Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, Thor, The Avengers, or any characters associated with them. I just own the story!

The problem with silence, for Thor, was that it was incredibly intense. Though he would enjoy time to himself to reflect every so often, he preferred to have people to converse with.
Thor really wished to talk to Jane, but when he asked the bodiless voice JARVIS to contact her, the AI remarked that it was rather late in New Mexico-and in New York-and she was likely sleeping.
Thor sighed. He would have to try again tomorrow.
Unfortunately, he wasn't tired in the slightest, and didn't feel that his evening was completely lost.

Perhaps maybe, just maybe, he could talk to Loki.

When they were children, Loki would often sneak into Thor's room at night. Thor would welcome him, and the two would talk about their day, or ease their nightmares, or wonder about their lives when they became grown. Thor missed those days, missed having his little brother sit next to him, sometimes resting his head on Thor's shoulder if he was bored.

Thor wished that he could've realized sooner how upset Loki was. He had never given a thought that Loki could have resented him, not thinking it would ever occur. Thor hadn't realized until after he was first banished to Midgard how tired Loki was of living under his shadow.

And what an awful brother that had made him. Though Thor had visited Loki often, if not every day of Loki's imprisonment on Asgard, Loki hadn't spoken to him, or even looked at him. Loki had wanted nothing to do with Thor.

What had Thor done to his good-hearted little brother to make him so cold? Thor could see that some compassion still existed in Loki, it was just not directed at him.

Thor stood outside of Loki's door with a rare feeling of hesitation. Perhaps this was a bad idea. Loki had barely spoken to him during their time at the Tower, why would he now?
No, Thor couldn't think that way. Loki would come around. He would remember the wonderful times that they had. Surely Loki still remembered how he used to come to Thor at night.
Thor rapped on the door, hoping that Loki would still be awake.

(Loki wasn't originally, but by the string of Asgardian curses that Thor suddenly heard, he could assume Loki had awakened.)

"What in Valhalla is so important that you must awaken me-" Loki growled, still groggy, but he suddenly stopped when he saw Thor in front of him.
"Loki! Brother! I apologize, I did not mean to awaken you in such a startling manner. I merely wished to talk with you," Thor started, voice rising in pitch.
"Quiet, you oaf. Do you want the whole Tower to wake?" Loki hissed. He didn't want to deal with Thor, but he was too tired to deal with any protesting from the Thunder God.
I can't believe this, Loki thought. "Just come inside," he snapped.
Thor smiled and eagerly stepped inside. Loki still couldn't believe how unabashedly optimistic Thor could be.
"Now what is it that you want?" Loki hissed as he sat back on his bed.
"I wanted to apologise, brother-" Thor began, tone somber.
"I am no brother of yours." Loki scowled. Of course this was why Thor was in his room, in yet another asinine attempt to make peace. When would he get it through his thick skull that Loki didn't want to associate with him, that he was never and would never be Thor's brother, that Loki hated him-

Though...even Loki had to admit that he was lying to himself about that. He didn't really hate Thor, at least not at the time. Before, he had, but it was really empty words disguising the fact that Loki truly resented himself. He had been misguided. Loki just didn't want to have to face the brother he had once loved. They had both done so much to each other, both good and bad. It would be impossible to reach past that and possess the relationship they once had, or so Loki thought.

"Please, Loki, cease with your denouncement of family. I now am aware that we are not related by blood, but have we not shared a most profound bond? Surely you remember when we played together as children?" Thor asserted with a pleading look in his eye. Loki was reminded of how Thor still looked so much like the child he once was. He had good intentions-asinine, but hopelessly good-but he was too blind to see what he did to people. Loki had grown used to ignoring that face, but after doing it for so long, he feared his resolve might crack.
"I was never truly your family. The façade of caring that existed was merely to deceive me. I was to be used as a bargaining chip to keep peace with the Frost Giants," Loki responded, tone clipped. He grew tired of this constant argument.

Thor sighed. "I realise your distrust of Father's sentiment, even your anger towards me, but Mother? You truly think that Mother held no love for you?"
Loki looked away. Both he and Thor knew Loki bore no hate toward Frigga. When Frigga had visited Loki while imprisoned, their exchanges were silent but meaningful. Loki would curl up next to her, sighing deeply as he let Frigga solemnly stroke his hair. At times, in his dreams, Loki could still recall her soft lullabies, her whispered murmurs confirming that she still loved him, as her son. Loki was not able to speak ill of her.
"I..." Loki tried to respond, but found himself unable to.
"Loki, you must listen to me. I forgive you, and it pains me to think you will not recognise this. I do not wish for you to suffer. You are my brother, and I love you. Why do you deny me this?" Thor asked, and Loki realised that tears had begun to brim in Thor's eyes.
"How, though, Thor? How can you forgive me? I lied to you, to everyone! I've killed, and fought, and hurt you in so many ways. I thought that I was doing good for the Allfather, I merely wanted to please him, but what I've done...Some of those that I know are more forgiving than others, but I was your family! I was your closest ally, and I betrayed you! How could you ever truly forgive me for that?!" Loki yelled, surprised at his sudden outburst. He truly had been affected by his time on Midgard.
In spite of this, Thor gave Loki a smile.
"Brother, I keep telling you. It is because we are family."

A.N: I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER but I had a cold for the past week. My brain pretty much shut down. Anyhoo, I had to do this because I realized that I was 24 CHAPTERS INTO THIS STORY AND THOR AND LOKI DID NOT HAVE BROTHERLY LOVE! So, I had to fix that *squishes Thor and Loki together into obligatory brotherly-love-hug*. So they're going to have a slightly awkward friendship or whatever but at least they love each other!

Thank you guys for still reading this story and favoriting/following/reviewing!

FoxxTheGinger: I give you more! Darn you sickness for making me forget about writing.

theFGnat: Thanks :D

Mrs Capt Jack Sparrows: Thank you!

And just out of curiosity: Would you guys like it if I posted an actual sequel to this story involving Loki and Kiersten and the baby growing up (possibly with the other Avengers popping in occasionally too)? I mean, once this story is finished, of course. If I did make a real sequel, I'd probably ask you guys for requests/prompts for chapters.

Anyone besides me wish that Thor 2 would be available in theaters NOW?