The other Avengers had been trying to visit Thor since he began his incarceration with his brother, though the thunder god would only see them at the door at the most, accepting whatever gifts of food or forms of entertainment they brought for him. He didn't want to leave Loki on his own just to be social, not when he was so troubled, it didn't seem right to him, despite what his friends said to coax him out. He had missed their company, and as much as he did like their visits, they had to be done on his terms for the time being at least.
So when Clint had come to the door before lunch that afternoon, Thor was ready to once again politely refuse when a voice behind him spoke up.
"Thor, just go, enjoy the company of your friends," Loki insisted, not looking up from his book as he sat with his legs stretched out on his mattress, his lap covered by his and Thor's blankets. "I have books, I can lie down if I want, I'll be fine."
In truth, Loki didn't know how accurate that would be. He was nervous to be without the company of this brother, and he was even more nervous that these friends of his would try to turn Thor against him. Part of him, the last logical corner of his mind, said that Thor wouldn't be so easily persuaded, he loved Loki, something he'd said many times, and the two wouldn't be separated by a few words. The rest of Loki's brain, the much louder part, fretted that he wouldn't see Thor again, that something bad would happen when he was gone, or something equally horrible. He knew he had to be calm though, he had to show Thor that he trusted him.
"If you are sure," Thor said, bending down to give Loki a kiss, cupping his cheek for a moment as their lips pressed together. He didn't care if Clint saw it, he would gladly explain to him or the Avengers that he loved Loki, though he was certain they should know that by now. "I will return soon."
"I know," Loki said, though he didn't. He just hoped so very much. "See you soon."
He turned back to his book as Thor walked out, but he found himself too distracted to read, his eyes skimming over the words without understanding them. Still, as difficult as it had been to let Thor go, he had to believe he did the right thing, as much as the nagging voice in his head said otherwise. Things had been better in the last few days since Loki had kissed Thor, they'd enjoyed a closeness Loki desperately needed, but as much as he felt like he was slowly getting back on his feet after hitting rock bottom, he was still wary about falling again.
"Thor! You made it!" Tony stood up from his chair in the small conference room they'd taken over, going over to clap Thor on the back, holding a half finished coffee in the other hand. He hadn't exactly thought that Thor was going to come out to see everyone, even if they did go to the trouble of getting together just for him, but he was glad that Clint managed to convince him to come out. "So what did you say, Clint? Bribe him? Blackmail? How did you get him to come out when none of us could get him to budge."
"Actually, I can't take the credit on this, him leaving was Loki's idea," Clint said with a shrug, feeling it wouldn't be entirely appropriate to just mention everything he'd seen while he was waiting for Thor. He'd wait until Thor was gone to pass out that particular bit of information.
"Loki's?" Steve perked up, straightening up from where he was leaning against the wall. "Why would Loki want you gone? Unless-"
"There is no sinister plot, I assure you," Thor interrupted before Steve or anyone else could infer otherwise. "He wanted some time to read on his own, that is all. Besides, he would not go anywhere without me, and he can not go anywhere with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s device on his neck. He is perfectly safe and secure where he is right now."
"How is this place treating you?" Bruce asked from his chair on the other side of the conference table, patting a stack of boxes in front of him. "We brought pizza, figured it was better than what you've been eating."
"I am comfortable here, but Loki is not, I spoke to Fury about removing the device they installed on him so I may take him from here," Thor said, wondering what pizza tasted as he walked over to the boxes, unaware of the looks the others were giving him as he curiously opened a lid. "It smells good, thank you, friends."
"Take him from here? You mean free him?" Steve broke the silence, his eyebrows raised. "After everything we went through to catch him, what we all had to go through, you think he's learned his lesson and he's ready to be released into society?"
"Be fair, Steve, it's been what, five weeks? I'm pretty sure that's what most people get for mass murder nowadays," Tony said, unable to believe Thor would be that naive. The man wasn't brilliant by any means but Tony knew he at least had some common sense, or he hoped he did anyway.
"Please say it's because you're taking him back to Asgard," Natasha said from her seat next to Bruce, sitting up a bit to tear a piece of pizza off to show Thor how it was done.
"If I bring him back to Asgard, he faces the wrath of our father, and I can not guarantee that will mean Loki lives. I do not know if I can take that chance," Thor said, taking a bite of the strange food and grunting in approval. He liked pizza. "I must do what is best for him."
"What about what's best for everyone else?" Clint asked him with a frown.
"Loki has changed, this place has broken him, he is of no danger to anyone but himself any more," Thor assured them, hoping they could just trust his judgment on this. After all, he knew Loki better than anyone, here or otherwise, his word should be all they need. "Besides, he would not be alone, he would be with me, I have sworn to ."
"And what if he slips away from you? What if this is all a ruse and he's just waiting to get away?" Bruce asked, crossing his arms, wishing his friend would see some sense. Loki was dangerous, and he was damn good at making plans, they all knew that much, there was a good chance that this 'broken' Loki was just an elaborate act.
Thor paused for a moment between bites, looking around the room at the faces staring back at him. They didn't appear to trust him outright as he hoped, but he supposed it was hard for them considering what they'd seen Loki do, and that they hadn't seen what he'd become now.
"I know Loki is notorious for his lies and tricks, but I have never seen him like this before, I know this is not part of a plan. He is my brother, and he is in pain, he needs my assistance," Thor said with conviction, eyeing the others as if waiting for the next one to argue with him on this point. "I would not do this if I thought he was still a threat, I am not brainless."
"No one said you were, we're just concerned about your plan," Clint said, though he was concerned about more than that. Loki had Thor wrapped around his little finger, Thor hadn't even wanted to leave the room until Loki gave him permission to, and that kiss, what was that about?
"I will not let Loki hurt another being, I am responsible for him, I ask you to trust in me," Thor said, his voice determined. He didn't want to argue with his friends, but at the same time he didn't appreciate not being depended on to make this decision on his own. They hadn't seen Loki in over a month, they had no idea about the state he was in, they didn't sit by his side day and night, and they hadn't seen what that horrible device could do to him.
The others just looked at each other, no one quite knowing what to say to that. Trusting in Thor wasn't the issue here, it was trusting in Loki that none of them could get their head around.
The rest of his visit with the other Avengers went well with no more mention of Loki from anyone, a topic Thor appreciated them dropping. He would rather hear about what the others were doing with their time, and freedom, living vicariously through his friends as they spoke of the world outside of these walls. As they spoke, Thor couldn't help but feel jealous, craving a taste of fresh air and the feeling of the sun on his skin. It had been nearly a month and a half, but it felt like so much longer. He needed to get out of here soon, and he needed to take his brother with him. He might be the one who missed the sun, but Loki was the one who looked like he was wilting without it.
Heading back to the cell, Thor frowned when he saw both of Loki's guards standing with their faces pressed against the door, obviously interested in something within it. As he approached, he saw a strange device in the shorter guard's hand, his meaty thumb pressed against it as he said something to his partner, chuckling, though his laughter quickly died upon seeing Thor striding towards him.
"What is the meaning of this? What are you doing?" Thor demanded, shoving both men aside as he peered in at Loki, his heart twisting in his chest at the sight of his brother lying on the bed on his side, blood running from his ear. Turning on the guards, Thor couldn't contain his anger, grabbing both men and sending them flying into the nearest wall, knocking them unconscious. As much as he wanted to pummel them, to beat them within inches of their lives for what they had done, he had more important matters to deal with.
Opening the door, Thor rushed inside, feeling sick to his stomach as he looked down at Loki lying still on the mattress. Dried blood caked around his ear and his nose along with the fresh supply of it still trickling down from both orifices. His green eyes were blank and staring, the whites stained red with burst blood vessels, the flesh around them bruised. He'd left bloody cuts in the palms of his hands, as well as other various marks over his neck and face, from his nails, which were firmly buried into the flesh of his hand. It didn't take a genius to figure out the dried blood mixed with the new meant that this torture was going on for some time, likely starting after Thor left.
"Loki! Loki, speak to me!" Thor yelled, panic seizing him as he looked for any sign of life in his brother's body, his own tears obscuring his vision. Why had he listened to Loki? Why hadn't he stayed? He knew his place was here by Loki's side, not eating pizza and hearing grand tales of freedom, he should have been here to protect his brother. "Loki, I beg of you, I am sorry, please wake up, please say anything, let me know you live."
But there was nothing, not so much as a blink or a sound. Loki lay perfectly still as Thor knelt down at his side, carefully gathering him in his arms. He was taking him to Fury. Whether Loki was dead or alive, his time in this cell had come to an end.