New Start: Chapter 21
Moving right along. So, what happened? Read and find out... ;)
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or the Avengers:( No sueing please! Only reading.
Warnings for angst and pain. (Shameless in Loki!whump and proud!)
1-10, Walks, Warm and Fuzzy
Frigga loved seeing her eldest interact with others beyond Asgard. It had been a long time since she had observed him outside of his princely exterior. She did not feel any guilt for what she had done to that traitor friend of his, but she felt sorrow for the burden she placed on her son's shoulders. It was just another that he was forced to carry.
The All-Mother sighed and ran her fingers through Loki's hair. She had been doing so for quite some time as she did not sleep like the others and had worked out any knot she found. Memories of when her youngest was sick came to her mind, and she let that calm feeling wash over her. He will be alright. He will be alright...Before long, she caught herself humming to him, like he was a child again. He was still young for Asgardian standards, but he was more mature than most she met. Loki had long ago made it known he didn't need coddling, though she would never abstain from offering it.
The inventor made her laugh. He was a good soul, more than most realized. The Man of Iron hid it under sharp wit and wisdom, much like Loki. His heart was greatly underestimated. Frigga smiled again as she pictured Loki interacting with, well, anyone. He was such a good boy, loved learning of any kind and helped others whenever he could. But no one ever saw. The council feared his magic and despised him for being smarter than they. Though, Frigga admitted that Loki wasn't helping his case with them when he felt he had to point out how idiotic they were. All. The. Time.
Another sigh, and more finger brushing. Her heart had broken the moment Thor told her Loki had tried to kill him. Her little boy was twisted with anger and pain, and being the mother she was, all she wanted was to wipe it all away. Frigga's eyes turned steely as she thought of the creatures that had done this. They would feel her wrath.
Her gaze fell to her son's pale face, and her breath stopped. He was smiling. It was slight, but existent. She clutched his hand tighter and felt his forehead out ofhabit. A deep breath, then his eyes snapped open.
Monitors and alarms went off on every device. Bruce rushed to Loki's side and was amazed at the clarity and brightness of his emerald eyes. But that passed when he registered the pain in them.
"Loki, I need to ask you some questions real quick, alright? Deep breaths." Sweat was dripping from the young man's forehead as he fought the urge to cry out. The team surrounded the bed, and Thor stood by his mother, where she refused to release his hand. With all the concentration he could muster, Loki nodded. So. Much. Pain.
"Good. Is your magic back?" Another nod. "Is it pushing the poison out?" Nod. "Pain level, 1-10. Ten being the highest." A roll of the eyes and then a strained, "Four." Thor growled.
"Brother. Now is not the time to be bull headed. Speak truthfully." Loki glared back at his brother, but replied again with a clench-teethed, "Eleven." Bruce set to work immediately. It wasn't much longer before Loki felt the Midgardian drug morphine running through his veins, targeting his pain. He could breath again. Right, so. He was awake. He could breathe. Now what?
"Okay, someone say something, or I'll just start spurting out whatever pops into my head." Tony looked dead serious when he spoke, and Loki couldn't stop himself from bursting out laughing. The shock on everyone's faces that he had done so just made him laugh harder. Then a soft elegant laugh joined in the strained dusty one. Thor raised his eyebrows, having not heard his mother laugh in a long time. It was music to his ears. The rest of the team smiled, before simultaneously bursting out laughing as well. Being high strung for such a long time had made them all loopy.
The strength of his laughter quickly made Loki exhausted, but he wasn't done. He had been stuck in the hospital bed for what felt like forever. He wanted to be free. Loki waited for the others to slow their own breathing before addressing the doctor.
"Doctor Banner, I am feeling considerably better thanks to your comrade and wish to leave this infernal bed under my own power, if just for a moment. Would you allow me this, or will I be forced to remain in this infernal thing?" Bruce looked at Loki's face, and couldn't hold back the smile forming on his face as he saw the slight pout forming on Loki's. Bruce chuckled and shook his head as to convince himself of something.
"Well, you really should stay in bed for a while longer, but since your magic is returned, and the poison is leaving... it couldn't hurt for you to stretch your legs for a few minutes." Loki beamed, victorious. He sat up as quickly as he dared, or as fast as his mother would let him. Mother?
"Mother- I mean, All-mother What, when did you arrive on Midgard?" Well, this just made everything better Might as well bite the bullet now. He knew the moment he lost his family. This was just their way of sending out a formal 'pink slip' as the Midgardians would say. Frigga just beamed at her son and laid a hand on his brow before stroking his hair again.
"Since yesterday, my son." Those words made Loki's heart stop. The next one's didn't help much either. "When I was barred from the throne room, I might have played with my power a bit and forced Heimdall to send me to where you and your brother were residing. That was where, unfortunately, I ran into Lady Sif, two of the Warriors Three and the Man of Iron. I promptly... well, struck Lady Sif, and she in particular has been sent away to have Odin deal with her. The Warriors Three, I suspect, will return once the matter is settled, if only to let us know what Odin decreed." Loki's head was spinning. His...mother?... had struck Thor's lady warrior and sent her for punishment? But for what?
"What has Lady Sif done to warrant such punishment? And not only that, but to be struck by one as mighty as you...Mother." Loki pretended not to see the way Frigga brightened when he called her that, at the same time he was trying to hide that he was practically weeping for joy inside. But Thor's brow furrowed as did the others'.
"Loki, Lady Sif lied to both the All-mother and All-father. She told our hold family and band that you had attacked the guards and escaped." Oh...Oh...Oh. Okay, deep breaths. He knew they would have thought that he had escaped, but there was that slim hope... Loki knew he would be taken back, by either Thor or the Other, but he would have at least hoped to have been slightly pardoned. He never would have thought that Sif, who bleeds with Asgardian loyalty, would have lied to the King and Queen, and Thor for that matter Needless to say it was a lot to take in. The words of the Chitauri echoed in his mind, but not from a bond, but a memory.
"So, you didn't know?" Thor and Frigga both vehemently shook their heads and tried to reassure him, but it was a little late for that. His breathing had picked up its pace. In a voice as calm as he could muster,
"Doctor Banner, I do believe that walk would be good about now. Do you mind?" Bruce complied immediately, helping Loki stand and then attempt to bear weight on his weakened legs. As soon as he was able, Loki practically flew out of the room, dragging Bruce with him just as he started to hear the frantic whispers behind him. Clint informing them of the impact of their words, Natasha helping Clint stay awake, and Steve there to keep the peace and throw in some words of wisdom no doubt, but Tony? Another arm popped around his waist and began to take some of his weight as soon as the thought had formed.
"Hey, Brucey. I've got it from here. You could use a break." Bruce was as rested as could be expected, but he recognized that tone of voice from Tony. It was his, 'I'm going to be talking heart stuff, so leave now so I don't ruin my reputation with everybody.' It came out very rarely, so Bruce always let it have its turn.
"Alright, Tony just be careful whatever you do. I'll go back to make sure Steve doesn't need help pulling Clint and Thor apart." Loki then chimed in with a,
"I'm certain Frigga has a strong hold over Thor. She always has." Tony snorted as Bruce moved off.
"Yeah. We saw that first hand when she showed up, but I think Bruce was thinking more about Clint than Thor." Loki paused and Tony stopped with him.
"The archer? But why would he-"
"Loki, dude. I don't know how you haven't noticed, but Clint's imprinted on you like a baby duck. He's kinda taken position as your second foster brother." Loki shook his head, gently, in wonderment.
"You Midgardians amaze me. I... I wish to apologize to you, maybe first and foremost for throwing you out of your own window, but for everything else as
well. I am forever in your debt for allowing me to stay here as well."
"Whoa now, Reindeer Games Slow down. Your train of politeness is running off of its tracks here. You know that there was nothing you could have done about the invasion thing. We know that now, and as for letting you stay? Well, think of it as a sorry we thought you were just being an evil dude and not finding out till too late that you were under the influence of mind-voodoo. So, all is right with the balance of apologies." Loki seemed to contemplate this before smiling.
"Thank you, Son of Stark." And that made Tony feel all warm and funny inside. He needed a drink.
Having some issues getting through this leg of the story, so I apologize if these next few bits seem kind of... not up to par. Luv hearing from you!:)
As always, open to suggestions and prompts ;)