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"Do you like it?" Haruven asked as he, Thor, Sam, Dean and Castiel entered the remodeled Starborn Café. The first floor was transformed into a huge lobby. There were couches and armchairs tactically placed around the room with a few tables, and the clock Thor gifted Haruven with now rested above one of the two fireplaces that were in the room.
"It's bigger than it was, that's for sure," Dean muttered and Haruven chuckled.
"Wait 'til you see the rest." He walked through the room towards the door to the left. A staircase led to the upper floor and once they were there Haruven opened the first door to the right. They entered and whistled.
"It's much bigger than it was," Sam said as they looked around.
"Surprising what you can do with magic, is it not? I stretched the space as far as it could go without the danger of it all collapsing in on itself," Haruven explained as he led them to the first door on the left. "I made it so that each of the doors in the hallway led to three to four bedroom apartments. There is a self-restocking fridge in every room that will supply you with different sorts of food every day. I tried to make it as comfortable as possible."
"That's a lot of magic," Castiel commented as he looked around one of the rooms. He supposed they were all the same; painted in gentle brown colors with a king sized bed and a wardrobe, with an artificial window.
"It took a lot of magic, yes," Haruven admitted as they all gathered in front of him and Thor who had his arms around Haruven's waist. The God of Thunder looked around and nodded in approval, although he missed the simplicity of Haruven's loft and the living room in which they had spent many nights talking and getting to know one another.
"The fourth door leads to the bathroom?" Sam asked.
"Yes. Each 'apartment' has its own bathroom. It took a lot out of me to make it all this way, but at least we'll have a place for everyone to stay in," Haruven said and gifted them all with a small smile. "No matter how many people come we will have a place for them."
"Won't it be suspicious if many people start coming?" Castiel asked.
"I placed a few Notice-Me-Not charms around the place. No one will get suspicious," Haruven said, and the three hunters nodded.
"We shall leave you to settle here. Sif and the others should join you shortly," Thor said, and the three nodded.
"I'll contact the Angels immediately," Castiel said, and Haruven nodded at him.
"Thank you, Castiel. I'll call you if we need you, alright?"
"Take care," Sam said, and a moment later Haruven and Thor disappeared. "Let's get to it. We need to do some research."
"Research on what? We know what we're facing," Dean said, wrinkling his nose at the mere mention of research.
"We know we're facing something called the Chitauri. Besides, you need to call Bobby and tell him everything. He needs to starts calling in favors," Sam said, and Dean groaned.
"Do you know what he'll do to me? He'll chew me out!"
"At least it will be over the phone." Dean pouted at Castiel.
"You're awfully supportive," he grumbled and followed his lover into their new room, ignoring Sam's laughter. Dean closed the door once he and Castiel were in, and walked over to the bed where Castiel was already sitting.
"He will be happy to hear from you," Castiel said and Dean smirked when he saw that his lover's eyes were closed. He walked over to Castiel and kneeled in front of him. "Dean, what are you doing?" Castiel opened his eyes to look down at Dean. The hunter placed his hands on Castiel's knees, and slowly dragged them up. He leaned forward and kissed Castiel lovingly, smirking against the former Angel's lips when Castiel reached up, and fisted his hands in Dean's short hair.
The kiss soon grew more passionate, and when Dean abandoned Castiel's lips to trail open mouthed kisses down his chin and neck, Castiel sighed and slowly started to lean back.
"We have a lot to do, Dean."
"M-hm..." Dean hummed as he unbuttoned Castiel's shirt, kissing down his chest. Castiel sighed and arched when Dean's hand brushed over his awakening member.
"Dean?"
"Hm?"
"Dean!" the hunter smirked and bit lightly on the skin just above the waistband of Castiel's pants, knowing that his Angel wouldn't be able to deny him for much longer.
"Yes, Cas?" he asked as he unbuttoned Castiel's pants and pulled them down together with his boxers.
"You are insatiable."
Dean took a gentle hold of Castiel's already hard length, tugging on it leisurely with eyes pointedly locked on Castiel's face. His own pants become too tight when Castiel moaned and arched off the bed, thighs quivering as he parted his legs invitingly.
"We have work to…" Castiel's words faded into a needy moan when Dean's finger brushed against his entrance, and the hunter worked quickly with his clothes.
"I haven't touched you for a while." Dean climbed over Castiel. The blue eyed man started to crawl backwards towards the middle of the bed, his overcoat and shirt getting in the way. Dean grabbed Castiel's hips and pulled him towards himself, looming over the slightly smaller man with a leering smirk. "Where do you think you're going?" he growled, and leaned over his lover to pull him into a passion filled kiss. Castiel moaned into Dean's mouth, and Dean thrust his hips forward, producing some friction between their flushed bodies. "Damn it. This won't last long," he growled.
"Then start already," Castiel murmured, nibbling on the sharp line of Dean's chin.
"That's one of the reasons I love you." Dean flipped Castiel over, and the former Angel moaned when he felt his lover's tongue against his entrance.
"Dean – hurry – please…" not able to resist his lover, Dean leaned over him. He wrapped his arms around Castiel and pulled him up, quickly getting rid of what remained of Castiel's clothes after he dug around his pockets for the tube of lube he had gotten used to carrying on himself at all times.
With Castiel resting back against Dean, and Dean's hand working his lover's member slowly, Castiel only faintly heard the sound of the tube popping open, hardly aware of Dean cursing under his breath as he covered his own aching length with the gooey substance, before he brought his fingers to Castiel's entrance.
"Fuck…" Dean pressed out through his teeth as he pushed one digit inside the tight heat of his lover's channel, his cock twitching as he quickly prepared Castiel for something much bigger than his fingers.
Castiel let go of a needy moan when Dean impaled him on his rock hard member, and a shiver shook his body when the Hunter buried his face between his shoulder blades. Dean wrapped his left arm around Castiel's waist, the other pumping his angel's length hurriedly, and started to move. Soon enough both were reduced to moans, groans and grunts, as the air became heavy with the smell of their sweat.
"Damn it, Cas!" Dean grunted, pushed Castiel on all fours and leaned over him.
"Dean!" Castiel gasped and his hands fisted in the soft covers. He arched closer to his lover when Dean grabbed his member again. Their rhythm became frantic and soon enough they came with each other's names on their lips. They collapsed on the bed, and Dean pulled Castiel against his chest.
"You'll do just about anything to avoid calling Bobby, won't you?" Castiel muttered and Dean chuckled. He kissed Castiel's shoulder before he nuzzled his cheek against Castiel's soft hair, and hugged him tightly.
"I'll do just about anything to have you with me," Dean murmured and Castiel only smiled.
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"There you are!" Pepper called out as Haruven and Thor appeared in the living room. She hugged Haruven when they walked over to them and Ven hugged her back tightly.
"It's good to see you again, Pepper," he said when they parted and Pepper hugged Thor.
"It's good to see the both of you," she said. Thor and Haruven walked over to the closest armchair and Thor took a seat before he pulled Haruven into his lap. "Sif and the Warrior Three just left."
"I hope they won't have any trouble finding Starborn Café," Haruven commented and Pepper giggled.
"I've taken Sif there a few days back," Pepper said. "She wanted to see it."
"Then we have nothing to worry about. Among the four of them she is the only one who knows her way around," Thor said and everyone either chuckled or laughed at that.
"What is our next course of action?" Steve asked.
"I need to start on that enchantment as soon as possible," Haruven said. "We need as many able fighters as possible, and I met quite a few during my time at Starborn."
"Everything will be alright," Bruce said. "I have no doubt that everyone will answer your call."
Haruven looked at Thor when the God of Thunder squeezed his jean clad thigh. "They will answer, min stjarna." (my star)
"I don't know, Thor. I just…"
"Don't start that," Tony interrupted Ven. "Whether you want to admit it or not, you've done a lot of people a favor."
"I just…"
"You're a good man," Clint voiced what everyone else was thinking. "You'll see. Once the need arises everyone will gather."
"Clint is right," Natasha agreed. "This will be a war for Earth. We will all fight to save it."
Haruven smiled as he looked around. "I guess I'm just worried," he admitted and looked at Thor when the God of Thunder reached up and pushed a strand of Haruven's hair that escaped his high ponytail behind his ear.
"We hadn't sparred in a while. Maybe it will help you relax," Thor suggested.
"Later. I should start on those runes," Ven murmured and stood up.
"Where will you do it?" Bruce asked.
"I need to do them in the middle of the highest place in the tower. That way the magic will work better."
"Do it on the top of the tower then. No choppers but ours land there either way." Tony said, and Haruven nodded at him.
"Would you mind if I watched?" Bruce asked, and Haruven chuckled.
"No, I wouldn't, but you would need to be very quiet and still." Bruce nodded excitedly.
"I'll join you," Natasha said.
"Me too!" Pepper hopped up excitedly.
"Alright. Come with me. I might as well start right away," Haruven laughed and they made their way to the closest elevator.
Once they were gone, Thor, Steve, Tony and Clint gathered around the bar, while Tony handed out drinks.
"He really doubts himself," Steve commented after a few moments.
"He does," Thor agreed as he cradled the glass of scotch in his hand. "He is a good man. He fought many battles, and saved many people, but he simply does not believe that anyone owes him anything. He believes that it was his job to fight."
"It's quite strange," Clint said. "We all do this for one reason or another, but I don't believe I ever met anyone who fought for the whole world just because they believed it's their duty."
"That is Haruven," Thor chuckled. "I do not believe there is anyone in the world quite like him."
"And there isn't, my friend," Tony said clapped Thor's shoulder. "You've caught yourself a one of a kind deal."
"I do believe you are wrong there, my friend. It was he that caught me."
Tony, Steve and Clint chuckled at that, and Steve placed a hand on Thor's shoulder. "You just might be right about that."
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"Where do you want us?" Bruce called out to Haruven while The wizard walked around the platform, trying to decide where he would start with the runes. He looked over at them and flicked his wrist. Everyone gaped when a comfortable couch appeared behind them.
"Now that's handy,." Pepper said.
"I know. Ever since Thor and I bonded, I can control and apply my magic better than I ever could." Bruce, Pepper and Natasha took seats and looked up just as Ven stopped in the middle of the platform and nodded. "This is it." A moment later a spear appeared in his hand and its sharp tip glimmered in the Sun. "Just remember, don't talk and don't move too much. If the pressure becomes too much for you, leave immediately, alright?" he received confirming answers and smiled at them.
They watched as he closed his eyes and impaled the spear into the ground. A wave of pure, unrefined magic spread over them, and their breaths hitched in their throats.
Haruven's eyes snapped open, and his hair and clothes started shifting with the wind that danced around him. In what seemed like a trans, he started to move. He shifted the spear constantly as his magic danced around him. Every time he would move on from a rune he finished, it would start shining emerald green.
Pepper, Natasha and Bruce could only stare. They were hardly breathing. The Sun started to set as Haruven slowly finished his work. He stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The spear disappeared and he looked at his bewildered audience.
"One more thing to do," he commented in a slightly strained whisper and walked into the middle. There was a smaller circle in the very center of the platform. Four lines spread out East, South, West and North from it, and at their ends they were connected by a big circle. Haruven stepped into the central circle, clasped his hands in front of his chest, closed his eyes and bowed his head.
In that moment every single rune came to life. Green shining runes started to rise into the air, slowly circling in perfect form around Haruven. He was muttering something neither of the three could understand, his voice growing steadily stronger and louder.
In the next moment green light blinded the three and the pressure that was slowly building up exploded. They managed to open their eyes in time to see a circle of green magic spread over the sky and into the four winds.
"Haruven!" they cried out when the man stumbled and fell to his knees. They didn't even move when Thor came out of the elevator, rushing over to his kneeling lover.
"You've overworked yourself," Thor chastised gently as he kneeled beside Haruven with his hands resting on Haruven's shoulders.
"I might have, but it's done. Now we can only wait." Ven gifted Thor with a small, sleepy smile.
Thor sighed and shook his head. "You will be the death of me." He muttered and gathered Haruven into his arms.
"Is he alright?" Pepper asked when Thor walked over to them. He looked down only to realize that his wizard fell asleep with his head resting on Thor's strong chest.
"Worry not. He is merely tired. I shall take him to our room. You three should rest as well," Thor spoke, gifting them all with a reassuring smile.
"We're fine," Bruce said. "Take him to your room. There's nothing more any of us can do but wait and prepare."
Thor nodded at them and smiled. "Sleep well. I shall see you in the morning." They smiled at him and Thor entered the elevator. Once the door closed he sighed and looked down at his sleeping Bonded. Haruven sighed in his sleep and nuzzled closer to him. Thor smiled as the door opened and he walked over to their room.
"Thor?" Haruven muttered sleepily as Thor laid him down on the bed.
"What is it, sváss?" (beloved) he took a seat beside Haruven.
"Lay with me."
"We must change."
Haruven sighed, and a moment later they were both dressed in nothing but pajama bottoms. Thor snorted, shook his head, and lied down beside Haruven. He pulled a blanket over the both of them, and Haruven nuzzled into Thor's strong, firm chest.
"Sleep well, love," Haruven mumbled, already half-asleep and Thor kissed his forehead.
"You as well, min líf; you as well." (my life)
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"Has anyone seen Thor and Ven?" Bruce rushed into the dining room of the tower, making everyone in it look up at him.
"Aren't they in their room?" Tony asked with a spoon hanging from his mouth.
"If they were in their room I wouldn't be here asking if anyone has seen them," Bruce drawled, hopping in his place in more than obvious annoyance.
"And I just told you that we didn't see them," Tony returned in kind and went back to his cereals. Bruce groaned and walked over to the table.
"Where could they have gone?" Pepper asked, stirring her tea as she closed the papers she has been reading.
"Maybe they went to Starborn," Natasha offered, sipping on her second cup of coffee in the past hour.
"They would have said something!" Bruce snapped, almost flinging a pitcher of orange juice off of the table with the way he flailed his arms in annoyance.
"Maybe they just wanted some time for themselves," Steve muttered sleepily, nodding off over his cup of coffee, and Bruce glared at him.
"They would have said something," he growled.
"Don't worry about them!" Clint grinned at Bruce, pushing a cup of coffee over to the fuming Gamma-scientist. "Thor would never allow anything to happen to Haruven, and they'll come back quickly enough." Bruce huffed and glared at the scrambled eggs and bacon Pepper placed in front of him.
"I still think they should have left a message before they left," he mumbled and everyone exchanged glances full of fondness. Who would have thought that their resident time-bomb was such a mother hen?
"You're a bigger mother hen than Ven is," Natasha spoke under her breath.
"What did you say?" Bruce asked, and Natasha smiled at him.
"Nothing!" she stuffed a piece of bread in her mouth. "Absolutely nothing."
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"This is it."
Thor didn't exactly know where they were or how they got there. He only knew that it was beautiful. The valley they were in had a small pond in the middle with a huge waterfall. There were trees all around them, and the air was hot and moist.
"This place is beautiful." Thor said, and Haruven smiled.
"I don't think many people know about it. I discovered it during a mission some years back. A group of Death Eaters was hiding 50 miles north from here. One of them escaped and I chased him for several days. I failed to catch him because rain started to fall, and I lost his trail. I found this place then. Ever since then I've been coming here when I wanted some alone time to think."
Thor turned to look at Haruven. The wizard was in a pair of blue jeans and white snickers, with a white button up shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was down for once, and he was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Thank you for bringing me here, to your safe haven." Thor walked over to Haruven. The wizard smiled at him lovingly and took his hand in his. They walked over to the lake and Thor raised an eyebrow when Haruven took his shirt off.
"Come. The water here is always refreshing," Haruven said, shrugged off his shirt and pants and jumped head first into the water. Thor smirked, took his clothes off and followed after him. After he dove out of the cool water he looked around and found Haruven a few feet away from him. He looked like a water nymph, with eyes glowing and hair floating around him.
Thor swam over to Ven, wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him against his hard body.
Haruven chuckled and wrapped his arms around Thor's neck. They shared a chaste kiss, and Thor smiled against Haruven's lips.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" Thor muttered and rested his forehead against Haruven's.
"I could ask you the same thing," Haruven said. Thor snorted and kissed him lightly again.
"You are too perfect for me, my beautiful Haruven; min kveykva." (my light)
"I beg to differ," Haruven laughed, nibbling on Thor's bottom lip.
"I love you so much, min forlog." (my destiny) Haruven smiled, and leaned in to kiss Thor lovingly, entangling dexterous fingers in blond tresses.
"I love you just as much, my God of Thunder."
Thor kissed Ven again and his hands traveled lower until they settled on Haruven's thighs. The wizard yelped when Thor hefted him up and made him wrap his legs around Thor's waist. He looked at Thor with slight surprise when his back met the hard, cold surface of a stone. His surprise melted into passion when he felt Thor's fingers against his entrance, and Thor kissed Ven lovingly as he started to prepare him, groaning when Haruven rocked against him, losing himself in the pleasure. He moaned when Thor entered him slowly, and started muttering words in Old Norse Haruven couldn't understand, but there was so much love and passion in Thor's voice that he didn't need to understand them either.
"Please – please, Thor – I can't…"
"Ykkar lysta vera mín bjóda." (Your wish is my command.) Thor braced himself against the rock, and quickened the pace. He growled when he felt Haruven's nails pierce the skin of his shoulders. His mind was blown with the assault of heat and tightness, and he bit into Haruven's shoulder as he came, while Haruven moaned his release. They sagged against the rock, enjoying the peace of this little safe haven of theirs.
"I love you, Haruven Sigurdsson," Thor whispered, and felt Haruven shiver against him. "More than you could possibly fathom."
"I love you too, Thor Odinson," Haruven whispered, and buried his face in Thor's shoulder. "I love you too."
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Sometimes you just need to let go even though the clock is ticking, don't you think?