Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters, environments or storylines. Just borrowing them for a while :)

Chapter I – Falling

He could not believe this was happening again. For the third time in his life (lives?) Loki was falling through a dark void towards an unknown destination, unable to do anything about it. Granted, that first time he had let go by himself, but the second fall had definitely not been his fault. Come to think of it, he still had to get back at that Strange wizard. Could it be that this was his doing as well? No… something else had happened. He had been on a ship, with Thor, the Valkyrie and Banner, who he had – oddly enough – started to get along with. They had even worked out a battle plan together when Thanos… Thanos! He had been killing off Asgardians, oh so many Asgardians, unaffected by the immense suffering in his mad quest to wipe out half the universe. He had killed, and killed, and killed… Wait! Had he not killed Loki as well? He did have a distinct memory of his neck being snapped… Had that been a dream? Had all of it? If so, when was his last real memory? Puzzled, Loki tried to raise a hand to his neck to check for injury, but a firm hand on his arm stopped him.

"Don't, you're healing. It would be unwise to interrupt the process."

So, he was not falling alone then. Slowly, he became aware of someone holding onto him, supporting his back and neck which were aching terribly. But who was it? The voice was unfamiliar to him, yet it held no menace.

"I suppose it would be equally unwise to move my head then?" he said in a hoarse whisper that brought agony to his throat. The throttling he remembered had apparently been very real.

"Correct."

The voice sounded strong, yet somehow distant. Most likely female, judging by the pitch. Did he know of any space-travelling females?

"Then since I cannot look at you, could you tell me who you are?"

"All in good time" the voice said "We're landing in just a few minutes. And don't speak so much, it must hurt."

"It does."

"Then hush!"

Since it was most comfortable to obey, Loki did. He fell back into silence, telling himself that it would do no good to argue with the one person, or whatever, who seemed to know how to exit this rather dull ride, and how to do so safely. Ever the survivor, Loki decided to trust his unknown companion for the time being. He wanted to live more than he craved immediate answers. If Thanos was still out there Thor would need help. If he had survived, that was. Loki was somewhat surprised to find that his chest constricted painfully, and not due to his physical injuries, at the thought of his brother being gone. He had spent so long cutting himself off from any familial ties that he had not expected to react so strongly to the possibility of loss. Not again, not after mother.

'I mourned for you. I cried for you.'

He had not really believed Thor then, but he was beginning to now. Perhaps some bonds were too strong, too deep, to ever be truly broken. Despite all that had happened between them they had begun to repair some of the damage over the last few days, united by Odin's passing and the threat of Hela. Loki found himself thinking that it would be a shame if their tentative steps towards reconciliation had been in vain.

"Thor lives" the voice informed him, matter-of-factly.

Thank you! He was not quite sure of who or what his gratitude was aimed at.

"Now brace yourself if you can, there will be some impact."

Thankfully remembering not to nod, Loki mentally prepared himself for the jolt of pain that would likely come. For solid ground under his feet, he'd take it.