For once, Thor was having a rather pleasant dream. It had to be… Thor felt like he was laying in such a soft bed. And his nostrils weren't invaded by the scent of alcoholic sweat nor vomit, instead it smelled of clean air. His head wasn't pounding and his body felt light.

Soft furs warming his body, gentle sunlight touching his cheek… Like his old room in Asgard. Thor slowly opened his eyes and the dream stayed consistent with the sight of the red drapes hanging over his bed.

The sounds of the birds outside, sounded so real… Even the marks in the wooden frame of his bed were exactly alike.

Without even thinking Thor reached out to touch the bedpost, it was solid, the air so fresh and... Thor blinked… Wait.

This… seemed awfully real for a dream. Was he… caught in some sort of illusion?

Slowly Thor sat up, he was expecting to feel ill when he woke up, at least have a bit of a headache like he always had when he woke up these days… Because he spent most of his waking hours drinking…

His body though felt… weirdly light.

Thor looked down at himself, he was wearing a white cotton night shirt and it was… not stretched across his fat stomach, in fact his stomach seemed… kind of flat.

Slowly Thor lifted his night shirt and was sure enough met with the sight of pronounced muscles as if he was still putting an effort into maintaining them.

Thor wasn't even thinking, he was just going on autopilot as he put his feet on the floor, then walked to the foot tall mirror only to jump back in pure shock. "ARGH!"

Who… Who was that?!

A handsome young man with bright, shining blue eyes, a short well kept beard, his long hair clean and only slightly unruly after having slept. The cotton shirt was freely hanging from his shoulders and didn't stretch out at all, this young man was trim and fit.

Wide-eyed, Thor lifted a hand to see the clean man in the mirror do the same.

…..

What… What was going on?! What was happening?!

Dumbfounded, Thor looked around, he recognized every item and every corner, it really looked a lot like his old room… Exactly like his old room. There was the Bilgesnipe skull hung on the wall as his proud trophy of the kill, next to it hung a sword Thor hadn't used for ages preferring Mjolnir any day. A book shelf filled with books Thor had never even read, Frigga and Loki had just given them to him anyway, probably hoping he would just give in one day and pick one up out of boredom. It never happened. All the hunting daggers hanging in a line though were well used from hunting and cutting up animals so they could be eaten on their trips.
Pelts thrown over the chairs and laying on the floor, each and every one from one of Thor's own kills. Those he didn't use himself he would always gift to others. He knew Loki had had an entire pile of pelts in his own chambers, carelessly thrown into a corner as if he couldn't be bothered with them anymore.

But that was impossible! Asgard was no more. What trickery was this?!

Thor didn't know but he knew he had to find out! He hurried to his dresser and pulled out clothes. Then he halted, holding such a familiar cape and armor in his hands. He hadn't worn this, for so long! Blankly, Thor looked at the red fabric in his hands which was a long red cape. It was thick... And very soft. Made from a material designed to fall in just the right way, and billow after him as he walked in a specific way. Designed to make the wearer look as impressive as possible.

Thor hesitated, then pulled out a black tunic, armor pieces, and dressed automatically without even thinking. He had done it so many times in the past that he was really just on autopilot. Even as he finished putting on the red cape, attaching it to his shoulder and the image was complete.

Feeling incredibly odd, Thor looked at his reflection. There stood the picture of a hero, of a golden prince. The armor was shining bright, glistening in the light. There wasn't one single dent or scratch. His cape flowed after him, elegant and regal. He didn't feel like it though, it felt like a hoax. A big lie in the mirror and Thor turned only to halt at the sight of what stood right by the door.

A hammer… a heavy silver hammer. Simple yet beautiful in design.

Mjolnir.

Thor was stunned to silence.

Mjolnir?

It couldn't be! He remembered Hela destroying it, his life long companion and old friend. Thor felt himself shaking, but couldn't stop himself, and longing overwhelmed him. He just wanted to touch her… To hold her in his hands once more.

With a shaking hand he reached for the hammer and then, his hand closed around the handle and he lifted up his old friend, feeling the power coursing through him.

Thor gasped as he held her, the feeling was so familiar, so right… His treasured old friend.

Closing his eyes, Thor lowered his hammer, then finally hung it on his belt in a familiar manner… It felt like... such an important piece had been returned to him. A piece of himself.

Thor then turned to the door, but hesitated as he looked at it. Slowly he reached forward a hand and grabbed the handle, then pushed open the door to be met by the sight of a familiar hallway.

Open-mouthed, Thor looked at it, it felt so familiar yet it seemed like an eternity since he had last seen it… The palace hallway.

Wide-eyed, Thor stepped out, looking everywhere, out of the window towards the garden… It sure all seemed real.

Then Thor heard footsteps and he hurried behind a pillar just as a group of Einherjars came wandering past him.

…. Einherjars? … Asgardian warriors! Asgardian warriors whom were not dead!

Thor felt his heart all the way up his throat as he started to sneak, trying to get his bearings... Scholars… warriors… servants. So many people from all walks of life!

As Thor hid himself behind a wall just to look, his eyes filled with tears, could this truly be real… could it? … Just then a voice sounded right behind Thor.

"What are you doing?!"

"ARGH!"

The scream coming from Thor's mouth was high pitched and sounded honestly more like a girl than a big Thunder god, he twirled around in surprise, his shock though wasn't helped at all by the sight of a black haired god standing right next to him! Inches away from him, looking at him with frowning, suspicious green eyes.

Thor gaped, his eyes wide… It couldn't be… That was impossible.

The younger god clad in green lifted an eyebrow. "If I didn't know better I would accuse you of being out to make trouble. But the mighty thunder god never causes any trouble whatsoever, right?" he asked in a slight snort.

Thor stood stock still, rigid as a board as he swallowed.

Now the younger god frowned, his green eyes looking puzzled. "Thor?" he asked. "Brother?"

Thor gasped, he was lost for words…. Brother? It had been so long since Loki had called him that so casually. Thor's eyes were growing wet.

"Are you hale?" Loki finally asked, now confused. "You… look like you've seen a ghost," he admitted, sounding pretty insecure. Then he smirked. "Don't tell me the thought of being king is finally getting to you? Getting cold feet?" he asked then though his smile faltered. "Okay, you can stop looking like that now..." he shuffled back, clearly starting to grow nervous himself. "Brother?" he finally asked, his voice sounding slightly strained as he inched backwards and away from Thor. The smile on his lips now clearly forced and not genuine. "Maybe I should go fetch mother..."

He didn't get any further than that, Thor didn't care! Didn't care that Loki clearly looked nervous, didn't care that Loki had betrayed him so many times in the past, if he had just faked his own death yet again… If this was all only a trick, Thor didn't care! Loki was here and Thor zoomed forward, grabbed Loki and then pulled him into a crushing hug as he cried, "Loki!"

"Tho-THOR!" Loki shrieked from Thor's arms, he was shocked! Stiff and rigid in Thor's arms, but Thor didn't care. Then Loki started to struggle. "HEY! What are you doing?!" he asked as he wriggled around like a snake, but completely failed to get out of Thor's crushing embrace. "RELEASE ME YOU OAF!" he shouted.

"LOKIIII!" Thor just cried holding him tight.

"I told you to let go! UNHAND ME!" Loki exclaimed, then suddenly in a blink he was gone from Thor's arms.

"Loki?" Thor looked down at his empty arms, suddenly panic striking him.

Only for the young god of mischief to reappear a bit further away from him by the power of teleportation looking at him goggle-eyed.

For some time the two young princes were simply looking at each other, Thor with tears silently running down his face and Loki's eyes just wide in pure shock and confusion.

The silence stretched on, then it became awkward as both just stood staring at each other.

Then finally Loki straightened up as he coughed into his hand. "Ahem, Thor… I would rather appreciate it if… you would never… ever. Do that again."

Thor swallowed but wiped his eyes. "I apologize."

That made Loki jump.

"Brother?" Thor asked.

"You… never apologize for anything," Loki commented. "Thor, what is going on?" he asked clearly unsettled.

Thor blushed, there was no question he was acting rather out of character… If all of this was honestly real.

And Loki, he looked kind of nervous. What was Thor supposed to say? He didn't really know what was going on either. Once again the silence just stretched on.

"Are you drunk?" Loki finally asked.

That made Thor look up... Well maybe, it seemed logical. He breathed on his hand to get a sniff, but smelled nothing. "I... I don't know. Am I drunk, Loki?" he asked.

"I WAS THE ONE ASKING YOU THAT!" Loki shouted.

"I don't know if i'm drunk!" Thor almost cried.

"It's an easy question isn't it?!" Loki asked. "Have you spent all night drinking fifty barrels of mead with your so called friends!"

"I don't know, I don't think so," Thor sniffed.

Loki's eyes widened at the tears, he halted, then finally spoke."Right..." Loki stepped backwards. "I think I… I'm just going to leave now. I have got… things to do," he pointed over his shoulder. "Studies to..." he halted. "I'll see you later!" he exclaimed as he twirled around and then, he really seemed like he was making a run for it.

Stunned, Thor looked after Loki… It was not very normal to see Loki being freaked out. Well, except for when the Hulk was involved but… That was rather another issue.

Could this be real though? Could Thor actually be…

Please, by the all father! Let it be real, let it not just be a drunken dream… If you take this away from me, I won't be able to handle it.

I am not strong enough… Please.