Fool Me Once {Thor, Loki}

[Loki Laufeyson]

Location: Asgard
Date: Pre-Avengers
Time of Day: Early morning

The time before his brother awoke was the most precious to Loki. All his life, it seemed, he had lived in his elder brother's shadow. Everyone preferred the strong, tug headed boy to his wiry, pale companion.

Loki might have been young, but he was not blind to the disdain the rest of Asgard viewed him with. They prized strength, bravery, and ability in combat above all others. And no matter how hard he trained, there was simply no way for the younger boy to match Thor.

So he had turned to sorcery. Not that he received much reward for it. For even if he proved himself the strongest sorcerer in all of Asgard, what good would that do him?

Sorcery was also a province of jotuns. Real Asgardians fought their battles with their fists and swords. For all that Father made a point of saying both brothers were born to be kings, as things were now, the populace would only side with Thor given the choice.

As Loki drew closer home, he could see the disapproval in the eyes of the few out and about.

'You've gone too far this time,' one muttered.

I? What manner of falsehood was this? It has been at least a se'en night since my last mischief. Surely this man is a quicker wit than that.

Keeping his mouth shut, for all his fabled silvertongue, Loki decided to approach his brother on the matter. Something had caused a stir within the castle, and he intended to find out what.

[Thor Odinson]

Thor whirled in his tracks, fists clenched and face twisted in an expression of helpless fury. "No!" he roared, "I have done that!"

Fandral held up warding hands. "I did not mean to imply..." he began.

With an effort of will, Thor drew a deep breath and forced himself to relax a little. "I know, Fandral. I know. It is just..."

The door opened, and the slim form of Loki slipped in. Thor spun, joy and relief showing on his rugged face. He strode across the room, grasping his brother by the hand and drawing him in. The faces of Thor's companions - Fandral the Swift, Grim-Faced Hogun, Volstagg Three Warriors, and Sif Shield-Maiden - did not share his relief. Doubt and suspicion were writ on their faces.

"Loki!" Thor exclaimed, either ignoring or not noticing their suspicion. "My brother! Come, I have need of your cunning to unravel a mystery!"

"I doubt it is much of a mystery to Loki Liesmith," muttered Hogun.

Thor shot him a dark look. "Mind how you speak to him, Hogun. My brother has a sharp tongue and a dark wit, it is true. But this is no jest."

"'Tis true, Hogun Storm-crow," boomed Volstagg. "We have all been on the receiving end of one of Loki's jests, from time to time, and it is perhaps natural of us to suspect him when there is foul play. But let us be fair: this is no prank."

Hogun rolled his eyes at Volstagg, then looked out the window. Ignoring them both, Thor poured two goblets of wine and handed one to his brother. Sitting heavily in a chair, he drank deep. "Riddle me this, my brother, " he said. "How may one steal that which may not be stolen?"

[Loki Laufeyson]

If Thor's bedraggled condition and the tense postures all around were anything to go by, this must be some mystery.

"What sort of plot is this, my brother, that has given you such wild eyes and brings such a dark cloud over all the room?"

Thor poured two goblets of wine and handed one to his brother. Sitting heavily in a chair, he drank deep. "Riddle me this, my brother, " he said. "How may one steal that which may not be stolen?"

Having been led by his brother's strong grip, Loki was relieved when he was finally released, and moreso when he was offered a drink. Anything to sooth this bitterness to a more merry tone.

"That is quite a knot, to perform an impossible deed."

Taking a drink from his own goblet as he turned over the different pieces of this puzzle in his mind, Loki's gaze fell on his brother's form.

"But no.. not just what cannot be stolen. You said what must not..."

Leaning forward towards the edge of his chair, Loki searched his brother's eyes.

"Tell me, my brother. When did you last see Mjolnir?"

For what else could cause such upheaval? Thor's mighty weapon, the hammer that no one else could lift but would answer his call.

He should definitely like to meet this thief himself, and what's more, would need to no doubt. Asgard had many defenses, but there was no need to lose any of them unnecessarily.