The first thing Loki noticed was that he ached all over. Okay, that was to be expected. Last thing he remembered he'd been fighting hand to hand with some lunatic. The dull soreness made sense. The burning sensation in his forearms didn't make sense. A stiff aching neck made sense, considering that his assailant had made several attempts to choke him. Not being able to move it at all didn't, especially since he could definitely feel all his extremities. Nor did the funny sensation that there was something down his throat.
Why was he even alive? He'd been sure he was being attacked by whoever had been murdering local villains, and that person had been nothing if not thorough with their other victims. Perhaps they'd been scared off before they could finish the job? In which case, he'd almost certainly been found. Which meant he'd be in SHIELD custody very soon if he wasn't already. He cleared his mind and explored with his other senses, trying to take in his surroundings as much as possible before revealing to whoever might be there that he was conscious by opening his eyes.
This was a hospital. He could smell the disinfectant, hear the beeping of delicate machinery that he was sure was monitoring him, feel a firm bed and sheets and a flimsy garment that was probably a hospital gown around him. More material against his skin seemed to be dressings around his arms and neck. He was pretty sure there was an IV in his arm just above the bandages, and yes, there was definitely something stuck down his throat, most likely a tube judging by where he was and the fact that he could breathe despite it. If there had been enough time to do so much to him, he must already be in SHIELD custody.
Loki weighed his options. He felt weak, and his injuries were obviously significant. His magic was there, though weakened by his own physical weakness. He didn't think an escape in his state was a good idea. Although he could likely teleport accurately once, he wasn't sure where was still safe for him and didn't want to risk teleporting straight into danger if he wasn't sure he would be able to fight or immediately teleport out again. Damn. He would just have to pretend to remain unconscious until his strength returned.
But what was that? Voices approaching? Thor and Banner. Okay, definitely in SHIELD custody.
A door opened and the voices got much clearer. "...JARVIS will call me if I'm needed. I'm going to go help Tony hack the database and make sure Fury hasn't heard about this. He'll probably feel more comfortable with just you here when he wakes anyway. Oh, and there's a whiteboard and markers by his bed so he can communicate while he's still intubated." Huh. If JARVIS was there, that meant he was in one of Stark's facilities. And Banner had said something about making sure the director hadn't heard about something. And they apparently cared what he had to say. This was not what he expected.
"Thank you my friend. I am much indebted to you for your efforts to save my brother's life." Thor's heavy footsteps approached as Banner mumbled an embarrassed response and shut the door behind him, and Loki heard the creaking of a chair as his brother sat down by the bed. "I shall hunt down and destroy whoever has done this to you. And then I shall make my displeasure known to Director Fury for refusing me aid in protecting you from them. I swear it." Thor had tried and failed to get SHIELD to help protect him? If that was the case, it seemed unlikely that Thor would trust them anywhere near him now. Which meant, judging by Banner's comment, that the Avengers had saved him and his presence was the secret they were keeping from SHIELD. Loki felt a little bad now about feigning unconsciousness and cracked an eye.
Thor looked miserable. His hair was mussed and there were shadows under his eyes as if he'd barely slept in days or weeks. He probably hadn't, not since whenever he'd caught wind of the dying villains. Loki knew he looked worse himself. His assessment had been correct. He seemed to be in the infirmary level of Stark Tower, his injuries attended to, with no obvious attempt made at restraining him. Not that that would have been necessary. The fact that he was in a neck brace made him very wary of trying to move before he knew the exact damage.
Thor shot out of his seat. "You're awake! How do you feel? Who do I need to destroy for this? Is there anything I can do...?" Loki raised an eyebrow pointedly, and Thor awkwardly stopped. "Oh. Right, you can't talk. Sorry." He fumbled around and handed Loki a whiteboard and marker.
Feel like I got run over by a bilgesnipe. Didn't recognize assailant. What do you know? How bad am I? His arms were stiff and painful, his handwriting barely legible as he fumbled with the marker.
"Supervillains have been turning up dead." Thor looked haunted. "All of them apparently suicides. I was informed of this when I arrived to visit my friends some time ago. They said they had no news of you of any sort. I was terrified. I asked Director Fury for information, and he refused to help. Stark built a thing to track your magic signature, but when we found you it was almost too late." His voice cracked, "I thought you really had tried to kill yourself but Doctor Banner says you didn't. You didn't, did you?"
None of us did. Someone attacking us, covering tracks. How bad are my injuries?
"You have large cuts in both arms, bruises everywhere, and a broken throat."
Bruises and choking I remember, cuts I don't. Can feel them though. What happens now?
"Now you recover. Then we fight together and destroy the one who would dare harm you."
Loki raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. Your friends are permissive of this plan?
"They have no choice." Thor looked angry at the suggestion that anyone would stand between him and ensuring his little brother's safety. It was kind of sweet.
A door opening, footsteps approaching. "We aren't going to tell SHIELD that we know anything about your whereabouts, if that's what you're wondering." Banner added drily, coming into view. "We smelled something fishy about these deaths from the beginning and have been trying like hell to get to the bottom of it. SHIELD is refusing to help at all, so you're our best lead. We need you."
Why do you care about your enemies dying? You should be happy.
"We're in danger too." Bruce set about checking him over, "Whoever it is will probably come after us next, or civilians."
Why shouldn't I just teleport away? It was an empty threat, but the Avengers didn't need to know that.
"You're weakened, you need a safe place to recover and if they caught you once your hideout may be compromised, you need continued medical attention, you want revenge and we're putting all our resources into helping you get it. Did I miss anything?" The doctor pointed out.
The debt I owe you for saving my life. What's the official not-dumbed-down-for-Thor diagnosis?
Yeah, they might've underestimated him a little. Getting him to stay put while he recovers his strength isn't the hard part, not when he knows that a) they're keeping him a secret from SHIELD and b) he could probably handle teleporting away if he absolutely had to. As for the actual challenges of this collaboration, well, I have plans. You didn't think he'd not take advantage of being in his rivals' headquarters, did you?