Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter Twenty-Two Annie Returns

Tony had rather abruptly said he needed to take care of something and disappeared on the floor with one of his labs and Thor had taken the opportunity to go to his room and gather more to stuff into his bottomless satchel.

He had grabbed more weapons from Asgard along with his favorite Midgardian clothes. He stood in the room looking around, there wasn't anything overly personal in it. The framed pictures of he and team mates he would leave, they were pleasant but he didn't require them.

From behind his back he removed Mjolnir from his belt and held her in his hand. Slowly he knelt on the floor and set her down, head first with the handle sticking straight up. He stayed that way for several moments, on one knee, bowing before his hammer. He ran his hand over the handle, it fit perfectly in his hand.

She had come to him when he was young and his heart was full of the desire to go into the Realms and right every wrong he could find. At first Loki had been too young, Sif and the Warriors Three had been his companions. They had fought first by his father's side, small battles, skirmishes and attacks that would wet his desire for battle while assuring victory. Now on bent knee, he wondered what his world would be like if he had of been allowed to lose a few of those early battles. Sipping the taste of defeat rather than always drinking victory. Perhaps he wouldn't have turned into the arrogant, young fool that Loki felt desperate to keep from the throne. Then perhaps none of this would have happened.

Thor shook his head, nothing could be changed. He had to look forward. He was all that Loki had, his Brother was depending on him. He pushed himself to his feet and left her there on the floor as he turned away.

A quiet voice stopped him as he got to his door. "Your Highness?"

Thor felt his mouth twitch upwards, J.A.R.V.I.S. rarely called him by his formal title. "Yes?" He sniffed, refusing to admit there were any tears in his eyes.

"What shall I tell Sir when he asks why you left Mjolnir here?"

Thor stared at the inside of his door, it was a fine and sturdy door. It had to be. He had broken so many that Stark had created this one just for him. The door was nearly indestructible but they had discovered that the door frame and walls were still fragile so he needed to be careful when he opened it. "Tell him her magic is traceable." He wiped at a stubborn eye that refused to stop leaking. "I'll return for her."

"Yes sir."

By the time he stepped out of the elevator Steve and Bruce had Loki disconnected from all the lines. The boy was still sedated but hadn't lost his grip on what they all seemed to be mentally calling his pillow. His fingers were twisted in them, his eyes near slits but he wasn't watching them, just staring at nothing from what little they could see of his green eyes. His eyes slowly blinking.

Thor walked over and looked down at his brother. He was tired of seeing this frail body and even frailer mind. How was he to care for a child? He rarely cared for his own horse and that was an animal that could be let to seek its own food and water if circumstances required. Loki was helpless as a newborn babe.

"How is he?" He pulled his cape up closer to cover Loki's bare shoulder then frowned when toes popped out at the bottom. They were even smaller than his fingers, which Thor realized was appropriate but still, they were tiny. And filthy. Thor pulled the cape down and tucked it under Loki's feet.

Bruce answered him. "He's okay, everything is stable. Where's Tony?"

"He will be here. He had something to attend to first but said he would arrive soon." Thor moved a hand to Loki's spiky hair and let it poke at his palm. "His hair." He glanced at the Captain because that man had worn the shorn hair before. "It will not grow this way, sticking out?"