oh my god what am i doing
so I wrote fic for the first time in forever. Thor fic. Marvel!Thor fic.
NOW BEFORE I GO ON, I HAVE TO EXPLAIN. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COMIC BOOKS, YOU KNOW THE SIXTIES WAS A TIME OF RIDICULOUS COSTUMES, EXAGGERATED EXPOSITIONAL DIALOGUE, AND ASS PULLS OUT THE ASS.
There will be two versions of this fic. One serious, because I couldn't get the idea out of my head, and one genre-appropriate. If you can imagine the second fic in comic-book panels, I have done my job right.
BLAME THIS ON ME GETTING VOLUME 2 OF THE MIGHTY THOR IN THE MAIL TODAY.
-------
This is not the first time.
The god of thunder approaches his bound half-brother, affixed with unbreakable chains to the walls of Asgard. It is a cruel punishment for cruel actions. The prisoner looks up when he hears footsteps, and eyes full of malice meet Thor’s. Words are exchanged, but they hold little meaning. Mocking derision becomes suspicion. What is Thor doing here, he asks. Has his noble brother come to gloat? To enjoy his victory? Such honorable behavior, he says, and his voice drips with sarcasm, befits the son of Odin.
Then, suspicion turns to shock.
For Thor has embraced him. At least, as best he can with Loki bound to a wall with chains Thor had fastened himself. It’s not easy, but the alternative is untying Loki, and that is a very bad idea. As long as Loki is bound, he is harmless, and Thor can do as he likes. Which, in this case, is telling Loki everything he can’t say under normal circumstances. Like how grieved he is for letting Loki come to this, and that he always feels as if he could have done more to stop his brother’s descent into evil. How he wishes with all his heart that they could work together, because as a team they could achieve so much, so much and he is sorry for whatever he has done to earn Loki’s so destructive jealousy.
He has said these things before.
As always, Loki is stunned into silence, however briefly, by these admissions. Thor cannot bring himself to look into his brother’s face, for fear of what he might find there. A look of calculation, as Thor suspects Loki feels when he hears these things, would hurt. A true emotional reaction, however, would hurt worse. So instead, Thor holds him close and opens his heart, for these are things he must say. He gives Loki no opening to interrupt, no chance to speak at all, for fear it would break the spell of this moment.
He tells Loki that he loves him.
But it cannot last. Before the trickster god can say anything, Thor places one hand on his forehead and invokes one of his lesser-known powers, the power to erase memory. Usually, Thor uses this power to ease the hurt, like an anesthetic, of one with painful memories. This time, the painful memories are his own to bear. You will forget this ever happened. You will not twist my feelings into a weapon against me. Thor will not allow it, even though he knows in his heart that these visits are a sign of weakness in his resolve. It is one thing to be aware of a wound, and another to have it exploited by an enemy.
When he steps back, Loki’s eyes are blank, confused.
“What do you want?” the trickster spits.
“Nothing,” the thunderer lies, and leaves.
---------
Thor has come to visit his brother in captivity. He strides along the outer walls of the building Loki is tied to, cutting an impressive figure. His red cape hovers somewhere above his shoulders in a way that completely defies the laws of physics. (He is a god. He has no need for physics, no matter what Tony Stark insists about particles and gravity and string theory. Physics is fine with Thor everywhere else, but when it comes to costumes, the point is moot.) Loki is where he always is, glaring at Thor from below his horned helmet. The midday sun glimmers off of it.
“What brings you here, thunder god?” Loki demands, voice harsh. “Have you come to laugh at the fallen Loki? The son of Odin is noble indeed if he comes to gloat over his helpless enemies!”
“Even if I were inclined to do so, today I stand before you for another reason,” Thor replies, virtuous and honorable to the end. “I would never take advantage of a defeated enemy. The very idea is reprehensible to one such as I.”
“So you say,” Loki shoots back. “And yet you are here.”
“I am here to speak with you,” Thor says. “It is a matter I have wanted to discuss for a long time.”
“Well, out with it! The very sight of you enrages me.” His lip twists in a snarl. “Like a mouse who has come to laugh at a trapped cat. Say what you have come to say and leave me be!”
“You see, Loki, we are brothers. Though we are not bound by the ties of blood, you will always be family to me. We grew up together. We shared each other’s struggles and triumphs, and although you have always tried to sabotage me, I forgive you in my heart, Loki, for we are kin. Your evil stems from your jealousy of me, and for that, I am truly sorry. If only we could have worked together, Loki. As a team, imagine what we could have achieved! With my strength and your magic, we could have been the most powerful force for good in the entire--”
The fool! Loki thinks as Thor goes on, and on, and on. Does he imagine his ridiculous sentiment matters to the great and powerful Loki? Not one bit! It sickens me to listen to this soft-hearted nonsense!
“-but you have responded to every act of mercy with betrayal. If only there were a way to show you how wrong you are, and that good is its own reward…!”
Overcome with emotion, Thor throws his arms around Loki, who recoils with shock and disgust. “Release me!!”
“I have always loved you, Loki, with all my heart,” Thor says, ignoring Loki’s futile struggles and deaf to his protests. “I wish I could make you could see that.”
“All I see is an overly sentimental fool! Unhand me at once!”
It is a long moment before Thor releases him, visibly overcome with emotion. “I am sorry,” he says, and reaches a hand out to hold it before Loki’s forehead.
“What are you doing?!” Loki demands, suddenly frightened. “What trick are you about to -- ungh!”
“I have erased your memories of this incident,” Thor announces gravely. “You will not remember our conversation here, for you would surely use it as a weapon against me. Yet my heart was so burdened, I could not stand keeping my feelings to myself one minute longer. I am sorry, but it is for the best.”
Loki is the very picture of confusion. “What brings you here, thunder god?” he demands, but Thor does not listen.
“A wish, Loki, nothing more. A hopeless one, I know. Maybe someday, things will change, but for now…” He turns on his heel and walks away, cloak billowing behind him and leaving Loki staring after his retreating form. “…Earth needs the power of Thor, god of thunder!”
Loki is silent for a long moment.
“…what the devil was that all about?”
NOW BEFORE I GO ON, I HAVE TO EXPLAIN. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COMIC BOOKS, YOU KNOW THE SIXTIES WAS A TIME OF RIDICULOUS COSTUMES, EXAGGERATED EXPOSITIONAL DIALOGUE, AND ASS PULLS OUT THE ASS.
There will be two versions of this fic. One serious, because I couldn't get the idea out of my head, and one genre-appropriate. If you can imagine the second fic in comic-book panels, I have done my job right.
BLAME THIS ON ME GETTING VOLUME 2 OF THE MIGHTY THOR IN THE MAIL TODAY.
-------
This is not the first time.
The god of thunder approaches his bound half-brother, affixed with unbreakable chains to the walls of Asgard. It is a cruel punishment for cruel actions. The prisoner looks up when he hears footsteps, and eyes full of malice meet Thor’s. Words are exchanged, but they hold little meaning. Mocking derision becomes suspicion. What is Thor doing here, he asks. Has his noble brother come to gloat? To enjoy his victory? Such honorable behavior, he says, and his voice drips with sarcasm, befits the son of Odin.
Then, suspicion turns to shock.
For Thor has embraced him. At least, as best he can with Loki bound to a wall with chains Thor had fastened himself. It’s not easy, but the alternative is untying Loki, and that is a very bad idea. As long as Loki is bound, he is harmless, and Thor can do as he likes. Which, in this case, is telling Loki everything he can’t say under normal circumstances. Like how grieved he is for letting Loki come to this, and that he always feels as if he could have done more to stop his brother’s descent into evil. How he wishes with all his heart that they could work together, because as a team they could achieve so much, so much and he is sorry for whatever he has done to earn Loki’s so destructive jealousy.
He has said these things before.
As always, Loki is stunned into silence, however briefly, by these admissions. Thor cannot bring himself to look into his brother’s face, for fear of what he might find there. A look of calculation, as Thor suspects Loki feels when he hears these things, would hurt. A true emotional reaction, however, would hurt worse. So instead, Thor holds him close and opens his heart, for these are things he must say. He gives Loki no opening to interrupt, no chance to speak at all, for fear it would break the spell of this moment.
He tells Loki that he loves him.
But it cannot last. Before the trickster god can say anything, Thor places one hand on his forehead and invokes one of his lesser-known powers, the power to erase memory. Usually, Thor uses this power to ease the hurt, like an anesthetic, of one with painful memories. This time, the painful memories are his own to bear. You will forget this ever happened. You will not twist my feelings into a weapon against me. Thor will not allow it, even though he knows in his heart that these visits are a sign of weakness in his resolve. It is one thing to be aware of a wound, and another to have it exploited by an enemy.
When he steps back, Loki’s eyes are blank, confused.
“What do you want?” the trickster spits.
“Nothing,” the thunderer lies, and leaves.
---------
Thor has come to visit his brother in captivity. He strides along the outer walls of the building Loki is tied to, cutting an impressive figure. His red cape hovers somewhere above his shoulders in a way that completely defies the laws of physics. (He is a god. He has no need for physics, no matter what Tony Stark insists about particles and gravity and string theory. Physics is fine with Thor everywhere else, but when it comes to costumes, the point is moot.) Loki is where he always is, glaring at Thor from below his horned helmet. The midday sun glimmers off of it.
“What brings you here, thunder god?” Loki demands, voice harsh. “Have you come to laugh at the fallen Loki? The son of Odin is noble indeed if he comes to gloat over his helpless enemies!”
“Even if I were inclined to do so, today I stand before you for another reason,” Thor replies, virtuous and honorable to the end. “I would never take advantage of a defeated enemy. The very idea is reprehensible to one such as I.”
“So you say,” Loki shoots back. “And yet you are here.”
“I am here to speak with you,” Thor says. “It is a matter I have wanted to discuss for a long time.”
“Well, out with it! The very sight of you enrages me.” His lip twists in a snarl. “Like a mouse who has come to laugh at a trapped cat. Say what you have come to say and leave me be!”
“You see, Loki, we are brothers. Though we are not bound by the ties of blood, you will always be family to me. We grew up together. We shared each other’s struggles and triumphs, and although you have always tried to sabotage me, I forgive you in my heart, Loki, for we are kin. Your evil stems from your jealousy of me, and for that, I am truly sorry. If only we could have worked together, Loki. As a team, imagine what we could have achieved! With my strength and your magic, we could have been the most powerful force for good in the entire--”
The fool! Loki thinks as Thor goes on, and on, and on. Does he imagine his ridiculous sentiment matters to the great and powerful Loki? Not one bit! It sickens me to listen to this soft-hearted nonsense!
“-but you have responded to every act of mercy with betrayal. If only there were a way to show you how wrong you are, and that good is its own reward…!”
Overcome with emotion, Thor throws his arms around Loki, who recoils with shock and disgust. “Release me!!”
“I have always loved you, Loki, with all my heart,” Thor says, ignoring Loki’s futile struggles and deaf to his protests. “I wish I could make you could see that.”
“All I see is an overly sentimental fool! Unhand me at once!”
It is a long moment before Thor releases him, visibly overcome with emotion. “I am sorry,” he says, and reaches a hand out to hold it before Loki’s forehead.
“What are you doing?!” Loki demands, suddenly frightened. “What trick are you about to -- ungh!”
“I have erased your memories of this incident,” Thor announces gravely. “You will not remember our conversation here, for you would surely use it as a weapon against me. Yet my heart was so burdened, I could not stand keeping my feelings to myself one minute longer. I am sorry, but it is for the best.”
Loki is the very picture of confusion. “What brings you here, thunder god?” he demands, but Thor does not listen.
“A wish, Loki, nothing more. A hopeless one, I know. Maybe someday, things will change, but for now…” He turns on his heel and walks away, cloak billowing behind him and leaving Loki staring after his retreating form. “…Earth needs the power of Thor, god of thunder!”
Loki is silent for a long moment.
“…what the devil was that all about?”