A/N: To the guest reviewer, I had had this planned out, but I hope that this addresses your concern.
"I invited her, mother, because I wanted to invite her," Thor poured himself out some brandy.
"But why? This isn't like you, son…I wouldn't call you vindictive, but you certainly aren't as forgiving as all that," and Frigga sat at the massive table with her wine.
Thor smirked. He had invited Jane to Odin's funeral to watch Loki with her. To let Loki know that he could be just as conniving and underhanded as he could be. He believed his brother to care for the scientist more than he let on, but he hadn't seen them together since that day, and he needed to see with his own eyes.
But things got a bit mucked up. Loki had discovered, in a letter Odin had written to him but never sent, that he was adopted. Things would not be going to plan, after all. Yet he refused to be completely undone by this unfortunate news…Jane was coming, that was the material point. "Have you seen him?" he asked Frigga nonchalantly.
"No. He's hiding away in one of his posh hotel rooms…"
"Well, I've tried to talk to him, but you know how he is."
"I do. But his entire world, Thor. Everything he thought that he was, it's false," and the great lady's eyes fell a touch as she swallowed her concern for her beloved boy.
Frigga had always felt a strange connection to Loki, despite the fact that he was not her biological son. It really mattered but little to her. It bothered her that Odin treated him with such casual hostility. She believed that it was due to the fact that, for whatever reason, he was unable to father another child after Thor. They had tried for a year, and then, when nothing happened, they saw a doctor, and he told Odin that his sperm count had dissipated dramatically. It was unlikely that he would be able to get Frigga pregnant again.
His masculine pride hurt beyond measure, his wife concluded that they should adopt and raise another boy as their own…Thor wasn't even two yet. He would never remember a time when the new baby wasn't around.
And they found a scrawny baby to love. Loki was ill, having been abandoned by his mother and left at the orphanage, and small. He won Frigga over immediately. Odin, not so much…but surely, surely, she believed, he would come around. He was a baby!
He never fully did.
And Loki was brilliant, so he felt it acutely, though it never had a name.
Until Odin did the most despicable thing, in Frigga's opinion, he ever did (and that was saying something, for Odin could be shrewd and ruthless). He had written a letter to Loki to be given to him upon his demise…so cowardly an action, Frigga wouldn't have believed him capable.
And now Loki was off somewhere, angry, hurt…and lost.
"That doesn't mean he's not an asshole, mother. Just because he is hurting…it doesn't undo all that he did."
"I never said it didn't. But Jane Foster, Thor. Why put yourself through that?"
"Because I think that Loki is in love with her."
Jane landed in Heathrow with a thud. Somewhat literally.
She wanted to see Thor, but dreaded it simultaneously. It was odd that he wanted her to be there…she never detected any particular regard for her where Frigga was concerned. But how could she deny Thor his request, especially after all that had transpired between them?
Jane retrieved her bags and made her way to the street to obtain a taxi and get to the hotel she had booked. She made her way to the room, after noting that it sucked the way it always rained in London.
She took out her phone after she changed into some comfortable clothes and texted Thor.
Just arrived. Exhausted. I'll call you in the morning.
Jane
Send.
She rubbed her eyes and curled into the bed, falling asleep almost immediately.
And Thor's mobile rang out the receipt of a text. He smiled mischievously and began to text…
Stop your incessant whining and carrying on. You've pouted long enough. Meet mother and I for lunch tomorrow.
Send.
Thor looked out of his bedroom window, thinking a moment. It would be wonderful to see Loki and Jane interact. He would never be able to discern any regard on either part without seeing them first hand.
And what would he do if he discovered real feeling there?
…well, he supposed that it would depend on whose side the feeling was more intense. If it were Jane's, well, he would act accordingly. Loki's…that was a bit different. He was, after all, his brother, flesh or no, and he wouldn't ruin his life if he could help it. Play with it a bit, yes…but outright ruin it? No.
I am not pouting. I am not carrying on…YOU are a giant oaf who cannot comprehend the intricacies of my superior mind. If YOU had discovered that your precious ass was adopted, how would YOU react?
Ah, Loki…there you are.
I would understand, brother, that there are things beyond my control; I would understand that though I may not be of blood relation to Frigga, she raised me. I am able to divorce myself from the workings of others and recognize that which is no one's fault.
Send. And snigger.
The response was lightening quick.
NO ONE'S FAULT?! WHAT DO YOU CALL ODIN'S BLAMEWORTHY BEHAVIOR? WILL YOU DEFEND HIM? THAT VILLAIN! THAT LIAR! FALSIFIER! IF YOU SO MUCH AS SAY HE HAD GOOD TASTE IN CLOTHING I SHALL NEVER SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN.
Thor was holding his side from laughter.
No need to shout, brother. I never absolved Odin. But do not punish our mother. Come to luncheon with us tomorrow. It shall be good for you to be around your family.
Send.
And you always admired his suits… Thor quickly added, to fuck with him.
You are a cad. What makes you think for one moment that I will condescend to join you? I am leaving on Wednesday just as soon as the affairs are in order.
Thor touched the phone. Careful, now…he would leave to be an asshole.
Though in truth, Thor understood the pain and anger of his brother. He, too, was angry with Odin for his deceit. But Thor had abandoned his idolatry of his father long ago. He saw his father for who he was, and though the information was a blow, he wasn't utterly shocked.
He couldn't believe that Loki never saw something of this sort coming. He was quite clever. Perhaps not this, specifically, but something…Odin enjoyed theatrics. Even if it would technically be from his grave.
Come, Loki. Mother desires to see you. She is in a state.
Send.
No.
The great blonde man laughed. He was going to agree.
Please, Loki. Come have lunch with us, and then you can leave as you have planned.
Send.
I will leave, BROTHER, when I plan, with or without your permission.
Thor squinted at the phone.
Of course. But only following our lunch. You must eat, you know. Come, allow me to treat you.
Send.
There was a pause. He knew that Loki wasn't cheap, but he also knew that he couldn't resist Thor's insistence. He would agree.
Very well. 1pm? the usual?
He clapped his hands.
Of course. See you then.
Send.
And Thor Odinson then texted Jane and his mother:
Berners Tavern 1pm. My treat.
Send.
And the great man stood and went to his bar and made a drink for himself. He downed it hungrily. It was going to be a fantastic lunch.
Loki put the phone down.
He hated that he didn't hate his brother. Well, he did hate him, just not enough. How irritating.
It was getting dark, and he was in a hotel suite he wasn't accustomed to, as he was in hiding, in a manner of speaking. He didn't want the distraction of Frigga's servants smelling him out as was her habit when he was…indisposed.
But this place was not the posh place he was used to, and he was annoyed. The sofa wasn't plush. The view wanting. The chair uncomfortable. The bed lumpy.
Loki was most grievously displeased.
He poured himself some wine and suck into the chair which was as uncomfortable as any he had ever sat on. He sat back and thought a moment.
He wanted to hate his false mother and ridiculous fallacious brother. But he couldn't. He couldn't hate them, because he never really did.
It was aways Odin which inspired his ire, and with Odin dead and gone, his hatred had ebbed with the departure of the catalyst. He hated Odin more than ever. But he couldn't spare any for Frigga or Thor, much as he may want to. Resent them, yes. But to hate them, well…not so much.
So, he would go to Thor's absurd lunch. He supposed that the oaf had forgiven him for his indiscretion with Jane, he should not harbor a grudge.
Jane.
He hadn't thought about her since all of this began.
He would need to return to New York tomorrow and seek her out, perhaps play upon her sympathies.
No…maybe not quite so quickly. He might need some time. Time. How ridiculous.
He poured himself some more wine, and stood at the hotel window, staring out into the London streets. Odin. He had got him yet again. He had fooled him once more, and Loki was left feeling wholly used and completely idiotic. He wanted nothing more than to leave London and head back to New York.
He would bring Asgard glory…the company would thrive…he would show Thor and Frigga. He didn't need Odin's blood to be a success. He could do it with his nameless and faceless blood. He could make a success of it, and prove to Thor that despite the fact that he was Odin's son, he wasn't invincible.
Loki was.
And Loki would prove it…
There was a small voice whispering in his ear…a voice not unlike Jane Foster's…it did tell him to slow down…to be cautious.
But when was he ever cautious? What had that ever got him in the end? A man whose identity has been completely undone cannot afford to be cautious. A man who had lost the only family…however dubious…he has ever known, must take chances. He just prove himself worthy.
No.
Not worthy.
He must prove to them that he is worthy independent of any name.
Loki sat once more and put his face in his hands. Who was his mother? His father? Who were they?
It mattered but little. He hated them. And if he was being honest, he had begun to hate himself…
No…perhaps he always had, this just magnified it.
He wanted to hurt someone. Make them feel as shitty as he did. Make them ache and feel the pain of Odin's lies and deceit and hatred.
He sat back in his chair…tomorrow he would see his "family."
He would see them, he would chide them, he would leave.
And when he brought Asgard the full glory of an international company to be reckoned with, he would have Thor and Frigga sniveling at his feet.
And he would laugh.