Maybe he shouldn't have given him that book.

Loki is sitting at the small dining table in his kitchen, lurking over a portion of the same tuna casserole he's been eating for the past three days (he really should go to the grocery store soon). He tries to stop his mind from wandering too much, since he has assignments he needs to correct and classes he needs to prepare, but he can't keep his thoughts away from the book he lent to Tony Stark.

It was a gift from his adoptive mother Frigga when he went to college. The two of them had always shared a bond that Loki didn't have with any of his other family members. He'd always been mummy's little boy. She had read children's stories to him when he was little, and whenever he'd gone book shopping she'd asked if she could tag along, so through the time she had ended up buying more than half of the books he'd ever owned for him.

Lolita had been the last book she had ever bought for him.

Getting up from his seat at the table Loki decides that he is no longer hungry, and that he should get to do some more work on correcting those assignments. And he tries not to worry about the book, surely that kid can keep it safe and in one piece until he hands in his custom assignment... Right? He's not entirely sure, and the more he thinks about it, the less he doubts it, bringing him to think more about it – an evil circle actually.

And then, as fate would have it, right when he is trying to think up a scheme that'll allow him to get the book back without messing up Tony's assignment, the door bell rings. Not just once but twice, and Loki freezes in his steps. He knows that the following scenario can be one out of three possible.

First scenario is that it is the land lady coming to talk to him, but he knows that this cannot be it, since whenever he tries to call her up to his apartment she tells him that she has something else to take care of, but he knows she's just lying to him because she's too lazy to use the stairs. And he has paid this month's rent.

Second scenario is that it's the pizza delivery man, who's mistaken Loki's apartment for somebody else's. But it cannot be that either, because the pizza delivery man who does this only works Friday through Monday, and he also uses to ring the bell three times.

Third scenario is the worst though. Third scenario is that it is him at the door. And Loki definitely doesn't want to have anything to do with him right now, so he prays that it's the land lady coming to tell him that there's vermin and he needs to evacuate or that the pizza delivery man has decided to take on more working days than his incompetent butt should be able to.

But he knows that it is the third scenario he should await when he goes to the door. And so he braces himself for what is to come.

"Brother! It is me, let me in."

His brother's voice is loud and deep and cuts easily through over the door entry phone, waking up memories of the past. Loki sighs and considers pretending that he is not home, but he knows that Thor Odinson will not believe it, and will definitely find another way in. In the end Loki really has no better option than to let his brother in and hope he'll be on his way again soon. So he buzzes him in.

After a short while there is a knock at the door, and through the spy Loki recognizes the blond giant that is Thor Odinson. Loki moans to himself and opens the door, readying himself for the hug he expects to get.

"Little brother, how glorious to see you!" the tall, broad-shouldered blond bag of muscles grins and pulls Loki in for a brotherly embrace. Loki feels his ribs give way as the built man presses his arms against his chest, and the memories of them doing the exact same years ago flood over him. It is warming, but he forces the thoughts away and with them Thor's arms.

"Remember we're not really brothers," he says coldly and officially invites the other man in with a wave of his arm. Thor's eyes go from glowing to glooming and he protests quietly "Even so, we still grew up together and I consider you my brother."

Loki only shrugs.

Thor is lounging lazily in Loki's couch when Loki brings in a pot of tea to the other man's amusement, "Tea? You must be kidding! Do you not have any beer in your apartment?" but he takes the two cups from Loki and gently puts them down on the sofa table.

Loki sits down on the couch next to Thor and pours the tea so quickly that he spills a few drops on the floor. "So, what have you come for?" he asks, lifting the cup to his mouth to blow it a tad colder. He really dislikes that Thor is here. Thor is loud, Thor is a nuisance, but most of all Thor is a reminder of what Loki let go.

And that's the worst part of it all.

"Can I not come to visit my brother without a secret agenda?" the other man asks and takes a sip from his scalding tea. "I'm sure you can't," Loki answers and decides his tea is cold enough now to drink from. "So I'll repeat: what are you here for?" he stares at his adoptive brother over the tea-cup and hopes for... Something he isn't sure what is.

Thor puts down his cup and gives Loki a hurt look, "I was just passing through the city when a man, who apparently works at your school, asked me to come and give a lecture. So I'm stuck in the city for a couple of days and –"

"And you need a place to stay," Loki finishes his sentences and sighs. Thor's eyes gleam and he nods hopefully. Loki takes his time, finishing his first cup of coffee before answering his brother's plea of letting him temporarily live with him.

"Forget about it."

"But, Loki –"

"I said no. You can find a good hotel nearby, I'll even give you directions," he turns to face Thor straight on and his eyes are dark, "But I am under no circumstances living under the same roof as you ever again." The tone in his voice makes it clear what kind of statement it is, and even Thor wouldn't be able to read it as anything but final. Thor is not sleeping in his apartment.

The atmosphere is heavy and dark, and both of them wait for the other to break the ice that suddenly froze them to their seats. Thor with his muscular and rough looks and Loki with his slim, delicate looks. It ought to have been clear to Loki when they were children that there was no way on earth they could be blood related.

In the end Thor breaks the silence, "Fine, I'll find a hotel room," he says and it is clear that he's trying to regain the relaxed atmosphere from before. "Now, tell me what you've been up to!" he demands.

Loki sighs yet once more and pours himself another cup of tea. He wants to tell him what he's been doing, how he's been and all those other things, he wants to ask about the family, but talking to his foster brother just hurts too much. So instead he leads the subject onto Thor's job, and Thor enthusiastically grabs the opportunity to include Loki in his life.

At least this visit got Loki's mind off that book.