Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter Ten

Thor returned four days later. He came in the late afternoon, wearing his normal Asgardian attire including a new red cape to replace the one he had left behind. He hung Mjolnir from his belt as he had hurried into the elevator, immediately asking J.A.R.V.I.S. to take him to Loki.

The AI had actually sounded apologetic when he had spoken, "Sir has asked me to have you come to the common area. Both Natasha and Agent Barton are in residence and I believe Sir feels it would be suspicious if you were to not immediately appear there."

Thor pressed his lips together but nodded. "Yes, very well. How is Loki?

"Still unconscious, Mr. Odinson. However Dr. Banner has said that he expects him to awaken within the next several hours."

The elevator doors opened and Thor forced himself to exit with at least a slight smile on his face. He had no desire what so ever to see anyone except Loki.

These past days, though few, had been emotionally draining for him. He was not the brother who was used to hiding his feelings, to being deceptive and to keeping secrets. And to everyone in Asgard this had been obvious. He had only gotten away with it by letting the one emotion that he was known for cover for all these others. Anger. He had come across as angry at Loki for escaping, the guards for allowing it to happen and even at Odin for expecting him to spend his time running through the Nine Realms looking for a shapeshifting trickster.

The only one who had looked at him with speculation had been Frigga and he had made sure to be with others when he was in her company. She had simply asked him to take care and to bring Loki back home. Thor couldn't tell if she knew of Loki's condition and treatment and he couldn't bring himself to ask her. He simply didn't want to know the answer.

He had been expected to be on his way to Alfheim when he had told Heimdall to send him to Midgard instead. The Watcher had said nothing.

Now Thor walked over to the couch where Nat was sitting and gave her a bone crushing hug when she stood to greet him.

"Hey good looking." She called out with her knowing smile. She kissed his cheek then wiped her lipstick kiss off with her thumb. Leaning back she studied his face. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

Thor had decided to cover his emotions here the same way as he had at home but with several different emotions rather than just one. He moved to give Barton a one armed bro hug just the way he had been taught as he answered. "You've heard of Loki's escape, yes?"

Clint snorted, "yeah. Took a whole day to get it out of Cap, he said he didn't want to set my recovery back. Like another chance to put an arrow in that fucker's eye would set me back."

Thor flinched, he tried to hide it but he couldn't help it.

Nat saw it and pulled him down to the couch to sit between her and Clint. "How are you doing?"

"As well as I can, I've been searching for him. Without letting the other Realms know that he has escaped." Thor folded his hands in his lap, trying not to clench them. "Odin is not pleased. With anyone."

Clint grinned, "I bet not. So, an inside job?"

"It's unknown at this time. The Captain of the Guards is handling his own investigation and reporting directly to Odin." Thor tried to relax and failed. He was aware that Lady Natasha was closely observing him. He needed to give her more reasons as to why he would be uncomfortable with this conversation. "Odin does not inform me of those findings."

"Ouch." Clint wasn't subtle. "That's gotta hurt. What's up with that?"

"I do not know for certain however I believe that Odin feels that I am not entirely, unhappy, about Loki's escape."