hamm3rtime | (no subject)

(no subject)

It was odd enough, for someone as large as Thor to be knocked to the ground, especially as he was currently in full armor.

It was several times odder, to find that he'd been knocked to the ground by his little brother, after having seen Loki die in his arms.

The Trickster didn't look entirely well, but that could possibly be attributed to the violent collision with Thor's chestplate. Breathlessly, Thor boggled uncomprehendingly at the man before him. It felt like a dream. It had to be. Loki was gone, along with their mother. Thor had been mourning them for so long.

Sprawled upon the ground, Thor managed a single, quietly broken query. "...Brother?"

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Choking, Thor released his brother and attempted to remove the blade. But his hands were too badly injured and too wet with blood, than to get a good grasp on the tiny sliver of metal.

He'd meant only to step backwards, away from his little brother. But pained as he was, that step turned into a stagger before his legs gave out entirely.

He didn't answer; he didn't know the words he might answer with. Everything was pain and loss and betrayal. But he wouldn't give up. He didn't know how to give up, and more than that, this was so important.

"...Loki..."

For a singular moment as Thor staggered and fell, Loki felt fear. It was gone in a flash, replaced by intense anger at himself for such a momentary weakness. If his blade had found an even keener mark than intended and this culminated in Thor dead at his feet, then he should rejoice. This was what he wanted.

So why, then, did the victory toll in his chest sound hollow and ache so?

His jaw firmed as he stepped forwards and pressed the sole of one booted foot to the hilt of the dagger still protruding from Thor's ribs, only so he could push it in deeper as if to prove to himself that he was not so sentimentally weak.

"Please tell me you are going to beg, it would be so entertaining."

Choking, then shouting out in pain as the blade was ground deeper, Thor began to pant haggardly.

The pain was too much and he stopped moving, for a second that seemed to Thor as though it lasted forever. Then, even as painful as it was to him, Thor swung out with one padded vambrace, to hopefully knock Loki's legs out from under him.

Between the agony, the rage, and the violence, Thor let out a snarling shout as he swung. Some distant part of his mind was worried that Loki may take such a reaction as a lack of care. But at this moment, Thor had to be focused on the here and now.

A laugh, knife-sharp and brittle, burst forth from Loki's lips as he hit the floor, his legs taken cleanly out from underneath him by Thor's desperate swing. The sound was wheezing and a little breathless for all the air in his lungs had been knocked from him.

"Do you see, brother?"

Loki made no attempt to move or right himself yet. He was not hurt and could come to his feet, but Thor was wounded and bleeding so he was unafraid of a counterattack. He imbued the word 'brother' with every ounce of scorn and venom within him, making it sound a scathing insult rather than a term of familial endearment.

"There is nothing between us but blood and pain."

"Is that your choice?!" Thor howled, still weeping. "It is not mine!"

Forcing his burned hand to clench down on the dagger again, Thor finally managed to pull it out of himself. He didn't look at the blood. Not because of his training to keep his eyes on an enemy, but instead because looking at it would make the betrayal seem too real.

"The time when you had a choice about such matters is gone. You have chosen your affiliates, your Avengers and Odin, you must live with the consequences of those choices."

Just as he must live with the consequences of his own choices. Something that he found hard to do, on occasion. Not that he would admit that even to himself, for to do so would be to risk opening wounds better left closed.

Too much shouting had turned Thor's throat and lungs slightly raw. His tone sounded choking and strained because of it.

"I made no such choices! Do you think they do not think me a betrayer for rescuing you?! Well did you see, the way we fought each other upon that hill, for you left in the midst of it! Need I always choose you?! Above everyone as you hurt them?! Might I not choose all I love?"

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