Someone tapped on Tony's shoulder but he ignored them. The team knew that, when he was working on something, Tony was not to be disturbed. His music drowned out any words the person might have said and he continued to work. After a few moments Tony felt the person step away. But then his music flipped to classical without warning, he jumped.
"What the hell?"
Tony stopped what he was doing and swung around. Loki smirked at him.
"What do you want?"
"It seems that I have to remind you about the gala you invited me to."
Tony frowned and looked at the time.
"Oh, whoops. Alright, meet me at ground level in fifteen minutes."
After changing Tony entered the lobby. Loki leaned against the doorway, wearing a suspiciously familiar outfit. Tony eyed the green scarf.
"Isn't that the same thing you wore when you…"
He trailed off and Loki grinned.
"Perhaps, but what does it matter, I like it."
Tony sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Whatever, let's just go."
00000
"You did not mention it was at a museum."
Loki muttered as the two of them stood among a crowd of well dressed people.
"I forgot, but why, is that a problem? There might be some stuff on you."
"Human history is hardly accurate, your ancestor's created ridiculous stories."
"So you don't actually have an eight-legged horse as your kid?"
Loki gave him a crooked grin but said nothing. Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Alright, changing the subject. Umm…look there's food."
As they walked something caught Loki's eye through the mass of people. He quickly diverted course. Tony noticed and began winding his way through the crowd, towards Loki.
"Next time, give me a warning before you wander off. What are you looking at?"
Tony peered around Loki, who had bent over to examine a circular tablet. Loki's eyebrows knit together as he frowned.
"This artifact…is not Midgardian."
"Well, what is it?"
Loki placed a hand on the glass surrounding the tablet. There was a soft popping sound and Loki swiftly removed the glass.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Tony hissed, he glanced around nervously.
"I'm getting a closer look, obviously. This seems familiar, but I cannot place it."
Loki murmured as he flipped the tablet over, it was covered in small runes.
"Put it back. You're not supposed to do that."
Tony shifted to block Loki from view.
"What would they do, imprison me?"
Tony was about to reply, then someone tapped on his shoulder. He turned back slowly, a large security guard stared at them suspiciously.
"Oh! Er-can I help you?"
Tony grinned casually at the man, who was attempting to look at Loki.
"Sirs, what are you doing?"
The guard turned back to Tony.
"Nothing we were just-"
"Tony, what are you rambling about?"
Loki turned, stopping abruptly when he saw the guard. He took a step back, his grip tightening on the tablet. Suddenly there was a burst of white light and a whip like cracking sound. The tablet fell out of Loki's hand, shattered, as he inhaled sharply.
"Wha-"
Loki's hand shone the same color as the previous light. Tony and the guard watched as the light crept up Loki's arm. People around them were staring to take notice, jostling to either get away, or get a closer look. Loki locked eyes with Tony and grabbed him. Suddenly Tony's vision went white, a strange sensation rushed through him, and he felt his feet leave the ground.
00000
Tony landed on all fours, the first thing he registered was the cold.
Holy shit, what happened?"
Tony looked around, the two of them were in some sort of cave, Loki stood by its entrance, peering out. He turned back to Tony, looking thoughtful.
"Well, this is all interesting."
Loki walked over to Tony and offered him a hand.
"Did you do that on purpose?"
Tony asked as he was hoisted up. Loki glanced at his previously glowing hand.
"No, this is the artifact's doing."
Shivering, Tony nodded.
"Do you know what exactly it did?"
"It seems to have sent us to Jotunhiem."
Loki muttered quietly, Tony sighed.
"Great, it sent us to another world, wonderful."
"But we can get out. There is a passageway between realms that leads to Asgard, from there we can return to Earth."
Loki brightened as he spoke.
"Well, that's good at least. Let's get going, it's to cold to stay here any longer than we have to."
"Oh, you are cold, of course. Here, take my jacket."
Loki handed Tony his jacket and scarf, then snapped his fingers. The normal clothes were replaced by his armor. Tony grumbled, wishing he had his suit. They set off into the barren tundra.
"So where are we going, exactly? Where is this passage?"
The wind howled past them as they trekked through the snow.
"It is located in their palace. But do not worry, the ice giants are in…disarray at the moment, it will be simple to sneak in."
"That would be more reassuring if you didn't sound so uneasy."
Loki gave him a dark look but said nothing. They soon reached an impressive structure that rose out of the frozen ground. Something moved at its base and Loki pulled Tony around a corner.
"Going through the front could still prove dangerous, this way is safer."
They crept along for a short amount of time, then Tony heard something odd and frowned.
"Did you-"
Loki swiftly moved to look for the origin of the sound, Tony followed. There was a steep hill, which Loki scaled easily, Tony lagged behind, getting stuck in the snow. By the time Tony caught up with Loki, he was winded.
"Hey you waited for me…"
Tony trailed off when he saw Loki's expression. The god seemed equal parts shocked and uncertain. Then the sounds started again, Tony looked down at where Loki was fixated. A baby lay, crying, on the rock face near them. Tony frowned as he noticed the child's color. Then a different sound came from the side. Loki shoved him back and the two of them slid partway down the hill.
"Loki, what-"
"Silence."
Loki hissed before turning back and attempting to hear what was happening. They could faintly make out a man's voice from above.
"You must be…What to do with you…Yes, you could bring us peace…but I cannot take you as you are…ah, better."
The wind picked up and any remaining words were lost. Tony glanced at Loki, who seemed to stare off, lost in thought. The god looked even paler than normal and his eyes wandered.
"Umm…Loki?"
Tony spoke uncertainly. Loki's gaze focused on him and he took a shaky breath.
"This is far more complicated than I had realized."
"What do you mean?"
Loki ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes.
"I believe…that the artifact not only sent us to another realm, it also sent us to another time."
Tony's eyes widened at Loki's words.
"What, how do you know?"
Loki gave Tony a tired look.
"I believe that man was Odin and that, the…child was…me."
Loki's voice wavered.
"Oh, I'm sor…now what?"
"I need time to clear my mind, time to think."
AN: Like I promised, I gave it to you quickly. Now things are actually happening, yay. What do you think, I would love to hear from you all. The next chapter will be up, maybe, in a couple days.