The Avengers (Sequel to IASBIKATT) *on hold*

Chapter 20

He didn't move from his spot for hours much to Thor's dismay and the Avenger's amazement. To the mortals, it showed them how much Athena truly meant to him. It gave them hope that maybe their love was powerful enough to bring her back to life.
   "Brother, you need to eat."
   "I'm not hungry," Loki replies tiredly, not even bothering to correct him when Thor called him brother.
   "At least get some rest."
   "I'm not tired -"
   "That's not true, and you know." Loki pursed his lips but did not move from his seat beside Athena's limp form. "I know it's torturous to wait for any sign for her to wake up. . .but just have hope. I saw her move, the two agents saw her move. It's up to the Valhalla and her."

***

Pain. So much pain. That was all she saw.

She saw the pain of Loki being left to die in Jotunheim when he was a mere infant, saw the pain when he was cast to shadows while Thor was in glory. She saw pain from the incident a year ago, to now.

And then she saw the future.

There was so much horror and pain, at what she saw. She couldn't believe that this would happen to them in the future, and she wasn't to mess with the timeframe if she were to go back.
   Athena didn't know what to choose; their future was so dark ahead of them, it was as if the Valhalla were tempting her to stay dead.
   But if she decided to stay with the living, the incidents would still happen, but Loki would have his lover by his side and not suffer alone.
   "Athena?" her mother called out gently from afar. "Are you alright?"
   "Pain," she whispered, looking into the basin that showed her the visions, "there's so much pain in the future, I'm scared."
   "You don't have to take that route." They reminded her. She shook her head.
   "I have to help them, though. Loki, Thor, the Avengers. . .even though the future is dark, I should at least be there with them. And Loki. . ." Her hand hovered over the water showing her Loki, longing and love showing in her eyes. "We never got to wed. . ."
   "Is that your choice?" her father said quietly. "To go back to the living?"
   ". . .yes," she said after moments of silence. "Yes, that is my choice. I will go back to the living. For them. For Loki."
   "Very well."

***

Loki slept beside the bed with his head on the mattress, his form bent awkwardly due to the fact he still sat in the seat. It was late, and everyone was asleep. The only noise around them were the engines running and Loki's light breathing. Sleep had finally come to him.
   On the bed, Athena's eyes moved underneath her eyelids, her chest rising from an intake of breath. Her hands twitched, her body slowly coming to life. That wasn't what alerted Loki of her awakening.
   Deep in his mind, despite being asleep, his body reacted and felt a powerful being near him - a familiar being. Loki recognised that aura. He hasn't felt it in his presence ever since a certain person died. It was Athena. She was back.
   Loki sat up immediately, eyes wide awake. He stood up and peered down at his fiancée hopefully.
   "Athena?" He whispered, his hands coming up to her face to gently caress. "Athena? Love, it's me." His hand slid down to her neck, finding a slow and steady pulse. His hands reeled back in disbelief. "Athena?"
   He lowered his ear to her face, hearing her steady breathing. He pulled back astonished. It worked. His love truly brought her back. And she decided to stay with him. He cupped her face in his hands, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead.
   "Oh thank Valhalla," he breathed out, a stray tear slipping out and falling onto her face. Unlike the last time his tear fell on her, her eyes opened, taking a deeper breath in.

"Loki. . ."

A/N: Sorry it's so short, I'll try to update as soon as I can and try to make it longer😅