Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 74: Brothers

Chapter Seventy-Four

Brothers

Milky Way Galaxy

Sol System

Nine Realms / Planet Earth

"You shouldn't have left."

Was what the first message from Loki said. Thor did not know how to reply to it and it just made him frustrated. At the same time it also made something warm up in his chest, because Loki did not want him to leave Stark's house despite what happened with Hatchet. He did his best to ignore that, because he shouldn't allow his sentiments to influence him so much.

A part of him also knew that he would cave, at least a little. Because he had hope again and that stubbornly clung to his heart, indelible and not to be silenced again. One voice was still whispering in his mind that he should not hope and should not trust for he could be betrayed again, just like before, but he couldn't listen to that one voice. His Mother was right, if he did not hope, no one else would, if he gave up, Loki would be truly lost to him.

"You actually have a little stand for Mjölnir. Typical."

Was what the second message said. It's true meaning was clear enough, so Thor excused himself and got up to his floor to see his brother.

Thor was not surprised to see him standing right next to Mjölnir when he walked into the room. He was wearing Midgardian clothes and he was running one finger idly down the handle.

'Your nails are black,' Thor pointed it out, for the lack of a better thing to say.

Loki huffed. 'Hatchet. Don't ask.'

'Wasn't going to,' Thor said. He walked further into the room until he was standing on the other side of the little stand his hammer rested on. Loki dropped his hand from it and crossed his arms over his chest.

'You shouldn't have come here,' Loki said.

'I don't see why not,' Thor told him. 'Didn't Stark tell you that I will be back in a few days?'

'He told me.'

'Why are you here then?'

'Because you always do this,' Loki said, a bit of irritation slipping into his tone.

'This?'

'Yes, this. Running to your friends so that they can fill your head with what they think instead of trying to figure out what you think.'

'As I recall, I used to run to you most of the time,' Thor pointed it out. 'To let you fill my head.'

Loki bristled at that, scowling at Thor. 'You only ever came to me once you were in trouble.'

'That is not true. You got me in plenty of trouble yourself as well,' Thor argued. 'And it's not like you never came to me when you were in trouble...' He thought about that for a moment. 'At least you used to.'

'Obviously I stopped once you made it clear that you cared not for my troubles,' Loki told him.

'I have never said such a thing,' Thor said right away.

'Not in so many words.'

'Then you have misunderstood me for I would have never turned you away.'

'No, but I would had to bear being ridiculed and mocked by your friends have I gone to you. And you would have just laughed along with them.'

'Loki -'

'Don't even try to deny this one,' Loki said firmly.

'We have made jest all the time, it was not just you. We have laughed at Volstagg's appetite or Fandral's frivolous ways, you have too.'