"It is okay, my love. I understand."

You tried to hold back the sudden tears that had gathered in your eyes, but in vain as they rolled down your cheeks and dropped into your palms. Those were the last words the man you thought you were in love with had said before leaving you.

Except it wasn't his fault.
None of it was.

You thought back to the previous hour when it had all began and when it all ended.

—————

"My Lady."

You gave a slight curtsy to the other Prince of Asgard, keeping your head while your heart beat furiously.

There was no denying your feelings for him and he could tell by the way you pointedly avoided his piercing gaze, a faint pink color flushing your cheeks.

When the Frost Giants invaded your kingdom, slaughtering your parents and destroying the land, Queen Frigga took you under her wing and taught you as her own. Thor and Loki became your new best friends at the tender age of eight, but as you grew into a beautiful young woman, the obvious changes did not go unnoticed by the princes of Asgard.

When Thor asked you for your hand, you were more than thrilled.

Except, it didn't feel quite right.

And as you tried to subdue the unsettling feeling, you noticed it had only grew in your ignorance as Loki subtlety made his feelings known by playful flirting and the deep, longing look he would often give you.

"Lady Y/N."

You were jolted out of your thoughts by Thor's booming voice.

"Yes?"

"May I have this dance?" He asked, holding out his hand.

You smiled and let him lead you to the grand hall where other couples twirled to the music before he swept you into his arms and gazed into your Y/E/C eyes.

"You look beautiful," he said softly as you swayed from side to side. The look on his face was one of deep affection and something else—was it sadness?

"Well, you did pick this out for me," you smiled at him.

The deep, green dress you wore was fitted at the waist with a braided belt in a molten gold color and it was one that was designed to hug your curves while flaring out at the edge. The sleeves ran all the way to your wrists and the neckline wasn't very low, but hovered right above your chest while the other side was quite the opposite. The rear of your dress plunged to the small of your back and stopped at your waist line, exposing much of your skin.

"Come with me," the urgency in his voice made you curious as he pulled you to an empty balcony off the side of the hall, the silk curtains billowing in the wind.

You stepped out into the cold night air and took a deep breath.

"Y/N."

You turned and Thor lightly brushed his fingers against your cheek.

He gave you a sad smile.

"Tell me, Y/N? Do you love me?"

Your heart began to race as you stared into his blue eyes.

"Why—why would—of course, I do," you stammered.

That didn't sound convincing at all.

"But not as you do Loki."

You knew the look on your face gave it away the moment he mentioned Loki and he gave a deep sigh.

"I see the way you look at each other. I do not want to hold you back from what you truly want, Y/N. And if it is Loki you want to be with, I will not stop you."

Tears began to fall from your eyes as Thor lightly kissed your forehead, lingering for a long moment.

"Thor—" you started, but you were cut off by the sob that had built up in your throat. You hadn't meant to cause him pain, yet here you were.

"I'm so sorry," you whispered as he stepped away from you.

"It is okay, my love. I understand."

He gave you one last smile, before he turned and disappeared into the crowd of laughing people that were oblivious to the moment your heart broke for the Prince you wished you could love.

—————

You crushed the blood red petal in your hand and watched as it dropped to the gravel, almost black in the pale moonlight.

The palace garden was your one refuge from the world and now, you wanted it be a huge tower you could lock yourself away in for being such a selfish person.

"Lady Y/N?"

You knew that voice, but you didn't look up for fear of feeling the way you knew you shouldn't have in the first place.

Longing.

You heard the crunch of rocks underfoot and you couldn't help but to watch as Loki sat next to you on the little stone bench.

"Are you alright?" He asked, concern clear in his emerald green eyes.

You knew you looked a mess and a lurch of self-hatred gripped your stomach.

"I'm fine," you said shortly.

A few beats of silence passed as you both looked over the flower beds, past the rugged cliffs and the dark ocean, out to the Bifrost as it pulsed with dramatic, bright colors against the sparkling night sky.

You turned to find him quite closer than before and staring at you with a look so full of love, that your body reacted faster than your mind could.

Almost desperately, you leaned forward and captured his lips with yours, your arms wrapping around his neck to pull him closer.
He grabbed your waist and roughly yanked you against his chest without breaking the heated kiss, his lips hard, his tongue searching and gaining entrance as you let him in.

There was no space between you two as you moved in sync and let out all the passion you hadn't known you were holding back. When you came up for air, the heartache you felt had almost completely disappeared and though you knew it would stay with you for a long time, Loki was the reason why you felt whole.

Complete.

The broken rhythm of heavy panting was accompanied by the glassy stares of infatuation.

"I—I've loved you since we were children, Y/N. And to lose you to my brother...I thought it'd be the end of the world for me," he whispered in a ragged voice. Your heart soared at the very mention of his affection for you and you chastised yourself for being so blind to his feelings—to yours, as well.

"I love you too, Loki. I always have. Ever since I laid eyes on you," you carefully traced his cheek with your fingers as if he were made of glass.

You smiled as he kissed you again, this time with a gentle behavior that you've rarely seen in him and you were so overwhelmed with joy, you did not see your former lover watching from the shadows with a sad, but proud smile on his face.

—————

"As long as they both are happy," Thor told himself and he knew it to be true when he saw the content and loving expression his brother wore. He had been aware of your feelings for Loki and his for you for a long time, but chose to ignore it. Looking at it now, he realized how foolish he had been to hold onto you for so long.

(Although he did applaud himself for choosing your dress, purposely making it in the same color and attire as Loki to draw his attention)

"Take care of her, brother."

—————

This made my heart cry.