A serious conversation

[st_ratagem]

Nerves were pointless. Realistically there was only one way this conversation was ultimately going to go, it was just a matter of getting there. Which would be awkward and embarrassing at least, but it had to be done.

Rather than go through the knock-on-door-then-enter thing, which would have been minor sandpaper on nerves that wanted to be frayed, Loki opened the door to the room as an invitation to enter. (Thor was the only one he was expecting, anyway.) After that, he took a seat at the little table on the balcony, since the only other choice was pacing like a ninny.

The room was much less tidy and impersonal since Valkyrie had moved in. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said she wasn’t organized, so her things were scattered around, and Loki had relaxed his own tight rein on his things, so a few piles of books and other things had joined the clutter. It looked lived-in, now.

Comments

[st_ormbreaker]

"Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase?"

[st_ratagem]

“Are you six?” Loki was nearly certain Thor did things like this just to give Loki an opportunity to entertain himself. At least some of the time. “If you are I probably shouldn’t let you have liquor at all.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor makes a long, high-pitched sound.

[st_ratagem]

“Oh, you’re two! I understand.” Loki reached for one of the bottles on the table. “Definitely shouldn’t be allowed to have alcohol, then.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor directs a finger at his brother. "Don't take that unless you plan on carrying it."

[st_ratagem]

"I plan on removing it from the reach of an infant, nothing more."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'm older than you, you know."

[st_ratagem]

"I don't pretend to share your ability to turn yourself into a whiny child."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'm a whiny adult."

[st_ratagem]

"Adults use words."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Loki, please be a good brother and help me carry these bottles back to my room."

[st_ratagem]

In response, Loki pulled a box from over there, set it on the table, and started loading bottle into it.

[st_ormbreaker]

"So you're not going to walk me back."

[st_ratagem]

“Is there a reason you need me to? Are you worried you’ll get lost?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"We haven't exactly," Thor gestures vaguely. "Done much together recently."

[st_ratagem]

Damn it, that was actually touching. A little bit. “And a short walk in company will help?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"It might," Thor says, rolling his shoulders. "But we won't know until we actually give it a shot."

[st_ratagem]

“Fine.” Loki shrugged. “But you carry your box. I’m not your pack mule, brother.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I didn't say you were."

Thor hoists up the box and shifts it in his hands. "You ready?"

[st_ratagem]

“Sure.” Loki stood up and subtly stretched a little, clearing the last of the tension from the beginning of this talk. “Onward, to the short hallway walk.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"You should come visit more often if the walk is that short," Thor says, opening the door as he holds the box in a single hand. "If you're worried about Tony, he's always in his lab."

[st_ratagem]

“I’m not.” Loki followed, slipping through the door and letting it close behind them. “I may prefer to let you have your privacy, though.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'd welcome the company," Thor says. "I like being disturbed."

In some ways, he and Loki truly were opposites.

[st_ratagem]

In truth, Loki didn’t like being alone, but he’d gotten used to it. “You know i’d Just watch you do whatever you’re doing anyway.” After a moment to strangle down habitual caution about giving out handles on him, he offered, “I do exercise. I don’t think you’d be interested in the balance or flexibility things, but we could spar.” For the minimal good it would do them... up then it would still be exercise. “Or run, or climb things.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I don't mind you watching whatever I'm doing," Thor says, though he's pretty sure he'd find whatever he was doing boring. "But I won't say no to sparring. It'd be just like old times."