor.
Loki did not know what it was. Although Thor smiled all the time and looked with dazzled eyes and tenderness, there was a bit of sadness in Thor. It was the same man Loki had seen the night before, but his eyes revealed a more mature and suffering man.
There was something gloomy and melancholy in Thor's eyes.
"OK." Loki held Thor's red cape.
Thor thanked his brother. He turned and saw Mjölnir on the table beside his bed. Thor raised his hand, calling for the hammer, which flew straight at him without hesitation. Mjölnir was much lighter than Stormbreaker but less powerful and not so surprising. But Mjölnir was his faithful companion in countless battles, it was almost like revisiting an old friend. And if the price to have his people, his family, and the entire Asgard back was to lose the Stormbreaker, then it was a more than just exchange.
It was not long before a servant came to them to summon them. They went to the Great Hall and waited in the hall. Loki looked at Thor turning and turning the helmet between his hands.
"Are you nervous, brother?" Loki had a provocative smile.
"More than I've ever been in the past. I'll try to make it better, Loki. I promise."
Loki looked at him for a moment.
"Thor... I confess that until recently I believed that you were not ready to be king. I thought our father was making a mistake. But now I think maybe I was judging you unfairly. I saw hope in you today. You're a good man, Thor. You are kind and loving. These are some of the things I like best about you. You will be a good king. Believe me."
"Thank you, brother. Your words mean more to me than you can imagine. "
"You are my brother, Thor, and my friend. I can be a little envious at times, but never doubt that I love you. "
Those words. Thor remembered when Loki had said them for the first time. Thor also remembered when he almost doubted if those words were true. After all, Loki did. After all the fury, destruction and hatred. In the end, those words were still true. Loki put himself at risk to save Thor. Loki died to save Thor.
Now Thor knew Loki could hate him and resent him more and more. But Loki would never stop loving him. And it was the same for Thor.
"I love you too, brother."
Thor put his hand on the back of Loki's neck, caressing the skin in a gesture familiar to them. Now Thor understood why Loki's skin always seemed a little cooler than anyone else's.
"Give us a kiss," Loki said playfully. But Thor pulled it to him. Loki placed his hands on the breastplate of Thor's armor, not to push away or to put some distance, just a reflexive reaction. Loki felt Thor kiss his cheek tenderly.
"Thor...?" Loki said in a whisper.
They were interrupted by a raucous noise. A servant had dropped a tray with glasses when he saw them. Loki started laughing at the man's embarrassment. Oh, how Thor missed that sound.
Thor stepped away from Loki, which was appropriate. Only then did he notice the guards ahead; had they heard anything? Did it make any difference whether they heard it or not?
Thor put on his helmet.
"How do I look?"
"Like a king," Loki replied warmly. "I have to go forward now."
Loki moved to get out of the hall and into the Great Hall, but Thor grabbed his hand.
"Loki ..."
"What?" Loki waited, but Thor seemed not to know what to ask or what he meant at all.
Thor just wanted Loki to stay a little longer. He feared that by the time Loki came out of his presence, he would disappear again and take the rest with him. Realizing Thor's anguish, Loki came back and hugged him. The horns of his helm made it difficult, but it was still a gentle hug.
"It will only be for a few minutes," Loki assured him, realizing that Thor did not want to stay away from him, though he still had not understood why. "When you ascend the throne, I will be on your right."
Thor nodded. And Loki is gone.
Thor could hear the buzz of the people in the Great Hall.
Whatever he did from now on could change the fate of everyone in Asgard, in Midgard, and probably in other planets besides those connected by Yggdrasil. Thor is determined to prove his love for Loki, and never to let Loki fall into the abyss again.
Thor takes a deep breath and follows.
Thor breaks the protocol and messes up a little the rehearsed ceremony as he runs toward the mother and hugs her. He sees Loki buried his face in his hands, although he was laughing. In his defense, Thor would never remember a rehearsal after years. Of course, he could not use that excuse.
To be honest, Thor was still waiting for the moment when the guards would come in announcing that the Frost Giants had invaded the Treasury Room, but that did not happen. He was relieved. This showed that Loki no longer felt compelled to hurt him or confront Odin.
The coronation ceremony ends. The people rejoice.
Thor is very happy. Not because of the crown on his head, but because his people were alive and cheerful, well served with the best food and the best wine that Asgard can offer.
Nor has it gone unnoticed that during the party prince Loki was constantly with Thor. However, bad tongues could not accuse Loki of any obscure interest, for it was Thor himself who constantly asked for his brother's company. Thor shared the wine with him and offered him grapes. No one seemed happier about Thor than Loki. Or maybe Loki was happy for all the attention he got from Thor.
"I'm surprised, Thor," Sif said in one of the rare moments when Thor was away from Loki. "The party has been going on for three hours, and you have not even drunk half a barrel of mead. Is there anything bothering you or is it the weight of the crown bringing some sense of responsibility to you?"
Thor laughed.
"Today, Lady Sif, my pleasure is more to see the joy of my people and my friends than in ingesting liters and gallons of mead."
"And what caused this sudden change?"
"I woke up from a dream where reality was terrible it made me appreciate this reality I have now."
Thor immediately looked up at the crowd, searching.
"Is Loki doing any of his mischiefs again?” Sif said, not hiding his disapproval.
"What? No. Why do you ask? "
"You spent all day watching every step of him," she declared, and sighed, irritated, as Thor turned her attention away again. "You're doing it again. He's talking to Queen Frigga. Near the throne. "
"He's not up to anything. I'm just checking if he's okay. "
Thor picks up Loki looking at him and Sif. Loki disguises and returns to talk to Frigga. Thor apologizes to Sif and goes to his brother.
Frigga leaves arm in arm with Odin, leaving Loki alone. Thor sits down next to Loki on the throne staircase.
"I'm beginning to think you're following me, brother." Loki brought a glass of wine to his mouth, partly to hide his smile. Loki was one of the few if not the only one who still looked very sober and elegant.
"Maybe I am."
Loki just smiled. His face was slightly rosy maybe it was the wine.
Loki was relieved to see that his brother's mood had improved. Thor looked a little gloomy in the morning. Thor seemed much more cheerful and relaxed now. However, he's been around Loki all the time. Loki was still curious about the reason for his brother's peculiar behavior, but he was not complaining. It was good to have Thor so close again.
For a moment, he thought Thor would go with Sif and The Three Warriors again and forget him for the rest of the day and night, as it has been in recent months. But here's Thor by his side.
Loki suspected that he was starting to act like a little boy dazzled around Thor again, and he feared to regret it later if Thor were to act again. However, for now, he would appreciate the company as much as he could.
As he stared at Thor, all the anger he felt for his brother was fading, and he felt filled with a warm, pleasant sensation in his core.
Thor felt Loki approach him and whisper in his ear:
"See, brother." Loki paused, pausing to note, with a mixture of strangeness and pleasure, that Thor had shivered at the sound of his voice. "It seems that we will have a perfect day of sunshine to illuminate his glory."
Thor glanced at the beams of light entering the throne room, shining on Loki, making him glitter in gold and emerald. Although Loki was not an Aesir, he was undoubtedly an Asgardian God.
Thor put an arm around Loki's shoulder, holding him close.
"No, brother. The sun will shine on ours. "