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I am weary of fighting with you, Loki. I have forgiven so many of your actions, but you still hold onto every last thing.
I don't want your forgiveness, I want some respect!
[ Thor just gives him a confused look with his one eye. ]
What makes you think I don't?
What makes you think I don't?
Why would I think you don't?
[ he gives a sharp laugh. ]
I was alone with a kingdom, holding a secret that could get me killed. They called me power hungry. Jealous. Because mother gave it to me. Alone and afraid because all I could do was hold onto it until our father awakened to dismiss me or you came back with a hammer.
And you just called it ego.
[ he gives a sharp laugh. ]
I was alone with a kingdom, holding a secret that could get me killed. They called me power hungry. Jealous. Because mother gave it to me. Alone and afraid because all I could do was hold onto it until our father awakened to dismiss me or you came back with a hammer.
And you just called it ego.
I have no doubt you were afraid and alone, and I will never forgive our parents for lying to you. Lying to me, I can forgive, lying to you, I cannot.
[ Thor raises his eyebrows. ]
But you let Frost Giants into our home on my coronation out of jealousy. You wanted people to cheer for you out of ego. And you tried to take over Earth out of hunger for power.
[ He crosses his arms. ]
And I loved their cheers because of my ego, and I started the war with the Frost Giants out of arrogance, and I hurled threats at our father out of immaturity. Do you think I only see your weaknesses and not my own?
[ Thor raises his eyebrows. ]
But you let Frost Giants into our home on my coronation out of jealousy. You wanted people to cheer for you out of ego. And you tried to take over Earth out of hunger for power.
[ He crosses his arms. ]
And I loved their cheers because of my ego, and I started the war with the Frost Giants out of arrogance, and I hurled threats at our father out of immaturity. Do you think I only see your weaknesses and not my own?
[ it helps a little to have thor speak of his own and tamps down on the simmer. ]
I think you have a bad habit of simplifying them. And as I said, I'm not interested in forgiveness.
I think you have a bad habit of simplifying them. And as I said, I'm not interested in forgiveness.
You should be. It is the best way to heal.
I'm not hurt.
[ well, he is but they're old hurts. and this calamity eclipses them even though he brought them up and loki is aware of that. ]
I'm just tired of the molds I'm expected to fill.
[ well, he is but they're old hurts. and this calamity eclipses them even though he brought them up and loki is aware of that. ]
I'm just tired of the molds I'm expected to fill.
[ He comes closer, putting an arm on Loki's shoulder. ]
All I've ever wanted you to be is my brother.
All I've ever wanted you to be is my brother.
[ loki smiles faintly, bitter in the corners. ]
If that were true, none of this would have happened. I would have been good enough.
If that were true, none of this would have happened. I would have been good enough.
You were good enough. We had centuries of love between us, Loki. I thought us unbreakable, in truth. The thought of separating seemed outrageous and impossible.
[ They were raised as twins and that is how Thor saw them, two halves of the same whole. It has always been the two of them, he never knew a world without Loki. To have that all come crashing down on him was the type of shock he'll never truly get past. ]
I have always loved you more than anything. If you had but asked me to rule together, I would have without question.
[ They were raised as twins and that is how Thor saw them, two halves of the same whole. It has always been the two of them, he never knew a world without Loki. To have that all come crashing down on him was the type of shock he'll never truly get past. ]
I have always loved you more than anything. If you had but asked me to rule together, I would have without question.
[ he shakes his head. ]
You didn't see me as an equal then. No one did.
You didn't see me as an equal then. No one did.
You're wrong.
[ He clasps Loki's shoulder. ]
You are the one who didn't see us as equal. I have always respected and envied your intelligence.
[ He clasps Loki's shoulder. ]
You are the one who didn't see us as equal. I have always respected and envied your intelligence.
Don't. Don't make it seem it's all in my head. I didn't — imagine it.
From our people or from Odin? That was real, yes. But you projected that onto me, Loki. It is not how I think of you.
As the other half of myself. Blood does not matter to me. All those centuries together, our entire lives as inseparable brothers, they still mean everything to me. It kills me that you look back and only see the worst parts.
[ he lets out a shuddering breath. ]
It was just . . . hard to separate the truth and the lies. I couldn't tell the difference. Everything . . . shattered.
It was just . . . hard to separate the truth and the lies. I couldn't tell the difference. Everything . . . shattered.
[ Thor reaches out to put both hands on Loki's shoulders. ]
We were never a lie. I am your brother, and I will be, whether you like it or not, to the day I die.
We were never a lie. I am your brother, and I will be, whether you like it or not, to the day I die.
Always, Loki.
[ Thor pulls him into a hug. ]
After everything, you still doubt me?
[ Thor pulls him into a hug. ]
After everything, you still doubt me?
[ it's more complicated than doubting thor's heart or his intentions. and it's a struggle, even for loki, to put it into words. ]
It's . . . not that.
It's . . . not that.
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