Warning(s) Mentions of NonCon, Torture and Abuse

Discliamer: I Do Not Own The Avengers, Thor, or anything of any value really...

No pairing(s) Although you can decipher some hints of Tony/Loki at times, and only brotherly love between Loki and Thor.

This Place If Full Of Monsters

Around them, the Avengers could hear fire crackling and people crying. The world had been burning and now the blaze was but a small ember, an ember that they would now squash. They all gathered together faces dirty and bloodstained. The group stared up at Stark tower gravely. They had won. It was over.

He lay in the rubble, pale blue eyes cold, beaten down but not defeated. Slender fingers gripped the floor below him and he painfully attempted to sit up, his body was having other ideas. He fell back onto his back; his face screwed up in pain. Oh dear this would not do... Then across from him, he heard the familiar voices and thundering footsteps of The Avengers. A slow smile spread across his lovely face. It was time. And as he heard the Avengers come thundering towards him, to arrest him he made his move. Loki had no chance to to a breath before his body arched violently. The Avengers barreled through the door. The archer with his arrow pointed at the Jotun. He kept his bow directed at Loki's face; as the God's body gave a violent lurch.

"If it's all the same to you...I'll have that drink now. Thor stepped forward frowning. His blue eyes cold.

"Loki-" He began only to be cut off by a deep chuckle coming from his brother's lips, yet it wasn't his voice. Thor raised Mjolnir and stared at Loki coldly.

"Enough of this brother, I-" Across from where they were gathered, a bright light burst from thin air, and a familiar portal was opened. Three Chitauri warriors stepped from the portal, sneering at the Avengers, who turned their weapons towards them as well as Loki. Loki cocked his head to the side.

"You are here sooner than expected." He stated calmly, gracefully getting to his feet.

"Don't move!" Clint snarled. Loki tittered but ignored him looking to the Chitaruri.

"Our master beckons, you." One of the Chitauri replied eying the Avengers. Loki nodded.

"The boy?" He asked casually. The Chitauri sneered in response and shoom its head.

"They boy is worthless to us now, our master says to either kill him or leave him, it matters not." Loki smiled eerily. 'Very well."

"Brother, you are not going with them, you are going to Asgard to face justice." Thor snarled approaching Loki.

"I'm not your brother Thor...I never was." Loki replied evenly, smiling sweetly.

"Loki, you will stand down!" Thor snarled. Stark turned his weapon onto Loki who regarded Thor coolly. "I was told you were a fool," The voice cooed from his brother's lips; a smile forming and blood dribbling down his chin. "Yet, I had no idea how much of one you really were."

"Cease your words Loki, they will not spare you." Thor snarled. The Chitauri tittered, Loki cocked his head to the side a sweet smile playing at his bruised lips.

"Spare me? Oh Thor, you poor idiot. There is nothing worth sparing anymore now is there?"

"You have been defeated Loki, it is over."

"Oh, Thor...it is never over." Before Thor could retort Loki's body gave another violent shudder arching his back; and from him came a mass of grey flesh, stepping from his brother's body as naturally as rising dough. The creature stood at it's full height and Loki fell in a boneless heap at it's feet. From the corner of his eye Thor spotted Romanov point her gun at the creature while Clint remained focused on the unmoving God of Lies. Captain America shifted nervously, regarding the being in front of him with unease. The Hulk who's eyes had been trained on Loki were now focused on the new target.

"Thor, what the hell is that?" Stark asked warily. Thor stared in muted horror unable to answer. The creature gave a mock bow. His eyes never leaving Thor's, a terrible grin on his face.

"Who are you?" Thor asked voice low keeping his eyes on the creature's and ignoring Loki. The creature let out another chuckle.

"My name is Njork, little prince." It jeered. Thor decided to ignore the jibe and gripped Mjolnir tighter in his grip.

"You are Chitauri?" He asked nodding to the three silent wraith like creatures watching the confrontation with masked expressions. Njork nodded slowly. "My master sent me here with the Jotun runt to carry out the mission." It spoke softly and breathlessly, eyes alight with excitement. "You and Reindeer Games are working together?" Tony cut in face hidden by his helmet. The creature looked at Iron Man in amusement before throwing his head back and barking a cold laughter. "Working...together? You ask, oh no." Njork replied velvety smooth.

"Then for him?" Thor asked sharply. Njork let out another laugh which had begun to grind Iron Man's gears.

"Then what?" He snapped. Njork turned his attention back to Loki who had yet to move from where he had fallen. Casually Njork tapped Loki's head with his foot. Loki's head lolled over for the Avengers to see a pair of bright green eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Shit, he's dead..." Clint muttered earning a round a laughter from the Chitauri. Njork leered and looked at the other Chitauri who continued to snicker. Thor watched the exchange warily before sparing a glance at his brother. Why was he so still? Why were his eyes...He was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed Njork watching him amused.

"Would you like me to tell you a tale little one?" Njork asked casually tilting its head to the side. Thor glowered at it, and watched as it's foot lazily tapped at Loki. Clint and Natasha shared suspicious glances and Clint pulled his weapon away from Loki and trained it on Njork.

"A tale?" Steve managed voice unsure and defensive. Njork nodded.

"Yes a tale, you may like it little prince, it will tell you how your little brother came to us." He jeered. Thor scowled but nodded sharply.

"Then speak." He replied coldly. Njork's smile widened.

"He fell through space and time, and my master, my kind merciful master took him and brought him to our home. We offered the runt power for the Tesseract. He refused. We tried to convince him, yet he still refused. After much attempts to convince him, we brought him before our master who offered him this flimsy planet in exchange for the Tesseract, and still the runt once again refused my master. For a couple months this happened, my poor master grew quite angry with the runt, and we had to be extra convincing with him-"

"You...you tortured my brother?" Thor's voice rang out sharp, his face mortified as he looked towards Loki. His hands shook violently. Njork waggled a finger at him tutting cheerfully.

"Let me finish little prince, you may comment at the end...now where was I...Oh, yes! For a final time we brought him forward and silly little thing refused my master for the last time. This time, it was my master who would convince him, on and it was glorious little prince. My master consumed the runt, fucked him until he bled, until he-" Njork was cut off again as Thor let out a roar of pure rage and struck at the terrible creature, while his team looked on in shocked silence. Njork easily grabbed Loki's lifeless body, barred the prince's pale throat placing a knife at the soft flesh. Thor stopped short, looking from Njork with hate, to Loki with fear.

"You dare-" He began, only to be cut of my Njork.

"Lower your weapon little prince, my tale is not yet over, and unless you'd like to see how filthly his blood really is, I'd suggest you do as I say." Njork ordered pressing the blade further into Loki's vulnerable throat. Thor's hands shook as he looked at his brother, he did as he was told and the Chitauri behind Njork pointed their weapons at Natasha and Clint in response to their raised weapons. Njork cleared his throat and gently pat Loki's head before continuing.

"As you can imagine, my master quite literally broke the runt, he screamed so prettily and broke so easily, or so my master thought, until one night the runt snuck out of his cage. Our guards spotted him so he ran. He had been kept in our holding tower, only standing a bit shorter than this very tower we stand in. His cell was near the top of this tower and he managed to race down three flights of stairs before he was surrounded. Rather than face my master the runt took off down one of our halls. Our Chitauri were at his heels, he was as good as caught when he sharply changed directions. You see the runt would rather die then continue as our thrall, he would rather die than serve us, so his path lead him to a window and he ran right through it breaking the glass and throwing himself to the ground far below. The cracking noise his body made as it hit the stone floor..."

Thor flinched and Tony scowled flipping up his visor. Njork sighed. "We went to his body, informing my master of his demise. My master wished to send the body back to Asgard, in hopes at the sight of his broken mangled body, the warmongering older brother, you, so distraught, so destroyed at the sight of him, would rise up and start a glorious death filled war."

"And where did you go wrong?" Thor snarled advancing on the creature. Njork snicked.

"As you can see, he lived. We found him at the base of the tower, several broken bones, ruptured organs, his pelvis was shattered, yet...he breathed. The fall put him in a comatose state, my master decided that if he couldn't convince the runt to join him he would control him."

...until I make him kill you, slowly, intimately, in every way he knows you fear. And then he'll wake just long enough to see his good work. And when he screams, I'll split his skull.

"Control him?" Natasha repeated face impassive, beside her Clint looked disgusted. Njork offered Natasha a cruel smile.

"Of course my dear, those lovely promises I made to you didn't come from the runt." Natasha didn't react her gun now steadily trained on Njork's face.

Njork let out a casual sigh and glanced down at Loki before offering the Avengers a chilling glare. "Well as it seems, we no longer have the recources to take the Tesseract as this point in time." Tony smirked at the words. Thor took a slow step towards Njork. "Then release my brother to me, you have no more use of him." He ordered. Njork shook his head with mock sympathy. "I'm afraid I cannot do that little prince." Thor furiously advanced forward. "YOU WILL RELEASE HIM!" He roared.

"And release him I shall." Njork replied ominously. Then without any preamble Njork raised his foot and kicked Thor backwards, before the other Avengers could react, before Clint could release his arrow, Njork took grip of Loki's throat and hauled him off the floor, and flung him out the broken window. A stunned silence followed until suddenly it was broken, all went to chaos. Tony was the first to react. He flew past Njork and out the window as fast as he could trailing Loki's quickly plummeting body.

He managed to reach Loki wrapping his arms around Loki's torso and stopping his fall. He flew forward, supporting Loki's dead weight, he swerved around a passing truck before launching back towards his tower. He made it back through the window, and landed inside Loki safely tucked against him. Thor was the first to step forward towards him. Tony could see that the Chitauri including Njork were gone; the portal closed. Thor approached Tony who handed Loki's limp body over. Thor took Loki pulling him close, his fingers fluttering over his brother's bruised face. His eyes were closed now, his expression lax.

"Loki, brother...they are gone now you can open your eyes." Thor whispered softly stroking a thumb down Loki's cheek. Loki gave no answer, his eyes now closed his face unwavering. Thor stared at his brother, face screwed up in concern.

"Brother, wake up." Thor implored. The Hulk receeded back leaving Bruce in his place, they all watched in silence as Thor attempted to rouse his brother. A desperate gleam appeared in Thor's eyes, he shook his brother's limp shoulder's, Loki's head lolled about.

"Brother, please..." Finally Bruce stepped forward ceasing Thor's movement's.

"We should get him to a hospital." Bruce suggested. After a moment of staring at his brother; Thor met Bruce's gaze and nodded jerkily.

"Of course." He muttered, voice hoarse. He carefully scooped Loki into his arms, Loki's head resting against Thor's shoulder. In tense silence Thor followed Bruce out the door leaving the rest of the Avengers in shocked silence.

What the hell just happened?

Three hours later, Thor found himself sitting in an uncomfortable plastic chair, his hand clasped with Loki's clammy one. Tony Stark sat across from him, legs splayed as he lounged in his chair, his eyes trained on Loki's face. Neither he nor Thor spoke.

Outside the room; Fury, Natasha and Clint watched the three, faces impassive. Fury shifted slightly letting out an annoyed breath.

"Do you think he is faking it?" Fury asked, voice low eyes trained on the Trickster God. Clint shook his head and swallowed hard.

"We were both there, we both saw it." He muttered. The silence that followed was tense. The faint beep of Loki's heart monitor and muffled talking from down the hall was all that could be heard. Finally the sound of footsteps pulled them from their thoughts. They watched as the doctor assigned to Loki walked past them and quietly edged into Loki's room. Thor stared at the doctor imploringly.

"Doctor, please why his eyes are open but he will not speak?" Thor asked. The doctor sighed and stepped over to Thor lowering his voice.

"Mr. Odinson, your brother is in a vegetative state-"

"A what?" Thor asked brows furrowed.

"Putting it simply, he has no awareness of his surroundings, we've done tests on him and he has not reaction to any stimuli; he allows us to move him and feed him, but other than that he just lays there staring at the wall, unaware of anything around him."

"Forever?" Thor asked voice hoarse. The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded reluctantly. "As you said, he jumped a very far height and hit the pavement...if he were human there is no question, he'd be dead, and putting torture on top of that...as it is...he will more than likely always be in this state." Thor turned from the doctor and looked towards Loki imploringly; Loki's eyes remained dazedly fixed on the wall opposite him. Thor could hear the doctor and Tony quietly speaking but he paid them no heed, only gazed at his brother in pained silence.

In Asgard when warriors had been grievously injured and put into states such as Loki was in, they were more than often mercifully put out of their misery and put to death, as quickly and humanely as possible...Thor shook the though from his head. He could never... Was he so self centered that he couldn't even put his brother out of his misery? He flinched slightly when he felt Tony's hand on his shoulder. He looked at his friend who gave him a weak smile.

"I talked to the doctor and asked him if it would be alright if we brought your brother to my place, you know...give him a nice room, make him comfortable..." Thor offered Tony a small smile. "Thank you friend Stark, I would like for my brother to be somewhere...somewhere I can take care of him." Tony nodded. Thor looked at his brother forlornly.

"What kind of brother allows this to happen?" He muttered. Tony blinked realizing that Thor was speaking to him. "Thor buddy, you didn't know."

"Yet I should have. I raved so vehemently about kinship and loyalty, and yet I was so willing to take my brother down for actions he did not commit." Tony sat down heavily crossing his ankles. "But you're here now, and he'll come around soon."

"But what if he does not? What if he is forever like this? I am his older brother, I am supposed to protect him, and I failed. I failed his so horribly and those monsters destroyed him." Thor's face fell and Tony was painfully reminded of a kicked puppy. He had to switch tactics, wipe that god awful look off Thor's face. Tony glanced at Loki in desperation for an answer.

"...Well...Tell me about your brother...what was he like?" Tony asked hesitantly. Thor's face suddenly broke into a small smile. "He was...brilliant. And thoughtful. Kind...in his own way."

"Yeah?" Tony asked nodding for Thor to continue. Thor's face had lightened considerable as he spoke of Loki, his pride and adoration wafting off of him.

"He was mischievous, and as Bruce Banner referred to you 'sassy'. He was incredibly stubborn, willful, flirtatious..."

"Sounds like my kind of man." Tony offered. Thor smiled at him. "You and him do share many similarities." He stated looking at his brother with a gentle smile, making Tony feel like he was intruding. Tony stood and adjusted his shirt.

"In the morning, we'll bring him to my place. You should try to get some sleep until then, 'kay?" After a moment Thor nodded. "I will sleep in here." He muttered before turning back to Loki. Tony sighed and nodded. "I figured..." He pulled back looking at Loki one last time, before walking out the door, allowing Thor to have alone time with his brother. Thor, ran his thumb across the skin of his brother's hand, looking into his blank eyes; He furiously blinked away tears that had gathered.

"I refuse to believe it Loki, you will come back...you have to..." He cleared his throat and looked at the ceiling.

Shakily he pulled his hand back and placed a hesitant kiss against Loki's brow.

"I will bring you back. I will avenge you. This I swear."

As good as his word, early the next morning Tony returned to the hospital room to collect Thor and Loki. They bundled Loki up and coaxed Loki to stand up. He did so silently, holding listlessly onto Thor's hand. Thor managed to lead Loki to the elevator wishing that Loki would react, that he would give his hand a squeeze of awareness, yet nothing came from the youngest prince. He followed obediently and silently, allowing Thor and Tony to coax him out the hospital doors and towards Tony's limo. Bruce and Steve were already in the limo, waiting. They watched in silence as Thor led Loki towards the door.

They managed to sit him down between Thor and Steve who acted as bumper's in case he fell over. The ride back to Stark Tower was silent. Around them they could see the devastation from the attack. Rubble lay in the streets, buildings toppled over, a heavy silence in its wake. Tony was already filling a glass with scotch and handed one to Bruce who timidly took it. Thor and Steve both refused. Happy parked the limo in front of the tower and quickly went to open the door for Tony. Tony and Thor were the first out ; Thor holding onto Loki as he went. They managed to get him out of the limo, Thor scooped Loki into his arms and headed straight for the doors to the tower; followed by his three teammates.

A room had been made for Loki, a large sized bed with a green comforter, plush pillows. The room was sparse and clean. Thor carried Loki into the room and gently deposited him on the bed. With all the gentleness and care one could muster, Thor pulled the blanket over his brother, gently tucking him away from the horrors of the world.

"You will be better soon brother." He whispered. "I must speak to my team about this...I will be back soon, the voice in the ceiling will keep you safe." He smiled softly at his brother before stroking a hand through his hair and walking out of the room. The door automatically locked behind him, as Jarvis sealed the room. Thor found the rest of his team at Stark's bar. The room was trashed, windows busted, the floor torn up. Tony handed Thor a beverage, Thor regarded it curiously noting the colorfulness compared to Asgard's golden mead.

"I've spoken to Fury." Steve muttered. The others looked to him in interest. "You told him about Loki?" Bruce asked. Steve nodded. "What did he say?" Natasha asked sipping her alcohol. "He said...well he said a lot of things. At first he didn't believe me, but Tony sent me Jarvis's footage. He says as long as we keep Loki in line, we can keep him."

"That makes it sound like he's talking about a dog." Bruce replied. Steve shrugged helplessly. "I think he would have still said no if I didn't threaten him with Thor." He muttered forlornly. Clint offered Steve a weak grin.

"But he's allowed to stay?" Tony asked with a hopeful grin. Steve nodded. "He can stay." Tony's grin widened and he took a swig from his glass. "In any case, I'm famished, should I order pizza?" He asked. Agreements rang around the room and even Thor offered a small smile and nodded his head.

Three months passed.

Three months and nothing had changed.

Loki lay unmoving and Thor spent his nights sleeping in an armchair beside him. Thor had occasionally been called to return to Asgard. He had returned to Tesseract and when Odin had asked for Loki to be returned as well; Thor refused. Despite the argument and threat of banishment, Thor still refused to take his brother from the safety of Stark Tower. Finally Odin had relented and allowed Loki to stay.

When Thor was not there with his brother, it was Tony who offered to watch over him, feed him, bathe him. A lot of trust had been bestowed upon Stark, who was more than willing to care for Loki. The guy was cataonic but Tony felt a sense of familiarity with him. Often he'd make casual conversation with him, telling him about his day and different projects.

Currently, Tony was redressing Loki. He pulled a Black Sabbath T-Shirt over Loki's head and maneuvered his arms correctly into place.

"Thor's been gone a couple weeks, I'm thinking he'll be back soon. I'm sure he misses you. Maybe you can smile for him, or come back. He'd really like that...all of would. I'm sorry about the performance issue comments, I'm sure you have perfect scores." Tony teased, looking into Loki's wide green eyes. He settled Loki back down. "I'm gonna make you something good for dinner, how does shamawa sound to you?" Loki stared, but Tony went on easily.

"I'll be back later okay princess?" Tony smoothed out Loki's hair before leaving the room. A nurse had been hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to help with Loki when Tony or Bruce were gone. The guy seemed alright, friendly enough and took good care his stuff; despite being a male nurse of course. Pepper had told him it was rude to laugh. Tony had insisted he be there monitoring Travis the first few day, just to make sure his Loki was well taken care of. And it seemed he was. So Tony walked passed the male nurse called Travis and there were no worries going through his head. S.H.I.E.L.D knew Loki was innocent, Travis's record had been squeaky clean. Almost too clean, and Jarvis never reported any mishap.

Until the day the shit hit the fan.

Travis Farrow had been hired by S.H.I.E.L.D to ensure Loki wasn't up to something; To enure he was truly in a vegetative state. The first couple times had been difficult with Stark over his shoulder, but soon he gained enough trust to be alone with Loki. It started out with little pinches on the insides of Loki's arms and the back of his knees. Loki never reacted. Then when Travis would bathe Loki and had him naked, he would give him a little spank on the rear and check for anything. Nothing. Then Travis became very comfortable. He kept his abuse inside the bathroom where there were no cameras. As he bathed Loki, his hands began to explore and linger. It progressed until the day he sat Loki down on his cock. After that it became a regular thingfor him to bathe and molest Loki. No reaction. No problem. He made surd to clean Loki extra well and never leave noticeable bruises, knowing that Stark had a tendency to look him over. Travis did his job well.

"Hey Mr. Stark, what does Loki need today?" Travis asked as he approached the hero. Tony glanced from Loki's room to Travis. "Some food probably." "Anything else?" Travis prompted. Tony shrugged. "A bath maybe." He suggested before walking passed Travis who nodded. "Will you be here?" He questioned. Tony nodded. "Yeah I'll be around in the lab if you need anything." None the wiser.

Travis approached Loki who had been sitting in Thor's chair by the window. Travis knelt in front of the God and smiled. "Hi Loki, Tony asked me to feed and bathe you." He said voice friendly. Loki stared blankly out the window. Travis took Loki's hand and coaxed him to his feet. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?" He questioned." Loki gazed at a point above Travis's ear, Travis merely grinned and pulled Loki towards the bathroom. Loki followed dutifully and Travis closed the bathroom door.

Tony had left his jacket in Loki's room. Normally he would go get it later, but he was restless so he decided to leave the lab and go get it. He found it sitting on his chair beside Loki's bed. He grabbed it and turned to leave when he realized Travis was bathing Loki. Tony always fed Loki before he bathed him. It made things easier, if Loki didn't take to the food. Tony approached the bathroom door and opened it, peering inside. What he found would haunt him.

Travis had Loki bent over the tub; three of his nasty fucking fingers knuckle deep inside the God. His cock rutting against Loki's pale thigh. When Travis noticed Tony, all color drained from his face and he pulled his fingers out of Loki and shoved himself away. Tony had never wanted to destroy someone so badly before. Tony swung his fist in blind rage, striking Travis in the mouth; splitting his gumline.

"You son of a bitch." Tony swore, voice hoarse. Travis attempted to shove Tony out of his way and go through the door only to have Tony tackle the man to the floor and straddle his chest, raining punches onto the other man.

"Mr. Stark, I-" Travis was cut of by a painful blow to the throat. He lay there gasping in pain. Tony got to his feet, trembling violently. If he didn't stop he would kill the bastard. He heard footsteps tear up to the room and saw Bruce approach. He couldn't risk getting Bruce involved. "Tony, what happened?" Bruce asked stepping forward. Tony shook his head. "Bruce, you really need to go...get Steve, just don't be here right now." Bruce blinked surprised. "Of course." He nodded. He looked from Travis to Tony and glanced into the bathroom to see Loki's nude body draped over the bathtub. Everything seemed to clock in place and a green tinge appeared in his normally warm eyes. "Bruce, go!" Tony ordered. Bruce blinked and shook his head before nodding. "Yeah...of course." He quickly turned and left the room, fists clenched. Tony let out a slow breath of relief before turning back to Travis.

"Get up." He ordered. Travis got to his feet nervously. Tony clenched his fists. "S.H.I.E.L.D hired you didn't they?" He asked casually. Travis nodded after a moment. "How long?"

"What?" Travis muttered, shifting.

"How fucking long have you been doing this?" Tony asked, voice calm, expression vacant.

"For awhile now." Travis replied, hardening his expression. A nasty smirk spread across Tony's chiseled face. "Did it ever occur to you that Loki has a brother?" Travis stared in silence and a sarcastic chuckle was ripped from Iron Man. "An older brother who won't take kindly to the news that you've been raping his little brother." Travis swallowed nervously and Tony relished in it.

Steve lumbered into the room but Tony never looked away from Travis. "Tony, Bruce told me something happened." Steve prompted. He looked at Travis's bloody face and glanced around for Loki. It didn't seem to click for him. He didn't seem to understand what Tony and Bruce did. Instead he blinked; startled and looked to Tony for an answer. Tony finally tore his eyes from Travis and looked to Steve. "Get him the fuck out of here." He growled. Steve, approached Travis looking unsure, but surprisingly he didn't argue. He firmly took Travis's shoulder and pulled him towards the door.

"Oh and Steve?" Tony called just as they were leaving. Steve looked to Tony in silence. "Ask Fury if he gets off on this kind of shit." He muttered motioning from Travis to Loki. Steve swallowed and nodded silently, as realization dawned on him. He ushered Travis out of the room. Tony stared after them for a moment before painfully turning back to Loki. The water had been left running and Loki's face was partially submerged in the tub. Swearing Tony leapt forward into the bathroom and hauled Loki from the tub. Loki coughed, his arm involuntarily jerking. Tony gathered Loki into his arms, holding the God against him, Loki's head tucked under his chin.

"Jesus Loki...I'm so sorry. I didn't know...I should have known." He whispered, rocking back and forth. Loki lay silently against him, his coughing fit having passed. His wet hair clung to Tony's neck and his damp body soaked through the billionaire's clothes. He stayed like that for nearly twenty minutes, whispering kind words into Loki's ear. His mantra was interrupted by the distant sound of thunder. Tony swore under his breath and painfully stood taking Loki with him.

"Looks like he's back..." He muttered. He carried Loki to the bed and lay him down, gathering up his clothing. He quickly redressed Loki, thinking over how to explain this to Thor. He couldn't lie and pretend it had never happened. Hell he had walked in on it.

"I'll be back soon Loki." Tony said as he settled Loki against the pillows, avoiding his green eyes. He made his way from the room and into the hall where Bruce was fast approaching, looking better off then he had ten minutes ago. "You heard?" Bruce asked. "Yeah." Tony replied sharply. The two headed towards Stark's living room, ready to greet Thor, who had only recently started using the elevator rather than bursting through walls and windows.

When the elevator doors opened, Steve and Thor walked through the doorway. Thor was smiling happily chatting with Steve who met Tony's eyes; silently telling him that Thor didn't know. "Friends," Thor greeted, happily approaching Bruce and Tony. "I have missed you." He declared. He pulled the both of them into rib cracking hugs. Bruce awkwardly hugged Thor back while Tony patted his shoulder.

"Missed you too Point Break." Tony managed as he was lifted into the air.

"How...how is my brother?" Thor asked softly looking down the hall towards Loki's room. The silence that followed was tense. Thor looked at his three friends in concern. "Is he hurt?" He asked, brows furrowed. Finally Tony sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, Thor...we need to talk." "Then speak." Thor prompted. "You might want to sit down." Bruce muttered pointing at the couch. Thor did so quietly. His face filled with concern and confusion.

"My friends, you are making me nervous." The God of Thunder murmured. Bruce and Steve shared grim looks while Tony buried his face in his hands, looking unsure.

"You know the guy S.H.I.E.L.D hired to care for Loki when we weren't readily available." Tony asked finally looking up. Thor nodded.

"Aye, the male nurse you find so humorous." The God confirmed easily. Tony cleared his throat, his Adam's bobbing.

"Yeah. Him. Well today I left Loki with him and went to the lab. While down there I realized I had left my coat in Loki's room. I went up to grab it, and went to check on Farrow who was supposed to be bathing Loki, and he..." Tony couldn't go on. For the first time in a long time, Tony didn't know what to say. Thor stared so finally Bruce prompted Tony to continue. Tony did, clearing his throat. "I walked into the bathroom, and Farrow...he had Loki bent over the edge of the tub, and he was...fingering him and thrusting against his leg." Thor stared at Tony, making no movement. At first Stark thought that Thor hadn't understood, but that wasn't the case.

Thor's face paled dramatically and he stared from Bruce to Tony, to Steve as though hoping it was all some sick joke. "My brother has been...my brother has been molested?" He managed, voice weak. "We don't know exactly how far it's gone, but I'm going to look him over to if you'd like me to?" Bruce asked. Thor nodded stiffly, his body bowed. "I would like to be there while you perform your search." Bruce looked unsure on how to reply, but Thor stared at him pleadingly. Finally Bruce agreed.

"I need...I need a moment to think." Thor pleaded, looking far more broken then he ever had before. The others nodded ready to give him his space. As they left Thor alone, Steve let out a shaky breath.

"This place...even in plain sight there are monsters everywhere... This place if filled with them." Steve whispered looking at the floor, face screwed up in pain.

There had been obvious signs of anal rape. Thor and Steve both had confronted Fury, only to find out that he hadn't hired Travis Farrows, the Council had. Fury managed to nab Farrows and the pervert was now being held in one of Fury's holding cells, awaiting justice. Thor had been barred from seeing the man. But justice would be served. That much he was certain.

Two weeks had passed and Thor stayed at Loki's side at all times. He tended to his brother as he had for the last few months. He fed him small meals and and made small talk. He bathed him and hummed a familiar tune. He worked on stretching Loki's legs, which had rapidly thinned from little use. He helped him use the toilet and dress him. He acted the part of a perfect elder brother. But on the inside he felt like a failure.

Every time he bathed him, he thought of Farrows and how that man had taken advantage of his brother in this state. He thought of his brother, trapped in this shell and unable to defend himself. Each night as Thor went to sleep it ate at him. Oh it ate at him like a disease. His brother by all means was gone now. And in taking care of him, Thor had ended his relationship with Jane, who despite the love he felt for her; was not in league with his brother, who needed him.

In Asgard he evaded his parent's ever persistant questions. Questions that plagued him as well as it did his family.

Is Loki alright?

Do you think he will wake?

Do you think he will heal?

Odin had even pulled Thor aside right before he had left for Midgard and asked him how long he could go on like this.

"My son, this is destroying you, I can see that."

"He needs me father."

"You are doing wonderfully Thor, but there is no chance of him coming back."

"You don't know that!"

"Each day he lays there, the less likely he is to snap out of his state."

"Father..."

"You are only prolonging his misery my son. It is best to put him out of it."

Those words shook Thor to the core. This night as he sat beside Loki's bed watching his brother sleep, those words rang clear in his ear. ...only prolonging his misery... Loki would never wake. He would forevermore be but a mindless body. A body who had been shamed, unable to defend himself. Unable to speak his honeyed words ever again... There was a cresent moon this night and shadows danced across the room. Loki's pale gaunt face illuminated in the darkness...It is best to put him out of it... Before Thor knew what he was doing, he was taking his own pillow and approaching Loki.

"I am sorry Loki. You will not suffer long." Thor whispered hoarsely, before firmly planting the pillow over Loki's face and pushing down. "Forgive me..."

Children running down the palace halls. High pitched voices, and teasing shouts.

Bare feet smacking the marble floor, giggles ringing loudly.

"Come catch me Thor!" Loki would call over his shoulder, eyes alight with mischief. Thor would always accept the challenge.

Thor was fast. Loki was faster. But in the end, Thor always managed to catch Loki, giggling catching him around the waist and tackling him to the floor, with all the pride of any big brother who's won. And Loki would laugh and shove him away before running off again. The game started anew.

But this time...

Thor hadn't caught Loki...

He had watched him fall...

He had failed him...

Loki did not put up a struggle. How could he? He would never struggle again. Thor's arms shook as though it was physically harrowing. He pressed down, crying as he did so. "I'm sorry..."

"...Never doubt that I love you..."

Thor's arms suddenly slackened and he pelted the pillow at the wall with all his strength, before gathering Loki into his arms crying into his narrow chest. Loki's body, limp and unresisting, but alive in his arms.

"I-I'm sorry Loki! I cannot do it, I cannot..." He sobbed into Loki's chest shaking violently, listening to the steady thump of Loki's heartbeat. "I'm sorry..." His sobs echoed into the night, but no one was there to hear. No one would ever hear.

Hours later, as sleep began to overtake Thor, he took his brother's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze and closed his eyes resting his head against the soft back of his chair, exhausted and worn out. His eyes closed and he gripped Loki's hand in his, and in the hours of early morning, as the sky turned pink, just as his eyes began to droop for the last time...

Loki squeezed back.

This idea actually came to me while watching The Host. Well, the scene where Melanie attempts to take her own life rather than be captured. That scene where she fell just struck me for some reason. I could picture Loki doing the same thing of desperate enough. I could see him leaping to his death rather than became Thanos's slave.

And I began to plot this and it took a mind of its own. I hope you enjoyed reading it. It's a oneshot, but has the chance of a possible sequel in the future.