A/N: Sorry it feels like it's been ages since I last updated but I've been going through a rough time :( but anyway here is the update, sorry it's so short.

Lies, Disorders and Not So Brotherly Love

Chapter 27

As the light of the sun broke through the slit in the curtains Loki found himself waking up. It took him mere moments to realize he was locked in position, guarded over by a strong arm that was still pinning him close to the radiating warmth behind him. The hand that had entertained him so captivatingly last night was still buried under his tunic and pressed flat against his skin keeping up the constant blossoming sensations in his stomach. He couldn't move his legs either as they were now tangled between Thor's. It was strange to wake up entwined up with someone else in such a familiar yet so frighteningly new position. He could hear the sound of Thor's soft breathing behind him clearly still deep in slumber, Loki had no intention of waiting around for his brother to wake up.

The Trickster broke out into a smirk as he elbowed Thor in the ribs, "wake up you buffoon, it is morning," he commanded feeling Thor jerk awake behind him with a sharp snort. What he didn't intend however, was for the Thunderer's hold to tighten in surprise until it almost crushed him, knocking out the ability to breathe. The God of Thunder had temporarily forgotten in his daze where he was not expecting to be brought back into reality so harshly, it wasn't until he heard Loki choke that he released his grip.

"By Asgard Thor!" Loki coughed wrestling himself way away from his brother, "what were you trying to do? Kill me?" Thor sat himself up with a remorseful expression and began to rub his brother's back, "I'm sorry…I just…nevermind," he apologized, not realizing that Loki had deserved the instinctual reaction for elbowing him in the first place. His subconscious had told him he was in danger, he couldn't help having a warrior's reflex.

The knock at the door startled them, as both pairs of eyes shot towards the entranceway freezing them in position.
"My Lords are you awake? I have a message, may I enter?" One of the guards from outside the room announced. The brothers glanced at each other and mutually agreed that they most definitely couldn't be caught together in bed like this. They untangled their legs before Thor clambered over Loki to get out of the bed faster and rush over to his own to which he perched himself down on.
"Enter," Thor called, pretending to stretch as if he had just woken up which wasn't entirely false. With the sound of the handles being unlocked and the doors to open inwards, the guard that had spoken stepped inside. His expression was neutral as he kept his eyes fixed in front of him making no contact visually with either of the princes for their privacy and to show his humbleness to them.
"I have a message from the great Heimdall about the second trial. He said to dress without armour, just in the basic necessities and that weaponry is strictly not allowed in this trial so do not bring any. You must meet in the great hall at noon precisely, do not be late," he enlightened. He then bowed his head and left closing the doors behind him. Loki frowned at the news, feeling the twinge in his gut start make itself present again.
"Well that sounds promising," the younger prince uttered with spiteful sarcasm, running a discouraged hand through his hair roughly pulling at his scalp. As long as he was allowed his magic he would feel a little more at ease besides they couldn't exactly take that off of him. Not without binding his wrists in cuffs marked with arcane ruins which he didn't think would happen thankfully. He was glad that he had a good night's rest after all, it had done wonders at recharging his energy. Still he wasn't at his best, the first trial was still taking its toll, Loki had finally realised how the Survival Trials were truly like a quest as he didn't have to just survive them separately but all together because every ailment or injury he received in the first would just transfer over to the second as there was so little time lapse.
"Do not trouble yourself Loki, it'll only make things worse. I'll be right by your side for the whole thing," Thor mentioned in a comforting tone while giving his brother a charming, positive smile. It was an attempt to raise his spirits, naturally it was a complete fail.
"That's all I need, a witless oaf without his toy," Loki grumbled quietly, glad that Thor hadn't heard him. Despite it being an insulting comment, Loki was indeed worried for his both their safety as Thor didn't have his defence either and if anything may now have been in a worse position than Loki himself as his magic tended to be far more useful than Thor's fists.

The princes both get dressed in their new apparel which was strangely airy without all the padded armour. They both wore simple coloured long sleeved tunics, one red, one green and black pants which were tucked neatly into boots. Loki combed out his hair, styling it in its usual form, slicked backwards; ridding himself of the tangled curls which dangled in his face. Thor's hair was still decorated with messy plaits which he hadn't bothered to redo, though he probably should have considered shaving a little fairly soon as his stubble was starting to get thick. Loki didn't seem to have the ability to even grow facial hair, but that wasn't surprising considering his heritage. After that they both ate breakfast, Loki had a handful of grapes while reading one of his books to calm his nerves meanwhile Thor got through three apples as he finished off his letter to their parents and gave it to one of the servants to deliver immediately.

Five minutes before noon Loki and Thor found themselves standing outside the great Hall along with the rest of the still living contestants. From the original twenty, fifteen were now left – a few had minor injuries, others looked more bruised and battered, one even had his arm in a sling but they all held a look of determination on their faces even if the sunken fatigue had settled as shadows under their eyes. The doors to the interior was still locked and guarded by two sentries.
"So got any ideas about what the second trial will be about?" Sif questioned leaning closer to Thor with an intrigued raised eyebrow. She had her arms folded across her chest and the tip of her foot repetitively tapping against the ground in impatience.
"Not a clue my dear Lady," Thor shook his head with a light shrug of the shoulders. Loki was stood next to his brother with his arms pressed behind his back which straightened out his posture but was held too rigidly to be comfortable. His hands were interlocked to which one set of his fingers continued to beat against the other in a hidden nervous disposition. He was plainly ignoring Thor and his friends listening to the tick of his mental clock as the seconds counted down. Each one got heavier and louder and chipped away more and more of his audacity.
"Maybe we are going somewhere warm?" Volstagg remarked, "This amount of clothing would have us freeze to death immediately if we went to a place like Jotunheim if we weren't slaughtered by Frost Giants first." The red head laughed tossing his head back, Sif followed along with the laughing. Loki visibly flinched at the sound of his race being mocked, it wasn't that it bothered him that they didn't like the other Frost Giants because Loki didn't even know any other Frost Giants but it just felt like they had punched him in the gut because it was still indirectly mocking him. They would think the exact same about him if they knew the truth and that made him very uncomfortable. To be loathed because of his heritage was truly personal because he never wanted to be different, to be the odd one out in a society who if knew would make every moment of his existence painful to live through. It may even bring down the kingdom to think the Allfather had knowingly raised a Frost Giant as his own son.
"Thor why are you not laughing?" Sif furrowed her eyebrows when the blonde's expression remained neutral. It wasn't that he didn't find it funny because he would or even did, but it was different when he was around Loki as he may as well have insulted him to his face.
"I just think it is inappropriate to make such jokes right now...we should be focusing on what is to happen to us," the Thunderer advised just as the doors to the hall were opened inwards. Silence became general manner as all attention shifted toward the opening and one by one the contestants filtered in through the gap.

The Hall compared to usual was void of all seating and the stage at present was empty. The doors were closed behind them and locked from the outside probably for disturbances as they were still on campus grounds and curious eyes would likely want to get a sneaky peek. After a few minutes of no one turning up to greet them, the chatting began to restart and soon reached the same level as before.
"Ha! It is unlike Heimdall to be late!" Volstagg chided glancing sparingly across the halls just to make sure he hadn't mistaken and made a fool of himself. There was no sign of the gold armour anywhere.
"I am sure there is some important reason as to why he is," Thor mentioned, holding his hand to his mouth as a tickly cough attacked his throat. Despite the fact that he overlooked it, it caught Loki's attention immediately. A small crease appeared on his brow as he felt a small tickle himself irritating his windpipe. Every breath seemed to make it worse. Sif began rubbing her neck with her fingers and Volstagg swallowed hard. The younger prince trailed his eyes across the crowd, the different colours began to fuzz together making it hard to see the different shapes. That's when someone dropped to the floor in a heap shortly followed by a second.
"What's going on!?" Thor's shoulders tensed up into a defensive position, he flexed his fists as if ready to fight an invisible attacker.
"I am afraid that Heimdall will not be making his attendance," Loki announced turning to look at Thor and grudgingly his comrades as he was still somehow part of this strange group even if it was just by default.
"Whatever do you speak of Prince Loki?" The axe-wielder gave him an incredulous thinning of the eyes. Loki began to wonder if he really was the only intelligent and perceptive person in the entire Academy.
"Gas, we are being gassed," he replied hastily feeling the weight now bearing on his muscles. It was almost relaxing if it wasn't for the fact that it was being forced upon him.
"Is this part of the trial?" Sif asked with irritation starting to cough herself. Another three thuds.
"No...too easy to escape...but also without warning...it isn't survival being knocked...out..." Loki could barely register the pauses between his words. But it was true if they really wanted to get out the place was full of windows which could be broken plus there was no challenge in this as the Asgardians that had already fallen did so within minutes after doing nothing but talking. The Liesmith rubbed his eyes to temporarily rid the fatigue, he then sat himself down on the floor. He looked up at the others who were sort of staring at him.
"You should...do the same...I will only laugh if you...break your nose on the floor," Loki managed to grin. The Aesirs glanced at each other briefly before taking seat on the ground. Thor next to Loki and Sif and Volstagg next to each other opposite. The Liesmith began to contemplate why they were going through all this trouble to knock them out as it didn't make any logical sense. Within a few more seconds Volstagg's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he slumped heavily against Sif with a loud snore. She recoiled at the contact with a frown while trying to peel his heavy weight off of her. As her attention was distracted Thor turned to Loki, his eyes were tired and turning a dull blue but he kept his signature comforting smile as he met his favourite pretty emeralds.
"You know you look...cute...when you are asleep?" Thor sniggered, his slightly slurring words already slipping into slumber. Sif in front of them fell unconscious and she and Volstagg collapsed onto their backs.
"Say that again...and I'll knock you out before the...gas does," the younger prince retorted, it was a highly empty threat as he really didn't have the energy to form a decent punch that would knock his thick skulled brother out.
"I love...you..." Thor leant closer as if to kiss his brother but before he could get close enough his body slumped forwards. Loki, being rather charitable and not wanting to get crushed, had caught him mid fall and instead gently laid him on his back telling himself it wasn't for sentimental values that he did that but because he wanted to make sure Thor was uninjured for the trial which enhanced his own survival. It was one of the most pathetic lies he had ever conjured in his head. The Trickster then glanced around, amused by the fact that he was the last one conscious. The image of others was discard and replaced by the ceiling chandelier within mere moments. The golden light began to take over every inch of his vision, within a few long blinks the light switched off entirely.

A/N: Urrrrgh I have this really bad nasal problem to which I can barely breathe at all D: It's really effecting my ability to concentrate…I can barely sleep…if it wasn't for my nasal spray I would be suffocating right now, the problem is it only makes it worse in between when the spray doesn't work, I'm already overdosing on the stuff and I have no idea what's even wrong! D: I wish it would just go away *cries* and I'm so sorry for boring you with that…but I just felt like I needed to type it.

Next chapter is the second trial :P Anyone curious as to what it is? Anyone got any guesses? I bet you won't guess it :D it's a lot less stereotypical that shoving them in a dangerous forest xD