They Come on White Horses: Chapter 16
Requested by: NoVacancyMind and many wonderful others
Sequel to Knights.
First off, Tam! Thanks so much for that wonderful review. I haven't had the best of days, and that really made me smile, so thank you. :) This chapter was a bit difficult to write, but I pushed through, on my vacation mind you :/, and here it is. PS I am not planning on a sequel to this story, because it is already a sequel to my other story Knights. I am also a loon and have been working on another Avengers one shot while I was away, so eyes peeled!
BTW, my WC poll is coming down, and the winner will get its story first. Thank you :)
Please enjoy and review!
Disclaimer: Don't own. Never will. So sad.
'You Look Like Crap.'
Loki wanted to crawl out of his own skin. It felt too tight and itchy and sensitive and hot. He could not hold in a small groan when he tried to lift his hand, finding it chained to a rail beside him.
"You wouldn't stay put. We had to keep you there somehow, without Thor setting his magic hammer on you." The Trickster slowly opened his emerald eyes, and gritted his teeth at the toobrighttoobright lights, walls, ceiling. Everything about the room seemed made to blind whoever woke up to it. When his eyes finally adjusted enough to the lights, he could make out the person in his room. Fury was sitting in a far corner, looking relaxed but ready for anything. Loki tried to pull himself up to a sitting position, but without the use of his arms it was a bit too difficult for him.
"Thor just stepped out five minutes ago to check on Stark and Banner." At the name of the two boys, Loki was wide awake and anxious.
"Where are they? Are they okay?" Fury smirked, like he found something he was looking for, and leaned back in his chair.
"They're fine. Really good actually. From what I understand, you threw yourself over them and destroyed Amora all at the same time. Wanna tell me about that? You also broke your magic bracelets." Loki looked down at his wrists, and indeed, besides the restraints to the bed, there was nothing on his wrists.
"I…must have-" Fury stood.
"Done what needed to to protect my team. You..did good." Loki could only nod, and then understood the overwhelming feeling he was battling as well as the great fatigue.
"My magic…I broke the bounds, and my magic poured out of me." Fury nodded.
"That's what your brother said. As I also understand it, we might have a little trouble with Asgard because of this." Fury leaned forward on his knees then and looked Loki straight in the eye. "You have proven to myself and this team to be a valuable asset. As the Director of SHIELD I can attest to this on your behalf, should the need arise, if…" Loki could not believe what he was hearing. "You sign a contract with SHIELD and become available to us whenever we are in need of your services. This does not mean you have to stay on Earth, however- you could become a part of the Avengers." Loki stared at the man as if he had lost his mind, before clarity dawned on him. He shook his head and smirked at the man across from him.
"You were planning this all along weren't you…to have me on the team." Fury just shrugged neither confirming nor denying.
"Do we have a deal?" Loki really had to think about it. He had only been around all of the Avengers in a non-battling capacity for two weeks. Things had been civil, for the most part, and when Tony and Bruce became children, Loki had been their primary caretaker. Despite the situation, it seemed that they could work well together. Who's to say that wouldn't completely change now that his magic was back? And who was to say that the Allfather wouldn't just throw him in the dungeons to rot? Then again…these past two weeks, he actually felt like he had a purpose, something to be a part of. He hadn't felt that in a long, long time, and he didn't want to lose that feeling.
Finally, when it seemed like Fury was about to rescind the offer just to hurry things along, Loki gave him his answer.
"Yes. We have a deal." Fury smirked like that was what he had expected all along. In all honesty, he probably had.
"Alright. I'll go break the news to the Council. You are now officially part of the Avenger's Initiative, because I say so. Welcome to the team." Fury shook his hand and left. Once he was out the door, Loki allowed himself a little smile. It turned to annoyed fondness when Thor burst into the room.
"Brother! You live! Oh what a glorious day!" Loki soon found himself being dragged into a fierce hug.
"Do not…overexert yourself..Thor.. Thor..I-can't breathe." Thor quickly dropped his little brother back onto the bed, but didn't back away.
"I am just very happy to see you are well, Brother. You know I never admit to being scared, but…seeing you throw yourself in front of Amora's curse and then just lying there…" Loki's cynicism dialed down a notch when he saw the sincerity in Thor's eyes. Thor may be an idiotic, brutish oaf at most times of the day, but he was still Loki's brother. Said Thunderer bounced out of his momentary melancholy, and his smile brightened the already blinding room once more.
"You were truly heroic in the battle, Loki. You saved Tony and Bruce, and defeated Amora in a matter of moments. Truly an act of a prince." Loki let out a slow breath, closing his eyes and just letting everything settle and sink in, while Thor brought Fury's chair to his bedside.
"Fury said that Anthony and Bruce are doing well. Have you seen for yourself?" Thor nodded.
"I was not allowed to enter the room, but I was directed to a large window for which to observe them. That is where the others were, including Ms. Potts. They say that they are waiting for our comrades to wake from their peaceful slumber. I think I must talk to the healers though, for their garments did not look to be fitting them well." Loki's eyes popped open at that, and he looked squarely at Thor.
"Are you absolutely certain?" Thor cocked his head to the side at Loki's intensity, but nodded nonetheless.
"Yes. Their Midgardian pants looked too short on their legs, as did the shirt sleeves." Loki closed his eyes again, but this time a smile settled onto his face as he sunk back.
"Tell the other Avengers they might want to get some rest. Anthony and Bruce will not be waking up for at least a day." Loki heard Thor shift forward in his seat and felt the dip in the bed as he leaned his elbows by Loki's side.
"Why is that, Brother?" The Trickster barely opened his eyes past slits as he looked at how eager and hopeful Thor was.
"The spell Amora cast on them was very complicated magic, and only she would be able to lift it from them. However, when I destroyed her, I must have also destroyed any lingering magic of hers, and the curse on the two of them lifted. They should wake when they are back to their proper age." Thor's smile was so fond and proud, Loki was taken aback and cursed himself as he felt tears start to form. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to care and accepted that others cared about him. He felt more than saw, his brother reach forward and take hold of his hand, slowly removing the restraints.
There were no more words between them, just quiet contentment. Relaxing as all was finally well. Loki wanted to give his ribs a chance to recover before he told Thor he had accepted Fury's offer of becoming an Avenger.
Over the next few hours, the other Avengers stopped by, even Clint. All thanking him and telling him well done in their own way. Steve shook his hand and told him outright how thankful he was for what he had done for Tony and Dr. Banner. Pepper was a lot like Steve in her thanks, though the glistening tears in her eyes was new. Natasha had come in to update them on the boys' conditions, and gave them a very small smile, which from her was pretty significant. Clint…kept a coffee in his hand, no doubt an excuse not to shake hands or something like that, and shuffled awkwardly.
"I still don't like you," was all he said, before he left. Loki and Thor had looked at each other, and fell apart laughing.
Loki wasn't being permitted to leave the bed for the night at least, and when he did finally get sick of laying down, he was to report to Fury with an update on his magic. This of course meant that as soon as Thor had fallen asleep, he left the room and went straight to the Director. Fury was sitting at his desk doing paperwork, when Loki had suddenly appeared in his office. The man didn't even startle, which was slightly disappointing, and only looked up to offer Loki the seat across from him.
"You're later than I thought you'd be." Loki smirked and nodded in acknowledgment.
"It took Thor a good deal longer to fall asleep than I had thought. He fought it valiantly until I simply pretended I had fallen asleep. Then he was out in a matter of seconds." Fury nodded, wrote one last thing, then set his pen down and looked at Loki.
"Sounds like you two are on much better terms now." Loki rolled his eyes but did not deny it.
"For how dense he can be, he is also very good at holding out until he gets what he wants." It was Fury's turn to smirk at the man across from him. They were quiet for a few moments, just observing each other.
"Well, guessing that you didn't use the door to get in here, I can assume your magic is actually back. It's not a fluke?" Loki nodded.
"The bracelets my mother fashioned for me were meant to block my magic, not completely get rid of it. That's what Amora was trying to do. I would say I'm reaching my equilibrium once more. The amount of energy it took to destroy the bracelets was due to the build up of magic, from not using it. And…" never let it be said that Loki was not a dramatic speaker, "it appears that by destroying Amora, Stark and Dr. Banner are slowly reverting back to the age they are meant to be."
That at least got a reaction from the Director in the form of a smile and raised brow. He clasped his hands together and leaned back in his chair.
"How long do you think..?"
"Only a day or two. I would expect them to awaken tomorrow evening or the following morning at the latest." Fury nodded at the new information, obviously pleased.
"Good, that's good. I'm to be informed immediately when they wake up. Now, get back to the hospital. You look like crap." Loki barked out a laugh at the brisk dismissal and stood. Without another word he disappeared from Fury's office.
The lights were off in his hospital room, and Thor's head was still laying on his arms on the bed. However, his brother's hand was outstretched as if searching for something.
With the last of his energy, Loki changed his apparel back to the terrible hospital gown and slipped back into the bed. He had had to lift Thor's hand to get under the covers properly, and once he had set it back down, it had come alive and gripped his arm, keeping him in place. Loki gritted his teeth, being reminded of their one night in Asgard when Thor had dragged him into bed with him and bear hugged him to sleep.
All Loki could do now, for that hand would not allow him to move, was lay his other hand on top of Thor's and close his eyes. Despite his exhaustion, it took Loki a bit of time before he could fall asleep. Worries had begun to creep in around him, and every time he closed his eyes, they were there to taunt him. Everything just seemed to be going so well, almost too well. If his luck was anything to go by, it would not last.
Thor shifted beside him, and his hand squeezed his arm comfortingly, as if assuring him that Loki was there, under his hand, and then he settled once more. Loki squeezed back, took a few deep breaths and slowly slipped into well deserved unconsciousness.
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