Darkness surrounded them, covered them like a veil, hiding them from humans' sights.
And Thor was growing desperate, for Loki would listen to no reasoning.
"We were raised together," he said, as a little voice too much like Loki's whispered in his ear Coming up with sentimental reasons as a last resort? How much like you... " We played together, we fought together. Do you remember none of that?"
Loki turned, his face devoid of any emotions, but his eyes visibly flashing with anger.
"I remember a shadow, living in the shade of your greatness. I remember you tossing me into an abyss. I who was and should be king!"
And then something ticked in Thor.
"My greatness?"
It wasn't a shout. Only a whisper. He started walking towards the Trickster.
"You think I wanted that greatness? Do you have any idea what is it like? Being a crown prince? Do you have any idea what is it like to be an older brother, to grow up facing the fact that one day you'll have to take over the reins, do justice so that it'll satisfy everybody, to treaty with the beings and persons you least like while you would not wish to do naught else but smash their skulls? To participate in council meetings from the age of ten-hundred when you'd rather be playing with your friends? Do you?"
Loki's face was a shocked and confused one. Thor sneered.
"Of course you don't, you're too engulfed in your petty revenge war. Let us change roles, then, let it be the way you want, you as the favoured son of Odin. And I'll gladly spend time with Mother, walk with her in the garden, marvel the beauty of the roses and lilies, sit in the library for hours while the eye of the public is always on you, watching your every step, waiting for you to make a mistake. You'll have to be the one to be the cleverer, the wiser, the one who must be always cleverer and wiser, show the way for the people, be an example for them, the children and your younger brother. I'll gladly watch you protecting them all the time when duty calls, stand up for causes you do not agree with yet you're expected to do so."
He started panting. He just had enough.
"Oh yes, and in the meanwhile I'll go around, creating mischief and never be severely punished, while you'll be not allowed to leave the palace for a month if you curse. Yes. Indeed. It's a great idea! Let's switch places! So give up the Tesseract, let's go home and we can do it in an instant!"
Loki's mouth opened and closed.
Not unlike a fish's.
"I... Don't have it?"
"Do I seem to be..."
And then something massive knocked the air out of him, pulling him with itself.
Oh, yes. I just wanted it out, no matter how out of character Thor is and even if it doesn't make sense.
Because as much as I like Loki, he just cannot understand what kind of pressure is on Thor, as an older brother expected to protect him and be an example and as the crown prince which is the same, only he has thousands of siblings to protect.
Yes. That's what usually being an older sibling is like. Note, I said usually. I know that not every siblinghood is like this and that there is pressure on the younger siblings as well as so often told by Loki, but both parts kind of forgot the other's problems. And in Thor and the Avengers we concentrated too much on poor little Lo's problems as a younger brother, who cannot think outside the box.
