Here's the thing: This was supposed to be a one-shot, ending right here. I just wanted to provide a bit of hurt for Loki without any comfort (yes, I'm sorry!), seeing as that is the way Loki is meant to be (as in, in the canon). But then it just got bigger and more adventure-y, I decided to push the point even further and yeah, this is how it ended.

The characters are children or teens (excuse me for not knowing how aging works for immortal gods xD)

„Stay away from us, you traitor!"

That was different. The other kids were often mean, snarky and distrusting. But they were never this open hostile. Not without a reason at least. Justified hostility was tolerable. This wasn't.

And yet Loki didn't speak. He just looked at Fandral, who was giving him an arrogant glare, shrugged his shoulders and returned to his book. It was stupid in the first place to try to go and ask them why they are all standing there, shooting him these glares. Not that he was letting it slide, he was just waiting for better circumstances.

Which came with Thor. The four friends surrendered the golden prince the moment he entered the room and there they stood, talking about something or other. Loki didn't care, honestly. Thor wouldn't send him away. So once again he left his reading stand and approached the group.

"Thor," he spoke quietly, once he was close enough to his brother. "I shall have a word with you."

Thor spun around and Loki was met with a frown. "No. I shall not have a word with you."

Honestly, Loki thought, Thor was sometimes unbearably childish even for a child. Loki turned to the others and said coldly: "In private, if you don't mind."

"I don't think we should leave Thor alone in your company after you'd once ditched him like that, you traitor!" Sif snarled; her glare the deadliest of them all.

"You might wanna be careful," murmured Loki darkly, "so you won't find your beds filled with fleas."

Sif bit her lip and with one last murderous look she retreated. She knew better then to question validity of the threat. At this point it was a miracle that she and the boys didn't build up a tolerance to flea bites. Loki made a mental note to come up with a new threat later.

Once they were alone, Loki gave Thor, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest, sidelong glance.

"So," he asked, "why am I a traitor?"

"As if you need to ask!" Thor exclaimed.

Loki just looked at him meaningfully.

Thor seemed to deflate somewhat when genuine confusion replaced his anger: "You don't remember?"

"No, Thor," Loki said, dangerously close to snapping, "I'm pretty sure I would remember betraying you. So enlighten me. Why am I a traitor?"

"You left me in that gap. Father had to be the one to came and save me. Don't tell me you don't remember it," Thor was still frowning, still annoyed and yet somewhat less so now.

That had actually happened the day before. The two princes had been playing outside without the others for once and decided to do a bit of exploring around Asgard. They ended up discovering a moat round the border of the city. Unfortunately, they discovered it only after Thor had fallen into it. Loki remained on the periphery, because he'd managed to stop in time. The pit wasn't altogether dangerous. It even wasn't all that deep, just irritably deep enough for Thor to be unable to climb out. Even if he could reach Thor, Loki would never be strong enough to pull him up. And he knew no magic tricks that could help him out. At first, they tried to walk down the moat, hoping to find a less steep site. When that turned out in vain, they had to make do with different tactic.

"I went for help," Loki said in a tone reserved for mentally challenged, very slowly and carefully, searching Thor's face. Why wasn't this simple fact acknowledged by his brother?

"Aye, that's what you claimed. But you lied."

"What?" Loki gave a short, startled laugh. "No, I didn't!"

"If you didn't, then why have you never come back? I had to wait for father, who found me hours later!" challenged Thor, almost triumphant.

"I was to one who send father for you!"

Thor was taken aback by that small bit of information. "You did?" he asked after a moment, dumbly.

"Yes, imagine that!" answered Loki dryly.

Thor was working though his surprise and back into disbelief and suspicion: "Then why didn't you come back with him? Then I would have never doubted you."

Even after the whole affair, it was just now that Loki looked hurt: "I honestly didn't think I was bound to prove anything to you." Then he added, matter-of-factly: "When I found father I wanted to lead him to you, but he said that he knows where you are and send me to my rooms."

Loki shrugged, as if the whole thing was no big deal, though he secretly enjoyed how Thor's arrogance dissolved into regret. "So I went back to my books. I remember Sif wanting to know where you are, but I didn't tell her because, firstly, falling into a pit isn't very regal and pricey and I imagined you wouldn't appreciate if everyone knew. Secondly, because I was sure you and father will be back any minute and there won't be any need for me to answer her anyway."

"Well," Thor said, "when we came home, Sif was falling head over heels to complain to me you refused to tell her where I was. So I told her..."

He flushed slightly at Loki's pointed look.

"I didn't really think about it like you did. I simply told her what had happened and ever since then she thought you had left me there on purpose."

"It was all part of my evil plan of reading my book in peace," Loki deadpanned.

Thor didn't seem to understand the joke, so Loki went on, lest he would create another misunderstanding: "You all always assume that I have some kind of purpose. But you never even dream about what it would be, do you? Well, surprise, because neither do I. What would I gain by leaving you there, when it was obvious that even if I didn't get him, Father would eventually find you anyway?"

Thor wouldn't meet his gaze, when he answered: "You know you could have done it out of spite."

"I don't despise you!" Loki protested.

"I know, I know," Thor assured him quickly. "But Sif thinks..."

"Sif hates me," Loki cut him, coldly. He said it as a fact. It wasn't a petty accusation. The warrior girl would be ready to swear her hatred towards him at any given time and everyone knew it.

"I'm sure she will see you in a new light after I tell her about this," Thor insisted, stubbornly holding onto his naivety. Loki didn't feel like arguing. He knew that any words against this Thor's ideal image of his friends would fall on deaf ears. So he assumed neutral expression.

"Go ahead. As long as you drop the traitor thing you can do whatever you please."

Thor smiled at him, completely missing the sting in Loki's voice.

The older prince started out of the room, but when he opened the door, he found out that he doesn't have to go far to find his friends. They were listening behind the closed door and now they hurriedly tried to appear nonchalant. Sif straightened up - she was obviously looking though the keyhole. The reaction of the two brothers differenced incredibly.

Thor's reaction was a quiet, surprised: "Oh." And then a genuine smile, as if he saw nothing wrong with his friends' actions. Maybe he wasn't even aware what their presence so close behind the door suggested.

Loki on the other hand felt something hardening in his chest. He asked for privacy. If they refused to give it to him, then he didn't feel obliged to tame himself. This meant war. It won't take long for them to regret their curiosity.

Thor started talking, not caring one bit if they were actually listening. That considered, he most probably didn't actually realize that his friends already heard the whole conversation.

Sif's gaze locked with Loki's. It never changed. Despite the words falling from Thor's mouth to her ears, the hatred never wavered. Loki honestly wasn't surprised and readily returned the stare.

In the end it was Vostagg who decided that it's time for supper and that there was enough said already. Thor was immediately sold and followed him enthusiastically out into the corridor and towards the kitchens. The rest followed.

Loki was left alone, Sif's murderous glare still alive in his mind's eye.

He hated himself for expecting an apology. Right now Thor once again completely forgot Loki's entire existence, lost in his bliss. It was stupid to assume anything else. And yet he did. Here he stood, waiting for the final words of "You are not a traitor, I'm sorry for calling you one" which never came.

He returned to his book, keeping his features composed. He already had a perfect idea for a new prank. He closed the book and returned it to its place. He didn't have time to read it now, he had to work while they were distracted.

He sighed, so quietly that it was barely noticeable. He wished he didn't have a reason to do this.

To be continued