Pairing: Huntsman/Loki, Thor/Loki
Rating: M
Word Count: Don't know and don't care
Warnings: Thor is being a grumpy old man, Loki's an annoying little shit, and the Huntsman has no idea what to do with himself
Don't own SWATH or Thor. Sadness.

I am so sorry it's taken so long to update this. A lot has happened, and while I do have reasons for not spending much of my time working on fanfics, I will not make excuses. I apologize for neglecting my stories and disappointing you all, and I will try to do better.

Chapter 9

Loki still had not returned, and the sun was close to setting below the horizon. Thor, the impatient and easily-angered brute that he was, couldn't wait any longer and decided to go look for him. The Huntsman was about to ask if he wanted any help, but he thought better of it. Thor would only growl at him and say he didn't need help from a weak mortal. So the Huntsman dutifully sat there by the slowly dwindling fire, still holding onto Loki's fish. On a couple of occasions, he considered eating it so he wouldn't have to hold it anymore, but he didn't want to be turned into something or dismembered.

"Don't even think about it," a voice said to his right.

The Huntsman jerked his head around and could barely make out the shapes of Loki and Sleipnir in the faint light of the campfire. Loki slid off the horse's back, whispered something in its ear, then strolled over to where the other male sat on the ground. Sleipnir headed somewhere else that the Huntsman couldn't see, but he knew Loki would keep him relatively close.

"Thor just walked that way a moment ago," the Huntsman said, pointing in the direction that Loki had just come from.

"I know. I saw him."

"But why isn't he—?"

"You don't honestly believe that I would have revealed myself to him. Oh, is that for me?"

"It is yours. I've been holding onto it since you left so it wouldn't fall in the dirt."

"How sweet, you shouldn't have," Loki cooed and batted his eyelashes.

"I'm starting to think the same thing. You caught this fish on your own, you should have no problem catching another one."

"Why the sudden coldness, my dear Huntsman? Unless the weather has taken its toll on you," Loki said, feigning a look of hurt. The Huntsman rolled his eyes.

"Hardly. Now eat your dinner," he replied before thrusting the fish in front of Loki's face.

After taking the fish, Loki sat down next to the Huntsman. He snapped his fingers and the campfire blazed to life.

"I'm impressed. Thor would have eaten it himself, seeing how he has complete lack of restraint," Loki commented before nibbling on his fish.

"I didn't want you to turn me into some kind of reptile."

"Is that what the idiot told you?" The brunette shrugged. "Don't take anything he says seriously."

"Because he's an idiot?"

"You catch on rather quickly."

"So where did you two go?" The Huntsman asked, slightly inclining his head in the direction where he last saw Sleipnir mulling about.

Loki had been about to take another bite out of his fish, but he froze. He lowered it from his mouth, and for several seconds he stared blankly at the campfire. The light flickered over his eyes, making the green irises appear gold.

"Away."

The Huntsman took the hint and left it at that. Loki didn't eat anymore, and while the Huntsman wanted to say something to him about it, he decided against it. He didn't want to run Loki off again, and possibly risk getting his head bashed in by an over-protective sibling.

"I wonder how long it will take for Thor to realize that you've come back to the campfire." Even though it was quiet, the Huntsman was able to make out the smallest chuckle from the man sitting next to him.

"Considering the fact that his brain is the size of a mustard seed, it will be a very long time. And since we live for several thousands of years, there is no chance of his life expiring anytime soon."

"You are not immortal?"

"Of course not. Where did you get that idea?"

"I thought the gods were immortal," the Huntsman replied with a shrug.

"You saw Odin. He is an old man. It is only a matter of time before he croaks."

The Huntsman nodded once. He wasn't sure how to respond to Loki's scathing comments. It was obvious that there was some sort of rift between him and Odin, different from the one between the two brothers, but the Huntsman knew this was way above his pay grade. All he knew was that Loki stole something, which supposedly belonged to the Frost Giants, and Odin wanted it back. Had Loki even done anything wrong?

"Of course."

"Sorry?" The Huntsman hated when Loki read his mind.

"Of course I did something wrong. Despite the fact that the Casket of Ancient Winters does not rightfully belong to Odin, I still stole it from him."

"He stole it first, though. From the Frost Giants."

"Yes. But that doesn't matter to him. I committed a crime against the All-Father, and I must be brought back to Asgard," Loki replied, placing his palm on his chest dramatically as if he was acting out a play (badly). "Alive, because I have the Casket hidden away, and I am the only one who can draw it out. Once he has it back, I will be of no more use to him."

"Pleasant fellow."

"He will also want his horse back, but that is never going to happen."

"Forgive me for asking, but if your return was inevitable, would you still do everything in your power to ensure his freedom?"

"I would give my life for him. And I would die happy, knowing that Sleipnir would never have to be trapped between Odin's fat thighs ever again."

"Where do you plan on hiding him? It's not exactly easy for him to blend in."

"Why would I need to hide him?"

"But you just said…"

"You said if I returned to Asgard. I have no plans of going back to Asgard. I never did."

The Huntsman had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Not this argument again.

"Eat your damn fish." Loki had the gall to smirk at him.

Several hours had passed, or what seemed that long, and Thor still had seen no sign of Loki. Thinking that he had already made it back to the campfire on his own, Thor turned back. When the red glow was coming into view, he heard voices. As he continued to get closer, the words became clearer. He did not like what he was hearing.

"That's enough, Loki! I'm full!"

"Oh come now, my dear Huntsman. What is with this coldness?"

"If you say something about the weather, I swear to—"

"Really, there is no need for such hostility. Besides, I know you like the taste, you had some earlier. Now, open your mouth."

Thor had heard enough and stomped into the campsite, Mjolnir clenched in his hand with sparks flying.

"YOU GET YOUR FILTHY MORTAL HANDS OFF MY BROTHER!"

As opposed to what he expected to see, the Huntsman was seated next to Loki on the log. Loki was holding his fish in one hand, while the other was close to the brunette's face. Pinched between his thumb and forefinger was a strip of fish, which he appeared to be trying to feed to the Huntsman.

"Oh…erm."

"That's disgusting, Thor. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." While Loki was scolding his brother, the Huntsman ducked away from Loki's hand. "Future King of Asgard…"

Thor sat on the ground, grumbling under his breath, then rolled over on his side with a huff.

"Good night, Thor." All he received in reply was a grunt. Within minutes, the Thunder God was snoring loudly.

"He is going to get us killed, with all of that noise," the Huntsman whispered.

"We have been sitting around a beacon for hours. If anything potentially dangerous or life-threatening intended to kill us, it would have come for us already," Loki whispered back.

"Good point."

"Well, good night, my dear Huntsman."

"Already?"

"For your information, I have not slept in many nights, seeing how I have been avoiding Heimdall's gaze. I cannot risk my cloaking magic wearing off because I break concentration while I sleep. But now that Thor is indisposed and you are a weak mortal, I have nothing to worry about."

"I suppose I shall try to rest as well. Although, I don't know how anyone can sleep through all of that noise."

As the night continued to drag on, and Thor's snoring was slowly becoming white noise as he became used to it, the Huntsman had another problem: the fire was going out and it was getting colder.

He had left his supplies in Jotunheim, including an extra blanket, and he cursed under his breath for many reasons: For Sleipnir running off; for Loki being in Jotunheim and being the reason why Sleipnir ran in the first place. For winter being such a cold season; seriously, why did winter always have to be so cold? For Loki taking the Casket from Odin, and for Odin taking the Casket from the Frost Giants. For Loki having that fur cloak even though he didn't really need it.

While all of these thoughts were running through his head, what the Huntsman didn't realize was that he made two very grave mistakes: First, he (tried) to fall asleep. Second, he turned his back.

The Huntsman didn't notice the movement behind him, but when he felt the hand slide down his arm and over his chest, his tremors ceased and his eyes widened.

"You know, you're right about the noise," a voice spoke next to his ear. "It is nearly impossible to sleep."