Mjolnir's Song

Chapter Nine: zombie, zombie

Thor POV

The next day, I stay in bed, covers wrapped around my body like a burrito. I smile at a vague memory of Loki trying burritos in 2012, before the memory fades and so does my smile. 

Outside, I hear birds chirping. I walk slowly to the window, leaning against the sill. When I see no birds, I frown.

When going outside and yelling at them to shoo yields no results, I head back inside, dejected.

Loki looks worried when I can barely eat and I keep looking out the window. "Brother, what are you hearing?"

I say agitatedly, "Birds. You think they're hiding?"

Korg says with badly hidden worry, "It's winter, mate."

There's more chirping, and I put down my fork. "I think they're in the ceiling."

"Thor...whatever you're hearing, we don't hear it." Loki says with noticeable concern. 

Uncertain, I shake my head. "But...how can you not hear it?"

They're both quiet, and then I'm pissed. "I'm fucking hallucinating, aren't I?"

Loki touches my arm, and I quickly leave the table, feeling my temper rising. When I shut myself in my bedroom and lock the door, I punch the wall, put my head through the window, and then tear apart the bathroom for anything. When I find nothing, I throw myself onto my bed, screaming into my pillows. 

When I calm down, I sit up and hear chirping again. That's all it takes for me to be filled with rage once more, and smack myself over and over again in my chest. When my chest begins to hurt, I give up and lay back down, throwing the covers over myself. 

At one point, Korg peeks into my room. "Hey, bro. Miek made dinner."

I don't get up, but I mumble, "Thank you."

I must doze off. Hours later, I wake up to a male voice. "Point Break. Geez. You look horrible."

A smile grows on my face. "Stark? How did you get in my bedroom? Why are you in my bedroom?"

My mood flips, and I cry out, "Stark, I am ever so sorry! It was my fault you lost the spider child!"

He sighs, shaking his head. "Blaming yourself, huh? Thor, I've done that. Played that whole game. It only destroys you."

I rock a little, tears in my eyes. "No...it was my fault!"

He goes over, hands on my arms. I calm down, finding his presence very soothing. "No the fuck it wasn't."

I close my eyes, beginning to weep. He sighs. "Yeah, yeah. The waterworks. Okay. Yup, alright, okay."

I laugh at Tony being himself, reaching up to tug on his ear. But...Tony is gone. I look around, not seeing him. I wander around my room, the bathroom, the entire house, even outside. 

"Thor, what are you doing? I really don't want you leaving anywhere by yourself."

Loki rushes out, clad in furs. I turn, shaking my head. "Was Tony Stark here?"

Their face falls. "No, Thor. Not that I know of."

I nod, sighing with eyes closed. "Another one, then."

"Let's get you inside. You're literally barefoot in snow." Loki says rather curtly. 

I follow them inside, my mind feeling rather slippery. When I curl up shivering on the couch, I feel...so much younger. I lay my head down, watching fae dance across the floor, floating and dancing. Is it real? None of us know. Probably not. But it's beautiful. 

"What do you see, bro? You're staring at something."

I smile. "Fairies. Do you see them?"

"Sorry, Thor. I don't." Korg sounds genuinely sorry. 

I chuckle. "Guess it's my secret, then."

"A secret you're seeing the psychiatrist for, brother." Loki baps me in the head.

I pout, and they grin a little. "I'll buy you pizza."

Reluctantly, I nod. "Okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Loki POV

Pizza is barely enough. 

Thor doesn't want to leave his bed. He mumbles and stubbornly keeps the blankets over his head until I tug them off.

I can tell he is hallucinating as we settle into the waiting room, which has Astrid and his mother, Grace, a few seats away. I see the young boy looking Thor over with worry and interest, probably the first time he's seen my brother in a long time. 

When Thor slumps over and begins mumbling to himself, I can't help but worry, wondering who he's talking to. Just as Thor begins to converse with someone I can't see, the door opens. My blond rock of a brother gets up, shuffling to meet the psychiatrist. 

"Loki...I hate to intrude...but, um...is Thor alright?" Grace asks timidly. 

I sigh. "Hard to know."

Astrid looks much too serious for a kid. "He's clearly ill."

Grace scowls reproachfully at him, but I manage a smile. "Thor calls it his mind sickness."

Astrid clears his throat. "My father wants to know if you and Thor would like to come over for dinner."

I think, and then nod. "Sure! Thor needs to get out of the house. It could just be only me if he's too tired, though."

"We understand." Grace says in her gentle way. 

When Astrid gets called back into an office, he looks fearful. Grace hugs him. "You can do this, my son. I will be right here."

I smile encouragingly while turning an abandoned coffee cup into a snake. I set it on Astrid's chair. "This snake will be right here too, as will I."

His mouth twitches. "Thanks, Loki."

When Thor comes back, he is holding a fidget toy, something called a...oh Norns, curse my bad memory. 

He slouches back in his chair, snorting at the snake on Astrid's chair. "I see you got bored."

Grace looks up from her knitting. I notice how sharp the ends of the needles are, and I silently let myself be impressed. Women are ever so creative in their self defense methods here. Although Asgardian men are taught from birth never to lay a hand on the women and girls, self defense items can't hurt. 

"Thor, how would you like to join us for dinner tonight?" She sounds a little nervous. 

To my surprise, Thor's face lights up. "I would love to, Grace! That sounds wonderful! Heimdall and I have so much to catch up on. And did I see Astrid earlier?"

Grace is fighting a smile at Thor being himself again. "Yes! I will be making my famous stew."

Thor laughs heartily. "Oh, perfect! Loki! Loki! Are you going?!"

I can't help but laugh. "I was going to ask you that, you oaf!"

He rocks a little, and I am so comforted by the exuberant joy that I was worried he lost forever. "Wonderful! What time is this happening?"