Chapter 11

OoooooOooo

They spent the day much the same as they had the previous day, out exploring the city. Luke rarely made it much past the few blocks surrounding the diner,so he was almost childlike in his curiosity and awe of the rest of the massive city. His head constantly swiveling and craning as he attempted to see the tops of the towering buildings they walked under.

Thor only had eyes for Luke the entire time and he never let him get too far away,before reeling him back in with one massive arm around his waist. It was almost doting and Steve had to smile at the larger man's sudden fondness,if he was to be honest with himself,it wasn't quite so sudden. It was just that Loki would have never allowed such closeness and certainly would not have stood for the affection to be displayed in public as such. Now it appeared as if he was relishing the contact, flaunting it almost as he grinned like a school girl every time Thor squeezed him tighter or awarded him a peck on the cheek. Oh yeah,they had it bad.

OooooOOooo

Their rounds eventually took them back by way of the Kozy Kitchen and Luke automatically glanced up through the window as they walked by. The sight inside made him suddenly pause,almost frozen in place for half a second before suddenly dashing inside.

Thor and Steve had just followed his gaze to the large group of heavily armed men inside the diner,when Luke charged through the doors.

"Luke,NO," Steve called,but it was too late. Thor and Steve exchanged only brief glances before following after him.

OOOOoooOOoo

"We don't take kindly to anyone roughing up our boys," The man who appeared to be the leader of the group growled sharply to the people before him cowering on the floor of the diner. "Now tell me, where is your Hero?"

"Right behind you," Luke purred smoothly from directly behind him. He was running on pure instinct and had slipped easily into the diner unnoticed,grabbing the door bell to keep it from announcing his entrance.

The man whirled with his gun,but Luke was standing much closer than he had anticipated and easily trapped the arm holding the weapon in one arm as his lashed out with the palm of his free hand,catching the larger man squarely in the nose. The man dropped instantly to his knees as blood poured from his nose and the force of the blow bringing tears to his eyes.

Luke snatched the gun from his hand,but tossed it aside as if it where useless. The other men now opening fire on him as he dove behind the counter. His mind absently registering 10 men in all and everyone armed with large guns of varying sorts.

Thor and Steve charged through the door,using Luke's distraction to their advantage as they joined in the frey. Each engaging the thug closest to them in hand to hand melee as the remaining men now tried to spread their firepower between the two new attackers and the target behind the counter.

Luke reached into the silverware bin as the counter splintered around him under the hail of bullets and his hands automatically sought out the steak knives. Taking several and holding each blade between his long fingers,he quickly crawled to the other end of the counter. With a deep breath he rolled out onto the floor,knowing the men would be aiming higher ,expecting him to pop up rather than to roll out as he did. With quicker than eye reflexes he let the blades fly, each one taking down their intended target as the blades buried themselves deeply in thighs,chests and guts.

Three men fell under Luke's attack and he noted the diminished forces thanks to the aid of Thor and Steve. The other two however where now pinned under a rain of bullets from three remaining thugs,two of which where now standing mere feet away from Luke and raining down a wall of bullets towards his friends who where now pinned themselves behind a flipped over booth. Suddenly a bullet found it's mark,grazing one of Thor's large biceps. His Roar of pain sounding through the diner even over the rattle of the guns.

Luke grimaced in sudden hate as he flipped easily onto his feet and lunged at the two men closest to him. Grabbing the gun of the one who had landed the shot as he delivered a high kick directly to the face of the thugs partner. The remaining gunman refused to relinquish his weapon and lashed out at the lankier man. Luke dodged the fist easily,but was caught off guard by the other's quickness as he suddenly felt a knee in his gut.

Luke doubled over slightly as the air was forced out of him,but refused to let go of the gun himself. Recovering with a growl he surged upright and delivered a quick jab to the other man's face, surprised when he found his blow blocked easily by the thug's forearm. Then twice as surprised when he found himself once again on the receiving end of a knee to the gut.

Luke took a step backwards as he reassessed his foe. The other man was every bit as large as Thor and apparently had decided to take Luke out the old fashioned way as he dropped his gun and approached the smaller man, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Luke took a quick breath before stepping forward again, beginning the exchange of blows that seemed to go on for eternity. The larger man moved far too quick for his size and Luke often found himself more on the receiving end than the delivering.

After the fourth such blow found it's mark,this one to Luke's nose causing him to stumble back, he suddenly found his back against the wall with the larger man still pursuing. He allowed himself a small smile at the familiarity of the position before bracing and kicking out with both legs. Catching the attacker squarely in the chest and sending him sprawling onto his back. Luke was on him instantly,his face a mask of hatred as he straddled the massive form delivering strike after strike to the other man's face. Reducing his foes features to a bloody bruised mess.

He was just rearing back for another such blow when his arm was suddenly caught and he whirled,free hand reared back in a fist, as he was expecting to see another thug that required being dealt with. Instead his eyes met Thor's steadfast azure gaze and his rage melted into realization of what had just transpired. He stumbled clumsily to his feet as he turned back to the unconscious man below him and his chest hitched in the horror now reflected in his horror of seeing his dreams played out in broad daylight and being unable to act upon them or wake from them. He wished he couldn't believe he had done such things and once again felt the distinct separation of being two people at once. .

Snatching his arm free he stepped back from his friends,suddenly unable to take their eyes upon him. As he gazed down at his shaking bloodied hands, thunder vibrated the sky as the clouds opened a gray torrent upon the city.

"Luke don't," Thor called reaching for him,but the clearly distraught man just stepped away from his grasp.

"What have I done," Luke croaked, pain filled eyes slowly raising to meet Thor's. "What kind of man does these things?"

"Luke..I," Thor was unable how to answer the others pleas,only wanting to embrace him and tell him that it was all alright. But every time he took a step forward, his desired took a flinching step back.

"WHAT AM I," Luke wailed,the words straining his voice reflecting the tears now clinging in his eyes..

Thor just stared empathetically, this scene felt far too familiar and he did not want it to play out the same way with him losing his brother...his love. Once again he reached out to console him,only to find his hand batted away angrily as Luke whirled with a roar and dashed up the back steps of the restaurant.

He watched him go, feeling completely at a loss. Absently he registered the sound of a steel door clanging open loudly somewhere above him as he stared at the floor. How could he explain this to the other man without breaking his father's rules? Would he even believe him if he did?And the worst question of all, would he still feel the same towards Thor if he did? It was only the urgent grip of a small hand on his arm that brought him out of his thoughts.

"The roof Thor," Darcy's frantic voice seemed to be coming from far away and it took a moment for Thor to register her words. "He went to the roof!"

Thor's wide eyes suddenly met Steve's and he dashed off towards the steps without another word. He would not let history repeat itself again. He would not allow his brother,his love, to once again let go. He would hold him tight, make him understand that he was loved...that he was needed.

OOOooOO

Thor burst through the door, the rain immediately pelting his face as he gazed across the roof. Across from him, a mere 10 feet away, sat the leaner man he so desperately sought. Sitting on the water slicked ledge,legs dangling precariously over the edge, Thor's heart fell at the sight. His brother had let go to drop into the abyss once, would history be doomed to repeat itself? Only this time, no abyss awaited at the bottom,just the guarantee of ones demise.

"Loki," He whispered before he could catch himself. He froze,staring in terror at the other man's back. Unsure if he where to step forward, if the other man would push off that ledge to plunge to his doom on the pavement so many feet below. "Luke," he finally yelled louder,above the storm, willing his feet into taking one hesitant step forward, arm reaching out as if he could grab him even from this distance. "What are you doing?"

"What did you call me," Luke asked almost too quietly, his bowed head never turning from his gaze upon the streets below.

"Luke," Thor repeated, eyes desperately searching his racing thoughts for a way to dispel the situation.

"No, the other name," Luke explained far too calmly. "I feel as though I knew it once. But now it alludes me."

"Perhaps from your dreams," Thor implied hopefully,taking yet another step forward and each time cringing as he expected the other to make that final leap.

"But I am always dreaming," And now Luke raised his head to peer up at the cloud heavy sky, the water gleaming off his porcelain features as it coursed down his face. "Even when I am awake I am haunted still. I feel as though there are two of me, though I fail to remember now which one I am supposed to be."

"Luke, stop this nonsense," Thor pleaded desperately,taking another cautious step forward. He was almost within grasp. "Whatever you are thinking, whoever you think you are..." He paused as Luke once again bowed his head to look far too calmly upon the void beneath his feet. "Do not do this." He begged,inching forward slightly, arm still held out in desperation.

"Then make it stop," Luke whispered,eyes shutting tightly as the tears now joined the steady rain streaming down his face. "Drown out my dreams. Keep me from remembering,whatever it is that wants me to remember it."

Thor used the distraction to quickly close the distance between them,finally reaching the rain soaked form and quickly wrapped his massive arms around him,hugging him tight against his chest as he pulled him backwards off the ledge and onto the safety of the roof. "I will," He whispered the promise.

Luke opened his eyes and gazed up at him, one pale delicate hand reaching up to brush his cheek. Wordlessly they closed the distance between them until their lips met in a soft kiss. At first hesitantly,then as the comfort and warmth flooded them,they both pressed forth more firmly. Thor's hand slid up to entangle in the other man's dark springy locks as he grasped him tightly. Hungry mouths biting and tasting as delicate tongues entwined. It was as if their very lives depended on this contact.

Finally separating they continued searching each others eyes. Both finding the confirmation of shared affection there and both unwilling to relinquish it just yet.

"Luke," Thor whispered,his voice always as quiet as a lions roar, as he gently brushed a tear from the pale man's face. "Do not be sad."

"I am always sad when it rains," He replied chuckling through his tears.

"No," Thor sighed,pulling the other against his chest in a heartful embrace. "It is raining because you are sad."

Luke just smiled at the larger man's silliness and sighed to himself at the emotions draining out of him. He felt as though he could spend a lifetime in those arms,listening to the steady rhythm beating beneath his ear in the all too warm chest. Slowly the rain subsided into a steady drizzle and he chuckled openly at the irony of it.

Thor just continued kneeling with his love pressed against him. He knew he could never explain how the rain had been a final gift from him before his brother was exiled from Asgard. He had placed the spell, one of the scant few he knew, in the hopes that it would help wash away the hate in his heart. His final desperate token of his love to his brother that then seemed so far away. His brother,now wrapped firmly in his arms, never again to be let go. He would live this dream world with him for as long as time allowed. And hopefully even afterwards.

OOOooOooo

Well,I think that's going to have to be a wrap. I may add drabbles later,but for now,my muse on this story has left me.I warned you it would end in drivel. And yeah,I totally quoted The Last Unicorn and MIB. How often do you get a chance to do that? Hope you enjoyed. And thanks to all who supplied feedback and urged me to continue...and in case I don't see you again, good afternoon,good evening and goodnight. ;)