[Of all the questions which Thor had thought to hear, that was most definitely not one he'd considered. He did a slight double-take, in surprise.]

[A loaded question, that. And not one which Thor wanted to answer immediately, as though he did not understand its full meaning. Yet his heart already knew his answer, complicated though it was. After only a few seconds, Thor nodded.]



Forgiveness is not forgetting. Nor the same as trust. [And that hurt to admit, but there it was. Thor wouldn't lie about it. Especially not when Loki had asked him so kindly.]

Yet always have I loved you as my brother, and always will I do so. No deed will break that bond.