A/n: I don't own the Avengers or Loki. Marvel owns them.
I'm also new to the Fandom, so there are things that I'm probably going to get wrong. Let me know nicely, either in a review or DM and I'll fix it. That said. The voice of some of the characters are going to be off. I know this. Please be patient with me as I familiarize myself with them. This takes place after the Battle of New York and Before Dark World.
Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one.
A steady beeping brings him back to reality. Loki's eyes flutter open. The white ceiling with bright lights. This isn't Asgard, he thinks. This isn't even close to Asgard. I am in Hel. Or I've died. His head aches and his body feels like he'd been smashed into the ground by the Hulk yet again. He groans and tries to sit up. There's something stuck to his chest. He pulls down the flimsy gown. Five circles with a different color wire stick to his chest. Loki represses a scream. Thor stands over him.
"Where am I?" Loki gasps trying to sit up. A cold sweat covers his body and he tastes something metallic in his mouth. Blood. Vomit. Maybe both. Thor rushes to his side. "Easy, brother."
"Well, if it isn't Reindeer Games. Welcome back to the land of the living." The familiar voice of the Man of Iron greets him.
"I'd rather be dead," Loki snaps.
"Brother." Thor warns. "None of that."
"Where am I?" He repeats still struggling to get out of bed.
"New York City, home of the Avengers." Tony Stark leans against the window with his crossed arms in front of him.
"I thought I smelled the stink of mortals."
"Boy, I bet you're fun at parties." Tony says rolling his eyes.. "Anyway. You're stuck with us now.
And unfortunately we're stuck with you."
"So we might as well get along?" Loki smirks. "I'd rather be rotting in a cell for eternity."
Thor reaches for his brother's shoulder. "Please. It's not as terrible here as you think. The food is amazing. The technology. The literature.
"You always had low standards for just about everything," Loki retorts. He tries to get out of bed, but realizes that he is covered in wires. He lifts up the green hospital gown. "What the hell is this?"
"A heart monitor," A female voice says cheerfully. "My name is Sarah. I'm your nurse. Dr. Strange should be here in a few minutes to assess you."
A knock moments later, and Dr. Strange appears. A powerful aura surrounds him. Other than that, Loki can't detect anything more. "Hello!" he says cheerfully. More cheerful that Loki thinks necessary. "Loki. How are you feeling?"
"Hi." Loki says flatly, glaring at Dr. Strange. "How do you think I'm feeling?"
"If I could ask everyone with the exception of Thor and Sarah to step out for a moment I'd appreciate it." He fishes something out of his pocket. A light. He shines it into Loki's eyes.
"What is that?"
"You fell off your chair and hit your head. I'm checking for a concussion. Are you having any pain?"
"No." He glares at Dr. Strange. It's a lie. His veins still burn from his magic being stripped from him. He doubt this second rate mortal could do anything about it. "How long have I been here?"
He, Thor, and Sarah exchange glances, as Dr. Strange continues his examination.
"About three days. Maybe four." Thor says. "After they took your magic, you were… well, we weren't sure you weren't going to make it. Being mortal now, there's nothing they could do we brought you here."
"You mean they didn't want to," Loki corrects. "There's a difference. Don't think I'm not aware."
Thor shifts uncomfortably on his place by Loki's bedside. "This wasn't easy for all of us. Most of all Mother."
"She's not my mother."
"She loves you."
"Says the favorite son.".
"Sarah, you can unhook him from the heart monitor. I think he's going to live," Dr. Strange says. Then he turns to Thor. "Are you sure it's wise for him to stay here?"
Sarah walks to the heart monitor, presses a few keys and the beeping stops. Loki sighs in relief. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She pats his shoulder and gives him a kind smile. "It sounds like you've had a rough couple of days. I'm sorry to hear it. We'll get you off this heart monitor then at least you'll be a little more comfortable. If you don't mind sliding down your gown, I can unhook you."
Loki pulls down the rough fabric to expose the electrodes on sticky round circles with wires attached to them. The skin around them is red and irritated. "It'll go away in a day or so," Sarah says. "My best friend has trouble with the adhesive too."
Loki studies Sarah. Her blond hair is pulled back out of her face in a braid. She has blue eyes and a dusting of freckles on her cheekbones. Her blue scrubs aren't particularly flattering on her. She wraps the cords and sets them on the desk of the monitor.
"Is that it?" He asks. "May I leave now?"
"You just have to yank off the electrodes. And I recommend doing it fast like you're ripping off a bandage. It hurts less."
Loki makes a face as he forces his fingers under the sticky adhesive. Thor reaches over easily pulls the one on the left side.
"Ow." Loki growls, glaring at his brother.
"Look! It took your hair off." Thor shows him the patch gleefully. "I want to do another."
"No. I can do it myself. Thank you." He grimaces again as Thor yanks off another one.
"He's older, right?" Sarah asks pointing to Thor.
"I'm adopted," Loki interjects. "He's not really my brother."
"Yes," Thor says at the same time.
"I have two older brothers. I know how it feels." She continues. Sarah's eyes rest on Loki's. "I better get back to the lab. I hope you feel better."
No, Loki thinks. You have no idea how I feel."
—
To his great relief, there are no reindeer or any kind of horned mammal decorations in his room. Instead, the room has a minimalistic modern appeal. The walls are painted a light gray. The bedspread on the bed is a deep forest green. A few trunks sit against the wall with his things that he'd been allowed to bring from Asgard. There's a desk, a dresser and a small bookshelf. He walks to the closet. Someone had been nice enough to hang up his few articles of clothing. He touches a heavy fur cape and lined with gold. It's not likely he would need it. Winters here in Midgard aren't that cold, according to Thor but he couldn't bear to leave it behind. Such a sentimental bastard, he thinks. I'm a whore for nice things.
A lot of the items he brought with him weren't things he'd be able to use like the books of old stories that he knows by heart. Most of his magic books have been confiscated when they locked him in his quarters after the Battle of New York. Frigga insisted, or course. It would be more comfortable than a cell. A small blessing and enough time to prepare for the worst.
Oh. Loki thinks. That.
He closes his eyes and tries to locate his magic deep within himself. Nothing. Loki attempts to cast an illusion, He pictures a snake slithering on the bed but nothing happens. Not even a shimmer. Panic fills his stomach. How will I defend myself?
"No."
His hand shakes as he holds it over the floor willing for something, anything to happen.
"No!" He whispers in a hoarse whispers. "It can't be."
Frigga, you bitch, he fumes. He picks up one of the books from the bookshelves and hurls it against the far wall. He doesn't do it with his own books. They're too precious. The paperback makes a pathetic thunk and slides down the wall. There must be a way, he thinks, trying again.
They can't have taken it all. Still nothing. He tries until the throb in his head becomes an incessant ache.
Loki slumps on the bed at last and puts his head in his hands. A loud sob escapes his lips. I truly am stuck here in this gods forsaken place. And I am without allies or anyone to call a friend. He balls his fists. Nevertheless, I will survive this. I've been through much much worse.
He stands and wipes his eyes. Crying won't do. He strolls across the room and opens one of the ornate trunks. He digs around underneath the books and papers he's brought with him until he finds a small black pouch. The contents and clink in his hand.
"Ah, here it is," he mutters easing some of the contents of the bag in his hand. A carved black stallion rearing up on his hind legs about the size of his palm with a painted green and gold saddle falls out. Despite the low light in the room, the gold still gleams brightly. Smiling smugly, Loki sets it on his bedside table. "There. Feels a little bit more like home now."
A/n: Please review.