"Do you think Loki would try to change the past?"
Thor turned indignantly to Clint, who quickly held up his hands in apology.
"No, I didn't mean it like that! I mean, would he try and stop himself from doing what he did? That would make life easier for all of us."
Rain drummed steadily against the windows, the team had returned from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s complex and were currently gathered together. Thor gazed out at the storm.
"I do not see why my brother would not…unless it would endanger Tony's life or his."
Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"What if we…wait no, that wouldn't work, never mind."
The team thought silently for a time.
"Do you think the energy spike when the tablet repaired itself was linked to them?"
Natasha spoke up after a while, standing up to retrieve the laptop with Jarvis's recorded readings. She sat back down, flipping the laptop open and scrolling through the data.
"Fury said that S.H.I.E.L.D. would send their readings to Jarvis, where are they."
Natasha continued on, clicking her tongue impatiently. Bruce shifted to sit beside her, she handed the laptop to him and he began to look over the data again.
"We know more now, but I still feel like we can't help. We don't know when they are, so even if one of us figures out how to use it, that would do nothing. The tablet's magic is beyond us and Asgard is unreachable. I feel like we're drowning in incompetence"
Bruce let out a frustrated sigh.
"It's not like they're helpless, Loki's probably already figured out all this by now and the two of them are working their way back."
00000
Chitauri chariots shot by, one veering erratically, being commandeered by Natasha. Another followed her, being manned by a horned figure. Loki watched as the two chariots rose. Then his exploded and Loki winced as a dull throb shot through his body.
"Alright, I'm incapacitated now, so I won't notice us. Let's go."
Then point Loki doubled over, unprepared, as pain went through his body in waves. Tony watched, concerned.
"What is it?"
But Loki waved a hand, straightening.
"Nothing, just…"
He glanced up at Stark Tower, a large green shape, the Hulk, leapt from its balcony. Loki grimaced before turning towards Tony, who was currently unrecognizable beneath a glamour. He nodded and they left the alleyway, staying out of sight as much as possible. Loki allowed Tony to lead, he knew the city better, and they slowly wove their way through the wrecked streets.
"Are you sure the tablets will do anything?"
Tony glanced back as the ducked into another alleyway to avoid a group of citizens being directed away by officers. Loki smirked grimly.
"Of course not, but it's all we have to go on."
Tony grimaced before they continued through the streets. As they turned a corner, a large group of Chitauri blocked their path. Tony stumbled back as Loki prepared to lose a blast of magic, then a circular object struck the first alien. Steve leapt in front of them, shield returning to him. He turned back to them for a moment.
"Get back!"
Tony and Loki back tracked quickly, ducking into an evacuated building. Loki checked their glamour for any flaws.
"So, that way is off limits."
Tony snickered, despite the situation and Loki broke into a grin. They stood there, relieved by their luck, for a few more minutes. Then a Chitauri chariot crashed outside and they jumped.
"Aah! Okay, we need to get moving."
They reached the museum without many more problems. The entrance to the museum was partially destroyed, rubble covering the doors. Tony glanced at Loki, who eyed the rubble critically.
"Can you do something about that?"
Loki nodded and stepped forward. As he prepared to move the rubble with magic, Tony glanced up just in time to see his suit rocketing towards the portal. Tony inhaled sharply as he disappeared through the portal.
"I…die for a minute, that's not going to do anything to me, is it?"
He turned quickly to Loki, who has suspended the rubble in the air. The note of panic in Tony's voice caused Loki to look back.
"I do not think so…what I have experienced was…lessened. I doubt you will die."
Loki quickly released the rubble and looked up at the portal. Suddenly any chariots in the air fell. A Leviathan pitched downwards. Then Tony wavered as his vision dimmed and his breathing slowed. Loki placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
"Tony, steady."
"Yeah, yeah…I just…damn…"
Loki frowned, concerned, keeping his hand on Tony's arm, glancing up as he watched the portal close, a small figure plummeted out of it. A moment later Loki looked down to catch Tony, whose knees had given out.
"Hold in there Tony, it will pass in a moment."
A faint roar echoed through the city and Tony gasped. He regained his breath as the suffocating feeling disappeared.
"Holy hell…"
Loki pulled him to his feet.
"Better?"
Tony grimaced but nodded. Loki glanced back at the tower for a long moment, before walking through the doors of the, partially destroyed, museum. Inside, many of the displays and artifacts lay on the floor, some shattered or tone. Loki stepped carefully over a shattered vase as he moved through the hall.
"You don't think it broke do you?"
Tony called out from behind.
"I doubt mortals could repair an artifact that possesses magic and have it still function, so no."
Loki stopped, frustrated, even discounting the rubble, the building looked distinctly different. He turned to Tony.
"If I did not know better, I would say this is not even the right place."
Tony glanced around at the intact parts of the building.
"They must have remodeled it when they rebuilt the place."
Loki scowled impatiently.
"Ridiculous, that only hinders us more."
As he spoke, Loki flicked his wrists and the tablet expanded into his hands. The artifact gave off a low hum, Loki arched an eyebrow, holding it out for Tony to hear.
"Well, that's new."
Loki watched the tablet warily, not wanting to activate it again. He turned and the hum dropped in intensity. After a moment Loki turned the other way and it picked up again. Loki broke into a grin.
"It appears to act as a compass."
Tony watched as Loki, holding the tablet aloft, moved through the room. A large mound of rubble blocked his path, but the hum was steady. Loki sighed and set the tablet down.
"I'm not sure how much more energy I can waste. It's quite lucky that I did not have to destroy those Chitauri, for I would not have the energy to do this now."
As he spoke, Loki slowly moved the rubble aside. He then spotted something among the stones and halted.
"I found it."
Tony quickly made his way over to Loki. The god now held both tablets in opposite hands, the hum had increased to a steady drone.
"Great, but…now what?"
Loki frowned, his gaze shifting between either artifact.
"They seem to desire connection, I suppose that is warranted. Twin creations separated for this long…shall I?"
Tony gazed uncertainly at the tablets as Loki looked over to him. He shrugged.
"It's our only option right now."
Loki nodded before gingerly setting one of the tablets down and crouching beside it. As he brought the other tablet closer a significant tug, almost magnetic, could be felt drawing the twin artifacts together. After a moment's hesitation, Loki placed one artifact on the other and jumped back.
There was a high, clear, note as the hum stopped and a bright, golden light flashed. When the noise and light faded Loki looked back at the artifacts. The tablets, although still distinctly two separate artifacts, had aligned as one. Loki glanced to Tony, who looked at the tablets with arched eyebrows.
"That was…less volatile than I expected."
Tony nodded and they stepped towards the artifacts. A distinct change was apparent at close range. The previously inert runes twisted, spinning around the stone in their loops, some quickly and some slowly.
Loki hesitated, then placed his hand above the joined artifacts, not touching them. One of the spinning loops came to a halt, the runes below Loki's palm began to glow. They both gasped as a small, moving, image appeared above the runes.
"What is that?"
Loki peered at the image, there was a golden throne, a golden horned figure sat upon it, shifting slightly.
"Oh…it shows the memory that the runes indicate, I believe. What a fascinating artifact…"
Loki trailed off, moving his hand around the tablet, viewing the different images with an amazed look.
"So, it was broken before? Can it get us out of here now?"
Tony watched the spinning runes. After a moment Loki moved his hand back, the current image disappeared.
"Perhaps, it certainly seems more cooperative now."
"You make it sound as if it thinks."
Loki nodded absently.
"Do you not consider Jarvis to think, even if he is only incredibly complex and specific programming. Think him, but with the power and advancements of whoever created this. Perhaps it does have some form of will."
The tablets spun on quietly. Tony couldn't help but be impressed by its complexity.
"Okay, I can understand that. So, there has to be some way of telling or programming it to take us where we want."
Loki reached out again, this time moving his hand to the tablet's center. The image that appeared was only static. They both frowned at the picture.
"What does that mean?"
"I…umm…"
Loki stared at the image. Both of them thought back to what they knew of the tablet. Tony spoke first.
"Maybe…because we're in a different time, so maybe it can't make two copies of us."
Noises floated in from outside, sirens, helicopters, various noises returning as the city realized it was safe. Tony glanced nervously at the door, but Loki ignored the distractions.
"Yes, maybe…Steve Rodgers."
"What?"
Tony turned quickly towards Loki, who gazed intently at the tablet, a delighted grin spreading across his face.
"Why did you say that?"
"Look."
Loki moved his hand over another set of runes. Tony peered at the image. A man, Steve, inspected his shield, which was currently unpainted. Another man stepped into view. Tony jerked his head back, startled.
"That's…my dad."
"Is it? Hmm…yes, I suppose I can see the resemblance."
Tony stared at the moving image for a few more moments before turning to Loki.
"We have access to Steve's memories, how?"
Loki gestured towards the tablet, grinning.
"It's got everyone, you just have to access them. Placing the tablets together was probably the only way to do this. No wonder they were separated, this much power…shouldn't be wielded by just anyone."
There was a hungry note in Loki's voice. Tony watched him warily. The god's hand hovered possessively over the artifact, his eye twitched and his grin grew unnatural.
"Loki!"
Tony grabbed his arm, Loki's hand curled into a fist, defensively, before going limp. Loki shook his head, confused.
"I…"
"There's probably another reason why they were separated. Some people can't handle too much power."
The air between them was tense. Tony stared at Loki until he was forced to meet Tony's eye. Loki appeared surprised and, more than a little, sheepish.
"Yes, that's a reason. Anyway, we can use this to return to the current time. Their memories are constantly updating, so…"
There was a large amount of hesitation in Loki's voice. He looked at Tony for approval.
"Alright, that sounds like it will work."
Loki gave a short nod before turning back to the tablet. He stared at it in silence for a few seconds, before slowly reaching towards the center. His fingers hovered over the middle and a small image appeared. Another moment of hesitation, then Loki touched the image.
There was a noise like rushing water and a clear note sounded. The two of them quickly scooted back as the tablets were pushed apart by a glowing image. The image expanded until it rose above Loki. Both of them gaped at the spectacle.
"Well that's…impressive."
"Indeed."
The air crackled with energy as they stepped forward. Tony looked to Loki, who nodded at him resolutely.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Loki gestured for Tony to go first. Tony arched an eyebrow but stepped ahead. He touched the image tentatively and disappeared. Loki quickly followed. He stepped into the image and white light engulfed his vision, on a whim, Loki reached upwards, his hand found one of the tablets. There was a tug on his arm, then he fell forward onto solid ground.
AN: Sorry for the delay, I finished it late last night, but had problems today so I was late. I was slowed down as well by another idea, which I'm liking alot and will start writing after I finish this for the next story in this series. The next chapter will be the last. How did you like this one? Luckily I re-watched Avengers the other day or I would have messed up the order of some events, but I'm safe so that's good. Although I'm pretty proud that I remembered that the giant aliens were called Leviathans without having to consult Joss's commentary. Leave comments if you'd like, it's good to get them. Hopefully the last chapter will be up within a few days.