Loki felt his heart slam violently against his ribcage, beating rapidly almost as if it wanted to burst through his bones and tear his insides apart. His breath was quick to catch up with the actions of his beating heart and quickened so that he was inhaling faster than exhaling. Fear paralyzed him for a split second as Thor's form came in view but he swallowed it all down his throat like a big chunk of meat that wasn't chewed properly.

To protect his pride he slipped on the mask he hadn't worn in a long while. A cool smile fell upon his lips and he narrowed his eyes just enough to look spiteful. He moved over so that he was in front of the dining table and concealed his shaking hands by holding them behind his straight back. Behind him, he felt Tony ushering the teenager to the opposite side. The table would serve as a border between them and the inevitable fight.

The Asgardian blond finally strode in the room, stepping right through the broken glass pane with his hammer out in one hand. Loki blinked, mask slipping for half a second to examine his brot- his...what ever Thor was to him now.

He had expected an angry Thor, one with a haughty gaze and blond hair that would trail way past the nape of his next. He had expected a Thor who'd simply snatch him away from the people who he came to care for. He had expected yelling and a grip around his throat as he struggled for breath.

He did not get any of that.

Thor approached him with a hesitant stride, his shoulders hunched forward, and a strange limp as if he were injured. His ex-brother stopped just a few feet before him and regarded him with a guarded expression. There was no emotion on his face so Loki shifted his gaze to his eyes. He saw exactly what he did not expect there.

Sentiment.

Hurt.

Regret.

Loki took a moment to look Thor over, making sure his own expression held as much confidence as he did not feel. Thor's hair had grown a lot but it was carefully braided back. He had a strange dent in one of his breastplates and what looked like dried blood on his side. Thor looked like he had come out of a battle without changing clothes or fixing himself up. That was strange and the frost giant came to the conclusion that Thor needed him for something. He logically assumed he needed someone to help fight some Asgardian battle. He would refuse.

"Thor," Loki began, making sure his name was said with a snarl. "It is nice of you to make an appearance at last."

"'Thor will have to come and get me himself', isn't that what you said?" Thor responded, his voice strained. He was definitely injured, Loki thought. Good. That meant he could escape.

"I rather be dragged down to hel than to see your face," Loki spat. "It appears Hela did not get the message."

"Greetings man of iron," Thor said tiredly to Tony. He had elected to ignore Loki's last sentence. He turned to Peter. "And greetings Midgardian boy. I do not believe I am acquainted with you?"

"Peter Parker. Also known as the amazing Spiderman who kicks lots of ass after school hours. Sup'?"

Tony rolled his eyes at the spider man's response and took a step forward. "Thor, you're obviously not welcomed here. You should leave."

"We are allies, are we not?" Thor asked, confusion the first emotion to etch itself on his face.

"We were but I kinda want to call it off, Hammer Time." Tony paused. "You dropped Lokes off through my ceiling, he was completely defenseless, you sent in agents who ruined our party, and then five minutes ago you destroyed one whole wall. I don't think you're being very...friendly."

"My apologies, friend Stark." Thor said sheepishly. "How may I ever repay you for the 'bridges I have burned' as you say?"

"By leaving." Loki hissed. "Or dying. Or how about you leave and then find a way to get yourself killed?"

"Loki." Thor said, suddenly looking many many years older.

"What is it that you want, Odinson?!" Loki shouted. "You made yourself very clear that you did not want me! We are no longer associated, you have no business with me."

"No, Loki, it was you who wanted nothing to do with me."

"How so?!" Loki was yelling now. "All I ever wanted was to be appreciated yet you'd leave me unnoticed. All I ever wanted was some warmth from the people who I called family, but you all just left me cold!"

"And how cold have you become now Loki?" Thor said and Loki looked away. "How many times have I said I loved you but you just stabbed me in the back? You pointed out what was wrong right before your trial and I tried my hardest to fix it. But you would never allow me to call you brother-"

"Because you are naught."

"Not by blood, but blood does not matter."

"For someone who claims to love me, your actions do not quite add up." Loki hissed.

"You forced my hand and my anger." Thor dismissed it. A tear rolled down his cheek. "And I am sincerely sorry for what I have done. What I did was wrong and reckless. You could have been killed in that fall, tortured by any Midgardian who recognized you, or worse could have happened to you. I am grateful that you are well cared for."

With that the Asgardian stepped forward until he was within hugging distance of Loki. He dropped his hammer to the ground and brought his large arms up to form a hug...

...and Loki stabbed him with one of his concealed knives. Right in the middle of his chest, Loki pushed the knife in halfway to the hilt. Thor recoiled, stepping away in surprise. Tony decided to pick that moment to screw Loki's wishes of staying out of their cat fight. He grabbed some napkins and ran around the table towards Thor.

"What the fuck, Loki?! He was apologizing!" Tony shot Loki a disappointed look before stopping in front of Thor.

Thor simply pulled the knife out of his chest and took a moment to examine it. He looked distraught, borderline angry, but was doing a good job of keeping it in. Tony gave him the napkins and Thor dabbled them a bit on the wound before crumpling them up. There was not too much blood; regular Midgardian kitchen knives would not severely injure him, but it did kill some of his pride. He should have known better, he told himself. Loki was still a treacherous snake.

With a barely there nod at his ex-brother that said, I'll come back later, Thor backed up to the broken window panes with his hammer back in his hand. With a sorry expression towards Tony, he started waving his hammer and was gone.