"I just want you to know that I'll be doing everything in my power to make sure the record states that this is all your fault."

Thor's voice, when he finally replied, was weary—and more than a little annoyed. "There isn't any record to be kept, Loki."

"Oh, I'm sure there's someone out there keeping track of everything—recording all your mistakes, no doubt."

"Well," Thor grunted, flinging himself shoulder-first into the door, "if you meet him, I'm sure you'll find some way to pin this whole mess on me. For the record, of course."

"It already is pinned on you."

"Right, well, just make sure you don't leave out the part where your skulking around made them all suspicious."

"Oh, please." Loki crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall of their tiny prison. "I'm not the one who introduced us as royalty. That's why we're in here, if you were so terribly unaware. And, for the love of Vanaheim, would you stop that? No matter how hard to hit it, that door's not going to open. It's locked. Unless you were trying to make some sort of grand show of strength. If that's the case, it doesn't seem to be working the way you—"

"I'm trying to get us out of here!"

"And yet all you've done so far is give me a headache and yourself a bruised shoulder. Well done, Thor. You're brilliant."

"Funny," his brother replied, taking a moment to catch his breath as he fixed Loki with a glare, "I didn't see you doing anything to try to free us. I must've missed it…"

A snappy comeback sat perched on the tip of his tongue. It was ready. He was ready. And he could bicker back and forth all day. All day. However, his throbbing head had other plans. The pain was like a lightning bolt to his temple, and despite his attempt to massage it away, the throbbing only continued to build in pressure and intensity. The chains locked around his wrists weren't helping any, and the way they rattled at the slightest movement grated against his skin.

"Oh, shut up, Thor," was all Loki could manage. "Just shut up."

The cell grew quiet for a single, blessed moment, then Thor opened his mouth again.

Of course.

"I don't see why you can't just use your magic to whisk us out of here." Though his voice was softer now, the thunder god's tone still clearly reflected his annoyance.

Of course. He would look at this as an annoyance. Capture and imprisonment never seemed to be a threat or a danger to his brother, just an annoying rut interrupting his otherwise pleasant day.

Though, Loki couldn't remember their day being all that pleasant so far. Supplies on the Statesman had been running low for quite some time now, and their first venture off-ship had gotten them locked up by a few greedy merchants hoping to make it big on a royal ransom.

Joke's on them, now isn't it? Loki pinched the bridge of his nose, swallowing back a sigh. Because these creatures knew of Asgard's riches. They were aware of the far-reaching influence the mighty realm used to possess.

Used to being the key phrase here.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

The bitter pull on his heartstrings was a feeling Loki refused to acknowledge. Of course, he missed his homeland… But there's no point in dwelling on it, now is there?

What their captors didn't know, however, was how very little of Asgard survived Ragnarok—mainly her people and nothing more. All their supplies came in the form of what Loki was able to steal from the Grand Master and load onto the Statesman before racing off to rescue his people.

And now that, too, had been reduced to a very little amount.

In short, there would be no ransom.

There would be no rescue.

"Loki?"

Startled, the young prince's eyes flew open. How he'd forgotten to answer Thor—or missed the fact that his brother even existed in the first place—was beyond his ability to comprehend.

"What?" he snapped, willing his head to stop its incessant drumming.

For a moment, the expression on Thor's face softened, which only added to Loki's building frustration. "Are you all right?"

Definitely not what he was expecting, the words threw Loki for a loop and it took a few seconds for him to find his voice again.

"Of course, I am!" Was he? His pounding head threatened to tell him otherwise, so he ignored it the best he could. "I don't see how my wellbeing has any bearing on the situation at hand."

Still, Thor continued to study him with those gentle, concerned eyes of his. Curse those eyes!

They were too familiar—and they made Loki feel far too vulnerable.

"You don't look well." And Norns, was he still pressing the issue?

"No one ever looks good in chains, Thor," Loki replied, forcing any trace of fatigue out of his voice. "And the one around my ankle is too tight."

Because if he aimed for sounding even the tiniest bit whiny, he might be able to turn Thor's mind back onto their escape.

Or lack thereof.

"So," Thor said after a heavy beat of silence, "can you, then?"

"Can I what, Thor?"

"Teleport. Whisk us out of here and back to the Commodore before Val and Heimdall get worried."

I wish they would. That would be a welcome change, now wouldn't it? Especially where Loki was concerned…

"No," he replied with a sigh he'd meant to swallow. "They know who we are. They're familiar with Asgard and its tricks—my tricks. Why do you think my chains look so different from yours? They're blocking my magic. They're clever, Thor. And they aren't fooling around."

He was running his mouth again. Grasping at straws to throw Thor off his scent. A little half-truth here, a few well-concealed lies there. Top it all off by stressing the severity of their situation and his mighty brother's mind was effectively swayed.

Why their chains both looked so different, Loki would probably never know. It didn't matter anyway. They were different enough for the lie to be believable.

Now the only lie left to be told was the one Loki would whisper to himself.

You've distracted him, forced him away from your pain. A simple task, really. Just as he had predicted. Still as simple a task as it had been when they were young.

And Loki told himself it didn't sting, didn't cut.

Because it doesn't.

He only sees what he wants to.

Or what you make him see.

And right now, that can't be you.

"Besides," Loki pressed on, keeping his tone snappish and light, "if I could get us out of here, don't you think I would've done it by now? It's far too warm in here to be considered even remotely enjoyable."

And there were those eyes again. Those gentle, concerned eyes. Searching. Calculating.

Detecting the lies…

Oh, shut up, will you?

"You're too hot?" Thor moved towards him too fast for Loki to properly react. "Do you have a fever?"

The most he could do was bat his brother's hand away from his forehead with a hiss. "No, of course I don't have a fever! I'm not sick. The only thing I'm sick of is constantly getting caught in these messes with you!"

"All right." Hands raised, Thor backed away, though the look in his eyes never wavered. "You say nothing's wrong, then nothing's wrong."

Everything's wrong, you big oaf. Everything—

Thor turned his attention back to their prison, mumbling, "Let's just find a way out of here."

"Can't you just blast us out of here? Or are your blessed powers selective?"

"As selective as yours, I think," Thor replied with a smirk. "And didn't we already have a conversation like this?"

Loki grit his teeth together so hard that it hurt, but perhaps it would distract him from the growing pain in his skull. "Can you or can't you?"

"And bring this whole place down on top of us?" Thor shook his head. "Believe it or not, this is much better than being buried alive."

"Fine."

"Maybe if we work together," Thor began, his gaze thoughtful now, "we can figure a way to—"

If he regretted cutting his brother off, Loki would never admit it to himself. "How about you go back to doing whatever it was you were doing with the door and I'll work on picking these locks around our ankles."

Without waiting for Thor to reply, Loki slid two thin pieces of scrap metal out of his sleeve and sat down.

"How long have you had those?" And he couldn't decide if Thor's tone was genuinely curious or downright annoyed.

"I always have them."

"And you only thought to bring them out now?"

"They didn't seem relevant earlier." Truthfully, his head had been too foggy to remember them until now, but being truthful was a thing Loki was still working on. Slowly.

"Right. They weren't relevant when I was slamming my shoulder into a thick metal door?"

Loki kept his gaze fixed on his chains, where his fingers began their nimble work of freeing his ankle.

Well, as nimble as anything could be under the growing weight of fatigue. Honestly, how many suns did this planet have? It's the height of the afternoon. What did you expect?

"I'm not the one who made you do something so foolish."

"You didn't stop me, either."

"Should I have?"

An exasperated groan from Thor put a quick end to the conversation. At last.

Loki didn't know how long they both worked in silence, each at their own task, but it seemed an eternity before Thor finally stopped trying to break the door down or call curses out upon whatever sort of guards might be listening.

Loki didn't know if escape was even a possibility, but it seemed an absolutely herculean task. And while he was no stranger to doing the impossible, this felt far beyond his capabilities.

Loki didn't know why it was so hard to pick what should have been a simple lock, but his fingers weren't cooperating with him. They were too heavy, too clumsy, and the worst of it was he didn't know why.

No, all he knew was the heat. The exhaustion. The thick beads of sweat stinging his eyes and stealing away his last vestiges of concentration.

He couldn't remember being this tired before their capture—in fact, he'd felt oddly elated at the prospect of getting out of that cramped, stuffy ship for the first time in forever and walking on solid ground.

Now, however…

Loki swiped a hand across his brow and cursed it when he noticed how it had begun to tremble.

Not now. You're fine. Whatever this is—whatever you're playing at, he hissed at himself, willing his fingers to steady enough to work the picks. Save it for after we get out of here.

If we get out of here…

He pursed his lips, furrowing his brows as if the motion would magically bring forth another string of concentration.

You're fine. Just concentrate.

You're fine.

Only when the tiny picks slipped out of his grasp did he realize that this was the third—fourth?—time he'd lost his grip on them.

He swiped at his brow again before picking them back up. If it wasn't so blasted hot in there, he could've… What? Don't flatter yourself. Your lock-picking skills have always been abysmal at best.

Without magic, at least…

Without his magic, what could he really do? I mean, honestly? If he wasn't so hot, those chains would've been a faint memory with just a flick of his fingers.

If he wasn't so exhausted, he and Thor would've been out of there in a bright flash of green.

If he wasn't so… What? Confused? Why was he so confused? This should be easy for you. It's simple. Simple…

If he wasn't so… dizzy. That was the word for it. Standing up wasn't something he was willing to chance, but in all honesty, his circle of comprehension had yet to move beyond the simple task of unlocking his chains.

Loki… The faint sound of his mother's voice in his head stilled his heart. A memory was the last thing he needed right now… Loki, dear, you must come inside.

Why?

It's much too hot for you out there.

Another wave of nausea forced his eyes shut.

"But Thor can play!"

Yes… His fingers tightened on the picks, but the dizziness persisted. Yes, Thor can… Why can't I?

"It's much too hot for you, dear child."

Why?

"Loki…"

Why? Why can't I…?

"Loki, dear?"

Why…? Why was the world spinning? His eyes were shut tight, so why—?

"—Can't he play, too? Why does he always have to go inside? It's summer!"

Why…?

"That's precisely why, Thor. I'm sorry."

But why?

"Come now, Loki."

Loki…

Why was it so hot?

Loki!

There had to be a reason why—

"Come now, Loki. Please, dear…"

Why…?

Loki!

Water. He needed water. He needed… what?

Stop.

Loki, come on!

He needed it to stop—

"Loki!"

The cool hand on his cheek should've startled him. He didn't particularly like to be touched, but the incessant tapping against his skin only served as a reminder that he was still here. And mother is not.

Mother…

"Loki?" When Thor bit out a curse, Loki opened his eyes at last, heavy as they were.

"What…?"

His brother's face was a contorted mess, trying to express… something, no doubt… but Loki couldn't find the strength to decipher it.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

What? All he wanted to do was close his eyes. Sleep called to him, a siren song he was loath to ignore. But Thor was persistent, clapping a palm across Loki's forehead, then slipping a couple of fingers against his neck.

"You're burning up! I knew it! I knew something was wrong!"

"Took you… long enough to… to say something about it." He couldn't recall closing his eyes again, but Thor's rude shaking of his shoulder effectively forced them back open.

A flash of hurt clouded Thor's expression, but that wasn't what caught Loki's attention. No, he was more concerned with the fact that his brother was looking down on him, leaning over him as if…

But he didn't remember lying down. He didn't remember… And where were the picks? The lock, it needed to… I need to…

"The chains," he croaked, and he noted that, for once, it seemed he had Thor's unwavering attention.

Only… those eyes. He wished his brother would stop staring at him with those gentle, worried eyes!

"I can't…" Loki sighed, pursing his lips as a brief wave of heat washed over him. "It should be so easy, but I can't… can't get the hang of it. I thought I could do it… I… Thor, don't I know how to… to pick a lock? I do, don't I? I… have to…"

"Shh, Loki, calm down. You do. Of course, you do. You're actually kind of the best at it."

And while Loki wasn't sure he bought Thor's smile—it was too small, too anxious—he felt a strange sort of relief bubble in his chest.

"Really?"

"Yes, yes! Of course, you are. And I'm sure you could get us out of here in no time under different circumstances. But first, you need to tell me what hurts."

Hurts? Nothing hurt.

"Nothing… Why… Nothing hurts, it's just so hot. Aren't you…?" One look at Thor's face told Loki it would be awhile before the heat truly got to his brother.

Despite the heat, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

"Come now, Loki."

Oh.

"But why doesn't Thor have to come in, too? Why does he—?"

Oh…

It was all making sense now. Too much sense.

Why? Only, he knew why. The question now was how could he have forgotten?

How could he have forgotten such a crucial aspect of his life? Of his anatomy?

Biting out a curse, Loki closed his eyes once again. It was easier that way. He wouldn't have to look at Thor; wouldn't have to feel his brother's blasted worry.

"I'm such an idiot," he whispered, cracking one lid open for a moment. "Or you are… You could've remembered, too." And by the slow shift in his brother's expression, Loki knew he had caught on as well. "Not that it would've changed much… We're still stuck here… aren't we?"

Because if Thor had figured out a way to escape… But no… Thor shook his head. Of course.

"I blame our parents," Loki pressed on, though his voice was weaker than he would've liked it to be. "They never told me why… why… Well, you remember when the summer was at its… its hottest?" He swallowed, his only defense against the raging nausea. "And I had to stay cooped up inside…? They never told me… Never told me it was b-because… Well… Norns, I'm so tired! Aren't you tired… 'Course, you're not. I bet you never are… Are you?"

"Loki, you're rambling." The words were written all over his brother's face, but Thor never opened his mouth.

He simply listened. Listened as he gently unbuttoned the top of Loki's Sakaaran leather and rolled up the thick sleeves. Listened as he unclipped the gold-lined cape and tossed it to the side. Listened as he removed one of his own shoulder guards and began fanning Loki's face.

The air was far from cool, but it was something.

And still, Thor continued to listen.

So, Loki continued to talk. It wasn't like he could stop, anyway. You never could stop, could you? Not even when you'd begun to annoy yourself as well…

But talking meant a distraction from the pain. From his pounding head. His head… Thor had asked what hurt…

"My head." By now, Loki had settled on keeping his eyes half-lidded. He needed to see, even if it meant the world would keep swaying. He needed to see… He couldn't fall asleep, as much as he wanted so badly to…

"You asked… earlier—was it earlier?—what hurt… on me, I m-mean. And it's my head. It feels like it's about to explode, I think…" He bit back a groan, feeling a sudden unwelcome embarrassment. There's no need to show too much weakness.

Show weakness is for the weak.

Yes, what a brilliant sentence, Loki. Just brilliant.

Though the groan had been successfully suppressed, Loki couldn't hide the flinch at Thor's cool touch on his head.

"Sorry," the thunder god whispered.

It took a long moment for Loki to realize that Thor was ever-so-gently massaging his head. At first, this only made him more acutely aware of the pain—and oh! how he wished it would just go away!

But slowly, oh-so slowly, Thor's efforts started to amount to something. To a lesser version of a migraine Loki knew he would only get rid of with sleep and water. Gallons and gallons of ice cold water.

"I'm sorry." It was Thor's soft apology that pulled Loki out of the darkness he hadn't meant to drift back into. "I don't think I ever told you that."

"'S not your fault we're in here," Loki heard himself admit. "'S not anyone's but… but theirs." Thor would know who he meant.

"No," his brother pressed, and the quiet anguish soaking his voice caught Loki's full attention. "I'm not talking about that. I meant, I'm sorry they never told you. I'm sorry you had to go through summer after endless summer without knowing why you were so susceptible to the heat. I'm sorry you were kept in the dark for so long about your true history."

"We both were—"

"And I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you finally found out."

Oh. That was a new one. And Loki hadn't been prepared for it.

When have you truly been prepared for anything? I mean, really?

Tired of being held captive by his own thoughts, Loki glanced up at his brother.

His brother, whom he'd spent so long trying to destroy—but had it ever really been in earnest?

His brother, who always seemed to be there for him, whether Loki liked it or not.

His brother, who was apologizing for something in which he'd had no part.

Why?

"Don't be… ridiculous. You couldn't have known."

"No, but I could've been better," came Thor's matter-of-fact response. "And if I hadn't been so, well, you know…"

Oh, did he ever. "Pig-headed?"

"Yes," Thor admitted, earning a light snicker from Loki. "I would have been there for you when you needed me the most. For that, I'm truly sorry."

"Do you want me to forgive you?" His was meant as a jest.

A soft chuckle echoed off the walls. "That's up to you."

Oh.

Thor's, it seemed, was not.

"All right…"

"And I promise you," Thor said after a few moments of an oddly comfortable silence, "I'll get you out of here."

Before… It was the unspoken threat that loomed over them like an angel of death. Or a goddess of death…

Curse Odin and his secrets. His lies.

If I'd only known… If they'd only told me sooner… Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to remember his limits. Maybe…

"I never wanted the throne, you know." The confession was so abrupt, it startled both of them. "At some point, I did… and I had it, too. But not back then… Not when…" Loki shook his head and Thor's fingers stilled. "I just didn't want you to have it. I didn't…" Was swallowing normally such a chore? "I didn't think you could do it. Rule, I mean… I didn't… I didn't believe in you. So I ruined it all. I ruined everything."

For a brief moment, Thor was silent. Loki found himself holding his breath. Why…?

"And now?" Thor asked as his fingers resumed their soothing patterns.

"Now…?"

"Now that I'm king, do you think I could do it?"

A beat, then Loki locked gazes with his brother. "I think you're the only one who can. And don't go asking if I believe in you." If you know what's good for y—

"Do you?"

Another pause. "I do now."

"What changed?"

Loki offered up a small shrug. "I suppose I always have, give or take a few hundred years here and there. Don't tell anyone I said that…"

The silence that followed was less than reassuring.

"Thor?" Nothing. "Thor!"

"Hmm, what? Oh, sorry. Did you ask me something?"

A sharp whack on the head was what his brother deserved, but Loki's energy was still fading. Quickly. Later… You'll get him later.

And for the first time since their imprisonment, Loki considered the possibility that there might not be a later.

Right…

"Oh, shut up," he sighed, forgoing any form of violence. "Can you pick a lock?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Loser."

"Hey!" The pure indignance in Thor's voice was just enough to quirk Loki's lips into a faint smile. "You're starting to sound like Val, you know. I think she's rubbing off on you."

"Take that back…" But his plea was half-hearted. The darkness was back, and it was hungry.

"Sorry," Thor replied in a tone that made it clear he most certainly was not.

Loki didn't care, though. He only had enough energy now to fend off the darkness, at least for a little while. And even that was proving too difficult a task.

Besides, it might be nicer if he slept; it might be cooler.

"Loki…?"

Cooler…

"Loki!"

Oh, curse this blasted heat…

If Loki remembered anything about what happened next, he supposed it must have been buried deep in the throes of his mind somewhere. Later on, Valkyrie would recount a wild, alcohol-laced version of their rescue, but Loki couldn't trust half the things that woman claimed.

It wasn't important, anyway.

He was no longer dying, that was the important thing. Though, perhaps he never had been dying in the first place.

Or maybe I was and Thor just made it seem like I wasn't. That would be so like him, wouldn't it?

Even so, he did remember his brother promising that everything would be all right. He remembered Thor helping him, making him comfortable in all his pain.

Thor. He remembered Thor.

And despite his unease when it came to sharing—to being vulnerable—he never remembered regretting his words.

No one was more fit to rule Asgard than his big brother.

And as he stood at the right side of Thor's makeshift throne, with Valkyrie and Heimdall on the left, Loki found himself at peace with this fact.

For the first time in his life, as they journeyed through the stars—together—Loki truly felt at peace.