A/N: I'm updating this for a friend…and the lovely wonderful people that did take an extra few minutes to leave a comment :)

Lies, Disorders and Not So Brotherly Love

Chapter 13

Loki's natural body-clock had him waking early the next morning, although he felt much better than he did the day before the lingering after effects of a bad headache were still present, keeping a dull throb in his skull and eyes still too sensitive to the light. He sat himself up, brushing back all the hair that was dangled in front of his face – it had been a while since he had combed it out and it desperately needed his attention. His eyes trailed towards the opposite side of the room, expecting to see Thor on his bed tossing Mjolnir around or just daydreaming but the blonde was nowhere in sight. With a puzzled frown, Loki turned to his clock just in case he was wrong about the time and maybe Thor had gone to his lessons already, but no, the clock read 7am, he had at least two more hours. It was strange for Thor to be up this early with no purpose. The Trickster sighed, rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands – he really didn't feel like attending any of his own teachings today. Besides he was way ahead of the class, they should think it a favour as it gave the rest of them chance to catch up. Furthermore he was a prince, he shouldn't have to do something it he didn't feel like it.

The Trickster should have known that the peace and quiet wouldn't last forever as literally two minutes later the chamber door was opened and in stepped the great oaf carrying something in his hand. A bowl of fruit. Thor's face brightened up when he saw that his brother was awake, even if he was scowling at him – nothing unusual there.

"Oh, morning brother. Did you sleep well?" The Thunderer asked as he closed the door behind him and walked further into the room, balancing the bowl in one arm. Loki's eyes had been actively avoiding the fruit entirely, his mind was already beginning to understand the use of it and that very much annoyed him.

"You're not getting me to eat any of that," Loki stated firmly. He wasn't in the mood for stringing Thor along for a while and then denying him, he just wanted to get it straight into Thor's thick head that he wasn't going to be bossed around just because his older brother now knew his problem. It was hard enough to convince his own mind that he wanted to eat and now with the urge to rebel against Thor as well, it was just going to make it worse. The strong smell of citrus invaded the air and had Loki scrunching his nose.

"You don't have to but until you do, I will be staying in this room. I'm only asking for one piece not the whole bowl," Thor remarked placing the bowl on Loki's nightstand so the fruit was within his reach. The blonde knew he wouldn't settle without trying to help his brother out, before he was living in ignorance but now he would be eaten up by guilt if he continued to just let his sibling starve himself. The God of Thunder didn't like the idea of being a bad big brother, especially when he promised he would be the best.

"Don't be foolish Thor, you know you have an examination at nine. Father and mother would be highly displeased if you miss it," Loki scoffed, reminding himself that he definitely had to take a bath later. He crossed his arms and insolently turned his head away from both Thor and the bowl. The action looked almost child-like.

"Your health is more important Loki and well if I miss it then you'll just have to explain to our parents as to why I did," the blonde declared pinching one of the apples off the top of the pile before collapsing on his bed and taking a loud bite.

"I'll lie," Loki hissed, immediately returning his livid eyes to Thor. His brother didn't appear fazed by the scathing look he was giving him.

"Fair enough, if you want to take that option I won't stop you," Thor smiled at him pleasantly. It made Loki's blood boil at how friendly Thor was being. It would have been easier to disobey if Thor was ordering him about but no, this was much worse, giving him the option, making it entirely his choice. The Trickster had to think about his options. He hadn't listened to his body's natural craving for a long time that now that even his stomach churned at the idea of eating. His digestive system had forgotten its duty from lack of use that when he did eat it would cramp up painfully for days afterwards when he went back to not eating. He was scared. But he also felt like he didn't deserve it, it was hard to think about keeping himself healthy when he felt so miserable. Starving himself was a way that fought back against his feelings as he felt that his punishment to himself was justified. It kept himself at a neutral playing field so he could function in reality instead of just curling up into a ball and dying. Loki couldn't help but feel that this was also what he had been waiting for, the moment when someone finally acknowledged his silent plea for help and attention, from someone other than his mother who he was too ashamed to admit such pain to. The Trickster could never use words to express his feelings because words were powerful and strong, if he used them for his emotions then he would lose them entirely for a shield. His way with words were the only thing that he truly idolized about himself.

The Trickster shook his head, if he was ever going to manage to eat again, it had to be under his own terms, when he felt ready – not when his annoying, perfect older brother wanted him to because it hurt his feelings to watch him suffer. He gracefully slipped out of his bed, ignoring the eyes that followed him and stopped in front of his bookcase before finding a book. He picked out a tragic romance, deciding he was in the temperament for fiction and well he wasn't in a good mood so reading about the suffering of someone else so intimately would make him feel better. Well that was the ideal at least. Loki then returned to his bed and began reading.

As time ticked by the Liesmith found his concentration breaking repeatedly. He couldn't focus. His eyes kept returning to the clock at his table and then to the fruit because they were both so close together. It irritated him to think that maybe Thor had planned that, but of course he couldn't have known Loki that well.

8:35

8:38

8:42

8:46

There was less than fifteen minutes until Thor's exam started. Loki's fingers were repetitively tapping the hard cover of his book. It annoyed him that Thor was going to miss something important over something as insignificant as this. Why did his brother have to take on the burden of him? He was more than functional being left alone. The witless oaf, what was he trying to achieve? His trust? His friendship? His love? He knew Thor wouldn't stop reminding him about this, if he let him miss it, and damn did Loki not want to hear the same complaint over and over. Thor barely had anything interesting to ever talk about to begin with, never mind having him stuck on the same topic for Asgard knows how long.

He took a glimpse at his brother who seemed blissfully unaware of the time, trailing his fingers across the markings on Mjolnir with a vacant expression. He wasn't kidding. There was no look of urgency present in the Thunderer's features, no indication that he had any thought of leaving until of course, Loki had fulfilled his wish. Besides wouldn't it be fun to mock Thor on his stupidity if he DID get to his examination, got his results only to see that he had failed miserably? The Trickster smirked at the thought, he really couldn't let Thor miss this. However his smirk faltered when he thought of his parents, his eyes thinned with images of Odin as he imagined what he would say to him right now. The man would scold him, tell him how pathetic he was being for even having the problem in the first place – Hel, he may even disown him fully because who would want a son as weak as this? Loki then thought of his mother, she already knew...and that thought in itself only turned the icy dagger that was already imbedded in his heart. She would be so disappointed if she knew he was holding Thor back when he was trying to help. He always hated that expression on her lovely face.
8:50
"Alright fine...you win brother," Loki exhaled, he was going to do this for his mother's sake. Not his brother's. He knew this information would travel to her faster than he would have liked to make up a believable lie – which probably wouldn't work regardless. He placed the book down on the mattress besides him.
"This was not a competition Loki, I do not win anything. I am just glad you are taking the first step in getting better," Thor remarked, sitting straight up from his slouched position and giving his brother a boosting smile.
"I don't need to hear your heart-warming commentary Thor. I am not doing this for myself," Loki frowned eyeing up the fruit deciding which would be the easiest to try. The oranges were completely off the list, that much was certain, the apples brought back too many memories of yesterday and the last time he ate, the bunch of grapes was too long that it was worth the attempt...so the banana it was. With reluctance he picked out the yellow fruit from the bowl while Thor mentally cursed him for choosing the fruit that resembled such an intimate body part.

Loki fiddled with it for a moment, stroking his fingers across it with a cold stare as if to try and intimidate the banana. The task was daunting. Thor was now watching intently to make sure that his brother ate every mouthful. The Trickster was reminded by the time in the corner of his eye, there would be no point in doing this at all if he waited until after 9am. He had seven minutes. Loki made short work of peeling the item, that not being the problem, before being left to face the pale yellow colour that to him looked revolting.
"You're doing great Loki," Thor encouraged. He knew he didn't understand how hard this was for Loki because he'd never felt low before but that wouldn't stop him from trying to understand.
"Say one more word Thor and you will be going to your examination as a goat," Loki threatened, he was lashing out because that was what he did when he got backed against a wall: attack. The Liesmith held the banana up to his mouth feeling his lips dry and his throat close up. He couldn't do it.

Thor had gotten the message of staying silent while Loki conquered his own demons to face such a personal challenge. It wasn't like he was fighting someone else, his brother was fighting himself, the second most stubborn person in Asgard (he liked to count himself as first). The blonde didn't even want to try and comprehend the thoughts that must have been going around Loki's mind, it must have been chaos in there, his own psychological civil war. He was so proud of him for facing this, even if he didn't quite know what 'this' was fully. It was 8:55 when Loki took the first bite. His face screwed up in protest and he almost choked on what was in his mouth but he managed to swallow and that made Thor's heart soar. The second bite was just as bad as his brother looked ready to gag but with what looked like determination, it got him through it once more. By 8:58 Loki had managed to finish an entire banana. He held the peel in his hand but held no sign on gratification on his face at all, there was no sign of achievement, nothing. Thor stood from the bed, beaming. His glanced sparingly at the clock before dashing over to Loki, who had frozen up, and wrapping his arms tightly around him. His brother had told him not to say another word so instead he decided to show his delight physically. Loki was important and he needed to know that. The blonde picked up Mjolnir (knowing he would have to fly to his exam if he was going to make it on time) before barging out of their chambers with only a minute to spare.

A/N: You'll all hate me next chapter though it's an interesting chapter – life in the mind of Loki. Anyway instead of updating every 2-4 days I'm now going to make it every 1-2 weeks simply as no one seems to be liking this anymore . so yeah…sorry some of you guys…