Chapter 15
~ XIV ~
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Maybe one day
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A little piece of angsty fluffy sad comfort. Just wanted something quiet and peaceful (I just wanted to see it but ONCE, Marvel. Was it too much to ask?!). Thor comes back to meet his friends the Avengers. But his loss and grief is too great and he can’t cope any more. Post-Thor TDW. [Character death].
A/N: Great OOC but whatever. Please read and leave a comment. Enjoy!
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It seemed impossible but once again, the most unique and special individuals known as Avengers gathered together in Avenger Tower. So many things happened to every one of them since the last time they’ve met. New fights won, enemies defeated, lives changed.
There was no war or grand trouble ahead of them this time. This time they met just as friends and not as comrades or brothers in arms. All they wanted was to share the news and spend time together in a comfortable atmosphere. Moments like that were sacred and so little in their lives.
The last one to come was Thor. Humans were not sure if he would come. From what they heard and found out there was a war in Asgard with Dark Elves. What more surprises they will meet, they thought. Ancient beings, unimaginable races, Convergence, three-damned magic. But what was funny they weren’t even surprised anymore.
When Thor finally came humans startled a little. Thor has changed. Not that his appearance became older, mature and wiser. The change was seen in his very eyes, now dimmed in their brightness, some broken edge in his always shiny smile. Thor has changed.
-0.0-
“Thor? We don’t want to pressure you but can you tell us what happened? We saw you in London and the sky… What was that?”
“Every five thousand years the realms stand in line. It is named Convergence. The Dark Elves ruled by Malekith the Accursed chose that day to bring the realms in eternal darkness. Asgard was the first to fight.”
“There were… there were great losses among our people. Many have fallen in battle and… and…”
“We are so sorry, Thor. It must be… horrible. A war I mean.”
“Y-yes. I… But- I lost… I lost so much more…”
“Um. Thor? Are you all right?”
Thor looked like he was trying to stay strong and unaffected but his mask was slipping. Talking about Asgard was painful for him and no mask could hide a deep anguish, sadness and grief behind those blue eyes.
“War took much from me. And… and it is entirely my fault.”
“Don’t say that. Surely you can’t blame yourself.”
“Tell us what happened.”
“Who did you lose? Your close friends? Or someone-“
“My mother.” Thor choked losing all his stoic composure. “My brother.” With the broken ‘brother’ tears rolled on Thor’s cheeks. Thor hid his face behind trembling hand.
Humans didn’t dare to comment on such news. Thor lost his mother? And… Loki? He was dead?
“How did it happen?” Bruce asked quietly.
“They invaded from within. From the dungeons. Accursed, he… he wanted Jane but my mother tricked him. I-I-I was too l-late, too late! If I had only came a moment earlier, she would be alive still! I could not protect her. It is my fault.”
“And Loki?” Steve inquired carefully.
With that Thor’s face crumbled, a deep regret took hold of him and despair.
“I promised him vengeance against the one responsible for our mother’s death. Loki was… was the closest to her his whole life. They both shared the bond that even I had not with her or with father. Loki’s magic, how he excelled in it, became the best the world knew – he learned it from our mother Frigga. The loss took the last of him. Now I feel ashamed at how I approached him in his cell when he mourned… But it is past and no words would change it. I asked for his help. And he accepted… Now I wish I had never talked to him for because of my plan now Loki is dead when he could have been still alive in Asgard. Not free but alive.”
“How did he… die?”
“Me, Loki and Jane left to Svartalfheim. My brother was the only one who knew the secret paths to other realms. We arrived there and went with my plan to trick Malekith so that he would relieve Jane from the red substance and then we would attack. Loki’s deceit was perfect, Malekith believed him. Jane was free but… I couldn’t destroy the Aether. Accursed had it within himself. He walked away, to Midgard leaving his soldiers to kill us…”
“What then?”
“… The same monster who killed the queen fought me. I must say for a moment I thought that he will end me – so strong he was and not even Mjolnir was able to help. I was defenseless, receiving endless blows, only waiting for the last to come. But then… then Loki came. He… he pierced that c-creature through with a blade… The fool. Wanted to save me… I don’t know if he hoped that such injury would end Kurse… It didn’t. After that, I could only watch and scream helplessly as the monster grabbed my brother and impaled him on the same blade.” Thor’s jaw trembled. “I… I couldn’t…”
“Thor.”
“He died in my arms. H-he said… I held him as the last breath left his body and his eyes closed forever… I didn’t even have time to mourn because Malekith already left to your world. Nor could I care for his body, left in the ashen lands of Svartalfheim… My friends, I… My mother. My brother!”
“Thor-“
Thunderer then pushed his stool away and fled from the room. Humans startled at Thor’s behavior and cautiously followed him in the main room, where the god headed.
No matter how they felt about Loki, he was Thor’s little brother, his family. And Thor’s mother… Their friend indeed lost so much.
When they found him, their hearts gave painful jolts as they witnessed how Thor, son of Odin, the god of Thunder was breaking in pieces. Thor was on his knees and held his face in his hands. Thor’s sobs were agonized, painful to hear. The weather behind the windows raged with intensity, the rain hit with force, the lightening flashed in the black starless sky.
Mortals were afraid to approach a heartbroken god. They didn’t know what to do. Simple words won’t fix anything, won’t bring the dead. Nothing but time will heal Thor’s heart now.
Suddenly the lights shimmered and died. All lights, in the whole tower went off. The room they were in became dark. Only the moon shone brightly.
“Must I comfort you always, brother?”
A soft, quiet voice from the darkness cut the silence like a blade. Thor’s breathing hitched. That voice.
“Loki? L-loki? B-brother?”
“Shh. It’s alright.”
“You- you are…” When Thor’s trembling hand went through Loki, it found nothing but air. But Loki didn’t disappear like one of his illusions. It was just light. If it was not an illusion, then…
“No! No, please! Tell me you are alive! Tell me!”
“I’m sorry, Thor. But I’m not.”
“No! No… You are lying. Please, lie to me one last time… Just one last time…”
“No more tears, Thor. Not for me, nor for mother, who, so you know, sends her love.”
“Please… Loki!“
“Brother. You must stop blaming yourself. No more of that.”
“No! No, it’s my fault! If not for me – y-you will be here with me. You’d be alive!”
“No. Oh, Thor. You never listen…”
“You died in my arms, Loki. You died because OF ME!”
“I died FOR YOU!”
Thor flinched and choked a sob.
“I’m sorry. Brother, I’m so sorry. I didn’t protect mother. I didn’t protect you. I promised her that I would always protect my little brother. And I broke my oath.
“I… Loki, I…”
“Shh… Enough. Think not of it. You will see our mother again, be sure. But she doesn’t want you to mourn her now. She wants you to live your life free of grief and misery. Be a king you were always meant to be. Make her proud, brother.”
“I can’t be a king without you! You were supposed to stay beside me! Rule with me! What worth am I now? I am no one without you, Loki!”
“Now you see it? Oh, Thor. You will be just fine. “
“… And you? Will I see you again?”
“Who knows, Thor. But… maybe one day, hm?”
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