Thor/Loki
(a.k.a. -keeping up with Asgarde)

Thor walks into his bed chambers, exasperated from the announcement that he just inadvertently made to the whole Avengers initiative team. Thor sighed, and moved to lie down on his bed. He chuckled heartily as he noticed that Loki was already lying in bed.

"Hello brother," Loki said in his most gentle voice, already taking in the sense that something was bothering Thor.

"Loki, this isn't the best time for this," Thor said, trying dearly not to plainly throw Loki out the door.

Loki smiled sympathetically, and moved closer to Thor. Loki gently moved his hand along Thor's side, and was contented with Thor's face sprouting with an effort of a smile. "Did something go wrong today? Was it the meeting? Did those rotten people do something to you?"

Thor sighed. "Loki, we have talked about this. There is nothing wrong with those people."

Loki shook his head. "That's not true. If there was nothing the matter with them, they wouldn't have sent you back to me so…abnormally cranky."

"I'm not cranky," Thor insisted.

Loki laughed. "You cannot lie to me brother. If you were simply fine, you would have taken advantage of my being here by now."

Thor looked over to Loki with a small smile. He grasped Loki's face in his hands, and kissed him fiercely. As they kissed, Loki shifted himself over Thor…before pulling away his lips.

"I know you better than that. You are dodging the subject," Loki said gently, before dipping down to kiss Thor's neck. "You can tell me anything, Thor."

"They know about this, Loki. That's why I was distressed." Thor said gently, trying to shift focus to the movements that Loki was making.

Loki looked up to Thor, a sad look in his eyes. "You are that ashamed of me?"

Thor shakes his head. "No, brother, I am that afraid for you. I don't want anyone to harm you, because of anything that happens here."

Loki relaxed against Thor, and laid down his head in Thor's neck. "I appreciate that. I always have."

"I sense there's something else to that, right?" Thor asked carefully.

Loki shrugged into Thor's strong embrace. "Maybe, just maybe, you don't always need to protect me. Maybe, somehow, how you want me…will make the others treat me with the same fairness."

Thor bit his lip. "What about father?"

"He's asleep, is he not? He wouldn't be able to argue, anyhow. Then, he wouldn't have either of us to be his heir. Of course, he wouldn't want me as such anyways." Loki said in a small voice.

Thor was still hesitant. "Can you…"

Loki smiled deviously. "Can I what, brother?"

"Show me why we are willing to go through this," Thor said tentatively, "until, I can forget why I would doubt this anymore."

Loki smiled, pulling himself up to be lying directly over Thor. "I can certainly do that."

Loki leaned down, and trapped Thor's lips with his own. Thor moaned as Loki ground into the larger god fiercely, and they ripped away at each other's clothes. It was barely minutes before Thor was compliantly begging Loki for more.

As soon as Loki entered Thor, it was fierce and fast. There wasn't time for gentle and tiptoeing around…it was time to prove what this was worth…for both their sakes.

Loki violently kissed and sucked at Thor's neck as he continued thrusting. The whole act initially lasted longer than normal…in the best of ways. They both were completely spent by the end, with Loki lazily crashed onto Thor's chest.

"You see now why this is so worthwhile?" Loki asked in a tired voice.

Thor laughed heartily, moving to stroke Loki's hair. "Indeed I do. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow, if you'll let me, I'll try to strike a deal with Fury."

Loki looked up curiously. "You will be able to bring me along on your visits to earth, then? I would rather like that. I don't fancy being left alone with these hate-ridden mongrels."

"Once again, Loki, play nice. They are our friends, after all." Thor said cautiously. "Plus, any badmouthing of Sif and I'm sure she'd be able to beat you worse than Banner did."

Loki frowned. "I won't let that happen again. That Stark man will be the object of godly smite if he thinks he can do so."

Thor shook his head. "You two will have to play nice, if they will let you in."

"What are they supposed to let me 'in' to?" Loki asked cautiously, already unsure he will like the answer.

Thor took a deep breath. "The Avengers initiative is what I wish you to be let in on. There will be no issues, both you and they shall hold power, and we shall be a stronger force."

Loki shut his eyes, and took a deep breath. "What about Asgarde and Yodenheim? Who will rule over those places while we live life among the mere mortals?"

Thor shrugged. "There are people in both places that can rule in our absences. And, we come back and rule those places together one day. Simple enough, am I right?"

Loki scoffed. "Father is going to kill you for this."

"Finally, a cause I would find worthy of dying for." Thor said with a wink.

Loki playfully shoved him. "We really are doing this? I am actually going to be allowed to be happy for once? Things will work out this time?"

"I love you, Loki. I promise, you will be happy now." Thor said light-heartedly, before gently drifting off to sleep.

Loki smiled gently. He contentedly thought of all the joy to come, mixed with all the hurdles he would have to cross over to get there. But, he'd already been through the worst of it. Finally, someone was there to make him feel joy in his life. There was nothing more he could ask for.

"I love you too, Thor. I love you too."