The Mad Titan
Evie could still hear Valkyrie's voice echoing in her head as the pain and weariness radiated throughout her body.
“This is the Asgardian refugee vessel Statesman! We are under assault, I repeat, we are under assault – The engines are dead, life support failing! Requesting aid from any vessel within range... We are 22 jump points out of Asgard. Our crew is made up of Asgardian families, we have very few soldiers here! This is not a war craft, I repeat, this is not a war craft!”
The Asgardian people who couldn’t stand in battle had been sent to earth in a collective effort between Stark and Heimdal. A final hail mary, last minute decision to get them to safety. Against everyone’s protest, Evie had pushed Valkyrie away and into the black bubble being portled away as the others begged her to join the refugees. But she chose to stay at Loki's side. Ever the devoted wife.
But it was all in vain.
Seconds later, one half of the ship was spinning off into space. She had watched in horror as the gasses and liquids drifted off into the void. The final two energy blasts from the enemy crippling the Ark’s kinetic shielding. The invasion had been swift. Since the ship was non military, there were no weapons; no defensive measures to protect its occupants.
The Black Order had won.
Thor was on his back, before hisfeet. Defeated. As did Heimdall and Hulk from not too far away. Loki was surrounded on all sides, just looking up to his wife as he stood covered with soot, dirt, sweat, and blood.
Evie was suspended midair, suppressing the urge to cry as the one that resembled a mashup of Lord Voldurmort and the Crypt Keeper spoke. “Hear me, and rejoice. You have had the privilege of being saved by the Great Titan. You may think this is suffering. No... It is salvation! Universal scales tip toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile... For even in death, you have become Children of Thanos.” While talking he kept his beady eyes trained on her, assessing her every reaction, her fierce fighting against him had been quite amusing. It had been such a long time since he had a real adversary. Someone who was capable of spilling his blood even if it was just a graze from her light sword.
Everyone remained silent, even Loki. The man who would outlive all the gods getting the last word, was silent. However, Evie could see his scheming underneath those beautiful emerald eyes. The lap dog was now in front of her, once again pushing more glass like needles into her skin. Just deep enough to break her composure as a whimper escaped her lips. But still refusing to fully submit, she continued to hang on to her magic. Her powers had a larger task to play.
And that's when hespoke.
While looking out the large window, Thanos addressed the fallen heroes. “I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right... yet to fail, nonetheless.” Turning to face them he crouched, grabbing Thor by the head. “It's frightening. Turns the legs to jelly. I ask you, to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say... I am.” He then held up his other hand revealing a golden gauntlet that hosted a glowing purple gem. Exhaustedly; spitting blood from his mouth, Thor said, “you talk too much.”
The titan then turned to Loki. “The Tesseract. Or your brother's head. I assume you have a preference.”
“Oh, I do. Kill away!” Thanos brought his fist up to Thor’s temple. And right before he made contact, he paused to look at Evie who was trembling from the pain. “And what about her? She seems… important.” Following his line of sight, Loki turned to her. The false bravado, and swagger on full display. "I'd be more than willing to help you, if you'd kindly get your lackey off my lovely wife." Thanos hummed, thinking over his request. With a nod, Evie was dropped to the floor. “Your wife? Interesting… Bring her to him.” Ebony Maw obediently did as told, dragging Evie by her hair till she was standing at Loki’s side. He pulled her close, his body pressed to hers. Inhaling her scent, he lifted her chin. Placing a gentle, chase, and pure kiss on her lips before asking, “are you okay?” A simple question that carried so much weight. She only nodded while breathing heavily. He placed a hand to her womb, cradling the concealed belly. “My headstrong wife.” Her husband couldn’t help the smile twitching at the corners of his lips as he leaned down to kiss her crown. He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled Evie closer to his chest as he whispered a few words of comfort.
It only took the blink of an eye to miss it, but he didn’t. Thanos caught the discret gesture.
Without warning he pressed his fist to Thor’s face. Thor wailed in pain as the stone radiated a bright purple. Cringing and looking away from her friend's pain, Evie knew Loki would only bear the screams for just a few more seconds, “ALRIGHT, STOP!”
Thor panted as he said, “we don't have the Tesseract. It was destroyed on Asgard.” Squeezing her hand, Loki let her go and glanced at Thor as he lifted his right hand into the air with the Tesseract suddenly revealing itself. God damn it Loki, you couldn’t help yourself could you?
In seeing his actions, Thor didn’t hold back his thoughts. “You really are the worst, brother.”
While presenting the Tesseract to Thanos and advancing, Loki spoke to them both, “I assure you, brother, my darling… the sun will shine on us again.”
Thanos chuckled, “your optimism is misplaced, Asgardian.” With his head held high, Loki boasted proudly, “Well, for one thing: I'm not Asgardian. And for another... We have a Hulk.” Diving out of the way with Thor, the Tesseract was thrown aside as Hulk emerged from behind Thanos. Several punches were exchanged and Thanos was forced into the wall of the ship.
One of the children of Thanos, Proxima Midnight, stopped Evie dead in her tracks from being able to run to her family. Stepping up to her, Evie felt Void taking over. “Your powers are strong… but not strong enough.” She was seething, black eyes burning with fury, “they’ll be enough to kill you.” Drawing out her laser sword from a small swirl of dark smoke, Evie wielded it skillfully as Hulk continued to brawl. But the green brute was no match for the genocidal warlord. Distracted when Hulk’s limp body was slammed on the floor, Evie was disarmed and restrained by their resident warlock once more. She could see Loki just about to run to her, pulling his dagger on Thanos, while Thor grabbed a discarded sword. Loki placed two fingers over his heart, tapping the spot as he mouthed, 'I love you .'
Thor tried to interfere but after his sword broke after fruitlessly striking Thanos, Ebony Maw binded him to the ground. He was left to pull on his restraints, having been trapped by metal that encased him entirely.
"You should choose your words more carefully," Thanos said as he caught Loki by the throat when his blade neared his thick neck. Evie felt the spell, she saw the soft twitch of his fingers. He was casting an enchantment, she could see the strain in his eyes, a bead of exertion on his brow. Evie felt the spell tighten within her as his voice muttered softly in her head, “Whatever happens, you are to stay alive. Protect our son, and make him a man of honor.” Evie felt an untamed darkness overwhelming her as she saw Thanos lift her husband by the neck. Her mind went wild as his words rattled in her brain, our son?
Evie knew then that Loki was not saving himself.
Her heart sank as she watched Thanos' grip tighten, his ‘children’ standing around with pleased smiles. Quickly looking around, Evie spotted a piece of debris on the ground. There was only one option that she could conjure in that moment. So picking it up, she sent it smashing over Proxima's head and with the flick of her wrist Ebody was sent crashing several yards away. Causing Thanos to release Loki, still very much alive.
All the attention now came to her. The titan looked down at the body before her then to Evie standing there once again with the luminescent sword, prepared to fight till the bitter end. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I step on your moment?" She was holding onto the hilt with a white knucle grip as Thanos stepped closer. Meanwhile, Heimdall shared a knowing look with the brothers. From behind, Corvus Glaive blindsided her, and an immense feeling of pain erupted from her chest to her abdomen.
“NO!”
She looked down upon hearing Loki and Thor scream. Protruding from her body was a massive piece of steel. Blood started pooling at her feet and she shuddered from the rapid loss. The sound of liquid plopping against the floor echoed sickeningly like a leaky faucet. As the polearm was ripped from her body, Evie fell to her knees beside Hulk looking up at Thanos. She was going into shock, fast. Unable to speak, or even move. She watched in horror how Thanos once more snatched Loki off his feet when he tried to reach her. As he strained to breathe, her husband was glued to her.
Evie tried to scream out, to say anything to the man she loved as she heard his decree. Loki's final words as he struggled to take in air.
"You… will never… be a god."
Thanos heard the truth in them. They were far more efficient than any weapon. And he decided he would make him pay for that trickster tongue of his.
So Thanos snapped Loki's neck, killing him instantly.
Loki crumpled to the ground, and Evie felt the illusion she was casting waver. Loki's eyes were still looking at her. They were devoid of all light, red and brimmed with tears. He had been determined to save his family in any way he could. Even if it meant not saving himself.
Thanos sneered, “no resurrections this time.” Heimdall, in his final moments, uttered a hushed prayer to the cosmos. “Allfathers... let the dark magic flow through me one last... time.” As he summoned the Bifrost, Evie started to lose the last bits of her strength. When she was lifted by the interdimensional portal, Hulked started to stir.
Evie didn’t want to go, it was the last thing she wanted to do. She would have rather died with him, than leave Loki ever again.
As she was being carried away, all Thor could hear were her broken desperate cries.
"No, Loki!"
Yet despite her agony, Evie succumbed to her wound and fell into the abyss of eternal darkness