A/N: I have seen the Avengers one too many times already, and every time I watch it, I can't help but be drawn to the magnetic relationship between Thor and Loki as brothers. I couldn't resist writing this.

Edit 10/17/12: Thanks to LoversByHaters this story is now being translated into Spanish! If you'd like to read the Spanish version, there is a link in my profile. Do consider leaving a review here, though, if you can! :)

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Brothers

Loki sat against the frame of the window, looking out on a familiar scene he didn't think he'd have the privilege of ever seeing again. The golden spires of Asgard glittered in the dying sunlight, the colors of the sunset giving way to the stars and galaxies that dotted the edge of the greatest realm within the branches of Yggdrasil. His eyes traced the path of the rainbow bridge, lingering at the jagged edge that hung precariously over the edge. He recalled the flash of the bridge exploding under Thor's hammer, the pain flaring through his chest as he fell against the broken shards, his stomach plummeting as he fell beyond grasp of the bridge.

He recalled the look in Odin's eyes as he stared him down. The disappointment that rocked his soul. The pain, the sadness, the hopelessness. He didn't want to face that anymore, so he let go. He let go of the life he knew, the family he loved and the realm he called home. He let go of them all without a single hope that he would get them back. Betrayal stung at his soul and burned at his mind. As he fell away from the realm eternal, he was struck with a painful realization. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to be looked at like a traitor to Asgard, or like the monster that every single Asgardian knew him to be. So he ran.

His emotions stewed in a bubbling pool of hate, hurt and sadness for what seemed like eternity until he gave in to the insanity dancing on the edge of his mind. He let his darker thoughts pull him deeper into his despair, allowing them to drag him down a path he couldn't return from. He was ruthless and felt little sympathy for the world he wrought pain and destruction. He was a God among ants, and he should be treated as such. Yet, he felt his determination waver as he stared into the eyes of his once-was brother, pleading for him to return home. Return to Asgard. A tiny, innocent part of him still wanted to accept Thor's request and return to everything that he once knew, but he squashed the feeling.

"It's too late," he had said, and he meant it. He saw the hurt in Thor's blue eyes, but he turned away from the feeling bubbling in his chest. Sentiment. Sentiment was nothing but a weakness to him at that point.

And yet, despite all his efforts, he was thwarted again. For a second time, he tasted triumph upon his lips, only to have the decadent drink ripped from his hands. The ants had risen up and taken down his army, and as he stared up at the angry faces that pulled him down from his pedestal, the Avengers, he could only chuckle darkly. Was he so weak that he could let such pathetic creatures defeat him in his plight for conquest? Or did he ever really want any of this to begin with? For what reason did he chose Earth of all places to make his, knowing that there were such forces present to defend its lands? In retrospect, he couldn't justify his actions. Not like he used to. He didn't fight them as they placed cuffs upon his wrists and a muzzle over his mouth. He avoided Thor's sad stare as they stood side by side, preparing to return to Asgard. He needed no pity. Sentiment was a weakness.

He expected to be put in the deepest dungeons below Asgard for his treachery. He deserved no less. But when his feet touched back down upon Asgardian soil, his handcuffs were removed. Thor had clapped a big hand down upon his shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

"It is good to have you home, brother," he had said. Loki couldn't even lift his eyes from his boots.

His once-mother and father came to greet them as well, Frigga's arms encircling his thin waist without a moment's hesitation. He stared helplessly into her curled dusty blonde hair, shame rushing through him so thickly he couldn't even breathe. He couldn't bare to meet the Allfather's intimidating gaze. Not that Odin was giving him a look of contempt; only one of sadness, disappointment, and a touch of relief.

Loki didn't understand. He wanted them to hate him. He wanted them to loathe his very being like he had loathed them. He didn't want to return to the loving arms of a family that betrayed him. He didn't want to face the truth that stared him point-blank in the face.

They didn't send him to the deepest dungeons of Asgard. They didn't even lock him up. Frigga merely led him back to his old rooms, reminding him softly of when dinner would be. He didn't respond to her. He didn't even look at her when she left. He merely stared at the familiar set up of his room, retracing the pathways he had walked so many years before. Nostalgic memories stuck poisoned barbs into his heart. He couldn't help but think that a prison cell would have been more comforting to him.

He didn't leave his room. He realized that he was still under supervision by Asgardian guards, and he was sure the tesseract was stored away somewhere that he was unaware of, if just to keep his mischievous hands away from it's awe-inspiring power. Once or twice, he toyed with the idea of stealing it again and leaving Asgard for good, but the thought never stuck. He was tired. Physically and emotionally.

Frigga visited often, and even though he never responded, she carried on familiar conversations with him. It hurt his heart to think that she missed him as much as she did. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't hate his mother. She never once said as much, but he couldn't help but feel like he had failed her. He didn't deserve her company, or her forgiving love.

Thor visited just as often. It was easier for Loki to deal with his once-brother. A few choice words usually had the bumbling oaf leaving the room to restore his peace. In the quiet after Thor's visit, Loki would worry that he had finally said too much and that Thor would finally see him for the monster he was born to be. He hid the breath of relief that always came when Thor returned the following day.

This day, Thor was late. He always came before the fall of the sun, but the glittering orb of light was already dipping behind the edge of the horizon, allowing the galaxies and stars to overtake the skies. Loki stared out his window, waiting on pins and needles for the soft knock he expected to come. The knock didn't come until much later. There was a shuffle of a cape along the floor, and the solid thump of the heavy door closing. Loki didn't turn away from the window.

"You're late," he commented.

"I did not realize you were expecting me now," Thor responded. He didn't move from his spot near the door. Loki hid the breath of relief at the sound of his brother's - once-brother's- voice.

"I just know you to be a routine creature. It is most unusual for you to be late," he countered swiftly. Silence pulled between them. Loki turned an uncomfortable eye Thor's way. The God of Thunder watched him sadly.

"Why do you persist to remain in your chambers?" he asked. "We do not hold you here against your will. Do you think yourself imprisoned?"

Loki turned away. "I may as well be."

Thor stepped forward. "It is not what we intended-"

"And why not?" Loki interrupted, facing Thor with a poisonous glare. "Have you fools forgotten what I have done? The people I manipulated, the worlds I attempted to destroy? Why in the name of Yggdrasil would you, any of you, want me to return to Asgard as a free man?"

Thor remained where he stood, his expression calm and infuriatingly understanding. "We shall not judge you by your past mistakes."

"This is not a game, Thor," Loki spat. "For the things I have done, I should be locked away for the rest of eternity. And yet, I stare at the sky of Asgard every night from the window of my own room. The Allfather must finally be going insane in his old age for allowing a criminal from three of the nine realms to dine at his dinner table with him."

Thor frowned. "You know that is not true."

"Which part?" Loki jeered. "The part about the Allfather or my criminal record? Because I may have miscounted how many realms I managed to offend in the last year."

"Enough!" Thor stormed over to where Loki sat, his face contorted with semi-controlled anger. "I do not wish to hear this from you, brother."

"Brother," Loki sneered nastily. "What a hollow and useless term you naïvely hold on to. We do not share any blood bonds. We are not brothers."

"But we are-"

"In your mind!" Loki snapped. "There is no us! There is no we! You are not my brother. You never were."

Thor looked stricken. He struggled to find words for his thoughts. "You may not believe so," he said thickly. "But I have never once thought of you otherwise. Who are you but not my brother?"

"A monster," Loki responded hollowly, turning away to cast a forlorn look across Asgard. "A lustful, blood-thirsty monster."

"I do not believe so," Thor said softly.

"Then you are a fool," the darker God responded. Silence permeated the room between them. Thor took a step forward, his hand extended for Loki's shoulder.

"Leave."

Thor's hand froze. "Loki-"

"Leave."

The God of Thunder sighed, reluctantly allowing his hand to fall away. Loki stared out his window, not truly looking at anything as he listened to Thor's heavy footsteps as they retreated for the door. He heard the wood creak as the door opened, Thor pausing in his exit.

"At least come to dinner tomorrow. It will make mother happy."

Loki didn't respond, and Thor left him in silence.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Please consider leaving a review! :D