Loki squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a moment. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his nose, and forced himself to look at Thor through clear eyes.
What he saw would not do. Their course was set. They each had their part to play now, and there were no choices left to be made. He uncurled his fingers and grabbed Thor's breastplate at the shoulders, jerking him forward slightly. Someone behind him whooped, perhaps supposing that Loki would try to fight his brother or something similarly stupid.
"Shut up," he whispered fiercely, for Thor's ears alone. He had to keep his words short and fast, hidden from the court that watched them so intently. "Steel yourself, brother. Your empathy does me no favors." He gave him the tiniest of shakes, curling his fingers tightly around Thor's armor.
Blood pounded in his temples, the unending hum of Mjolnir a steady tone in the back of his head, draining his magic away. He didn't have much time before he wouldn't be able to hold the damned thing any more; it didn't want to be in any kind of proximity to him.
"Now," he hissed, then shut his mouth firmly. There was more that he could say, but there was no time. Perhaps it showed in his eyes. You are not the only son of Odin. I am a man and I will take my punishment. Fairness is the fantasy of a child.
no subject
What he saw would not do. Their course was set. They each had their part to play now, and there were no choices left to be made. He uncurled his fingers and grabbed Thor's breastplate at the shoulders, jerking him forward slightly. Someone behind him whooped, perhaps supposing that Loki would try to fight his brother or something similarly stupid.
"Shut up," he whispered fiercely, for Thor's ears alone. He had to keep his words short and fast, hidden from the court that watched them so intently. "Steel yourself, brother. Your empathy does me no favors." He gave him the tiniest of shakes, curling his fingers tightly around Thor's armor.
Blood pounded in his temples, the unending hum of Mjolnir a steady tone in the back of his head, draining his magic away. He didn't have much time before he wouldn't be able to hold the damned thing any more; it didn't want to be in any kind of proximity to him.
"Now," he hissed, then shut his mouth firmly. There was more that he could say, but there was no time. Perhaps it showed in his eyes. You are not the only son of Odin. I am a man and I will take my punishment. Fairness is the fantasy of a child.