A/N: I kinda think Loki's apologizing to Thor was suspicious. I mean, I think if he were really dying, he would have been a jerk. He really is mean enough to punish someone from his deathbed. So….


Time stopped and Thor hardly even noticed the creature sucked back into nothingness. He was too busy staring at Loki, watching for some indication that all was well, that the blade hadn't really pierced him through, that he wasn't really falling to the same weapon that had killed Mother.

The moment he could, he scrambled to his feet and rushed over. "Loki, no. No, no, no."

"Ah- no," Loki gasped. "Get off." Harsh and breathy – not a very encouraging tone of voice.

Thor shifted his grip; if something he was doing was paining Loki worse he would cradle him in a different way. "Better?"

Loki's head turned so that they were looking at one another straight on. "Let go of me," Loki whispered clearly. "You said you- didn't want- to be a brother to me anymore." His speech was halting, strange hitches and pauses, as he forced the words out a few at a time.

Thor froze.

"I don't blame you," Loki went on. Laughed – a terrible sound. "I wouldn't want a- frost giant- for a brother either."

"Loki- Loki, no, please, please you must-"

"Hshh." The hissing sound was enough to shut Thor up; his throat was really too thick to speak clearly anyway. "You made your position clear. Fine. I've accepted it. But you can't have my love now. Leave me."

Thor began again to plead with him, but this time was drowned out by a groan of pain as Loki tried to shift position. "Loki- brother please, lie still."

"Leave me." He was laughing again – quiet and dry, but unimaginably bitter. "I'll die alone. As was- always intended." He surged once, dragging himself over onto his side. Facing away. Still chuckling. "Odin- should be pleased."

"Loki, no. Don't- don't say that-…" Thor pulled him into his lap, as gently as he could, and turned him back onto his back. "Loki?"

There was no answer. Loki's face was slack, his body limp dead weight. "No- no, no, no." Thor shook him. "Loki? Loki!"

There was still no answer.


The End.

Sorry, sorry, sorry!