The wind was rushing as Thor, the mighty thunder god stepped out on the street. Sif and the warrior three following dutyfully behind him. Though they all had slightly bowed heads.
It was clear that their re-union hadn't quite gone like they thought it would. Thor was not pleased with them and made that clear with his stern reprimand.
Thor himself closed his eyes, allowing memories of days past to wash over him. Allowing himself to remember… Remember.
He was just a small child back then, going to his fathers knee cap when the all mighty all father had left for a huge battle.
As Odin returned Thor had cried running right to him with outstretched hands, grabbing his leg. Only then had he realized that Odin was holding something. A strange bundle, and then that bundle started to make weird sounds.
"Father?" Thor asked.
Odin sat down on his knee to reach eye contact with Thor. His one eye, it looked exhausted. Sad. "My son. Beloved Thor." he said. "I have a task for you. The most important one I have ever given you."
At that Thor stood straight. A task for him? Given by the all father Odin? That was serious business! What-ever it was he would not let his own father down.
At then Odin showcased the bundle, and from it pocked a little face, squinting its eyes and wrinkling his face looking entirely unhappy.
"What's that?" Thor asked looking dumbfounded at the scrunged up face.
Odin chuckled. "This… my son. Is Loki." he informed
Thor blinked. "Loki?" he asked.
"King Laufeys son." Odin went on to explain.
At that Thor gasped as he stumbled back. "Frost giant!"
"An innocent. Thor!" Odin reprimanded him and Thor wide-eyed looked up. "An innocent, abandoned by his own kin and left to die."
Thor blinked. "Huh?" he asked.
"He is a prince by birth." Odin said in a warm voice. "One day, he may very well serve Asgard in our fight against Jotunnheim." he informed. "Your job Thor, is to look over him. Protect him. Teach him what it means to be an Asgardian." he said. "From this day. Loki will be your brother! And you must do your best to be his."
"Brother?" Thor asked wide-eyed then looked at the bundle. He blinked confused.
That's when finally, the babies face relaxed and he opened his eyes to showcase brilliant green. He looked up at Thor, confusion and awe in his eyes. Then his mouth opened making him look like a fish.
Then finally, Thor just lightened up as his smile cracked open in a grin. "A brother! I have a brother now?!" he asked excited. "Loki. There's so much we can do. Climb trees, hunt trolls, fight with swords like the warriors. I'll teach you all of it!" he beamed.
The baby blinked confusion in his eyes.
Odin smiled, warmth on his face. "I am counting on you to do just that Thor." he informed. "It will be your most important task for years to come."
"I wont let you down father!" Thor promised and he grinned. "Hurry up and grow." he asked the baby. "I want to teach you so many things!"
Thor sighed as he took another step through the city. Loki… his adopted brother. But that hadn't made him less his brother.
Every day they would spend together, they would grow up alongside each other. Laugh and cry together. Cling unto each other in fear when monsters arrived.
Even if they didn't share blood, they were brothers. Thor had been determined to teach Loki everything he knew.
And Loki had been eager, following his big brother around like a duckling following its mother.
Thing though had been far from perfect, it was subtle, it was in the corners. Easily overlooked and ignored. Thor himself had only witnessed so little of it… Who was to know though. How much torment Loki had suffered.
Only one time had Thor overhead. Loki cornered in the library by an angle noble and the words had been spoken.
"You may look like an Aisir, you may act like an Aisir, but you will never be an Aisir! Frost giant scum!"
Thor had been furious, he had jumped up and beaten the young noble senseless. Right in front of Loki.
Even so as Thor turned to Loki he saw the sadness as Loki turned his head away glancing down.
As Thor had grown and became a man, he became determined to proof his worth as a warrior and future king of Asgard. He was determined to proof to everyone that he was indeed a worthy successor to the almighty Odin.
They started adventuring, and did indeed have many adventures together. Sometimes Thor would safe Loki and sometimes Loki would safe Thor… Though Thor needing to proof he was as good as Odin would never admit to needing saving.
When-ever villages in the realms asked for help, to fend against monsters and bandits Thor would aid them. Soon enough he was a hero of the people.
One incident stood out to Thor… back then the incident had kept bothering him but he had forcefully shovelled it aside.
A village had asked for help. A creature had terrorized them, the creature called a Mare.
It would look like an undead horse or even sometimes a cat and feed on peoples nightmares. Thor had gone to the graveyard where the mare roamed and in just one strike. The creature was dead.
Loki had screamed at him.
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HIM!"
Thor huffed. "It was a mindless beast Loki! Giving people nightmares and feeding on their fear. Like any beast, it must be put down."
"Any beast?" Loki asked. "Like me perhaps?"
"Don't be ridicules." Thor snorted. "You are clearly not anything like actual Jotunns. You're one of us."
Lokis eyes though were filled with rage and tears. "I look like you so therefore it's okay?" he asked.
"Loki don't try my patience." Thor huffed and Loki hissed then finally turned around and ran… Just ran away from the scene. When Thor came to the tavern Loki had long since left the village.
There had been incidents before that one, and incidents after. Through years it had escalated.
Loki had gone out on his own, be gone for months and people would accuse him of allying himself monsters across the realms.
Thor would only grow in strength and build his reputation. Soon resentment between the brothers showed and then it grew… Then the fights. The challenges.
And finally one day.
"THOOOOR!" Loki shouted. "I challenge you in combat for the Throne! Who-ever wins will be king!"
Thor huffed, anger consuming him. His own brother! The ungrateful bastard he had spend a thousand years protecting.
"Thor… Be careful." Sif had whispered. "It's clearly a trap."
"I know." Thor replied. "But this cannot go unpunished. Loki has grown to arrogant. He must be put in place."
And Sif nodded. "Indeed."
"I ACCEPT!" Thor shouted. "Name time and place and we will fight!"
And Loki grinned, his green eyes sparkling. "Glad you decided to accept. Dear brother."