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They'd finally done it. They'd finally defeated their greatest foe.
Loki was finally dead.
Thor stared down at him brother's lax face, cradling his broken body to his chest. It was for the best, he knew. His little brother was too insane, too corrupted by dark magic and evil to be allowed to live. It would only bring more destruction unto the Nine Realms. It was best that Loki lived no more. But this was his darling little brother, and Thor loved him so still. He would find a way to return Loki to them, the true Loki, not the madman Earth knew.
His fellow Avengers were gathered around the lifeless body. In their own small ways, Thor knew they were showing their respect to the dead. They revealed their faces and stared down upon their fallen foe solemnly.
“We actually did it?” Man of Iron asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. “I mean, really actually? He won't just come back next week again, right?”
“Nay, Friend Stark.” Thor shook his head and placed a kiss on Loki's forehead. “My brother is no more.”
The Son of Hawk suddenly rubbed his bare arms. “Did he leave a surprise behind, because it wasn't this cold a moment ago.”
Thor looked up and immediately spotted the portal opening near them.
“Oh great, now what?” Man of Iron asked in an exasperated tone, flipping his helm cover back down.
The portal widened and out came a woman dressed in flowing robes of the deepest green. She moved with the grace of the wind, whispers of the dead sounding with her each step. She blinked at them, and the Void reflected in her bottomless eyes. She stopped in front of Thor, her body radiating the agony of losing one's life, and she smiled.
“Finally, Loki Liesmith is no more. I come to claim his soul, as is my right.” She leaned down and reached into Loki's chest. A moment later, she pulled her hand back, a smoky ball of green glowing in her grasp.
She took a step back and cradled it against her chest, petting the quivering light gently. “Your Agonies are no more. It is time for you to rest.”
“Who the Hell is this?” The Son of Hawk demanded, his hand clenching tight on his bow.
“You are correct, Friend Barton.” Thor placed Loki's body down on the ground and stood. “That is Hela Lokidottir, Queen of the Dead and Ruler of Nifleheim.”
“So that glowy thing is Loki's soul?” Friend Stark asked, powering down his pulsing gloves. “How is this real?”
She blinked serenely at them, still petting the little ball. “If none have claim on this soul, I shall take him to my Halls for the rest of eternity.” She turned around and started walking towards the portal.
“I have claim.” Thor said immediately, taking a step forward. “He is my beloved brother and I refuse your right to take him.”
She stopped. “Beloved brother, you say?” Uttered slowly, dangerously.
“Yes. He and I have always been a pair, even as Hero and Villain. It pained me greatly to see him suffer and it pains me even more to see him dead. I claim his soul and I hereby swear I shall not rest until my brother is alive once again.”
“Thor, are you insane?” the Avengers demanded of him in angry hisses, but the thunderer ignored them.
Hela turned around and lifted a speculative eyebrow, the little green soul wiggling against her chest. “You claim he is your beloved brother. Would you shield him from cruelty? Would you protect him from those seeking him harm? Would you do anything and everything in your might to show him you love and care for him?”
Thor stood straighter, keeping his chin up proudly. “I have and I will.”
She grinned, revealing razor-sharp teeth. “How you lie to yourself, Thor Odinson.”
The thunderer blinked. “I speak no lies, Lady Hela.”
“You claim he is your beloved brother, and that you have tried to shield him from harm. Where were you then, when my siblings and I were ripped from his embrace and banished for nothing more than being his children? Where were you when they held my father down and sew his lips shut for daring to keep his life? Where were you when my father was belittled and mocked for being one of the best sorcerers in the Universe? Where were you when my father wept helpless tears at his own solitude? Where were you when Odin created more and more elaborate tortures to punish slights that weren't even true? Where were you when my father begged for a scrap of help, for a sliver of affection? Where were you when the madness grew through the centuries inside my father? Where were you when it finally broke free and my father was lost to madness?”
The muscles around Thor's eyes tightened. “I know not what you speak of. I know only that he is my brother and that I love him.”
“I know all there is about those who died, as is my due.” She continued, expression no less dangerous. “I see my father's life as if it was my own. I see where you were as my father slowly broke. You were right there, standing in front of him and helping the cracks grow.” She lifted the little glowing ball and pressed it gently to her cheek. “Your claim on this soul is as false as your love is. I refuse you and take this soul with me.”
“You can't-”
“As is my right as Queen of the Dead.” She leveled eyes cold and black as Death at him. “One more thing, dear Uncle. Try for Valhalla with all your might. Beg and pray and fight for it. Because if you or anyone else who dared cause my father true harm do not get accepted into that Joyous Place, I will refuse them entry into my Halls. As it is also my right.”
Hela turned around on her heel and left through the portal, the little green soul still cradled against her chest in a gentle embrace.