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[st_ratagem]

It had been a while since the brothers had spent time together; it was possible that Loki had been avoiding Thor somewhat since their message conversation about his... involvement with Valkyrie. Further conversation was something he both did and didn’t want to have, which was a good sign of an unintended fight ab It to happen. But things had been quiet enough for long enough that it didn’t seem like something worth worrying about.

So Loki sent a quick message to Thor, inviting him up to see the fish tank and mostly-Valkyrie’s collection of goldfish swimming around inside it.

Comments

[st_ormbreaker]

"She is strong and clever and beautiful," Thor says, agreeably. "I can see why you would fall for her."

[st_ratagem]

“Also good with knives.” So good with knives, as well as the other little violences they both enjoyed. “But yes, thank you for rubbing it in.” He shook his head. “You realize this is my nightmare, don’t you?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"You're the only one I know who take something like falling in love and call it a bad thing." Thor smiles, warmly, genuinely. "Being in love is a great thing. Even when it's really painful."

[st_ratagem]

"I have no doubt that's true for you." He'd done it often enough, certainly. There had to be something in it, for Thor. "But for me it's nothing but pain, not least because I knew better than to ever do this to myself. All I can do is wait for things to end, which of course they will, probably sooner than later. And then the real suffering begins."

[st_ormbreaker]

"When I was with Jane, I had that fear from time-to-time," Thor admits. "When we broke up, it was very painful. Still is, sometimes." That much was true; even though they had been broken up for some time now and was with someone else, he'd think of Jane and feel a sharp tinge of pain. "But I wouldn't change it. I don't regret being with her, even if things didn't end the way I wanted them to."

[st_ratagem]

“That’s not the same. For one, there was actually a ‘with’.” It seemed obvious. “Which is not among my options and never has been. The Valkyrie is not interested in me beyond what currently exists.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"How do you know that when you haven't asked her?"

[st_ratagem]

“Unless I’ve missed something, I remain me.” Loki spread hs hands, “That’s how I know. Also, she’s mentioned on one occasion at least that she doesn’t need to be any more involved in order to fulfill her duties.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor pats Loki's shoulder with remarkably more restraint than he might usually. "Yes, yes, I know. You don't believe anyone is capable of loving you."

[st_ratagem]

“With two exceptions: you and Mother.” And of course, Frigga was dead, which left only Thor. “It’s not a deficiency in others, mind. It’s a lack in me. I don’t have the... whatever it is.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Personally, I think you have plenty there," he says, gesturing with the still unused-mirror. He leaves it at that. Obviously, Loki's not going to listen to it, so Thor isn't going to bother convincing him. "Now let me see what you've done to my hair."

Thor lifts the mirror, and takes a look; his expression, at first is neutral, as he runs his hand through the hair on the side that isn't clipped back. Slowly, a smile begins to form on his lips.

[st_ratagem]

“Not terrible, I take it?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"No," Thor says, grinning. "It looks great. Not long enough, but there isn't much either of us can do about that right now." He lowers the mirror and looks over at Loki.

"Thank you."

[st_ratagem]

“Of course. I told you months ago I’d trim your hair when it was needed, and now I have.” It would be needed again, at some point, but Loki though his brother was unlikely to argue much, now. “You should be able to do the little braid in the clip yourself if you like, but the clip is the important bit.” It would keep hair out of his face.

[st_ormbreaker]

"You're going to do it again, right?"

[st_ratagem]

“Yes, whenever it needs to be done. If you like, now that you know I won’t ruin your head.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"For the record, I didn't think you'd ruin my head," he says. "Not intentionally, anyway."

[st_ratagem]

“In that case,” Loki rested a hand on Thor’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes, very seriously, “now you know that if I do ruin your head, it is intentional.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor's eyes meet Loki's. "I seriously won't forgive you if you ruin my head."

[st_ratagem]

“I know, brother.” Loki smiled as sweetly as he could. “That’s why I’ddo it: if we really needed to be done with each other. Which, currently, we don’t.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I hope it stays that way." Thor smiles. "I suppose I should show Tony my new haircut."