Unexpected

Chapter 13

Here's some fanart to help give visuals to the characters of this chapter ;) Hope yall are enjoying the story, thanks for reading along! 

Thor and Loki concluded there meeting with the Allfather and made their way to dinner. Neither of the brothers felt in their right mind as they left the Throne Room. They were near the Dining Hall when Loki stopped short, Thor noticed a beat late and turned to him in the still empty hallway.

"I think I will take my meal in my chamber. I enjoyed our time together, though it was brief." Loki glanced his way with a weak smile and made to head up the staircase. Loki hadn't said much during their meeting, which was unusual. It became clearer and clearer to Thor how hurt his brother was feeling. Whatever was between him and Sif, it wasn't just a fling, his feelings had been exposed in earnest. But above all, he knew that it was no small feat for the callous god to bear himself to another. Thor spoke up, "Brother, will you be alright?" Concern laced his voice.

Loki stopped again and stared at the floor. He hated that Thor was seeing him in such a truly broken state, but he'd already seen too much to lie, and he still needed answers, so he willed himself to bear his heart a little longer, "What tore you two apart, in the end?"

Thor contemplated his question and though he did not wish to relive the feelings, searched for them anyway.

"She craved her independence more than she craved me. Sif is bold and strong; I cannot imagine who would be able to hold onto her through life. I wished it could have been me, but even I could not match her pace." Thor eyes drifting as he thought back on their time together all those centuries ago. He missed their relationship greatly and though he was perfectly aware that they were better off apart, he still held a very special place in his heart for her.

"I think she's ashamed to be seen with me." His comment was mostly for himself, to hear the reality of the situation from the only person he really trusted, himself. Thor caught his words and ached to console his younger brother in this moment of utter vulnerability but restrained himself. He knew better than to touch him, especially at a time like this, it would only make things worse.

"I am sorry, brother." Thor took a step closer to Loki who remained fixed in place staring at the mountain of stairs that lay before him. Thor couldn't take it, he hated seeing his little brother in pain, he always had so he threw caution to the wind. Slowly, as if approaching a wild animal, he laid a hand on Loki's shoulder and though the younger god flinched under his touch, he didn't pull away.

"I don't know if this will matter to you or not but thank you for telling me. I am greatful that it came from you. I did not wish to hear it from her." He kept his voice down as servants walked past the hall they were in. Loki turned enough to pass Thor an appreciative smile before vanishing.

-

Days went by and nobody saw or heard from Loki. He'd taken on an assignment from Odin that took him off world. It was a diplomatic endeavor and naturally Odin was reluctant to send Loki at all, but Thor vouched for him and offered to meet him if any problems were to arise. But in the end, with Thor's blessing, Odin allowed Loki to take a small group of soldiers off world to deal with a mild uprising that was taking place on Vanaheim.

Loki didn't even feel bothered that Thor had to vouch for him to their father, it had happened before and angered him then, but now he felt too numb to care and part of him even felt it was some form of forgiveness for hurting Thor so carelessly.

Vanaheim was beautiful. It was the first time Loki had visited it many centuries but felt that he remembered it as if he'd just been there. The tall forests stretched on for miles and monstrous, ancient skeletal rib cages and skulls protruded from the landscape. A glistening city lay tucked up against a mountain ridge a ways away, but that wasn't where they were headed.