Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. Obviously.

Claimer: I own Winnfrid.

In this chapter, Loki is masculine and goes by he/him/his pronouns.

"Loki..." Thor said, walking after his brother. "Loki, please."

"Go away, Thor," Loki said, not turning back around. Thor grabbed his arm and pulled him around, placing his hands on his shoulders. "Oh, for the love of Yggdrasil, Thor let me-"

Thor pulled Loki into an embrace. It was rather like trying to hug an angry cat, he thought; there was a lot of hissing, squirming, and clawing as Loki tied to get away. The only difference, really, was that Loki was also spewing insults at him.

Thor ignored it, holding Loki until he said "Thor, please, let me go!"

There was a note of desperation in his tone and Thor almost released him, but not before he pressed his cheek to the top of Loki's head.

"I have dreams where I did not catch you," Thor said, his voice hollow. "I have dreams where you fell. I have dreams where you never caught the end of Gungnir and you simply fell. I have dreams where I cannot catch you in time and you simply fall through my fingers." He squeezed Loki tighter. "And when I wake, I fear that you are not there, that I have been dreaming."

Thor pulled away, but kept his hands on Loki's shoulders, looking him in the eye. "I did not know why you did what you did," he said. "But Loki, I am a blind fool. I am a fool," he emphasized, shaking Loki a little, "for not seeing you. Loki, you are my brother and I love you. Nothing, not even your heritage could change my mind. Call me an idiot for it if you so wish, but it is the truth." He took a deep breath and lowered his head. "Loki, I am sorry," he said quietly. "I am sorry."

Loki took a few steps back, his jaw clenched, his eyes flickering to take Thor in. "Prove it," he said at last.

"How?" Thor asked. "Please, tell me how."

"Figure it out," Loki said, turning around. "Your words change nothing, Thor. You have much to apologize for, but you do not even truly understand all of it. Look, Thor, really look. Understand what you are apologizing for. When you get it, come back and try again."

"Will you accept it then?" Thor asked. Loki didn't reply, heading back into the kitchens. Thor sighed and hung his head, guilt burning through him as he turned and went to go back to Winnfrid.

"How did it go?" Winnfrid asked as Thor settled back into the chair. Thor didn't reply, lost in his thoughts. Winnfrid sat back down in her chair and watched him for a few minutes.

"We still have an hour to go with our session," she said when Thor remained silent. Winnfrid poured him a glass of water, placing it in front of him. Thor accepted it, but didn't drink it, merely looking at the glass.

"Thor?" She said. "Are you going to speak for the rest of the session?"

Thor swallowed and let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head.

"That's alright," Winnfrid said. "Would you like to play a game of some sorts?"

Thor shook his head again. Winnfrid nodded and sat back. "Alright," she said and waited. When the hour was up, she hummed and said "Thor. Time's up."

Thor nodded and stood, placing the glass of water on the table. He left, meaning to return to his hall, but slowed when someone called his name, turning and seeing, to his surprise, Volstagg running to greet him. Thor stopped and waited for him to catch up, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

Volstagg was smiling as he walked over, however Thor's act must have failed, for the smile faded as his friend got nearer, brows knitted in concern. "Thor?" he said. "Whatever is the matter my friend?"

Thor licked his lips, frowning a little. "Volstagg, answer me truly," he said, hesitant.

"Of course," Volstagg said. Thor nodded, wondering how to phrase his concern.

"Do you think I ever treated Loki unjustly?"

Volstagg considered, looking at the ground. "I can't say," he said. "We were, admittedly, a bit hard on him at times, but it was never nothing he couldn't handle."

"Do you think it ever affected him?" Thor asked.

"No, why would it?" Volstagg replied. "Nothing you ever did would effect him for too long. He is jealous of you, but he looks up to you as well."

Thor blinked. "He does?"

Volstagg laughed. "Of course he does!" He said, grinning. "Anyone from miles away could see that. Volstagg shook his head and gave a snort. "Thor, do you think you ever treated him unjustly?"

Thor blinked looking at the ground. "I thought not," he said, his voice low. "But now..." He trailed off uncertainly..

Volstagg's smile slipped away again. He placed a hand on Thor's shoulder and said "Loki loves you dearly, Thor. But be that as it may, he was very often jealous of you."

Thor flinched. "He never should have had a reason to be," Thor murmured. "He would have made a good king under different circumstances. He was always better at diplomacy than I."

Volstagg at Thor in silence for a moment. "Thor," he said. "Would— Do you need to be around people tonight? We could go to a tavern and drink a few rounds, perhaps invite Sif along."

Thor considered the offer for a few moments, then shook his head. "Not tonight, my friend," he said, voice low. "I need time to think." He paused and then looked up. "Volstagg," he started, "why did you and the others come fetch me from Midgard?"

"Why?" Volstagg blinked. "Because Loki would not."

Thor nodded. "Then I suppose he understood."

Volstagg frowned. "Understood what?"

Thor turned and walked off, saying behind him "Everything, my friend. Loki understood everything."

Loki was absent from dinner again. Now that he was no longer required to eat with them, this was nothing to be worried about, but Thor poked at his food, unusually quiet.

"Thor?" Frigga said. "Darling, is something the matter?"

Thor didn't reply for a moment. "When will the Bifrost be complete?" He asked, looking up at Odin.

Odin paused. "Why do you need to know?" He said.

"I want to go to Alfheim," Thor replied.

"And what is the reason for that?" Odin asked. Thor huffed.

"To learn about the jotnar there."

Frigga and Odin exchanged a look and Thor sat back, crossing his arms with a huff. "I'm not stupid," he said. "Did you think I wouldn't eventually figure it out? Loki only began to act strange when we returned from Jotunheim. I do not know the details, but I assume he somehow learned of his heritage there." He picked up his fork again. "I want to learn about them. For Loki."

"Does Loki know this?" Odin asked.

"What, that I know about him?" Thor said and nodded. "Yes. I asked him about it."

"Darling, I think he meant your plans," Frigga said. Thor shrugged.

"No. I didn't tell him. He refuses to speak to me."

"I think you should both go," Odin said and Thor looked at him.

"You approve?" He said.

"Of course I do," Odin replied. "In fact, I encourage it. Go to Alfheim when the Bifrost is fixed and take Loki with you."

Frigga hummed. "Perhaps you should go with them," she said, taking a bit of food. Odin looked up at her.

"And why is that?" He asked. Frigga hummed and swallowed.

"Because it has been quite a long time since you went," she said. "And I think the experience will be good for you. All of you."

Odin sighed. "Frigga..."

Frigga shot him A Look. "Odin," she said back. "Go with your sons."

"There will be time to talk about that later," Odin said, glancing for a moment at Thor. Thor frowned and crossed his arms.

"Actually," he said. "I think you and Loki should go alone."

Frigga smiled at Thor. "I think that's a lovely idea," she said and Odin glared at her. Frigga smiled up at Odin, ignoring him and continuing "Well, then, that's settled. As soon as Loki agrees-"

"And who is to say he will?" Odin snapped.

"I do," Frigga said. "Loki will eventually agree. And when he does, you and he will go to Alfheim."

"We do not have a Bifrost," Odin reminded her. "It will take at least a year to rebuild it."

"Then I suppose I have plenty of time to convince Loki to go," she said and pushed back from the table. "Unless, of course, you take a Passage. Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to attend to."

Frigga left, graceful as ever, and Odin went back to his food, muttering under his breath. Thor blinked at him and then looked back at the door Frigga had left from.

"So," he said at last, looking back at Odin with a grin. "What have you against going to Alfheim with Loki? Alone?"

Odin growled at him and gave him A Look of his own, making Thor's grin vanish at once.

"Sorry," he muttered and looked back down at is food. After a moment, Thor stood, muttering "excuse me," and leaving the hall after Frigga, leaving Odin alone.

Odin sighed when the door shut, putting his elbows on the table and running his hands through his hair, closing his eye. The moments passed in silence until he too stood and left the hall.

Notes:

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