The warriors had returned to Asgard from a long training exercise, this one had lasted twelve entire weeks. The weather had been brutal and the men were weary. Odin had gone with them this time, he missed being a young warrior and going out to train with the rest, battling his friends in mock war. Now he was king, a husband, a father of two sons. His beard had long since turned gray, he was battle scarred, and his sons were on the cusp of manhood. Odin was a bear of a man, even in his old age, he never lost any of the authority in his voice, he was well respected among the warriors and the people of Asgard.

Odin led the men into the great hall with anticipation of seeing his family, his one blue eye shining, the other covered with a golden eye patch. His wife Frigga's wavy blonde hair streamed behind her as she ran to greet Odin with tears in her shining blue eyes and a passionate kiss waiting for him on her lips. Through the welcoming crowd he saw his sons and he could not wait to embrace them as well.

Thor was his oldest son, almost eighteen-years-old. He was the spitting image of Odin when he had taken the throne of Asgard. Blonde and blue-eyed, tan, taller and stronger than any of the other warriors in training. He was said to be the most handsome son of Odin. His hands were rough and callused from his training. He was first in line to the throne, a bit arrogant, and headstrong, but with training he would make a fine king. Thor often said things rather bluntly, he never held back what he was thinking. He wore Odin's royal colors of red and gold, a sign that he was second in line to the king. His armor shone his status, even though he had not yet finished his training.

Loki was quite the contrary to his brother with green eyes and black hair. He had a softer, less masculine appearance than his brother and wasn't the warrior type; he was tall, thin, and fair. His hands were delicate, as were his features. He had skills in magic surpassing many in the nine realms, even at the young age of sixteen. He was quiet where his brother was boisterous and loud. He was thoughtful when he spoke, a word-smith with a silver tongue. He was particular about the words he used, and he used them sparingly. He was not the first heir of Asgard, he did not wear the royal colors, but emerald green and gold, his garments were more suited to a sorcerer than the armor of a warrior.

"Thor! Loki!" Odin exclaimed as he made his way through the crowd and dragged his sons to him. "Just wait, Thor! I want you to join the first training exercise after your birthday. I think you are ready, I am so proud of you my son."

Thor could barely contain his excitement. "I cannot wait father! I have been aching to go for the longest time!"

Odin turned to Loki to embrace his youngest son. He very much loved Loki, he was proud of both of his sons for very different reasons.

"Loki, you have grown another inch! How have your lessons been going?"

Before Loki could answer, the feast had been laid out and the great hall quieted to hear Odin speak a few words about returning to Asgard.

Odin stood at the head of the great hall to speak, "Friends, family, we have missed you all! It is great to see our warriors training first hand, and to ensure that this generation will be able to protect Asgard. I fail to have the words to describe the pride I have for these men, and woman…" He nodded at Lady Sif, "… Who are the backbone of our army. They have worked up quite an appetite these past twelve weeks. I am sure they haven't seen such delicacies since we left, I know I haven't! Enjoy yourselves!"

Odin raised his goblet and yelled, "To Asgard!"

"To Asgard!" The hall resounded back to him, and they all drank to their dear land.

Loki's frown was masked by the farce of a smile that he had perfected over the years. Thor had always come first in Odin's world, and something always interrupted Odin when he was talking to Loki, he felt that he must just grin and bear it. Someday he would tell his father how he felt, today would not be that day.

Forks and knives scraped plates, and there was laughter and conversation in the air. Thor looked over at his brother sitting alone at the other end of the table, he was trying to hide a scowl that lingered on his face and was picking at his plate. Something in Thor's heart stirred like a bear waking from a long winter's nap. He had never noticed how green Loki's eyes were or how graceful he was when he moved. His eyes only strayed when Loki's eyes met his for a brief second.

Thor looked away to pretend to listen to a lively conversation near him and when he looked up again, Loki was gone. Thor stood and made his way out of the great hall. He caught a glimpse of green and gold rounding a corner and he ran until Loki was within sight.

"Loki!" echoed down the stone hallway.

The younger brother halted but did not turn around. Thor closed the gap in few strides and his hand was on Loki's wrist, turning him around to look at his face.

"Brother, what is wrong?" Thor quietly questioned.

"Nothing, Thor. I just want to be alone." his voice was masking something deeper as he felt Thor's grip lessen on is wrist, but still remain.

"You would tell me if there was something on your mind?" he could feel Loki's pulse.

"Yes, of course." there was a twinge in his voice that Thor couldn't figure out.

Thor pulled the younger boy to his chest in an embrace and Loki melted into the cool armor covering his brother's chest.

Thor suddenly had feelings he had never had before, feeling his brother give in to his embrace. He had the overwhelming urge to show Loki how much he was loved.

Loki's eyes opened when Thor planted his lips on Loki's forehead and then his cheek briefly. He looked up into his brother's eyes, the hurt starting to show on his face, his brow slightly furrowed, his lower lip trembled in the tiniest way.

Suddenly Loki's back was against the wall and Thor's lips were on his in a deeper kiss, the passion was almost painful. It lasted until Loki pushed Thor away a few seconds later, overwhelmed. His lips had never been touched by another's in his sixteen years. The feeling was not awful, but unexpected.

Thor stared at Loki for a few seconds, the hurt in his face now replaced with confusion. Thor was confused as well and he turned on his heel and briskly walked away.

Loki stood there, the hotness where Thor's lips had been now cooling as swiftly as the kiss had ended, He could still taste and feel Thor, his scent lingering on him. He felt alone now, desperately alone.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Thor made his way to his chambers, his conscience weighing him down with each stride. He closed the door and tore the armor from his chest, the gauntlets on his wrists clanged loudly on the stone floor where they joined his breast plate. His boots were wrenched from his feet and tossed in the same direction as the rest. His bed welcomed him and he took refuge in it's warmth.

"What have I done?" he whispered to the empty room.

He laid in silence for what seemed like days, his heart was betraying him, his mind was still on his brother's eyes, his lips...when all he wanted to do was pretend it had never happened.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Thor didn't get up.

Loki came into the room cautiously, looking to see where Thor's voice had come from. He saw the pile of blankets and furs on the bed move as Thor looked up to see who had come in.

"I came to thank you for making sure I was alright, I wasn't." he said in the direction of the bed.

There was no response from the blankets. Loki came closer.

"I have felt as of late, that even if I was the best sorcerer in all of the nine realms, that it would still not be enough for father to notice. Maybe if I was a great warrior like you..."

"He notices," Thor answered, "he is not always great with words or expressing love, but he does love you."

"Love..." Loki spat as if it was foul on his tongue.

Thor got up from the bed to face his brother again. Loki's eyes shone brighter than he had seen in a long time.

"You are loved, brother." Thor stepped toward Loki but Loki stepped back remembering earlier in the hall.

"YOU are loved, Thor. YOU are the chosen one to succeed father, he always said only one of us would be king of Asgard, but both of us were born to be kings. I do not grasp what he meant by that. How could we have both been born to be kings if only one of us could be king?" Loki's brow furrowed again.

"I do not know what he meant by that. But I do know that I could never be king without you by my side. I would not choose a life without you. You know that." Thor's voice was strained, he could not imagine life without his brother.

"So that I could remain in your shadow?" Loki was almost yelling now.

"You know I did not mean it that way!" Thor winced.

"I have always come second. Second to you, the throne, to father...I have and always will live under your pedestal." Loki's voice went hoarse as he was almost on the verge of tears.

"You have always been first to me."

Thor took the two steps and pulled Loki into his arms, his brother submitted to his embrace, the tears now spilling down his fair cheeks. He thought of their childhood, He had never let Loki win any games even though he was younger, he had chosen his friends over Loki too many times to count, he was left at home when Thor had gone to training, he had been left out. he had just lied to his brother. Thor hadn't realized until now the hurt he had caused Loki, his heart broke at the thought that he was the reason for his tears and anger.

"I am sorry." He whispered into Loki's hair.

"What?" Loki tried to compose himself as he looked up at Thor.

"I am sorry for not putting you first." Thor averted his gaze, not wanting to look into those shining green eyes.

"I just want to be your equal." Loki took Thor's face in his hands and made him look into his eyes again.

"You are more than my equal, Loki, you are my brother. I am proud of anything you do. I love you." Thor then kissed him on the forehead.

Neither said anything for several moments, both feeling somewhat different than they had about each other prior to this night. Thor released him sat on the bed, Loki sat next to him.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Loki changed the subject and received a smile from his brother, "Father told the warriors that you would be going on your first training exercise nine days after your birthday! Are you not excited? I wish you could have heard father telling them how proud he was of you and that your first mission was to be that soon!"

Thor's birthday was in only four days. He was to be eighteen, a man, a warrior.

"I have heard it from you, that is more special." he smiled.

"I wish I could go with you, it will be boring without you around."

There was a bit of an awkward pause as the two looked at each other, uncertain of what they should say next.

Loki filled the silence again.

"Oh, I just cannot wait for you to see the gift I have made for you, brother! You will be proud of my skills when you see it!" Loki's excitement showed in his voice.

"I cannot wait, brother! I am always impressed when I see new magic you have learned," Thor reached out to pull his brother closer to him.

Loki smiled and hugged his brother back. Thor buried his face in the younger boy's neck and closed his eyes, he breathed deeply of Loki's scent. Loki had always smelled of the library, like the ancient crumbling books he buried himself in. Thor also detected a new sweeter underlying scent that he couldn't quite make out. Loki's scent was always... comforting.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

When Thor woke up on his eighteenth birthday, he thought he might feel different. Instead, all he felt was child-like excitement. Still, he was a man now and needed to appear stoic.

He got out of bed and went to Loki's chambers without changing his night clothes. Loki was not there, and he was nowhere to be found at breakfast. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three had given him a necklace of silver with the fang of a great wolf they had killed during a hunt earlier that winter. It had tried to attack Fandrall and Lady Sif had brought it down with a single arrow to the eye mid-leap. It was a beautiful gift, and they promised he could join them on the next hunt now that he was a man.

Loki was not at the midday meal, either. His father Odin had always given him a gift on his birthday, usually in the privacy of his parent's chambers. This time Odin requested that he be present in the throne room after he had eaten.

Thor thought that Loki surely would be at his father's side to give him his gift, but when he strolled into the throne room and knelt before his father, Loki was not there. Everyone knelt when Thor did so, but Odin stood and held out his hand for Thor to stand as well.

"As you all know, it is my eldest son's eighteenth birthday. Thor is already a great warrior, trained by the best. He will be a great king someday, a strong leader and protector of the people of Asgard. I am honored to gift him his birthright, Mjolnir. This hammer was made for Thor and only Thor. He is the only one in the nine realms able to lift it. With Mjolnir, Thor will be able to call thunder and lightning to help him in battle. He will have the power to bring down mountains as well as men…" Odin embraced his son and stepped aside to reveal a large silver hammer.

Thor grasped the handle of his gift. It felt cool and radiated energy; it was light in his hand, and seemed like an extension of his arm. He lifted it above his head for all to see, and sounds of awe were heard all around the room.

"Thank you father…" said Thor, approaching his father to embrace him, and then his radiant mother. "… Thank you both. I shall cherish Mjolnir for as long as I shall live."

"Long live Thor, the Thunderer!" Boomed Odin, his fist pumping in the air.

"Long live Thor, the Thunderer!" The room chanted back.

Thor scanned the faces in the room to see if he could find Loki. The room was emptying quickly, and Loki had missed it.

Thor decided to search for Loki, he tried everywhere he knew his brother to go on a regular basis; Loki's chambers, the vast library, the great hall, the stables and even their parent's chambers, plus all of the meandering hallways in between.

He was becoming worried, he had looked everywhere and upon not finding Loki, he ran to his own chambers. He started pacing and thinking of any places he might have missed in his search. He had exhausted all possibilities in his mind, it wasn't until then that he noticed the green parchment that had been propped up on his bedside table.

It had his name scrolled in Loki's gold script on it. He placed Mjolnir by his bed and unfolded the parchment, golden letters appeared on the blank page.

"Dear Brother,

Happy eighteenth Birthday! Are you looking for me?

Come out to the gardens nearest the forest on the East side of the palace. Your gift shall be waiting there.

Love,

Loki"

Thor ran from the palace and bounded out to the gardens as fast as he could. Loki must have been sitting out here for hours, for he had fallen asleep in the middle of a small but grand garden of exotic flowers. Thor's mind saw nothing of the beauty and splendor of the enchanted garden, only the beauty of the sleeping Loki in the midst of it.

He scooped up his brother without waking him and held him close. It was then that he really saw the garden. It was filled with flowers he had never seen before, colors that did not exist in Asgard; violets, oranges, and reds so much more beautiful than the beloved edelweiss that grew everywhere here. Edelweiss was plain and white, ordinary compared to this rainbow of primrose before him. He knew how much time and magic Loki had spent on it.

Thor smiled as Loki moved in his arms and finally opened his eyes, squinting in the full daylight.

"Thor, Happ - " Loki's words were stifled by Thor's lips finding his.

Loki was completely still. After a moment, Loki pushed Thor away and wriggled free of his brother's arms. They stared at each other for a long moment, neither of them saying a word.

Loki didn't mean to push Thor away, but he had been caught off guard again.

Thor didn't know what to do, he had kissed his brother a second time. He turned and started to run.

"Thor wait!" Loki's words had fallen short.

He had always admired his handsome brother, he had always overheard how many maidens in the palace lusted after him, and every time he heard it a knot of jealousy grew inside of him. He had thought that the jealousy he felt all of these years was because of his not-so-subtle differences between he and his brother, maybe because he never overheard anyone talking about himself in that way. Anyone who had shown interest in Loki was trying to get to Thor through him.

It hurt, but maybe that was not the reason for his jealousy. Maybe he was jealous of whomever Thor would end up falling in love with.

Maybe Loki wanted Thor for himself. This thought knocked the breath out of him.

On the other hand, Loki knew that Thor was his brother and it was wrong to love your brother in this way. Men had been killed for this kind of thing in Asgard, what of the royal sons? It would be a dark blemish on the name of the Odinson house. He couldn't tell Thor his true feelings. What would Odin say, what of Frigga, if this turned into something and they found out? He and Thor would be separated forever. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't tell Thor how he really felt. At the thought of being separated from his beloved brother, tears started to spill down his cheeks. He would have to lie to Thor for the first time in his life, lie to the only person in his life he had never lied to.

He stood there for quite some time not realizing he was still touching his lips.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Thor ran back to his chambers, putting Mjolnir in front of the door so that no one could disturb him. He was sobbing into his hands freely now.

He had just kissed Loki a second time. The feelings causing him to lose control of himself when in his brother's presence were confusing.

He sobbed harder now, as he hadn't even thanked his brother for his glorious gift. How could he now, when he knew Loki would probably never want to hear from him again. He knew that kissing Loki was wrong, that he could be disowned, even banished for it, but all he could think about was Loki's lips.

Had he felt Loki kiss him back, leaning into Thor before pushing him away? The kiss had only lasted seconds, but Thor still felt it on his lips. He couldn't help that Loki was so beautiful, or the way he affected him. The taste of him had almost been too much.

He was slowly coming to the realization that he loved Loki more than a brother should, he could not let that realization get the best of him again. He felt a weight heavier than Mjolnir in his chest. What could he do?

A soft knock on the door made Thor stop crying abruptly, his voice shook as he asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me. Please let me in," Loki implored.

Thor was suddenly worried. Was Loki angry at him? Was he here to berate him now? He was hesitant to open the door, but Loki knocked again. He moved Mjolnir and opened the door, he made his way to his bed and sat down with a heaviness and a large sigh, his face was in his hands trying to hide from his brother, wondering as Loki let himself in slowly, what he would say to him.

Loki said nothing, he just looked at his feet. He didn't want to lie to Thor, but some things had to be done.

"I'm so sorry, I do not know what came over me. Your present was amazing. I love it, brother. Thank you..." Thor finally spoke, taking his face out of his hands.

Loki paced the floor in front of Thor before speaking. He was wishing this could go a different way, that he could just tell Thor how he felt. How he wanted to feel his lips on his again right this second.

"I do not know what is happening, brother. I cannot return the same sentiment." Loki lied, and he had tried to sound convincing. The kiss still lingered on his lips as well as his mind. He tried not to look at Thor, he knew that he would melt if he looked into his blue eyes.

Thor looked up into his brother's face before Loki turned to go. Loki blushed when he saw Thor looking into his eyes, his lips ached.

"At least someone finds me desirable," Loki mumbled sarcastically under his breath as he left the room.

Thor stared as his brother left the room. How could he tell Loki that it had been taking all of his brute strength not to grab him and kiss him again. He felt like his insides were being cut out of him with a dull blade, he didn't know that he wasn't the only one who felt the same pain.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Throughout the following years, their friendship and brotherhood had changed, but the feelings they had for each other had grown tenfold. Thor's training kept him away for weeks, sometimes months on end with only a few days reprieve to sleep and recover. This did not leave much time for Loki, his increasingly distant, mischievous brother.

During training the weather had been bitterly cold, they couldn't see ten feet in front of them in the snow. Some of the warriors had suffered frostbite or hypothermia and needed to recover before the next training exercises. Odin had told them that all of the warriors should spend some time with their families and friends, he had seen the toll that the weather had taken on them. This time Thor would be home for two months, and he looked forward to it.

Thor bathed and changed out of his worn out armor. He wanted to seek out his brother, he missed the days when Loki would be at the return feasts in the great hall. They would tell each other what the other had missed in the long weeks or months they had been apart.

But Loki had stopped coming to the feasts, and had stopped visiting his chambers to talk. He missed Loki while he was gone, and now he missed Loki when he was home. His imagination made him miss Loki even more...

By the Norns Loki had changed in the long months since Thor had started his training outside of the palace walls. His eyes were more cunning, his silver tongue much more lithe, his magic stronger than ever before. he had a quietness about him. Loki had become a man, very attractive in an exotic way that Thor could not put a finger on. Loki did not have the look of a prince of Asgard, he was no mighty warrior and flaunted it.

As handsome as he had become, Thor could tell that something was amiss in Loki's smile. His demeanor was not as cheerful as it had been when they were younger. He seemed almost… sad. He would do anything to see him smile again.

Thor had nothing to do while he was on reprieve, so he would seek Loki out whenever he had a moment to spare. But he never seemed to be able to find him. Loki would disappear in the early morning and then re-appear in the evening with his nose in a book, just to disappear again into his chambers. It seemed as if Loki wanted nothing to do with him.

Thor ached just to see him, even a glimpse of him. It took all of the strength in his being not to knock on his door and wake him up, and to demand of him why he made himself scarce everyday. Thor longed to talk at length with his brother as they used to in days of old.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Tonight Thor had had a bit too much mead with Hogun, one of the Warriors 3. They had stayed in the dining hall half the night, talking about the next hunting trip. They planned on inviting Lady Sif and the other two that completed the Warriors 3 hunting before they had to leave again. The men got bored of the normal chit chat and were looking for something a bit more fun to do.

Hogun wanted to see if he could lift Mjolnir, if the legend of the magical hammer were true and that only Thor could lift it. Thor agreed and had almost stumbled his way back to his chambers to fetch it. Outside of Loki's chambers Thor was stopped in his tracks, he heard his name, or at least he thought he did. He listened for another minute.

All of a sudden "Thorrr" the sweet voice came again, it was louder this time.

Was it Loki? Was he in trouble? Thor's mind raced to a million and one things that could be happening to Loki on the other side of the door separating him from his brother. His door was not locked. Thor stumbled in to find Loki still asleep.

As a child, Loki had often sighed in his sleep, sometimes he would speak incoherently in a language Thor did not understand. Tonight he was almost restless, making sounds and all of a sudden said "Mmm...Thor…" in a voice that sounded as if it had been coated in honey, he was laying on his back tangled in the covers, his night clothes twisted and revealing his muscular stomach. All Thor could do was stare, he had never seen Loki look so innocent or so beautiful as he did right now. Then Loki's eyes fluttered open and caught sight of Thor. Loki's eyes were wild.

"Thor! What are you doing in my chamber? How long have you been here?" Loki demanded, gathering up his sheets to his chin.

"A few seconds, I heard you say my name and I came to see what was wrong," Thor defended.

"I thought I locked the door," said Loki dryly.

"Were you having a dream?" queried Thor.

"Yes, I was having a good dream. You died in it!" said Loki, clearly annoyed.

"Good," Thor was relieved that Loki was alright, but was thirsty for conversation.

"If that's all, then goodnight," said Loki.

"Loki... Are you avoiding me?" He crossed his arms on his broad chest and the mead gave him the courage he needed to ask this. Thor was trying to not come off as intoxicated, trying to stand up straight.

"I've been very busy. I am working on reading every book in the library."

"You and your books..." Thor wanted to change the subject, and he mused aloud thoughtfully. "... It would be nice to see my brother once in a while."

"I'm sure," Loki was sarcastic again, but he rethought his reply. "... I suppose I can arrange that."

Loki wanted to sleep, but his mind and heart were relentless. He ached to talk to his brother every second of every day. He hid himself away to keep from wanting more of him. But he had no control of heart nor mind that night.

Thor and Loki sat up most of the night talking about Thor's training and Loki's finding books about magic in a lost language that he was translating. They laughed about old inside jokes and things that had happened while away from each other, and reminisced about their childhood.

Both wanted to tell the other their true feelings, but that did not happen. They tried to stay awake all night, but ended up falling asleep next to each other.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

In the morning Loki woke up with Thor snuggled to him, their legs intertwined. He looked down at his brother and was instantly enchanted by seeing him so close, and the rugged warrior looking so innocent. Seeing Thor this way stirred forbidden emotions back to the surface of Loki's mind.

He tried to get up without waking Thor, but his brother just scooted closer in his sleep and pressed his face against Loki's chest.

Loki hesitated, but then pressed his nose against Thor's hair and inhaled his scent. His brother always smelled of leather, pine, and metal... like a warrior should smell. Loki looked at this large sleeping man, a smile played at the edge of Thor's lips.

Damn those lips! He was so beautiful… and Loki couldn't help thinking how much he loved his brother lying in his arms like this. His hand started to caress Thor's muscular back. He was so warm, and he felt so good on this snowy morning.

Thor's eyes started to open and he pushed himself away from Loki with a boyish yawn. He had been having a rather intimate dream about his brother, and waking up in the object of his desire's arms was a startling reality. He shook his tousled blonde hair into his face, hiding a blush.

"Please don't hide from me brother…" said Loki softly, he couldn't help but lay a hand on Thor's shoulder to comfort him. "I have the same problem most mornings!"

It was hard for Loki to not be a bit horny upon waking up. But Loki didn't want anyone, especially Thor to know that he dreamt of his brother every night since his brother had first kissed him. He dreamt of his brother in ways a brother should never dream about a brother.

Thor rolled back over to face his brother, Loki realized he was noticing that he was not the only one who had an erection and blushing in this bed. Loki reached for his brother noting his tear-stained cheeks, and pulled him to himself in a warm embrace. He said nothing, he listened to Thor's breathing, and felt his heartbeat against him. Thor couldn't even look him in the eye.

Loki could barely stand it.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

That morning was the first day in almost a year that Loki decided to eat his meals in the dining hall with Thor and his friends. Loki asked Thor to meet him in his garden at sunset.

Thor went to the garden at the specified time and sat in the midst of the flowering beauty and waited for Loki. Loki appeared by his side in an instant, obviously practicing a new spell.

"I wanted to ask you, brother..." started Loki, there was a long pause as he looked at Thor and his breath caught a little in his throat, but Thor let him continue without interruption. "I wanted to ask you...if you wouldn't mind terribly... coming to my chambers tonight. I slept so well with you there last night, I haven't had such rest in months, I think it was because I felt your presence there, and I knew that it wasn't a dream. I took comfort in you being there."

Thor stared at Loki and listened carefully to the request, he felt needed by his little brother. In the past, he had always been the one that needed Loki, had longed to talk to him, to be together and inseparable as they had been when they were children. He knew Loki had been lacking proper rest, dark circles under his eyes had given him away to that fact. Today he had looked refreshed upon awakening, and his eyes had been brighter than usual.

Thor nodded, "Of course brother, I could tell you had gotten much rest, you looked and acted today as if a weight had been lifted from you. I shall be there tonight, but tell me brother… did you have dreams last night? Is there a spell you can cast to rid yourself of these dreams? I know they have been taking a toll on you, and I do not wish to see you in such torment."

Loki didn't realize his brother noticed so much about him, it was endearing, but what he could not tell Thor was what the dreams were about. The the dreams had been taking a toll on him, but he had never hated the dreams-in all honesty he had started to look forward to them. He didn't know what the dreams meant, but how could you tell your brother you were having intimate dreams about him?

"I don't...hate...the dreams..." he looked away from Thor's gaze.

"I thought they were keeping you awake? I thought they were troubling you." Thor looked confused.

"They do..." he gazed at the sun setting against the horizon.

He could see the wheels turning.

"Come to my chamber tonight after the dinner feast, we will talk more then, brother, but until then..." His words trailed off as he embraced his brother quickly and there was a flash of light. Loki was gone and Thor was no longer in his garden, he had materialized into his own chambers in time to dress for dinner.

He finally connected the dots and saw the whole picture, Loki's dreams were about him. He had been imagining what it would be like and Loki had been dreaming of it! He couldn't wait to talk to Loki tonight and and tell him that he had figured it out. He felt a joy in his heart that his brother needed him, and during dinner he could not help but smile at everyone-but only he knew what his joy was about.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Thor went to the dinner feast expecting to find Loki in the chair next to his, but the chair sat empty. He sat down for a few minutes, not eating, just sipping his wine and wondering where Loki was. He decided to go in search of him, he drained his goblet and left the hall.

He went to see if maybe Loki had gotten lost in a book or had decided to lay down for a bit. He went to the library and did not find him in his usual nook, so he went to his chambers, he knocked lightly but no one answered. He was about to leave when he heard his name again in that honey sweet voice he had heard the night before, and then again but this time muffled a bit by something.

Thor tried the door, he thought Loki to be asleep and dreaming again. When the door opened he peeked around it. Loki was not asleep… quite the contrary.

Loki was on the bed, naked, with his backside to the door, face buried in the pillows and moaning his name. He was stroking his erection with such passion Thor knew he was about to orgasm. Thor was instantly hard when he stumbled upon this scene and felt those feelings flood back to his memory the instant he had heard his name moaned by Loki in his passion.

Again Loki moaned Thor's name and then he saw his brother come, the hand around his cock slowed and he could see his sac tighten with each wave of his orgasm. Loki collapsed, his face still in the pillows, hand still around his cock. His breath came in heavy bursts. Thor was impressed by the whole scene. His brother's naked body was perfect, his muscles glistening with sweat.

He backed out of the room and walked back to his own chambers. The whole time all he could see was Loki pleasuring himself in his mind. His brother had been moaning his name. It was not until he was close to orgasm himself that he realized he had been stroking his own erection at the thought of Loki doing the same. He came with such force that he had to lay there for quite some time to catch his breath, and he was hard again almost instantaneously. He knew he had to tell Loki how he felt tonight.

He bathed and dressed for bed, then made his way to Loki's chambers. This time when he knocked he waited for Loki to answer. Loki was also in bed clothes and embraced his brother when he opened the door to him. He could feel Loki's erection underneath the loose night shirt he was wearing.

They just stood there looking at each other. Thor didn't know how to start to breach the subject that was on his mind, but Loki did.

Loki didn't say a word, he put a hand on Thor's arm to silence his thought, his eyes were closed and then Loki's face was instantly near to Thor's-so close that he could feel him even though they weren't touching, and Loki took the final step and his lips melted into Thor's.

Thor's eyes closed as he grabbed his brother to him. His arms had ached to hold his brother, his lips burned with a desire to be one with Loki's. Loki had Thor's face in his hands, he brushed Thor's hair out of his eyes and his legs wrapped around his brother's body, the closeness made them want more. They kissed passionately for what seemed like an eternity, it was Loki who broke the kiss.

"How can I feel so much for my brother? How could I want you so badly and still push you away?" Loki's words were smothered with another kiss, Thor's hands had now found Loki's ass. Loki's erection was now very apparent, it was digging into Thor's stomach.

"I knew when we kissed that first time that I had fallen for you. The dreams that night. I didn't know how to respond to dreams of being intimate with my own brother. I didn't know until later that I had started to enjoy them, look forward to them...use them for my own pleasure when I wasn't asleep..." Thor hushed him again with his lips.

Thor put him down."I-I saw you tonight...I came looking for you and I-you didn't hear me knock, but I heard you say my name, I thought you had fallen asleep and I let myself in..." Thor confessed as a smile snaked it's way across Loki's face and he looked Thor in the eye again.

"I knew you were there," said Loki in a low voice. His hand brushed Thor's shoulder lightly sending a shiver down his back.

His arms went about Thor's neck and his lips found their way along his collar bone, his hot kisses trailed up his neck and back to his mouth where his lips lingered awhile. Their tongues mingled as their hands wandered. Thor needed to be closer to his brother, he picked him up and placed him on the bed. He looked at him before laying beside him, he wanted him in his arms and he wanted to touch him everywhere, kiss him everywhere.

He wanted to feel Loki's body on his and he pulled Loki up so that he was laying on top of him. They could feel each other's erections though their night shirts, but Thor didn't feel they were close enough. He grabbed the hem of Loki's night shirt and pulled it off over his head, messing up those beautiful raven locks and he got harder. His scent was stronger now and that drove Thor wild. Loki helped rid Thor of his shirt as well and they were skin to skin, their warmth and scents mingling as they kissed and caressed each other.

Thor laid Loki on his back and his hand found his cock, felt the moisture at the tip and started to stroke it. He was looking into his brother's eyes as he stroked, he saw Loki's desire rising. Loki reached up and grabbed Thor's face and kissed him again, his hips were thrusting into Thor's hand, he didn't let Thor go until he was about to come. He spilled all over Thor's hand as he came.

Oh how Loki had dreamt of this, literally, for years. Never had he wanted anything more, and he now had him, in his arms, in his bed.

Loki's breathing had slowed after he came and Thor had pulled him to himself and listened to his brother's long slow breaths. After a a few moments, he could feel his erection being touched by feather light hands and then enveloped in a warm tight wetness. His eyes snapped open, and he looked down to see Loki gazing up at him with half-lidded eyes and the tip of Thor's cock in his mouth.

Oh the sensation he felt at that instant! He couldn't contain his orgasm, he grabbed Loki's head as he came hard into his brother's throat, and released him when he was done. Loki sat up and then came to snuggle under Thor's arm looking up into his eyes.

"Where did you learn that? Amazing..." breathed Thor, trying to catch his lost breath.

"We did that in my dreams and I wanted to try it to see if it really would pleasure you...I think I got my answer." smiled Loki.

Thor saw that Loki was still rock hard, and wanted to see Loki come again. Thor loved that he was the reason for Loki's pleasure, in his subconscious and now in real life.

He reached down to where Loki's cock was and took it in his hand, started to stroke it slowly.

Loki closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, "Your hands feel so much better than my own."

Thor kissed him, before letting go of his brother and sliding down the bed to rest himself between Loki's legs. Once there he admired his brothers cock for a moment before proceeding to take it down his throat.

Loki thrust himself between Thor's lips, and let out a small whine when Thor's hands stilled his hips. He made up for it by increasing the speed of his mouth until Loki was moaning.

Thor knew he was about to lose it entirely, and took his hands off his hips and let Loki thrust hard into his mouth. With one hand on Thor's head and the other twisted in the sheets, Loki came hard.

Thor was surprised at the taste of his brother, bitter but enjoyable. He had never tasted even his own semen, so he had no idea what it should taste like. He licked his lips and smiled up at his brother, "Did I please you well?"

Loki could only laugh and nod, as he was clearly spent. He was breathing hard and deep with his eyes closed when Thor snuggled up behind him and they fell asleep.

Reality was becoming much better than mere dreams.

To be continued...