Just a little snippet that came to mind in anticipation of The Avengers. Enjoy and review! Thanks for reading.

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"Homesick?"

Thor was pulled from his thoughts and reluctantly turned away from the edge of the rooftop where he had been gazing up at the sky. "A little. I feel even further away from it when we are in the city and I cannot even see the stars."

Steve Rogers stuffed his hands in his pockets and listened to the traffic stories below them. "I figured you wouldn't be sleeping. You have a lot more in this fight than the rest of us. I know it's hard."

Thor closed his eyes as pain seized his heart. "Really? Do you have a brother?"

Steve swallowed hard, remembering Bucky. It was strange, his best friend had been dead for 70 years, and yet for him it had only been mere months, the wound still fresh. "I did."

"Did you have to face the possibility of having to kill him?"

Steve sighed. "No. But I do feel responsible for how he died. Both of our brothers slipped from our grasps."

"It seems you and I have a lot in common, Steve Rogers of Brooklyn." Thor lowered his voice to a whisper. "Because I am responsible for all of this."

"You are not responsible for your brother's actions."

Thor shook his head. "You and the others…all you see is a ruthless madman."

"What do you see?"

Thor turned to look at him for the first time. "Loki," he said simply. "My little brother." He struggled to find the words. "In our final fight, he told me that he never wanted the throne….he just wanted to be my equal."

Steve nodded. He knew what it was to live life in the shadows. ""Was he?"

"Truthfully? He far exceeded me." Thor smiled. "He's brilliant. He's patient." His face fell and he looked sad. "He was the most gentle, devoted little boy."

Steve couldn't argue. He had seen Loki's genius and what he was capable of. He shivered knowing that they all walked such a fine line. That one misstep, one small misguiding of devotion could lead any one of them down a path there was no returning from. He didn't want to hurt Thor, but he also had to drive home what he situation was. "He's also a loose cannon. He's jealous. He's delusional."

"I'm arrogant. I'm selfish. I'm vain…" Thor smiled. "Out of the two of us….I least deserved the throne." He sobered. "He's angry with me. That's what it all comes down to. I wasn't able to make things right. Whatever the outcome tomorrow….that will haunt me."

Steve was silent for a long time before speaking again. "I don't think that we can be in the positions that we are and not be haunted. That's what lets us know that we still feel and that we can still cope. That's what sets you apart from your brother." He gripped Thor's shoulder. "You'll be a good king. I don't know what you're going to feel tomorrow, but you should know that every single one of us on the team has been in the same position of sacrifice." He smiled. "That's something else we have in common, Thor Odinson of Asgard."