Chapter 34
Everything hurt far more than it should have. Harry could all but feel the new wounds on his back, probably some on his legs – his ankle felt swollen. If this was death, then it sucked. Death could have at least given him a body free of injuries. And free of what felt like a bee sting in his neck. Harry groaned and that seemed to be a sign. The sting went out of his neck and a hand came down on his shoulder.
Was he not dead after all?
“Easy, Tony.” That was Cap – what was going on? “We got you.”
“He might be out of it for a while.” Natasha? “We aren’t sure how it’ll react to his magic.”
How what would react? Harry tried to move, tried to ask, but nothing came out.
“What’s it for?” Thank god for Steve.
“That’s for him to say.” There was a huff behind Natasha – Hulk. “It’s okay, big guy. He’s breathing and there’s a med team coming.”
“Nngky,” was about as good as Harry could get his mouth to work, but he could feel whatever it was Natasha stuck him with starting to work. The pain in his chest eased off slightly and while it wasn’t perfect, but it was helping.
“Clint said that you sound perky and ready for the day,” Natasha said. His com must have broke during whatever happened after the portal.
Harry made a note to ask what the hell had happened later.
He did managed to raise his hand enough to flip Natasha off and he was glad when she relayed that particular message to Clint. With Steve’s help, he managed to sit up, trying to ignore how the world spun. The air cracked a bit and he had to smile a little – Blaise wasn’t happy about something and that was obvious.
“Out of all the stupid—“
“I don’t think this is the time,” Steve cut in. “He’s—“
“An idiot.” Blaise knelt in front of Harry so that when Harry managed to focus, his friend was the first person he saw. “You used too much today.”
“I used just enough.” Harry held out a hand to him. “Help me up. We have more work to do.”
“You aren’t getting out of this that easy.” Still, Blaise helped him to stand, holding on so Harry wouldn’t fall over again. “Loki?”
“Yep, Loki. Extra com?” Blaise handed it over so Harry could stick it in his ear. “Thanks. Clint?”
“He’s still in the floor.”
“Right. Edwin?”
“Attempting to get Jarvis up and running properly. He said he’ll contact you when it’s done.”
Harry nodded and turned to Natasha. “Before I disappear and make you walk to the tower, what did you stick me with?”
“We’ll find our own ride,” she said. “It was something to take the edge off of your condition.”
“Right.” Harry tightened his arm around Blaise’s waist. “Rhodey, let’s go.”
Harry took a deep breath, then let Blaise take them away to the tower. Which wasn’t the best thing to do since another stab of pain went through his chest, but Harry wanted to get this done with now. The sooner he could get this taken care of, the sooner he could sleep and let his body refresh itself.
“You good?” Clint asked, taking most of Harry’s weight from Blaise. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Harry made a face and looked around, spotting Loki’s prone body immediately on the floor. “Hulk?”
“Yep.”
Harry nodded. “ETA until they’re here?”
“I’ll find out.” Blaise eased away and went to the broken window.
Harry watched him go before taking a step toward where Loki lay - Clint held a hand on his elbow the entire way. Harry waved him off once they got closer and looked down at the god. “Back broken?”
Loki’s lips quirked briefly. “Perhaps.”
“How long until you’re better? Or should I ask Thor?”
“Give me a moment, and then you may arrest me. I know when I have lost.”
Clint snorted and knelt down. He notched an arrow and then put it right into Loki’s face. “Sorry, boss, but—“
“No need to explain yourself, Barton. I would expect no less.”
“They’re coming!” Blaise called just as a roar sounded and the building shook.
Harry smiled. “I thought I told Bruce not to wreck my tower.”
“Don’t think that’s possible,” Clint said, tightening his hold on his bow as Loki shifted. “But maybe next time ask nicely.”
“I always ask nicely,” Harry said as the Hulk finally showed, Natasha on his shoulder. Thor dropped Steve onto Harry’s landing platform before coming down himself. “Back fixed then?”
Loki sighed, sitting himself up just as the others assembled into the room. “As much as it can be. Thor, it is nice to see you again.”
Thor scowled, hand tightening on his hammer. “Enough of your jests, Loki.”
“Look into my eyes and insist that I am jesting.”
Thor opened his mouth, but then shut it. He hesitated and looked toward Harry, then Natasha. “You have a place to hold him?”
Natasha nodded. “If he stays.”
“I have no intention of leaving until I am dragged to my trial. I am not quite so stupid to run from Odin.” Loki winced, sitting up further. “As I’ve told Stark here, I know when I have lost.”
With that, Loki shifted to a non-broken part of the floor and lay back, eyes closed. Harry looked to Thor, but chose not to say something at the look on the man’s face. Something else was going on, he was sure, but he had only just met the two of them.
“Thor?” he asked.
Thor shook his head and went to sit next to Loki. “I will stay with him.”
Harry just nodded and let Blaise and Clint take most of his weight as he sat down on one of the untouched couches. It didn’t take long for Fury to arrive, useless pair of handcuffs in hand. True to his word, Thor stayed with Loki as he was cuffed and pulled to the elevator. Harry doubted the god would stay locked up, but he had also seen a lot of people change before. Maybe Loki would prove him wrong.
“You look like you’re going to pass out,” Clint told him. “Which I think we all deserve.”
“I think we should get you checked out first,” Blaise suggested. “Please.”
Harry waved him off. “Later when Jarvis is back up.” He glanced to where the Hulk was pacing outside. “There’s still too much to do. Damage control—“
“Let SHIELD deal with it, please?” Clint asked. “At least for tonight. Let’s get some rest.”
“I need to contact Pepper.” Blaise eased off the couch. “Tell her that everything is all right. And after that phone call, we are going to see Edwin and make sure you are as okay as you can be right now.”
Harry nodded. “It’s a deal, fine. Go make your phone call.”
Blaise nodded and left, most likely going to find an undamaged phone. Harry let out a sigh and shut his eyes, relaxing back into the couch. He could still hear some SHIELD team behind them talking to Cap and Natasha, and Hulk still paced outside. Next to him, Clint propped his feet up and stretched against the cushions.
“So—“
“Not a word, Clint. I just want a nap.”
“Rhodes is going to kill me if I let you do that.”
Harry laughed and reached up to rub his eyes. “No he won’t. I think we need some food.”
“I am not on order duty,” Clint insisted. “I refuse to attempt to put in an order this big in a city that probably isn’t cooking.”
Harry motioned toward where Natasha was. “I bet she can.”
After a moment, Clint snorted. “Yeah, I bet she can. I’ll go ask.”
Once Clint got off the couch, Harry let out a breath, rubbed his chest, and finally let himself relax. Tomorrow, he decided, he would deal with the clean up.