"Please!"

"No. Leave me."

"Brother, I beg of you!"

"Stop. Leave me alone."

Thor decided now was the best time to dramatically throw his entire wait across me.

"Brother!" I shouted, but it did nothing to stop me from tipping back in my chair, the both of us falling hard to the floor. I grumbled angrily, his thigh pushing my head into the carpet.

"Thor, get off me."

"No, not until you accept!" He shouted far too loud for my liking. He shifted his weight, straddling me, easily catching and holding my arms down.

"Brother!" I snapped, knowing I would not be physically able to win this fight. He was strong. Very strong. Too strong, if you ask me. "You have till the count of three before I make you get off."

He smiled, a loose chuckle shaking his chest. "You know the conditions that hold your freedom." He leaned down, purposefully making his body heavier on my chest. I squirmed uncomfortably under his mass weight, but could not even budge so much as an inch. "All you need is accept, brother."

I wiggled beneath him, hating the smug grin on his stupid face. I sighed exasperatedly, already regretting my decision of giving into what the big oaf wanted. "Fine."

A goofy smile spread across his face. I rolled my eyes. "I agree to your stupid request. Now get off."

Thor immediately rolled off me, letting my aching chest breathe properly. "Loki, this is wonderful!"

I sat up grudgingly, pain coming to my chest. I vaguely saw the large blonde swooping in for a bone-crushing hug, which, sadly, I got quite often. "No, no, no!" I held my hands out, thinking that would actually stop him. But it didn't. Figures.

He encased me in his arms, squeezing so tight I couldn't help but let out a squeak of pain. I knew it was best to just let him get his stupid hug than try to fight him. When he released me, I took a gasp of air, hoping he would get the hint I didn't like him holding me so tightly. However, I don't think he noticed through that lead skull of his.

"Just imagine how much fun we will have together!" He smiled down at me, and for once I didn't feel the urge to smack the grin off his lips. "We'll have so many stories to tell Mother and Father when we return."

I looked into his sparkling blue eyes a moment longer before I turned away from him with full intentions to continue what I had planned for the day. Reading. Not studying. But reading. For pleasure. Something I rarely had the time for anymore. I looked for where my book had fallen but could not see it.

"Is something wrong?" I heard my brother's tone turn form excited to worried.

My eyebrows furrowed. "I am searching for my book," I answered, climbing to my hands and knees and searching under the big, wooden bed. Nothing.

"Loki!" he whined. "Why must you spend such useless time in your books when we have a marvelous journey ahead of us to prepare for?" I could just hear that gleaming smile in his voice. I ignored his question, figuring my answer would have little importance to him. I pulled out from under the bed, trying to imagine the next place a book could possibly be hiding.

We both sat in silence…

Or at least I thought we were both sitting. I felt two hands grab me from behind and pull me to my feet. I hated how he could just so easily throw me around like a child's doll. I spun around to face him, anger filling my features. My scowl immediately lost its power when I saw the pure bliss in his eyes.

He was smiling at me. Not just a joyful smile, which he often wore, but one with depth. It had meaning. He brought his hand up, his fingers gliding to curve around the back of my neck, a gesture he did ever since I can remember. His emotions radiated from his core, giving me the feeling to at least muster a grin in response. He laughed as I accidently let a small smile slip.

Ah, what the hell. I let myself smile back at him, a skittering of delight dashing inside me. It has been a while since I ventured outside the palace walls. Maybe this trip will do me some good.

Thor pulled me in closer, his voice soft. "Loki, I am truly happy you are coming with us."

What? Us? Who is us?

I felt my smile falter as his words sank in. "Us?" I meekly asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer. I watched as Thor's smile was replaced with a look of confusion.

"Yes of course us. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three will be coming along, also." He looked at me as if I should have known all along. And I really should have. I don't know why I thought it would have been just him and me. How stupidly selfish of me. I inwardly laughed at myself. The Mighty Thor would never leave home without his faithful companions at his side.

I pulled away from his embrace, my eyes fleeting to the ground. I finally spotted my forgotten book lying beside the Thunderer's dirty boots. I sighed. Of course Thor just had to walk into my room, tracking mud all the way.

"Is that alright?" Thor asked, a faint tone of uncertainty in his words. I quickly pulled my thoughts back to the conversation as I bent down and picked up the book.

"Yes," I said without looking at him. "I merely assumed it would have just been you and me."

I opened the book, frowning at how now some of the ancient book's pages were bent. I smoothed them out as I stepped towards the bed, sitting down with a bounce. Thor turned to face me from where he stood. I didn't look to him, but I could tell he was upset by the way he hesitantly began to speak.

"Well, I could ask them to stay if that is what you wan-."

I looked up from my book, slamming it shut. "Do not be foolish Thor." I inwardly chuckled at the face he made in return. "I am completely fine with your friends accompanying us on our hunt."

That familiar grin spread across his face again and I looked back down at my book. I had a feeling that this trip was already heading south. Thor called to me over his shoulder as he left the room.

"Hurry brother! I want to set out before nightfall!"

I stood, placing my book at the end of the bed. I am doing this for Thor. I repeated this in my head over and over again as I began to gather my things for the trip.

For Thor.