A Second Chance: Chap. 3 - NO REASON

Volstagg was laughing loudly, barely believing! Hogun and Fandrall widened their eyes, both impressed by how fast and wild Hela got when faced with loss. Thor made Oskar stop, more impressed than anyone else. They all expected a scream of joy, a playful ofense, anything. After all, this was the first time ever Loki had won and not Thor.

Yet, there was no scream, nor ofense, nor anything they were expecting for. No, there was only a smile – A big and innocent smile, one that hit Thor's chest with such intensity that he himself smiled as big as his little bro. Damn, he was happier than ever and everyone could see that. As he let go of Hela, caressing her, he approached Thor with his eyes shining.

"Did you see that? She really did as I taught! Isn't that amazing?"

Thor opened his mouth, astonished. Who was this impostor and what had he done to his mischieveous brother?

"It was an exciting race, bro!", Loki said and softly slapped Thor's back, "And I won! I told you, didn't I? 'We'll see who's going to lose this time', yeah!"

Thor smiled and messed up the young man's hair while laughing. He still meant no ofense; he looked so excited yet didn't show it. He, for once, had surpassed his brother's hability. Just for once.

Ah, he would explode if he didn't scream for good!

"Exactly… How?" Thor's face was a funny one; he seemed disturbed yet glad. And he still couldn't believe what happened. Loki started laughing at such sight when The Warriors Three approached them.

"I kneeeeeew you could do it!", Volstagg greeted him and gave him a strong slap on the back, making him cough. "There was something about you today that just told me Thor would lose!"

"You really did brilliantly today, Loki", said Hogun, serious as ever. This time, however, he showed happiness somehow. Thor looked back at his brother, not feeling bad for losing. He felt even better than when winning…

"What have you done to her?"

They all looked back, staring at Sif who had approached them with challenge on her eyes.

"What are you talking about?", Loki asked, clearly confused. All the others thought the same.

"Your horse, Hela! What have you done to her?"

"What do you mean by 'What have you done to her'? I've done nothing!"

"How could she run so fast? It's obvious you cast some kind of spell over her, tell me which it was!"

The tension grew faster than it should. Loki's eyes were burning with weariness and his breath became fast and unconstant. He took a deep breath before answering. The other Gods were frozen.

"You wanna know what I did to her?"

"Yes, I do! Tell me, tell us what exactly have you done!"

"I'll tell you exactly what I've done!" Loki whispered violently and slowly approached her. His mind was going insane, he couldn't hold it anymore. "I've spent two entire weeks training her, five hours a day, every single night while you stood in there, having your princess needed sleep so don't come here saying that I've used a fucking spell while I've been actually working for this!"

"Every single night? What else did you do at night, did you meet your friends and told them how to infiltrate Asgard once again?"

"Stop it!", Thor's voice resonated and both stopped, still staring into each other's eyes with fury. Sif smiled maliciously. "That's enough!"

"Enough?" Sif's tone of voice became one of disaproval. "Thor, how can you act so blindly? He's up to something, can't you see that?"

"He's trying to change! Everyone is giving him a chance, why is it so hard for you to at least try?"

"He almost KILLED YOU, Thor!"

"You're right! I was almost killed, Sif, not you! And if I believe in him, why can't you do the same? Why?"

Sig was about to burst in tears by now, tears of pure hate! Why was he believing with such will in the one that almost killed him? Why did he love him so much, even if he was his brother he was a monster! He tried to destroy everything he most loved and for what? He had no reason! He was protecting an abomination, ready to stand by his side even if he wanted to destroy his Realm! That's was unnaceptable.

She looked down to Loki who was behind Thor – The God of Thunder had entered in front of him in order to control the fight – and gave him a tearing look.

"Oh, look at that. Being protected by your old brother? No wonder you're so weak, you can't even defend yourself!"

"How dare you-" Loki said and tried going forward but was stopped by Thor's hand.

"Stop! Both of you!" Thor yelled. "You're not acting rationally, just stop!"

They were all panting by now, extremely angry. Sif gave the trickster a last look and turned her back to them.

"You may think I'm blind, Loki… But I'm not! You better watch your back!"

Loki didn't answer. He was feeling terribly down, these obscure memories brought back into his mind.

When Thor fell on the ground after being attacked by the Destroyer… Bleeding...

Dying…

His heartbeat got even faster. He turned around to hide it and Thor warned the Warriors Three to go after Sif.

"Make sure she gets home safe! I'll talk to her tomorrow."

No one argued. They just left, leaving the sons of Odin behind alone in the coldness and silence of the place. It took Thor a few tries before he could say anything.

"Loki…A… Are you ok?"

Loki kept staring into empty space, his mind making him unable to think straight. The voice that left his mouth was a trembly one and he felt as if he would collapse at any moment.

"J... Just…" He sighed. "No."

Loki sat over a rock, just trying to hide his sorrow but he couldn't do it. His hands were shaking and he couldn't keep focus. Something was killing him inside out and he just wish it would stop. Everyday since it all happened, it was slowly dragging him to madness and as much as he held himself tightly his hands were slowly slipping from his base. He had held it for long now but to remember the scene of his own brother almost dying by his own hands… It made everything come back at once and he couldn't hold it anymore.

Thor felt lost. He didn't know what exactly hit him so deep but something did. He slowly approached the man and sat next to him, just to be there. He would always be there.

"She's right, brother", Loki said after a long time with great effort, his eyes getting teary as he remembered the scene over and over… "I-I almost k-killed you… And yet… And yet you seek to help me?"

Thor put his hand over Loki's shoulder to comfort him "You were out of your mind", Thor said with a low voice, caringly, "It's ok now."

"No, it is not!" Loki said and turned to face him, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "I don't know what I'd be capable of doing if my natural instincts were awaken! I-I could… Who knows what I'd be able to do? What if I'm not capable of controlling myself?"

"There isn't such a thing, brother! I know you're scared but being half-frost giant doesn't mean you can't think while on that form! You're still you, Loki, son of Odin! My brother!"

Loki swallowed hard, breathing hardly while understanding these words. God, this… This was insane!

"I could be leading you into danger! Real danger, don't you understand that?"

"We have faced so many dangerous things since we were kids, Loki. Kids! And yet, we managed to go through it all, didn't we? Together!"

"Why do you trust me? Just answer me, I need to know!"

Thor took a deep breath and smiled. Loki looked so fragile right now… He had lost confidence about himself, drastically. But he was just afraid he would hurt someone he loved and that made Thor's heart beat with joy. He put his arm around Loki and brought him next to him, messing up his hair as he knew he hated. Yet, it made him smile this time and Thor kept him like that, within his arm.

"Do you remember that time when we went alone to the forest of Asgard and there was this giant spiky creature in there?"

"I get the chills just by rememberin that!"

"And do you remember how we defeated it?"

"It was the first time I used magic, wasn't it?"

Indeed, it had been the first time Loki ever tried to use his powers out of his room. When Thor fell, a Loki appeared out of nowhere in front of him and the creature went after him instead. Thor screamed when he saw another Loki getting near him and pulling him to a safe place.

"I felt scared, you know?", Thor said. Just as they found a safe place, Loki had put his hand over his chest and started having problems breathing. He started panicking as his heart started failing him but he couldn't understand what was going on. Thor held Loki even tighter after remembering that. "I thought I was going to lose you that day... Losing you is my biggest fear"

Loki felt something heavy fall over his conscience. He too loved Thor more than anything and just wanted to protect him but he just couldn't understand what made him go so far…

What fell over him was guilt.

"I… I wouldn't be able to live without you, brother", Loki said, being more honest than he had ever been during his whole life, "And… That makes me feel even worst after trying to-"

"I told you to forget about that!", Thor repeated, "Something got the best out of you, but you're back now! It's alright!"

Loki let out a sigh, ashamed. Thor continued.

"And… Do you remember what I told you when you fell on your knees, trying to breath?"

Loki looked to him. Of course he remembered, how could he ever forget? Thor smiled and said with a soft voice:

"It's alright! There's nothing to fear, brother. You are safe. I am here with you!"

Like a lullaby. A lullaby that helped him breath normally again because it made him feel calm. It made him know everything would work out in the end because he had his brother, he had his beloved brother with him. Why should he feel fear? The was no eason to do so.

Loki smiled, forgetting his problems for a few seconds. Thor messed up his hair again and got up, relieved he had managed to make him feel better.

"Come on! Mother would not want us to be late for lunch!"

"Mother or you?"

"More me than mother"

"I thought so!"

They got on their horses and prepared to leave. Thor heard as Loki greeted Hela for the race and smiled.

"You did amazing today, girl! Keep it up!"

"You did amazing, today, brother" Thor said and as Loki looked at him half glad half confused he said, "What would be of the students if it wasn't for the teacher?"