Video; thunderer [Thor 3 Spoilers]

[worldsaway]

[You can tell from the moment Thor's face appears on camera, he's been through hell and back. His hair is almost entirely buzzed down, save for the tufts on top, with markings shaved into the sides. His eye is covered by a black patch, indicating an injury that he isn't happy to talk about.]

I've made some changes. [Bluntly, as if he consented to any of this.]

What else.. Some things have happened at home that may be of interest to some of you. [He hums, considering.] Odin is dead. I have another sister? Her name is Hela. Mjolnir is destroyed. Banner is alive. [He feels a little guilty revealing that one, but he thinks someone deserves to know.] I fought the Hulk. I won. I met a real, live Valkyrie- And Asgard is.. [A people, not a place, but..] The realm has been destroyed. My people are seeking refuge, I suppose I understand now what displacement feels like.

I have the remains of Asgard in a ship, floating through space. If a portal could open for them, that would be extremely useful to me right now. I'm a king with no land or people, now. Very poetic. [Does he seem terse? He's kind of tense.


And then Loki comes barging in, looking very much the same and carrying a large parchment. He glances at the recording with a frown. He places the map of Earth on the wall, pinning it with a single dagger.]

Must you reveal everything? Put that away, I have work for you.

Comments

[worldsaway]

I'm surprised you trust that so implicitly. [Thor scoffs.]

I suppose it gives us a little more time to think of where we might like to go. Unless you wanted me to throw a dart and pick a place. [He cocks his head toward the map.]

[dothelokimotion]

It has nothing to do with trust. I took time to look into it since I got here.

[ Loki turns back to the map. ]

You might as well. Unless your friends have worthwhile suggestions.

[worldsaway]

[Thor watches Loki for a long moment before he smiles warmly.]

This suits you. [He reaches out, gently placing his hand on Loki's neck before he zaps him.]

Stop belittling me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hisses, flinging a dagger that whistles past Thor's ear. ]

I told you not to do that!

[worldsaway]

[Thor stiffens, letting the blade pass his ear. He practically feels the breeze of it, but it provokes an almost delighted reaction from him.]

I thought you'd be used to it by now. [Thor flexes his fingers, watching the sparks travel up them before he lowers his hand.] I meant what I said- before and after I electrocuted you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes the sparks warily before vanishing the blade away with a frown. They haven't really discussed that since Loki arrived on the ship. For good reason, really. ]

You always mean what you say, Thor.

[worldsaway]

Mostly. [He is prone to exaggeration, but he won't say that.]

But I especially meant it. [He nudges Loki with his elbow.] It suits you. Putting that brain of yours to good use.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Meant what? All you said was more. What does that even mean? It grated on him and Loki wanted to ask, but the answer could disappoint him. And he's not keen on laying any more disappointments on either of their shoulders at the moment. Loki's not sure they have the strength to take it. This might only be temporary. Loki isn't even sure if he knows how to stay. ]

Unfortunately, someone has to.

[worldsaway]

[Thor never had a specific vision in mind. When he said Loki could be more he imagined it manifesting in a number of different ways, so far this has all been a pleasant surprise.

Perhaps too pleasant, but he welcomes it. Loki is a familiar comfort when everything else is uncharted territory.]

I'm glad it was you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki risks a glance at Thor, vaguely unsure before turning his gaze back to the map with a huff. ]

You didn't have a wealth of options at your disposal anymore. There's no need to flatter me into staying when I said I would.

[worldsaway]

Given limitless options, I would still want it to be you. I have no compunctions about thumping you when you bother me. [Heimdall, not so much.

Thor shakes his head.] I'm not flattering you, if your head were to get any bigger your helmet would no longer fit.

[dothelokimotion]

My head is not big.

[ It's petulant. ]

Why me?

[worldsaway]

Your forehead is. [Thor taunts, because it further delays an answer for Loki.

But Loki has always been denied answers, always denied honesty. Thor wants to be different from Odin. He wants to be forthcoming and, more than anything, he wants to trust his brother.]

All I've ever wanted is to have you by my side, Loki. All these years, fighting you, going around in circles and all I ever wanted was for it to end with us together. [Thor is almost exasperated that he needs to explain it at all.]

Beyond that, you're the most intelligent, resourceful person I will ever know. I need that now more than ever.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki resists the urge to touch his hair at that remark. Even now, he's still susceptible to what Thor says, what Thor believes. Loki just could never trust it before. It is simply came down to nostalgia, a deep seated childhood belief when they were no longer children, when the world no longer felt certain. As it hadn't been for Loki in years. Now Thor has felt that kind of uncertainty and Loki . . . does regret that. Partly. Not enough to apologize, but enough to soften the sting. ]

Well . . . you have me. I told Steve I wasn't going with him. At least . . . not for a while.

[worldsaway]

[Once again, Thor isn't sure what facial expression to make when Loki drops this information on him. He's conflicted, he wants to be relieved and happy but he's worried.

Worry probably shows more in his face more than anything, even if relief is flooding into him.]

Is that what you want?

[dothelokimotion]

[ There's a lingering pause before Loki smiles mirthlessly. ]

You know, I don't think anyone has ever asked me that until I came here.

[worldsaway]

You always seemed to know what you wanted, and when you knew, you went for it.

[Although Thor was never particularly pleased with those ambitions.]

Have you already grown tired of ruling? You seemed to be enjoying it quite well, when I found you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki shrugs loosely at that. His facade of wanting more was easily bought and even he can't explain the intricacies that went into it. Loki will always want more, but at the same time, he knows he cannot have more. It is a dichotomy that chafes his skin. Now though, the lies that used to drive him no longer have any meaning. There's no father to prove wrong and Asgard . . . well, Asgard seems to have forgotten Loki the monster. ]

Why would I need to rule? I can tell you what to do and it saves me the actual trouble of ruling.

[worldsaway]

There will be trouble regardless. My rule began with trouble.

[He tries to sound lighthearted, but it all fills him with a hopeless, sinking feeling.

He's always carried the weight of the world's problems on his shoulders, but for the first time he's starting to feel like he can't hold steady under the pressure of it.

Regardless..]

I asked you what you wanted. Not whether anyone had ever asked you what you wanted.

[dothelokimotion]

Perhaps not the most auspicious of starts, but a better one than most.

[ Better than Loki's anyway. He's still avoiding the question though, keeping his tone airy light. ]

Who knows? I am in the process of rediscovery right now. What I want may change. It could be anything.

[worldsaway]

I don't want you to give up your happiness for me.

[But gods, he can't help wishing he would.

It's hard to notice the way Thor's throat catches, but it feels like he can't breathe until he has a response.]

[dothelokimotion]

Thor.

[ And he turns to face his brother, a bittersweet smile. ]

When have I ever done that?

[worldsaway]

[Thor breathes, but this isn't the relief he's hoping for.]

Why start now?

[dothelokimotion]

It seems as good a time as any.

And I never got my hug. It seems I'm destined to be indentured to men who promise things but never follow up on them.

[worldsaway]

[Thor rolls his eyes, but he smiles again. He wants to question what Loki says, but he's more focused on crossing toward his brother so he can loop his arms around him tightly. One hand stays crossed around his back, the other holds the back of Loki's head and Thor's face leans in to press into the nook of his shoulder and neck.

He breathes in deeply, squeezing his eyes shut so he can find the strength to stop himself from crumbling and making a fool of himself. The help and condolences his friends offer do well to ease his worries, but nothing is more comforting to him than the fact that Loki is very real, very solid and he's here.]