Chapter 85: Faith
After his ordeal by the hand of M'Baku, Loki was in a grave state. He moaned and burned with a fever, calling out for his lost Brigid. He cried out as his disjointed bones gave him pain. He had turned whiter than a ghost from the cuts to his abdomen and his missing finger. The more he cried out, the more Thor worried for his brother.
"Princess Shuri, please, he suffers. You must help him," Thor pleaded.
"Good," Shuri said. "He should be screaming. He killed enough Wakandans today. He killed Bucky. M'Baku should have taken more of him. I'm glad it wasn't him on the gallows. He's suffering for his crimes. Death is mercy, and he doesn't deserve it."
"Shuri, he is my brother," Thor pleaded. "He already paid. Please, you can't."
"You are in no position to tell me what I can't do!" Shuri cried. "You don't know a good man. Bucky Barnes was a good man who was plunged into darkness. I helped him find the light. Your brother never wanted out of the dark."
"I don't care," Thor said. "He is still my brother, and I know there is still good in him."
"How do you know?" Shuri asked.
"How did you know there was still good left in Barnes?" Thor asked.
Shuri paused and sighed. "Because I knew the man he was, the man he could be."
Thor nodded. "That is why I know."
Shuri nodded. "Your faith in your brother is touching, and why I will help him."
"Thank you, Shuri," Thor said.
"Don't thank me yet," Shuri said.
Shuri and Thor immediately set down to the Jabari healing chambers where Loki languished in agony. Shuri bent over Loki, assessing his wounds.
Thor draped a blanket over the moaning Loki and held his burning hand. "Brother, don't worry. I'll protect you."
Shuri's heart was touched as she watched Thor fret over his ill brother. "You still care for him after all he's done?"
"My mother did," Thor said. "She taught me how."
Shuri finished assessing Loki's condition and grimaced. Thor held an apprehensive gaze.
"How bad is he?" he asked.
"If we want him to live, not good," Shuri said.
"He's dying?" Thor asked fearfully.
Shuri thought a moment before she spoke. "We can do our best. The rest is up to him."
"What can we do?" Thor asked.
"I wish we could do more, but without my vibranium, there isn't much I can do," Shuri said.
"Well, let's get him to the vibranium so he can have a shot," Thor said.
Shuri shook her head. "Thor, you don't understand, if we move him away from here, he'll die in minutes."
Thor brightened. "Unless I can get the vibranium to you."
Shuri shook her head, and wrinkled her brow. "What in God's name are you talking about?"
"You'll see," Thor said.
Thor grabbed Stormbreaker, and in a rumble of thunder and a crackle of lightning, he disappeared.
"Thor?" Shuri cried.
In the next moment, Thor reappeared with at least ten sticks of vibranium under his arm. "Will this do?"
Shuri's eyes widened. "Yeah, that'll do it."
After using her medical knowledge and vibranium to cure Loki's wounds, Thor was anxious to see his brother back to health. Alas, it was not to be.
"Shuri, tell me there is good news. Loki should be healed by now," Thor said.
"I cannot say," Shuri said.
"Can't say?" Thor asked angrily. "I got you the vibranium. Why isn't it working?"
Shuri sighed. "Perhaps his wounds go deeper than the flesh, my friend."
"Brigid? Losing her is killing him?" Thor asked.
Shuri shook her head. "I can't say for certain, but it is the only answer."
"What can we do?" Thor asked.
Shuri patted his shoulder. "We can only hope something will bring him back. I did not know your brother, only by reputation. I do know that he is a strong man. He will find his way back."
In the Jabari healing chambers, Loki continued to languish in his dreams. He longed for death to take him, but alas, he lingered. Although his physical wounds had gone, living while Brigid was gone the worst torture of all.
"Brigid, Brigid, I failed," he moaned.
Out of the darkness of his dreams, Loki heard a voice. "Loki, I haven't left you. I never will."
"Brigid, my love, I failed you," Loki said.
"No, I'm still with you, my love," Brigid said.
Loki felt a kiss against his lips and a wave of surprise came to him when he knew it was real. Loki slowly opened his eyes to find a different pair of eyes staring back at him. Loki found a pair of blue eyes staring back at him from behind a tight blue hooded mask.
"Captain? Is this a dream?" Loki asked.
"It might be," said Steve with a sly smirk. "Is it a good dream?"
"Well, that depends," Loki said.
"How about now?" Steve asked.
Before Loki could react, Steve pressed his lips against Loki's, much to his surprise.
"Captain, as flattered as I am, and I do find you admirable, I am bound to one," Loki said.
Steve smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that, Loki."
"And why would that be?" Loki asked.
Steve smiled and from his lips, Loki heard a familiar voice. "I told you I'd never leave you. I kept my promise."
Loki's eyes widened. "Brigid? My love?"
Steve smiled and his facade materialized into that of Brigid.
Loki brought her into his embrace, holding her since that terrible day he saw her on the gallows. For once, Loki knew Brigid was safe and it was real.
"You truly are a Goddess of Mischief," Loki whispered proudly.
"Well, I knew you had a fondness for the Captain," Brigid said. "I had to surprise you."
Loki smirked. "And I am surprised. You are quite the marvel, my love."
Brigid grinned. "Shall we, my darling?"
Loki smiled. "After you."
After hours of waiting, Thor started to get impatient waiting for news of Loki's condition.
"This is madness. My brother is dying. I need to see him," Thor said.
Shuri held him back. "Thor, your brother needs time to recover. You must let our medicine work."
"Your silly science should've cured him by now! Thor argued. "I want to see my brother!"
Before Thor could barge into the healing chambers, Valkyrie stopped him.
"Valkyrie, what are you doing here?" Thor asked.
"I got word that you were in Wakanda and came right over," Valkyrie said.
"I am here for my brother. He is wounded from torture," Thor said. "I need to know he is alive."
Out of the corner of the room, Thor heard a voice. "Why not ask me yourself, brother?"
Much to Thor's shock, Loki emerged in the hall, looking confident and every bit the God of Mischief he was.
"Loki, you're alive!" Thor gasped.
Thor embraced Loki weeping and glad to have his brother back and safe. "I'm so sorry, little brother. I promise I'll never abandon you again. But Thank God you're back, you sly devil."
Loki shrugged. "Would you expect anything less of me, brother?"
Thor chuckled. "No, I guess not."
"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to right some wrongs," Loki said. "I'd like to save my children. Let's get on with it."
Thor smiled. "Lucky for you, I know the right man to call."
A/N: Brigid is back and Loki is ready to get their kids back! I hope you enjoyed this one! This is for my readers, reviewers, followers, favorites, etc. This story is for you and would be nothing without you!