Thor didn't dare go back to see his brother for the next few days. The blonde was not happy to admit that he was afraid to go see the raven. Loki usually had a very calm and collected spirit, but Thor had seen his anger in the past and he was not too happy about it being directed at him, but he was sure something good had to come of it soon enough. His mother would send him secret smiles every time they were in the same room. She never said anything, but it was clear that she knew Thor had gone to see his brother and she couldn't be happier. Thor had to fight the temptation to smile like an idiot at her proud and approving looks.
Three days after his confrontation with Loki the blonde was called to the throne room because Odin had sent for him. Thor was slightly nervous about seeing his father. He knew Odin hadn't forbidden him from seeing Loki, but he knew the king wouldn't be happy about it.
"Father you sent for me" Thor said as calmly as he could. He could see his mother standing slightly behind the throne so Odin couldn't see her. Frigga was smiling that motherly smile she seemed to always have and it was clear that she was very amused about the situation. Thor was happy to see her this way, it was just gonna make it hard to keep a straight face in front of his father.
"Yes my son I have. A few days ago I sensed a change in your brother's heart" Odin said and Thor had to swallow hard.
"What kind of change?" the thunder god hoped this would be good news. His little stunt with Loki would make the raven a lot worse than he already was so it was a high gamble for Thor to come to him like that and now seemed to be the time for the consequences.
"I am not sure" Odin said and stood from his throne. Thor shifted slightly and Frigga looked down for a moment to hide her amusement. The king walked down the steps to stand in front of his son. "I know you went to see him" Odin said and Thor looked down at the floor. He felt slightly embarrassed that his father knew, but it didn't really surprise him, but before he would defend himself Odin turned to his wife. "And I know you encouraged him to do so"
"Oh come now, you make it sound like something awful" Frigga said completely unfazed by the slight anger in Odin's voice.
"I have told you both many times that it's best that he is left alone, so he can learn what he has lost" Odin half yelled. It was clear that he wanted to be the one with the last word in this case and Thor couldn't help but become angry himself.
"Then he will rot away in there forever" Thor snarled in a low voice.
"Have care how you speak Thor. You will see, in time he will come around" Odin tried to reason with his golden boy. The elder man placed his hand on Thor's cheek in a comforting gesture but the blonde flinched away from the touch.
"I have never seen Loki as your son, have you? If you had there would never have been a problem. He hasn't been a part of this family for many, many years so there is nothing for him to realize he has lost. He lost it so long ago he can't even remember what is was like to have a family"
"You do not speak to me in that tone. I will have you respect me" Odin yelled. He was red like a tomato and Thor was pretty sure he himself had gained a little color.
"Both of you calm down" Frigga said and stepped between her husband and son "we don't have to fight over this. We can figure this out"
"We need not talk about this. I am king and forbid Loki to have any visitors as of this moment" Odin said and stormed off towards the open door, but long before he could reach it, it slammed shot and Mjolnir fell to the ground. Odin turned around to see Thor straighten after throwing his hammer to shut the door. Thor held out his hand after he got his father's attention back and the hammer flew back into his hand. Frigga stood behind her son with a shocked expression. One hand was placed over her moth and the other rested over her heart.
"So you would punish Loki for something I did? How often has this been the case?" Thor demanded to know.
"I have always treated the two of you as equals…" Odin said but never got to finish, before Thor cut him off.
"Don't lie to me. All you say is lies. You have never seen Loki as my equal. If you couldn't love him as your own, than you shouldn't have saved him at all. That way his pain would have been quick and he wouldn't be suffering with every breath he takes"
"THOR" Frigga yelled and when the thunder god turned around, he was slapped right across the face. Thor stood completely stunned and slowly raised his hand and placed it against his sore cheek. Never in his life had his mother ever raised her hand against him or anyone else for that matter. "Don't you ever talk about your brother like that ever again" Frigga lectured her son, it had been so long since Thor had ever seen his mother out right angry and to be completely honest he didn't think he had any memories of her ever raising her voice in such a way.
"I'm sorry mother that was wrong of me. He always had your love to heal him" Thor said when the chock wore off.
"If you ever say your brother was better off dead…" Frigga did not finish the sentence.
"Yes mother I promise" Thor said and looked down in shame.
"Then we are finished here" Odin announced and once again headed for the door.
"You won't keep me from my brother" Thor called after the elder man "not now, when I know what it in his heart" Odin stopped at the door for a moment, but then he continued out of the room. Thor turned back to his mother and took her hands in a calming manner. "I must go now mother" Thor said and tried to make his mother understand with his eyes.
"Yes you certainly must" Frigga said and gave Thor's hands a squeeze before the blonde quickly left the room and headed for the dungeons.
Loki was enjoying a small meal when a big commotion made him curious about what was going on down the hall.
"LOKI" a voice boomed down the halls. The raven only knew one person with such a voice and he had no desire to see him, but it didn't seem like the blonde was going to give up. He came into view not too long after with three guards trying to drag him out of the prison. The thunder god had a guard on each arm and on pushing on his chest, but Thor was still strong enough to push his way forward.
"Go away you big oaf. I do not want to see you again" Loki said and turned away from the blonde and back to the snack he had been eating before he was interrupted.
"Brother, it might have appeared to go unnoticed" Thor yelled as he grabbed hold of the pillar that created a corner of Loki's cell "but I've got it all here in my hear"
"You majesty you can't talk to him" one of the guards said as more came to assist the three in removing Thor from the cell.
"I want you to know I know the truth" Thor was slowly being pushed away and it was clear that the visit was over soon. Loki didn't know what came over him, but it felt like it was going to be the least time he was ever going to see the blond. He ran over to the golden vail so he could see Thor for just a few more seconds.
"THOR?" Loki called. He didn't know why, but he didn't want it to end like this. Thor was meant to give up on him and leave on his own, not being forced away when he still felt something for the raven. Loki stood on his toes to get a glimpse of the blonde, but it was difficult because of the guards. Suddenly the ground shook and the guards fell. Loki held his hands out to keep his balance, but he was unprepared for the shook and fell to his knees. Not ten seconds passed before Thor was kneeling in front of him.
"I would be nothing without you" Thor said tenderly. He wanted so badly to take his brother into an embrace, but before Loki could think of anything to say, the guards came over to them and grabbed hold of Thor.
"NOOO" the thunder god boomed at them, but had no effect and they quickly overpowered him "did you ever know that you're my hero?" Thor yelled as he was dragged away. It had worked before and Thor was hoping that by repeating it as many times as possible it would make the trickster believe him. Thor had always admired Loki and if he failed the raven know then he would forever have failed as an older brother.
"NO DON'T LEAVE ME" Loki yelled after them. He wasn't happy to admit that he was breaking under the pressure of his secrets. He had always been fine because he thought that Thor was not looking back at him or believed that there wasn't any hope left for him, but now that he knew differently he couldn't handle the pressure.
"And everything I wish I could be" Thor was long gone by now, but his massive voice was echoing in the halls. After a while Loki heard the doors to the prison slam shut and he broke down on the floor.
