Broken Beyond Repair

Chapter 11

"See," Bruce says, "this is the problem." He takes Loki's ankle and tries to straighten his leg. Loki's mostly non-reactive, frozen in place as Bruce moves him around, but as Bruce straightens his leg more and more, Loki grimaces. That's Bruce's cue to put his foot back on his towel.

Wanda squeezes his hand reassuringly. "You're doing so good."

Pietro is on his other side, and he kisses Loki's cheek. "Very good," he agrees.

"What's the problem?" Natasha asks.

"He has, like, no range of motion," Bruce says. "He can't straighten his legs. His arms..."

He looks at Wanda, who reluctantly lets go of his hand so Bruce can take it. Bruce tries to straighten his arm, and Loki does better with that. He can't straighten it entirely, but he can reach fairly far. Without letting go of that arm, he takes Loki's other arm from Pietro, too. Loki can't straighten his left arm as much, and as soon as Bruce notices his pained look, he stops pulling.

"See? Look at this," Bruce says. "This is as far as they go."

"Seriously?" Natasha asks in disbelief.

"Yeah, it looks like it," Bruce says. He brings Loki's hands back down to his side, and Wanda and Pietro both hold one. "When was the last time you saw him stand up?"

"Never," Wanda says.

"He had no space," Pietro adds. "We tried to get him to leave his room, but he would not."

"His room?" Tony repeats. "You mean that little cage in the wall?"

Wanda glances at Pietro uncertainly. Cage?

Pietro hesitates. "It could be considered a cage," he says slowly.

"You mean he never left that cage?" Tony asks. "Ever?"

"Well, we did not see him leave," Pietro says, "but we were not with him all the time."

"He did not want to leave," Wanda says. "If he did, I assume it was not his choice."

Tony and Steve share an uncomfortable look, as do Natasha and Clint. Wanda doesn't really understand it — Tony was the only one who saw his room — but if it means they're sympathizing with him, she won't complain.

"Alright, Doc," Tony says. "What's the prognosis?"

"I don't know," Bruce admits. "I mean, this..." He takes Loki's arm from Wanda and moves it to the side, and again, Loki's face contorts in pain when he moves it too far. "I don't even know if physical therapy could fix this. This is what you'd expect from a hospice patient, not, you know, a god."

"So, what, he's a lost cause?" Steve asks.

"He is not a lost cause," Wanda says, shooting him a look.

"And he hears everything you say," Pietro adds.

"Right, right, sorry," Steve mutters.

"Do you think he's ever going to walk again?" Natasha asks.

Bruce pinches the bridge of his nose. "Guys, you know I'm not a doctor, right?"

"Of course you're a doctor," Tony says. "Dr. Bruce Banner. It's right in the name."

"Not this kind of doctor," Bruce says. "I don't know what's going to happen—"

Bruce is cut off by the heavy footsteps down the hall. Everyone looks over warily as they grow nearer. That doesn't sound like just one person. Maybe Thor did get his father to come. That's... an uncomfortable thought. He's a god. He's the king of gods. Wanda doesn't particularly want to meet him. But if it will make Loki feel better, she'll sit through it.