Chapter Summary: Thor and Loki try to manipulate each other.

Chapter Five: Interlude: Manipulative Brothers (Thor's POV)

The tension in Darcy's small frame had just begun to ebb after they passed the impact crater of his cherished accursed hammer when Thor spied his brother suddenly standing in the light beams of their vehicle. Darcy screamed and swerved to the left, bringing the van to a lurching halt. The single-strap seat restraint locked across his chest, a mild discomfort to his mortal body.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," Darcy chanted, trembling like a leaf. Thor unclasped his restraint and touched her shoulder. Darcy looked up at him with wide haunted eyes. "Wait here," he said before he opened the door and slid to the ground. Thor was unconcerned for his brother's welfare. It had undoubtedly been an illusion in their path. A simple trick to catch his attention.

His boots crunched against gravel and dirt as he walked out into the desert. He didn't know where his brother was lurking, but he knew Loki would come to him, so he walked until he did.

"Thor."

Loki's quiet voice emanated from the darkness. Thor turned on his heel until he spotted him, feeling slightly off kilter by seeing Loki in Midgardian attire.

"Loki!" Thor stepped forward quickly, pulling his somber-faced brother into a strong hug. He felt Loki tense under him, and he smirked over his shoulder, pleased that he was already succeeding at keeping his brother off-balance. "Are you well?" he asked, placing his hands on Loki's shoulders and pulling back, furrowing his brows in concern as he looked him over. "Tell me you have not been banished, too!"

"I…no. I have not been banished. Thor, I had to see you…"

"Brother," he spoke over him, "I have heard whispers of an infinity stone on this planet."

Loki blinked. He licked his lips and blinked again. Inwardly, Thor smiled. He waited patiently for Loki to take the bait.

"On Midgard?" he finally spoke, incredulously, eyebrows furrowed in consternation.

Thor nodded enthusiastically, "Aye! A surprise to me, as well!"

"Which one?" Loki asked, eyes narrowed calculatingly.

"I know not for certain," Thor admitted, "but I may know who has it." He thought of S.H.I.E.L.D., figuring if any agency in this realm had an infinity stone, it was probably them. "I intend to retrieve it and, brother, if I am still mortal at that time, I would entrust it to your care. Surely the stone would be safer on Asgard and this realm safer without it."

Loki's face was blank, but Thor knew his brother well and could almost feel the energy bubbling under his surface, the machinations churning in his labyrinthine mind. He didn't have to wait long.

"You are right, of course," Loki said smoothly. "Any of the stones would attract attention this poor realm would be unable to handle. Allow me to assist you, brother. Together we will fight side-by-side to protect the mortals from dangers they cannot even comprehend. Did they not once worship us? We can be benevolent gods, sparing them from the slaughter that would come at the hands of any other who would seek such a prize." Loki then gasped and looked at Thor with pity in his eyes. "Except, dear brother, you are now mortal as well. Forgive me for being tactless. I forgot myself."

Thor narrowed his eyes. Unlikely.

Loki paced, tapping his chin thoughtfully with one long finger. "Perhaps a stealthy approach would work best, wouldn't you think? You know I am well-suited for espionage. I could easily retrieve the stone and secret it away to Asgard, the mortals none the wiser. Yes, I think this may work. You said you believe to know who is in possession of this dangerous thing. Tell me who, that I may relieve them of the burden."

Thor frowned. "'Tis not a single person, I'm afraid, but rather a secretive agency with many strongholds." Loki's nose twitched in irritation. Thor grasped Loki's shoulder, "Brother, let me lead this quest to find it. You are surely too busy running the kingdom while Father sleeps to spend so much time searching all the dark corners of this realm."

Loki nodded absentmindedly and Thor felt a surge of satisfaction for having successfully distracted his wily brother who had just unwittingly acknowledged their father was in the Odinsleep and not dead, as he would originally have had Thor believe.

"The throne is a burden I must bear now that…" It was the slightest pause, but Thor recognized when Loki realized his mistake. "…Father sleeps," he finished sourly.

"Loki, I think you well-suited to the throne. Father was right. I am not ready. Were I to reclaim my power this night, I would stay to protect Midgard." Loki shot him a look of disbelief. "Long have we dismissed this realm and now they are awakening a greater power than even we know. I fear many innocent lives will be lost if we continue to ignore them. I am better suited to battle than the throne." Thor realized, as he was speaking, that he was telling the truth. It was uncomfortable admitting he did not want the throne.

Thor cupped the back of Loki's neck, affectionately. "You are a good regent, and you will be an excellent king, one day," he said sincerely.

Loki gaped at him. "I don't know what to say."

"You need not say anything."

Thor glanced over to the road to see the van was now blinking orange lights from both ends. "I must return to my friend," he said. "I think she is under the impression she has killed you. Would you care to show her for yourself that you are well?"

Loki shook his head. "No, I must away as well. You may assure your mortal friend that I am whole. Or you can tell her of my grisly death, if you'd rather. It matters not to me." Thor snorted.

"Away with you, brother," he said playfully. "Hopefully I shall see you again soon." He clapped Loki's shoulder once before turning and trudging back to the van.

A/N: I know this is a very short chapter, which is why I will be posting two chapters today!

And in answer to Lwolf - I usually post on weekends. Sorry I'm not completely consistent about whether it's Friday night, Saturday or Sunday, but sometime within that time frame is what I aim for!