Loki was rudely awakened with a grunt as his body was thrown against the hard ground. It wasn't until he came to, slowly opening his eyes after waking from a daze, that he saw the golden turning cogs of Heimdall's observatory.

"Your death will come last, god," Thanos muttered as his heavy boots walked past the half-conscious god.

Loki groaned, his body weak from whatever Thanos had done to him. "H…Heimdall?" he choked out. How in the nine realms could Heimdall not foresee this danger coming? Rolling onto his side, Loki found his answer.

The esteemed guard had been stripped of his gleaming breastplate, revealing a gaping wound over his heart.

"Heimdall!" Loki nearly doubled over as he rose to run towards the all-seeing eye of the realms, now surrounded in a puddle of dark crimson. He reached for the man's neck and felt a slow pulse beneath his trembling fingers. "I'm so sorry," Loki breathed. This was all his fault. Odin was right about meddling with the realms. If only he had listened… but Loki never did that. The thrill of going against the All-Father was too good to pass up. To think his disobedience would lead to Asgard's destruction. All because Loki desired love. Perhaps this was a sign that love wasn't for him. If Natasha knew what he really was, she would run away in fear. Loki was, by birthright, a monster, a killer.

A distant explosion drew Loki's attention towards the Bifrost. Thick smoke had clouded the air and he could hear the angry shouts from Odin's guards. With the All-Father asleep and no one watching over the realm, Thanos had the kingdom in the palm of his hand. As much as Loki wanted to let Thanos take everything, the thought of Frigga falling victim to the titan's wrath made his blood boil. He couldn't let her die. Their bond was strong-Frigga taught him everything he knew about magic. While Odin showered Thor with praise, Frigga comforted him and made him feel like he wasn't Thor's shadow. Frigga was his Mother, and Loki refused to let her die.

Loki staggered to his feet, but his body, so drained and heavy like lead, collapsed to the ground. Everything moved in slow motion as he fell. In his final seconds of consciousness, he thought of his Mother. Would she die quickly and painlessly, or would she suffer? And then he thought of Natasha. Would she find him? He left her with the gem, but why? Why did he throw it to her in the first place? Because he trusted her with it? Would she even know how to use its power… Or maybe he wanted her to rescue him. Loki told her that Asgard was Thanos' destination, so would she come find him? But if she did, then Thanos would kill her. Loki uttered a swear as he realized his fatal mistake.

"Loki!" Natasha's voice called out.

The unmistakable sound of Natasha's voice told the god that he was dreaming. Come to think of it, wasn't he unconscious? He could hardly recall anything that happened after Thanos kidnapped him and took him to Asgard. Loki tried opening his eyes, but he couldn't. Maybe Thanos killed him, maybe he killed all of Asgard, as well…

"Loki!" The red-head's voice continued to beckon him.

Natasha? Why could he hear her? Unless… Had she come to Asgard to find him? But if he was dead, then was she dead, as well? Fear seized him at the tragic realization. She didn't deserve to die, especially not for the likes of him. Natasha deserved to live a long, happy life. Oh, what he would give to allow her another chance at life…

"We must hurry!" Thor's voice ordered.

Now Thor was dead, too? How many lives was Loki responsible for?

"His heart's still beating," Natasha continued. "Go, I'll stay here. Not much I can do against magic and gods…"

Loki could hear their voices-they were both so close. If only he could actually see them. He caught a whiff of a delicate fluorescent scent mixed with leather and blood. There was no denying that Natasha was close, so close. He felt a warmth against his cheek as her fingertips traced along his jaw. Natasha…

"Loki?"

The gentle touch was replaced with a hot stinging sensation on his cheek. "The hel…?" Loki grumbled as his eyes finally opened.

"You idiot," Natasha muttered as the god came to.

Loki rubbed his sore cheek as he forced himself to sit upright. "You came," he breathed in disbelief. "Are we dead?" he quickly asked.

"We will be if Thor can't stop your buddy."

"Thanos," Loki corrected her. "Where is Thor?"

"Cleaning up your mess," Natasha coldly remarked.

Of course. This was all his doing, there was no denying it. He rose to his feet and Natasha did the same. "Stay here," the god ordered. "Keep watch over Heimdall," he added as his eyes fell upon the fallen gatekeeper. Off in the distance, he heard screams as he felt a rumbling beneath his boots. "I'll return for you." Quickly, he spun around on his heel and ran towards the Bifrost.

"You better!" Natasha shouted after him. "You still owe me an apartment!"

Loki felt the slightest grin form across his lips as he dashed down the Rainbow Bridge. He wouldn't let Natasha down, especially if she intended to await his return...

There was an explosion far ahead and Loki looked up in time to see a mushroom cloud rising up from the King and Queen's palace, his home. As exhausted as he felt, the trickster mustered up all the strength he could so he could quickly transport himself inside the palace walls. He took himself into his mother's chambers and sure enough, Frigga was there, faithfully seated at her husband's bedside. "Mother!" he gasped.

"Oh! Loki!" Frigga left Odin's side and ran towards her son.

Loki felt awful for smiling, but seeing the concern and panic in his mother's eyes made him happy. "I've missed you…"

"You had me worried sick!" she scolded, throwing her arms around the man's neck. "We were all worried, Loki," she quietly added.

He embraced his mother, rubbing his cheek against her golden curls. "I thought you were dead… Father was right-I never should have meddled with Midgardian affairs."

Frigga shook her head as she ended the hug. "Do you regret ever meeting Natalia?" she wondered, loosely holding her son's hand.

Loki froze, unsure of how to respond. His head was telling him yes now that he was seeing all of the trouble being caused… but his heart conspired against his brain, telling him that Natasha wasn't a regret. She showed him that he wasn't alone amongst the seemingly happy and perfect lives that surrounded him. Natasha lived through horrors, yet despite it all, she stood with her head held high. Loki could never do that. "No," he stated, letting his heart answer for him. "I do not. I envy Natasha and her strength… She is brave, proud…" The floor began to shake, sending Loki into a mild panic. "Please keep an eye on her!" Loki quickly added. "She is in the observatory!"

"Loki…" The goddess admired her son's need to protect the Midgardian, but her priorities were focused on keeping watch over her husband. "Your Father is currently in no position to defend himself."

"I will watch over him!" he vowed. "Thanos wishes to take his life-he will seek out Odin, and when he does, I will kill him where he stands! Thor will help!" Frigga grew hesitant, her eyes glued to Odin's sleeping form. "Do you not trust me?" Loki darkly asked. The Queen furrowed her brows as her eyes met with the trickster's.

Frigga managed a smile and shook her head. "Watch over my love, and I will watch over yours."

"Natasha is not my-" Before he could finish, Frigga snatched a dagger from Loki's side and fled the room. "Very well, then," he sighed. "I will protect you with my very life," the trickster vowed to the All-Father's helpless, sleeping form.