Chapter Summary:
Thor finds a way back to Earth, and the situation is gauged.
It only took a moment for Thor to regain his bearings as the dust began to settle around the pair. Coughing, the Thunderer could only see the craggy rock forms and desert landscape that was a signature of the realm. Even with Mjolnir, it would be difficult to find the correct cave from which he and Jane had returned to Midgard from.
Thor glanced at Loki, taking in the further paleness and labored breath now stalking his younger sibling's body. Two forests of green were looking up at him as Loki woke. The confusion gave way to panic as the Trickster took in his surroundings. "No! Kurse-"
"Is dead, worry not, Loki. Please calm yourself." Thor tried to soothe him, but the Trickster continued to thrash with panic, more blood blotting his mouth and dribbling downwards to his chin, eyes distant while the younger of the two called out for their mother.
Thor felt a moment of panic overtake him while he cupped the back of Loki's ear in his hand, willing his brother back to his senses. No more time could be wasted. He swung his hammer and took off, hoping to recognize any sort of natural marker.
It had taken his eyes several minutes to discover the skid path from the craft they had arrived in hours (or perhaps days?) before. He landed on the cliff they had sat on together, awaiting the moment to attack Malekith, which meant the cave was not too far away. The Thunderer paused and turned his attention to Loki, who now lay still in his arms.
Thor's heart stopped momentarily, "LOKI?!"
Much to his relief, the Trickster took a shuddering breath and moaned weakly. Behind him, another storm began to build with its eerie ambergris clouds.
Within moments both were safely in the cave, he allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness before proceeding with searching for the portal. He bent to pick up a stone and threw it. The pebble just fell to the ground with a loud 'clunk' and rolled away into the darkness. Part of Thor wondered if they were too late and the Convergence had ended.
He picked up another stone and turned, throwing it to his left. This time, the pebble disappeared, leaving Thor with the knowledge that salvation was in sight. Stepping through, there was a whoosh of air, and he found himself listening to the water dripping distantly in the decrepit building he and
Jane had appeared in.
Suddenly remembering the cellular phone that Jane had given him to call her (which she explained was to keep her from waiting.) Thor lowered his brother to the floor and propped him against a huge wood pillar, pulling off his cape to tuck around Loki's shoulders for warmth. Thor then pulled the phone from a secreted pocket and dialed.
There were a few rings before a feminine voice answered, "Hello?"
"Jane, 'tis Thor who speaks."
"I know it's you, Thor," Jane replied, no doubt rolling her eyes on the other side of the phone, "I did not expect you back so soon. Where are you?"
"I am in London. It is a matter of urgency. I must get in touch with Stark. Loki-" he paused then pressed on, "Loki is alive but gravely wounded. I'm in need of his assistance."
There was a pause and then, "Alive! How?"
"I haven't the time to explain, Jane. Loki is in need of medical care, and I cannot take him to a mortal hospital."
"Why not go to Stark Tower? You kinda can't miss it in New York." Jane suggested from her end of the phone.
"I do not wish to show up unexpectedly, 'tis rude. I know that the Man of Iron does not wish to be anywhere near my brother after-" Thor trailed off.
"He won't refuse you, Thor. You're his friend and his team-mate." She reassured him.
Thor nodded, "Thank you, Jane. I must go, then. It will be a long journey, and I need to get Loki to the Tower as soon as possible."
"Good Luck, Thor. I love you."
"And I you, Jane. Goodbye."
"Thor?" He heard the rasping tone of his brother and turned. Thor bent over Loki, looking at his brother with necessary concern.
"I...made a mistake," The Trickster gasped and looked up at him with the same expression as he had when Thor had come down to the dungeons after their mother's death.
Thor bent down so that he was eye to eye with his adopted brother. "A mistake?"
Loki nodded slightly, speaking breathlessly, "I...tried...to...take...Odin's throne. Thought…seeing...me...alive…would..cause...him...to...go...into...Odin-sleep."
"And it didn't work?" Thor mused.
A small smile crept over the Trickster's face, "Obviously." A pause ensued and he continued, "Perhaps...I...deserve...to….be...punished…this...way."
"No, Loki." Thor objected, placing a hand on his brother's face and tucking his fingers on the Trickster's neck, "Having your wounds cruelly opened is not what you nor any being deserves." He didn't look at his brother as he spoke next, "I should have arrived sooner, I could have defended you." he paused, "I shouldn't have left you out in the wilds of the Svartalfheim." Thor trailed off.
"I...could...have..defended...myself, Thor. I...do not...need...my...older...brother….protecting…me." Loki hissed.
After a pause he said, "P-put...a..spell...so...that...Heimdall...or...the..ravens...know...not...where...to
find...us. Will..last..as..long..as..my..magic..holds." This last statement was completed in a whisper.
Loki grunted in pain, and his head lolled to one side, a shuddering sigh escaping the younger Asgardian's lips.
Thor's hands rushed over to Loki's neck in search of a pulse, which he found to be weak. He wondered how long the Trickster's magic would hold out, and if it would be long enough to reach the Man of Iron's home. Thor gingerly lifted his brother into his left arm and swung the hammer aloft, taking off in a matter of seconds. The land soon gave way to the endless sea, made even darker by the twilight that had swept over the sky. When Loki's limp form began to shiver, Thor drew him even closer, all the while praying to the Norns that his brother's heart would continue beating through the trip.
At last, luminous dots appeared in the horizon that signified that they neared a city. The sound of ship horns could be heard even as Thor passed over them at what seemed like supersonic speed, followed by the beeping car horns in the streets. The Thunderer could not help but sigh with relief when Stark's tower came into view.
Another thought occurred to him as his feet touched the roof,
How shall I get into the building?
WELCOME SIR, TO STARK TOWER a booming mechanical voice spoke, making Thor start.
I AM JARVIS, MR. STARK'S PERSONAL AUTOMATED BUTLER. I HAVE INFORMED HIM THAT YOU HAVE ARRIVED. IF YOU PLEASE TAKE THE DOOR TO YOUR LEFT, I WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE COMMON AREA.
Thor seemed to nod at the machine's directions and did as instructed. A metal box appeared in front of him, with two doors that mechanically opened before him, and the machine butler bade him enter. The Thunderer did tentatively, wondering if this was like the "Tube" he had ridden in London.
As Thor stepped out of the elevator, he was addressed by not only Tony Stark, but by Banner and Steve Rogers as well.
"Hey, Thor. JARVIS told me that you'd-" Tony took a step forward towards him in greeting but froze in half a step when he saw Loki bundled within the blond god's arm. "Why is he here?" The billionaire shuddered.
Thor gave his brother a distressed glance, "I appeal to you, Stark-my brother is dying..."
"As opposed to the people who died, when he attacked New York?" Tony countered with acrimony. "I nearly did when I had to guide a nuclear missile into the wormhole."
Thor replied evenly, "That was your decision, Stark, you chose that path and it had nothing to do with my brother. It is you foolish humans that decided to launch that weapon."
"Because of your brother and his little minions, Thor!" Tony snapped, "What makes you think he's worthy of being kept alive now?"
"HE SAVED MY LIFE, AND THE LIFE OF LADY JANE. IS THAT WORTHY ENOUGH?!" Thor boomed, his voice reverberating off the walls.
Sensing that this argument would soon spiral out of control into one that was a physical match, Bruce stepped between the quarreling pair, "Tony, I think we should allow Thor to explain." He turned to Steve, "You are the team's captain, Steve. What do you want us to do?"
The Captain's eyes shifted from the two Asgardians to the billionaire, "I think we should hear Thor out as well. He doesn't lie. I don't like Loki being here, but I think Thor's right to have us save him."
Tony threw his hands up at this defeat, "Fine! But don't go blaming me if we're all dead by tomorrow morning."
Bruce in the meantime had gently pried the Trickster god from his brother's arms and laid him out on the floor to access the wounds, his eyebrows rising at the extent of the injury. He touched Loki's brow which was cool and sweaty to the touch, a signature of extensive blood loss. Bruce could see a deep gouge where Loki's lungs and stomach would be, which made him press his lips together in thought. He knew of Loki's magic, as well as the Asgardian's superhuman healing ability but wondered why it was not doing its work for the younger god.
"Thor, we need him in the medical room as fast as possible." Bruce directed.
Thor swept his brother carefully back into his arms. The five men crowded into the elevator, which came to a halt several floors above the common room. In a span of as many minutes, they reached the medical suite, where Bruce instructed Thor to set his brother on a gurney. Banner snapped on some rubber gloves, instructing the others to do the same and began to set up the machines, and placed an oxygen mask on Loki's face while Thor explained the entire situation to the others.
"Odin probably thought that Loki was lying," Tony muttered, " He still could be considering that he was dead and now here he is alive."
Bruce said nothing while trying to cut through the layers of Loki's armor and clothes to expose the wound.
"I don't think the realms aligning has anything to do with it, he was probably faking it." Groused Tony.
"Or he could have lost consciousness and woken up after you and Jane had left," Steve speculated.
"You said that Loki's magic has been taken, or rather that it will seep away, and he will become a mortal?"
"Yes, that is what my father proclaimed," Thor admitted, "He would not even allow me to speak on Loki's behalf. We are both now forbidden to return to Asgard."
A pause ensued and the three other men looked up rather dumbstruck.
"You were banished?" Steve inquired.
"Again?" Tony huffed," That's not gonna work out if he needs an heir to rule the throne, right? I mean aren't you the one who's going to be the next king?"
"Loki and I both were considered worthy of the title, however as I was the natural born child of the
king and queen..." He trailed off a moment, "But that matters not. I would rather be a great man
and fight alongside my allies to protect the realms rather than sit on a throne and have others die in my name."
Bruce had peeled the sanguine garb away, allowing them to see the extent of damage done to Loki's chest. It was a horrific wound indeed, for a hand width's hole had been carved through the flesh, leaving a gaping opening between skin and tissue with blood spilling onto the Trickster's chest.
Tony could be heard breathing unevenly, his eyes distant.
"Tony?" Steve looked at the billionaire. "Tony, are you with us?"
"I'm-I'm" Tony sputtered, but his eyes were fixed and the pupils tiny, his breathing coming in rapid gasps as though he were having difficulty catching his breath, his hand clutching his own shirt.
"Damn, you need to get him out of here, Steve. He's having a panic attack." Bruce advised, "Thor, you too. I need space to examine Loki."
Thor had begun to protest until he was guided to the door by Steve, who had already helped Tony out into the hallway. The automatic doors slid closed, leaving Thor at a loss at what he could do to aid the others.
Behind him, he heard the Soldier speaking to Tony, "You're fine, Tony. You're not in Afghanistan anymore. You're at Stark Tower."
Thor turned, and spoke, "What is wrong with the Man of Iron?"
"He's remembering being captured. He had a missile explode next to him and got shrapnel in his heart. Some guy put a crude arc reactor in his chest to keep pieces of metal from going into it. Tony was captive for three months in the mountains. That's why when he saw Loki''s wound, he reacted like this."
Thor stepped next to Steve, placed his strong arms on the billionaire's shoulders. "Friend Stark, you are no longer captive. You are home, and among friends."
"Tony, count to ten with me." Steve intoned, "One, two, three..."
Both Thor and Steve began to count, the first time without Stark. The second time, the billionaire finally joined in, counting slowly along with them. His breathing began to slow, and eventually his muscles began to relax as he sank to a chair which Steve gently guided him into. Thor and Steve patiently waited for the panic attack to subside, quietly re-assuring Tony of his surroundings.
At last, Tony lifted his head, he shakily said, "God Capsicle, I haven't had a panic attack about my arc reactor for a long time."
"I am sorry that my brother's wound triggered it, Anthony." Thor apologized.
"I need a drink," Tony muttered grouchily while crossing his arms over his chest.
"You can't, remember? A.A." Steve reminded him while a small smile crept over his face.
"A.A.?" Thor inquired with knitted eyebrows as he sat down alongside his companions.
"Alcoholics Anonymous, it's a group to help alcoholics recover from their addiction. He told Pepper, his girlfriend, that he'd sober up after-well after nearly losing her. It's kinda a long story." Steve explained.
"You don't have to explain to him, Cap, I'm right here," Tony grumbled.
Tony eventually told the story of what had happened nearly three months prior, during Christmas.
It must have taken an hour or so, because the doors finally swished open, and Bruce stepped through.
The blond god stood almost immediately, "Friend Bruce, how is my brother?"
Banner's face was one of calm but grave demeanor as he spoke. "Loki is on borrowed time, Thor. His right lung is filled with blood and his spleen and pericardium, the tissue around his heart has also been sliced open, making blood fill his chest cavity. I have him on saline and antibiotics and a
chest tube to drain the fluid from his lungs. I can't give him any human blood because I don't know how his body will react. I know you said that his magic is slowly being seeped from him. If Loki's magic gives out before we can get a doctor here, then he will no doubt die." His tone inflicted the seriousness of the situation.
"I trust S.H.I.E.L.D. almost as far as I can throw them. No amount of money could possibly keep them from making Loki a science experiment." Tony responded while crossing his arms over his chest.
"It sounds like we may not have a choice," Steve interjected with a shake of his head.
"It may not come to that. I have some physicist friends that know my secret, so I can call them and ask if they could contact a surgeon that could help." Banner responded.
"I do not understand," Thor interrupted, "why do you not heal my brother yourself? You are a doctor, are you not, Banner?"
"I'm not even really one, Thor. Never finished my schooling, so that is beyond my knowledge. I'd rather leave it up to someone who is qualified for the job. Loki's saving grace is that his anatomy is identical to that of humans." Bruce admitted with a serious tone.
"Alright, I'll be down in the lab trying to make...well several things. Call JARVIS if you need me. Bruce, I may need your medical expertise." Tony told the group.
"He's stable for now. You may go in and see your brother, Thor. JARVIS will let me know if there's an emergency. I'll be back in a while. I need to help Tony and see if I can't contact some people." With that, the physicist informed Thor before following Tony.
When they were left alone, Steve nodded to the doors, "You go in and see Loki, I'll wait out here. I can see everything through the windows," at this, the soldier pointed to the large see-through paneled window to the left of the doors. "Stark presented it to the whole team when he came up with it. I guess he wanted to show everyone how brilliant he is." The super-soldier continued and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, the glass will remain clear when it's on, and be opaque when it's off so it gives the patient privacy. I'll keep it that way so you can sit with your brother."
Thor patted his ally on the shoulder and gave him a kind smile, "Thank you, Steven."
TBC….