"I am sorry, Brother. I did not mean to sneak up on you like that." Thor reached out a meaty hand to help Loki up, and to his great joy, it was accepted without the look of indignation that he knew frequently graced that face that he cared so much about.
"What were you thinking on so intensely that you were worlds away?"
Loki considered the question put to him and a frown settled on his porcelain features. Thor's heart sank, sure that this time he'd pried too much into his highly changeable brother's business.
"You look stricken, Brother." Loki said, observing Thor's expression. "I was thinking of a day from long ago, our childhood actually. I doubt you would remember it at all, it wad hardly important. But do you see? I was not worlds away, only a time away." The owners of Loki's mouth twitched up into a small smile.
Thor's heart, which only moments ago had sunk down to his boots, soared. Loki had called him brother and cracked a joke in the same breath, it was nothing short of a miracle in Thor's eyes.
Thor smiled, "Try me, Brother. I may remember the day you speak of."
"We were both quite small when this happened. We were up in our room with Odin. I was playing with blocks and you were riding on his shoulders. It was going to be my turn next, but he got called away...I never got my turn..." Loki's voice grew soft and trailed off. Thinking about this was one thing, but giving a voice to it was quite another.
Thor was concerned, not that Loki would become angry but, at how much this hurt his brother- this memory. Loki drew a deep breath and continued, "I used to hold this against Odin. I thought it proof that he never loved me. But now I see that no one is to blame." Loki looked up at Thor and asked, "Did Odin do something to make up for it? I feel that he did, but cannot give proof of this act."
Thor smiled warmly and put an arm around Loki's shoulders. "He did, Brother. Do you remember the book of spells you received that year on your day of birth?" Thor's smile widened as he watched realization wash over Loki's features.
"That...that was Father?"
Thor couldn't contain himself, he wrapped his baby brother in a bear hug, he was overjoyed at hearing Loki call Odin 'father'. He set the bewildered god's feet back on the ground and let him regain his composure.
"But...I thought Father hated my spells and tricks...?"
Thor laughed, "He hated being the target of them! But I overheard him, more than once, telling Mother how proud he was of you skill with magic."
"I wish he had told me that..." tears formed in Loki's green eyes and spilled down his cheeks as he slowly sat back down on the ground. Thor pulled him into a less forceful hug than before, Loki's head against his broad chest and let him cry it out. Loki was finally letting his true emotions be known after so long, and Thor would be damned to Hel if he wasn't there for his brother he needed him. Thor stroked his hair and whispered soft words of comfort to his brother. He would always be there for Loki, no matter what.
Tear stained eyes looked up into bright blue ones that always seemed to contain a hidden laugh. "...I think we've been hear before, Brother."
"Yes, Loki...I think we have. would you like a ride on my shoulders, little Brother?"
Loki chuckled as Thor's laughter rumbled near his ear. "Ah, no...I think I'm...!"
That was all Loki managed to say before Thor hoisted him up across his shoulders and spun around. They both laughed and shouted as they had as children, before everything went so wrong.
After Thor had bid his brother a warm and fond farewell, his heart swelled with pride, as he reflected upon his brother. Loki was, indeed, becoming the god he should have been from the start.