A bitter and humorless laugh left his throat, sounding strangely hollow to his own ears. Of course Idun didn't know anything else. And no reply she gave now could have satisfied him. This wasn't her fault. And perhaps most importantly, it was not her responsibility to tell him. That confession, that very vital bit of information should have come from Sif herself.
"That is what being a wife means, isn't it? Respect. Honesty." The last word rang out with a particularly biting sound.
He paced in front of the fire. It was a short distance; covered in a few strides. But it was motion, and motion seemed to coax everything out. And he wanted it out; he wanted it gone. The feel of it was building and building, but it never quite seemed to boil over. The kettle, on the other hand; finally did. Normally the sudden distraction would have just infuriated him even more, but instead it brought about a strange clarity. He'd never used that kettle because he never made himself tea. He barely remembered to keep himself fed, in the days that had followed.
But she was making him tea. It was that gesture that took him out of it for a moment; brought his anger to a more functional level. He stopped pacing. He removed the kettle from the hearth.
As much as Thor had yelled at Idun accusingly, he couldn't blame her. She had braved the bitter winds and frigid temperatures, all to offer the support of a loving presence amidst all of his turmoil. He had spewed his hatred and his pain all in her direction.
And yet still; still she did not falter. She remained seated. Made him tea. Most importantly, she lookedat him, truly saw him in that moment. Because anyone else would have dropped their gaze, uncomfortable with the intensity of his emotion, unwilling to witness it in full for how exhausting it could be.
Kind, caring Idun. Who prized loyalty and fidelity above all when it came to marriage. Bragi had chosen so well in her. Just as she had chosen well in Bragi. Idun would never hurt his brother in that way, she would never betray him. The knowledge that Bragi would never have to experience the particular pain he was in right now, gave him comfort; even amidst his agony.
He stood before her for a moment, silent; looking outside the window, unfocused. Then a different sort of emotion struck him and he brought his gaze back to her face; his eyes were wild and a bit pleading. Pleading for her to understand; because he needed someone to, just then. "I tried. I gave her everything, Idun. All that I had. How could it have not been enough?" It had been a blow to his pride; but the true damage was in how it had jarred his own self worth. If the depth of his love and devotion wasn't enough for her; then he didn't know what else he could give. It reduced him to a youth again, seeking approval from Idun in that moment, though it wasn't her responsibility to hold him up. He knew that, and still he burdened her with it.