"I'd rather be a good man than a great king.", the older son spoke with all sincerity as he stood in front of his father.

"Is this my son, I hear? Or the woman he loves?", Odin asked, his staff in his hand.

"When you speak, I never hear mother's voice.", Thor replied. His father rolled his eyes and sighed, sitting down on his throne afterwards.

"This is not about Jane, father. She does not know what I came here to say. Now, forbid me to see her or say she can rule by my side, it changes nothing."

"One son who wanted the throne too much, another who would not take it. Is this my legacy?", the Allfather questioned, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Loki fought with honor. I shall try to the same, is that not legacy enough?", Thor answered quickly, turning Odin's gaze back on him.

Thor stepped back, held Mjolnir in the air, as if to return the hammer to his father.

"It belongs to you, if you are worthy of it.", Odin replied, waving his hand slightly, gesturing for him to put the hammer down.

"I shall try to be."

With that, Thor smiled and bowed his head. He then turned around and proceeded to exit the palace.

"Your brother, has still yet to prove to me. What he did on Svartelheim was indeed noble, but not enough to show he is worthy of being king.", Odin spoke again as Thor was already halfway there. The older son stopped and swiftly faced his father.

"That means you are considering Loki as king, yes?", Thor asked eagerly, his grin growing bigger.

"Possibly. Frigga would've been proud of what he has done, as well.", Odin admitted, looking at the floor as he spoke. Oh, how he missed his wife.

Thor's smile faltered a bit. How on earth was Loki going to prove himself worthy to Odin?

Both of them stayed silent; one was thinking and one was reminiscing.

A lightbulb flashed in Thor's mind.

"I think I know how he can prove himself worthy, Father.", Thor stated, snapping Odin out of his thoughts.

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"You said what?", the younger brother asked as they walked, though he heard what Thor said loud and clear.

"He said you needed to prove yourself worthy of the throne. That was what I suggested.", the older brother simply replied. Loki ran his hand through his hair.

"You do still want the throne, do you not?", Thor asked, stopping in his tracks to face his brother.

"Of course, I still desire the throne. It is my birthright, after all.", the younger brother answered.

Thor nodded in approval and resumed walking, Loki following behind.

"Hold on, how is sending me back on Midgard going to prove I am worthy of the Asgardian throne?", Loki asked again. What in the world was his brother thinking, sending him back to the realm he nearly succeeded in dominating?

Thor stopped walking, again and so did Loki. The latter was expectantly waiting his brother's response. Thor, on the hand, was grinning from ear to ear. He patted his younger brother's shoulder.

"You, my dear brother, are going to join the Avengers."

The color drained from Loki's face.

"Oh, dear."