[ It is the smile that has Loki drawing back, his shoulders tightly knit and his knuckles pale in the steady forest light. The hurt had been sown, the chasm too deep. Why, oh why won't Thor accept Loki's easy exit? It could be wiped clean. Thor need not worry about the shadow of a younger brother, a brother that no longer exists in any capacity.

Foolish, foolish sentiment will be the death of him (who though? who will perish first?).

With a sharp inhale, Loki seeks to seal the cracks in his composure. He'll not falter now. He buried the past in the dust of Svartalfheim. If Thor cannot see the merit in that, then Loki will make sure he does. ]

You never did. Is that not what kept us apart? You cannot trust me. You cannot believe me. And you would be fool to.

With that in mind, there is nothing to hope for. Nothing will change, Thor.

[ His tone is calm, almost soothing, if to lull Thor into accepting this conclusion. ]