Archive of Our Own

The spaceship was huge.

It was one way to say it.

Loki had never seen one so big. It even seemed bigger than the entire palace!

He walked into the main hall with his hand in his brother's, behind their parents, looking around with fascination and curiosity. The hall was high and long, its walls and ceilings white, intensifying the impression of immensity. There were so many people, and so many tables, and couches, and noise. A stage was set at the far other side of the giant hall, a singer in the middle, though Loki could barely hear the man's song with the voices' noise and the other music coming from different parts of the place.

He tightened his grip on his brother's hand. He wouldn't want to lose him. With his other, he went to clutch to his mother's gown, not wanting to lose her sight as well.

She noticed it, and looked down at him with a smile. "My dear son, you have been quite silent since we arrived on the spaceship. As well as you, Thor." It was unusual. "Is everything all right?"

Loki nodded.

"It's so impressive here, mother!" Thor exclaimed. "Even the palace's hall is not that big!"

"There are a lot of people," Loki said quieter.

"Of course. This feast is organised to bring all the rulers of this part of the galaxy together. And they all came with their families and courts."

"But why? Only to feast?" Loki asked, raising his eyes on her.

"Indeed, and also to meet other rulers, and talk about politics. But if you want me to tell you a secret, I think everyone here will take the advantage to brag about their exploits," she smirked.

"Then father is undoubtedly the strongest here!" Thor smiled. "He conquered all the Nine Realms, and he gloriously defeated the mean Jötunns!"

Odin, who was walking ahead and listening to their conversation, went to pat his shoulder. "There are far more powerful rulers here, my son ; some have conquered whole empires far more vast than our realms. But I find myself flattered by your words."

Thor was about to answer, but a man he didn't know came to greet his father and divert his attention from him.

Frigga turned to his sons with a reassuring smile. "You may be bored if you stay with us. Go play or serve yourself something to eat. But don't go too far and where it is prohibited, understood? Here particularly, you are princes before anything else, and you have to act well."

"Understood, mother."

"All right!" Thor promised, already showing excitement. "Let's go, Loki!"

His brother still had his hand in his, and Loki let him drag him between the crowd of people. It turned out, after a minute, that he was taking him to one of the long tables covered in innumerable food dishes.

"I am not really hungry..."

"Don't be shy, Loki. There's so many food, and we can take how much we want of it, no one even cares!"

But it was true. He really wasn't hungry. He winced as Thor approached what seemed to be a pastry and took it to his mouth without manners.

"Mother said we had to act like princes. That means we have to show example and respect etiquette."

Thor rolled his eyes, and took another one of the same pastry. "No one is looking at us. Do you want to taste this? It's really sweet!"

He shook his head. Then he looked across the table. Granted, his wasn't hungry, but he was curious to taste some of the things here. Most of the food presented were unknown to him.

He stared at what seemed to be some small fish-like dish - shrimp maybe? - and made a few steps to take one in his hand. He winced when eating it. It was absolutely too much salty.

He decided to pick up a simple a biscuit covered in jam, way more agreable to his juvenile palate. Reassuringly, the previous taste got lost in the sweetest one.

He observed his brother devour all that he could find for a few minutes, until he eventually grew bored of it.

He looked around, thinking.

It was actually the first time he had gone farther than Asgard and the Nine Realms. Yet, it didn't seem so different that what he knew. People, though of various origins, where laughing and drinking the same way as he saw in the palace's hall.

Yet, the spaceship was immense, totally different from the small warfare ones he had seen on Asgard. And he found himself admirative of the people's hair and costumes too. They were so colourful and diverse.

Now he wondered how many worlds existed outside of the ones he knew. He was always told, and always thought the Nine Realms were extended a lot. But apparently the Galaxy was even more so, and it had a lot of other Realms and Empires. And then after that there was the Universe. When their father had tried to explain its number of stars and worlds, it was so much Loki's mind got lost.

Now he wanted to explore them all, even if he knew he should start with the realms he knew of. But one day he will go even farther, in the Galaxy, in the Universe too, with his brother. And Loki smiled, because this feast outside of the Realms with Galaxian rulers was a good start for his discoveries, and because he would love to travel in Thor's company.

He saw his parents in the distance, discussing with a group of people. He was a bit frustrated ; he wanted to hear what adults could be taking about in this context. What was the point in bringing Thor and him here, in lieu of entrusting them to the palace's servants? If it was to ignore them... maybe their parents wanted them to discover a world beyond Asgard's borders for once.

"Loki, I've tasted everything on this table, let's play now!"

He raised an eyebrow, thinking his brother was widely exaggerating, but his doubts disappeared when he saw his mouth and face covered by the numerous colors of what he had eaten. Sighing, Loki grabbed a folded napkin, and wiped his brother's mouth without saying a word – it wasn't necessary. Thor let him do so, at first surprised, before chuckling.

"You really don't have any manners." Sometimes he wondered how could Thor be the oldest between them.

"That's because I'm a future warrior. We fight and drink mead, we don't bother with manners! That's something for magic-learning people like you."

"It's for princes too, and you are one. Were you sleeping during our last tutor's lesson?"

Those words were meant to be a jest, but Thor took it seriously. "Hm... maybe," he shrugged. "Now can we go play? We can explore the place!"

He took his arm, taking him away from the tables.

"Mother said we should not go too far..."

"It is all right! There are people watching our security everywhere. Nothing can happen to us."

Loki didn't contradict him, but he somewhat wasn't confident. Granted, it was only a grand hall, but what if they got lost anyway? If Thor had the sudden envy to explore the other areas of that huge ship? Maybe he was, in Asgard, the first to initiate his reckless brother to a trick or a foolishness. But he actually knew the palace and its servants. That ship was another level he was not yet prepared for.

He was now so in his thoughts, and Thor had began to drag him at an even more rapid pace, that he suddenly bumped into someone.

Startled, the person turned to him, an apolegotic expression on her face. "Oh! I'm sorry...!"

"Talking without my permission again, Carina?" a man said while taking a sip of champagne. "You know what I told you before arriving, about speaking to people at this celebration."

She looked down. "My apologies, master..."

Thor had stopped, and Loki looked up at the woman. She was cute, with two bunches as he had saw some asgardian girls wearing, except that she seemed to be a grown-up. She had a bright and pretty pink skin, and he had never seen such a thing.

"Where do you come from?" He asked her, curious.

"I–I...." she stammered, opening her mouth, then closing it, and opening it again, glancing at her master.

"It does not matter where she comes from. Tell me instead, where do you come from, little boys? I do not think this is a place for boys your age."

"It is really impolite to ask that sort of question straight away," Loki frowned. "You didn't even saluted us."

"Aw, this little boy wants me to properly present myself. Your parents have raised you well. Well, my name is Taneleer Tivan. You may have heard of me, maybe by the name of the Collector. What is yours?" he asked amusingly.

"We haven't," Loki simply answered, still frowning. He didn't trust that man.

"Why do people call you collector? You like to collect things?" Thor asked. "Father does too, he has many rare objects in his vault! And we are Thor and Loki from Asgard, and we came to accompany our parents!" he exclaimed proudly.

"Oooh, from Asgard... you are Odin and Frigga's sons, I see. What a pretty empire you will inherit of. I have seen millions of the same rise and fall, but anyways." he eyed them up and down. "It is interesting. I never had an Asgardian in my collection. Plus, a little princeling..."

He tried to grab Loki's arm to inspect him, but the boy made a step back, frowning. He was right not to trust him.

Thor frowned too, putting himself before him, immediately on the defensive. "Do not touch my little brother!"

The man only laugh, taking another glass of champagne from a passing tray. "Such fiery at such a young age. But worry not, little boy. Even if your little godlings seem very appealing to me, I won't lay a hand on you. Not yet. One says the Allfather's wrath is unmeasurable... I have to wait for him to disappear, and maybe I will come back for you," he said, not even in a threatening tone but with a very usual one, as if he was saying he had to wait for his crops to grow to gather them.

Loki glanced at the woman near him. She still had her eyes down. He wondered why she was not allowed to speak. Maybe she was his personal servant. Sometimes, the servants at the palace could not speak without an authorisation too. In any case, she seemed very nice, compared to that man.

He would have wanted to let it go and leave, but unfortunately Thor decided to let his pride show.

"You do not know what you are speaking about! Asgard's army is the best in the whole Universe, and I'll be a great warrior too, so even if you come you will not even be able to pierce our defenses!!"

"But wasn't that what that woman did some time ago? Sorry, time is very relative to me." he took another sip.

"No one has attacked Asgard since the war against the Jötunns," Loki said - he knew his history by heart. "And before, our father and his own father greatly conquered the Nine Realms."

"Yes, good, but no, it was a direct attack on Asgard. I remember people talking about it, Odin had even asked for outside help, but no one answered. Don't you remember, Carina?"

She quickly glanced at him. "I do not, master."

"Hm. I must be mistaken. They are so many wars going on in this galaxy right now after all," he shrugged.

"Come on, Thor," Loki said to his brother while taking his arm and dragging him away this time.

He only made a few steps, enough to blend in the crowd again and be out of sight of the man they just left – and seemingly couldn't care less about that, because he was already discussing with someone else.

"You are so careless. Why did you had to brag about Asgard and yourself?"

"This man was making threats. I only answered. And I wanted to protect you! It's my duty as your big brother after all!"

"Whatever," Loki simply said, feeling however his heart flutter at that.

"Maybe we could play that! We'll say that you have been captured by an evilous organisation, they have imprisoned you in their giant spaceship, and I am a Valkyrie and I came to rescue you!"

He pouted. "All right, but after, it is me who is rescuing you."

And why did his brother always wanted to play a Valkyrie? He could be a mere warrior or shieldmaiden, but he always chose that particular title.

"As you want! So, let's see. The people who took you, they are very mean, they are part of a very big empire and their empress wants to bring you to her palace to make a personal servant of you!"

"Why a personal servant? It would be more reasonable if she wanted a ransom. If she is not a wealthy empress."

Thor has always had a wilder imagination that him. He was more on the logical side.

"It's only that because of it, you're even more scared! You do not want to be at her service."

"But I do not want to be scared..." he sighed.

Did he really had the choice? But he couldn't resist to please Thor. He loved his smile.

"And me, I am the skillest of the Valkyries, and the Allmother and Allfather sent me to bring back the best sorceress of their court! Because they need your powerful magic to protect them."

"So I'm a sorceress?" He raised an eyebrow. He thought he would just be himself. Thor was hard to follow.

"Yes, the mightiest in all the realms!"

"Then how come I got kidnapped so easily? Did I not defend myself?"

"You... hum..." he thought for a second. "They had a very advanced technology that restrained your powers!"

"All right..." the better to do was to accept it.

"Go hide, and I'll save you!"

He sent him a inquisitive look, curious of how he would manage to set the scene. Seldom had they played a non-so discrete game among more important people than servants. They would never dare ; they would be severely scolded if they disturbed a political meeting.

Fortunately, here no one was watching them, or even noticing them.

Loki looked around, searching for a good place to hide and represent a prison. It would be best for it to be near, so that Thor could see where he went, and not stupidly search for him for an hour.

He saw a white curtain between the end of a table and the wall, probably hiding some materials, and decided to settle there.

He leant against the wall, his arms crossed. Normally, he would be playfully calling for help, screaming, but right now he wasn't very prone of doing so. Instead, he returned to his thoughts.

Even if it was still amusing to play those kinds of games, he didn't understand why Thor always wanted to play the strong warrior who saved him. The princess in the tower, the sorcerer detained for his skills, the shiledmaiden surrounded by Jötunns, the mortal threatened by a god, he had had all the variants. When they were very little it was more fun ; now, even if he still liked to play these kind of games sometimes, he had grew to understand some things and wondered what such attitude meant from Thor.

When he heard noises, he straightened up and pushed the curtain a bit. His eyes went wide when he saw Thor mimicking a sword and a fight towards adults you understood nothing if it. Some blinked, others even laughed. Loki sighed. His brother was truly dumb.

He watched him threatening and fighting invisible enemies over many minutes. Thor was making a fool of himself and it was funny, but on the other side, it was a bit boring, seeing someone play without being part of it. He debated over calling him for help or not, but figured that if he did, people around could think he was actually in danger. Instead, he waited for Thor to approach the curtain his was behind of. His brother was wearing a proud smile, and a fake expression of exhaustion.

"Mighty sorceress, I am Asgard's strongest Valkyrie, and I came to rescue you!" He exclaimed heartily.

"Ssshhh! You have to be quiet!" he whispered loudly, the curtain pulled just so he could see his face.

He figured making the quiet perspective part of the game would be a great way to not attract too much attention. "But why?" Thor asked. "I have slayed every one of your captors! No one is present in this part of the ship apart from us."

He had to invent. "The empress... she has hidden microphones all over this cell and this room. It's because she wants to hear the words I use for my spells, so she can imitate them and destroy planets with them!"

Thor made a fake surprised and horrified face. "But that's terrible!"

"I know. So stay quiet, otherwise she will notice you delivered me, and she will pursue us."

He nodded, and that time, really spoke in a lower voice. "All right. Do you know how to open the cell?"

"I think the key is like a card, every guard has one on them. They open all the doors with it."

"I'll find one!"

He expected of Thor to just mimic one, but he actually went away, disappearing in the crowd.

He couldn't believe it.

So he waited, here, for several minutes, until his brother came back at least.

"I have found it, mighty sorceress!" he exclaimed, already forgetting to be silent.

Loki looked at the white card his brother had in hand. He had. Actually. Found. A card.

"Where did you find this?"

"On a guard, like you told me!"

He looked annoyed. "Thor, where did you actually find this?"

"I found it on the ground. Someone may have lost it." he passed it between the curtain and the wall, as if there was a machine. "Now let's go, we don't have time to lose!"

Loki didn't have the time to properly push the curtain, that his brother had took his hand and drag him into a run. They passed between the crowd, unnoticed, carefully avoiding people. Loki thought Thor would stop after a minute of running around in the hall, but instead his pace got faster.

"We are being chased!" he exclaimed while showing the two bodyguards of a random ruler in the crowd.

"I can stop them with my magic!"

"We have no time for that. We have to hide!"

"Hide? I thought you were a Valkyrie. Valkyries don't hide, nor do sorceresses! Let me keep them away!"

"There is no need, I will fight them, but first I have to secure you!"

Loki growled. What was the point of playing a powerful soreceress then? He might as well have played a defenseless prince.

He followed Thor until they had left the hall, and his brother stopped, almost as breathless from their run as him. Loki looked around. They were in a garden, with a bright green glass and glowing butterflies. And as a semi-circle high above them, was presented a dome of glass that allowed everyone to see the infinity of space. It was truly impressive.

"We have reached a strange garden," Thor said, retrieving his breath.

"I think it's beautiful."

They were very fewer people in here than in the hall. The butterflies, that seemed to be some sort of holograms, disappeared. Then new holgrams of birds flying around and laying on the plastic trees replaced them.

"Just as you are, mighty soreceress."

Loki couldn't help but laugh. The amusement he had felt in their game, plus the thrill of seeing that new and overwhelming place, and now that strange garden, made him feel suddenly light-hearted.

"Are you trying to court me? Don't you have others duties to attend to, dear Valkyrie?" he teased.

"None more important than securing Asgard's best sorceress. The King and Queen will be pleased."

Smiling, Loki took his hands, and went to put a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for saving me. You are the strongest of the Valkyries, and are very brave."

Thor's face instantly reddened, and Loki thought it was due to the compliment.

But unexpectedly, Thor went to give him the same kiss on the cheek. "And I thank you too for having informed me of the microphones. If it weren't for your advice, we would both be the evil empress's servants."

They stayed like this for a moment, hands tied and their glowing eyes contemplating each other. Thor's smile was rather heartwarming...

Then Thor let go of him, and cleared his voice. "I wish of you to remember me and our adventure. I shall give you a present. Maybe this will..." he stopped as he touched his neck. His bare neck. "My necklace! Where is it?!"

"You had a necklace?"

"Yes, it had a ruby on it, mother put it on me before we departed!"

He shrugged. If he had to remember each time a member of his family changed of jewellery... "You probably lost it. You're always so absent-minded."

"But I didn't took it of! I would have noticed it if it had gone off..." he looked around, beginning to panick. "No...!! Where is it? Mother is going to be so angry, it was a gift from his brother!"

At first, Loki was delighted to see his brother in such a state, but then he realised his mother could scowl them both, and then he began to panick too.

"When did you last remember wearing it?"

"I don't know, I didn't pay attention to that...!"

"Don't tell me we have to search for it in this grass..." he complained as he looked down.

But then he noticed : his left wrist. It was bare too.

"My bracelets!!"

Now Thor was scanning the ground, and he raised up his head. "What?"

"My bracelets, on my left arm, they have all disappeared! The one of emeralds father gift me, and... and the pearl bracelet I found in Alfheim... it means that..."

"That you are definitely as much absent-minded as me," he mocked him.

"No, idiot, it means something is going on, it is not normal."

He looked around, but they were alone in that part of the garden. Other people were far, walking and stargazing through the dome.

Maybe the matter was of magical source. It often was the case with strange events. He tried to concentrate on his own magic. He had only begun learning to use it, and he could not yet cast a lot of spells, but his mother had taught him how to locate a threat.

He concentrated more, and felt something on his right arm. Like fingers brushing his wrist... he grabbed into thin air, and it was no suprise for him when a person revealed herself. Well, a person... it was merely a boy, that seemed to be their age.

"What do you want? What kind of magic were you using?!" he said in a more severe tone that he had wanted.

Thor looked at the boy with both surprised and incomprehension. Why didn't he noticed him? Was he... invisible?

For once, it was Loki who was trying to protect him, and he figured he liked it quite a lot too.

"Woah, woah, let's all calm," the boy said, retrieving himself from Loki's weak grip to raise his hands. "I only wanted your jewellry, nothing more, don't be so angry."

"You steal from us and expect us to be calm?!"

"Well, your parents must be damn rich, so those goods must be like nothing for you, don't they?" the boy said genuinely.

"They were important, some were gifts! Give them back immediately!" Thor growled.

"And how did you hid from us?" Loki asked, curious and ignoring his brother.

He shrugged. "Oh, that's simple. I have a ring that disguises my presence. It does not make me invisible, only very discreet, particulary to those who don't seek me. You've been in your own thing for a while here, I've been stealing your goods for like ten minutes, and you haven't even noticed me. Well, just like the dozens of people I've been stealing from too. It's surprising to see a child discover my trick when Xandar's king didn't even felt my touch. But maybe that was because he was busy with that escort..."

"Give us our jewellery back." Loki said sternly.

"Yes, give it back immediately or you will face the wrath of Asgard's mightiest warrior!!"

"Mightiest warrior?" he laughed, unimpressed. "Is that supposed to be you?"

Thor clenched his fists. "Give them back, or we'll call our father! He is the King of Asgard, the mighty Allfather, he will throw you in our prisons!"

The boy smirked, not at all scared. "I do not care at all who your father is. Everyone here has a wealthy father. That's why it is interesting. And I am very stealthy ; go on, call your parents, but you won't see me again, nor your jewels."

Thor gritted his teeth. He was ready to jump on him, began a fight - he really didn't care of causing a scene. But Loki remained calm and shoved him away. "What do you want, then? Perhaps we can discuss. Our parents have money, they can give them to you in exchange of those jewels."

Strangely, it reminded him of that ransom they had mentioned in their game.

"I don't care about your parents' money. Those pieces must cost way much than your place's coins at some black market. I was told that."

Loki frowned more. He had to find a solution. He didn't want to be scolded. "What do you want then?"

The boy thought. "Hm... only to succeed in the mission I was given. There are a bunch of rich people here and with my crew from the Ravagers, we are profiting of it straight away," he said without caring. "If I bring costly objects to them, they will be happy and proud of me. So I guess that if you help me bring back an even better booty, I will give you your things back."

Loki and Thor looked at each other, trying to consider it. Well, Thor was mostly considering if it was better or not to fight him.

"But it's bad to steal."

"I don't care of what's bad or not. Good won't give me a meal."

Loki raised an eyebrow. Never had he met someone of his age so frank and careless. It scared him a bit, but strangely, he also found it interesting.

"So... you need our help to steal someone's valuables?"

"Yeah. That won't be hard to find here."

Loki thought. What was the worst between the perspective of being caught trying to steal, and the one of being scolded by their parents for losing precious jewellery?

The choice was quickly done. At least, if they where caught, they could play innocent or use their father's authority.

"All right. We will help you."

"But Loki, we can't–"

"Great! Now follow me."

They did so, and Thor looked at his brother with worry. "Loki, we can't do that! What if we get caught?"

"We don't have a choice. And don't worry, I have a backup plan."

He nodded. He always trusted his brother. He was so clever and always found solutions.

They followed the boy out of the garden, blending again in the noisy crowd of the hall. Thor instinctively took his brother's hand back. Plus, it was his duty to protect him.

"So... that stealing thing, it's like a game?" he asked.

"If you want, yeah. The one who finds the most precious object wins."

Thor smiled, finally reassured. At first he was worried they were doing something bad, but if it was only a game, he was happy. He loved playing and he loved competition.

"You didn't even told us your name."

"It's Peter. But you can call me Star-Lord!"

"That's a lame name," Loki said.

"It's not! I found it and it's perfect. What are yours?"

"We are Princes Thor and Loki of Asgard."

"Princes, wow. Well you really look like ones, it's no surprise. And your names are not really better," he shrugged. "it's very simple."

"You have bad taste. Everyone in our palace has told us we had beautiful names."

"That's because you're princes. People always suck up royalty."

"Suck... royalty?" Thor blinked. "What does that mean?"

"I think it means he is insulting our people," Loki frowned.

"What?! If you insult Asgard and its people again, you will taste of my fists!!"

"I understood why you called yourself a warrior. You seem as brutal and reckless as one. Now be quiet, I have an idea, but we have to make no sound."

Loki raised an eyebrow as Peter led them into a thight corridor outside of the hall. The guards didn't even blinked. At first, Loki was going to say something, because they were forbidden to go too far. But he remembered the scolding, and shivered. Whatever that idea was, he expected it to be quick, and to return to the hall rapidly.

A contrary to it, the corridor was not white, golden and full of light. Instead, it was plunged in the dark, safe for the blue and orange neons that at least permitted them to see their path. Loki tightened his grip on his brother's hand. It was a bit frightening, but also pretty. He had never saw such a strange fluorescent yet weak lighting. In Asgard, everything was always full of light, except perhaps for his father's vault, but he seldom went there. Now he could also hear music from afar, and wondered if there was another party going on in the spaceship.

They walked for a good ten minutes in the silence, before entering another empty corridor, which was way more big. This one had real lights like in the hall, and his walls were red, while the ground was of an immaculate white. Doors where at one side, and on the other, grand windows showed space. Loki would have stopped by it if Peter was not continuing his walk.

The boy made a few more steps, before stopping at one of the doors. It had a sign hanging on it, with a name, Loki guessed, but he couldn't understand the language.

"It's here. A very rich person is renting this room, we might find some valuables there."

"But how will you open the door?"

Peter smirked, and only pushed the door. The eyes of both boys widened as it opened.

"Wealthy people are always careless when they are among themselves," he explained while entering.

Thor and Loki followed, eyeing the immense room. Its only lights came from lamps scattered around the place, and the big round and pink bed on the center seemed way too comfortable.

"How did you know this room belonged to someone wealthy?"

"It's situated in the richer quarter of the spaceship, and it's the biggest one. Undoubtedly, the person living in this room highly is at the celebration, probably drunk, so we have time. Begin searching in all the drawers first, and if we find nothing we will look at hidden places like under the bed."

Thor nodded, and imitated Peter who immediately went to search through drawers. Loki, on the other side, wasn't so keen on playing this new 'game'. Although he was always the one suggesting pranks, he was more reasonable than his brother, and couldn't help the fear of being caught grow in his stomach.

Taking a deep breath, he approached the bed and went to climb on it. He was right, it was really comfortable.

He stayed seated on in while he observed his brother and their new friend doing their deeds. At one point, the room kind of looked like a mess, with clothes spread on the floor and various insignificant - and rather strange - objects scattered everywhere.

"I think I found something!" Thor exclaimed after many minutes.

"Show me that," Peter said after joining him at the other side of the room. "Yes, it's a golden watch, it could cost a lot. Well done. Continue searching."

Thor seemed really proud, and he made a wide smile before returning to it. Yes, all of this really was just a game for him.

"Are you sure no one will notice we came here?" Loki asked, still worried.

"They won't," Peter dismissed it. "Those kind of people are very rich, so much they wouldn't even notice if a few of their jewellery disappear."

"All right..." It was a strange argument, but well.

"Don't you want to play, Loki?" Thor asked.

"No..."

"Come on! I'm sure you'll find something."

He groaned, and got out of the bed to open the nightstand's drawer, just to show him he was doing something.

Then they heard a noise.

The three of them stopped and looked up when a man emerged from the bathrooms, zipping his fly and whistling. Then he froze as he saw the three boys, and the situation became quite hilarious. A heavy silence fell on the room for seconds, before the man pulled out a gun from his pocket in a gesture and pointed it on them.

"Wow, let's calm!" Peter exclaimed, and he seemed not at all frightened compared to the others two, as if it was not the first time he had found himself in this situation.

Thor was frozen, unable to make a move, and Loki was shivering. He wanted to cry. What was happening...?! They had been caught...!!

"Explain yourself!! What are you doing here?!"

Gods. He had a laser gun. A real laser gun.

"We– We are lost!" Loki stammered.

"Lost?! No one is allowed in this area!"

"We may have been confused," Peter said. "We thought it was our father's room. Now calm down, man, surely you wouldn't shot an innocent child."

Loki was clinging his hand around the bed's covers. What had he embarked himself into?! And Thor? His face became white. What if they died here?

"And what's with that fucking mess?! You were stealing!!"

Loki tensed. He wanted to get out of here, to be safe, to join his parents... it was his fault, he should have never accepted that boy's deal!!

"Well..." Peter cleared his throat.

"Out. NOW!!"

It didn't need to be asked. Loki got out the bed and ran out of the room, thinking his brother would follow. But his heart raced when he saw the man grab both of the boys' arms brutally and bring them out. He thought he would let go of them there now, but no, he dragged them in the corridor, and Peter and Thor didn't have a choice but follow.

"Let go of us!! You will hear of my father!!" Thor shouted.

Surely, Loki could flee, even alert their parents. But that was too risky. How could they know where the man had brought Thor? He swallowed. Thor always saved him. Now it was his turn.

"Let go of my brother!!" He cried as he ran to the man.

He gritted his teeth. "You, you're lucky I've got only two hands. He's your brother, you say? Then come and you'll face the punishment together."

"What are you gonna do to us?" Peter winced, because the man's grip on their arm was quite strong.

Loki had no choice but to follow closely, his face more full of worries than anger.

"That ain't up to me. We'll see what my employer has to say."

"Your employer?"

So he wasn't the one the room belonged to? He was only a guard?

"Yeah, and he won't be nice. He hates kids your type."

He continued to drag them forcefully until they had came back to the earlier corridors, the one with neons. They went through it, and Loki realised they were going towards the music he heard earlier.

When they arrived, he blinked as everything here attacked his senses.

The room was plunged into a bright pink light that almost made him blind. He couldn't even see clearly, apart from forms of laying men and women on couchs. Fortunately, the three boys were still enough innocent to not understand what was going on here, and the over-loud music that attacked their ears covered all moans.

The man - who was in fact a vigil, or a guard as Loki considered, pushed the three wincing boys towards the center of the room. They faced a man sitting on a couch, who though still completely clothed, was rather concentrated on an other activity.

"Grandmaster, I've found those little pilferers sneaking in your personal chambers as I guarded it," the vigil said.

The Grandmaster must have not heard him correctly, between the overwhelming presence of the music and busy with the man and woman covering him in kisses, and showed a pleased smile when eyeing the boys.

"Well, what a surprise. I didn't ask for cute little boys. But we'll find you a use ; serve us our drinks, and you servants can join us," he smiled to a nearby lady. "I need somebody to take care of this lower part," he giggled.

Loki was absolutely not understanding what was happening. His heart was racing too fast, and his head and ears hurt from the light and music. Instinctively, he ran to huddle in his brother's arms, who was now free. "Thor...!!" he almost cried. At least his brother was not hurt.

"Loki, I'm... I'm here," he said and hugged him tightly, through he heard nothing through the loud music.

"Awww, isn't it that cute,” the Grandmaster said, but rather to the man beside him while pointing the boys rather than to the boys themselves. "I love when frightened little boys seeks comfort in one another. Reminds me of the two slaves that were inseparable, you know, the ones I brought last month."

"I remember," a woman said beside him in a breath.

"Indeed you do, you're quite a good girl, aren't you~? Come here, sweetie..."

He brought her into a deep kiss, seemingly devouring her, and Loki couldn't help but wince, even given the circumstances. He already found it disgusting when his parents kissed.

Peter looked around, seeing the vigil had disappeared - probably went back to the chambers - then he looked back at them. "Hey, what if we... just got out of here?"

He didn't know if they had heard him or not, so he took Thor's arm and brought them out of the room without difficulty.

He continued to lead them in the corridor until they had rejoin the hall, and Loki felt a heavy weight disappear from his stomach. At least they were back.

He realised he still had his hand in Thor's, and he didn't want to let go.

"Are you all right, Loki?"

"I am... and you?"

"Yes! And I succeeded to protect you from that man!" He said proudly.

Loki couldn't help but laugh, letting out all the tension. "Yes. You did. Thank you, brother." he didn't really, but it didn't cost anything to make him happy.

"Well, if you don't have anything to give me in exchange, then I'll keep your jewellery."

They both turned to Peter.

"We put ourselves in danger, just for you!" Loki growled. "Give us back our goods now!"

"Hey, I don't care if you were scared or what about what you've just been through. I have a business to help running. We didn't find anything apart from that watch in that man's chambers, so I'm keeping your things. Unless you have anything on you that is more valuable."

"We don't have anything on us. We're only here to to accompany out parents."

Thor looked through his pockets. "I have nothing neither. I just have this card I picked up on the ground earlier..."

Peter opened wide his eyes, and took it in a quick gesture. "Are you kidding me? That's a xandarian bank card! A very valuable one, only high-ranked people have it, you don't even need a code to use it!"

He had kept it? So they could just had given it to him from the start?

Thor blinked, confused. "What does that mean?"

"It means it is way more important than anything else we could find here! Thanks for giving it to me, I'll give you back your jewells. I can't believe it, the crew will be so proud of me!"

He looked disappointed. "But... I wanted to keep it."

"What use do you have for it? You're a prince, you're already rich."

"We played with it and it's how I saved my brother, it's important to me."

"Thor, nevermind. Our jewellery are more important. We don't need that to remind us how you are strong and how you saved me," Loki looked at him sincerely, even if deep down he only wanted to care about that matter to be solved.

"So it's sorted! Here, here are your bracelets and necklace," Peter said while getting them out of his vest pocket and giving them the jewellery.

While Thor took his necklace and looked at it with frustration, Loki took his bracelets and put them back.

Peter stayed silent for a few seconds, and bit his lip, then he looked at them with a smile. "You know, I really had fun with you anyway. And I'm kinda sorry for what I put you through, you princelings clearly weren't prepared for that."

Loki took a deep breath. It's true he may just have had the fright of his life back in that chamber, and that all they did was useless in addition. But he was told to always be polite, plus, this was an experience after all, and maybe in a few years they will be laughing about it.

"It's nothing. You are pardonned."

"Great! Then no grudge between us, right? Maybe we'll see each other again one day, and I don't want you to resent me."

"No worries for that," Thor sighed, and it showed that he was trying to make an effort not to be too sad for that card.

He tried to cheer up. He will just ask their parents to gift him the same card as a toy, and they will play even more with it.

"Yeah, particularly if you grow up to be a great warrior," Peter laughed and Thor laughed along, his bad sentiments already forgotten.

An short silent went by, and Peter spoke again. "And, thank you for following me. I know it wasn't nice of myself to sort of force you to. And it was thanks to you that I got this card, so, yeah... thanks. Anyway... I have to go now, gotta meet some members of my crew to show them what I found. Bye, Loki and Thor of Asgard," he smiled while leaving them with a hand gesture.

They observed him disappear in the crowd, and Loki shrugged. "I guess he was nice after all. Don't worry about that card, we could ask for father to make us a replica."

"I know," Thor smiled. "And you, are you sure you are all right?

Well, he had been quite shaken, as we could say, but he was reassured to be back in the hall, where he knew his parents near. And what a prince and future sorcerer would he be if he wasn't able of coping with such a fright? "I am, yes. Don't worry. But please, let's stay only in the hall from now."

"Of course, yes."

He eyed Thor. He didn't seem at all disturbed by their little adventure. He even seemed to be way more troubled by that card matter. Loki wondered if it was genuine, if his brother really was that brave, or if it was all just an act.

Now he wanted to stay somewhere calm, not run everywhere or go where it was forbidden.

He began walking towards a bar where he had noticed couches, and approached a red one before slumping on it against its thick cushions. Thor joined him, sitting by his side. "Do you want to rest?" His tone was a bit disappointed. Maybe he had wanted to play more.

"I'm tired, yes. And that loud music back there gave me a headache..."

He leaned to lay his head on Thor's shoulder, and his brother let him do so, taking him in his arms. He always loved to reassure and cuddle him.

"You mean the music in that strange man's room, the one the chambers belonged to?"

He nodded. "Yes. And that man was so strange, I hope I never cross his path again. Did you see how he kissed that lady? It was so gross."

"I guess that's what adults do."

"Father and mother never kissed each other like this," he winced.

"Well, in front of us yes, but maybe in private..."

"Erk! Don't say more!" he winced even more, letting his tongue out in disgust.

Thor only laughed, and they stayed like this for a moment in silence, before he spoke again, this time more sincerely.

"Earlier... I know you tried to save me too, when I was dragged by that guard. And you didn't flee, you stayed with me. Thank you, brother."

"You know I would never abandon you. You are very important to me..." his cheeks flushed a bit.

"And you are to me too. You are the best brother," he assured as he kissed his forehead.

Now he couldn't be more happy. Another silence went by between them, and Loki felt he was drifting into sleep in the warmth of his brother's arms, but then he blurrily saw someone standing in front of him. He blinked, opened his eyes better, and couldn't help showing a surprised and happy smile when he saw the woman from earlier. Thor looked at her too, inquisitive.

She was handing them a glass with a yellow liquid, with a pretty decoration. It even had a straw. But neither of the boys took it. She also had an other drink in her other hand, a red one.

She looked around, a bit worried, before smiling a little. "Do not worry, it's not an alcoholic drink. It is fruit-based."

Loki decided to took it. He didn't know why, but he trusted her. He took a sip, and it was delicious. It tasted like the fruit juices served at Alfheim's spring celebration.

She looked down. "I hope I am not indisposing you. I had to fetch my master a drink, and I saw you, and I wanted to do something nice, to thank you for being so considerate earlier... I know you are princes, I apologize it this seems displaced."

He took another sip. "What is your name?"

"It's... It's Carina."

"Thank you, Lady Carina."

She smiled, because nobody had given her such a title for a long time, and bowed. "You are welcome, your Highness."

"Say," Thor began, "why do you call that man your master? Are you her servant?"

She took time to answer. "Indeed... sort of. I am at his service, and I do everything he desires."

"Then he has luck having someone so nice as you serving him. At the palace, a lot of servants scold us when he don't behave well."

"I guess he is." her voice sounded sad. "Oh, I may not linger too much. Good bye, your Highnesses," she said ankwardly, albeit with a sweet smile.

When she was gone from their sight, Loki turned to Thor, already having finished he half of his glass. "She was really nice. Maybe we could ask father and mother to hire her."

"I don't know. Can you hire servants that already work for someone else?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. If we let them better. Do you want some juice?"

He nodded, and took the straw between his fingers to take a sip.

"Don't take too much!"

"It really is tasteful! And very refreshing."

"Yes..." he went to lean back on his shoulder again. Thor took him back in his arms, stroking his hair.

Loki observed the hall. He has lived more adventures than he had thought tonight. And frankly, he was happy of it.