Worthy

Part 56 - He's Gone

As you get to the door of the great hall, it bursts open. Steve is standing there, shield tightly wrapped around his arm, joined by Nat, Wanda, Pietro and Barton. "Get her out of here," Steve yells, gripping your shoulder before Pietro grabs you in his arms and runs. You almost throw up at the speed he pulls you along. When he finally stops, before you can catch a breath, someone else grabs you, pulling you into a strong hug.

"Katie," Quill's voice rings out. "You're safe." You feel like he's suffocating you. "We need to go now." Too dumbstruck to respond you let him pull you to the doorway that leads to the Rainbow Bridge, you can already see the open Bifrost. "Kate, move..." But his words are interrupted by the blast that hits the side of the dome; thankfully it withstands the attack, but you're knocked to your feet by the vibration as it moves along the bridge. Standing and looking out towards the ship hovering above you, Quill can't take his eyes off it. "Is Gamora on that ship?" He asks, voice filled with anger.

"Yes," You finally manage to get a word out. "I'm sorry Petey," You sigh before standing and making sure the Bifrost is still open. Shaking his head, your brother marches over to you, pulling you once again to it.

"I'm sorry too. But I need to find her. You go back to Tony. You stay safe." He kisses your forehead, before masking up and flying off towards the fight going on in the citadel, Pietro sprinting after him.

"Fuck," You yell, completely torn in two. Despite how terrified you were, there was no way you could leave them all here; on the other hand Tony was alive, and needed you. A mixture of emotions rage through you. A sudden explosion rings above you; the ship that had brought you from Thanos' ship suddenly explodes in the sky. You don't remember seeing anything shot at it.

As the fireball starts to recede, you finally realise what made it explode as the tendrils of lightning still surrounding it, shoot off in all directions. Your heart swells at the sight of him, heading in your direction, before it breaks wondering if Gamora and Nebula were still on that ship. Before Thor can land you are pulled, not by any hand, but as if by magic, back along the hallway to the great hall. Ebony Maw grabs you by the hair as you stop, smirking at Thor who has flown right behind you. "Let her go, NOW!" He yells, his voice echoing over the noise of the fight behind you.

A purple blast of light knocks Thor down to his knees, dropping Mjolnir so he can clutch his head in his hands. Before you can let out a scream, Maw's hands are on your mouth, stifling it. "You didn't think it would be that easy?" Thanos laughs as he walks out of the shadows. "You Asgardians," He scoffs. "Protector of the nine realms. You are pathetic." He leans down, looking Thor square in the eye, before turning to you. "My plans will save the entire universe, I will be a true god!" With one punch he knocks Thor out cold, before standing and walking back into the hall, Maw dragging you behind him.

As soon as he enters, he's attacked, but quickly repels the onslaught from the Asgardian soldiers, marching his way to the head of the room. Raising the gauntlet, Thanos sends a large pulse of power, knocking almost everyone to their feet. While they try to recover, he marches smugly towards Odin's throne, before destroying it completely with another wave of power. Turning and standing before all of you, his attention is drawn to Loki, sprawled on the floor. Reaching down, he grabs him by the scruff of his neck and pulls him up. "Ah, Loki. Our old friend." Thanos' smile is wicked and cruel. "Let's get this out of the way shall we, where have you hidden the map, trickster?"

"It's gone." Loki huffs out. "Burnt to ash." Thanos smiles.

"No. Even you wouldn't have destroyed something valuable." He let's out a little laugh before turning and looking at you. "Say goodbye to your friend little one." With his gauntleted hand Thanos grabs Loki by the throat, raising him high in the air.

You somehow manage to break free of Maw's clutch on you and sprint towards Thanos. "STOP! Please!" You beg, before somehow summoning some strength to hit him; but he barely acknowledges it. "I'll do anything." You plead. "Just let him go."

With a slow turn of his head, Thanos stares at you. His eyes are black, nothing but evil stretched over his face. "No." His voice is quiet, calculated. You turn and look at Loki, who is struggling to fight back under the pressure, almost turning blue. Tears stream down your face, and as you try to turn away, Thanos grabs your head, forcing you to watch.

"LET GO OF MY SON!" A roar echoes through the hall; one that even shakes Thanos slightly. A blast of light hits him in the chest, sending him flying backwards, dropping both you and Loki. As the the light dims, you rush over to Loki's almost lifeless body, checking him.

"Come on Loki, breathe!" You can still hear his heart beating, but nothing else. "LOKI!" You yell at him, completely oblivious to what's going on around you. As you start CPR, wondering if it would even work on a God, Thor comes to your side, wrapping one arm around you and another round Loki.

"Brother," he whispers softly, tears rolling down his cheek. "Please?" In utter heartbreak and determination, you thump down on Loki's chest. "Kate," Thor says sadly beside you. "Stop. He's gone." You fall back onto your knees, almost falling into Thor as his body convulses in sobs.