Okay, I'm just going to go ahead and warn you...you're probably gonna hate me for this chapter. Also, some of this might get a little rough, so, if you're sensitive to any kind of abuse, you might want to sit out on the first part. Though, I guess if you're sensitive to that kind of thing, you probably wouldn't be reading this now, would you?

Thanks again for all of your support! :)

Loki was unnecessarily thrown to the floor. He grunted at the contact. The splintered floor cut into his shoulder.

It was an old shed. One window. One door. The wind outside made the door sway open and closed. They barely had any protection from the elements. Snow had already made its way into the building.

"So, you were able to catch him," said someone in the corner. "I could have picked a better spot, but since you are so determined to make this as difficult as possible, I guess this will be fine."

Loki's eyes darted to the direction of the speech. It was too dark to identify him.

But, he didn't have time to figure it out.

He had to get out.

Now.

He wriggled his hands, trying to manuever them out of the ties.

"You're surprised? I've been doing this for most of my life."

"He is Odin's son."

Loki stopped and looked at this person again.

He stepped forward, kneeling down to get a good look at Loki.

"Hey, kid," Norr smiled. "Wow, you look terrible. Did that bad man not feed you?"

Loki grumbled behind the cloth in his mouth.

"Let the guy speak. Do you have no respect?"

Innokenti glowered at him. He took a knife out of his pocket and cut the pillowcase.

Loki promptly spit it out.

"Who are you?"

"Norr. That's all you need to know."

"Give me that bag," Innokenti commanded.

"Say please."

"I don't have time for this."

"Oh, you must. It only takes a second to say please, yet it took much longer to spit out that phrase."

"I'll get it myself."

Loki kicked his legs out. Innokenti tripped over them.

He had a hand already half way out of the tie. Still, he had to slither around on the floor to get anywhere.

"Where do you think you're going?" Norr grabbed his foot.

Loki closed his eyes. He should be able to go right through his hand. Turn invisible. Teleport.

Something was blocking his magic.

"Let me go!"

Innokenti was up, at this point and coming toward Loki with purpose. He punched him hard, in the face.

"Hey, now. Is that really necessary?" Norr asked, though he didn't act very concerned.

He was ignored. Innokenti grabbed the collar of Loki's shirt and shoved him against the wall.

"You are going to pay for everything you did!"

He shoved him again, pushing his hands up so it would be hard for him to breathe. Loki struggled against his hold. His face was turning red.

"He's not going to be any good, if he's dead."

Innokenti let him fall to the floor.

Loki coughed, sucking in the relief of air.

"You must think you're a genius, don't you? Figuring out how to free yourself and Stark."

"It wasn't that difficult," Loki smirked. "What with your lack of intelligence."

He was grabbed by the hair and thrown against the floor. There was a kick to ribs.

"What's wrong? Huh? Can't get up?"

Innokenti took his knife and stabbed it into the floor, very close to his face.

"You've made a very, very terrible mistake."

He yanked his knife back up. Pacing back and forth in front of him. Figuring out what to do.

Loki was doubled over. There was a stabbing sensation in his side.

Broken bone.

He couldn't let that stop him.

Loki bit his lip, ignoring everything around him.

Closer.

Closer.

"I don't have all night. Pin him down, so we can get this done," Norr said.

"No. Not yet. I'm going to make him suffer, first."

"I'm sure this will bring him enough suffering."

Loki rotated his wrist. Pulling his hand.

Almost there.

Got it.

"If you're not going to help, just leave."

"Hey, you dragged me out here to deal with this ridiculous charade. I'm getting more than tired of you."

"You're not the only one," Loki muttered.

"Quiet!"

Innokenti kicked Loki in his already broken rib. He yelped, turning over to shield himself from the assault. It was difficult to keep his hands together to fake the hold.

"I've worked hard. Then, you come along and take over half of what I had away from me!"

He went for another kick. Loki took advantage and grabbed his foot, making him fall, yet again. He swiftly grabbed the ties around his ankles and yanked them off.

He got up to make his escape. But the fire in his side nearly took him down. He cried out against the raw bone shifting it's position.

There was no time to take notice of his wounds.

Norr dove and nearly toppled him.

But, not quite.

Loki closed his eyes and tried his hardest to run. The flare took his breath.

Yet, somehow, he made it outside.

The snow was really coming down. It was dark. His surroundings looked completely different. He heard a crash behind him. He desperately limped through the cold, biting down on his lip until it bled.

He was tackled from behind. Was face first in the freezing snow. There was a flash of white light from the sharpness brought on by the weight falling on top of him.

A thick rope was tied around his wrists. Tightly, so that he wouldn't have a chance of being freed.

He couldn't let this happen.

No.

No.

NO.

"Tony!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Tony! Please, help me!"

A hand was wrapped around his mouth. He kicked whoever was behind him.

Then, he was hit in the head.

And kicked in the stomach.

Loki collapsed on his side. He could see red dotting the snow, not in his right mind enough to know where it had come from.

Dragged by the ropes, he did know that this was just the beginning.

That he might not make it through this.

"What did I say about killing him?" he heard Norr as soon as he was inside.

"He's not dead."

Innokenti slammed his fist into Loki's jaw. The same spot Thor had hit him.

Then, he was tied to a beam.

"What do you think? What would really hurt him?"

"Ugh, this is going to take all night."

Innokenti stood, staring down at his prisoner. Loki shivered, but not from fear.

Never from fear.

A smug smile spread across Innokenti's face.

"Oh, I have the perfect thing."

He went to the bag and retrieved the box of vials. The sleeve of his coat and shirt were pushed up. There was a small, black rectangle in the bend of his elbow. A tiny hole in the middle of it.

Loki stared at it, curiously.

Innokenti reached for the syringe and pieced it together. The liquid was sucked from the vial. With a cringe, Innokenti injected it into the mechanism.

His vein glowed a golden hue for a brief moment. He blinked rapidly, like that of someone who'd had a sip of strong alcohol.

"That's powerful stuff," he grinned.

"You don't deserve it," Loki snarled. "None of you humans do."

"Weren't you just begging a human for help? Tony! Tony! Pleeeaaaaase, help me!" he mocked.

Norr chuckled.

Loki shifted his jaw.

How dare this fool make fun of him?

"Maybe you're the one who doesn't deserve it. This guy doesn't think so," he nodded to Norr.

He picked up his knife.

"I'm sure those poor people in New York don't think so."

Loki was nearly seeing red.

"I'm sure your beloved brother doesn't think so."

His shape shifting was clumsy. What was meant to be dramatic, was bordering ridiculous.

The reveal? Even more so.

Loki had to laugh.

"Oh, really? This is what will hurt me the most?"

The amateur's version of Thor stood in front of him. He seemed angry at the response, Loki was giving him.

"I must say," Norr said. "You don't hold a candle to the man."

"You must say. Is that all you do?" Innokenti yelled.

He went up to Loki, getting right into his face.

"You'll never deserve anything you've gotten. You're pathetic. Your own father didn't even want you."

Loki smiled, shaking his head in shame.

Oh, he was pathetic?

"I've come to terms with my familial situation. As a matter of fact, it is I, who do not want my so called father."

Innokenti grabbed Loki's side, squeezing the spot of his injured rib.

Loki whimpered at the terrible, sharp pain.

"You are nothing. You try to make people believe that you care so little about anything. Yet, you know it hurts. Deep within the depths of your soul."

His now blue eyes stared him down. Staring with such ferocity, Loki had to look away.

"You are not loved. Do you hear me? Not by your family, the people of your world, and certainly not the people of this world."

Loki half heartedly smirked.

"This isn't news to me. What, do you truly think that attempting to make yourself look like my brother while telling me that everyone hates me is so unbearably painful? Please. You're grasping at straws. You're desperate."

After the words left him, Loki's mouth fell open. With a flick of his wrist, Innokenti had sliced the knife across his abdomen. He looked down at his midsection. His green sweater was ripped. Blood seeped through.

And that was when the pain hit.

He gasped, his belly inflamed. It wasn't just the sharpness, but the deep ache of his core being damaged. He hissed, tugging at his restraints, naturally wanting to stop the bleeding.

"What was that?" Innokenti said.

His smile became more evil. His eyes were gleaming with ill intent.

Loki knew what was going to happen next.

"No," he said. "You're not going to do this to me again."

"I will do whatever I want to you," he leaned forward and began to whisper. "And if you scream, I will butcher you with this knife."

"NO!" Loki growled. "No, you stay away from me! I won't let you! Not...not like that!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Does this form suddenly bother you?"

Innokenti licked his face.

"You're going to just let him do this to me?" he said to Norr, hoping for his help, at least.

He wasn't even looking, which he supposed he should be glad for.

"I want nothing to do with this."

"Please. Please."

Norr shook his head, back still turned.

"Better stay quiet," Innokenti said.

Loki squeezed his eyes closed.

Innokenti pried one open.

"One other thing. I want you to watch."

Loki couldn't take this. He tried to keep a straight face, but he began to shake violently. He wanted to cry so badly, but didn't dare.

"Please. I'll do anything. Please."

Innokenti smirked.

He recut Loki's already hurting wound.

And he screamed.

oooooooooooooooooo

"Something is wrong," Thor said.

The birds were circling around, changing direction every few minutes. They seemed to become more and more confused the farther along they went.

"You're telling me," Tony said. "How did he even get this far?"

He coughed, rubbing his arms, cold, despite now wearing two sweaters.

Huginn landed on the ground, cocking his head. He looked back at his entourage, then the east.

"You still don't feel him?" Tony asked.

The bird flew in the direction he was facing. Muninn followed. So did Thor and Tony.

"No. I did for a moment, but it disappeared."

Tony grumbled random things he was going to do to Loki, if he vanished to another world.

Then, he coughed once more.

"You need shelter," Thor said.

"I'm fine."

"Your condition has worsened. I should have taken you back when I had the chance."

Thor was getting grumpy as the night wore on and the snow deepened. Tony was wondering if it was mostly directed toward Loki or him, for slowing them down.

"And letting me miss out on teaching him a lesson? I don't think so, Goldilocks."

"What have I said about that nickname?" Thor snapped.

Tony held his hands up.

"Take it easy."

They trudged on and on.

No end in sight.

Constantly brushing snow from their hair and beards.

Tony was constantly sniffling. His muscles were starting to ache and not just because of the journey.

If the weather was affecting Thor, he wasn't showing it.

Then, Tony noticed something unusual.

Muninn, the calmer of the two, hissed.

Not at either of them, but at something in the woods.

He hurried off in a flurry of angry feathers. Huginn was showing his anger, as well.

"Let's go," Thor said.

He broke into a run, holding his hammer aggressively.

Tony ran after the group, coughing so hard, it was burning his throat.

He lost sight of them.

"Thor!" he loudly whispered. "Thor!"

He followed the footprints, hoping he wouldn't fly off, anywhere.

"Why is everyone suddenly leaving me behind? Thor!"

He reached a clearing. The birds were circling an old shed. Thor was approaching, ready to tear the thing down, to get to whatever was inside. Tony was still just trying to catch up.

Huginn and Muninn were violently hitting the window with their feet.

Thor went right up to the door and pounded it into a heap.

"Who's here?" his thundering voice nearly shook the building.

The birds flew inside.

Tony's eyes widened.

"Uh, oh. Thor?"

He didn't have to tell him. The man was immediately on his knees, next to his ailing brother.

"Loki," he said. "Loki!"

He shook his shoulder. He was tied, shaking terribly, but not waking up.

Tony was the next one on the floor. He could barely recognize him. Bloody and battered. His eye was swollen. He had bruises everywhere.

"Hey, Lokes? Come on, you've gotta wake up for us."

Thor slowly rose, looking around for whoever or whatever did this.

"Loki. You can't do this, okay? Just open your eyes. You'll be okay. You just have to wake up."

"He needs healing."

"No kidding. You know how?"

Thor rummaged around in one of his pockets.

"I have this healing powder. It's not as powerful as I would like, but it helps fight infection and pain."

Tony examined Loki's tied wrists. He took out his knife with the intent of cutting the ropes away.

That, of course, was when Loki decided to wake.

"Get away from me!" he screamed, making them jump.

"Hey, okay. Calm down, Rudolph."

"No! NO!"

He pulled at his restraints. Crying out at the pain it caused.

He was shaking even more.

"It's okay."

"NO! I'm not going to! Leave me alone!"

"Loki," Thor said, going back to his side.

He put his hand on his cheek, trying to comfort him.

Loki froze.

"Brother, we are here to help you."

"Don't. Touch. Me."

"Loki."

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Thor pulled away.

"Just go away!"

"I'm not leaving you, brother."

"Stop calling me that! I am not your brother!"

He yanked at the ropes.

"Get out of here! You're not doing this to me again!"

Thor and Tony exchanged confused glances.

"Loki, look at me," Tony said.

"No."

"Look at me."

Loki closed his eyes. He seemed so angry, but shockingly terrified.

"I want him to leave."

"He's not going to hurt you, if that's what you think."

"I want him to leave!" his voice broke.

"Okay, brother. I'm going. But I'm going to leave this with Anthony."

Thor handed the small cylinder of powder to Tony.

"Wait, I don't know what to do with this."

"You're going to poison me!"

"That is absolutely ridiculous," Thor said.

"Take that thing with you! Just go away!"

"Loki, it's healing powder. You know that. You need to use it."

"You're going to poison me!"

Thor was getting frustrated.

"Why would I do that?"

"GO AWAY!"

"Here," Tony gave it back. "Let me calm him down, first."

Thor was about to argue, but decided against it. He took it and made his move to leave.

"While you're out there, could you call the hospital?"

"I don't see how a medical center of this world could help him."

"If anything, it will gave him a safe place to stay."

Thor nodded and stepped outside.

Huginn and Muninn stayed their distance, but kept their eyes on Loki. They seemed just as worried.

"Okay, Loki. I'm going to cut you loose. So, you have to be still for me, okay?"

Loki tried to move away from him, staring at the knife.

"I'm not going to hurt you. You've had enough of that."

"You're not Stark."

"Oh, I'm not? That's news to me."

He slowly reached up to hold Loki's wrists steady. He slid the blade across the rope. Back and forth. Loki was especially tense to his touch.

"Take it easy."

Slowly, steady.

There.

He was free.

"Better?"

Loki cringed as he moved his stiff arms. He flexed his fingers, staring at his bloodied hands.

He nodded.

"So, we're good. Right?"

Loki saw a glimpse of Tony's knife. He lunged forward to either hit Tony or grab the thing. Tony easily stopped him with his hands around Loki's wrists.

"Loki, you don't want to do that. Trust me."

"You're not Stark."

"Then, who am I?"

Loki swayed to the side, Tony let him go.

"I don't know."

"You know what I think? I think you have a concussion."

Tony folded the knife and put it in his pocket.

"That healing powder, or whatever it is, will help you."

Loki glared at him and slowly moved back.

"It's not going to poison you. Thor isn't going to hurt you and neither am I."

He wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. He was staring at the faint blue light underneath Tony's shirts.

"Do you hear me?"

Loki reached for him, but not with the malice he had before. His movements were slow, unsure. Tony didn't try to stop him.

He placed his hand over Tony's chest. The warm energy swirled around his fingers. Then, he drew back.

He blinked slowly, bringing his hands up to his temples.

Then, he smiled.

"Stark."

"Back in the land of the living?" Tony smirked.

Loki laughed, hoarsely. More of relief, than anything.

"It was Innokenti, wasn't it?"

Loki frowned. Then, he nodded.

"I called you," he mumbled.

"I didn't hear you. I was too far away. I'm sorry."

Loki closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall.

"Don't do that. If you do have a concussion, you can't go back to sleep."

"I'm not asleep," he cracked his eyes open. "I thought I told you to go away!"

Thor was peeking through the slightly open door.

"I need to put this on you," he showed him the cylinder. "I promise I'm not trying to poison you."

Loki growled and scooted back into a corner. He cringed, wrapping his arms around his stomach.

"I don't want you anywhere near me!"

"Loki, enough."

"No!"

He coughed painfully, blood spattering from his lips.

"This is insanity," Thor went inside and knelt by Loki. "Anthony, I want you to put this on his wounds."

He opened the container and poured a bit of its contents into Tony's hand.

"I'm going to hold him down."

"That's what you think."

"Yeah, I don't know if that's a good idea, big guy. He was tied down when we got here, remember?"

"If we do nothing, he will bleed out!"

Meanwhile, Loki was eyeing them both, ready to strike when needed.

Thor gently put his hands around his wrists. As soon as he was touched, Loki yanked back, trying to swing at him. Finding that his meager strength was nothing against his brother's. Thor refused to let go.

"Hurry and get it on him," he said to Tony.

Tony tried. But no matter what consolation either gave, Loki struggled. Kicking and yelling and cursing them both. His wriggling and the powder both made the pain flare up. The pain flaring up made him scream more. Scream more, cough more, spitting blood more.

"Loki, stop it!" Thor finally yelled, shaking him. "Stop it, right now!"

Loki closed his mouth. His eyes grew wide. But he went right back to being angry.

Silently angry.

Thor sighed. He put his hand on Loki's cheek again, rubbing his thumb under his sore eye.

"Be calm. Just, be calm. Can you do that for me, brother?"

Loki pushed his hand away and refused to look at him.

"Got it," Tony said. "At least, that one cut. Sorta."

Yes, he was able to get the powder on the cut.

And everywhere else.

"I hear someone outside," Thor said. "Keep an eye on him."

"Geez," Tony said when Thor was outside. "It would probably be easier to give cough syrup to a bear."

Loki didn't say anything. He just sat there with his head down.

Tony cleared the ick from his throat, rubbing his forehead.

"Are you okay?" Loki muttered.

"Pfft. Am I okay? You're the one who's hurt."

"I'm fine."

"No you're not."

"I am," his voice was shaky.

Tony shook his head. He wrapped his arms around Loki's shoulders. He just looked away, just like he did with Thor. Only this time, he was holding back tears.