Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 40 - Whatever, whenever

"Brother."

Loki didn't want to turn around to Thor's voice, especially in a setting like this. Choices were made, and the last meeting had been closed. There was just no possible reason to stay around a second longer. Not on this floor. Not in this hall. Not when he was quite positive Era's fitting was most likely done by now, and he could think of only a couple of places where to find her next.

Their love had developed hidden, and perhaps even a little bit rushed. Secret library visits, and undercover rides to the beach weren't activities to exactly complain about. But being afraid of being caught or seen wasn't everything. Strolling hand in hand trough Asgard's most beautiful and public venues, sharing a kiss in the middle of the castle's main hallway, pulling her by the waist to dance in the middle of Asgard's crowded square, or traditionally drink tea with Frigga in her garden like any courtship involving her sons would be royally introduced to her. That would be everything. And this midday would revolve around the latter.

Being held up by Thor was the last thing he was into now.

Unamused, he clasped his hands behind his back before turning around with a heavy sigh. "You better not lure me into another meeting. Trust me, for once, I have actually things to do."

"No, I won't. This won't take long." He smiled widely, crossing his own arms over his broad chest in a way he made clear that he had claimed his place. As if he was about to stand there for some time. And it brought nothing close to calmness to Loki's nerves.

"I consider lectures to be close to what meetings are. So if that is what you are about to give me, spare me a chance to escape your plan."

"Oh, come on." He now began to chuckle, relaxing in his stance as if Loki had truly joked. "I might take over from father once the time comes, but not when it comes to speech."

"Not in favour of speech, but yet here you are, asking my attention so you can talk."

"Touché." Accepting defeat, Thor shook his head with a true and genuine smile on his face. It were moments like these when the two actually felt like brothers. Going back and forth about the little things. About things neither of them actually could make sense of. With feasts after missions after dances and after meetings, they both needed the reminder. Blood they didn't share. But even to someone unknown the two were obviously brothers. "I've always envied your perception."

Loki's smile matched his older brother's hearing his words. "Never envy, brother. Just live up to your own expectations."

That was Frigga speaking, Thor could hear it in everything little syllable. And it made him smile thus the more seeing the irony of it all. Because Thor would fight battles to contain that same wisdom—Frigga's wisdom, now mirrored onto his younger brother. But then here stood Loki, telling him not to desire anything, but to simply 'become'.

It had Thor slightly chuckle, much to Loki's amusement. Enough to have the muscles around Loki's mouth pull themselves up even more.

"A while ago, I erm..." Thor began, taking a step closer, as if nearing a scared animal. "I entered your chambers. Due to the emergency, I burst right in, too stupid to realise that you hadn't answered my knocking for a reason."

"Which time are we referring to?" Loki asked a bit more harsh, though not to expect Thor to give him an answer. Because he knew.

"Fair enough." His face momentarily sank, before forcing his eyes back up. "Listen, over all these years I've seen you flirt around rather unashamedly. It's safe to say that you've been caught plenty of times, though never did you react as if it should've bothered you. So when I saw the opposite, it got me confused."