Thor and Loki arrived at Stark Tower before Tony and Bruce did. The whole flight there Loki faded in and out of consciousness, the sudden brightness from the sun making his sensitive eyes water even though they were tightly shut. He did not have the strength to hold on to Thor, so Thor supported all of Loki's weight with one arm and flew with Mjolnir with the other. They landed on the roof with a 'thud' and the sudden jolt had Loki keening with anticipation.
"You will not be hurt, brother. You're safe here." Thor reassured his brother, walking with him to the elevator that would take them down to the guest room floor. Pepper was waiting in the hall to direct them to the room.
Tony told her the situation, but she didn't know the extent of it until Thor carried his broken brother into the hallway and stood in front of her. She was mid-sentence, probably bent on scolding the large Asgardian, when she paused and took a deep, steadying breath.
"Okay. Follow me." She briskly turned, trying not to show her interest and mild pity towards the previous villain, and gestured for the pair to follow her.
At the end of the long hallway she opened the door with a key card, and stepped aside to let Thor through. Inside was a queen sized bed with non-descript bedding and furnishings. Thor tread over to the bed and laid Loki down gently.
"Does he need anything? I mean, I know he needs something but, um, what does he need? What can I do?" Pepper rambled, still thrown off by the whole situation. It seemed too backwards to be real; more like a fucked up nightmare.
Thor delicately pried his brother's nimble and shaking fingers from his neck, and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze to let him know he was still there.
"He needs water, and food. He hasn't eaten in a while." Thor never took his eyes off of his brother while he addressed Pepper, and she just blinked and nodded. She made a mental note not to have anything too harsh prepared, he looked like he couldn't handle much.
"No." It was small, quiet and shaky, but recognizable as Loki's voice. Pepper stopped and looked from the haggard looking Thor and back to the wrecked looing Loki. She wasn't sure what the protest was for, but she waited dutifully for Thor's explanation.
Thor bent down and grasped his brother's cheek in his large hand. The flinch and wince didn't go unnoticed by Pepper. Thor's eyes were heavy and tired, Pepper could tell he was dead on his feet and wouldn't last long. She wasn't sure when Tony and Bruce would arrive, but it was obvious that Thor needed a break. She approached the bed slowly and cautiously.
"Thor?" She put a hand on his arm. "Go rest, I'll make sure he eats."
Loki's eyes opened for a moment and distress was clearly painted all over his features. He mumbled his protests and shook his head in what seemed to be a painstaking way.
"No, no please." His plea was so pathetic, so uncharacteristic for the usually strong, sarcastic and proud man. It made Pepper itchy inside, because of how foreign and strange the whole thing was. A man who had tried to destroy the people she loves was now at her mercy, the whole thing was backwards.
"I cannot leave him." Thor raised his eyes to look at Pepper, but Pepper could see the resolve draining from his eyes.
Pepper pursed her lips and crept forwards to the bed, staying out of eye line of Loki. "Put him to sleep, then I'll take over."
Thor appraised her, then nodded once. He crawled into the bed next to him and put a protective arm around his weak brother's shoulders. "Sleep, brother. You're safe with me. I will not let them harm you."
Loki's whole body relaxed marginally and he let out a tense sigh. It was obvious he was fighting sleep, but his body was too exhausted to resist much longer, and in fifteen seconds, he was completely still except for the shallow and shaky breathing coming from his chest. Thor looked up sadly.
"Please do not leave him alone. He has been for far too long." He gently removed himself from his brother's side and walked past Pepper, who stood frozen in place, admiring the sad disposition of the former villain laid in front of her.