You had been so close.
So damn close.
The makings of Ragnarok meant that alongside your new king Thor, the Asgardians were displaced and you were looking for somewhere else for the people to live.
Not that it mattered anymore of course because most of them lay dead on the floor beneath you, slaughtered despite the fight the remaining warriors put up after the tyrannous reign of Hela.
Looking up, your vision blurred with tears and slipping between the conscious and unconscious, trying to place your attackers on the mutilated deck. And a voice you so desperately remembered with an ache in your heart rang clearly through your ears.
”Fear not, but rejoice for your savings through the hands of Thanos. Smile, knowing you have aided him in his conquest. Salvation, a child of him even in death.”
You propped yourself up on your arms a little, trying to get off the ground to not much avail. Thor, on the other hand, staggered upwards towards the speech giver.
“Brother, this is madness!”
A dagger was drawn to Thor’s throat immediately, and he became surrounded by Thanos’ bloodthirsty entourage.
”I was never your brother. And I am most certainly not now-“
Cut off by a charge at him by Thor, he phased right through the illusion, revealing what you assumed to be Loki’s real form on the other end of the deck. Two held him in place as Loki slinked through a path of bodies.
“Where is the Tesseract?”
Thor panted through the weapons held to his throat. “We left it, on Asgard. You won’t find it. It was destroyed in Ragnarok.”
“Don’t play coy with me, bro- Thor.” He caught himself, and you could see a flicker of weakness behind his eyes. “Where is it? You surely wouldn’t be so stupid as to leave it.”
You wiped some of the blood that leaked from a cut on your forehead as that idiotic grin traced Thor’s lips. “You know me, Loki. You were always the smart one. I’m the oaf.”
His dagger went slightly firmer on Thor’s throat, drawing some blood. “I told you- we left it on Asgard- in the vault-“
“Liar.”
The blade went cleanly through Thor’s throat, body dropping loosely with grace. You couldn’t process what you were doing, but you heard your scream leave your mouth before you understood its consequences.
The “children” whipped around in your direction, Loki in lead, looking down on you at the floor, and forced your chin up harshly. And in that moment, his demeanour softened slightly, his grip loosened. The moment was silent bar sparks from the broken cables loose on the deck, and your soft sobs. You only managed to form a couple of words.
“Loki… please…”
His companions looked at him with confusion and disdain for lack of response, one prodding him slightly with a staff to extract some reaction. His voice lowered so only you could hear.
“I don’t want to hurt you. All you have to tell me is where the Tesseract is. And I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
It took you a moment to process his words, and you felt helpless at the response that came out of your abused throat. “Loki, we left it on Asgard, it’s gone.”
Something about his reaction tore you apart. Could you sense… fear? The way he stepped back, his hands shaking, the way he looked quickly at who you presumed was Thanos, and the way he looked back towards you.
It doesn’t matter whether he actually believed you or not, he was trying to protect himself from harm.
“Hold them.”
Two held your arms down with brute force, as one activated what you could only describe as an electric staff. His voice wavered slightly as he tried to keep his exterior stoic. “Y/N, if there’s one thing I’ve come to know about you over time, it’s when you’re lying. I’ll ask you again, where is the Tesseract?”
”Loki- please-“ You sobbed, the salt of your tears stinging the wounds on your face. “Don’t do this-“
”All you have to do is tell me where it is and you’re safe. We can find a new home.” He crouched down to your level, a forced smile on his lips, you could see tears forming in his eyes. “All you have to do is tell me where it is. It’s that easy.”
“I’ve- hic- I’ve told you- hic- please- it’s gone-“
The pressure of the situation by those around him was too much for him, as he stood back up with a sigh, and nodded to the one with the electric staff. Turning his back as to not watch what they did to you, you just about made out his flinch at your pained cries as your body completed the circuit. It went on like that for about a couple of minutes, it pressed against your body, a brief pause, and the electricity flooding your veins again.
It seemed Thanos had reached his limit, restless with the lack of response he was receiving. As he made his way towards you, the “children” parted. He pulled you roughly against his chest, pressing now a golden glove to the side of your head. “Give us the location, or your pathetic life will reach a premature end.”
Hearing those words, Loki’s eyes widened in what you could only read as panic, looking between you and the titan. “Y/N- please- this is for the greater good-“
You knew you would lose either way, might as well go out with a bang.
“You want to know where it is?! Fine, I’ll tell you.”
Everything seemed to relax, Loki sighed, a small, more genuine smile on his face, even Thanos’ grip loosened.
“Up my ass, you purple ballsack-“