A/N: I figured Thor was missing a lot of sentiment for Loki during The Avengers, so I decided to toss in some brotherly love before I move on with anything else. Sorry for the lack of updates, college is approaching, which means my spare down will be cut down by half.

Chapter Ten

"Freyja loved you."

The words sent a pang of pain through Loki's heart as he rose his gaze towards the direction where his old friends made their departure. His eyes softened as he stared out, glancing this way and that, watching the Jotuns flinch as they met his fiery stare. His lip twitched and as if they anticipated Loki's fury, they all cleared away, leaving him alone in the center of Jotunheim. With a deep sigh, the anger inside him withered down to a small, flickering flame. His position of power no longer felt satisfying, but instead, left a bitter taste in his mouth. The only person next to his brother that cared for him was hurt out of his own selfishness. If he had not reacted so stupidly, Freyja would not be in the condition that she currently was in and he could do nothing, but blame himself.

He sighed once more, running his hand through his hair. As he lowered his head, he found a familiar glimmer that sat upon the ground where Freyja had landed. He glanced around, wondering if he was just seeing things, but as he approached the green sparkle, he realized it was the necklace that he had given to her. Loki bit his lip, lowering himself to his knees as he reached out to grab the green gem. It seemed her necklace had freed itself as she had fallen, an event that could have been avoided if he had stopped the chaos that had occurred.

"Reassurance." He murmured sadly, staring down at the green gem as he grazed his thumb against it's smooth surface.

For years, that word echoed from the depths of his mind, but consistently, he pushed it back, assuming it no longer mattered. He never assumed Freyja could care so much for him as she does, but it seems far too late to admit to such sentimental matters. His need for sentiment was sent into oblivion as his want for a position of power took over his life. With one lie after another, he can see why he had grown into becoming The God of Mischief and Lies. His life had circled around nothing, but lies, so what else could he possibly be left to do than cause mischief onto those that had left him this way? It seemed only right, but at this point, Loki was beginning to regret his decisions.

"Loki." A familiar voice called before him.

Loki broke his gaze from Freyja's necklace and found Thor standing before him. "Is it time to claim my punishment, Thor?"

Thor, noticing the sadness embedded in Loki's stare, placed down Mjolnir by his feet and took a step forward. "I am not here to fight."

"And I do not seek one, but I do wish you would do something." Loki replied. "Are you not needed in Asgard?"

"There are more important matters to settle here, brother."

Loki smirked. "How are you still so willing to call me that?"

"Because the title remains true, regardless of what you are and who you've become."

Loki's gaze softened slightly. "You are such a fool to rely heavily on sentiment to settle the issues between us."

"And you are a fool to ignore it completely." Thor was clearly referring to Freyja, which caused Loki to flinch. "It was her idea to come to you. She was the one that wanted to speak with you. Why did you not say a thing to her?"

"I cannot have her partake in this life of mine." He murmured, clutching the gem tightly into his hand. "She deserves so much more."

"And yet she would give anything to be part of it." Thor stated.

Loki looked at Thor, almost as if his words would only drive him further into misery. "That can never happen."

Thor frowned. "Can't you see? She is the only one to care for you so much more than myself. Since our youth, it was clear she cared for you and I can confirm that she had never looked towards anyone else with such affection. How can you push her away so easily? Though reluctant and stubborn, Freyja is a brave soul, indeed, for giving her heart to have as your own."

"I don't deserve it." Loki folded his arms, staring away from Thor with the necklace still in his hand. "What could she possibly be thinking? Coming here?"

"As Frey said, to prevent you from becoming anything worst than you are."

"Her mere presence has already melted the ice that has embedded my heart." Loki admitted quietly.

"You sound displeased." Thor noted, trying to observe Loki's face better as he took a step closer.

"She remembered our promise. After everything, she remembered our promise."

Thor scoffed. "She always has."

Loki glanced back at Thor with a concerned look upon his face. "And how is she?"

"In restful sleep." Thor answered.

Loki slightly frowned.

"You can see her if you'd like." Thor added.

"I'm sure my presence is unwelcomed in Asgard." Loki huffed, glancing at Thor as if he was stupid. Thor merely looked at him and flashed him a grin, which was the typical Thor-like response.

"Surely you wish to see her." Thor replied, still bearing that grin.

"Thor."

"After all, she loves you."

"Thor."

"And I'm sure you love her."

"THOR."

Thor merely bursted out into laughter, moving close to his brother as he clapsed an arm around his shoulder. "Flustered, are we?"

"Honestly, Thor." Loki stood there with his arms folded, but Thor merely continued to smile down upon his brother.

"To Asgard, then?" Thor questioned, walking over to pick up Mjolnir. Loki looked at him uncertainly, but Thor merely rolled his eyes and grabbed a hold of his brother's arm. "To Asgard."

Loki's arrival was unwelcomed as expected, especially since Heimdall was more than willing to knock him back off the bridge than allow him onto it. Though with much coaxing, Thor forced Heimdall to change his mind as long as Thor promised to keep an eye on Loki. Though there wasn't much that Loki could do and starting up another fight with his brother wasn't currently on his agenda. After all, Thor actually came back for his sake because Thor knew he would be concerned about Freyja. Deep down, Loki could sense the sentiment Thor still held for him despite after everything they gone through and somehow, that was enough to dampen the fiery anger that he kept in the depth of his soul against Thor and the rest of Asgard.

As they flew over Asgard, Loki observed the destruction he allowed onto the place that he once called home. Motionless bodies and signs of war were scattered throughout the grounds. As Loki exchanged a glance with Thor, Thor shook his head disappointingly.

"Loki, what were you thinking?"

"You'll never learn to understand." Loki replied darkly, moving his gaze away as he looked over at the Asgardian forest, noticing there were a few empty patches where trees once stood.

"I wish to." Thor murmured as they drew closer to the Capital. "I must say, I'm not certain how Father will take to your presence."

"I can adjust." Loki muttered.

"I doubt he will..."

The atmosphere in Freyja's room immediately tensed up as soon as everyone caught sight of Loki trailing behind Thor. Frey immediately gripped his sword tightly, Einarr glared at him, but it was Eira who took immediate action as she jumped off the bed and stood before Thor and Loki with her small sword pointed towards Loki's direction.

"Stay away, you fiend!" She exclaimed, swishing her sword about in the air.

"Eira, calm down." Thor assured her, plucking the sword from her grasp. "If he is to act out, I will handle him myself."

"I am not your responsibility." Loki hissed.

"As a newfound enemy to Asgard, you are." Thor stated, glancing back at him. "Though as my brother, I know you're not."

Loki scoffed. "Thanks."

"Thor, I believe we deserve an explanation." Frey stated sharply.

"Surely you brought him here for punishment." Einarr answered, with a narrowed gaze.

"He's here to see Freyja." Thor replied simply.

"She hasn't waken from her slumber. I see no point in him doing so." Einarr replied.

"Einarr, I just thought-"

"Brother." Loki interrupted, placing a hand upon his shoulder, which caused Thor to look back at him with surprise. "Let me handle this." He stood before Thor and looked up at Freyja's father, clearly seeing rage in the depths of his eyes. "I cannot apologize enough for what has happened to your daughter. It was not my intention to have brought her to such a condition. I never wanted her involved in something as hectic such as the matter of war. I had only seeked to prove a point, but I can see I have taken risky extremities to do so. I only wish to make amends with Freyja. Next to my family, she is the one I have wronged the most. If you please, let me have a moment with her alone, and I will be most grateful."

Einarr stared down at Loki, taking a few steps towards him. "Do I have word you won't harm her?"

"I will watch him, Einarr." Thor added, waving Mjolnir gently in the air.

"I want Loki's word." He replied sternly, moving closer to Loki as he stared up at Einarr.

"You have my word." Loki murmured, merely leaning his head up towards him.

For a moment, Einarr stared Loki directly in the eye, but neither of them flinched as they stared back at one another. Eventually, Einarr was the first to twitch movement as he turned towards his wife and family, collecting everyone of them, but Freyja. "Let's go, everyone."

"Father." Frey protested, standing up as he rushed to his side. "You can't just act as if he hasn't killed people!"

"We do not know his mentality." Einarr stated, glazing his eyes over at Loki. "Though I may understand where his heart lies."

Loki's head perked up as he looked at Einarr curiously.

"Loki, you may have your moment with my daughter." Einarr told Loki, directing his wife towards the door. "Frey, Eira, don't dwadle."

Eira scampered after her parents, but Frey huffed as he moved past Loki, shoving him into the shoulder. "If you do a single thing to Freyja, I will personally lead you to your own death."

"I will take your word for it." Loki replied with a thin smile.

"All is not forgiven, Loki!" Frey snapped as he walked out the doorway.

"As it is assumed!" Loki called back as he manuvered himself to Freyja's bedside.

Thor looked back at Loki and gently smiled at him as he moved himself towards the doorway. "I at least hope your presence will awaken Freyja."

Loki looked at him curiously. "She isn't just sleeping?"

Thor merely shook his head. "Not much else can be done."

Loki looked back at Freyja sadly. "I see..."

"Perhaps a kiss shall wake her." Thor suggested teasingly.

"Thor."

"Just like those stories mother used to tell us." Thor said with a grin.

"Thor."

"Just one kiss!" Thor exclaimed as he inched out the door.

"Enough, Thor!"

As Thor disappeared out the door, Loki could hear him laughing hysterically in the hallway, that he decided to shut the door before he proceeded to talk to an apparently unconscious Freyja. He glanced back at her and slightly frowned, finding it highly unusual to see Freyja in such a condition.

Silently, Loki fumbled for her necklace that was sitting in his pocket. He pulled it out and leaned over her, tying her necklace back around her neck. As Loki hovered over her, he noticed how much Freyja has grown since he had seen her last. Her hair had grown so long that it waved out across her shoulders, her face has developed sharper features from her once youthful, round face, and her body has evident grown fully into a young woman's body. For Loki, it was an unfamiliar sight, but despite everything that had changed, Loki could still tell this was the Freyja he had grown to care so much for. He leaned back and leaned against the headboard of the bed, staring down at her motionless body as he felt tears stream down upon his cheek. This was not how he expected things to turn out, this was not how he imagined his frustrations result with, and he had never hoped she would become involved.

"I'm sorry, Freyja." It was all he could muster up for in the following hours, he sat by her silently.