Day Four: Platonic Relationship
NOTE: I was going to post this as my second entry for Brothers in Arms but I decided it also worked a bit for today's prompt because it explores their relationship and I didn't want to be redundant. So here it is. I made myself sad.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Even fighting side by side with his most loyal companions as well as his newfound friends and allies, something was missing.
Thor would never get used to this, no matter how many centuries may pass.
He had grown up and hopefully, he had changed for the better. Whenever he doubted himself he would simply summon Mjolnir, the presence of the legendary weapon a reminder of his worth. But there were days when this brought him little comfort. Recently, this lack of faith had been happening more frequently but he never breathed a word about it to anyone. He would not be able to explain it if they asked. And he felt guilty at being so ungrateful. He knew that he had no right to be so.
After all, he had never known such a glorious period of his life. He was exhausted but he invariably won every battle he entered in. He defeated all his enemies. He was loved by all for being a protector of the Nine Realms. He had the unwavering loyalty of Sif and the Warriors Three. He had the love and support of Jane Foster, a great woman. He had forged an important bond with the Avengers. And he was finally shaping up to be the king his father and mother could be proud of. He was growing in strength and wisdom. For all his efforts there was only victory after victory.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Even with an army at his beck and call, he was alone.
Loki was no stranger to solitude but this was a wound that ran deeper than any he had ever known.
He tried to brush the feeling aside, the hole that could not be filled no matter how much power he amassed, how many hearts he sowed fear into, how many cities he burned. Even the throne he had desired for so long now was nothing more than a cheap token and he derived very little satisfaction from his new position. Though cynical by nature, even he had not anticipated this utter disappointment. Every victory seemed hollow. It was infuriating. Would satisfaction be denied him even when he finally got what he wanted? There seemed no end to the injustice. He was determined to be victorious.
There were people enough to share this with, many who would revel in the chaos he had caused. There were those who had the same desire for destruction, the same desperate need to manipulate everything and everyone around them. There were beings with whom he had common interests, powerful creatures who would eagerly join him as he tore the fabric of the universe just because he could. He had everything he needed to win this time, and by the time his enemies realized that he was behind the havoc that was coming, it would be too late. Things were finally moving according to his plans.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Nothing could be better.
He was happy. He couldn't be happier.
After all, this was everything he had ever dreamed of.
Well, not quite everything.