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"But then Mjolnir flew through the side of the air ship and the whole thing came crashing down!"
Thor hit Loki's play skiff with his fist and made dramatic explosion sounds as he dropped it into the tub with a large splash. Loki giggled before remembering something, he gasped in dismay.
"Dey 'kay?" He pointed to the toy with wide eyes.
"Oh yes," Thor nodded, "I scooped up the light elves' emissary before any harm could come to her, and our foes jumped into the river the moment they saw Mjolnir heading their way, the Warriors 3 and Lady Sif were detaining them by the time I landed."
Satisfied by the answer, Loki picked up his skiff to play. There had been a time in his youth when Thor would have not minded slaying all of his foes, and would have even lauded it as the old warriors celebrated their own epic battles. Afterall, if any enemy were facing down the Crowned Prince of Asgard then they must have been undoubtedly evil and deserving of their death. However, time spent caring for Loki had quelled his urge for bloodshed. If his baby brother could shed tears over the bee that died stinging him because it would no longer pollinate the flowers (Mother had to spend quite some time explaining that there were more bees, and the flowers would not wither and die from the loss of just this one) then Thor could take the time to reflect that perhaps the enemies he faced weren't the mindless beasts he made them out to be. Not to say that he wouldn't do what Asgard needed of him, but that he would be more considerate of how he executed that duty.
Thor lathered Loki's hair in soap, the newly crowned King of Agard found solace in the simple act. Though he had been raised to be King- and it was a great honor- it was a heavier burden than he had realised. Gone were the days when he could go adventure with his friends, or even truly do anything simply because it pleased him. Everything he did now was for Asgard. His Father had always made it seem effortless, but Thor found his sleep troubled by the pressure that came with trying to live up to his new position. Thor had many admirable qualities, but as he tried to fit into the mold of King he realised being "regal" was perhaps not one of them.
He also missed caring for his brother much more than he thought he would. In the past Thor had always stepped in when Loki was feeling small on a day his main nursemaid, Lady Sigyn, had off. Now the responsibility fell on whichever palace nursemaid happened to be working. Today when Loki started to show signs of regressing their Mother suggested that Thor take some time off. At first he hadn't wanted to get his hopes up, but he quickly realised that- for the first time since taking the crown- there was nothing so pressing that it couldn't wait until the next day or be delegated to the council.
After accepting the day off he was struck with an odd mix of guilt and- though he would never admit it out loud- resentment towards Asgard. Thor felt like he was somehow failing her by taking time for himself, but thinking that way made him bitter and frustrated that he couldn't enjoy this tiny slice of time he was getting with his brother. He was aware he was being unreasonable, most likely from the lack of a good night's sleep, so he tried to shove all of his negativity aside and appreciate the day. It had been wondrously exhilarating to take Loki outside in the private gardens to roll around in the dirt and foliage and soon the stress of running Asgard had been swept away... mostly. Now he was sitting in his underclothes on the edge of Loki's sunken tub, his legs in the warm water to make it easier to both reach and play with his brother. Next would be lunch and then naptime.
Gloriously simple.
"Head up," Thor directed, pouring water from a pitcher over his brother's hair to rinse the soap, "there we are, I knew there was a little prince under all the mud!"
Although, had he remembered to return General Tyr's missive with his approval for the man to use Palace funds to order supplies for the new recruits? He remembered reading and signing, but not whether or not he handed it off to a servant to return.
"No!" Loki declared.
Thor blinked himself back into the moment, focusing on his brother.
"No? Are you not my precious baby brother?"
Loki was very poor at hiding his mischievous smiles when he was small, Thor absolutely loved it.
"Nooooo!" He raised his arms, "I dwagon!"
"Aaaaaaah! A Dragon!!!"
Thor covered his face with his arms and laughed boisterously as his brother flapped his arms up and down, splashing large puddles of water everywhere.
Lady Sigyn was not fond of the game, the feisty woman had fetched Thor on more than one occasion to clean up the aftermath of his brother flapping his dragon wings. The first time he had been summoned to mop floors had caught him off guard, but he took it in good grace since he had both created the game and encouraged his brother to play it. Honestly, cleaning floors was a welcome break from his more tedious work.
"Alright, alright! You silly dragon, that's enough! I heard they're serving pumpkin soup today and I know that's my brother's favorite! You must give him back or he'll never have his soup and bottle!"
"I Ba'!" Loki chirped happily, ceasing his flapping.
"Oh thank the Norns!" Thor swept damp blonde hair back from his eyes, "I thought I was going to have to gather a search party! Ready?"
Thor helped his brother from the tub and began patting him dry with a large towel. His mind drifted to the throne, he briefly wondered how everything was holding up. Surely someone would come fetch him if any unmanageable issues arose, their Father had taken days off when he was King, the council knew what they were doing.... but what if-
"Pee- boo!"
Loki popped out from behind a corner of the towel he had lifted over his head at some point, startling Thor from his thoughts. The King laughed and ruffled his brother's damp hair.
"You silly boy!"
Loki grinned at him, apparently pleased to have startled his King. Trying- and nearly succeeding- to push the fears from his mind, Thor glanced around the bathing chamber for a clean cloth diaper, he quickly realized there were none.
"They must be behind on the laundry," Thor mused allowed, "you can head to the nursery Loki, I'll be but a moment."
"'Kay."
Loki trotted out with the towel around his shoulders. They were in his baby brother's personal bathing chambers connected to his nursery, so he wasn't going far at all. Thor patted down his arms and legs with his own towel before dropping it on the worst of the puddles to soak it up. He pulled his trousers back on and joined his brother.
"What would you like to wear?" Thor asked on his way to the wardrobe.
Thor was midstep when he realised something was amiss, he faltered before regaining his feet, his focus shooting towards the chamber's entrance.
The nursery door was wide open and his brother was standing on the border of the hallway in nothing but a towel. Thor was certain he had closed the door before running the bath!
"Loki, please," Thor implored- very regally- the King of Asgard most assuredly wasn't begging. "Come here. You want your soup, yes?"
Loki swayed back and forth, grinning mischievously.
"And a nice, warm bottle," Thor tempted, taking slow steps towards his brother.
Just a little closer, this was fine. When Thor was an arms length away Loki's grin broke out into a huge smile.
"No no cash me!" He yelled.
Loki's towel smacked Thor in the face when he tried to snatch his brother up. Thor peeled it off and stared in dismay at the empty spot where his brother had been before his mind caught up with the situation.
"Loki!"
Thor tried to speed walk at a dignified pace after his brother. Loki's chambers and the garden may have been completely private, but there were a number of people- servants, Einherjar, family- they could run into in the hallway and Thor was very aware of the respect his new position demanded. After only a few steps he watched helplessly as Loki very nearly charged straight into a servant girl carrying a large stack of freshly laundered clothes, causing some of the bundle to fall. Thor quickly scooped up the fallen clothes- fresh diapers- he kept one in hand but threw the rest atop the pile.
"Apologies!" Thor rumbled before moving on.
He had lost sight of Loki, but was able to follow the sounds of delighted laughter. Finally he caught a glimpse of him rounding a corner ahead. Loki was normally very quick, but he seemed to be slowing down for the sake of the game. Thor sped up a touch to try and catch up.
"Loki!" Thor called, spotting his brother down one of the longer halls, "come back! This is no jest!"
Loki paused for a moment.
"No, no!" He sang, wiggling his shoulders and bottom.
Thor marched forward, when he was mere steps behind his brother the little troublemaker giggled and darted away.
"Cash me!" Loki squealed
"Stop! I command it as your big brother AND as your King! Loki, please, you need clothes or you'll catch a chill, at least let me put this diaper on you!"
Loki did not listen.
- - - - -
"My dear, don't you think it's time you took a break?"
Odin looked up from the missive he was reading to smile adoringly at his wife.
"I will soon, I just need-"
"To accompany your lovely wife to her garden for tea? You've read my mind."
Odin chuckled and put aside his quill. Frigga was, of course, correct. While he was still tending to some of the lesser tasks required of the King to help ease his son into the position, he was no longer so important that he needed to work endless hours. In reality, even if he ceased all of his busywork, Asgard would be just fine without him.
"You are right," he rose from his seat to kiss his wife. "I'm afraid that having time to myself is taking some getting used to. I should not be neglecting my duties as your husband now that I finally have to time to fully appreciate you."
Frigga raised her eyebrow with a little smile, taking in his form with some obvious appreciation of her own.
"Tea?" Odin prompted.
"Yes, of course," Frigga smoothed the front of her skirts and took his arm, "It's set up and waiting for us even now."
They set off into the hallway, Odin took a deep breath of the fresh air streaming in through the large stone windows.
"I heard that Thor is also enjoying some time to himself?" Odin enquired after a moment of walking.
"He is," Frigga smiled, "Loki was feeling small today, I thought it would do Thor rather well to take some time to unwind."
"Wise," Odin agreed, "Although is going from caring for Asgard to caring for his younger brother really much of a break?"
"I believe it will do him good," Frigga commented with a coy smile.
Frigga stopped Odin before he could step into the next hall with a hand on his chest.
"No no no!" Was yelled gleefully moments before a pale blur with black hair streaked by.
"Loki, halt!" Thor called, clearly trying to project an air of authority with his back straight and his head held high.
It would have worked better if he weren't also waiving a cloth diaper like a white flag.
They both came and went without noticing their parents.
"Perhaps we should help him?"
Odin could retrieve Gungnir, Thor had not yet mastered channeling Asgard's awesome power, it would take him hardly any effort to freeze Loki long enough for the King to gather him up.
"Oh let them have their fun," Frigga patted his arm, "I think Loki knows what he's doing. Anyway, we have tea cooling in the gardens, remember?"
Odin snorted, all of their personal kettles were spelled to always be the perfect temperature. Still, Frigga had a point. Thor had been keeping an awful lot of weight on his shoulders and was used to being able to turn to the training fields when he was overwhelmed, a luxury he could no longer indulge in as often as he'd like. Perhaps a game of chase wasn't the worst of ways to dispel some of it. Admittedly a clothed game would have been preferable, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time the good people of Asgard had seen their prince's family jewels, nor the last. The boy had a penchant for slipping away from his caretakers at the most inopportune moments.
"Of course dear, let us enjoy the afternoon."
- - - - -
Loki ran down another corridor with Thor hot on his heels, still trying to march quickly rather than actually run. This one ended with two halls, the left of which would keep them in the royal wing, the right would lead to the more public sections of Valaskjalf.
"Please go left, please go left, please go left," Thor begged under his breath as he pushed himself to catch up without ending his Kingly stride.
Of course Loki went right.
The two brothers emerged in a hall guarded by Einherjar. Thor had half a mind to command them to seize Loki, but their metal armor wasn't meant for gentleness and he wouldn't see his brother hurt.
"Admirable job not getting distracted from your duty!" Thor called as he rushed by, as if this were a test set up to see if one of them would break.
"Amo' job!" Loki parroted, swerving to run circles around one of the Einherjar.
Thor tried to grab his brother, but the little scamp veered last second causing the King to bump into the guard instead.
"Do you need assistance my King?" The man asked cautiously as Thor steadied him.
"Nooo, of course not," Thor let go of the Einherjar, "everything is well under control!"
He graciously accepted the guard's salute and then rushed on. Loki was waiting for him at the entrance to the throne room. Even though Thor was not seated upon Hlidskjalf at the moment there were still sure to be members of the Court dallying about, more eager to gossip rather than do anything productive. Thor slowed to a stop and put his arms up.
"You win! The game is over!" Thor called.
"You no' twy cash me!" Loki protested.
"I did try, you're just too fast for me. I'm going to go back to the nursery now... here I go."
Thor took a step away from his brother, Loki wasn't impressed.
"I guess I'll just have to eat your delicious lunch and cuddle all of your stuffed critters without you," he took another step away.
Loki raised his hand, Thor held his breath, certain that his brother was going to call to him to wait.
"'Kay, bye bye," Loki waved before sauntering into the throne room.
"Loki!" Thor groaned, trudging after his brother.
A group of ladies were gathered near the steps leading to Hlidskjalf and more Einherjar were stationed around the room. Loki waited for his brother to enter before taking off again. Thor watched wearily. There was no way to chase him and maintain the decorum being Asgard's King demanded. How did their Father do it? Obviously trying to speak with his brother was doing no good. Glancing around, Thor realised he was currently standing in the only open exit. If he just waited patiently then eventually Loki would either tire out or come his way to try and leave.
"My apologies, Ladies," Thor called with a good-natured grin to the group of women in the room.
"My King," one of the women- Lady Irpa- curtsied, hiding her amusement behind a demure smile. "It is nothing we have not seen before."
It was a relief to hear mirth instead of censure. Honestly, Thor wasn't terribly bothered by his brother's nudity, it was more an issue that everything had gotten so out of control. It surprised him to realise how uneasy he had been at the thought of his people finding him lacking just because his baby brother was in a silly mood. Loki ran a few circles before he realised he wasn't being chased.
"No cash me!' He teased.
He ran a few steps only to stop again when Thor wouldn't play.
"Cash me T'or," Loki pouted.
He was tempted, but this really had gone on for too long.
"The game is done, brother. It's time to come get your diaper on and return to the nursery," Thor declared, holding up the white cloth in his hands.
Loki studied Thor, the look on his face much more serious than he would have expected to see from his regressed baby brother.
"We p'ay?"
So much for serious.
"We can play after you are dressed and have had lunch."
Actually they would be reading and Loki would take a nap before any more play, but he knew better than to say such things aloud. Loki considered him another moment before his shoulders slumped and he began shuffling towards Thor. It was good that his baby brother was listening to him, but he felt a pang of loss all the same.
Until the servant's door opened.
Loki's eyes lit up, Thor knew that look and sure enough he turned around and raced through the newly opened door. Something sparked in Thor's blood watching his brother flee with a mad giggle. He was the God of Thunder, son of Odin and King of Asgard. Yes, he cared about what his citizens thought of him, but he also wouldn't let that change who he was! He was a King who loved his baby brother and the ridiculous games he played. Loki wanted a chase? Then he would get a chase!
"I'm going to get you!' Thor cried as he ran into the servants corridor after his brother at full speed, paying no heed to the chuckling Ladies in his wake.
Loki's giggles turned into full on shrieking laughter as he ran. Thor grinned as adrenaline and well contained lighting coursed through his veins. The distance between them rapidly shrunk now that he was actually trying. The brothers burst into the kitchen's common area, where the servants took their meals or staged platters of food for feasts. Right before Loki could make it past the first rows of tables Thor swooped in and hooked his arm around his brother's waist.
"Got you!" Thor whooped in victory.
Sweet victory was not enough after all Loki had put him through, so Thor tickled his brother's ribs until he was a giggling heap on the ground. The King knelt on the stone to keep mercilessly tickling his fallen foe (and to make sure he didn't knock his head on the hard floor).
"Ahem, my King?"
"Sig!" Loki cried from the floor, wiggling from leftover giggles and excitement.
Lady Sigyn was standing above them with a little smile on her face.
"Far be it from me to give advice to the King of Asgard, but perhaps it would be wise to dress Prince Loki in that diaper you're holding before you continue your attack?"
"A fine idea," Thor chuckled.
He scooched the diaper under his brother's bottom, after making all of the necessary folds he realised he didn't have a pin.
"This may help," Lady Sigyn produced two pins from her pocket.
"Thank you, my Lady."
Thor finished tending to Loki, once he was free his baby brother rose to give Lady Sigyn a hug.
"I thought you had today off?" Thor enquired.
"I do," Lady Sigyn smiled and hugged Loki back, "I was just meeting someone for lunch before continuing on."
"Ah, well enjoy your time."
"I will, thank you. And you," she turned her attention to Loki, "be good for your big brother, you hear me?"
"I goo'!" Loki chirped "I he'p T'or, all betteh!"
Sigyn looked between the two for a moment before smiling.
"I see, I think you're right. You did an excellent job."
She kissed Loki's cheek and then sent them on their way. Thor held his brother's hand on the way back to the nursery.
"What did you mean when you told Lady Sigyn you helped me get all better?" He eventually asked.
Loki attempted to pat Thor's cheek like their Mother would sometimes do, he missed and patted his face instead.
"No sad, I he'p."
"I'm not sad," Thor denied.
Loki stopped and hugged his big brother. Thor was surprised to feel tears prickling at this eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered into his brother's hair.
They stayed like that until Loki started to squirm.
"Mine batta?" He implored.
"Yes, let's get you your soup and bottle," Thor laughed.
A young servant was fretting when they entered the nursery, it was the same one Loki had bumped into when he first went running. She must have been fairly new to her position because Thor didn't recognise her. When she spotted them she fell into a deep curtsey.
"May I have permission to speak, my King?"
"Of course," Thor allowed, curious what she had to say.
"I need to apologize," her face was turning an alarming shade of red, "I did not realise that Prince Loki was in the bathing chambers and so I opened the door to bring in the Prince's clean clothing. It is my fault that he was able to run off!"
"You may rise," he really didn't want her fainting, she was already trembling from holding her curtsey. "Thank you for telling me, I commend your bravery. In the future be sure to check the adjoining rooms before leaving the main doors open. As for this time, no harm was done."
"Thank you, my King."
She gave a final curtsey and skittered away once dismissed, closing the doors behind her. Although keeping the nursery door closed when his brother was in the room was important for safety, he felt she had learned her lesson so there was no reason to report anything to her superiors. He turned to his baby brother, who was nomming on the side of his hand.
"Time to eat, I think."
Thor got Loki dressed in a soft green tunic and trousers before moving on to the royal family dining room where the smell of pumpkin soup filled the air.
"Yum yum yum!" Loki danced around happily.
Thor grinned at his brother's unbridled joy. Loki went willingly to his highchair and even sat still while Thor tied a bib on to him, apparently his rebellious streak was finished. They were both served bowls of pumpkin soup and crusty bread with cheese. Thor tore up bite sized pieces of bread and cheese for Loki's tray, but held onto the soup to feed him.
"Oh boys, I'm glad we ran into you."
Mother smiled as she swept into the room with their Father, giving both Thor and Loki each a big kiss on the forehead.
"Mama!' Loki bounced in his seat, "Papa!"
Everyone settled in to eat, after Mother and Father were served their meal they dismissed the servants to enjoy some time alone, together. Thor insisted on continuing to feed Loki himself despite both of their parents offering to take over the duty.
"Here comes the skiff!" Thor brought the spoonful of soup to his brother's wide open mouth and praised him for taking a good bite.
"It's wonderful to see both of you doing so well," Mother commented fondly.
"And wearing pants," Father chimed in.
"You saw that, then?" Thor sighed.
"Does it bother you?" Mother asked.
"I suppose not," Thor was quick to feed Loki another bite when he started to whine, "it just wasn't my most dignified moment."
"Dignity is rarely synonymous with watching over your brother while he's regressed," Father laughed. "Do you recall when I attended that Council meeting with handprints all over the back of my robes? I hadn't realised Loki had slipped away from finger painting before coming to see me, and during our hug he had wiped his hands completely clean."
Thor had forgotten that, but now that it was mentioned he could recall his Father standing once the meeting had adjourned for supper. The back of both his robes and chair had been covered in cheerful yellow, blue and green.
"I think Loki considers it his duty to remind his Kings the benefits of indulging in lighthearted merriment from time to time," Mother chimed in.
A fair point. That entire meeting had been strained, but seeing the AllFather covered in paint had certainly broken some of the tension.
"Is that it, brother?"
"Ah!" Loki opened his mouth wide, demanding more soup.
"You're the one who delayed lunch," Thor chided, but he fed his brother another spoonful anyway.
After lunch the brothers returned to the nursery and, as promised, there was a nice warm bottle waiting for Loki. Thor sat on a rocking chair with his sleepy baby brother in his lap. All of that running must have finally caught up with him, he could barely keep his eyes open as he nursed.
As a child, Thor had thought that to be King meant doing whatever he pleased and basking in the praise his greatness deserved. When he stepped into adulthood his eyes were opened to what the King really was: a servant to his people and a beacon of hope and strength.
He contemplated his Mother's words from lunch. To be King was a serious job, but that didn't mean he didn't deserve some time to take care of his own heart. Indulging in silly games and making time for the people he loved kept him going, which in turn made him a stronger King, not a weaker one.
Thor stood and carefully lowered Loki into his crib. His worn out brother didn't even stir.
"You are wiser than I give you credit for, brother." Thor murmured, petting Loki's hair, "you saw how lost I was and pulled me right back. Thank you."
With a soft kiss to his forehead, Thor let his brother rest. There would be plenty of time for games when he awoke.