Transgression

Chapter 5—The Reveal

Disclaimer: I do not own Thor, Loki, or the Avengers. They belong to Marvel/Disney.

Their clothes were ruined. So was the backseat of her car, but Darcy didn't care. She was lucky to have her SHIELD-approved Darcy Lewis version of a bug-out bag in the trunk of her car. T-shirt, leggings and a warm hoodie. She was good to go. Thor was not. Clothes covered in blood, and soon to be added to what Darcy was already calling the burn pile.

They'd stripped Loki out of his remaining clothes. And cleaning him up. . .His back was a wreck. Thinking about it made her want to vomit. She already had, several times. She would cry later. When she was alone.

His wrists were the easy part. Clean, dress, wrap.

Not so easy, the wound in his side. Also cleaned and dressed with a pressure bandage. Thank God Coulson made her take a first aid course. She was actually able to help Thor instead of just stand there.

The worst were Loki's lips. Neither a scalpel or trauma shears would cut the thick black threads binding his mouth shut. How the hell they were supposed to give him water was a problem.

Easier to fix at the moment was groceries. More medical supplies and clothes for them both. Thor trusted her with his debit and credit cards. He had almost no concept of how it worked, or if he did, he didn't care. Money wasn't a concern for the Asgardian. And Darcy made the run into town quick, wanting to check on Thor and their patient.

Darcy found Thor sitting by Loki's bedside, dozing. Poking him in the shoulder, he woke, taking the offered cup of coffee and box of Pop Tarts.

"How is he?"

"The same," Thor said. "I don't know what else to do."

"He needs a doctor," Darcy said.

"I know," Thor said. "How he's still alive, I know not."

"A stubborn streak?" Darcy suggested.

"Loki is that," Thor said, draining the coffee in one gulp.

"Anything you need? I'm gonna sack out on the couch for a while," Darcy said.

"No. I'll wake you if I need anything."

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Evening. After what passed for supper, and Darcy was sitting out on the porch when she saw the Bifrost touch down a few hundred yards from the cabin. Thor was suddenly by her side, Mjolnir in hand, watching and waiting for whoever it was.

Darcy let out the breath she was holding when Thor relaxed when two people came into view—an older woman and the man Darcy remembered was Thor's friend, Fandral.

"Lady Eir, what. . ."

"Your father sent us," Eir said.

"Fandral, take Thor for a walk, please," Eir said. "Child, I could use your help."

Darcy found herself dragged to Loki's side, and Eir set down the bag she was holding, rolling up her sleeves, taking several items out of the bag. A small knife with a silver blade, a bunch of rocks and clean bandages.

"First we're going to ease his pain, and then I will work on the bindings," Eir said.

Eir hummed as she worked, occasionally stopping only to ask or point to something she needed. And eventually, the gaping, bleeding holes filled in slightly with skin, scabbing over. Still grotesque, but not as bad as before.

"What about the rest?" Darcy asked.

"Loki will have to be healed in stages instead of all at once," Eir said. "He's too week for anything else right now."

"He'll live?"

"I expect so, child," Eir said. "Sleep. You have nothing to fear. Fandral will stand watch, and I will see to Thor."

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Pain was Loki's first awareness. And he was oh so very tired of pain. Every movement hurt, the parts of his body that weren't stiff. Thirsty and hungry. Exhausted, but he needed water. Wrists bandaged, his back uncovered. Loki pushed himself up, but he fell face-first back into the pillow.

He moved his lips, but no sound came out. His voice, unused in so long, and even before that, for nothing but screaming.

"Water," he rasped, hoping someone would hear.

He heard footsteps then, and a mortal girl entered the room with a cup and Midgardian drinking device he knew to be called a straw.

"Here you go," she said, holding the cup down so he could maneuver the straw to get a drink of water. "Small sips for now, but you can have more when you need it. I'm Darcy, Thor's friend. He should be back any minute."

Loki snorted.

"Hey, be grateful. We're putting our asses on the line for you, sparky," she said.

Another snort.

"You are a snarky one, aren't you?" Darcy said, brushing the hair out of his eyes. "You need a haircut. And a bath."

His eyes went to the water again, and Darcy let him have another drink, probably more than she should.

"Get some sleep. I'll be right here."

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Loki wasn't sure how many days had passed, but he was feeling much better than before. He could lay on his sides, and he was slowly regaining his strength. Still starving though, because the mortal refused letting him have any food, mumbling something about how the doctor wouldn't be pleased. So he'd settle for water, and he called for Darcy, but the mortal didn't come.

It was Thor who stepped into the room, carrying the now familiar cup and straw.

"Hello, Loki," Thor said, warmth in his voice but his features were neutral.

"You should have let me die," Loki said, rolling onto his side, away from Thor.

"I don't think I can face losing you again," Thor said. "Appreciate the fact much effort went into saving your life. People do care, Loki. I care."

His name again, not "brother."

"You're the only person in the Nine Realms who does," Loki said.

"Not true," Thor said. "But we can discuss it later. Are you hungry, brother?"

"I'm not your brother," Loki muttered.

"Loki, don't argue," Thor said, setting down the water cup, returning a few minutes later with porridge smelling of apples. Thor help him sit up, and Loki did manage a few spoonfuls of the porridge, fighting the urge to spit it out all over Thor, but he was too tired to fight, trying not to fall asleep.

Several more days passed like that-sleep, eat, drink. He felt like an infant, helpless, dependent on the oaf and the mortal for help. Until the afternoon the mortal girl brought him something called an ice cream shake. He would find a way to repay her for her kindness.

"Another," Loki said.

"Hold your horses, sparky," Darcy said. "You've gotta take it easy. It'll make you sick."

"I'm not a mortal," Loki said.

"Yeah, but you've had your ass kicked, and what the doctor said goes," Darcy said. "Thor will pitch a fit if you make yourself sick."

The though of an even more overbearing Thor was a sobering one, and Darcy continued rewarding his compliance and good behavior with ice cream. Who knew the god of mischief had a huge sweet tooth?

Another day, another round of compliance, sitting outside on the porch texting while Loki devoured his ice cream. Thor was gone, off on Avenger duty while she was stuck babysitting Reindeer Games.

He flinched, feeling the Bifrost's magic, and Darcy noticed he was paler than usual.

"What?"

"Bifrost," Loki said, looking as if he was ready to bolt

"How can you sense it before it even comes down?" she asked.

Loki said nothing, watching as Eir and Fandral came walking down the path toward the cabin. The healer graced Darcy with a warm smile, and tutted when she turned her attention to Loki.

"You need to be eating real food, my prince," she said.

Loki's gaze shot from Darcy to Fandral and back to Eir. My prince? Was Eir mad?

"This is his reward for behaving himself," Darcy said. "I had to find a way to motivate him somehow."

"He's always had a sweet tooth," Fandral said, grinning at the glower he received from Loki.

Eir took him by the arm, dragging him inside to take a look at his wounds. She cleaned his back and wrists, using a healing stone on each and his lips.

"How are you feeling?" Eir asked as she worked.

"Everything still hurts," Loki said as she dressed his wrists.

"That's a good sign," Eir said. "It means you're healing."

"Why are you here?" Loki asked.

"I came on the Allfather's orders," Eir said.

"Why?"

"That, Prince Loki, is a matter you will have to address with your brother," Eir said.

"Thor is not my brother," Loki said, staring down at the ground.

Eir grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to look up at her. "He is your brother," she said. "Your family has been through so much, but do not doubt their love for you. Mistakes have been made, but do not forsake the second chance you've been given."

He respected Eir. The woman was born a commoner, but she had been one of his mother's closest friends, and was the best healer in Asgard, if not all the realms themselves. Loki was not going to argue with her. Her words held the weight of truth, and even he could not deny that.

"It's good to see you still have some good sense left," Eir said.

"I am the smarter brother," Loki said.

"You are clever," Eir said. "I will give you that."

"So Odin knows I'm alive, and he hasn't had me dragged back to the dungeons?" Loki said.

"Take it up with your brother," Eir said. "I'm just here to see you get well."

"Why?"

"Stubborn boy, I'm not at liberty to say," Eir said. "I'm done. Get some rest."

"I've had all the rest I can get," Loki said.

"Bored are we?"

"Yes."

"I'll see if Darcy can find you some books, and I'll bring you some when I return in a few days," Eir said.

"Thank you," Loki said, grateful, but still confused over the kindness he was being shown.

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Eir came back two days later, bringing books and deeming him ready to move up to small portions of normal food, for which Loki was grateful. Although he did tear through two boxes of Thor's Poptarts just for spite, and the fact he was hungry. And getting restless, paranoid. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, as the mortals said. No good could come out of waiting to leave. He was growing fond of Darcy, and getting used to being around Thor again. Just barely tolerating him, but still. . .Thor was hiding something, and Loki was willing to stay long enough to find out what it was. And he didn't have a long wait.

Thor was back, and they were alone. Darcy went into town to pick up supplies, leaving them with a warning to behave. Loki did fear what the girl would do to him, having heard the story of how she tazed Thor. Loki was content with his nose stuck in a book until Thor had to walk into the room, annoying him with the interruption.

"I was going to wait," Thor said.

"Wait for what?" Loki asked, standing, the book slipping from his fingers. Apparently the other shoe was dropping.

"Loki, sit down," Thor said, pulling several folded sheets of paper from his pocket, giving them to Loki.

Loki read the letter, then handed it back to Thor.

"I hope this is not a confrontation about the fact you've only just found out I'm really Jotun," Loki said.

"No," Thor said. "You're only half-Jotun. Well, a little more than half, considering."

Loki blinked, not quite believing what he was hearing. "What?" "You're half-Aesir," Thor said. "If that helps."

"Not helping, Thor," Loki said, voice breaking, his control slipping. "Just what is it you're trying to tell me? That my other parent was some poor Aesir or Vanir woman Laufey violated. . ."

"You're my brother, Loki," Thor said.

"Quit saying that," Loki said.

"Loki, sit down and shut up," Thor said, voice calm and even. Loki in a panic. Perfect.

Loki did sit down, on the edge of the bed.

"You are my brother because Odin is your sire," Thor said. "Laufey desired an heir, so Father agreed to give the Jotun king what he wanted. Except Laufey lied to Father, said he'd lost the child, and left you in the temple, where Father found you, and brought you back to Asgard. You are in fact a son of Odin, and my brother by blood. My true brother."

Loki blinked, a frown creasing his brow.

"Loki, don't panic," Thor said, taking a seat by Loki, embracing his brother. "Blood or not, it never mattered," he said. "You're my brother, my family, Loki, no matter what."