A/N: Time frame wise, this is set 8 years after Burning Curve, for reference. :)
So updates might be a little slow as I deal with some big personal stuff. If you're interested you can read about it at my Tumblr. megaranoelle . tumblr . com
I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
Fay slowly pushed Sander's shirt down over the reactor and looked at him. "You want to run that by me again? You died?"
Sander opened his mouth to try and respond, even if he didn't know what he was going to say, when someone else started talking. "He was trying to protect Key and Dad." Sander blinked and looked at Tomas when he spoke up. Tomas caught his eyes for a second. "And then when it happened he started to apologize to us. He took on the Creator of the Universe, and he apologized to us."
Sander put a hand on Fay's arm and they stood up. "Thanks, Tom. We'll be right back." The couple left the room and Tomas idly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, I think that that went better than expected." Kaia and Emma looked at Nathan when he spoke. "I don't hear any yelling yet, so that much be good."
"I think I've changed my mind," Tony said, looking at Kaia now. "I'm okay that you two don't have any kids.
Fay sat down on the couch first, watching Sander as he tried not to pace. He was nervous because he didn't know how something like this could end. "You'd feel more comfortable if you sit down," she told him. "You get more agitated when you keep moving around."
"I know, but it's hard," Sander puffed out. Letting out a breath he sat down next to her.
"We can shift if that'll help," she offered.
"It would, but I can't right now." He felt her hands take the strap out of his hair to let it fall loose. A slightly larger hand started to run through his hair, gently moving him to lay his head down in a lap. "It feels weird to shift right now. I have to get used to the arc in my chest, and how it feels with my magic."
"Do you want to talk about it?" A deeper voice asked him. "About the details at least. I'd still like to know the basics, cause that's a bit of shock to hear that your partner died, and was dead for a couple of days."
"Yeah," Sander said, relaxing against the larger hand of Fay. "I mean, I guess Tomas kind of glossed over the details of how it happened pretty well."
"He did defend you pretty fiercely." Fay pushed his hand under the collar of Sander's shirt, lightly rubbing around the reactor. Sander tried not to tense, but when Fay didn't stop he was able to slowly relax about the touch.
"I guess I was supposed to go to Valhalla, but Adir made a different decision. I guess I technically got this the same way that Dad got his, because those are just the kind of enemies this family makes." Fay snorted a little as he started to massage Sander's scalp. "Then there was a team effort between my parents to find me, and then the Norns were able to bring me back."
"If they hadn't of been able to bring you back, would I have had to find out in the papers about you dieing?" Fay asked, and Sander frowned a little.
"Well, it would be funny to see the reaction of my family when you would have told them that we were together." He grunted a little when Fay pinched a bit of his neck. "I would have asked for a favor, and I would have been well within my rights to get it with the way that I died."
"I guess I feel special knowing that you would have used a favor on me." Sander smiled a little, hearing the smirk in Fay's voice. He was about to say something else when he heard some small shuffling coming down the hallway. Sitting up a little he looked over and saw Melisande coming towards them, her hand dragging her stuffed fox in one hand.
The little girl looked up and saw her brother and grinned. "San!" She started to hopped a little before hurrying over to him. It seemed she hadn't noticed Fay yet as San picked her up when she got close.
"Hey munchkin. Have a good nap?" She nodded as she leaned against his chest a little, wiping at her eyes, clearly having just woken up. "I've got a treat for you. There's gonna be a guest for dinner tonight." Melisande blinked then looked over and saw Fay, smiling gently at her. "This is Fay, munchkin."
Her eyes widened a little and she turned to face Fay. "You're Fay?" She asked, a certain hint of awe in her voice at finally being able to meet her brothers bestest friend. "I'm Melli." She grinned, puffing her chest up a little. "I'm San's sister. We have a smaller sister now, and her name is Key." Sander couldn't help but smile as she instantly started babbling to Fay. "Can I sit next to you at dinner? San and I like to cook together, but not today. He got Daddy's night light, so he got tired."
"Melli," San put a hand over her mouth, chuckling. "You have to wait for someone to answer your question before you keep asking them." He yelped and pulled his hand back when Melisande licked his palm. She giggled and grinned.
"Sir, Miss Key is waking up from her nap," JARVIS informed them and fay blinked a little, not having encountered the AI before.
"Thanks Jay, we'll go get her." Sander picked up Melisande and set her on her feet. "Wanna go introduce Key to Fay?" Her eyes lit up as she nodded. Melli reached out and took Fay's hand as they headed down the hall.
"She told me her name," Melisande told the taller Fay. "When she was still in Daddy's stomach, but we call her Key."
"She must have thought that you were special to tell you her name first," Fay told the excited little girl as they followed Sander. "And I would be honored to have you sir next to me at dinner." Melisande grinned up at him. "How about you sit between Sander and I? That way we can both sit next to you."
"Watch out, you'll spoil her," Sander chuckled as he opened the door to Key's new room. He walked over to the crib and looked down to see her eyes were open and aware. She gurgled some bubbles with her lips as Sander picked her up, her hand wrapped around one of his fingers when she was settled in his arms.
Fay looked over at him and smiled at the sight. When Sander looked her his smile turned to a leer and Sander snorted. "You look good holding a baby."
"Not before dinner Fay, we don't have time." Melisande blinked looking between them. She had seen her Dads give each other the same look and smiled a little.
"You two are in love." The two men blinked and looked down at Melisande who was grinning now. "You two have the same looks as Dad and daddy, and they tell me it's cause they love each other. Are you two gonna marry?" Fay leaned down in front of her, smiling a little, and put a finger to her mouth, and she gave a muffled squeal, hopping up and down. The two men chuckled and smiled.