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[ Valkyrie has kept her secrets from Thor. A part of him knows that. She's intentionally moved around giving him straight answers. He is not actually stupid. It's not the first time someone has lied to spare him, and he sees it in her. So he's chosen the path of being spared for now. Perhaps to keep being determined to fix things, that her future isn't going to happen because he will change it using this timeline. The idea of accepting true failure is not something he can do yet. So he'll ignore it until he possibly can.

Even accepting this much grief is a big deal for him. And grief for him is breaking off pieces of his heart and not having the skill to piece them back together. Those parts are simply broken forever. He remembers that moment when Loki was in his room on the ship, when he said I'm here, and how he felt in that moment like he could take on anything because of it. ]

Loki. [ He sighs, holding onto him still. ] You do have such a good heart.

[ oh, thor. loki doesn't have a heart anymore. he doesn't even know the heart he has is real. still, he has some sense in his head as loki combs through thor's short hair soothingly.

undying fidelity. ]

Only for you.

[ There is no one that could convince Thor Loki has no heart. For a time he feared it was gone or iced over, but Thor sees it in him. It doesn't matter how much he's been given reason to doubt. Moments like these prove it.

Thor does want, on the whole, for Loki to find love and happiness and every good thing that he could possibly ask for. But in this moment, he is selfishly glad to be the focus of Loki's love, if only to be able to grip onto comfort that is difficult for him to ask for. He's starving for it, and specifically from Loki; it makes him feel accepted and safe. ]

I am glad for it.

[ The fingers in his hair are very soothing. ]

I am glad for you, brother.

[ loki can't help a caustic huff even if it's not bitter to the bone. of all the things to be glad for, really. ]

As you should be.

[ Thor smiles sadly, pulling away from Loki and wiping his tears away, breaking eye contact for that. He may have allowed himself to weep on his brother but that did request a lot from him. This is something Thor would have never brought up to Loki, but he is beyond grateful he did it on his own. A loving gesture.

He looks at the boat instead, it'll be dust in the water soon with how much he put into it. And with that dust is the acceptance he needed to come to. ]

So this is what you've been up to lately.

[ He doesn't want to bring up their fight again or bring attention to it. After scolding Loki he didn't hover suspiciously, reminding himself to give that trust again. ]

[ ah. hm. loki hems and haws for a brief wordless moment before sighing. ]

I'm getting married.

[ Thor's head whips around so fast toward Loki it almost gives him whiplash. He hesitates before getting excited, first asking: ]

Because the Sarano are making you?

[ loki scowls at that because it pokes at his own insecurities about the whole thing. he crosses his arms, defensive. ]

No. Because I was proposed to.

[ Thor was forced into marriage here which is why he assumed that, and he didn't bother to invite anyone because it was required, not wanted. The clarification hits him with shock at first, his sadness evaporating into surprise and then a giant grin. He's absolutely delighted, just still thrown off. ]

Who in the world are you marrying? I didn't know you were in love with anyone!

[ loki can't help the unseemly splutter, immediately bristling like a cat. ]

I did not say anything about — about — love. I was proposed and it would behoove me to say no and — [ he doesn't really have a following statement and the tips of his ears are bright pink. it takes him a few seconds to compose himself. ]

. . . And his name is William Lawford.

You didn't have to say it, you wouldn't marry just anyone.

[ No, Loki would likely talk his way out of it, if the Sarano tried it or anyone else. His brother's far too good at getting out of things. This has to be because he wants it. Thor is instantly joyous, beaming at his brother. He told him to try and find a life and happiness for himself. Neither of them thought he would easily, and yet. ]

Brother! I am so happy for you!

[ Thor sweeps Loki into another hug, this one energetic and boisterous, even lifting him off his feet just an inch or two out of enthusiasm. ]

Tell me everything of this William Lawford.

[ loki lets out a screech, arms pinned to his side. this is a terrible mistake and he never should have said anything at all. ]

Yes, yes, now put me down.

[ once thor compiles because he better, loki consciously brushes down his clothes, miffed with all the . . . sentimentality. his ears are still tinged pink. ]

And there isn't much to say. He's been kind to me. He didn't have to . . . [ bother with loki. spend time with him. marry him. who would?? ]

[ Thor laughs and spins Loki in a little circle because he doesn't pay any mind to screeches. He does put him down though. He doesn't want to be stabbed in the midst of such wonderful news. That would put a little damper on his joy (although not much, what's a little stabbing on such a momentous day). ]

He didn't have to, but he chose to, which means he is a wise man able to see past your prickly defenses.

[ How romantic! Thor can't stop grinning. Loki. Married! He's going to have a new brother (in-law). Thor might do the protective brother thing another time, but not when he can just be glad.]

Come now, where is he from? What is he like? How long have you been involved?

[ loki grimaces because he knows thor is going to rub it in, but he's come this far. ]

He is from Earth's past. We've known each other since we arrived here. As I said, he was kind, remarkably so and easy to talk to. He — [ mo chuisle. loki swallows. ] — He is certain of me.

That's what he said.

Edited 2021-03-24 02:54 (UTC)

You're marrying a human.

[ Oh yeah. He's not going to let this go. This is the gift that keeps giving. Thor would never imagine throwing back in Loki's face what he said about the short life of Jane Foster, but considering Loki's dislike of Earth, he's definitely going to find humor in that to poke at. His brother has come a long way if he'd pick a partner that way.

Thor understands what it would mean to Loki, for someone to say that. Someone other than Thor, who doesn't have any long ties to him, who knows him without the past involved. His expression softens and he reaches out to cup Loki's face affectionately. ]

This is what you deserve, brother. Someone kind and certain.

[ his throat bobs and loki feels his nerves rising up once more. now that he's said it to another person, to thor, it feels all too real. ]

What if I ruin it?

The only way you will ruin it is if you run away without giving him a chance. Or if you push him away when you get scared.

[ Thor can see Loki's struggle and he does understand it. He knows his brother well and the reasons he's so slow to trust or care for others. Love is a risk. It's one that Loki's never allowed himself to have before. ]

You will likely both make mistakes, Loki, but if you work through them together, you'll be the stronger for it.

It's never worked before.

[ granted, loki has never given anyone a chance before. he's always shied away from giving away too much. but he also struggles in pulling back. the intensity of his own feelings have been a constant push and pull for loki, never quite finding the right balance. ]

You've never given anyone a chance before.

[ Thor points out firmly. His brother is more reserved and less trusting, and he has all kinds of reasons for that, so Thor knows he can't expect him to be as easily open-hearted. Which is fine. Clearly, he's found someone patient enough to see it through. ]

There's a first time for everything. Sometimes you just have to take the risk. You're braver than you think.

[ loki feels his nerves dissipating. though he's never said it out loud, thor's opinion is his pedestal. he needs it more than he truly lets on, for fear that he would crumble quickly under it. ]

I did say yes.

Come here.

[ This time Thor is at least warning him before drawing him into a hug, and this one is much gentler and sweeter. His exuberance is still in him, this is big news, but he's able to be very tender about it too. His brother getting married. It eases something in him too, a fear of Loki being lost without him. He'll have someone to lean on now.]

I'm proud of you, opening yourself up like this to someone else.

[ He speaks softly close to Loki's ear, just trying to drown out his fears with Thor's steady acceptance and adoration. ]

You deserve this.

[ loki lets thor gather him up. he finds himself at a loss, his body shivering briefly. you deserve this. the whiplash in loki seeks to contradict that, to argue it. to bring it to its knees. after all, it's not right. loki breathes out the poison with a shudder as he presses his forehead against thor's shoulder, his arms hesitantly clutching at thor's back.

if thor's shoulder is a little damp, he better not say anything. ]

[ Considering Thor was just openly weeping on his brother, he will not bring any attention to Loki's tears either. One of his hands lifts to stroke Loki's hair soothingly, as Loki did for him. They are so much better now at showing love to one another and accepting comfort, something they were not great at before. ]

I will stand with you on this joyous day proudly.

[ The only sadness he has is that their mother couldn't be there. Leaving Odin out entirely, of course, but Frigga would be as happy as Thor for Loki to take this step. He kisses the top of Loki's head as she would in blessing and pulls from the hug, but doesn't go far. ]

I will have to speak to your beloved, of course. Do not worry, I won't be too overprotective.

[ that had not been loki's concern, but the fear that lawford would see thor and . . . well, the choice would feel obvious. he tamps down on it as well as he can, swallowing it further. ]

What is there to say?

We will be family, I want to hear more about him from his own point of view.

[ Thor smiles reassuringly, putting his hand on Loki's shoulder and squeezing it warmly. It honestly wouldn't even occur to him that Loki would be insecure about Thor's charms on other people. He would never flirt with Loki's husband. ]

Don't worry. I won't scare him off. I want us to be friends.