A/N: Thank you to Guest, kakashidiot, Suheyla, The Psychotic Queen, Tricky-Loki, aquacrow, coco and angrbodagiantess (twice xD) for reviewing, Favers and Alerters for Faving and Alerting, and Rue for being a squishy beta 8). To Guest: there'll be FrostIron later, but the predominant focus will stay on Thor and Loki. Unfortunately there's no Thorki slash if that's what you're asking, sorry.
Loki is barely awake as he is carried onto the aircraft; all he is aware of is that he is in his brother's arms, safe, and Thor's voice is murmuring gentle things in his ear. A narrow bench is unfolded from the wall and he is laid upon it, then fastened down with a series of straps to prevent him from rolling off. He feels the Quinjet shudder and hum, hears a dim roaring, and knows they are airborne. Blurred faces move in and out of his view, but all he cares about is Thor's presence at his side.
'Can you hear me?' He feels something rubbing against his hand, and realises Thor is chafing his cold fingers, trying to warm them. 'I'm here now.'
Through chattering teeth Loki attempts to speak, and Thor has to lean his ear close to decipher the words.
'I heard thunder...I thought you were angry with me.'
'Why would I be?'
'...I hurt you...'
'Hardly.'
Somebody else is leaning over him now, checking the restraints are properly secured. For the first time, Loki focuses on his brother's companion, and as recognition comes flooding in all the blood drains from his face. It's Banner. The mortal – the monster in a human's form – the one responsible for defeating him, capturing him, sending him back to Asgard in chains. Loki's breath seems to be trapped halfway down his throat. No. Please, no. Not him. Please not him.
'Brother?' Thor notices his reaction.
The doctor is avoiding eye-contact with Loki. Behind him, the woman, Romanoff, and the archer, Barton, are busy piloting the Quinjet, their backs turned to what's going on. In that moment, Loki's entire charade of amnesia almost shatters irretrievably; but somehow, through a feat of composure and self-preservation, he saves it by whispering:
'Who are they?'
'Friends of mine. You will be safe in their care.'
Internally, Loki is screaming. Get away from me, he wants to cry, but Thor is right beside him and he has no choice but to lie still. Now Banner produces a see-through mask on the end of a long, flexible tube. As it approaches Loki's face, he sees his own breath gently steam the plastic. He averts his head.
'It's alright, Loki,' Thor says, 'It'll make you fall asleep.'
'Do I have to?'
Thor glances at Banner, who gestures towards the wipes and mouthes something; I need to undress him. Thor looks back at Loki, eyes full of pity.
'It's time you got some rest, brother.'
'I don't want to sleep. I don't want to dream.'
'You won't dream. I promise.'
Too tired to protest further, Loki surrenders. The mask nestles uncomfortably over his nose and mouth, magnifying the sound of his breathing, and the air filling his lungs changes in quality. He looks at Banner, then at Thor, then at nothing. His eyes close, open again, then close and stay that way. The last thing he feels before unconsciousness is his hand in Thor's.
With a small pair of scissors, Bruce cuts away Loki's tattered clothes, exposing too-pale skin, then starts cleaning the grime off him with a wipe, checking for injuries along the way. Soon a pile of used wipes has accumulated in a metal tray.
'So he doesn't know us, huh?' Hawkeye calls over his shoulder.
Banner replies: 'Apparently.'
'I must admit I'm disappointed. I was kinda hoping for one punch, just for old time's sake, but I guess that's out of the question.'
Thor, too preoccupied with the hollowness of Loki's face, says nothing. As the first dim glow of dawn begins to tinge the sky, they set down on the Helicarrier's airstrip. The ramp opens, lowering to touch the weathered tarmac. Loki is unbound, lifted from the bench, placed on a gurney and wheeled off the Quinjet. A swarm of SHIELD agents wastes no time in surrounding him.
'We'll take him from here,' says an operative brusquely. Thor and Banner are left standing on the asphalt.
'He seems...scared,' Bruce notes as the trickster is escorted away.
'With good reason. His mind was violated.'
'He has flashbacks often?'
'Yes.'
'And nightmares?'
'Yes.' As they watch Loki disappear indoors, a thought occurs to Thor. 'Can you help him?'
'Help Loki?' Wearily, Banner removes his glasses and rubs his eye. 'I don't know, Thor; I really don't. I'm not properly qualified in that field. He'd need a professional.'
'But you're a good man and I know Loki can depend on you. What he needs is someone he can trust. A friend. I've tried to be that person, but I can feel that he is not wholly comfortable around me; whenever we speak, I can sense his unease...'
'Look, Thor, I would love to help your brother, but I just don't think it'll be easy to establish a rapport with him in the light of...well, everything.' Faced with Thor's disappointment, Bruce adds, 'Look, give me some time, okay? I can't recommend a course of action until reaching any kind of official diagnosis.'
'I've got one,' the voice of Tony Stark interrupts them from behind. 'It might not be therapy Loki needs so much as a straitjacket.'
Thor is ignorant of Stark's meaning, but the inventor's tone of voice leaves no doubt as to what he's inferring. Taking a single step in Tony's direction, the God of Thunder mutters:
'Do not speak ill of Loki in my presence. Ever.'
The atmosphere changes almost palpably. Hearing the underlying threat, Stark realises he's overstepped the line.
'Sorry,' he says curtly. Thor nods and steps away. In a calmer tone, he continues:
'I regret that my brother is a point of contention between us; but he is very dear to me. He is my family. If you have any respect for Asgard or me, you will refrain from mocking him, especially as he is in no position to defend himself against your ridicule.'
'Gotcha, big guy.'
An awkward silence ensues. Bruce tries to defuse the tension, nodding across the runway and saying:
'I think Nick wants to talk to us.'
Sure enough, Director Fury is approaching, accompanied by Agent Hill and Captain Rogers.
'How's Loki?' Fury asks without preamble.
'Exhausted and in need of care, but otherwise sound. I do not believe he has been attacked, as he bears no such wounds; therefore he most likely stayed hidden and avoided human contact. I will question him once he awakens.'
'While you're at it, maybe you can ask him how and why he tracked down Erik Selvig.'
'It is clear, is it not?' Thor frowns. 'Loki needed help, so he went to the only human he knew who was the least likely to kill him on sight. His magic would've aided him and guided him to Selvig's doorstep.'
'So he doesn't remember any of us, but somehow he knew exactly who Erik was?'
Thor hesitates.
'There may be fragments of memories that remain,' he hazards an explanation. 'The last time Loki was on Earth, Selvig served as an ally, not an enemy. Perhaps Loki subconsciously – '
'Subconsciously lied to you in order to save his ass?' Fury counters, 'Listen, I appreciate that Loki is important to you, but let's not fall for the innocent-victim act.'
'Loki is a victim. He is as little to blame for his actions as any of those whom he enthralled were. Surely you must understand how it feels to be used, as so many of your people were.'
'I understand how it feels to have a lunatic from another world come down and wreck your shit up. And believe me, I won't let that happen a second time.'
'It won't,' Thor assures him. By now, all of the Avengers are present, gathered around. 'My brother bears no malice towards you or your people. However, I must warn you, his mind has been under a great deal of strain. There may be times when he panics and lashes out. This behaviour is to be expected. Until such time as I can remove him from your custody, I must ask for your patience in tolerating any trouble he may inadvertantly cause.'
'Well, whatever Loki's condition, at least you guys won't be stuck here long,' Rogers reasons, 'Once this Bifrost thing is up and running again, you'll be home soon enough, right?'
'So I hope,' Thor replies, though privately he doubts the bridge will be so quickly mended. Reconstruction cannot be rushed, lest carelessness results in misalignment, inaccuracy or error; the Bifrost's capacity to do damage has been proven in the past. Loki will just have to wait – as will Mother and Father.
But why hurry? a sudden, strange idea presents itself to him. Loki would be better off with the humans. On Asgard he is surrounded by people whom he fears; but here, he has no memory of who anybody is, and therefore no reason to think of them as enemies. Here, he will be able to feel safe at last, and heal.
The notion at first seems absurd, but the more he turns it over in his head, the more he becomes convinced that it is the only solution to all their problems. He is loathe to force Loki to do anything against his will; but Loki needs room to breathe and time to recover, and if that means keeping a distance from Asgard and the All-Father, then so be it. It's my duty to do whatever is necessary to protect him, whether he likes it or not.
He exits his reverie to find Fury is now talking to Banner, clarifying details on Loki's condition.
'Friends,' Thor interrupts, 'I believe it would be in Loki's best interests if he remained on Earth.'
