Loki looked down from his seat in Asgard upon his brother, Thor. Ever since his short exile to Earth, Thor returned there regularly to visit his beloved Jane. As Loki looked on, he saw Jane in her laboratory bent intensely over a black notebook. She was so absorbed in her work, she did not notice the golden-locked demigod approaching behind her. When she finally looked up, she cried in surprise and rose to meet him. Thor grabbed her around the waist and effortlessly swung her in a circle before gently kissing her on the lips.
Loki turned away in disgust. Love. Before Thor had met that woman, he had been a ruthless warrior, willing to slay anyone to prove his strength and bravery. Now he was soft and weak. No use to him now. But even though he was weak, he still was king.
That's the way it always was. Thor, being the true son and heir to the throne of Asgard, got the best of everything. Even before Loki's true parentage was made known to him, he always felt different. It was obvious that Thor was the favored son. When he was younger, he always thought that his parents tried to treat them fairly, but now he knew the truth. As a Frost Giant, he would never be allowed the throne. In a way, he wished that his linage was made known when he was young, instead of having to live his life as a lie. He was only used. A playmate and companion for Thor. Adopted out of sympathy.
Even when they considered themselves true brothers, Thor always had the upper hand. His physical strength and battle skills were highly praised by his warrior father, while Loki's own mental and logical strengths were overlooked. All his life, Loki knew he could impress his father, if only he were given a chance.
As he turned his gaze back to the amorous couple on Earth, he resolved to himself to never let that happen to him. Love made you vulnerable and vulnerability made you weak. And one thing Loki never again wanted to be considered was weak.
Not that he ever had much luck with girls anyway. Thor's fine physique and golden tresses were more than enough to claim the fancy of every air-headed girl in Asgard who dreamed of becoming a princess. If that wasn't enough, just one look from those deep blue eyes could cause whole groups of girls to fall away in a dead faint. Although they could harden to a harsh ferocity when angered, Thor's eyes sparkled like the sea when he flashed that cocky grin that Loki had come to despise.
Loki's own eyes were also blue, but they possessed an icy, liquid quality that failed to impress any females. His pale skin, stretched tight over his slender frame, was a striking contrast against his inky black hair. Although swarms of girls never crowded his doorstep, he did not really mind... too much. Most females were fickle and were easily impressed by mindless feats of brute strength. It didn't take much intelligence to be able to swing a hammer. Loki smiled to himself as he thought of why those girls were missing out on. Braun may be impressive, but brains will always win out in the end.
Just as Loki would someday win against his brother Thor. He would use the thing he loved most against him. Loki smiled as he leaned back in his chair. Love does make you weak.