Hurt
Loki woke up to the sound of frustrated yelling. It took him a moment for his brain to catch up to his current situation. He was laying on a cold, metal surgery table his thin clothing doing nothing to keep him warm. Though the temperature didn't bother him. He was strapped down to the sides of the table by his wrists and ankles. The room he was in was plain white with very little furniture, the colour of the wall and the brightness of the light hurting his eyes. It looked like a hospital room except for the wooden table in the corner of the room stacked with piles of paper. He took some time to process everything before panic rose within him once again.
He struggled with his restraints alerting everyone to his awakening. He looked around the room as much as he could from his position scanning every inch of it in search for something. Someone.
"WHERE ARE THEY?!" He yelled ignoring the murmurs of the others in the room. He lost all rationality and was breathing heavily his mind racing and body screaming at him telling him to stop his thrashing that did nothing to help his wounds. Despite all this he continued. He wasn't going to calm down until he got answers. Until he got his children. He heard heavy footsteps and looked towards the source of them panic and fear showing clearly on his face. He relaxed slightly when he saw it was his large, blonde brother walking towards him children in hand. They were placed at his side each curling into each other and their parent.
He immediately calmed down his breathing evening and his mind slowing down. He groaned and slipped his hand through the restraints ignoring the worried and surprised whispers. He left his children as they were not wanting to disturb them. He sat up and slouched forward his body and mind too tired to fully support him or his environment.
He examined the people in the room properly noticing some familiar and unfamiliar faces.
"Brother...-" Thor whispered causing Loki to cringe in discomfort.
"Not your brother." He corrected glaring holes into Thor as much as his fatigue would allow. Thor opened his mouth to argue but before any sound could be made Loki continued.
"Why am I here?" He asked the words coming out slurred and cold. Tony scoffed from in the corner of the room.
"Wouldn't we all like to know?" He asked sarcastically and sassily, shooting Thor a look. Riley, the newest member of the team, elbowed Tony and gave him the 'Not now' look before turning back to Thor and his younger giving them her full attention once again.
"Brother, this is the safest place for you to be. Especially since your recent......predicament." Thor explained. "I have spoken to the Man of Iron and American Captain and they have agreed to let you stay."
"We did?!" Tony asked very confused by this new information. Clint was just as surprised feeling like he'd zoned out and missed that part of the conversation or something. He still had a grudge against Loki and probably disliked the idea of 'protecting' him more than anyone. Loki rolled his eyes and slipped his feet out from the restraints. They weren't very tight, along with him being too slim to be healthy, so it was quite easy for him to get free from them. Probably because Thor insisted he was too weak to fight and didn't need to be restrained too tightly if at all. God he hated the way Thor always looked down on him. Whether he had good intentions or not. He attempted to get off of the table but as soon as he put some of his weight onto his legs he started wobbling and held onto the table trying to keep himself up.
"Brothe-!" Thor yelled making his way to help Loki but he was cut off before he could finish.
"NO!!" He yelled glaring at Thor. He stopped in his tracks and watched his brother struggle with sorrow and pity.
"I don't need your help. I'm fi-" Before he could finish his sentence his head started to spin and his knees locked causing him to wobble backwards. He held onto his head with his free hand that wasn't the only thing keeping him from falling. Everything was hazy. Cloudy. Blurry. Whatever makes it easier for you to imagine. He couldn't see anything properly no matter how hard he squinted. All he saw were blurs or shadows and it started to scare him. It reminded him of when he was in that black hole. Doomed to fall forever. Only ever seeing shadows pass by. Only ever feeling cold. Empty. Hurt. He shook his head and blinked his eyes tears falling from them. It helped but very little. Just as his mind and vision was clearing up the pain hit him. His swollen ankle throbbed harshly. It hurt. A headache made itself present and only got worse by the minute. It hurt. His back hurt whip marks throbbing. The memory of how he got them replaying in his mind. It felt so real he could've sworn he was getting beat all over again. And it hurt. His lungs and ribs ached causing him to breath slow and shallow breaths. Even those hurt. He spun around half way his other hand pressing against the table as well holding him up.
"Thor......" He mumbled not in his right mind. Immediately his brother was at his side helping him up the table and laying him down.
"N-no....m'fine..just a slight headache." He slurred his mind hazy and tired. Thor sighed and shook his head.
"Stay down brother." He whispered placing his hand on Loki's forehead and passing his fingers through his hair. A few more of these movements and Loki was fast asleep looking in pain even then. Looking hurt.
Thor looked to his friends and sighed.
"Friends-" He started but was cut off.
"He's the King of Lies. And he is NOT staying here." Clint reminded still very angry with Loki. And just like that the argument began again.
Loki woke up the same way as before this time however he knew where he was and why. He was also in pain from the very beginning. He shot up and grabbed the collar of his brother's clothing anger overflowing from him. His actions quieting the argument everyone standing on guard ready to attack if needed. Well more or less everyone.
"I will tell you this once and ONLY ONCE THOR. I do not need you and your boy band protecting me." He clarified rage laced into every word. Both Natasha and Riley cleared their throats as a way of saying 'Not only boys here'. Loki ignored them completely set on glaring bullet holes through Thor.
"Listen to me and listen well, Odinson, I will not have you and your mortal peasants keep me on this forsaken realm to 'protect me'." Loki began. Both Tony and Clint let out offended noises. Loki was going to continue if Thor hadn't cut him off.
"No. You listen to ME brother. You and your.....family..." Thor paused cringing internally before continuing. "will remain on this planet under our protection. Loki was going to argue but Thor continued before he could say anything.
"This is what Mother wishes." He said his voice stern but eyes soft. Loki was silent in thought before all tension and anger drained from him. He slumped back and let go of Thor's collar. His eyes were half lidded and everything ached. Painfully. He sighed and looked up at Thor attempting to glare but failing to do so.
"Very well." He simply replied climbing off the table once again. Thor was going to stop him but once again Loki shot him a glare that actually worked this time. His experience this time was much better as his legs were able to support his body weight. And more since he picked up his children. He struggled to hold them but refused to ask or need any help. He limped to the door ignoring the stares from the others. He paused in front of Riley too tired to do anything.
"Move." He demanded softly his body rocking back and forth and his eyes closing and opening in the way they do when you need to sleep but can't because you have to finish your boring work. Riley was happy to oblige when she realised she was in the way to the exit. She saw no point in refusing his demand so she didn't. Loki merely continued his limp out the door and sighed when he reached to the stairs obviously not pleased with the design of the place.
"Can't even afford to put an elevator in the place huh?" He mumbled sarcastically limping up the stairs tiredly. As soon as he was out of sight everyone sighed. Whether it was out of relief. Frustration. Fatigue. Thor sat down on the previously occupied table and looked up at the others. Bruce went to the table in the corner of the room feeling his stress rising. He sat down and rubbed at his forehead an incoming headache making its way to him. He really needed the sleep he'd been neglecting now.