Chapter Text
He found him. Thor finally found his brother, lost and stranded in Vanaheim. He'd searched for him everywhere, after having found out he had disappeared from prison.
But Loki was different. Mentally broken, Thor couldn't keep him in Asgard, though everything was a misunderstanding and Loki was innocent, Loki nor their people wouldn't be ready to face each other. But where else should he take? Thor had no other choice than Midgard. He didn't know how his friends would take it, but he would had to try.
Loki lay on the bed. He had been alseep since he got him back, which were a few hours, so maybe he would awake soon. Thor sat down next to him and took a minute to enjoy the peaceful look on his face. He knew the silence soon would be broken, but he had to keep him awake for the travel to Midgard.
He ran his fingers through his brother's hair, trying to wake him. Loki stirred a bit, but fell asleep again.
"Brother," said Thor, "It is time for you to awake." while he stroked a hand over Loki's cheek.
Yawning and stretching, Loki opened his eyes. When it came to him, he still was tired, he began crying. Thor stood, "Oh, brother" he said, lifting him up in his arms. Walked around a little in the bedroom. He swayed and shushed him, hoping he could get him to calm down a bit. "Shh brother, it is alright. You're alright! I know, I know, you are tired! I know!" He had to be careful. When he found Loki in Vanaheim, he babbled so Thor guessed he could not speak and tried to stand on his own legs, which he couldn't neither.
When he was a little calmer, Thor laid him back down. He never got the chance to change Loki into something more comfortable, than the destroyed, dirty clothes he had on. So he took some pants and a shirt and dressed him.
After that he carried him out of the room, to meet with their mother in the hall.
"Are you ready, my sons?" said Frigga, with a sad smile.
"Aye, that we are mother. I'll thank you for doing this!"
"It's okay, I just hope he get's better. And I'm sure you will protect him"
"I will! I promise you, mother!"
"I have packed what I believe you will need" she said, giving his son a bag.
Which he accepted, "And you won't tell Father anything?"
She shook her head, "I think that is for the best. He has enough to worry about, as it is"
He nodded, then took her hand, so she could use her magic to send them to Midgard.
"We will meet again" were the last words he heard, before they ended up in New York.
At least he could see Stark Tower, from where he stood.
He felt Loki become more and more fussy, but after that trip, he understood why. He too felt at little strange. Thor wasn't used to travel by magic. He stroke his hand up and down Loki's back, to calm him.
"It's over brother! You can sleep now" he said, while walking towards the tower.
Loki settled down a bit, rested his head against Thor's shoulder and rubbed his sleepy eyes. Tears welled in his eyes. He was still so tired, he couldn't possibly fall asleep. He did not know where he was nor where he would be taken and that made him uneasy. How could he sleep in this new place. Why was he even here, anyway. All he kind of could remember, was darkness. And here it was so bright, it hurt his eyes.
He whined and now Thor could tell he was getting cranky, cause of the lack of sleep. He would probably be hungry soon too. He thought of using Mjolnir to make it go faster, but decided not to, for Loki's sake. So he tried to hurry up. The faster they were at Stark Tower, the easier it would be for him to take care of his brother.
It was pretty quiet in the tower. Tony was in his lab and did whatever he did, Steve was at the gym, training, Bruce was reading in the living room and Clint and Natasha were out on a mission.
"Sir"
"What is it, JARVIS?" questioned Tony.
"I must make you aware, that Mr. Odinson is in the lobby right now and is asking to be let in"
"Alright, let him in JARVIS"
Thor stood and bounced Loki in his arms, waiting for JARVIS to confirm whether he was welcome or not. He could tell his brother was becoming really restless right now.
When the robotic butler's voice came back, was the door unlocked and in he went.
The first person he saw was Banner, sitting on the couch. Bruce put the book he was reading away, when their eyes met.
"Thor. That's a surprise," Bruce got up, "I didn't expect to see y.." He stopped when he saw, that the person Thor was holding, was Loki.
"Friend Banner, I can explain! Please, you must remain calm" while backing away with Loki.
"Thor, buddy. Nice finally seing you! You want a drink?" in came Tony, not even noticing the tension between Bruce and Thor. Bruce stared in disbelief at Loki, not certain whether the hulk would come out, or not. Loki didn't notice the change in company around him. With Loki's chest against Thor's, his back was turned to Bruce and Tony's direction.
When no answer came, Tony turned to see the other two staring at each other. "What's going on gu.. Holy shit!" he didn't believe his eyes, when he saw Loki, right here in his own tower! Were they serious, he thought.
"Please Stark, I can explain! But before I do, will you get Dr. Banner out of here? It's not that I don't trust him. But Loki is in a condition, where I prefer him calm!" begged Thor.
"What are you talking about, Thor?"
"Please, friend" he begged.
Oh no, he used that word! Tony looked skeptical, but turned to Bruce, "Bruce?"
He nodded, "Yeah, alright. Fine" Bruce said, then walked out of the room, looking back at Loki, not understanding what was going on.
"Okay Thor, what going on? Why is Loki here? And in my home?" Tony was confused like Bruce, but more frustrated.
"I did not have elsewhere to take him, Stark. And he really needs to be taken care of."
"What about Asvard, As-Asnard. Whatever you're calling it?"
"Asgard. I would love to, but I don't think my brother in his condition, is ready to face our people. Not after everything that happened."
"Wait a minute. Condition? What kind of condition??"
"Loki.. Is not. He is not himself.."
"What do you mean 'not himself'?" Tony just became more confused.
"He does not remember anything, at all. He can neither speak nor walk. He doesn't remember me and he didn't even react to our mother."
Now Tony didn't believe his own ears, "Jeez, what happened to him?" he asked.
"I am not completely sure. But I found him in Vanaheim, a terrible place! I searched for him, when he was abducted from his cell. Our father thought he had escaped. But we soon found out, that it wasn't the truth. Heimdall sensed something was wrong. He could feel Loki, but not see him. I felt something was wrong, so I went out, looking for him. I soon found out that something was wrong with him. Then I took him to our mother. But unfortunately, couldn't her magic do anything for him." Thor explained.
Loki became more and more cranky. The only thing he understood, was that there were someone talking. Who it was and what they talked about, didn't he know. But he had been in the same position too long now. He let out a wail.
Both Thor and Tony reacted.
'That was new', Tony thought.
Thor repositioned him and looked at Tony, "Stark, I know how confused you must be right now. And I will explain, but can I take care of my brother first?"
"Ye-yeah, okay buddy" no reason to make it more difficult for Thor. It looked like he had enough to deal with, now that Loki was crying full time in frustration.
"I hope it's not too much to ask for, Stark. But can I get you to find something for my brother to eat? He hasn't eaten in a long time."
Without answering, Tony hurried to the kitchen. He wasn't at all sure, what he should be looking for. He decided to just pick something, so he took some bread and an apple. After cutting the apple, he went back to give Thor the food and stepped back to observe it all. He didn't know what else to do.
Thor sat on the couch, with Loki in his lap. He put him into a sitting position and took some bread to his mouth. Loki didn't recognize what was been brought to his mouth nor was he interested. He pulled away with his head, still crying his eyes out.
"Loki, please!" Thor said. Tony noticed he was concerned for his brother, but was getting frustrated himself.
Clearing his throat to get the Thunder God's attention, "Try some apple, Thor" he suggested.
Thor took a piece and put it to Loki's mouth. When the apple was inside his mouth, he kept crying and spat it out.
Thor was now getting irritated. Not at Loki, but at himself, for not being able to help his crying brother. Then he rememered the bag their mother had packed. He really hoped there was something in there, he could use.
He leaned forward to he could see what their mother had packed for them. An infant bottle was found, with something inside, that looked like milk. Thor frowned. Then again, who knew how long it had been, since Loki had eaten something. And without that knowledge, other than milk would be too heavy for his stomach.
He just hoped, Loki would take the bottle, so he could get something, anything in him. Thor then turned his attention back to his wailing brother.
"Brother, I have something for you" he encouraged, laying Loki down in the crook of his arm, trying to get the bottle nipple into Loki's mouth, but Loki just tried to push away from Thor. But with such a weak body, Thor tried again. When Loki noticed something in his mouth, he closed it. Tongue worked around a bit, tried to find out what to do. When he did find out, he suckled the bottle down as if his life depended on it.
Tony's ears couldn't be more happy for the silence there now was like greetings to them.
Looking up, Thor smiled sadly, "I am sorry, my friend!"
That was something Tony wasn't prepared to hear. He didn't know what to answer to t. It wasn't like it was his fault, "Oh, uhm. It's totally fine, Thor. Don't worry about it!"
"What's going on here?" They turned.
"Uh hey Cap, what's up?"
Sighing, Steve then said, "Really Tony. 'What's up'? What was that noise? Sounded like somebody was being killed."
"What? There was no noise?" asked Tony innocently.
"Don't test me, Stark" Steve said irritated.
"Is that a threat, old man?" Tony challenged, smiling.
"You're not funny" while rolling his eyes.
"I am sorry friend Rogers. It was my brother, he's.."
"Wait.. That's Loki??" Steve asked.
"That's what he's saying, isn't it?" Tony teased.
When Loki was finished with the bottle, Thor then took the nipple out of his mouth. With some food in his stomach, Thor kept Loki in the crook of his arm, while talking sweetly to him.
However, he could see Loki began being restless again. He thought, he probably just was tired. But Loki soon began to cry again. A more painful cry this time.
"What's the matter with him now?" Tony freaked.
"I, I don't know. He could be tired, I'm not sure though!" Thor said, looking like a kicked puppy.
"It's okay brother! It's okay, shh shhh!" he tried to comfort him, with rocking him in his arms.
Steve didn't feel comfortable with this at all, he didn't know what had happened, "Uhm, I'll get Bruce!" rushing out.
"Wait no, Cap! .. Dammit, Thor, I don't like this! Will you do something?" panicked Tony.
Thor bent down, until their foreheads touched, "Brother please, please! Shhh it's okay!" he comforted.
Steve returned with Bruce, who looked more relaxed than before.
"Steve explained that he just began crying. But what happened?" Bruce said, taking up his doctor facade.
"Nothing happened, my friend! He was finished eating, that's all" Thor said, feeling guilty for not observing better.
"Don't worry Thor. I'm sure he'll be okay! You said, he was finished eating? What did he eat?"
"He wouldn't take any other food, also because it's been a long time, since he last had eaten. So I gave him a bottle, with what I believe was milk, something our mother had packed. I didn't know it would make him miserable! I should have checked! I.."
"Hey Thor, slow down! It's okay, I don't think it was the milk's fault!" Bruce said.
Tony got up and took a hold of the bottle, "Yeah, it's definitely milk! Perhaps it was too much for him? Maybe you guys have really yucky milk in Ascard.."
Bruce ignored him, thinking, "You said, that he hadn't eaten in a long time?"
Thor nodded.
"Then, did you heat it?"
"Should I have done that?" Thor asked with a concerned look on face.
"Well, if he hadn't had anything in a long time, it sometimes can be too much for the stomach if the milk was too cold. Then it's like the stomach gets surprised and curls itself together. And that is what's causing the pain" Bruce said.
Thor looked at Loki, "Then what can I do?"
"There's not much you can do now, Thor. The pain will disappear soon, but if I were you, I would heat his milk from now on!"
Still wailing, Thor took Loki over his shoulder, got up from the couch and walked around the room a little. Swayed, bounced and shushed him, he tried to get him to calm down.
It was a little awkward for the others.. They stood there and watched the former war criminal, getting carried around like a child by his thunder brother. What had happened to him? They were curious to know!
"Has Thor explained anything yet?" Bruce asked.
"Only that he had found Loki in Varnenhaim.. Or something like that. He believes he has been tortured. By whom, I don't know" explained Tony.
After a while, Loki finally calmed down. And he was a mess.. Thor laid him down in this arm again, using his own cape to wipe his face. Then he lifted him back up, straightened his clothes, just stood and held him.
Sniffled, Loki took a moment to look around, finally discovering the three figures who looked at him.
He stared back with big curious eyes, not knowing what else to do.
"Uh, there were people, huh Loki" Thor said, straightened brother's hair too and gave him a kiss on his forehead.
"Uhm, Thor? Don't you think he can recognize us?" Steve asked a little anxious.
"Unfortunately not, I'm afraid. He does not remember anyone or anything. Not even me, my friend" he answered sadly. Smiling, when he saw Loki yawning. All those tears really had exhausted him. While he rubbed his eyes, Thor asked, "My friends, is there a room where I could put my brother down for a nap?"
"Sure, he can even get his own room!" suggested Tony.
"No, I'd rather have him in the same as I, if that's possible"
"Well, that can be arranged too! This way."
"Thank you, my friend" Thor said and followed Tony, the other two right behind them.
The room had plenty of space. And a giant masterbed, for Thor and Loki to share.
That's exactly what he'd wanted. Because of Loki's condition, they had to share the bed.
His friend Stark really could provide everything. He was so thankful.
"Thank you, friends!" he said gratefully.
"No problems, Thor! Come to me if you need anything!" Tony said leaving, Steve too.
Bruce stayed.
"If you want, Thor. I could always do a check-up on him."
"That sounds great, friend Banner" he said, while he laid Loki down on the bed, "Maybe we can do that later, when Loki awakens?"
"Of course" Bruce smiled and looked down at Loki, who was now sleeping peacefully.
Thor smiled too. He was so grateful to his friends, for taking this experience so nicely. He was glad he had them. However, there was also the two assassins. Would they take it, just as nicely?