Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter Eleven

Out of the three men in the room it was Bruce who stepped closer to Loki and continued his low chanting. He stood next to the railing of the bed but didn't lean over it or touch the bed at all. He kept his voice even and repeated the words in the exact same tone  and rhythm.

"You're safe here no one is going to hurt you Loki you're not in the dungeons you're safe here no one is going to hurt you Loki you're not in the dungeons you're safe here no one is going to hurt you Loki." His voice was low and soothing, there was a hypnotic quality to it.

Tony and Thor found themselves moving further back and trying to be as still as they could, not wanting to break the spell that they saw being cast before their eyes. Loki had been sitting up against a pillow in the bed, now he lay flat on the bed, curled into himself. Even with his hands pressed against his ears Loki must have at least heard the repetitive tone because slowly the sobs slowed to shuddering, ragged gasps. The hands lowered from his ears to fall exhaustedly to the bed and curl up under his chin. Even still, he kept his eyes closed, his head bowed with his chin against his chest.

Finally Bruce slowed his words, spacing them out to sentences, then came to a gentle stop like a parent who hoped their child had dropped off to sleep with a lullaby. They knew Loki was still awake, he was still breathing in the occasional stuttering breath, his body twitching.

Bruce looked up at Tony and Thor, with his head he motioned for the two men to step out of the medical room into the observation area. Once there and behind closed doors they all let out their own ragged breaths.

Tony slapped Thor on the shoulder, "You said he would remember you!"

Thor was distraught, "I was told he had only been shifted in body! Not mind." Thor looked back to Loki. "I was told the shapeshifting was only to his body because he would not stop fighting the guards. Father would not let the punishments go beyond the basic, so he had the ability to recover." Thor waved towards Loki. "In this form he was easier to physically manipulate."

Bruce locked his hands together behind his head. He started running through his meditation exercises.

Tony stared at Thor for a long moment, not really blinking. Then asked very quietly. "This is considered basic punishment? Basic?"

Thor let out a frustrated huff. "You forget Loki is a god. This will not-"

Tony made a sharp hand motion, cutting Thor off while interrupting, "Yeah, yeah. Because a good beating always gets a kid to contemplate the error of his ways."

Bruce raised his hands to get the two men to stop talking about a point that was now meaningless. "He doesn't recognize you, Thor. That's what we need to work on right now. He's terrified and as far as he's concerned he's all alone in some strange place with a bunch of strange men who could be the same people who did this to him. And I'm guessing that the guards in the men's section of the dungeons are all men?"

Tony muttered, "As opposed to the kid's section of the dungeon?"

Thor ignored him. "All guards in the dungeon are men." He turned to look at Tony, now answering him, "there is only one dungeon in the palace."

Tony crossed his arms and gave Thor a hard look.

"As I. Was. Saying." Bruce rubbed at a spot on his temple, he was getting a headache. "Thor, do you have any way to convince Loki that you actually are his brother? One that doesn't involve you grabbing him while yelling at him that you are?"

Thor closed his eyes, dropping his head. This was not what he had planned for, he had not expected this possibility at all. Now he had to determine a way to convince a child Loki that he was his brother when he had nothing other than himself.  He was quiet as he thought. The other two men startled as his head jerked up while his eyes widened. He pushed the door open.