A/N: So I actually wrote this several days ago, but I was just so annoyed with it that I kept re-writing parts. Ugh. I'm still not sure about the direction I'm going with it, so, fair warning, I might change this if future chapters demand I go a different route. Also, sorry for the shortness of it, I didn't want to include the next part as I'm still revising it.

(I have updated The Sanguine Wood, as well, for those of you interested.)

Chapter 9

Thor heard the sound of scuffling feet outside his- and now, Loki's -bedroom door. He walked over the carpeted floor tentatively, determined not to awaken his brother, who had finally fallen asleep, and opened the door quietly. Immediately, Steve rushed toward him with a determined look on his face- the one that said, 'There's something happening.'

"Thor," said Steve hurriedly. He looked ready to say something else before saying, quietly, peeking a little around the Asgardian, "Is Loki okay?"

The thunderer nodded. He was glad that his friend was concerned for his brother's well-being, but he wished to know what was happening. He lightly closed the door behind him as he stepped more fully into the corridor. "Is anything wrong, captain?" he asked, his voice louder than he had expected.

Steve looked behind him for a moment, "Yeah." He looked back at Thor. "Everyone's waiting for you and Clint in the living room," he said quickly as Thor followed him. "Something's happening with SHIELD. The helicarrier or something. Fury's on the line."

When Thor and Steve reached the room, they heard Tony's voice and they saw Natasha in front of the large screen that seemed to appear out of nowhere- at least to Thor -every time they spoke with Director Fury. Right now, however, it was Maria Hill that was on the screen.

Her voice was strained as her harried look appeared on the screen as Thor approached the others.

"Regardless, we need you and Thor here, now. This situation can't get-"

The screen cut to static. Everyone stared.

"Uhh..." said Tony. "Jarv?" The billionaire scratched the side of his head.

"It appears the transmission has been cut from their end; there is nothing I can do."

"Right," said Tony. "Keep trying to get them back- in the mean time..." he turned to Thor "... time to suit up?" His eyebrows were slightly raised, the question clearly directed at Thor.

"What's happening, Tony?" Steve cut in.

Tony's eyes remained on Thor's for a moment but quickly went to the soldier's. "Attack," he said plainly.

"An attack?" asked Clint, who had just walked into the room. He stopped a few steps away when he caught sight of the thunder god.

"Right," was all Tony said as he eyed the others.

"What the hell does that mean?" asked the archer.

Natasha spoke up, voice calm but clearly in a hurry. "The helicarrier's under attack. Don't know by what or who, or whether it's even still in the air."

Surprise swept through the room even as no one spoke.

Finally, Steve stepped up. "What can we do?" he asked Tony and Natasha, the two that seemed to be the most informed at the moment.

Tony shook his head a little and walked halfway out of the room before turning around. "All of us who can fly need to get out there, pronto. Thor, that's just you and me. Pack up your fancy hammer and let's go." He walked- almost ran -out of the room, something more than just determination in his step, like he wanted to avoid something...

Of course...

Thor whipped around to the others. "I cannot leave Loki, he may awaken..." Thor hadn't been able to go back to sleep, especially after Loki had woken up with his muffled screams that haunted Thor's dreams. But that had been hours ago, Loki would soon wake up to find... No, he thought. He couldn't leave. But this was important; there were thousands of people on the helicarrier, could he live with himself if the great flying fortress fell to the ground? Especially if he could have somehow prevented it?

Suddenly, Romanoff walked up to him, calm but clear determination written on her face. "I know this is your decision, but you need to decide now. Loki needs you, yes, but he'll survive. The people on that helicarrier might not. Make a decision, we need to go." She walked around the thunder god and nodded to Clint. She called back, "Hill ordered all personnel away from the carrier until the situation's sorted, so we can't go in. Thor," he turned around to face her, thoughts running through his head like an angry beehive. "We need you out there." Then she and her archer walked briskly out of the room.

The captain was suddenly beside him. "You gonna go?" he asked quietly, although there was a clear request there.

Time... He didn't have time to think about this, to consider as he truly wished to, to weigh the options and the downsides and what, what, what am I thinking? He loves Loki, and he would do anything for him, even die, but this... Could he let others die in his stead?

No. No he couldn't. Not only could he not forgive himself, but he feared he might resent Loki for it. So...

He turned fully to Captain America, then, in a strained but strong voice: "I will go."

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

He was panicking. It was strange, to know it, to feel it happening as it happened, but Loki knew it like he knew his brother's voice, how he could pick it out from even a crowd of hundreds talking.

Thor wasn't here. He had searched the room, after waking up, only to find no one here. He had reassured himself at first, saying he was perhaps in the washroom. But after some time, and a slightly panicked search of the cold-tiled room, across the sink and the bathtub, he knew he wasn't here.

Where could he be- where is he, where is he- Loki tried to control his breathing, the short bursts through his nose making him light-headed. He's only outside. He's gone to get us breakfast, that's all, that's all- Has he left me? He quickly quashed that thought, it couldn't be true, couldn't be!

His shaking hands felt along the wall and landed on the cold door. The handle felt strange under is fingers, almost heavy, like the simple metal might fail to move even if pushed with all his might, but, as it had so many times before, it turned and gave way easily.

A harsh breath of air left his nose as he, nervous and trembling, curled his fingers around the door and peaked his head out.

He didn't know what he was doing, he couldn't see, or hear, or do anything, what was he doing?

Suddenly, there was an arm on his forearm, lightly touching there but foreign- not his, it's not his, not Thor's, not brother's! Loki jerked back, stumbling and falling backward into Thor's room. Who was it?!

Nothing further happened but Loki wasn't taking any risks, he knew they could still be there, waiting, watching, doing... what? There was no way to know. He scrambled backward and half-crawled across the floor, feeling better with the carpet under his fingers- anchoring him to the world, the world that seemed to have turned upside and shaken him about. He found a corner and huddled in it, feeling foolish, knowing that if this person wished harm upon him he could do nothing. Nothing!

Loki wrapped his arms around himself and drew up his knees to his chest, then tried his best not to cry out or show any more weakness than he already radiated.

Where's Thor? Where's Thor? Where's Thor?!

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

"Okay, okay, okay, you're okay..." tried Steve as he rushed toward the obviously frightened trickster. Loki quickly fell backward and scurried across the floor until he hit a corner. Steve grimaced and stayed near the door, suddenly feeling that to rush forward might somehow cause the other to panic even more.

"He can't see us, Cap," said the Black Widow, stepping up beside him.

"I know," he said, but still didn't approach. "We can't just leave him here, though."

Natasha raised a single red eyebrow. "And why not? I don't think he'll move for anyone but Thor."

For the past few hours she and Clint had been trying to contact the rest of SHIELD any way they knew how. When they finally got through, the situation had apparently been handled- only to find out that the crisis had been averted, but not the aftermath. The helicarrier was in the water, but was less than functional. They weren't sure how, but Thor and Tony had kept it from crashing into the ocean. The rest of the Avengers breathed a collective sigh of relief as the sun peeked over the horizon, the new light a welcomed view that mirrored their own thoughts. For whatever reason, however, the airspace around the helicarrier was still restricted so they couldn't fly there with their quinjet. Further prodding was only met with repeated orders to remain where they were.

Steve had been on his way back to his room when he caught sight of the dark-haired head poking out of Thor's door. Concerned, he had approached, then spoke, then, shaking his head at himself, had realized how stupid he was being- Loki couldn't hear him. The hand on the trickster's arm was an instinct, nothing more, and now, here he was, unsure what to do to comfort the pathetic figure huddled fearfully in the corner. It was his fault. He shouldn't have touched him in the first place.

As if reading his mind, the red-head said, "It's not your fault, Cap."

He frowned at her, slightly amused. "How do you do that?"

She gave a small smile and a half-shrug, as if that were explanation enough. She looked to Loki. "We should just leave him alone; he'll be fine until Thor gets back."

"What makes you say that?" Because how could she possibly know? He looked her straight in the eye, always wondering if he might one day be able to see what's behind those closed-off eyes.

She shrugged again as her eyes remained on the trickster. "He's tough, Cap. He's been through hell and back. He'll be okay, whatever happens. We should leave him be."

He stared at her. There was no malice in her voice, just... understanding.

Natasha walked away and disappeared around the corner as Steve remained where he was, deciding to keep an eye on Thor's charge, at least until he got back. It was the least he could do for his friend.

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

"This is nuts! This is crazy- I don't like this- Have I told you how much I hate this?" Tony was rambling. It was something Thor was used to by now, but he almost seemed to be panicking. Well, perhaps not panicking, but he was certainly more agitated than normal.

From what Thor understood, Tony and he were trapped somewhere near the bottom of the helicarrier, in a small metal room with several benches to sit on- Thor remembered it to be a "locker room", although it was a small one. The billionaire was pacing from one end to the other repeatedly.

Tony had said something about why Thor couldn't simply use his hammer to break the walls and escape, something about water pressure- which Thor didn't quite understand -and that even if Thor could survive, Tony wouldn't, now that his suit was damaged.

"I still do not understand why I simply cannot use Mjolnir to-" tried Thor again, but Tony interrupted.

"No, no. I told you already," he used both hands to demonstrate, as if that would help. "There's water all around us, on every side. The bottom of the 'carrier's flooded, if you go busting out like some He-man, the water will all flood in. You'll kill me, got it?"

Thor considered it for a moment. "Can I not simply carry you to the surfa-"

"No," Tony seemed to be getting annoyed now. "Again, I told you: I can't hold my breath that long, not to mention the water pressure at this depth is pretty crazy-"

"Then what are we to do? Will you not run out of air in here eventually?"

The genius squinted at Thor in surprise, although he paused only a moment before answering. "Uh, yeah. But- wait, what d'you mean, 'you' run out of air? You gonna hold your breath or something?"

Thor shrugged. "I do not require air as you do," he said simply, hoping he wouldn't have to explain because he didn't have an explanation.

Tony scratched his head and sighed. "Right. Of course you don't. Silly me."

A/N: More Loki next chapter; I felt like this chapter was light on Loki but the next bit should have more of him. And, oh yeah, a lot of you guys wanted Thor to get separated from Loki somehow- I hope you're satisfied! The poor thing's all distraught now! ;D I guess we'll see how he and the other Avengers get along without Thor.
(I'm sure a lot of you would have liked to see Tony deal with Loki along with the rest of them, but I felt that he and Thor are the two people most commonly featured alongside Loki in fics, thus I opted to leave them both out, give the others a chance to hang out with him. XD)