At the simple mention of his brother the God of Thunder ran as fast as he could while everyone tried to catch up with his pace, they ran to his room just in time for the others to do the same. Thor was the first one to come inside and look around, half of the room was burned while the other was frozen, his eyes landed on his little brother that was still veiled in the green smoke with his eyes glowing green, he was still gasping for air as blood started to drip on his bed, his knuckles were clenched tightly, blood was slowly dripping from there too.
"Loki!" Thor shouted as he ran towards his brother
"Don't tou-"
Before Wanda could warn him he already did so but this time he was thrown into the wall that left a large dent on it, Thor slowly stood up as he looked at Banner and Stark who was staring blankly at what was happening in front of them,
"What's happening to my brother?!" He exclaimed as he waited for at least one of them to answer yet no one was speaking up,
"His powers are off the charts, his temperature is playing at some levels but there's a disturbance in his brain." Shuri spoke up that caused everyone to look at her "I asked him to show me his powers once so I have a small record of him."
"What does that mean?" Brunnhilde decided to ask before Thor could
"It means that something's happening inside his mind." Tony replied that caused the older Odinson to look at him
Thor sighed as he paced around before looking outside the windows, he stared above and closed his eyes. There was no one he could run to but them.
Father, May the Norns bless you in Valhalla. Send us help Father, I don't know what to do but something is happening to my brother, to Loki.
Mother, your son is in pain and seeing him like this, I feel lost. At least tell me what I should do.
As soon as Thor faced his brother a bright light appeared, everyone shielded their eyes as Thor couldn't help but smile inside, their parents answered fast for the first time. As soon as the light disappeared she once again saw her sister's golden figure, he couldn't help but smile as they both saw each other, Angela ran to hug Thor which he returned in an instance.
"I'm sorry but who is she?" Wanda asked referring to the goddess in front of them
Before they could even react Brunnhilde and Sif were already on their knees bowing at the goddess. Brunnhilde looked up at her as Angela motioned for them to stand up.
"I am Angela, Goddess of the Hunt and Leader of the Valkyries." She introduced "The older sister of Thor and Loki."
Everyone nodded and decided not to question any longer, she walked beside her youngest brother and sighed as she saw his state. She looked down and saw the blood everywhere, she was aware of what would happen if she tried to hold him so she thought of something else.
"What are we to do sister?" Thor asked worriedly "We're not going to lose him, are we?"
Angela looked at his brother and shook her head "I would never let that happen."
She slowly bent beside Loki and positioned herself near his ears, she closed her eyes and opened them, they were now glowing gold, she extended her arms a few inches away from the veil that covered their brother.
"You will strike him with lightning when I say so." Angela ordered that startled everyone in the room, the others decided to slowly back away as soon as the words left the goddess' mouth
Thor's eyes widened "What do yo-"
"He will not die, Thor." Angela said before Thor could even bring it up "Just trust me, alright brother?"
The Thunder God sighed before nodding, Angela returned to what she was doing as her right hand was placed above the prince's head and the other just above his chest, she kept her eyes open as she started to speak into the young prince's ears.
―
He was falling, and falling, and falling. He couldn't escape, the moment the ground shook and parted, he found himself unable to save even his own body. He let his body fall through the endless void and it somehow felt like falling from the Bifrost once again. A tear slowly escaped his eyes as he closed them, he knew it wasn't real, yet it felt otherwise.
"Brother.." A feminine voice echoed in the darkness, he knew it was his sister's, it was Angela's but he was afraid to answer, it wasn't real, this was Thanos again and he wasn't finished. He closed his eyes tightly as he fell through the endless darkness "Can you hear me Loki? It's me, Angela. Thor is with me, he is extremely worried, as am I."
No, he's even dragging in Thor. This isn't real, once he answers he knew that Thanos will appear and kill them right in front of him, he should not respond. He covered his ears tighter and shut his eyes tightly, this wasn't happening again, not again. He's the trickster, he shouldn't be tricked like this, he wanted to think and outwit this game but his mind couldn't process at the moment, all he could feel was emptiness.
Soon enough he felt himself make contact with the hard ground, he stopped falling but he couldn't see anything. His chest tightened with the impact as he tried to stand up slowly, there were no voices so he dropped his hands to his side and held his chest. He couldn't see anything, no light, just nothing. He started walking in high hopes that he'd escape, he slowly raised his hands in an attempt to create a small ball of fire but nothing happened, he cursed as he kept on walking towards nothing. He hated it, he was supposed to be invincible, he was a prince, a king, even a god. People feared him, he was a thousand years old, he shouldn't be feeling like this.
"Loki.." There it was again, her sister's voice was being used, he gritted his teeth tighter as he walked faster "Little brother listen, you have to come back, wake up please."
"NO! GET AWAY!" He shouted as he ran faster ignoring his sore chest and leg, "STOP USING MY SISTER!"
He panted heavily as he ran away, he felt as if the voice was following him, he kept his eyes closed even though he could already see nothing. He used his strength to get away from the voice who claimed to be his sister, he didn't know what to believe anymore, he was torn.
"It's us, brother." And now it was Thor's, he closed his eyes even tighter as tears poured, it was too much for him, all he wanted was to redeem himself and be with his brother, yet it all seems so hard "J-Just calm down, please, it's us."
The young prince didn't seem to care as he came to a halt, he started crying as he fell down to his knees, he kept his head down as he forgot the tears streaming down his face, he could care less, he was already broken and lost, what more could crying do? He wanted to let go of it all.
"Open your eyes little one.." Angela's voice rang in the void as she called for her brother to come back to them, "Trust me, tis' I, your sister. We need you back Loki, just please open your eyes."
He was tired, he had nothing to lose now, what more could he do. He wanted to put an end to his suffering, he slowly looked up and soon he opened his eyes to see a bright light ahead of him, there stood his sister in her reigning glory, his mouth dropped ajar as she smiled.
"ANGELA!" He shouted like a pathetic little child,
Angela nodded as she motioned for him to run which he did, he ran as fast as he could only to be stopped by a chain that was suddenly tied to his neck and right ankle, he fell down a few feet from his sister, he pulled on the chain but it only got tighter, he looked over at his sister who was being held back by a strong wind but still doing her best to reach out her hand towards his brother.
"Come on brother!" Angela encouraged, Loki used all his remaining strength to pull on the chain not minding if it was getting tighter, he took big steps and ignored the pain of the chain against his skin. Soon their hands were simply inches away as the younger one started to choke, the moment Angela grasped her brother's hand she held onto him, she used all her strength to hold on before calling the thunder god
"NOW THOR!"
The chain that was binding their brother broke as the wind stopped, she immediately caught his little brother as the sound of thunder echoed in the dark room, lightning crackled and soon it was consumed by a bright light.
―
Everyone watched as the goddess in front of them started to whisper things into the trickster's ear, Thor silently prayed to the Norns that their brother would be okay. Sif placed a hand on his friend's shoulder as he simply smiled at her sympathy even though he knew that his friend held no soft spot for his brother at all.
"Brother.." Angela started as everyone watched silently, "Can you hear me Loki? It's me, Angela. Thor is with me, he is extremely worried, as am I."
Thor inched a bit closer but there was no response, blood from his brother's ear started to drip and it made him worry even more, his heart raced quicker at the sight of his brother. Tony asked Rhodey to at least lead Peter outside, as much as the teenager tried to protest it was of no use, Tony just wanted to spare the child this kind of sight, T'Challa also demanded her sister to wait outside but she was firm on staying. Loki's chest arched as if it made contact with something, Thor grew more concerned as his fists tightened, he wasn't sure if it was normal anymore.
"I-Is that normal?" Bruce asked as blood pooled the bed, his chest heaved up and down heavily, it was like his chest was in pain, Thor couldn't bear his brother's sight like this.
"Loki.." Angela tried once more in a gentle way, she kept herself from crying, she still couldn't see anything, there was nothing but darkness but she could feel him "Little brother listen, you have to come back, wake up please."
The god of thunder was hoping he'd answer or just do something that would assure them that he still is there, he was not going to lose hope. Brunnhilde and Sif started muttering their own prayers to the Norns as Wanda closed her eyes and prayed on her own,
"NO! GET AWAY!" Loki finally shouted that made everyone's eyes in the room widen, Thor couldn't help but smile at this assurance yet what he said made his chest tighten, he could hear the fear in his brother's voice, the doubt he had "STOP USING MY SISTER!"
It was pretty sure that everyone was trying to decipher what he meant, Thor slowly inched closer while shaking his head, he wanted him out of that misery once and for all.
"It's us, brother." He decided to say, Angela shot her a look but then urged him to continue which he nodded at, he tried to compose himself as he thought of what to say "J-Just calm down, please, it's us."
His chest heaved down as tears from his glowing eyes started to pour down, as he saw this he couldn't help but think who had done this to his brother, he knew how Loki rarely cries and he surely never did from pain but here he was, thunder roared outside as he clenched his fists tighter, lightning started to flicker in his arms at the sight of his suffering brother.
"Calm yourself, Thor." Steve said that caused the god to nod and control himself
"Open your eyes little one.." His sister gently said once she noticed her brother's state, she felt his uncertainty as she finally saw him on his knees, crying in the darkness, she couldn't stop the tears from falling from her golden eyes as she saw her youngest brother's state, she knew that he needed much more assurance "Trust me, tis' I, your sister, we need you back Loki, just please open your eyes."
"ANGELA!" A shout from the young god made everyone in the room breathe in relief, he was finally seeing her which should be a good sign, Thor was beginning to ready himself in case their sister called for him,
The goddess smiled at the sight of his brother and motioned for him to run which she did too, her smile was suddenly turned when a strong wind blew and caused her to take a few steps back, she used her strength and took it step by step but then he saw his brother on the ground with a chain on his neck and ankle, she watched as he pulled on it yet it only got tighter. She reached out her hand desperately as did her brother.
Everyone watched as Loki's hands looked like it was grasping for something, Thor was about to do so when King T'Challa placed a strong hand on his shoulder and gave him a look that his sister would handle it, he sighed before nodding, he just wanted it to be over.
"Come on brother!" Angela shouted as the green veil started to flicker, everyone looked in awe at what was happening, Thor slowly prepared himself as his heartbeat raced faster, after a short while they all watched as the young prince's right hand held onto his neck as if he was choking, he kicked his legs as he tried to get some air
Thor started to panic as the scene reminded him of his brother's death, he didn't know what to do and neither did everyone, they all kept quiet although deep inside they wanted to help get the prince back. Natasha decided to rub circles around Wanda's back to calm her down since her anxiety was beginning to rise.
"My brother needs help!" Thor finally shouted as he motioned to his brother's body that was convulsing while gasping for air, he tightened his fists as the clouds started to darken, thunder roared and lightning cracked,
Brunnhilde held onto her friend's arm to at least calm him down, "Your sister knows what she is doing! Trust her! Don't ruin this."
He looked over at his friend before nodding, he tried his best to stop himself from helping his brother right there and then. He watched as the green veil flickered more, his brother's left hand went through the veil and joined with his sister, that's when he felt hope rise up. Angela's golden eyes then shot up towards the thunder god before nodding at him;
"NOW THOR!"
With no further distractions his eyes turned blue as the thunder roared louder, lightning lingered on his arms as he hit the green veil that was enveloping his brother, as soon as his lightning made contact, his sister used her other hand to hold Thor and there he saw Angela with his brother's lifeless body on the ground, the dark void started to turn white as he went to pick up his brother and soon the veil broke.
Loki's body was immediately caught by Thor before it could make contact with his bed that was pooled by his own blood, his eyes stopped glowing and it was finally closed, his breathing slowed down and it looked like he was sleeping. Angela stood up and looked up at Thor, her eyes were back to normal as she smiled at him.
"His vitals are stabilized, power levels are normal as it should be, his temperature is slowly going back to normal and I can now say that he's sleeping," Shuri said out of nowhere that earned a sigh of relief from everyone and a nod from the King of Asgard himself.
"I thank you for your help, Princess Shuri," Thor replied before giving her a smile
The Wakandan princess couldn't hide her smile because of the King's compliment as she simply smiled. Angela nodded at everyone who was in the room and gave them a warm smile.
"I believe it's better if you take your brother to your room." King T'Challa said with a brief nod, most of the people started to disappear as some people came to clean and fix the young prince's room "We'll have his room fixed and call you once it is done."
Thor nodded "Thank you, my friend."
Panther simply nodded at him and his sister before going. Thor along with Angela, Brunnhilde and Sif went to his room and laid the young prince on the soft bed for him to sleep. Sif decided to go to the bathroom to get some cloth so they could clean off the blood from the prince. Thor grabbed a chair and pulled it beside the bed while Angela sat beside Loki. Sif came back holding a basin and cloth, Angela held out her hand and insisted to do it herself which she gladly obliged to.
"We'll leave you be and tend to the Asgardians outside," Sif said that earned a nod from Thor
Both of the two warriors left the siblings to spend time together. Angela sighed as she started to wipe off the blood from his brother's face, she held onto her courage, it was a sight she never wished to see but here she was. All she wanted was to keep her brothers safe while remaining in the shadows, so much had happened to them but she never had the chance to save them, not until now and still, she felt like she was too late.
"Thank you, sister." Thor said before leaning on his chair "I did not know what to do."
"Yet you did." Angela replied, "You called in time."
Thor nodded before looking at his bloody brother, he then reminisced all the times they had, it then occurred to him just how young his brother still is and so was he. Sometimes he hated how they aged, it was enough for you to witness how things started and ended, to witness birth and death while remaining as-is.
"We have been through much at this age have we not?" Thor finally spoke up that caused their sister to look at him "We are merely children to you, especially to Father and Mother."
Angela could only nod "Aye, that is true."
"Was it like this for you and Hela at this age?" The god of thunder asked while looking at his brother's sleeping form, he wanted to know why the Norns were doing this to them, why their life is harder than it should be.
The goddess sighed before tilting her head to get a better look at her brother "Me and Hela had our fair share of war, we've seen many bloodshed and gore at your age, back then we fought alongside Father while Mother was rather fond of offensive magic, we witnessed the growth of Asgard and all I can say is yes, it is unfair to you and Loki, you both deserved better."
"Then why do you think the Norns placed this upon us? Why did we have to witness the end? Why could we not live our lives as normal Princes of Asgard as we should be? Like we once were?" Thor asked questions after questions, he just wanted to know why it had to be them.
Angela stared at her brother, she herself felt guilty of this, she knew that his brother had a point, they were both too young to experience these kind of things, to have their brotherhood severed, to take over a realm, to get ahold of an infinity stone, to face an intergalactic threat such as Thanos, to watch him kill your brother, to witness their kingdom's fall, to rebuild it once again. Even she knew she'd question the Norns about that, yet she already knew why.
"Because you are not just normal Princes of Asgard, you are kings, gods even. Both of you are born stronger, faster, smarter and greater, you were both destined to overcome."
The goddess replied with passion burning from the tip of her tongue, Thor slowly looked at his sister as she placed a hand on top of his and Loki's "You've already had your fair share of war just as we did, but do not be fooled since it is you who said it yourself, both of you are still young, trouble and destruction follows those who are powerful, and both of you are. You are Odinsons, are you not?"
To this, the thunder god nodded "Aye, we are."
"Then you'll be fine." Was her short reply before sparing a glance at their youngest "Stand by each other, lean on each other, if one of you is weak then be stronger tenfold. You are both lucky to have one another."
Thor smiled as he realized that his sister was right "Were you and Hela like this before her fall?"
The goddess could only spare a small smile before standing up and giving her youngest brother a kiss on the forehead, she walked towards Thor and did the same while caressing his hair, she slowly moved away before putting on her helmet,
"As I said, we had our fair share of war."
And with that, she was once again gone leaving her two younger brothers behind.