Thor monitored Loki regularly. Especially since he'd noticed the new developing wings. It was completely fascinating, though it seemed to give Loki a bit of discomfort as they grew, and he would whimper and cry pathetically. Thor didn't like that part. He wished he could take that discomfort away from him.
The following morning, Thor woke to a knock on the door. Little Loki asleep, curled up on Thor's chest. His eyes darted to the door when he heard the voices of his friends. Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, and Sif. Thor panicked and picked Loki up, placing him in his clothing drawer and shutting it, wincing softly at the little noise of surprise coming from the elf.
Thor walked to the door, rubbing his head tiredly. "My friends, it is early." he yawned, opening the door. The four stared at him a moment. Thor was always the first of them to rise. Never tired. Was something wrong with him? He hadn't been spending time with them lately and always seemed in such a rush to get home, and now this?
"Thor.." Volstagg cleared his throat. "Are you well?" he asked bluntly, causing Thor to blink. "I'm sorry?" Thor asked. Fandral sighed and looked at Thor with concern. "You've not been yourself. We're all concerned for you." he said. "Even Sif." he added, earning an elbow in the side from the lady warrior. Again.
Thor shook his head. "I have been perfectly well. You may all come inside, there is no reason to worry." Thor said. "I've just been busy, that is all. Everything is perfectly fine." Thor promised. What was he supposed to tell them? He'd adopted a baby elf into his home and was caring for it? Thor was a warrior, and a hunter. Was it terrible that he cared about what these people thought of him? Besides, what would they do? What if they would try to make Thor let Loki go into the wild? Loki surely couldn't care for himself. Even so, it was the natural order of things, wasn't it?
Hogun finally opened his mouth to speak. "Does anyone hear.. crying?" he asked. The faintest little cries, sounding like that of a little animal coming from inside. Thor looked back towards the dresser drawer. "I hear nothing." he said, trying to sound completely indifferent.
They four stepped inside, all of them now hearing it. And so they began to look for the source of the small sound. "It is probably nothing. No need to waste time on th-" Sif opened up the dresser drawer, and gaped when she saw the little baby elf. Swaddled up in a sock, in Thor's drawer. She cleared her throat. "Yes, nothing." she mumbled. She carefully picked up the baby, who went silent for a moment when in her hand, blinking up at her. Before bursting into tears even louder.
"Loki!" Thor took the crying baby from Sif and shushed him, cradling him in his hand. He paled for a moment before looking up a his friends. Each of their mouths were ajar, staring at the tough warrior they thought they had known. Perhaps not.
"Thor." Said Fandral. "You're.. erm..." he cleared his throat. "You've got an elf in your home. An elf that you are.. taking care of? That's a wild animal, you know. You really shouldn't keep it." said Fandral. Sif looked like she was ready to burst out laughing at any moment. "Our Thor, our brave hunter.. playing mother to this little one?" she asked. "Have to admit, he is pretty." Sif laughed.
Thor couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. "It isn't like that. He was abandoned.. I couldn't leave him to die." said Thor. Volstagg leaned over to get a proper look at Loki. "And you named him." Volstagg chuckled. "Perhaps you are a bit gentler than we had originally thought." he said. "Well, mother. We should be going." he said, and the warriors began to leave.
Thor gave a sigh of relief and smiled down at Loki. "That was very very close. I'm sorry for hiding you so abruptly." he murmured, Loki's tiny fingers wrapped around the top of Thor's pinkey finger. "Ma... ma.." the little one smiled. Thor looked absolutely horrified. "Wh-what? No, no, I'm not.. I'm not your Mama." he shook his head, blushing brightly from embarrassment. He was beyond relieved that the others were not here to see this.
Loki reached out to grab at Thor's nose. "Ma..ma." he repeated. Thor sighed and shook his head. "That doesn't work for me at all... Though I am flattered you see me that way." said Thor. "How about... brother? I can be your big brother, that can work for me." Thor smiled. "What do you think? Very little brother?" Thor asked fondly.
Loki closed his eyes. "Ba... ba.. ba." he experimented with the sounds, not really understanding any of it. He fell asleep once more in Thor's hand, as he did often. Thor felt his heart swell, looking down at the little one. His heart felt full of something he really wasn't very used to. But he felt happy, with little Loki in his arms. This tiny, pure, happy little life that trusted him. Thor didn't know if he'd ever had that kind of fulfillment before. He tucked Loki into his sock and placed him on his pillow as the elf slept. "Goodnight, Loki. I love you." he whispered softly to his 'little brother'.
AN: AHH thank you so much for all the positive feedback! For a while there I was considering abandoning the story, but nahh, at least some people are enjoying it, yeah? So thanks guys! I will do my best to update as quickly as possible!
