A/N: Oh my, so sorry for the long wait! I honestly didn't realize how long it's been since I last updated, it feels almost like yesterday. Lol. I hope this slightly longer chapter than usual can make up for that. :)

As always, thanks to all my readers, reviewers and followers! You guys are made of awesome and fluffy goodness.

Hollow Skies - Chapter 17

Thor loves me.

Thor loves me.

Thor loves me, he knows I didn't mean it. Stark is nothing to me, he's nothing.

Loki kept his arms around Thor's neck as they flew, stinging wind whipping his face and body as lightning and thunder raged all around. While Loki did enjoy listening to storms from inside a building, he didn't exactly like being out in it. Especially not while flying. And especially not when Thor was angry, and at him.

Thor didn't mean it, just as I didn't mean it. His elder brother's words had struck him more viciously than his lightning ever had, that Thor thought Loki didn't care for him, that he somehow preferred that mortal. It didn't make sense; Loki loved Thor more than anything in the Nine Realms, even beyond, so how could he think such a thing?

He knew why, of course he knew why. Because Loki was pathetic and weak, too easily swayed like the coward he was. He would latch onto the first person that came his way, betraying the one that truly mattered - Thor, his brother, his protector; how could Loki betray him so? And it didn't matter that Loki didn't truly understand just what he had done to betray Thor, it was obvious that he had and that he deserved punishment for it. But Thor was merciful, wasn't he? He wouldn't hurt him...

Loki buried his face against Thor's neck, suddenly feeling overwhelmed at his own inadequacy. Because Thor was merciful, so kind and forgiving and Loki didn't deserve that kindness, didn't deserve Thor.

He would make it up to him, make up for whatever wrong he did. He would keep Thor's good graces any way he could, be a good little brother every way he was able. He would earn Thor's love and devotion because what else was he to do when he was so useless and unworthy? Clearly Loki lacked something, lacked something vital that meant he deserved Thor's love.

The trickster would earn the thunderer's love and they would be a family again. Yes, again. Forever and always. Never again lost...

Determination rekindled, Loki almost didn't notice that they had arrived.

X - X

Although it seemed an odd place to settle, Loki didn't question his elder brother. If Thor thought this place could be home, then it would be.

A long system of caves spread out from the edge of the ocean, the violent surf crashing far below the mouth of the entrance. The thunderstorm hadn't let up and Loki was uncertain if he could soothe his brother's ill mood with words, or if it would be better to wait it out - so much like a storm his brother's temperament always was.

Shivering, Loki walked alongside the other, led along with that ever-present warm hand on the back of his neck. Experimenting, Loki snuggled closer in an attempt to assess Thor's disposition. Unfortunately, Thor did very little; he didn't push Loki away, but neither did he pull him closer.

The third cave in was small, or perhaps cozy, and sporadically stacked with random wooden boxes, as if left by others some time ago. Most were broken, but of the few that weren't Thor made a point of moving them and arranging them in a seating pattern, then maneuvered Loki to sit on one.

"Sit," his voice rumbled. Loki didn't resist as he was guided to the makeshift chair.

To his surprise, Loki noted that the cave, despite being quite far into the system of caverns, was slightly illuminated by a soft glow. Where is it coming from? He looked around, confused, although gladdened it wasn't very dark.

Thor chuckled darkly. "Looking for this?"

To Loki's horror, from behind his back Thor produced none other than what haunted Loki's nightmares of late, the focus of his terrors when his eyelids could no longer remain open: the Tesseract.

"B-Brother..." Loki's breath came in gasps. Breathe, just breathe. He swallowed and whimpered, suddenly unable to be so close to the glowing cube as he tumbled off the back of his seat, hands braced on sand. "Thor, please..."

"Please, what, brother?" said Thor in a half-mocking tone. "This trinket," he held up the blue cube in its glass and metal container, "should not be in the hands of mere mortals. They are unworthy of it," he all but seethed through his teeth. "I will keep it and I will guard it, perhaps..." he glanced sidelong at Loki, "...wield it."

Loki swallowed again but, to his relief, Thor set the device down on the far end of the room and approached the trickster.

"All will be well," said the thunder god as he knelt next to him. He put out both arms, as if waiting. Immediately, Loki jumped into the elder's waiting arms, leaning the side of his head against the broad chest, hungry for the comfort he had been deprived of for what seemed like an eternity. "Shh," said his older brother. "I am here. Nothing will harm you as long as I am here. You are mine, Loki, I will not let harm come to you. All is well."

And even with those words, with the soothing gesture of Thor's hands carding through his hair and down his back, with the knowledge that Brother was here and nothing could separate them, Loki couldn't bring himself, even for all this, to shut out the ominous glow at the edge of his vision. Blue and unfettered and real, even shutting his eyes and thinking of Thor and only Thor couldn't keep out the horrors now, scratching and clawing their way back into his raw and exposed mind.

But Thor was here. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing...

Nothing can go wrong.

"Ow, ow! What are you doing, trying to kill me?"

The medic rolled her eyes at Stark as she finished patching up his head. He was bruised and scratched up but not as badly hurt as he feared. "There," she said, "all done." Without waiting for a response, she gathered her supplies and hurried out of the helicarrier's bridge to aid the other medics and doctors scattered throughout the ship.

Steve walked up to the billionaire. "You okay, Tony?"

"Okay?" Tony looked at him. "No, I'm not okay. Did you see what Thor almost did to me-" He stopped. Dammit. All of a sudden even he couldn't bring himself to care very much about his own well-being because Thor was out there, with Loki, with the Tesseract, and...evil. It was the only explanation, wasn't it?

"...Stark." Fury's voice broke through and Tony jumped a little in his seat, causing him to hiss in pain.

"Dammit, Nick, a little less booming and a little more quiet like a one-eyed church mouse, huh?"

"Church mouse..?" said Bruce, as if to himself.

"Tony, what happened," interjected Steve as he picked up one of the conference chairs around the large table and sat down. The soldier himself nursed a sprained wrist but voiced not a single complaint. Typical.

Everyone fell silent as Stark stared out across the helicarrier's bustling bridge, suddenly so glad that it hadn't been worse. Some people had died, yes, but not as many as it could have been. The Hulk, fortunately, had been occupied with fighting Thor and most everyone knew to get out of their way. Still... He knew it was foolish, but for some reason, Tony felt responsible.

"Tony?" said Steve again, voice softer, leaning in.

Tony stared at the table. "It got fucked up," he said, voice breaking, however minutely. He continued to stare, determined not to look at the others as they remained standing. "Thor is...Thor isn't right anymore..."

"You mean he's like them-" Clint grimaced. "I mean, like how they were. Insane?"

"Clint," Natasha scolded lightly, although the words were still soft. "It wasn't their fault," she added, then looked at Bruce and Tony. "Right? That's what was causing all of this, the Tesseract?"

Bruce nodded and shifted on his feet. "We think so. I mean, we all sort of agreed that that's what it was, what with the eyes and... Yeah. Yeah, that's what caused it."

Suddenly frustrated, Tony ran an angry hand roughly through his hair, then leaned forward and hit his forehead to the table with a thud. "I should've stopped him," he nearly whined. He jerked back up. "I should have fucking stopped him-"

"Don't even try that," Steve interrupted. "This is Thor we're talking about. Anyone but the Hulk wouldn't have been able to-"

"That doesn't make it any less my fault!" Tony found himself on his feet, glaring down at the soldier, whose eyes were intense but filled with a deep worry. Shit, thought Tony, I really am his friend. When did that happen? He walked a few steps away, turning his back on them. He didn't know what to say, what to do. Fortunately, as always, Steve set them back on the right path, back toward the relevant questions.

"Director, your people still haven't been able to track the Tesseract?"

"Not yet, Cap," responded Fury. "Seems like the tried and true methods aren't working anymore; any idea why?"

Tony didn't want to answer. He didn't want to turn around. He was replaying the events of the day over and over in his mind: the attack by the helicarrier's own residents, his encounter with a frightened Loki, but, most of all, the events leading up to Thor going absolutely insane and saying things reserved for Asshole of the Year and crashing out the side of the helicarrier. And yet... yet there was something else...

"...trying to find a way, but so far, no luck." He caught the tail-end of Bruce's explanation but Tony waved him away as he rushed back to the table, hands flat on the cold surface, eyes wide and knowing, suddenly.

"What's wrong?" asked Cap.

"Nothing. I mean, I don't think it's exactly the same for Thor." Tony felt the words rush out, quickly and without thinking.

"What do you mea-"

"I mean we're all worried about him, right? Loki. Thor, too, of course, he's our friend and everything, but it's Loki who could be in a world of hurt right now-"

"Stark," said Fury in a flat tone. "Get to the point."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I just mean..." What do I mean? He didn't even know what he was saying. "He's not like me," he finally blurted out.

"Who, Thor?" asked Clint.

"No- yeah." Tony grabbed his hair for a moment, frustrated, then let go and waved about wildly. "I don't know what the hell I'm saying! I'm just saying that I think Thor is different from me..."

"We kinda already knew that," said Clint.

"Not really needing the sarcasm right now," returned Tony, rubbing his forehead.

Steve, who was now standing as well, took a step toward him. "You mean he's not going to hurt Loki...?" The implication that Tony would hurt him - even possessed by an outside force - struck like needles but it was, unfortunately, true. Denying it wouldn't help now.

"No, no, I'm not saying that...exactly..."

The others frowned at him, bemused. How nice that they were all on the same page, every Avenger. Even Tony.

"Then what are you saying?" asked Fury.

Tony stared at him. He suddenly knew. He didn't know how he knew, he just did.

Loki remained awake, even as Thor slept peacefully. The thunder god's cape lay under them, soft on the sand of the cave. Loki snuggled up to Thor further, suddenly feeling cold and exposed in this unfamiliar place. He knew that there was nothing to fear, that as long as Thor was here nothing could harm him, but that light, that ever-present blue light in the room made him want to hide away and scream and jump out of the cave into the waiting ocean below...

Stop that, stop that! he scolded himself. Thor wouldn't want him to jump and...and Loki didn't want to either. Why would he even think such a thing? His mind no longer heeded his wishes, it sprang with strange thoughts that rooted themselves with terrifying ideas and words-

Why couldn't he just sleep?

Only his continued wakefulness answered him as he buried his face against his snoring brother.

X - X

"Are you certain your enchantment will hold?"

Loki snapped up, his half-asleep state disrupted by his brother's sudden question. He blinked wildly and looked around, finding his brother crouched next to the blue cube against the far wall. "W-what, brother..?"

"I asked you a question," stated Thor, face devoid of emotion. "I expect you to answer it."

Loki shivered. The echo of Thor's warmth against him made him want to rush over and lean on his brother once more, meld into his embrace. He swallowed, then answered, "Yes. Yes, brother, although... it- it is not an enchantment, it isn't sorcery. I simply modified the mortals' technology, to alter the Tesseract's container so as to disrupt any-"

"Do I look like I need a lesson in primitive Midgardian technology? I simply asked if it will hold."

Loki shrunk into himself. Why was his brother still so angry? Because you betrayed him, fool, said a voice. He knew it was true. Thor had found his little brother with him, with Stark, and then Loki had tried to defend him - why shouldn't he be angry? Loki clearly couldn't control himself, he'd gone back to the mortal where he could be hurt again, and Thor had to save him, again.

But...but hadn't the mortals saved him the first time..?

Thor abruptly standing made the trickster jump back and hit his head against the back wall. The blonde walked over slowly, slightly smirking, then knelt beside him on one knee and rubbed the back of his head, saying, "My poor, weak brother. If no injury comes to you from another then you will always injure yourself, instead." The light chuckle that followed made Loki want to cry.

Then, a moment later, he did. His face was already wet before he could even try to stop.

"And what is this now?" purred Thor. The mocking tone sounded...wrong in his brother's voice. "Why are you crying?" The thunder god remained where he was, tall and suddenly so imposing to the trickster, even as he remained crouched.

A small sob escaped and Loki didn't know what to do. He wanted to curl into Thor's chest, to seek comfort there, but he suddenly couldn't bring himself to. What had changed? Why was Thor so unwilling to forgive Loki? Or...or perhaps he didn't deserve forgiveness. Thor was always right...wasn't he? In whatever way he could, he always looked out for Loki...didn't he? He was golden and perfect and everyone loved him...right? Didn't that mean he could do no wrong, that Loki should always listen to him?

Of course. Of course those things were true.

That meant...that meant that Loki was in the wrong. That meant that he had to make it right, had to make up for whatever wrong he did.

His green eyes flicked up to his elder brother as he wiped away his own tears. What could he do? Saying 'sorry' was useless, like an empty, hollow sky, promising rain. Action meant something, while words were phantom droplets on your head while you thirsted for the downpour. Stark had proven that some time ago, and now, now Loki had to follow that rule. Had to act not just say.

Thoughts of Stark caused a stray memory to emerge, jumping to the forefront of Loki's mind, of a time he wished he could forget, of Stark and that house, of unending pain and humiliation and...and...

"You think you can make it up to me?" Stark's words sounded casual, almost bored, but Loki knew better. He could do something, do something to please Stark or he could bear punishment.

"N-no- Maybe. I...I don't..."

"Because you're free to try. I'm kind of bored right now, give it your best shot." The mortal walked to his long couch and sat down, almost tentatively, as if watching the trickster out of the corner of his eye, testing, waiting for Loki to act.

But Loki already knew what he had to do, what Stark wanted. His body language told him everything. He was bored and when Stark was bored he only wanted one thing. It was one of the many things that Loki was required to give anyway, so what was the difference?

The trickster god crawled over and remained on his knees in front of the mortal. There was no need to get up. He was right where he was supposed to be.

Thor's eyes almost shined blue, pupils small in the morning light that seeped in through holes in the cave's ceiling. Pale light, not as bright as it should have been.

Loki knew what he had to do. If it made Tony forgive him - not hurt him as much - why not his brother as well? He wronged them both so easily, didn't that mean the act to make it right could be the same? It had to be true. It had to be that simple.

It made Loki's stomach cramp up to even move, to even try what he was about to, but it was for the best. Thor wouldn't be angry anymore and he would welcome Loki into his strong arms and everything would go back to the way it was - bright storms and kind smiles and warm, comforting arms in the night.

A final push of his muscles and Loki moved forward, the shaking of his fingers not enough to deter him from trying to undo his brother's trousers. This will make it better; Thor won't be angry with me anymore-

Loki nearly bit his tongue when the thunderer's hands shot out, iron grip holding his wrists. "Just what in Helheim are you doing, little brother?" His face was tipped up yet his eyes were dark, shadowed against the suddenly fading sunlight.

"I-I'm making it better," blurted out Loki. "You'll see. I'm good. Stark- Stark taught me what to do-"

A sharp backhand sent Loki sprawling across the ground. He landed on his brother's cape so he didn't see the blood that dripped there.

"You will what?!" bellowed Thor. He gripped Loki by the back of the neck, his fingers harshly pulling hair as he lifted his face so he could see the stormy blues of his eyes. "Firstly, little brother, you will never..." he leaned in close, all hot breath and clenched teeth, "...ever say that disgusting mortal's name again." Loki whimpered and tried not to move, but his brother wasn't finished. "And secondly, what is wrong with you? Have you become so depraved that you would allow yourself to do such a thing with me, your own brother?"

Loki's eyes widened with shock as hot tears fell. Of course...Of course! What is wrong with me? He didn't know why he'd even had such a thought. Thor was his brother, and brothers weren't supposed to do that, were they..?

He was thrown back to the cape as Thor continued, "That mortal has corrupted your mind - twisted it. This is why I must look after you, brother, why you should not think for yourself." The words sounded good but his tone made Loki want to hide away. He had tried to make it better but, as always, the trickster god only made it worse.

"I'm s-sorry, brother," sobbed out Loki, turning to face him, "I'm sorry, so, so sorry." He nodded profusely, next. "You're right. I-I've spent too much time with...with that mortal. I don't know what to do anymore- I can't be right anymore. Please," he whispered, "please tell me what to do. I-I don't know what to do..." The tears wouldn't stop now as he curled into himself, lying on his side and hugging his knees against the soft cloth.

Please don't hate me...

But Thor was already leaning down, leaning down and holding Loki close against his chest, strong arms wrapping around. "There, there, now," he said in a soothing and commanding voice. "You've done wrong and I will have to punish you for it." Loki looked up to the other's face, eyes wide with fear and tears. "But," continued the thunderer, "that is no way for you to pay penance. You will do only what I say, and when I say it, do you understand, brother?"

Loki nodded and tried not to shrink away. He deserved punishment and he would take it - and Thor wouldn't even force him to do that! And why would he? Thor was merciful, after all, just like he'd thought. What had made him forget?

Stark. Stark had made him forget. It was all the mortal's fault. If Thor hated the man then there was something wrong with the mortal, was there not? So Loki resigned to hate him, too.

"Wow, Stark," said Barton, "you're just...out with everything today, huh?"

Tony half-heartedly glared at him, "What am I, the Subtlety King now?"

"Subtlety King..?" asked Bruce under his breath, amused.

"Would you stop that, Brucie?" said Stark. "Yeah, I'm a little off my game today, can you blame me?"

It wasn't meant to be a serious question but no one said anything for a while.

Feeling incredibly awkward in the silence, Tony hissed and leaned on the table. "I know you're probably thinking it's not that important in the grand scheme of things..."

"Uh, no," pointed Clint, "it very much is important. Can you even imagine how much more fucked up Loki would be if his brother raped him?!"

Half of them groaned or grimaced, or just looked away. Tony glared. "Really, bird-shit-for-brains? Just a little louder, I don't think the people on the ground heard you."

"What?" protested the archer. "You were the one bringing it up, don't give me that shit. This kind of thing is messed up but, as you said, it's what we're all already thinking," he finished quieter.

Tony had to give him that because it apparently was. No one seemed surprised when he brought it up, just...really disturbed that he'd had to say it out loud.

"Bird-shit-for-...?"

"Do not even, man," Stark sighed and didn't look at Bruce, but he knew the scientist was probably shifting nervously where he stood. He also knew Bruce didn't find any of this funny. Tony's brain felt scrambled and his friend was trying to help him with some levity by poking fun at his bad nicknames. Strangely, it was working. It was stupid but it was working. Tony stifled a chuckle as he half-leaned, half-sat on the table.

"So," said Fury, arms crossed, "how the hell do you even know any of this, Stark?"

"Is it just a guess, or maybe an instinct?" asked Natasha. It sounded like a question and yet she seemed to already know. Well, maybe she always sounded like that. The spy walked up to him, face giving nothing away. She stared into his eyes and Tony fought the urge to step back. It was just Tasha.

"I don't know," he finally answered. He couldn't think of anything more to say.

Her eyes jumped between his. "You think because Thor is Loki's brother he won't hurt him that way, he won't take advantage - as you put it - even though he could? You don't think he would?" Tony shrugged. He didn't really know, yet...he did. After a long moment of staring at him, she stated, blankly: "Because you did."

Tony turned away, unwilling to look at her anymore. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yeah, I know." Still with rigid jaw, he whipped back around to her. "Don't you think that goes through my head every moment of every day? Don't you think I wake up in a sweat every damn night because I hear him screaming in the dark next to my bed? Don't you think," he suddenly found himself so close to her. His mind screamed 'Danger!' but he knew she wouldn't hurt him. "Don't you think I know that? I did that and I have to live with it, but at least Loki won't have to live with having his own brother do that to him."

"How do you know that?"

"Because the damned Tesseract told me!" Tony burst out, his face inches from hers now, his breathing erratic and strained.

What what what?! What did I just say?

She didn't even flinch, but a moment later she took a single step back and nodded once.

"Holy fucking hell!" yelled Tony next, stumbling into a chair that was suddenly, appropriately, behind him. Steve stood next to him with pursed lips. No one said anything for several heartbeats. "Am I fucking serious?" asked Tony with a decidedly awkward pitch, looking around aimlessly at the others.

"Uh, looks like," said Clint in a quiet voice.

"And now we're finally getting somewhere," said Fury, voice deep but, strangely, sympathetic.

Tony honestly didn't know what to do with that so he ignored it. My day's just getting better and better.

A/N: Alas, poor Loki. Don't you just wanna hit Thor over the head and fix him? Be nice to your brother, oaf! ;D Loki won't be calling him the obligatory "oaf" so we have to do it for him.

This chapter hopefully answers some of the questions you guys have, but I didn't want to have a whole chapter of just dialogue so there's still more explanations coming later.