ENDGAME SPOILERS!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Disclaimer: I own nothing! If I did, Tony would be yelling at me.

Summary: The scales are unbalanced, they have been for a very long time. And someone is getting pissed off that this keeps happening. So she decides to set things right. Very unconventionally...the Universe is not ready for this...no one is. Undying is a worse fate than torture, making you long for the sweet pain of death.

Review Please!

To Ill elemental, elisse1998, emiliarose357, TheLastoftheRealOnes, Befujimoto, Sitalia, butterflydreams04, BenevolentCupboardhatch, Muggleslayer, Sia Riddle Li, SuperWhoAvengerChanceryLock: Thank you all so much for the Faves and Follows!

To Guest: Next button ho! Aww thank you!

Chapter Three

Note: Here's my AU BIG note, Steve returns the Stones to their proper times, but does NOT spend a life with Peggy. I really did not like that plot twist at all, but here's to make things perfectly clear. Steve does NOT go and live with Peggy. Stones returned, Steve returned, same age.

Xxx

Years Ago

Xxx

The union wasn't an official marriage, not in the eyes of the court nobles. Neither of them cared, just being together was enough. At the end of the day, her red-gold tresses would be laid out on the silk pillows in soft waves that shone in the moonlight on green and gold covers. His black hair would be wild and covering angled cheeks that were softened in slumber, strong arms holding her close like a cherished rose.

She was the light that shone in his devious darkness, and he was the cunning that fueled her cutting tongue. The silver tongue at the mercy of the knife tongue. They were young when they met, and young when shy love turned into fiery passion.

Passion…that in hindsight…was a bit immature.

They struggled to keep decorum and protocol within the right bounds, while remaining truly faithful to one another…his ignorance-a mistake rapidly rectified-cost them dearly.

A slip of the wrist, a potion in a drink…and a century old friendship was cast aside by a horrible wrong doing. While the children-out of wedlock and court ignored-were a blessing…the ties they created were a burden he could have done without.

Angrboda hated her, and ensured he was well aware of that fact for decades. The children she bore from the Prince were cast aside as was expected, but the fact she had lain with the Prince was enough to stir the courts into gossiping frenzies. A consort and a mistress…

But like many things, youth was fleeting, and something better took Angrboda's focus, and left the pair to themselves. The coronation of the elder Prince was supposed to be the next step, for all of them. With the elder in power, it left room for the younger to continue with his consort and make her an official lady. That had been the plan three months before the coronation, the ceremony itself had to be postponed after a rampant illness swept the realm, quick but devastating and many succumbed to the sickness. A coronation might have been a tad ill-timed, but the rushed ceremony was a welcomed distraction…

Well…distraction is one word, disastrous was another.

Falling from the Bifrost, vanishing for over a year, and then a botched attempt at conquering Midgard…that was not the way to regain a good standing within Asgard's nobility.

She wasn't even allowed within the palace, not even to wait in an antechamber or private quarters while the trial took place. He was locked within a dungeon cell and barred from visitors before she even knew he had returned to Asgard in the first place.

There was no contact between them, not from the evening prior to the coronation until a fleeting glance on her part as the pair of princes left the outdoor amphitheatre. She saw him, but it was doubtful he realized she had been among the audience that afternoon.

That was the last.

Xxx

June 27th, 2023

10:00am

Xxx

This time, waking was a long process, muddled by drugs and exhaustion that still clouded his mind. Several times he resurfaced from deep black to hear snippets of conversations but nothing concrete. By the time Loki managed to swim back to consciousness, the heavy weight of his limbs was enough to say he'd been out for at least a full day, very likely more if the woman doctor was to be believed.

For a while he was only halfway awake, stirred from a groggy haze periodically by the medical staff either checking him over or a noise being louder than the lull of sleep. It took a sharp growl, a noise so familiar Loki could literally recognize it in his sleep.

"For the last time, you will not wake him!"

"Oh please!" Valkyrie's tone was snide and sharp, arguing with Thor with a bit more heat than probably necessary but anything involving her had to include either sarcasm or disrespect. "Like I actually want to talk with your cad of a brother. I'm just here to drop this thing off like Brilid asked me to. You can deliver the news for all I care-"

Thor growled again, "This is not something you just get to drop and wander away to drink to forget. Not this!"

"So why don't you take care of it?"

"Valkyrie!"

She snorted, loudly, and Loki managed to fight his eyes open to blink in the morning light and try to find the pair. He'd been shifted, propped up a bit more and a different neck brace was strapped on, one that just held his head in position instead of almost entirely immobilizing his shoulders.

At least Thor had complied with Loki's deal, cutting the beard to a close cut like he usually wore. His hair was still long, but it was trimmed and cleaned, pulled back in familiar side braids to keep it from his face. Still, he wasn't backing down when Valkyrie pressed closer with whatever they were arguing about.

"Look…you do not welcome me here, I don't want to be here, and your brother who is now awake will likely agree. Just take the damn thing and let me go. Since you insist on leaving me regent for whatever thrice damned reason, I actually have work to do your majesty."

Thor spun around, a relieved grin stretching his face when he met Loki's gaze, but the look faded when Valkyrie tried to leave again, getting stopped by the God of Thunder grabbing her arm. "Don't you dare."

The growl came from the warrior this time, but she complied, following Thor sullenly to Loki's bedside. He didn't watch her, not as Thor came to the other side of the bed and caught his brother's hand gently.

"You look better brother, the doctor wanted you to be awake before she removed the last tube, but she says you are doing well. She will be back soon, there are other patients she is attending.

Loki squeezed Thor's hand in understanding, glancing to Valkyrie next when the blonde had nothing else to report.

She rolled her eyes, but did jerk her chin a little as a sign of respect. "For such a conniving trickster…glad you're not dead."

Given that she had served Asgardian royalty for decades, she knew enough to read Loki's faint glare of agreement, the smirk constrained by the straps on his jaw and mouth.

Valkyrie sighed, rubbing a hand over her face before she pulled something out of her pocket, keeping it hidden in her fist when she went on, "Brilid was not in a good mood before she sent me here, told me to inform you that if you even thought about messing with the shadow realms of Death again, she would personally remove your ability to-"

Loki cut her off, trying to chuckle and ending up coughing as he tried to exhale around the tube pumping air into his lungs. The struggle almost sounded like a dry gargle, a tad painful and annoying, but it was almost on time as the woman doctor appeared next to Thor.

"I'll take that as my cue," She set a tray of tools down next to Loki's bed, adjusting the breathing machine with a few buttons, "If you can so easily fight it, you are more than ready to have that tube out. This is not going to be comfortable, and you will likely need the oxygen mask for a while after. But let's get you breathing on your own shall we?"

He almost tried to nod, even with the brace and tube, but Loki held still as she cut the gaze and undid the mouth piece. The tug of the tube coming up and out was a cross between throwing up and having wind blowing right down his throat, and Loki did choke as it reached the back of his mouth and the blast of air almost made him gag. Coughing hurt like hell, and he honestly didn't realize Thor was talking until after yet another thing was placed over his mouth to help him breathe.

While obnoxious and just one more obstacle in all of this, Loki did clasp a hand over the mask tightly, not even caring that he was holding it alongside the doctor as he struggled to breathe without mechanical aid. It took several minutes for Loki to calm down, gasping painfully as he struggled to convince himself he was getting enough air even with the ache encompassing his very core.

"Not the worst reaction I've seen, but Romanoff has you beat."

The doctor's quip earned a pained glare, but she smiled in return as Loki settled finally. "I'm going to prep a few things, and let you rest for a moment. Do not try to speak just yet. Your larynx and trachea was severely bruised and I will not allow you to stress anything."

Loki waved his hand in a brief acknowledgement, more focused on reminding himself how to breathe without something doing it for him.

Thor's hand on his shoulder drew his focus at last, his brother having waited until Loki was much calmer and willing to listen.

"Loki…Brilid sends news," Thor's tone told much further than his words, and Loki's eyes narrowed in confusion as he fought not to ask what was going on.

Brilid had been Queen Frigga's lead handmaiden in her own youth, having been assigned to the young queen shortly after her marriage to Odin. She'd seen Frigga through court introductions and political handlings for centuries, before retiring from court for her own life within Asgard's outer city. Until Frigga had called for her services once more, introducing her to a budding mage, a young child-prince…Loki had grown up learning magic from Frigga when she had time, and practicing with Brilid until he'd surpassed her knowledge of how to safely ensure his practicing was within bounds. Then Frigga had moved him on to someone else. While he'd grown out of her limits, Brilid had always remained close to Loki, and he'd turned to her both in and out of disguises over the years for aid.

Valkyrie cleared her throat, drawing Loki's attention again, her closed fist lowered to Loki's, pressing something cold and metallic into his palm with a low sigh. Her tone was practiced sincerity, the seriousness out of character for the warrior and all that more dire, "My deepest apologies for bringing you this news my prince, but I am tasked pass on Brilid's expression of solemn condolences."

Her stepping back was enough for Loki to lift his hand, letting the chain twine with his fingers while the objects hooked on the necklace clinked together as they fell from his palm. The rings were simple, one a solid rose-gold band, inscribed with a snake crest entwined on the interior. The other, was a braided twist of tiny vines, the leaves at the crest forming a rose of white gold amidst the rose gold.

"Loki…" Thor's soft voice drew his brother's eyes away from the rings, Loki's hand was shaking as Thor gently took it within his own, "Brother I'm so sorry…Sigyn…she did not…"

Loki couldn't. He couldn't listen to anything more, somewhere Loki heard Thor finish his statement. But the rest of his thinking was torn apart, the sob tore from his throat before he could stop it, and where one left more soon followed far beyond his control.

The pain in his neck and head were miniscule to what took over, and Loki was for once overly grateful Thor was such a softie. His brother must have dismissed Valkyrie, her hand brushing Loki's arm briefly before leaving. Thor was the one to take Loki into his arms, careful to steady his spine and keep the neck brace secure, but Loki found his head tucked under Thor's chin, the broad arms wrapped around his shoulders while Loki himself screamed into the oxygen mask.

He felt regret…the pangs mixed with guilt that ate at his stomach and made breathing a choking struggle to fight the wrenching sobs tearing out behind his cries. Somewhere…distantly, Loki was aware one of the Avengers had come to check on them, probably called by the doctor whose name Loki still didn't know. He didn't care, he couldn't, not past the bone deep ache that gnawed at his heart he thought hardened too far to feel the pain.

Thor was speaking, murmuring something endlessly that Loki just couldn't stop screaming long enough to understand. The low hum in his chest was enough though, and Loki clung to the dark hoodie Thor wore to ground himself. Oxygen pumping in his mask stopped him from choking, but Loki had only a fleeting moment through the raw pain that he might not get to relish the freedom he'd just been given, not with how badly he hurt.

But he just wasn't able to stop…

Xxx

Thor was the one who had to choke back his own tears, hugging Loki to his chest tighter as he visibly struggled to keep at least some level of calm for his brother. While Loki was caught in his grief, Thor fought to remain steadfast. Barton kept a hand on Thor's shoulder in silent support, not speaking and risk disturbing the brothers any further than his presence required. Dr. Cho had called for aid when Loki had broken down, not sure how to handle both Asgardians and wanting assistance.

Clint had sent her away for the time being, remaining with Thor while Loki reacted to the news. While Clint hadn't fully understood what was going on when he'd been asked to come in, it only took listening to Thor for two minutes to get the idea. That and Loki's hand was still tangled in the necklace holding a pair of wedding rings, unused wedding rings.

He didn't like Loki, Barton would gladly admit that out loud and in public if he had to, but the archer wasn't heartless. Losing a spouse…that was unimaginable. Especially since he understood.

Sympathy for the devil was a hard thing to earn, and yet Clint was the one stepping around the hospital bed to adjust the oxygen mask so Loki could breathe past his pained crying. The God of Mischief didn't notice, nor did he even realize Barton was giving him a sedative. Loki's sobs died down as the drug worked in, the frantic breathing slowing to exhausted rasps.

Credit was due, at least in part, Loki fought the sedative for a lot longer than Clint suspected, clinging to Thor with his fading strength until he just couldn't fight the pain and drag of sleep anymore.

Thor was the one to tell Loki was gone, sighing shakily before accepting Barton's aid in getting Loki laying down properly again. The God of Thunder looked absolutely wrecked.

Once he'd stepped back from the bed, Thor almost collapsed into the chair still in place from his long hours of bedside vigil. Clint simply waited, checking Loki's vitals in case he needed Dr. Cho to come back in.

"I wish…I…" Thor groaned low in his throat, and hand covering his eyes in weariness, "That was immensely harder than I expected."

"Bad news is the worst to give, believe me." Barton sighed himself, looking to the blonde in sympathy, "I get it Thor, I do…your brother is an ass, but losing his…fiancée? Right? I know how that hurts."

A low grunt was his response, and Barton huffed quietly, "How did it happen?"

"Hela…I was told later on the Sakaarian vessel the Statesman that my sister had slaughtered the entire noble court on Asgard after she had decimated the Einherjar. Sigyn would have been among the ladies taking shelter in the palace during the attack."

Wincing, Barton sighed again, looking to Loki's tear-streaked face that was lax in medicated sleep, "Damn…"

Thor snorted, "Indeed."

Clint shifted on his feet, reaching forward to adjust the oxygen mask for whatever reason of concern he had going for Loki at the moment. Thor didn't miss the action, but he didn't comment either, watching silently before keeping his gaze on his brother.

"I don't like him Thor, but…" Clint growled, his hand trailing over Loki's and tucking the pair of rings into the god's palm carefully, "When he wakes up…if he'll hear it. I am sorry he lost her."

Thor nodded, clasping Clint's hand in parting, "I shall tell him, if he will speak of it. I doubt Loki will allow himself to grieve, he is never one for sharing his emotions."

"I can see that." Clint comment wryly, snorting a little in disbelief.

"You must understand Barton," Thor's tone grew hard, defensive, "Loki and I…we lost our mother in battle a few years ago, our father and our home…to Loki that occurred a mere month prior…with the way he is acting I do not believe he has realized the expanse of time that has passed. To wake in such pain and weak…and to learn of Sigyn's passing…I expected far worse in all honesty. Yet, now that he has initially reacted…nothing will get my brother to show anything further."

"That's not healthy." The words came out before Clint could stop them, and he winced reflexively, trying to show he regretted them when Thor turned in his chair, "I mean, holding all that back…not a good idea big guy…"

Instead of being mad, Thor just chuckled darkly, "As if we…any of the Avengers, myself included, have room to speak of this. I became a drunken scum for years, while you murdered any human monster across the globe. If anything I would say some of us are worse than Loki when it comes to such things. Loki at least moves on, pretending all he likes, but he will move forward."

Clint scoffed, "It's not moving forward if you're not letting go."

"No, it is not," Thor acquiesced, "Nor is it letting go when there is nothing left to hold on to."

Tada?

Review please?