Guilt

The rest of the week passed mundanely. Loki made what she could from the food Sophia had bought, and she permitted Loki use of her personal terminal-a laptop, she called it. The amount of information Loki now had access to was staggering, and she barely knew where to begin.

'Tony Stark Passes On Mantel of Iron Man; Will the Company Be Next?'

'Captain America To Visit Memorial of "The Vanished"'

'City Requests Volunteers for Clean-Up Efforts'

'Avengers' Address to the World Still Inspires'

Loki canted her head and clicked on that last one. She recognized most of the people standing around Captain America as he driveled his odious sentiment, but Loki's eyes remained on only one: Thor. As the soldier spoke, the god's stern gaze remained fixed on some distant point on the floor, mean and empty. Loki's heart twinged uncomfortably. What was this weight she now felt?

She closed the article and attempted to resume other, safer, searches, but found herself too distracted. She set the laptop aside for now and returned to her program from the night before. She found it amusing how inaccurate the Viking's stories were about Asgardians. The gloating held her in higher spirits until Sophia returned. Loki grinned, but she did not return the smile when she greeted Loki.

"Is something wrong?"

"Everything's fine. You'll be alright on your own tonight, yes?"

Loki blinked at her.

"I expect so. Are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah. A friend of mine is having a hard time, so I'm going to stay with her for a while."

"Will you be gone long?"

Loki was unsure why she cared.

"I honestly don't know, but I wouldn't wait up."

Sophia changed quickly out of her blazer and slacks into jeans and a simple t-shirt and slipped back into her shoes.

"Don't drink all my wine!" she teased as she locked the door and left.

Loki blinked again. All at once, the weight returned, more oppressive than before, and the house felt emptier than usual. Suddenly vindictive, Loki hopped to her feet and plucked the open bottle of wine from atop the cold box. Midgardian alcohol barely affected her, anyway. She read through more of Sophia's work journal until her eyes grew heavy.

Loki fought it for as long as she was able. She could feel she would dream tonight, and that it would not be pleasant. She nodded off once or twice. Realizing the futility of her endeavor, Loki disposed of the empty bottle, replaced the journal, and bedded down properly. As she feared, icy tendrils dragged her down into intangible darkness.

~~~~

Loki was back on the smoking wreckage of the ship's bridge, covered in blood and grime. Before him stood his nightmare: the titan, Thanos, alive and well. One enormous hand grasped Thor's head firmly, the other raised to flash a glowing amethyst stone.

"You talk too much," Thor coughed through the blood.

'Shut up, brother,' Loki thought desperately.

"The Tesseract," the titan demanded, lowering the gauntlet to Thor. "Or, your brother's head. I assume you have a preference."

Loki rolled the dice.

"Oh, I do. Kill away."

The titan pressed the stone to Thor's head, searing his flesh and glowing veins crawled slowly across his face. Thor gurgled and cried out in agony, the sounds twisting in Loki's heart like a dagger until he couldn't take it anymore.

"All right, stop!"

Loki turned his hand, revealing the stolen Tesseract.

The titan smiled, and one of his children retrieved the cube. Loki's parched lips cracked as he spoke.

"Now, let him go."

The titan only looked amused.

"When did we make that arrangement?"

Thanos ground the gauntlet against Thor's face. Thor screamed as the veins rapidly consumed him.

"NO!"

Loki lunged, but a brawny arm held him in place.

"I gave you what you want! I gave you the cube, now let him go!" Loki demanded.

"You have nothing left to barter, Asgardian," Thanos mused, "and he will only be in the way. Isn't that what you told me? Always in the way."

"Thor!"

"Brother," Thor choked, reaching for Loki, "help me!"

Loki thrashed and heaved, grasping for his hand. Thor was all he had left! Their fingertips met but found no purchase.

"No!"

"Loki, plea-!"

Finally, a hold! But it was too late. The amethyst veins charred Thor to the last inch.

"BROTHER!"

Loki could only watch in horror as Thor crumbled into a fine ash.

The arm released Loki, and he fell to his knees. His hands trembled, ghosting powerlessly over the remains. The titan loomed.

"Now, shall we?"

That endless shadow fell over Loki as the enormous hand now descended upon him. Loki scrambled to flee. Thanos snagged his cape with ease and dragged him back, Loki's fingernails tearing away as he clawed at the floor.

"NO!"

~~~

"LANI!"

Loki snapped awake, gasping and covered in sweat. Sophia sat on the side of her bed, hand on her shoulder, ready to shake her again. Loki's eyes darted from shadow to corner to crevice, seeking any sign that the monster or his cohorts were near. Finding none did little to calm her. The dream had felt so real. She sat up and checked her fingernails, all accounted for and undamaged.

"Lani?"

Loki slowly caught her breath and glanced at Sophia.

"You're awake now," Sophia soothed, "it was just a dream. You're okay."

The bruises around Loki's neck had disappeared, but the deeper tissue twinged with memory. She focused on following the trail of Sophia's hand running steadily across her shoulders, allowing it to calm her some.

"Wha…?" Loki croaked.

"You were screaming. I think you even woke the neighbors," Sophia teased.

Loki chuckled.

"Bad dream?" she asked needlessly.

Loki nodded, brushing her hand over her throat.

"Well, nothing good comes from downing a full bottle of wine on your own."

Loki chuckled again at the scolding. The humor passed, and Sophia set her hands in her lap.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked carefully.

"I…would rather not."

Sophia nodded. She ran her hands together for a moment, glancing about as she tried to find words.

"I think I'm going to make some coffee," she said softly, an invitation. "It's too late to go back to sleep."

Loki glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table as Sophia left. 4:58 AM. Loki was still tired but dreaded what other nightmares might find her. She joined Sophia and her laptop in the living room for coffee.

"Will you not be weary at your office?"

Sophia shrugged.

"I can work from home today," she yawned.

Loki snickered.

"Your statutes are quite lax."

"Nope, I'm just that good at what I do."

Loki found a strange comfort in Sophia's confidence. She settled herself on the couch, pulling the throw over her legs, and bartered with Sophia over the television. They decided on a program about sharks, something entertaining for Loki, and which Sophia could ignore while she worked. Despite the coffee, Loki felt the pull of sleep getting the better of her and stretched herself across the cool leather.

"…Sophia?" Her voice sounded foreign to her ears.

"Yes?"

"You will wake me if I dream again?"

Sophia smiled pityingly.

"I will, I promise. Rest, Lani."