Summary: Whether in life or in death, we simply can't have Loki without Thor. Or Thor without Loki. A brief glimpse into two possible outcomes for the Asgardian princes, skipping ahead to the end of Avengers Four. Written post-IW. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: No ownership or profit, I promise!

Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the encouraging responses so far! However, I should probably clarify here that this next chapter is not a continuation of Part 1, but rather a glimpse of a separate outcome altogether, as the summary indicates. Either option would be fine with me, as long as the brothers can ultimately stay together in the end – alive or dead. Enjoy!

Part 2: Inseparable in Death

It was over! The Storm-breaker axe was broken, but Thor's blow had struck true – to the head this time – and Thanos was dead. All could be set right now, with a little help from the Strange wizard and the Time Stone…but not for Thor. To get close enough to destroy Thanos had cost the Thunderer dearly, and he now lay unmoving amongst the rubble. His vision was already darkening around the edges.

"Thor! Stay with me, big guy, you're gonna be all right; but you have to hang in there, okay? Just stay awake and keep breathing!"

But the good Captain's voice already sounded so far away, as though coming to him through muddied waters rather than from directly at his side. It all faded…the lights, the noise…until another fuzzy picture gradually began to take shape around him.

He was lying in a verdant field, full of gentle breezes and warm sunshine. Yet he was still in pain, and the echoes of Rogers' worried voice lingered in his ears.

"Thor…?"

"…Thor?"

"Thor…?"

"…Thor?"

"Thor…?"

"...Brother?"

The voices slurred together, and not until the last address did he realize they were different. Thor knew Rogers to be on his right; he turned his head to the left, and all the breath in his lungs escaped in a single utterance.

"Loki…"

The God of Mischief stood a few scant paces away, looking more relaxed and healthy than Thor had seen him in a long, long time.

Loki smiled, the expression soft yet not as playful as his wont. "I was wondering how long it would take you to get here. They are waiting for you, Thor Odinson; all of Valhalla is waiting."

Now Thor understood where he was – walking a tightrope between life and death. Mustering his last remnant of strength, he raised one hand and stretched it pleadingly toward his brother. Loki understood but shook his head.

"I cannot help you, Thor. This is a journey everyone must take alone."

The Thunderer had no voice to reply, when a sharp stab of agony suddenly spiked through his head, and the voices of the Avengers grew clearer in his ears.

"Do it again, Bruce, I think he's coming around…"

Were they using some kind of medicinal drug to revive him, such as he had seen used on lesser, weaker beings? Cold tears trailed from the corners of his eyes when Loki's figure became distant and distorted. He didn't want to lose his little brother again – not when he had already come this far! But the pain pulling him back to life was overwhelming, and he didn't know how long he could resist it.

Somehow, Loki's words cut through the din. "If you want to stay here, Brother, you need to let go. For the first time in your life, stop fighting and let go. I promise the pain will stop once you do."

How? Thor thought desperately, despairing. How do I let go? You let go, Brother, more than once…teach me how!"

No answers, no guidance came from the Trickster, and mortal voices swelled around Thor until they threatened to consume him. Voices of friends he knew and loved well.

"Come on, Thor, stay awake…"

"Don't you dare leave now…"

"We need you here, buddy…"

"Come back to us…"

But I don't want to go back. I don't want to go…

"Thor?" Loki still stood there, unmoving and scarcely visible as he witnessed the struggle. "Stay with me, Brother. Please."

That was all it took. Thor closed his eyes, chose his brother, and gave up the fight. He let go by clinging to the one who mattered most. It was surprisingly easy, once he thought of it in that light. He was so very tired, anyway…

The clamoring voices subsided, the pain ceased in an instant, and Thor slowly sat up in the most luscious bed of grass he had ever seen. He could smell the flowers now, too, and hear the birdsongs. Not even Asgard at the peak of summer could compare to a meadow such as this.

Once Thor was standing, Loki could finally move as well. They met in the middle, and Thor immediately reached for his brother's neck out of habit – only to snatch his hand back an instant later as though scalded. Even in death, was he really so dim-witted and insensitive? Had he forgotten what happened the last time someone grasped Loki by the neck?

The Mischief-maker clearly perceived his thoughts. "It's all right, Brother, everything is mended here. See for yourself."

Still smiling, he slowly pulled the other god's hand back to its customary resting place against his nape. Thor's palm met warm, solid flesh – no pulse, strangely, but just as real as Loki's body had ever been in life. The Thunderer's chest ached, and he pulled his brother into an embrace without another word. Loki reciprocated without the slightest fuss, and that, perhaps, was the greatest miracle of all.

Thor felt that surely he should be crying now, with the way his throat had closed and his eyes burned; yet no tears fell. It was as if this place of pristine beauty would not allow them to actually weep. Loki pulled away first, and Thor saw the same telltale glimmer in his eyes. The Trickster's easy smile of before had vanished.

"I'm sorry you had to watch me die," he whispered in a voice heavy with regret. "Sorry you had to mourn me yet again…" He shook his head. "I am not worthy of so many tears, Thor."

Very, very gently, Thor gave his neck a little squeeze, and praise the Norns, Loki didn't even flinch! "You have always underestimated your worth, Brother. I would have traded places with you on that ship in a heartbeat."

"But I would not. I didn't have to save your life, you may recall; I could have let him kill you."

"No, no, you couldn't have – and I rather thought that was the point." Such a somber mood could not last long (not here), and Thor's light-hearted smile prompted the return of the Loki's.

"Thor, we are both dead now," his brother chided, teasing. "Is there really any point at all to this conversation?"

"No, I suppose not," conceded Thor, releasing him at last. "So what happens now?"

"Now the God of Thunder takes his rightful place in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever." Loki gestured to the horizon, where gleaming golden rooftops stood dazzling in the sunlight. "I told you the sun would shine on us again – one way or another. This is where you belong now, Thor, and you mustn't keep them waiting any longer. Even here, I expect the Warriors Three have been bored stiff without their fearless leader, and no doubt Mother and Father will want to be the first to welcome you."

That's right, Thor realized belatedly. Everyone he had lost would be here. Not just Loki, but Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, all his friends…everyone! That thought propelled his feet in the right direction – until he noticed that the space beside him was empty. He turned around.

"Loki?"

There were so many questions hidden in that one word. Aren't you coming with me? Is this where you belong, too? Were you worthy? Or did you only meet me here because your path lies elsewhere?

In a suddenly tight voice, he managed aloud, "Please don't leave me again, Brother. Even Valhalla cannot tempt me if you're not there."

Loki's smile only broadened. "No need to be so drastic, Thor." He walked over and gently steered the elder back around with a hand on his elbow. "I didn't want to go there alone, but I promise you – this time, I'm here to stay."

Author's End Note: And there you have it! I wanted this option to reflect the happier ending of "Ragnarok," but even I was surprised when Thor's thoughts started echoing Spiderman. I swear, that wasn't planned in the beginning! And I just made myself cry all over again... I also found it extra heartbreaking that, while Thor and Loki never share an actual hug in the course of five movies, there are plenty of those brotherly "neck grabs" – and then Thanos kills Loki by breaking his neck. My poor bleeding heart may never fully recover. Thanks for reading!