Loki awoke to the sound of big thunder.
No…. Wait. Not thunder… Snoring. Loki turned his head, trying to look through the darkness of the unfamiliar room. Finally Loki had to look down to see a large figure laying sprawled out on the floor with a blanket barely even covering him.
Oddly Loki looked at the sleeping figure, laying there on his back with a big open mouth and his oddly length hair a complete birds nest… There really was something odd about him though.
Valkyrie had said Thor wasn't doing well. What did she mean by that? He was here wasn't he?
Okay as it turned out Thor was a liar, he had gained a bit of weight. But that wasn't so bad was it?
Loki tilted his head as he tried to figure out what was so wrong… The beard had been allowed to grow too.
Which was… Strange. Contrary to common belief Thor did take great care in his beard and glorious golden locks.
Loki turned to Thors right eye which was currently closed… He knew that behind that eyelid hid that odd mechanical eye.
He could see the fine lines of white scar tissue around the eye. At least it seemed like it had healed quite nicely.
It was almost a relief Thor didn't wear an eye patch, it honestly had made him look way to much like Odin for Lokis liking.
Then again, that golden eye was really really weird. Out right unsettling.
Ones again Loki tried to take Thor in, trying to place what felt so off… Perhaps Valkyrie could fill him in later.
Then Loki noted… There was no Mjolnir to be found. The weapon Thor would always carry with him.
Well… Of course there was no Mjolnir! Hela had destroyed it! Still, it was just odd seeing Thor without it.
Something told Loki though, things went much deeper than that. Thor had… surprised Loki.
Loki had honestly believed Thor incapable of growing in the past… Thor had proven him wrong. Thor had grown and Loki hadn't even noticed.
Until finally they stood face to face at Sakaar and the impossible seemed like it had happened… Thor had not just grown that day. He had outgrown Loki… And nothing was the same anymore.
Loki had to either grow himself or be left behind… And he didn't want to be left behind.
Now though? What was happening now? It felt like Loki had been left behind regardless. Something had happened but Loki didn't know what. Everything was different… Everything.
Loki took a deep breath as he let a green shimmer carry him away to the outside so he could breath a bit of fresh air.
Outside the scent of grass filled Lokis nostrils, the sky was filled with glittering stars and the earths moon was fully visible. Curiously Loki looked at the moon. It was almost a morbid fascination of the sight.
Sounds of mechanical steps sounded behind Loki as a blue cyborg came, then stopped only as she stood next to Loki also looking up.
"Trouble sleeping?" Loki asked amused.
"I don't require much sleep." Nebula replied. "You."
"Thor snores." Loki responded, which was an honest response. Then he looked up. "So… Here we are. What now?" he asked.
"You have a people to return to." Nebula pointed out.
"I… Hope so." Loki sighed. "Thor and Valkyrie says I am welcome, I don't know though."
"Pff." Nebula snorted. "Coward."
Loki shook his head amused. "Tony is a father. How weird is that?"
"You know, I think he'll be a good father." Nebula admitted. "His eyes, they were filled with love when he saw the picture. Real love."
.
"Well compared to our fathers, it can pretty much only get better from there." Loki commented and Nebula amused shook her head.
"Hey gang having a party without me?" The chipper voice of Tony stark sounded joining them, holding a glass in his hand.
Loki glanced at the glass. "Having a midnight drink Tony?" he asked.
"That was my first idea but then I remembered… I am a fucking dad! So soda it is." Tony informed holding up the glass. "I know myself well enough to know that if I start now, after all this bullshit, I wont be able to stop and honestly…. I don't want Morgan to see me like that." he said looking down into his glass then smiled, before he started chewing his lip. "Shit… I want to see her so bad. And I am scared shit less, what if I drop her?" he asked horrified. "You guys know what kind of person I am. What if I screw her up?! What if her life becomes a disaster because of me?!" he panicked.
"Tony… breath." Loki instructed.
"Yeah, Yeah." Tony took a sip, now though his hand was shaking so violently that he almost spilled the drink. "Shesh I am such a mess." he sighed. "So, going to New Asgard tomorrow Lokes?"
"I do believe that is the plan." Loki nodded.
"Man, is this stockholm syndrome or what? I actually think I'm going to miss you." Tony admitted.
Loki sighed deeply.
"Nebs is coming with me of course, I believe I made a promise." Tony smiled wryly. "So Nebula, something you wanna say to Lokes? You might not be able to see him in a while."
"Well." Nebula commented in her usual dead pan voice. "Loki, I no longer entirely despise you."
And Loki let out a laughter. "Hahaha! Well Nebula, that is the nicest compliment I ever heard coming from you!"
Amused Tony shook his head. "I still can't believe we made it home." he admitted. "All though… I am still not entirely sure what we came home to." he admitted looking up. "I mean, it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be but… I am also really afraid. It is bad in ways I didn't even think of."
Lokis smile faltered and he nodded. "Aye… Asgard." he turned back to the moon. "What am I going to find?" he asked.
"You'll figure it out Lokes. You made it this far." Tony stated also looking at the moon. "Erhm, just to be clear. That moon isn't hollow right?" he asked as he pointed. "And it's inhabited right? Please dear god."
Loki smirked. "I believe it is now five thousand years since the last Light Elves left their old colony up there."
Tony spewed his drink, then he looked at Loki. "Was that a joke?" he asked.
"What do you think?" Loki asked.
"I don't know that's why I'm asking!" Tony replied and Loki chuckled as he shook his head.
"There has been a few colonies on your moon in the past." Nebula then informed. "But Loki is right, it's long before you were alive Tony. It's inhabited."
"Shesh." Tony shook his head. "Next time I ask, just say no and don't let me know these things. I got issues enough." he stated taking another sip from his soda.
Loki shook his head. "Just… try and enjoy yourself Tony. You earned it."
"Yeah?" Tony asked. "You too Loki, don't let anybody give you shit. And Nebula, try to relax. Have a good time."
"I don't have good times Tony." Nebula replied.
"Well, time to learn I suppose." Tony commented in a small smile. "Time to move on."