A/N: Hey beautiful people! Here is my attempt at the "I'm Here" scene, because it's my favorite. BTW: HUGE SPOILER WARNING IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THOR: RAGNAROK.
Ok, anyways, I keep seeing people who were inspired to write the hug scene, which is amazing as I love reading them. Anyways, as a bit of a writer challenge, I wanted to look at this scene from multiple different angles and "what ifs", and we'll see what becomes of this. It will at least be a two-shot. As always, please leave me a review and let me know what you think! And if some of you have followed me here from my Merlin fanfic "Visionverse", then have no fear! I will be updating "The Shattered Hope" soon.
And now without further ado, onto what you came here for.
"If you were here, I might even give you a hug." Thor tossed the crystal decanter stopper, fully expecting it to pass through Loki in a shimmer of green.
He did a double take when Loki's hand came up to catch the stopper with a sharp thunk. The trickster smirked at the surprised look on his face, an almost uncharacteristic softness about his eyes. But Thor only saw the blades hiding beneath those soft green eyes.
"I'm here." The words carried an undercurrent of fierceness. The brothers stared at each other for a long moment, one waiting with guarded hope, the other analyzing with a guarded heart.
"If only." Thor's words were soft, but Loki's ears were keen.
"As much as I'm flattered that you think me capable of breaking the laws of magic to form a physical illusion, it is truly me, brother."
"Truly?" Thor narrowed his only eye. "What do you know of truth?"
"Is this still about faking my death?" His tone wasn't sneering, but jokingly mocking, almost patronizing, even as the softness about his eyes turned to steel.
Thor shook his head, looking away.
Loki shrugged. "I guess it's too much to hope that you might actually be grateful I saved your entire people."
"I am grateful." Thor said quickly, looking back up at him. "Don't ever think that I'm not. The people of Asgard...all of us...we owe you our lives, and for their safety, I will always be eternally grateful." He smiled sadly, sardonically, and oh, did such an expression look so out of place on the elder's face even while the younger's suddenly looked so very pleased…
"I guess I just thought you'd have run to find a better offer by now. What could a spaceship of refugees possibly offer you, Loki? How does this fit in with your schemes?"
"You really do think so low of me, don't you?" Cold anger blossomed across Loki's face. "I came back because…"
"Because why, Loki? Want the glory of Asgard? People falling at the feet of their savior?"
"I was right on Sakaar. It's best we never see each other again." Loki turned to go.
Thor groaned, dragging a hand down one side of his face, wincing when he accidentally put too much pressure near his eye patch. "Forgive me my sharp words, brother. It's been a long day."
"I will make arrangements for me to leave your company at the earliest convenience. It is readily apparent I am not wanted here."
"No! No, you're not!" Thor roared suddenly. Loki stiffened, refusing to look over his shoulder.
"Not like this, Loki. I am so tired, brother. I don't want to have to plan and scheme in case you betray me. I am tired of not being able to trust you, of having to read into everything you say and do." Thor sighed again. "I want my little brother here again."
"You mean your pet. Your little brother who did whatever he was told, who was your plaything to be picked up and discarded at will." Loki sneered. "Forgive me if I refuse."
"I never…"
"Yes, you did!" Loki whirled on his heel, almost snarling this time. "It's one thing for Odin to put you above everything, but it was another to put yourself above me, Thor!"
"It doesn't change everything that you've done, Loki!" Thor glared at him. "Midgard was innocent!"
"Midgard is weak, they practically invite conquering"
"Spoken like Laufey's son."
Loki reeled back as if struck. Never had Thor called him such. His face contorted with fury. "Spoken like Odin's son! Condemning others when they commit the same sins you do."
"Odin was a conqueror and a liar." Thor laughed slightly, bitterly. "You're more like him than you can see."
"And you with all your self-righteousness, who do you claim to be?"
"I have made many mistakes in my lifetime, brother…"
"Don't call me that." Loki's face was chiseled stone. "Don't name me Laufey's offspring in one breath and claim me as your brother in the next."
"Both are true."
Loki snorted with derision. "You're never going to change, are you?"
"Are you?"
Loki glared at him, but a hint of sorrow flitted across his face. "I tried to. But it seems that's another thing you have in common with Odin. Holding out hope for acceptance, then snatching it away." He laughed bitterly, turning away again.
"Hope for what, Loki?"
The trickster stopped, but did not turn around.
"You are the last of my family, Loki. So answer this one question truthfully, brother. Why did you come back?"
"Because I'm a fool."
"Truthfully, Loki."
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I want to know if my little brother truly is here or not."
The tension didn't leave Loki's shoulders. "He's not. However," he glanced over his shoulder, "the savior of Asgard is. And you may not believe me, but I did return because I had a love for the people of Asgard. And that love will keep me at your side until I see them safely to a new home. Then I will be free of you."
Thor swallowed. "I thank you for your aid."
Loki nodded once, stepping towards the door. He was in the hall when Thor called out.
"I never did give you that hug."
Loki snorted bitterly. "Keep it."
A/N: Yes okay, I'm terrible. Very, very terrible. *hides behind couch*
