Chapter Text
Chapter 1
"What's the use of you then?" Tony Stark asked, the venom dripping from his voice. All of his anger was directed at the person sitting in front of him, Loki, while Peter Parker was laying down, critically injured.
One year had passed since Thanos's attempt at destroying half of the life in the universe but apparently that was just a trigger for all alien life forms. An invitation that Earth is open for attacks.
This was one of those. The Avengers fought valiantly and managed to finally defeat the alien army with the help of the guardians but that didn't mean there weren't damages. Many of them were gravely injured and were being transported back to the medical facility.
Loki had been fighting alongside them for the better part of twelve hours. He was exhausted and could barely keep his eyelids open. His magic was severely depleted and he was injured with many burns and deep wounds covering his torso. It was in this condition that Loki along with Tony had found Peter Parker hurt and surrounded by a pool of blood.
As they came closer they saw that his condition was worse than envisaged. His neck and left shoulder were victims of fire. His arm was twisted at an odd angle. But the worst was the gaping hole in his stomach.
Tony quickly tried to stop the bleeding, "Come on, Loki. Do your magic. Heal him."
"What? Stark, I can't heal him. I can barely heal myself."
Tony gave him a look filled with so much hate that Loki had to fight off the urge to flinch. Then he spoke those words that stabbed Loki more than anything.
"What's the use of you then?"
Loki knew that none of the Avengers wanted him on Earth. It was only out of respect and camaraderie to Thor that made them agree. He was certain though that the arguments that Thor spoke in Loki's favor was the only reason they agreed no matter how begrudgingly they ended.
They lived in the Avengers’ Tower. Thor had taken to rebuilding Asgard with the remaining Asgardians. No one except for Bruce Banner actually spoke to Loki aside from a few words from the Captain every so often.
Once again Loki was back to square one. Back to being Thor's unwanted brother, a nuisance, just a thing in Thor's shadow. Someone despised, unwanted. Thor couldn't be bothered either. He had jobs as a king and his little brother's petty problems could wait.
It would have been understandable if the Avengers didn't trust him. Given his personality, no one would. But that was not the case here. They didn't mistrust him, they hated him.
Loki didn't like this. How was he any different than most of them? Wanda Maximoff was against the Avengers until she switched sides. Agent Barton and Agent Romanoff were basically assassins and Stark was an arms dealer before he decided to do good. And yet they looked at him as if they were Saints and he was Satan himself.
But that was the point wasn't it? It was never about what he had done, it was just because he was Loki. This was the universe's way of showing him that he didn't belong anywhere. That he will always be unwanted, unloved and a complete nobody. It was his fate and would never change no matter how much he tried.
He really should’ve been grateful. He had a roof over his head, warm bed, food. But all his life Loki had only wanted to be accepted. To be loved just as much as Thor. People's opinions always mattered to him. Every word spoken against him, every dirty look sent his way was like a dagger in his heart.
Until today.
"What good are you then?" Tony Stark said again.
Loki looked at the boy in front of him. His condition was bad and slowly getting worse. He was barely breathing. He knew that very soon the boy would die. He knew what it was like to be on the verge of death, grabbing the last thread of life.
"Why did you even come here? What's the point? You can't do anything right anyway." Tony kept on talking, insulting him.
And Loki started thinking. What good was he? What was the reason he was alive? Why did he even continue living? Maybe he was just a waste of space. Maybe he was no special.
All his tricks, his illusions, his magic they amounted to nothing. Maybe he was just better off dead.
All those voices saying he should have never been born, he should have been long gone. Perhaps they were right. In the end what if he was just meant to be useless?
Then his eyes went to the boy who was dying. He was too young. He didn't deserve this.
But you do. You can't be any good. The voices whispered.
No. He will be useful. He will find a way to save the boy. He was the God of tricks and he would find a solution. He couldn't heal him in the usual fashion but there was something else he could do. Something he had only done once before.
Giving Tony a look filled only with determination he placed his hands on Peter's forehead and stomach. Green mist came from his hands and started to knit Peter's wounds. It hurt but he could bear it. It won't take that long either.
Tony could see every muscle joining back together. Captain America came behind them speaking into the comm and calling for help most probably.
After only a couple of minutes Loki took a step back, panting heavily. Tony and Steve kept their eyes on Peter who had yet to move. Suddenly Peter's eyes flashed open and he sucked in a long breath.
"What- Mr. Stark? What happened? Why are you here? Did we win?" Slowly Peter got up shooting rapid fire questions, "How am I alright? I thought I was gonna die. I mean I was hurt pretty bad so it makes sense, but how am I alright?"
Before anyone could answer a wet cough was heard. They all looked up to see Loki holding his one hand over his mouth, blood trickling from the side and the other hand on his stomach. And looking at him Tony and Steve finally realized how exactly had Loki healed Peter. His neck was now covered in burns and blood was seeping through his armor.
He had transferred all of Peter's wounds onto himself.
Peter's eyes widened in shock. "M-Mr. Loki?"
"Oh...oh God. He couldn't heal Peter so he..." Steve muttered, horrified.
Peter turned towards Tony, "What happened?"
"He did what had to be done."
"Tell me what happened? How did Mr. Loki get hurt that bad?" Peter all but shouted. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes.
"What happened to you, happened to him." Steve spoke up, "You were dying Peter. He couldn't heal you so he transferred all your wounds onto himself." Peted could only stare in shock.
Loki's breathing was shallow and his eyes wide and frantic. Steve moved to help Loki while talking in his comm, "We need help. Loki's life is in danger. He's hurt. Severely."
As soon as these words left his mouth thunder was heard in the distance causing Loki to look up. With a great resounding boom, Thor landed next to them, Stormbreaker in his hand. A medical jet landed next at the same time and Wanda and Nebula, one of the few that weren't injured, came out.
Thor walked up to his brother, wanting to help him into the jet but was surprised when Loki scrambled back from him, as if afraid. Afraid of Thor.
Thor stood stock still, his face filled with confusion and disbelief. Steve took a step towards him,
"S-Stay back. D-Don't come near me." Loki stammered. Before Thor could come out of his shock Loki was enveloped in a greenish-gold light and was gone.
Ever since Loki had arrived, Tony had tried to convince himself and everyone that he was evil. He couldn't be trusted. But it was all just an excuse. In truth, he wanted to distance himself from him because he saw too much of himself in Loki.
Loki was a genius, sarcastic, witty perhaps even emotionally unstable. Looking at him reminded Tony about all of his mistakes. All the wrong decisions he had made so he had to distance himself.
He's a madman, a murderer, a psychopath. Don't ever forget it. Tony tried to convince himself and the others.
He knew he had been too harsh on Loki this time as well, but Peter was hurt. He loved this kid as his own. He couldn't lose Peter. He was too young. He still had his whole life ahead of him, so much to do. He couldn't let Peter die. He could never forgive himself if something happened to the kid.
But now... now if Loki died, he was certain the guilt would eat him alive.