~ Chapter 10 ~

"Thor, I want you to know I voted for you." an unnamed student said to the gang as they sat in the cafeteria. The student bore a big grin on his face. "You are the coolest man in school."

"Thanks." Thor said with a smile. Although he still had a bad taste in his mouth after yesterday he kept up a smile for everyone. It was barely half a year left and students were beginning to vote for their candidates for 'The Accomplishment of the Year'.

His friends clapped him on the shoulder and said how it was his for sure. No one else could even compare to Thor. It was all slick flattery and ass kissing. All because of his name.

Thor smiled at them but there was nothing in it. None of them knew that his whole life was in pieces. There was no one he could believe in anymore. Not even his so called friends. How was he supposed to know that they weren't lying through their teeth?

He couldn't look at his mother anymore because all he felt was disdain and anger. His 'father' still didn't know anything but it was probably just a matter of time when he got home. There was nothing left of their family.

There was nothing left in his heart.

Loki watched calmly from his place in the empty classroom the other students leave school. The sun was beginning to go down and cast a reddish glow on everything. Within half an hour it would be completely dark.

He still didn't know why he felt so calm and at home in the classroom but he made it a habit of coming here. It was something about the air in the room that spoke to him, maybe a memory that he couldn't recall. All he knew was that it was important to him.

A flash of blond hair caught his attention and he saw Thor walking with his friends across the yard. For some reason, Loki took a chance and opened the window next to him and shouted.

"THOR!"

The group turned around and Thor's blue eyes sought out the building before they landed on Loki who waved from the classroom.

"What could he want?" Fandral asked as he too saw Loki.

"Who cares." said Sif before she turned toward the gate. "Let's go."

The three friends turned to follow but Thor remained where he was, gazing up at Loki who lowered his hand and looked back, waiting. Just from the many times he had seen the lights on in just that classroom he could tell which it was. His mind filled with memories.

"Go ahead, guys. I'll see you tomorrow." he said before he walked back toward school.

He walked the familiar route until he reached the door of his destination. Like always there was no lock on it and opened without so much as a single complain. The inside of the room was bathed in the light of the setting sun, and at the same desk, in the same chair, like so many months ago, sat Loki.

A book opened in front of him as he turned to look at the new arrival. He smiled softly at Thor as the other made his way to the free chair standing next to the desk Loki was occupying. He pulled it out with ease and sat down without a word.

"Hey." Loki said gently.

"Hey." Thor answered.

There was no need to be smart to notice the utter lack of emotion in his voice.

"How are you?" he was genuinely concerned for Thor.

"Good." There was no luster in Thor's eyes.

Loki leaned forward with his hands hanging over the edge and looked Thor straight in the eyes. "Be honest with me." it wasn't a demand but a wish from his heart. "Talk to me."

The urge to look at anything but Loki overcame Thor and he squirmed almost painfully in his seat. "I don't know what there is to say. You know everything."

"I don't know everything." Loki cut in. "Unless you tell me I will never know." he reached for one of Thor's hands and held it in his. "I'm here with you."

Thor almost reluctantly looked at Loki and before the other could say anything else he leaned over and kissed him.

It was slow and over to quickly. Instead of saying anything he reached out and brought his lover onto his lap where he held him closely and shut his eyes. He could feel the rhythmic beating under his ear and it helped to calm him down.

While he knew he couldn't run forever, he didn't want to deal with anything that was happening in his life. He didn't want to talk about, and even if it made him a coward he would take it. Loki could only mend his heart so much before it would collapse again.

Loki adjusted himself before his arms rested comfortably against his body. Fingers started to comb through his hair and across his skin. As much as the gesture was meant to mean to him, he no longer felt anything from Loki's touch.

There was no excitement nor any desire. No anger or sorrow. No lust or love.

Nothing.

All that was left in him was a hole of emptiness.

A couple of hours later found Thor and Loki back in the house, snuggling together in Thor's bed. The younger of the boys was on the brink of falling asleep as his partner lay close to him.

The moment he felt Loki's body relax completely against his, and the deeper regular breathing, he waited another hour before he pried himself free and stood up. He walked over to the desk and wrote a quick note on the blank paper laying there before he turned around and took one last look at Loki. The peaceful expression had been something he had wished to see on the others face for a long time, both when they first started their relationship and later when everything was taken from them. It had been his only wish.

Now, as he stared down at it, he couldn't connect his emotions with his thoughts.

He knew he should feel so much more, something that should make up his whole world, but there was nothing.

"Farewell." he whispered before he walked over to the window which he opened, and swiftly and quietly jumped out from.

Upon landing on the grass he took a moment to look up at the bright room.

Next he turned around and started to walk.

He walked and walked, never looking back.

TBC