Warnings this chapter: quite a bit of swearing from Clint, haha. But really nothing this chapter. ;)

Hollow Skies - Chapter 9

The day after Banner's visit with the two brothers, the thunder god decided it was time to get some answers. So far everyone - yes, everyone - had been avoiding telling him too much. Even Loki, who always shrunk back into himself when asked any questions about his ordeal. The medical staff always claimed to be busy and needed elsewhere whenever he asked, or referred him to Doctor Banner, who was equally reluctant to provide any information.

So Thor decided he would go straight to the top and ask - no demand - Director Fury answer his questions. Some part of him didn't want to know, feeling that if everyone wished to keep it from him it must be-

He sighed and walked down the corridor which led to the director's spacious office. But as he walked he began hearing voices, hushed but agitated voices coming from a room a little ahead and to the right. The metal door was open and revealed two agents sitting in a small dark room, backs to the door. Both were men whom Thor didn't recognize, and - Thor froze and stepped back as quietly as possible. Standing to both sides of the men were Barton and Romanoff, and it was they who were arguing with each other. The thunderer wasn't certain why he was hiding, but for some reason he felt the need to.

"I really can't fucking believe this," came Barton's hushed voice. "Did he really-? Damn..." Thor imagined the archer shaking his head.

"Clint," said Natasha, voice also low. "You know he keeps surveillance twenty-four seven, even in his tower? Why wouldn't he do it in his home?"

A pause. "I don't know, I guess... after what happened, to have recordings of it - video footage, it's just... sick, somehow..."

"What? You think he watched them or something?"

Barton snorted. "Shit, I hope not. That would elevate this to a whole new level of fucking wrong. If that's even possible."

Thor peered inside, hoping the agents wouldn't see him. There were several flat screens in front of them that played images, and the two who were seated seemed to be increasing the speed that the video played, occasionally slowing it down.

"Why the hell do we even need to go through this sick shit?" asked Barton, slight disgust in his voice.

Natasha sighed. "Fury said he wanted at least one of the Avengers to help go through it-"

"Great. That means I can leave-"

"Clint." The woman's tone was even, but with a hint of warning. "No fucking way."

The archer made a strange low whining noise - most likely in jest - that might have made Thor laugh any other time.

The video stopped for a moment and played, and Thor immediately recognized it as Stark's home, the image displaying his living room. It paused for a moment, then played, showing a half-naked and barefoot Loki walking across the floor behind Stark, who, to Thor's quickly rising anger, held the chain that connected to Loki's collar.

Although the bruises littering his brother's body made Thor want to smash the screens with Mjolnir, it was Loki's attitude that stopped him. He was... calm, blank even, and complying. With Loki's strength he could have snapped Tony's neck in an instant, especially since Stark was without his Iron Man suit. The implications of why his brother would be so docile, so... tame, made his blood boil.

Thor must have moved, or made a noise, since suddenly Romanoff's face was in front of him, eyes wide - at least for a moment, then her usual indifferent mask replaced the obvious surprise.

"Thor..."

Barton quickly moved to block the footage, looking suddenly nervous, as though he expected Mjolnir to remove him at any moment.

"Thor," said Romanoff again when Thor didn't even look her way. The god suddenly realized he was clenching his teeth hard enough to nearly hurt his head, but he looked at her, eyes confused and angry all at once.

"What is that?" Thor asked, his voice sounding much angrier than he intended.

The archer walked toward them - now that the god was distracted - and closed the door behind him, not taking his eyes off the incensed thunder god.

"Thor," continued the woman, "can we... go somewhere? To talk?"

"No," said Thor through his teeth. "Tell me now what that was. I saw Loki... Did Stark record what he did to him? Why would he-"

A gentle hand touched his chest, "Look." Thor looked at the small woman - really looked at her. She had the most determined look in her eye that it gave the god of thunder pause. "I'll tell you..." she nodded, her eyes steady and never leaving his. "I'll tell you..."

Thor nodded, transfixed by her gaze.

"But," she said calmly, "you need to promise me one thing."

"Anything," said Thor, eager to hear what everyone had been avoiding telling him.

She raised a brow slightly. "Thor..?"

"Whatever you ask, I will give my word."

She nodded twice. "Then I need you to promise me that you won't kill Tony Stark."

Thor furrowed his brow, uncertain what to say. It wasn't the first time someone had expressed similar concerns, but he had not promised anything yet, hadn't given his word. If he did this, he would have to keep it. He couldn't imagine what might have been done to Loki that would make him immediately wish death upon his dear friend - what could be so terrible?

Either way, he had no choice if he wanted to know. It was clear everyone on the helicarrier had been instructed not to reveal any details of Loki's ordeal to the thunder god, and that made him very nervous, but also very curious. Curiosity had never been his nature, that had always been Loki's, but the fact that everyone else knew except his own brother... No. He had to know.

Thor nodded resolutely, then spoke, "I swear. I will not kill Anthony Stark."

Natasha tilted her head, "Or hurt."

Thor wanted to roll his eyes, but relented, "Or hurt. But," he glanced at Barton then back at Romanoff, "I expect justice to be served, one way or another, even if I am not the one to deliver it."

Both agents nodded, looking at each other. "Okay," said Natasha. "Come with me."

Loki trembled, huddled in the corner. Thor hadn't come back yet, why hasn't he come back yet? He had given his word, vowed to protect Loki, and where was he? There was someone else in the room with him, who was it? Oh yes, Steve Rogers, so called Captain America. Thor had left him to watch over the fearful trickster god, but Loki didn't want him, he wanted Thor, he wanted his brother.

Where is he? Where is he?

The golden-haired mortal was crouched in front of Loki, saying... things. But the god didn't hear him, he just sat shaking in the room's corner, his legs and arms trying their best to hide his body.

"Where's Thor?" asked Loki's whispered and desperate voice. He was crying - crying in front of the mortal. Loki knew he should care, should be ashamed, but he honestly did not care. Did he ever care? He couldn't remember. He was sure he would have cared before... or would he? There were memories in the back of his mind, shattered fragments of long years and wars that dripped with blood. That he couldn't remember scared him, but he was so full of fear that it hardly mattered to add one more.

The mortal's lips were moving, "...sure he'll be back soon. Just...please, Loki get..." Loki tuned him out, waiting for Thor. Always waiting for Thor.

Where is he? The words were all that filled him up and he feared he would burst if they continued to gather inside.

Suddenly the glass door opposite his bed slid open, and Loki was dashing across the room toward the familiar figure before his brain even registered he was moving.

The younger god practically leapt into his brother's arms, grasping the blonde around the chest as though afraid he would disappear at any moment.

"Loki!" Thor exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his little brother.

Loki buried his face in Thor's neck, determined to hold tight no matter what - he wasn't about to let Thor go again. No, no, not again, never again... "Please don't leave again!" Loki sobbed out.

"Brother," Thor was directing them toward the bed. "I am sorry... I... I needed to... to do something..." The thunderer sighed. "I left Rogers here," he felt Thor nodding, "but... I should have known you would awaken soon."

The two sat on the bed and Loki nuzzled closer, resting against Thor. He hadn't heard the door slide shut, nor did he notice the two brothers were now alone. He tried his best to collect himself before speaking, telling himself all was well now, that Thor was here, nothing bad could happen- "What- Why did you leave?"

Thor moved back to lean on the headboard, then waited for his brother to settle against him again before speaking. "It..." he hesitated. "It is not important... You need not concern yourself, little brother."

Loki glanced up at Thor, but the blonde's face remained impassive, staring straight ahead. He looked...sad? "Thor?" There was something... something wrong with Thor's face; the trickster couldn't pinpoint it. "Thor?" he said again, then leaned back just a little bit to get a better look at the thunder god's face.

Moments passed as Loki stared at the other, trying to figure out why his brother was trying to hide something behind a mask. When did Thor start doing that?

But when Thor finally looked at Loki, his blue eyes looking at each green eye in turn, something in the thunderer's expression changed, like the breaking of a dam, as tears spilled down his face.

"Thor?" Loki couldn't fathom what was happening. What- what is-? The great thunder god's eyes were filled with tears as he watched his little brother's confusion and horror. "What-What's wrong, I- I-" Loki couldn't speak.

Two large and gentle hands grabbed Loki's face as Thor pressed his lips to his forehead. "Oh Loki..." said the blonde softly, his voice thick with sorrow. "I am so sorry..." he hugged Loki around the neck, pulling him close as the tears fell on his brother's dark hair. "I am so very sorry..."

The trickster clutched at Thor tunic, uncertain what to do. He's...sorry? For what? "Why?" asked Loki. "Why are you sorry?" What could Thor possibly have to apologize for?

Thor stroked his brother's hair, sniffling. "I am... I am sorry for what you have gone through... I am sorry I was not there to protect you."

Loki jerked back, the act startling Thor as he loosed his grip. The trickster shook his head, shook his head and didn't stop. No... no please, no... Thor can't- he can't know, he can't! Because if he knew, if he knew, then it was real. Then it had happened. Loki was hurt, he was damaged, he was broken - and nothing could put him back together. If Thor knew... The two things shouldn't be in the same room, the same universe; the pain, the hurt, the sorrow - it shouldn't exist where Thor was. Wonderful, shining, golden Thor, who had never let Loki down, who was safe and eternal and powerful. Loki needed the two realities to be separate lest they crash against each other and rend Loki apart when they battled.

No please... you can't know.

"No..." Loki barely choked out, but the word was so small he was sure he hadn't even spoken. He leaned back, away from Thor, away from the promise that everything would be okay, that he'd be okay.

"Loki..?"

"No," he said again. "No you can't know... you can't. Please don't know, please don't..."

Thor looked at him with such sympathy, such compassion. How could Loki, who was nothing and no one, be allowed to even look upon the golden prince? To bask in his glory and touch his face? How could such a lowly insignificant and unworthy creature as Loki, who was little better than a mortal's toy, who was meant for others' amusements, be permitted to exist in the face of such greatness?

Loki knew he didn't deserve this treatment, this overpowering sympathy, this unrelenting love... those tears...

But he did cry - the thunder god did cry, and for him, for Loki? Why should he? How could he?

"Please..." cried Loki, his own face wet. "Please don't cry for me... please don't... I don't- I don't deserve..." he shook his head, looking down, voice choking passed his constrained throat. "I don't deserve it. You mustn't cry for me- for nothing."

"Loki." Hands were suddenly on Loki's arms, then the sides of his face, forcing him to look up, to look at his brother. The face that greeted the trickster was so determined he could do nothing but stare, eyes wide. "Do not say such things. You are not nothing. You are not nothing." The hands were warm, unmoving. The face, so adamant. "You are my brother, my brother. Do you understand? You are everything to me. And I would give up everything - everything - in the Nine Realms for you." Loki tried to shake his head, but his muscles wouldn't move. "For you."

More tears fell, but Loki wasn't certain whose.

Then suddenly he was being embraced. Embraced so tightly he couldn't even think to breathe.

He wanted to say 'No', to deny it all, because it wasn't true. Not a single word - it couldn't be! His body wouldn't move, his muscles were liquid, unresponsive. He just let Thor hold him, his big brother. So loving and kind - impossible. How could such a being exist? Surely this creature holding him was some illusion, some imagined thing, a dream of the trickster god's delusions.

But he wasn't - he was real, and every fiber in Loki's body knew it.

It wasn't until that very moment that Loki finally understood why Thor could wield Mjolnir.

A/N: Lol, poor Loki's kinda deep into the big brother worship, huh? I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter - obviously the other POV I mentioned was Thor's, at least for this chapter. Other characters will have their chances in later chapters. This fic will continue to be mostly from Loki's perspective, although there might be more switching POVs in the later parts of the story - not sure yet.

A/N 2: I'll be very busy these next few weeks with family stuff, so I'll not likely update for a little while. But don't worry! I am certainly not abandoning this fic or anything, I still have lots of ideas for it - just a short hiatus. I hope this brotherly feels chapter can hold you guys over for a while. ;)
Also, I'm just about done with another multi-chapter fic that I might start posting soon; check out my profile if you want to see if you might like it.