ohfreckle:

I hope you don’t mind that it’s really tiny, anon. It’s been only half a day since I’ve seen it and today is a busy holiday, so this is all I could come with for now.

Thor doesn’t acknowledge him when Loki enters the room, although he must have heard the quiet whoosh of the door and the heavy thud of Loki’s boots. He’s still standing where Loki left him barely an hour ago in front of the enormous glass wall, gazing up at the huge starship, his shoulders rigid.

“Banner’s made some progress, but we’re still in stasis,” Loki says and joins him at the window. “The people are waiting for you,” he adds, quiet, as if he’s talking to a small child instead of the newly crowned king. But then, it’s somehow fitting. They survived Ragnarok, both reborn from the ashes of their former lives.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Thor rasps, slapping his palm against the glass, his head bowing in defeat.

This could entail so many, many things. After everything that’s happened Loki doesn’t need Thor to list them all to know that his brother has reached his limit. Even gods can break.

“Yes, you do!” It’s hard to keep his voice firm and not let it crumble under the enormity of both their losses, but Loki can’t let Thor break. Not now, not ever, he knows that now after he’s almost lost him. Asgard needs its king and Loki—Loki needs Thor. Even with their world in shambles, some things will never change. “I’ll help. If you’ll have me.”

“Why, Loki? Why now?”

“They’re my people, too. You are my king, too.” It doesn’t hurt to say it like Loki once thought it would.

“Is that what I am?” Thor lets out a harsh breath. His face is grave when he turns and takes Loki’s hand, his thumb stroking over his palm. “We’ve both lost everything that’s dear to us, I would—”

“Not everything,” Loki interrupts him, his gaze steady as he threads his fingers through Thor’s and presses a kiss to his knuckles. Yes, he’s still the god of lies and mischief, but there’s a time for all of that and today is not that day.

Today it’s time for truth.