Chapter 84: Torment and Choice

A/N: This chapter does contain some moderate torture towards the end.

Pain. That was all Loki knew as he dropped to his knees and wept before his brother.

"Brother, what is the meaning of this? If you live, then who took your place on the gallows?" Thor asked.

"Can you think of no one else, brother?" Loki asked.

Thor was silent for a moment then his eyes widened. "Brigid. She used her magic to pose as you, didn't she?"

Loki nodded. "She had her life. I traded my life so she could have hers. Why would she take my place?"

"I think we both know the answer to that," Thor said. "She loved you too much to see you hang for her. Her love was stronger than death."

Loki shook his head. "I must see her. I can't believe she's gone."

Thor shook his head and placed a consoling hand on his brother's shoulder. "Brother, believe me. I saw it all and that was enough. You do not need to see such things."

"I must see her," Loki said. "I need to know she's gone or not."

"Brother," Thor said. "If you come, it'll be obvious you've escaped."

"You know what I can do with my magic, brother," Loki said. "Please, let me see her."

Thor sighed. "Alright, but we must be quick."

Thor led Loki, disguised as a Dora Milaje, down to Shuri's laboratory. There, he found Shuri working on one of the suits.

"Princess Shuri," Thor greeted.

"Thor," Shuri greeted, bowing her head. "I comfort you for your loss."

"Thank you, Princess. Where is my brother's body?" Thor asked. "I wish to be alone with him"

"Of course, Thor," Shuri said.

Shuri led Thor over to a metal table where Brigid, still disguised as Loki, lay under blankets. "Take as long as you need."

Shuri left Thor alone with his guard. Once alone, Loki, still in disguise, approached Brigid's still body. She looked beautiful, as if she were sleeping. Loki held her cold hand, wishing she could squeeze back. Loki trembled and wept when he saw the red necklace Brigid wore.

"Did she suffer?" Loki asked sorrowfully.

Thor placed a hand on Thor's back. "No. She died quickly and bravely."

Loki kissed Brigid's head, weeping as he did.

"What now?" he asked. "Where do I go from here? What do I do?"

Thor held his brother's hand. "I'm here for you, brother. I always have been. You must be there for your children. It's what Brigid would have wanted."

Just then, T'Challa entered the laboratory. "Thor, I have been looking for you."

"What is the trouble, T'Challa?" Thor asked.

"You, or rather, your brother," T'Challa replied.

Thor wrinkled his brow. "I don't know what you mean. My brother is dead."

T'Challa smiled. "So I thought, until one of my guards was patrolling your sister's room and found her missing. So, what do I have to account for that?"

"So she's not here. She's not your prisoner," Thor said. "What does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal when your brother dies and your sister goes missing at the same time," T'Challa said. "And you happen to have a Dora Milaje guard that I don't remember."

Loki trembled in his disguise. "My King, I have served you for many years."

"Enough tricks," T'Challa said. "Who are you?"

Knowing he was cornered, Loki conjured a dagger and tossed it at T'Challa, who blocked it with his panther claws. With T'Challa distracted, Loki raced out of the palace, killing anyone who got in his way. Loki fled for his life out of the palace, into the forests. Once he was safely outside the palace walls, Loki dropped his disguise and sighed, knowing his was safe for the moment.

"I promise I will save our children, my love," Loki said. "Your death will not be in vain."

Suddenly, Loki heard chanting that resembled an ape's call. He looked around and found himself surrounded by men in masks bearing the shape of an ape. They surrounded him, spears at his throat.

"Who are you?" Loki asked. "I am Loki Odinson, and I will not be-"

Before he could speak further, Loki was knocked to the ground and he knew nothing else.

When Loki awoke, he felt something in his mouth stretching it wider. He looked up and found that his wrists were tied above his head and a weight had been attached to his legs. His tunic had been removed, leaving him half naked. A fire had been placed at his feet, making Loki sweat as the heat swept over his body.

"Ah, the Trickster awakens."

Loki growled against his gag as his captor approached him. "Oh, yes, I'm being rude. I am M'Baku of the Jabari Tribe. I know who you are. You're the man who killed my king's friends and tried to run."

Loki tried to curse M'Baku, but the gag prevented him from doing so.

"Yes, I heard you're a talker, and I don't like talking," M'Baku said. "but right now, we're going to play a little game. You tell me how you got away with killing T'Challa's friends, or I'll feed you to my children."

Loki sneered and bit down on the gag before M'Baku smiled. "I'm just kidding, we're vegetarians. But what I will do is stretch your little prince body to its limits. Shall we have a test?"

M'Baku snapped his fingers and with a roll of a crank, Loki's arms were pulled above his head, but the weight attached to his legs remained on the ground, stretching his body. Loki groaned at the pain but did not let the intimidating M'Baku see his pain.

"That was fun, no?" M'Baku asked, as he removed Loki's gag. "So, how did you play your little trick, Magic Man?"

"It's too much for your small mind to comprehend," Loki spat.

M'Baku snapped his fingers and Loki was raised again. Loki was gasping in pain, but he would not scream, lest his captor have satisfaction.

"You know, you may have magic, but I have tricks of my own," M'Baku said, gripping Loki's hair. "I could crush your pretty skull with my bare hand, but I'd rather not damage that face."

M'Baku punched Loki in the chest. Loki could not stifle a scream as he heard a deafening snap from his ribs and the wind knocked from his lungs.

"I didn't lie," M'Baku said. "Want to try again?"

Despite the pain he felt, Loki remained silent.

"Have it your way," M'Baku said.

With another ear-shattering snap, M'Baku crushed Loki's leg, making Loki cry out.

"I don't have much patience, little man, so you do best to speak now," M'Baku said in frustration.

Despite M'Baku's prodding, Loki would not give in, much to his annoyance.

M'Baku then took out a crude dagger. "You know, I have heard you are a god. Let's see if a god can bleed."

With a crooked smile, M'Baku slit Loki on his belly, making him cry out and leaving a line of red blood on his knife.

"Well, the god can bleed. Perhaps I should take more, unless you're ready to talk?" M'Baku asked.

With every breath of defiance he could muster, Loki spat in M'Baku's eye. Without warning, M'Baku pinned Loki down and held the knife to his hand. Loki tried to struggle, but the binds and ropes and the weight of the man held him down. In the next painful second, he felt a knife slice into his skin and he screamed. With a snap and a fountain of blood, M'Baku snapped off Loki's finger. Loki shrieked as his hand ran red with blood.

"Ready to lose another?" M'Baku asked.

Loki spat on the ground in defiance.

"Perhaps you should lose your hand!" M'Baku snarled.

Before he could continue, a voice cried out, "M'Baku, enough!"

M'Baku turned to find T'Challa and Thor standing behind him. "T'Challa, my brother, what brings you?"

"M'Baku, enough. Release the prisoner," T'Challa said.

"He murdered your allies, my friend. I was simply giving him justice," M'Baku said.

"He's my brother! Now put him down!" Thor said.

T'Challa held up his hand. "M'Baku, he did kill my allies, but he will face justice from me. Now please, release him."

"Of course. Take him," M'Baku said.

Thor frantically untied Loki who cried out as he slumped in his brother's arms.

"T'Challa, his bones are broken. He's bleeding. He's burning. He's not well," Thor said.

"I did mention that he could die if you take him," M'Baku said.

Loki did not hear his brother frantically call out to him. He only moaned in his stupor. "Brigid. Brigid."

In another world, Brigid found herself in a familiar place. It was Stark Tower as it used to be, before the Avengers. There was not a soul in sight.

What is this? she thought.

When Brigid thought she was alone, she heard a voice call out to her. "Hey Leprechaun."

Brigid saw Tony standing before her and she nearly wept. He was just as she remembered him. Black shirt, black slacks, the same sly smile. He was still her father.

"Father," she gasped.

"I'm here, Brigid," Tony said. "I always have been. I never left."

"How is this possible?" Brigid asked.

"Let's just say someone up here likes you," Tony said. "Brigid, I'm so proud of you."

"How?" Brigid asked. "I killed two of your friends for my children. How can you be proud of me after all I've done? I'm a murderer."

"We've all made mistakes and paid for them. I more than anyone," Tony said. "You knew who I was when I sold weapons."

"And I loved you know less," Brigid replied.

"And I loved you no less the day you left New York in chains," Tony replied. "Yes, Steve and Bucky were my friends, but they forgive you, as I do. They would not want you to blame yourself forever. Neither would I. You deserve peace."

Brigid smiled. "You never did give up on me, did you?"

"I never will," Tony said. "No matter what anyone tells me, no matter where I am, you will always be my daughter."

Brigid's eyes sparkled with tears. "Father...I'm glad we have this time together. Time was stolen from us, but I worry I didn't make the right choice."

"Well, here's the thing," Tony said. "For what you've done, you get a gift."

Brigid's eyes widened. "I've got a choice?"

Tony nodded. "Again, someone up there likes you. Now you and Rock of Ages can go make more babies for me."

"They all miss you," Brigid said. "We all read Ugly Duckling every night because you read it to me. When Ikol and Maria can't sleep, I sing them "Catch a Falling Star" because you used to sing it to me. I like to think you're still here."

Tony smiled. "I always have been. And you named your little one after my mom?"

"I did it for you," Brigid said.

"It's a good name for a goddess," Tony said.

Brigid smiled. "She'll be a god just like you were, someone to marvel at."

Brigid wept, knowing her fate did not lie in the other world. "I can't stay, but I want to. I want to be with you. I want this time that was stolen from us."

"You can always see me, little Leprechaun," Tony said. "Tell your kids about me. Don't let them forget me. That way I'll be there. Who knows? You might even get sick of seeing me."

Brigid chuckled. "Maybe I might."

Knowing her time was near, Brigid knew she had to let Tony know what was in her heart. "Father, I don't have much time but I must tell you, I've never meant any offenses against you. You took me in when I was a child, taught me all the wisdom you knew and made me who I am. I'm glad you were my father."

Tony brought Brigid into his embrace. "And I couldn't have asked for a better daughter. I'm glad I am your father. I love you, Brigid."

"I love you, Father," Brigid whispered.

In the Jabari stronghold, Loki languished in their healing quarters. Shuri reluctantly treated his wounds, but Loki was ill from his torture under M'Baku. The heat had given him what the mortals would call a fever, and his broken joints gave him pain. He slipped into a haze from his wounds and the heat of the fire weakening him.

As he slipped into this haze, Loki called out in his dreams. "Brigid, Brigid!"

In his stupor, Loki looked up and saw a faint shape. "Brigid?"

"My love, I am here," the shape replied. "I am here, my love and I am never leaving again."

Loki felt a faint kiss on his head before his world turned black and he knew nothing.

A/N: They're so close! She's there to comfort Loki! This is for my readers, reviewers, followers, favorites, etc. This story is for you and would be nothing without you! Happy Holidays!