Chapter Text
Thor is in the humiliating position of letting his little brother roll him onto his stomach twice a day to change the bandages for the stab wound on his back. It isn’t even that bad anymore, Thor is sure he can take care of it himself. But Loki gives him a death stare anytime he tries to bring it up so he stops trying.
The rest of his wounds are healing quickly now that there is no poison to fight off and Thor has no hope of ever understanding just what Hela had done to him. Loki has no explanation either, stating he hadn’t been in their room at the time.
It terrifies Thor a little, not that he’d admit it. That he’d been alone with Hela many times while indisposed, that she could have done anything and he wouldn’t be able to fight back. Even knowing he would lose. She probably could have killed him multiple times already in his sleep with Loki around, but the sentiment didn’t relieve his fears.
Regardless of how much they fight, Thor knows Loki. While he may have a silver tongue, while he may excel in subterfuge, he has honor. He would never go for a sleeping enemy. There isn’t enough challenge or glory in that. Hela is a wild card. Thor has no idea what she’d do. Though he knows she is as much war-mongering as he had once been.
He can sit up now but Loki still does not allow him to leave their room. Thor would probably collapse due to his malnutrition and sapped energy, still it remains frustrating. He is constantly confined to the mattress with their sister, who has woken only once and in delirium. Eerily, she had not spoken a word. Despite the pain she must be in.
Loki soon informs Thor he will be seeking Heimdall and the Valkyrie to update them while commanding Thor to remain in the room.
It’s the most care Loki has shown Thor in a very long time. Yet Thor feels as if he is waiting for the other shoe to drop, for this to be an act and Loki to ask for something in return. All his relationships have become transactional. He fears the Valkyrie will turn out the same, that Hela and Loki are using his title, his love, to remain safe until they can depart.
He left them alone for a whole week. He regrets it now. He has no idea what they had talked about, planned behind his back.
He’s awful, to think these things of his family. Loki was hurt badly and he wanted recompense, he saw the same in Hela and saved her. They have not done anything on the Statesman to hint at a future betrayal. But Loki can be opportunistic, and Thor has never been the best at reading people.
The only thing he is capable of right now is looking around anyway. He focuses on the goddess next to him without thought.
She looks just as deadly asleep as she does awake. Thor cannot fathom the reason for which she saved him. Maybe because she was still weak enough that, were he to die, Loki would not be enough to save her from the vengeful Aesir? Or maybe she wanted him in debt to her, for whatever she may see fit.
It’s frustrating. He’s so confused, all the time.
Thor always has to either prove himself to people or pay them back somehow. They love only what he does for them, not for who he is. Because Thor is thunder, bluster and brashness and a brute. Not many can stand to be around him for longer than a week’s time. Even his parents would send him off on quests when they would tire of him.
He’s curious if it was the same for Hela. But, rather than a quest, it was genocide.
What if she is like Odin? Will she deem him unfit for the throne? Doesn’t she already think that? What does she want from him?
People are easier when they want something. He is a god of action and it’s always easier than waiting for the other shoe to drop. He is not naturally patient.
He jumps out of his skin when Hela’s eyes slit open and land directly on him. Whenever she looks at him, it feels like he’s back under Odin’s scrutiny. He thinks she’d hate the comparison.
This time, however, he can tell she’s still not fully aware. Her eyes reflect Surtur’s flames and it makes it obvious she does not recognize where she is or who she is with.
She makes a move to get up, to maybe summon a blade, but all she ends up doing is collapsing back into blackness. Thor winces for her.
Hela is tense even in supposed rest. Forced rest, really. Her body will not allow her drive. She is utterly spent.
He remembers her words: “Now you remind me of Dad.”
“Rest, sister. It is just me.” Thor doesn’t know why he seeks to reassure her. It probably doesn’t mean anything. Loki knocks, weirdly polite, to announce his return and entry. “And Loki. It is only us.”
Thor pretends not to notice her shoulders loosening.
…
Another week passes and Thor is up and about. His wounds heal fast while Hela wakes up less delirious each time.
When she’d first arrived after Loki saved her, she’d probably been running on sheer adrenaline which made her alert. Still, it took her a couple of days before she could stay awake. Now, after wounding herself through over-exertion, she’s barely cognizant.
As the days have passed, however, Hela gets stronger. She is left to remain on her stomach with the severe charring on her back but it looks much better than before. This time, they do not have to deal with infection because she actually allows Loki and Thor to clean them. Of course, she’s not often awake during then but the sentiment stays. She hadn’t felt secure enough to sleep at all before.
Thor’s back is sore but it is minuscule to what he had been walking around with. He tries not to think about where he got the wounds.
It doesn’t matter anyway. Hela is suffering after ridding of what was preventing him from healing and she’d almost not survived the burns the first time around.
Thor also thinks it better this way as they are approaching Midgard. These months have been long and arduous but, as the journey reaches its end, Thor can’t help wishing it’d be longer. If only to prepare his people and sister for what is to come. The politics on this planet are much more complicated than their own, regardless of what benefits they may receive for being refugees and Thor’s status as a hero of Midgard.
Loki and Hela are what he’s worried about. Loki, for his past villainy upon the planet. Hela, for her unpredictability and power previously unknown to Midgardians. Thor himself had been under scrutiny due to being an apparent alien and stronger than all of their planet-born heroes. He cannot fathom what will come of it and he doesn’t really want to think about it. He has to though.
There is also the issue of monarchy. It has long since died out on Midgard, with a few exceptions. Of course, he has never planned to rule the Aesir with an iron fist but they will look to him for answers he won’t have. And he is sure their views will change the longer they remain on Midgard. He’s hoping for it, honestly, as his own have.
The closer they get, the more fears he discovers.
…
One more week and Hela is nearly healed. One, because of the lack of infection she received previously from lack of cleanliness. Two, because of resting this time. And three, because Loki is actually helping Thor care for her.
When she awakens fully cognizant, Thor is the one next to her. Loki had left again to get sustenance and air from Thor’s “uncanny ability to choose the perfect time”. Thor thinks he really just needed some time to himself.
“Sister, it’s good to see you awake.” He doesn’t think she believes him. But Thor has never been a liar. “You have been sleeping for quite awhile now.”
“I overdid it.” She recalls with a rasp. It’s not a question, she remembers what happened. Her eyes pierce through him, “You made it.”
Was he really that close to death?
“I did. Thanks to you.” And Loki, but that wouldn’t have been possible without Hela. “You did not have to do that.”
“I do what I want.” It’s an impactful statement. Bold and direct too. She wanted to save him.
Thor swallows, throat suddenly closed. He pushes the words out, “We will arrive at Midgard in a week’s time. If you wish to leave before then, I offer one of the Statesman’s escape pods for you to use. If not, I will protect you from the Aesir and mortals and fight for your freedom.”
Hela is unreadable. “What do you want?”
He swallows again. He wants Hela and Loki to stay but he knows his wants never hold any weight. (There is still a part of him that wants them to disappear and never return too.) He shrugs, it pulls at his sore muscles, “It does not matter. What matters is that you continue to recover and come to a decision. I have already had a similar discussion with Loki, if you wish to talk to him.”
Loki had been just as unreadable as Hela and had left immediately after asking if Thor was finished, not awaiting a response. He always did like having the last word.
“Why are you offering me freedom.” For fully waking up for the first time, she is surprisingly articulate. He wonders how many times she’s been mortally wounded. He wonders what’s out there that can mortally wound a Goddess of Death. He wonders if she’s already decided what she wants.
He wonders if Loki has. If he has just seen the last of his brother for a long time to come.
“Because you saved me when you didn’t have to.” Thor sits back in the chair he’d pulled up hours ago. He looks at the wall and admits in the stillness, “Because you are my family. And I’d like to protect what’s left.”
“Has Loki made a decision.”
It’s as if he didn’t say a word. Thor smiles wryly. He hopes it doesn’t look as hollow as he feels.
“He has not returned to our room in seventeen hours.” Neither a confirmation nor denial. The only way to know for sure is to go looking but Thor doesn’t want to find Loki missing. He can sit with the fear.
Hela hums briefly. When he peers at her with his one good eye, her own have closed and she’s turned away from him.
Her voice is low, “I have made my decision.”
“That is?” Thor waits. And waits.
And waits.
…
They are two days out and they can see Midgard’s solar system from the windows.
Hela knows this only because Thor tells her so. There are no windows in their room and Loki appears only when Thor is not around.
The offer Thor had given her, the one he had allegedly given to Loki, is awful. He either loses the rest of his family or has to fight for their rights to live freely on a planet so afraid and so weak. Of course, her and Loki might not choose the same option.
Hela knows there isn’t a third one but she feels wronged for Thor. He doesn’t seem to care which one they choose. In fact, he seems to have resigned himself to one of them already. She’s curious where his self-hatred has come from. He’d seemed so assured and confident on Asgard, fighting her. Maybe he is only strong when has an opponent.
Either way, Hela knows her decision. Loki still seems to be deciding.
“You torture our brother with his not knowing.” Not that Hela had told Thor her own decision. At least she hasn’t avoided the giant oaf. “I’m sure you are aware.”
Almost like he does it on purpose.
“He’ll know after I know, not before,” Loki scoffs at her.
“Forty-eight hours,” She reminds. Her tone scathes but she thinks Loki needs it. It’s obvious Thor has stopped challenging Loki’s whims, has allowed the fool to do as he pleases with no regard for those around him. Hela doesn’t know her brothers, not really, but she tires of Loki’s games and Thor’s resignation. “I have already made mine.”
“And that is?” Hela doesn’t answer him. Best to leave him waiting too. She has no influence on them and she doesn’t wish to be. “Oh, so you may torture our brother but I may not.”
“Yes.” Hela wants to reach out and grab Loki’s throat, wring it to the brink. Just to give him a taste of the medicine Thor’s received. Maybe he’d finally see they’re on equal footing. Or maybe he’d see what she already knows. “I am older.”
“That means nothing. We never knew you even existed.” Loki’s glare is sharp and cunning. He knows what he says and what it means, he knows where the soft parts are. Fortunately, Hela doesn’t have soft part anymore.
“Evidently. Otherwise you’d already know never to speak to me with that tone.” Hela slides her cynical eyes to meet Loki’s. She will always be sharper, more cunning. He may step ahead of her but he could never surprise her.
In their dark, dark family, Hela wonders how Thor became so bright. Even his mother, from the brilliant realm of Vanaheim, is but a witch. She cannot grasp how he turned out so understanding, so giving. And she will never grasp why she now thinks of him so, when merely a month ago he was the one thing in her way of glory and retribution.
Why Loki doesn’t see that, she remains in the dark. Why Thor hates himself, she wonders. But she will never ask and she will never care to.
All she knows right now is that Thor needs them, no matter how much he can’t see it himself. And Loki is debating leaving.
“As you say.” Loki waves a dismissive hand. He probably thinks the same of her tone. Too bad he doesn’t speak it aloud. She could show him a thing or two about tone. “We both torture Thor and find enjoyment in it.”
“Do I appear as if I am enjoying myself.” Loki falters in her steadfast gaze. “I say not what I am to do as I know it will stress him more. He has more to worry about than you or I. And I refuse to be another burden on his list. He can live with not knowing what decision I’ve made as long as he knows that I have made one, which I made very clear to him.”
“Do tell, what decision is that.” Loki deadpans. But he isn’t looking at her. She detects guilt somewhere beneath all his bluster.
“Thor will know before you, not after.” Hela mimics his words and finds enjoyment in it. Maybe there is something to torturing her brothers a little. She has no guilt or shame over making Thor wait for the shoe to drop. She knows it’s better this way.
If he has no time to prepare, he cannot worry over it. He is better not knowing what’s to come when the Aesir’s wellbeing lay upon his shoulders.
Loki sneers and swans out of the room.
…
Midgard is rapidly approaching. The Aesir are tense and antsy, talking amongst themselves as Thor readies them to disembark. He wishes he could speak to Stark, to ask for food and shelter to be ready, for help. He wouldn’t even if he could, and perhaps that’s another fault of his.
He hasn’t been in their room and refused to entertain himself with the mere thought. There are bigger things at stake than his emotions.
Before the ship even lands, one of Stark’s armor is flying around it, peering inside. It frightens the Aesir but makes something release within Thor. He and Bruce wave near-simultaneously when the suit lays its mechanical gaze upon them. It makes a gesture that Thor knows means to follow.
The Aesir can’t help gaping at the Compound. Thor’s curious about the structure too, it had not been there last he’d seen the Avengers. Of course, humans do change so quickly.
The Statesman is almost the size of the building but there is plenty of room to land. He makes sure his people stay aboard while he leaves to communicate their refugee status. Though he cannot stop the Valkyrie, Heimdall, and Banner from trailing after him.
Stark looks weary. “Way to make an entrance, Pointbreak. Might have to give you some pointers. Like the haircut, by the way.”
Thor doesn’t like the haircut. He appreciates Stark’s levity. It’s needed. He shakes his hand, “Stark. I am sorry to come to you with this but Asgard is gone. My people and I are refugees and I am hoping you will assist me in speaking to your world’s governments.”
Tony Stark takes it in stride like he always does. He smirks, “You came to the right place. Should I start calling you King Thor or is that just for the Asgardians? And only if I get to hear about where your father is and how Asgard is gone. Last I checked, worlds don’t just disappear unless they get sucked into a black hole.”
“Tony…” Bruce sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. Tony startles, seeming to just now notice him.
“Dr. Banner! Where have you been all this time? Don’t tell me it’s Asgard.”
Thor can hear the shing of the Valkyrie pulling her blade. He holds a hand out to stop her.
“I found Banner on another planet that worshipped the Hulk.” Thor states simply. “The story for how we all came to be here is much longer but I would prefer to get my people settled before regaling you with the journey.”
“Of course, I understand, your Majesty.” Tony bows but Thor can tell it’s all in jest. He can’t help smiling because only Stark could ease him so. “I’ll get started on getting the UN together to discuss where we could settle you and your people. How does Norway sound? That’s where you first came to Earth, right? I think I could pull a couple strings…”
Tony continues to speak to himself as he turns and walks away, pulling up a hologram on his watch and already making rapid movements. Thor watches him wistfully, wanting to follow but unable to. Bruce indicates he will and rushes after Tony. Distantly, Thor can hear Tony pestering him about his whereabouts and how much Thor said was true.
He shakes his head and turns to Heimdall and Val. “We will remain on the ship until Stark gives us the all clear. Until then, I am sure he will have people bring us food and water.”
“Are they all like that?” Valkyrie’s face is twisted into a grimace.
“No. Stark is one of a kind,” Thor grins at her.
…
Thor is right about the food and water. He is sure Banner is mostly to thank since Tony seemed well and truly distracted by setting up permanent residence for the Aesir. He will owe Stark a lot once everything is settled.
It distracts Thor for a long time, enough for him to forget about the predicament he’s in. That is, until, Banner and Stark enter the Statesman. The latter asks for a headcount.
Thor does so and suddenly remembers the two he had yet to consider. He stalks down the hallway akin to Loki approaching the throne in chains. Banner and Stark follow, one with trepidation and the other with curiosity. Thor knows Bruce has not given the man the full story and it is probably better that way. The less prejudice against Hela, the better. If she is still here.
He will tell his friend the whole story, if only to help Loki’s chances of residency. But he cannot put either of his siblings in the position to be imprisoned. If they are still here, they are under his protection and a part of his people. If they are to be imprisoned at all, it will be by his hand. Not that any mortal creation could hold either of them, nor is Thor under any delusions that he himself could.
Thor enters the room only to falter at the sight of his siblings within. Loki, on a chair with a tome in hand, flipping pages carelessly. Hela, finally able to sit up, on the mattress twirling a dagger. Absently, he hears Tony cursing and Bruce shutting the door behind them.
“You are still here.”
“Disappointed, brother?” Loki asks, not look up.
Hela seems to have been healing rapidly now that she is lucid. She waves the dagger away with a small slight. “If you are to rot on this mortal planet, it shall be in good company.”
“Thor, what the fuck.”
Thor is numb. He doesn’t know what to feel. “You… stayed.”
They both peer up at him. Something interesting must be on his face as they are suddenly focused. Is this an illusion? When he tosses the electronic pen Tony’s holding—“Hey!”—at Loki, it’s caught.
“I… we are here.” Loki enunciates slowly, like he is daft.
“But… I thought… why?” Is that really his voice? It’s so quiet, so lost. To his mortification, his eye begins to burn. “Why did you stay?”
Hela stands, breezes closer until she’s right in front of him. He swallows thickly and stiffens to not flinch away from her touch. Those blackened fingers are frigid on his cheek, tracing the scar she left that’s not hidden by his eyepatch.
“I have hurt you and you have forgiven me, brother. I do not deserve your forgiveness.” He shudders underneath where her fingers lay, unable to help the infernal fear. She doesn’t pull away and he doesn’t step back. “You said you would protect me, fight for me to live here. But who will protect you? That puny Valkyrie? The All-Seer? Our little brother who tucks tail every time he faces a threat greater than him? No, I will protect you. No harm shall come to you, brother, as long as I live.”
Stunned. That’s the only word Thor can think. He is stunned. No one has ever told him that, has ever volunteered to do that. The numbness transforms into an ache he can’t put a name to.
Loki clears his throat and Thor looks to him. “As much as I wish to deny, there may be some truth to our sister’s words. However, I will not allow you to lead our people to an early death. And I do not want you to doubt your trust in me anymore.”
Thor cracks a smile. He looks between his siblings and all of the pain, the history, the blood, sweat, and tears, it fades a little. They are pledging their allegiance, they are putting their trust in him. All he has to do is trust them too.
He pulls himself together, shoulders back. He turns to Tony. “Stark, allow me to introduce Hela, Loki and I’s sister. I am sure you remember my brother well.”
It’s easy. Thor already trusts them.