"Father," Thor asked as the team raced out of the throne room towards the Bifrost "why do you follow?"
"My son," Odin said as he, surprisingly, ran right alongside him "do you expect me to sit idly by and allow Loki to be taken from us again?"
Thor stared at his father, who had a new light shining in his eyes. Odin smiled; something that rarely occurred. He felt like his heart was bursting in his chest, and his son expected him to sit like an old man and let them go off to battle? No, no he was Odin, he was a Norse god and not even age would get in his way now.

---

To their surprise, Frigga was at the Bifrost waiting for them.
"Mother?" Thor asked, watching her smiled softly.
"Hello," she said "please forgive me; I just thought that our new warriors might need their things." They looked at the pile by her feet and saw, to their surprise, all of their weapons. They could've laughed, they had rushed out if Midgard in such a hurry that they had forgotten their weapons. There was Tony's mark 47, Clint's bow and arrows, Steve's shield and Natasha's guns. "You may be gods now, but you are not invincible." She smiled at them as they grabbed their gear, after hoisting and pulling and a fair amount of flashing lights on Tony's part, they were ready and looking for all the world like the gods they now were. "And, Man of Iron?" Frigga said with a sad, sheepish smile on her still beautiful face "Save my boy."
"Mam'm," Tony smiled before closing his mask; because he thought it would look cooler "It would be my genuine pleasure." He was right. Frigga simply smiled, a tear drawing a path down her cheek
"Let us be off." Odin said, nodding at Heimdall. "It is time my son was the one being protected."

---

The pain from the trip through the Bifrost was nonexistent now, setting them gently on what appeared to be a giant floating rock. It was cold, but not the kind that makes you jump from foot to foot in hopes of gaining some body heat. This was the kind of cold that existed only in the most hopeless of places. It was the kind of cold that only happened when all the warmth of hope had been drawn out. This was an inescapable cold. They looked at each other, fear nearly visible in their eyes, more of fear of what they would find than what would find them. But, despite the cold and the fear, they started walking. Soon enough, Clint was able to spot something, something that made all color drain from his face and his knees to buckle until he gave in and let them hit the hard stone ground.
"Clint," Natasha whispered for fear of being heard "what is it?"
Clint let out a breath, words forming and dying on his lips. For perhaps the first time in the archer's life, he felt like curling up in a ball and staying there. He felt tears prick his eyes and cursed the words that would not form on his lips.
"Clint," Tony barked, in no mood for Clint to break down now "pull yourself together!" He did not hesitate to land an armored punch on the assassin's face, knowing his new body could take it.
Clint let out a muffled growl as he pulled his face from the dirt, glowering at Tony before standing "They're just over the cliff side." He frowned, wanting nothing more than Loki to be back with them so they could return to the tower and go on with their (now) very long lives, all seven of them. But first, they would have to go over the cliff and get the other god. So, they proceeded with caution, barely breathing as they neared the drop off. They looked over the side and it was all they could do to not wretch at the sight before them.
Down below them, Loki hung by his arms, his feet barely brushing the ground. The god's face was twisted in pain as his skin was broken open by the sting of whips and edge of blades. Chitauri stood before the god, cheering and applauding like they were attending a dinner show. Thanos was circling the bleeding man, whispering things they dared not guess what into his ears.

---

Loki whimpered, wishing for all the world that they would finish their fun and kill him. He could not breathe as his lungs began to collapse in on themselves, thoughts would not form in his mind as images of Tony, Thor, Steve, Natasha, Bruce, Clint, Odin, Frigga and even Fury writhing in agony burst before his eyes in a never ending cycle. 'No, it's not real' he whispered to himself 'yes it is' a voice whispered back 'it's your fault too, you didn't make it in time, their all gone now'. Loki wanted to cry, wanted to curl up in a ball and simply cease to exist, but he would never be permitted such luxuries. No, Loki hung, pain overriding all senses, false memories blocking his thoughts. This was worse, far worse than before. Before, Thanos had simply forced him to relive the worst, but now, now it was beyond memories. Thanos was changing the god's mind, molding his thoughts as he pleased, making him remember things that never happened. He made him watch the deaths of the very people who stood not a few yards away and were very much alive. Loki watched Chitauri pull apart Clint and Natasha and Fury. He watched Bruce, or the Hulk, torn to shreds by the very lizard-like creatures he had failed to reason with not the day before. He watched Steve bleed to death, slumped against the side of a building, not even strong enough to stand. He watched as Thor, Odin and Frigga beaten until they were unrecognizable, bleeding masses on the floor. And he watched as Tony, his Tony, was beaten and torn and burnt and frozen by Frost Giants. Again and again the false memories played in his mind until he had not the will to believe them false. Tears streamed down his face as he twisted in agony, searching desperately for the warm glow of death. He found nothing but the cold smite of reality.

---

"We have to get him." Clint said, features twisted in hate as he watched Thanos continue to circle the god.
"How do we kill him?" Steve asked
"He is the lord of death." Thor scowled "He will not be easily defeated."
"We'll kill him like we kill all the other shit-head bastards," Tony growled, readying his built-in armory.
"Tony, I know you're desperate right now." Natasha reasoned "But we need a plan."
"You can take your plan and shove it straight up your-"
"Tony!" Steve barked "That is enough."
"Look, I agree with Tony though." Bruce said "We have no way of anticipating this fight. We just need to go in there and adapt."
"I agree." Thor said "Father?"
Odin was not listening. He was busy staring down at his son, his face red with rage. His teeth were bared and his eye dark. He wanted nothing more than to rip Thanos' throat out and adorn his throne room with it. "Let us go." He growled "I cannot sit here any longer."
The team looked at each other before nodding.
"Avengers" Steve said, military mode activated "assemble!"
"Sir!" They shouted as they raced down the cliff side, Thor and Tony the only ones to take to the air and blast away the initial Calvary, Clint staying back and picking them off. Thanos didn't even flinch. They realized right off the bat that they were better, faster, stronger. They broke through the enemy lines like they were made of paper, Bruce was in full control of the Hulk for the first time as he smashed and tore apart Chitauri after Chitauri. Natasha was surprised when she did not feel overwhelmed or tired at all as she slashed and shot at any Chitauri she could see, she was calm and controlled, she did not grow weary. Clint felt like time had slowed down, like he had all the time in the world to take aim and hit his mark with more precision than a sniper at point blank range. Steve felt strong, even stronger than he had before, he was able to punch holes through the enemy and rip out the throat of the one behind it, in other words, he felt great. Thor and Odin felt, at the very least, encouraged that they were fighting beside other gods now and not simply extraordinary mortals. But Tony, Tony felt like he could have single-handedly wiped out the entire army on his own. He was able to twist and turn and blast and annihilate without so much as breaking a sweat.
And despite all this, despite all the wonders and glory of being gods, they barely registered it. All they could see, all they cared about, was Loki. Never did they take their eyes off of the still screaming god. Never did they cease in their advances toward him. Even as Frost giants came, Turin leading the ranks, they did not cease. As ally after ally joined them, upholding their promise of aid, they could not bring themselves to look away from Loki.

---

"How did this happen?" Turin asked Odin as he ran up beside the old man, cutting down Chitauri as he went "What is going on?"
"The bastards tricked Loki into sacrificing himself." Odin growled, welcoming the aid as his breathing grew shallow and horse "They took him."
"They will pay then." Turin nodded, resolve on his frozen features "Loki is a good man."
"He is a good son." Odin said, dodging a lunging giant.

---

"Thanos," Thor boomed as they closed in on the enemy "surrender, there is no way you can win now."
"Oh, you foolish little prince," Thanos chuckled "Loki gave himself to me, why do you not accept his sacrifice?" He looked at the war around him and hid his panic well "Why do you continue to fight anyway? Loki's mind is lost now, he is so close, so close. Why do you deny him the warm light of death he so longs for?"
"I suggest you shut up." Tony barked, landing closer to Thanos than he had intended.
"Or what?' Thanos sneered as he cocked back a fist and drove it into Tony's chest where the sphere that had previously indicated his arc reactor was. Thanos blinked a second as Tony did not move. He had obviously intended to destroy the reactor and kill Tony, but was severely behind on the latest news.
"Sorry to disappoint, but that won't work." Tony sneered even though no one could see it "We got an upgrade." He chuckled as his fist connected with his ugly face.

---

"You will pay for your actions, Thanos." Odin snarled as he advanced, anger evident in his eye. "There is no escape. Your ranks have fallen, your army is gone, and you have been defeated."
Thanos looked around him and could not hide the look on his face as he saw that not a single Chitauri stood. He looked up to the army, no, the armies, advancing towards him. He watched in horror as the ranks closed around him and knew full well that there was no escape. He was defeated and he would die this day. It was all he could do to not scream as they close the space between them.

---

"Loki?" Tony asked, his voice cracking as he approached the hanging figure. "Loki, please open your eyes." He tore off his armor as walked to the other god.
Loki was aware that the sharp pain of affliction was gone, leaving only the pain of wounds. The 'memories' had stopped playing before his eyes, but were now burned into his mind. He thought he heard voices calling his name, but could not bring himself to believe it. He was in a dark place, a place he knew all too well. He had shut down, blocked out the world and it would take a great deal to pull him back. It would take something earth shattering, something like Thanos pulling him to his feet and telling him he was going to take over earth, something like Thor breaking him out of his cell after a year of agony. This time, it was Tony's lips crashing desperately against his own. He sputtered and opened his eyes, taking in a shuttering breath.
"Tony?" he asked, his voice quivering "I don't understand…" he swallowed thickly "You… all of you died…"
"No, you bastard, I didn't," Tony said as Natasha cut him free and he carefully guided his god to the ground "but you're going to wish I did when I get back at you for not telling me you love me in your stupid-ass little goodbye note!" Tony glared half-heartedly at the man, until Loki's lip began to quiver and tears rolled down his bloody cheeks. "Come on Lokster, let's get you back." He looked at Thor, who quickly rushed over to help support Loki.
"Heimdall," Odin said "bring us back."
"Well, until next time." Turin shrugged at the group
"Thank you for your aid." Steve nodded "We will be sure to return the favor." Turin smiled slightly as he called his troops away.

---

"Is he ok?" Clint asked as Bruce looked an unconscious Loki over.
"He's fine." Bruce nodded "It's not nearly as bad as last time. The only thing I worry about is… his mind I guess…" He ran a hand through his hair "That's really where Thanos seemed to hit Loki hard. I think, based on what he said earlier, Thanos somehow convinced him we all died or something. He really tried to fuck with Lokster's head." He shot Tony an apologetic look. He wished they were back in Midgard where he had actual technology.
"He'll be fine." Tony frowned down at his god, "He has to be."

Notes