Introductions with the Captain had actually gone a whole lot better than he had been expecting. Not that he'd been expecting death and destruction or anything. It was just sort of nice and weird that everything was so civil. Nevertheless he was now free to find the people he truly wanted to see.

Tony strolled through the compound in the general direction that he knew people to be in. They were all, most likely, either around the airfield or in one of the labs.

When Tony saw a flicker of blue out of the corner of his eye his smile widened and he turned towards it. Through the window he could see a wild Nebula tending to the mechanism that controlled the door to her jet.

From what she had told him a few days ago, the door was sticking and taking longer to open. Which really started to grate on you when you were in space for long periods of time. She had subtly asked for his help in that roundabout way of hers. She never liked to directly ask for help. It went against a lot of her fiercely independent principles. But Tony had begun to suss out when she actually wanted it.

In the past only Rocket had fixed up the ships. He hadn't trusted anyone else near them. But after a couple of years him and Nebula had grown extremely close. Being the only ones left to remember their family could do that.

Tony pushed his way through the glass doors still grinning. "Neytiri! My favourite blue alien how have you been?"

Nebula sighed and rolled her eyes at the nickname. But Tony knew she didn't mind it. She would definitely let him know if she did. Then she dropped her hand away from the door and made her way over to him.

"You know I finally found out where you got that ridiculous name from. Your Rhodey showed me the motion picture. That character does not look anything like me." She said in that breathy rasp of hers.

Tony gasped in mock insult. "Platypus showed you Avatar before I got to? That traitor," The corners of her mouth ticked up which was how Nebula grinned. "Also there aren't too many blue aliens to choose from and she's definitely the most badass. So I thought it fit you like a glove."

Nebula looked away as if suddenly shy. She still wasn't sure how to take compliments, having never really gotten them before. A fact that made Tony incredibly angry and sent him on a mission to compliment her at every turn. A mission that may have given him a few bruises when he inevitably annoyed her to death.

"Though it would be advantageous to be as tall as her. An extra metre of height could prove useful in fights." Nebula joked.

"Hey, if you ever want to work on some extendo-limbs I'm always here to help. Actually that sounds awesome, I've already come up with three different ways that could work with your current setup." he said, his thoughts already a mile ahead.

Maybe I could even include a grappling hook. How cool would that be?

Nebula lifted her hand up and looked down at them with complete seriousness. She turned it over a few times with pursed lips.

"Maybe" she said "I think that might be fun."

Nebula had really come out of her shell over the years. She used to be incredibly self-conscious about the cybernetics in her body. To her they proved that she was inferior and they were always forced upon her.

But now she was free of all that and able to do her own improvements. Improvements that were only for her. Because she wanted them and no one else. It had been liberating for her.

"It is very good to see you Neb," he said.

It had been a fair few months since she had been on Earth. She'd only returned recently due to the sudden appearance of a plan.

"It is good to see you too Tony," Then she leaned forward with deliberate slowness and wrapped her arms around his middle.

Tony's smile grew a little wider and he reciprocated the hug. Not too tightly though, he knew she did not like the sensation of being trapped. She liked being able to know she could back out of it at any moment she wanted.

The fact that he could hug her at all was a testament to how close they had grown. Nearly dying in space can create quite the bond it seemed.

Nebula backed out of the hug first and crossed her arms.

"Right, I'm still on meet and greet duties. So plenty of people I still need to kiss." Nebula rolled her eyes again.

"So I will leave you to your repairs. Which may be a faulty fuel line rather than the boosters." he said, offering her help.

Nebula turned back towards the door with a contemplative frown. "Hmm, I think you may be right."

"How about I come back later with a whole case of juice and you can tell me about space?" He asked.

"Make it blueberry juice and I may consider it"

"Done. FRIDAY make some orders please. I think that fancy raw vegan place is still doing business."

"Right away Boss,"

So he gave Nebula one last wave and made his way back into the building. He didn't have to journey far to find his next favourite people. They were in the large training area turned research lab. Considering the amount of power and space they needed for this plan they'd had to take over the communal space. Not that anyone was really complaining. No one had been 'training' for a good while now.

He heard them before he saw them. They were loudly discussing where to move equipment. Followed by the sounds of something very heavy hitting the ground.

Tony turned the corner to find Bruce, Thor and Rhodey laying some of the base foundations for their Time machine. That still doesn't sound right no matter how much I say it. Time machine should not be a rational thought. Rhodey's mechanical legs had been through quite the number of improvements which allowed him to carry heavier loads than your average joe. Thor was Thor. And Bruce was always in constant Hulk-Mode these days which meant that those three were the ones doing the heavy lifting.

"That better not be the sound of expensive things breaking, my good man. It'll be coming straight out of your paycheck." Tony quipped to Rhodey.

Rhodey snorted and straightened up. The metal grating he had dropped looked robust enough that it was undoubtedly fine anyway. His metal legs whirred as he turned towards Tony.

"You don't pay me anyway" Rhodey said with a smirk

Tony nodded "You're right. I just buy you everything you need instead. If anything I'm your Sugar Daddy."

Rhodey laughed at that. "If you are my Sugar Daddy then you have been seriously slacking on the date nights. Where are my late night dinners or moonlit walks on the beach?"

"Well maybe if I was getting some sugar I'd be more inclined to treat you. But look at this, i've already asked for a kiss but instead all I get is nag, nag, nag." Tony mimed with his hand.

Rhodey smirked at him before grabbing his face and giving him a very forceful kiss right on the lips. It lasted several seconds but Rhodey eventually pulled away.

"How's that?" Rhodey said.

"Adequate," Tony said without missing a beat. "Carry on like that and I'll buy you a car."

"Make it a private jet and maybe I'll consider it."

"Damn Platypus you drive a hard bargain. But you're always worth it."

They both started laughing and Rhodey punched Tony on the arm. Tony always flirted with his friends. The best ones were the ones that flirted right back. Life was too short not to make suggestable comments to your friends.

It was something that always grated on Cap's nerves. Which obviously meant that he kept doing it.

"And where is my emerald beauty?" Tony turned to where Bruce was elbow deep into a pile of wires with his arms open wide.

A smile stretched across Bruce's face and he made to get up. Thor came passed carrying a large metal beam. His hair was significantly longer than when Tony last saw him. He paused, looking at Bruce appreciatively. He interrupted before Bruce could say anything.

"Hmm I'd say he was more peridot than emerald but that's just me" Thor said with a smile.

Bruce looked down at his hands and Tony could swear that the colour of his cheeks became a deeper green but that could have been a trick of the light.

"Thanks but I'm probably more of a forest green anyway." Bruce said.

"Don't undersell yourself babe you're better than a tree" Tony said. "Now where's my hug. I haven't seen you in a while.

Bruce mock sighed but stretched his arms out all the same. Tony wasted no time in hugging his incredibly green best friend. The height difference was almost comical. His arms barely made it around him. It felt like trying to hug a couch.

"My face is waaay too close to your crotch now that you're like 8ft tall." Tony said while stepping back.

"As if you're complaining" Bruce joked.

"No you're right. I am infinitely curious as to what mean green you could be packing."

Thor's laugh came from behind him. "That is forever seared into my memory."

Tony wheeled on Thor "Whoa What?!"

"How about we get back on topic here." said Bruce, looking rather flustered. "Getting the machine setup is probably a better use of our time."

"You are right Bruce, my apologies." said Thor.

Tony had to agree too. But he was desperate to find out more.

Thor turned back towards Tony. "It is good seeing you Stark. It has been too long."

He then gave him a very brief hug which may have winded Tony ever so slightly.

"You too buddy" he said when he got his breath back.

oOo

The next few weeks were like a whirlwind. Of planning and building and scrapping. Everyone would put forward a plan only for someone else to find more holes in it than swiss cheese. It felt like they had a time limit. Which was completely ridiculous because they literally had all of time at their fingertips. But it didn't stop the sense of urgency in everyone.

This was it. Bruce could feel it in his bones. What they were working on was huge and impossible. Yet Bruce couldn't help but feel like it was right. They were exactly where they needed to be doing what needed to be done. It was like he could taste it in the air.

Fate was finally turning in their favour.

Not that Bruce really gelled with the idea of Fate and predestination. His scientific mind always tried to rebel against those concepts.

But Thor was a big believer in all of it. There were a few nights when Thor had talked to him about Fate and the Norns. He believed that the whole universe was a great tapestry and fate was what weaved all their lives together.

Thor had seen that Bruce didn't see things the same way but he smiled all the same. A smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle and had Bruce feeling like butterflies were doing acrobatics in his stomach. If butterflies could even do such a thing.

Then Thor told him that it must have been Fate that brought him to Bruce. Thor landing in Sakaar was a billion-to-one chance. Surely something must have wanted Thor to find him.

Bruce didn't feel that he could argue with that.

It felt good to see Thor again. Bruce had always been sure to visit him in New Asgard as much as he could. Those first few years had been incredibly tough on the god. A fact that completely broke Bruce's heart.

The two of them had grown close since they escaped Sakaar. They had both been through great hardships and found comfort in one another. Now Bruce had always liked Thor. He was happy, loyal and hot as hell. What's not to like? It was only after they spent so long in just one another's company that Bruce realised he liked Thor.

They had spent months on the statesmen. Months where the air between them felt charged. Months where they got closer until it always felt as if some part of him was in contact with Thor. A hand on the back, the brush of an arm, knee touching knee. Every time it happened it felt like a flash of electricity across his skin that sent his heart racing.

At first he believed that it was just because he was the god of thunder. You know static and all that. But when he'd made a brief mention to Valkyrie she had laughed in his face.

"Oh big guy you got it bad" she'd grinned.

She was right. By god she was so right. It had reached a point where all he wanted to do was be near him and make him smile.

Loki had noticed his pining and obviously found it hilarious. The guy had tried to offer him "advice" which Bruce could guarantee was complete and utter bullshit.

"There's a dance that you have to learn…"

"...Jellied eels are his favourite and they are the perfect aphrodisiac…"

"...If you don't proclaim your love in the form of a song then he won't know that you are serious…"

It was a side to Loki that Bruce had never had the chance to see before. The one that revelled in truly fun mischief. The one that Thor had always spoken about. It was like he was a completely different person than the one Bruce had first met.

So Bruce had fallen for Thor. But he was certain that those feelings weren't reciprocated. The guy was a freaking god. A literal one. What could someone like Bruce offer to someone like that. He felt woefully inadequate and was sure that Thor would never look at him the same way.

But then something shifted between them and the touches became less accidental and more lingering. A hand resting on his thigh or cupping the back of his neck. Until Thor seemingly had enough of waiting and reached up to cradle his face. He looked down at Bruce with a heated gaze that made his breath stutter and placed a kiss on his lips.

They spent one glorious night together before it all went to shit. Before Thanos came and destroyed everything.

After they lost, Thor was broken in a way that he couldn't fix. He had lost everything in such a short space of time. His father, his home, his brother, his people. Hell, even his eye. Thor was a mess and secluded himself from everyone.

Anything the two of them might have been, had vanished with the snap of a finger.

The first couple of years were the worst for him. Bruce had made sure to stay in contact with Valkyrie so he knew how badly Thor was handling everything. But at the same time he knew that Thor was refusing to see anyone. It all reached a boiling point when even Valkyrie did not know how Thor was doing. The guy had been letting her see him before but eventually even that stopped.

That's when Bruce put his foot down and flew down to New Asgard himself. He barely recognised Thor when he finally saw him. Thor had gained quite a lot of weight and his hair and beard were scruffy in a way that Bruce knew he normally hated.

Thor had been angry to see him at first. Bruce was too much of a reminder of a happier time. But he refused to leave until he helped him. It took a while but Bruce liked to think that he slowed Thor's downward spiral and helped to pull him back out of it.

They may have lost their chance at a relationship but that didn't mean that they couldn't be there for one another.

Bruce was currently knee deep into the base of the quantum tunnelling generator. He didn't like calling it a time machine because it didn't feel quite right. Not when they technically weren't time travelling because space time didn't work that way. Instead it was technically like traveling to a different universe. They were going to be hopping between different worlds to return to this one.

The other universes that they would travel to had slightly different signatures. Different levels of background radiation that would indicate which one was which. Bruce and Tony had spent many late nights calculating that with FRIDAY. It would help them to return to them if anything were to go wrong.

It was those calculations that they were having trouble with. They would input them into the system but the numbers would keep reverting back to this world's signature. Which wasn't helpful at all because it basically rendered the machine inert. They couldn't time travel within this universe so the machine wouldn't start.

That meant that there was a lot of rewiring and reconnecting to do. Him and Tony had been there for quite a few hours now, working well into the night. It was a scientist thing; not being able to stop until you solved something. Both of them were bad influences on one another.

"I think something must be tripping the system when the numbers get above a certain threshold and it reverts back." Tony said, popping up out of a grate. He said to blink several times and rub his eyes in order to see straight. "Or it's giving out too much heat when it's searching for the other universes and it's tripping to cool back down. Either way I think we need to look at the breakers."

His newest arc reactor lay securely in the centre of his chest. Though he may no longer need it he still felt better having it with him. It also acted as a handy torch. He was covered in smears of oil and had several wires resting over his shoulder. He poured through them with a critical eye before snipping a yellow and red wire. With expert precision twisted the two ends together to form a new connection.

"Didn't we already pore through the breakers? They all seemed to be holding up fine." Bruce said, leaving his own pile of wires for now.

"Yeah but I just remembered that there were another set of circuit breakers at the edges of each individual section." Tony said, looking around the raised platform they were on.

Bruce's eyebrows furrowed. "Surely that's overkill right."

Tony spread his arms out, indicating to the machine. "This is an incredibly complex and incredibly untested machine. I would very much not like to accidentally explode us all."

"Touché" He couldn't really argue with that one.

"You do realise that the sun has risen don't you?" Came a deep voice from behind them.

Both of them spun around to come face to face with a smiling Thor. There was a plate piled high with steaming breakfast burritos in his left hand. Thor would often seek to "break his fast" with Bruce so it wasn't an unusual sight.

The sight of the sun however did throw Bruce off though. Surely they hadn't been working for that long.

Tony squinted up to the windows with a frown. "Huh, whaddaya know"

"Would you at least like some sustenance? I brought burritos" Thor said, waving the plate.

The smell had reached Bruce's nose and it was starting to get to him. One quick food break would probably be okay. Being this size he needed a whole lot more food than he used to.

"Give us a few minutes, Surf's Up. there's just a couple things I need to finish up on this end." Tony said

A part of Bruce wanted to grumble. Now that he'd seen the food he desperately wanted some. He looked longingly down at the plate in Thor's hand. But he resisted.

"Actually, while you're here do you think you could flip a few switches on the ole motherboard over there." Tony pointed

Thor nodded and made his way over to the machine. He placed the plate on a patch that had the least amount of buttons. Unbeknownst to him, the edge of it had accidentally activated a couple of them.

"Which ones?"

"Er just the three on the far left and the one in the middle with that smiley face drawn on it. Then just hit the red button." Thor followed Tony's instructions as he spoke.

"Shit or was it the blue button?" Tony mused to himself.

But it was already too late and Thor had activated the controls. The whole system started up with an ominous humming sound that only seemed to get louder with each second. The air around the platform began to vibrate violently and it felt as if it was electrified. A rainbow of colours shimmered around them, moving like a living organism.

Bruce and Tony jumped back fearfully and tried to climb out of the machine. They didn't even make it 2ft before the machine reached a fever pitch and they were swallowed up by the light.