Walking down the dark hallways of the castle quietly was something Thor was having trouble doing. He had forgotten to take off his heavy boots before coming down this way.
A feeling had lead him down this way, like he needed to see Loki. Something in his chest wouldn t let it go. Thor had to see his baby brother.
In their earlier years, they had been each others best friend. Constantly laughing and playing, talking about ruling Asgard side-by-side. Though that changed when it became Thor would be the king, and Odin showed favoritism. That changed when Loki became the odd one out, his differences finally manifesting as he grew into an adult.
Pushing the door open into Loki s quarters, Thor dared to move withing the dark room. The door closed behind him and he took a look around the room. There was a fire that was almost dead in the corner, giving the room an erie glow.
Looking unto the area that Thor knew was his brothers bed, he could barely make out the lean figure of his brother asleep on the bed. As he walked forward as silently as possible, he was able to see Loki better.
Loki was asleep, sprawled out across the bed on his stomach with only silk green bottoms on. Always favoring the green. Thor mused with a smile. Loki s face was only half visible, and in the dim lighting, looked more gaunt than normal.
A sad feeling struck Thor in the heart, and he took another step forward as to have a better look. Though Loki s face looks dark and gaunt, there was something calming about the expression. It was an expression of peace.
The normally stressed, trouble causing, socially awkward brother of his, was only clam in his sleep. Thor couldn t help but feel as though this was what perfection looked like and a smile graced his features as he watched his brother in slumber, too caught in the beauty of his brother.
In that moment, every happy memory came back into his mind, and a tear began rolling down his cheek. Before he knew it, it landed on his outstretched hand.
Thor hadn t realized he was reaching out to touch the skin that looked like the smoothest ice - unknowing of Loki s true heritage.
"Thor.." Loki muttered in his sleep, obviously a dream about their childhood as a smile graced the sleeping features.
Not being able to stay in that room anymore as he was too come over with the emotions of a past so long lost and a brother so far away, Thor turned and went to leave. As he was half our the door, he looked back at Loki.
"You will always be my brother. I will always love and protect you." Thor's whispers were lost in the dark room and he left with tears in his eyes, the door closing with a very soft thud.
Little had he known that Loki had been awake the whole time, not having been able to sleep and feigning sleep when his brother came in.
Loki sat up on the bed and ran a hand through his black hair that was a mess from laying there on the pillow. "As I will always love you, Thor." He whispered. This time, he used his magic to carry the words to his brother. Finally getting tired, he fell promptly asleep the moment his head contacted the pillow.
Thor was laying in his bed, thinking about all the memories when he heard the voice that was unmistakably his brothers. As I will always love you, Thor. He wasn t sure that it was him hearing things, or it was actually Loki saying them, but in that moment, that was the only validation that he needed to know there was still something alive in the seemingly cold heart of his brother.
Closing his eyes, Thor was finally able to sleep peacefully.