Note: I assume you all guessed that English is my second language by now. (If you didn't, my ego will be very pleased to hear indeed.) Feel free to point out any mistakes, I'm always happy to improve :)

Gaining Ground

There was a lot to think about.

For one thing, Loki was more than aware of being attractive and proceeded to use it in his advantage whenever he could; only that was with people he never met before. Hearing it from Thor was different.

He loved Thor, admired and adored him. He had for his whole life. But he used to believe it was simply brotherly. There were little moments, when he doubted; sudden strikes of clarity when he yearned for more. But those were frail and passed quickly, forgotten or suppressed as illogical. Needing Thor and wanting him were two separate things, but he found himself crossing the line. Maybe it was the way Thor carried himself, the intoxicating confidence and strength. Maybe it was the way he smiled, or the way he held Loki. It all made Loki want to get lost in him with no return.

His thoughts ran to Odin and Frigga. What would they think if they found out that their sons see each other in a way that siblings shouldn't? He wasn't sure about Frigga, but Odin wouldn't like it. It would most certainly ruin all of his plans.

Maybe that was another reason why Loki was so tempted to do it.

On the other hand, crossing Odin meant problems. He had to be ready for that, yet here he stood, still undecided how to entirely free himself from Odin's grasp. Odin was behind their presence here. Loki had no right to feel defiant if he was still acting as a puppet.

He needed to be sure. He couldn't just give himself up to senseless lust and create more problems with it than he could ever solve. Was there a way to figure out if the trouble would be worth it? He didn't know.

Lust felt different, though, he knew as much. This was something deeper. This was the two of them destined to be everything to each other. He doubted there was a word for that.

Thor was trying to find the source of the warm feeling that seized his chest. His eyes found Loki. He was magnificent. For a while Thor simply watched him as they walked. Then Loki noticed him staring, turned to him and smiled. It wasn't a smirk or a wicked grin. It was a gentle, almost shy smile.

And Thor realized he loved it. The gentleness and elegance. The sweetness and kindness. He never saw it in Loki before, because Loki wouldn't let it show, but it resurfaced when he was hurt and couldn't hide anymore. His icy mask slipped and Thor realized he fell in love with what he found underneath. A vulnerable soul.

Maybe it wasn't that strange, when he thought about it. He was raised as a warrior and every warrior was meant to protect the weak and save the damsel in distress.

He had to smirk to himself. Was he really thinking about Loki as a damsel now?

Then his smirk froze. He remembered that some of the servants mocked Loki by calling him "Lady Loki" behind his back and how Loki hated it. Thor didn't even know who and why came up with it, but the servants always seemed to have a lot to say about Loki. He never really got it before. It was like calling Hogun cheerful – it made no sense. Now though, as he looked at Loki, he realized that there might have been more to it. Loki actually was very feminine, with his attention to detail, the way he preferred to tread carefully during their adventures and his passive way of handling combat. Plus, warriors didn't cry – or so everyone in Asgard seemed to think. That all considered, Loki obviously always took it for what it was made into: an insult.

And as this understanding hit him, it all seemed to fell together. He loved this part of Loki, he was sure of that now. And he had every intention of showing Loki that there was never any need of being insulted by it. This soft and vulnerable part of him deserved appreciation and Thor's heart soared at the prospect that he will be the one to provide it.

That was, of course, if Loki was going to let him. It was the same story over and over again. All Thor ever wanted was to help, but Loki shut him out and in the end made him feel like he's doing something against his younger brother's will. And he moved away before when Thor almost kissed him. Maybe he didn't even feel the same way? They were still brothers after all, even though Thor found himself hoping for more.

Determination filled him. It didn't matter whether Loki yearned for him the way he did for Loki. He was still going to do everything for him, like he was always ready to. Any fears of failure were just dark shadows at the back of his mind. Thor wasn't the one to let doubts slow him down.

They walked for a few more hours. The sun was shining majestically up on the sky, which was clear and pure like a blue-grey ocean. The two planets levitated peacefully in the cyan void.

Thor studied the map, but didn't say anything and Loki didn't ask. There was light shimmering though the trees ahead and eventually the forest ended, leaving them at the beginning of a meadow. It was filled with flowers. Far ahead of them the forest returned, circling the whole place. And as the sky above them cleared, they could see high mountains in the distance, alit with the sun from one side and drowning in shadow on the other.

"The temple is somewhere in those mountains," said Thor at last, with one last glance at the map. It was still going to be a few days before they get there.

"It's going to be quite a walk."

"Well, if it starts feeling too long I can always just fly and carry you." Thor's eyes sparkled as he said it.

"You wouldn't dare," laughed Loki, without really thinking about it.

Thor's face immediately fell. Of course he wouldn't accept. Being handled gently was an insult to Loki. Thor wasn't sure how to cross this rift.

Loki noticed the pitiful look in Thor's eyes and realized that he slipped back into the old act of independence. If he was going to live with the knowledge that he's weak and Thor is his guardian, then he should just as well get used to being carried like a lady. It was happening. He was going to have to admit that he was nothing without Thor.

He wasn't ready. "I can walk just fine on my own," he snarled.

"I didn't mean to offend you," said Thor quickly. "It was just an idea. Nothing degrading about it."

"Of course," answered Loki icily. It could hardly be degrading when Thor already knew that Loki was weak and accepted it as a fact. Only a liar was insulted by reality.

They walked buried up to their waists in grass. The meadow seemed to be glowing with orange light in the rays of the sun. The flowers had their blossoms attentively turned towards it.

Thor was desperately searching for a way to change the topic and noticed one particular flower with dark blue petals. He plucked one blossom and held it to the side of his face (because it wouldn't hold still in his hair), turning to Loki.

"Remember Vanne? With her flowers?"

Loki smirked when he recalled her, though it was more of a bittersweet memory, considering all his recent thoughts. Vanne was a diplomatic envoy of the Light Elves of Alfheim. A very beautiful and charming young lady, with dark blue eyes and long bronze hair that always had a flower in it. A few decades ago she visited Asgard, despite it already being in an alliance with the elves for a few centuries with no need of any new diplomatic contact. She claimed she hoped to come to know better their allies, because she had always admired Asgardian culture.

"It wasn't the flowers what was memorable about her," he said.

What she really came to do was improve Alfheim's social standing in the Nine Realms. And her plan on doing that consisted of seducing the future King.

"Oh, you weren't there when she gave me a lecture about all the flowers in Alfheim. I'd never believe someone could have so much to say about plants."

Loki laughed. He didn't know about that and it surprised him. At the time, Vanne seemed to be the perfect companion. She was merry and kind, excited by almost anything and making the simplest things appear interesting. And Thor definitely didn't seem to mind her company.

"She was everywhere," continued Thor in amused tone. "I couldn't even move without stumbling over her."

At first she just seemed friendly, but Loki soon enough figured out what her real intention was. She made sure to never send him away as long as it was obvious that Thor liked him present, but whenever she could drag Thor out to a place where they would be alone, she did.

"And yet she always had a perfect excuse to be exactly where she was," said Loki.

Perhaps he wasn't simply annoyed back then as he stubbornly kept telling himself. Maybe what he did was selfish. But she was forcing her way to places she had no right to.

Then again, who ever said that he had the right?

"Yeah, I would tell her to let me focus on my battle training and the next moment, she would be there again, cheering me on," agreed Thor. When question why she didn't leave as she was told, she would promptly claim that there will never be calm in battle to let Thor focus, so a little distraction adds to the efficiency of the training.

"And then she would trip over her own feet and nearly fall on your sword," added Loki innocently.

Loki was sure he never pulled as many pranks on a single person; not that he was counting. Vanne's life was turned into madness. Wherever she went, things went wrong. And no matter how many quizzical looks Thor gave her, she always acted as a true lady, hiding her feelings and smiling pleasantly. She was brave and there seemed to be no way she would ever give up her goal over simple accidents.

"Yeah, with things like that, it's almost weird we didn't notice anything wrong with her sooner."

Eventually Loki lost his patience with her. He created a complex illusion and let her believe that Thor finally warmed up to her. She found herself embracing and kissing a column in the feasting chamber which she believed to be her future husband. After that she was rather crudely sent back to Alfheim. Everyone agreed that she was mad and for the next few years the relationship between Asgard and Alfheim suffered, as both sides were insulted by the envoy's behavior.

"You should be more careful about who you spend your time with," half-joked Loki.

That was the last time Loki was allowed to stay in Asgard whenever diplomats from different realms were present. Not that anyone ever said it out loud. He and Thor simply always found themselves on a convenient adventure whenever there was an important meeting.

Thor smiled at him. "Oh, I think I'm good. I'm with you."

The self-loathing part of Loki insisted that he doesn't make for excellent company either, but it was silenced by the warm feeling the words gave him. The frustration that made him prank Vanne in the first place told him that this is the correct answer Thor was meant to give all along.

He smiled back gratefully, hiding any other feelings.

Thor threw the flower away, grinning. "Do you think she's still somewhere out there making out with columns?"

"Oh, by now she's done with making out. She probably crowned the column and calls herself a Queen."

"The worst part is that it sounds pretty plausible," said Thor with a crooked smile. "If I'm going to be King, the only person I want by my side is you."

Such sincerity made lying hard. Loki tried to come up with something to say, but he couldn't lull the ache somewhere in his chest. Maybe he should finally share at least a shred of the truth.

"But I wouldn't be there," he said, staring into distance. "That's not how it was planned."

"What?" Thor's gaze swiftly turned serious, his expression somewhere between confusion, worry and fear. His thoughts scattered like frightened birds. Why wouldn't Loki be with him? Did he not want to? What plans was he talking about? Who and when made them?

And even before Loki answered, Thor knew it had something to do with that day.

"I would be King of our dying enemies. Odin kindly told me so, before denying it and expressing his love for me," the last words were spoken with clear disgust.

On that day, Thor listened behind the door to the vault chamber, which he happened on by a mere chance. He was curious about what were Odin and Loki talking about, but soon his curiosity was rightfully punished. He was shocked to hear Odin describe what happened after the battle in Jotunheim. His heart breaking, he listened on as Loki demanded a purpose and Odin admitted that he wished to bring peace to the realms. Odin tried to reassure Loki that he's still his son, but when Loki refused to accept it... There's been a lot of shouting about arrogance and trickery.

Loki ran out of the vault in tears. When he realized Thor had every intention of following him and attempting to calm him down, he teleported away. Thor spent rest of the day searching for him and when he finally found him, Loki simply ignored him, as if he wasn't there. Thor tried to talk to him, touch him, hold him, but Loki was like a statue. The tears that ran down his face and wouldn't stop were the only thing moving, his eyes empty and his expression cold. Nobody and nothing could take away his misery.

"I... guess I never understood that part. Father said that you would be King?"

Loki gave him a thoughtful look. "Let me put it this way. Odin told me that he found me as a baby all alone and abandoned. He took pity on me and decided to take me as his own. And then he told me that I'm Laufey's son." He paused. "See the contradiction?"

Thor shook his head.

"It's that when you find an abandoned baby you don't know the name of its father unless you really care and decide to go into all the trouble of finding out. If I was thrown out to die, do you think they would write me down in the chronicles of the royal blood line? No, of course not. They would try to keep quiet about me. That means it wasn't as easy as reading a book for Odin to know. How does he know then?"

It seemed that nothing could stop Loki from thinking over details. If this were about anything else, Thor would be impressed.

"It opens up the possibility that he lied about how he found me too, you know. Maybe he stole me right from my mother's breast, asking her about my father before killing her. Maybe he searched for me, kidnapped me-"

Thor felt he needed to object. This was their – or his – father, after all. Loki couldn't actually believe that, could he? He was only saying things like this, because he was still angry at Odin.

"Why would he do that?" he demanded.

"Because he needed a blood heir to the Jotun throne," answered Loki readily.

It would be short-sighted to not expect Loki to have an answer. Thor didn't lose a beat in questioning it. "What good would that do him? He still raised you as his own."

Loki shot him a look. "Do you know how Frost Giants pass down the crown?"

Thor was at a loss. The mockery in Loki's eyes told him that this was something he should know, so it was probably some part of the lessons they received as children, but he couldn't recall ever hearing about it.

"As long as there is at least one royal heir alive, they will follow him as their King," explained Loki. "The thing we were taught, but which you obviously forgot, is that they can feel their own blood, even under illusions. They also recognize the blood line, in this case the royal one. And their codex makes them perfectly obedient to their ruler."

"Wait, doesn't that mean that they should have recognized you when we went to Jotunheim?" asked Thor, slightly startled at the prospect.

"They did."

"But they fought you like the rest of us..." Thor's imagination came up with a picture of all the Frost Giants bowling respectfully at the sight of his younger brother.

"I wasn't their King at the time. Members of the royal family are nothing if they aren't the King. It would be impossible for them to cast me out if it was any different."

Thor stayed silent for a while. He didn't like the picture Loki was painting for him with each word.

The silence was tearing at Loki's nerves though he did his best to hide it. He dreaded this moment for so long. He finally gathered the courage to ask Thor to choose between him and the Allfather. He had no idea what he would do if Thor rejected him. He quickly decided to fill the gap with more words.

"Odin used to tell us that we were both born to be kings. It seemed to me that he's just trying to cheer me up, because it was obvious that you were the heir of Asgard. But of all things, it seems he was telling the truth about that. I would be his puppet, his hand to control the Frost Giants with. I would trust him and respect him, because he would raise me to be meek and obedient. When one has as much time as Odin has, he finds out he can shape the universe around him."

"Father said that any plans he had for you don't matter anymore, didn't he? He wouldn't do it," said Thor. He didn't want to think about this. He hated picking sides between two members of his family. Even after everything Loki said, he couldn't believe that his father would ever be like that.

"I don't see why not. He wouldn't let the whole point of my existence pass because of parental affection. I imagine his original plan was that he would find an easy way to get rid of all the trueborn sons of Laufey and get me to Jotunheim. He probably wouldn't even talk to me about it and he definitely wouldn't let me know that it's my natural state. I would put on an illusion and think that it worked, while in reality they would see me for who I truly was, but either way I would become their King."

Thor was frowning, staring blindly ahead as he walked.

"I can't say I know exactly what he was thinking, but on the day when I discovered the truth, I think he changed his plans," continued Loki. "Maybe he realized that I'm not as obedient as he wished me to be. He denied his plan and claimed he loved me so I would wish to stay in the dark he was keeping me in." Loki hesitated for a moment, but he already confessed so much, that one little thing couldn't possibly change anything. "But that wasn't going to work, so... I don't know what his plans are now. I don't believe he wouldn't use me in some way. I don't want to be the King of Frost Giants, but from his point of view, my existence would be wasted anywhere else. So, in a way, I'm scared of him."

Thor looked up at the last words, catching Loki's gaze. For that one single moment it seemed clear, as his protectiveness silenced all other emotions. It didn't matter if Thor himself believed it. This whole new context to what exactly Loki discovered on that day made it ever more terrifying; even if it were all delusions Loki tortured himself with.

"You don't have to be. I'll protect you," he said comfortingly. He doubted father would ever do anything of what Loki claimed, but that wasn't a reason to not try and make Loki feel better.

Loki's sad smile told him that he doesn't believe those words.

Loki didn't even know what he should expect from Odin, so how could any vow of protection change anything? Was Odin going to make him perfectly obedient and then sit him upon the hated throne? If so, how was he going to do it? Would there be a way of finding out about it? Or would Loki simply one day feel the need to crown himself a lost King and do whatever it was the whisper in his ear said? And then, there was also the possibility that Odin will eventually realize that all his plans were in vain, because there wasn't a way of forcing Loki to do what he wanted from him. You couldn't force someone on a throne and then expect them to rule in your favor. That would make him useless and somehow Loki had the feeling that it didn't mean Odin would let him live his life as he pleased, enjoying the high status the adoption gave him without giving anything back. And aside from all that, he had to consider that there could always be others aside from Odin, who would see his blood as useful. What would he do if Frigga begged him on her knees to become the King of Frost Giants and bring peace to the realms?

"You would have to destroy Jotunheim to do that," he answered, his voice hollow. Was there such a thing as a right answer at this point? Was there a happy ending if he whole-heartedly despised the one thing he was ever meant to be? To be trapped in Jotunheim while Thor ruled alone in Asgard, when everything they ever wanted was to stay together?

Thor sighed, looking away. He believed Odin, almost just as much as Loki suspected him, so there really seemed to be no point in further arguing. Besides, he really hated seeing Loki so drained and depressed. There's been enough thinking for one day. He decided he will make Loki smile instead.

"There's actually one thing that I always wondered about Frost Giants," he said at length and waited for his younger brother to take the bait.

Loki hesitated before answering. The way Thor spoke suggested a joke and he wasn't sure if he was in mood for those. But he reluctantly had to admit that there would be no use in pushing the matter. If Thor wasn't persuaded yet, Loki could try again later. Or, if he was never persuaded, he would give up; losing the only ally he ever hoped to have. Continuing the argument would only serve to lose him right here and now.

"What is that?"

Thor's eyes shone with mischief. "Do you think they are ticklish?"

Loki didn't even have time to process the question, before Thor jumped towards him and tickled his exposed neck. Loki gave a startled squeal of laugher. His rational mind immediately told him to feel ashamed and he cut it short as soon as he could. But Thor wasn't going to give him a chance to catch his breath. His fingers moved to Loki's armpits, brushing him slightly and, like a miracle, creating a helpless smile on his face. All sensible thoughts were moved aside as Loki couldn't hold back the laugher. He nearly collapsed in Thor's arms, as his body instinctively squirmed to get away from the touch.

When Thor finally let him go, he stumbled a few steps back and gasped for air. Thor watched him with a triumphant smile on his face.

Loki returned the smile, playful, careless joy taking over him. Thor always knew how to raise his spirits. Getting away from all the problems in Asgard was his primary reason for actually being here, after all. There will be enough time for glooming later. Right now, he could be happy.

"This means war!" he called, before launching himself onto his older brother. Thor braced himself to catch him, but the figure he believed to be his brother shattered when he touched it. Loki appeared behind him, his fingers slipping under Thor's arms and returning the tickling. Thor's composure broke and he didn't hold back the laughter, the meadow echoing with his voice.

Thor easily escaped his grasp because Loki had no means of holding him. He stopped a few steps away and turned back to look at him. His eyes shining, never ceasing to smile, he didn't even need to speak for Loki to understand the silent challenge.

Loki shook his head over such childish behavior, but then gave chase nonetheless.

They ran over the meadow, making their way through the fresh green grass that glittered like gold and the colorful flowers were like jewels scattered among it. The sky was pink and orange now, as the sun closed to the west side. The world around them was shining and beautiful and they felt merry and free.

Thor was naturally faster than Loki, his body athletic and strong. Loki didn't bother to actually try and catch him. After a short while, he reached for his magic and, with the next step he took, jumped though a wormhole in space.

He teleported right in front of Thor, who didn't have enough time to slow down. They crashed into each other and fell into the grass. They were both laughing even as they gasped for air. Thor ended up at the top of Loki. For a moment his thoughts raced in the wrong direction, before he stopped them. Loki didn't feel the same way, he reminded himself, and pushed himself off of his younger brother. They stayed lying next to each other in the soft grass.

"Got you," Loki said when he could finally speak. Silly as it was, he couldn't wipe a smile off his face.

"I should have expected you would teleport, you cheater," said Thor, his warm expression indication he didn't mean it as an offence.

"Teleportation isn't cheating. You could teleport too, if you wanted," argued Loki.

"I don't know how."

"That's your problem. But you still could, because it's totally allowed." Loki's winning grin made Thor laugh again.

Then Loki remembered something, the grin still in place. "I don't think Frost Giants are ticklish, but you can always try. The next time we're in Jotunheim, you should test it."

"That's an ingenious battle strategy."

"Clearly, your air-headedness is a contagious disease."

"You mean my incredibly brilliant mind."

They were grinning at each other, when Thor suddenly hissed in pain and lifted a hand to touch the right side of his neck. Loki watched him curiously.

Thor sat up and Loki followed suit. There wouldn't be any point in asking what was going on, because he doubted it could be anything serious.

Then Thor finally withdrew his hand away from his neck. He was holding a small silvery blue snake between his fingers. It was short and slim and trying with all its might to twist free. Two needle-sharp teeth could be seen in its opened mouth, as it hissed angrily.

Loki hated when he drew a complete blank on knowledge like an inattentive student. (Though this wasn't really about him not paying attention during his lessons but the lack of literature on the subject.) He knew for a fact that he didn't know anything about this species of snake and it immediately made him feel unsecure.

"Pest," murmured Thor angrily and then simply threw it away. It was so tiny that they lost sight of it before it even landed.

Loki couldn't stop his thoughts from running in the obvious direction. Was the snake poisonous? Could it affect Thor in any way?

Thor's hand returned to his throat. He had a bite mark there, left by the snake's teeth and one drop of blood was leaking from it, but his natural regeneration powers were already working on sealing the wound. Before his finger even touched it, there was nothing but perfect skin once again.

That looked like everything was alright, but Loki stayed cautious. Thor absent-mindedly rubbed the healed skin and turned to him, smiling again. "That kind of hurt. Maybe we should start moving again."

Loki obliged without any complaint. He definitely had no desire of getting bitten and it wouldn't help the situation if Thor got bitten more than once. They had no way of knowing how many snakes could be at one place at the same time, but he knew for sure that they will be safer from them once they leave the grassland.

Then Thor tried to stand up and stumbled, falling back on the ground.

Loki's blood seemed to have halted in his veins.

He tried to lie to himself that it was some sort of harmless side effect of getting bitten. It didn't necessarily have to mean anything serious. But he knew that wasn't the truth. Only poison could have any sort of effect at all, since bites healed immediately. A lesser creature – say an animal – could get the wound infected and suffer dizziness even after getting bitten by a non-venomous snake, but this didn't apply in their case.

Thor looked up. He recognized Loki though the picture was blurry. The world swayed around him, colorful dots filling his vision. "I'm fine," he said, his tongue clumsy and heavy. His head was thumping with strange dull pain that made him want to shut his eyes tightly until it goes away. His thoughts seemed to have fallen asleep, so he wasn't even at first able to make the obvious connection as to what was happening.

Loki didn't waste any time in reaching for his healing magic and using it on Thor. He felt Thor's energy opening up to him and accepting what he was giving, but didn't register it doing anything. Thor's own body considered itself to be completely healthy.

He tried searching Thor's power flows, but poison didn't work like disruptive spell despite every comparison he ever made. There was nothing to fix. He felt like screaming in frustration when he pulled back.

There was nothing he could do. He couldn't think of any spell that could help. He was confided to stand uselessly around and watch. Only one thing he knew for sure: either the body would heal itself soon or not at all. More time would only allow the poison to spread further.

"I should have known," he said as he crunched down to be on the same level with sitting Thor. "I would never let us lie in grass if I had known such things live here! But oh, how could I, when you simply had to conquer Muspelheim!" His voice was rising uncontrollably. It felt wrong to try and blame Thor for this. His eyes were filling with tears and he hated it so, so much. He was just a crying child, a lost sad little girl. Always running, always crying. Not even brave enough to admit that that's what he is. How could he ever save Thor, who was possibly dying right in front of him, when he was so useless it hurt?

Thor wanted to fall asleep. His eyes were closing all on their own. Surely the terrible headache would go away if he just slept for a while. His flickering consciousness didn't allow him much space for pondering, so even though he was aware of Loki's voice, the words made no sense to him.

"You wouldn't dare do this to me!" Loki was shouting in Thor's face and part of him felt horrible for it, but he wanted Thor to acknowledge him, to react, to do something other than sit there, looking like he will collapse any second and loose consciousness if he hadn't already. "You can't leave me! I could never live without you!"

And even as the desperate words crossed his lips, he knew they were true. He always tried to hide it, lied to himself so long and so profoundly, because this wasn't how he wanted it to be. He believed it would limit him, if he acknowledged that he can't live on his own. He would either live with whoever he depended upon or not at all and such a thought made him feel weak and he hated it. But now he understood. This wasn't about how he imagined it at all. He was part of Thor and he loved being part of Thor. He could view it as a limitation, being unable to live alone, but he didn't want to live alone. It wasn't about being too weak to survive. He simply didn't care for his own life as much as for Thor. If Thor died, there would be no reason for him to live.

He was just Odin's broken toy. If Thor died, perhaps then he should embrace his true form and exile himself to Jotunheim...

And as his thoughts ran to his Jotun blood, he suddenly remembered power that he never studied and never tried before in his life. It lay forgotten under all knowledge and spells he learned consciously, but he realized it must be there.

Thor's breathing was rapid and shallow, as if he was going to choke. Loki's fingers trembled when he reached out and touched Thor's neck in place where he was bitten. There was no time for hesitation. He didn't know if it won't make the situation worse, but there was hardly anything to loose at this point. He had to at least try it.

He summoned his Frost Giant ability to control ice. The illusion he created on his hand immediately wavered as it got damaged by the severe coldness, so his palm turned dark blue. He paid it no heed. He pierced Thor's skin and carefully directed the ice in. Thor screamed in pain. Anything touched by the magic was dying and Loki guided it through his veins, freezing his blood.

Loki extended his perception of magical energy and sensed his way though Thor's circulatory system. Thor's screams were tearing at his ears and heart, but he couldn't let that stop him. He held Thor in place, even as the weakened warrior clumsily tried to move away. He was aware of how Thor's regeneration powers awakened once they registered damage in the body and started replacing the freezing, dying cells with new ones, cleaning the blood in the process. It was working.

Inch by inch Loki destroyed everything in Thor's blood system including the venom and Thor's healing powers fixed everything Thor needed just a second later, following Loki's progress step by step.

When he was done, Loki felt drained as if he just performed the most complex spell in the universe. He sat down in the grass, too tired to stand or crouch any longer and looked at Thor.

His older brother slowly shook his head and then looked up at him with confusion. He looked as if nothing ever happened to him, and the sight made Loki laugh hysterically as relief swept over him and tears ran down his face.

"Are you... alright?" asked Thor reluctantly. His memory was a mess; he didn't know what really happened and what was just a dream. He woke up to a world of pain. When the pain finally burned away, he was left feeling unexpectedly good. And then there was Loki, sitting right in front of him and by any means not alright.

"You're alive," said Loki as if it explained everything. Even with tears on his cheeks and slightly out of breath, he somehow managed to smile mischievously. And then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he leaned forward and kissed Thor, in one elegant motion.

Thor's mind drew a complete blank, except for a fleeting thought that he might have died and gone to paradise. Only Valhalla didn't look anything like this. And then, even as his attention focused on Loki's pressing lips, somewhere at the back of his mind Loki's words clicked together with his memories. This was real and he just survived a brush with death.

Loki withdrew, breaking the touch and smiled the soft, almost shy smile that Thor loved.

"Get up," said Loki. Just because he managed to solve one disaster he wasn't going to ignore all caution and stay in the grass. Thor listened, a blissful smile on his face.

Once they were standing, leaving the awkward sitting positions, Loki laid his arms on Thor's shoulders and pulled him in again. He carefully drew Thor's lips open and then slipped in his tongue, too curious to stay put. It didn't take Thor long to return the gesture. He pulled Loki even closer, holding him by his hips and he kissed with such passion that Loki thought he would go mad from the sensation.

They stood there, together, in the rays of the setting sun. For they first time in centuries they were both perfectly happy, their deepest wishes coming true, finding exactly what they were searching for in each other. In that moment, everything was perfect.

When they finally parted, both slightly out of breath, the sun just slipped behind the horizon and the sky darkened. They were reluctant to move; even though they were both aware they still had a distance to travel.

Thor sighed and said: "And here I thought I would be the first to kiss you."

Loki's eyebrows rose. "You are far from the first person to kiss me."

"I didn't want to know that," complained Thor, though he never stopped smiling. "That's not what I meant. I wanted to make our first kiss special for you. What I get now is the third one..."

Loki laughed and quickly kissed Thor, lips on lips.

"Fourth one," corrected Thor, faking frustrated tone.

"Oh good, you can count to four," remarked Loki playfully.

Then Thor kissed him and somehow it was even better than before. And Loki realized that he found a clear answer to one of his earlier doubts. Any problems caused by this would be definitely worth it. With Thor so close, Loki felt ready to overcome just about anything.

The rational part of his mind desperately tried to remind him that he was only drunk on emotions, but it was completely ignored. Just for the moment, there were no problems to worry about.

Note: I know next to nothing about snake bites. Thor and Loki are canonicaly immune to poisons anyway. So I'm breaking rules of both, the actual universe and the fictional one as well. Meh. I'm also shipping gods, so who cares?