As Loki would begin to try to stand up and try to toddle around, Thor would become increasingly nervous. His friends wouldn't cease teasing him about becoming such a mother hen. Loki had taken to calling Thor by his name, though he really hadn't mastered it yet, so 'Thor' sounded like 'Toh'
Thor was almost worried about how fast Loki had been growing. He had him with him just a few months now, but Loki was now standing on wobbly little legs, his wings having grown at least an inch or so. He still fit in Thor's hand, and was now bigger than Thor's thumb.
Now that Loki was a little bit bigger and not quite so.. fragile, Thor was able to take him with, when hunting. Thor would place Loki in his breast pocket, his little head poking out the top as he would watch.
Thor's original plan had been to care for the baby until he was strong enough to go back into the wild and live on his own. But could Thor really see himself doing that now? Just sending Loki away? Loki had a name... and was loved here, and was even learning to speak Thor's name. How could he ever just let him go like that?
Thor would often find himself thinking about that. And it would bother him many nights, thinking that one day, maybe soon, he would have to let Loki go. But then the tiny elf would be snuggled on top of Thor's chest, and he would feel comforted. At least for now.
As the weather got much warmer, Thor took Loki outside more often. He would sit with him in the grass, and just talk to his little friend. Tell him his troubles, and wonder if Loki had any himself. Loki would sit and listen, probably not understanding a word.
It was one of those days. Where Thor would be particularly lonely or feeling sad about his parents. He sat with Loki in the grass and just spoke to him as if he were a normal person. Loki opened his little mouth to speak, and Thor went silent, waiting anxiously to see if it would be real words or Loki's normal babbling.
"Uf oo Toh." Loki said, big green eyes sparkling up at Thor. A smile broke out on Thor's face. "That was very good, Loki. Though I really don't know what you mean by that at all." Thor said. He thought about it for a moment. 'Uf oo Toh' he thought to himself. Well, 'Toh' was how Loki pronounced 'Thor', and 'oo' sounded a bit like 'you'. Thor thought about it more. And then the smile on his face broadened. "I love you too, Loki." Thor said, picking the little one up.
Come to think of it... that was the first time Thor remembered being told that. 'I love you.' He liked to think that was what Loki meant. Thor had always been known for being strong, being a man and doing what he had to do. None of his friends had really known, no one he knew really had known, that inside, Thor had been aching for years to hear those words. 'I love you, Thor.' Words meant just for him.
So when Loki said that, Thor found himself wiping away tears. Because this tiny little elf, this strange little creature who had found it's way into Thor's life, had become something to Thor in just a matter of months that his own parent's couldn't be in years. Family.
Thor pressed a kiss to his finger and then touched the finger to Loki's forehead. Thor noticed that the sun was starting to set, and the cold of night would set in. He couldn't let Loki catch a chill. So Thor carried him inside, cradling him close to his heart.
Thor went to the fireplace to get the fire started, to keep them warm for the night. And Loki would be snuggled up in another one of Thor's socks. It was a routine they had. Loki struggled to keep his eyes open as he lied in Thor's hands, cradled close to the man's heart.
Thor spoke to him softly. Telling stories of his childhood, or just talking about life. About everything and nothing. Thor's deep, rumbling voice put Loki to sleep soon. "Loff oo Toh." Loki mumbled, just a little clearer than before. Thor smiled and sighed heavily, swallowing over the lump in his throat. No, he would not let Loki go back into the wild. Not until Loki wanted to. Thor wouldn't let anything happen to Loki, not ever. "I love you too. I love you too." Thor whispered.
Loki was still very much a mystery to Thor. The way his eyes looked so different from every other elf Thor had ever seen or read about. He had made it a point to study them more recently, picking up books and field guides. Thor didn't seem to fit the description for any of them. The way there seemed to be this green fire behind Loki's eyes, the way he was so trusting. Not that he had a choice but to be... Thor was all that little Loki remembered or knew. And he loved Thor. But Thor couldn't help but think that Loki was different. And he would find out why.
AN: I am so sorry if the chapter sucks, I really am. I'm so tired and dammit I'm making excuses. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MORE POSITIVE FEEDBACK! I'm so grateful I have people liking my story.
-Sadie
