AN: Unfortunately, I am not that good at writing English so it's hard for me to imitate the pompous way norse deities seem to speak in the marvel universe. I'm trying to but for my sake, let's just pretend they talk normally when with family.

XxX

Loki stopped frozen upon entering the room and seriously considered just turning around and walking away again. A messenger had told him that he was to meet Frigga here. Instead he found the whole family assembled.

It was only a small room usually reserved for Friggas tea sessions but somehow the Allfather could sit in that armchair with pink covers and make in look like a throne. His majesty seemed to fill the entire room. Frigga was calmly sitting by his side but unlike Odin in his golden armour, she was not dressed as a queen today. She only wore a simple lime dress and barely any jewelry. Whatever this was about, Odin considered it a matter of Asgard while his mother thought of it as a matter of the family.

Then there was Thor. Of course he never went anywhere without his armour and his hammer (though lately he had gotten into the habit of wearing a black cloak over it) but today he looked downright nervous. They seemed to have been waiting for him. When Thor saw him enter his entire face lit up for a moment, only to quickly shift back to an expression somewhere between fear and expectation. Loki had never seen him like this before. No battle, no foe regardless how powerful had ever made Thor nervous.

Whatever this was, it was serious and Loki was pretty sure that he wanted no part in it.

„Come and join us, son", Odin said with his dark booming voice.

Loki thought about spinning back on his heel and leave just because this disgusting person dared to call him son. But he did not and instead settled for closing the door behind him and getting closer, without sitting down.

„What do you want?", he asked without a hint of politeness.

„Thor has something to tell you", Frigga answered him softly.

Loki shifted his gaze to her first, then over to the man who had replaced his strong, death defying non-brother.

„Does it... Does it have to be here?", Thor eventually muttered and gazed over at Odin.

„I am afraid this does concern us all, darling."

Loki noticed that Odin seemed to vibrate from barely concealed anger, but an anger that was for once not directed at Loki. Instead he was looking at Thor as if he'd smash his head if he dared to speak up..

Thor seemed to have to find an amazing amount of courage but finally he stood and turned towards Loki.

„Loki, I know that you do not... feel part of this family anymore but you are. All of us, we love you. Father may be strict at times and disagree with you but he still took you back in. And, and nobody with a pair of eyes can fail to notice how much mother loves you. However I believe that in the past I have neglected to show you just how much I love you. I was deliberately avoiding you, pushing you away and surrounding myself with other people. I was cruel to you and mocked you for doing things I admired about you in hope you'd stop being so perfect. I was acting terribly selfish and cowardly and I apologize for that. The reason for my terrible behaviour is... that I feel a strong sexual attraction towards you and I was doing everything to hide my feelings of unbrotherly love."

Even Frigga, who had to have known of this beforehand, drew in a sharp breath at his choice of words (no doubt learnt on Midgard) that doubled out of his mouth almost too fast to understand, while Odin frowned more deeply.

Loki however was just staring at Thor uncomprehendingly. Finally he crossed his arms in front of his chest and sneered. „If this is your idea of a joke..."

„It's not."

„Well, I'm sorry but I feel reluctant to believe that it should be not only my parents but also my brother who have lied to me for my entire life. At least I was always secure in my distaste towards you."

Thor looked away with a pained expression. „I'm sorry."
„You are ridiculous, Thor. I know you slept with countless of women. What about that mortal girl you made a promise to not even two years ago?"

„Jane is a good friend and a wonderful person", Thor whispered. "I wanted to love her, I tried to. Even loving a mortal would've been less painful then loving my own brother. But I could not. The moment I heard you were in danger I had to go back."

„I wasn't in any danger! I was king!"

„You were in danger of losing yourself." Again that terrible pained expression. „And I failed to stop you."

„Enough of this!", Odin called out and let Gungnir meet the floor with a resonating thump.

„Thor, such shameful behaviour makes you unworthy of the throne, unworthy to call yourself a prince of Asgard. Do you realize that?"

„Yes I do, father."

„Do you take your words back then?"

„I can't."

„Then I am sorry but your infatuation cannot be tolerated, especially not within the royal family. We have tried everything we could to stop this and yet here you are."

„What do you mean you tried to stop this?" Loki quickly looked form Odin to Frigga. „You knew of this before?"

The godness looked at him with sadness. „Yes Loki, we knew. Thor did not tell me until yesterday but we suspected it for a long time."

„And what did you... 'do' to 'stop' it!?"

„I just tried to give you all of my love, darling. I tried my best to make this family work, hoping that he would come to see you as a brother." Frigga could see that he did not believe her. With a sigh she turned to her husband. „You have to tell them. They deserve to know everything."

„Father, what is she talking about?", Thor wanted to know.

Odin gave him a glare. „It was for a reason that I sent you to battle as early as I did, son. Not only were you enjoying and had a talent for it but I was also hoping it would distract you. As soon as you became of age your mother and I searched all of our allied realms for a suitable wife for you, sending you hundreds of maidens to chose from. But none of them could hold your interest for more then a few days." Then he turned to Loki. „You, Loki – I did not discourage you from learning magic because I disrespect the art. I have known plenty of powerful mages and I was always proud of the expertise you had reached. But in Asgard, magic is perceived to be a womanly art. I was hoping by pushing you to be a warrior instead, Thor would find you less appealing. You always excelled at the royal lessons of languages, social manners, dancing and diplomacy. Sometimes I hoped if you'd just behave like a barbarian at a feast like Thors friends like to do, his dreams of you would be shattered."

Loki had serious trouble keeping his mouth from hanging open at this point. Thor was in love with him? And his parents knew!? He didn't know what to think. One part of him was angry. This was yet another secret everyone but him had known about. Another part was trying to keep himself from laughing at the ridiculousness of this all. And to think Thors ego had doubled with every women he had 'seduced' when really they had been sent to his bed by his father. Of course there was a part of him that was disgusted at the mere prospect of Thor desiring him too but it was a surprisingly small one for a far larger was just being confused and still half convinced they were pulling his leg.

„So basically... you supported Thors idiotic, bloodthirsty behaviour and discouraged me from doing the one thing I truly enjoyed in my life all to help Thor to overcome his unnatural infatuation with me? And you seriously have the gall to deny he's your favourite son!?"

„I was trying to save this family from falling apart!"

„You know what, screw Laufey. You are the monster."

„Loki!", Frigga exclaimed in shock.

„He is right", Thor muttered to everyone's surprise. „You had no right to do that, father."

„It does not matter anymore", Odin decided with another glare. „Now that you have decided to make this declaration, there is only one choice." He turned towards Loki. „Since Thor has never acted on his thoughts he could be pardoned without repercussions. However it is within your right to demand he never comes close to you again. Since you are brothers and princes of Asgard, this would mean that Thor would be banished from the palace. He would have to forsake the throne and while he would still have to take orders from the king, you would never have to have anything to do with him. The choice is yours."

Loki looked at his adopted father, feeling more then a bit overwhelmed. This was going a bit farther then a joke gone wrong. His whole life he had struggled to free himself from Thors shadow – and now he could sent him away never to return and claim the throne for himself, just like that? It was too easy to be true. Odin hated him, why would he give up his heir because of this? He could've banished Loki just as easily. Not even that, he could have just disowned him. It wouldn't have made Thor any less of a pervert but at least he wouldn't be considered criminal if he... stepped out of line. And ugh, Loki didn't even want to think of that. It would not have been deserving, but when had Odin ever cared about that? Except... Loki threw a glance at Thor and noticed that he did not seem at all surprised or horrified at the prospect of being banished yet again. Could it be that this had been Thors idea?

„I wish to speak to Thor alone", he finally decided.

Frigga tried to object: „I do not think this would be wise..."
„It's alright", Thor interrupted her, putting on a brave front. „Whatever may come out of this, I will accept it."

Loki and Thor went to move to the adjacent room. The god of mischief quickly raised a magical barrier that would cloud them from anyone's gaze, including Heimdalls, and would make sure nobody outside could hear their voices.

„Loki", Thor tried, „I truly am sorry for all the things I did, all the things I said to you. When I thought I had lost you I felt like my own life had come to an end. I could not bear the thought, especially knowing you died in the belief I hated you."

„Yet when we met again on Midgard the first thing you said to me was 'Where is the tesseract?'", Loki said with a scoff.

Thor swallowed hard. „I was... I was really just trying to keep me from savaging you. I was so glad to see you alive the urge to kiss you became overwhelming and then... Thinking of the mission was the only way to get myself to keep my hands away from you. You did not look to be well, Loki, and now of course I know where the symptoms came from. I could not risk it."

Loki was silent for a moment, his back to Thor.

Finally he said: „I do not believe it."

„Wh-What?"

Loki turned around to him angrily. „I do not believe it! The mere notion that you could possibly feel that way is ridiculous! Thor, have you ever listened to yourself? This is beyond mad!"

Thor looked positively dumbstruck. He had prepared himself for rejection, for disgust, anger, hatred. There was a tiny part of him that had even hoped Loki would reciprocate his feelings. He had never imagined it would be so hard just to convince him he was telling the truth.

But Loki had to believe him. If he didn't he would think Thor was just being cruel to him again and playing a terrible joke on him. He would hate him all the more and for the wrong reasons. Thor could not let that happen.

„What can I do to make you believe me?"

Loki choked back a laugh. „This is not as easy as just saying you're attracted to me, Thor. I could believe that because let's face it, you're a man-whore and you're attracted to pretty much everything on two legs. Being attracted to me would be just the latest peak of your perversion. But you said you love me and have done so for years, in this particular way. You said you are willing to give up everything, the throne, your life in luxury, your reputation if I just asked nicely and this is what I cannot believe. You cannot possibly be that much of a masochist."

Thor returned his look calmly. „What can I do to prove you wrong?"

Lokis expression shifted quickly from startled to thoughtful, then to determined.

„Kiss me", he said boldly. „Kiss me like you claim you've always wanted to."

Thor looked taken aback for a moment. He tried to quench this ridiculous hot and happy flame that flared to life within him to no avail. Kissing Loki... Really kissing him, he had imagined doing that, had imagined how it would feel for a thousand years. Could it really be that he could find out what it was like today?

Hesitantly he took a step forward, raising a hand to gently touch Lokis cheek as if afraid he would vanish like one of his illusions. „Is it... really alright...?"

Loki suddenly didn't look so sure anymore. When Thor leaned forward he grabbed his wrist quick as lighting and halted his movement.

„Not so fast, brother", he sneered. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated on his magic. Under Thors intense gaze his skin began to rapidly turn blue. When the god of deceit opened his eyes again they were blood red.

„Well?", Loki asked, enjoying the shock on Thors face. „Go on, brother."

If he had thought his actions would shatter Thors resolve, he was wrong. Loki was essentially telling him that he believed nobody could possibly love a monster such as himself. This felt like a punch to the face for the god of thunder. He could not bear seeing Loki suffer from such self hatred. It was even worse then if he hated Thor. That was why, when he kissed Loki, he put all his passion into it, all his love for his little brother to tell him that yes, he was a wonderful person, he was very much appreciated and he was very much desired.

Loki was parting his lips in a gasp of surprise and Thor didn't waste any time to jump on the chance. He slipped his tongue into Lokis mouth, his hands at the other mans face and neck, pulling him closer. Gently enough not to frighten him but with a passion that could not be denied he explored Lokis mouth, savouring every moment as his tongue grazed his teeth and moved to touch Lokis tongue. And then suddenly Loki was kissing him back. His hand clutched the black cloak as he pressed against him. Thor could feel his hot breath on his face as they broke apart for a second, only to clash again. He had taken care to leave his eyes open, partly to prove that he was not repulsed by Lokis blue form, partly so he could enjoy his reaction. Now however his eyes shut on themselves as he sunk deeper into the kiss, Loki fighting with him over dominance as he had always done. It was nothing like kissing a woman. It was everything he had imagined and so much more.

Thor had just felt his blood rushing into lower regions, his brain telling him to stop lest he ruin it all while his body desperately wanted to continue when something very wrong happened.