"But ... how are you ... I saw you, you fell!"
"I'm a trickster, remember?"

Loki smiled and sat beside Thor, resting his hand on a shaking shoulder.

"I missed you."
"I know you did."

Thor stared at the hand on his shoulder and focused, making sure Loki's hand was actually there.

He didn't remember how he got to the bench, but he did remember sitting down and looking up, only to see Loki standing before him - a solemn look on his face. He had been shock to see his brother, and he could only manage a small "Loki?" before his mind started to spin.

"Why did you pretend to fall?"
"To stop the fighting."
"But ... Why did you not answer when I called?"
"I couldn't."
"None of that really matters now, does it?" Thor said, turning to Loki.

Standing, Thor took his brother's hand and smiled down at it. Loki had deceived to make the fighting stop; to ensure that the trickster, the God of Mischief, would no longer cause trouble. Loki had tricked everyone for a noble cause, and to Thor that was honourable.

"You cannot tell father I am alive, Thor."
"What, why?! Everyone must know!"
"No! If I'm found to be alive it would only cause chaos."
"But ... Brother, I don't understand. Why come to me?"
"I came because of your pain, Thor. Even I cannot stand to see you in such agony."

Nodding and turning to Loki, Thor opened his arms and brought his brother into them. Thor hugged his brother and watched as Loki turned to ash.


Thor groaned and shut his eyes tighter, the softness of his bed reminding him of where he was.

"He's gone."

Not daring to open his eyes, Thor sighed and shook his head. This wasn't the first dream he had had that went like this. Loki was alive, and it was all just a trick to fix things and then he'd be gone, or Thor would wake up.

And every time it hurt a little more. He had only told one other person about the dreams, and she had mentioned how it could be his way of coping with the loss of Loki, and his mind's way of missing him and wanting him back. The knowledge of what his dreams could mean only served to pain him more.

Thor felt sleep come over him once again, and he was thankful for it.

"He's not coming back."