A/N. Ugh... I don't really know what to say about this one... Told from Loki's perspective. I own no one. Comments and criticism all welcome.

I can't tell anyone the truth. How could I? I'm supposed to be the calm to Thor's storm, aren't I? But it's getting so hard to keep pretending. And not sleeping isn't helping. It's getting harder and harder to be what Mum and Dad want. How much longer can I keep this up? I run my fingers through my hair. This is what? Day seven without sleep? I sigh. I know I should be sleeping, but I can't. I think too much. So I do what I always do. I pull the battered case from under my bed and unlatch it. Gently running my fingers along the polished wood, I lift the violin from its case and set it against my shoulder. Picking up the bow, I hastily check the tune. Still tuned.

I can't keep burying everything. Soon, it's going to be too much, and I'll snap. I run through several quick scales, stretching my fingers. And what then? What do I tell Mum and Dad? All the secrets I've kept, everything that's gone wrong? What then? I closed my eyes, thoughts stopping for a brief second. I hold the low, vibrating note for several seconds before continuing the dirge I've chosen. Broken thoughts tumble through my mind. I'll never be good enough, I realize. Nothing I do will make me as good as Thor in their eyes. Normally, I wouldn't care. But it's getting worse. Especially the way they never say anything. They think that just because they don't say something, it goes unnoticed. But damn them, that isn't the truth. It's worse. I can feel everything they don't say. It cuts into me like a knife.

Tears run down my face, but I don't care. I'm alone. And for the first time in my life, I wish I'm not. It's just me, and I'm terrible company, even to myself. No wonder no one wants to be around you, pathetic creature. Worthless. Utterly worthless. Maybe Mum and Dad are right. Maybe you should just kill yourself. That way, they can lavish all their attention on Thor and not worry about pretending to love you. I stop playing and set the violin down. It isn't the first time I've thought about killing myself. But each time, I have a reason to live. What's my reason now?