AN: Come on, no reviews for last chap? And I'm doing such a good job to update fast. Please tell me what you think of it!

XxX

Lokis lips had felt cold on Thors but his mouth was warm and wet. Now though his tongue suddenly became numb and a terrible biting cold spread from his jaw and from his hands that were holding Loki. The god of deceit pulled away, watching him with cold eyes devoid of any passion that Thor had been so desperate to search for in them. The mighty god let out a whimper as his limbs turned blue with cold, then black as his flesh began to disintegrate. He sank to his knees, overwhelmed with pain.

Loki was watching him mercilessly. He moved to grab his shoulder and Thor let out another whimper as the frostbite started to spread there too.

„You really are foolish, brother", Loki whispered in his ear, leaning close. „I hate you, Thor Odinson, you have no idea how much. I despise you and everything you symbolize. All of my careful plans for nought! And now you just come in here and put the weapon to destroy you into my hands. You are making this far too easy, Thor. I wanted to enjoy crushing you but seeing you like this, it's pathetic!"

He leaned back again, finally letting go of him. „I am going to get my revenge. I am going to pay you back for every scoff, every sneer, for every time you pushed me away. I am going to make you suffer and you, sick masochist that you are, are going to let me because you know that you deserve it."

With these words Loki shifted back into his Aesir form and turned his back on Thor. He left him shaking and in pain on the floor and returned to his non-parents, his face a neutral mask.

„Loki, darling?", Frigga asked when he came back alone. „What happened?"

„Thor tried to touch me", he replied coldly. „I decided I didn't like it." However, he very much liked the look of horror on her face as she rushed to go look for Thor and the desperate sigh that left Odins lips. With a last smug look Loki left the room.

Things had just started getting interesting. He would have so much fun with Thor.

XxX

Thor was brought to the healing chambers so his injuries could be treated. Since they were dangerously close to his brain he had to stay there for a whole three days. Somehow, by the end of it the entire realm seemed to be aware that Thor Odinson preferred men and had tried to force himself on his younger brother, who promptly revealed his dormant Jotun heritage and sent him to the healers half dead and covered in frostbite. The public opinion to these news was torn. Some thought Loki was an evil monster that had either tried to murder or bewitched their favourite prince. Some thought they were both suffering from some kind of family curse to bring unfortune over them. Others were openly demonizing Thor and praising Loki for both standing against the wrongful Jotuns despite being one himself and and also uncovering the spiteful truth about his brothers unnaturalness.

After listening in to some of the rumours that were spreading Loki was most pleased with his work. He had only told two or three servants but those had been famous for carrying gossip all around the palace.

For some time now Loki had thought about how to reveal his heritage. He had no doubt that it would be perceived badly by the Aesir but it could not be hidden forever. Now that he knew what he was he fully planned on practising ice magic, something that Aesir normally didn't have a talent for and that he thus had never bothered studying. He had been reluctant at first because he still did not want to believe that he shall be such a monster but his conversation with Odin had opened his eyes. The Allfather was indeed much more of a monster then Laufey had ever been. Also his heritage had helped him so much in settling things with Thor, he was eager to try out more things.

So then, if the whole world was soon to know he was Jotun, he had to find a way to guide their reactions. By simultaneously revealing Thors weakness, the gossip would concentrate less on him. That second story was so unbelievable some people would even doubt the part about him was true at all. Loki would prove that it was bit by bit by practising his magic, but so would Thor and as long as Loki did not run around blue he was confident that he could shove some of the peoples animosity onto Thor. It was carefully calculated chaos and Loki was enjoying it very much. That was until he came to the courtyard and found Thor sitting on his horse with lots of baggage on it, saying goodbye to Frigga and his friends.

"What is the meaning of this?", he demanded to know.

Lady Sif was shooting him a hateful glare. "What does it look like, Loki Liesmith?"

The Warrior Three were with her too and all of them were glaring daggers at him. Frigga had tears in her eyes.

"Be at peace, my friends. This is my fault alone", Thor said and turned to Loki. "I am leaving Asgard, brother."

Loki raised an elegant eyebrow. "Without saying good bye?"

Thor smiled but it came out more as a grimace. "You have made it perfectly clear that you do not appreciate my company."

"Thor has to leave the palace since you accused him, as were Odins orders", Frigga said.

"I do not know what you are talking about", Loki pretended. "I did no such thing. Now get back in, Thor. I still have use for you." With that Loki turned around and began walking slowly, only picking up his pace when he heard Thor dismount his horse.

It was true though. He had never officially accused Thor. It would be stupid to do so. If Thor left now the people would forget him. However, they would not forget about Loki and his little blue problem.

"I thought you'd want me to leave", Thor said once he had caught up with him.

"If I had wanted you to leave, I would have killed you", Loki stated coldly. "Don't worry though. I might still do that."

"Is that supposed to reassure me?"
"No."

"I... probably shouldn't be surprised."
"I don't think you are."

Thor sighed. "Did I... Did I at least manage?"

"What?" Loki looked at him confused.

"Did I mange to convince you?" Thor went a little red as he said that. It was actually kind of adorable.

Loki scolded himself for that last thought. "If you didn't, I would have killed you", he replied coolly.

Thor turned to look ahead again and smiled slightly. "Then it was worth it."

XxX

It was one week since Loki had been released from prison and he decided Thor had been much to cheerful as of late. The mocking, pitying and sometimes plain hostile glares of the servants and people in the city didn't seem to bother him at all. In fact it was doubtful he was even noticing them, at least when Loki was around to gauge his reaction, for he had only eyes for his little brother. It was more then a little irritating, bordering on nauseating. It was time he played a little trick on him, preferably one he wouldn't have to take the blame for afterwards.

Loki still had nothing to do and neither had Thor. The god of mischief was in the stables, taking care of his loyal mare Vindr, a beautiful black horse. While Thor always preferred to ride big, dangerous warhorses, Loki kept his mare for fast travels and looking good on parades. Vindr was the fastest horse in the stable – well, except for Sleipnir, of course.

Said beast, as if feeling he had been thinking of him, promptly leaned over to him over the low dividing wall that separated his box from Vindr's and nudged Loki softly, demanding attention.

Loki chuckled slightly and petted the eight-legged horse's snout.

"You're glad to see me again, aren't you?", he asked softly and petted him behind his ears. Sleipnir had to lean down for that because he was freaking gigantic.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. Things are complicated up there."

Sleipnir gave a snort and rubbed his snout against Lokis cheek.

"Yeah, yeah, I missed you too, you big baby", he growled and shoved the beast away from him gently.

"That one really likes you, huh?"

Loki turned to see Thor leaning against one of the boxes, watching him with a slight smile.

As if caught Loki moved away from the Allfathers steed and turned back to grooming Vindr.

"I suppose he might", he replied coolly. "After all it was me who caught him when he was but a foal."

"Yeah, I always wondered how you did that. He was always such a wild thing, even when he was young. It took father three centuries to tame him and to this very day I swear he likes you better then him."

He didn't answer him.

"Not going to give up your secrets, huh? Figures."

Loki was starting to feel really uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had turned to. He took care not to look at Thor but he couldn't concentrate.

"Care to take a ride with me?", he said suddenly.

Thor perked up. "A ride?"

"A hunting trip. You know, like in the old times." It would be the perfect opportunity to play another game with Thor and besides, he really needed the distraction.

"Uh, do you mean just... just the two of us?", Thor asked hesitantly.

Loki snorted. "I don't know if you noticed, but your friends hate me and I don't have any. If you tried to invite the Warrior Three they'd turn the tables and make me the prey first chance they'd get. Not that I'd let them, mind you, but I'm not that desperate for a reason to have them publicly executed either."

Thor was silent for a minute. Loki still refused to take his eyes off Vindr so he could only guess at his expression.

"I would like very much to take a ride with you", the blonde finally said softly.

Now he did peak up at him, shooting him a suspicious glance. Was he not afraid he'd use the chance to 'lose' him on the ride and have his mangled body found by the guards five weeks later? He should be.

"Then it's settled. Meet me at the gates in half an hour."

Thor left to prepare his own steed and Loki went to search for a stable boy.

Half an hour later the brothers met again and agreed to take their ride into the Light Forest, an area half a day away that was good hunting ground. It was also the place where they had learned how to track animals when they had been boys. A lot of happy memories were connected to that forest.

The ride itself was uneventful, though they did have a short race when they could see the first trees. Of course Loki won.

Thor insisted on revenge so next they had a bet on who could kill four different animals big enough to have a pelt worth bringing with them first. No magic, no hammer.

While it was not his speciality, Loki did know how to use a bow. He also cheated a bit by using his magic to help him track down animals. When he returned to the place they had left the horses at he had with him a stag, a fox and a hog, all of them conveniently stored in the sub-dimension space he used to store all kind of things so only he could summon them back from it. The casket of ancient winters was still in there – Loki had no idea if Odin just didn't know he was versed in dimensional magic (which was stupid since he had to be aware that he could travel realms without the help of the Bifrost) and thought it was lost because he never used it again after freezing up Heimdall, or if he had let him keep it since it was, technically, his birthright as a prince of Jotunheim.

Thor turned up half an hour later with two bears, a stag and a deer.

"You do remember we said four different animals, don't you?", Loki said with an raised eyebrow.

"Well, that's a grey bear and a grizzly. That's two different."

"Even so, the deer and the stag are from the same species."

"But one has antlers! Besides, we said no magic and you just summoned them."

"Long after I killed them so it doesn't count. Also you've still been slower then me."
"But I got bigger animals. That proves I'm the better hunter."

"The only thing it proves is that you suck at reading finer tracks."

They argued like this for a couple of more minutes, but it was surprisingly good natured banter. Finally they settled on a draw and got to work to skin the animals and prepare the meat to be taken home.

By the end of it they were both sticky with blood and in desperate need for a bath. Of course Loki could've just cleaned himself with magic but where would be the fun in that when he knew of a small lake just ten minutes away?

At his suggestion, Thor gladly agreed to follow him to the lake. They were almost there when Loki heard the steps behind him slow down. He grinned internally to himself. It seemed Thor had finally realized what was to come.

It had been ages since the brothers had taken a bath together, or even just swam in a lake. Plus they were in the middle of the wilderness and none of them had thought about bringing any swimming wear. Again, Loki could just conjure something for himself but he certainly wouldn't for Thor and then letting only him go in naked would be rude, wouldn't it? Not that he expected Thor to question his motives once he started undressing. He was going to have a little fun with Thor.

Pretending not to notice his non-brothers hesitation, Loki walked to the edge of the lake. Only then did he turn around to watch Thor, who was still standing at the edge of the forest.

"What are you waiting for? You look disgusting. Come here already."

For a second he considered putting on a show, but the god of thunder looked ready to flee already so for now, he took pity on him. With his magic he banished his armour and clothing and quickly stepped into the water. It was ice cold and Loki bit his teeth, seriously considering shifting into his Jotun form.

A look back told him that Thor, even though he could've only caught a glimpse of his behind, was bright red but he was also in the process of shedding his armour to join him.

With a satisfied smirk Loki drove into the water and got to work getting all the blood off his skin.

"Well, it's cold at first but it could be worse", Thor stated as he came swimming towards where Loki was.

"Oh? Well, we can do something about that", the god of mischief replied with a smirk. He had already turned his body blue from his shoulders downwards. Now he spread his arms slowly, causing a thin cover of ice to make its way from him.

"Haha, very funny", Thor said, completely unamused.

But Loki wasn't listening. He scowled at the ice that broke with every movement he made, only to frost over again.

"Let me try something... Stay here", he muttered, before plunging into the water. Deeper and deeper he went until it was black all around him. He was now completely Jotun and the cold wasn't bothering him at all.

Loki closed his eyes and concentrated on his magic. The ability of the Jotun was not so much the control over ice, but over heat and water. For example in order to make an ice sword, the preferred weapon of the Jotun, they had to both draw water from the surrounding snow or air and draw all the heat out of it. The heat was stored inside of their bodies, which was why they were so resistant to cold. The same magic could, theoretically, be used to light a fire but doing so would lower the Jotuns body temperature to dangerous levels.

That day when Loki had been touched by one of the Jotun warriors, it hadn't felt cold at all. His research showed him that it was because one Jotun could not use his magic to draw on another Jotuns heat, which was what caused the frostbite. Their skin was not only magic resistant, it was also doing a wonderful job in separating the inner heat of their body from the outside by constantly drawing energy in, which made it appear cold to the touch of anyone else.

His books said that the Jotun were harmless in a hot environment. They assumed that the heat was weakening them. In truth they were even more resistant to heat then to cold. What put them on a disadvantage was that there wasn't enough water in the environment to form weapons with.

With these thoughts in mind, Loki thought it was time he tried out releasing the heat from his body. Slowly his temperature dropped. He was feeling cold and lethargy spread though him. His heart beat slowed down. He could hold his breath for a pretty long time, but he wasn't stupid. He cast a spell on himself that would warm him up forcefully if he was in any real danger.

His eyes moved shut, his movements became sluggishly. He was cold, but it was almost comfortably so. Hm... Time to play another little prank on Thor.