Chapter Text
I spent the next few days in an alcoholic depression. My days mostly consisted of sleeping while my nights were filled with tears and liquor. The conversation with Tony just replayed in my head for hours on end. I was never meant to help the Earth. I was a danger to earth.
I stayed in my room most of the time, only leaving for food. I was scared that if I left it, I would cause an accident. I couldn’t afford another of those. Not right now.
Then I would think of Loki. His rare smiles and his eyes, they made me feel better. I couldn’t explain it really. But also, there was a worry growing. What if he was hurt on the mission or worse? I should be there to at least help them, maybe protect them. Protect him. I don’t know how he got to me so easily. Just being near him was ecstasy sometimes.
I ditched my bottles into the trash and downed some water. I was sober now, even though I was never really drunk since my body can tolerate a lot with my curse. I cleaned up my room a bit, knowing Tony or Steve would kill me to see my room like this. Tony… why should I even care?
Suddenly, the front door busted open. I ran out to see Thor and Steve carrying Loki inside. He was bleeding everywhere. His side had a gash in it the size of a baseball.
“Get him to the hospital room!” Tony shouted.
They all followed him and exited the living room quickly. I was in a state of shock. Seeing Loki like that had stopped my heart. I couldn’t move. Inside I was screaming in panic. He can’t die. He can’t! I need him…
I ran to the hospital room where the doctors Tony had hired to work for us were disrobing Loki to inspect the wounds. His wounds were many. His head had taken a hit and his shoulder looked funny.
“Why isn’t he healing?” Bruce asked Thor. Everyone in the room was extremely concerned.
“He is, but the knives were magical,” Thor muttered. “It takes longer… too long.” Thor wasn’t crying, instead his face was stern, watching the doctors every move to make sure they took the best care of his brother. He was standing by the glass doors to give the doctors space, but his view was unimpeded. He made sure of it.
Natasha suddenly pulled all of me and Clint out of the room. She told Clint to report what happened to Fury so that next measures could be taken soon.
“Nat,” I called. “What happened?”
She sighed. Her face was also bruised up, a few knife slashes along her body but only surface deep. “They trapped us,” she whispered. “They had powerful weapons, nothing we had ever seen. Clint was about to… about to be ganged up by five of them with shooters and swords. Loki teleported in front of him, taking the full force and fighting them off. Some escaped, though. They got through Bruce.”
I was shocked. Loki sacrificed himself for Clint. “He saved Clint?” I asked, incredulous. She nodded, then hurried off to follow Clint.
I was left standing there. He did that… for Clint. My heart swelled for his bravery. It didn’t last long, however, when I remembered what Thor said. He might not be able to heal in time.
I choked on a sob. My eyes swelled up anyways, and I covered my mouth with my hand to let it out silently. I needed him to survive.
~~~~~~~~~~
I waited outside the hospital room all night with Thor. The staff was checking on him every half hour, but he hadn’t responded yet. He was still unconscious but breathing
“He’s a fool,” Thor muttered under his breath.
I grabbed his hand and laid it on my lap. I gave him a weak smile, and while he tried to return it, his eyes were full of grief. “He was a hero,” I encouraged.
“He’s my brother, I can’t lose him. I’ve already lost him once.”
I tightened my grip on his hand. “Thor,” I said firmly. “You won’t lose him. You won’t.” He gave my hand a squeeze in return to let me know he had heard me.
He needed me by his side, and I was happy I could offer any type of support. Eventually we got more comfortable in our seats, laying our heads on one another and almost drifting off to sleep.
Before we could fully fall asleep though, one of the doctors came out and shook us awake. “He is awake.”
Thor leaped out of the chair and ran inside while I followed behind. Loki was laying in the bed, his torso covered in gauze with blood seeping through. His hair was a messy tangle. His body was full of sweat, his lips chapped, and his eyes a dull blue color. He looked like hell.
“Brother.” Thor went up to Loki and checked on him. “How are you feeling?”
Loki rolled his eyes at his brother’s concern. “I’m fine,” he coughed, barely able to speak.
He saw me in the doorway. I smiled at him, happy that he was recovering. Thor followed Loki’s eyes to me and smugly grinned.
I took a few steps closer and crossed my arms awkwardly as I stood there. “I’m glad to see you alive,” I teased. Loki smirked at that.
Then he pulled his arm out of the bed sheet, causing alarm to Thor. “Brother what do you need?” Loki ignored him and simply pointed at his armor. He was wanting me to check his armor.
I went over slowly and checked a few pockets before finding my bookmark, unharmed and in perfect condition.
“Told you… I would… keep it… safe.” I turned to him, stunned and touched. Even while he was being blasted to heaven, he saved my token. A few tears escaped my eyes, but I hurriedly rubbed them away.
Taking a deep breath, I muttered, “Thank you, Loki.”
Thor was watching us carefully, making me blush. He was grinning from ear-to-ear. I was so close to slapping him.
Then the worst happened. Loki started to seizure uncontrollably while all the alarms went off. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. The doctors rushed in and pushed us to the side. “His heartrate is going too fast!”
The commotion around me started to dizzy me. I feel as if I could faint. Loki was dying. I knew it as soon as I saw his face turning a light blue.