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Chapter Text

"I assure you, brother, the sun will shine on us again."

Loki stood before Thanos, the Tesseract clutched firmly in his hand.

"Your optimism is misplaced, Asgardian."

"Well, for one thing, I’m not Asgardian. And for another, we have a Hulk."

Loki was confident his plan would succeed. It had to, didn’t it? The Hulk was the mightiest among them; surely he could knock out Thanos with ease.

Yet, as the prince watched the Hulk fall, his smile slowly disappeared.

"Allfathers… let the dark magic fly through me one last time."

Loki knew Heimdall would get himself killed, but it was the only way left if he wanted to escape. Survival was necessary. He wouldn’t fulfill Thanos’ words.

But what of Thor? No, Thor would survive. He always did. Loki would return for him—but to do so, he would first need to be on his feet. As Hulk was lifted into the Bifrost, Loki hesitated. Only his deep, abiding concern for his brother held him back. He tried to convince himself that Thor would survive. Thor would always survive.

In alternate realities, Loki might have stayed by Thor's side. But in this universe—Earth 593—Loki’s seems to have changed his mind.

He sprinted toward the Tesseract, now abandoned on the floor, unguarded. With a swift motion, he grabbed the Infinity Stone and ran toward the Bifrost. For one fleeting moment, his eyes met Thor’s for the last time before he got lost into the rainbow bridge.

Thanos had no time to react. But when he saw Loki escaping with the Tesseract, fury consumed him. The Infinity Stone was lost, the traitor had escaped, and yet, Thor remained alive.

“That was a grave mistake,” Thanos growled, then, in a single, brutal motion, he plunged his dagger into Heimdall’s heart.

Thor’s anguished cry rang out. Heimdall, one of his closest friends, was gone. The grief surged through him, raw and uncontainable. Pain. Rage. Revenge. His mind boiled with the need for vengeance. “You will die for that!”

But before Thor could act, the wizard used his magic to gag him. No. He couldn’t be silenced now. He had to escape. He had to kill Thanos—and his pathetic minions. They had to be stopped.

“There are two more stones on Earth, now three with the Space Stone. Find them, my children, and bring them to me on Titan.”

Thanos raised the gauntlet, activating the Power Stone. Thor, already bracing for the inevitable, tried to break free—but it was impossible. Thanos' ship activated its tractor beam, drawing Thanos and his children into the ship.

They were leaving, bound for Earth.

As the Statesman began to tremble, cracking and disintegrating, Thor redoubled his efforts to escape. Eventually, the spell broke. Possibly because the wizard was now long gone, and the Odinson was now free.

He collapsed beside Heimdall’s lifeless form, mourning the loss of his friend. With Heimdall’s death, escape was no longer an option.

But Loki was still alive. Loki was on Midgard, with Banner—that was what mattered now. At least the Tesseract would be safe, protected by the Avengers. But would it be enough? Could his friends stand against Thanos? The Mad Titan was a force beyond reckoning. Thor could only hope that his friends would survive.

The ship exploded in a violent burst of energy. Thor closed his eyes, bracing for the end…

Boom.

Chapter Text

Doctor Strange and Wong were walking down the stairs, talking. It was, by all accounts, an ordinary day at the Sanctum Sanctorum—at least, that was until the unexpected occurred.

An explosion.

They turned in unison. A brilliant, rainbow-hued beam of energy tore a hole through the ceiling and the stairs beneath them. A massive object fell through it, followed by the silhouette of a human.

As the rainbow laser faded, the two wizards stepped towards the hole, bracing for an impact, only to find... Banner? He was laying there, disoriented and barely clothed, with none other than...Loki, laid down beside him. Both looked completely drained.

Banner was panicked, his eyes wide with terror, while Loki seemed more alert, though equally scared. Both were gasping for breath.

"Thanos is coming… He's coming…"

Doctor Strange and Wong exchanged a glance, their faces etched with confusion and disbelief.

Loki was the first to rise, flipping his hair, then dusting his clothes, his eyes scanning their surroundings. He seemed to be trying to piece together where exactly the Bifrost had transported them. It was then that Banner finally noticed him.

"Loki! You're here!" Banner exclaimed, pulling the Asgardian into a tight embrace, his voice filled with relief. "Thank God you're alive."

But Loki, visibly uncomfortable and with a disgusted expression, quickly stepped back. His eyes narrowed, searching for something—or someone.

"Where is Thor?"

Loki remained silent, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground, enough for Banner to understand. Bruce's heart sank as he realized what had just happened.

"Oh no…"

Loki's attention then shifted, his gaze falling upon the two wizards. They were still staring at the two, trying to make sense of the situation.

"It's you," Loki muttered, as he realized where he was.

"Yes, it's me," Doctor Strange replied, his voice steady but sharp. "Now, can someone, anyone, explain to me what in the world has happened here? And—who is Thanos?"

Chapter Text

"And we should have no more surprises. Ever. I should promise you."

Tony Stark was in the midst of sharing a kiss with Pepper when they were suddenly interrupted.

"Tony Stark?"

A strange man stood in front of them, dressed like… well, superman, framed by a radiant orange circle that appeared to be... a portal?

"I am Dr. Stephen Strange, and you must come with me."

That explained the name. The couple exchanged a glance, a mixture of disbelief and surprise crossing their faces. Who was this man?

"We need your help... The fate of the universe is at stake—"

"And, I’m sorry, who is 'we'?" Tony interrupted, clearly lost.

And then, stepping out of the portal, came Bruce Banner.

"Hey, Tony."

Bruce exhaled in relief at the sight of Tony, his fears discarded—he had been worried that Thanos had already reached Earth. With a look of absolute confusion still on Tony’s face, Bruce embraced him, unable to contain his relief that his friend was still alive.

It had been three years since they'd last seen each other. Bruce had assumed Tony was already dead by the hand of the mad titan.

Tony, still disoriented, finally gave in and agreed to follow. Together, they stepped through the portal, leaving Pepper behind.

Then, Tony saw him.

Loki?!

The Asgardian god stood among the wreckage left by the Bifrost, looking at the sky through the shattered ceiling, clearly searching for something.

"Heimdall, open the Bifrost."

Nothing happened.

"Heimdall!" Now he had a worried expression on his face. "Heimdall!"

No sign.

"HEIMDALL, HEIMDALL!"

Loki's cries became desperate, his voice sounded broken. His vision blurred with unshed tears as he hoped against hope that his brother was safe, that Heimdall would respond.

Tony, wide-eyed with disbelief, couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Loki—the same god of mischief who had thrown him off a building, killed hundreds of innocent people, and tried to invade Earth six years ago. The one who started all this bullsh*t.

"What the hell is Loki doing here?!" Tony’s voice was filled with anger, while he was ready to press whatever that button on his chest was.

"Relax, Tony. He’s with us.", Bruce said, trying to calm Tony down. He knew he was the only one who had known about Loki's redemption and his latest heroic acts. "He’s changed."

After what seemed like an eternity, Loki gave up on waiting for a response and accepted the truth. The weight of his grief was nearly breaking him. Heimdall was gone, and with him, Thor—lost to the void of space. He would never see Thor again.

No, Loki thought. He shouldn’t have left Thor alone with that mad titan. He had believed Heimdall would save him, that something would happen to prevent the outcome. But no. His brother was lost—perhaps forever (no, he couldn't think about the ‘de*d’ word), and there was nothing he could do. He felt rage, pain and sadness, but no matter how much he wanted, to cry, scream, he stayed silent, with an empty look on his face. No, he had to show no sign of weakness; stay strong. Only a single tear betrayed him as it ran down his face.

"How is he on our side? He’s a murderer! I thought he was supposed to be rotting away in some prison in Asgard, or whatever hellhole they have there!"

"Well, Asgard is gone."

Tony paused, stunned. Asgard? Gone? That mythical realm, that paradise of gold Thor was always yapping about, the safest of all realms?

"Doesn't matter!" Tony snapped, shaking off the shock. "Wake up, Banner! He’s dangerous! How do we know this isn't some trick? Some sort of evil plan he’s cooking up to turn on us? He’s the god of mischief, for God’s sake!"

"He. Won’t."

"How do you know that? How do you know we can trust him?"

"Because Thor did."

Tony blinked, trying to understand Banner. Thor trusted that monster? Was he missing something here?

Bruce glanced over at Loki, sensing his pained silence. He turned to the god of mischief. "Is everything okay, Loki?"

Loki looked up at the group. He hadn’t been listening, his thoughts being far away, consumed by loss and regret.

"Thor is gone," he said softly, his voice raw, a near imperceptible tremor beneath the words. "We are completely alone in this."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them like a shroud. Tony’s face softened with disbelief. Banner looked sorrowful, but Loki was the one who was hurt the most.

He had lost everyone—his mother, his father, his home... and now, Thor. He had nothing left. No family, no friends, no one who cared for him. His worst fear had come true—he was completely alone. And the bitterness of that loneliness cut deeper than any blade.

What haunted Loki more than anything was the knowledge that he was responsible for that; everything that happened. He had led the elf to his mother, he had left Odin to die alone in Midgard, he was the reason Hela passed through Bifrost, and, most tragically, he had abandoned Thor to face the mad titan alone.

Why? Because of his own ego. He had sought the throne, sought power, but in doing so, he had lost everything that mattered. Thor had always forgiven him—always loved him, no matter what. Loki had been so blinded by his own ambitions. And now, all that was left was regret, and a bitter understanding that he was the architect of his own misery. He suddenly felt something strange for his brother that he hadn't felt in years. Love.

It was Dr. Strange who broke the silence.

"Alright, everyone. We need to come up with a plan, immediately."

"Hold on—" Tony interjected, still trying to make sense of the whirlwind around him. "I still don’t understand why I’m here. Or why Loki is here, suddenly on our side. Or, I don’t know," he looked at Bruce, "Where the hell has Banner been all this time?"

Tony’s voice was a mixture of suspicion and disbelief, his eyes narrowing as he shifted his gaze to Loki. The god, apparently annoyed, stuck out his tongue at him. Tony’s irritation grew even more.

Wong and Dr. Strange explained the threat of Thanos and the hunt for the Infinity Stones, revealing that the fate of the universe rested on their shoulders. Loki, Bruce, and Tony absorbed the details, their attention rapt.

"Tell me his name again?"

"Thanos," Bruce replied, a grim look crossing his face. "He’s a plague, Tony. He invades planets, takes what he wants, wipes out half the population, and—"

"Thanos... He was the one who sent me," Loki interjected. His voice was cold, but there was a note of urgency. He needed Tony’s trust, however reluctant he might be.

"Exactly," Bruce confirmed. "The attack on New York—that’s him! He’s powerful, Tony. He took down the Hulk without breaking a sweat. He defeated Thor. He has the Power and the Space stone. That already makes him the most dangerous being in the universe. If he collects all six stones—"

"He could destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of," Strange completed Bruce’s words, his voice heavy with the gravity of the situation.

Loki’s expression darkened. He was the only one truly aware of Thanos’ true power, and it terrified him. And here they were, discussing strategy while their - supposed to be - mightiest hero - Stark - was leaning on a cauldron while he should be alarmed. How could they stand a chance against someone like Thanos?

His thoughts drifted as he recognized the familiar sight of the Cauldron of Cosmos—a mystical object of immense power, one he had read about in Asgard. The magic Strange and Wong wielded intrigued him. He still didn’t quite understand it, but it was enough to pull him from his thoughts, when Tony spoke again.

"And what is your job, exactly—aside from making balloon animals?"

"Protecting your reality, douchebag," Strange shot back, his irritation evident.

Loki suddenly got interested—Midgard sorcery? He had studied it back in Asgard, assuming it had long since faded into myth. Just as he was about to speak, Tony interrupted.

"Vision is somewhere out there with the Mind Stone, and we need to find him."

"Yeah, that's the problem... Two weeks ago, Vision shut off his transponder. He’s offline."

"What!?"

Great, Loki thought to himself. Stark had been foolish enough to entrust an Infinity Stone to a robot? At least the Time Stone was in safer hands, but what worried him the most was the Tesseract... Thanos would undoubtedly come after him, too. He hadn’t revealed this yet, but should he?

"Look, Tony, Thanos already has two stones, and if he gets Vision's, it’s over. He’ll be unstoppable. Please, you need to call Steve—"

"Actually, he only has one stone right now."

Loki, without a word, lifted his hand. The Tesseract—a glowing blue cube—appeared within his grasp.

"You have the Space Stone!" Bruce said, his tone tinged with relief.

Dr. Strange raised his hand, signaling Loki to surrender the cube. But Loki immediately cloaked it in his magic, concealing it once again.

"The stone stays with me." Loki’s voice was calm, though his eyes burned with an unspoken intensity.

"Loki... Give me the stone now, or I’ll force you to."

"I won’t trust the power of this stone to a mortal, especially one who already possesses another stone. Thanos would easily take both. The Tesseract remains with me."

"And how do we know you won’t use it against us?" Tony’s tone was skeptical.

"I hate Thanos as much as you do, and I want to see him burn more than anyone. Trust my rage."

None of them knew the truth of what Thanos had done to Loki, and Loki intended to keep it that way.

Bruce seemed convinced. Strange was still uncertain, but he chose to trust Loki. Tony, however, remained wary.

"I trust you, Loki. But if you cross us, we’ll be coming after you." Strange finally concluded.

Bruce turned to Tony. "Come on, Tony, call Steve. Thanos is on his way, no matter who you’re talking to."

Tony hesitated, but then accepted that he had to do it. He prepared to make the call when suddenly, something felt… off. The others felt it too.

Outside, screams echoed, and when Tony opened the door, the scene before him left him speechless. People were running in a panic, running from something.

The team rushed outside to figure out what was frightening all those people, and then they saw it.

It was a giant, donut-shaped spaceship.

Loki recognized it immediately. It was one of Thanos' ships.

"Thanos... he’s here..." Loki whispered, the reality of the situation crashing down on them all.

Chapter Text

Even the Asgardian prince trembled at the ominous fate awaiting them beyond the horizon. The Jotun was far from eager for a reunion.

Suddenly, the ship emitted a searing beam of light that plunged toward Earth, landing directly in front of them. The heroes were momentarily blinded by its intensity, squinting against its brilliance. Loki, however, remained fixed upon it, his emerald eyes wide with dread. Soon, two shadowy silhouettes emerged through the blinding radiance. As the light dissipated, he instantly recognized them.

"Hear me, and rejoice. You are about to die in the hands of the children of Thanos."

The children of Thanos.A gaunt, skeletal figure of human stature, swathed in a dark cloak that seemed to shimmer with arcane power—Ebony Maw—and a hulking, monstrous dwarf, clad in gleaming gold armor, the Black Dwarf. They were among those who had tormented him mercilessly, twisted his mind, and subjected him to unimaginable suffering. His teeth ground together as he took a step forward.

"I'm sorry, earth is closed today! You'd better pack it up and get out of here," Stark called out loudly, his voice unwavering. He was brave, but Loki could see the flicker of apprehension behind the bravado.

"Stonekeeper," the alien's gaze now shifted to Doctor Strange. "Does this chattering animal speak for you?"

"Certainly not as I speak for myself," the sorcerer responded coolly, his hands already weaving magic in preparation to defend the stone.

Ebony Maw turned his attention to Loki for the first time. The green sorcerer, standing resolutely, lifted his chin in defiance, striving to mask his terror beneath a veneer of pride.

"Loki Τhanosson, man of mischief. We did not expect to find you here. Your father is eager to have a word with you. He yearns for something you promised to return to him, and he knows you possess it."

Loki's temper flared. He was no child of Thanos—not after everything that monster had done to him. And the wizard had used the titleman of mischiefdeliberately, as though he assumed Loki could be so easily undone. Beneath that proud façade, however, Loki was consumed by a visceral fear—fear of everything that Thanos had done to him. Sleepless nights, searing agony, and screams that haunted his very soul. He burned for revenge. Yet, despite the rage and the terror, the prince resolved to maintain his façade.

"Odinson, you mean. Thanos was and will never be a figure I recognize as... father. And I owe him nothing."

He was about to speak further when the mortal interjected.

"You're trespassing on this city—and this planet," the sorcerer declared, his magic crackling.

"And that meansget lost, Squidward!" Stark added, humor creeping into his voice. Loki didn't understand the reference, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.

The space wizard, however, was undeterred. His mission was clear: deliver the two Infinity Stones to Thanos, no matter the cost.

Everyone was bracing for battle—except for Banner. He groaned and groaned, but the Hulk remained dormant. "Dude, you're embarrassing me in front of the wizards," Stark muttered awkwardly. Then, as his nanosuit enveloped him, he strode forward, ready to face the Black Dwarf alone.

Is he truly so reckless? He cannot take on the dwarf by himself!Loki thought, voicing his concern aloud. Without the Hulk's brute strength, this battle was far more perilous, and if Iron Man wasn't careful, they could all be doomed.

Despite Stark's initial success in fending off the giant, Ebony Maw sent him hurtling through the air with a powerful surge of magic. At that moment, Loki and Wong launched their counterattacks, redirecting the wizard's focus toward them. This allowed Strange to create a portal and transport Banner to safety. Wong erected a protective shield to absorb the wizard's strikes, while Loki summoned his green magic to assault Ebony Maw. His spells, however, were deflected. Stark returned to the fray, narrowly dodging a car that flew toward him.

"You two need to get the stones out of here, now!" Stark barked at them.

"It stays with me!" both sorcerers responded in near unison, exchanging a look of mutual disdain and surprise. For a brief moment, Tony found the situation amusing—but that humor quickly dissipated as he remembered what they were truly up against. "Exactly. Goodbye!" he added, charging toward the alien, only to be sent crashing through buildings by the Black Dwarf.

With Stark momentarily incapacitated, Ebony Maw turned his attention back to the remaining sorcerers and the Asgardian prince. They attacked as one, Strange and Wong wielding conjured weapons and portals to deflect the wizard's magical assaults, while Loki employed his Asgardian sorcery. No one had expected Loki to be such a formidable combatant, yet over the years, he had grown far more powerful. He confounded the wizard with illusions, teleporting and creating clones of himself, while launching deadly strikes with his daggers and telekinetically hurling debris. His eyes burned with unrelenting fury, and he showed no mercy.

But despite the trio's combined efforts, Ebony Maw evaded every single attack.

Eventually, Ebony Maw subdued Wong with a powerful strike, then sent a car crashing onto Loki to immobilize him. He then advanced on Strange. The sorcerer conjured a magical rope, attempting to bind the alien, but Ebony Maw twisted the rope, using it to fling Strange into a nearby wall and trap him.

Loki, struggling to free himself from the wreckage, could feel the blood trickling down his face. His right wrist ached, but he gritted his teeth. Thwarting Thanos was far more important than attending to broken bones. When he spotted the wizard leaning over the incapacitated sorcerer, Loki sprang into action.

"It's a simple spell, but quite unbreakable."

"Then I'll take it from your corpse!" Ebony Maw retorted.

But before he could lay a hand on Strange, a sudden force yanked him downward with tremendous speed. He crashed into the earth, the impact creating a deep crater. When he staggered to his feet, Loki was standing before him, his green magic swirling around his hands, panting heavily.

Can this man not stay down for even a moment?Loki thought, wearied by the chaos. He remembered Strange, noticing the sorcerer falling from the wall, and rushed to catch him. But Ebony Maw, recovering quickly, hurled Loki away with his telekinesis, sending him flying high into the air.

Loki slammed into a car upon landing, too exhausted to rise, as his body screamed in pain. He had two choices. He could either lie there and recover—perhaps a moment's respite—or he could pursue the space wizard and the Stonekeeper. He chose the latter.

Though the thought of rest tempted him, he knew time was running out. Grumbling, Loki struggled to his feet. It was time to invoke the flying spell his mother had once attempted to teach him as a child—years ago. He had failed then, but now, his strength had grown. It was his only chance to stop the wizard before it was too late.

Loki concentrated every ounce of his magical energy into his hands. The pain in his wrist intensified, but he gritted his teeth, enduring it. There were worse pains than this.

He whispered the incantation, and for a moment, nothing happened. But then, he felt himself rise, weightless. He opened his eyes to find himself soaring higher and higher into the sky, over the city. He spotted the space wizard, closing in on Strange. Loki's determination hardened.

He hurtled toward the sorcerer at full speed. As he did, a red-and-blue figure caught his eye—another human, seemingly chasing after the Stonekeeper as well. There was no time to engage him.

Loki neared Strange, but just as he was about to reach him, the sorcerer was consumed by the blinding light of the ship, rising into the air, unconscious. In a desperate bid, Loki shoved Strange aside, only to find himself trapped in the light as well. The prince struggled, but the beam was inescapable. He was being pulled upward, toward the ship, Thanos' ship.

As the ground receded beneath him, Loki saw that the red figure had managed to rescue Strange. The wizard had given up on the Time Stone, but now he was heading toward Loki. Panic surged through the prince as he tried to break free, but an unseen force gripped his left hand. Sticky white webs wrapped around him as the red figure attempted to drag him down. Loki fought one last time, but it was futile. The red figure, too, was caught in the tractor beam.

As they rose toward the ship, Loki knew there was nothing more he could do but wait to face his fate aboard Thanos' vessel.

After some time, Loki awoke in a darkened room. The red figure was nowhere to be seen—perhaps he had escaped. Before he could ponder further, a wave of exhaustion overtook him, and he could hardly keep his eyes open.Damn it, I'm being drugged,he thought, his mind growing heavy.

The last thing he heard was a voice, soft and mocking: "Sweet dreams, my prince…"

And then, the darkness claimed him.

Chapter Text

When Loki regained consciousness, he found himself disoriented, unable to discern his surroundings or comprehend the reason for his predicament. The only thing he was certain of was that he was suspended once more, immobile, floating in a void. His head throbbed, his body weary, as an overwhelming dizziness clouded his thoughts. How had he ended up in this place again? The world around him seemed to spin in an endless blur. He struggled to lift his eyelids, but they felt as though they were weighed down by an invisible force. Gradually, fragments of his memories began to resurface—the Mad Titan, Thanos, the Infinity Stones, the Avengers, the Tesseract, the tragic loss of his brother. Thor. A tightness gripped his chest at the thought of him. Then, the Tesseract.Where is the Tesseract?Panic flared within him for a fleeting moment, but he quickly quelled the rising dread, reassured by the familiar pulse of his magic confirming its safety. A sigh of relief escaped him.

When, at long last, he managed to open his eyes, the intense light pierced his vision, blinding him momentarily. Squinting against the brightness, a figure materialized before him, its silhouette becoming clearer with each passing second. As his eyes adjusted, Loki's gaze locked onto the familiar form of Ebony Maw, his expression twisted into a grotesque smirk, eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure as he regarded the Asgardian prince.

Loki's patience had worn thin. He was weary, not just of this torment, but of the ceaseless chaos that seemed to follow him wherever he went. He longed to escape, to teleport back to the quiet comfort of his chamber in Asgard, where Thor would be by his side, waiting to embark on another of their childhood games, the sounds of their mother calling them to dinner echoing through the halls. How simple those days had seemed, before the weight of destiny and betrayal had come crashing down upon him. But no—reality, with all its harshness, would not allow him such solace.

His body ached in protest, the remnants of whatever vile substance the alien had used to subdue him still clouding his mind.

"In all the time I have served Thanos," Ebony Maw's voice cut through the silence, smooth and venomous, his teeth gleaming as he spoke. "I have never failed him. If I were to reach our rendezvous on Titan, with the Space Stone still concealed and held by his most treacherous servant, there would be… judgement."

Loki's expression remained impassive, a veneer of indifference masking the storm of fear that churned within him.Thanos. The very name was enough to send a tremor through his spine. His gaze swept across the room, and a chill ran down his back as recognition set in. This place—it was all too familiar. The cruel, pale-blue blades floating around him, casting an eerie glow in the dim room, were a vivid reminder of the horrors he had endured. He had been here before. Or, more accurately, in a place like it—one of the many hellish chambers where he had been tortured by that repulsive sorcerer, that malevolent wizard, back in 2011. The thought of reliving that torment filled him with a cold dread.

No. He could not endure it again. He would not.

The ethereal blades drifted closer, their razor edges slicing into Loki's skin with surgical precision. The pale hue of his flesh turned an unnatural shade of blue as they cut through him, leaving no trace of blood, only searing agony. A scream clawed at the back of his throat, but he stifled it, gritting his teeth and clenching every muscle to prevent himself from betraying any weakness. He would not give them the satisfaction.

"Give… me… the… stone…" Ebony Maw intoned, his voice low and demanding, as though the prince were nothing more than a tool to be manipulated.

Tony Stark had managed to infiltrate the donut-shaped spaceship, his stealthy movements aided by his tech and quick wit. From above, he surveyed the scene below, eyes narrowing as he watched Loki, suspended and seemingly powerless. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between acting immediately and waiting for a better opportunity. But just as he was weighing his options, a soft pat on his shoulder jolted him out of his thoughts. Alarmed, he whipped around, instinctively drawing his weapons, only to find a familiar face—the kid.

"What the-"

Peter should not have followed him on that ship. It was dangerous, risky and could be a one way trip. He tried to make sense with the kid, but Peter was determined.

"You can't be a friendly neighborhood spiderman if there's no neighborhood!"

Okay, what.

Tony knew the kid would be a pain in his ass. However, he knew that Peter wasn't going to change his mind. After some consideration, Tony decided to just give up. There was no point in continuing the argument; he'd exhausted every avenue of persuasion. But before he could speak, the air before them rippled, and a portal abruptly tore open. Through its shimmering threshold stepped Doctor Strange, his dark cloak billowing with an air of mysticism and purpose.

Just great. Now he'd have to deal with the wizard too.

Why couldn't he just be left alone?

"Painful, aren't they?" Ebony Maw's voice dripped with cold amusement. "They were originally designed for microsurgery, but I suspect you're already familiar with their…effects. Your last encounter with them didn't end particularly well, if I recall."

Yes, he remembered. Loki's face remained a mask of stoicism, but his breath came in shallow gasps, his eyes darting desperately around, refusing to meet the wizard's gaze. He couldn't. Hewouldn'tbear it. The searing pain, the dizziness, the infernal heat—he felt the blades ripping through his very essence.

His nightmares had become reality. He was being tortured once again.Again.This was his fate now: to be subjected to unrelenting torment until the aliens broke him, took the Tesseract from his shattered form, and delivered him to Thanos. He would be at the mercy of that mad titan, a helpless plaything, left to suffer for as long as it pleased them.

No. No.Loki refused to endure this again. He would not allow Thanos to break him as he had before. He was different now, stronger. His magic was far more refined. He could end this—if only he concentrated.

Loki closed his eyes, clenching his fists. What appeared to the wizard as a surrender was, in fact, a calculated surge of power. The green tendrils of his magic began to pulse beneath his skin, spiraling up his veins, dancing like fire as they spiraled through his fingertips. The air around him shimmered with power, glowing in brilliant emerald hues. His magic swirled in a dynamic torrent, radiating outward.

Ebony Maw, taken aback, attempted to increase the force of the blades, but his efforts only fueled Loki's rage. The green energy grew, filling the space with an almost palpable fury. Ebony Maw had no recourse now—he could see it. Loki was no longer the broken creature he had once been. The Asgardian prince was reclaiming control. And nothing could stop him now.

"Come on, we've got a situation."

The trio leaned forward, Tony gesturing down as he revealed Loki's predicament.

"What's the plan?"

Doctor Strange paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "We need to rescue him before the alien gets his hands on the Tesseract."

Tony's voice was laced with sarcasm. "No shit, Sherlock."

Strange rolled his eyes.

"Uh, guys, I think Loki's about to do something!" Peter interjected, his voice filled with urgency as he observed the prince gathering his power.

Everyone turned their attention to the screen. What they witnessed left them utterly speechless.

Loki's eyes shot open, glowing a brilliant green, and in an instant, a blinding burst of emerald energy erupted from his core, flooding the room in an infernal surge. Ebony Maw was hurled backwards by the explosion, crashing violently into the wall before crumpling to the ground, dazed and disoriented. He stared at the traitor, wide-eyed.

Loki stood tall, unbowed, his magic swirling like a tempest at his fingertips, his eyes burning with the fierce fire of his determination. He was no longer the prisoner. He was the one in control. And he was ready to take on this wretched creature.

However, just as he prepared to unleash the full force of his wrath, a section of the ship's wall unexpectedly ruptured, and a hole appeared, threatening to throw everything into chaos.

Earlier …

"Quick, what's the plan?!"

Peter's voice crackled with urgency as he faced Tony.

"Okay, um. Alright!" Peter's face brightened as an idea took root, igniting a flicker of hope in Tony. "Ever seen this really old movieAliens?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, his exasperation evident. "Oh, great. Just great."

In the next instant, Ebony Maw was expelled from the ship, his form flung into the freezing void of space. Loki followed, momentarily caught in the icy cold of the cosmos, but a red blur shot out of nowhere—webs. A young boy, dressed in the unmistakable attire of Spider-Man, seized Loki mid-fall, preventing him from spiraling into the abyss. Loki felt the unbearable chill of space for a fleeting second before he was swiftly reeled back inside, landing hard on the ship's floor.

Tony was busy repairing the breach in the wall, while Doctor Strange extended a hand to Loki, offering to help him stand. Loki, still catching his breath, took the sorcerer's hand, only for his legs to betray him and collapse beneath him. Pain throbbed through his entire being, and exhaustion pressed on him like a thousand-pound weight. His body's natural healing abilities were sluggish, hindered by the residual strain of his magic. Embarrassed, he rose unsteadily to his feet, brushing off the dust from his armor, attempting to regain some semblance of dignity. His pride, as much as his body, had been wounded.

He glanced around at the trio of heroes.How had they managed to get here?But then, what did it matter? They were here now, and that was all that was important.

He turned to the young Spider-Man, who was standing nearby, watching him intently. Loki sighed, his pride keeping his words sharp. "Thanks, I suppose. Uh…"

"It's Peter. Peter Parker. And you're welcome." The boy's voice was warm, sincere.

Loki regarded him for a moment, surprised by how young the boy seemed. He couldn't be much older than sixteen—if that. The kid was audibly nervous, but doing his best to mask it. Loki offered him a slight smirk.

"Loki, God of Mischief," he said, raising his chin with a touch of haughty pride.

"Oh! We're usingcode names!" Peter grinned, though it was a little awkward. "Well, I'm Spider-Man!" He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And I already knew who you were. Can't say I'm a big fan."

Loki's smile faltered slightly, irritation flaring. So, the boy was one of them—the Avengers. And like the others, he refused to trust him.How typical.But how could they know he wasn't actually in control of his actions back then?

Meanwhile, Doctor Strange and Tony Stark were embroiled in a heated conversation, their voices sharp and tinged with frustration.

"Turn the ship around," Strange ordered.

Tony, pulling off his suit, shot him an incredulous look. But Loki interrupted.

"It's a terrible idea to return to Midgard. Thanos could lay waste to that planet without even breaking a sweat. We should find another world, one beyond his reach."

"And since when do you care about Earth, huh?" Stark shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Last time I checked, you were trying tokill everyone!"

Loki's temper flared. "If I were you, I wouldn't be so eager to see my world vanish,Tony Stark. It could be far more dangerous than you think."

"Things got dangerous whenyouwouldn't hand over the Tesseract!" Stark retorted, exasperated.

"I had to protect the stone from you," Loki bit back, his voice sharp.

"And what did that cause?" Stark's voice grew more bitter. "If you had just given it to us, I wouldn't have to come here to save your ass!"

"I was perfectly capable of handling this myself," Loki shot back, his voice filled with disdain. "If I hadn't helped you, losers, Thanos would have already acquired the Time Stone. And let's not forget what happened the last time you, Midgardians, had an Infinity Stone."

"Alright, how is this related with any of this?" Stark snapped, clearly losing patience.

"If you're supposed to be the clever ones of this planet, I'd hate to see how the ordinary ones behave," Loki quipped, but his sarcasm was cold.

"Admit it, Loki! You should've ducked out when we told you to," Tony snapped, frustration coloring his words. "We tried to bench you, but you refused!"

Loki's expression hardened, a scornful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Listen here, Mr. Ironhead," he bit back, voice dripping with venom. "If you thought I'd behave like the rest of your mighty minions and blindly follow your asinine orders, then you're sorely mistaken."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "And now, due to that fact, we're trapped on a flying donut, billions of miles away from Earth, with no backup."

"I'm backup," Doctor Strange interjected calmly, his voice laced with an air of authority.

"And I can help too!" Peter added enthusiastically, his youthful energy barely containing his anxiety.

Tony waved him off. "No, you're still away. The adults are talking."

Loki smirked at the subtle jab. "No,let him speak," he quipped, turning his sharp gaze toward Stark. "After all, who do you think is right, Mr. Parker?" He relished the idea of proving Stark wrong—of showing that they had underestimated him.

Tony's dismissive attitude reminded him so much ofOdin—when Loki had tried to make his case, only to be ignored, belittled.

Peter hesitated, clearly caught in the middle of the growing tension. "Um… to be honest, you're both right, but I'm with Mr. Stark on this one," he answered, his words awkward but sincere, a youthful confusion clouding his judgment.

Tony couldn't help but flash a triumphant grin at Loki, as if to say,I told you I was right. That look sent a flare of irritation through Loki's chest. Why was Stark acting so insufferably childish?

Loki was about to retort when Doctor Strange raised a hand, effectively cutting through their verbal sparring.

"Enough, both of you!" the sorcerer commanded. His voice was unwavering, and the authority behind it left no room for argument. "We need to focus on the real problems here." The sorcerer was right.

"The ship is self-correcting its course, things are not upon."

"Can we control it? Fly us home?" Strange pressed, his impatience seeping through his words.

A thick silence fell over the group.

"Stark, can you get us home?" he asked again, his voice calm but firm, expectant.

Tony took a long, contemplative pause, rubbing his jaw as the reality of their situation sank in. Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with reluctant acknowledgment. "Yeah, I heard you." He sighed, a brief flicker of resignation crossing his features. "But… as much as I hate to admit it, I think Loki's right. I'm not sure we should go home."

"Oh, so now you agree!" Loki chuckled, a mocking edge to his voice. His smirk was triumphant—of course he was right hewasalways right, wasn't he?

But Strange wasn't having it. "Under no circumstances can we bring the stones to Thanos. You don't seem to understand the full gravity of what's at stake."

Loki's eyes flared with fury. "It'syouwho doesn't understand, you damn fool! I-" His voice rose, harsh and full of pent-up rage, before Stark interrupted him.

"Thanos has been inside my head for 6 years since he sent an army to New York and now he's back! And I don't know what to do! So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan if I don't wanna archer for his but you saw what they did; what they can do. And if he's not expecting it... So I say we take the fight to him!" His words carried an edge of wild hope, the desperate desire for action palpable in his voice.

"What?" Loki scoffed. "Now this is a terrible idea. We can't take on Thanos. Not on our own. Hell, even the Hulk couldn't do it! I say we go to some remote desert planet, lay low, regroup—"

"No," Tony interjected sharply, cutting him off. "I think you misunderstood how we work here. Unlike you, we don't run from our problems.Youmay run, but not everyone does." His eyes burned with a mixture of exasperation and fury. "And if you think for one second that I would ever—ever—follow your plan, you're even more deluded than I thought. Because 6 years ago you worked for Thanos, and I'm sure you'll betray us, even now."

"I DIDN'T WORK FOR THANOS, I WAS FORCED TO!"

The room went silent. Stark's eyes narrowed, a look of confusion momentarily overtaking his skepticism. Loki's voice had cracked just a little—an unintended slip. A tear, swift and unexpected, trickled down Loki's cheek, but he quickly wiped it away, anger surging to mask the momentary vulnerability. He hadn't meant to reveal that weakness. He couldn't let them know what Thanos had done to him, how deeply the Titan's influence had scarred him.

Tony broke the tension. "So, do you recall?" he asked, his tone more measured than before.

Loki gave a short, bitter laugh. "Recall? I recall enough to know that taking the fight to Thanos is a terrible idea. He could obliterate us in an instant." His gaze shifted, his mind battling the gravity of his own words. The mortals around him were too reckless, too impulsive. But… they wouldn't listen. Perhaps he should just follow their plan. After all, what was there left for him to lose? He had already lost everything.

"You must how dangerous he is," Loki muttered, his voice low but firm. "Thanos is the most dangerous opponent you'll ever face—perhaps the most dangerous force the universe has ever known. But if you want my help, you will listen to me. Because if you don't, none of us are going to make it out of this alive."

Strange nodded, his expression grim. "Okay, we'll listen," he said before Stark could respond. "We don't have much of a choice."

Tony shot Strange a sharp, annoyed look but ultimately sighed in resignation. "Fine," he muttered, his arms crossed. "We'll listen."

Loki took in a slow, deep breath, his chest heavy with the weight of his decision. He glanced around the ship, his gaze sweeping over the familiar metallic walls. Everything about this place was just as he remembered it—cold, sterile, vast and empty, like a tomb. Somewhere, in the recesses of his mind, a knot of unease twisted. The silence here was unsettling. There was somethingelselurking in the ship, something that didn't belong.

The Avengers were busy talking amongst themselves, but Loki didn't care. They were all so sure of themselves, so confident in their plans. It was almost laughable. They had no idea the kind of destruction they were courting.

Loki, meanwhile, was already losing interest. His mind kept drifting to the horrors they were about to face—Thanos.That mad titan.The prospect of fighting him was daunting, but running away wasn't an option. Not anymore.

Loki's gaze swept the room, his mind working furiously. He would find a way to stop Thanos—he had to. For his own sake. For everyone's sake.

But the thing that bothered him most wasn't the impending threat of Thanos—it was the hollow ache that seemed to echo through his chest. Whatwasthe meaning of his existence anymore? He'd lost everything: his family, his home, his purpose. What reason was there to fight, to continue?

"I'll go make sure there are no otheraliensfrom Thanos aboard this ship," Loki announced, his voice flat. "Watch the ship."

Without waiting for any further discussion, Loki turned on his heel and strode toward the metal doors, his footsteps echoing in the hollow quiet.

To his surprise, the doors slid open with a soft hiss. Loki stepped through, into a dimly lit corridor. The walls stretched long on either side, lined with doors, most of them closed but with thin, glass windows through which rooms could be glimpsed. Everything was empty, abandoned.

Then, a voice—soft but unmistakable—reached his ears. His senses immediately heightened. Without a second thought, he cloaked himself in invisibility, his form dissolving into the air around him. His feet moved soundlessly across the hallway, each step deliberate as he approached the source of the voice. The door to the room stood ajar, but Loki didn't need to step closer. He could see through the glass.

In the room there was someone he hadn't expected to see. Someone he hadn't even dared to imagine.

Thor?

Chapter Text

"So your brother left you once again, huh. Yeah, it could be annoying." The rabbit said, curious to hear more about Thor. The god shook from the sudden change of topic to his brother.

"Well it's not the first time. He really can't decide whether he's going to be brave or just run away… There's worse, though, he's been dead before. I hope I do not lose him again."

Thor had been found and saved by some people called "Guardians of the galaxy", although they weren't like he had expected. Ever since then, his mind had been hazy. He wanted to take vengeance for what Thanos did. Half of Asgard had been slaughtered. Men, women, children, lying soulless, shattered around the ship, while Thor was still living. He couldn't protect them, and that haunted him more than anything.

He tried not to think about his brother. He knew he did what he did to protect the Tesseract and save himself but still couldn't bear the thought of losing his brother off his side once again. That was selfish, he thought. But after what he saw, he wanted his brother by his side, scared of him being alone. He couldn't let anyone else he loved die on his watch.

Thor, with his new companions, Rocket, a rabbit, and Groot, a tree, were heading to Nidavellir, a place many believed was just a legend, to claim his new weapon. The rabbit was kind enough to give Thor a new eye, and he respected that. Of course, now he could handle his powers pretty well without the help of his old hammer, Mjolnir. However he knew that with a new hammer he would be even more powerful, hopefully enough to face Thanos and the infinity stones.

Once they arrived there, with the help of Eitri, they began making the new weapon. Thor did as the dwarf told him, restart the heart of the dying star, but it wasn't enough. The iris was closed, so someone had to open it so the force of the start could pass within it. And the only way to do so was going inside the iris and hold it open, receiving all that power.

Thor knew the job was perfect for him.

No matter how much the others warned him, Thor wouldn't change his mind. "That's suicide!" He didn't care. He needed to kill Thanos, and to do so he needed the storm breaker. Thor quickly took his place inside the eye and began the process. Only if he knew it would be that painful.

When the process was over, Thor drifted unconscious, falling and hitting the hard floor. He didn't understand much, but eventually he felt energy, a new kind of power, connecting with him. The Stormbreaker. He weakly opened his hand to call it. However, instead of feeling the weapon flying to his hand, he felt a foot stepping on it, breaking it. Unable to do anything, Thor was forced to endure the pain, trapped inside his limp body.

He heard some gunshots behind him, but couldn't understand what was going on. Only when there was finally some silence, he heard an unknown language to him. The language of the Chitauri. He could slightly open his eyes, when he saw a disgusting monster standing above him, speaking to someone he couldn't see there. Then, the monster grabbed Thor's hair and started dragging him, he did not know where. Helpless, he couldn't bear the pain anymore and fell into unconsciousness.

The next time he woke up he was lying on something, too hard to be a bed. The monster was once again standing in front of him.

"Where is the tesseract?", it asked him aggressively.

"I… I don't know." Thor answered, feeling like he would drift away any moment.

"Lies!" The monster shouted and then punched Thor in his stomach. The pain was unbearable. "Where is that annoying scum and the stone?"

"Do not… speak of my brother like that!" Thor said, when he received another painful punch in his ribs.

"Where… is he!", the monster continued, even more angry.

"I will never tell you." Thor said out of breath, when the monster punched him in the face.

The beating continued for a long time, until the alien was informed that Loki was found. Thor got immediately panicked, begging the Allfathers to protect his brother. Not long after, another alien, looking even more monstrous than the first one, informed them that they had captured Loki. "No!", Thor chocked out, but the first alien quickly hit him again. Then the second one told it to prepare Thor for any necessary interrogation with his brother and left the room. Thor was going to react, when a strong punch found him in the face and everything became black again.

It was a dark room, with a blue light at the center, the spotlight falling on the table where Thor was lying. Loki could tell he was severely injured. Black and purple bruises, freshly marked burns and dark, red blood was covering his entire body while he was barely conscious, like he had been burnt in flames. What had they done to him?

Next to his brother stood a disgusting alien, who Loki didn't know for some reason.

He was smiling like some psychopath (which he was after all), as if he was enjoying watching Thor's vulnerable body struggling. How dare he!

"I wonder how that annoying scum will react when he sees his beloved brother like this!" he hissed and started laughing. But before he could finish his laugh, he gasped in pain, as Loki's dagger was making its way through his back.

"What did you say?" Loki sarcastically asked, amused by the situation. He had made his way to the creature's back, without it even noticing.

Then he rushed to his brother. "Thor!"

"Brother…" he whispered faintly.

Loki put his hands above Thor's torso. He didn't know what to do. He had never seen anyone as hurt as him. "Did they do this to you, brother?"

"Huh… only the bruises…" answered Thor weakly, smirking. "Claimed the full force of a star."

"You truly are an idiot, brother." Loki answered, smiling. History was always repeating itself. At least he was still alive, however Loki wasn't sure how much time he had left. He was considering what he would do, but a voice interrupted his mixed thoughts.

"LOKI! ANY HELP ON LANDING THIS THING?" Stark's voice echoed through the corridor.

"Come on, let's go."

He helped Thor stand up, supporting him. Thor was barely able to keep himself up. "Those Midgardian friends of yours are here, they'll be able to help." Thor seemed relieved. When the two of them started walking slowly and carefully to the end of the corridor, back to the others. Thor was constantly tripping, but Loki was preventing him from falling. Until Thor started zoning out and losing consciousness.

"Come on, Thor, stay with me." But Thor was already losing his balance, half awake. "Thor. I know how you feel, I know how hard it is, but you must stay awake! Focus!" However, no matter Loki said, Thor was now leaning forward more and more, and Loki couldn't hold his weight. "Thor, no! You cannot do this; we'll be there soon! Everything will be okay! Listen to me!" But his brother had already given up and fell on the floor, Loki preventing him from hitting it with force. They were almost there, able to see the other Avengers, panicked, looking outside the window.

"WATCH OUT, WE ARE ABOUT TO CRASH!"

Loki, without second thoughts, projected a green shield around him and Thor, when the ship crashed into Titan.

"Thor, are you okay?" Loki asked, getting no response from his injured, unconscious brother. He put his fingers on his throat, barely feeling any pulse. "No, no, no, no, no, you can't be dying, not now!"

Just as he was panicking, the others noticed them as well. "Thor is here?" Tony asked, surprised. Loki sighed, "Yes, but he won't be here for long if we don't do something!" It was then when they noticed Thor's state. "Oh, no!" Peter gasped. "Wait, guys, I'm sensing something, I think something is coming!"

Loki, immediately sensing the danger, made himself and Thor invisible and projected a protection shield again around them, when something exploded near them. While they were intact, the rest of the heroes were blown away. Then, a small group of people - most probably Thanos' soldiers – attacked the visible Avengers. Loki, however, didn't care much of them. His main priority was saving Thor.

Still protecting themselves, Loki took a look at Thor's body. He didn't know where to start, what he should do. Thor was dying in his hands! He was wasting too much time! No, what spell should he cast, what was more necessary? He was never good at healing magic. Their mother would always heal them – No, Loki! Focus! Alright, he needed to stop the bleeding – internal and external – heal the wounds, get rid of the bruises and the burns, fix his bones. He hoped he'd be successful.

He started casting the spells, one by one, sending waves of green magic all over his brother's body, his skin glowing. He could make it. He was focusing all his energy into the spells, but it was worth it. Growing more and more tired, but also relieved, while he was seeing it was working and Thor's injuries were going away. Just a little more…

"You are the ones Thor told us about!"

"You know Thor?"

Thor knows them? Loki, still working, could overhear the conversation between the strangers and his teammates and paused when he heard the name of his brother.

"Yeah. Tall guy, not that good looking. Needed saving."

He couldn't hold the protection spell and the illusion anymore. Sighing, he made themselves visible again and dropped the shield, feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders.

The guardians noticed them immediately.

"That guy… oh…" The man said when he saw Thor and noticed his state.

Loki was almost done. He knew what he was doing would leave him with just enough energy to stay awake, but he was determined to use as much of his power as needed. He could not lose his brother when he thought he got him. He was the only one left. If Thor was gone, which he thought did happen for enough time, Loki would be completely alone. No one to care for him, no one to love him, and no one for Loki to love. He was scared of that.

Casting the last spell, Loki put all his will to stay awake and not collapse on the floor. Just then, Thor choke and immediately sit up.

"Loki!" he roared out, glad to see his brother, when Loki couldn't resist anymore and hugged him, not caring for their audience, who awkwardly stood there, watching them. Thor was surprised, his brother was never fond of this kind of affections, but fell into his embrace. "I'm so glad you're okay", Loki whispered. "Thanks to you", his brother answered.

Loki then let Thor away. However, as soon as he tried to stand up, he collapsed to the floor, completely drained. "Loki!" Thor gasped once again, now sounding alert, immediately going to his brother's side. "I'm… fine. I… I just need some time to catch my breath, okay?" Thor nodded, not leaving his brother's side, while the others approached him.

Loki was completely tired. He just wanted to sleep, but he knew he couldn't do that. Not in Thanos' spaceship, surrounded by the Midgardians, at least. Taking deep breaths, he felt his magic slowly restoring itself. During the process, he couldn't help but hear the conversation between the others.

"Thor." Tony nodded to the god, glad to see him.

"Tony Stark." Thor nodded back. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, uhm. Everything okay there?" Tony pointed at Loki, who was still lying there, breathing slowly.

"Oh, uh, yes. My brother is-"

"I, Tony Stark, am gathering the power I will need to save each one of you of Thanos' grasp. Don't dare comment anything." Loki commanded.

In other circumstances, Tony would laugh but now he couldn't dare to. It was better not to annoy two gods.

"Right, uh…" He felt so awkward, trying to communicate with them after what he saw. What had happened. He had never imagined Thor and Loki's bond would be so strong that one would sacrifice himself for the other.

Out of the blue, Peter Parker stepped next to Thor. "Omg, you're Thor! I'm a big fan!" Thor raised an eyebrow, "of the way you swing your hammer and defeat villains and stuff", Peter completed himself, embarrassed.

"Nice to meet you too, boy." Thor smiled friendly and they shook hands. Loki sighed, of course his brother was getting the attention again.

Strange decided to change the subject. He needed to remind them why they were there.

"Guys, I hate to break it to you but we need to find a plan. Thanos will be here soon."

Loki was finally able to stand up, his power almost restored. And if someone was able to create a great plan, that was him.

So, they needed to protect the stones and kill Thanos. They had two stones with them, the other ones somewhere on Earth.

"Strange, where exactly are the rest of the infinity stones?

"The mind stone is with Vision, the soul stone unknown."

"Thanos also had the red and the purple one last time we saw him!" Mantis continued.

Loki thought for a moment. He had no idea who Vision was, but he needed someone to help him protect the stones.

"Is Vision safe?"

"The Avengers left on earth are currently with him." They aren't enough, Loki thought. The mind stone was one of the most important ones, and it needed all the protection they could give it.

"Can you open a portal to where Vision is?"

"I believe so", Strange answered. That was just what Loki needed to know.

"Alright. Here's what will happen: Thor will go to Earth to help the other Avengers protect the mind stone, while the rest of us stay here. We have two stones, and we need everyone's help for this."

Thor refused to go, as Loki expected.

"I won't go to Midgard and leave you alone here in Thanos' hand!"

"Thor, Midgard needs a god as strong as you to defend them from Thanos. We will be fine here. We have enough people. Don't you trust your friends?" Thor thought for a moment, then Loki continued: "I promise you brother, I will be fine."

"You better not break that promise, brother." Thor finally said, defeated.

Loki watched his brother leaving in the portal. He indeed hoped that he would not break that promise, and that he would reunite with him again.

Chapter Text

After Thor’s departure, the Avengers, the Guardians of the galaxy, Dr.Strange and Loki got outside the destroyed ship to investigate the place. Hopefully Thanos hadn’t arrived yet. However, it was a fact he would be there from moment to moment. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, as Loki was.

Thanos would probably seek him first. You will long for something as sweet as pain. That was a line Loki never forgot of. The Mad Giant sought revenge on Loki as much as he wanted the infinity stones, Loki was aware of that. Having hold of the Tesseract wasn’t comforting either.

Tony Stark attempted to make a plan, though most of the people there weren’t paying attention. His plan was clear – get the gauntlet, but Loki knew it wouldn’t be as simple as that. Their chances of success were already small, considering the Guardians’ stupidity.

“If I may interrupt, I think your plan lacks… capacity. If we want to stop Thanos, we have to be effective. We need a strategy. I suggest-”

“Excuse me, but does your friend often do that?” Mantis talked over Loki, who got once more frustrated, before turning his glance over the wizard, who was using the time stone, floating mid-air.

The team (They weren’t a team) approached Dr. Strange, who suddenly woke from his position in distress. Apparently, the sorcerer had seen every possible outcome of the upcoming conflict, which, based on what Loki could read on his expression, weren’t pleasant.

“How many did you see,” the Star Lord asked him, curious.

“Fourteen million, six hundred and five,” Strange answered breathless. Woah.

“And how many do we win?” Loki continued. He wanted to know what the chances of winning were, with those oafs by their side.

Silence.

“Two.”

Two?! Two- That’s great. Why am I even trying?

Everyone remained silent, gathering their thoughts. The sorcerer wouldn’t tell them what needed to happen, because, based on his perspective, it wouldn’t happen. That made sense. As for Loki, he was trying to think of the right possible way to defeat the giant.

Thanos was strong, not to mention he had the infinity stones – norns know how many of them he had gathered. However, he lacked agility and stealth, and he was severely outnumbered, considering he wasn’t bringing an army with him. The team also had the element of surprise; Thanos expected to find his children waiting for him, not his enemies (hopefully).

That was what he explained to the team, glad that everyone agreed at the end; Stark still had his doubts. Next, they planned their moves; Strange would attract Thanos’ attention, while the rest of them would be hiding around the area. With Strange’s signal, everyone would attack the giant, aiming for the gauntlet. (“Why can’t we just cut his arm? Or his head?” “That’s not how heroes work!” Peter answered to Loki. ‘He deserves it,’ Loki thought.) Loki pointed to the team to use Thanos’ advantage of size against him, hoping they would understand, although Drax’s and Manti’s expressions could tell otherwise.

Time passed slowly. While the others were having a conversation on who is the strongest, Loki went some distance away from them, alone, to gather his seidr. That was what he normally did before every battle back when he was an innocent prince in Asgard, and it would work well every time. Well, he thought he was alone, when Dr. Strange approached him from behind.

“Loki?”

Loki almost jumped, then turned around to look at the sorcerer, who had a wary look. “Norns, give me a warning next time! Oh, and don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

Strange, who seemed to be unaware of his expression, knocked it off immediately. “Huh- oh yeah, right.”, he said uncomfortably. “I’m just used to-”

“It’s okay, I understand.”, Loki cut him off. He obviously wasn’t surprised of the doctor’s reaction, considering the conversation they had the last time they met.

Strange nodded, then continued. “I just wanted to ask – if you don’t mind – how powerful is Thanos, truly? You seem to know a lot about him.”, he said hesitant.

“Let’s say that he can easily beat all of us at once. Though I do wish we somehow succeed, I don’t think that’s possible, you know it yourself.”

“Right.” The sorcerer avoided to make eye contact. It was perhaps one of the most awkward conversations Loki had ever had.

“Know this – he’ll do anything to get that stone off your corpse. Even worse than killing. That narcistic ass won’t show any mercy. You’ll have to be extra careful.” Loki added, knowing damn well that he himself had hold of the space stone, and he would surely be the giant’s main target, after what he had done to him. Fear rushed through him, as his spine shivered with that thought.

“Thank you for your advice, Loki.” Strange said. It was kind of weird, getting a thanks.”

However, that was when Loki noticed something. The sorcerer was suddenly treating him… respectfully? He could swear that Strange wasn’t this kind before. And he seemed skeptical… What if he saw something that was going to happen in the near future? What if…?

“How’s Thor?” Loki’s words escaped his mouth.

“He’s fine, don’t worry.” The doctor’s words felt warm, but somehow doubtful.

“Is he… going to be okay?”

“I can’t tell y- I hope so. If everything goes as planned…” Strange said, then sighed. Loki’s worry increased. They literally had only 2 chances. 2. If anything went wrong, any wrong move, wrong thought, they would lose, Norns know at what cost. But he had to hide his fear for the moment. He shouldn’t panic. Everything would go well. They would win. They had to.

The moment they had all been waiting for had finally come. Everyone was ready in their positions, when the dark spaceship of Thanos darkened the sky. With a beam of light, Thanos appeared on the battlefield.

Chapter Text

The titan took a glance around slowly, finally setting his attention on Dr. Strange, who was sitting among the ruins of the destroyed spaceship.

Thanos looked smaller than Loki had remembered him. He still had that powerful and monstrous gaze, but overall, he was just an alien, barely reaching the size of the Hulk. Loki tried to think why he had remembered different. Obviously, the prince’s physical state wasn’t as strong as it was now, so that’s a logical explanation. Loki wished winning would be as easy as it seemed, although he knew Thanos was still stronger; he defeated the Hulk after all.

Then Loki’s gaze fell at the gauntlet. Thanos now had the reality and the soul stone, too. It wouldn’t be easy to bring down a mad monster with 3 infinity stones. But they had their advantages too. Loki wondered who Thanos sacrificed to get the stone. Was it Gamora? He really wished it was not; she had the purest heart among Thanos’ children.

Dr. Strange finally approached Thanos. It seemed like Titan was his old home, but it had been destroyed when his race faced extinction. In other circumstances, Loki would have felt bad for Thanos. Certainly, this situation wasn’t a proper one.

Thanos thought the solution to every planet’s problem was genocide – obviously he was wrong.

“With all six stones I could simply snap my fingers; they would all cease to exist and I call that… mercy.”

“And then what?” Strange asked, walking towards Thanos slowly.

“I finally rest and watch the sun rise on a grateful universe.”

Oh, the only place he will be resting at will be his grave, that’s where he belongs.

“The hardest choices require the stronger wills.” Wise words, out of context though for that situation. Thanos still believed that what he was doing was right. How narcissistic can a man be?

“I think you’ll find power will equal to yours!” Strange finally said, forming his portals.

Then the battle started. Everyone jumped at Thanos at once, Iron Man crushing him with the planet’s debris. There was an absolute chaos - explosions, gun fires, magic attacks – Thanos would have never expected that. However, no matter how hard the heroes tried, he was holding off the attack pretty easily, knocking down people and dodging attacks.

Loki hadn’t joined the battle yet. He was hiding behind some rocks, as backup, waiting for the right moment to show up. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the Tesseract wasn’t as safe as the time stone with him. However, the real reason he wanted to stay back was that he wanted to examine Thanos’ methods first. He wasn’t going to jump on him, with some daggers, hoping he wouldn’t miss.

The battle was still tense, the heroes growing tired with every attack on Thanos, who dodged every one of them. Nebula’s arrival was unexpected. Loki wasn’t expecting her to be here, against her father. Maybe Gamora had put some sense into her sister’s mind. Nevertheless, Nebula was strong, but not strong enough.

Thanos didn’t even need to move, and he was winning. But the giant’s amusement didn’t last for long, as Strange managed to trap him and hold him still with Cloak. Moments later, almost everyone was doing their best to keep Thanos still, while Iron Man and Spiderman were trying to get the gauntlet off. That was when Loki decided to step in.

Loki ran into Thanos, daggers in both hands. He slided and stabbed him in his hips. The purple creature growled in pain, but that was clearly not enough to bring him down. Loki smiled, enjoying every moment of Thanos’ pain. He twisted the daggers more, digging them deeper into his flesh, while he grinned, watching Thanos’ pain escape him. Well, how the roles have reversed.

The gauntlet was almost off Thanos’ arm, when Star Lord arrived at the scene.

“Where’s Gamora?”

He was growing more and more angry, when Nebula finally confirmed Gamora’s death. It looked like the truth was heartbreaking for him, because he was ready to punch Thanos in the face. And he did.

“Quill, stop where you are, we are almost done!” was what Loki managed to shout, when Thanos finally broke free of their grip, knocking off everyone. Well, everyone except Loki.

He grabbed Loki by his collar and lifted him up, Loki struggling to escape. His fear tensed when he saw Thanos’ sadistic smile.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the little prince.” Thanos then shook Loki rapidly, who was trying to keep his face calm and not let his mask fall off. He could say anything to the titan, but fear prevented his words from coming.

“Surprise,” was all he managed to say, using sarcasm to hide his panic.

“I see your time with the humans has made you more arrogant than you already were. I’ll fix that, don’t worry.” Thanos’ smile widened, while Loki was searching for something to respond. His silver tongue was always failing him at the worst times.

“Not this time!” Loki said, then shot Thanos in the stomach with his green magic, making him stumble a bit. He was going to say something, but his smiled faded as he saw Iron man from afar flying straight to him.

“We’ll have a talk later, little prince!” He said, grinding his teeth. Then, without warning, he slummed Loki to the ground and focused on Iron Man, who successfully hit him, sending him a few meters away.

Loki felt some of his ribs breaking, while the pain in his head was insufferable, almost like the time Hulk smashed him years ago. He didn’t have time to recover when he saw a moon coming straight at him and Iron man. He quickly conjured a faint shield around them, bracing them from the impact. It protected them from most of the debris, but unfortunately it broke after some point, the rocks crashing them down. It was painful. Tony may had worn a suit, but not Loki.

He sent a blast of energy around them, causing the rocks to fly away, releasing them. Thanos was fighting with the sorcerer, so now Loki had a chance to fix his wounds. Struggling, he got up. His ribs were a mess, ripping his lungs, as his breathing was labored, and his face was bloody, filled with cuts caused by the moon’s debris. He felt the waves of the magic surging through his body, healing the broken bones and injuries. Finally, with a sigh of relief, he walked slowly to the battle.

Iron Man had already arrived there. He and Thanos were fighting face – to – face. The battle was epic. Iron Man, using his upgraded suit, switching from weapon to weapon, was hitting Thanos will all his force. However, his armor had broken, and he was losing to the mad man. Before Loki could interject, Thanos had managed to stab Tony, who was barely holding on. He was ready to finish him, when he suddenly felt something piercing through his shoulder. He turned around to see what had stabbed him, but a green blast of magic hit his chest, sending him flying in the air.

Loki was standing tall, one dagger in each hand. He looked furious, ready to kill a man. Thanos got up, and Loki started running into him. He was getting closer and closer, Thanos preparing to hit him with the gauntlet. When he finally jumped into the air, falling towards the giant, Thanos leaned forward, shooting him with the power stone, when Loki disappeared. Before Thanos had time to process that it was an illusion, the real Loki stabbed him again, this time in his ribcage, with one dagger into each side. When Thanos turned around again, nobody was there.

“Enough!” Thanos roared. He then sent a wave of power with the reality stone around him, revealing the real Loki on his side.

Loki staggered and his eyes widened; he wasn’t expecting that. Before he could react, he felt Thanos’ grip on his neck as he was lifting him up. He struggled to leave, but it was useless. Breathing wasn’t an option anymore.

“This time I’ll deal with you properly!” Thanos growled, his rage burning like fire. He was ready to strangle him, when he turned his gaze to the right, as he heard Strange’s voice.

“Wait!” Strange shouted, still drained from the battle.

Thanos’ grip on Loki loosened. Loki gasped, immediately inhaling air.

“Spare his life, and I will give you the stone.”

Loki raised his eyebrow, as he wasn’t expecting that from the sorcerer. Why did he want him alive? Was it about the future he had seen? Anyway, giving Thanos the stone was stupid.

Thanos thought for a moment, then answered. “No tricks.”

“Don’t.” Tony whispered in pain, who was still bleeding from the stab wound, but it didn’t change Dr. Strange’s mind. He revealed the stone in his hands, sending it floating towards Thanos. The purple giant finally released Loki, who fell on his knees in front of him, taking deep breaths, gasping. He gave Strange the ‘what are you doing’ look.

Once the time stone reached Thanos’ hand, he adjusted it to the gauntlet, feeling its power, smiling. Suddenly, Star Lord appeared out of nowhere, flying directly to Thanos. However, as soon as he reached him, Thanos grabbed him and threw him away. Thanos smile widened more, and Loki wondered what the mad man was thinking this time. He only knew he should get out of there, as fast as he could. He didn’t get the chance though, as he felt Thanos’ grip again.

Thanos grabbed him by his bruised neck, lifting him up. Loki once more couldn’t breathe, feeling him squeezing him more and more tense. His vision’s corners started to blur. He was chocking, unable to escape.

“You said no tricks!” Strange cried, standing up, ready to stop him.

“Oh, but I am indeed sparing his life. I don’t intend to kill him.”

Before Strange could react, Thanos shot him with the power stone, knocking him away. He then turned his attention to Loki again. “You can’t escape me this time again. You are going to pay for your actions, little prince.”

Loki’s emerald eyes widened, while he was desperately seeking air. Where was Thor now? Norns, he regretted that he sent him off. How could he think he would win Thanos – the Thanos – alone?

His vision was completely hazy know, and he was losing sense of his surroundings. He couldn’t focus on anything else but-

Pain.

Pain.

Pain.

Pain.

You think you know pain? He will make you long for something sweet as

pain pain pain               pain pain                  pain       pain pain       pain

pain           pain            pain    pain               pain       pain  pain      pain

pain           pain           pain     pain               pain       pain   pain     pain

pain pain pain             pain      pain              pain       pain    pain    pain

pain                           pain        pain             pain       pain    pain    pain

pain                          pain pain pain             pain       pain     pain   pain

pain                         pain             pain         pain       pain      pain  pain        

pain                       pain                pain        pain       pain       pain pain

Chapter Text

Everyone was left speechless when Thanos’ spaceship picked him and Loki up in an instant. They didn’t have time to stop it. It was already flying away from Titan, deep into space. Slowly, the team started to regroup. Tony managed to close his wound using nanotech while the rest were taking a breath themselves again. He couldn’t wrap up his mind; they had lost both stones. But his gaze was fixed on the so-called Star-Lord.

“What did you do?” he growled. Star-Lord was looking down, obviously avoiding eye contact. Tony continued.

“Do you realize what you have just done? We had him right where we wanted him – and – and you,” he looked at Strange, not being able to hold off his anger anymore, “you gave him the stone!”

Dr. Strange lifted from the rocks he was sitting on and looked at Tony in the eyes. “It was a hard choice, but we didn’t have any other option-”

“You were supposed to protect the stones! And you hand it to the purple psychopath just for Loki’s stake!” Stark was getting closer and closer to Strange.

“Tony, listen to me, there was no other option. Trust me in this. The outcomes-”

“I don’t care about the outcomes, wizard, when Thanos has the power to manipulate them now! You-”

“Um, Mr. Stark?” the kid interrupted, drawing his attention. “There’s something… flickering over there?”

Tony and Dr. Strange both looked where the boy pointed, noticing it too. There was something like a small light, gold and with traces of… green (?), flickering on the ground, not far from the spot Thanos was standing minutes ago. Before Tony could do anything, Strange slowly approached the… glowing thing, and let his hand touch it. The flickering light went away, revealing something entirely different, something blue and-

“The Tesseract”, Strange whispered. He lifted it up, turning to face the others.

Tony was in shock. “How-”

“Loki left it here. He was cloaking it so Thanos wouldn’t notice it.” Strange answered.

“So why was it flickering? Wasn’t it supposed to stay invisible?” The kid asked curious.

Dr. Strange looked at him, then the ground, then he gulped. That was enough for Peter to understand the message. “Oh.”

Tony was lost in his thoughts. Loki was smart and strong enough to give up the stone and enchant it, while hanging from the titan’s death grip. Thanos now didn’t have the space stone. That was a relief. Maybe, maybe they could still win. There was still hope.

Thor was worried. So, very much worried.

Worried about his brother, his friends, everything.

It had been 2 hours since he left his companions and arrived at Midgard. Though it felt like it was more.

Wakanda was a strange place. It was far more evolved for earth’s usual standards. The technology they used was not something he had seen again, impressed by the species’ intelligence.

As soon as he had arrived there, he was greeted by the shock of the Avengers (well, the rest of them). But he wasn’t exactly offended, since they had their reasons to be so. Stepping out of a flaming ring that has appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the room isn’t exactly an ordinary situation.

Apparently, as he learned from Captain America, the team had split in two. The reason was quite meaningless, and Thor didn’t make much of it. It was something about Sokovia and the government, and one of Steve’s friends? Midgardian nonsense, Thor thought. Nevertheless, now the team would need to leave this all behind, since Thanos was a much greater threat.

He was delighted to see Banner was safe, and also Vision. He was one of Thanos’ main targets so he worried he wouldn’t make it in time. Vision was a worthy man, and it would be too bad to lose someone like him. That magic girl, Wanda, was there too, and she seemed to have an obviously deeper connection with the android than any of the others. He was glad the Wakandians had found a way to remove the mind stone without Vision needing to go. Thor admired that girl – what was her name again? Oh, Shuri.

Thor couldn’t forget of course about his new weapon, Stormbreaker. He was forced to leave Nidavellir (well, dragged out of there by Thanos’ goons), and he had no idea what had happened there since then. He could only hope his new friends, that rabbit and that weird tree, Groot, were safe.

So, there he was. Standing among the rest of the Avengers, surrounding Vision, while Shuri was performing the procedure. Having no idea about his friends’ and his brother’s condition. That was, well, great. He had really messed up this time.

They weren’t standing there for long, when another portal appeared just outside of the building. Finally! With no time to explain, Thor  immediately left the room, almost running to the entrance of the building. The others followed him and were trying to catch him up, curious. When they reached the portal, he expected to see his brother, but he saw there everyone but him.

“Where’s Loki?”

“Loki was… taken by Thanos.”

“Loki was what?!”