(Author's Note: Set after Thor 1 and Avengers, but before Thor 2)
Thor sat on his bed, fully dressed, yet motionless. The sun was already high in the sky.
He heard soldiers in the hall stand to attention, which marked the coming of Odin. The doors were flung open.
"You are not in good spirits, my son?"
Thor did not answer right away. "I miss Loki," he said softly. "I want to know how he is."
At the mention of that name, the tone in Odin's voice changed. "Loki decided to obtain his goal – power – and cared not about the method. He was the cause of his own demise."
"Still, Father… to be banished to a barren planet with no means of escape..."
"This kind of senseless sympathy is not a fitting attitude for royalty. As King, we must decide a fair and just punishment, and then leave people to their fate! We cannot allow chaos in our subjects, nor amongst ourselves! Now, I expect to hear no more of this!" shouted Odin as he strode out.
Thor sighed.
-0-
"Heimdall, I wish to check that the dastardly Loki has not escaped his punishment, and that he is still within his rightful prison," stated Thor.
"It is possible that Loki can be in two places at once," replied Heimdall, clearly hinting at the fact that he could tell that Thor wasn't forthcoming with the real reason. "Still, I hear and obey."
Thor gave a small grateful nod, chastised.
"Loki still sits upon the rocks. There is no illusion."
"Thank you, Heimdall. I wish you to connect the bifrost to that place so I may go there."
Heimdall froze.
"There is no order from the All-Father that would be contrary to mine."
After a pause, Heimdall nodded and fired up the bifrost.
-0-
"Brother. I was just thinking about you," said Loki sarcastically.
Thor rose to face him squarely, as the bifrost gate flickered away, leaving the pure-black igneous rocks to be illuminated only by the dim red light of the streamlets of lava.
"You do know that this is a one-way ticket to visit me."
"Yes. I am aware."
Loki laughed an insincere, ironic laugh. "Of course they would not leave the rightful blood-bound heir to the throne of Asgard on this forsaken rock. I expect Odin himself to come along any minute now to retrieve you."
"You would be mistaken, Loki," said Thor, fatigued at the constant effort he had to give in order to display his sincerity.
Loki just slowly shook his head, incredulous at Thor's short-sightedness. "You still cannot see what's been given to you so freely. And because it is free, you throw it away so easily."
"You cannot say we haven't tried to welcome you into the family."
"Yes, I have to be content with scraps of affection that you all deign to throw my way, like a dog. And now that I know that there is no blood bond between you and I, or any other person that I'd considered family, I also have experienced a kind of freedom. That, and a desire to take revenge for this cruel trick. All of you mean nothing to me!" he shouted.
"That's not true. You made a decision, Loki. Father told me about how you killed Laufey, your biological father, who left you to die as a child! You could have let Laufey kill Odin to gain favour with him, but you chose your adoptive parents! You chose us!"
Loki opened his mouth to retort, a sneer on his face, but was interrupted by a blinding light. Odin was standing near them, the bifrost not far behind him.
"Thor! You have disobeyed my wishes!" announced Odin in a rumbling voice.
"Father. There was no need for you to come here," said Thor harshly, slightly dejected by the accuracy of Loki's previous prediction.
"Of course there was. I cannot have the future heir to the throne acting so impulsively."
Loki's body language showed he was aware that Odin was deliberately excluding him from the conversation.
Thor's forehead creased. "Father, the bonds we share as family cannot to be taken so lightly. Even your subjects are your own, even though there is no blood relation. Surely this level of cruelty towards Loki, my brother, your son, is not what is required as King."
"It is true that I regard my subjects as my own children. But I cannot indiscriminately bestow my affection on others, and Loki has made his decision through his treachery and lies. Loki is not worthy of my affection. You are, Thor."
Thor did not need to turn around to know of the momentary crushed expression on Loki's face.
"How can you say that, Father!" yelled Thor. "You make exceptions for me, but not for him! If Loki is not your son as much as I am, then I am not your son at all!"
There was a shocked silence, with an exception of Thor's heaving breath which gradually diminished.
"Very well, Thor," said Odin with quiet resignation. "You have followed in your brother's footsteps with your irrational, selfish behaviour. I shall look elsewhere for an ascendant to the throne!" With that, he vanished, along with the bifrost gate.
The place returned to the red glow of the lava.
"Always acting without thinking," Loki said tauntingly.
"No," Thor replied quietly. "This is what I choose."
"You really expect me to believe that you would give up the pleasures of the throne of Asgard for all this?"
"And I would have gladly given you the throne, Loki, to make you happy, since you want it so much."
"I never wanted the throne," spat Loki. "I've said it before – I've only wanted to be your equal!"
"You could never be my equal, because I've not been treated as roughly as you," said Thor.
Looking at Loki's blank expression, Thor asked "What is it?"
Loki cleared his throat. "Wow, you finally said something right."
Thor looked shocked for a split-second, then recovered. "Finally? You need to pay more attention to my words, brother."
Loki narrowed his eyes. "Oh, good. Another idiotic statement. I was beginning to worry."
Thor chuckled.
Loki eyed Thor half-critically as a subdued silence fell upon them. "You are so incredibly stupid."
"No, you are – you waste your talents and destroy yourself only for others' approval."
"At least I want approval from many people – you're willing to throw it away just for approval from one person," said Loki bitingly.
The vein in Thor's forehead throbbed with irritation. Loki looked somewhat satisfied. Again, a silence fell upon them.
"So, is there anything to eat around here?" Thor asked, half-serious, wanting to break the proverbial ice, despite their location.
"Of course - you like melted rocks, right?" Loki replied, annoyed.
"You know that I want to eat anything I see another eating, brother," replied Thor playfully.
A small smile crept onto Loki's face despite the fact he was also gritting his teeth. "We really are quite different," he mused.
"And that is why we make a good team, if we work together."
Loki looked up in surprise, distrust still evident in his face.
"I've given up everything for you. What more do I have to give up?" asked Thor, exasperated.
"Your life," hissed Loki.
"Piss off."
They both chuckled despite themselves.
TO BE CONTINUED. REVIEWS = LOVE!