"Time to wake up Tony, guards are coming."
It was a smooth British sounding voice this morning and Tony groaned as he sat up to ones again disconnect himself from Nebula.
Loki though, clearly had his attention somewhere else and as Tony was done disconnected he looked up. "What is it?" he asked.
"I'm not sure yet." Loki admitted. "Something is different." he made a snap with his finger, and like usual their small stash of stolen parts were hidden in an illusion that looked like an ordinary rock.
It was just an illusion though, Tony could stick his hand right through it and touch the parts. But it worked to hide what they had stolen so far.
Guards came in and yelled. "Line up! Get in line."
Tony sighed, ah. They were back to this, well this should be interesting. And Tony stood up as he groaned, then blinked and turned his head to see where previously a black god had been standing.
Was now what looked like a green reptilian like alien. "What?" The green alien asked in Lokis voice.
"Nothing, I think that look suites you. You should keep it." Tony stated. "Like an overgrown snake. Is that on purpose? It really I very you."
Lokis eyes narrowed, glaring at Tony.
Tony just smiled innocently back at him, there was no more time to bigger as they were lined up and then willingly walked a well known route.
This time though Tony wasn't alone, Loki was right behind him… Of all things it actually felt comforting.
Perhaps he shouldn't be to surprised, just the fact he wasn't alone at this place kept Tony a float. If he had been alone.. He didn't want to think about it.
Finally they were all gathered, and high above them on her usual spot. There she was, Supergiant. In her long white robe, a hood going over her head. There were two big fires, one on each side of her and her hands were clasped together while her eyes were closed.
"My dear friends." Supergiant spoke. "Forgive me, I have neglected you. And neglected our cause." she whispered. "I forgot myself, what an honor it has been. To merely live at a time where Thanos could still be seen. At a time where you could talk to him and he would answer. This is a privilege. Now, it is our duty to carry on! To carry his mission and message. For yes, there will be a day where Thanos shall return to us!" she spoke opening her eyes, and there were tears in them. "And on that day we shall pay him a glorious tribute! He will have an army, greater than any army he ever commanded! He will come back, and know he was never forgotten! And it is us, us who shall make that possible!" she stretched out her arms towards the sky, her head bend back and tears streaming down her face. "What a glorious task! Each and everyone one of us are blessed! To be part of such a task!"
Slightly Tony nudged Lokis arm earning Lokis gaze, and then Tony swirled a finger over his head pointing at Supergiant. Total cuckoo.
Loki smirked in response then looked back up.
"Despair not! Rejoice instead." Supergiant gasped. "Thanos is with all of us, no longer in body but in spirit! Until the day he shall return! Come!" she spread out her arms. "Let us sing his praise. PRAISE THANOS!" she shouted and everyone shouted with her, only so they wouldn't get punished.
Tony sighed deeply as he stood back. "She made all of that up." he whispered to Loki.
"Obviously." Loki replied. "Thanos was never a god to begin with."
Tony looked up at Loki. "Eventually you have to tell me why you think you're so different."
Loki smirked slightly. "If you do insist." was his final words before all quieted and Supergiant stepped to her familiar elevator.
Tony froze as he realized what was going to happen no… oh… shit.
And then, the usual question was asked to the first person. "Do you swear your allegiance to the great Titan, our lord Thanos?"
Fuck fuck fuck! Supergiant was on her way over here now! She could read minds, she would read Tony's mind! She knew when people were lying! This was not good, this was not good!
"Tony." Loki suddenly spoke and Tony looked at him, and suddenly. Suddenly Loki just grabbed Tonys face making Tony's eyes widen. "Sorry about this." Loki said.
And then, it was like a fog entered Tony's mind. Voices became muffled, the light became dim and Tonys eyes widened in fear. He was alone at this place. There was no one with him.
He was never going to get out! Never ever! Here all that mattered was Thanos, there was only Thanos.
Tony didn't even feel the hand as it was removed from his face, all he felt was the sinking despair, he fell to his knees as the mad Titans face played in front of his mind and ones again he saw.
Peter in his arms, that poor kid so scared. He didn't deserve to die, he didn't. Even Doctor Strange had looked scared. His eyes had been pleading at Tony as he vanished into dust. Peppers face, an horrible image of her vanishing like Peter… Like Strange.
And Steve, Bruce, Thor, Clint, Natasha. Laying by Tony's feet, but they were cold corpses and above them was the shadow of Thanos looming. Looming over all of them.
A large being stepped in front of Tony who was sitting on his knees and then a soft voice.
"Oh… how you despair."
Tony looked up, tears dripping from his eyes.
"It's all right little one." Supergiant breathed as she bowed down, wiping Tonys tears away with a finger. "I see, Thanos's work is on your mind. You're seeing it." she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Fear not, the hurt you feel now will become a strength. Sweet little thing." she ran a hand through his hair as if Tony was some kind of pet and then she simply moved on as Tony wrapped his arms around himself.
Soon after a green hand appeared in front of Tony's head and made a snap and then, Tony blinked. He still felt it and yet, he could shake his head. Shake it off him.
"Tony, come back." Sounded Lokis voice and finally Tony's eyes widened in horror as he realized.
He looked up at Loki in his green alien disguise. "What the shit?" he asked in a hiss. "What did you do to me? How could you.."
"I didn't implant any fake memories, I only found what you already felt and pulled it to the surface for a bit." Loki whispered back. "You already know I had to! Supergiant would have read your mind and it would have been over. You understand?"
Tony squinted his eyes, then felt a hand on his arm.
"Come on." Loki asked trying to help Tony back up on his legs.
"Don't touch me." Tony pulled his arm away and Loki halted, finally Tony managed to get back up. Swaying a bit, but Loki didn't move any closer. Finally Tony found his footing then looked at Loki who caught his eyes.
"Tony…" Loki spoke seriously keeping eye contact. "I had to do it."
Tony shivered as he stood then swallowed. "I… I know." he finally admitted. "Sorry. I just… I was shocked. I don't like feeling like that."
"It is how you feel." Loki reminded Tony. "You have just managed to push it away ones in a while."
Tony closed his eyes, but then nodded. "Did you see it?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm sorry." Loki replied.
"Jesus Christ." Tony ran a hand over his face, then he glanced up at Lokis face, still in disguise and he sighed. "You did what you had to. Saved my ass… again." he sighed. "Sorry I reacted that way."
Loki shook his head. "Having ones mind invaded unwillingly is not a pleasant feeling."
Tony halted, he looked at the demi god and suddenly it hit him. How different Loki was from back at New York, in some ways he felt like a completely different person.
Of course when Tony had first met Loki he had just looked broken and helpless. The weird thing right now was… Loki still looked broken. And even in some ways helpless.
Sometimes Loki would come across as big, scary and impressive. Like he really was a god and had a check on everything. But other times, like now. He was just as lost as Tony was. And like Tony… Loki only had so many friends now. Tony being one among them.
Tony at last smiled wryly. "It's better than being stuck here for-ever." he stated. "And probably better than what-ever punishment supergiant would have for me if she figured it out."
Loki nodded. "Indeed."
Tony sighed as guards came to lead each person to their work station and Loki just kind of vanished… Out sneaking around to find parts.
And Tony allowed the guards to just take him, it was all he could do.