Author's Note: In this, Loki is around eleven years old, and Thor is around fourteen.
Just another one-shot that I'd written, but I hope you like it!
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or favourited my story! ^_^
"Loki, it's your turn!"
Loki turned his sharp eyes to the boy with blond hair, who was beckoning him over.
"Thank you, Fandral"
He made his way up the steps onto the golden stage, the enormous crowd still applauding his older brother from their tables as he strode off. Thor's performance for the feast was a display of his fighting skills with various weapons, leaving the audience cheering wildly. Loki knew that a performance of magic-using wouldn't be as well-received.
When the Asgardians were finally looking at him, Loki conjured up a large white candle in his palm. He tossed it up into the air above him, splayed his hand at it, and suddenly there were eleven of them scattered in the space high above the stage.
One of the candles lit up with another sharp hand gesture, and then Loki began to sweep his hands in quick, fluid motions towards them.
They began to gracefully tumble and spin, above, below and around each other, passing on fire from candle to candle. Sometimes one would whoosh pass another and put out its flame, but at least one other candle would be burning.
Loki was standing below, the young boy's dark-haired head tilted up as he conducted the candles in their strange, fiery dance.
No one was making a sound. He wondered if they were even watching.
When it was over, Loki gathered the eleven candles to him with another sweep of his pale hand, and vanished them. He wasn't going to wait for an applause that wouldn't come, turning to leave the stage, just as the Asgardians started to clap, almost as loudly as they did for Thor. They were applauding him.
Loki turned to face them again, his green eyes wide. Not knowing what to do, he silently left the stage after bowing his head shyly, as Volstagg walked on with his training axe.
Suddenly, Thor and Odin were there.
"Excellently done, Brother! You did as well as I did!"
Thor patted his little brother on the back as their father watched them. Loki gazed up at Thor.
"Really?"
Then Odin spoke.
"You did, Loki."
Loki froze, and stared up at him.
"... I did?"
"Of course," their father said, with a smile full of love.
"I'm proud of you, my son."
And then Loki woke up.
Loki slowly rose to a sitting position, crossing his legs. He sat quietly on his bed and pondered over the first good dream he'd had in months, until the first rays of the morning light came, along with a small smile on his face.
The next morning, Thor exclaimed, "You look tired, Brother!"
The smaller boy smiled up at him. "I just didn't sleep very much last night."
Thor's forehead creased. "You had another nightmare."
Loki hesitated, but then simply shrugged wordlessly. The older boy smiled and pulled him into a hug.
"They're only dreams, Brother! They will never be real."
Loki hugged Thor back earnestly with another smile, but it looked a little sad.
"... I know"
Author's Note: Please review for me! :)
And thank you again if you did! :D