As usual when Tony's shift was done he was to exhausted, to tired to really care about much.
Lokis little trick was practically forgotten, Tony was to tired.
It even went so far that Loki was now the one feeding Nebula and Tony was honestly just grateful for it.
"Tony, you have the parts you need for now. Don't you?" Loki asked as he was feeding the blue cyborg alien.
Tony needed. "I haven't even gotten to really look at them." he admitted, fighting to keep his eyes open while he ate his own food.
"Yes I noticed, and that's an issue. You haven't worked on Nebula at all since the shifts began again." Loki commented. "Your shifts are exactly planned so you are worked until the moment you can't work anymore."
Tony nodded, he already knew it. As long as he worked these shifts, he couldn't even help Nebula.
"Next time they come." Loki spoke, his eyes on Nebula as he was feeding her. "Hide in the illusion I make. I'll cover your shift."
Tony quieted and he looked at Loki, he had been thinking it. But hadn't dared say it… Loki could make himself look like other people. Like anyone, he had seen it himself.
"It means I wont be able to look for any parts." Loki continued. "You have to make due for now." and he put the spoon down into the now empty bowl finally turning to Tony.
"As I said I haven't even managed to look at it." Tony admitted. "But." he looked at their small precious pile. "That will be step one." he finally put down his own only half empty bowl and laid down on his side.
Loki picked up the half finished bowl Tony had left without even asking, and started to put the rest into his own mouth.
Loki would do that, if Tony or Nebula didn't finish their food. He would eat it for them. Something about needing each and every little gram he could get for his magic. Tony already thought Loki came across as pretty dang powerful, but apparently he wasn't nearly at his peak. Or so he said… The tricks he could do now only being pathetic circus tricks yada yada.
Tony yawned deeply, then Tony smirked.
"Something funny Tony?" Loki asked in a sigh.
"I just remembered…. How much Thor could eat." Tony commented. "Five pizzas, two bags of chips and twelve beers. And he was still good to go, not even in a food coma. It was insane."
Loki quieted.
"I have a difficulty imagining you eating the same way Lokes." Tony admitted.
"Thors table manners always left a lot to be desired." Loki snorted.
"I just wanted to see for how long he could keep going." Tony commented. "Steve told me to stop, he said I was being immature. Clint said we should keep going… It was a nice evening."
Loki quieted as he glanced out in the air. "Only man I ever knew who could match Thors bottomless stomach was Volstagg." he spoke in a distant voice. "Thor always being the fool… was dumb enough to challenge Volstagg to an eating contest. And they brought in all the boars and the roasts, by the end of it Thor was laying on the floor barely able to lift a finger but he didn't want to give up. Volstagg was laughing… It was kind of funny. And well deserved, I told Thor he wouldn't be able to win. And I told Thor to stop the foolish challenge as it went on. But Thor has always been known for his stubbornness. The next week was delightful, every time the rest of us ate pork roast Thors entire face went green…. We laughed at his expense." Loki glanced down. "It was a nice evening." he admitted in a small smile.
Tony smiled a bit amused as he looked up in the ceiling, then his smile faltered and so did Lokis.
"You guys call yourselves gods right?" Tony asked. "Immortals… Can he really be gone? That doesn't make any sense."
Loki sighed as he leaned back. "We are gods in that sense that we each embody an element." he informed. "This thing, is a part of our very core." he held up a hand, seeing green flames that were merely illusion playing in it. "You can call it as… We're merely a vessel of our element. It gives us power, strength. Peoples worship kindles this power. But we are only vessels still, our bodies and memories will die. Then the element will be passed on." he closed his hand killing the illusion. "To the next one… Thor is not the first god of Thunder and he wont be the last. I am not the first god of Mischief either." he closed his eyes. "The things we represent wont die, they can't die… Thart part of us is indeed immortal. But the rest of us, not so much. So in a sense, we both are and are not immortal."
"So there's just going to be a new god of thunder?" Tony asked disbelieving. He didn't like the sound of that, sure he knew the stories! Zeus and stuff. But it just felt wrong to say.
"Eventually, somewhere." Loki looked up. "Might be another thousand years, but rarely anymore than that."
"Do they need to be Asgardian?" Tony asked.
"No." Loki replied. "People born within the nine realms has proven more likely to become gods. The Asgardian royal family are all gods… But truthfully, they can come from anywhere."
"And you're sure Thanos isn't a god?" Tony asked.
"I'm sure." Loki replied. "He didn't embody anything true. He wasn't a god."
Tonys eyes glided to Nebula, she hadn't said anything for the entire conversation but had clearly listened.
"He sure is being worshiped as one." Tony sighed deeply.
"That doesn't make him a god." Loki replied. "Only an empty vessel for other peoples insane ideas." he informed glancing at Tony.
Tony nodded. "Makes sense." he commented and yawned.
"Go to sleep." Loki asked. "You need to work on Nebula tomorrow."
Tony nodded. "I'm going to fix you up Nebs, I promise."
There was no reply and Tony yawned, drifting off to dark sleep.