"Loki they didn't mean it" called Thor, from the other side of the door, there was silence on the other side as the small trickster pulled his knees up to his chin and buried his head between them.
I will not be called weak, not now not ever again! Thought Loki, calming his rapid breaths and steeling himself. He got up from the floor, even though he wanted nothing more than to curl up there forever and closed his hand in an uncertain fist, which clenched and unclenched in a spasm, finally resting in the door frame, where he leaned.
Loki was becoming extremely proficient in magic, but there were those who though magic a coward's trick, not a proper form of combat at all. Some of the other boys in the castle had made fun of Loki, making fun of the fact he preferred the company of books to other asgardians.
Loki thought them dull and stupid, but let them be, a courtesy they seemed unable to return, and when he was pushed to the ground, books flying out of his grasp, it had been humiliating, their words no less so.
"Well look here, the mighty Loki, of Asgard!"
Brom mocked, pushing down on Loki's back with his foot where he had begun to get up, until he was left sprawled back on the floor. He could end this, with a click of his fingers, but they were Thor's friends, and he didn't want to upset the oaf.
"Get off me you illiterate dolt!"
Hissed Loki, squirming beneath the older boys foot.
"Squirm all you want, you're too weak to fight me"
Laughed the bully. His two lackeys laughed, leaning against each other like the joke was too funny to stay upright alone.
"You're just Thor's weak little brother, you'll never learn to fight properly"
There was a call from down the long elegant hallway, announcing loudly Thor was looking for his brother.
"LOKIIIII!"
Bellowed Thor.
The bully removed his foot, his cronies lifting Loki to his feet and brushing him down before Thor rounded the corner.
"Loki! I've been looking everywhere for you! I wanted to know if you would help me charm snakes again, I'm really no good at that sort of thing, and I just like them so much, with their cute little tongues- and beady little eyes, and the way they-"
" Thor shut up!" Snapped Loki.
Thor looked at Loki properly for a second, head snapping up in shock, but all he saw was Loki, Brom, Curtis, and Connor, standing innocently…
However when Thor looked closer he noticed Loki's books scattered across the marble of the hall, and a guilty look plastered across Curtis and Connors faces, they wouldn't look him in the eye.
" I will do no such thing until you tell your oaf friends to learn some manners! they just attacked me and insulted me! the only reason I didn't curse them to oblivion is because you call them friends!" Loki stormed off down the corridor, leaving the bullies to utter a short edited version of what had happened to a furious Thor.
Which left them here.
Loki took a deep breath, calling back to Thor through the thick mahogany door. "If I take you to charm the damn snakes again will you teach me how to fight? Without magic?"
He asked.
Loki fell into Thor's arms as the door he was leaning against was flung open.
"Brother! I thought you'd never ask!" Shouted a beaming young Thor, spinning the dubious Loki round in his arms until he was dizzy.
When his brother finally put him down Loki patted the ecstatic Thor on the arm awkwardly and smiled, happy Thor was happy. "Well, let's get started then"
Thor looked at him pleadingly
"oh fine, snakes first!"
Sighed an exasperated Loki.
Thor beamed.