Chapter 2:
Thor meets Loki's new boyfriend purely by accident.
He's coming out of the cafe, black coffee in one hand, scone in the other, still on his lunch break. He always gets out of the dingy little law office he currently finds himself employed by when he can.
He finds himself questioning every day his choice to "follow in his Father's footsteps", and become a lawyer. He thought once he might be passionate about it, but these days, that notion is becoming less and less a certainty.
He's just seating himself at one of the shop's outside tables when he glances across the street and sees his brother.
It takes him a moment to realize it's Loki, though subconsciously he knows it right away.
No one really looks like his brother.
Only normally this time of day, Loki is supposed to be meeting with his councilor.
He'd only started seeing Dr. Banner a couple months ago, and only under the combined pressure of Thor's, as well as Mom and Dad's insistence.
In truth, Thor thinks, Loki should have started seeing a therapist years ago, with all of his problems. From the drugs to his extreme mood swings and self-destructive behavior.
Loki's getting arrested had been the final straw, as far as their Father was concerned.
It had been such a stupid thing too. Vandalizing abandoned property while drunk off his ass.
What eighteen year old didn't do stuff like that?
Loki's mistake had been getting caught.
Thor had tried reasoning with Father about it. He was eight years older than Loki, and tried reminding Dad about how when he was Loki's age, he'd gotten into a lot worse trouble than throwing rocks through the window of a condemned house.
But Odin wasn't hearing any of it, and in retrospect, Thor realized he was right.
Loki had needed help. He'd been spiraling for a long time. Really since he was maybe thirteen or fourteen years old. Hanging out with the wrong crowd, smoking and drinking and taking all sorts of drugs.
His relationship with Father had deteriorated to the point that just being in the same house as one another was proving a dangerous endeavor. Tensions had been running sky high, fights breaking out between them constantly. Violent shouting matches which often ended with broken furniture and Loki running to his room and locking himself in for days at a time.
The breaking point had come when, one day, Loki had snuck into Father's study, looking for money, and he'd stumbled across a locked box, hidden beneath a stack of folders in one of Dad's desk drawers. Thinking there would doubtless be cash inside, Loki had easily picked the lock.
There hadn't been any money inside.
Instead, he'd found adoption papers, dated 17 years earlier, his name plastered across the documents, followed by the name "Laufeyson".
Loki had absolutely lost it, Thor remembers. He'd been over that day, just visiting, talking with Mom and Dad in the living room, when Loki had suddenly appeared, eyes thick with tears, streaming down his face, contorted in rage and despair.
Immediately he'd begun screaming at Odin and Frigga, demanding answers while clutching the adoption papers in his hand.
Mom had tried talking him down, tried calming him, but nothing was working, and Father had always had far less patience with Loki then his wife.
He'd started screaming back, voice booming and overpowering Loki's own, started calling him an ungrateful little shit and telling him had it not been for his own generosity, Loki wouldn't have lived to see his first birthday. Wouldn't be alive now to hate him the way he did.
And that had done it.
Loki had stormed out of the house.
Mom had been beside herself, begging Thor to go after him, which of course Thor had.
His brother hadn't gotten far, Thor remembers. Just to the end of the street, where he'd collapsed to his knees, sobbing viciously.
Thor had done his best to comfort him, putting his arms around him and holding him close, telling him how sorry he was, telling him he had no idea. And that was all true.
Loki had wept against his chest and gone on about how it was all so obvious now why Dad hated him. Why he'd never really loved him, and how stupid he was for not realizing sooner.
Thor had told him that wasn't true. That while Father could sometimes be harsh, of course he loved Loki. That he just didn't always know how to say it.
To this day though, Thor doesn't think Loki believed him, and still doesn't.
His brother had begged to come live with him that night. Said he couldn't stand another minute in that house, and Thor had told him of course.
That had been six months ago, and Loki had been with him ever since.
His brother still had a host of issues, but that was what Dr. Banner was for, and Thor liked to think the sessions were helping Loki, even if the signs of progress were slow.
Loki didn't seem to lose his temper quite so easily these days, but still, when he did, it was like a bomb going off.
Thor wasn't sure Loki would ever be able to scale back on that particular aspect of his personality.
In some ways, Thor didn't want him to.
Dr. Banner had told him and their parents that Loki was suffering from a severe anxiety disorder, as well as clinical depression and possibly bipolar disorder, and that he wanted to prescribe him some medications to help modulate his mood fluctuations.
Loki had been on the meds for a few weeks, and it had so dulled him down, that frankly it had scared the hell out of Thor. He'd barely recognized his brother, with the way he would sit there, staring vacantly ahead, eyes glazed and distant. His usually sharp wit and tongue almost entirely absent.
When Loki had told him he didn't like the way the drugs made him feel and wanted to go off them, Thor, knowing it was a risk, had told him alright.
Loki was sometimes erratic. He had a hell of a temper and yeah, he did get depressed sometimes.
But Loki's mind was also his greatest asset, and to take that away from him just felt wrong.
It left Loki in a state far too vulnerable for Thor's own comfort.
Watching his brother now, seemingly waiting for nothing as he leans back against the brick of a one storey building, Thor suddenly sees a man emerge from the places entrance, and he feels his own eyes widen as the man approaches Loki and without warning pick him bodily up off the ground, twirling him in a quick circle.
Loki laughs, head thrown back and hands on the man's shoulders.
Whoever the guy is, he's huge.
Loki's tall, but this guy must have three inches on him, at least, and even from this distance, Thor can see he's incredibly broad in the chest and shoulders.
He's wearing a tank top, his arms bulging with rippling, thick muscle. He's got to be 250, 260, Thor thinks. And that's natural. That's not built up muscle too big for the guy's frame.
Loki looks like a stick figure in his hold. All one hundred forty pounds of him.
Finally, the man sets his brother back on his feet, and Loki has his hands on the guy's chest, staring up at him with a look of such affection and longing, Thor for a moment doesn't even know how to characterize it.
And then the guy's leaning down, hands on Loki's face, pushing his head back and planting a violent looking kiss on his brother's lips.
Thor stands up then, forgetting his coffee and scone as he starts across the street.
There's something uncomfortable uncurling in his belly at the look of the man.
Not just his what would be for most intimidating size, but the overall impression.
His hair's cropped short and close to the scalp, and as Thor draws nearer, he can see the guy's got strange tattoos in swirling, indecipherable patterns running up his arms, over his shoulders and over the nape of his neck.
He looks fucking dangerous, and there's a sudden, almost panicked desire in Thor to get his little brother away from the man.
It's only made worse when he sees the guy shove Loki harder than is necessary against the brick of the building and continue to assault him with his kiss.
Loki doesn't seem to mind, but Loki's never really known what's good for him.
He doesn't even notice Thor standing there until he speaks up.
"Loki." He says.
The man instantly breaks away, turning and glaring at Thor with clear warning. Though Thor sees a brief hesitation when the man gets a load of him and realizes he's essentially the same size. Same height, same width. Thor gets the immediate impression the guy isn't used to encountering anyone of comparable physical stature.
"Thor!" Loki immediately beams seeing his older brother, smile spreading across his face as he pushes off from the wall and takes a step forward.
The man suddenly puts a wide palm against Loki's chest and shoves him back against the brick, eyes still pinned menacingly on Thor.
Loki grunts in surprise at the impact, and Thor feels his hands curl to fists at his sides, taking a step forward.
"Who the fuck are you?" The man growls, voice deep and plainly antagonizing.
Loki grabs hold of the guy's wrist and pushes his arm away from his chest, huffing in apparent frustration.
"Thanos, stop being so jealous. He's my brother." He says, unconcerned, once more stepping away from the wall and towards Thor.
Thor continues to glare right back at the guy, Thanos, apparently, even as Loki barrels into him, throwing his arms around him in a hug.
Thanos watches the display with a frown of clear disapproval, but Loki seems oblivious, squeezing Thor tight before leaning back and grinning brightly up at him, eyes alight and happy.
"What are you doing here?" He asks, voice pitched with excitement.
Thor can't remember the last time he saw his brother in such a good mood, and it makes some of the tension drain from his own frame, his discomfort easing slightly.
Finally he pulls his eyes away from Thanos and looks down at his little brother.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." He says, forcing himself to return Loki's smile. "Aren't you supposed to be with Dr. Banner right now?"
Loki shakes his head, at last dropping his arms from around Thor's waist and stepping back.
"Dr. Banner had to cancel today." He explains. "But this is great! I've been wanting you to meet my new boyfriend for a while! Thor, this is Thanos. Thanos, Thor!"
He turns to the guy, looking up at him, and then back to Thor, smile broadening even further.
Between them both, Loki looks even smaller and more fragile than usual, and Thor has the sudden, overwhelming urge to push his brother behind him.
But Thanos' face is relaxing now, and what can only be described as a charming grin spreads over his face.
He holds out a hand towards Thor.
"Hey." He says, friendly as can be. "Sorry about that. I thought you were one of Loki's ex's come to harass him or some such. You wouldn't believe how often that happens."
Thor reaches out and takes the offered hand. He doesn't fail to notice how hard the man's grip is, but Thor squeezes just as tightly back.
"I can imagine." He replies flatly.
He still doesn't like the feeling he gets off this guy, but he seems nice enough now, and his attitude before is understandable, if he was just trying to protect Loki.
Thanos' smile widens.
"Yeah. Loki's quite the catch, as I'm sure you know. Good looking as he is, these crazy men just come out of the woodwork it seems, trying to screw with him."
Loki laughs at that, giving Thanos' shoulder a shove.
It doesn't even budge the guy.
"Flattery wins you no favor." Loki says, even as his cheeks tinge a slight pink.
His brother is smitten, Thor realizes. Really smitten.
"So, boyfriend, huh?" He starts, trying to shove the unease he feels away. "When did you two meet then? This is the first I've heard of you." He looks pointedly at Thanos.
"Just about two weeks ag…" Loki starts, but abruptly, Thanos cuts him off.
"Two weeks ago." He says, talking right over his brother.
Thor waits for the scathing tongue lashing.
One of Loki's pet peeves, if ever he had one, is being talked over, and Thor's never known anyone to get away with it without receiving a verbal thrashing.
He's subsequently stunned into a momentary stupor when, instead, Loki's eyes slip away to the pavement below, and he falls entirely silent.
The unease grows.
Thanos is still smiling as he put's a beefy arm around Loki's narrow shoulders and draws him tight against his side.
"Saw this little beauty down at Connelly's bar, and couldn't resist asking him out." He goes on, tone still effusive and friendly. "Got lucky I guess, because he said yes, even after getting a load of my ugly mug."
"You aren't!" Loki starts, looking up at Thanos with that same, adoring expression. "You're the most handsome man I've ever seen!"
His brother is talking like some little kid, Thor thinks, and there's something unsettling about it.
Thanos laughs and bends down, slapping a wet sounding kiss against Loki's cheek.
Loki actually giggles, and Thor thinks he might be sick.
"Hey babe, we better get going or we're gonna be late to the show." He says.
"Oh, yeah." Loki says. "S-sorry Thor. We have tickets to the cinema." He looks up at him with apologetic eyes, and, Thor thinks, almost disappointment.
Thor knows his brother well enough to know he doesn't want to go. Knows him well enough too to know, normally, he would call the movies off if that was the case.
But he says nothing as Thanos forces him to turn in the opposite direction, and begins pressing him forward to walk.
"Nice meeting you Thor." The man calls over his shoulder, arm still slung over Loki's shoulders.
Loki glances back at Thor one last time, saying nothing, the same, disappointed look in his eyes, before at last turning away.
A moment later, his brother and his new boyfriend disappear round a corner, leaving Thor feeling intensely uncomfortable.
Thor sits, hands clasped beneath his chin, elbows leaned onto his knees as he watches his brother, asleep on his couch.
It had taken a long time for him to calm down enough to fall asleep, Thor sitting with him the whole time, holding onto his hand and telling him over and over in different variations that he was going to be okay, that he wasn't going to leave him.
Thor can't recall ever having seen his little brother so shaken.
And that wasn't some small measure, given how frequently as a child Loki had used to come running into his room at night, sobbing over some horrible nightmare he'd suffered. Or how over the years of their youth, Loki had been so constantly picked on and harassed at school by other children both older and younger than him. Before Loki had learned to shut down and pretend himself unaffected by the bullying, he'd used to come home crying and shaking and just so damn terrified, until finally Mom and Dad had pulled him out of public schooling and put him into private.
Even there though, he'd gotten picked on.
Thor shakes his head of the memories, reaching forward and brushing Loki's black hair back from his forehead, smoothing it back over his ear. His brother doesn't stir, out cold finally, both form physical and emotional exhaustion.
Thor had tried getting him to take the bed, but Loki had repeatedly refused, until finally Thor had just agreed for him to sleep on the couch.
He wasn't going to stick to that agreement though. With Loki's injuries, he would only suffer worse in the morning, if he didn't have a proper mattress to lie down on.
With that thought in mind, Thor stands, leaning down and gently as he's able, pushing his arms beneath Loki's still form, scooping him up a moment later. He bites his lip and swallows thickly against a tightening chest as he feels how terrifyingly light his brother is. He weighs nothing, and it scares the hell out of Thor. It makes him wonder morbidly just what else Thanos had been subjecting his brother to.
Loki had always been too skinny. But now his thinness was veering towards the dangerous.
His brother curls inward slightly then, hands rising and fingers twisting into the fabric of Thor's shirt, face burying against his chest.
Thor bends his head down, kissing Loki just behind the ear, before moving carefully with him towards his bedroom.
They get there without incident, and Thor continues in his tact as he lays Loki down, letting his head rest along the pillow, positioning his arms and legs appropriately before pulling the covers up to his shoulder.
He gives his brother one last kiss, along the temple, making sure he's okay, before switching the bedside lamp off and backing quietly out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.
From there, he heads back to the living room, finding his phone lying across his coffee table.
Taking it up, he doesn't hesitate in bringing up his contact, finding Mom's number and hitting dial.
He prays she's still awake, and when he hears her pick up only after the second ring, and her clear voice on the other end, he breathes a sigh of relief.
"Hello darling." She says brightly.
Thor feels his stomach churn, knowing how in moment he's going to destroy her good mood.
"Hey Mom." He says. "I didn't wake you?"
"No, no darling." She assures him with a quiet laugh. "Your Father and I aren't quite that old. We were just settling in for the night, getting ready to watch a film."
"Oh," Thor says. "That's good."
And then he pauses, unsure of how to proceed.
The hesitation is enough to let his Mom know something's up, and when she next speaks, it's with evident concern.
"Thor, is something the matter?" She asks apprehensively.
Thor swallows, blinking rapidly against the sudden sting in his eyes.
"Mom, it's Loki."
He hears her sharp intake of breath.
"Why?" She starts, voice noticeably trembling. "Is he…"
"He's fine." Thor hastens to reassure, and he hears Frigga exhale in painful relief. "Well…" Thor bites his lip, again hesitating. "not fine. But I have him here with me. He… he's asleep right now in my bed. Mom, he…"
"Thor, what is it?" She demands urgently. "Tell me what's going on."
"He's pretty badly beat up Mom." He finally spits out, and he can hear the tremor in his own voice. "That guy he's been with, he's… he's been abusing him Mom."
"Oh God, I knew it. I… I knew…" she trails off, tearful and horrified.
"Can you come over Mom?" Thor forges ahead. "I think… I think it would be good for him if you were here right now. I'd take him over there, but everything with Dad and…"
"I'm coming." She cuts him off. "I'll be there in half an hour."
"What about Dad?" Thor asks nervously.
With all the issues hanging between Loki and Odin, the fact of Loki's being gay is just another point of contention. Odin hadn't taken the news well at all, even as Thor and Mom both had taken it in stride. Even when Loki had come out to them when he was only fourteen, and they'd all known for several years now.
Hearing about this, about Loki being abused by another man, it isn't going to go down well with Dad at all, Thor knows.
"I'll take care of it." Mom assures him. "Don't worry. Just… just keep your brother safe Thor. Keep him safe."
"I will Mom. I swear it."
They say their goodbyes then, Thor hanging up and sinking down onto the couch.
It's just a matter of waiting now.
He prays she gets here soon.
And he hopes Loki won't be too angry when he finds out he's called her.
He doesn't think his brother will be, once he sees Mom.
/
AN: Huge thanks to everyone who's read, reviewed and followed! I hope you're continuing to enjoy, and again, reviews help me immensely, so if you have a chance, please leave one!