Archive of Our Own ^beta

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After weeks of being asked to come, Loki walked into the next Avengers meeting. Everyone seemed shocked to see him there. He knew he didn’t look the best, probably because he had been neglecting himself since even before that day. “Loki, how are you,” Steve asked. Loki walked to an open seat and sat down. “I’d feel better if Thanos was dead,” Loki stated. “That’s a common sentiment around here, but we don’t have any-.” Steve was saying until Rocket interrupted him, “That was until now we’ve got a lead.” Rocket said, tapping the map that was built into the table, “When the stones were snapped, it sent a shock wave of power originating from Earth, but two days ago, a similar shock wave came from this planet. We believe it was from the infinity stones.” Nebula said. Loki felt terrible that he hadn’t spoken to her after most of the Guardians of the Galaxy had been snapped since she had also just lost her family, but he couldn’t bring himself to really speak at all, as if his silver tongue had indeed turned to lead.

“The Garden,” Loki said. Everyone seemed confused after he had said, “What is that.” Bruce asked Nebula, who answered, “After Thanos had completed his mission, he would go to a planet of greenery to rest and watch a thankful universe. He called this planet the Garden. His plan never changed, and every time I asked, he would always say that he would take his children to the Garden to thank them for their service and sacrifice.” Nebula said Loki had never asked about it, but Thanos felt a need to tell Loki every time he attended one of the ‘sessions’ in the sanctuary that he would be thanked for his service. Some Fucking thanks this was. “Thanos has a retirement plan; that’s cute,” Rhodey said. Loki didn’t understand how there could be any humour in such a sad topic, “so let’s go kill him.” Tony said, “he still has the stones. He could kill us very easily.” Natasha said, “Thanos has accomplished his mission. He will not cause more bloodshed.” Nebula said. Maybe she knew more about him, but there was a reason he was called the mad Titan. “Then let’s go kill this Motherfucker.” Tony said.

They shoved everybody who they thought was strong enough onto a ship and sent them to the Garden. Sadly, Loki was a part of this group. Loki honestly had no desire to be there, but because he had powerful magic, he needed to be there for the fight. He wanted Thanos dead but didn’t want to see his face simultaneously. He wanted to see the blood on his hands, to see the life leave his eyes. Loki had chosen to sit at the very back of the plane; he wanted to be alone, but of course, that didn’t matter. “How are you holding up,” Tony said. Loki avoided eye contact. Loki was a terrible person to be around when he was grieving. He was irritable and severely depressed and usually would go mute for long periods, and his anger was explosive. If he got very low, he would start to destroy things. It didn’t matter what it was or how strong Loki's magic could become uncontrollable. But for him, the worst was the weight of the guilt, and the ways he got rid of it were not the healthiest. “I wish I were dead,” Loki said. Tony’s lopsided smile dropped from his face as he took the seat next to Loki. Here comes the pep talk: “I get how you feel.” Tony said, putting his hand on Loki’s back. Loki’s mouth changed into a scowl. “You have no idea how I feel. My entire family is dead. I have nothing; I have no one.” Loki replied. Tony had no reply. He just removed his hand, and they sat awkwardly for a few moments before Tony fled to the cockpit.

Sometimes, Loki missed Sakaar for the number of drugs and alcohol plus other things you could consume without judgment from anyone else. But he needed revenge. He needed to do what Thor’s last wish for him was to Avenge him, and this was the only way he knew how. Captain Marvel had said she hadn’t seen an army and that it was just him and the stones. Valkyrie had also tagged along due to her combat abilities. She indeed seemed to hate Loki after she found out all aspects of friendship were gone. Now Loki knew that, but he understood why she had no desire to care about him. In her eyes, he had killed Thor, and he had killed half of the universe. Loki blamed himself as much as she did, but she still was approaching him. “You really suck, you know that,” Valkyrie said. Loki nodded, “What is the king too high on his horse to speak to the lowly soldiers.” She said Loki hadn’t even considered that now he was technically king to no one. “Val, I understand your anger, but you also must understand how much I blame myself. I didn’t want this to happen, and if I could, I would trade my life.” Loki replied, “I don’t have to understand shit. I thought you could win, but you let me down. You let everyone down; you let Thor down, and it doesn’t even matter if you can kill Thanos or even if you can bring them back. You still failed.” Val said, and with that, they landed in the Garden. Loki couldn’t feel the stones, not at all. “I can’t feel the stones,” Loki said. “What do you mean you can’t feel them.” Rocket said, “I can’t feel them as if they’ve disappeared.” Loki said, “he could be hiding them.” Tony said, “or he could have destroyed them.” Nebula said, “I want to see it myself.” Val said, marching out of the ship. Everyone else followed behind, but deep in Loki’s soul, he knew that the stones were gone.

They saw a small house standing in a field of plants. Loki felt pure rage looking at this peaceful existence, and then he saw Thanos with a serene expression, watching the people approach. They then split up into groups. The ones who could fly went in the air, then the other attacked at the sides, and then a group went straight to him. That group was Loki, Wanda, Carol Danvers, and Nebula. Carol slammed into Thanos, wrapping her arm around his neck while the others rushed up. The Hulk buster busted out of the ground, grabbing one arm while Tony grabbed the other. While Wanda ripped off the gloved arm, to Thanos’s dismay, Loki, Natasha, Steve, and Nebula walked into the house. The rocket turned over the glove, and then everyone’s hearts dropped. There were no stones. “Oh, no.” Rocket said, looking up at Thanos; everyone looked at the glove before Steve said, “Where are they?” Carol tightened her grip. “Answer the question.” After a moment of silence. “The universe required correction. After that, the stones served no purpose... Beyond temptation.” Thanos said, groaning, “You murdered trillion!” Bruce said, releasing his grip and shoving Thanos onto the ground. “You should be grateful,” Thanos said. Bruce punched him right in the face. “Where are the stones.” Natasha said, “Gone. Reduced to atoms.” Thanos stated, “You used them two days ago!” Bruce yelled back, “I used the stones to destroy the stones. It nearly killed me. But the work is done. It always will be. I am inevitable.” Thanos said, “We have to tear this place apart. He has to be lying!” Rhodey said, “My father is many things. A liar is not one of them.” Nebula said she walked a few steps forward. “Ah. Thank you, daughter. Perhaps I treated you too harshly.” Thanos said before being cut off, “This isn’t balance. This isn’t what you promised in your great speeches.” Loki said Thanos’s gaze turned to him. “Whatever you could mean, my child, this is the perfect balance. The only difference is that people cannot accept it.” Thanos said the word child made Loki wince. “You have slashed the Asgardians twice after our home was destroyed after more than half our people had died. That is not balance,” Loki yelled. “If they are as strong as you, they will survive.” Thanos said, “You are ignoring the obvious mistakes you have made. I will give you a more specific example. My family is entirely dead. There is no balance within that.” Loki replied, resisting the urge to sob. He could not reward Thanos with that victory. “It was a simple mistake, and I am sorry.” Thanos said, “How many more mistakes have you made? How many more families have you destroyed? What you did was not just genocide. It was a pointless massacre. It was not balanced. It was not unbiased,” Loki yelled. “it was balanced. You cannot see it through your own grief and rage, but soon, the universe will prosper, and this will all be forgotten. All the universe will know is balance and happiness.” Thanos said, but at that point, Loki knew he would gain nothing from this argument, and his magic took hold. The next thing he knew, Thanos was on the ground, his neck snapped. “What?” Bruce said, “What did you do?” Rocket asked, “I went for the head.” Loki said, walking out. Everyone was either shocked or fine with the result. Nebula motioned and closed Thanos’s eyes.

Chapter Text

Loki couldn’t stay on Earth even if the world was in shambles. People needed someone to blame, and Loki had no desire to be that person. He stuck around for a month or two before he disappeared one day, leaving a letter for Bruce and Val.

For Bruce, he wrote
Dear Bruce,

I hope this letter finds you well, though I know the circumstances are far from ideal. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your companionship during my time here. I need you to know that this isn’t at all because of your actions.

You know better than anyone that my presence can often bring more trouble than solace. The world has turned its eyes toward me, seeking a scapegoat, and I refuse to play that role. I need to find my own path, even if it means stepping into the unknown once again.

Please take care of yourself and Val. You have a heart that can heal and a mind that can find peace in turmoil. if you ever need me, use this incantation, and I’ll be there.

All my best,
Loki
He left something to summon him. It had long been forgotten, but just in case Bruce needed him, he should have a way to contact him.

Dear Val,

I’ve always believed that in chaos, one can find clarity. As I look around, I see a world consumed by Chaos and realize that my presence here could only add to the confusion. It’s not that I don’t care; rather, I wish to avoid being the villain in a situation where blame is all too easily assigned.

You have shown me what it means to fight for something worthwhile, and I hope you carry that strength forward. Keep being your fierce and unwavering force, leading those around you with courage and determination. Remember, you’re not alone.

Do not dwell on my absence; focus on the path ahead. I believe in your ability to bring light to the shadows that loom over us.

Take care of yourself and the others. I’ll be watching from afar, and perhaps one day, our paths will cross again—your Highness.

Loki

At the end of the letter, he added the royal seal of Asgard. He hoped she got the message he was giving her kingship; he could have been more direct, but that wasn’t his strong suit. He didn’t include the summoning spell because she would use it all too much.

Bruce read the letter with a mix of emotions swirling inside him. Initially, he felt a sense of emptiness wash over him. Loki's departure left a noticeable void; he might have been a bit crazy, but he was still someone Bruce liked to talk to. As he continued reading, Bruce felt a deep appreciation for Loki’s words. The gratitude expressed struck a chord; Bruce never truly saw it, but obviously, Loki had appreciated Bruce’s company. He also understood all too well what it was like to be a scapegoat—Bruce could relate to in his own way. When he reached the part about summoning Loki, Bruce felt a flicker of hope. He knew the incantation had been left as a lifeline, and it was comforting that he could reach Loki whenever he needed to and would use it wisely. Determined not to dwell on the finality of Loki's choice, Bruce folded the letters carefully and tucked the letter away. He would try his best to help the Asgardians regain their place in the universe, not because Loki wanted it but because Thor wanted it.

Val sat down in the quiet of her quote-on-quote room; she didn’t live there. She didn’t even live in Sakaar or Asgard. She didn’t really belong anywhere, but when Bruce handed her a letter and did not tell her why he was giving it to her or where Loki was, she rushed to open the letter as fast as she could. Her heart wavered between anger, sadness, and a strange sense of peace as she read through his words. When he talked about how he knew that he would be made into the scapegoat, she understood it when they were on the Statesman. Every time something went wrong or anything bad happened, Loki was the first to blame, and the only reason would be because he had that ‘freaky’ magic (Korg’s words, not hers) and could do anything if his mischievous heart wanted to. Still, she also felt a sting of disappointment that he had chosen to leave and left her with this mess.

Initially, Val's eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she processed the real implications of his departure. Loki had been a wild card in her life, a source of annoyance and problems, but hidden beneath layers of sarcasm, and he was actually a pretty great person in her books. The acknowledgment of her strength and leadership made her feel valued, but she also felt like he could have been a little more direct in his writing, but he was a bit of a pain in the ass when it came to speaking clearly.

She paused at the part where he told her to move on from his absence. It was a bittersweet reminder of the fickleness of fate. It also hurt when she considered that she had lost both brothers in the last year. Some of her wanted to chase after him, but she instinctively knew that he needed to carve out his own path. From what she had seen of him, he wore many masks, and only rarely had she seen what she deemed his true personality, but she honestly doubted that she had ever seen the true Loki and only the version he wanted her to. She liked how he made himself look around at different people. Like with Thor, he acted like he was fine and happy because he didn’t want Thor to feel bad, or with the citizens of Asgard, he would be kind yet distant, keeping his feelings out of it. But with Valkyrie, she had seen him at what she deemed his most vulnerable.

She remembered it very well. She had gone to one of the Grandmaster's parties after he asked, more like ordered her to attend, saying it would be fun. It was a few days or weeks before Thor arrived. She was drinking some random garbage alcohol that burned on the way down but kept her mind clear enough to notice what was happening around her when she saw a man walking past her with a very open expression. He was dressed in an outfit that covered more than anything that anyone else would wear in Sakaar. He was new, but she saw the direction he was running from. The Grandmaster sat on a strange couch. He gestured to one of the guards, and the show was starting.

The man was cornered by a few of the guards. Valkyrie thought that she might know the man from somewhere through the daggers that he pulled out until one of the guards slapped an obedience disk onto the man, and he dropped unconscious the guards struggled to lift him at first until he was almost as light as a feather and he was carried over to the Grandmaster until he woke up which surprised Valkyrie she had never seen someone wake up so fast after being shocked the man started to try and move back his face pale and frightened the Grandmaster smiled and grabbed his wrists the man was attempting to negotiate she could she how he mouth was moving but the Grandmaster kept smiling pulling the man up before he shouted: “stop I don’t want this.” The Grandmaster looked at him and gestured for one of the guards, and they dragged him out of the room.

Through his pleas and threats, he tried very hard to free himself but to no success. Later, Valkyrie learned that the man was Loki. She never mentioned she knew, but they talked about it briefly, and she hoped that whatever thing was up there, the Grandmaster would never find any of them again. She knew how dangerous he could be when he was mad. But how the letter ended was interesting. The signature dure her attention. It was neatly written very royal and was marked by the royal seal of Asgard, sending a shiver of recognition through her. Loki had entrusted her with something significant, acknowledging how he addressed her and the royal seal, but it could only mean one thing. Val couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had made her queen of Asgard, what was left of it. When she finished reading, she folded the letter and delicately placed it in her keepsake box alongside mementos from her adventures.

She sat there contemplating his words and resolved to honour his trust in her. Perhaps it was time to face the darkness that stood in front of her. She would take on the mantle of leadership and stand for the Asgardians. Val glanced out the window; she wasn’t alone. No matter how much it seemed like it, there were always people there for her.

Chapter Text

Loki had meticulously covered his tracks, changing appearances and modes of transport wherever he went. He had been gathering information on Earth, not from the most reliable sources, but what choice did he have? In Earth time, it had been 1 year since the snap. They had started to pick up the pieces and rebuild, and it was unsurprising that Valkyrie had formed a new country, New Asgard. He really hoped that wasn’t the actual name. Loki had also been keeping track of Sakaar and the Grandmaster, and from what he found, the revolution had lasted. Only hours and the Grandmaster was more potent than ever, which did not bode well for Loki. The threat of the Grandmaster loomed over him, a menacing shadow that constantly reminded him of the peril he was in.

Still, the Grandmaster didn’t seem to know where Loki was, and even if the collector had gone to him, he would have had very dated information if he had survived. Still, it was unlikely that something like that had killed an elder of the universe. The most confusing part was that the Grandmaster could get in his head and find where he was, but this might have been what he had said when he saw him. He wouldn’t be high and mighty anymore because he felt trapped like prey hiding from the predator right now, and every second, it was getting closer. As his mother would say, Loki had been walking while thinking about things he certainly should not.

When he bumped into someone while muttering an apology, he noticed that his guise had slipped. He rushed to make it appear, “You a-a shapeshifter.” The person he had bumped into said, “Something like that.” Loki said, glancing back. “You look like a wanted poster, I saw a bit back.” The person said, what wanted poster Loki thought, then remembered how many people wanted him dead. “I can assure you that I am not wanted,” Loki said, walking away. “Well, I need some evidence about that.” The person asked, “How many units do I need to give you until you leave me alone.” Seeing through the person’s scheme, “There are a lot of people who want you, Loki.” The person said Loki was shocked they knew his name. “You see, I’m a bounty hunter sent from a mighty man who wants you very badly and would do anything to get you, so how much you got.” The person said, smirking, “Who?” Loki said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Just because this person said this doesn’t mean it’s true, and lots of people know who he is, right? “just cause I’m feeling nice, it’s an elder of the universe who is going batshit for you at the moment, so again how much you got?” The person asked, “shit,” Loki muttered, getting ready to use his magic. “Don’t use any of your tricks.” After seeing his shock, he added, “Yeah, he told me about you; I’m a very good bounty hunter.” The person said, “It’ll be easier if you come with me.” They finished with, “Please let me leave. If I go back, I’ll be faced with a fate worse than death. Please have a spec of empathy.” Loki begged whoever this person was. He needed a second and could disappear, but the person grabbed his arm. “Someone as terrible as you don’t deserve death.” The person said before Loki was shocked.

Loki shot sweat dripping down his face. “It was a dream, only a dream.” Loki kept repeating he was relieved to find that it wasn’t real, but it indigitated fear; in reality, it had been 4 years 345 days since the snap he had been in contact with Valkyrie, and yes, she had named it New Asgard and yes Loki had told her what a terrible name it was and much to his disappointment he came within a hair of getting captured by the Grandmaster he had spotted him at some sleazy party, a gathering of the most unsavory characters in the galaxy, Loki had gotten dragged into and Loki left that planet the second he saw him ever since he hadn’t stayed anywhere for more than a few days he was paranoid at every turn always watching his surroundings he knew one day that the Grandmaster would find him one way or another and Loki was prepared for that he had been improving his magic, especially his invisibility spells and tried to heal up the cracks running throughout his mind he didn’t know if the Grandmaster had looked inside his mind but now he couldn’t, and that helped Loki sleep at night. His paranoia was a constant companion, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked around every corner.

Right as he was getting up and packing his items, he was being called by Valkyrie. She somehow had found a way to contact the phone Stark gave him before they went to the garden. He picked up the phone. “Hey, Lackey.” Valkyrie said, “Hello, Brunnhilde.” He knew how much she hated when he called her that, “Well fuck you too anyways, the super geniuses are trying to invent time travel.” Val said, “Time travel is an impossibility.” Loki said, chuckling. “That’s what I said, but it looks like it’s working.” Val said in her weighty voice, “Count me out.” Loki said, about to hang up, “Are you okay.” Val's concern for Loki was palpable in her voice, making him pause before he pressed the button.

Loki said nothing before Val spoke again, “It’s him, isn’t it.” Val said he had told her little of what occurred between them, but she seemed to know everything. “I think you should return to Earth for a little while. You don’t even have to help with this time travel shit just so we can visit. I want to see you, and I know how fucking cheesy that is, but you get it.” Val said, “Can I say something I don’t want you to ever say to anyone else.” Loki whispered, “Anything.” Val said they weren’t best friends a few years ago, but you’ll take anything you can get when you have limited options. “I saw him a few months ago, and I think he knows where I am,” Loki said, sitting on the bed, choked by darkness. Val didn’t see anything. “Come here as soon as you can,” Val said.

“I will; you have my word,” Loki said. They bid goodbye and ended the call. Loki rushed to pack his things and shapes and left the motel. Then, he started to world walk, something he hadn’t done in centuries, but they were the only teleportation mode unaffected by the snap. After a few hours, he was in Norway in the middle of the night. Now, all he had to do was get to New Asgard. He walked over to one of the open shops and entered, "Do you know how to get to New Asgard." Loki asked the older man sitting behind the counter. He hadn't looked up. "a mile down the road, you'll see it. It's hard to miss." the man said. Loki thanked him and walked over. He wasn't even a mile in when he saw a sign saying New Asgard, formerly Tonseberg Norway. A dim light makes the sign barely legible. He saw a town with a few lights scattered here and there. The town wasn't much farther from the sign. Loki walked over to the building that had a lit-up sign saying motel. He walked in, and someone was still behind the desk. They looked up to see who had entered, and their eyes lit up. They quickly got up and curtsied. "Prince Loki, we were not told you would be coming here today." The woman said, "There is no need for that. I was wondering if you could tell me where Valkyrie lived." Loki said, taken aback by the fact in this woman's eyes, he was still royalty.

"I can take you, sire." the woman said before getting up and opening the door for him. He followed her as she ran through the streets until they came to a house slightly more significant than the rest. "Here is her home. Is there anything else you require, Prince Loki?" the woman asked. "No, madam, thank you." Loki said, "It is my pleasure." the woman said before curtsying and returning to the motel. Loki watched her walk away before stepping toward the house door and going to knock, but just as his hand was about to hit the door, it came right open. "I didn't think you were coming," Val said, pulling Loki into the house. He was in the small, open living space. Two doors led to the bathroom and the bedroom. The rest of the house was in the open living area. "I gave you my word, didn't I?" Loki questioned, "Your word isn't always reliable; how did you even get here so fast."

Val said Loki scoffed at her comment but knew it was true. "I'm a World Walker, and it was quick, easy to get here from whatever garbage planet I was on," Loki said while Val was pouring out some drinks. "you are a World Walker. I thought those went extinct last century." Val said, giving Loki a drink, who scrunched his nose at the smell. "It's Asgardian bear. Someone had the recipe." Val clarified as she sat on the couch, patting the seat next to her. "Let's drink before we get into the messy stuff," Val said, downing her drink. Loki stiffly sat on the sinking couch, sipping at his drink. He preferred mead but didn't like alcohol as a whole except for when he wanted to forget, and that took more than just alcohol. "You seem like more of a wine guy," Val stated, getting up to get another drink. She saw his glass was still full. "no, don't mind me, I don't drink alcohol very often," Loki said. They sat silently for a moment." where'd you see him," Val asked. The only sound that could be heard was the bear pouring into the glass, "a planet a few jump points from Sakkar." Loki answered, "Was he looking for you? What kind of place were you?" Val asked, looking him straight in the eyes. "Some party," seeing Val's death glare. "I was just looking for escape and was close to being comatose, but when I saw him, I sobered up quickly and left. I don't know if he saw or followed me, but..." Loki trailed off. "You're sure I was him." Val asked Loki, was sure 100% unquestionably sure, "I could show you." Loki said, "Sure, show me then." Val said, "It might be a bit disorientating." Loki warned, grabbing her hand. They were sent back to that night.

Loki was swirling his drink with the little liquid in the glass, watching people engage as a Xandarian walked up to him quite drunk. "What's someone as handsome as you doing here all alone." the man slurred. "I'm not interested, thank you," Loki said, setting down his drink and abandoning it. "No need to play hard to get, hon, unless you're here with someone." the man said, moving in front of Loki, barely standing straight. Loki just pushed past him, walking toward another server with a platter of drinks, when he sensed a throbbing power. He could taste it in the air and then heard a voice vaguely speaking, "Where's the games? A party is no fun without games." the second Loki heard it, he saw the person the voice belonged he felt his breath quicken. His vision started to dot, and then he needed to run like it was all he was made for. He rushed to the door and ran down the stairwell, finding the next ship off this planet, praying to whatever cruel god was doing this to have mercy for him.

Loki shoots him and Val out of the memory. "That was him, alright," Val said, pushing back her hair. "When was that." Val followed with, "3 months ago." Loki answered, chugging his drink. "Have you seen him since?" Val asked. Loki shook his head, grabbing Val's newly refilled drink and downing that, too. "I think he saw me but didn't come after, Norns. I'm just being paranoid," Loki said, grabbing his head. "no, he's someone who likes to toy with people. Maybe he did see you, and maybe he did follow you, but you'll never know that's the kind of person he is," Val said, handing Loki the entire bottle. "I just hope he doesn't come here and wreak havoc," Loki said, "there isn't much to wreak anymore." Val said, " I'm going to bed. You can have the couch." "night, Val," Loki said as she walked into her bedroom, closing the door after waving goodbye. Loki grabbed the remote for the TV and turned it on. It started blasting the news, primarily fake things about the Avengers, but then he saw his face with a breaking news headline saying.

'Loki Lafueyson spotted near New Asgard Avengers have not commented, but sources say they are monitoring closely.'

A woman appeared on the screen, looking very serious. "The man responsible for the New York attacks of 2012 and who has been theorized to be involved with the snap that has taken half of the population of the universe has been spotted in Norway by a local shop owner who didn't know who the man was but reviewed the camera footage and called the police we have not seen an official Loki sighting in the last 4 years is it because of the anniversary of the snap coming up will he strike again we will head to our reporter who is with the Shop owner now." the woman continued speaking as Loki's eyes widened while she was talking images of New York and Wakanda flashed across the screen his heart felt like it was beating a hundred miles a minute he was fucked it didn't matter if it was him or not Asgard didn't care why would Earth. And just as Valkyrie's door opened, he realized how loud the volume was now. It was talking about the history of the 2012 incident: "That's not good." Val said before looking at Loki's face, "I'm calling Tony. His PR team is the best at covering up stuff like this." Val said, grabbing her phone. Loki just sat there reliving or seeing the actions his body was forced to commit. He heard Val's voice, "Tony, this is a shit show; no, don't blame him for coming- you said he could come back whenever he wanted. -Those were your words; no, you don't get to go back on that now. -Let me speak with Bruce. He'll help -DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE HANG UP! Oh, Fuck you, Tony Fuck You." Val said, yelling into the phone, occasionally glancing at Loki's statue esc pose as she scrambled to dial another number. "Pick up, pick up, pick up, YES! Bruce, I need your help- have you turned on the news recently- yes, I know you've been busy with the project, but turn it on. You're going to want to see this- yes, he is back- yup, he's right here, but you see what they're saying- I did call Tony, but he said he wouldn't help. Something about how that would damage his reputation- yes, I'll fucking kill him next time I see him- he's not exactly responsive right now- no, he's not unconscious. He's like in a trance- yea, I'll bring him there, but I don't know how I'll be able to do that- thank you so much, Bruce- tear Tony a new one for me, yeah bye Big guy, thank you again." Val finished the call with a smirk "we're going to avengers campus we'll deal with this there." Val said as she reached for the remote. Still, Loki grabbed it before she could take it "you shouldn't watch this it's not going to fix anything." Val said reaching again now trying to get a response from Loki "I did this..." Loki said slowly still watching the news "no you didn't Thanos did remember." Val said trying to wrestle the remote out of his hands "it's all my fault, I'm such a fucking failure I couldn't even kill myself right." Loki said, tears starting to form in his eyes as he blinked them back "that wasn't your fault. We can get them back." Val said, but Loki turned the volume up. "If I had died, none of this would have happened," Loki said, gesturing to the TV as he stood up. "Sorry, so we're on the same foot here. You tried to kill yourself in 2018, only right." Val said, concern washing over her face. "Thor didn't tell you, did he? Of course, he didn't. I'm such a disgrace; I deserve this; I deserved to die the second I was born." Loki said, "Loki, I don't know what you're talking about, but obviously, I don't understand; you don't and never did deserve any of this shit. You may not be a good person, but none of us are." Val said, finally grabbing the remote and turning off the TV. Loki started to sob, falling to the floor. He hadn't cried in and didn't know how long, at least a few years. Valkyrie grabbed him, hugging him as he cried until he passed out.

Chapter Text

Valkyrie and Loki got picked up by a Quinjet the following day, and both ignored what had occurred that night. Bruce was the only one on the jet, which Loki was glad for, but that meant Loki had to speak to him. "It's so good to see you, Loki!" Bruce said that the second he saw Loki, he would almost hug Loki, but he caught himself right before he made contact. The tension between them was palpable. "Sorry." Bruce noted sheepishly, "It's fine. It's good to see you too, Bruce." Loki said, patting Bruce on the shoulder while he walked onto the jet. "So, how's he doing?" Bruce asked in a hushed voice. "He went into a bit of a trance last night when we were watching the history of the New York attacks, entirely out of it. It freaked me out." Val whispered, "Let's get going. We'll keep speaking back at Avenger's campus." Bruce said, walking up into the jet with Val slowly following after. Despite the tension, there was a shared history and mutual respect between the characters that was undeniable.

The plane was on autopilot, allowing them to engage in a discussion. "Tell me about this time travel project," Loki inquired. Bruce glanced at Val before delving into the topic. He took a deep breath, clearly about to explain a complex subject. "Time travel is a bit of a mess, honestly. We’re trying to figure out how to execute the idea." The intricacies of the project were fascinating, and the group was drawn into the discussion. Val leaned back in her seat, her expression intrigued. "Is that even possible? Every time we mess with things like that, it seems like it creates more problems than it solves." Her concern added a layer of tension to the conversation, a shared worry about the potential consequences of their actions.

"Yeah, you’re right. The time stuff… that was a huge headache," Bruce replied, running a hand through his hair. "But what we’ve been working on here differs from what we've tried in the past." Loki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A machine to travel through time? Seems a bit ambitious, even for the likes of you, Doctor Banner." Bruce chuckled, his nerves easing a bit. "but this was the only solution we could come up with to get everyone back." Bruce said shrugging

"How close are you to solving this project?" Loki inquired. "I've finished a prototype and wanted to start testing it, but everyone has said it's too risky," Bruce explained. "So what's your plan?" Val asked. "I don't know. We tested Scott Lang's thing, but it didn't work the way we wanted, and Tony's been no help, mostly mopping around," Bruce said, rubbing his neck. "Sorry, who?" Loki asked. He had never heard of Scott Lang. "I forgot you didn't know Scott. He is Antman, who helped with the fight Steve and Tony had. We thought he was snapped until a week ago when he returned, but he has been stuck in the quantum realm since 2018. That's where we came up with the idea of time travel. Since we've been trying to figure it out, Nat and Steve have gone to Tony's cottage to get him to help. Still, as you know, 'he doesn't do this anymore." Bruce said, "He always cares about himself more than anyone else." Val said, crossing her arms. "He's got a daughter now and said that he couldn't risk her on a movie plot," Bruce said. "Why would time travel affect anything that's already happened?" Loki asked. It was clear they had no understanding of how time worked. "We've been toying with the idea that affecting the past means the past becomes the future, and the future becomes the past," Bruce said. Loki scoffed, "That makes no sense. You can't change the past, for it is already written. Nothing you could do would change what happens now," Loki explained. "Then we can't change the snap," Bruce said, looking solemn. "No, that's not what I said. Instead of changing the past, what if we take things from the past to the future?" Loki suggested. Bruce's face lit up, "Like we take the stones from their time and bring them back here to counter the snap." Val said. "Exactly," Loki confirmed. "we need to start working on this the second we get to the lab; you know how this stuff works, right?" Bruce asked, "You remember him on the Statesman? He's like a supergenius, just a bit dated," Val said. Loki blushed slightly. Asgard didn't care if you were smart, but if you were strong due to that, Loki wasn't appreciated as much as he should have been. "I know the concepts." Loki said, "Don't undersell yourself. You're just as smart as Tony." Val said, "I'd agree." Bruce added, "I don't need to be buttered up. I'll help you with your machine." Loki said he knew they were saying that, so he would help, but he still liked the praise.

They continued to chat, but it wasn't anything more important than finally arriving in upper-state New York after an hour or so. "We haven't refined the details, but the second we do, everyone's going to come here so we can execute the plan." Bruce said while landing the jet, "So, how many people are here at the moment?" Val asked, picking up her bag. "Me, Steve, Nat, and a few others. The rest are either in space or in hiding." Bruce answered as they docked onto the ground. "Why would any of you need to be in hiding." Loki asked what they had done that would need such a "well, there's one in hiding. It's Clint. His entire family got snapped, but he wouldn't accept that. He wanted to believe that some criminal group killed them, and ever since, he's been on a killing spree. Don't tell anyone I said this. Nat would kill me." Bruce answered while the doors opened, letting in the crisp air. Loki understood the feeling of wanting to blame everything else than the fact you failed. He wanted to believe so bad after Thor died that he wasn't really dead and had been taken somewhere, but it didn't save him from the heavy amount of guilt he felt. They walked into Avenger's campus, which, in his opinion, was much too colourless. As they walked in, they were greeted by... absolutely no one.

"This is such a warm welcome," Val said. Loki resisted the urge to laugh, but obviously, his sarcasm had rubbed off on Val. "everybody is in their own areas of the building, and no one knew you guys were coming, so you know." Bruce said as they walked into the building. This must have been Bruce's part of the campus because it was covered in notes and machine: "I'll call everybody. You can just wait here." Bruce said, walking away. "So you think this time travel thing could work," Val said. Loki thought for a moment. "I'm not betting on it, but I'm hoping it will." Loki said, "You know how crazy it would be if it worked, though." Val said, "It'd be even crazier if you helped." Val said, elbowing Loki. "I said I'd help." Loki said, "Just because you said so doesn't mean you mean it." Val said, "Val, for the last 4 years, I have looked into every single thing I thought might work, and if it is the one, I'll do my best to help." Loki said. Val just nodded. They waited patiently for around half an hour before Val started to complain, "Did he get lost?" she asked. "maybe this is an exercise of patience." Loki said he was content just standing there reading the book. He conjured, "5 more minutes, and then I'm going to find him." Val said, dropping her bag and landing with a thump.

"That's nice," Loki said, turning the page. Val huffed for the next 4 minutes before stomping off down one of the hallways. Loki read his book before he sensed someone walking down the hallway toward him. "Val, how was the mission." Loki said, "I'm not Valkaryie." Wanda said. Loki finally looked up. "My apologies, it is good to see you again," Loki said, making the book disappear. "Hi. Why are you here, if you don't mind me asking." Wanda said, cutting right to the point, "I was invited by Bruce." Loki said. Wanda nodded. "I saw the news that has nothing to do with you coming, does it?" Wanda asked, "Val insisted." Loki answered, "Don't worry, Tony's PR team is the best. They cover up all kinds of stuff." Wanda said, "Antony basically said he wasn't helping because he doesn't do this anymore." Loki replied, "he's been saying that a lot like the rest of us shouldn't do it either, as if he's the only person who matters." Wanda said, her voice bitter. "It's exactly what he said when I asked for his help to bring Vis back," Wanda said, "but I heard about this time machine Bruce is working on. Have you heard of it?" Wanda asked. "Bruce actually asked me to help," Loki said. "You said yes, right?" Wanda asked. Loki nodded. "Good; if I had to choose people to do this, you'd be on that list." Wanda said, "Thank you." Loki said, "You've heard of Scott's van, right." Wanda asked. "Yes, Bruce told me on the Quin jet," Loki said. They stood in silence for a few minutes. "Why did you leave?" Wanda asked, "We could have used you in the last 4 years." Wanda added, "You've seen the news now. Think of how bad it would have been right after the snap. I would be the one to blame for all of this." Loki answered, "You could have shapeshifted or something like that."
Wanda said, "Val told me about that." Wanda added, "Shapeshifting takes a toll when I'm doing it to hide and not doing it because I want to." Loki said, "I needed some time to myself. I'm not the best person to be around when I'm grieving either." Loki added. Wanda looked at him with a knowing look, "None of us were good to be around, but I get that Thor was your only family left." Wanda said

Wanda's gaze lingered on Loki, her expression shifting from understanding to a subtle compassion that made him uncomfortable. He had never been one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, yet somehow, in this moment, the weight of his solitude felt palpable. “Thor was the only family I had left,” Loki finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “The fallout from everything, from the battles to the betrayal... It took a toll on me, too, and not in the way people assumed. I thought—” He paused, searching for the right words. “I thought if I distanced myself, maybe I wouldn't drown in the grief. I thought I could deal with it away from everyone.” Wanda nodded, her eyes softening. “We all had to cope in our own ways, didn’t we? I turned inward, lost in my own chaos.” Her voice trembled slightly, and she shook her head to dispel darker thoughts. “But you’re here now.”

“yes,” Loki said, a faint smile crossing his lips. “Bruce always manages to pull strings, doesn’t he?.” He glanced down the hallway toward where Bruce had disappeared. Wanda crossed her arms, and leaning against the wall. “You know that’s why we’re all here. To fix the things we lost … to get back our families.” She hesitated momentarily before adding, “You remember what happened when I lost Vision? When he was taken from me?” Loki’s brow furrowed. “Of course…”

“It was unbearable,” Wanda said, her voice thick with emotion. “And when I thought I could bring him back the way I wanted, and it didn't work, I felt like I was losing him all over again.” He looked closely at her. “What if the time machine does work? What if we actually manage to go back?” Wanda said, her eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and caution. “That’s the question, isn’t it? We could see those we lost and end the pain… but altering the past could have unintended consequences. I’ve seen it happen. It could turn into a nightmare, but we need to hope it works how we want,” Loki said, the spark of ambition flickering in his core. “Hope can be a dangerous thing,” Wanda murmured. “Especially when it becomes an obsession.”

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They had done it. They made a time machine, which seemed to work as Loki saw it. Now, they had to find the correct times to do this. They had all gotten together in one of the meeting rooms and started to talk about where the infinity stones were when Loki was finally spoken to: "Has the soul stone always been on vomir?" Rogers asked. Loki nodded before starting to talk. "from what I know, it had always been there. The only difference is the protector changes." Loki said, leaning back in his chair, "Wait, now that I'm thinking about it, you've basically interacted with every stone." Bruce said everyone seemed to realize that was true. "Was there ever a period where they were all together other than Wakanda?"
Wanda asked. 'No, there's only ever been three in the same place at once,' Loki answered. 'When was that?' Tony exclaimed. Natasha, the voice of reason, rolled her eyes playfully. 'New York,' she said, her words drawing a collective nod from the group. 'Oh, the time stone,' Tony said, his realization met with a teasing jab from Natasha. 'Yes, from the guy who claims to be the smartest here, you're pretty dense,' she said, her words laced with the camaraderie that comes from years of working together. Tony gasped, 'You wound me, Nat,' he said, his mock hurt drawing a chuckle from the group. 'We're not going to be able to get any of the others together, are we?' Bruce asked. Everyone was silent while they thought, but no one said anything: 'We know where the soul stone is throughout history, but where was the reality and power stone.' Rogers asked, 'Power stone was on Morag until 2014.' Nebula said, 'and the reality stone was sealed between space and time until 2013. but it goes into the collector's vault the same year.' Loki added, 'Why don't we go for the mind, space and time stone in 2012 and reality, soul and power stone in 2013.' Rhodey said. Everyone nodded, the room filled with approval. 'now, where was the reality stone?' Bruce asked, 'Inside Jane Foster on Asgard.' Loki answered, 'I'm sorry. Did you say inside?' Scott asked, 'Did I stutter?' Loki asked. Yes, it was a bit harsh, but he didn't love having to talk about that part of his life. Val leaned over to Bruce. "I forgot what a dick he can be." Val whispered, "It's not directed at me. That's a plus." Bruce responded. Val nodded, sitting back.

They had finished final testing, and now it was the big day they would bring back them all, but something was weighing on Loki. He knew only one person would return from Vormir. It was rare for Loki to obtain the stone as he did. Tony and Steve were going to Vormir, Loki and Val were going to Asgard, Nebula and Rocket were going to Morag, and Bruce, Clint, and Natasha were going to New York. Everyone, including Loki himself, was wearing this ridiculous outfit Tony had designed. The only reason Loki hadn't changed his outfit was that he didn't need to add to the risk of something going wrong. They put the helmets on as they were set through time. The room filled with strange energy as the time machine hummed to life, and the team was engulfed in a blinding light, signalling the beginning of their journey through time.

Asgard 2013
Val and Loki successfully landed in Asgard. Val looked around for a minute. "Well, shit, it worked." Val said, "Of course it worked," Loki said, tapping the button on his suit to get to the stone. "Oh, did you forget the place already?" Val asked, jabbing Loki in the side. "Right now, I'm in jail, so no, I don't know what was happening now." Loki said, "forgot about that since you know Odin usually wouldn't have done anything." Val was saying as she raced to catch up with Loki. "where are we going right now." Val looked around. "we are going to Jane foster's room." Loki said quickly, "Why are we running." Val said when Loki didn't answer, Val knew something was wrong. Val grabbed his shoulder, slowing them to a stop. "Hey, what's wrong," Val said, letting go of him. "I don't want to be here anymore than needed." Loki said, "I get it. I mean, this place is gone, which makes you feel homesick." Val was saying before Loki cut her off, "I don't want to be here because my mother dies today. Val stopped talking, trying to catch Loki's eyes, but his were glued to the floor, tears starting to form. "we should keep moving before-" Loki was saying before he saw something "what?" Val said, her eyes following his, and right outside of Jane's room stood Frigga. As her head started to turn towards them, Loki pulled her behind a pillar. Val opened her mouth to speak, but then Frigga began to walk over. Loki was muttering something under his breath, and then they disappeared. Loki shoved Val over to Jane's room, shoving the injector into her hands as he threw something so Frigga would turn away from the door, but right as they were entering the room, Loki heard, "Loki?" Frigga said almost in a whisper, but Loki stopped right in his tracks. The invisibility spell's concentration was broken, causing it to disappear. His breath hitched as he felt Frigga walk closer, her hand ghosting over his shoulder. "what are you doing in this time, my son." Frigga asked. Loki slowly turned, hoping he was only dreaming, but when he saw her face, she looked so real he felt his eyes getting wet. "Time has not treated you well, has it?" Frigga asked. Loki shook his head. She had a calm look on her face as she looked him up and down. "Amma," Loki said quietly as her arms wrapped around him. Loki really tried, but he started to cry into her arm. "What happened?" Frigga asked, "Everything went wrong." Loki said, "But you can fix it, can't you?" Frigga responded, "Not all of it." Loki said, "The only thing unfixable is death." When Loki didn't respond, Frigga said, "That's it, isn't it what happened?" Frigga said, stroking Loki's hair. "Hela... she killed Odin, then she...she came and destroyed Asgard, and then.. he came and killed half of what remained, then he-he killed half of the universe and..and I wasn't good enough to stop him, and he took him away." Loki said keeping his gaze to the ground Frigga didn't say anything for a moment so much happened in so little time "took who away?" Frigga asked quietly as if afraid to hear the answer, "T-Thor." Loki said, his voice breaking. He heard Frigga take a quick breath of air, obviously shocked. "You'll fix it. That's why you're here." Frigga said. "What if it doesn't work?" Loki whispered. Frigga sternly looked at him, "Don't you dare speak like that. You will get the aether out of Jane, you will go back home, and you will fix this because you are Loki, and you never give up no matter what." Frigga said, wiping Loki's tears. "Yes, Amma," Loki said, turning. "I'm sorry I left you so soon," Frigga said. "I didn't-" Loki started to say. "You didn't need to. I know the end is near, so I apologize for leaving you alone." Frigga said, walking closer to Loki. "Before you leave, I wish to give you some insight," Frigga said, pushing herself up to whisper in Loki's ear.

"Elders of the universe have weaknesses, too," Frigga said. Loki was a bit shocked. Frigga moved back to look at him. "You need to get your life back no matter the cost." Frigga said, "I love you, Amma." Loki said, "I will always love you, my snowflake." Frigga said before walking away. Val walked out. "she's out cold for now." Val said, holding up the vial with the red liquid in it. Then, the Einherjar started walking down the Hallway. Val grabbed Loki's hand as they swerved to avoid people, eventually pulling him down some stairs. They hugged the wall as they walked by. They started walking down the stairs to get to a place with privacy. Then Loki pulled back from her hand. "We need to go somewhere else." Loki said, "There's too many people up there to be able to get everything ready to leave." Val said. Loki pointed down the stairs, and Val noticed that these were the stairs to the dungeon. "That is my cell right there. I will see myself remember that was the biggest rule." Loki said, "Then we need to be quiet because we have no other options." Val said, pulling Loki down the stairs. They eventually made their way to the bottom of the stairs, and as Loki had said, his other self was lying on the bed, throwing a cup up and down. Loki never realized how badly he needed help at this time. He was alone, hiding so much pain with no one to talk to and no hope, and he didn't even know a decade later if it was going to get better. They walked quickly past the cells into a deeper part, remaining unseen. "I forgot how much weight you've lost. You really need to get some meat on your bones." Val said, looking around. "we're in the backup shield room." Loki said, ignoring her comment. He knew he hadn't been exactly treating his body right recently, but he had other things to worry about. "I knew that." Val said defensively, "We should go back now." Loki said, activating his suit as he heard a voice he recognized in the upper area that seemed to be coming down the stairs. "Who is down there." Thor said. Val quickly went to activate her suit as they disappeared. Thor came to the bottom of the stairs. "Must have been some rats," Thor said, walking back upstairs.

Chapter Text

They landed on the platform, the stones shining. Everyone came back relatively unharmed. "You know you fucking suck, right?" Clint said, looking at Loki. Loki just looked around. "We had an incident with your younger self," Bruce said, holding up the Tesseract. "He tried to steal the Tesseract and escape." Loki nodded. "Let's get this done, people, god!" Tony said, walking to his lab. They all dropped off the stones in the lab. They had already made a gauntlet based on the one they found in The Garden Loki. Tony, Rocket, and Bruce were the ones chosen to work on it, and the only reason Loki was even there was because he knew magic. When Tony reached back to pick up the reality stone, it bit back, "Ouch, like what the fuck!" Tony said,

"The Aether doesn't like when people touch it," Loki said, grabbing the Aether himself. "Then why can you pick it up?" Rocket asked. "Because of my magic," Loki said, putting the Aether into the Gauntlet. It flared for a moment and then settled into the slot. "Question: why did you give the Aether away?" Rocket asked. "Because two infinity stones in one place are dangerous," Loki said plainly. "Earth had three," Tony responded. "Not my business," Loki said, watching as they put the power stone into place. They were using robots to do this because, well, you know, dangerous... after a good hour or two, just as Loki was getting bored, they finished the Gauntlet. The stones were shining now, and the question was who would snap. Loki, being the most adept at magic, offered to put a ward over it so it wouldn't affect the wearer, which helped ease tensions. Still, the only issue was someone changing more than they were supposed to, so as inspected, it was down and as expected, and now there were only two people left, Bruce or Loki. They both didn't want to do it, but Bruce eventually accepted it because there was no change when Loki made up his mind. It actually went very smoothly, but the tension was palpable.

Bruce put on the Gauntlet. They locked down the facility just in case, and Bruce snapped. The sound echoed throughout the room, and everyone stood for a second, glancing around the room and waiting for something to happen. But then, a phone started to ring, breaking the tension. "Are you serious, Clint? You didn't turn off your phone," Tony said. When Clint looked at his phone, his eyes widened. "Laura..." Clint said, rushing to answer. Everyone stood in silence, hearing a voice on the other side. "I know, honey, I'll be back soon, I promise," Clint said. "It worked," Scott said, "holy shit, it worked," Steve said. The sudden shift from tension to relief was palpable in the room. But in that moment of uncertainty, when the snap was made, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Loki walked over to Val, "We should go to Wakanda." Loki whispered, "We're leaving everybody. We'll be back for the celebration party." Val said loudly, walking out of the room. "Where are you going?" Natasha asked, "Wakanda." Loki said, following Val out of the room. "So are you going to teleport us or..." Val said, "Oh yes." Loki said, teleporting them into Wakanda, the same field where the battle happened 5 years ago. Filled with many very confused people, they power walked over to the forest full of heroes, but Loki didn't see them. He had his eyes set on trying to find Thor within the crowd. He was starting to spiral because he couldn't see Thor anywhere. "Loki," Val said, grabbing his shoulder and pointing over to someone whose back turned, "It's him," Val said. Loki looked over. He almost didn't recognize him, but he knew it was him when he saw his face. He basically ran, wrapping himself around Thor. "Loki, are you really here?" Thor whispered, pulling back to look at him, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm here," Loki said, and once Loki said that Thor wrapped his arms tightly as they both sat there.