Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Marvel-characters!

AN: I am so sorry for the very, very late update. I hesitated a long time to post this because I just wasn't certain that this was a good ending for the story, but I've postponed the inevitable long enough now. So here it is. The final (short) chapter. This was never meant to be a long story, but I loved writing it and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sticking with it! I love you all!

~ We Might Fall ~

Chapter 8

July 29th, Monday

"Stop stealing my food!"

Thor's hand was viciously smacked away, his vibrant blue eyes instantly snapping up to meet Loki's annoyed green ones. He feigned shock and indignity and flexed the fingers of that hand. "That hurt," he whined like a three-year-old. He honestly didn't know how or why he was regressing to the mental state of a toddler, but none the less, it earned him a severe eye-roll for Loki, which in turn, made Thor burst with laughter. "As if you are going to eat all that anyway," he argued.

"As a matter of fact, I am," Loki said determinedly. "I have to regain my strength, Thor, and put on a bit more weight, or the doctors will never let me go, and I am sick and tired of staring at these walls." He stuffed another sandwich in his mouth, something Thor could only observe with wounded, hungry eyes. He really should have eaten something before he came by to visit his brother. He could go down to the cafeteria and buy something small, but what was the fun in that if he could just try and steal some food off of his brother's plate?

In the short moment of silence where Loki thoughtfully chewed on a piece of bread, Thor took the chance to study his little brother – as he did every day. He looked good, having no more dark circles around his eyes and his skin having regained its former, healthy color. His raven hair was combed back, the edges curling slightly around his ears and in the nape of his neck. He was wearing a casual blue shirt and loose black sweatpants as he sat Indian-style on his bed, a pillow stuffed behind his back.

"Stop staring at me," Loki suddenly grumbled, his vivid green eyes locking with Thor's for a split second. It was a grand change from the Loki Thor had witnessed only four days ago after he'd just woken up for the first time. It was safe to say that he much preferred this version of brother – conscious, attentive, active. Loki took another bite from his sandwich, his hand subconsciously reaching up to scratch at the small white bandage around his throat. It remained a constant reminder of everything that had happened to them.

"Stop scratching," Thor said. He leaned back into his seat, his arms folded on top of his stomach, while he couldn't suppress a grin. These were the sort of moments he treasured most right now, just lighthearted, easy moment where it was just him and Loki. "Will you ever stop eating? You're actually torturing me."

"Well, I'm hungry, Thor," Loki said fiercely while he pulled his plate of food closer to his lap as if Thor would actually try and steal it from him, right from under his nose. "If you will recall, I've been comatose for a few days, then unconscious for a few days more. I'm starving."

"You're only using that as an excuse," Thor said. Even though he tried to sound light and carefree, he couldn't deny the sudden churning of his stomach – and this time, it had nothing to do with the fact that he was hungry. He didn't like to be reminded of anything they had been through as he was desperately trying to put it in the past, but nothing was ever that easy.

He could feel Loki's scrutinizing gaze on him, which he tactically avoided. Their parents had told Loki every single detail of what happened while he had been unconscious, and without doubt, they had told him about Thor's…state, too. Then again, the fact that he'd been on the verge of collapsing wasn't exactly a secret.

Before he could say something, however, two rapid knocks echoed through the room and both Thor and Loki turned to look at the door. Steve stood there, a warm and kind smile plastered to his face. He entered the room and quickly handed Thor the flowers he'd brought, seemingly glad to be rid of those. "Peggy picked those out," he explained. "She said I couldn't show up with empty hands."

"You shouldn't have," Loki smiled.

Thor placed the flowers – lovely purple orchids – with the other flowers Loki had received during the past few days. No doubt it would be Frigga who would eventually take them home. Nothing really survived under Thor's care – and oh, wasn't that true!

"What you should have done," Thor said as he returned back to his seat at Loki's side, quickly shedding that last thought, "was bring something edible." Almost on cue, his stomach started to growl.

"Honestly, Steve, you are godsend," Loki said, a mischievous twinkle to his eyes. It was those little signs that told Thor his brother was truly okay and not just putting up a façade. "Because I swear, if Thor ogles my Jell-O one more time, I will press charges."

Thor began to protest, but one stern look from Steve had him silent again. Loki snorted and Steve could barely prevent himself from bursting with laughter. "Fine, I won't even think about looking at his damn Jell-O again," he grumbled, feeling strangely betrayed by his friend.

Steve hummed, satisfied, and grabbed himself a chair. He sat down on the other side of Loki's bed, crossing his ankles and letting his knees fall apart. "How are you, Loki?" He asked. His concerned blue eyes darted to the white bandage around Loki's neck before he quickly returned his gaze to Loki's. Clearly he felt he was intruding or something, but Loki simply offered him a thankful smile.

"I'm okay," he answered. "I'm still a little sore, but mostly itchy." Again, he brought his hand up to the white bandage and started scratching at the skin around it. Thor shot him a pointed look and Loki quickly dropped his hand again.

"Will you have-" Steve stopped himself then, his face flushing faintly.

"There will be a scar," Loki said, shrugging. He picked up the small plastic cup with Jell-O and started eating it. "But the doctors did an amazing job stitching it up, so it'll barely be noticeable."

But it will be there none the less. Thor sighed heavily, his gaze dropping back to his hands. For the rest of their lives, he would see that scar, a constant, unpleasant and arduous symbol of that time where he hadn't been able to protect him. Images of Stark hurting Loki still haunted him, the sensation of Loki's blood flowing through his fingers making him-

"Thor?"

"Hm?"

Loki was staring at him, a frown creasing his brow and nothing but heartfelt concern in his emerald green eyes. Oh hell no, Loki wasn't allowed to do that whole overly-concerned-brother-act. That was Thor's job and dammit, he was good at it so Loki wasn't going to be better at it. He forced a smile to his lips, but he could tell neither Loki nor Steve were buying it.

"He doesn't talk about it," Loki said, his gaze trained on Thor while he was actually talking to Steve. "But I know he has trouble sleeping."

"You make it sound like I need a psych eval," Thor grumbled. "Which I don't," he quickly added when he saw Steve opening his mouth to speak. "Aren't I allowed to process all that has happened in my own time, on my own terms?" That shut the both of them up, making Thor feel satisfied and faintly guilty at the same time. "At least I don't have any nightmares anymore."

Steve awkwardly cleared his throat. "That's something I suppose."

Loki simply shook his head, unconvinced and definitely still worried, but he let the subject rest for which Thor was eternally grateful. After all, he didn't want to discuss this with Steve present – who was one of his best friends, but incidentally, also his colleague and he didn't want him worrying whether his partner was up for the job again – and certainly not while Loki was still in the hospital. Loki was doing okay – physically and mentally – but that didn't mean Thor should burden him with his troubles.

In the end, Steve stayed for about an hour until he really needed to get back, his lunch-break having ended fifteen minutes ago, but given the situation, Fury would likely let it slide. They said goodbye, Steve promising to stop by again tomorrow, and then Thor found himself alone with Loki again.

They settled into a comfortable silence, Loki getting lost in a book their mother had bought for him, and Thor slowly drifting off into sleep even though it was only one in the afternoon. So perhaps not getting proper sleep was truly getting to him now, but hey, at least the nightmares were gone. He hadn't lied about that.

He fell asleep five minutes later, falling into a pleasant, peaceful dream, and when he woke a few hours later – finding Loki sitting where Steve had sat at noon, his book almost finished now – he already felt better, well rested. It was the first time Thor sincerely believed everything and everyone would be fine.

The end.