Hogun cursed as he stepped backwards from Loki, although he wanted to believe more than anything the words that Loki had uttered were truthful and heartfelt he knew from bitter experience that Loki liked to tease and prank people.

"Don't," he growled backing further away from Loki.

Loki could see the emotional turmoil in Hogun's eyes as he battled with himself against Loki's words and casting caution to the wind although he knew he really should not he impulsively stepped forward and reached forward to grasp a loose fold of Hogun's clothing.

"Tell me."

"Cease your words Silver tongue."

"No."

Hogun lifted his hand towards Loki's lips as if to silence his words but snatched his hand back as he felt the warmth of his lips.

"I'm not afraid of admitting it even if you are." Loki told him.

The pleasure he was experiencing in touching Hogun was driving him mad and even though he thought that Hogun would most likely reacts with disgust Loki found he could not stop himself from taking the reckless chance of kissing him, moulding his body against him as he leaned forward.

Fully expecting Hogun to push him away in disgust at his actions Loki was shocked when Hogun responded by covering his mouth with his and kissing him deeply. Both men for a moment went still as they realised what they were doing absorbing the feeling of their lips on one another and Hogun knew he had to stop what he was doing was wrong but he found himself unable to.

Desperately he thought to himself 'what magic is this, is Loki doing this to cause him embarrassment' and just as he thought that perhaps the prince felt the same for him, but would he pull away laughing in a moment. These thoughts and others whirled around in Hogun's brain as he tried to control himself and pull back but he so did not want to, he wanted to stay like this. His arms wrapped more securely around Loki's body and for a moment they were both lost in their need for one another.

Loki relished the taste of Hogun as he continued to kiss him and wanting more pressed up even more against the warrior opening his mouth to him as he felt Hogun's tongue pressing against his lips and then invade him, drawing him in deeper as the two of them fought for dominance.

Hogun kissed with a hunger that he had never felt before his mouth moving over Loki's in rough luscious strokes, his nerves blazed and he felt Loki moulding himself more against his body, clutching at his clothes wanting more of him. He felt one of Loki's hands wandering down and felt him through the material of his trousers and for one blinding moment he grasped Loki's hand as it encountered the growing bulge of his arousal but it brought clarity to his mind as he cursed and pushed Loki away.

Desperate to get control of his body and emotions he turned away from Loki as he gasped uncontrollably at the raw emotion he had felt coursing through his veins. Loki moved forward as though to grasp him again and he growled at him to stay back with such a force that the other man flinched as in fright.

For a moment there was no sound other than the heavy gasping of both men as they fought to get control once more of themselves. Hogun was the first to speak, his voice heavy with scorn and disgust, more against himself for allowing himself to lose control and believe that Loki could feel anything for him other than his usual scorn and contempt that he seemed to hold for everyone in Asguard except for his parents and brother.

"This will never happen again."

"Why."

"Because I don't feel anything for you other than I am a warrior sworn to protect the royal family, yourself included."

Loki stiffened with indignation and disbelieve at Hogun's words.

"You responded to me not as a warrior but as a lover, I felt it. You are just trying to make me believe you feel nothing."

"I feel no other desire than to perform with honour my duty as a warrior of Asguard."

Loki knew Hogun's words to be a lie but he knew that Hogun would never admit his feelings that his honour would never allow it and as such it made his leaving so much easier, at least now he knew that his foolish crush he had had on the other man would never be reciprocated and he turned away from him as he continued to finish his packing unaware that Hogun had taken his leave of him until he heard the door to his chamber open and then shut with a note of finality to it.

Loki paused in his packing at the sound of the door as it shut and then sat down on the bed as he let go of his tears at Hogun's rejection.

xXx

Odin tread wearily into the chambers he shared with his wife Frigga, the delegation from the Guild of Merchants were a tiresome bunch but he knew he had to deal with them at least once a year, most of the year he was able to leave his dealings with them to the most senior of his advisors but once a year to keep the peace more than anything he dealt with them directly.

His son Loki would soon depart for another realm and he was worried that his younger son was not yet ready for the task that he was being sent to do, he remembered the conversation he had had with his wife the previous night as he had held her in his arms, stroking her long sandy blonde hair as it flowed freely down her shoulders.

Neither of them wanted to send Loki but they both knew that sending Thor their eldest would just cause more problems with the realm in question and that was something their realm could not afford. Besides out of their two sons Loki was the more diplomatic when it came to dealing with people despite the pranks he played on people and despite this he was the best one to be dealing with Laufey.

Odin remembered how he had smiled at the pragmatic tone that his wife had used when she had answered him; his wife was excellent at hiding her emotions, maintaining such a strong façade that few people were aware of how vulnerable she was underneath. Her husband was one of the few people that she ever let see her true emotions and their sons Thor and Loki were amongst those who also had seen her true emotions but they also knew the strength that their mother had despite it.

"We must be strong." Frigga had told him.

Odin had rolled her onto her back and had stared lovingly into her eyes as he had stroked her cheek with his fingertip.

"Yes but when it is our sons it is not always easy to be strong my love."

He had kissed away the few tears that had escaped her eyes as she thought of their youngest travelling to Jotunhiem and dealing with Laufey, he understood the fears she had.

xXx

When it came time for Loki to leave finally for his first ever diplomatic mission all the family and Lady Sif with two of the warriors three gathered to at the bifrost to wish him well in his endeavours but Odin noticed that Hogun was missing and was puzzled by this.

Fandral was accompanying Loki on the trip as his personal bodyguard and the king would have thought that Hogun at least would be there to say farewell to his fellow warrior.

"Act honourably and come back to Asguard safely after your mission Loki, my son."

Odin said somewhat gruffly as he formally said goodbye to his youngest. Frigga hugged her son tightly as he was about to take his first steps away from home on official business for his king.

"Goodbye Mother, I will return and bring much glory to Asguard."

Frigga let her son go but not without a muffled sob that only he heard. He turned to where his brother stood waiting impassively it seemed while his mother said her goodbyes to Loki but the moment she had let his younger brother go he had grabbed Loki in a massive bear hug almost crushing the smaller man's ribs as he hugged him good bye.

"Come back safely brother."

Thor turned to his friend Fandral after he released his brother, hugging the warrior more manly than he had Loki.

"Try and behave with chivalry while amongst the Jotnar, we don't want you flirting with any of their females."

"I would have to find one first Thor and I am not insane enough to try and make out with a Frost Giantess."

"Not if you don't want to lose your manhood to frostbite you won't," Thor laughed at his friend and fellow warrior.

After all the farewells had been said, Heimdall opened the bifrost to the frozen Jotunhiem realm. Sending both Prince Loki and his guard Fandral on their way to a destination were an unknown welcome awaited them.

xXx

Back at the palace unseen from a balcony Hogun watched as a flare that signified that the bifrost was opened lit up the sky. He touched his fingers to his lips and thought back to moment when he allowed himself to be fooled by Prince Loki's words and behaviour into believing that the young man felt the same for him that he felt for Loki. He was such a fool he knew this, to think that Loki would feel the same way but for a moment just a mad moment he had hoped he might.

The night sky turned dark once more as the flare from the bifrost faded and with it some of the feelings he had been foolish to harbour for the God of Mischief.

A/N: Well is it foolish for Hogun to feeling the way he is for Loki or is he being foolish thinking that nothing could ever happen between them. We will have to wait and see.