A/N: So I found this little story simmering in the back of my computer a few days ago and realized I had a near-complete story that I could post. I suppose the Thor: The Dark World trailer made me remember it since most of this fic takes place inside Loki's cell. I also re-wrote some parts to match the look of his cell in the movie.

Is it possible for a story to have bromantic/platonic smut? Lol... is that an oxymoron? There's smut, but it's not a romantic pairing - I'm not really sure what to call it. I think if you're a Thor/Loki bromance fan, but aren't entirely opposed to reading some Thorki smut, then you could probably read this (no smut until the third chapter).

Warnings: incest/pseudo-incest (whichever you prefer), something like dub-con (it's complicated). This is by far the least creepiest thing I've written, unless you find some non-romantic Thorki incest extremely disturbing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Thor or Loki or anything contained within this story. All that jazz.

It Had to Be You

"Well, are you going to come inside, or not?"

Thor's attention jumped back to his brother inside the cell, who was lazily staring at him from his bed. The thunderer looked at the other expectantly from the other side of the cell's glass wall, uncertain how long he had been standing here.

"Thor?" Loki lifted a brow.

"Loki?"

"Do you have some purpose here or are you going to stand there staring like an idiot all day?"

Thor smirked and purposefully took the one step needed to enter the cell. He walked through the seemingly solid glass wall, then stood with arms crossed. He hadn't brought Mjolnir, as he never did, but sometimes he was so accustomed to gripping it that his hands felt strange without it.

Loki rolled his eyes and boredly stared at the wall. "You still haven't stated your purpose here, Thor."

Thor walked forward. "Do I need a purpose to visit my brother?"

The trickster snorted. "No, of course not. You do as you please; always have, always will."

Truthfully, Thor didn't really have a purpose here other than to visit Loki. And every other time he had visited... well. Didn't he have a right to visit his little brother, even given his crimes? But it was exactly that sort of sentiment that annoyed the younger god, so Thor said nothing about it.

"Did you eat?" Thor asked. Small talk, Loki will love that, Thor mused.

Predictably, the trickster rolled his eyes. "They do feed me in here, Thor." The thunder god sat down next to the younger, who watched him. "Are you concerned for your dear brother?" he asked with a dark smirk.

Thor shrugged, "Of course. I will always be concerned for you, little brother."

Loki scoffed and stood up. "I tire of this charade, Thor, you-"

"And what 'charade' would that be?" Thor stood as well, staring at the other in challenge. He knew where this would lead, because this is where their conversations always led.

The trickster glared at him for a moment, then tilted his head up. "There's no reason for you to be here, Thor. Why do you persist? The All-father will never let me out, I'll never be..." he hesitated, avoiding eye-contact "...I'll never be your brother again. Don't you understand? It's over. We were never a family and we never will be." He looked to Thor, eyes suddenly burning. "I am not your brother. Why can't you get that through your thick head?" He took a step back, Thor took a step forward.

"And why can you not get it through your head that I do not care. Blood is not everything-" Thor paused, suddenly frustrated. Every time... Every time the same thing. He shook his head. "You claim that I am too stubborn and yet you are no better, brother."

"Stop... calling me brother!" hissed Loki.

Thor took another step forward; the younger god's eyes were wide, angry with a touch of confusion - something Thor had noticed more and more in his little brother. It confused Thor in turn. Why was Loki so baffled by his coming here? Did he truly not understand? Thor couldn't help but look sympathetically on him; their confusion seemed to mirror each other. Except Thor was on one side of the mirror and Loki on the other. The trickster couldn't understand the other's seemingly unfaltering love, while the thunderer couldn't understand how the other couldn't understand that same love, or why he felt it. Had they always been so different?

Instinctively, Thor reached a hand out to cup the side of Loki's neck, as he had done a thousand times before; normally Loki would pull away before he made contact, but the trickster seemed lost in his anger and didn't react - for a moment. Perhaps it was a habit on both their parts.

Then, Loki did something strange. He sighed a little, very quietly, as his eyes half-closed, remaining there. He didn't move otherwise, and he didn't seem to be breathing.

Thor frowned. "Loki? What's wrong?"

The trickster's eyes jerked open and he stared at Thor, snapped out of whatever strange trance he had been in. "What?" he asked in confusion.

"What were you doing?" asked Thor, removing his hand.

Loki frowned as well, then looked down, eyes darting about as if thinking. He shook his head. "Nothing... Nothing, I-" He glanced at Thor, then looked back at the white floor. "Nothing."

The god of thunder wasn't convinced of that, but if there was something wrong, Loki was unlikely to tell him. Always so concerned with appearing weak, Thor internally sighed.

After a long silence Thor looked about and decided there wasn't much else to do. They had spoken, scolded each other, fought, then ended with a stalemate - a typical visit and it wasn't likely to change any time soon, unfortunately. Whatever Thor was expecting from these visits he didn't know, all he knew was that he had to visit. Whatever had happened, whatever was said, Loki was still his brother, and nothing the trickster could say or do would change that.

"Well," said Thor, walking toward the cell's front wall to leave, "I suppose I should be returning..."

"Returning to her?" Loki asked, slight bitterness in his voice.

Thor didn't turn around. "'Her'?"

"Ah yes, what was her name? The mortal, she has such a plain name, so easily forgotten-"

"Jane," Thor said with some annoyance, turning around. "Her name is Jane, brother. Why must you always-"

"Yes, yes, Jane," he waved a hand. "With the Tesseract back I suppose you pay her regular visits, yes?" He raised a brow, stalking the cell and watching his brother.

Thor watched him suspiciously. What is it now? "Yes..."

"Hm. A shame I didn't keep my word about paying her a visit. Knowing you, brother," and he stopped and faced Thor squarely, "she is no doubt quite beautiful." A smirk. Dark but teasing. Taunting. "Even if she is just a mortal," Loki added, still smirking.

The thunderer narrowed his eyes. Something in him recognized this tactic of Loki's...

"Say, brother," continued Loki, crossing his arms and tapping his chin as if in thought, "are you above sharing? Do you think she'd lay with a frost giant? She does seem quite the little whore-"

But he didn't finish his sentence since Thor lunged at him and pinned him against the wall, hand wrapped around the younger's throat. "Do not speak of Jane that way! I do not know what your purpose is, but you will not use her that way..." he trailed off. And he completely forgot what he was about to say because Loki's face was... strange again. "Loki?"

The trickster's breath was shallow, short bursts in and out, but not because Thor's hand was around his throat - his hand was merely holding him there, not squeezing. His eyes were once again half-lidded, and what little of his pupils Thor could see were blown wide. And Loki seemed barely even aware of Thor, as if his mind were elsewhere.

Unnerved by his brother's sudden shift in attitude, Thor let go and jerked back a step. What is this? Thor wondered.

Almost immediately Loki's disposition returned to normal, but his face was as confused as Thor's. He swallowed and straightened himself, eyeing Thor as if the thunder god had just appeared out of nowhere. The look was so strange Thor suddenly felt the need to leave. He realized, on some level, that Loki had wanted him to do that, to get angry enough to... to what? He wasn't sure and he didn't feel like repeating what had just happened.

So without a word Thor rushed out of the cell and back up to the palace.

O - O

He didn't know why he was returning to Loki's cell so soon, only two days later, but he felt the need to - even if he didn't understand that need. This time his brother was pacing the cell, and Thor couldn't help comparing him to a caged animal, ready to pounce any unfortunate soul that happened by.

When Thor stopped outside the cell's wall, Loki stopped and jerked around, as if he had only now noticed the thunderer's approach. Strange, thought Thor. Loki was one of the most difficult people to sneak up on, and Thor was louder than most.

"Thor," said Loki, a hint of surprise in his voice and his eyes just slightly wider than was normal.

"Loki," Thor said in return, nodding his head once. He was expecting awkwardness after his last visit, perhaps anger - on whose part he wasn't sure - or mockery, or... something. He wasn't sure what.

"Thor," Loki said again. "What are you waiting for?"

The thunderer raised his brow. "Pardon?"

Loki leaned forward a little, again reminding Thor of an animal. "What are you waiting for?" said Loki again, punctuating every word.

"Waiting... for?" asked Thor, confused. The trickster god's eyes were even wider now, almost... desperate? No, that wasn't quite right. But there was definitely something wrong here.

"Why do you always have to stand out there like some idiot, am I so repulsive?"

"What-?"

"And here you're always claiming that my parentage means nothing to you and yet you hesitate to enter. So: am I so repulsive?" said Loki, gritting his teeth, still staring with wide eyes.

"I..." What was he supposed to do with this?

"Oh I see," said Loki disdainfully. "You don't want to embrace me because I'm a frost giant, is that it? I suddenly disgust you. And all your promises of brotherhood melt into nothing..."

Loki wasn't making any sense. What is wrong with him? Normally the trickster was fond of words, of flyting and debating, and oftentimes for no reason other than boredom - or so Thor assumed - but he typically made sense... well, in his own way, at least. Right now Thor didn't even know how to respond. Why would he suddenly assume Thor didn't love him because-

"Why do you even come here?" Loki suddenly exploded, teeth bared. "Oh yes, stay on the other side of that glass. You wouldn't want to be exposed to the likes of me. I suppose I deserve to be punished just for being what I am, yes? This punishment is too lenient? I suppose you'd prefer it if the All-father had me flogged, hm? Beaten into the floor? Or should I be drawn and quartered - let's just get it over with, who needs that frost giant runt anyway?" Loki was ranting. He rarely lost control like this. Thor didn't know what to do. "So yes. Just stay over there, I don't need you in here. I'll taint the golden prince and then where would we be?! 'We don't need him', they're all saying, right? Right, Thor?" He glared at him now. "You don't need me."

Thor didn't know what to say. "Loki... brother, I-"

"Don't call me that!" Loki screeched. "You hate me!"

Thor felt his heart clench in his chest and he stepped into the cell without realizing it. Loki froze, watching him, breathing hard. "Loki... I do not. I...I do not know what to say. Why are you acting like this? You know- you know I love you. I could never hate you... never."

They watched each other for a moment; Thor standing, still confused, and Loki rigid like a tree, eyeing the other.

Loki finally spoke, "Then embrace me."

Thor frowned fiercely. "What?" he sputtered.

"Prove it," said Loki, still eyeing the other.

Is this a test? "You want me to... prove it."

Loki nodded, "Yes."

"With a hug."

Another nod. "Yes."

Thor mirrored the nod, then looked around as if the answers to this lunacy might pop out of the walls. He then shrugged, put out his arms and embraced Loki tightly. He may have squeezed a little harder than he should have, but he couldn't help the tiny bit of bitterness for Loki's acting like... like... well, like a lunatic.

And strangely, his lunacy continued when the trickster nuzzled his face into Thor's neck and then quite literally purred out a long sigh.

Suddenly disturbed, Thor let go and pushed him away. "Loki!" he yelled, exasperated. The trickster gritted his teeth and whined a little. Now he's whining?! Thor didn't know what to make of Loki's strange behavior. "Loki, what are you doing?"

He avoided looking straight at Thor. "What is it, Thor?" he said innocently. "I thought you'd be happy. You're always trying to embrace me - can I not return the sentiment?"

Thor's mouth fell open as he frowned in exasperation. "Well- I-" he shook his head and stared. He didn't know how to respond to this. Has Loki truly lost his mind? He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "Loki, you have never liked me embracing you. Even before... all this..."

"And am I not allowed to change?"

"I... I don't..." What do I say to this? "I did not say that, but-"

"Then embrace me again," Loki said simply, as though there were nothing strange about his saying it.

"What-"

"So I was right, then?!" he glared at Thor suddenly, eyes burning. "You don't love me? I should have known-"

"Shut up, Loki," Thor interrupted. No. No he was not going to try that again. It was obvious there was something else going on and Loki was using that to make Thor feel guilty for... for what? Not... hugging him? It made no sense.

Loki was fidgeting, looking around. He would glance at Thor for a moment then continue darting his eyes around the cell.

Thor sighed. "Loki," he started, "tell me what is wrong. Hm?" He tilted his head a little to be more eye-level with Loki. "What is this about?"

The god of mischief began pacing around the cell, ringing his hands nervously. That was strange as well; it wasn't that Loki was nervous, it was that Loki was showing it. He never showed his emotions so blatantly. Something was wrong. But Thor waited patiently, hoping Loki would make up his mind and stop this insanity.

Finally, he stopped. His shoulders drew up and set squarely, and he turned to face the thunderer. "Thor," he began, searching for words, "do you remember when... when the All-father took my power- my- my magic?"

Thor nodded.

"Well..." he hesitated, grimacing, looking around. "I... I don't think it... quite worked."

"...Alright." Thor frowned, confused. "Meaning?"

"I think," he glanced at Thor, "that it might have jumped into... you."

Thor scratched his beard, put his hands on his hips, then finally crossed his arms, frowning. "Into... me," he said flatly.

The trickster nodded. "It's not as simple as all that, removing my magic. Unlike most other magic-users in Asgard, my abilities are in-born. I didn't just learn how to use magic, I was born with it. At least from what fath- from what the All-father told me of when he found me."

"Alright, so..?"

"So... I don't believe he removed it completely."

Thor raised a brow. "Then, you still have some-"

"No, no, I don't. I cannot access my magic, I assure you I've tried - even outside this cell, but," he looked straight at Thor. "I think when he tried to remove it, it somehow," he searched for words, "jumped into you."

"Loki, that makes no sense, I cannot use magic-"

"I know, Thor, but that doesn't mean you can't carry it."

"Carry-?"

"Like..." Loki scratched his forehead in frustration. "Magic is like a river. It flows from Yggdrasil to us, then out of us when we use it."

Thor nodded. "Alright."

"However, with most sorcerers, they must learn to tap into one of the roots; it takes years of training on their part, to even see it. I could always see it, even as a child. One of the roots is... how shall I put it, attached to me. It's a part of me. I've always been at the end of it, even the All-father could not remove that binding completely."

"Then where do I come in?" asked Thor, honestly curious now. He had never really thought about magic and how it worked before this moment.

"I believe when Odin attempted to sever my link to the World Tree, he, well, couldn't, to put it simply. But the All-father is powerful, so something did happen, even if unexpected. It jumped to you - like..." he rubbed his chin, thinking. "Like a river being diverted to a dam."

Thor considered this for a moment. "And... I am the dam?"

"Precisely," Loki said, almost excitedly. Clearly even Loki found this fascinating. "For whatever reason, Odin couldn't cut me off, so my link to the Tree jumped to the person I most cared abou-" he cut himself off, grimacing and gritting his teeth. Clearly he'd said too much.

Thor nodded. "Hm. So it jumped to me, even though I have no magic, how is it possible? Can I use magic now?"

Loki shook his head, obviously glad Thor didn't prod further. "No. You don't have the training to wield magic, but," he paused, "but you do have the capacity to wield and expel energy."

"I do?"

He rolled his eyes. "Unless of course you've been shocking yourself every time you summon lightning; how foolish of me."

Thor gave him his 'big brother' look - or he tried. "And what does any of this have to do with your acting strangely?"

"I'm not acting strangely," Loki said, affronted. Thor raised a brow. "Very well, perhaps I have been, but I needed to test it."

"Test it?"

Loki nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. To see if it was true."

"If what was true?"

He glanced at Thor. "To see if it was there, my... my magic. I can feel it, through you. When you... when our skin touches."

Thor's eyebrows shot up. "That's what you've been doing?!" he barked out a laugh. "Why did you not simply ask, Loki? Here-"

Thor stepped forward and cupped Loki's cheek. Immediately, the trickster gasped and closed his eyes and shuddered, then leaned into the touch.

"Hm," said Thor, "that explains your reactions - although I must say you unnerve me, brother."

Loki's eyes shot open. He looked like he wanted to slap the hand off, but somehow couldn't bring himself to actually do it. Curious, Thor removed the hand himself, which, once again, caused a small whine to escape Loki's lips. Thor smiled with perked eyebrows.

The mischief god bared his teeth at Thor. "Damn you, brother. Why did it have to be you?"

"Well, you're the one who said it jumped into the person you most cared-"

"Shut up, Thor," Loki gritted out through clenched teeth.

Thor shrugged. "Hm, I suppose if you care nothing for me then I should leave." And when he turned to leave Loki's hand shot out and grabbed onto his arm.

"No, wait," said the trickster, slight desperation in his voice. Thor looked down at the pale hand holding his arm; Loki let go. "Why are you leaving?"

"Don't change the subject, brother, you would rather it have been someone else that your magic jumped to? Very well, if my presence repulses you, then I should leave." He turned around again, trying his best not to smirk or outright smile.

Loki growled in frustration. "And don't you think I don't know what you're doing, Thor. You've repaid me for my earlier trickery, I applaud you. Now, do not make me beg. I've sacrificed enough dignity as it is."

Thor turned around, a small smile playing at his lips, then gave a small half-nod, half-bow. "Very well, brother." And then he smiled fully as Loki scowled at him.

It was odd, more than anything, to sit here like this, with Thor, after so many years. And more so given what had transpired between them these last few years. But Loki had no choice.

When Thor had left yesterday, he suddenly felt a craving for his brother's presence. At first he had tried to dismiss it; his mind playing tricks on him, or sentiment attempting to creep back in, perhaps even a spell the treacherous All-father had placed on him... Well, that one wasn't too far from the truth. And when Thor had returned today, Loki had to know. He wasn't quite sure why he didn't just ask Thor for help, but as usual his idiotic ego stood in the way. It had taken some time for Loki to realize his pride was the cause of so many of his problems of late, but being aware of it now hardly stopped it from manifesting itself. And it was partially Thor's fault, anyway. He was always so ready to help his supposed younger brother, so...so eager. It made Loki nauseous. He frequently wanted nothing better than to vomit on the big oaf, show him physically what he thought of his lauded sentiment. Ha. But that wouldn't work, now would it? Thor would only think Loki was ill and then where would he be? Stuck with an irritating nurse-maid who wouldn't go away - at least he could count on Thor to leave when all was said and done. If he thought something ailed his sibling, he would never leave.

Loki sighed and held onto Thor's hand. He couldn't believe he was holding Thor's hand. He wondered what other exposed skin he might touch instead, but Thor was wearing his armor so other than his hands only his face and neck were exposed. No, that would be even worse, thought the mischief god, disappointed.

On the thunderer's part, he seemed... awkward. What should he do?

The two sat staring at the opposite wall for several minutes before, predictably, Thor cleared his throat and turned to Loki. "Brother," said Thor as the trickster resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "What do you expect me to do? Do we simply sit here, doing nothing?"

Loki sighed. "I don't know, Thor."

Abruptly, Thor removed his hand and gestured to nothing, "I cannot remain here all day; what will father and mother think if I suddenly spent all of my time here?"

And Loki resisted, he really did, but he couldn't help the sudden anger rising. "And so what, Thor?! You've been insisting on coming here practically every day since I was put here, or are you suddenly a child that your parents must keep track of your every step?" He realized he was breathing hard and glaring with wide eyes at Thor, sitting up straight, back rigid.

Thor, strangely, did not rise to his taunt, but only looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You appear to anger much quicker than you used to, brother. Is this caused by your... new condition, or should I start screaming back and trying to choke you again?"

Was Thor actually jesting with him? Surely not. And no matter what he did, Loki couldn't help the small quirk of his lips. When did Thor become so clever with words? No doubt his all-too frequent visits to a certain silver-tongued god was to blame. Fortunately, he controlled his face enough that he didn't actually smile. Now that would be a nightmare, giving credit to Thor's attempt at familial sentiment. Or... perhaps that wasn't such a terrible idea...

Loki huffed, "Do as you will, Thor, as I said before: you've always done as you please. Don't mind me. Although..." he grinned darkly, "if you'd like to choke me, I wouldn't object."

"Loki!" Thor frowned but smiled, pushing at the trickster playfully.

"Well, that's not enough of a touch and you've let go of my hand. Should I anger you further? If strangulation is the only way to get you to-"

"Shut up, brother," Thor sing-songed, but grabbed his hand, nonetheless. Then, to Loki's surprise, Thor placed his other hand on Loki's neck and pulled him forward until the younger was against the older's chest. Well, Loki thought, perhaps it worked better than I thought. Even so, he wanted nothing more than to push Thor away - except everything in his body screamed at him to stay right where he was.

It was, to his dismay, quickly becoming apparent that his touching of Thor didn't have quite the same effect as when Thor touched him. It was strange; he didn't understand what the difference could be. Intent? Was his magic so temperamental as to care who was touching whom? It was as if his magic - which was in the ironic position of being inside someone else - needed Thor's permission or something equally ludicrous. It annoyed Loki to no end that his own magic would heed the desires of someone else, no matter who that person was.

As potentially satisfying - at least with concern to his magic - as this closeness was, Loki began to realize he truly did need skin-on-skin contact or the effect was severely lessened. So he reached up and, in as much a detached way as possible, placed his hand on the side of Thor's neck.

He felt Thor's neck move when he spoke. "Are you planning on choking me instead, brother?"

Oh very funny. I suppose he finds this entire situation hilarious. "I could if you'd like, but I'm afraid it doesn't have quite the same effect if I do it."

"Because I'm stronger?" Thor smirked.

Loki ignored him. "No, because apparently my magic wants you to touch me." He sighed. "As if this entire situation wasn't deplorable enough, I not only have to rely on you, but I have to rely on you - literally. You have to initiate the touch."

Thor said nothing for a moment and Loki couldn't see his face from this angle so he waited. The thunderer finally sighed and said, "Well, this could become very awkward, very quickly."

"I thought it was already awkward." Loki removed his hand from Thor and leaned against his chest, hoping the oaf wouldn't take too long with... whatever it was he was doing. The infuriating longing for the touch of his magic was growing again.

"More awkward, then." Thor then grabbed both Loki's arms in his hands, then asked: "Is this good?"

It was certainly better but he still felt an ache somewhere in his core, he just needed more; he shook his head. Some part of him was curious as to how far Thor was willing to go with this. He could have offered suggestions, but truthfully the longer he felt this need the less his mind seemed to work properly, so he just let Thor decide what to do.

After a few moments Loki felt an arm snaking around behind his back, then, with a painfully awkwardly slow motion, slip under his shirt. At the contact on the skin of his lower back Loki sighed - somewhat louder than he was hoping for - and relaxed against Thor's chest.

"I take it this is better?" Thor asked, slightly amused.

Loki, to his horror, only managed a grunt in response, lost in the feeling of his magic sliding across his skin. Strangely, it never went any deeper, but he still reveled in it.

Despite Thor's apparent amusement, his demeanor screamed of discomfiture. Loki couldn't quite ignore it, nor his own distaste at having to embrace Thor in this fashion, but when the thunderer's hand moved a little to his side, Loki snorted a laugh and "That tickles" slipped out. Surely I did not just say that. But when the tension eased a little out of Thor, he supposed it was probably best to add some little-brother levity to the situation - awkwardness would not help him in the long run.

Yet, what was the long run? Loki didn't feel like thinking on it, his mind was too tired and too focused on the wonderful sensation seeping into him from his not-brother to care about such things.

This is going to be a long day...

A/N: This fic is a three-shot, so two more chapters are coming. I've already written them so I'll update every couple of days or so.

To my Hollow Skies readers, I should have a new chapter out this week - I haven't forgotten about you! ;)
(Also, I wonder if this fic should be classified under Thor or The Avengers. It's post-Avengers, but takes place entirely in Asgard. Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter.)