What Will Never Be
You are stuck with me till the world falls to pieces, and if we're not still standing
even then we'll still find a way to be together…
Ottilie Weber, End of the Line
There is a slight breeze around them, the wind carries the fresh scent of flowers as sweet and familiar as Thor had never beheld before. He barely dares to open his eyes, fearing the illusion to evaporate. The sweet fragrances creep through the warm summer evening air, leaving a lasting impression on Thor's mind. When the blond finally opens his eyes, he finds his home in front of him just like the last time he had seen it.
They had landed in the middle of Frigga's garden amidst the red blossomed bushes she is so fond of. Thor takes another deep breath to enjoy the tranquility of the evening that had already settled over Asgard. Some rather large trees obscure the vision of the city but the high palace walls in front of them are easily recognized. The summer is waning but the heat that still tenants the garden is left from one of the last warm days of the year. For a moment Thor entertains the thought that his wish for going home has come true. That the past weeks, the past eternity had been a mere dream, but a look to his right confirms that his team mates are with him.
'This is Asgard.', Bruce immediately recognizes the landscape as he had spend much time away from the scurrying of the wedding in this solitude.
'Are we back? Is this our universe?', Clint asks with a glint in his eyes. He looks around now with more interest. Steve lowers his shield as there is no danger to face.
'No' Loki is the only one who doesn't look thrilled at the prospect of having reached the heart of knowledge of the nine realms. 'We should leave as soon as the sun is down completely and then hope no one sees us.'
'Loki, don't you realize? We're in Asgard. We can go to the library and you can find a solution for this thing. We can ask Mother or Father for advise.' Thor can't understand his lack of interest and enthusiasm.
'And, pray tell, how do you expect them to react? How would you explain? Please Thor, think for one moment.', he almost hisses. 'You are brash, here you could possibly be even worse. And even if not, you are one to hit first, then ask questions. How would you react if a different version of you and me were to cross our threshold and claim to be the original? You would bash their heads in because you would think it a trick, something terrible, an attack, whatever. And to to honest, I probably wouldn't react much different.'
Thor looks down, a frown firmly edged on his face. This does actually sound a lot like him, Thor has to accept the validity of Loki's argument, though he doesn't like it. This had seemed like the perfect opportunity to find a way out of the hell they are trapped in. His high spirits because of his mother's garden evaporate almost instantly.
'Then what will we do?', Thor asks. He just wants to be gone from this whole environment he enjoyed mere seconds past. He is more homesick than ever before. He misses the life he used to have not a few months ago, his family, the easiness with which he would start each new day, knowing and praying it would be the same as the one before, with his mother and father in the throne room, with their advise a question away, with a tranquil and content Loki at his side, with his friends on the training fields and on Midgard, where they belonged and Thor could see them any time he liked. An easy world, an easy wish, which is still impossible to ever reach again. He had wanted revenge on Thanos, still wants it, and now it is palpable, it is being forced on them to take actions for which none of them is ready. Thor has no means to realize the extent this will have on any of their lives nor does he think he would welcome such knowledge. Thanos has set his eyes on them, Thor knows that none of them is truly safe, but to take active steps against someone as powerful as the Mad Titan is, that is another matter entirely.
'We should stay here, quiet as we can. It would do no good to be detected.', Loki says. 'Someone could recognize us and tell on our little group.'
They sit down on a bench at the furthest end of the orchard so no one would see them from the palace. Since they had just ate their breakfast in the Citadel, they occupy themselves with the wonderful, quiet nature around them and don't talk much. Thor peeks between the bushes to at least catch a glimpse of the city. The view is splendid. It looks just like their reality. The houses are of white stone for the most part, they glow in the evening sun which still radiates heat though in the shade it starts to get moist and chilly.
Two arms encircle his midsection as Thor stands there, watching the city passing a quiet evening. Some of the noise drifts up but it is stifled by the hedges. Thor turns half to look Loki in the eye, resting his forehead for a second against the cooler one, then both of them look out onto their home which is so close and could still be a thousand miles away for all they care. Some of the last sunbeams plunge the city in orange light.
They withdraw as soon as the sun has set though the light is still sufficient, and ready themselves to creep through the palace as soon as everyone would be asleep. Thor chats in a low voice with Steve when Loki tells them to be quiet. And really, there is someone calling from somewhere near the entrance. They are up in a second and hide between some trees so they would be invisible even should the person enter the garden. The calling comes closer, then stops and they only hear the steps coming closer.
A woman with long dark wavy brown hair comes into view. She is almost as tall as Thor and looks away from them, apparently looking for someone in the gardens. Loki wants to draw him back into the shadows but Thor knows it matters little. She would hear the rustle of the leaves so he opts for not moving at all. When she turns, Thor's heart skips a beat. One of her eyebrows rises, she crosses her arms in front of her chest. He feels Loki freeze next to him as well when his gaze lands on her.
'Friends.', she greets them with a smile, then turns with a more solemn expression to Thor. 'Thor.' Her face breaks into a mad grin when she sees his flabbergast face. 'Where have you been?', she asks quietly when pressing a kiss on his cheek. Thor is still too shocked to do anything except stare at her.
'Elena.', he whispers.
'We've been looking for you all over the place. Why are you hiding here?' She looks to his friends. Thor feels Loki shift uncomfortable next to him. He himself can't find it in him to even close his mouth and stop gaping at Elena. He cannot answer her question, can't lie, can't cover for them. She turns to Loki, apparently not really expecting him to answer. 'Thanks for finding him. We're already late. I didn't think you'd need that long to retrieve your friends.' Smiling she shakes her head.
Loki nods and doesn't divert his gaze from her as if she is an apparition that would vanish the second lost from sight.
'You got that strange look again. Where were you?' Elena narrows her eyes and looks for signs of lies on their faces. 'Where did you drag them again, Stark?'
'Nowhere, really.' Tony tries a charming smile as Thor and Loki refuse to say something. 'And even if, they are grown men, aren't they?'
Elena laughs shortly, a wide grin stays on her face when she shakes her head. 'I do not believe Ms Potts would be very enthralled to hear that. Anyway, you're late. We should go.' She turns back to Thor and takes his hand to drag him towards the palace.
'Late for what?', Thor hears himself ask.
She laughs. 'Surely you jest? You would lose your head if it weren't attached to your neck.' Elena shakes her head, apparently not expecting anything else. 'Come on, your coronation may wait for you but surely you wouldn't want everyone to wait.' She tugs at his hand to get him into the palace.
His feet refuse to work. If he moves, Thor thinks, the spell would surely break and reveal this to be no more than a strange dream. It is impossible for her to stand here right in front of his eyes and move and laugh and live. His brain refuses to process this information. The touch is surreal. With what naturalness she holds his hand, she speaks to him, with what grace she moves as if she had never ceased doing it. A sadness he long had thought left behind, resurfaces. Thor wonders for a moment about her place here but stops immediately, knowing who she must be for his this-world self. His cheek still burns from the contact of her lips.
'What is it?' Elena hasn't let go of Thor's hand when she turns around to look into his eyes, to inquire why he doesn't follow. Her smile slowly falls as she sees something in his eyes that hadn't been there the last time she fancies watching them. Thor feels her probing his mind, ever so slightly, and grants her access. She merely sees his present thoughts before drawing back, taking her hand with her. 'You're not..'
'No, we're not your friends, nor the people you know.' Thor confirms, his voice hoarse. There is no need to lie to her, she would find out anyway. If there is one person who would not only believe them but also may help, it's her. 'We're from an alternate reality.'
She nods, looking away from them for some moments to regain her composure, Thor assumes. 'You're not supposed to be here, how did you leave your universe? And why?' As expected she wastes no time in questioning his words.
Thor's eyes flit down to where a sword is fastened on her belt. 'We're trying to get back and save it.'
'I do not believe we have what you seek for.' Elena turns back and frowns. 'I am dead, right? Don't deny it, Thor. We both know you're a terrible liar. I saw your look. Don't tell me, I don't want to know.' Elena raises her hand as if to stop him from saying something not meant for her ears. She takes a deep breath as to stay calm and composed. 'Alright, the others can't see you. Are you in need of anything?' She carefully evades looking at Thor and Loki.
'No, we're fine.', is Loki's short answer. He doesn't veil his regret anymore.
'Provisions should be in order. I'll organize something. Weapons?' A quick glance over their group makes her nod. 'I better go now. You're safe here, just don't leave the garden. The palace will be up and about till the early morning hours. You wouldn't be able to leave unseen.', she warns them before retreating. 'I will come later. Rest while you can.' With that she leaves, a deep frown still embedded on her forehead.
'"No, we're fine"? The hell is wrong with you?', Stark exclaims the second the silence and serenity of the gardens had settled down on them again.
Loki doesn't react like he normally would by hissing some warning back at the mortal. 'Just be quiet, Tony.' His voice is distant and silent, almost drowned out by a slight rustle of the leaves overhead of them. The night envelops them, just the lights of the palace brighten the gardens at this time of day.
'Who is she?', Bruce asks after giving the two Asgardians time to process things properly.
Loki sighs, then finally turns to their friends along with Thor. 'Elena. She's from Alfheim. A powerful sorceress and capable warrior, highly dangerous if she has a grudge against you.' Loki licks his lips. 'We knew her since our childhood. She and Thor were..' He makes a wavy hand gesture. 'One day the message of her death reached Asgard. We found out years later that that was not the whole truth.' Loki looks to the sky, seeking help from the bright stars. 'She had been taken to no one knows where, captured and sold.' The others are shocked by such a revelation and don't know how to react. 'She died years later, before we even found out about the slavery. Odin wanted to spare us the details.'
'He knew she was lost for us.' Thor stares ahead to were his lover of old times had vanished. He becomes painfully aware of Loki sitting right next to him. Loki had also been friends with her a long time ago. They had, together with the warriors three and Sif, prowled the forests around Asgard, hunting first imaginary beasts, later forged friendships that weren't meant to die as time passed. Thor remembers kisses exchanged in the secludedness of the forest, soft touches and long conversations. 'I am sorry.', he whispers as quiet as he is capable of. Thor takes a hold of Loki's hand, to feel he is still there and real. 'I am sorry to cause you such pain. That I can't promise I would have chosen you in every world when I get constant proof that I wouldn't. I know I would have married her eventually. Father was delighted about that union. She was a lot like you. Sharp, not easily impressed, durable, able to put up with me.' Thor puts an arm around Loki's shoulder and pulls him closer until their foreheads touch. 'I am glad we didn't have to suffer through this, I am glad to love you and I do not regret the turn of events.'
'Just forget it, Thor. It's alright. It's not that I treated you right in every universe.', Loki says, connecting their lips to a quick kiss.
'Will she tell on us?', Steve asks. He glances towards where Elena had vanished to, a little frown on his face.
Thor shakes his head. 'No, she wouldn't. She's more considerate about matters like this. She just poses a threat for us if we should give her a reason for it.' At least he hopes so. They retreat to the back of the garden, trusting Elena to have sealed off the gardens for now but not wanting to stay too close to the palace in case someone would see them here. The festivities inside the palace are audible and get louder by the minute.
It is way after midnight though the time seems to pass in a haze for Thor, when Elena steps back into the garden and begs them to follow her. Thor is looking nervously around, ready for someone whom she isn't expecting to see them and bust their whole charade but the corridors are empty.
They reach a side chamber of the royal wing, Elena ushers them in. The rooms are lush decorated and spacious. 'These are my personal chambers.', she informs them when Loki looks doubtful. 'I organized some food, so if you are hungry..' Elena motions to the side where there is a small buffet build up.
By now their little group is hungry and glad to accept such an offering. Thor shovels some food to his plate without really caring what it is. His eyes are on Elena, still not able to comprehend how this is possible. The rooms are nice, and here and there he makes out details that aren't her influence like a pair of decorative swords he had wielded in his youth. Several sofas are placed near the fire place, big bookcases complete the inventory.
'Are you alright?'
Thor startles when the resident of this chambers suddenly stands right next to him. He shrugs when the words fail him. What is he supposed to answer anyway? We're stuck in what feels like a never ending limbo in which every reality reveals how me and Loki separate? I am happy with my life with Loki by my side? I miss you sometimes as a friend?
'Thor- I mean, my Thor is out for the night along with Loki. You need not worry that someone will disturb us here.' Elena offers him a smile.
She sits down opposite from the Avengers, having also a plate in front of her. She looks completely at ease with this situation. 'Where do you need to go?'
Loki takes a deep breath. They had talked about this earlier, the exit has to be outside of the city. 'To the western forest.'
A small frown appears on her face. 'And what is there?'
'A way home. Maybe.' He quickly tells her about the Citadel but Elena had never heard of it before. She remembers the Midgardians getting in contact with three infinity stones a while back but surely nothing and no one from the other end of the galaxy cared about that or even knows.
'What are you eating there?' Loki stares at Elena with confusion and not so veiled disgust.
Elena looks down to her plate which is a disturbing mix of sweets and bacon. Then she shrugs. 'Lady Eir said cravings are to be expected.' Thor's brain stops working again. His eyes flit to her yet unnoticeable belly.
'You're..' Even Loki is lost for words. 'Congratulations, Elena.'
'Thanks.' She is obviously uncomfortable with this as she briefly looks away. 'I thought you could use some new garments. Yours seem a little worn.' They become aware of the state of their dirty clothes, especially compared to her ceremonial dress the difference becomes painfully apparent. They are so used to not be watched too closely or to actively evade others. She also got a bunch of weapons for them including some daggers for Loki, a bow for Clint. 'I am sorry for not being able of more help.', Elena says after everyone got dressed. Their old clothes they keep in case Asgardian armor would be too much. Thor recognizes his as an old armor of his. 'We should get moving, the servants will be up soon.'
Truly, there is already the softest shimmer of light blue in the east. In silence they leave the palace and head for the western forest, fleeing from the light. The Avengers pull the hoods far down into their faces to stay incognito.
'Alright, this is where I will leave you.', Elena suddenly states. They hadn't even reached the forest, only the first trees begin to grow around them on the pastures. They are far away from the city already, the light having claimed a big part of the horizon already.
Loki seems to hesitate for a second before damning his indecisiveness and hugging her. The brunette doesn't seem to mind and hugs him back tightly. 'Thank you for everything.'
'You're welcome, Loki.' He whispers something else but the words are lost to Thor.
The others bow in her direction and bid her goodbye. When it is Thor's turn, he hesitates as well. 'Would you mind..?' He points at the forest. Loki casts him a wary glance but nods and the rest of their friends follow him to give Thor and Elena some space.
'It's strange. I look at you and see my husband. And yet, you are so different.', she says when they are alone. Elena sighs. 'You and Loki?'
He nods. A small frown enters her face again as she processes the information. She must have seen how they interacted, or noticed their glances. 'I missed you for a long time.' Thor stops, unsure of what to say next. So he merely steps closer and embraces her. First he presses his nose to her hair. It's like being catapulted back for centuries. It's like she is still there and not lost.
Elena draws a little back to look at him. 'Good luck, Thor.'
Following an impulse Thor leans down and presses their lips together. Elena doesn't fight but leans into the kiss. It still feels as it did in their youth. He holds her closer, not wanting to part with this part of his past just yet but eventually Elena turns her head away.
'Thor.' Her eyes shine with unshed tears. He gets her warning and draws back, turning around to follow his friends.
With one last glance back, he smiles sadly. It's time to let go. 'Farewell, Elena.'
xXxXx
Tony doesn't even dare to open his eyes when he finally feels solid ground under his feet again. He stopped counting how many worlds they had crossed on their way to this desolate island of an universe and he wouldn't start again. Long time he had thought that Afghanistan had been the worst episode of his life, then it had been that awful wormhole but, oh how wrong he had been. This makes him regret for the first time that he gave up his comfortable playboy life and decided to fight for the good in the world.
Tony had been right about his doubts of him being able to wake up each day in another world, to be constantly threatened with death without being able to do a thing about it. Without his suit he is of no much use except for his mind, and he has the feeling that what he knows is of little consequence in these ever-changing universes and parallel dimensions which are so unlike anything he had ever dreaded to see. He had seen the death of his world, frozen wastelands, friends that are lost, every horror scenario he could ever picture. The last time he had a good nighttime sleep he can't remember. It must have been pretty long though since he obviously must have bad hallucinations by now, otherwise the things he had seen are barely explainable.
The last world (or was it the one before that?) they had again been attacked by some hideous goblin like creatures who had kept crawling out of the crevices in the ground. Having to defend oneself and one's best friends with the rocks lying on the ground and hitting those creatures with sticks, can leave scars. The good Captain had his shield, Thor his hammer, Bruce his losing it, Loki got his magic, the assassins had been trained in all kinds of combat skills, no one needs a genius with a tendency for self-destruction. He can build weapons of just about anything, he had proven so often enough, but even he has his limits in a world full of rocks.
They are lost in a world none of them has any hope of understanding. Partly they don't even realize anymore which worlds they step in and actually Tony doesn't care anymore. They hadn't left their universe, the nine realms, and still each time they visit Earth he feels further away from home than ever.
Finally he dares to open his eyes to find some deserted streets in front of him. A deep sigh escapes Tony. Too often this scene had played out before him, what does it matter which world it is. Tony starts looking for stuff to build new weapons from, trying to busy himself and not think of the hopelessness of the situation. As long as his hands have something to do his mind won't wander to things better left alone. He'd do just about anything to get rid of the anxiety in him by now. They would never find the way out of here, out of the Citadel. They'd die, one after the next, it is merely a matter of time. The more time elapses, the more frantic Loki's goose chase after the infinity stone gets, the more fervently he rushes them from one world to the next, trying to postpone the inevitable. Tony had given up hope to find that questionable object long ago but he doesn't mention that to the stressed out Asgardian.
The meeting with Loki's and Thor's old friend from childhood had taken a toll on both of them though they try to pretend that it hadn't. Tony doesn't want to know what he would do should he meet someone of his past he thought dead. But with their luck it would be more than likely that something like that would happen.
Tony thinks he recognizes some Vanir architectonic elements but he doesn't care enough to ask. The others already march off to the west. He takes a moment to look over the remnants of the city, picking up several things he wants to tinker with. Loki had taught him a thing or two about the different plants he could gather in the nine realms, in Tony's free time, which admittedly he had rather a lot now, he had tried new compositions to see what would happen. Tony had found several useful ones. One concoction would ignite the second it got into contact with oxygen, another would form a devilishly hard to get rid off slime that sticks to everything. Perfect for defense or to prank his fellow travelers though Tony has no wish to die so he restrained himself from that latter use.
They reach the exit before the day is over. Tony is quite tired though the trip had been uneventful. Fortunately at least they weren't attacked. Or fried. Or starved. Or.. Tony forgot to count how many different kinds of death their existences were already threatened with.
The well deserved break will have to wait a little still as Loki draws a mark on the floor in front of their last door and the group already shuffles to the next. Two corridors are done, examined, three left with no end in sight. They hadn't dared venture back to one of the doors they had already tried, unsure what they would face. If it would be worse to find the same world again, or to shatter the hope of finding an exit out of the Citadel by finding the worlds ever changing, none of them dares to know. For now, Steve reaches out for the handle, just waiting for Loki to catch up with them.
Since Thor had heard these strange sounds at night, the others had been able to convince themselves that he hadn't imagined them. The noise had returned regularly each night, every time the darkness settles over the Citadel a shuffling and the clicking sound of claws on concrete echoes through the empty corridors, edging closer constantly, and though none of the Avengers had seen what made these sounds, none of them wanted to really find out. They had tried walking towards the sounds but whatever it is, it seems to evade the light and had drawn back, the noises vanished as quickly as they had come. It gives them the creeps, that goes as far as the team decided to not sleep in the Citadel anymore. It is dangerous to enter another world with half of the team drained but none of them wants to encounter whatever lurks in the corners of that messed up place.
Loki gives his okay with a firm nod and the adventure starts anew.
Tony had been whining the last few days about the grumbling of his stomach. After their short episode in Alfheim the group hadn't found any new sustenance between the burned valleys of Svartalfheim that had been taken over by the fire giants and the mountains of Vanaheim. For days they hadn't seen any creature apart from some birds and a lizard. Tony longs for company that isn't, well, a part of this group. If this torture has any pro-side it certainly is that they are forced to work together and get along far better than before. Of course there are still fights, after all they hadn't transformed into different people, but the long evenings in the shine of the fire when they one after the next had came out with the stories of their lives, at least something like temporary peace had settled. None of them had an easy life before he or she joined the Avengers. From spitting out bullets, red rooms, crashing planes, failing expectations, deafening arrows and caves on the end of the world nothing seems to have passed them.
So when Tony is blinking his eyes open and stares straight down a very familiar street, he is shocked more than anything. He looks around to see what had changed but finds nothing big. These are the same buildings, the same strange people passing them without so much as looking at them, the same air, the same Tower.
The Avengers are standing right in front of their Tower. Tony cranes his neck to look up but can see not much apart from the reflecting windows and the underside of his landing stage. The others are shuffling awkwardly, not sure what to do. They have no more food nor much water left and if they aren't exactly planning on stealing the things they need in a city which probably all of them, well their other selves, frequent regularly, they have no means of getting to it. Except..
'Should we risk it? He, well, you could be home.', Clint argues though it doesn't sound convinced.
'So what? I am going in.', Tony states. His stomach wouldn't allow him to ignore the delicious food that waits behind the wide glass doors. That he plans to sneak into the cellar to free one of his suits if possible, he better keeps quiet. For such an opportunity he had waited for the whole time.
'Tony, we should discuss this. Jarvis..', Loki interrupts his thoughts.
'Is programmed to listen to my voice.', Tony cuts him short. 'He won't know the difference. Well, you can stay here, I am going in.' With that said, Tony crosses the remaining distance and pushes open the doors before any of the others can catch up with him or hold him back.
The security chef lifts his hat when Tony passes him. At the elevators the rest of the Avengers catches up with him and they have little choice but to follow him.
'This is reckless.', Steve tells him as soon as the doors are shut. 'You're getting us killed.'
'You didn't have to follow.', he points out.
'No solo missions, we agreed upon that.', the blond forces out between his teeth as the elevator shoots up to the penthouse. That they are all hungry and trust Tony to take his sweet time before coming down again if left unsupervised he leaves unsaid.
'Good afternoon, Mr Stark.' Never had he been more happy to hear the British mechanical voice erupting from the ceiling.
'Hello, Jarvis.', Tony greets him with a big smile.
'Sir, shall I send the Iron Man armor?', Jarvis voice sounds from the speakers some seconds later.
'No need to. Why would I need it?', Tony asks confused.
'Mr Laufeyson appears to be with you in the elevator and force his way into the penthouse.', Jarvis says as if it would be the most normal thing in the world to send his armor because of Loki. Then he reminds himself that they aren't in their universe and Loki could possibly be a threat in this universe. Or could let Tony to believe to be just that.
Tony shakes his head. 'No, it's alright. He's with me.'
'Are you certain, Sir? I could activate the Houseparty Protocol?' Apparently the AI believes Loki to have him under some kind of influence or to have scared him into not calling his help.
'No!' Tony casts a wary glance to the others. 'No, Jarvis. We're fine. No.. no houseparty.', he says just to make sure the AI understands.
Jarvis doesn't sound happy about this development. 'As you wish, Sir.'
The elevator comes to a halt and they leave it. The penthouse had changed dramatically. Or rather it hadn't changed much from its original setup. The view out of the windows is much the same as it is now.
'Houseparty?' Steve raises an eyebrow.
'Shut up.'
Tony heads straight for the kitchen, the others now on his heels. He randomly draws things out of the fridge and hands them behind him. Briefly he wonders who bought so healthy stuff but occasionally he finds things he deems edible. They quickly gobble the food down, then they withdraw into a large room which apparently serves as a living room.
'Let's hope this me is just like me.', Tony announces nonchalantly and wanders over to the bookshelf and draws out a book, looking into the gap that's now there. 'Jackpot.', he says grimly, taking out the cash he himself stashed in that bookcase in the past. 'I am generous, I guess I won't miss it.' Tony shrugs.
'That's great, Stark. Now, let's go.', Loki urges him, taking a look around.
'Relax, Loki. No one's home, we can take a small break.' Tony causally walks around the living room, peaking into every corner. Jay would have informed him and/or his other self by now should the AI suspect.
'Daddy.'
Tony freezes and slowly turns around to find a small boy tucking at his trousers to get his attention. He hadn't even heard the door being opened. 'Hey, buddy.' The boy makes grabby hands and Tony picks him up without thinking about it. He is a little at loss as to what to do now but the little boy seems contented for the moment. He hides his face in the crook of Tony's neck and peers through his fingers to the others.
The Avengers look just as surprised and overwhelmed like him. None of them has any kids or experience as to how to handle this situation.
Tony looks at the kid on his arm and he almost faints. It's like looking into a mirror for some seconds. Chocolate brown eyes and messy dark hair, a slightly tanned skin. He is a perfect copy of a young Tony.
The door still stands open when another familiar figure enters the room. 'Hi. We didn't know you'd come back today.' Pepper grins widely when she lays eyes on him, quickly crossing the distance.
'Pep.'
'You should have called ahead.', she lightly scolds him before placing a timid kiss on Tony's lips. Tony is too shocked to respond correctly. 'Come here, James.' She takes the boy from Tony's arm. 'I didn't know you'd have visitors.'
'Could you- could you-' Tony doesn't know how to phrase the request without sounding rude and suddenly he cares for that. Seeing the child, his child, in Pepper's arms is disturbing.
'Sure, we'll leave you alone. Is anything the matter?', Pepper whispers, a small frown makes its way to her face. She eyes the others warily.
'No, yes. Well, it's nothing bad, Pepper. Don't you worry.', he tries to coax her out of the room so they could vanish in a hurry.
'Isn't he the guy who threw you out of a window?', she asks with a frown, pointing at Loki.
'No, Pep. I mean, yes, sounds like him but it's alright. We're friends now, right, Lokes?' Loki merely shrugs and is no help at all. 'See?' Tony adds with a grin. The boy in Pepper's arms fidget.
'Alright. Say good bye, James.' Being reminded of the strangers in the room, the boy quickly hides again. In his mother's arms. Tony's knees threaten to buckle.
'Let's get out of here.'
They flee the Tower, Tony in horror, the others in fear of being yet discovered. This has been a terrible mistake. They take two taxis to the outskirts of the town. While Barton and Bruce buy provisions in a local shop, Tony stays outside, pacing back and forth behind the supermarket.
'Are you alright?', Steve asks softly.
Tony turns to him with a grin on his face. 'I always am.', he automatically says. Steve forces a smile, opens his mouth as if to say something but shuts it again. Silently he steps forward and pulls Tony into an embrace. The brunet man struggles for a moment before dropping the act and accepting the comfort.
'I am not a dame, Spangles.', he mumbles with a fond smile.
Tony hears Steve chuckle. 'I know.'
xXxXxXx
Hello!
Thank you for all the wonderful feedback I got :')
Hope you liked this update but I'd love to hear from you (yes, this is a shout out for reviews, it doesn't even really matter what you write and if it's a :) or a :(, that would totally suffice). The name James because in the comics Tony has a son with that name, Elena because it's Sindarin(?) for 'of the stars' (which is really funny, just you wait). I am sorry for any hard shippers but yes, I am playing with psychology here and that's what Thor somehow wanted to kiss her. He is under a lot of stress, but all of this will somewhen sort out. Hopefully. And I am sorry for hurting Tony as well, he is my favorite character of all time, so yes, hurting him is never really fun but.. I wanted to show him what life there could have been for him. Will become important in future chapters.
If you are now asking yourself, why is the Reality Stone just altering the reality of the nine realms and not beyond, I will explain this as quickly as I can. Without the addition of the Power Stone, it's reach is limited to certain parts of the universe and though the effects are usually unlimited, they are not extending to the entire universe. Because it is held in the powerful containment of the Citadel, it is divided into its smaller parts (as seen in Thor TDW) and cannot create entire different universes but just parts of them (hence Loki cannot teleport since there is nothing).
So that is my reasoning why it cannot reach beyond the veil of the nine realms. We will see other worlds at some point, but not just yet.
So that's all there is from my part for this week, as stated above I'd love to hear from you. Until next Saturday!
