SPOILERS FOR INFINITY WAR

I don't own Marvel. If I did, Loki would have his own movie by now, and he would still be alive.

Life surged back through his lungs so painfully, Loki could barely breathe. Loki rasped for air, coughing painfully and his eyes watering at the pain. He felt at his throat, wincing at the pain of just touching it. He blinked around the room, his eyes refusing to focus immediately. It was dark all around him, but there was a slate-gray blur of the walls of a small, square room around him, and the lighting was very poor and flickering.

How am I still alive?

Loki's breaths were hollow and his heart pounded in terror of that memory of Thanos crushing his throat. He hated himself for being so weak, and so easily overtaken. He had hoped that he stood a chance.

But where was he? And how was he still breathing? Where was Thor and the Asgardians?

Loki shuddered and stagggered to his feet as a gap of the wall slid into the ceiling and a tall, thin, and pale alien stepped into the room with a flat face and no nose. Loki recognized him. Ebony Maw.

Loki scowled, trying to speak, but all that came out was a fit of throbbing, rasping coughs. It tore up his already mangled throat and bit into his lungs. He grit his teeth, finally catching his voice, which was hoarse and silent.

"Why am I here? I thought that Thanos had declined my offer."

Loki's attempt to sound confident and collected fell apart merely at his rasped voice. He grimaced at the sound of his own voice, and forced to keep his stare steady at Ebony Maw and keep the fear out of his face.

Ebony Maw smiled, but not kindly. "The Great Thanos has merely demonstrated what would happen to you if you fail to please him once again. Your attempt to harm the Great Thanos has resulted in your... temporary demise. Fail to serve Thanos properly this time will lead to a more permanent death. He still has use of you, and he hopes that you will not disappoint. You have tasted one of the more merciful forms of death that Thanos is capable of causing. Would you really like to see what other things he can do to you?"

Loki involuntarily shivered, but asked, "Where's my brother?"

Ebony Maw's grin grew almost mockingly solemn. "The Great Thanos in his good wisdom has allowed Thor Odinson to join him in the multitude of his children as a sacrifice for the good of the universe. You should be honored to have him die such a noble, meaningful death. For even in death, he has been deemed a child of Thanos, as will you be. You will join the living children of Thanos and will gain purpose once again as you serve collective good of the universe."

Loki looked down at his feet, barely believing it. Thor couldn't be dead! How could he be? Ebony Maw was lying!

but Loki thought on it silently for a brief moment. If Ebony Maw was telling the truth about Loki being brought back to life, then Thor must have been that stubborn, emotional brother, refusing to leave Loki's lifeless body just to await his own demise. Loki internally cursed at Thor's stupidity, wishing he could have chosen his "last words" more wisely, and tell Thor to run and save himself.

Loki looked up at Ebony Maw again, drained of any hope of a better life. He was condemned to stay and serve at the murderous hands of Thanos once again.

"The Great Thanos awaits your arrival. We must not be idle to keep him waiting. Come."

Ebony Maw motioned for Loki to follow with a wave of his long arm. Loki lifted his chin, wiping any sign of fear off of his face once again, and silently followed The Maw.

Loki was led past flickering gray hallways and into a vast, dark room. The walls and floor seemed to be made of rough stone, and in the middle of the room was a large, stone throne, occupied by a giant purple alien in golden armor. Loki's heart pounded in fear. Thanos. The memory of that same Titan choking him to death flashed before him, but Loki shook off the thought, keeping his face normal, and trying to restrain his hands from rubbing at his sore throat. Loki glanced towards Thanos's big golden gauntlet on his hand, noticing the two Infinity Stones it now bore. The shimmering blue Space Stone, and the beaming violet Power Stone. The Power Stone was shining especially bright, which Loki couldn't help but wonder why it was that way at this moment.

Thanos stood up from his throne, towering over Loki.

"Thank you, Ebony Maw." Thanos said in his rumbling low voice. "Now stand by with the Black Dwarf to await further instructions."

Ebony Maw bowed low to the floor. "Yes, Great Thanos. It would give me great pleasure to serve to your glorious purpose." Ebony Maw rose, then left. Loki surprised himself by almost wanting Ebony Maw to stay, so that he would not be left alone with the powerful Titan.

Once Ebony Maw was out of sight, Loki noticed Thanos take a step closer to him. Loki stood his ground reluctantly, and kept his eyes steadily locked into Thanos's.

"Did you kill my brother?" Loki asked before he could stop himself. Thanos's eyes softened.

"I apologize for your loss, Loki. Strange, though, isn't it? He was slain by the same Stone that keeps you alive."

Loki looked back at the beaming purple Power Stone in realization. He looked down at his hands, which he now noticed had a slight purple glow around them. He sighed through his teeth, glaring. "Why didn't you just kill me?"

"You offered me your 'undying fidelity', I believe that is how you put it. And yes, I did kill you, to bind your life entirely to what I now possess. If you betray me again;"

Thanos clenched his fist in the golden gauntlet, and the purple stone began to fade. Loki suddenly felt agonizing pain all around his throat, as if Thanos's giant hand was once again wrapped around it, crushing his neck. Loki tried to gasp for breath, but his throats felt too tight. His lungs felt like they were collapsing inward from lack of air. Loki fell to his knees, barely holding himself from the ground with his weak arms pushed against the rough ground. Blackness began to cloud his vision as Loki gaped breathlessly like a fish. He could barely see Thanos's blurry, towering figure above him. The pain was unbearable, and for a moment, Loki thought he would die again.

Then the invisible grip around Loki's burning throat suddenly vanished, and Loki gasped for air, coughing and gagging over his own breath. Loki coughed on the ground for a moment with his eyes wide with pain and fear, but eventually regained footing and weakly got to his feet. He stared at Thanos in horror, and saw that the purple Power Stone was once again glowing brightly.

"Do you understand now?" Thanos said. "No more ressurections for the God of Mischief. You are mine now. The Power Stone is the only thing keeping you alive. It would be unwise to betray me."

Loki continued to gasp for air, but nodded in understanding with his mouth still agape. He was caught. Caged. Controlled. Inwardly, he wondered, how on Yggdrasil would he ever get out of this