So, a quick question….FrostIron or ShieldFrost…love triangle or threesome? Lemme know in the comments…I usually just to FrostIron, but Steve is peaking him little head into the pairing. Also, sorry this is late. I suck.
When Loki was young he used to love wandering down the rainbow bridge and gazing into the abyss. He had marveled at the fact that there could be something beyond Asgard. That into the expanses of space and time there were worlds that no one had stepped foot on and never would. When Loki was young he visualized leaping into the abyss and exploring the unknown.
But as time passed that abyss began to leave a twinge of fear in his stomach. He would look upon it and fear the darkness. Fear what lay out there, unseen and unknown. As children are prone to doing, they begin their young lives wishing to explore and touch everything. They did not understand pain or fear. A flame flickering before them enticed them to touch it's warmth. Yet once they did, the reality would quickly set in. It was how it was for Loki. He had grown from being an overly curious and minimally cautious child into a still curious but more understanding one.
It was only fitting that he would die in the abyss.
Any fear he had of the darkness paled in comparison to his agony in Asgard.
He wanted to die.
He did not want to fall...and fall…and…fall. He then understood why he feared the abyss. He then understood that there were things out there worse than the abyss.
Hadn't he begged?
Hadn't he begged for an end to the darkness? He had spent so many tears, craving death, needing it. Yet when those hands touched him, and pulled him from the dark, Loki had clung. He had been so...thankful. The dark was gone, but a new horror opened.
Never had he felt such agony. Never would he feel it again.
Lead them...
The voices demanded.
Do his will!
He did not know how long he had fallen and he did not know how long he was tortured. He only knew that he wanted it to end. He would do whatever they wanted! Just stop! The pain! Make it stop! He will lead an army doomed to fail! He will face his once brother and lose himself. Whatever it took. As long as the pain ended.
He had only wanted to die...
Please...let me...die...
He understood now.
Understood Thanos's obsession with death. It alluded Loki at every turn, slipping from his fingers like sand. Thrice now death had escaped his reach. The first time in the abyss, the second when he survived the battle with the
Avengers and the third as he lay at Thor's feet, bleeding and weak but his heart still beating. Thor spoke to him softly, his blue eyes harsher than they had ever been before. The mortal lay feet away, as still as Loki thought mother had been in the end.
Loki wished then. He dreamed. He dreamed that it was him who was struck by the knife and not the mortal. He dreamed that with his wound, Thor's rage towards him dissipated. That in his final moments, Thor would forgive him for his weakness. He could almost see it…
Slowly, the God stood Loki tucked against his chest. He could hear Jane murmur something and Thor respond. He could not make out the words. He clung to the warmth of his not brother's skin. Thor began walking, his movements careful.
"We will get you to safety brother." He murmured against Loki's head. Loki hummed softly, eyes fluttering.
"M'sorry." He replied, voice slurred. Thor gently shushed him and Loki went limp in his arms.
Sleep was good...Loki came to much later lying on an uncomfortable surface. His eyes blearily glanced around noticing Thor's human and another woman sitting by an open window. Jane must have felt Loki's eyes on her because she turned and met his eyes blinking.
"Oh! Loki, you're awake! Darcy get Thor!" Jane hissed and Loki watched as the other woman got to her feet and sauntered off. Jane hesitantly approached Loki, her warm brown eyes concerned.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Sore." Loki admitted, watching Jane's lips twitch.
"You are lucky. I'm surprised that wound didn't kill you." Before Loki could form a response, Thor walked into the room. He swiftly approached Loki who flinched back. Thor hesitated, his expression soft.
"Loki..." He whispered. He knelt beside Loki and took the God's thin fingers into his hand and kissing his knuckles absently. Neither noticed that Jane had slipped out of the room, focused entirely on each other.
"Are you in pain?"
"Some." Loki admitted. Thor smiled weakly, his eyes holding something Loki could not decipher.
"Malekith has been defeated."
"I know."
"Jane told you."
"No...I just knew." Loki blinked slowly. He smiled crookedly. "You're nothing if not predictable." Thor chuckled, looking at their entwined fingers.
"Aye." He murmured. They say in silence for a moment, just enjoying the peace when Loki pulled his hand back.
"When will we be returning?" He questioned, voice dropping. Thor looked towards him in confusion.
"Returning?"
"To Asgard." Loki stated. Thor blinked. Then he remembered his words to Loki in the dungeons. He would return him to his cell...at the time it seemed simple and quick enough. Yet now...
"I will be petitioning the Allfather to lower your sentence." Thor murmured.
"Lower my...what?" Loki suddenly sat up only to cry out in pain. Thor quickly but gently pushed at Loki's shoulder to lay him back down.
"Your sentence Loki."
"You can't do that." Loki replied and Thor chuckled, his lips curling into a weak smile.
"Can't I?" His hand stroked gently through Loki's dark hair, his eyes softer than Loki had seen them in a long time.
"The Allfather will never allow it." Loki whispered
"And if that is the case I will keep you hidden away from him." Thor's voice was so gentle. So sure.
Loki had to wake up at some point.
It took another four days for Loki to wake up. Sif rarely left his side, having made herself a fort of blankets and pillows. Loki had woken only once and had fallen back under as Sif had spoken to him, but she had seen the recognition in his eyes. He was still there. Thor had not taken away his mind. She had heard the weak pained noises he made as he slept, from nightmares or pain, she was not sure. Sif did not trust the mortals around Loki. Not yet. Sif watched as Loki's broken fingers shifted on the bed. She sat completely still, eyes fixed on the prince. She didn't dare breathe.
Loki barely moved, but she caught the tenseness as the pain caught up with him. There was a sliver of green that she could make it from his swollen face as he tried to open his eyes.
"Loki," Sif breathed weakly. Loki's head lolled as he tried to look towards her. When recognition finally entered his eyes, it was accompanied with bottomless dread. She reached for him, voice soft. Loki flinched, seemingly terrified to be touched and it broke Sif's heart. "You've woken again…"
She pulled her hand away, making soft soothing noises and Loki managed to fix her with a steady look, even with his face distorted, she recognized that look. He was gaining all his memories back and that look was one of grim acceptance.
"The Allfather has punished the one who harmed you," Sif began softly and Loki's chin jerked. He remembered their earlier conversation…or her conversation with him…there was no hatred in her eyes. There was pity…mixed with pain. Loki was unsure of he would rather face her hatred. A movement at the door had Sif leaping to her feet, only to calm slightly as she recognized one of the mortals. Slowly she allowed herself to sit down, hand reaching for Loki's and offering the prince a soothing smile. She was unused to taking this maternal step, but with Loki, it had been second nature.
"He's awake," Bruce murmured from the door, obviously not wishing to suddenly intrude. Loki heard the voice and his hand twitched in Sif's. Sif nodded, not looking away from the prince.
"I'm not sure how much he can understand right now…he's in such pain…" Sif winched and reached out to lightly touch Loki's arm. Bruce nodded, shifting from one foot to another.
"I can't say I'm the best person to deal with him…we have a history, but I have Steve with me." He indicated behind him and Sif could see the Captain peering into the room with an earnest expression. She nodded in understanding.
"Thank you." She nodded and Bruce allowed Steve to step around him and approach Loki by Sif's side.
"Loki," Steve managed in a gentle voice. "Hey, we need to look over your injuries okay?" Steve spoke as he approached the God. Loki's head moved at the voice and at once, Sif realized the mistake that had just been made. Loki's swollen eyes widened, a garbled cry escaping him as he looked up at the Captain.
"Thhhh….rrr…." Loki's voice was a mess, but Sif caught what he was saying. He was seeing someone else. The Captain was blonde haired blue eyed and muscular and with Loki's distorted sight, Captain America was suddenly Thor Odinson. His attacker had returned to finish the job. His movements became frantic and Steve looked on in dismay, not understanding what he had done wrong. Loki twisted on the bed, chest heaving and a whistling noise escaping, his arm flung back, ignoring the pain shooting through him as all he could think of was escape. Bruce darted forward, lightly touching Steve's shoulder and pulling him back with a soft curse.
"What did I-"
"Steve, you need to get out of his line of sight." Bruce instructed, cutting off the blonde's question. Sif moved forward to block the pair from Loki's view, holding the God's ruined hand gently. Steve's shoulders slumped, obviously saddened that he had caused such a violent reaction.
"I didn't mean…" Steve tried to apologize but Sif shook her head.
"It is not you. His sight is bleak and his mind still wanders. I don't doubt that he has terrors from his battle." She excused and Steve nodded, still looking guilty. He allowed Bruce to usher him out.
"Bring Tony in to help me." The man instructed softly and Steve nodded, wanting to help in anyway he could. Bruce turned back to Loki who lay limp on the mattress, chest moving frantically.
"I'm sorry," Bruce murmured to Sif. "I didn't think Steve would cause such a reaction."
"He looks like Thor." Sif whispered hoarsely, eyes far away. "Perhaps…Loki's mind is still on the battle and Thor was last there…." She hoped that the mortal bought it and it seemed he did because he nodded, looking cross with himself for being so careless. In Loki's movement's the God had managed to open a wound on his shoulder and it was bleeding sluggishly, coating the white shirt he wore crimson. Bruce moved to administer aid, trying to keep out of Loki's sight.
"Cap said you wanted me?" Another voice called from the door and Bruce nodded to Tony who was standing at the entrance arms crossed and staring at Bruce. Sif tensed at Loki's side. Bruce motioned for Tony to come closer and the man did so with great reluctance.
"I need help in moving him, but I figured I wouldn't be the best at doing this alone…he didn't have a great reaction to Steve, so I need you to help keep him calm while I look over his arm." Bruce explained and Tony shot a glance at Sif who was practically staring him down. He wanted to argue, but Bruce looked exhausted and Tony wanted to at least help him. Steve had looked like a kicked puppy when he approached Tony. Tony had outright refused at first to help, until Steve reminded him that Thor would be grateful and that Bruce was already stressed enough. Tony couldn't turn his back on Bruce.
Sighing, Tony moved to sit in the chair next to Sif and study the God of Mischief. Tony blinked. Seeing him up close was a shock. He was in terrible condition and Tony could barely make out any discernible features…expect a pair of green eyes, barely visible with his mess of a face. Tony sighed again, knowing that Loki's bodyguard was watching him closely.
"Hey Lokimotion," Tony greeted as Bruce began to work on his arm. Loki blinked sluggishly, body relaxed as he studied Tony. "You've seen better days." Tony observed and Sif released a sound of disgust as Bruce sighed. Tony shrugged. "But hey, at least you look like a badass. Not many people I know that can face whatever you did and still be kicking." He crossed his arms over his chest. Sif slowly relaxed and allowed Tony to talk. Tony watched Bruce as he spoke, mostly speak nonessential nonsense, he didn't want to be here…he wondered where Clint and Tasha had wandered off to… Loki suddenly cried out and Tony blinked as Bruce moved his arm into the cast. He was barely bruised when the Hulk had made him a pancake. Now…there was barely anything left of the God.
Loki was a wreck…and Tony pitied whoever had done this to him…Thor was going to kill them.
