On the plane, Loki sat with his elbows on his knees, fingers interlocked in front of his face as he thought about the Soul Gem. Maybe Gamora knows, but will she talk to me? Probably not. Nebula? Loki made a face at his own thought. What about the Grandmaster? The very mention of the man sent a slight shiver down Loki's spine. He made me too uncomfortable, no.
"Whatcha thinkin' about over there, Rock of Ages?" Stark asked.
"The Soul Gem," Loki answered.
"About where it is?" Natasha questioned.
Loki nodded.
"Any ideas?" Strange added on.
Loki gave distant hum before beginning softly, obviously still in thought.
"Two of Thanos' children, Gamora and Nebula, might know, but Gamora never even looked at me. Nebula helped Thanos torture me. The Grandmaster just makes me...uncomfortable and I doubt he knows. I once thought it to be in Heimdalls care, but he's gone. As are the libraries of Asgard, my mother, my father, and Mimir. I have tried myself to find it, to no avail. The Soul Gem is expertly hidden. But how? It is impossible to hide the energy signatures of the Stones. Unless, it's not in this realm, not this dimension or locked away like the Aether, but that poses another problem. There are infinite dimensions layered on top of ours. Mirror, Astral, Dark, and so on, there's no way to comb through them all. Unless you had Reality, then maybe-" Loki rambled.
It was a glimpse into Loki's thought process.
"Let me stop you right there. We get it. It's complicated and you don't know," Stark stopped.
"I was theorizing. It is kind of what I do," Loki snarked.
"Okay, well we're landing in a minute," Rogers informed.
Just as he said this, the jet rocked a little as it descended. A dull thump gave away the landing and a minute later, the door lowered down to let them out. The monarch greeted them personally, familiarity with the Captain's group. When his eyes landed on Loki, Loki bowed his head in respect.
"Your majesty," Loki greeted.
"I hear you are the one who knows the most," T'Challa started.
Loki was taken off-guard by the lack of hostility in his voice. He nodded in agreement with the statement and hesitantly launched into an explanation as they entered the palace.
"And you think the best place to have the stones is here?" T'Challa asked.
"I don't know anything about this place. I only know that I need to keep Time and Mind out of Thanos' hands. Where we do that or how we do that doesn't matter to me," Loki answered.
"That is not all you are after," The female general interrupted.
Loki hesitated for a second, his emotions, the rage and sorrow, bubbled to the surface and boiled over.
"You're right. I want Thanos. I want him kneeling before me, screaming in the same agony I did. I want him to feel every single thing I do to him. I want him to hurt. I want to slice every muscle fiber off and let rats feed on his flesh. I want him to beg me for death and I will tell him, 'no', just as he did me. I'll take away anything he holds remotely dear, let him know how this feels," Loki growls, low and infuriated.
He can feel Banner looking at him, as are the others, but Bruce looks like he just witnessed something so incredibly sad, not like the horrified expressions on the others. Loki inhales deeply, closed his eyes, shoves the emotions back down. Such unrestraint.
"Loki…" Banner started.
"Apologies, I did not mean to darken the mood, especially with such young ears in attendance," Loki said calmly.
"Calm hides a storm, Okoye, try not to disturb it," T'Challa advised.
"Anyway! While Mr. Loki was terrifying all of us, I came up with an idea. If we can't protect the Stones, could we destroy them?" Peter asked, raising his hand slightly.
Loki thought on it for a second, as did Vision. Loki made eye contact with Vision. It is your choice.
"Yes, if there was another energy similar to its own," Vision trailed, eyes darting to Wanda.
"No, no way," Wanda started.
Vision looked to him as did Wanda.
"...I can," Loki confirmed.
Wanda looked utterly betrayed, but Vision looked relieved. Loki didn't really care though.
"No, no, it could actually work. There would be enough of Vision left to be Vision. The Mind Stone is only a part of Vision, not Vision. It would only be a matter of separating the Stone from him," Banner rushed.
"Could you do that Mr. Loki?" Peter asked.
"Yes, Spiderling, but it would take time we do not have," Loki responded.
"But we can go ahead and start. I can do it," Princess Shuri noted.
"It would take three people off the field, Vision, Shuri, and Wanda," Barnes added.
"Hardly missed, there are plenty of us," Stark retorted, a bit harshly.
Loki looked between them, then at Bruce with a raised eyebrow.
"What's that about?" He murmured.
Bruce replied with a slight shrug.
"Bet it's over Rogers," Loki grinned.
Bruce nudged him with an elbow and huffed a small laugh. Both of them turned back to find the group staring at them.
"Shit," Loki muttered before continuing louder, "Stark's right. Thanos can only get the Soul, Reality, Space, and Power stones. He has Power and Space, but not the other two. With that and his leftover children, Glaive, Midnight, and Dwarf, and his armies, it won't be that bad."
"'Won't be that bad' he says as he lists off a bunch of shit," Sam says.
"You are all capable fighters," Loki compliments.
"Wow, compliments!" Bruce commented.
"Don't get used to it," Loki replied.
"Still though, armies, Infinity Stones, it's a lot," Natasha said.
"You have me on your side this time. I am a god, a Seidr master. It took a team of you to bring me down while I was being controlled by Thanos. You also have the Sorcerer Supreme, Earth's Defender, a War Icon, and various powered and skilled people. Do you honestly think so little of yourselves to believe you will be defeated so quickly? With that mindset, you will," Loki warned.
"You're not stable," Natasha rebutted.
"I am stable," Loki growled, unstable.
"No, you are not. You are currently fueled by rage, sorrow, and more rage. You don't care whether you survive this now that Thor is gone. You don't think you have anything left to lose," Bruce listed off softly.
Loki was quiet for a second. He's right.
"You're right. I have nothing. My home is stardust, Asgard gone because of me, my mother dead because of me, Odin dead because of me, Hela dead, Heimdall dead because of me, Thor dead because of me. What good am I? A little Jotun runt, a secondary son, all I do is bring death and destruction," Loki lashed out.
"...Damn it Loki, you do have something," Bruce murmured in reply.
Another tense silence fell over them.
"We don't have time to argue about my lack of mental stability. Thanos will be here at any moment," Loki reiterated.
"Then let's get started," Shuri supported.
She led Wanda and Vision down to her lab. T'Challa and Okoye went to rally the troops, leaving Loki with Stark, Banner, Rogers, Barnes, Sam, Natasha, Peter, Rhodes, and Strange.
"I'm going to get a lay of the land," Loki said to fill the awkward silence.
"I'll come too," Banner added
"No, my friend, catch up with them," Loki declined.
Banner looked a little hurt, but Loki knew he understood Loki just needed some quiet.
"Wait, Mr. Loki, you need one of these," Peter quickly said.
He held out a communicator, a small little earpiece. Loki took it, put it in his ear, then stepped through space to come out in the edges of the city. He took in the trees, the sweet sounds of nature. Natural sounds always made him feel calm. The sound was rushing in his ears until it was all he heard. Wind rustling the leaves, an animal moving plants, its footsteps, the birds chirping, the- silence. Nothingness, it all stopped in a second. Loki's eyes snapped open and he jerked his head up to look at the sky. Ships were entering the atmosphere, one slammed into the protective barrier. Shit. Loki bent space to return to Banner, overlooking the fields. Quickly, T'Challa donned his suit, as did the rest of them. Loki heard Stark tell Spiderling to guard Vision. Parental worry.
"Banner, stay here. You'll be needed," Loki instructed.
"Wait a second, where are you-" Banner started.
Loki had already transported himself into one of the landed ships. The Outriders looked at him for a moment, shocked.
"For Asgard!" Loki bellowed.
It was all Loki needed to discharge a massive, encompassing wave of fire. The ship was engulfed in green flame in moments. Loki let his seidr guide him, fueled by his fury. Loki was in the middle of manipulating ice to stab outward when Dwarf tackled him out of the ship. Bursting through the metal, they fell. Loki quickly switched their positions to land on Dwarf and cushion his fall. The crater around them was deep and dust was floating into Loki's nose and mouth. Loki forced Dwarfs mouth open. Dark magic, but I need to make them all suffer. Loki opened his own mouth and extracted Dwarfs life energy, the massive creature struggled until he couldn't. Loki felt Dwarf's resistance to his death and stopped. He didn't have enough life energy to survive, he would fade away. Loki summoned Laevateinn and grinned, engulfing the blade in black fire, it would burn the souls as well as the body. Loki knew his eyes were glowing green, a sign his control was slipping.
"Holy shit," Loki heard Rhodes murmur.
"What now?" Stark answered, sounding slightly strained.
"Loki just sucked some guys soul out of his body, lit his sword, which he got from nowhere, on fire, black fire, and his eyes are glowing green. Banner, you sure your guy is good?" Rhodes replied.
"He's fine," Bruce replied quickly.
It was then that the terraformers were released. Black Panther shouted the order to retreat, the army suddenly flooding backward. Loki grinned madly, dismissing Laevateinn.
"Watch and learn, Strange," Loki exclaimed, giddy.
He raised both hands towards the terraformers as they began to fan out. They were each encased in a green shimmer. Loki raised his hand and they raised with them. With a maniacal laugh, Loki clenched his fist and they reduced themselves into balls of twisted metal. With the new projectiles, Loki sent them one by one back at the ships, destroying most of them. Three remained standing at the tree line.
"Come now, Thanos! Give me a challenge!" Loki shouted to nobody, high on adrenaline.
"You'll have to settle with us," Midnight said coming from behind Loki.
She stabbed at him with her trident.
"Return to the field, this is about to get interesting," Loki smirked.
"Yes, it is," Glaive confirmed from Loki's flank.
As another wave of Outriders streamed out of the ships, Thanos appeared in a cloudy blue. His left hand was adorned with the Space, Power, and Reality Gems. Thanos quickly entered the fight, easily took down Widow, Captain, War Machine, Barnes, and Black Panther. Bruce was somehow on the field in the Hulk Buster armor. Thanos commanded the stones to life and a ray of combined energy headed straight for Bruce. The armor won't hold! Loki bent space to appear in front of Bruce. He threw a shield up. Loki strained, leaning against the force of the energy. The shield was cracking, but Bruce was still behind him.
"Move! Now!" Loki yelled through gritted teeth.
Bruce stepped aside just in time. The shield shattered and the energy slammed into Loki, shoving him across the plains. Loki's back collided with a protruding boulder and he heard a crack. He yelped in pain as registered his multiple broken bones. Thanos swatted multiple heroes away like flies as he stalked up to Loki.
"Come to finish the job?" Loki sassed.
Thanos only grinned at him before the Power Gem surged to life and flashed across Loki's skin. It was agonizing but not the worst pain, yet Loki screamed. With labored breaths and cut off yells, Loki tried to move, tried to do anything. He's going to kill me, I'm going to die. There was a loud crack of thunder, the familiar roar of the Bifrost. No, impossible, I'm imagining things.
"Thor! Loki!" Bruce screamed.
"Get away from him!" Thor bellowed as he slashed at Thanos.
Thanos was bullied away from Loki and Thor. Loki saw Midnight's broken body a little ways away, Glaives spear in her heart. Both of them dead then. Thor's hand held Loki's cheek.
"Brother? Can you hear me? Can you fight?" Thor asked.
Loki nodded.
"Good, then let's finish this," Thor said.
They stood up together, brothers united at last. Thor charged into the fray, Loki not far behind. They fought gracefully together, accented by each other's fighting style. Thor recklessly fighting, strength orientated and close quarters, while Loki lashed out with knives and his magic, logic oriented and long ranged. Loki saw an opening in the Outriders, straight to Thanos.
"Thanos," Loki informed quickly.
He bent space to deposit them both on Thanos' flanks. Loki had summoned Laevateinn during the transport. He swung the blade to bite deeply into Thanos' side. Thor slammed his new ax into Thanos' chest. Both of them withdrew their weapons, in a nanosecond of eye contact, they nodded at each other. Loki brought his sword into the same wound, Thor aiming directly across from Loki. The strength of their swings met in the middle and cut Thanos right through his waist. He made a small choking noise as his intestines and internal organs met the air. Loki felt the rush of air as Thor's ax came close to him. Loki was willing to bet Thor felt the same thing with Loki's Laevateinn. Loki stood over Thanos, staring into his dimming eyes. He bent down to become all Thanos saw.
"I win," Loki growled before stabbing Thanos through the eye.
Loki breathed out in relief. It's over.
"Oh, I don't think so," Thanos' voice echoed around them.
Loki stilled, the Thanos beneath him stripped away, as did the scene around them. Thanos was a little ways ahead of them. Vision dead and grey at his feet, Strange trying to crawl out from under Thanos' large, heavy boot. Thanos placed the Time Gem with its siblings. Where did he get the Soul Stone?! Thanos gave them a large grin.
"No!" Loki screamed.
He raced through bent space to come out right in front of Thanos. His fingers poised to snap, Loki lurched upwards with Laevateinn. Too slow. Thanos snapped, Loki's sword glanced off the metal of the gauntlet. Loki looked at Thanos with horror and dread. The Titan was too preoccupied by the ruined gauntlet to pay him any attention. With no effort, Thanos was swallowed by a portal. Loki felt something wrong and corrupting deep in his soul.
"No, no, no, no," Loki repeated it like a mantra, falling to his knees, giving himself a hug.
All around him, Wakandan warriors faded away.
"Bucky?"
Loki turned in time to see Barnes' gun fall. Loki felt himself fading away, slowly, slower than the rest. He tuned it all out, staring at the ground with wide eyes and heavy breath.
"Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good," Peter panicked.
Loki breathed faster as his hands turned to dust, the pressure of them on his own arms disappearing.
"Loki?" Bruce noticed him.
"No, Loki!" Thor exclaimed.
He fell to his knees beside Loki, and embraced him in a heartfelt squeeze.
"No, no, no, not you, please not you," Thor begged.
"I-I'm sorry. For everything, I'm so sorry," Loki started.
Thor pulled away to look Loki in the eyes, tears brimmed over and streamed down his face. Loki saw Bruce behind Thor, weeping and shocked, before he looked back at Thor.
"The...The sun shall shine-" Loki stuttered out.
He didn't finish his sentence, the rest of his body fading into dust. Thor let out a soul crushing scream, clutching at the dust.