Imperfection

Loki was fast, what he lacked in brute strength he had always more than made up for in speed.

The crowd cheered and jeered as weapons clashed furiously.

It did not take long for Sif to note that Loki was becoming more and more reckless as the fight progress. Where Loki would have dodged he met it head on; striking Sif with fury as if he meant to splinter her sword.

With a cry Loki kicked out, slamming against Sif's guts, sending her stumbling back.

She panted, blood still streaming from her broken nose; her hand ached, her fierce eyes never left the Jotun as Loki prowled around her as if a predator stalking its prey. The sharp tip of his blade scraped the earth.

"What are you playing at Jotun?" Sif wondered.

This was not Loki's style. At least not from what she had seen and heard. There are many times Loki could have best her, sliced her throat or stabbed her through the chest. But he had not. And where he would have dodge he met her head on, breaking his ice blade twice so far. He was more physical too, smashing his elbow into her face, breaking her nose.

She wondered if he was just letting off some steam. She hoped that was it.

Loki smirked; he liked this Sif more and more. She is fierce and brilliant.

He had watched her many times before. Watch how she struggled to rise above all in the world of men. He had watched as she held her head high to jeers and insults; fought with blood and sweat for respect that would never be hers because she is female. So much like himself… But unlike him, she will never get anywhere, she would never be accepted in the place of power she deserves no matter how much she fight.

Loki licked his lips. He could hear Thor shoving and shouting his way through the mess of cheering crowd.

Perfect…

He threw one blade away, he didn't need two.

"Show them…and let them fear you my dear…" Loki hissed; with a swish of his blade he charged at her.

He sees it all, predicted all her move as the sword sliced through the air.

Loki leaped over Sif, twisting his body through the air as he danced from the attack, landing on his feet. He swung his ice blade as Sif turned, clashing her metal against ice, breaking it. The edge of her sword stopped against the side of Loki's neck, drawing blood.

The stand erupted in cheers.

"Not bad…" Loki smirked.

"Enough!" Thor roared.

At once Sif backed away, looking intently at Loki before turning to her friends.

"Thor…" She muttered.

Thor, Fandral and Hogun were rushing towards them, or rather Sif.

"Oh Sif…" Thor whispered when he saw her broken nose and disheveled hair.

He reached out but not daring to touch her. She would take offence that Thor thought her weak.

"Wipe that worry expression off your face. The match is over" She said, wiping the blood with her slender fingers.

Thor tensed. Only then did he realize how the cheering and hissing had become a chorus of mummers and pointing. Thor looked at Loki who remained as cold and aloof as ever. His expression betraying nothing.

"They are taking bets as to who you came in such haste to defend..." Hogun whispered to Thor.

Thor knew that, he had heard them. Defending Sif would surely earn him a world of pain after this. Defending Loki on the other hand would put his credibility as king in question and possibly another world of headache to deal with.

"This has been a well fought match" Thor declared. "A friendly spar between an Aesir and Jotun. Such a thing has never been done before. It would be blasphemy for it to be forgotten. Let it not be said that Aesir seek only to kill our defeated enemies" He beamed.

The crowd cheered in agreement.

Loki flared expectedly. At once Thor seizes Loki's wrist, holding it down.

Loki hissed, turning to glare at Thor who ignored him.

"In tribute to such an honorable match, let there be a celebration! A feast tonight!" Thor declared.

The stand exploded in applauds. If there was anything an Aesir love more than hunting and war, it was a feast.

"Let go!" Loki snarled, wrenching his wrist free. Before Thor could stop him, he was already stalking away.

Thor heaved a sigh; he will not be seen running after a Jotun. He turned to regard his friends.

"Sif"

Sif raised her bloody hand at once, stopping Thor.

"I'm fine. You need to watch him. He is up to something"

Thor snorted.

"Of course he is up to something. That's why he lingers"

"Aye..." She snatches the cloth Fandral handed to her, pressing it painfully against her bleeding nose.

Thor beamed suddenly.

"You won! I do not recall any other warrior in Asgard that had managed to subdue him aside from me! It was well foug-"

"He lets me win" Sif said.

Thor frowned. Loki? The Jotun who has as an ego the size of Asgard? Highly unlikely.

"You are too modest" Thor said.

"No. That ice blade, on the last strike… it broke so much easier than before"

"Perhaps he was tired. Perhaps he was too drained to hold his seid"

Sif scowled at Thor's denseness in anything that is seid.

"He is Jotun. They do not run out of ability to make ice" Sif said. "There is a reason why Aesir sought to tame the Jotuns until the Allfather forbid it. It is said that to tame one, is to hold winter in the palm of your hands"

"…"

"Jotuns are said to be winter made flesh"

"Oh…"

"And… defeated enemies?! Truly Thor?!" Sif said in incredulity. "Do you enjoy his mayhem?!"

"What was I suppose to say?!"

"You were certainly skilled enough with words to get him into your bed" Fandral chipped in. "Perhaps it's time to use that skill again my friend. I do not enjoy itching at all hours of the day. Goodness, no women looked at me all that week"

"And I do enjoy my wine staying as wine tonight" Hogun added.

"You would have your King bow so you could have women and wine?!" Thor asked, feinting shock.

"Yes" Fandral and Hogun said in unison

"You traitors!"

"There is only so much we would give up for you, my King and friend" Fandral smiled. "We may pledge to you our lives, but not our women and wine"

Thor's councilmen stood by his side whispering among each other. A shivering old man was briefing Thor on the latest development.

"These are where their troops had been spotted. They are all moving back towards the ice city. All defenses on the far side have been recalled, all defense post abandoned…"

Thor nodded.

There were several red flags pinned all over the great map of Jotunheim sprawled across the table, pinpointing where Heimdall had last seen the Jotun armies.

He was struggling; the beast in him stirring again as he forced himself to focus on what his councilmen was saying. If not, he was focusing on the whispering cheers and roars down at the feasting hall.

He had left the celebration the moment Loki wandered away from the hall. He wondered what Loki was doing. Which hall was he sneaking around at this moment.

He shook his head, holding onto his sane mind as the beast lusted for war, lusted for blood and power. At least that was what it felt like.

A part of his mind was screaming that they should strike, destroy Jotunheim, crush them, conquer them, enslaved them so that they will never dare rise against Asgard again. And teach them this lesson they will never forget as they kneel at his feet! That part of him was angry, vengeful, selfish and utterly without mercy, demanding slights to be paid by blood!

Then there was another part of him that knew it was all wrong. He could not enslave an entire race!

"We should strike them! Show them who we are!" Said the man at his side.

Exactly! The beast shouted.

Thor almost opened his mouth to agree before he caught himself. He tightened his jaws, least he court a war.

This fragment of Loki… he thinks he understands it a little. Loki would not have desired the destruction of Jotunheim. That he was certain.

So these dark thoughts… That stain was not truly feeding him Loki's thoughts; it was feeding him Loki's personality. It was fueling him with darkness, rage and spite and perhaps more than anything, the lust for power and glory; amplifying the darkness that was innately in him until it felt like a distinct part of himself; as if he had two minds.

It reminded him of the Midgardian tale of Jekyll and Hyde.

The meeting went throughout the night and by the end of it Thor's head was pounding.

Two thoughts screaming at him; constantly changing, mixing and flickering from one to the other so much he had to focus before he speaks least he utter the wrong suggestion. Truth, after several hours, he could barely tell which opinions were his and which was the beast's.

He heaved a sigh. In the end, there were still unanswered questions.

"Why are they preparing for war on their land…?" Thor frowned. "What are you planning Loki…?"

He had been convinced that the Jotuns will bring the war to Asgard, Loki being the key to opening the way; but it seem that they are preparing for an invasion.

Why?

Asgard will not strike if Loki remains. Then it must mean Loki wishes to leave and they are preparing for it. It would make sense; but what did not was that, if they had wanted the casket so badly, a negotiation could have been struck. The Jotuns know it.

So why risk it all? There must be something else...

"For now, keep watch on them" Thor said.

They all nodded in agreement.

"Your grace… would meetings be of this hour from now on?" asked one.

"We must think of a more permanent solution. We do not have feast everyday for distraction" said the other.

"We could" Thor said. "I seem to recall Loki suggesting a tournament along with the prospect of seeking a wife"

There was a chorus of murmurs of disapproval and jeers.

Bidding to a Jotun's idea?!

Preposterous!

Why should they?!

"With the two combine, we would have feast every night for at least a month" Thor said.

"We should not bend to the beast's will!" A man protested. "Why should we fear the beast in our own homes?!"

The councilmen nodded in agreement.

"The monster would triumph if we listen to him!" Roared another.

"Are we cowards?! This is our realm and yet we accommodate to the whims of that animal!" A hand slammed down on the table.

"Your father would never heed the command of a beast!" Another shouted.

Frigga could see that Thor was struggling again.

"Your father would never have allowed this nonsense to go on for so long!"

Usually Thor would have conceded to the council's will at once at the mention of 'your father', but not this time. She had been watching Thor all night. She had seen it so often in the pass hours it was obvious to her by now. The internal fight. The shifting and flickering in conscious as Thor closes his eyes.

"The filthy creature will not command us!"

"Learn the balance Thor…" Frigga watched him intently, not even listening to the senseless gripe any longer.

"That mons-"

"Silence!" Thor roared suddenly, authority in his voice.

There was silence, as the councilmen looked at Thor in shock. Why was Thor not agreeing this time?!

Frigga watched him closely. There was fierceness in his eyes and darkness about him that should not be trifled with that was not there in the few times the beast had won out in the last few hours.

Interesting…

"I did not ask your opinion" Thor said.

"Your father will not sta-"

"I am not my father!" Thor spat, glaring at the shocked man.

Anger, rage was pouring through him in torrent, bombarding him from every direction. How dare they speak against him?!

His father, his father… it makes him sick!

"You may advice me on decisions. But you will not threaten me to heed it! I am the King now! Not my father!" He snarled.

His men were all staring at him in bewilderment and disbelief. Where did this confidence and insolence come from?! Unforgivable!

"We will have this event as I command it" Thor said.

The council murmured angrily among themselves. Where Thor would have been distress over upsetting the councilmen, he seem indifferent and in control.

"My mother would send out the invites to the royal families and the nobles for their daughters" Thor nodded to Frigga.

"Yes my King" She smiles as Thor spread the task, ignoring the nonsensical grumbles and complains.

"We will have the council as usual in the day. But make no mention of what was spoken here" Thor commanded.

When all was said and done, the councilmen left in a huff, shutting the door behind them grudgingly.

Unforgivable! Inexcusable!

Such insolence from a boy!

Odin would not have bent the knee to the monster's whim! Odin would have put a stop all these nonsense long ago!

Thor slumped down on his seat at once. He was shaking.

Oh Norns…what had he done.

He wiped his hand down his face in frustration and distress. His conscious had screamed through, stemming that uncontrolled mass of anger from taking over his mind when he was delegating the duties. But it was too late then to take back what he said.

"You did well" Frigga said.

Thor looked at her as if she had gone mad. "I anger them! I took no considerations of their views! That is not how fath-"

"Your father would have been proud" She said firmly.

Thor frowned.

She smiles, putting a hand over Thor's shoulder gently. "I know you do not believe me Thor, but it is true"

"Thanks…I only need to rely on the beast in me to make father proud"

"Good night" Frigga ignores Thor's grumbles. "You have a long day starting tomorrow"

Thor looked at her confused.

"Have you forgotten the tradition?" She asked.

"…"

"That the warriors would hunt for the meat on the tournament's feasting table. This is going to be a long event. You boys would be hunting for at least three weeks. You would need to start planning it seeing as you would leave next week"

Thor perked up at that. He hadn't hunted in ages. Frigga laughed at how child-like Thor was even at his age.

"Oh…and take Loki with you" She added.

What?! Thor stilled.

"Mother…"

"Take him. I will not deal with his mischief and he would most certainly be offended to be left behind with the women"

"And how am I to hunt if I am to make sure he wasn't accidentally hunted himself?!"

"Take him by your side"

"Right… And put him in my tent too…" Thor mumbled sarcastically.

"Exactly"

Thor groaned.

"You've bedded him. It should not be a problem to just lie beside him" Frigga said.

Loki let out a shout as he blasted a ball of emerald flames at the metallic target, burning it to crisps. Then without stopping he blasted another and another and another in burning vengeance. His long midnight locks trickled over his icy body. Then with a few choice words the fire grew to enormous height and it became alive. Emerald flames flickered in the shape of a mighty serpent, heeding to Loki's command.

"Burn them all…" Loki hissed.

With a wave of his hand the serpent slithered and rushed towards the five dozen metallic targets that were left intact. It opened its great fiery mouth and swallowed them all in burning flames as it slithered from one to another, burning everything it trampled upon until there was none left.

Loki let out a dark chuckled as he watched the targets burn in all its decaying glory, imagining them to be the Aesir warriors, the Jotuns who looked down upon him, those cursed Norns and Yggdrasil herself!

A defeated enemy, Thor called him. He should thank Thor. Oh he should...

For reminding him of the failure that he is, as he had been reminded in his every waking, breathing moment. As he had been reminded every time he looked upon his reflection and sees the pathetic shape he took!

He is a failure to his own people. He is a failure as a dam and a sire; he is a failure and a monstrosity in all the eyes of Yggdrasil!

He had met the Norns once a long time ago when he was still a wide eyed innocent child. A wide eyed innocent child that weeps in the night at his own failings and short comings. He had seen the terrible fate the Norns weaved for him that time, and understood that to be Loki is to be fated lose. To be Loki is to destroy everything he had ever held in his hand. To be Loki is to be alone, hated and reviled. Destiny itself, the architect of his torment.

He remembers weeping in anguish at his terrible fate.

Why? He had wept. Until he found anger and desperation… And since then, he never looked back. Since then, he had stood with his back straight and proud.

You see, anger and desperation is power. In anger and desperation there is nothing he would not do or could not do. After all… he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

He will be the God that will rain down chaos and wrath in the name of fate. Who will commit the impossible, and defy all destiny fate had ruthlessly carved upon him. He is Loki of Jotunheim, Loki silvertongue, the father of death and the mother of monsters, who will turn worlds into ash and uproot even Yggdrasil herself if that was what it takes to rise.

He will show the Norns, he will show fate that he will never yield to their cruel design! That they have not a single hold on him...

So really… he should thank Thor for reminding him so plainly that he should yield, just as fate would have him do. It'd make it all the sweeter when he crushes Asgard.

The fire serpent crackled as it circled Loki, as if it meant to swallow him too. Its head shifting and moving predatorily.

"Recede" Loki hissed.

The serpent vanished leaving him a barren courtyard on fire. The targets were burning, the earth was burning; everything about him was burning, as Asgard would be in time.

There was a crunched behind him. Loki did not need to turn to know who it was.

"Impressive" Thor said, moving towards Loki.

In all his years, in all his travels, he had never seen such powerful display of sorcery. And he was once again, reminded of that fierce fiery creature that had blasted through several of the palace's wall and stole their treasure not so long ago. He was reminded once again of the fascination and shameful thrill he had felt as he had watched this creature battled his warriors without a hint of fear. The fire in his scarlet eyes, the fierceness in his expression and every edge of his lean body…

"Has the feast ended already? Have enough of drinking Odinson?" Loki regarded Thor coldly as Thor shifted to stand before him.

He watched the expression is those cerulean eyes that seem to flicker between one conscious and the other even as Thor smiles at him.

"Fool" Loki thought.

The more vigorously Thor denies his other half, the more it would struggle and fight into existence or until it explodes, swallowing all of Thor's conscious.

"Why are you here?" Loki asked, watching him carefully.

Thor hesitated, shaking his head a little as if it would shake the beast out of his mind.

"Loki I…" Thor started. "I apologize for my earlier words"

"Why?"

"What do you me-"

"Why apologize? Did you lie, Odinson?"

"No! How dare you spe-" Thor caught his tongue.

Loki said nothing as Thor took in a deep breath, wiping a hand down his face in frustration.

Thor groaned. It had been getting increasingly harder to concentrate as the day ticks by. But now, when he was so close to Loki, it was almost unbearable. And for the first time in so long… he felt fear.

What if he loses his mind before his father wakes? What wars or horrors would he plunge Asgard into?!

"I…I'm sorry" Thor said. "I don't know what's gotten into me"

Loki snorted. He doubts Thor really did not know.

"So why are you here?" Loki asked again.

Thor opened his mouth to speak then shut it again.

Loki could tell that he was struggling, that he was afraid. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

If there was anyone Thor could just let go around it would be around Loki.

What could Loki do even if Thor hurt him? Nothing.

A true fool this one is, Loki thought. Not knowing when to take advantage.

"Thor…you are making it worst"

"Then what do you want me to do?!" Thor bellowed suddenly. "Would you have me to hurt you?!"

"Why do you fear it so much?" Loki asked.

"What?!" Thor shouted as if, if he was loud enough, he would somehow drown out the dark thoughts in his mind.

Loki looked at him intently. The other side of Thor that was growing stronger by the day. And the more Thor fights it, the more terrible it would become.

The plan was that Thor would lose control, and when he had lost it, Loki would appear before him as the balm. He would appear as a friend that would sooth him, comfort him, and tame the fearsome beast in Thor. That was why he came to Thor last night. So that Thor would have a taste of his clear mind once again in the morning and know that Loki is his answer.

But...all would be for naught if even he could not bear Thor. And Loki would be lying if he says that he did not fear the true unseen face of Thor that sleeps beneath that golden facade.

Loki reached out, his cerulean skin seeped away to give way to his Aesir flesh as he cups Thor's flushed face tenderly between his fair hands. His thumb stroked Thor's sweaty cheeks.

Thor stilled. His skin tingled, and there was a stirring in him.

No!

"Thor. There is no one here but me…" Loki whispered. "Just me"

"…"

"Let go. Do not fight it"

"I will hurt you"

"You won't" Loki said, shifting closer. "As of now, only I see you"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Would you rather I did not?"

"Loki…" There was a yearning in his voice that shamed him. Oh how he had fallen he thought in rising frustration.

"I am the mother of monsters. And you are my monster"

Thor tightened his jaws. "You put me in this state. What have you to achieve by helping me trickster?" He gritted.

"I'm just being generous"

"You are incapable of generosity!"

"Oh?" Loki grinned. "Then perhaps this is another debt I will have you pay in time"

"Create demand and supply hm?" Thor said in disgust.

"Brilliant man"

With a growl, Thor tugged Loki to him, his arms circled the smaller.

"You will regret this" Thor said.

Loki laughs as Thor leans down.

Their breath mixed. Loki licks his lips. His heart fluttered in thrills of excitement; remembering the insurmountable strength those arms had held him last night. Oh…He loves to court danger.

The ivory moon shone over the smoking courtyard of ash. Thor sat on the ground as his mind cleared. He hadn't taken Loki this time. At least he had more restraint than to just take that Jotun out here where anyone could walk by.

All they had done was kissed and make-out for Norns know how long, but it was enough for now to calm the beast.

Love marks littered all over Loki's neck and shoulders, but he didn't seem to care in the slightest.

"Good night Odinson" Loki stood up, meaning to leave as Thor reached to curl his fingers over Loki's wrist, halting him.

Loki stilled.

"Thank you" Thor said.

"Not going to call me an ergi this time?"

"I apologize for that"

Loki snorted, wrenching his wrist free. "You will not need me so often if you do not suppress your urges so much"

Thor nodded. There is something he wanted to ask. Needed to know.

"Loki. What will become of me…?" He whispered.

Loki was silent for a moment as if he was thinking whether he should indulged Thor. Thor looked up upon him.

"Tell me…" Thor said.

"Nothing" Loki knelt down slowly before the king.

There was a stab of sadness in those brilliant emerald eyes that Thor had never seen. But a sadness that was not directed to Thor. At least Thor didn't think so. And it was gone as soon as it appears.

"You are still Thor. And you will ever be Thor Odinson. The beloved Golden Prince and King of Asgard"

And that is the truth.

Loki's essence is darkness, while Thor is light, and as such, his nature clings to the darkness that innately exists in Thor. Or rather, the beast in Thor… feeding and fueling it till it threatens to consume all the 'goodness' that is Thor.

But that fragment aside from making Thor crave him, aside from making Thor more attune to him, it cannot make Thor do what Thor had not first been guilty of wanting to do or subconsciously craving for it. And it cannot make Thor think what Thor had not at least shamefully thought before in his moment of weakness or anger and quickly tucked it away in the most intimate part of his mind out of disgrace.

Put it simply, that morsel merely magnifies the shadows that had already existed.

That was why he had been so surprise at such a vast change in Thor's character. Who knew that even the Golden King would have these stains in him.

Thor is not as perfect as everyone thinks him to be.

Thor watched as Loki stood up and walked away from him. His Aesir skin seeping away as cerulean rushed over fair flesh.

He watched as the silver ray of the moon poured over the Jotun, shimmering off the gems in his long midnight locks and the gold that curled about his horns. The gold and silver chains that hung about his hips clinked. His back was straight and he held his head high, not a single hesitation in his step.

Loki…a creature that dances on the fault-line of insanity and greatness. He is strong, yet brittle. He is there, yet he is not. There is so much more to Loki than meets the eye.

Thor felt a yearning in him…a want to not just dominate this creature, but to see him in all his vulnerability and flaws; and to hold them all in the palm of his hands.

For the first time, Thor thought Loki is beautiful.

But a beauty that is hard to fix or for eyes to see…like the wind that blows the trees and hurries the clouds. He is the beauty of the shapeless flame, the beauty of the rushing mass of the waterfall and the beauty of lightning streaking through the sky. His beauty is in the moment, but once you see it, you will always search for it.