Disillusion: Pure Illusion Series of Shorts

It's In Their Nature

A/N: I apologize for the delay - my mom and I were in a car accident a few months ago which made the holidays a bit difficult . We're both okay and the man who ran the light was found. Thanks for your patience, I hope to get back to regular updates on all stories! 

Part of this story takes place just before Denouement Beauty, while the last scene takes place a couple months after the short stories Mischief and Astrid. 

Song inspiring this story: 

"And you see the things they never see
All you wanted I could be
Now you know me and I'm not afraid
And I wanna tell you who I am
Can you help me be a man
They can't break me
As long as I know who I am..."

I'm Still Here - "Treasure Planet"

❦

"Concentrate. No Narvi, you need to focus on the entire process. Good Vali, keep... no, you need to... " 

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried in vain to teach his sons magic. Both of them possessed the ability to do so, but their willingness to practice was another matter entirely. Narvi was naturally gifted, but lacked the discipline to practice. He would rather use his braun than his brains to conjure up the needed spell. Meanwhile, Vali second guessed himself and would abandon his efforts short of succeeding. 

"Daddy I'm tireddddd! I just wanna go play in the garden!" 

Narvi cried, biting his bottom lip in a way that would only encourage poor habits. Vali sighed, crossing his arms and scrunched his eyebrows. He always became irritated when Narvi complained because he knew just as well as his father that he was the more gifted one of the two. 

"Fine." Loki snapped, waving his hand to give permission to Narvi to leave them. 

Silence feel between Vali and Loki. Loki waved his hand over the air and pulled a book out of thin air. Just as he was about to begin reading, he heard a small voice call out next to him. 

"Father, can... can you keep teaching me? I want to be as good as Narvi." 

The God of Mischief sighed, pulling his younger son towards him and kissing him on the forehead. Pushing Vali back ever so slightly, he gave his son a half smile and nodded. "My son, as long as you have more tenacity than your brother, you'll always be one step ahead of him."

Vali gave an odd look to his father. Usually, he'd be telling him to get along with his brother or that he should support his brother in all things. However this time it appeared as if that was not up for debate. 

"Very well, let's go ahead and resume training." 

Vali nodded vigorously and watched as his father walked him through the steps of cloaking himself. It was one of the first tricks Frigga had taught him, in an effort to allow him to escape Thor when he had begun picking on him. For Vali, it would allow him to at least have something over on Narvi. 

"Focus on the energy through your body, your hands and fingers. Good, now allow yourself to become numb and light..." 

This continued for several hours until at last, Vali heard his father's voice change. 

"Well done Vali. In time perhaps you will be as good as a sorcerer as I." Loki pulled his younger son into a hug, ruffling his hair. 

Vali looked up, giving a toothy grin as he loved hearing the pride in his father's voice. To have something over Narvi was monumental - for ever long it lasted. Around this time, Narvi came bounding in, shouting about something he had found out in the garden.