"I'll man the Jet!", Steve shouts speeding to their Quinjet. The bridge had barely opened before he hopped through it, running over to the controls and starting everything. They had to get Peter to the tower. "Bucky! Get the gurney!". Nat joins him, grabbing it from the jet, carrying it to where Peter laid, her also setting Peter gently on it, still feeling the freezing and piercing ice through her insulating gloves.
Tony was stuck in shock, staring blankly, pale and soullessly at the teen, needing Nat to drag him off with them. She knew he'd regret it if he wasn't there. "We'll take care of press and damages, just keep him safe!", Rhodey yells for them, Sam nodding as they head to the nearing police officers, clearing up doubts, giving statements and looking for any stray victims. The less attention on the rest, the less of a chance of a stray picture being shot.
Bucky and Nat carried the gurney in, setting Peter down in the centre of the cabin. The former went to Steve, to help him drive, while Nat — who'd still held a death grip on Tony's arm — set him down on the nearest chair she could. The metal of the armour creaked with the unnatural and forceful movements, but even that didn't manage to shake Tony's paralysed glare off of the injured hero in front of him. Nat stared at him for a few seconds, a few hints of genuine concern showing, though she didn't bother drag him back from wherever his mind went.
She was afraid he'd shatter if she did.
The jet flight was 10 minutes long, the 4 plus Peter taking off the second he was on the let, leaving the 2 gods behind on the roof. Thor was naturally worried for Peter, but Loki staying quiet, staying distant was more concerning to him. "Brother? Are you alright, how are you feeling?", Thor pried. The look on his brother, he'd seen once before. After the battle of New York, in Asgard, when he was trying to recruit his help inside their jail cell, once the illusion faded. The emptiness, that's a look he'd never forget.
Thor Slowly walked over to Loki, and was surprised to see his features shift to madness, not sadness. "Loki?". He grinds his teeth, looking up to his brother, frustrated and defeated. "Why am I like this". Even though Thor was ready for a reaction, this... was not it. "Why, when Peter is hurt the most do I have to feel pride?". Thor, still confused, looked at Loki unsure.
Loki waved his hand holding the hammer, and Thor got the clue. "You've finally wielded Mjolnir, of course you'd feel pride", he tries to commend, keeping his voice in the softer tones he reserved for Banner's comfort. That's not enough for Loki who throws the hammer down the end of the roof. "Of course, because of Father's blasted hammer. Peter's near dead and I have to feel proud? Happy? I-", he chokes, whispering, "I'm horrible, always have been".
Thor's been gentle with Loki before, held his hand or excused plenty, hoping Loki would connect the dots himself. Not now. He grabs Loki tight from his shoulders, forcing him to look right into his eyes. "We both know that's not true", his reply left little question, and if both had been more present, would've been reminiscent of their father's authority, and mother's kindness. "You used that hammer to protect him, kept him safe and may very well be the reason he lives", he continued, brushing a strand of hair off his face in a way only Frigga did, "there's nothing more worthy, and you should feel proud".
There were a few tears out already, but it's surprisingly working on Loki, calming him. "I know regardless you're still worried, and we both know if Peter saw you he'd be proudest of you". Loki chuckles, imagining how Peter would look if he saw him. "Exactly. Peter will be fine, Brucie's taking care of it, so-", he pauses calling the hammer back to himself and placing it in Loki's hand, "don't feel ashamed for this. Be proud of this and ready to show Peter, he's gonna want to see it".
They look over the rooftop to Sam and Rhodey working below at the damage. He returns the hammer to Thor. "Thank you, but I don't want it. Not anymore", he sighs, not a hint of his silver tongue in sight. Thor is most impressed, "if father could see you now-". "He'd hate it", Loki finishes grinning, "good, he can hate it all he wants".
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A year to Remember. Part 3, The Conclusion
Fanfiction(Part 3 of A Year To Remember) Peter finally knows who his Zoo friends are, and everything is finally settling down. However while his friends - The Avengers - don't have any more secrets from him, he still has one last one he's keeping from them. S...
