A/N: Oh man, the last half of this just refused to be written! ...Ehh, but either way, here it is! ;D

Chapter 15

Tony walked into the common room, and what he walked in on was...strange, to say the least. Out of everyone in their group, Thor was one of the most temperamental, but it was who he was arguing with that gave Tony pause.

Is that...Bruce?

Yep. Definitely. His voice was still quiet, at least compared to Thor's, and it was clear he was trying to keep his calm, but for him...he might as well have been shouting.

"...I don't understand why you aren't upset, that's the issue-" he said the last word like Thor had been using it before him. "Thor, what happened to your brother was-"

They both turned to Tony suddenly, like deer in headlights- annoyed deer in headlights.

"Tony," Bruce sighed in frustration, turning around.

"I'm...clearly interrupting something..." tried Stark, not liking the tension in the room. "I mean, don't get me wrong, watching Thunder Pants and Mister Hyde go at is always fun to watch, but..." he trailed off, still eyeing the two. Bruce was obviously agitated, at Tony or Thor, he couldn't tell, and Thor seemed...constipated. Oh wait, that was his thinking face.

And, oh look at that. Loki was apparently in the room, too, standing on the other side of Thor and looking confused and blank all at the same time. Both his arms wrapped around one of Thor's in a secure grip.

Thor sighed and looked to Bruce. "I have already explained it, Banner, I am, of course, angered at what has happened to him but I see no difference to-"

"See, that's what I'm talking about!" Bruce interjected- and quite forcefully. Clearly this had been going on for some time, and probably in circles given the scientist's mood. "I get that you feel bad for him, I do, but you can't just ignore this kind of thing-"

"I am not ignoring it!" Thor boomed.

"Then why are you acting this way?"

"What way?"

I really need to get out of here, Tony thought absently. They might break something. Probably me.

Bruce grimaced, apparently trying to find his words. "Like...like it's no big deal. Why the hell aren't you more angry? I was expecting," he waved a frustrated hand, "I don't know. Rage or something! Just...more..."

Thor frowned.

Yep. Need to leave. He's thinking again. Thor thinking is never a good thing.

"Why should I get angry? I am already angry at what has happened to him, should I become more angry?"

"Yes! Yes, you should."

"Uh..." Tony decided it was a good time to interrupt. He was always so great with timing. "I'm sensing some drama developing here- care to explain?"

"Tony," Bruce rubbed his forehead. "This is kind of a private conversation."

"And this is my very private home. Oh wait, not anymore." He smiled sweetly. Bruce scowled at him.

"It is nothing," said Thor, sighing. "Banner seems to think I am not sufficiently angered by my brother being violated by his punishers. I have been trying to assure him-"

"Uh," Tony held up a finger, "I'm sorry, what was that again?" He walked closer, squinting. "Did you just say violated- as in, like, violated, violated -because I'm pretty sure my arc reactor might explode if I have to fill it with any more sad feelings for the poor guy." Wow, wow... He didn't even know what to do with that so he just stared at them.

Bruce let out a frustrated noise and lowered his eyes to his hand. "Did you really have to tell him that, Thor."

Everybody jumped when Loki made a high pitched keen and fell backward onto the ground, twitching this way and that in what Tony could only describe as a fit.

Holy, what in the- "Do I need to call the exorcist?" Tony blurted out.

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

Standing. They were standing. Not doing anything, just standing. Of course, Loki surmised that Thor was probably doing something, he just couldn't figure out what. And when Thor began attempting to prevent himself from gesticulating with the arm Loki clung to, it was obvious he was speaking to someone- perhaps arguing? It made Loki nervous.

Their morning had been typical, as if nothing at all had happened. Even if he still felt hurt about Thor leaving, he finally reconciled that his elder brother wouldn't leave without good cause, and he held to that knowledge like a lifeline, even if it turned his stomach to know there was anything that could keep his brother from him.

It didn't matter; Thor was here now. Everything was fine...wasn't it?

Loki moved closer to Thor and wondered if he should try pulling him away from whatever conversation he was having. Surely it couldn't be good if it caused his brother to be so agitated...or perhaps he was simply excited? Thor did get carried away with his stories, at times. Loki hoped for the latter explanation.

A small burning sensation began moving upwards from the small of Loki's back. He frowned and felt the surrounding area with his hands, although there was nothing but open air. What is that? It wasn't getting hotter but it was spreading, moving along his arms and legs now. But when it reached his neck, then his head, something like an explosion of pain ripped through his mind, causing him to fall.

He tried to ask, tried to scream, brother, help me! even through his caged lips, but he couldn't. It felt like someone had poured lava into his skull, and-

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

Loki stopped moving. Panic gripped at Thor's every limb and he itched to do something. His little brother had screamed and screamed through his stitches, pulling them and causing blood to pour through the recently healed puncture wounds, but the string held firm, their magic not giving way for anything. Thor wanted to rage and rip the strings out, even if it hurt his brother, at least he would be rid of them; but it was impossible, and he was no sorcerer.

Bruce was already at Loki's side, checking him over and insisting that they take him to the medical wing, their earlier argument forgotten. Thor nodded and scooped Loki into his arms, relieved to feel the strong but too fast heartbeat of his brother.

Stark followed closely behind, his normally carefree face filled with worry. It seemed strange, yet it wasn't. Thor had come to know his friends very well over the last few years, but that still was too short a time, especially in comparison to the whole of his life- and what more life he had to come.

The sterile white room greeted them as Thor set his brother down, carefully and cradling his head. Loki's mouth bled profusely onto the pale sheets.

"Thor, I need you to step back," Banner spoke swiftly, the doctor in him taking over.

Thor nodded and did so, having seen his friend perform his duties enough to know he would only be a hinderance if he lingered too close. Stark stood next to him.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," said the inventor. "He's, uh...tough. Right? He'll be...he'll be okay." Tony's eyes glazed over for a moment, looking at nothing. He then snapped to, as if a thought had jumped into his head. "I...I've gotta go." Thor frowned in confusion at him. "Your brother'll be fine. Call me if you guys need me, alright?" He patted Thor twice on the back then walked briskly out of the room.

"What was that all about?" asked Banner without looking up from his patient.

Thor looked behind him then back at Bruce. "I do not know." Perhaps his friend was uncomfortable with the blood? That didn't make sense, Tony had seen his fair share. Thor shook his head; it didn't matter, only Loki mattered right now.

"Is he-"

"He's fine," spoke Banner, almost too quickly.

Thor tilted his head. "Are you certain..?"

Bruce sighed loudly and scratched his forehead. "I can't find anything wrong with him; I'm pretty sure he's just unconscious. Jarvis?"

"My analysis yields the same results."

"Hm." The scientist rubbed his chin and eyed the god on the bed. Thor stepped closer but didn't dare touch his brother just yet. An idea seemed to form as Banner lifted his head. "Jarv, can you please do another scan of the patient?"

"Of course, sir."

Several minutes passed before Jarvis chimed in that the scan was complete. Both Banner and Thor perked up as the former looked over the tablet in his hand, frowning.

"Jarvis," said Banner, "can you display these results holographically?"

"Where would you like me to display them?"

"Above Loki is fine."

Thor wondered where Banner was going with this, but he knew the mortal was cautious and attentive, he always looked at every angle and took advantage of every technology Stark had to offer.

When the translucent image of Loki's inner structure appeared before them, Thor couldn't help but inhale sharply. He stared, wide-eyed.

"What?" asked Banner, frowning.

"What is wrong with him?" Thor moved a little to the side, wondering what he was seeing.

"What do you mean? I'm not seeing anything different compared to last time-" He eyed Thor. "You have seen this before, right?"

Thor shook his head. What is this?

Banner sighed as his shoulders slumped. "If it makes you feel any better, he looks a lot better than before-"

"No, you misunderstand. It is not Loki's injuries that startle me."

He paused a moment. "Then what?"

Thor tried to describe it. It was like watching rivers of light flowing through Loki's body, from his head and down his spine, and across his four limbs, following the lines of his skeletal structure. He didn't know what it could be.

Bruce stared at the image, squinting. "Are you sure?" Thor nodded emphatically. "I'm not seeing it. Jarvis?"

"I am not detecting any anomalous readings in the projection."

"But it is there," said Thor, gesturing with slight irritation. "How can you not see it? It is so bright." Almost...burning. Like fire. It was also beautiful, in a way, if ominous, given that Thor had never seen such a thing within a person before. This technology was somewhat similar to the Soul Forge in Asgard, but still different. This one didn't display the person's anatomy in real time, yet it was still accurate- or so he had believed.

"My diagnostics reveal no flaw in the room's projectors. Would you like me to inform Mister Stark of your findings?"

"Uh," said Banner, "no, that's fine. I'll tell him later." He looked to Thor and said, more quietly, "No need to alert the others if we don't know what it is yet."

Thor frowned. He didn't quite understand his meaning but he nodded anyway. If this was a medical matter then the others didn't need to know, at least not right away.

Crossing his arms, Bruce tilted his head and asked, "Jarvis, please bring up Loki's scans from earlier."

"Which ones would you like to see, sir?"

"All of them. Start with the first, then we'll go from there."

The current image disappeared and was replaced by another one. Thor couldn't help but grimace and look away for a moment. This was worse than how his brother looked now. He couldn't believe how far Loki had come in so short a time, and yet...very little had changed. Loki still suffered and now he was suffering in a new way, something Thor didn't understand. He forced himself to look back, suddenly determined. These injuries were the past. He wouldn't forget them but he would move on so he could help Loki's future- a better future, he hoped.

He stared at the image. "There," he pointed. "It is the same."

"Same...rivers of light? Jarv-"

"My analysis yields the same results: no anomalous readings detected."

"Damn, what is this?" muttered the mortal. "Next image, please." The AI obliged. When it appeared, he asked, "The same?"

Thor nodded. The next image was also the same, and the next. Loki's body was healing, looking better with each one, but the rivers of light remained, neither growing nor shrinking. What could it be?

"Jarvis?" Banner spoke after the fourth image. "Can you call Steve down here?" The AI acknowledged. Bruce looked to Thor. "I think we need to see if it's just me, or Jarvis, or if this has something to do with you being..." He waved an uncertain hand in Thor's direction. "You know."

"Of course," Thor agreed. They might look similarly to him but they are very different, after all.

Only five minutes later, Steve walked in. "What's wrong, guys? Jarvis said to get down here right away."

"Hey, Cap. Can you look at this for a sec?"

The captain walked forward and smiled in greeting at Thor for a moment, then squinted at the image. "What am I supposed to be seeing here?"

"Do you...see anything strange?" asked Bruce.

He lifted a brow. "You mean...other than, uh..." The captain's eyes flicked sympathetically to Thor's.

"Do not worry, Steve," said Thor. "You will not disrespect my brother by acknowledging his injuries." Thor tried to smile but it was small. Still, Steve seemed to relax, if a little.

The soldier shrugged. "I don't know. It just looks like a typical scan, I mean...horrible, of course," he again glanced at Thor. "But other than that, it looks like all the others."

Banner sighed and rested a hand on his chin.

"Why?" asked the captain as he looked between Thor and Bruce. "What am I supposed to be seeing."

"Nothing," said Banner. "Thanks for your help, Steve." He smiled with pursed lips and nodded to the blonde captain.

An eyebrow lifted as Steve muttered in slight confusion, "Okay..." He walked toward the door slowly. "If you guys need any help, don't hesitate to ask."

Thor chimed in, "Thank you, Steve." He watched him leave, then turned to the scientist. "What could this mean?"

"I really don't know. I think we might have to call in Tony, see if this has anything to do with his tech, but..." His eyes roved over Loki's body for a moment, an idea no doubt forming. "Wait a sec," he looked up, then to Thor. "We should try zooming in."

"What?"

"You know how to do it, right?"

Thor nodded, although not quite understanding yet. He moved his hands forward, then pulled them out in the proper gesture for 'zooming in'.

His eyes widened at the image. Oh...

.

Oh, my brother, how could I have let this happen to you? Thor cradled his little brother in his arms, pressed him against his chest as if that would hold him together, keep his ripped mind from spilling out, hide him from the darkness he'd so long endured in that horrible cave. Thor couldn't help his own trembling as he lay Loki down in an isolated cave, the rush of battle still ringing in his ears. The uru metal of Mjolnir was awash with the screams and blood of those fallen to its might, deserved and vicious vengeance laid out in the cold air of a dead world.

Loki shook terribly as he lay limply against the cold stone. Awake, Thor knew, but unable to move, even in his obvious fear. Unwilling to watch his little brother's suffering, Thor again drew him to his chest, heedless of whether he would injure him further. Because how could he? Loki was a mess of agony and pain; Thor could almost feel it, himself. He was pale, far too pale, yet mottled with purple and black and red and yellow and-

His face, his face, his face...

Thor cried openly, let out what he'd held back in the dark cave. He'd crushed the Serpent and all those nearby with a rage he feared even himself. He didn't remember a lot of what had followed, only that afterward, blood dripped from Mjolnir and a violent storm shook the very ground, a storm Thor couldn't quell, even as he tried.

This cave was different, so very different. Not lively, of course, but not a harrowing abyss that had swallowed his brother whole and chewed and chewed and...

Lightning struck a large rock outside as hail began to fall. It joined the rain already falling, along with heavy snow, churning together with blackened ash in an unnatural mixture that beat the ground as if in wrath. Wind howled and black sand whipped the land with rage and without mercy. Even the ground shook with an angry, intermittent rumble.

Stop this, Thor told himself. He might kill both his little brother and himself, but he couldn't. He couldn't control himself any more, just as he couldn't stop his brother's torture. So instead he punished the land, glad that no one lived in this desolation. A dead rock that deserved to stay dead, if what happened in its bowels was any proof of the realm's worth...

He should destroy this planet to its core.

He could do it.

He could.

In that moment Thor feared himself. Feared himself enough that he gripped tight both his brother and the item their mother had given him, then transported the two of them away from the wretched realm.

.

"What is it, Thor?" asked Banner, eyes steady on him.

Thor inhaled deeply through his nose, then slowly, exhaled the same way. "Magic."

"What?"

He stared at the burning light, could not have looked away if he tried. Runes. Thousands of runes glittered along the lines of his brother's body, only visible in their cluttered mass when glimpsed up close. Who could have done this? There were few in the Nine Realms that could match this power, and even Loki was not among them.

"What does that mean, Thor?" Bruce stared at him with expectant, worried eyes. "Thor?"

The god straightened up and looked down at Loki, ran his fingers through the raven hair. "I don't know," he muttered, unable to summon his typically overpowering voice. "I am no sorcerer, Banner." He continued to stroke his brother's hair. "I do not know how to..."

He wished he knew magic. It wasn't the first time. His youthful self would have laughed at him, scorned him, called him a coward for wanting such a thing but it didn't change Thor's wish any. If he had been more like Loki, had, perhaps, heeded his brother's talents and joined him, even if for a short time, had learned even a little of what his brother knew, he might be able to help him now. But no. There was nothing he had found more useless and boring than his brother's primary interest, and now he regretted it. Thor rarely regretted anything, and yet, more and more, that was changing with the past few years. What had changed so much in these few short years? Himself or his brother? He knew the answer immediately: both.

He also knew what he had to do, but he didn't know how to go about it. He would need help. He didn't know magic, but he would do whatever he could to find someone who did.

His brother's eyes drifted slowly open. The pale eyes blinked, once, twice, trying to open and see, even when he couldn't. Thor leaned down and touched his face. Loki turned to him and Thor was glad that there was no trace of pain in his features.

"Brother," Thor whispered. He touched his forehead to the other's. "I will not fail you again."

He would find someone, but he would need the Avenger's help first.

A/N: Hmm, so what's Thor up to now? Hope you guys liked the chapter. :3 I'm afraid Thor and Bruce's...disagreement will be put on hold, at least for the time being.

Oh yeah, before I forget. If you guys ever see two paragraphs (which are defined by the spaces between them) that are mashed together and don't have a space, could you please point it out? I try to find them all but sometimes I miss some. I'm not sure why it does that, but I've seen some other authors have the same problem.