"Father said that I should stay away from you," Selene whispered bashfully, seated next to Vali on a shadowed bench in one of the many palace gardens-extreme, beautiful places built for serenity and meditation, waters trickling from ancient fountains, colorful leaves swaying in the wind as they hung from creaking limbs.

She hesitated to glance up at him through her light lashes, her eyes shining with shame, her cheeks darkening as she twisted her mouth up restlessly. Vali tilted his head, gazing out at the perfectly clear view of Asgard-the golden tops of buildings glittering ravishingly in the light cast high in the sky-as he flicked a rock off of the seat beside him, green eyes looking a murky grey.

"And you always listen to your father," he murmured knowingly, and she gazed up at him, pouting, the saddest, most forlorn look overtaking her small features, reaching out to encircle his thin wrist with her fingers, her touch feather light against his skin.

"You are my friend, Vali," Her accent snuck through her words, a heady mix between British and American, and she smiled crookedly at the sounds, "but I must listen to my father. He'll be cross with us if I don't."

She pulled away, albeit reluctantly, and bound up from her place beside him to clap her hands together, her petite dress, colors of blue and grey and red swirling together across the silken cloth, swaying with her excited motions, and he followed her-would follow her to the ends of the earth-to the opposite end of the garden, where she put one arm behind her back and reached around her to clasp it with the other, her auburn curls catching the light peeking through the canopy of leaves above them.

Vali shoved his hands deep into his pockets, frowning as he thought of the days he would be forced to spend without her company, and felt a severe feeling of distress wash over him. It would be unbearable. She perked up then, a hand to her mouth as if she had just done some horrendous act, and turned to him, her round irises bright with mischief, and, if Vali didn't know who he was talking to, he would have sworn the smirk that formed on her face belonged to his father.

"But you are my friend."

...

"Vali! Valiiiii?" Nari was getting tired of walking in circles, aimlessly roaming his brother's favorite spots to try to track him down.

It was exhausting work, and he was sick of walking up on the pair of lovebirds in the middle of one of their talks, having to report back to his parents with a blush creeping onto his features. Nari was young, and yet, he knew more than Vali did, thanks to the magic at his fingertips.

He knew that the world was endless, that one universe could pale in comparison to another, that there were creatures in places far beyond his wildest imaginings. He knew that his blood was black, and he knew that he could create ice from his bare hands, the indigo colors of his skin always gazing back at him in reflections. He knew that Vali saw it, too, but chose to ignore the deepest parts of himself, all for precious Selene. The older boy would do anything for the daughter of the All-Father, and Nari wasn't entirely sure that she wasn't the most important person in his life.

Childish love, Sigyn had called it-or his mother had called it. He so often forgot to label them as parents, when his father frequently called his wife 'Sigyn' and she called him 'Loki', and it was hard to do it in front of them, too. But addressing them by their names usually offended his mother, and he never wanted to see her frown. It made something deep within him yearn to comfort her, to make her sadness dissipate entirely.

It was instinct, Loki'd offered one night, nestled into the warm confines of the blankets as he leaned against the headboard, gazing lazily down at his son as he smirked knowledgably, the candlelight dancing over his sharp features. They'd talked a lot like that, curled up against each other, bedtime stories abandoned for more mature conversations. Nari had learned more than he could ever remember, but he managed to tuck it away in the back of his mind, stored for a rainy day, and today was such a day.

He traced every one of his brother's daily patterns, and tracked down Thor and Jane to be on the safe side-Selene was nowhere to be found. He toddled along on his tiny legs to find his parents, and Loki laughed, making a crass comment about his son and niece, and how scandalous such an arrangement would be. Sigyn promptly slapped him on the shoulder and gave him a terse look, and Nari sighed as he slipped between their legs to walk off down the hall, making his way back to the garden.

There was just something about it-he could feel it, tingling like needles at his fingertips, humming in his ears. It hung electric in the air, like a tangible stream he could follow and brush his palms against, and he closed his eyes, remembering the lessons Loki'd given him in magic.

The memory sprang up, unbidden, and he watched it play out as he concentrated.

Loki's hands felt neither hot nor cold against Nari's skin, and he guessed it was because they were the same temperature, as his father swept his fingers in a wide arc, slashing green light through the air with expertise, the emerald wisps trailing across the room and out the door. Loki pointed, smirking proudly, and began to snicker as his small son gazed up at him curiously, captivated.

"That's where your mother went. I have a…connection with her. This spell, if you use it right, will track anyone that you know-that is, if you have a bond with them," he whispered in the near darkness, and at the boy's silent, amazed gape, he laughed warmly and hugged his son to his chest, patting him on the back with long, slender fingers.

Nari thought hard about all of the times spent alongside his brother, and felt a smile tugging at his mouth as the familiar warmth of energy kissed his fingertips, and the smell of rain fell heavy in the air. He opened his eyes to see a stark trail of silver hovering, zigzagging, in the air, like something stuck in place, leading from the gardens and disappearing down a nearby path. He smirked and congratulated himself on a successful spell, and quickly shuffled over to the edge of the garden to hurry down the narrowing route, hoping with all hope that he wouldn't encounter another one of the childish love sessions his parents often joked about, much to Thor's ire.

But, of course, it was only a matter of time.

Please R&R! Feedback of any kind is always appreciated! ;)