Disclaimer: I own nothing owned by someone else. (This is extremely redundant and I'm being paranoid at this point, but precautions are important!)
AN: Thank you all so much for reading. I feel really thankful to anyone who takes time away to read this, so thank you, thank you, and thank you! I hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
Loki blinked and sat up straight a little, though it caused a sharp pain to drift at an unsettlingly quick speed through his spine and his arms felt like they were about to fall off. He felt dazed and confused. There was a ringing in his ear and it was giving him a searing headache. But his eyes didn't leave Mr. Stark's, regardless of the heavy tiredness he felt that made him long to drop into the covers of this foreign but surprisingly comfortable bed. Truth be told he felt nervous, but his gaze would not waver.
Stark cleared his throat and noticeably loosened his shoulders. "Good morning! Or, well, afternoon. But, whatever." He shrugged. His voice was really loud and Loki grimaced in pain.
"So, how was your day?" Stark asked, sarcastically.
Loki choked an almost inaudible sound that was supposed to have been a clever jab at Stark's expense and felt himself shrink under his embarrassment.
"You feeling okay, there, buddy?" Stark asked.
Loki gave him a long hard glare, he had done this so many times with his brother that he had probably mastered 'glaring' at that point.
"Are we having a staring contest?" Stark asked, with unyielding calm.
"What?" Loki asked, confused.
"What-what?" Stark said, mockingly.
"What's a staring contest?" Loki asked, ignoring Stark's obnoxious answer.
"It's when you jump so high, inside a building, that you hit your head on the ceiling." Stark explained.
"That makes absolutely no sense." Loki stated.
"Some things in this world are simply unexplainable." Stark said, gesturing with his hands for dramatic effect.
And then they were just staring again. There was a long pause…
"So!" Stark suddenly exclaimed making Loki jump in surprise. "What are you doing?"
Loki furrowed his brows, "I'm lying in a bed."
"Yeah. No shit, Sherlock. I was asking what you're doing. What's your angle? What's the plan? Why are you here?" Stark asked. In Loki's disoriented state he felt a little confused and very much annoyed by the man, he knew it wasn't really a mountain of questions, but it still felt like it, and to add to this, he really didn't know how to tackle these questions and he really didn't feel like talking about this. He knew one of them would ask eventually, but he really wasn't prepared to answer.
"I'd rather not answer this question at this moment." Loki said, finally.
Stark sighed. "So, what's your favorite colour?" He asked, suddenly.
"What? I don't bloody know. Why would I have a favorite colour?" Loki asked.
"It's just a conversation starter." Stark shrugged. "Lighten up."
Loki rolled his eyes. The man of Iron was beginning to truly annoy him. Why does Stark have to bother him with his questions and nonsense the moment he wakes up? He is almost just like Thor in that respect.
"Do you want to answer my questions yet?" Stark asked. So persistent.
"I have a few questions of my own." Loki said. "Why am I sitting here laying in this bed and why do I have a massive headache?"
"I'll explain everything, if you explain what the big idea is." Stark said.
Loki sighed. "Fine. I'm here because… I've decided I'd rather not have the world be destroyed." Loki paused. Well, that was a terrible explanation. He regretted the sentence already.
"So… You just figuring that out now then?" Tony asked, his brows raised.
Loki sighed in frustration. He had no idea how to explain this, he just… He didn't want to say it aloud. He didn't want to talk about this. He didn't want to think about this. He just wanted one moment to not think about this, just one moment! He felt so overwhelmed all of a sudden, like he was surrounded, like dark figures were hovering over him. He felt trapped. It felt like he was being pulled down. He felt like he couldn't breathe all of a sudden. It felt like someone was watching him. It felt like he was dying and he cOULDN'T BREATHE AND THE WORLD AROUND HIM WAS SLOWLY FADING INTO DARKNESS AND FEAR—
..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..
After all was said, Clint glanced at all of them a moment before leaving the room.
"I can't believe you didn't punch him in the face." Bruce said, after Barton had left. "Why didn't you? I would have been so angry if I had a sibling and someone almost killed them on purpose. I would probably have turned and went on a rampage across the city, if it were me."
Natasha shifted a little as stood next to Bruce, she was probably self conscious about the whole situation.
Thor sighed and looked at all of them a moment, "Because… I need to be willing to hold my temper and rashness, it's already started many conflicts that still have yet to be fully healed. I am furious with Barton, but instead of fighting him, I've thought better of it. I have yet to forgive him for harming Loki, but I have mostly forgiven my brother for all the things he's done and… Barton was once a brother to me, so I believe it's possible for him to be my brother again, just as I believe it's possible for Loki to be my brother again." Thor finished.
The room stood quiet and there was an unfamiliar tension in the air, like a long pause that started to become unnerving.
Bruce admired Thor's generosity. It was surprising to say the least. He hoped he might reach the same standards as Thor, when it came to Barton, but at the moment he wasn't sure he was even willing to try. Barton could be quite infuriating at times…
..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..
"Hey… Hey!" He heard Stark suddenly yell, the man's hands were grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. He pushed Stark's arms away, defensively, as he hyperventilated.
"Are you alright?" Stark asked. Loki took a deep breath as he tried to regain his composure. What a ridiculous and annoying question! Why bother asking such a thing? Stark already knew the answer and besides why should he care? If Laufey was harmed, would Odin ask "Oh, no. Are you alright?" of course not…
"Please go away…" Loki panted. He had had enough. He just wanted to close his eyes and relax for a single moment.
"Thor asked me to keep an eye on you." Stark shrugged.
Loki turned over into the covers, turning away from Stark.
"So, my brother thinks I'm planning something devious, then?" Loki asked, bitterly. "Of course."
"Um… No. Thor wants to keep you safe, after what happened." Stark said, "But if he did or does think you're planning something 'devious', could you really blame him?" he prompted.
Loki turned to look at Stark again, "After what happened?" he asked, referring to Stark's first sentence.
"Clint Barton, —you know, the guy you hypnotized— He came in, shot you with his trusty bow and arrow, the arrow turned out to be magical —Thor gave it to him for his birthday or something— You're human, so you could die. Thor and Natasha go on an adventure together, they come back and then you're cured. We carried you in here and I decided to stay in here with you for Thor, while Thor goes to beat up Clint." Stark finished.
…
"I don't remember any of that…" Loki said.
"It's all true, I swear."
"Is Barton still here?" Loki asked.
"Yup. But I'll protect you, so there's nothing to worry about, my princess." Stark said.
"I don't need your protection." Loki said, rolling his eyes.
"Stop being such a liar." Stark said.
"You should go call Thor a princess and see what happens." Loki said.
"Are you trying to get me killed?" Stark asked.
"Maybe."
There was a knock on the door, but before either Loki or Stark could reply, Thor stepped in.
"Loki," Thor exclaimed.
"Am I supposed to leave now?" Stark asked.
Thor stopped when he was at Loki's side, looking relieved and happy at the sight of his brother, "Are you feeling alright, my brother?" He asked, concerned.
"I'm fine…" he said. He really wanted both Thor and Stark to leave.
"Stark, if I may have a moment with Loki."
Tony got up from his seat, "Peace out girls scouts." Whatever that means. Then he walked off, he turned to look at Thor a moment, "I'll see you later, 'princess.'" He said to Thor, before leaving. The god of thunder furrowed his brows in confusion.
Thor sat down and Loki felt his chest becoming too small for his lungs again.
"Loki…" Thor started. "I need to thank you… For offering to help us." Thor said, "You have no idea how happy it makes me…"
Loki diverted his eyes at a swirly pattern, one of the blankets was making; he didn't want to make eye contact with Thor.
"I know neither of us have been very good brothers… or friends… I know our past is extremely complicated and conflicted with anger and lies and hurt, but I would like to start over. Do you think we can try starting over?" Thor asked, looking at Loki intently.
Loki slowly nodded. But inside he was nodding a lot more vigorously. He wanted nothing more than to return to his family. He knew nothing would be forgotten, but they still had the chance to accept the past and make a better future for the both of them. Loki could not remember when he finally started to become tired of the conflicts between him and his brother and Odin and he just wanted it all to end and finally be over. At that point he had just wanted to be held by them again. Maybe his father hadn't accepted him yet, because of his true heritage, but he knew Thor would accept him and really Thor was all the family he felt he needed.
"Alright," Thor said. "You need some rest, after all that has happened."
And they stood in silence for a long moment.
"Why aren't you leaving?" Loki finally had to ask, shifting his body a little.
"I cannot simply leave you alone after all that has occurred." Thor said, as though it were completely obvious.
"Well, it's difficult to sleep when you're just sitting there, staring." Loki said, exasperated.
"I'll turn my chair around, if you like, but I'm not going to leave this room with you alone."
Loki sighed, in annoyance. But as he lay down in the soft and warm covers with his eyes closed, he could already feel himself drifting to sleep. That hadn't happened in a very long time and he felt a sudden and slight, but still quite real, contentedness.
Thank you for reading, everyone. I hope you all have a lovely day/noon/night. Until next time,
P. H.