Chapter 3
Loki blinked to being surrounded by blue energy, which stopped him from slicing Thanos Neck. His eyes widened when he realised when he was and he let the dagger fall out of his hand. He was going to die by the hands, quite literally, of Thanos. Again. Briefly he wondered if there was anything to do that could change his fate, but he was too late in the timeline to prevent it. And if he didn’t die Thor would. But there was something he wanted to do since Loop 56, where Thanos had killed Thor instead of him. So he took a deep breath and when Thanos reached out his hand to move away his arm, despite his gut telling him his death was going to be more painful because of this, he spoke.
„ „You stupid fucking impersonation of a rotten fucking grape, You‘re a little bitch and a petty for running around on planets and killing half of the fucking Population because of you‘re sick fucking brain. Truly you are pathetic for killing thousands and millions just because you weren’t able to do it on your own fucking planet You sick fucking bastard and bad excuse of a living being, You should have died along the rest of your race like the rotten fucking grape you are! And how more petty can it get?! No you‘re not even doing it yourself by hand, No you are trying to collect the six strongest fucking things that had the dishonour of existing because NOTHING YOU WANT WOULD EVER WANT TO EXIST AFTER THAT AND you are just a sad excuse of something to be called a living being, i mean look at you, the universe would be off better with you dead! And now you‘re going to kill me the fifth fucking time,“ he took a moment to catch his breath“ But surprise surprise, you couldn’t even fucking do that right, because if you would have i wouldn’t be stuck in this stupid fucking time loop that i have the dishonour of living through over and over again, which in all honesty, fuck you for that you stupid fucker. I would rather be dead than doing this shit over and over again. Do you think it’s funny seeing you kill Thor?! Or letting you kill me because then at least he will live for a few fucking minutes until this stupid loop resets?! Or having to fight the avengers again and again?! Do you think it’s funny to see Asgard be destroyed or see my mother die over and over?! Spoiler alarm, it’s not and This is all your fucking fault i wish you to die alone in a petty corner because that’s what you deserve, you Sick bastard!“
The Look on Thanos Face could only be described as pure flabbergastion. By now Loki had started crying and stared in Thanos eyes with his own full of hatred. Everything around him had gone silent. Loki just stood there, a shaking and sobbing mess. It was embarrassing, to say least, which is why he kept his eyes on the floor. But it was whatever, no one would remember next loop, so Loki took a deep breath and walked a step closer to Thanos. No consequences. He would be fine after. (But he still couldn’t help the thought of ‚what if this is the last loop?´)
„Sorry I had to get that out, You can snap my neck now“, he said completely emotionless (ignoring the thought of this being the last loop.)
He closed his eyes, expecting to ,obviously, die. Maybe he would be stabbed this time. Honestly he would choose that over getting his neck snapped any time. He was always alive for a while after, until his body finally shut down, but he didn’t expect that mercy, not when he just personally insulted the most mercy less person in the entire Universe.
Nothing happened and honestly Loki did understand Thanos. If someone would have just screamed at him, blaming him for being in a time loop, roasting him and then had asked to get his neck snapped, he would need a few moments to recover from that. But understanding didn’t mean he wasn’t annoyed with Thanos.
„Well?“, he asked, still not looking up. „Come on, I have to get going with the next loop.“ Again nothing. Loki looked up to see Thanos looking like he was still processing everything he just said and Loki let out a snort at that. He looked at Thanos ‚Children‘.
„One of you? Or are you also still processing what’s going on?“ he asked them. Again no response expect staring at him. Right they probably waited for Thanos‘s command. He sighed in annoyance and turned to Thor, who had started struggling against his restrains again.
„I doubt you want to kill me either?“, he asked, already aware of the answer. Thor‘s eyes stared at him with such a sadness and worry that Loki turned and looked away.
„Fine.“, he hissed. „If none of you are going to I‘ll do it myself. This loop is Completely messed either ways.“ He wanted to walk towards his dagger to slice his neck, but a blue energy stopped him. Thanos had snapped out of his confusion and used the power of the tesseract to stop him from moving. His next words confused Loki greatly.
„You should get help, Laufeyson.“, he said with- concern?!- in his eyes and Loki’s own widened. Did he just get the MAD TITAN to tell him TO GET HELP?! Loki had made him feel PITY for him. He had made the man who-who tortured him into attacking Midgard feel bad for him. The Irony wasn’t lost on him. Loki let out a chuckle and then started full on laughing.
The Loop ended.
***
(The Tesseract Chaos: Part 1)
It had taken quite a few loops, but Loki could now say he was in possession of thirty Tesseracts. He had started collecting them around a hundred loops ago, most times he didn’t have the chance to store them in his time pocket, but he was positive thirty we‘re an reasonable Amount.
Finding out when he was hadn’t been difficult, because he had literally opened his eyes to Stark hanging in his hand, right next to the all familiar window. Which was really bad timing, but that would make it even more hilarious.
So he set down Stark on the ground, who immediately backed away from him.
„My apologies for that, Stark.“, he said in all seriousness, because yes he felt a bit bad about it and had never gotten the chance to apologise.
„I somehow doubt you mean that.“, Stark said, which Loki frowned at. „Where comes the sudden change of mind?“, he then asked. Loki shrugged and opened the portal to his time pocket. In a reasonable response Stark scrambled away and called his suit. Loki ignored him and pulled out one of the Tesseracts, which he held to Stark.
„Here, take that as a apology“ Stark gaped at him like a fish.
„You-Wait What?“, he stuttered which was a completely reasonable response. Loki shrugged.
„I have enough of them, I can spare one“, he only answered.
„You-What?!“, Stark still snatched the Tesseract and Loki shrugged again, then Loki left through a portal without another word.
—————
„You‘re telling me he just gave you the Tesseract, while another one was still being used to open the portal. And he gave you as an apology for almost throwing you out of a window, then he said he has more and just left.“,Steven concluded.
Tony nodded. „Yes, Trust me I‘m still figuring out if I‘ve gone insane myself.“
Bruce threw his hands in the air. „That doesn’t make any sense! There’s only one Tesseract, right Thor?“ Thor nodded.
„Yes, there is indeed only one Tesseract. The second one should not exist.“
„But then how-“, Tony was interrupted by a blue Portal opening and Loki stepping out of it, another Tesseract in his hands. He looked around.
„I feel like my timing is a bit bad, but it does not matter.“ He said, then he held out the Tesseract in his hands towards Thor. „Here‘s another one, just make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.“ after a second of thought he added: „And by the Norns, do not give it to Shield, Hydra, Odin or a giant purple grape looking Titan.“
Clint pulled out his bow and pointed an arrow at Loki in a split second. Loki shoot him an unamused look and then ignored the arrow currently being pointed at his head.
„Great, now if you excuse me, I have a few more Tesseracts to give out, it hasn’t been an honour being here, Goodbye.“, with those words he pulled out another Tesseract from out of Nowhere and stepped through a similar portal then before.
„What the fuck“, Clint said.
„Language“, Steven said immediately. „But I agree with your statement.“
***
(Elevator: Part 2)
Tony stared at Loki, who was laying on a medical bed while being scanned. Tony was troubled. Loki had tried to kill him. He had tried to take over the world and killed people. He killed Coulson. He mind controlled Clint and a few others to make them do whatever he wanted. Tony wanted Loki to pay, heck, maybe he‘d go as far to say he wanted the God dead. But this was not the way he wanted it.
Loki had disappeared the day of the invasion, not having been spotted since. The Elevator he was in had been stuck since the invasion. Tony knew, because he had tried using it. How the guy had managed to get stuck in there in the first place was a mystery. He could do magic. He should easily have been able to get out. Regardless, he hadn’t and had been stuck in the Elevator for almost two weeks. It was a wonder he was still alive, but he supposed Gods could go longer without food or water. Still, it had to have been awful in there. Tony hated himself for it, but he felt bad for Loki. And as he looked at the scans Jarvis did while Banner was on his way, he wondered how the hell Loki was still alive.
Loki had three damaged rips and one broken one. His right ankle was swollen and red, showing sings of an infected wound. He was, logically, highly dehydrated and obviously didn’t eat anything for the past two weeks either. There we‘re also bloody cuts on random spots, some only scratched, while others we‘re a bit more severe, Some of them we‘re even infected. There we‘re also…blue patches on his skin. Jarvis had no idea what could have caused it, but they weren‘t bruises, they we‘re just…there. All of that together was basically impossible to survive.
And Tony was still wondering what was up with the injuries he had. Hulk had smashed around the god a bit, but surely it couldn’t have caused that much damage? But what else could have hurt him, he was stuck in an Elevator the whole time! Tony had no idea.
His thoughts were interrupted by the door to the room opening and Banner rushing in.
„Please tell me what Jarvis told me was a bad joke.“he said. Tony shook his head and looked towards Loki.
„No, though I‘m not sure what to think about it. Reindeer Games does NOT seem like the type of person to get stuck in an Elevator of all things.“
Bruce agreed and then walked over to Loki, inspecting his wounds. He turned to Tony.
„You should inform Thor of… this“, he said, then he turned back to Loki and began his work. Tony sighed. God this was a weird situation.
——————-
Thor looked at the ‚phone‘ in his hands, which Stark had insisted he should take one in case Loki appeared or anything else important happened, and stared at it. It had started vibrating a few seconds ago and Starks Name had appeared on it, so Thor took it that the man was calling him. He would pick up, but he was currently pondering on if it was the green or the red button. He was pretty sure it was green, but then what if it was red? Though he had realised that a lot of things on earth that we‘re red we‘re bad, so it was probably green. After a few moments of hesitation he pressed on the green button and let out a sigh of relief when Stark started speaking.
„Okay, I have good news and bad news“, Stark said after they had greeted each other. Thor raised an eyebrow at that and gripped his hammer tightly. „The Good news are that we found Loki, but the ba-“
„You found Loki?!? Where is he?! Did you capture him?! Is anyone hurt?!“, Thor interrupted him. He prayed that Loki had been caught, hopefully without anyone getting hurt in the process. That would mean Midgard was safe from him and he could take Loki back to Asgard.
„Well, I did capture him, more or less-He wasn’t conscious though, so I kinda more found him-“
„What are you talking about? What is going on?!“
There was silence and Thor briefly wondered if The Call had ended, until Stark spoke again.
„I found him in an stuck Elevator in my tower, I have still no idea how he was trapped in there for the first place, but he isn’t looking to good. He‘s been in there for almost two weeks and has a few injuries from the invasion. Bruce is doing his best to help him, but I‘m not sure if he‘s going to make it.“ Thor didn’t say anything for a few seconds, taking in the information.
Loki had gotten stuck in one of these Elevators. That sounded so stupid and so Loki in all ways possible.
„Point Break? You still there?“ Thor shook his head.
„Yeah I’m uhm, still here… I’ll be there in a few minutes“, with those words he pressed on the red button.
***
(Credit to: Wuthered Heights)
The Avengers looked up to the Stark Tower. The Chitauri army of Loki were dead and the portal was closed. There was only one thing left. Loki himself. Stark groaned and got up stiffly with the help of the captain. Time for all this to end.
They walked inside through the front door and Stark immediately showed them the Elevator. He pressed on a button and a few seconds later it appeared and opened it’s doors. Stark was a bit surprised that it still worked, but again, this was the Stark Tower, not some random building with bad quality Elevators! Though through the slightly rattled movements it made, he realised that it was one heavy bump away from getting stuck. Finally it stopped and everyone drew their weapons. The Door opened with a ding.
The Floor was, well damaged. Stark half expected Loki to be gone, but there he was laying on the ground in the Crater the Hulk Smash had left. Slowly they got closer, weapons pointed at Loki, ready to attack him any moment. Loki didn’t move one bit.
Stark inspected him carefully. He had quite a few scratches, mostly in his face, but other than that he looked fine. Though It looked like he was unconscious, so the Hulk had probably given him quite the Smack. Looks like not even gods could do anything against Hulk, which kind of amused him.
„Looks like not even Reindeer Games can hold it against the hulk“, he said with a edge of amusement to his voice. Natascha rolled her eyes at his comment and the Hulk seemed a bit proud.
Clint walked forwards, his bow tight in his grip, and nudged Loki with his foot. After a few moments Loki‘s eyes flickered open and Clint found himself staring into Lokis emerald-green eyes for a second, then the eye contact was broken by Loki putting his hands on his face and groaning.
He then flicked one of his fingers and everyone took a step back. Strangely a wooden sign appeared next to him on the floor, written in a Language Clint did not know. Thor walked forward, took one look at it and very obviously tried not to laugh. Which he only half-succeeded in.
„Thor, what does it say?“, the Captain asked. Loki stared at them with realisation and snapped his finger again, then proceeded to lay down again. The Text on the Sign changed to English and Stark let out a snort at it, while Natasha looked at Loki with bewilderment.
Clint finally turned to look at it.
„Please do not disturb: Taking a nap“, was written on the wooden sign.
Clint did not know what to think of that. So all he could say was:
„What the everlasting fuck“
For some reason Thor started full on laughing at that comment and Stark to let out a ‚cough‘. Natasha let out a chuckle as well. Like a traitor. The Captain, probably much like Clint himself, looked hesitant, not sure how to react.
Loki himself had closed his eyes and looked to be asleep now.
What the fuck was wrong with that guy.
***
Thor gritted his teeth and tightened the grip around his hammer.
„Listen well Brother-“ he started, but Loki shoved him back before he could finish. Merely a second later a man of iron shot by where he was just standing seconds before. If Loki hadn’t shoved him to the side, he would‘ve been hit. He turned to look at Loki again.
„Wha-“, he was interrupted again, but this time by Loki hugging him tightly. Thor glanced at him in confusion. „Loki, what?“, he asked him, but Loki only hugged him tighter. Thor sighed and dropped his hammer. He didn’t understand what was happening, but if Loki wanted to harm him he would‘ve been stabbed by now, so he just awkwardly hugged him back.
Loki let go after a few seconds and shoved him again. The man of Iron flashed past him again and Thor could swear he heard the Iron Thing curse.
Suddenly a person dressed in blue and armed with a round shield landed next to him and Loki took a step back in an instant, while Thor grabbed his hammer. Thor shot Loki a worried glance and then turned back to the man. One thing was for sure, he was one of the people that had captured his brother, but after Loki‘s strange reaction towards Thor, he was not sure how he felt about that.
„Who are you?“, the strange man demanded.
„I am Thor of Asgard. What Business is it that you have with my brother?“
„Your brother attacked us, which is why we had to capture him!“, another Voice answered and seconds later the man of Iron landed next to the Shield man.
„Yeah, yeah, just take me already“, Loki interrupted, which got him confused glares from everyone, that he shoved off with a shrug.
Thor was confused. But the Midgardians were right, Loki had to be contained until he revealed where the Tesseract was.
Even though Thor noticed something was off about his brother…
——
Coulson was busy with the Illusion of Loki, so when the real him appeared behind him he had no time to react. Coulson expected Pain, getting stabbed most likely, or maybe mind controlled too, but that didn’t happen. Instead he was…hugged? He turned his head to confirm he wasn’t going crazy, but Loki was really hugging him. It was a kind off awkward hug, like the god didn’t really know what he was doing and Coulson couldn’t say he knew what to do either. After a few seconds Loki let go and left.
Coulson stood there for a moment, then he picked up the weapon he had dropped in surprise and walked over to the control panels, opening the cell Thor was currently in.
Thor himself was standing there, staring at where Loki had disappeared to before. Why had Loki hugged Coulson so suddenly? It wasn’t a tactic, or he would’ve killed him, and it wasn’t a play to get his trust either. But it was also not like Loki knew Coulson. Why would he just walk up to his enemy and hug him?!
„Let’s not mention this happening to anyone.“, Coulson said and Thor nodded. They would look like they had gone mad.
Coulson seemed to be lost in thought too, and they both just stood there, But he guessed it was reasonable. Loki‘s Behaviour wasn’t. But there was something Thor was certain off now.
Something was wrong with his brother. And he wasn’t sure if it was good or bad.
————
Stark was currently hanging off Loki‘s arm next to a window he is sure he‘ll be thrown out in the next few seconds.
He wasn’t.
To his utter surprise Loki hugged him instead. Like, not that kind off ‚I don’t know you but you don’t look okay let me hug you‘ hug but like Loki knew him, they we‘re best friends and Tony had just almost been killed. Which he got! Loki almost threw him out a window!!
A few seconds later Loki released him and grabbed him again.
He was thrown out of the window.
Which made absolutely no sense?!? Why not throw him out the window and hug him instead but then still throw out the window?!?!?
***
Steve observed the fight between Loki and the rest of the avengers for a few seconds and analysed the situation. Loki was currently busy with Thor and Stark, who attacked him together, while Barton kept shooting Arrows with different functions at him. Hulk was killing anything that came to close to the fight, Natasha assisting him with it.
Steve took a fast breath and rushed into the fight. He threw his shield at Loki, who dogged it by a few millimetres. It flew against a building and bounced back, which Loki once again dogged. Steve prepared himself to catch it, however he missed his chance and it flew right past him. Steve hurried after it and made a jump to catch it. Something on the ground crunched sickenly when he landed.
He looked down and immediately regretted it. Under his foot was a dead cat, its black fur stained with blood from where he had landed on it. It was laying in an unnatural position having one twisted leg. Steve saw the light fading in its eyes and couldn’t help the guilt that welled up in him.
Sure, it was just a cat, but he had brutally killed it.
Still, he raised his head and looked over to the Fight, which had completely stilled. No one was moving, looking frozen in place, which was weird considering Stark was in the middle of a punch. Loki walked towards Steve and he immediately rose to his feet and grabbed his shield.
Still No one was moving and it dawned on Steve that Loki had frozen them in place.
Loki himself was staring at something at Steves feet, namingly the cat laying there. He looked up at Steve with something in his eyes Steve could not place.
„You killed it!“, he accused. „What did that Cat do to you?!?!? It was just peacefully walking there!“, Loki went on and Steve blinked in Shame and surprise.
„And you’re calling me evil?! That Cat did nothing to you! What kind of Hero are you!“, he continued and kneeled down next to it. Steve took an step back, rising his shield further.
„Now it‘s dead! See? This is exactly why Midgardians shouldn’t be free!! If I would be king I would make it illegal to step on Cats! Or kill them in general! That Cat deserves better! You’re an asshole! Go die in a pit like you deserve it!“ Steve had lowered his shield by now, looking at Loki with surprise.
Loki picked up the body of the cat and Steve thought he might vomit, because it looked absolutely disgusting. Loki didn’t bat an eye at that and with a snap of his fingers it dissolved into light balls. Loki then walked past Steve.
„You know what?! I don’t think I want to rule a Planet where the Heroes kill innocent cats! Go die for all I care!“, he shouted without looking back once, disappearing with a snap of his fingers.
Behind him Steve heard crashing and when he looked back he saw that Stark had crashed into Thor, who had then fallen onto Natasha, who had accidentally let go a shot with her gun, which hit the debris Barton was sitting on, who then fell onto the Mess too.
Steve sighed into his hand. To think that this were the Earths mightiest Heroes…
But the worst thing just came. Natasha snapped her head to him.
„You killed a cat?! What did that cat do to you!?“, she yelled at him. Thor looked at him too immediately.
„You killed a cat?!? What in hel is wrong with you?!?“, he demanded and Steve briefly wondered if he was losing it.
„Yeah, Point Break has a point! Heh that sounded funny-But what isn’t funny, is that you killed an innocent Cat?!“ Stark added and even the Hulk made a sound of agreement. Clint, who had finally pulled himself to his feet, had a different opinion.
„Serves the cat right, it always eats my fellow bird friends.“, he grumbled. Everyones head snapped towards him and Barton wisely took a step back.
Steve resisted the urge to drag down a hand his face.
***
(Black Magic Box: Part 1) (ib: A box of time and Space by Infinite_Monkeys)
„Sir, please put down your spear“
Loki wasted no time to waltz over to the Tesseract, grab it and teleport away. He found himself on a building in the midst of New York, located near the Stark Tower. He could hear the footsteps and sounds of the cars that moved under him and Loki watched them for a few seconds. He noted that this building really wasn’t high, maybe 35 meters. It had the perfect height, actually. High enough to snap him out if the Sceptres influence, which tugged at his mind like always, but low enough to not kill or hurt him badly. It would snap him put of it. Probably.
Loki hadn’t token long to realise that breaking the sceptre or trying to warn of the invasion would end in his death. He had no idea how, but the Other somehow killed him in the most brutal ways before he could. Loki shuddered as he thought of the one time his magic had been sucked out of him slowly. With his dying eyes he had seen that his magic roaming freely had destroyed all Midgard, leaving only destroyed buildings, piles of corpses and the smell of fire and smoke. It had not been pretty.
He had fallen off a building a few loops later and had felt the Connection to the other fade. (He had died of his injuries a few minutes later).
Hence why he now stepped over the edge if this building and let himself crash into the ground. He heard a few screams, but he only focused on the presence of the Other, which faded until it was only a faint memory.
He felt someone touching him and he snapped his eyes open.
Over him was leaning a woman, eyes wide with panic as she tried to reassure him. Loki took a moment to inspect the damage done to his body, to realise there was almost none. He had quite a few scratches, his body was heavy and his head felt like it was gonna explode, but it seemed to be nothing serious. Loki sighed in relief at that.
He summoned the Tesseract, grabbed his Sceptre next to him and teleported right back into the Shield Base.
The Mortal, Loki had learned his name was Fury a few loops ago, that always ‚kindly asked‘ him to put down his Sceptre was ordering people around right now, having his back to Loki. Fury kept in going and Loki, much to his amusement, realised the man hadn’t noticed him.
„Uhm, Sir?“, one if the Soldiers interrupted him quietly.
„What?“
„He’s uh, He‘s behind you“
Fury turned around in a millisecond. Loki didn’t even know people could turn that fast.
„Hello, Director Fury!“, he chirped. „I have a demand“
————-
„You want what?!“
„I want to watch one of your moving picture things“, Loki repeated for Fury, who was staring at him like he was going insane.
„Why? And why with Stark?!?“ Loki shrugged at that. Because Stark had a big TV. Because Stark made references all the time. Because Stark was just interesting and he knew barely anything about him, despite this being Loop eh 546? Or was it 564? Eh doesn’t matter.
„Just bring him here, get him to cooperate and I‘ll give you back the Tesseract“, Loki proposed.
„Fine“, Fury snapped.
—————-
„I‘m not building you a weapon“ Interesting first words when meeting someone. Loki wondered if there was a story behind that. Huh, maybe he‘ll get on good enough terms with Stark this loop that he doesn’t have to force it out of him with his sceptre.
„I‘d never dream of asking“ actually he would next loop.
„Uh-huh“, Starks deadpanned, voice dripping with suspicion.
Loki raised his hands in a mock-surrender.
„I‘m serious, that’s not why I wanted to meet you.“, he said.
„Well, what else can I help you with, Reindeer Games?“, Fury eyed Stark the moment he used the nickname, while Loki smiled at it.
„I want you to watch one of those moving picture things.“
Silence.
„You want to watch a movie. He wants to watch a movie“, Stark muttered, looking like his fait in his own sanity left him right there.
„Actually No, I want to watch multiple movies.“, Loki corrected and Stark raised an eyebrow.
„And how many do you want to watch?“ Loki smirked.
„As many as possible for my stay“
„And how long would that be?“, Fury cut in and Loki shrugged.
„Don’t know, I‘ll see how I like it here. Now that that’s out the way, do you agree with my demands or should I search myself someone else who would like to get their hands on the Tesseract?“
„You-“, Fury started but Stark interrupted him.
„You got yourself a deal, Reindeer Games!“
„Grea-“
„Now hold on, I didn’t allow this!“, Fury interrupted.
„Would it help if I promise you the Tesseract will be here again Tomorrow? It will be like nothing happened.“Because nothing bad happened. At least this time.
„Yeah, sorry if I can’t take your word for it.“, Fury shot at him. Then after a moment of thought he added: „But I don’t really have a choice, do I?“ Loki smirked at him sweetly.
„No you don’t“ Fury sighed.
„Fine, watch your movies. But If the Tesseract isn’t back here tomorrow morning I will not hesitate to attack you.“ Loki rolled his eyes again and nodded.
„The Tesseract will be just fine when I give it back. Now, if you‘ll excuse us, we have movies to watch.“ With those words he grabbed Starks arm, who tensed slightly under him, and teleported to the Stark Tower. Starks eyes widened in wonder.
„Holy Shit, that is so cool.“ Stark breathed and Loki nodded.
„So, you got any Movie recommendations?“