Serpent in the House of Odin

Loki was back again, watching the warriors train from his lofty height. He convinced himself that he was only doing this to watch their style of fighting and to learn their weaknesses. Not to watch for anyone in particular. He leaned against the stone balcony, his eyes wondered back once again towards Sif as it always did when he watches.

There is fire in her eyes, fierce cunning and wit. She has the courage of a thousand warriors, swiftness of a coursing river and the strength of a raging fire. She is beautiful in all her fears and imperfection. She is the Goddess of War in his eyes.

He watched as sparks flew from the clash of merciless metal. Her opponent was a chauvinistic pig that could only see her as a joke, mocking her with every clash of metal. His friends were jeering and laughing with every swing of her sword.

"Come on baby, what was that? Trying to hit a fly or something?" The man laughed, dodging Sif's attack; he slaps her ass as he passed.

"Pig…" Loki sneered.

He waited for Sif to swing back and he whispered choice words under his breath. At once, the man's sword weighted a thousand stones and he could not lift it. In that split of a second Sif sliced through the air and cut him across his armor and with a mighty kick she knocks the man off his feet.

Loki chuckled at the bewildered man. His friends were silent at once, gapping as if they couldn't believe a woman could wield a sword. As if they couldn't believe a woman could do anything outside the kitchen.

With a wave of Loki's hand he vanquished the spell before anyone could attempt to pick up the fallen sword.

A storm brewed beyond the icy fortress, beating harshly against the sturdy structure. Laufey stood silently in the darkened chamber; his scarlet eyes studied the miniature landscape of Jotunheim that sprawled over the entire table. He walked silently over to the other end, letting his fingers ran idly over the edge of the icy structure. Helblindi followed him, watching him intently for signs of anger or displeasure at the bit of information he had just told.

"We need their aid dam" Helblindi pushed on.

"And what more has Loki planned behind my back?" Laufey rasped.

"There is no more"

At that, Laufey let out a humorless chuckle. Making a bargain with the Dark Elves in exchange for their armies cannot be all that Loki had done behind his back.

"And what would the Dark Elves have to gain from this generosity?" Laufey asked. "What have your brother offer them in return?"

"They crave Asgardian blood"

"Yes, but this is our war. They are sly creatures Helblindi. We would be spilling Asgardian blood soon enough. They may not be cowards, but they are not the sort to get their hands dirty if there is no reason for it"

"…"

"So tell me really, what else has your brother promised them?" Laufey turns to regard his second born for the first time.

Helblindi stilled at the cold cunning behind Laufey's scarlet eyes.

"Tell me Helblindi, what more has Loki promised with that forked tongue of his?"

Helblindi shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know how much he was to tell Laufey. Loki had wanted to keep their dam in the dark so that it would be much easier to manipulate their dam for Jotunheim's sake; or so Loki says. For all Laufey's love for Loki, Laufey will never be his pawn. He may burn worlds for Loki, he may send thousands to their death for Loki, but he will do them all on his own volition. He will strike when he desires it, when he wills it.

Would Laufey refuse this army to spite Loki? To remind him who is still the King of Jotunheim?

"I know you love your brother" Laufey rasped.

Hellindi blinked at that oddly sentimental statement that seems so out of place.

"I know you would willingly dance to the songs he plays" He sounded suddenly tired and old. "But you cannot expect me to willingly be his puppet on strings"

"Why not?! He has the mind; he has the cunnings to haul Jotunheim out of this…this decadent state! He could return Jotunheim to its former glory that you have failed to do!" Helbindi blurted before he could stop himself. He tensed at once when he realized what he had just said. It was treason!

Laufey straightened up, his expression unreadable.

"Is that what he told you?" Laufey asked. "That I am a failure. That I brought Jotunheim to this decadent waste?"

"You lost the war you started…" Helblindi mumbled.

"So I did" Laufey said coldly. "But I have learned from it"

"…"

"This time it is not I that threaten to plunge us into another war that could end us all! That could destroy what is left of Jotunheim" Laufey hissed.

When Helblindi remained silent, Laufey growled in anger.

"How can you stand to watch Jotunheim crumble? To watch it hurl to its inevitable destruction?!" Laufey rounded towards Helblindi. "Look at us! Do you think we can bare another war?!"

"No…that's why we need this army"

"And then what?" Laufey asked. "You think this army is so formidable that victory will surely be ours? And even so, crops and buildings would be destroyed and thousands of lives would be lost! How long to do you think it would take for us to rebuild it all? Decades? Centuries? You speak of former glory but what have you wrought but inevitable destruction and death?!"

Helblindi lowered his gaze. He did not know what to say. Loki had made it all sound so simple.

Laufey hissed.

"When the high lords play their game of thrones, it is the people that suffer. It is the people that starve and their children that dies"

"…"

"Loki may not see it, but I do"

"…"

"Now get out" Laufey snarled, turning back to the map on the table.

Helblindi watched Laufey for a moment, shifting uncomfortably before he spoke.

"So the Dark El-"

"I will not deal with them until I know what Loki has promised"

"You know we need them"

"And so do you" Laufey felt a smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. He's got him. "I will take my chances. I will not deal with that which I do not know" Laufey said.

Helblindi has always been easy to manipulate. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve is his greatest gift and most critical flaw. Laufey waited for Helblindi to speak. He knows Helblindi will, and Helblindi did.

"Loki means to take this war to Asgard…" Helblindi started. "And when we win...the treasures of Asgard will be split, but the people, the realm...they will be ours"

Laufey stilled at once at Helblindi's words. His blood ran cold as everything clicked into place.

"Norns…Loki wished to conquer Asgard…" Laufey could barely speak.

Hel! What madness is this?! Even in his madness in his glory days, the notion of conquering that golden realm had never even crossed his mind. It was impossible! A death wish! Asgard with all her richness stayed unconquered for a reason!

He turned at once to regard Helblindi, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Are you mad to go along with this scheme?!" Laufey bellowed.

The capital of Asgard was bustling with life as the burning sun shone over the Golden realm in all its glory. Even in his Aesir form, Loki thought that it was too bright, too hot and too stuffy. Surrounded my big stinking sweaty warriors he immediately regretted his decision to leave the palace with Thor and his minions, as he liked to call them.

They were to get provisions for their hunt. He couldn't understand why someone of Thor's status would even bother getting his own provisions. Couldn't he have just commanded it?

He tightened his jaws as he shot a glare at Thor. They were all clad in black robes and hoods to conceal their identity. Thor did not want special treatment. Something Loki could not understand. Perhaps the heat had fried what little brain cells the Aesir had to begin with.

"So sweet thing, how do you find Asgard? I could show you a good time if you would allow me" Fandral winked from his side.

"Animal" Loki sneered.

Fandral imitated a growl and snapped his teeth teasingly. Volstagg and Thor roared in laughter at the exchange.

"Friend, you would bed anything that walks" Volstagg gave Fandral a good slap on his back.

"What can I say, I know beauty when I see it" Fandral said proudly, his hand shifted to grab Loki's ass.

Loki hissed, lashing out he backhanded Fandral. Fandral accepted it with a smile.

"Pig!" Loki spat, breaking off from the group.

They laughed.

Loki lengthened his stride to catch up to Sif who was slightly ahead. He had been trying to get close to her since the beginning. But Thor's minions were nothing if not insistent, clinging around him.

Sif raised her brows.

"Too vulgar for your taste little prince?" She mocked.

"I have no wish to associate with savages and animals"

"And what am I? Am I not the daughter of savages too?"

Loki snorted. "You are different"

"…"

"I watch you train…I watch you fight" He said truthfully. "You are not without fear, you are not without doubt. You doubt yourself sometimes, you fear you would be ridiculed and mocked, you fear you had made a grave mistake in choosing this path… but you keep at it even when it seems the world would have you kneel. And to me, that is courage. Not foolishness as Aesir men would have you believe"

"…"

"My dearest Sif, you are strength, fire, wit, valor and honor" His fingers brushed over the back of Sif's hand, startling her. He smiles. "Have you never felt the touch of a man? Though I must admit, I am no man…but close enough, no?"

"What?"

"You are beautiful in all your strength that they can never understand, that they can never see out of fear. But I see you. And I will tell you this, there is no maiden more fair or more worthy to be called my Queen" Loki shifted closer, his shoulder brushing slightly against her.

Sif stilled. What?! Was he flirting with her?! First Loki let her best him in a match and now this?! What was Loki playing at?! She did not believe for a moment that Loki's interest could be genuine or innocent. Why would any man desire to court her when they could not even accept her decision to abandon the knitting needle for a sword? And she wasn't particularly beautiful, with hair the color of night rather than the golden locks that Aesir's are so proud of.

"Stay away from me" She hissed, turning away.

"I speak the truth"

"…"

"I do think you are beautif- " The words were still upon Loki's tongue when suddenly, strong fingers clamped over his upper arm and he was wrenched back.

Sif's eyes widened.

"Th-or?" She said uncertainly.

Loki looked over at the king with a sort of amusement. Though Thor was smiling, the muscles around his jaw were too tense, the fingers on Loki's arm too tight and hard.

"What's going on?" The warrior three came trotting.

"Why did you suddenly leave?" Fandral asked.

"Ah, I just remember that I have to show Loki something" Thor said.

Loki could hear a slight tremor in his voice as if he were resisting the urge to spit at his friends. He smirked.

"I do wish to see this weapon merchant you Aesir boast of" Loki said loudly.

"I will take you there later!" Thor snapped. That damn smile still plastered over Thor's face. "You need to have an armor fitted" he declared.

Before anyone could say a thing, Thor was already dragging Loki down the busy street, leaving the warrior three staring dumbly.

Sif said nothing, deep in thoughts as she watched Loki's disappearing back. She did not trust the Jotun monster in Aesir skin one bit. If Loki thought she was a maiden that would be easily wooed by flattery, he was going to be in for a nasty surprise when he finally shows his true face.

As for Thor, she is not blind. She had seen the way Thor looked at Loki whenever the Jotun was in the room. Those cerulean eyes watches, they are always watching. They watch Loki as if a bird of prey, filled with lust, passion and something Sif had never seen before. She couldn't put a name to it. It wasn't dark, but it was raw and primal. And the rumors… she has no doubt that they were true.

Thor was at the moment pretty much blind to everything that is Loki. Then again, he was a man and man tends to think more with their cocks than their heads.

She straightened up.

"Come on you three" Sif ordered. "Get a move on"

Perhaps she would play Loki's game after all. Let him underestimate her, let him think flattery would get him everywhere. And perhaps this whole mess could be ended with the least bloodshed.

For all Thor's love for her, Thor is still an Asgardian man. Thor may not tell her as he had surely told the warrior three because she is a woman, but she knows that a war is brewing.

Blood pounded in Thor's ears, anger roared in his blood like a beast as he dragged Loki down the bustling street, not caring if he was hurting him or not with his grip. He did not even look at Loki. His eyes darting and searching for an empty alley and the first he saw, he hauled the wretched beast in with him.

"Hey!" Loki protested, stumbling slightly over the jagged ground.

With a growl, Thor slams Loki hard against the brick wall. His fingers shifted at once to tighten over both of Loki's arms, pinning the trickster with his back against solid.

Anger flashed across Loki's emerald eyes, disappearing as fast as they appeared. A grin broke across his lips.

"Is something the matter your Grace?" Loki asked.

"What are you playing at?" Thor growled.

His chest heaved in fury. He did not believe; he refused to believe that Loki could be even mildly interested in Sif. He saw red when he heard Loki called Sif his Queen. The anger was like a plague, spreading through him like wildfire, devouring all his senses until there was nothing but selfishness, resentment and bitterness.

"You stay away from Sif! Do you hear me?!" Thor spat.

Loki clicked his tongue.

"Ah… jealousy…" Loki grinned. "Jealousy is an ugly thing"

It took all of Thor not just backhand Loki right then and there. He released the trickster brutally, taking a step back.

"I am warning you trickster, touch her again and I will break your hand"

Loki let out a chuckle, stepping closer. "What's the matter? Can't take a little competition?" Loki lid a hand over Thor's armored chest.

Loki couldn't help but want to laugh at Thor obvious jealousy. Who would think that the almighty Thor would be so shaken by a little competition? Oh…there was something so so thrilling to be looked at with such heated intensity, such fierce and feral gaze, looking only at him. The raw power radiating off the God…oh… it was like an aphoristic.

"There is no competition" Thor gritted.

"Ah. Then what have you to fear?"

"Unfaithfulness"

Loki smirks At least Thor knows that everyone has a price.

"Perhaps you are not as hopeless as I thought you to be" He turns to leave when Thor's fingers flew out to grab Loki's arm, halting him.

Thor was silent even as Loki turned to regard him coldly. Loki saw that the anger had calmed to be replaced by shame in those sharp cerulean eyes.

"I…" Thor did not know what to say.

He did not know what is real anymore or simply the effect of that wretched thing in him. The jealousy and resentment he had felt for Sif a moment ago was like nothing he had ever felt before. He had wanted to strike her, shove her back and spit at her face. And it terrifies him more than anything. His thoughts that have ceaselessly flicker, change and morph, two voices whispering in his mind was slowly merging till they become one.

Norns…What will become of him?

"I…I apologize" Thor murmured.

Loki jerked his arm free from the loosened hold, looking at Thor with a strange expression on his face.

"Let's…get you fitted with armor" Thor forced a smile.

Loki said nothing, simply followed Thor out of the alleyway. His emerald gaze never left the Golden King.

"Bound by duty and honor since birth, you hide a face behind another face… I wonder if you truly know the man that you are" That fragment of him in Thor was cracking that mask of perfection, it was revealing more truth in the man than the realm had ever known, than Thor perhaps had ever know of himself.

Thor is innately flawed. He is selfish, prideful, arrogant and ambitious. But what sets him apart from the rest, is his innate desire to be good, to care for others, to be selfless and noble...

And in understanding this, in dragging the exalted and untouchable Golden King that he loathed, the perfect saintly image of Thor down to a level he could relate to, he found that he no longer spite the King. Instead, he found his eyes wandered to him and his hands ached to reach forth for that flawed man that is perfect in all his imperfection.

"What are your thoughts Lord Thrym?" Laufey asked.

"I serve you my King. And I am yours to command" Thrym rasped; looking up upon Laufey who sat on the throne of steel and ice.

"I do not doubt your loyalty. I ask for your thoughts. So speak it freely"

"Not too freely surely" Thrym snorted.

"That is enough!" Laufey snarled.

He stood up, moving down the step to glower at his General.

Thrym said nothing; his eyes were hard like steel as he watches Laufey intently. Both were creatures hardened by war, destruction and death. Creatures from a different time.

Thrym knew that Laufey did not trust him, but it matters not. It simply means that the King he serves is no fool.

"A war is coming" Laufey stood before Thrym. "This is not the time to have your mind ruled by old prejudice"

"You command me to let it go?"

"I command you to let it rest for now. There will be no throne for anyone if we do not win"

"I've told you my King…my old friend, I will serve you" Thrym said. "But do not expect me to serve Loki. Do not expect me to fight for him! I will sooner put a stake to his heart than bend the knee to that runt!"

Laufey hissed, baring his teeth. "You are blinded by prejudice! Loki may be a runt but he has proven himself!"

At this Thrym laugh.

"No one hates him for his size, not anymore, even you know it" Thrym said. "It is the things he do, the monstrosity he is capable of doing that he is feared and loathed. That I loathed!"

"…"

"Loki wields magic from the decadent realm of the dead. He dances with death… and even you cannot deny feeling it, the veil that separates him between the living and the dead is so thin he treads on a tightrope. A creature that will pay any price, that will sacrifice even his own child for power, I can think of no sort of creature worst to sit on the throne"

Laufey said nothing. He cannot dispute Thrym on facts. Jotuns are innately magic wielder. They can feel seid and Loki's is foul.

"He lives only for himself Laufey. And this war he sought, it is not for Jotunheim, it is for his own glory" Thrym growled. "How can you put such a creature on the throne?"

"Thrym…do you love your children?" Laufey asked.

"With all my heart"

"As do I. You cannot expect me to turn from him"

"I don't. But do not expect me to forgive him. Do not command me to! I will not do it even for you!" Thrym said.

"I do not. But do not abandon me now my friend. I need you" Even if I do not trust you went unsaid.

Thrym smiles. Laufey never needed to ask. He will never abandon Laufey…his King, his old friend and his once lover.

"I will walk to the end with you my king. My only King" Thrym said.

"Thank you"

Thrym gave a nod. "Take the Elves offer. You have nothing more to lose. That is my thought"

"That is all I need to know"

Thrym bowed. "If I may be excuse"

"You are dismissed"

Thrym turned towards the door. To his dying breath, he will never forgive Loki. Loki killed his unborn child from the womb of his mate with his dark sorcery.

He remembers till this day how his mate had screamed in pain, clutching her belly as dark shadows reached for her. He had burst into the throne room with her unconscious in his arms, wanting to demand help. He had expected to see Laufey only to see Loki sitting upon the throne. There was no mercy, no sympathy or compassion in those scarlet eyes that looked upon him. He had been stunned for a moment.

"What's the matter Lord Thrym, why aren't you speaking? Was it not your tongue that moves so freely before? Was it not you that mock me so freely before my dam just mere hours ago?" Loki had said.

"What have you done to my mate? My child!" He had roared. He will never forget the way Loki grinned at him at his words.

"I am merciful. I punish and I will reward. I take and I will give" Was all Loki said.

Thrym lost that child but he had many more children than the average Jotuns. He never forgets Loki's words. He knew Loki took that babe from him and gave him more children than what he would have had. But even so, he will never forgive him.

The days that dragged towards the hunt were torturous. Pile upon pile of paperwork fell on Thor's desk. He'd spend three quarter of his nights reading and rushing through document still he could barely understand the words in front of him anymore, before calling in a night. Attempting to get his councilmen to agree to a little extra preparation was like bleeding a stone.

Truth, being a king was like nothing Thor ever expected once he'd got over the excitement of it. You do not simply command your will be done. A king is someone that sits on his bloody desk by night and his numbing throne by day.

Law is tedious business and diplomacy is worst, not to mention the people of Asgard, there were no end to them, pouring into his hall like flocks of sheep. They complain, complain and complain till Thor's mind was numb and his ass was raw from sitting on the golden throne. They all want something, money, land, justice and whatever anyone can come up with. And the lies they feed you... there was no ending to it. And his lords and ladies of the court were hardly any better. He is surrounded by flatterers, fools and old stubborn man who would not stop going on about how Odin would have run the kingdom.

And Loki's blatant interest in Sif made it all the worst.

So many times when he caught Loki's eyes wondered over to Sif, he had wanted to demand Loki look only at him.

He wanted to haul Loki out of the room and throw him onto the nearest bed. He wanted to take him, to hear his shuddering breath echo in his ears, grappling fingers tearing down his back as teeth dug into his shoulder as he sends the trickster into a world of ecstasy, so that Loki would never forget the man that commands his body. And he wanted more than anything to demand that Loki is his!

What was so interesting about Sif anyway?! Thor couldn't help but think selfishly.

The more he looked at her the more irritating she seems to become. Her laugh annoys him, her voice irritated him and at the mention of her name, anger burn in his blood. And Loki always seems to know when Thor was watching, and he would turn to look at Thor with a sly grin on his thin lips.

But Thor was good. He tried to be good.

He force a smile whenever Sif was around, he speak to her as if nothing was wrong and he would leave whenever Loki came towards them. He tried… he truly did.

The last straw came on the eve of the hunt. Loki stole a kiss from Sif right at the dinner table.

At once, thunders clapped, lightning flashed. Something snapped in Thor and he saw red! Before he even knew what he was doing, he was across the table. Blood pounded in his ears. His entire body shook with unrestrained rage and jealousy such that he had never felt.

Loki was his! His mind shrieked with a vengeance.

"Th-or?" Loki said.

Sif's eyes were wide; her hand darted unconsciously to the hilt of her blade. She had never seen Thor looked like that, and he frightened her.

All eyes were on them, but Thor saw no one, he hears no one, as he hauled Loki right out of his seat and out the dining chamber. He did not care if he was hurting Loki, in fact he wanted to hurt him. To devourer him and to hear him scream for forgiveness!

Servants whispered and cowered in fear as Thor pass the silent halls.

The moment they reach Thor's chamber, Thor flung the door apart and threw Loki in. Loki turned just to see Thor slams the ornate door shut behind him.

Beneath the darkened chamber, Thor's cerulean eyes were almost glowing. They were fierce, raw and starkly hungry. Loki's heart hammered, beating against his chest. His tongue unconsciously slips to wet his dry lips.

Lightning flashed.

Loki had never seen Thor so angry, and it frightened him. But he wasn't about to let that show.

He grinned. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

He didn't know Thor fancied Sif so much. But it all worked to his advantage anyway. Anger and jealousy feeding the beast within. Let all of Asgard see, let all of Asgard know the true face beneath, shattering the perfection they so adore.

"I warn you to stay away from her" Thor's hand shot out to grab Loki by the side of his neck. Not hard, but not gentle either.

Loki stilled. Now would perhaps be the best time for Loki to shut up, but he never did. He had never learned the art of backing down.

"You do not command me" Loki said, as Thor walked him backwards.

His heart hammered, slamming against his rib cage; adrenaline surging through his blood. He can defend himself just alright. He could escape with his seid just fine, but he did not. He was curious as to what Thor would do. He wanted to see… He wanted to see the man Thor truly is. The monster, the beast…

Loki stopped when Thor's bed hit the back of his legs.

"You stay away from her" Thor said again.

"Why?" Loki challenged. "What are you going to do to me if I refuse? Hit me? Hurt me?"

Thor said nothing. He was breathing heavily, struggling to control the anger, rage and fury that course through his blood. He pushed no further, so Loki did.

"You are not her betrothed. She would make a fine Queen of Jotunheim"

Thunder clapped, shaking the golden halls. At once Loki was shoved down against the bed. Hand flew to grab Loki by his raven locks, forcing him down.

"Get off me!" Loki spat, his hands shoved hard against Thor's armored chest.

His heels dug the mattress as Thor yanked at his hair and littered forceful kisses all over his neck. Lok screamed in rage and he could feel Thor's hard erection pressing and grinding against him.

"No!" Loki spat.

Thor hissed, biting the side of Loki's neck. Loki smashed his palm over the side to Thor massive head, and tore at those flailing golden locks. They struggled, wrestled, tearing and twisting. Shouting and cursing. Thor ripped Loki's tunic right off and Loki tore at his face, earning howls of pain.

"You filth!" Loki screamed; his knees slammed against Thor's guts earning mere grunts as those powerful arms suddenly move to wrap about his sweaty form. "Unhand me!"

"No!" Thor cried, burying his face against the crook of Loki's neck.

Loki would have burn Thor right there and then if he hadn't notice that Thor had suddenly stopped assaulting him, and there was wetness against his neck.

He stilled, noting for the first time that Thor was trembling, his breathing uneven and he was gasping softly, as if trying to stifle his voice.

Thor was crying…

Loki was speechless.

What just happen?

They were silent for a long time as Loki simply lay there beside Thor, letting Thor hold onto him, letting the older weep against him. It felt strange, uncomfortable, oddly intimate and private. Loki felt as if this was a moment he could not intrude. Should not intrude least he break some unwritten rule.

He had never seen anyone cry before, not even his own siblings. Jotuns are hard people. They do not shed tears, for tears are weaknesses. He waited till Thor had stopped crying before he spoke.

"Th-or…?" Loki said uncertainly.

"I'm scared…" Thor croaked, tightening his hold.

His mind had cleared, but he remembers how he had felt for Sif, the anger, the resentment, the loathing…He had wanted her dead! How could he?! Sif…who is his first love and best friend…And also… Norns! He had wanted to rape Loki!

He hated himself! He is disgusted with himself! He loathed his thoughts, he despised the things he knows he is capable of doing and he abhorred the things he felt.

The beast grows stronger and stronger every day; calling for him to just let go. He was fighting a losing battle.

He fears the man he would see in the mirror, he fears the cerulean eyes that would stare back at him. Truth, he had seen of the eyes of the stranger staring back at him. He who was dark, sadistic, arrogant and brutal. He fears the monster in him. And sometimes when he fully has his mind back, he would fear for his friends and family, but most of all, he would fear for Loki…

He fears hurting them…like what he had almost done to Loki.

"What do you fear?" Loki asked.

"The man I see in the mirror"

"Why? What is it that you see?"

"A monster"

"…"

"A beast"

Loki shifted to his side within Thor's powerful arms to regard the man. Thor lowered his eyes in shame, his hand slid down the side of Loki's lean form to rest over his hips.

"A beast you say" Loki rasped.

All senses demands that Loki should just let Thor wallow in his self-pity and destruction. Let Thor suffer, and when he is at the verge of breaking, Loki will be there to offer his hand. He will be his only friend in the darkened world of his own making. And then, Loki would have full control of the King of Asgard. Yes, that is what Loki should do… and yet…

"What you see is no beast" Loki said. "It is you that you see" His hand reached out to touch Thor's face.

The Aesir lifted his gaze to look at Loki.

"You in all your imperfection that makes you who you are"

"…"

"But you already know it don't you?"

"…"

"You have always subconsciously known that this darkness in you exists. That is why you fight so hard to keep them away isn't it?"

Thor's silence was answer enough.

"You know. You have always known" Loki realized.

Thor has always known that there is something dark in him. It makes sense now. Why Thor fought so hard against the growing darkness that he would rather lose his mind then compromise even a little. Thor fears that once he allows himself a little, he would want more; he would let himself indulge a little more, a little longer, until he loses himself completely. Thor has always known that he has the tendency and taste for it.

"You need not fear it" Loki said.

"You do not know me" Thor whispered.

"I see you more than most"

"…"

"Why is it that you cannot accept that these are part of you?" Loki asked.

Thor is a fool, Loki thinks. Thor cannot be what he is if he is perfect. He cannot sympathize, if he is without flaw. He cannot have compassion if he has never failed himself. He cannot be merciful if he is without mistakes. He cannot be kind, if he himself have no need for kindness.

"There are parts of myself that I fear. That I hate…" Thor confessed.

Frigga may think darkness can be controlled to his advantage, but he was not the fool to be convinced. Frigga may think that letting the beast loose for a moment, allowing Thor to command the council as he would never in his normal state, acceptable, but it was not so to Thor. It was a sign that he was losing himself.

"There are parts of me that I never wish to see…"

"The more you fight the more it will grow. Give in from time to time, you will feel better and it will not worsen. If you do not, it will eventually break your mind"

"Then let it break my mind. I would rather have myself thrown into a cage for the insane than sit on the throne as a half-mad king!"

"And I will have never met a more noble fool" Loki snorted.

"Better a fool than a monster. I will not hurt my people"

Loki would never understand Thor. Thor, the God with the power of storm at his hands, Thor the God with legions of fearless Asgardian warriors at his command, Thor who stood above all, with richness and power Loki could only fathom; he would give it all up so simply. He would let it go without batting an eye for the sake of even the lowliest pheasants?

Loki could not understand it. But he had stopped trying to understand. It is Thor's imperfection that makes him the man that he is. That entices Loki and draws those wondering emerald eyes to him.

"A thousand times I will tell you. You are a fool" Loki said, shifting forward to press their foreheads together.

"…"

"I will not let you lose your mind. For what it is worth, I give you my word"

"Thank you" Thor smiles, pulling Loki's body against him though he was anything but convince.

He brushed his fingers over Loki's face. Leans forth, and capture Loki's lips in a burning kiss.

Loki moaned, his lips parted as his fingers shifted the seize Thor's golden locks.

There was not a day that he did not remember the intoxicating strength of Thor's body against his. There was not a day that he did not remember the dark voice that commanded his pleasure, those large hands that sets his body on fire. And the vigor in which Thor spears him, over and over and over again until he was milk dry.

Oh…He wanted it all and more