Learning To Love

Chapter 15

They beelined straight for the palace, urging their horses on as fast as they could go. In the stables, some of the stable boys took the horses, and Thor led the way inside with Loki still unconscious in his arms, sending Hogun to tell Odin they'd made it back.

The healer, Altha, set to work with Loki right away. She striped away his thin shirt, revealing long, bloody slashes. With Loki lying on his stomach, she cleaned the wounds, stitched the worst of them, applied a cream, and bandaged his back as best she could.

Once he had been taken care of, they cleaned the rest of him up, and spread medicine on the smaller cuts. After they'd lifted Loki onto a small bed, and Sierra slumped down in a chair, resigning herself to waiting for him to wake up.

"Loki will heal with some rest and care," Altha said. "Are any of you wounded?" Fandral came forward with a large cut on his arm from a sword, and she promptly bandaged it up. The rest of them were only exhausted and bruised.

Everyone else left to clean up, and though Sierra wanted to go with them, someone had to stay with Loki. After a while Thor came back, handed Sierra some food, and sat down next to her. She turned towards him.

"Thor, what happened? After we split up?" I asked.

"We explored deep into the caves, looking for Thanos. We found the throne room and entered, but that was our mistake. We should have stayed together and just gotten Loki out." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"We found Thanos in the throne room, yes, but he was accompanied by Chitauri. He was waiting. He sent them after us, of course. We turned and attempted to escape, but then I realized we had to hold them off until you got out with Loki. So, we fought them. They pushed us back farther and farther. You all came up from the dungeons just in time." Sierra's eyes drifted to Loki.

"I wonder why Thanos took him. Well, I know why, I guess I wish he hadn't..." Her voice trickled off. Thor shook his head slowly.

"Yes, we know why Thanos kidnapped him. Loki failed him a few months ago. Now Thanos wants revenge. Simple as that." They were quiet for a few minutes, both deep in thought. Sierra nibbled on a piece of bread, and suddenly broke the silence with a thought.

"Thor, Thanos isn't dead."

"He's not."

"He's coming back. We have to be ready."

"He is. You're right." Thor exhaled. "I wish I knew when. We have to be prepared for battle as soon as tomorrow. We should hope not, though. I-" He stopped talking as Loki stirred. Sierra leaned forward.

"Hey- hey, Loki? Come on. Wake up. You can do it." He blinked a couple times, his eyes adjusting to the light, and let out a small moan.

"Loki?" Sierra asked quietly.

"Hey." His eyes found her, and he smiled weakly. "How are you?" She scoffed.

"I'm fine. You on the other hand, are not, and are sentenced to a few days of rest. Orders straight from Altha." Loki rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I'm just glad you're safe. I- I was worried Thanos had taken you too." Sierra laid her hand on Loki's and squeezed it gently.

"But he didn't. Now your job is to sleep and get better, okay?"

"But I'm hungry," he said innocently. Thor spoke up.

"I have food for you." Thor handed Sierra a bowl of soup, and she helped Loki sit up, and then slowly fed it to him. When he finished, he laid back down and fell asleep within seconds.

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With Loki on bed rest and not much to do, Sierra decided to return home. Heimdall returned her to Stark Tower. She grinned as she walked in, after spotting the other's faces light up when they saw her. Bruce rushed over first.

"Oh my God, we were getting worried! Are you okay? How is everything? Where are the others?" Then he crushed her in a huge hug without waiting for answers. She laughed and returned the embrace, then pulled away to greet the others. Everyone else insisted on hugging her too, but finally they allowed her to explain. Over the next few minutes, she relayed everything that happened, ending with,

"So, everything's fine for now, but we're expecting Thanos soon. I have to go back tomorrow to help." Tony rolled his eyes.

"But you just got back," he complained. Sierra smirked at him as Pepper lightly smacked his arm.

"Anthony Stark, how many times have I had to watch you go off and fight criminals and everything? I think you can handle it this once. Just...be careful, Sierra," she said. Sierra nodded in agreement.

"Of course, Pepper."

Sierra spent the night hanging out with everyone, and they introduced her to Tony's new favorite show, Sherlock. They watched the first two episodes, and she didn't collapse into bed before one in the morning.

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