A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Sleeping Potion

—-Steve—-

I leave the cave in a rush following the path we marked on our way in I have no idea what it's going to take to do the job but I know either Strange or Thor will be able to come up with something. I'm not looking forward to trying to explain things to Samantha. She's probably not going to be happy with the plan.

I'm dreading her reaction to everything so much I'm not even going to call ahead and warn them I'm heading back out. It's way too complicated to explain exactly why we think sedation is necessary over coms. I want both her and Thor to be able to see my face as I explain so they understand there's no better way to do this.

I finally arrive back at the opening of the cave and take a deep breath as I step out prepared to face an onslaught of questions.

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It takes two hours and a thousand reassurances but finally I'm in possession of a potion Strange hurriedly put together. One that'll make Loki sleep and will neutralize his frostbite causing skin. I quickly make my way back to where I left my team with him. I'm surprised to find Loki in the exact same position he was in when I left, the poor kid was so scared I thought he'd try something. Bucky turns to face me at the sound of my entrance.

"How'd Sam take things?"

"It took a while to convince her there wasn't a better way but she's completely on board now after I explained the extent of things."

He nods and all three of us glance at Loki then at each other. How are we actually going to do this? I have a Vibranium needle and a syringe for the potion with me but Strange said the potion works fine when ingested too.

I'd rather not go at Loki with something sharp as he's already scared enough as it is but I don't see him willingly taking it to drink either and if it ends up on the ground I'll have to go back and have Strange make more.

"Lo'?"

He doesn't even glance in my direction continuing to stare at the ground. I load the syringe with the potion and cautiously go on.

"I have something here, it is a needle but it's not meant to hurt you."

He just shakes his head not believing me at all as he continues to protect his leg. I sigh and hand the syringe loaded with the potion to Bucky. Bucky nods understanding the unspoken instruction and approaches the terrified god. Bucky ever so slowly makes his way to him it's only at the very last minute that Loki reacts.

He was seemingly waiting for the exact right moment to fight back knowing how weakened he is, he also had to know he didn't stand a very good chance. Bucky's too fast as Loki's quite a bit slower than usual for obvious reasons and he blocks the attack then injects the tranquilizer into Loki's neck in one fluid movement.

Loki almost immediately goes limp just like Strange said he would. Strange also said Loki will still be awake for up to a minute after. I cautiously approach Loki and gently remove the syringe from his neck knowing that's got to hurt. I put gentle pressure on the puncture and the small wound quickly clots over.

As I do I of course have to shift him as he's gone completely limp and fell to an awkward position, his hair moves out of his face once again. He's been crying and I see fear written painfully on his face. Even though I know he's not going to believe me I can't help but try to say something to make him feel safer.

"It's okay you're safe, we're going to get you to a hospital back home, alright? I promise things will be better when you wake back up just try to get some rest okay?"

I see Loki's fighting to stay awake for about thirty seconds more than Strange told us he would. Though Loki's stubborn it's a loosing battle for him and his heavy eyelids eventually fall closed, his breathing pace steadies, and he finally succumbs to the potion falling into a deep sleep.

We all quickly get to work to move him out of here cutting the chain off with precision and moving him onto the stretcher. Me and Bucky carry him while Sam provides light and guidance around some of the cave's rougher terrain. We move slowly and in a little more than an hour we finally make it out.

—-Sam—-

My heart drops when Steve, Sam, and Bucky finally make it out. Seeing my husband lying on a stretcher looking beyond worse for wear is soul crushing. I want to run to them but of course the barrier's still up and Strange's predicted it probably won't come down until Loki crosses it.

Finally they cross the barrier and I'm at his side in an instant. Loki looks even worse up close, I want to take it, to fix it but my anxiety has gotten the complete best of me and my abilities as at this point I've been on edge with worry for over a week. I feel tears start to pour from my eyes as I take his icy cold hand.

I weep both from relief of finally seeing him again alive and from my fear, anger, and sadness over seeing him this way and the fact that he was left so scared by whatever happened he couldn't trust his friends.

Whatever he went through combined with dehydration had to have triggered his PTSD and memories of torture he buried deep in his subconscious that's the only explanation for his distrust and fear. The fact that he's been outed this way also makes me angry, how incredibly traumatizing to have your secret come out this way.

All in all I'm a mess of nearly every emotion humanly possible, Fear, Disgust, Joy, Sadness, and Anger, a whole Pixar movie worth of emotions, all hit me at once. I hear a low peal of thunder and look over to see Thor is in a similar state next to me shedding a tear or two as he silently looks his brother over in anguish. I just squeeze Loki's hand.

"It's okay baby you're safe now it's okay."

I say the words even though I know he's completely knocked out by whatever Strange concocted. All I want to do is hold him and take him home but I know medical treatment is what he really needs.

"Let's get him to the hospital at home."

Bucky and Steve each give a curt nod and we approach Strange who doesn't need to be told what to do. He opens a portal back to Tønsberg and follows us through, behind him follows nearly everyone who showed up to look for Loki, all concerned and curious both about his appearance and about if he will be okay.