A Burden of Thoughts

Chapter 7

"That's strange," Loki muttered.

Thor and Loki began to attack the figures, who started to attack them in incredible force. It was quite amazing actually, comparing them to the much bigger Thor. 

No one had been hit yet, but they had managed to get all of the figures down at least twice now, though it was only becoming a tougher battle. Loki and Thor both knew something would no-doubt happen, and this was quite expected, judging how easily Loki was able to recover the rectangular remote from the cloaked woman.

One of the figures had suddenly taken out a hammer nearly identical to Mjolnir, and slammed it into Thor's leg, sending him yelling out in pain and also sending him into the closest tree, which was actually pretty far, considering they had been ambushed in a surprisingly large opening.

Loki spun around to watch his brother crash into a nearby tree, looking around to realize the number of the group had doubled, making it twice as harder to fight, and less likely to win.

Taking a deep, but steady breath, he ran over and didn't hesitate to lift his brother up and start running through the forest. To lead them away, he made an illusion, another copy of them, that ran the opposite way while the real brothers hid. Loki peered around the tree and watched as they fell for the trick.

He continued to run with Thor for a couple more miles before finally stopping and laying his brother on the ground, seeing the blood leaking from his brother's leg.

Panting in exhaustion, Loki sat next to his brother.

It was a couple of minutes before Thor began to stir. Loki looked down and watched as his brother's eyes fluttered open, his gaze drifting around until it landed on his brother.

Thor, still thinking the figures had followed them, tried to sit up. "Where are they..?" He asked, Loki placing his hand on Thor's back and easing him back to the ground.

"Relax, Brother. I led them away," Loki assured.

Thor lifted his head up for a split second before lowering it back to the ground, sighing deeply as he gazed up at the sky, which was now starting to turn dark.

Loki glanced around them, ensuring that no one had followed and that they were alone before Thor spoke up.

"Fleeing battle is signs of cowardness.."

Loki looked at his brother with a sympathetic gaze. "Brother, you know not of what arrogance would bring."

There was a slight rustle from one of the bushes, causing Loki to quickly gather himself and get to his feet, slowly pulling out his dagger. The figures must have caught on because soon Loki and his brother were surrounded.

He noticed one of them stalk towards Thor, leaning down to grab him, but Loki swiftly walked over and grabbed the figure by the shoulder's, plunging his dagger into its chest.

The figure fell to the ground, and Loki decided to pick up a stray sword that was laying on the ground before him.

They all ran towards him, and he spun around while slashing all of them at once, but he felt someone grab his shoulders, grabbing the sword from him as well.

Thor had pulled himself up into a sitting position, watching helplessly as the battle raged, but it wouldn't last much longer.

Loki and his brother made eye contact before he felt incredible pain, jerking his head up and gasping. 

"NO!" Thor screamed, watching as the figure thrust the sword through his brother's chest.

The sword was ripped out from Loki's body, and Thor watched as the young prince dropped to his knees, before finally landing on his side on the grass, his breathing loud and quick.

The cloaked figures decided it was enough, and Thor watched as they strode away into the shadows, leaving him and his dying brother.

Thor crawled over to Loki, whose head remained back in incredible pain. He turned him so he was laying on his back, and once Loki caught sight of his brother, his breathing had slowed, but it was still quite heavy as he struggled to pull air into his burning lungs.

"No no no no no no..." Thor repeatedly muttered over and over again as he felt the tears pushing at the back of his face. "God, your such a fool..."

Loki gasped again, struggling to pull his voice together. "I know...I'm a fool..i-im a fool-" Loki threw his head up, his eyes squeezing shut as his voice cracked.

"Stay with me, brother.." Thor pleaded as he placed his hand under his brother's neck, keeping his head up.

Loki's gaze once again drifted up to meet his brother's, and he could see the pain and sadness in his brother's eyes.

"I'm sorry.....I-I'm sorry..I'm sorry..." Loki choked out, his eyes getting heavier by the minute.

Thor gripped his brother's hand, who gripped his back with a weak force, but it was noticeable.

Both were silent for a few moments, just staring at each other before Thor broke the silence. "I-You were right when you said I wasn't ready.." 

"N-No...I was wrong. You're more ready t-than I e-ever would be.." Loki replied, gripping his brother's hand harder.

Loki could feel his face going cold, his eyes struggling to stay open as his chest struggled to rise and fall with each trembling and painful breath he took.

He felt his throat begin to burn as he struggled to talk.

"I love you, Brother.."

Thor looked taken aback, and Loki noticed the stray tear roll down his face as he repeated the words back to him.  "I love you too, Loki."

Loki forced a half-smile before his world went black, and he felt nothing.

Thor looked at his brother's body, "No!" He yelled, his voice choked up in sobs which he was struggling to hold back.

He didn't want to find a way back to Asgard alone...How would he stop Hela?

He never thought he'd feel like this.