12 Years Old
It was Thor's birthday. Loki had known it was coming for an entire year. He'd tried to prepare himself, but he wasn't prepared. Not at all.
"Loki, why are you in here? Come downstairs and celebrate!" Thor grinned, sitting on the edge of Loki's bed. Loki didn't even glance up from the book he was pretending to read.
"No, I'm fine, brother. You go have fun. It's late, anyway. I ought to be asleep." He knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep; his stomach was churning in anxiety, tied up in knots. Worry etched on his face, Thor scooted closer and frowned.
"What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"
"No, not at all." Lie.
"You sure?"
"I'm positive, Thor." Another lie.
"You promise?" Loki groaned, setting his book down and staring at his lap. After a moment of silence, he looked up hesitantly.
"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?" Even at his own words, he could feel his heart sink. Thor would leave for training tomorrow, and he wouldn't see him for an entire year. Thor, his sibling. Thor, his only friend. Yes, he had tried to prepare himself. He'd tried for months. But he still wasn't near ready to lose his brother.
Thor's frowned deepened, and he hurried to lie beside the sitting Loki. He stared at the ceiling, trying to search for something to say.
"It's only for a year."
"I'll have no one."
"I'll be back. Promise."
"And I'll be waiting. Alone."
"Are you blaming me?" Thor's tone sounded offended, got louder. Quickly shaking his head, Loki sighed, trying to stop the arguement before it began.
"I just- I'll miss you, Thor. I truly will."
Thor stared up at the raven-haired boy, then grabbed him and tugged him to lie on the bed. He then faced him and pulled him into a tight hug, murmuring. "I'll be back soon. Sooner than you think."
"Promise?"
Thor smiled, then planted a kiss on Loki's forehead. "I swear it." He draped his arm around Loki's waist and pulled him close, yawning. "Now go to sleep."
"But your party, Thor-"
"I want to be with you tonight, brother. Only you."
Loki could feel the heat rising to his cheek, an absolutely illogical response to what was happening. He began to panic - why? Was it Thor's words? His actions? There had to be a logical way to explain it, yet logic failed him as the warmth from his cheek travelled down, to gather in his lower stomach-
"Thor, I think you should go finish the party."
Thor opened an eye to glance at him. "No," he tightened his arm around Loki's waist, pulling him closer stubbornly. Loki sighed.
"Loki?"
"Yes, brother?"
"I love you. Never forget that. I maybe gone, but we are still brothers."
Loki smiled, burying his face in Thor's chest.
"I love you as well, Thor."
"Loki. Loki, get up!"
Loki sighed and opened his eyes weakly to see his brother standing beside the bed. "What do you want, idiot? The sun's barely even up, you oaf," he muttered wearily, nuzzling into his pillow. Thor smiled.
"I wanted to say goodbye."
Loki's eyes shot open as he sat up, confused. "Wha...?"
"Get up, stupid," Thor joked, and Loki obeyed, getting up to stand in front of his brother.
"You're leaving? So early? It's hardly even six." He could hear the desperation in his own voice but he didn't care; he just wanted him to stay.
"Yes, I know. I didn't sleep at all last night. I was too worried about leaving you... I'm gonna miss you." Loki nodded. "Me, too..."
"And I do love you, okay?" And once again, Loki believed his words. He trusted his brother completely and without hesitation as Thor kissed his cheek. "Plus, you've got bunny Thor. You'll be fine."
Loki cracked a smile as he stared at the blonde. He wanted to memorize every part of him; his face, his body, his scent. He couldn't let him leave. He couldn't.
"Goodbye then, Lokes."
Thor was gone before Loki could utter his weak 'I love you, too.'
As predicted, the year was hell, for he spent most of it in a cage.
The rabbit grew an awful lot that year, but Loki couldn't buy it a larger pen. It looked uncomfortable.
Loki spent the majority of his free time in the barn, teaching himself magic. He wanted to make Thor proud.
That year, he learned that the Thoughts didn't need the dark in order to appear. They came too often now. Almost constantly. They were dangerous. They stung, prodding at the back of Loki's mind. Intruding and interrupting his normal thoughts. 'Perhaps it'd be easier if I just disappeared.'
A/N: And thus the Bobbiverse continues (as you can see, I'm rather fond of that term)! If you read my fic My Prince after this story is finished, it'll make a lot more sense. Which is a huge coincidence - I had absolutely forgotten about that fic whilst writing this one. The fact that the Thoughts appear in both is bizarre, but totally okay. THOUGH, I suggest you not read it until this is finished. Fluff chapter coming soon-ish.~