Hey Lord, I'm tired.

Trigger warning: this story is going to be very dark and will make some of you question my mental stability.

The Loom was going to fail. That much was for certain. Any effort to reverse the damage would still lead to the same conclusion. And finally, after all of this time, after centuries of trying to find any possible way to keep what he found, Loki knew he had only one decision to make. He took one last look at the friends he began to call family, trying to memorize everything about them. He hoped he would see them again, but something else inside him told him a different story, one that he couldn't rewrite. Loki knew this would be the last time he would see them again.

He felt so foolish, even now. How could he have ever mocked Thor for finding the same thing Loki was more than ready to sacrifice everything for? He wondered what Thor would say, or if he would say anything at all. Loki didn't much care about what Odin would have thought, and it hurt him too much to think anything about his mother. But, he knew she would be proud. It was a comfort to Loki, knowing that at least, after Thanos killed him, that the future version of him was with her again. Probably laughing at the fact that he was killed over a paperweight. Although she would end up telling him "It was so much more than that, and you know it. You traded your life for your brother and your people. You gave your brother, your people, and the Avengers something that no amount of currency can buy. Time."

Time was becoming something of a friend, and an enemy.

Hey lord, you know, I'm tired of tears.

He thought of Sylvie, the person who taught him that sometimes, the ends really do justify the means. She suffered too long, and he knows she's just as tired as he is. I'm sorry I found you too late, but I can make it up to you. And I hope that you can forgive me.

Now, he thought of Mobius, his first real friend. I died when I was trying to be whoever, whatever I wanted to be. Someone good. You brought me back to life, and told me I had a second chance to be the person I didn't have time to become. I could never repay you for that, but I can try. And I hope that you can forgive me.

Loki made his way to the staircase, and descended.

"Hey, Loki?" Mobius called out, but Loki didn't give him an answer, there was nothing he could tell him, he just looked back at him, instantly wishing he didn't. Both Mobius and Sylvie begin to follow him down the steps, but Loki already shut the door before they could get any further.

Hey Lord, just cut me loose.

"Loki? What are you doing?" I'm doing what I have to do to make sure you'll all be okay when I'm gone. I don't want to go.

"Open the door!" I want to. Please believe me, I want you to stop me. I wish there was a way I could make you understand. I don't want to go.

Hey lord, I wanna stay.

"I know what I want." I could have done it!

"I know what kind of god I need to be.' For you!

"For all of us."

Loki heard them pleading, begging him to just open the door and come back. It took everything in him to hold back his tears, he didn't need them to see him cry. He turned towards the blast doors and began to pry them open.

I don't want to win. Let it take me, let it take me.

Loki expected...actually he didn't know what he expected. His skin was still intact and he felt otherwise fine. He walked gracefully down the aisle, despite the radiation gliding off of him. It tore at his uniform, revealing new robes and unraveling a familiar green cloak beneath. A crown of horns made of obsidian with gold streaks took its place above his brow. It seems that both Odin and Mobius were right. Loki was born to be a king, but that most purpose is more burden than glory.

Maybe he'll laugh about it later, as soon as he didn't want to be king, he became king. He didn't want to be alone, but now he'll be alone forever. But doing this will ensure everyone will be able to live their lives. They can be whoever, whatever they want to be. And that will be enough for Loki.

Loki focused his strength on The Loom, tearing it apart before it could tear itself apart.

It's all I got, is this enough?

The power came so effortlessly to him in a way it never had before. Or maybe it had, maybe it was always there, and he just never knew it. He let out a cry and finally pried the Loom apart. A deafening crash filled the chamber.

And then nothing.

Loki blinked and allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The air around him was cool, and everything was devoid of color. The branches have no light left in them, Loki could hear them dying.
A figure emerged from the darkness, and looked as though he were struggling to walk toward Loki in mid air before coming to a stop on the catwalk in front of him. Now, ordinarily Loki would have been put on the defense. He didn't even feel threatened, he knew who was standing in front of him.

The figure was wearing blue armor, with an emerald green cloak flowing being him. His dark hair was disheveled, his skin looked as if it never had color in it at all. His eyes were red, and tears of blood ran down his face and out of his mouth, his neck had dark bruises all around it.

"No resurrections this time."

The figure spoke to Loki in a raspy voice, a voice he easily recognized as his own.

"Did we get to be happy?" The voice was hoarse, as if he'd been screaming for a really long time.

"No. But this time our sacrifice means something." Loki replied, unwavering.

The figure nodded solemnly. "Thor blames himself. It wasn't his fault, we made our choice."

Loki glances away, his stomach sank with immense guilt over a situation he hadn't even experienced yet. "And it cost us everything."

The dead version smirked softly, "Hm, no. It seems it gave us everything." He gestured to the window behind Loki, where everyone stood watching, unable to understand what was transpiring below them.

Loki looked behind at his friends and said, "Is this all real?" He turns back, "Or is this just happening inside my head?"

The figure walked back a couple of steps, still smiling. "Who's to say which is which?" He turns and begins to walk away before stopping. "And uh, let the sun shine on our brother again, at least keep that promise." He gave Loki one last smile "I'll give mother a hug and tell her that you love her." With that, he walked away back into the darkness, leaving Loki alone.

Hey lord, I'm on my way.