The fighting had been going on for nearly ten hours now. The Avengers and Loki battling the Chitauri and their undefeated leader; Thanos. Hawkeye was down - out of arrows, Black Widow was just holding on. Captain America continued to lead the soldiers that America had supplied, valiantly battling squadrons of the invading aliens. Iron Man stood with the Hulk at his side - the two had become close in battle and together they took out many opponents.

All this went through Thor's mind as he waited for the hammer to return to his hand. Where's Loki? He suddenly thought. Spinning around (bashing in the heads of attackers), the thunderer saw no sight of his brother. No flash of green magic, no glint from a golden horned helmet.

And he couldn't see Thanos.

The Titan had been overseeing the battle until now and dread filled the heart of the great warrior and god.

"Avengers, I cannot see my brother. I must find him!" Thor declared over the thing that Stark had insisted was called a 'com'.

"Negative. We need to stay in direct sight of each other!" Steve said, ever the tactician.

"Rock of ages will be fine. Besides, he's only helping us to save his own skin. He's probably cowering somewhere," Tony add. He never had any problem with saying what he thought.

"But Thanos is not here either" Thor protested, disposing of several attackers.

There was a pause.

"Go look for Loki and Thanos. We'll hold them back," Steve finally said and the mighty Thor let out a breath of relief. He could not have abandoned his friends to fight the chitauri without having word from them.

"Thanks, Friend Steve," Thor said, swinging the hammer and launching into the air, unaware that the sudden acceleration had dislodged the com that had rested in his ear.

High above the fighting, red cape billowing around him, blue eyes glanced around, searching for any sign of his brother. He feared for him. There was no sign of him to the North, none to the East or South either. Then Thor's gaze lit upon a dark patch of the city, black clouds shadowing a whole block of buildings. And in the epicentre of the rain-less storm, green magic glowed.

"Brother!" The words escaped his lips and hammer was flung forwards. He would face Thanos with Loki at his side; as they had done so often in the past.

The sight that met his eyes when he landed was one he would never forget.

His brother, his younger baby brother stood, arms raised and palms turned towards Thanos. A fine green mist was rising up from his brother and like smoke from dying embers, it blew with the wind. Only there was no wind - the green mist moved in the still air to encircle Thanos, like snakes forming binding chains. There was a tear clinging to his brother's eye as he stood there as if frozen. The face of Thanos was twisted into immeasurable rage as he struggled towards the trickster.

"Loki!" Thor exclaimed, rushing forwards to stand by his brother's side, hand raised about to touch his arm but held back due to uncertainty at the green mist that was coming off from his brother.

"Brother, what are you doing here?" Loki asked.

"I'm here to protect you!" Thor said, still uncertain as to what he should do

"It's too late. This spell can't be stopped," Loki replied, a sad smile forming on his face. "My essence should be enough to keep Thanos contained for one hundred years, two hundred if we're lucky." At that, Thor noticed that his brother's hands were fading. He could see through them already.

"I can't let you do that. We'll find a way to stop Thanos. You've got to find a way to stop the spell. Please!" Tears grew in his eyes and everything started to blur. Angrily, Thor blinked and rubbed the water away from his eyes.

"What don't you get about a spell that can't be stopped?" Loki asked with a shaking laugh and with a start, Thor realised that his brother was terrified of what was happening. His arms were now transparent and his hands nearly invisible.

"Loki..." Emotion clogged his voice and Thor took a step forwards, about to touch his brother but Loki gave him a cold green stare and gave a small shake of his head. Thor's heart broke as he saw the smile on his brother's face.

"Don't you see, brother? This is the only way I can win?" Loki's eyes flickered towards the side and Thor followed the green gaze seeing the Avengers running forwards and stopping at the spectacle. Half of Loki's arms were already gone.

"This way I do what the Avengers never could. This way I defeat Thanos and the Avengers. I get to go out with my only victory. You can't deny me this, Thor."

"Stop this madness, you never needed to prove yourself," Thor cried out.

"But I never was worthy enough, even when I tried to destroy the Frost Giants," Tears fell from Loki's eyes now, running down his face and splattering against his clothing. His breaths were coming in short, fast bursts.

"You always were, brother," Thor said, lips pressed tightly together, tears starting to run down his face as well.

"You should leave. I... I don't want you seeing this," Loki said, his body had now nearly completely turned into mist and the green chains were swamping Thanos and solidifying over the creature.

"I won't leave you!" Thor protested.

"Spare yourself the sight."

"Stop this! You're being a sentimental fool! A self sacrificing, sentimental fool! Loki, you're clever! Please don't leave me. Your my brother and I love you."

"It's about time you told me that," A true smile bloomed across his fading face. "Brother, my time is short. But remember me and remember that I always-" His voice cut off, his body completely vanished into smoke that held Thanos.

THUNK.

The horned helmet hit the ground. The sound was empty and it echoed in the quiet street. It rolled for a few seconds before holding still. Everything seemed to hold it's breath for a second. Steve Rodger's head was bowed, Tony Stark stood unable to understand what he had just seen. The Hulk's face was one of confusion and Black Widow was without emotion on her features.

"Threat neutralised, Director. One casualty. It's Loki." Black Widow said, shattering the silence and hand raised to her ear and the com piece.

Thor fell to his knees, resting above the helmet, leaning over the helmet that had belonged to his brother. Tears fell down on the helmet like rain and thunder rumbled in the skies. It was the only warning that the mortals got before the heaven's opened and wept for the fallen god of mischief and lies.