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[rebuildyourruins]

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[dothelokimotion]

[ a moment. ]

I am. Is something wrong?

[rebuildyourruins]

no

can i come over?

[dothelokimotion]

Of course.

[ . . . ]

My room's open.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor doesn't reply, since it's answer enough.

It's a matter of a few minutes before Thor's shuttle docks on the First Breath. He makes his way down the corridor to Loki's room, not bothering to knock before he opens the door.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki's room isn't what most would consider homey. it's not sparse, though. the bed is plush with cushions and a decent bedspread. there's a desk where a small bowl of gemstones filled with water resides. his room is filled with long shadows and the few beats of incandescent light that is caught by the stones, dancing on the ceiling.

loki is waiting by the door. he reaches for thor's face, checking him over. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor's taken his eye out for the night, eyepatch back in place. Otherwise there's nothing new there that's changed in the last few hours.

The touch doesn't surprise him like it had earlier in the day. If Loki's searching for something in Thor's face, he gets the same attention in kind. It hadn't been the best of partings.]

Yes, hello.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki huffs as he pulls away, self-conscious now. ]

And hello to you too. Couldn't sleep?

[rebuildyourruins]

No, though I hadn't really tried yet.

[He moves into the room properly, shutting the door behind himself.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki lingers nearby, watching him. ]

Why not?

[rebuildyourruins]

I wasn't feeling it.

[True enough. He was too antsy over what had happened before. Thor drops onto the bed, raising his eyebrows at Loki.]

I'd say you aren't sleeping either, but that's obvious.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shrugs, sitting next to him. ]

It takes me a while to fall asleep. And a while for it to truly settle.

[rebuildyourruins]

Yeah, I know.

[That's been fairly constant in Loki's life, even before recent years. Thor knows it well enough from the times they've shared space as well. He shifts his shoulders, not entirely comfortable.]

It didn't feel right.

[dothelokimotion]

[ shoulder to shoulder, loki looks at thor, his lips pursed. finally, he says. ]

Then tell me. Tell me what you need.

[ tell me.

loki hasn't used the words tell me since the day in the vault. he's stopped asking, stopped wanting to know because knowledge has always hurt. and it hurts worse when it comes from people loki loves. but this cannot go on. it cannot. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor's lips draw tight into a line. If it were only that simple. If only Thor knew the answer to that. He bumps Loki's shoulder with his absently, a reassurance of the here and now.]

I don't... [He heaves a sigh, rubbing his eye with a hand.] I need to-- keep going, somehow. If I stop, I fear that will be it.

[Stopping means he's done, that there's nothing left that can be done. He can't bear the idea of that, pointless as it sounds. He stops for a moment before looking at Loki, something helpless in his eye.]

I don't want to work in that office by myself. I want you there with me.

[I need that.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ he can't disguise the surprise, lips parted before he nods. ]

Of course.

[ he adds. ]

I'd be happy to.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor had burned it all before because he couldn't stand what it represented. Their working together on a shared goal, for once in their recent lives, with optimism for the future. After Thanos it had hurt to even think about, so better to destroy it. That had only left Thor feeling shaky and alone and guilty.

Breathing out, Thor blinks, not having expected Loki to agree so readily after what he said earlier.]

You would?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki nods, looking away. ]

I never wanted to go anywhere else. I only thought — it would be easier. Not to have a living reminder.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor barks a laugh, finding that helplessly funny.]

I would rather a living reminder than none at all.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he winces at that. ]

Still. I am the cause. I cannot even apologize for it.

[rebuildyourruins]

Stop.

[They've fought over this once already. Thor's tired even thinking about starting that argument again. He reaches up and clasps the side of Loki's neck lightly, something he hasn't done in quite a while.]

I don't want an apology.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki swallows, trying to blink the wet sheen from his eyes. ]

What do you want then?

[rebuildyourruins]

I just want... [To not be miserable anymore? He shakes his head.] I want us to work together, to whatever end it takes us.

[...]

And I want to go to sleep, I think.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shivers briefly from relief. it felt good to hear that, to know that. to not let his own doubtful mind run in precarious circles. he tucks his chin on top of thor's shoulder. ]

Then rest here, brother. I've got you.

[rebuildyourruins]

Oh, yeah, I was going to.

[That had been part of the point of coming over. He wasn't going to ask.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki rolls his eyes, shoving him lightly. ]