Edderkopp - Drider!Loki

Twelve

"Seriously? Me?" Thor looked between us, his eyes widened and eyebrows raised before he broke into laughter. "I don't know what fungi you've been eating but I'd like some."

I glanced at Loki, whose face hadn't shifted from its mildly disinterested expression throughout my entire explanation of why we were seeking Thor out.

After hanging up my clothes to dry, we'd settled in and started talking.

Though I had to wait for them as the two spent time catching up, which in itself mostly consisted of Thor goading Loki into irritation with teasing remarks that definitely brought the word 'sibling' to mind.

Watching the two interact was entertainment in itself and kept my numbing mind from drifting off completely into tiredness.

Physically, beyond the obvious species difference, they looked nothing alike and I'd never have believed that they were once brothers, which did have me questioning if my theory was correct or if I was merely projecting some ridiculous story onto some poor beings, getting their hopes up at a change when truly nothing would come of this adventure.

But, it wasn't as though all siblings looked alike, so I persevered and weakly built up my reasoning.

"I'm being serious," I said, folding my arms.

"It's absurd, I'm no prince," he scoffed, eyes drifting towards the back of the cave where Loki's web still acted as a cover, one that I planned on sleeping behind, "I'm just an average forest naga."

"Are you though?" Loki asked, raising his eyebrow.

Thor looked taken aback, his mouth falling open as he sputtered.

"Of course I am," he said certainly once he'd caught himself.

"Then tell me," Loki said, leaning forward on the stone he was perched on, "what's the first thing you remember?"

Thor looked at Loki as if he had three heads, floundering again.

"Do you remember anything?" Loki continued, not giving him a chance to talk. "Because I don't, I remember nothing before waking up in the middle of a forest I didn't recognise."

Thor's face contorted into one of thought, then after a passing moment it hardened and he averted his eyes, turning his head to the side though looking at nothing.

"I've never stopped to think about it," he said quietly, the softest he had been upon our meeting.

"Well now is your chance."

Loki's intensity surprised me, yet it also stirred something inside my stomach, an excitement that I hadn't felt for a long time.

He looked so serious, his narrowed eyes concentrated on Thor's face as the naga worried his bottom lip with a single canine, looking timider than I could ever picture him being.

The crackling of the fire was the only thing that filled the lingering silence and the chill I'd felt earlier from the rain soaking into my clothes and skin was beginning to alleviate into tiredness, my eyes beginning to get heavy.

Stubbornly, I refused to let them close, wanting to see out the conversation.

Wanting to know if Thor remembered a single thing, if this was a lead or if it was a pipe dream in the desperate hope of having a reason to be out here, travelling.

Finally, he shook his head and met Loki's eyes again, his mouth uncharacteristically downcast.

"I don't recall anything beyond waking up in this cave."

"Exactly," Loki said, shooting a quick glance at me. "I have no memories of parents, childhood, siblings, everything before awaking is a blank slate and that doesn't seem right, I just never put my mind to it before."

"Accepted it as being normal for your kind," Thor supplemented with a nod.

"Precisely, so what if this is true? Don't you owe it to yourself to at least find out?"

Thor's face softened into something accepting and defeated.

He gave a small nod, his messy and knotted hair falling around his face.

"Yes, I suppose I do."

"And what's the worst that can happen? We find nothing out and come back to continue normally."

Thor smiled and gave another nod, this time more enthusiastic.

"You're right, at least if nothing comes from it then we can say that we had an adventure, correct?"

"Absolutely."

"Couldn't agree more," I said, just glad to have something to add to the conversation.

Even if I wanted to contribute further, the wide yawn that forced its way out after would have made it impossible.

Saving at least some small amount of my dignity, I covered my mouth as I yawned and heard Loki chuckle softly at my side, his attention shifted to me with a look of amusement.

"It seems that it may be best to wait until morning," he said.

I gave a quiet hum and a nod, the weight of my eyelid only getting heavier as my muscles began to sore as they relaxed, the effort of trudging through wet mud with heavy clothes apparently counting as some kind of workout for them.

"It'll give your leg a chance to settle as well."

"Yes, I had forgotten about that."

"Have you eaten?" Thor asked.

We both shared a look and then shrugged.

"Nothing substantial," I replied, "just snacks here or there."

"I haven't since this morning," Loki said, "though I'm not hungry."

"Then perhaps we can get something for our guest," Thor smiled.

My eyes instinctively moved towards the wriggling satchel hanging on the wall, a shiver running down my spine.

"Um, I think I'd rather just get some sleep, I'm rather beat, but thank you."

"Suit yourself," he shrugged, "more berries for me."

I laughed and slowly pushed myself up, all my muscles resisting the movement.

"You can sleep behind the web if you wish," Loki said, looking down at me, "it should retain more heat during the night than if you slept in exposure."

"I don't want to be rude and close myself off."

"We won't be offended," Thor said with a smile, "keep yourself warm and we'll set off in the morning."

"Of course, I hope you both sleep well."

"And you," Loki dipped his head politely.

"We'll be sure to get you up at the crack of dawn," Thor laughed.

"Oh heavens, I may just descale you if you do," I shook my head while continuing to smile.

With aching thighs, I started to climb my way to the back once again, already feeling the change in temperature the further back I got.

"Are you sure about this?" I heard Thor ask Loki, his attempts at keeping his voice down not succeeding but appreciated nonetheless.

"I'm nervous," Loki replied, his voice significantly lower and barely noticeable, "but it will be nice to do something for a change."

"I suppose you have a point, it'll be an experience."

"That it will be, though there is one thing we need to ask of you."

"And what is that?"

"Bring your helmet."