Flashback
"Loki", a soft voice calls to him.
Loki pushes himself off of the couch and he turns his head to look back at his mother.
Frigga stands in the library's doorway and Loki curses under his breath. She always knew where to find him when he was hiding. Earlier that day, he had skipped out on his weapons training. Again.
He looks over to the window, avoiding her disappointed gaze and waiting to hear the lecture. It never comes.
"Loki, why have you skipped out on training today," Frigga asks gently, walking toward him.
Loki's eyes shift to focus on the ground. He considered his next words carefully.
"Mother," he asked shifting in his seat ,"Asgard is best known for it's warriors, yes?"
Frigga walked up to him and eyed him in curiosity. Ignoring the fact that he was avoiding her question.
"Yes", she answered with a slight hint of confusion in her voice.
Loki stood up.
'"And Asgard's best warriors have been of the royal line." Loki went on.
"Loki..." Frigga said hesitantly.
Loki's eyes start watering.
"Then why can't I keep up with the rest of the students? Why can I never keep up with Thor?
His lip trembles and a tear slowly falls down his cheek.
Frigga's gentle arms ingulf him in a comforting hug.
"Mother," Loki whispers ,"I just can't keep up. No matter how hard I try, I can't live up to your expectations."
Loki's body trembles in Friggas arms. A quiet sniff came from him as he tries to stop himself from crying.
Frigga looked down at her son. Her eyes full of love.
"Loki," she said ,"you can never disappoint me. What makes me sad is when you no longer wish to try. Everyone has their own weaknesses and strengths and running away from your problems will never solve them."
Loki looked up through his mothers arms.
"But Thor-"
"Thor is 3 years older than you." Frigga finished, " He simply has more experience."
"Thor could parry with ease at my age", Loki protested. "The teachers are always going on about what Thor could do when he was my age."
Frigga eyed Loki evenly.
"Thor has shown several remarkable achievements for his age Loki."
Loki's eyes fell, crestfallen.
"But," Frigga continued.
Loki's eyes flickered back up.
"So have you."
Loki lifts his eyebrow in confusion
Frigga lets out a small laugh and Loki looks back at her disapprovingly.
Frigga smiles at Loki
"My son," she says "you have been so worried about Thor's accomplishments, that you have failed to see your own."
Loki blinks slowly, trying to understand what she is talking about.
Frigga continues. "You and Thor are so similar but you also are so different. It's funny really. Yes, Thor has proven himself to be a formidable warrior but he is headstrong and lacks when thinking things through. While you struggle at physical fighting, you have also shown to be a skilled tactician and an adept mage."
"I-" Loki began.
"I heard from your magic instructor this week." Frigga said, eyes glowing. "Thor still struggles to produce a simple ember but you have managed to create large flames from your palm. Magic is one of the hardest skills to learn. It takes years and dedication to master it's spells. You have learned to create fire at the age of 12. That is no small accomplishment."
"I- well yes, I have enjoyed our magic classes." Loki said.
However, Frigga says, lowering her head and voice in a disapproving tone, "Thor does not skip his classes because he is not doing well in them."
Loki lifts his chin, understanding what Frigga was implying.
"Thank you mother," Loki says smiling. "I won't skip classes again and I will go now to apologize to my teacher."
Frigga smiles back as Loki turns to leave.
Loki pauses in the doorway. His eyes are full of determination as he looks at Frigga. "I WILL catch up with Thor", Loki declares. "No matter how hard I have to try."
"I have no doubt about that", Frigga says, as Loki walks out of the room.
