- THE CRIPPLED GOD - Avengers fanfic
chapter 6
A/N. I have to start every chapter with an apology so it seems, because I feel like I really test your patience with no updates.
Also, there's one other thing I want to discuss and it's really important: a guest left a review on this chapter about yaoi and same sex pairings. They said they felt disappointed, because they did not want to read yaoi and I had no warning about it in description. they are absolutely right, my bad, I admitt. It's just that I don't have the story written beforehand and when I started working on it, I had no idea it would turn out anything like yaoi, that just happened. Now I put a warning in description and I am really sorry if someone accidentally read what they did not want to, if someone feels cheated. That was never my intention. So do forgive me.
Thank you for reading, enjoy the chapter.
No, No, no, not this nightmare over again. Tony could not stand the sight of pale, unconscious Loki, so weak and broken that he was no longer able to utter sounds of pain he was obviously going through and the worst thing of all - they were unable to do anything to ease his suffering. the Billionaire shot a quick glance at their alien guest, who, seemed to be just as confused and two of them were at previous sessions.
''Loki?'' Freyr's voice was desperate, shaken. ''Loki, elska, look at me! wake up! don't give up, I'm here!'' making a mental note to ask JARVIS for the translation of the world later, Tony watched as the Magician summoned blue light once again, sending it toward the God of Mischief's chest. As soon as the flame touched pale skin, Loki's body began convulsing, as if someone was giving him an electric shock over and over again.
''Stop!'' Bruce shouted, no longer able to contain his rage. ''Stop it now, don't you see you're making it worse!''
''keep your hands away from me, mortal!'' Freyr yelled back. ''I am perfectly aware that both of you would rather see him dead, But let me make it clear, I'm not allowing it! I won't give up and you'd rather deal with it, or I'll make you!'' Silver-haired man was facing the Scientist, flashing his angry, wide eyes at him. ''Am i being clear?!''
''I would not rather see him dead!'' Bruce clenched his hands into fists, trying his best not to Hulk-out right now, not two-steps-away from the bed of sick God of Chaos. ''I was helping him through last days, running test, I've done all I can for him!''
''Not that I'm being ungrateful,'' Freyr snapped, ''but I don't really see the results of all the desperate efforts you mortals have made!''
''The result?'' Tony cut in, ''The result is him still being alive!'' it was hard for him as well, not to put up a fight, but he had to calm things down somehow, he was not sure. damn, why me? Like hell I'm not the right person. ''Guys, i know it's hard on all of us, but now really is not the time!'' he added in calmer voice, but, damn it, he was making no difference. ''Do you hear me?!" Tony repeated, standing now between raging Bruce, who was on the edge of going all Green on them and angry Alien Magician, whose hands were flashing all blue and he, Tony Stark, apart from being all Billionaire, Philanthropist, Playboy and all stuff of the sort, was a casual human being, without his suit. IF either one of them lost control - like hell he was in trouble and ,,trouble'' is not the word to be used here. ,, joy. why the heck am I doin this for HIM at all? Not that the Trickster is worth my life.''
Thanks God, (for which one exactly, Tony Stark was not sure), Freyr seemed to contain his rage and his hands obtained their normal purple-white color. ''You're right, Anthony.'' He muttered. ''I should be grateful, of both of you, for you saved his life. Forgive me.'' and with these words he stepped back, throwing himself on the chair next to Loki's bed, resting his hand on Loki's sweating forehead, which was kind of cute, Tony had to admit. ''I'm sorry, but I can't stand the state he's in - the most powerful Sorcerer in Nine Realms, reduced to this - whimpering, shaking mess, unable to operate on his own. Curse Odin and his cruel methods of parenting,'' He hissed.
The silence after Freyr's words was too awkward for Tony to deal with. Bruce applied an icy towel on Loki's sweating forehead and measuring his pulse. Things seemed to settle a bit.
''So, Bruce'' Tony began ''the hell you meant by ,,it is obvious'' back there?''
The stare he got from Bruce in return would kill him, if the looks could kill. ''Tony, I don't really believe now is the time to discuss that.''
''Screw it, Answer me! You've been walking around in circles for quite some time already! First you say we should hand him to SHIELD, now you seem to have an opinion of him, telling us about the future attacks! Like hell I can't make sense of it all! Care to explain?''
''What's SHIELD?'' Freyr asked.
''Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division.'' Bruce muttered.
''I'm really impressed you can recall that shitty name, Big Guy!''
''They are people you'll probably be reporting to, Mr, Njordson of Vanaheim.'' Bruce added, averting gaze from Freyr.
''Bro you even remember his name and title stuff? How do you cope with all that?''
''Tony, I just listen to people, that's my secret.'' Bruce inhaled deeply.
''So, how can I contact them?'' Freyr asked. ''This Division of Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics?''
''I officially give up.'' Tony groaned.
''I can help you with that.'' Bruce said. ''Jarvis could you give Fury a call?''
''I mean no insult by this, Mr Bruce,'' Jarvis' calm voice announced (Freyr stared at the ceiling, intrigued.), ''but my program is only accepting orders from Mr Stark, on orders about major alerts, such as informing SHIELD, government, press and..''
''All right, all right.'' Banner sighed, turning to Tony. ''Don't you think we should alert SHIELD already, Tony? we've pushed the boundaries too far for my liking.''
''Have we?'' the Billionaire chuckled, ''And how the heck are we going to explain Loki's situation? Whatcha gonna say 'bout the Thunder Guy, Brucie? ha?'
''I think we have an official ambassador of Asgard to deal with it.'' Bruce answered calmly.
''Don't you get all genius mode on me!'' Tony raised his voice. ''You, Banner, of all people, know they're not gonna just swallow that! They're gonna take him away and run some test at him like some lab rat!''
''Maybe they should?'' Bruce muttered, his words were barely above the whisper, unable for Tony to hear, but Freyr, on the other side, had awesome hearing and he went all pale.
''What did you say?'' He asked harshly.
''Maybe it was his plan all along?''
''What plan?''
''Maybe he wants to cooperate with them?''
''Don't claim you know anything about him, mere mortal!'' Freyr crap! Tony thought. things were getting of hand once again. ''Don't you dare! He was hurt enough already! I am not negotiating on his well - being!''
The discussion was cut by Loki's hoarse voice, calling for Thor. Freyr bit his lips and turned to his friend, just to notice a dark crimson spot on the white sheets near Loki's chest. ''What in the name of Valhalla is that?''
Bruce rushed to ex-God of Mischief's side and pulled the sheet down from his bare chest. There was a deep cut on Loki's left shoulder.
Freyr stared at the wound in disbelief. ''It's impossible!'' he whispered, ''Thanos should not be able to cause him physical hurt.''
''Tell him that.'' Bruce scoffed, applying pressure to Loki's chest.
The second cut appeared on Loki's other shoulder mere seconds after, followed by the third one.
Freyr stared at the symbol in disbelief. ''That's Mjolnir.'' he whispered.
''A…. what?'' Tony asked, confused.
''Thor's hammer.''
''Thor's… what the hell?''
''We should wake him up,'' Bruce said. ''This can't go on! The wounds are getting worse, he will just bleed out if we don't stop this. Can you do anything?'' the Scientist turned to the Magician.
Freyr nodded, but he did not really seem that self-assured, while conjuring a ball of light.
''Loki?'' The Magician closed his eyes. His expression made Tony feel like the silver_haired man was searching for someone in a dark room, his voice was distant and low. ''Loki, can you hear me?''
After several long minutes, when both Avengers thought there would be no answer for a call at all, the Trickster stirred.
''You lose, Thanos'' he whispered.
''You lose, Thanos'' Loki whispered.
''Oh do I?'' the Titan asked back, in a mocking voice. ''Think again, my pet. You have no option that won't work for my benefit. Either you agree with my plan and work for me, or you reject and I'll make sure that you get punished in the worst ways possible. What can you do to ruin my perfect scheme?''
''I have already ruined it.'' the Trickster smirked, proud to see a glimpse of doubt in his arch-enemy's cruel eyes. He did it, he won time, now is the moment to turn back, is it not? He concentrated on the outside world, which had to exist somewhere, out his tampered mind.
Loki heard a voice calling his name.
''Freyr?''
''Loki?''
The ball of blue light appeared in the darkness. Color of it was unlike of the one powering the Tesseract's glow. Loki stared at the light, flowing in his direction. ''Loki, can you hear me?''
Loki felt the hot energy enveloping him and it all went to darkness.
The Trickster opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense where he was. It's not Asgard, where am I?
''Welcome back, princess!'' He heard the stranger's voice saying.
''Loki, are you alright?'' His blurred vision came into the focus slowly and Loki noticed Freyr, staring at him with a small smile on his pale face.
Freyr smiled at him.
Loki smiled back and looked around. Things around him acquired their normal colors and shapes slowly. I'm on Midgard., he remembered. Banished, powerless.
''Loki, what happened?'' Freyr asked.
the Trickster closed his eyes. Not that he could recall everything of the dark nightmare he was just pulled out of, but even if he could, he would not talk about it.
''Loki, tell me!'' Freyr insisted. ''Was it him? Was it Thor?''
Loki did not miss the exchanged glance between the two Avengers, when the Magician mentioned his not-brother. He shook his head silently.
''Yes it was! You have the sign of the Hammer scratched at your chest!'' Freyr raised his voice, losing patience. ''Don't lie to me!''
''It has nothing to do with you'' Loki answered, tone calm, as if he was talking about the weather instead of the huge wound on his own chest. ''This should not concern you and you have your task to accomplish, have you not?''
''I am not leaving you, if that's what you mean by that.''
''By Norns, why everyone has to be this stubborn when it comes to leaving me in peace?'' Loki muttered. ''When are you going to accept the fact that I DON'T CARE! '' Freyr blinked in astonishment. ''How much of your hovering over me do i have to bear? I do not care, I never did and never will, so would you be rational enough to stop this foolish behaviour and return to your family, to your life?''
Freyr stood up and rushed out of the room, banging the door loudly behind him. Bruce made a busy look with his computer scans, but Tony, on the other side, crossed hands on his chest and said (like the ignorant mortal he was);
''You know, Reindeer Games,'' he began slowly. '' for a loneliest person in that Golden Realm, you damn sure got lots of people who care about your sorry ass and tell you what, keep scaring them off like that and like hell you are gonna know what loneliness feels like.''
With these words Stark turned around and went after Freyr.
''Doctor Banner?'' Loki said after the several minutes of silence. ''How long have I been without consciousness?''
''About an hour.'' Bruce answered, without lifting his head from the papers he was obviously, not interested in.
''Am I.. hm.. Can I get out from here?'' Bruce raised an eyebrow at him. ''I mean'' Loki coughed awkwardly. ''Can I get into that chair to.. you know, take care of myself?''
''I don't see why not.'' Banner said in a neural tone. ''Your chest has healed faster than I thought possible, all major components of health are stable and you are not banned from moving around the Tower, but you should not leave the building, I think you understand that well enough.''
''As if I could.'' Loki thought bitterly.
Bruce gave the Trickster grey t-shirt to dress himself into, only to notice mere minutes after that Loki's chest wounds did not favour him much in a point of getting dressed. Should he offer help or not, the Scientist was not sure. Banner looked around. his gaze fall on the AC/DC hoodie, thrown carelessly on the nearby chair. Eureka!
Loki got into a hoodie easily, sliding the zipper up to cover his bare chest, covered only with several bandages. As about getting into the wheelchair, the task was demanding some more help. The ex-God of Mischief bit his lips. ''Damn you, Odin! Be cursed those equally cruel and creative ways of your punishments!'' Loki thought.
''Loki?'' Banner asked doubtfully. ''Do you want me to help?''
''Loki closed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists, his nails digging into the delicate white skin. ''Yes.'' Came muffled reply.
Had situation been different, Bruce would have lectured his patients about ,,asking for help does not make you weak'' topic, but now was not the time, clearly.
Loki averted an eye contact while Bruce held him up and helped him to get into the wheelchair, said ,,thank you'' turned around and left the infirmary without any other words.
''Tell Jarvis if you need anything.'' Bruce called after him. Loki nodded and closed the door.
Bruce sighed deeply.
He did not fail to notice the unshed tears of anger and helplessness, wailing in the Trickster God's emerald eyes.
''Crime and Punishment.'' He thought. Maybe they were not equal for the fallen god after all?
Tony hurried after Freyr, but the Magician was nowhere to be seen. He cursed. Why should everything be so hard with these God damn Asgardians? Damn their stupid, selfish asses.
The Billionaire made his way to the workshop. He had not been there for quite some time. The metal pieces of his last project and sketches lay there forgotten. One glance made Tony remember everything. Of course! the walking device for Loki. Maybe not a bad idea after all.
''Jarvis?'' he said.
''Yes, Sir?''
''Get me some coffee.'' Tony chuckled, cheering up, heck, he was excited about his work after all. ''Lots of coffee. I'm getting back to work.''
''Joyous news indeed, Sir.'' the AI replied. ''Should we celebrate that?''
''Surprise me, Jarv.''
Loud sound of Black Sabbath poured down from hidden stereo system. The intro made Tony smile. ''Iron Man, huh, Jarvis? You gotta taste in music, buddy.''
''I've learned from the best, Sir.''
''Now, now, don't get all flirty on me, buddy, I'm not taking you out anyway.''
''I am not interested in homosexsual relationships Sir, I assure you.'' Jarvis answered.
''Not gay huh?'' Tony chuckled, furrowing his brows. ''What about our guest?''
''You mean Mr Odinson, Sir?''
''Clever piece of shit, aren't you, Jarv?''
''I would be grateful if you would refrain from using such words to my account, Sir. Nevertheless, I could run a search about Mr Odinson's sexuality, if you'd like it.''
''Are you shitting me now?'' Tony raised an eyebrow, putting the pieces of metal down on the table and staring up at the ceiling as if he would see his hidden Interlocutor there. ''How can you possible search that, Jarv? He's ain't on Facebook, you know.''
''I never use social network as a source of information, Sir. I would rather hack SHIELD files about him.''
''HM.. ' Tony muttered.
''Sir?''the AI said after several minutes.
''Don't push on me now, Jarv! I am trying to work!'' Tony groaned.
''I would never, Sir. I just wanted to inform you that Mr Odinson is at the door of your workshop.''
,,what the… '' Tony rushed up, chair dropping down on the floor. At the door of his workshop was he ex-God of Mischief himself, sitting in the wheelchair,. wearing Tony's AC/DC hoodie.
Loki was not sure why he came here. Why he asked for Tony's location at all. He was not sure if the man would let him in at all.
''Hey, Reindeer Games?'' Tony smirked at him, opening the door. ''What do I owe the pleasure?''
Loki looked up at him. ''I .. wanted to talk.''
''What about?'' Tony insisted.
The Trickster averted the gaze.
''Oh, but where are my manners!'' Tony retorted. ''Don't stand there, my prince! Come in!'' he moved away from the door and allowed Loki to roll the wheelchair into the room. ''So, that would be my humble workshop, you know, where the genius, playboy, philanthropist engineer masters his equally unique inventions. That would be me. Your friendly host - Anthony Stark, the one and only.''
Loki listened to the man's banter with one ear. He was rather busy looking around the room. Mortal technology was so strange, unlike anything he had seen on Asgard. Several days and the Base made him acquaintanced to several types of human technology, true that, but anyways - everything here was new, interesting, worth a look.
''Well?'' Tony said.
Loki stared at him, puzzled. He had no idea what was the Avenger talking about.
''I.. meant to.. help you with something.''
''What that might be?''
''Even without my magic present, I have an ancient knowledge no other is capable of sharing with you. I have a deal _ I will help you with information you need to construct a device for blocking curses, for your flying suit. At the other end, I get the same device..''
''To help you shorten your punishment?'' Stark supposed.
''Your intellect is quite impressive for a mortal man, Anthony Stark.''
''Yeah yeah, heard that shit before,'' Tony shook his head. ''So what will Mr Cyclops say about that deal huh? Tell you what, Raindeer Games, he would have my head, that's what he'd do. And after we're finished you will be free to do as you please and who's ass gonna that backfire, huh? So, no. Not deal.''
''How would you like if I gave that information to SHIELD, then? '' Loki smiled mischievously. ''No, you don't like officials and you do not trust them at all, do you, Stark? They would come after you, they would take that suit you cherish so much,'' Tony taken back by evil gaze of his guest. ''They will take it and have it thrown away, because they won't even have any use of it, with weapons I will help them build.''
''You son of a whore!'' Tony 's mind just stopped working properly,, the only thing that came to his mind was to hurt the man, to kill him, slowly and painfully, for making such threats.
Loki smirked seductively, leaning backwards to get a better look at mortal's reaction. Tony looked stunned, as if stuck with a lighting. The Trickster chuckled. No, he has not lost his wit and ability to manipulate. Power. Oh how good it felt, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine.
''Stark.'' Loki pureed with silky voice. ''I also hoped we would settle our differences, before getting started on our shared project, should we say so. I wanted to apologize to you.''
Tony blinked, amazed. ''Say what again?''
''For the picture.'' the raven-haired man explained.
''You..you're kidding me, right?'' Tony exclaimed. ''You're LOKI! the motherfuckin God of Mischief! And you just apologized to me?''
''Yes, Stark, that's exactly what I did.'' Loki hissed and made a face. ''Because, really I like you better and would rather w work with you then with them, if I am given a choice. Are we done with it?''
''Well..'' Tony smirked quite content with the turnout of events . ''Actually, you owe me two apologies, Reindeer Games, the other one is for throwing me outta window, you know?''
Loki glared daggers at him and was going to turn the wheelchair, when Tony took a hold of his hand. ''Okay, Okay, consider us even. You have lot's of excuses to make, haven't you, Rock of Ages?''
''Oh do I now?'' Loki spat back venomously.
''Well, let's take a wild count over here. Legolas is still mad at ya for taking over his mind,'' Tony noticed with pleasure that the Trickster shrugged at mention of Clint. ''To Leather Boobies, for calling her a quil..''
''Quim.'' Loki corrected automatically, smirking at the nickname of the assassin.
''Yea, whatever. To Brucie'' Loki smiled and shook his head. ''You're getting along just fine, aren't ya? To your brother,''
''I don't see how my relationship with my.. with Thor should concern you in any way, Stark.'' the pale man scoffed.
''And to Mr. Sexy Conciiour.'' Tony finished with a smile and licked his lips seductively. ''Nice you started with me, by the way.''
''You really like him, don't you?'' Loki smiled mischievously, not missing the look on Tony's face.
''Well, he's drop dead sexy, I'd say. Why do all Asgardians look like supermodels, huh? Care to tell me what your secret is, Sleeping Beauty?''
Loki stared at the man. Did he just referred that Loki was pleasing to eye for him? ''I'm not Asgardian.'' He chuckled.
''Spare me the details.'' Tony answered and leaned forward. ''So, what's your secret, huh?''
Loki felt his cheeks blush a bit. By Norns, why the closeness of this mortal made him feel this way? He wanted to get away but Tony's lips were so close, he could smell the man's perfume, the same scent his jacket had and oh, Gods, it smelled like Valhalla itself.
''Anthony.'' Loki breathed, his mind reeling. ,,Oh, stop being pathetic, for Ymir's sake.'' A voice in his mind whispered. ,,control yourself, it's not what You came here for.''
''Lokes.'' Tony muttered, moving his hand to touch the God's waist. ''Why are you here?''
''Sorry to interrupt you in such intimate moment, Sir,'' Jarvis announced, before Loki could compose himself. ''but you have unexpected visitors.''
A/N. This was it, guys. Thanks for reading and reviews are most appreciated and loved of course ^_^
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Till the next update.