This was an idea that I had on a little before Christmas day 2014, and didn't get around to writing it out properly until about now, so this may seem a bit late for a Christmas-themed story. But oh well.

The story will be in third-person perspective throughout, and is the result of my attempt at something lighthearted and fun to write (and fun to read, with any luck). It's set in Loki and Thor's adulthood days before Thor's disrupted coronation.

This chapter is from Thor's point of view. Enjoy!

Thor saw the morning sun was smiling through the high, arched windows of the quiet chamber he strode into.

The only shadow on the lit floors was a long dusky stripe, cast by the slight figure that hung in one of the windows like a pendulum, legs hooked over a ceiling rafter.

"Loki, I have an idea!"

The upturned figure peered around the dense book he had been absorbed in, fixing star-green eyes onto Thor's expectant smile. An upside-down beam was shone in return.

"This is wondrous news, Thor, truly. Did anyone else witness the spectacle? We must tell Father immediately, so he can begin preparing a speech for the celebratory banquets sure to follow! Meanwhile, Mother could – " Loki abruptly twisted away from the heavy swipe Thor had aimed at his younger brother's head.

When Loki straightened, like a wind chime that had been batted by a light breeze, Thor seized the thick tome from him and dropped it to the floor beyond Loki's reach, grinning.

"Shut up and listen. The Nine Realms have been peaceable as of late, and I've found that some day soon approaching on Midgard is one they call 'Christmas.' It's a day many humans celebrate, and since we have no foreseeable festivities here in Asgard, I think we should visit Earth for the prior day 'Christmas Eve' to join in the merriment."

Still upside-down, Loki tapped a long finger to his jaw thoughtfully. While Loki did, Thor saw an illusion of a pearl-grey lynx slink into existence on the windowsill behind his brother. It pawed at the sunlight and cast a graceful shadow. It still amazed him that fashioning an illusion could count as training, despite the lack of physical exertion.

"Hm. No, thank you. Hogun will dislike being there. Sif will want to arm herself, and someone hefting a spear may be a little too conspicuous. Volstagg's appetite will plunge a small city into famine, and Fandral will try seducing anything pretty and with a pulse."

"Loki." Thor chided, then playfully swatted his hand through the image of the lynx basking on the sun-drenched window ledge. The lynx turned its moon-like eyes to him before dissipating in flickers of green light. "Then just the two of us should go!"

Loki raised his eyes from the last ghosts of the illusion. Something like surprise may have glinted in his expression, but Thor dismissed it as a trick of the light. There was a whisper of rustling black coattails as his brother promptly swung off the ceiling strut and tumbled neatly to his feet. When Loki straightened up, Thor saw a familiar, contagiously excited smile gleaming, and he tossed the book back to him.

Loki just let the novel sail over his shoulder, unceremoniously snapping his fingers. The book disappeared before it touched the wall, and Thor presumed it had gone to wherever his brother stored his books when he left on an expedition.

Loki adjusted his coat as he spoke next. "So, when do we start?"

I hope this is going well enough so far. The next chapter will be up soon, and longer, and with an awful Christmas cracker joke!