A/N: New chapter! Maybe 'pretty pleases' do work, Halo! XD Sorry for the shortness of the chapter but it was the best stopping point. More Avengers interactions, as promised!

Chapter 4

Steve Rogers was staring; Thor couldn't blame him. But as the ever-polite man the captain was, he immediately blinked rapidly and tried his best to look away. Is it for my benefit, or Loki's? Thor wondered. Loki couldn't see, of course, but somehow he doubted that mattered to the good captain. He was sure the human considered being rude to a blind man even worse- no matter the same man couldn't even see the offense.

As predicted, Stark was a terrible liar. Even Steve had been able to tell that he was hiding something. And if that were not enough, the billionaire had been severely hungover- which only served to agitate him and make him less likely to want to keep anything hidden, let alone something so important. He told Steve everything before noon.

Thor was secretly glad of it; it meant he wouldn't have to explain everything again. The captain had a few more questions, most of little consequence, and- again, as Thor predicted -the mortal quickly vowed that Loki would be safe here, as long as he caused no trouble. To Thor and Stark's amusement, Rogers quickly reddened at the strangeness of the statement, given Loki's condition, but the captain stood his ground and Thor assured him of the trickster's compliance. The soldier was duty and honor-bound to ensure the safety of the planet, after all- or so Stark said, in far more a sarcastic manner than was necessary.

They were all standing in the living room. The two brothers leaned against the back of a couch, with Thor's arm around the other, as the two mortals stood a few feet from them, arms crossed.

"So," said Stark to Thor. "He okay? He looks a little..." the man squinted at Loki, then straightened up. "Actually he looks pretty much the same as yesterday. In a word: terrible." Tony glanced and Thor, "No offense."

Thor glared at him but responded, "None taken."

"But still," continued Tony in a slightly lilting voice, "he looks better in those clothes. Even kind of cute." Both blondes stared at the billionaire, who held up two hands. "What? You know what I mean; the shirt and pants are too big on him. Like a kid wearing his dad's clothes or something. It's cute," he shrugged.

The thunder god actually agreed but continued glaring at the mortal, determined to look at least a little upset on his brother's behalf since he had just compared Loki to a child.

Steve rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Tony." He then directed his attention to Thor, who still kept his arm around Loki. Steve nodded in the trickster's direction, "Is there anything he needs? His own room? Clothes-?"

"Hey!" said Tony, exasperated. "Why are you asking this stuff, they're in my tower-"

"Anything at all?" continued Steve, ignoring the shorter man.

Thor smiled a little at the two mortals' exchange, then thought about it. He looked to his brother. "Loki will not stay in his own room, but clothing that will fit him would be much appreciated. Thank you."

Both mortals nodded in acknowledgement. Stark tapped Steve's arm, "What're you nodding at; I'm the one buying the stuff."

The captain raised both eyebrows boredly and continued looking at the two gods. "I think we can arrange that."

"Hey!" exclaimed Tony with outstretched arms. "Am I even in this room?"

"Nope," said Steve as he walked slowly toward Loki. He addressed Thor, "Is there some way he can know I'm here?"

Thor smiled in appreciation at his friend, happy that the mortal understood at least that small concept. "I am not certain..." Thor scratched his beard, thinking. "Do you have your magnificent shield? He would remember it."

The soldier nodded, "Sure, it's right here." He retrieved the painted shield from behind the couch, then walked back around to the two with it outstretched. "Should I just..."

"Stand here," Thor pointed in front of Loki, then, just as with the cup of water, directed his brother's hand to touch the metal.

And just as with Stark's beard, Loki was confused at first, then when recognition- much quicker this time, Thor noticed -flitted across his face, he backed away, holding tightly to Thor. Even so, he didn't hide behind the thunderer this time, and Thor considered it a good sign. Either Loki was coming to understand the Avengers meant him no harm, or he knew that a morally upright person like the captain would never harm one so helpless. Thor hoped it was the first, but both were good.

"Oh goody," came Stark's voice. "He knows you're here, can we eat now?" Thor raised a brow. "Golden boy here made lunch, you guys hungry?" asked Stark.

The thunder god nodded, but knew Tony's comment was only meant in jest, that he knew Loki could not eat.

.

The four men walked to the nearest kitchen, one floor down, but before Thor could seat Loki in the nearby dining room, Stark called the thunder god over to the kitchen area.

"Here we go," said the inventor, moving around cups and the appliance Thor recognized as a 'blender'. "Voilà!" said Stark with a sweeping motion. "Instant people-with-lips-sewn-shut food, aka a smoothie, made by yours truly."

"I made that," yelled Rogers as he set the dining table up.

"Yours truly's friend then," said Stark without a trace of guilt. "I put it in a cup, though," he yelled back. "And the straw," he pointed. "Yup. The straw."

Thor eyed the two with amusement as Loki held tightly to his arm.

"Oh," continued Stark, "and it's not a lot and not really strong. Jarvis told us he shouldn't eat anything too tasty. Which sucks, but...whatever."

Thor smiled. What wonderful friends, he thought.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The god of mischief felt the softness of the chair under him and the hardness of the table before him. Thor was sat beside him, he knew, and the trickster couldn't help but scoot his chair closer so their sides were touching. Thor tugged him closer for a moment and kissed his temple in reassurance, and the trickster allowed a tiny smile at the movement- even if it fled just as quickly at the painful tug. He knew at least Stark and Rogers were here with them, and that they would see their overt displays of affection, but Loki simply couldn't bring himself to care. The old him would certainly care, but the old him wasn't deprived of half his senses, either. That fool was the one who had gotten him into this predicament in the first place- he'd do well to ignore him.

Loki also knew that this was meal-time, since he had smelled the food before they had even arrived. His stomach turned at the prospect of food, but he also cringed at the knowledge that he would never be able to partake himself. So like mortals, Loki thought. Of course they would torment me with such a tantalizing impossibility, forcing me to sit by with mouth watering while they-

His hand was being directed, something like a cup pushed into it, the feel of it heavy in his hand. He grasped it tightly and then felt for the small tube that would allow him to drink. Since they had not poisoned him yesterday, he assumed it would be safe to drink- and anyway, the mortals wouldn't be foolish enough to harm him with Thor present.

The thick feel of the liquid and the burst of taste made Loki nearly gag on the drink. Thor seemed to notice since a large hand was suddenly rubbing his back with concern, another hand on his shoulder.

He quickly swallowed it in a small panic, suddenly realizing that this was not water- or any kind of normal drink for that matter. He desperately hoped he wouldn't have the urge to vomit, that would be... unpleasant, to say the least. But even through his surprise and worry, he couldn't deny that it tasted good. Like sweet fruits blended together mixed with some sort of milk. He felt his face stretch a little with a smile, and despite the pain he couldn't stop himself. Food... his mind tingled with glee. Of course it wasn't a true meal, but Loki's mind couldn't care less at the moment as he clutched the smooth cup beneath his fingers. I can...eat...

Thor kissed his head again, and Loki imagined a sunny wide grin splayed across his idiot brother's wonderful face. A hand patted his thigh as if to say, 'Eat, brother!' He could even hear the familiar voice.

So Loki tucked the straw back into his mouth and ate slowly, but contentedly.

Food, food, food, his mind repeated. Wonderous, delicious, sweet, filling food...

The comforting hand never left his thigh as Loki finished his meal.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Two mortals and one god of thunder stared with open mouths as the trickster god first smiled and then began eating- or rather drinking -something that most people wouldn't call a meal. Thor quickly felt a smile cross his own lips- a true and wide smile he had not experienced in so long. Suddenly he felt himself again.

He kissed his brother's head and ran a hand through his hair, leaning over him, so happy that Loki was happy. He knew that smiling caused Loki's stitches to pull, but the trickster didn't seem to mind, lost in whatever sensations he was clearly enjoying at the moment.

"Wow," said Stark slowly. "I've...never seen someone look like they're having an orgasm just from eating." Rogers smacked the inventor on the back of the head. "Ow!" yelled Stark. "What? Do you see that look of glee on his face." He stared at Loki, all three men did. "I think he might have just invented a new facial expression: glappy."

"Glappy?" asked Steve, with indignant exasperation.

"Yeah. Glee and happy."

"Glappy," said Steve again, thinking for a moment. "That's stupid, I think you need your head checked."

"I did. I'm a genius."

"Then you need your head checked by someone that isn't missing their own," smirked Steve as he took a bite of his cold pasta.

"Glappy," nodded Tony as he scrutinized Loki. "Thor?"

"Hm?" said the thunder god, lost in watching his brother eat.

"You gonna eat?"

Thor looked at his friends. "Ah," he said, as if he just remembered that there was a plate of food in front of him. Even so, Thor couldn't stop watching Loki. Although the trickster had stopped smiling, a glint of satisfaction still lingered in his milky eyes. "My friends," he finally said. "I must thank you."

Tony jerked his head up from devouring his food, "Huh? For what?" Steve was already getting a second massive helping.

"For...this," Thor indicated his brother.

The two heroes looked to each for a moment. "No problem, Thor," said Steve, slightly confused. "We couldn't just let him starve," he said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

A/N: Something of a fluffy chapter, I hope you guys liked it!

I'm not sure if it would be okay for Loki to be eating/drinking what they're giving him given his state, but I figured he's a friggin' alien, who knows how his body reacts to things? ;) Justification: accepted. Lol... Apologies for Stark's crudeness, I did warn for it at the beginning, though! XD