Disclaimer: I don't own either Doctor Who or The Avengers.
Movie-verse. After Loki falls into the supernova.
Don't like it, don't read. Crossover fic. Story following Loki's escapades with the Doctor through time and space.
Loki had done it. He had physically let go from people he resented on a daily basis, and had also let go of the contempt he had felt towards them, if only for a while. Now he found himself floating through space towards a black hole. The air around him was cold, or was he just numb? Emotions flooded him, causing him to choke on a lump in his throat. Tears burned his eyes and left tiny rivers streaming down his face. Had this been his only choice, to let go and be engulfed, to die?
Seeing the destroyed Bifrost Bridge turn to a mere dot, he knew his impending death was near. Bits of the Bifrost flew past him, and he realized he was like each piece that fell and made minute cuts on his face. But he liked the pain. He knew that he was still alive that way. He liked the pain, the anguish, the envy, and the rage that he felt. The loneliness, the sadness, and the confusion ripped through his soul, though, causing turmoil and regret.
Suddenly, everything went black. Loki's eyes widened, fear now being the overwhelming emotion. There were no familiar stars, no light off in the distance representing Asgard. Instead, they were replaced by a feeling of nothingness and new stars, stars that he had never read about or seen on a map of the skies. Ever so slowly, his eyelids slid closed, tears hanging daintily on his eyelashes and jaw line.
Loki continued dropping into this seemingly endless hole in space. How long would he have to drift like this, waiting for death, or for a saviour? As if fate had heard his quiet plea, he thought he had heard something, almost like a whirring, but he knew this couldn't be possible since you cannot hear anything in space.
Opening his eyes once again, he spied a light flicker to life behind him for a split second. Loki turned around, his body spinning and moving fluidly amongst the stars and empty space. A tiny blue dot seemed like it was hurtling towards him. It was most likely a star or planet, or his mind playing tricks on him as he finally went insane. Within seconds, though, the blue dot became larger, and was not just a blob anymore. He watched in amazement and terror as the now distinct blue box sped towards him. He brought his arms up in front of him, for whatever protection they could offer him from this object.
The box was now mere feet away from him. Not thinking, he opened his mouth wide and began screaming, even though it was inaudible and pointless. Loki knew now, not even thought about it, that he could hear the box whirring through space, regardless of all knowledge he possessed on the subject.
Just as the box was about to crash into him, a door on the front was opened, shining bright, golden light on him. He flew in through the doorway, crashing onto the ground. One of his arms was under him, the other holding onto his head.
"Greetings, you're just in time! But may I ask, why are you screaming?"
Loki was completely taken aback by almost being hit by a big blue box that he forgot he had been screaming, quite loudly in fact. He became quiet, but his mouth continued to hang open. First, he assessed his physical being, flipping his hands over again and again in front of his face. Next, he touched his face, still feeling a wetness from crying. He dragged his hands down over his hair and his neck, then patted his shoulders.
Able to focus on the strange voice finally, Loki lifted his head up, his mouth still gaping. His eyes were still adjusting to the light, and he could hardly see the outline of a man, lounging back on the controls to some sort of machine.
The man moved his arms from the controls and crossed them in front of his arms. He took a step towards Loki, the light still blinding behind him. Loki began to stand, not taking his eyes off of the stranger. He could not be sure if he was enemy or friend just yet.
"I thank you for your kindness, for saving me, I mean. As you have asked a question of me, I now impose a question on you," Loki looked wearily at the man as he spoke, his voice unwavering. "Are you a god?" He then lifted his head and looked quickly around him, motioning to the strange room. "And what is this flying machine of yours?"
"Me? A god?" The man laughed at the thought. Suddenly, he contorted his face, as if he was thinking of endless possibilities, like they were locked within his mind. "Well, it's not impossible, nothing's impossible, but it is very unlikely." His voices changed its pitch as he spoke.
"As for my name, you may call me the Doctor. And this…" The Doctor, as he had called himself, touched a support that stretched up to the ceiling of the cabin. He followed the support with his eyes, pride on his face and in his voice. "This is the TARDIS. It's my spaceship, can travel through time and space."
Looking around curiously, Loki finally took a step forward, away from the place he was previously glued to. He reached out and gently placed his hand on a railing, his fingers gliding over it smoothly, eyes watching in utter disbelief. Loki turned to his left, spying the Doctor right across from him.
"The TARDIS." Loki let the word roll off his tongue. "Very interesting. And the Doctor, what kind of name is that?"
The Doctor looked completely surprised by the question, but it seemed he had heard it many times before.
"It's a name just like any other, just like yours, and the names of your family, and your friends."
Loki's eyes had finally adjusted to the light inside the TARDIS. Able to see, he studied the Doctor over from where he stood. The Doctor seemed to be a plain and simple man, donning a brown suit with a deep blue shirt, fastened with buttons down the front. He wore cream colored shoes on his feet, obviously worn daily as they were covered in dirt.
Glancing up at the man's face, Loki observed his facial features. His eyes were a normal brown, but it seemed that those eyes belonged to someone who had seen much pain and joy, sadness and compassion, someone who had lived a long life. A warm smile played across the Doctor's face, and Loki knew it was directed towards him. It was something unfamiliar to him, as any smile directed towards him was meant in a patronizing or mocking way, meant to hurt him. But this smile was much more welcoming and friendly.
"What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?" The Doctor nodded in Loki's direction before moving back to the center console. He continued to speak, and Loki also stepped forward, holding conversation with him. "I mean, you are a complete stranger to me."
"I am Loki of As-" Loki's slight smile faded. He stopped himself before he said it, before he said "Asgard." He had no right to say it. He knew he wasn't truly from Asgard, let alone a prince. He was a bastard child of a frost giant, nothing more than a monster people fear.
The Doctor looked up at him quizzically, waiting his reply.
"What was that, couldn't quite hear?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking." Loki did not lift his head, not yet. His gaze remained fixed on his hands, the same hands he watched fade from Jotun blue to his pale skin. He swallowed back his tears and brought his head up, feigning a smile. "I am Loki, simply Loki."
"Well Loki, it's nice to meet you."
A few seconds later, the TARDIS jostled both the Doctor and Loki around. The Doctor, used to this kind of motion, grabbed onto the main console, laughing. He gazed over at Loki who had fallen backwards onto the floor. Within a minute the TARDIS came to a standstill, everything calm within. Loki supported himself with his arms, still sitting on the ground. He stared up completely baffled at the Doctor, who briefly looked down at him.
"Takes a bit of getting used to, I know. Probably should have given you fair warning." The Doctor grabbed a long brown coat from a support, slipping each sleeve onto its respective arm. Once on, he placed his hands leisurely in his pockets and rocked back and forth from his toes to his heels.
"What was that? Tell me where we are, now." Loki hoisted himself up off the ground, dusting off his arms. "I appreciate being saved from drifting through space for eternity, but I would rather not be held hostage by a stranger."
The Doctor looked over and guffawed loudly.
"Held hostage? Nonsense! Merely taking a short stop from travelling."
Right away the Doctor walked speedily to the doors of the TARDIS. Loki followed at a much slower pace than the jolly man in front of him. When they both reached the doors, the Doctor whipped around hurriedly, smiling crazily and taking Loki by surprise.
"Oh, you are going to love this!"
With that, he opened the door wide and strode out, leaving Loki standing in the TARDIS alone. Before he had to deal with his ignorant brother, and now this odd man? Exasperated, Loki let out a disgruntled sigh and stepped through the door into the new world that awaited his presence.
