Chapter Text
Loki was out of tricks.
His last desperate gambit had failed, and Thanos had him by the throat. As he croaked out his final words of defiance, all he had left was the hope that Thor would make it out somehow. Despite his bold words, he knew very well that the sun would never shine on them again. If Valhalla existed, Loki would never reach it, could not expect to spend the afterlife with his brother. Still, he hoped he might have helped spur Thor into some sort of action to save himself.
Pain and blackness took over.
And then
He felt the pull of his own magic hooking into his spirit before it could be torn apart. He scarcely had time to wonder what he might have done to cause this effect before the magic ripped brutally through his mind, yanking memories to the forefront. He relived the fall of Asgard for a few moments that felt like an eternity before the impatient magic brushed it aside. Deeper than words, it demanded: Where are you safe?
Loki’s answer was immediate and came with another memory. No realm, no barren moon, no crevice…
That too was discarded. Where are you safe?
Some sentimental, subconscious part of Loki answered: Thor wanted to go back to Earth. Earth, where Thor’s little band of heroes had already defied Thanos once, even though they might still not know it.
He felt that memory examined, the magic dragging out what he knew of Earth and its heroes. And then the thin thread that had been holding together what was left of his consciousness pulled away, and he knew no more.