Nothing is Sacred

Loki shoved Thor off of him. “I think you made a mistake.” Loki said once Thor was not hugging him. “You don’t know me.”

Thor’s brow was furrowed. “Of course I know you Loki. It’s me Thor!” Thor reached out and placed both his hands on Loki’s shoulders. He looked deep into Loki’s eyes as if searching for something. “I never thought I would see you again.”

And Loki is pretty sure Thor is crying. Because there is a suspicious wetness beneath his eyes which Loki didn’t think came from the drizzle around them.

“We haven’t seen each other before.” Loki pushed at his chest plate. “Let go of me. You’re scaring me.”

That seemed to work, because Thor was instantly hands off. But there was a look of absolute confusion on his face. “But Loki…” His eyes were impossibly sad and something flickered in Loki’s mind for just a second. There was something there… Recognition? It was hard to tell.

Loki’s heart was still beating too fast from the adrenaline and he closed his eyes to focus on his breathing. He felt warm fingers on his cheek and he threw his head back.

“Look. I don’t know you. Stop touching me.” Loki yelled. “You’re mistaking me for someone else.”

“No I’m not!” Thor argued. “I know you! You are Loki! You are my br- my best friend.” Thor seemed to amend his last statement. “I know you. I promise. I know not how you got here, but like fate we’ve found each other.”

Loki rolled his eyes. “Just because you’re pretending to be a God doesn’t mean that I have to listen to you. I’m going home now. Leave me alone.”

But before Loki could take two steps Thor had grabbed his elbow. Loki turned to yell at him, but Thor beat him.

“You are hurt.” Thor said simply.

Loki rolled his eyes again. “I know. I just got mugged.”

“I can help you.” Thor said. “Please let me help you.”

Thor was holding his arm so gently. He didn’t seem like a threat, but Loki didn’t know him. How could he know that Thor was safe?

“I’ll take you home immediately.” Thor said. “I just want to help you. Like I always have.”

“But we don’t know each other.” Loki said stubbornly.

“I know you.” Thor said.

“But I don’t know you.” Loki countered.

“And I must figure out why.”

“I think you’re delusional.” Loki tried to yank his arm away. “It’s just a bruise, I’ll be fine.”

“Please Loki. Grant me this.”

Loki stared up at him. Where does this guy get off? “I’m not going to say yes to you just because you asked me twice. It’s just a bruise I’ll put some ice on it.”

“I have a healing stone. I brought it from Asgard. It can dispel your bruise.” Thor said.

Loki raised an eyebrow. “And you expect me to believe that you have some magic rock that can heal bruises? Can you even hear yourself?”

“Your stubbornness is intact.” Thor said fondly. “I mean you no harm. Come with me, we shall go to the Avengers tower.”

Loki sighed. “Fine.” He said. “But I want to go home afterward. And you’re going to pay for the taxi.”

Loki watched as a sadness passed over Thor’s face at the mention of ‘home’. Maybe he was just home sick and projecting those feelings onto random civilians.

Although the fact that he knew Loki’s name was a little unexplainable. But maybe Thor was stalking him.

Yes, Thor was probably just stalking him. That explained things.

Thor picked Loki up with one hand. Frowning as he did so. “You’re lighter.” Thor said as he was easily able to heft Loki up.

Loki tried not to squeak as he was hastily picked up. “I haven’t lost weight at all.” Loki said indignantly.

Thor just hummed and picked up his hammer and they were off.

If Loki screamed the entire way it was between them.

They landed on a helicopter pad and Loki instantly jumped off. “Don’t you ever do that again!” He said with venom.

Thor just took hold of one of Loki’s hands. “Of course.” He said. “This way.” He led Loki to an elevator that was away from the pad.

“Is this a restricted area?” Loki asked as he looked around the top of the Avengers tower.

“Indeed. The Man of Iron has asked that we not bring too many guests up here.” Thor said as he punched the button for the elevator.

Loki couldn’t help the grin. “Oh?” He asked.

Once they were in the elevator Thor punched one of the floors.

“You know I don’t believe in Gods.” Loki said into the silence.

Beside him Thor shifted. He sighed as if not wanting to start the conversation. “I did not think you would.” Thor said and his voice sounded tired. He looked over at Loki. “I am Asgardian. Not a God. Like you, I am not from this world.”

Loki turned angrily. “I don’t know why you think that but it’s not true!” Loki said. “You’re delusional.”

Thor sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Let me heal you first. Then you can accuse me of all sorts of things.”

Loki felt himself deflate. Thor acted like this was a somewhat normal occurrence. He didn’t seem fazed by anything Loki said.

He led Loki off the elevator and into a living room. The view was spectacular, and the room was spacious. Loki settled down on the couch and looked out the window. Thor kept walking and Loki assumed was looking for the stone.

“Are you hungry?” Thor called.

“No.” Loki called back.

But Thor didn’t listen, and when he came back a few minutes later his hands were full. He had two plates of vanilla cake, a jar of honey and a rock.

“I said I wasn’t hungry.” Loki said with crossed arms.

“And I know how to tell when you are lying.” Thor said simply. He sat down on the couch next to Loki and pulled his face close. “Let me see.” He said.

Loki reluctantly let him rub the rock over the bruise that was forming where he’d been punched. Surprisingly, the stone felt soothing. Like a nice balm being pressed into his face.

“There. Now it won’t hurt to smile.” Thor said. “Were you hurt anywhere else?”

Loki pressed into the spot where the bruise had been and was shocked when he noticed no pain. Only the sensation of his touch.

“How did you do that?” Loki asked in an accusatory tone.

Thor held the stone up. “It is a healing stone. I told you.”

Loki frowned at the stone. There had to be a logical explanation. There had to be.

But before Loki could begin to mentally dissect the thing Thor was picking up a piece of cake and pouring honey all over it.

“What are you doing?” Loki asked in horror. He had never seen that done before.

Thor raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m making you cake. You love it with honey.”

“I assure you I don’t.” Loki said. “That looks gross.”

Thor just laughed lightly. “You’ve always had a taste for sweets.”

Loki felt his heart thud. Because that was true. Loki loved everything sweet. Baked goods, sweet drinks, candy, cookies, you name it Loki probably loved it. But he had never had cakes drenched in honey.

“Try it.” Thor handed the plate to Loki.

Loki took a bite and almost choked. It was amazing. Why hadn’t he thought of this before?

Thor was smiling. “You like it.” He said victoriously. “As I knew you would.”

“I think a lot of sweet freaks would like it.” Loki said as he took another bite.

Thor laughed and picked up his own. “What were you doing out so late?” He asked after a few beats of silence.

“I was with friends.” Loki said. He was trying to slowly eat the cake, but it was so good. Damn Thor for ruining Loki’s life yet again.

“I am loathe to see you in danger.” Thor said quietly.

“We just met. This is all probably a one-time deal.” Loki said.

“It isn’t.” Thor said. “I have spent far too long searching for you. Now that I have found you I am going to make sure you are safe forever.”

Loki didn’t even have a suitable response for that. So he just took another bite of cake. Whoever Thor thought he was must be incredibly important to him. And even though Loki kind of hated Thor’s guts, he felt a little sad for the guy. He seemed lonely up here in this tower on a world he barely knew.

“How old are you?” Loki asked. He hoped this wasn’t a taboo question.

“I am twelve hundred.” Thor said.

“How old do you think I am?”

“I know how old you are. And I shall tell you another time. Right now you are tired.”

And Loki realized that his eyelids were drooping. Did Thor drug the cake?! Bastard.

But instead of assaulting him Thor just picked up the dishes and left the room.

“Would you like to sleep in a bed?” Thor asked as he leaned down next to the couch Loki sat on.

Loki shook his head. “I want to go home.”

Thor smiled sadly. “I will take you back tomorrow I promise. But for now you are too tired. The stone has sapped your energy and you need to rest.”

“Then I’ll sleep here.” Loki said petulantly. “And you will sleep somewhere else.”

“Of course Loki.” Thor said fondly. And he left the room.

He came back with a pillow and a blanket. And gently he tucked Loki into bed.

Loki tried to stifle his yawns but didn’t manage to catch them all.

“You better take me back tomorrow.” Loki said threateningly.

“I will. I swear.”

“You’re not a God.”

“I’m not.”

“And neither am I.”

Thor just pulled the blanket up to cover more of Loki after that. “You are Loki.” Thor whispered. “Good night.”

Loki passed out too quickly after that.

He didn’t know how long he slept, but he woke up a few hours later. He couldn’t figure out what had woke him until he heard the somewhat heavy footsteps.

Loki knew it was Thor and instantly feigned sleep.

The footsteps sounded until Thor was in the room with him. Loki wished he could open his eyes, but that would end his whole trick.

Thor stepped to his side and Loki felt him lean down. A hand skimmed over his hair and something pressed into his temple. He knew it was Thor kissing him there when he felt his bristles.

Thor’s head moved until it was resting on Loki’s chest. Directly over his heart.

Loki opened his eye to a slit and saw that Thor was kneeling next to him and resting his head on his chest like a pillow. But Thor had his eyes closed and his ear pressed to Loki’s heart. Listening to his heartbeat.

Loki felt sad again. He wondered how long Thor had been looking for the other Loki.

And then Loki thought about all the small details that were popping up. Thor had known all these odd things about him. It didn’t make sense and Loki didn’t believe in divinity or fate or any of that nonsense.

So Thor was either deluded or he was onto something.