Disclaimer: Do not own any Thor/ The Avengers related content, Talin is mine.
Loki paced back and forth across his room, trying to occupy his mind with anything else but worry for his daughter. Thor had not returned when Loki had expected him to. Worry built as the time passed. Aggravated, he pressed his head against the wall, breathing deep. If he could trust anyone with his Talin, it was Thor. Only Thor. Where was he?
Thor did not like being in the presence of this girl. He felt something stir in the air around her, something that made his hair stand on end at times. He would catch it in the glares she cast him.
"Can you go now? I'm tired of your questions." Talin had growled at him.
"Well, yes I suppose. I need to assure Loki that you are safe. He is very worried about you." Thor said.
Loki had told him that Talin would send him back, just as she had brought him. The girl closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly a piece of paper appeared in her hands, folded, and sealed itself into a plain envelope.
"That should be all the assurance he needs. Now, outside." She said, suddenly sounding tired.
The two walked out into the blazing desert together, and Talin told him where to stand. He tucked the envelope under his armor, and then braced himself for the stomach lurching feeling that had happened to him earlier. As Talin seemed to concentrate, Thor stared at the strange circle, full of symbols, that suddenly formed and began to glow beneath his feet.
"I'll return in a few days time." Thor said, expecting to be shot through time and space at any second.
He could feel the energy in the air around him rising. Just as it seemed to reach its peak, Talin suddenly came forward, and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Give this to my father for me. See you soon." She said quietly in his ear.
Suddenly everything was gone, ripped away from sight, and Thor was moving, flying, shooting, back to Asgard.
Loki could feel the bundle of boisterous energy that was Thor long before his heavy steps thudded down the hall towards his room. Loki did not expect Thor to knock, as the guards throughout the day saw no need to announce themselves as they burst in. Loki opened the door quickly, and pulled Thor inside.
"Well?" He asked, feeling his heart racing.
Thor struggled a moment as he reached under his armor, digging around with large clumsy fingers among the intricate parts until at least he pulled free an envelope, slightly wrinkled and bent at one corner. He handed it to Loki with a smile.
Loki sat at his desk, conjuring better light with the wave of a finger as he carefully opened the envelope. His daughter's intricate script covered the page.
"Why did you send Thor, father? Really, do you think I still need a babysitter? Of all people, you send him?! And imagine the joy it brings me to know he'll be coming every few days as he pleases. I do not need someone watching me, father. However, knowing how you are, I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise to me... I miss you. Love, Talin."
She had made a new velvet bookmark for him, a deep purple with bright silver embroidery and striking red roses. Though it seemed impossible, he loved her more and more everyday.
"One more thing, brother." Thor said quietly.
Loki took a deep breath, unable to spit out the usual denial at such endearment, and stood, facing Thor.
"Yes?" He asked, searching Thor for some other item.
Instead, Thor came forward and gripped Loki in a tight hug.
"This is from her as well." Thor said.
And even though it was in fact Thor holding him, he was suddenly overwhelmed with the scent of roses and lilies, a perfume he had given her for her birthday last year. And suddenly Loki was sobbing. He had lost everything but Talin, and even now she was on the brink of being lost.
"I love you daddy." The words crept into his mind, as if whispered, and he felt Talin for just a single moment.
He knew how much energy it would take for her to imprint herself onto Thor and to keep it with him as he travelled, even if it only lasted for just that single moment.
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