This chapters Thor and Tony centric. I hope you guys don't mind. It's all neccessary for the further chapters, though.
~Sky
Thor sat on the edge of his bed, holding the piece of small, rectangular paper that he had folded, unfolded, read and then folded back up again countless times. He didn't know what to think - he didn't know what to do. His Mother had left himself, Loki and his father. She had left them, he know not why, but had a vague idea of why.
He stared at nothing in particular, his eyes glazed and clouded over as he were lost in his thoughts; the same questions swimming around his head, yet he still came to the same answer.
He didn't know.
Why had Mother left them all? Why had she asked him specifically to take care of his little brother, Loki? Why had she asked him to apologise to Loki for her? Hadn't Loki gotten a note, too? Did Loki even know that Mother had left them? What the hell was going on between his other family members that he didn't know about?
He knew that his Father was an alcoholic. That his Father gets annoyed, aggrivated easier because of the drink. That he shouts at Mother, that he blamed her for countless things that were not even her doing. That he put her down, slagged her off and bitched at her, upsetting her greatly. Thor didn't like this, not one bit; but he loved them both. He loved his Mother and he loved his Father. Despise his Father being in the wrong, despise his Father being a complete douchebag - he did not want to upset him.
That was why Thor was out until late at night, almost every night. He did not want to hear the arguing, he did not want to hear the very thing that causes anger to boil up inside of him because he knew he would end up doing something he regretted.
Like what he had done to Loki.
He lay back on his bed, staring out of the window beside it at the fields that continued on for miles behind the Odinson house.
He would hate to admit it, but he didn't really like Anthony getting so... close to his brother. He wanted to know personal things about him, things that Loki wouldn't even tell Thor himself. In a way, Thor was jealous. Jealous because of the fact that he had screwed up his relationship with Loki; he broke the trust that Loki had with him, he broke what they used to be. And now Tony was getting closer than he had been in years to Loki.
They used to laugh together, play together, fight together. They were happy, they trusted each other and they told each other everything and anything.
Whatever happened to that?
Thor felt a wave of sadness overwhelm him because he honestly, fully missed being close to his brother. He missed the times they had, the fun, the happiness, the laughter. He missed all of it because now all he got was cold, sarcastic responses, emotional outbursts or nothing at all.
He had tried to speak to Loki earlier. He knocked on his door, too, to be polite. He recieved nothing. When he entered and tried to speak to him? Loki was lying on his bed, back facing the door so he couldn't see him and when Thor tried to speak to him? Nothing. Nothing at all. He didn't move, he didn't twitch. No sarcastic comments, no lies, no murming and no muttering or cursing under his breath.
Nothing but the rise and fall of his chest. And that honestly worried Thor more than anything else.
"So I was playing as Ellis, y'know, the one with the baseball cap, yellow shirt, red-kneck? Yeah? And I went into this church and there was a bridal witch just sitting there, crying on the floor..."
I was trying to listen to Clint. I honestly was, but I couldn't focus on what he was saying. Just snippets here and there and oh God was he still talking about Left 4 Dead 2?
I hadn't seen Loki again. Not for a day or two, atleast. He hadn't been in classes, but I was pretty sure I'd seen him walking into school yesterday morning. I was going to go up to him, find out why he hadn't been going to class or hell, even replying to my texts. Usually he would send me sassy, smart-assed texts as a response to my own.
But no. Nothing. And the reason that I had volunteered me and Clint to go and get the library books for our class research about Shakespear? Totally not because I had heard that Loki had been hiding in there, not moving. Not responding. Just sitting at that table he refused to move from...
Okay. Maybe that was the reason. But, you know what? I bet you would do the same if you had no freakin' idea if the guy was okay or not.
As we walked in the library, my eyes scanned the seating area. Empty. No-one there. We walked down, past the rows of bookshelves, of which I looked down every one of them to check if a certain raven-haired, lanky teenager was sitting at a table that just happened to be down one of them.
Nope. Nothing.
"-Are you even listening, Tony?"
"-Uh-huh, you were talking about the witch or somethin-" As I scanned the library again, my eyes rested on the raven-haired, lanky teenager that I had been looking for. "Hang on a sec, Clint." I walked over to the table he was sitting at, only just out of sight and in a relatively isolated part of the library.
"Hey, Loki?" I plopped down in the seat next to Loki, where he was slouched over the table, his face buried in his arms. I frowned when I got no reply, no sassy comment, no grunt or sound of approval.
"...Loooooki?" I leaned closer, trying to see if he was awake.
"...You awake, Blue-Shoes?" I poked him in the side, of which (I'm sure) he would've jumped at or slapped me or something for.
Nothing.
Just the rise and fall of his chest, of which was pressed against the side of the table as he was slouched over it. Was he awake? Asleep? I couldn't tell because I couldn't see his face.
"You alright, Loks?"
What the hell's going on? He didn't react to that nickname he hated to be called. I honestly don't see why he hates that nickname, I could come up with much worse, but he hates it none the less. He hates it and he didn't reply to it. At all.
The hell?
"Okie-dokie-Lokie, whenever you're ready to speak. Y'know I'm not gonna bugger off till I get my answers. I'm just gonna go and have a nice little conversation with someone about something- well, someone and I'll be back. Don't you dare move, Mister!"
Another chat with Thor was due and this time I'm making sure he doesn't bail out. Loki was ignoring me; blocking me out, not speaking, not even reacting. Disappointment, hurt and a shallow feeling registered in my chest and I tried my best to ignore it.
Ignore it, just like Loki is ignoring you.
Yup, okay, that's just made it worse.
"Hey, Clint? Can you get the books on your own? I need a slash." I patted Clint on the shoulder, walking past him, not bothering to wait for his response.
I exhaled deeply and ran a hand through my hair as I walked out of library, of which Loki was hiding in and not going to class. He literally wasn't speaking to anyone. The librarians couldn't get him out because no-one would dare to touch him, to force him out and he just wasn't speaking. He wasn't co-operating. And from what I had just seen? That's all true.
A 'chat' with Thor was definately what needed to happen right about now.
Where the hell was Thor? I told him to meet me at my car straight after school, and honestly, my car was not hard to find. It was the only sports car in the car-park, for christ sakes. Five minutes after the bell? Fair enough, the teacher probably kept his class behind, or him. Or maybe his teacher just let his class out late - no biggee. But ten minutes later and, oh, guess what? Still no sign of Muscle Man.
I was getting impatient. I wasn't really a guy for patience, anyway, but me? Impatient? Nu-Uh. You do not want Tony Stark to be impatient. I start to get annoying - more annoying than usual - when I am impatient. I can handle not being told things, because I poke and prod and basically just keep being a persistant twat (of which I am sure the victim of my twat-i-ness will agree) until I get told what I want to know.
It works.
Every time.
Never fails.
It's never failed once.
Flirting. That helps, too. Flirtings good. Yup, the flirting definately helps. Though I'm not gonna flirt with Thor. Nope, ugh. God, no. As much as I want to find out what the hell's going on with Loki, the flirting with Thor's not happening. It wouldn't work, anyway. He'd probably punch me. In the face. God, my beautiful face. Okay, definately not flirting with Thor. Just the thought of it is just... ugh, okay, nope. Definately not going there. Me and Thor? No way. Oh dear. Nope. God, no.
His brother, on the other hand...
Been there, done that. Still doing it. Well, until he decided not to speak to anyone. All I ever got was icey glares, anyway. But you know, persistant twat, right? Besides, I was only flirting with him to try and get him to open up to me... a little.
I grabbed my phone, looking around to make sure no-one would hear me interract with JARVIS - my top secret AI. Apart from the fact that Loki, Bruce and Clint know about him. "JARVIS, call Thor." I put the phone up to my ear, hearing it ring.
"Anthony?"
"Tony." I instantly corrected. "Hey, where are ya' Big Guy? Gone to get some shawarma without me or somethin'?"
"That, I have not, though I am very fond of the idea." he paused. "I was trying to speak to Loki, apologies, my friend. I shall be with you in a minute."
"No problem, big guy." I hung up, stuffed the phone back in my pocket and got into the drivers side of my car, closing the door because I literally could not wait in the cold any longer.
Thirty minutes later? Me and Thor were sitting at a two-seater table, cappuccino's with extra cream and chocolate sprinkles on the table in front of us inside the local Costa coffee.
The car journey here had been quite on myself and Thor's behalf, apart from the Pink Floyd - of which I am determined to get Thor to like by the way - blasting out of the speakers. Loud music and building stuff in my workshop was about the closest you'll get to me being silent. But even then I speak to JARVIS, so really, I don't actually shut up at all, to be honest. And I'm damn proud of that.
I picked up my cappuccino, taking a wary sip to make sure I don't scorch my mouth.
"Tony," Thor started, staring into his own cappuccino "What did you want to speak of Loki to me about?"
I licked the cream off of my lips and put the cup back down on the table. "I wanna know why he's suddenly just... isolated himself. He's not talking. At all. He's not even responding to 'Loks', of which he usually murders me about."
Thor started fidgeting. "Aye, I wish to know what you do."
"You don't know?" I raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of my cappuccino. Thor never fidgetted. Never. Unless he wasn't telling someone something, or he was guilty of something, or nervous. Or all of the above.
"I am afraid not," He looked up at me, looking very much like a kicked puppy. "Though I have a vague idea of why he may be doing this."
"Yeah, I do, too. Theory's and all. But it doesn't confirm whats actually happening, though now I'm interested. What's the idea going around in that big head of yours, hm?"
"I-" Thor hesitated; again - something he never does. "You will need to know of part of myself and Loki's past, in order to understand properly."
I looked at him, not saying anything, sipping my cappuccino and waiting for him to start the stories. Or story. Whatever he needed to tell me. When he realised that I wanted him to tell me whatever it was he wanted to tell me, he looked back down at his cup and started to speak.
"Seven years ago, my Father's parents died. All of us, of course, were upset by this... but I do not think anyone were as upset as Father. I was eleven at the time and Loki was ten.
My Father started drinking alcohol, I suppose, to try and rid of his heartbreak. He has never, since then, stopped drinking. He is now an alcoholic and this is the very reason I do not return home until the evenings; though sometimes I go home right after school, like when yourself, Natasha, Bruce, Steve and Clint visited."
Thor frowned in thought, before continuing.
"Since the days Father has been drinking, he has became... more rage driven. His temper is short; he looses it a lot and takes his anger out on Mother, by shouting only, as far as I know. And for this, I cannot forgive him."
"Whoa, whoa, wait..." I held up a finger to stop him speaking further. "What do you mean as far as you know?"
"Well I am not home a lot of the time. All that I know of is that he shouts at her - for all I know he could..." Thor paused, taking a breath, before stating quietly. "He could be beating her."
"So..." I took a sip of cappuccino. "You don't know, then?"
"Know of what?"
"What your old man's doing to Loki?"
Thor's face turned from confused to angry within two seconds - his eyes turning cold. "What do you mean, Anthony?" He demanded.
"Well if you don't know then I'm not sure if Loks wants you to know..."
"Anthony." Thor growled and oh, suprisingly, I didn't mind being called 'Anthony' when there was a 6ft4 Muscle Man threatening to squeeze the life out of me if I didn't tell him what he wanted to know.
"Okay, okay." I held my hands up in a sign of surrender. "You know all the injuries Loks has had recently? Bruised face, wrist, excetera? Your old man's fault. Purposely." I took another sip of cappuccino and looked at Thor.
"You... How do you know of this?"
"Loki said so himself."
If looks could kill, Thor probably would've killed a lot of people by now. And judging by the fact his knuckles were white from gripping the table so hard, my theory was correct.
"Wanna lift home?" I asked.
He nodded. "I still have much to tell you, Tony, but it shall have to wait for I have a very important conversation to have."
God, so many reviews for last chapter. You have no idea how happy it made me, haha. Anyway, this chapter might be kinda boring, but it's important! It explains stuffs... Which shall be linked to future and previous chapters. Some things already link up to previous chapters. Ohoho. ;)
Thankyou's; aGuestus (Guest) - Thankyou so much! Glad to have you on board, so happy that you like it so far! :D
Komodo Butterfly, korigan, GoddessOfNight08, chrono-contract, reckless is a wreck, aGuestus (Guest), msgone, fan girl 666, HarleyJaneJacksonWinchester, Guest, I Know Love Hurts 2010, kitfox12, The Phantom Of The Labyrinth, Miss Ventriloquist, booklover613, Topsyturvyhatter, RikaFurude13, CharmandersThoughts, cara-tanaka
msgone- I'll give you a hint. It was neither Tony nor Thor that saved Loki-doki. ;D A female, rather than male. A very caring female, at that.
fan girl 666- I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D
HarleyJaneJacksonWinchester- *Huggles* I'm sorry it made you cry! Q_Q
I Know Love Hurts 2010 - Sorry about the extreme cliffhanger-type-thing. I tend to do a lot of cliffhangers. I'm just that much of an ass. XD
The Phantom Of The Labyrinth - Like I've said to many others, I'm glad you're enjoying it and I'm sososo happy you liked the chapter! And don't choke on your drink! I don't want you to die! D:
booklover613 - He doesn't like Odin, like you said, but he loves Frigga and Thor very dearly, though he isn't currently showing it to Thor. It's something I hope to explain, in time. :)
CharmandersThoughts - Sorry for the cliffhanger (Like I said to someone else, I'm just that much of an ass. I tend to do cliff hangers a lot. XD) But thank-you! I've tried to portray Tony and Loki as the characters from the movies as much as possible. I'm super amazed, shocked and thrilled that this fic has inspired you to make your own - you should totally do it! If you do, PM me? I'd love to read it. :)
cara-tanaka - Uhh, yes and no? It's his stupid old fashioned way of punishment. Yes, I hate the Odin I have created. XD I shall try and update atleast once a week, m'dear! :D
Again, sorry for the lack of Loki. There shall be plenty of him next chapter, though. Also, those of you who have read or ~Sky