Re: Asgard: Loki/Thor
That casual slide of Thor's hand from back to neck did not make Loki flinch. These were well-remembered actions, the memory of when the way forward had seemed uncomplicated and clear. Even then, not so long ago, he had assumed he would one day ascend the throne, with his brother remaining the sword and shield of the realm. That had felt fitting, even as he kept such thoughts to himself. Who would assume that the thunderer could be a leader of a kingdom? Who would have thought such a thing would ever come to pass?
So many of Loki's assumptions had collapsed and dissolved, like spires of sugar under water, fading into nothing but half-remembered sweetness. His future had been so thoroughly assumed that he had ever doubted its truth. Whatever Frigga had thought of him before her death, his assumptions of what was true had collapsed one too many times, and he did know himself. He knew how suspicious he could be of any good moment, any bright star, of trusting anyone but himself. But he remembered, still, when he had been able to ride beside his brother. He had always been disquieted by being the second son in the shadow of the first, but that had not been every waking moment. There had been moments of peace, false as he knew them to be now. There had been laughter, goodness, golden days of battle and mirth.
Such things could never have lasted long. At his core was quiet and distemper, unruly, ever changing, suspicious of everything because his faith had been so terrible misplaced. Yet he drew on those old memories to fuel his small smile. He mounted the horse and it began to guide into the trees. "To visit old friends," he said, cryptic as ever, his eye glittering with amusement. "To have the gift of their answer." There seemed to be no malice in him, but, of course, this was Loki. There was no telling.
"If you can keep up."
He spurred his horse, and the sleek creature bounded forward, picking up at a gallop, winding between tree and scrub, leaping over river, until the trees above grew thick, the air heavy, and all darker and darker.