The creases and folds of Loki's knuckles were stained with paint. He moved his slender fingers slowly as he studied his hands, analyzing the foreshortening that came with his movement as only an artist would. These hands told his story.
A white scar graced the incline on the knuckles on his left hand. This was the scar Loki received when he and Thor had gotten into a fight several years ago. The cause of this quarrel plagued Loki's mind constantly. He'd never forgiven Odin for what he did to him, even after his death. Thor had clearly been the only son he sought love from, so Loki remained apathetic.
His eyes journeyed down from his knuckles to the veins that scaled his hands with blue and purple. These were the same veins that had protruded with fury as his father told him Thor would carry his legacy. These were the veins that trembled as Loki had experienced fits of anxiety in his lonely apartment. These veins kept him alive in a life that felt like death.
A sharp ring of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts and Loki stood from his tarnished metal stool. He lightly kicked away bits of art supplies and paper here and there with his bare feet as he emerged from his living room. Situated in such a small apartment, this living room was where Loki did almost everything. A modest, narrow kitchen had been shabbily built next to it, and art supplies were inappropriately strewn along the counter. Loki swore under his breath as he grabbed a footstool and dragged it in front of the door. The imbeciles who built this apartment put the peephole far too high on the door. Loki stood at a height of 6ft 1 and still needed a few inches to reach it.
Balancing one foot on the step, he leaned into the door. Long golden hair was the first thing he noticed but, his brain didn't quite process who the person in the warped, circular image was for a few moments. Thor shifted impatiently outside with only the forehead of a brunette visible to Loki next to him. Loki angrily kicked the stool out of the way and cracked the door open.
"It's been two years, brother. Why do you visit me now?" Loki growled, the pain clear in his spiteful voice.
A small, dainty hand thrust from the brunette's side to Loki's field of vision. The ring finger was adorned with a gaudy silver ring covered in gleaming diamonds.
"I'm Jane," The petite woman said as Loki realized she intended to shake his hand. "I'm Thor's fiance. It's great to finally meet you." Her lipgloss shimmered as her mouth spread into a smile.
Fiance. Thor is getting married. "Come in." Loki swung the door wide open, leading them inside his unkempt apartment. "How is Asgard doing?" He already knew what the answer to this would be. Asgard, Thor's real estate empire, was of course as successful as ever. Odin passed down the entirety of his company to Thor and had not given a single penny to Loki.
"Very well." Thor straightened his suit and sat at the dining room table, eyeing the old chair skeptically as if it had not met his standards.
Jane happily seated herself next to him as she rummaged through her purse. Loki leaned against the back of his torn couch, facing them with his arms crossed.
"I'll invite you to the wedding in just a minute," Jane bit her lip, tossing a few items on the table. "If I can actually find the invitation."
"Well, Thor is a lucky man to be marrying a woman as charming as yourself." Loki couldn't help but smile at Jane. She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up, returning his smile.
"Thank you, Loki. You're very sweet." She resumed her search for the invitation.
"Loki," Thor began, exhaling through his nose and scraping his beard. "Have you had any success in your art?"
"I'm an artist." Loki shrugged. "Are any artists truly successful? Some have wealth but no confidence in their work. Others have poverty but have a surplus of pride. I, on the other hand, possess no money or pride. I live every day on my next sale which depends on whether people have confidence in me. My opinion doesn't matter at all. In the end, the world really is about money, isn't it? But, that is only this world. The world beyond ours, the one we reach when we die, does not judge us on our wealth but rather on our worth. And that is why a poor, unconfident artist like myself cannot succeed, whether in life or in death."
The room had fallen silent. Jane was frozen in her seat, her hands stuffed in her handbag and her eyes glued on Loki.
"You're right." Thor said. "All that matters in this world is money. So, you cannot depend on your philosophies to pay for your food."
"Thor." Jane nudged him. "Don't say that. That's terrible."
"It's alright, Jane, you mustn't defend me." Loki walked to Jane, his rather tight black pants stretching as his legs moved. "Here." He snatched the white letter from her breast pocket with a grin.
She laughed at her ignorance as she put her wallet and keys back into her purse. "Right under my nose…" She muttered.
Loki stuck his thumb inside the corner of the envelope. The lack of any contrast between Loki's skin and the white paper was alarmingly strange. But, after all, Loki didn't spend much time outside at all. He slid his thumb along the fold, tearing the paper as it moved. He took out the small card and read the details of the invitation while absently combing through his hair.
"It's at your house? I expected something much more extravagant from you." He smirked at his brother.
"Yes, but most people's living quarters don't look like yours." Thor retorted.
"Thor, please." Jane placed a hand on his upper arm.
"Yes, Thor, please." Loki scoffed.
"I came here to ask you to be my best man." Thor said suddenly, catching Loki off-guard.
"And I graciously decline." Loki tossed the invitation on the kitchen counter.
Jane rose from her seat, the chair scraping against the floor loudly. "You have to! He's your brother. Come on, just bury the hatchet already."
Loki tilted his head as he contemplated what to do. His brother had without a doubt disowned him the same way his father did. Thor hadn't questioned Odin at all. He simply cut off all ties with Loki and let him live in poverty. But, this woman, so delicate and beautiful, seemed to care for Loki without even knowing him. Her sincerity was clear and her motives were kind. So, as Loki looked at this woman, he made a decision that even surprised himself.
"I'll do it." He said to Jane. He never even glanced in Thor's direction. "I'll be his best man."