Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Thor was about to panic. The fear for his love and the terrible amount of blood made him feel like throwing up. His hands were shaking nearly as badly as Loki's, who was obviously freezing in the snow. Everything he did from this second on happened on autopilot. He knew that he had to bring Loki out of the cold at first. Furthermore, it was obvious that if he didn't get help soon, he'd not survive. The loss of blood and the severity of the injuries were telling a clear story. Thor stood up and took a moment to steady himself. Then he put off his cape and tried his best to pick Loki up without causing him distress. He wrapped the cape around his middle in an attempt to stop the bleeding, ignoring the sudden cold and the blood that was dripping onto his hands. Loki's shivering had stopped. He was lying limply in Thor's grip with no motion or movement, his breathing flat and shallow, barely noticeable. Thor considered running back out of the forest, but he knew any sudden movement would only increase Loki's suffering and whatsmore, he knew they needed help. And the only person that could help them was a specific person in Stark tower. Thor called his hammer by opening his hand and took off, still gripping Loki with desperate concern.
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Tony Stark was bored. Since Ultron, there hadn't been any challenge to face or any other threat they could assemble against. The avengers were practically sprawled everywhere. The only ones that were still in stark tower were Bruce, Clint and the captain. Banner spent nearly all day in his lab, studying vision and the infinity stone in his head while Barton kept himself busy with training most of the time. Stark himself was right now returning from a date with Pepper and dropped himself in an old leather chair, opening a bottle of Vodka and emptying it in a matter of seconds. In the morning, he somehow had had the feeling today was going to be different than the days before but until now the only different thing had been an arrow from Clint nearly destroying Tony's lab. Apart from this Tony had been rather disappointed. Until the moment a flash of lightning lightened the sky and something heavy landed on the roof of Stark tower.
Jarvis: "Sir, there's a - visitor - sort of."
Tony: "Mhm, I think I know who it is."
Captain Rogers came running from his room, crashing into Tony on the way up.
Steve: "Tony, what's-?"
Tony: "According to the sound of our visitor, there might be problems arriving."
When they came onto the balcony, Thor was just inspecting his surrounding and searching the way in.
Tony: "This direction, Point break. Here's the - "
When Thor turned around and Tony saw the reason of his arrival, he nearly lost his words.
Tony: "No! No-no-no-no-no forget it! Stay out! I won't take in a-"
Thor: "Good to see you too, Man of Iron, Captain of America! I'm afraid I might need Banner out here if you don't let me in."
Stark looked Loki down quickly, not yet taking in all the damage.
Tony: "I think you didn't quite yet get my point, blondie. Loki is a criminal who threw me outta my own house, which means I'm not willing to take him in either! With or without you!"
Thor: "Man of Iron, I appreciate your responsibility but if you don't help him now, he's going to die!"
Thor stepped closer, holding Loki out to the others so they could see what he was talking about.
Tony: "Oh come on, you don't die of a view br- - what the - holy crap bring him in!"
Thor followed Stark and the captain into the house, holding Loki close to his chest, who apparently had passed out and didn't notice anything. Once inside, Tony motioned towards a sofa.
Tony: "Put 'em down here. I'll call the doctor."
He pulled out his phone, dialing Banner's number hastily.
Tony: "Dr. Banner, I guess big guy's searching your attention."
Banner: "Um - isn't "the other" the big guy usually?"
Tony: "Oh right, ah - the other big guy. Come up here. We've got a serious patient for you."
Then he hang off. In the mean time, Captain Rogers turned to their visitors, eyeing Loki's wounds carefully, especially the biggest one.
Steve: "How did that happen?"
Thor: "I've no idea. I just came back from work and found him. (voice breaking slightly) Outside. Lying in the snow. The blood… everywhere."
Steve nodded thoughtfully, looking at Thor directly who couldn't take his eyes off Loki.
Steve: "Then let's hope he has a few answers for us. I guess you can't wait to smash whoever did this, right?"
Thor: "You can be sure of that. Whoever did this will pay for it. With his life."
At this moment, Banner approached the three.
Banner: "So, who's the serious patient you're talking ab - a - "
When his eyes met the trickster, lying unmoving on Tony's sofa, he immediately trailed off, rushing to his side.
Banner: "Loki?"
He hastily felt his pulse and quickly examined him, checking his vitals and the severity of his injuries. He looked at Thor.
Banner: "We have to bring him into my lab. Here I can't do anything to save him. Pick him up and follow me. Don't move him if possible."
Then Banner looked towards the others.
Banner: "Get any blanket you can and bring them down! He's badly undercooled and feverish too."
The others nodded, doing as ordered and following Banner down to the basement of the tower, where he motioned Thor to lay Loki onto a gurney before approaching the trickster. The others followed closely behind, putting down blankets on every free spot in Banner's lab.
Banner: "You better leave now, Thor. Firstly, this is going to be ugly and furthermore, treating him is unnecessary if he gets infected by anything."
Thor: "When will I be allowed to see him?"
Banner: "Depends on how he develops. I can't tell you anything for sure by now except the fact that I'll try my best."
Thor nodded, still staring at his lover with shock in his eyes.
Thor: "Then try more."
He turned around and left hesitantly, shutting the door close behind him quietly while Banner started to clean Loki's wounds.
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The thunderer sat on a chair next to Banner's lab, staring expressionlessly at the room he had just left when Tony approached him, patting him on the shoulder compassionate.
Tony: "Hey, whatever happened, he'll be okay. The doctor will fix this, believe me. Why aren't you both in Asgard by the way? I thought you brought him back to face your king's judgement."
Thor paused shortly before looking up and starting to form words.
Thor: "That's a long story. Loki was sentenced to imprisonment. He spent his time in the dungeons and was set free afterwards. We offered him to stay with us, but you know loki. He didn't want to return to his former family and left to some place we didn't know. Not until last december. Father wanted to keep track of what Loki was doing and thought it'd be a good idea to invite him to stay with us during christmas. Well, I found him and made him come with me."
Tony: "Wait what? He came volunterely?"
Thor: "Not completely. However, we spent christmas together and - eventually - Loki and I discovered our feelings for each other went deeper than brotherly affection."
Tony: "Wait! Does that mean you, - fell in love???"
Thor nodded confirmingly.
Tony: "Oops! That for sure didn't go well with your father, right? He banished you to Earth?"
Thor: "Kind of. Although he left the choice to me. But I couldn't throw my feelings for Loki away after I just discovered them. So, yes - we came to Midgard, moved into a house and married. I eventually began working as a boxer to save our money. Well and - when I came home today - I found him - I thought he was dead at first. Thank god I didn't take longer."
During his last sentences, Thor's eyes had begun shimmering and by now he was shaking slightly, still looking at the closed door. Tony patted his back, reassuring him.
Tony: "We'll fix this. I'm sure. Just - don't get in his way."
During the next few hours nothing at all happened. Tony tried to convince Thor to come with him and eat something or at least change his blood-soaked clothes but Thor only shook his head, remaining on his seat, still staring at the closed door, which hadn't opened since he'd left the room. When Banner finally came out somewhen, Thor jumped from his chair but the doctor only waved him to sit down once again. He looked exhausted and his expression didn't tell Thor anything.
Thor: "How is he? May I see him?"
Banner: "Thor - I did everything I could. His condition is more than critical. When you brought him here he was undercooled badly. Apparently he'd been lying in the snow for hours. Added by his high fever this doesn't promise too much. The bruises and wounds themselves are not the problem, except of course the - big one. Apparently, whoever did this to him used a knife to - violate him. Someone pushed it inside him through his entrance and some inner organs got injured badly. I did everything in my power but still - I can't tell you whether he'll survive or not."
Thor had carefully listened to the docotor's explenation. His expression hadn't changed but the way his hands clenged into fists and his face grew paler as Banner spoke told much about his inner conflicts.
Thor: "Banner, we both know Loki is strong enough to do this. He's a frost giant after all. And my brother."
Banner: "I know, Thor. - I know."
In reality, Bruce wasn't sure about anything he'd told Thor. The truth was, although he knew Loki was incredibly strong and had a will power not to underestimate, he doubted he could make it. Due to the immense loss of blood and the partly malfunctioning organs, a mortal would have been dead already. He'd hooked him up to IVs and any possible infussion he could, but still - his life was hanging onto a silken thread and Banner could only guess Thor knew that as well.