Sprawled across the bed was a cape hand-woven from the finest scarlet silk in all of Asgard (or any of the nine realms), stretched straight out without a single crease. Shimmering in the light overhead, the fabric crinkled as it yielded to the impossible weight of the hammer Mjolnir, carefully placed by there by Thor himself, before smoothing out again when he removed the weapon. There was no particular point to this exercise other than to relieve some of the boredom that was consuming him as the others sorted themselves out, and for the moment, it was mildly successful.
"Why am I not surprised to see you this way? Is it impossible to ask for some dignity?" The low murmur of Loki's voice caused the blonde to look up from his crouching position next to the bed, the look of disgust on his face making it perfectly clear that he refused to address Thor as the rightful heir to the throne.
A wide smile spread over Thor's face, lighting it as it had not been lit since his banishment, his cheerful demeanor oblivious to the cloud surrounding his younger kinsmen, all traces of the poison between them lifted for one fateful second, "Brother!"
Loki twisted away, recoiling as if the word burned him, "So this is what the heir of Asgard does while the others investigate that woman? He toils around in his chambers like a dumbfounded child making play that he's a servant girl? And you say that the throne would suit me ill?"
"Loki." Thor chided him, taking them both back to a time long before this, when things were simple and they were brothers without a care between them (or so Thor thought and Loki wished).
Bitterly the brunette looked away, "I will not be bullied by you."
Seeing the defiance in his brother, the squared set of his shoulders (the aged-gold shoulder pads only serving to pronounce it), the slight trembling of his petite (by comparison) frame, the God of Thunder lowered his head, but did not look away from his brother's emerald eyes, "What have I done to push you so far passed the point of redemption? Is there no salvation to be found on your dark horizon? We were brothers once, can't you recall the times we've shared? You might have turned your back to me in this fortress of ice you built for yourself, but know this: You will always be my brother."
Having enough of his brother's sentimental babbling, Loki stepped back so that he was hovering in the doorway, hands griping the wood with about half of their remaining strength (Odin having exponentially decreased the trickster's powers), "How touching. Was that supposed to bring me to my knees in tears of penitence? Those pretty words spouted to ease your conscience over what you yourself have done to me?" He laughed ruefully, "No, I won't be duped into erasing a past that spares only the tormentor. Once upon a time, I might have fallen for this speech, but I know what truly lies behind your words: A sense of false comfort, and the hope that all will be well once I submit myself to a sorry that you deserve no more than you deserved the throne!"
"..." Had Loki remained long enough for a reply, Thor would have had nothing to say to him. It wasn't that his words were true in the slightest, but for him to actually hear what his brother had thought of him? It was too much, even for a god...
Short and bittersweet (ok, maybe more bitter than sweet)... Poor Thor, having to hear that, and poor Loki! God, if there was space enough for all my mourning for him... It's just not right that he has to be the one to suffer! But I suppose that this isn't the place to erect that monument, is it? Reviews are always lovely, thank you!