I don't know what this is, okay? It's safe to assume that Loki has had a change of heart in it though, that's for sure. :P Anyway, enjoy. :)


Loki never did tell Thor of all the things he's done in order to keep him safe, never told him all the things he's done for him just because he could or he felt he needed to and now is no different. If Loki holds his left arm across his chest and only ever uses his right nowadays, it's just because he's attempting a new spell that has a few silly requirements. If Loki breathes with a wheeze and tries not to laugh at anything, it's simply because he's exhausted himself with the day's activities. If Loki has blood shot eyes it's only because he stays up all night planning new ways to 'destroy' the Avengers. If Loki jumps and twitches constantly it's just because his body is reacting to too much caffeine. It is not because Loki's arm is broken or his ribs are pressing against his lungs, it's not because he screams in nightmares when he sleeps or because he's beginning to associate touch with pain, it's none of these. It's just Loki being Loki.

So when Loki appears in his room at Stark's Mansion, his face paler than usual, one hand clenched over his side, blood oozing through his fingers, it's because Loki tripped and stabbed himself with the staff, it's not because Trickshot shot him. When Loki appears shaking and shuddering and muttering nonsensical things under his breath, it's because a new spell went wrong and he's trying to find the words to fix it, it's not because Emma Frost tore down the walls in his mind and took him for a ride.

Tony's the one who notices when Loki starts limping, and no, it's not because Namor broke his leg, it's because he fell down the stairs at his apartment.

"Yes, Tony, I do actually have an apartment. I do still require a proper home not just yours!"

Tony starts investigating his daytime enemy and night time friend, he is shocked when Jarvis tells him that Loki has been repeatedly returning to his room, injured and sometimes bloody or near death to the point where the A.I nearly informed Tony or medical personal. Tony lies awake on Loki's bed that night and waits.

When Loki appears, arm held over his chest, blood dribbling down his chin, legs barely supporting him, it's not because Doom wanted to have some fun, it's because he got himself run over, except he's tossing off his armour and sobbing before he realizes Tony's there, and by then his excuse is useless.

"What happened, Loki?" when Loki jumps, it's because he really hadn't expected Tony to be there, it's not because the last voice that snuck up on him in the dark tore his mind apart. When he spins far too slowly and still his breath hitches, it's not because moving hurts or he's pulling on newly healed and newly gained wounds, it's because he's so exhausted he's about to collapse, it's been a long day.

"Nothing, Tony. I walked in front of a car… please leave." If Loki's voice sounds void of all life it's because he's tired, it's not because he's losing his grip on reality, it's not because death is starting to look more welcome than life, it's not because he's screamed himself hoarse, it's because he's exhausted.

"You lack your usual lying finesse, Loki." Tony says, bored and annoyed, he does have better things to be doing than checking up on his frienemy. When Loki grimaces at his name, it's because it's late and he's really tired and people using his name usually means conversation, it's not because people using his name usually means he's done something wrong.

"Maybe it's because I'm not lying." And if Loki's voice wavers, it's because he's struggling to keep his eyes open let alone his voice level, it's not because he's contemplating telling Tony everything, not that there's anything to tell Tony, of course. When Loki sighs, it's a sigh of exhaustion, not a sigh of frustration. "Listen, Man of Iron, I'm tired. And I really want to sleep; can we continue this in the morning?" Loki tells himself it is not because he's running away from the conversation, from the truth, tells himself that it's because he really is tired and needs to sleep.

"Fine. I'm going to see Thor…" When Loki gasps and falls to his knees, ignoring the pain that causes, bowing his head, it's because his legs gave out in exhaustion, it's not because he's recently learnt that begging should be done on ones knees.

"No, don't, please. Don't tell him, don't tell him, please don't tell him. Don't tell him." It's because he doesn't want Thor to worry over nothing, it's not because he'll break down crying and spill everything the moment Thor comes to see him, and not that there's anything to talk about…

"Then talk, Loki. Tell me everything!" Tony says, looking down at the god and hiding a shudder at how wrong this all feels. Loki sobs and his shoulders slump, it's because he's not going to get to sleep now, it's not because he's been defeated, again.

"If I let them… experiment on me then they won't kill you, any of you. I couldn't… they know, they know I'm not really your enemy anymore, they know I hang out here all the time. They think Thor's gotten to me; they said if I let them experiment on me they wouldn't kill you for turning me. They said…" when he speaks, his voice is emotionless and yet somehow that just adds to the horrible affair. When strong arms grab Loki and pull him up onto the bed and into a strong embrace, he tenses only because he doesn't like showing affection, he doesn't tense because he's preparing himself to be thrown against the wall or back down onto the floor. When he relaxes and wraps his arms around Tony and sobs into his neck, he realizes that he has to stop lying to himself, he's crying because he's broken and he's broken because he loves his brother too much to let anything happen to him. Whatever words Tony has to say to him are lost as the God relinquishes himself to sleep.

When he wakes up to find himself held against a far too warm, far too solid chest, with a far too strong hand stroking his hair and an all too familiar voice whispering sweet nonsense promises into his ear, he can't help but smile. It's Thor's voice that carries him out of the darkness and into the light and he knows, he understands, it will never again be because of another being that he spends nights wide awake, silently screaming, that he spends countless days limited by broken bones, with an inability to breathe freely. It will never again be because of another being that Loki Odinson decides his life is worth nothing more than a few empty threats and promises. It's not because he feels safe that he falls asleep in Thor's arms again, it's because he knows that Thor's strong enough to protect the both of them and then some, and that is all the reassurance he'll ever need.


Oh I did a bit of Wikia reading and stuff, never having really liked comics all that much, and Trickshot is Hawkeyes evil brother. Namor and Emma Frost and Doom along with Loki made up the Avengers main enemies, apparently.