Hello, friends! Well. I say friends, but I don't know any of you in real life, except for my sister, so, yeah, scratch that. Scratch it. Another installation. More hair-pulling, more schmoop, more of EVERYTHING WONDERFUL!
Enjoy.
Loki grinned, lying in wait in the top shelves of the cupboard, eyes flashing as he cast a quiet spell on the food kept there specifically to keep Volstagg out of the court's daily meals. The seven-year-old's mop of unruly red curls became visible and Loki whispered quietly, "Go!"
At once, great stacks of shortbreads danced through the air, groaning out a low war chant typically used in vengeance of fallen brethren.
Volstagg shouted in terror, fleeing the closet, and Loki burst out in irrepressible giggles, rolling onto a sack of grain and squirming with laughter. He laughed himself right off the edge of the shelf, only just catching himself with a quick spell before he hit the ground, head first. Sobered somewhat, he crept through the halls back to his and Thor's room. Volstagg was wailing like a brat about haunted shortbread taking its revenge just outside the door, and Loki schooled his features so as not to reveal his involvement.
"What are you talking about, Volstagg?" he asked, pitching his voice higher.
"'Tis the biscuits, child," he whispered, eyes wide. "They are enraged. I have eaten them by the troop, and now they wish for vengeance!"
"B-But, I have eaten them, too." Loki forced himself not to laugh, the quiver of it sneaking into his voice anyway. "What if they seek to kill me?"
"Oh, by the Norns," Hogun groaned, "You stupid insatiable fool, Volstagg! It was no more than some foolish prank!" He slapped the back of the stocky boy's head, frustration evident.
"B-But the dancing..."
"Magic." Hogun cut his dark eyes at the toddler, who looked up at him with innocent green eyes. "No more than magic. Now cease your squalling. Let us find you something to ease your spirits, shall we? Sif's father has sent her a package; perhaps she'll have some meat." He clapped Volstagg's shoulder and the ginger immediately brightened, racing him towards the girl's room.
Loki waited until he was certain that they were gone before collapsing in laughter once more, flinging himself into the bed.
Thor blinked, awakening himself, and tipped his head to one side. "Why are you laughing, brother?"
"Nothing. I heard a joke." Loki's silver tongue glinted through his grinning lips, and Thor grinned back, ruffling his hair. A few round grains rolled free, clattering against the floor, and Thor frowned with mock-severity.
"It seems someone has been in the trick cupboards, little brother. Now, 'tis impossible that you could have had anything to do with the nonsensical fright of my friend, is it not?"
Loki looked down at his hands, frowning. "Of course not, brother."
"Loki."
The three-year-old looked up, biting back laughter. "I'm sorry! Only it was so funny, seeing him near soil himself at the sight of singing shortbread! You are two years his junior and you would not have fallen for that!"
Thor giggled, picking Loki up and flopping back onto the pillows. "True, but I am not as... single-minded as Volstagg."
"You mean that you're cleverer than he is," Loki corrected, clamoring down to curl up in Thor's lap and taking one of his hands, playing with the fingers. "He's not very bright. He just eats."
"He is my friend, Loki."
"I am your friend." Loki rolled away, looking away from Thor, still clutching one hand tight. "He is someone Father wishes to follow you in battle when you are king."
Thor rolled Loki back onto him, sitting them both upright. "Loki... You are my brother. You are my very best friend. But I am supposed to have other friends - I want to have other friends! Hogun is very brave, and Volstagg is unflappable and determined, Fandral has a great eye for detail, and Sif is a perfect warrior. They are good friends to have."
Loki curled up tight, biting his silver tongue so hard that his mouth and eyes flooded.
"But they are not my Loki."
Thor raked his hand through Loki's hair, hugging him close, and Loki flung his tiny arms around Thor's neck, eyes squeezed shut.
After a long moment of the two of them clinging so tight their arms hurt, Thor pulled back and kissed his forehead. "So, dancing shortbread?"
"Yes." Loki hunkered down, squirming into the curve of Thor's neck, and blinked his spellbook into Thor's lap. "It was very, very funny. If you'd like, I can show you which spell it was."
Thor grinned, flipping the book open, and began fumbling through reading the tome aloud. Loki giggled at his butchered pronunciations and tangled one hand back up into his hair.
"If you pull any harder, I shall go bald," Thor winced, rubbing Loki's back.
Loki nodded, easing up, and Thor laced one hand into his hair, blunt fingers twisting in his dark locks as he paged through the rest of the book.
Everything is cute. Enjoy yourselves. And please review.
