"Well, it's just that Thor's been after me to show him some of my fencing, and I haven't had anyone but my shadow to practise against in the past five years – not steadily, at least – and I was hoping, if you didn't want to, you might know someone who'd be willing to spar with me, so he could see. He thinks it's quite brilliant, apparently."
There was at least a hint of the small boy who desperately wanted to impress his big brother in that; an echo of the gleeful excitement Loki had shown in the halls of her stable when he'd first seen Thor, weeks ago.