Disclaimer: I own nothing. Avengers and all the characters in this story belong to Marvel Studios. This story is based on Avengers: Infinity War and this story is made for entertainment purposes only.

Author's Note: So…I saw Infinity War and was like wow this is amazing but, damn I wish Loki didn't die in the first five minutes. Then I had this dream where he helped Thor in the movie and was like what a good idea for a fan fiction! But I changed it up to be more "dramatic" and hopefully everyone will like it. This story follows the course of the movie with a few differences, a few flash backs that go into detail of what happened to Loki before the events of the first Avengers film, and maybe it goes on to make up my own version of what I think will happen in part two. Maybe? Depends on how much you guys like the first couple of chapters I have planned.

Anyways, on to the story!

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Redemption for the Blue Hearts

Prologue: The 1,325 Year Old Promise

"I believe everything will turn out alright, brother." Those were Thor's attempt at calming and comforting words. They were a true testament to how hopeful and how naïve Thor could be. In Loki's mind, traveling back to Earth was a monumental mistake that would led to his brother reuniting with his "mightiest hero" friends and to him having a huge headache. Not to mention, he would have to endure the hardship of having all of the Avengers constantly giving him suspicious looks. Being the God of Mischief always meant that people were distrustful of him, but going to Earth… It seemed like asking for unnecessary trouble.

None of that mattered anymore.

All the dissatisfaction he felt with the knowledge that they were indeed going to Earth, flew out the window the second he saw the huge and looming ship come into their view.

Not just any ship.

Thanos's ship.

Stars above.

He had never thought that he would see that horrible ship again. He never thought he would feel that instant gut clenching dread that he had felt when he had been on that ship for months. And suddenly he wasn't on their small port ship, drifting through space, standing next to his brother. Loki was taken somewhere else. A dark and cold place. A place where death was a mercy.

It had been a ship that was a labyrinth of cells. Shadows hugged every corner and they hid the Titan whenever he visited Loki, but his voice was a cruel reminder that he was there just within reach. "Let me show you what you truly meant to those soulless Asgardians." And then there was nothing but blinding pain.

Loki blinked away the stinging tears and returned back in the present. "We have to evacuate the ship," he murmured. If Thor hadn't been so close to him, he doubted that he even would have heard him.

"Evacuate the ship? Loki, what are you-? Wait! Where are you going?"

Loki was already running out of Thor's self-claimed captain's quarters. He didn't know what Thanos's plans were, if he even had any, for them, but he didn't care to know them. They couldn't risk it, they had to get as many people off the ship as possible. They had about forty pods on the ship for emergencies like this and then there were fifteen work pods that were meant to be used at shipping areas to empty the ship of trading goods.

So, fifty-five in total and there were over a thousand people on the ship. The work pods could only hold about four or five people, but the emergency pods could hold up to twenty people. Let's see, twenty people on forty pods…that was about eight hundred, plus, let's just figure five people on the fifteen work pods…that was a total of eight hundred and seventy-five.

They couldn't possibly save everyone.

Thor, who had been running after him, grabbed Loki by the shoulder. His strong grip stopped Loki midstride. "Loki, will you please explain what is happening?" Thor asked in his usual dumb way.

Loki shook his head frantically. "There is no time to explain. Listen to me, we have to have Valkyrie and your annoying rock friend get all of the women and children to the emergency and work pod ships. There is only room for about eight hundred and seventy-five people, give or take a few. We also need to have every able bodied man and possibly woman who knows how to fight-"

"Loki?" Thor said in confusion. His one eye twinkled with worry. Loki could understand his confusion, but the worry? "Loki, you're shaking."

Was he? He looked down at his hands, both were trembling. "Yes, I see that."

Thor reached out for him, placing both of his hands on his shoulders. "Alright. Just breathe. And try to tell me, calmly, why we should evacuate the ship just because we came across another ship."

Once again, Thor's words were a blend of his own calmness and naïveté. Had the situation been different, Loki would have rolled his eyes and have snapped something like, "This is not just "another ship." Do you think I am so much a coward to flee from anything that we come across?" But this was not a time to be quick-witted.

"Thor, brother, please. Just trust me." He hated that he had to resort to begging, but he knew that would grab Thor's attention. It sort of worked but not really.

"I do trust you. I just want to know-"

"Who controls the would be king!" Loki shouted, impatiently. Thor jumped back startled. "You asked me that very question a long time ago, brother. Who controls the would be king and gave me my army and my scepter." Thor nodded in remembrance. "Well, the…the…monster who captains that ship controlled the would be king and let me assure you, brother, he is not one to underestimate."

Thor finally had a look of understanding, which was a good thing because suddenly there was a terrible sound of metal being ripped apart by an explosion and the entire ship shook violently. Loki and Thor both lost their footing and fell to the floor. Loki gave Thor a pleading look.

"Now do you wish to evacuate the ship?"

"Yes. That is a very good idea. Come on." Thor was back on his feet in no time and he offered his hand to Loki. Loki blew his hair out of his face and took it. Thor pulled him to his feet and then they both ran to the main control center on the ship. "Perhaps next time," Thor started, "you should start by saying, "Oh, brother, remember when I acted like a fool and attacked Earth? Well, there's a fellow in this ship here, who gave me my army and apparently is not happy with me." That way, we can save time."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind," Loki said annoyed.

They both ran into the control center. Valkyrie, Heimdall, the rock guy and his fellow revolution followers, and a few of the Asguardians were all there picking themselves up and looking startled. Well, all looked startled except for Valkyrie. She stood up and shouted, "Why did that stupid ship fire at us?! Do they want us to move, is that? Don't they see how big space is! They can just go around us!"

Loki couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Well, maybe they don't understand how vast and large space truly is," the rock guy said in his slow way. "I mean take me for example. I didn't understand how space could be so large when it looks so small on those space charts with the stars and the planets."

"They're not firing at us because we're in their way, you idiots!" Loki shouted. "They're firing at us because they're bad people."

Heimdall nodded. "Yes, I've seen the ship's leader and he has plans to board our ship and wreak havoc."

"Alright, everyone listen to me," Thor called, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "We need to evacuate the ship. I want all the families with children to go down first to the emergency pods and then the elderly and then whoever else is left. I realize that this ship is not equipped to fight back, but anyone who wishes to stay with me and defend it to the best of our abilities will have my appreciation."

"Count me in," Valkyrie said pulling out her sword.

Loki sighed. Of course the woman would stay and fight to her death, it was in her nature. Brunnhilde, who simply went by the name "Valkyrie," was the perfect incarnation of a former version of Thor; they were both so willing to fight and had thick skulls. Saying that they had "thick skulls" was being nice.

Thor shook his head. "I need you and Korg to help make sure everyone gets on the pods safely."

Valkyrie huffed disappointed, but didn't argue the manner. "Come on Korg," she said as she took fast long strides out of the room.

"The evacuation has begun," Korg said as he picked up his little friend, Miek and followed Valkyrie.

Several of the Asgardians in the room quickly followed them and a few elected to stay on board. Thor smiled affectionately at those who choose to fight with him. He shouldn't have been so surprised at his people's loyalty; they did love him after all. Loki had known that his entire life and it was the reason he had been so jealous of his brother. Even when Thor had been a selfish, attention seeking buffoon, the citizens of Asguard loved their golden prince.

"Heimdall," Thor started, walking over to the former gate keeper. He motioned out the large window at Thanos's ship. "What are they doing out there? Why haven't they fired more?"

Heimdall took a deep breath and let it out slowly, concentrating on looking into the ship and seeing Thanos. "They are playing with us. They want to see what we do before boarding."

Loki shuddered at the thought of Thanos and his hoard of minions boarding their ship. Thor kept his cool. "We should send out a distress message. Maybe someone will come and-"

"And what? Rescue us?" Loki asked, skeptically.

Thor shrugged and sent some people to send a message out. Thor kept giving orders like the good king he was and Loki stood off to the sidelines fidgeting. Every second of waiting for Thanos to unleash the full power of his arsenal became increasingly stressful. And worst still, Loki had the sinking feeling that he was the one who was to blame for Thanos being here.

He did have the Tesseract.

He should have just left it on Asgard to burn with his sister and the rest of the city then maybe the Titan wouldn't be here right now.

Idiot! There was no place Thanos couldn't find you. The fact that you have the damn cube doesn't change that.

"Loki."

He looked up and saw Thor staring at him. "Yes?"

"I want you to go and help the others get on the pods safely. See if you can get Korg and Valkyrie on one and see if you can get yourself on one."

Loki blinked several times, not sure if he heard him right. "You want me to run away?"

"No, I want you to get yourself and the others to safety."

"So…run away?"

Thor sighed, "You know I am staying on the ship to defend it with my last breath and if something where to happen to me, then the survivors need a leader. And I want that to be you, brother."

Loki's head was spinning. "No. I'm-I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here."

"Loki-"

"No! I am. You have no idea what you are fighting against, I do. I'm staying!"

Thor strangely seemed sad and agreed. "Alright, you're staying. I do however want you to help Korg and Valkyrie and get them on a pod."

Loki nodded. "Fine and what will you be doing?"

"Looking for Hulk. Not sure where he disappeared to."

Of course, their big green beast. Maybe they did stand a chance against Thanos after all.

…

Loki went down three floors to reach the pods. There was a sort of mass hysteria among the people trying to get themselves on a seat on a pod that was only contained by Valkyrie's long ranged shouting. Korg stood point, directing people. "Everyone stay calm and cool. If all the kiddies with their parents and the grey haired individuals could please form a nice straight line that would be great."

Loki made his way around the lines and crowds of high-strung, scared people. "What are you doing here, lackey?" Valkyrie asked when she saw him.

"It's Loki and Thor sent me to help you."

"I don't need your help. I've got this completely under control."

"Sure, is that why everyone is running around?"

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. Loki stood with her and together they watched to make sure no one got into the pods ahead of the families with children and the elderly and once or twice they both had to go and breakup the start of a fight between the anxious people. "Stupid people, why can't they just be patient."

Loki didn't respond. He was just waiting for the moment when everyone realized that there wasn't enough room for all onboard. The already frenzy would raise exceptionally and the desperate people trying to get a seat would fight even more.

He still couldn't believe that Thor wanted him to get on one of the pods and run away. Was he crazy? Thor had no idea what Thanos was cable of and he was going to send away the only person who did? On the other hand, all Loki wanted to do was be a coward and run away. Who knew what Thanos would do with him if he found him. And it was kind of nice that Thor wanted him to be the leader if something happened to him. Not that anything would happen to Thor, the oaf was too stubborn to die.

The emergency pods were the first to be filled and sent out into space. Nearly all of them had been deployed when Loki realized that there were only about thirty people left waiting to get on to a pod. Maybe they would have enough room to save everyone who did not want to stay behind after all. Loki left Valkyrie and went up to Korg. "Get yourself on a pod."

"Oh, alright man. Do you want to get on one too?"

"No."

"Okay. Oh, can Miek come with me? He doesn't take up much space and I can just carry him around so,-"

"Yes. Alright, that's fine. Just get on the pod."

Korg nodded and Miek made a soft sound, which Loki assumed meant, "okay". They got onto an empty pod ship and soon they were not alone. Valkyrie came up beside Loki and said, "Only have a few more."

"Yes, I noticed." The pod that Korg was on started to rumble to life. Clear glass came down between the load zone and the pod so no one else could get on and no one could get off. Then the pod's door closed and the entire thing was shot out into space. The few people who were left quickly filed on board the last emergency pod. "You should get on this one," Loki told Valkyrie.

She looked at him like he had gone crazy. "Why would I do that? There's still a fight to be had."

Loki sighed, "So is it safe to assume that you will not be leaving of your own free will?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then in that case I only have one thing to say."

"What?" Valkyrie said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I think that there is some unresolved sexual tension between you and my brother."

Valkyrie's jaw dropped. "What would give you a stupid idea like that?"

"Well, it's the only logical reason I can come up with for why he would want to save you." And before she could even think of a reply, he pushed her onto the pod. She stumbled around, but she didn't fall down. Once she realized she was on board she tried to run back off the pod, but the clear glass had already come down. She smacked right into it and fell to the ground.

Loki smiled, happy with himself that he had timed getting her on board so perfectly and also how silly she looked when she ran into the glass. Valkyrie didn't stay down for too long and soon she was banging on the glass with her fists. "You bastard! You distracted me!"

"God of Mischief, remember?"

"Why you little-" But she was cut off by the door shutting and the pod going out to space. Loki let a deep breath he hadn't know he had been holding. At least most of the people were safe now and he had abided Thor's wishes. Now, came the tricky part, confronting Thanos.

He started making his way back up to the control center when there was another explosion, and then another, and then another. Thanos had started his attack and he wasn't holding back. Loki ran for the control center, but then he would fall to the ground every time the ship was struck, so it was a tedious process. When he was only a floor away, a fiery blast went off to his left throwing him to ground with almost enough force to knock him out.

He found it hard to get back up, he could hardly get on his hands and knees. His head hurt and he felt like the whole world was spinning.

What a time to get a concussion.

And everything started to go black…

"Well, look what I found here."

That was a woman's voice.

A voice he knew.

How long had he been out? Was he alive?

Dumb question.

Someone grabbed him by the back of his collar and rolled him on his back.

"It is you," the woman who he knew from somewhere said happily. "Father, will be so pleased."

Father? Oh, oh no.

He did know that voice. The voice belonged to a woman named Proxima Midnight and she was a part of Thanos's Black Order. She was one of Thanos's many daughters. He opened his eyes slowly. Midnight had her black three bladed spear pointed at him. Her thin white lips were twisted into a cruel smirk and her navy blue eyes sparkled in the light of the burning ship. He turned his head to the side with a groan. The corridor that he was in was no longer bright or shiny with newness that it had been before he had been knocked out. The metal was mangled and burnt, the lights were flashing red, and everything was in pieces.

"Stand up!" Midnight shouted.

His head felt like it had been caved in by a steam shovel. Sitting up would take likely about thirty minutes to accomplish, but the murderous psychopath wanted him to stand right now.

Joy to the blessed world…

He tried to get to his feet without teetering but it was useless. He thought about healing himself with his magic, at least enough to take the edge off, but he decided against it at this point. It was better to not let them see him using his powers. He remembered being in his cell aboard Thanos's ship and being beaten within an inch of his life when someone had learned that he was healing his previous injuries. So early on he learned to deal with the pain and not rely so heavily on his healing ability.

He was on his feet. Finally.

Midnight pointed in the direction he had been going when the blast that knocked him out had gone off. He staggered around while Midnight followed close behind with her spear pointed at the back of his head. He ignored her snickering when he lost his footing going up the flight of stairs that led to the control center.

The control center was in worse shape than the corridor he had been in, of course that was probably because most of the explosions had taken place here. He cautiously glanced down at the floor and watched his step; there were bodies everywhere. They littered the ground. Most were dead and the few that weren't would soon be killed by the rest of the Black Order.

Loki saw the others, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian, and somewhere he knew that Ebony Maw was around. He always loved a little death. These weren't all the children that Thanos had, but they certainly were the ugliest. There were other children that he had caught glimpses of, a heartless green assassin, an actual blood child, a Kree who usually was with the four who were here. And there was another one that Loki knew of. The very thought of her made him hope and pray that she was here. Although why was anyone's guess. If she was somewhere on board the ship she wouldn't help him fight her father or intervene when, not if, Thanos tried to kill him. She had made that much clear six years ago.

Loki pushed the memories of the past away and focused at the matter at hand: He was standing with all of the Black Order around him. Thanos was just now coming onboard the ship and he picked up the still alive Thor by the head as he did so. Loki felt every emotion possible, fear, anger, hopelessness. But he attempted to keep himself relaxed so he didn't give himself away.

Thanos spoke in his thunderous way about the things he usually spoke about and he asked Loki for the Tesseract. So, he had been correct, Thanos was here because of the Tesseract. He knew what this meant, Thanos was trying to get the Infinity Stones again. Although this time he was doing it himself. He already had the purple Power Stone set in place on his Infinity Gauntlet.

He could not give it to Thanos. Every fiber in his body told him he should not, under any circumstances, give this maniac the Tesseract. But he knew what would happen if he didn't. Thor would die.

This was the definition of Hell.

Watch his brother die or give a mad man a vital piece of the puzzle to destroy half the universe. An impossible choice that Loki was forced to make.

He tried to keep his strong front together when he told Thanos to kill away, but it was not too many seconds after seeing Thor being put through utter agony because of the Power Stone, that his emotions started to shine through. He couldn't do this. He couldn't watch this. He was so weak.

"Alright, stop!"

Thanos did and Loki conjured up the Tesseract with a gesture of his hand. Thor shook his head in disbelief and muttered, "Brother, you are the worst." This time Loki had to agree with him. Thanos dropped Thor to the ground like a bag of old potatoes.

"The sun will shine on us again, brother," he said as Thanos took the cube. It was his turn to say calming and comforting words. And it was at that very moment that Loki saw in the corner of his eye Hulk buried in some rubble. He was awake and trying to get himself out from underneath the twisted metal. Loki adverted his eyes back to Thanos.

The Titan crushed the cube with a squeeze of his fingers and blew away the broken shards of glass that remained revealing the small blue Space Stone in all of its wonder. Thanos placed it in his Gauntlet next to the Power Stone. Two down, four to go. Not too long ago if you had asked Loki if it were possible for anyone to be in procession of two Infinity Stones he would have laughed right in your face. But now he was witnessing it.

"You have more faith then you should, Asgardian," Thanos told him, obviously jeering.

Loki glanced over at Hulk who was glaring at the back of Thanos's head. It wouldn't be long now…

"For one, I'm not Asgardian. And for another, we have a Hulk." And then he ran to Thor and threw both him and himself down to the ground just as the green beast broke free and came charging towards Thanos. Loki and Thor both sat to the sidelines and watched as Hulk held his own against Thanos for the first few moments. Hulk punched the Titan viciously and repeatedly in the head and just as Loki began to think they might have a chance, Thanos swung his right fist, caught Hulk in the jaw, and sent him flying backwards. Hulk let out a loud roar and went back to continue the fight. "I don't know if he'll win this one," Loki muttered.

Thor put his hand on Loki's shoulder. Loki turned to face him. "Then what's your plan, brother?"

Loki shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe you hit him with a lightning bolt and I try to stab him in the neck."

"Do you really think you can stop this giant with a tiny dagger?"

"Well, you're the king. What's your plan?"

Thanos slammed Hulk against a wall and punched him in the gut multiple times. Hulk grunted and seemed to grow weary. Thanos took advantage of this moment of weakness and threw him to the ground. Hulk stayed down.

"Do you know that mother made me promise to keep you safe?"

Loki wasn't sure if he heard Thor correctly. He glanced at him. "I'm sorry?"

Thor smiled weakly in remembrance. "When she first came to my room with you. You were such a small thing, all pale with large eyes. She said that I was a big brother now and I had to look after you. She made me promise."

Loki was stunned. Thor had never told him that. It was also a weird time to be telling him this. Maybe he thought they were done for and wanted to leave on a sentimental note. If that were the case, there were so many things Loki should say. So many things that he had wanted to say but never did.

Thanos chuckled at the sight of Hulk bleeding and at this point, no longer a threat. His children chuckled too, in a feeble attempt to gain their father's approval. It wouldn't be long till Thanos found Loki and Thor off to the side hidden by a metal beam. And then what? Was this how it would all end?

Thor glanced out from their hiding spot and glanced at the area where Hulk was still laying semiconscious. He turned back to Loki. "I made that promise one thousand three hundred and twenty five years ago. I haven't always kept it, brother, but I intend to do so now."

"What are you say-?"

"Heimdall! Now!" Thor jumped up from their hiding spot, dragging Loki with him. Heimdall was alive and on the ground next to Hulk. He closed his eyes and stretched his hand out towards Hulk. He conjured up some dark energy and used it to form a Bifrost like white light that sucked Hulk up and went flying towards the large broken window in the control center. "Good luck, brother," Thor said and he pushed Loki in the line of the Bifrost.

Loki didn't have time to process what was happening and then suddenly he was in the familiar rainbow white light speeding away to who knew where.

What the hell just happened? Why did this just happen? Was Thor so much an idiot that he thought that this was a good idea? This was a terrible idea! Thor couldn't possibly take on Thanos or any of the Black Order by himself. Even with his new found lightning powers.

Loki and Hulk continued traveling through the different galaxies, passing by many planets and stars and moons, until they reached a galaxy that they both knew. They were speeding towards Earth. Was it Loki's imagination or were they going faster than what they usually did when traveling by Bifrost? The city seemed to be rushing towards them awfully-

Oh, you have got to be kidding.

They were going to crash into a building.

…

Warm soft memories of childhood.

Can you believe that was centuries ago.

He was a child, running with Thor through a golden field of grass. There was a silver stream that ran through the field that had shiny blue and green fish swimming upstream. White butterflies were hidden in the grass and they all flew up out in surprise when the two boys came running through. The sky was clear and the sun was high. It was beautiful.

This is where he went when he didn't know what to do or how to cope. This unimportant day from his childhood. When things were so much simpler.

"Loki? Loki can you hear me?"

The happiness faded away into a dark abyss. And he was falling. Falling forever. He would surly die at some point. But he didn't. He went through something much worse than death.

"I don't think he can hear me. He might have a concussion or something. But you said you were a doctor, right? Can't you examine him?"

Cold shadows hung to cells and there was blinding pain. "Why didn't you just let me die?" he whimpered.

"Because you have potential to be a worthy ally."

"Yes. Okay, fine. Wong, keep your shields up though. I don't need him attacking us."

There was no comfort on the ship. Nothing. Except for the girl with blue skin and cold hands who wanted to talk.

"Attacking us? Look at him. He can't hurt a fly."

He eventually gave in to what Thanos wanted him to do; it did make some sense to become King of Earth. Right? He attacked New York and failed. He had lost both of his parents before they had even died, he had a sister that nobody knew about who he helped kill, and now Thor was…was…

"Thank you, Dr. Banner, for your input. But I have to worry about protecting this sanctuary and whether or not if this man looks harmless, does not change the fact that he attacked this very city five years ago."

Thor.

It all came rushing back. The attack on their ship, the evacuation, Thanos getting the Tesseract, Thor keeping a 1,325 year old promise to their mother. Thor pushed him in front of the Bifrost. Thor was going to fight Thanos by himself.

Loki's eyes popped open and he yelled, "That witless oaf!"

A disheveled looking Bruce Banner, Dr. Stephen Strange, and another man who he assumed was Wong all jumped back at his sudden outburst. Strange and Wong both took a defensive stance and brought up their magical shields. Bruce however sighed in relief that Loki was awake and he asked, "Who's an oaf?"

"My brother! The God of Poor Decision Making! If he thinks that he can take on Thanos all by himself, then-then…" He was too angry to finish his thought.

"Oh, my God," Bruce whispered. "That's right. He's coming, isn't he? Thanos."

Dr. Strange glanced at Wong and the both of them looked lost. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, who?"

Loki sighed and rubbed his aching head. These idiots really didn't know anything did they? "Well, it is just marvelous to be back on Earth."