[ open ] if we're all just cynics come undone

[dothelokimotion]

who: Loki + You
what: Rescuing + Canon update
when: June 15th + Late June
where: Around!
warnings: Spoilers for Infinity War, violence


[ Loki awakens.

It was startling, like he had forgotten how to breathe and submerged underwater for all his days. His chest heaves, fits of coughing wrestling his voice away from him as the doctors clamor above him, gloved hands resting on his shoulders. Violently, Loki shakes them off, immediately climbing out of bed and fleeing the hospital. Hospital. How had he ended up here? How —

A few blocks away, Loki stops, his back resting against the wall. Trembling, his fingers go upwards, touching his neck and drawing back with a hiss. Loki cannot see them but he can feel it. Dark finger-brands upon his skin, squeezing the life out of him, until he couldn't breathe, he couldn't see Thor, spots dancing in his vision, and thinking I don't want to go, I don't want to go —

He slides against the wall, boneless, leaning his head back. The sky looked so blue. His throat aches.

I could have done it, father! I could have done it. For you! For all of you.

Odin was right all along. Loki never could have done it. ]

[ i. infiltration, open to hostages and infiltrators joining him. ]

[ When Loki learned of the kidnappings and who had been taken, his anger overpowered any lingering feelings of self-loathing and tragedy. It was a task he could throw himself into, even as he constantly doubts any effort made in his part. Doubts the ability in his hands, the power in his bones. He would like nothing more than to squirrel himself away, cut off all ties. He didn't want to try anymore only to fail. He can't do it, he knows that now.

But . . . he found he couldn't stop either. For that, Loki blames Thor and curses him constantly under his breath as he and Jim sneak into the base, under heavy illusions, similar to the ones he has placed around his neck. The wound there was slow healing and even Loki's voice bore the slight twinge of soreness. Thankfully, he is nothing if not an excellent pretender.

Jim shoots a few people down, but Loki swats the men away. Steps on a man's neck as he makes his way through. Once they cleared the area, Loki drops part of the illusion to the hostages, his voice sharp and curt. ]

We're leaving. Can you get up?

[ ii. brawl ]

[ It had been bloody but short. Blissfully short. Loki doesn't join the medics (his healing gifts were mediocre and he is not in the mood to help out the entire community). He should approach his . . . friends. Family. But strength fails him as he stands there, looking hopelessly lost. Loki should be proud, shouldn't he? He managed to help, it didn't fall apart.

He should be proud.

He feels none of these things.

One of the kidnappers (missed by the general chaos) rushes at him, but Loki easily turns and grabs him by the throat. Squeezes. And then lets go with a gasp, colour draining from his face. The kidnapper stumbles back, confused but seeing an opportunity and rushes at Loki again.

Loki who is frozen stiff and cannot move. ]

[ iii. aftermath ]

[ Loki doesn't join the healers (he considers his skills in that area mediocre), but he does stop by a few people, healing them of minor gashes and wounds. He doesn't make eye contact. They come and go, and Loki is oddly mute, no quicksilver lines and retorts passing through his lips. Breath in, breath out. He waves them off. What Loki hasn't realized is the illusion he had placed around his neck was slowly flickering, giving away to Loki's bone-exhaustion. ]

There. Off you go.

[ iv. wildcard ]

[ Loki will be around, killing kidnappers, healing people and sort of drifting here and there, checking up on people. Post-event, you can meet him at Gramarye, in his office or doing a few quiet lectures or around Riverview in general. ]

Comments

ii. brawl

[worldsaway]

[Thor has seen neither hide nor hair of Loki. He has a funny feeling he's around, though he doesn't chase his suspicion. He would be a fool to think that Loki has been called back to find that Asgard has settled peacefully and that nothing will trouble them again. If something happened, and it surely has, Loki will come to him.

He promised.

That he sees him paralyzed in the thick of a fight is the least of his worries. He holds his surprise for later, springing into protectiveness before anything else. A very familiar hammer (he really ought to return it to the other Thor. He just needs a minute.) is what rushes past and knocks out the aggressor, returning to the call of Thor's hand as he steps out of the shadows with a face like thunder.]

Loki.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki could feel himself nearly give way at the sound of Thor's voice. Thor saying his name. It makes this reality feel sweetened. His throat hurts and this hurts because he doesn't deserve it, even if he wants to cry over how glad he is to just be for the first time. Every muscle in his body groans, but Loki fashions a soft smile because he can't do this to Thor, he won't. ]

Brother.

[worldsaway]

[Thor's frustration melts away for the most part, he doesn't have it in him to try confront Loki. He doesn't have the heart to accuse him of keeping secrets, though the thought eats at him.

He looks concerned as he approaches, stopping short of Loki to inspect him for wounds that would prompt him to freeze and cower.]

You could have texted me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ His breath catches but once more, he forces it down with a careless shrug. ]

You were busy. As am I.

i

[scholiast]

(Loki's sudden appearance takes Lucretia by surprise. This in itself is unnerving, as she's used to being able to detect magic on some level, but the tight cuff around her wrist has muffled that more than sufficiently. He is not there and then, suddenly, he is.

She jerks in place and winces, pressing her arm tighter to her side.)

This isn't a trick, is it? (He's certainly here in the cell with her. He looks tight, pinched; bruising lingers at his neck. Lucretia reaches out without thinking, almost as if to touch, but her hand falters in mid-air.) ... Are you alright?

[dothelokimotion]

[ His hand spasms briefly, trying not to draw attention to his neck. An uncomfortable second passes before Loki pushes it aside. ]

I'm fine. No tricks. Are you hurt?

[scholiast]

(Lucretia doesn't press, though her concern still lingers. She gestures toward her shoulder, tipping her head gently to let him see even though the motion hurts.)

I think my collarbone is broken. Aside from that, I'm fine.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He nods, slowly moving his hand to her neck, golden light spilling from his hands. ]

Now?

iii;

[neversurrender]

[Thanks to the collar dampening the effects of the serum, Steve doesn't walk out of the fight unharmed. Even after having the collar removed there's lingering signs of bruising around his face, and if he were to lift up his shirt, worse bruising, scraps, and cuts would be revealed all across his chest and back. Their kidnappers had been neither careful nor kind.

He walks with a slight limp as he approaches Loki, his feet carrying him to someone familiar rather then the jumble of unfamiliar and already outnumbered healers around them. All he really needs is some patching up. The serum could do the rest.

The silence between them is almost a comfort as Loki works on him. He's not in the mood for retorts or niceties, and for once Loki doesn't seem to be either. But when the illusion begins to fade, he can't help but lift his gaze to Loki's neck, where bruises begin to appear that he hadn't noticed before.

Without thinking, he raises his hand, fingers touching Loki's jaw and gently pushing it to the side, where he can get a better look.]

Did that happen in the fight? Did one of them try to strangle you?

[But no. The finger marks are so large. It couldn't have been any one of the kidnappers.]

You should get that look at.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki recoils with a hiss, his expression contorted in fear. He has no space for gentleness, not now, not when his chest burns. But any sharp words die because this is Steve in a way, so Loki bites his tongue harshly. ]

It's fine. It will heal soon enough.

[ Will it? Loki has born the brunt of Thanos before, but nothing this extreme. He doesn't know. He doesn't know anything. ]

[neversurrender]

[Steve's hand drops in response and he eyes Loki warily for a moment. He doesn't miss the fear on the Asgardian's face, but he also doesn't believe it's his place to question it. Whatever happened, it left a mark on Loki that's probably deeper than the bruises to make him react like that.]

Well, if you're trying to avoid notice, I suggest covering it with bandages. Or find a turtle neck. [He offers a weak grin.] Whatever illusion you had going is gone. Exhaustion? I can take it from here if you need to rest.

[He begins pulling his shirt back into place.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He pales at that, eyes furtively looking around him to see if anyone else noticed. Grabbing a roll of bandages, Loki starts wrapping them around his neck, but he pauses mid-way as the pain brings a wetness to his eyes. ]

I rather not. It would look strange if I departed without notice.

iii

[buildsomething]

[Tony is not one of the people who needs patching up -- well he does, but the idea doesn't seem to have occurred to him. Instead he's been watching the gathered people, rescuers and rescued like, with a sort of silent intensity that almost makes him look like a sentinel, the armor as still as it is.

But it means he sees it when Loki begins to falter, can catch flashes of the heavy bruising on his throat thanks to the amplified HUD. And maybe his relationship with Loki has always been on the strange side, but Tony can't stop himself from making his way over to him now.

The armored footsteps probably make a pretty good indication for what's coming, but Tony still stops a little bit back from him. He's not trying to catch anyone by surprise at the moment.]

Loki. [Even through the helmet filters, his voice is a little too even.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Breathing still feels like a chore. Normally, Loki's wounds would have healed but this one is far too severe, far too powerful. He's held it back, but the pain lances through him with every stolen inhale. He should be grateful. But Loki can't find it in his heart to care. His voice is soft. ]

Stark. You are a sight.

[buildsomething]

I could say the same.

[The fact that Loki hasn't said anything snotty so far is probably a worry enough in itself.

He carefully moves forward, eyes on Loki's throat. He knows what labored breathing sounds like. He's heard it often enough from himself.]

What happened?

[dothelokimotion]

[ His fingers reach for his throat before flinching away. ]

It is nothing more than an unfortunate visitation.

ii.

[illusionistic]

[ The kidnapper will never reach its intended target as a large serpentine tail swats the kidnapper halfway across the room and into the far wall with a resounding crack. Aeacinos will loom over Loki for a brief minute before he lowers himself back down to a reasonable height of 7 feet. His tail will undulate and flick out behind him as he eyes the surrounding chaos. ]

You are unharmed, yes? [ He'll ask in a gruff, rough, voice. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ It's the spark of recognition that manages to still the more turbulent feelings in Loki's head. He straightens himself, glancing briefly at the kidnapper. Foolish. When had Loki become so weak. Then he turns to Aeacinos. ]

Thank you.

[ His voice scrapes over his ruined throat. ]

You are the one who helped me when I was a child. It seems I owe you more than I can say.

[illusionistic]

[ Aeacinos lets out a soft grunt his tail lashing out behind him and around Loki as he keeps his eyes peeled for anymore attackers. ]

It is fine. Do not speak. We must get you to a doctor.

[ Aeacinos would have no qualms of just obliterating all the cultists here, but he'll take priority in helping those injured first. ]

[spellslots]

[It's undeniable that something is Up with Loki, Taako knows him too well to buy the vague reassurances, but as much as he cares (and he does) there are a few things that need taking care of first. Like the three showers, two naps, and five meals he has over the course of twenty four hours, until he feels like a real person again.

Once that's all done, he gets dressed into something casual, promises Lup he's not going to get kidnapped again, and then makes his way over to Loki with a bottle of wine and a small selection of eclairs.

He only knocks out of politeness, Loki probably knows he's there.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ When Loki opens the door, his neck and side is bandaged. Which isn't normal for Loki, who normally heals quickly, but these wounds would linger. At the very least, with the kidnapping and subsequent brawl, no one would think to question it much. Loki opens the door, letting him in. Vidar, his large Lying cat lies sleeping on the couch. ]

How do you feel?

[spellslots]

[It's very unusual, and there's no hiding the way he glances at the bandage, worried, before he steps inside. The wine and pastries are offered without comment; this is just business as usual for Taako, although this time it was Lup who did the baking.]

A hell of a lot better. Pretty sure I slept like, a human sleep. [He's being hyperbolic.] What about you, bubbale? How did one of those dipshits get a hand on you and are they dead now?

me again >:3c

[scholiast]

(So, the kids are not entirely alright. A lot happened that day the infiltrators finally found their way into the caves to bust everybody out of both shackles and cells, but Lucretia remembers quite vividly Loki's role in her rescue. He had healed her, broken the cuff from her arm so she could have her magic back and that's– not for nothing, despite her displeasure with his trying to make her leave.

It's more than that, too. There's something there. She'd seen the bruising at his neck and he'd been unusually short with her. So Lucretia swallows her annoyance and goes to visit him because– well. They're friends, and above all, she is concerned for him.

She tries his office first, knocking smartly on his door before she tries the knob.)

Anybody in?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki opens the door. His throat is bandaged up and there's a faint bump on his side, indicating that he's bandaged his stomach as well. His jacket hangs loosely on his shoulders, the faintest smudge of dark circles under his eyes. ]

Lucretia.

[scholiast]

(She can't remember ever having seen Loki injured before. For a moment her gaze lingers on his throat, then lifts. He looks tired. In contrast, Lucretia's had her wounds seen to and treated, has caught up on her rest; she feels more or less as good as new.)

I... wanted to come and thank you, for helping me.

(It's not the only reason she's here, but it's a good start.)