Sleep was a whole other kind of adventure for a five year old. Dreams were grander, and more action packed than regular, daily life ever could be. The glorious battles were those Thor had been told every night before bed. Only in his dreams he would be the most glorious in battle, rushing enemy front lines and tearing the toughest of opponents down. All without recieving a single scratch.
In the dreams, Thor was big and stong, gold flowing hair tossed in the wind. He wielded the broadest of swords, with a leather bound hilt caked with enemy blood.
He was just approaching the enemy leader, towering over everyone else as he cut down Thor's comrades one by one. Thor drew his sword, bringing the arm back to strike the final, glorious blow-
There was a thud from somewhere in his room.
Thor's small blue eyes burst open, looking around his room for the disturbance.
His door was open a foot, it had not been like that when he first went to bed. He was sure of it, leaving the door open meant scary things could sneak in all the easier.
Something moved in the darker corner of the room, Thor jumped out of bed, tiny ham fists at the ready.
"Come out intruder! Face me like a man!" He whisper-called, trying to not let fear flash across his tiny five year old face as he prepared to deal with this monster.
The thing moving only scrambled backwards, further into the concealing dark. Thor pressed forward threateningly, or as threateningly as a five year old could, growling lowly like he'd heard the warriors tell him they had done as they entered a fight.
A small whimper issued from the dark, and Thor immeadiatly relaxed, sighing in relief and a little frustration.
"Loki?"
A small three year old child with long black hair and green eyes crawled out of the shadows, standing up and hugging a green bear to his chest. A small blue blanket was clamped tightly in his other fist, held close to his body. The little boy looked like he'd been crying.
"Another nightmare?" Thor asked and the dark haired boy nodded vigorously. Thor sighed, everytime Loki had a nightmare, thought he heard or saw something under his bed, or his nightlight whent out before he was asleep he ran to Thor's room. So, in reality, he was in here almost every night.
"Do you wanna sleep in here?" Thor asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. Loki nodded furiously and ran to the edge of Thor's bed, throwing the bear and blanket up on to it and then tried his hardest to pull himself on to the bed. He wasn't very successfull at it.
Thor finally took pity on the small toddler and picked him up, holding him up so that he could scramble up onto the bed.
"You know, there's a reason you have your own room." Thor said dryly, walking around and climbing on to the bed from the other side.
Loki wasn't listening, instead he climbed under the covers and snuggled up with his bear and blanket. He sighed happily and closed tired, tiny eyes.
Thor rolled his eyes, laying down and closing his eyes. He was lulled to sleep by the sound of his little brother's slow breathing...
That morning Frigga entered to take her son's to breakfast and stopped in her tracks upon seeing Thor's bed. She was surprised, although she really shouldn't have been, to see little Loki curled up next to Thor, one arm curled around Thors and the other clutching his bear, both were in a deep sleep.
Frigga crept to the side of Thor's bed, gently touching Thor's shoulder. Thor jerked awake, blinking tiredly at his mother.
"He sleep in here again?" She grinned at Thor.
Thor merely rolled his eyes and shrugged, "He woke me up for a nightmare."
Frigga "aww'ed" before walking over to Loki. She kneeled down and gently squeezed his arm.
Loki whimpered in protest of being awoken and turned to look at his mother.
"Good morning, do you know who's bed you're in?" Frigga asked sweetly.
"T'or's?" Loki asked, pointing at his brother who was watching with a dry amused look. This was becoming a morning routine with Frigga asking where Loki was and Loki saying he was in Thor's bed.
"Right. Now who's bed should you be in?" Frigga asked. Loki was quiet, seeming to struggle with an answer.
"Uhmm... T'or's?" Loki tried. Frigga shook her head and Thor sighed.
"No Loki, you should be in your bed." Thor said. Loki pouted.
"Fine." He mumbled, crossing his arms heatedly, something difficult to do with a bear wedged between his arm and his chest.
"Good, now," Frigga lifted Loki and his bear up and deposited him on the ground, "Let's go get day clothes on." Loki nodded quickly and ran out the door.
"You get dressed too. We're having breakfast with your father." Frigga said, grabbing Loki's blanket before walking out, "Don't worry, one of these day's he'll stay in his own bed."
"Sure mom." Thor said, certain his little brother would be back that very night.
He wasn't. But he was back the next night. And the next, and the one after that...