Chapter 23
Coyote stalked around the sleeping men, time frozen for however long the trickster spirits needed. A Kitsune joined him in observing the two time travelers at their rest.
"Time is running out," the Kitsune rumbled. "Will they be ready?"
"Stark is already trying to get things organized and general information sent out," Coyote said with a hum. "We could play and offer rewards that would help. Simply weeding out the Hydra idiots would go a long way towards getting things done and we can all run through various places to tag or ID them..."
"The child needs time to grow but already ripples spread outwards," Madam Web commented as she joined them.
"Pulling the same stunt as was done in that other universe with the Shikon no Tama bearer won't work here. Sending them back in time to fight hostile Yokai for several years just isn't feasible... but what about introducing boosted healing? Or challenges they can attend when they have time between all of the preparations? It would be more game like than not but an arena they could practice in and accept challenges would simply things greatly," Coyote murmured. "We would have to set it up underground for at least a few month, set it back a bit in a time displacement to avoid too many timing issues. If we were just sticking to only those who might be willing to challenge them in this their home universe it would be simpler to set up a building with a time compression field... probably with a seconds to hours ratio."
"You want to allow challengers from across the Multiverse," Madam Web scowled.
"And the Fey. Underhill needs a good shake up," Coyote smirked. "The block on questioning the time travel will have to be released but I think we've given them enough breathing room from it. Although, I rather like the idea of setting something up so that they look at least slightly ridiculous in public at some point. Maybe trap them floating in giant bubbles for a few hours or something?"
"No, that would be counter productive," Madam Web vetoed. "They need to be clearly competent when dealing with threats. Pranking them like that would undermine their ability to rally the needed forces."
"So I can prank them after the threat to the universe is halted?" Coyote asked sweetly.
"...yes, but don't tell them I cleared it. No harm to civilians, taking out a personal target or two is fine so long as you make it clear why. We don't need them extra stressed out. They have to survive to face Thanos but I won't argue if you want to help Loki start the botched invasion early," Madam Web reluctantly agreed.
"That's simple enough," Coyote shrugged. "A few rumors about Loki being one of the only people able to locate items of power on Earth without pissing off the planetary guardian spirits aside from a local and the rumors of the tesseract should do the trick. Are you going to stop reminding Stark about being gentle with Strange any time this century?"
"...fine. Strange is getting worried over his lack of aggression anyway," Madam Web caved and did something that released a thread of spider silk so thin it was barely visible.
As she disappeared into her normal void web transport with the Kitsune Coyote deliberately looked at the camera and smiled. A wave towards the AIs released the lockout on their alerts as he disappeared with a laugh.
Jarvis and Friday wasted no time waking the couple and playing back the recording that Coyote had allowed them to take.
"...Well that explains a few things," Tony said with a smirk aimed at Stephen.
"Tony?" Stephen asked in concern only to yelp in surprise as Tony pounced on him and drowned him in kisses, pinning him to the bed.
"Hm, she was doing something. I don't feel like I'm going to hurt you just by pinning you anymore," Tony smirked at his kiss dazed boyfriend.
"You're a darker version aren't you?" Stephen groaned as he regained himself.
"You'll find out yourself now that it doesn't feel like I have to treat you like glass," Tony smirked again.
Stephen found himself at his boyfriend's mercy for the rest of the day. He couldn't bring himself to care that Peter was likely going to cheer and Tao or Wong was going to say something about them finally sealing the bond. Stephen? Stephen was more interested in the way Tony relaxed and enjoyed looking over the light bruising that had been left behind on the sorcerer with their lovemaking.