A/N: I really need to chill and focus on one story at a time... Oh well. Here's a little one-shot that pretty much sums up Loki's and Thor's relationship. This is my first time doing a fic in this format, so let me know what you think. I'm open to suggestions if you want me to do different songs and/or characters. Enjoy! Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I own neither Imagine Dragons nor Marvel.

I know I took the path that you would never want for me

Loki attacked Earth. It was the only way. Collateral damage. It still hurt. It still hurt to see the betrayal and confusion in Thor's gaze as he begged Loki to come home.

"You give up the Tesseract! You give up this poisonous dream! You come home."

"I don't have it." He had attempted to destroy his birth planet, he had never fit in in Asgard and the Sanctuary was far from home. He had no home.


I know I let you down, didn't I

Thor so desperately wanted to know what was wrong. What had caused Loki to fall this far? Had he done this? Had he pushed Loki so far away that Loki had drowned? Or had his brother survived, holding his breath, waiting for Thor to dive in after him and bring him back to the surface?


So many sleepless nights where you were waiting up on me

Thor lay awake, per usual, agonizing over Loki. Was his brother still in there somewhere? He hadn't slept since Loki had let go of the Bifrost. He had been overjoyed to hear Loki was alive, yet when he got to Earth, only a shell of his brother remained. Something was wrong, Thor just couldn't place what it was.


Well I'm just a slave unto the night

Loki tossed and turned, screaming until he finally woke in a cold sweat. You will long for something as sweet as pain. He had been used. All his life. Odin had brought him to Asgard so that he could use him as a political tool. Thanos had used him -had tried to use him. He would never be free. Not if the slave brand on his back had anything to say about it. He was simply too broken to be pieced back together again.


Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me

"Then am I not your mother?"

"You're not." It was better this way. It was better if they never saw each other again. His mother was safer that way. He was too dangerous. The people he had angered were too dangerous. His hand passed through the projection, sealing the promise that severed the ties between them.

"Always so perceptive of everyone but yourself."


Remember when I broke you down to tears

Thor remembered much clearer after Loki fell. Every party his brother seemingly disappeared from, every magic trick he and the Warriors Three made fun of, every book they threw on the ground or cut up with their swords or smashed in the mud. Every prank he was wrongly accused of, every tear and weakness and sensitivity that was brutally chastised and mocked. Loki was often accused of being a liar, yet it was never questioned why he lied. How many times had Loki hid the tears, how many times had he lied to hide the pain?


I know I took the path that you would never want for me

Loki was chained, the Allfather looking down on him.

"Loki."

"Hello, mother. Have I made you proud?"

"Please. Don't make this worse."

"Define worse." I chose this path. I may have been forced, but I chose to let go of the Bifrost. I chose to come here. To be locked up. Don't waste your time trying to steer me in a different direction. This has always been my destiny. I am part of a race of monsters.


I gave you hell through all the years

Thor wished he could turn back time. He could, he just didn't know where the Time stone was. He wish he could go back to simpler times where Loki had run into his room after a nightmare. Wished he could go back to a time where he and Loki were brothers. Most of all, he wished he could warn his past self not to be so insensitive and brash. He wished he could knock some sense into his past self so that instead of giving Loki a hard time, he would shelter and defend him. He truly was an oaf.


So I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life on you

Loki finished off the last of the Dark Elves he had been fighting, immediately headed to aid Thor. Kurse was going to kill the oaf if Loki didn't stop it. Swiping one of the grenades, Loki cloaked himself and broke into a run. Loki impaled the beast from behind with it's own blade, sticking the grenade to it's lower back. It simply turned and ran him through with the blade that protruded from it's chest. He gasped in pain as the monster tossed him to the ground.

He groaned, instinctively bringing his arms over his chest.

"See you in Hel, monster." The beast turned around in surprise as the grenade went off, ripping it apart. Thor was at his side in an instant. I can finally rest. I've avenged my mother and protected my brother. I can finally rest.

"You fool. You didn't listen."

"I know. I'm a fool. I'm a fool. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His breath was coming in short, pathetic gasps.

"Shh. It's alright. I'll tell father what you did here today." You think I care about that old fool? He did. A small part of him still hung onto useless sentiment, but it wasn't Odin who he was dying for.

"I didn't do it for him." It was never for him. It was always for Thor.


I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life on you

Thor knew taking on the force of a star was probably suicide, but he had to try. He couldn't let Loki's death be in vain. If he died, then so be it. It had never stopped his brother. That selfless hero always getting himself hurt to protect Thor. Thor was the older brother, it was him that was supposed to protect Loki. Not the other way around. So if he died, if he made the wrong call, the wrong bet, than it was in honor of Loki. It was time to be the hero, just like his brother.


I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams

Would I come running home to you

Loki was going home. Home. It had been a hard year. Meticulous planning and resisting. He had dreamed and planned hoped but he never dared believe it would actually work. He was home. He was home and his family was safe.


I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth

There's you in everything I do

Every choice Loki made revolved around Thor. He let the Frost Giants into Asgard because Thor wasn't ready for the throne. He told the guard they were going to Jotunheim to protect Thor and the Warriors Three. He told Thor that Father was dead to break Thor down. He sent the Destroyer after Thor to see how much it would take for Thor to be worthy of Mjolnir. Once that happened, Thor would come back and Loki would finally beat him. Loki decided to destroy Jotunheim so that he could be Thor's equal. He let go of the Bifrost because he couldn't be an Odinson anymore, the wounds were too deep. He couldn't be Thor's shadow any longer. The list went on and on and on.


Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me

Loki needed to sever all ties with Thor. Thor was simply too arrogant and violent. He would bring Asgard to her doom. He seemed to be getting along with the scientist. Once he learnt Asgard had turned her back on him, he would move on and could be happy on Midgard. That, along with the smidge of revenge at seeing Thor so broken. Yet it hurt. He can be happy here. At least that's what he told himself.

"This is goodbye brother."


Remember when I broke you down to tears

"Did you mourn?" It was a simple question. A simple question that he already knew the answer to. Of course Thor had mourned. Loki had seen the tears, heard his brother screaming 'NOOOO' as he let go of the Bifrost. He knew Thor and Frigga had mourned, but had Odin? Had anyone besides his mother and brother even cared that he was dead? Perhaps they were even glad of it. It's not as if they had ever welcomed him with open arms. They probably thought 'good riddance'. He knew Thor had mourned because those tears, the desperation as he screamed had been real.


I know I took the path that you would never want for me

Looking back, Thor could see why Loki had done what he did. Thor was hardly fit to be king. He was hardly ready seven years later. He had been war-thirsty, aggressive, violent, angry, arrogant, careless and brash. Why had he taken the hard path? Why had he chosen glory over his brother? How many things would be different had he just paid attention or even better; actually listened to his brother?


I gave you hell through all the years

Loki wanted to make things right. He wanted his brother back. He wanted Thor back. So he made a choice. He returned to the Statesmen. It would be easier to hide on his own, but he was done staying in the shadows.

"I'm here." He would leave before Thanos found him. But, for now, it felt so natural to return the hug.


So I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life on you

Loki had to protect Jane to protect Thor. He saw the grenade coming, it was hardly a choice. He had nothing left. Thor had Jane. He shoved her out of the way, not escaping fast enough as he got sucked in, closer to death by the second.


I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life for you

Loki was about to start Ragnarok. A Frost Giant was about to wake a fire demon. What a splendid combo! It didn't stop him. It didn't matter if he died. So long as Thor was safe. Loki would save his brother. As the palace crumbled and burned around him, impeding his mad dash, all Loki felt was peace. He was saving his brother.


Don't tell me that I'm wrong

"Loki, enough. No more illusions." Loki may not be the boy he grew up with, but Thor knows he is grieving. He still loved mother. Even his illusions could not hide the truth. Surely, Loki knew he wouldn't be fooled? Loki did as he asked, to his surprise, dropping the illusion so that Thor could see his true state. It was just as he'd predicted; the area of an angry, grieving son.


I've walked that road before

And left you on your own

Thor had left Loki on his own more than he could count. He had left him various times growing up, had left him to rot in a cell for a year, left his body on Svartalfheim, left him on Sakaar and left him on Asgard while it burned. That's why he crawled towards his brother's limp form before the Statesmen exploded. He wasn't going to leave Loki again. Not until the body turned to golden dust.


"Well, he's been dead before. Only this time, I think it might actually be true."


And please believe them when they say

That it's left for yesterday

"If you were actually here, I might even give you a hug." Thor threw the stopper, knowing it would pass through the illusion. It didn't.

"I'm here." It was a silent question. I'm here, unless you want me gone. I'm here, if you can forgive me. I'm here, is that what you want? Thor answered by stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Loki.

"I'm glad." It was hardly a whisper, but his brother got the message.


And the records that I've played

Thor felt numb. His brother was dead. Loki was dead. Where had he gone wrong? Almost mechanically, Thor got up and headed for his brother's room. It was neat as ever. Books neatly stacked against the wall, the dark green curtains were drawn shut, as if he were hiding from the world. What caught his attention was the guitar standing in the corner. Loki was a much better player, but Thor just wanted to feel close to his dead sibling. He picked up the instrument and begun to play a mournful tune, the tears freeing themselves as it finally settled in his bones. Loki was dead.


Please forgive me for all I've done

Loki knew what he was, who he was. There were several things he could say to justify his actions. The ends justify the means. Collateral damage. It was a better alternative than Thanos. The Mind stone manipulated him. It didn't keep the nightmares away. It didn't keep the guilt away.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." It would be so much easier to just die. Yet fate had never been kind to him. It was why he woke on Svartalfheim. Alone. Just like he deserved.


So I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life on you

I, I bet my life, I bet my life

I bet my life on you

Loki made his final bet. Thanos was here. The titan would kill Thor. Unless he killed Loki first. Death would finally embrace him. For the first time in years, Loki didn't want death, yet death was here. Really, he should of expected it, he never had gotten what he wanted.

"I, Loki." A step forward.

"Prince of Asgard." Another step forward.

"Odinson." He brought his gaze up to Thor, relaying a silent message. I'm sorry. Loki could tell Thor understood what he was planning. Another step forward. He could practically hear Thor begging him not to do it. It made him grateful his brother was muzzled, if he heard Thor- stop hesitating.

"Rightful heir to Jotunheim." A couple more steps forward.

"God of mischief." He was mere feet from Thanos. Mere feet from death. He summoned a dagger.

"Do hereby pledge to you, my undying fidelity." He may have been facing the titan, but the words were directed at Thor. They always had been. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves, Loki plunged the dagger upwards. It stopped inches from it's mark.

"Undying? You should choose your words more carefully." The gauntlet wrapped around his throat. I'm so sorry brother. Airflow was slowly being cut off. Even if he wanted to die, he struggled anyway. It seemed his will to live wasn't quite gone.

"You. Will. Never. Be. A god." SNAP.

Loki ran towards his mother.