Stainless

Blood

Steve and Thor were gone for around ten minutes, and returned soaking wet, with something wrapped in the blanket in Thor's arms.

"What is that, Thor? Is that what was out there?" Bruce asked, but seeing the solemn expression on Thor's face and the sad look on Steve's he knew it wasn't anything good.

"Show 'em, Thor." Steve ordered, and the Thunderer nodded, pulling away the blanket slightly to reveal what, or more accurately, who was in there.

It was a small child, who looked to be no older than two, covered in something that was almost definitely blood.

There was so much blood.

"Holy shit." Tony voiced everyone's thoughts.

"Come on, Thor. We need to get him to the infirmary." Bruce cut in, wanting to make sure he would do everything he could if the toddler was injured.

___

"Alright, lay him down here. I'll get some things ready." Bruce ordered as Thor obeyed.

The child objected to being abandoned from Thor's warm embrace and the soft blanket by waking up.
Loki's eyes were saucers, widening in fear.

Sensing that the waterworks were coming, Thor put on a warm smile and slowly took a step back, trying not to scare the child whom he thought he had seen before.
But that did not stop him from bursting into tears.

Bruce turned around from his work and sighed with pity for the toddler.
He gave a half smile and picked up the small syringe with a small dose of a medication to make the child sleep.
Loki did not like that one bit, and wailed even louder once the needle entered his little arm, but was out a minute later.

"I feel like a dick for having to do that," Bruce muttered.
Thor sighed. "Aye, but it was necessary, Doctor Banner."
The good doctor nodded.

"Okay, let's start by cleaning him up a bit, he's filthy. Stay here and I'll go fill a tub." and Bruce left the room.

"Why are you so familiar, little one? What is it about you that I remember?" Thor thought aloud, cradling the child's head.

But then realisation struck the thunder god.

It was Loki.