A/N: Another chapter is finished! It took me lot of time, but it was definitely worth it! I had much fun writing this, and I can say I've finally figured out how this story will expand.

Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

In the next two weeks, I'm not so sure I'll be publishing the following chapter. I have lots of tests, though I'll try making time. Winter break is getting close, and hopefully I will be able to publish more than a chapter.

Enjoy!

When Loki regained consciousness, he found himself disoriented, unable to discern his surroundings or comprehend the reason for his predicament. The only thing he was certain of was that he was suspended once more, immobile, floating in a void. His head throbbed, his body weary, as an overwhelming dizziness clouded his thoughts. How had he ended up in this place again? The world around him seemed to spin in an endless blur. He struggled to lift his eyelids, but they felt as though they were weighed down by an invisible force. Gradually, fragments of his memories began to resurface—the Mad Titan, Thanos, the Infinity Stones, the Avengers, the Tesseract, the tragic loss of his brother. Thor. A tightness gripped his chest at the thought of him. Then, the Tesseract.Where is the Tesseract?Panic flared within him for a fleeting moment, but he quickly quelled the rising dread, reassured by the familiar pulse of his magic confirming its safety. A sigh of relief escaped him.

When, at long last, he managed to open his eyes, the intense light pierced his vision, blinding him momentarily. Squinting against the brightness, a figure materialized before him, its silhouette becoming clearer with each passing second. As his eyes adjusted, Loki's gaze locked onto the familiar form of Ebony Maw, his expression twisted into a grotesque smirk, eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure as he regarded the Asgardian prince.

Loki's patience had worn thin. He was weary, not just of this torment, but of the ceaseless chaos that seemed to follow him wherever he went. He longed to escape, to teleport back to the quiet comfort of his chamber in Asgard, where Thor would be by his side, waiting to embark on another of their childhood games, the sounds of their mother calling them to dinner echoing through the halls. How simple those days had seemed, before the weight of destiny and betrayal had come crashing down upon him. But no—reality, with all its harshness, would not allow him such solace.

His body ached in protest, the remnants of whatever vile substance the alien had used to subdue him still clouding his mind.

"In all the time I have served Thanos," Ebony Maw's voice cut through the silence, smooth and venomous, his teeth gleaming as he spoke. "I have never failed him. If I were to reach our rendezvous on Titan, with the Space Stone still concealed and held by his most treacherous servant, there would be… judgement."

Loki's expression remained impassive, a veneer of indifference masking the storm of fear that churned within him.Thanos. The very name was enough to send a tremor through his spine. His gaze swept across the room, and a chill ran down his back as recognition set in. This place—it was all too familiar. The cruel, pale-blue blades floating around him, casting an eerie glow in the dim room, were a vivid reminder of the horrors he had endured. He had been here before. Or, more accurately, in a place like it—one of the many hellish chambers where he had been tortured by that repulsive sorcerer, that malevolent wizard, back in 2011. The thought of reliving that torment filled him with a cold dread.

No. He could not endure it again. He would not.

The ethereal blades drifted closer, their razor edges slicing into Loki's skin with surgical precision. The pale hue of his flesh turned an unnatural shade of blue as they cut through him, leaving no trace of blood, only searing agony. A scream clawed at the back of his throat, but he stifled it, gritting his teeth and clenching every muscle to prevent himself from betraying any weakness. He would not give them the satisfaction.

"Give… me… the… stone…" Ebony Maw intoned, his voice low and demanding, as though the prince were nothing more than a tool to be manipulated.

Tony Stark had managed to infiltrate the donut-shaped spaceship, his stealthy movements aided by his tech and quick wit. From above, he surveyed the scene below, eyes narrowing as he watched Loki, suspended and seemingly powerless. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between acting immediately and waiting for a better opportunity. But just as he was weighing his options, a soft pat on his shoulder jolted him out of his thoughts. Alarmed, he whipped around, instinctively drawing his weapons, only to find a familiar face—the kid.

"What the-"

Peter should not have followed him on that ship. It was dangerous, risky and could be a one way trip. He tried to make sense with the kid, but Peter was determined.

"You can't be a friendly neighborhood spiderman if there's no neighborhood!"

Okay, what.

Tony knew the kid would be a pain in his ass. However, he knew that Peter wasn't going to change his mind. After some consideration, Tony decided to just give up. There was no point in continuing the argument; he'd exhausted every avenue of persuasion. But before he could speak, the air before them rippled, and a portal abruptly tore open. Through its shimmering threshold stepped Doctor Strange, his dark cloak billowing with an air of mysticism and purpose.

Just great. Now he'd have to deal with the wizard too.

Why couldn't he just be left alone?

"Painful, aren't they?" Ebony Maw's voice dripped with cold amusement. "They were originally designed for microsurgery, but I suspect you're already familiar with their…effects. Your last encounter with them didn't end particularly well, if I recall."

Yes, he remembered. Loki's face remained a mask of stoicism, but his breath came in shallow gasps, his eyes darting desperately around, refusing to meet the wizard's gaze. He couldn't. Hewouldn'tbear it. The searing pain, the dizziness, the infernal heat—he felt the blades ripping through his very essence.

His nightmares had become reality. He was being tortured once again.Again.This was his fate now: to be subjected to unrelenting torment until the aliens broke him, took the Tesseract from his shattered form, and delivered him to Thanos. He would be at the mercy of that mad titan, a helpless plaything, left to suffer for as long as it pleased them.

No. No.Loki refused to endure this again. He would not allow Thanos to break him as he had before. He was different now, stronger. His magic was far more refined. He could end this—if only he concentrated.

Loki closed his eyes, clenching his fists. What appeared to the wizard as a surrender was, in fact, a calculated surge of power. The green tendrils of his magic began to pulse beneath his skin, spiraling up his veins, dancing like fire as they spiraled through his fingertips. The air around him shimmered with power, glowing in brilliant emerald hues. His magic swirled in a dynamic torrent, radiating outward.

Ebony Maw, taken aback, attempted to increase the force of the blades, but his efforts only fueled Loki's rage. The green energy grew, filling the space with an almost palpable fury. Ebony Maw had no recourse now—he could see it. Loki was no longer the broken creature he had once been. The Asgardian prince was reclaiming control. And nothing could stop him now.

"Come on, we've got a situation."

The trio leaned forward, Tony gesturing down as he revealed Loki's predicament.

"What's the plan?"

Doctor Strange paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "We need to rescue him before the alien gets his hands on the Tesseract."

Tony's voice was laced with sarcasm. "No shit, Sherlock."

Strange rolled his eyes.

"Uh, guys, I think Loki's about to do something!" Peter interjected, his voice filled with urgency as he observed the prince gathering his power.

Everyone turned their attention to the screen. What they witnessed left them utterly speechless.

Loki's eyes shot open, glowing a brilliant green, and in an instant, a blinding burst of emerald energy erupted from his core, flooding the room in an infernal surge. Ebony Maw was hurled backwards by the explosion, crashing violently into the wall before crumpling to the ground, dazed and disoriented. He stared at the traitor, wide-eyed.

Loki stood tall, unbowed, his magic swirling like a tempest at his fingertips, his eyes burning with the fierce fire of his determination. He was no longer the prisoner. He was the one in control. And he was ready to take on this wretched creature.

However, just as he prepared to unleash the full force of his wrath, a section of the ship's wall unexpectedly ruptured, and a hole appeared, threatening to throw everything into chaos.

Earlier…

"Quick, what's the plan?!"

Peter's voice crackled with urgency as he faced Tony.

"Okay, um. Alright!" Peter's face brightened as an idea took root, igniting a flicker of hope in Tony. "Ever seen this really old movieAliens?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, his exasperation evident. "Oh, great. Just great."

In the next instant, Ebony Maw was expelled from the ship, his form flung into the freezing void of space. Loki followed, momentarily caught in the icy cold of the cosmos, but a red blur shot out of nowhere—webs. A young boy, dressed in the unmistakable attire of Spider-Man, seized Loki mid-fall, preventing him from spiraling into the abyss. Loki felt the unbearable chill of space for a fleeting second before he was swiftly reeled back inside, landing hard on the ship's floor.

Tony was busy repairing the breach in the wall, while Doctor Strange extended a hand to Loki, offering to help him stand. Loki, still catching his breath, took the sorcerer's hand, only for his legs to betray him and collapse beneath him. Pain throbbed through his entire being, and exhaustion pressed on him like a thousand-pound weight. His body's natural healing abilities were sluggish, hindered by the residual strain of his magic. Embarrassed, he rose unsteadily to his feet, brushing off the dust from his armor, attempting to regain some semblance of dignity. His pride, as much as his body, had been wounded.

He glanced around at the trio of heroes.How had they managed to get here?But then, what did it matter? They were here now, and that was all that was important.

He turned to the young Spider-Man, who was standing nearby, watching him intently. Loki sighed, his pride keeping his words sharp. "Thanks, I suppose. Uh…"

"It's Peter. Peter Parker. And you're welcome." The boy's voice was warm, sincere.

Loki regarded him for a moment, surprised by how young the boy seemed. He couldn't be much older than sixteen—if that. The kid was audibly nervous, but doing his best to mask it. Loki offered him a slight smirk.

"Loki, God of Mischief," he said, raising his chin with a touch of haughty pride.

"Oh! We're usingcode names!" Peter grinned, though it was a little awkward. "Well, I'm Spider-Man!" He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And I already knew who you were. Can't say I'm a big fan."

Loki's smile faltered slightly, irritation flaring. So, the boy was one of them—the Avengers. And like the others, he refused to trust him.How typical.But how could they know he wasn't actually in control of his actions back then?

Meanwhile, Doctor Strange and Tony Stark were embroiled in a heated conversation, their voices sharp and tinged with frustration.

"Turn the ship around," Strange ordered.

Tony, pulling off his suit, shot him an incredulous look. But Loki interrupted.

"It's a terrible idea to return to Midgard. Thanos could lay waste to that planet without even breaking a sweat. We should find another world, one beyond his reach."

"And since when do you care about Earth, huh?" Stark shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Last time I checked, you were trying tokill everyone!"

Loki's temper flared. "If I were you, I wouldn't be so eager to see my world vanish,Tony Stark. It could be far more dangerous than you think."

"Things got dangerous whenyouwouldn't hand over the Tesseract!" Stark retorted, exasperated.

"I had to protect the stone from you," Loki bit back, his voice sharp.

"And what did that cause?" Stark's voice grew more bitter. "If you had just given it to us, I wouldn't have to come here to save your ass!"

"I was perfectly capable of handling this myself," Loki shot back, his voice filled with disdain. "If I hadn't helped you, losers, Thanos would have already acquired the Time Stone. And let's not forget what happened the last time you, Midgardians, had an Infinity Stone."

"Alright, how is this related with any of this?" Stark snapped, clearly losing patience.

"If you're supposed to be the clever ones of this planet, I'd hate to see how the ordinary ones behave," Loki quipped, but his sarcasm was cold.

"Admit it, Loki! You should've ducked out when we told you to," Tony snapped, frustration coloring his words. "We tried to bench you, but you refused!"

Loki's expression hardened, a scornful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Listen here, Mr. Ironhead," he bit back, voice dripping with venom. "If you thought I'd behave like the rest of your mighty minions and blindly follow your asinine orders, then you're sorely mistaken."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "And now, due to that fact, we're trapped on a flying donut, billions of miles away from Earth, with no backup."

"I'm backup," Doctor Strange interjected calmly, his voice laced with an air of authority.

"And I can help too!" Peter added enthusiastically, his youthful energy barely containing his anxiety.

Tony waved him off. "No, you're still away. The adults are talking."

Loki smirked at the subtle jab. "No,let him speak," he quipped, turning his sharp gaze toward Stark. "After all, who do you think is right, Mr. Parker?" He relished the idea of proving Stark wrong—of showing that they had underestimated him.

Tony's dismissive attitude reminded him so much ofOdin—when Loki had tried to make his case, only to be ignored, belittled.

Peter hesitated, clearly caught in the middle of the growing tension. "Um… to be honest, you're both right, but I'm with Mr. Stark on this one," he answered, his words awkward but sincere, a youthful confusion clouding his judgment.

Tony couldn't help but flash a triumphant grin at Loki, as if to say,I told you I was right. That look sent a flare of irritation through Loki's chest. Why was Stark acting so insufferably childish?

Loki was about to retort when Doctor Strange raised a hand, effectively cutting through their verbal sparring.

"Enough, both of you!" the sorcerer commanded. His voice was unwavering, and the authority behind it left no room for argument. "We need to focus on the real problems here." The sorcerer was right.

"The ship is self-correcting its course, things are not upon."

"Can we control it? Fly us home?" Strange pressed, his impatience seeping through his words.

A thick silence fell over the group.

"Stark, can you get us home?" he asked again, his voice calm but firm, expectant.

Tony took a long, contemplative pause, rubbing his jaw as the reality of their situation sank in. Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with reluctant acknowledgment. "Yeah, I heard you." He sighed, a brief flicker of resignation crossing his features. "But… as much as I hate to admit it, I think Loki's right. I'm not sure we should go home."

"Oh, so now you agree!" Loki chuckled, a mocking edge to his voice. His smirk was triumphant—of course he was right hewasalways right, wasn't he?

But Strange wasn't having it. "Under no circumstances can we bring the stones to Thanos. You don't seem to understand the full gravity of what's at stake."

Loki's eyes flared with fury. "It'syouwho doesn't understand, you damn fool! I-" His voice rose, harsh and full of pent-up rage, before Stark interrupted him.

"Thanos has been inside my head for 6 years since he sent an army to New York and now he's back! And I don't know what to do! So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan if I don't wanna archer for his but you saw what they did; what they can do. And if he's not expecting it... So I say we take the fight to him!" His words carried an edge of wild hope, the desperate desire for action palpable in his voice.

"What?" Loki scoffed. "Now this is a terrible idea. We can't take on Thanos. Not on our own. Hell, even the Hulk couldn't do it! I say we go to some remote desert planet, lay low, regroup—"

"No," Tony interjected sharply, cutting him off. "I think you misunderstood how we work here. Unlike you, we don't run from our problems.Youmay run, but not everyone does." His eyes burned with a mixture of exasperation and fury. "And if you think for one second that I would ever—ever—follow your plan, you're even more deluded than I thought. Because 6 years ago you worked for Thanos, and I'm sure you'll betray us, even now."

"I DIDN'T WORK FOR THANOS, I WAS FORCED TO!"

The room went silent. Stark's eyes narrowed, a look of confusion momentarily overtaking his skepticism. Loki's voice had cracked just a little—an unintended slip. A tear, swift and unexpected, trickled down Loki's cheek, but he quickly wiped it away, anger surging to mask the momentary vulnerability. He hadn't meant to reveal that weakness. He couldn't let them know what Thanos had done to him, how deeply the Titan's influence had scarred him.

Tony broke the tension. "So, do you recall?" he asked, his tone more measured than before.

Loki gave a short, bitter laugh. "Recall? I recall enough to know that taking the fight to Thanos is a terrible idea. He could obliterate us in an instant." His gaze shifted, his mind battling the gravity of his own words. The mortals around him were too reckless, too impulsive. But… they wouldn't listen. Perhaps he should just follow their plan. After all, what was there left for him to lose? He had already lost everything.

"You must how dangerous he is," Loki muttered, his voice low but firm. "Thanos is the most dangerous opponent you'll ever face—perhaps the most dangerous force the universe has ever known. But if you want my help, you will listen to me. Because if you don't, none of us are going to make it out of this alive."

Strange nodded, his expression grim. "Okay, we'll listen," he said before Stark could respond. "We don't have much of a choice."

Tony shot Strange a sharp, annoyed look but ultimately sighed in resignation. "Fine," he muttered, his arms crossed. "We'll listen."

Loki took in a slow, deep breath, his chest heavy with the weight of his decision. He glanced around the ship, his gaze sweeping over the familiar metallic walls. Everything about this place was just as he remembered it—cold, sterile, vast and empty, like a tomb. Somewhere, in the recesses of his mind, a knot of unease twisted. The silence here was unsettling. There was somethingelselurking in the ship, something that didn't belong.

The Avengers were busy talking amongst themselves, but Loki didn't care. They were all so sure of themselves, so confident in their plans. It was almost laughable. They had no idea the kind of destruction they were courting.

Loki, meanwhile, was already losing interest. His mind kept drifting to the horrors they were about to face—Thanos.That mad titan.The prospect of fighting him was daunting, but running away wasn't an option. Not anymore.

Loki's gaze swept the room, his mind working furiously. He would find a way to stop Thanos—he had to. For his own sake. For everyone's sake.

But the thing that bothered him most wasn't the impending threat of Thanos—it was the hollow ache that seemed to echo through his chest. Whatwasthe meaning of his existence anymore? He'd lost everything: his family, his home, his purpose. What reason was there to fight, to continue?

"I'll go make sure there are no otheraliensfrom Thanos aboard this ship," Loki announced, his voice flat. "Watch the ship."

Without waiting for any further discussion, Loki turned on his heel and strode toward the metal doors, his footsteps echoing in the hollow quiet.

To his surprise, the doors slid open with a soft hiss. Loki stepped through, into a dimly lit corridor. The walls stretched long on either side, lined with doors, most of them closed but with thin, glass windows through which rooms could be glimpsed. Everything was empty, abandoned.

Then, a voice—soft but unmistakable—reached his ears. His senses immediately heightened. Without a second thought, he cloaked himself in invisibility, his form dissolving into the air around him. His feet moved soundlessly across the hallway, each step deliberate as he approached the source of the voice. The door to the room stood ajar, but Loki didn't need to step closer. He could see through the glass.

In the room there was someone he hadn't expected to see. Someone he hadn't even dared to imagine.

Thor?

To be continued...