Brother, Why??

The Bifrost

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. That honour goes to Marvel.

Freya walked along quietly, Loki holding her hand comfortingly, Thor practically dragging her toward the Bifrost.

"This will be no easy task. It's said the Gatekeeper can see a single dew drop fall from a blade of grass a thousand worlds away," Volstagg was saying as they walked down the Rainbow Bridge.

" And he can hear a cricket passing gas in Niffelheim," added Fandral, mockingly.

"Jest not! He heareth all!" gasped Volstagg.

"Please. Getting past him should be simple enough now, since he seems to be letting Frost Giants sneak by under his nose," scoffed Fandral.

"Forgive him! He meaneth no offense!" Volstagg cried out to the sky.

They reached the Bifrost and quietened.

"Keep your weapons sheathed and your mouths closed. This is going to take subtlety and sincerity, not brute strength. Leave it to me," Loki ordered, and stepped into the Bifrost.

"Good Heimdall-"

"You're not dressed warmly enough," Heimdall said.

"I'm sorry?" Loki stuttered.

"The freezing cold of Jotunheim. It will kill you all in time, even Thor. Freya especially." They were all stunned. "You think you can deceive me? I, who watch all? I, who can sense the flapping of a butterfly's wings a thousand worlds away?" His eyes landed on Fandral. "Or can hear a cricket passing gas in Niffelheim?"

A beetroot Fandral tries to save himself. "That was just a bit of a jest, really..."

Loki goes into damage control. "You must be mistaken. We're not-"

Thor stepped in. "Enough! Heimdall, may we pass?"

Heimdall stared him down. "For ages have I guarded Asgard and kept it safe from those who would do it harm. In all that time, never has an enemy slipped by my watch - until this day. I wish to know how that happened."

Thor was quick to reply. "Then tell no one where we've gone until we've returned."

Heimdall let them pass into the Observatory as Volstagg needled Loki. "What happened? Silver tongue turn to lead?"

Loki flushed, and responded. "Get me off this bridge before it cracks under your girth."

"Be warned. I will honor my sworn oath to protect this Realm as its Gatekeeper. If your return threatens the safety of Asgard, Bifrost will remain closed to you. You'll be left to die in the cold wastes of Jotunheim." Heimdall told the group.

"I have no plans to die today." Thor jested.

"None do." Heimdall deadpanned. He inserted his sword into the control panel, and the apparatus of the Observatory started up. The Bifrost energy quickens along the Bridge, feeding into the Observatory. Heimdall turns his sword in the control panel. The Observatory's giant turret swings around, aims toward a section of space. As a final step, Heimdall plunges his sword deeper into the control panel. The great turret fires, the rainbow light of Bifrost energy blasts out of it. The Bifrost opens at the end of the platform upon which Thor and his five comrades stand.

"All is ready. You may pass." Heimdall told them.

"Couldn't you just leave the bridge open for us?" asked Volstagg.

"To keep this bridge open would unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jotunheim with you upon it."

"Ah. Never mind, then."

Thor started towards the Bifrost, turns back to the others, and grinned. "Come on. Don't be bashful."

The others join him at his side, then step towards the Bifrost. Their bodies stretch towards the maelstrom, changing shape, as if every atom of their being is being elongated by the pull of it. In an instant, they're jerked off the platform and inside the vortex.