In the Mountains There is the Promise

[sickle_stories]

Title: In the Mountains There is the Promise
Fandom: The Avengers
Word Count: 1,223
Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.  For fun, not profit.  The usual song-and-dance.
Summary: What happened between Loki's defeat and his and Thor's departure?  (i.e. I had a lot of questions)
Notes: Title from a quote by Rob Parker because *shrugs*

When Loki raised his hands in surrender on Midgard a second time, it was in earnest. For all his cunning and magic, it was as it had always been in Asgard, with might winning out.  He wondered how well Thor had fared against the Hulk, up there in the sky, gutting the ship from the inside.  The sight of the giant brought up memories of the Jötunn - blue where he was green, but towering over Loki nonetheless.  It seemed fitting that it should be this creature that would bring him down.  He should have seen it coming, should have seen the patterns, strength winning over words. Were this elsewhen, his brother would jest this to him in his father’s hall. Until you can wrestle with your tongue, brother, a fist will bring you down.

“What are we going to do with him?” asked Clint.

“You will do nothing,” said Thor, palms out towards their weapons.  “I shall deal with him.”

“Uh yeah, hate to break it to you but,” Tony gestured towards Thor’s side, “he seems to have given you a case of stabbed in the back going on.  Or side, rather.”

“He is my blood.”

“No, that is your blood. Anyway, you said he was adopted.”

A sudden thinness of Loki’s lips told Thor what he thought about the Midgardians being privy to that information.  Thor pressed a hand to his side, slick from where Loki had stabbed him.  Such a small blade, he thought.

“He is my blood,” Thor insisted. “My brother.”  His eyes locked on Loki, who’s gaze had never wavered from his face.  “His place is with me.”

Uneasy silence from the others, and Loki shifted on the floor.

“Let’s talk this over drinks” suggested Tony.

“What about him?” said Clint. “How are we going to contain him? I mean, I love pointing this in his face but…”

The Hulk made to step forward, hand outstretched to push Loki back down onto the floor, but Thor stepped in front, Mjolnir in his hand.  He walked toward Loki and crouched.  “Hold this for me, brother,” he whispered, and tried to ignore the look in his brother’s eye as he set Mjolnir on Loki’s chest.  He would have to withstand this humiliation.  It was the lightest punishment he would receive.

A room away, the discussion picked up where it had dropped off.

“We should get him back to S.H.I.EL.D,” said Natasha.

“Oh yeah, ‘cause that turned out great last time,” retorted Tony.

“I agree,” said Steve, nodding at Natasha. “He should be contained until he can answer for what he’s done.”

“He will,” insisted Thor.  “In Asgard.”

“If we wanted him off planet we should have just shipped him off with the missile,” said Clint, bow still in his hand.

Toy shrugged at Thor.  “Don’t come crawling to us if he starts burning down your house.”

The negotiation with Fury, still on his ship, was carried out on one of Stark’s little contraptions that left Thor feeling like Heimdall, far-reaching eyes seeing past realms and walls. He had expected more of an argument, perhaps even the veiled comment that Loki should have been thrown into the rift in the sky along with the weapon. He would not have been the first. In truth, Fury was adamant that the Midgardian sun should not set on Loki, but he did not specify an alternate location.  So Thor was free to take his brother home. 

When Stark pressed a button and the small image of Fury disappeared, Thor allowed himself one brief moment of elation.  He knew he was standing at the foot of a great mountain he would have to climb, dragging Loki after him, and either of the two might yet fall, but Thor was strong and a mountain was nothing but dirt. 

True, there was their father - their father, he would be sure to remind Loki and Odin, the whole court and kingdom if it was so required - and Loki’s punishment, and whatever war his brother’s actions might yet bring to Asgard.  But for now, Thor looked on the mountain and saw his first step. The rest would follow.

Tony felt really uncomfortable making the manacles, and even more making the muzzle.  He tried to think about it just being a part of his Iron Man helmet.  He  made jokes with Bruce, who didn’t know a thing about welding - That’s just embarrassing, man. - and with Steve, who turned out to be helpful (or so Tony kept telling him). 

Sometimes Thor would come by - when he could bear to leave his brother alone - and would handle the half-finished piece like it weighed a ton.  He wouldn’t say a word, just looked at the metal like he was trying to see something else in it.  Then he would just go back to sit in front of his brother, who had yet to say a word after his request for a drink.

In fact, the only thing Loki said on Earth after that was when Thor walked in with the Teseract, stabilized and contained thanks to Banner and Stark. Loki’s lips twisted a little at the sight. “You mean to take me home.”

“That has always been my purpose, brother.”

Once the irons were ready for Loki, Thor insisted the others retire from the room and leave him to set them on his brother.  He had already heard what they said about the contraption designed to halt Loki’s speach and magic, as much as one can.  They whispered about muzzles and dogs, and he would not have them watch.  Let them stand at the door, weapons in hand.  It was enough that they saw him place Mjolnir on his brother, those that hadn’t been present during his fight with Banner even giving the hammer a tug - the captain, and Stark in his suit.  He would not be able to spare his brother from much, for a long time to come, but this at least he could do. 

The chains about his wrists he did first.  He aimed to lift Loki’s hand in his, his fingers brushing against knuckles before Loki’s hand twisted away, snake-quick, so his fingers closed on his brother’s wrist armor instead. 

“Until we return to Asgard,” Thor promised, snapping the manacle shut.  Loki raised his other hand unbidden and Thor didn’t try to touch him.  Next was the mouth piece.  Thor lifted it up between them, letting Loki look at it and devise its purpose.  A smile curled in the corner on his brother’s lips. 

“Will you speak first?” 

Loki tilted his head a little at that, as if disappointed in Thor.  And well he might be, but Thor will always err on giving his brother one last chance, just as Loki will always refuse it. 

Loki kept his eyes on Thor as he placed the contraption over his mouth and carefully slipped it beneath his hair, large hands suddenly gone clumsy.  The metal snapped on easily enough, then continued to whirr and shift as locks upon locks slid into place.  The key was with banner until they are set to leave for Asgard. 

Thor took a step back and looked at Loki, saw the look in his eyes, and smiled.  I will drag you up the mountain with me, brother, he promised.