A/N: This was written for a prompt over at norsekink LJ.
Disclaimer: Not mine, Marvel's. No money made. Applies to all chapters.
Music: "Trout Quintet" by Franz Schubert
Trout Fishing
One hot summer day, the boys went fishing. Thor, Fandral and Hogun cast their lines time and again, sitting on the sunny bank of the creek, watching the dragonflies buzz by, while Fulla (Frigga's maid) set out blankets and picknick food, and the Einherjar guards on watch idled in the shadows under a willow tree.
The fish were slow to bite, and Sif had not shown up to amuse them with her attempts at teaching herself spear-fishing. Balder and Volstagg, who were older, were away training swordfighting.
Just when Thor was about to declare he was growing bored, a blue-furred otter surfaced, dragging a wriggling trout by the tail, and changed back into Loki on the gravelly shore. „Got one!" crowed the youngest prince, showing sharp teeth. „Anyone want a bite?"
Fandral cheered the catch, while Hogun grimly cast his line once more.
Thor wrinkled his nose. „You're going to eat it?"
„Yup." Loki licked his lips. Not bothering to kill the gasping fish first, he produced an ice blade and slid the belly open. „It's a female!" His eyes lit up with delight as the pink roe bulged out. „Mmmm. Want some?" Loki asked around after stuffing his own face with the slimy mass.
Fandral choked, turning away. Thor grimaced. „At least kill it before eating."
His younger brother paused and looked at the still gasping fish as if seeing it for the first time. „Why would I?" He shrugged. „It can't hurt me and it can't escape." Then he carefully cut a filet out.
Some bites later, Loki declared the sun was too hot and went to cool off in the creek some more. He thrust the remainders of the trout at Thor. „I saved the brains for you, brother. Father says if you eat more of those, your magic will get stronger. And how can you stand this heat?"
Father did say that, a lot. At least Thor had some magic – a vague affinity to clouds and lightning, his tutors said. That was better than Balder, who was practically magicless, but no match for Loki, who was taking after Father and grandmother Bestla most of all the Odinssons. The tyke could turn anything into icecream. It was unfair. At least he usually shared.
Grimacing with disgust and swallowing bile, Thor cracked the now dead trout's skull open and sucked the brains out. One day, he would learn to invoke the snowstorm, ride out with the Wild Hunt and make Father proud.