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The portal opened just in time.

One more moment and they would have been late.

The destruction that unfolded in front of the three reflected that they had arrived seconds after the Iron Man pilot had wiped Thanos from the face of the universe, achieving peace at a high price, after a long and unequal fight.

He turn his eyes and watched as Peter Parker A.K.A. Spiderman, was separated from the dying body of Tony Stark by Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries and wife of its most important creator.

_Now B-15!

He told the hunter and the woman got between Tony Stark's best friend and Spiderman to fit the most famous engineer on the planet one of the TVA necklaces.

This adjusted itself to the man’s neck, who let out a gasp of pain and astonishment.

_Don't touch my husband! - Pepper exclaimed with tears and a gleam in her eyes that he knew too well, as she pushed B-15 until she fell on the earth.

_Mrs Potts - he said, approaching quickly - Please do not activate your Extremis, we do not seek to harm Tony. We have only stopped the process that is killing him.

_ The collar he is wearing - added B-15 from the ground - is a retarder. It prevents the bodily functions of the person who wears it from living time as the rest of us. He can hear and understand us in real time, but not answer or move at that rate... or die before we can assist him. You’re welcome, by the way.

He stifled a laugh when he saw the usually stoic leader of the minute man, get up shaking off her uniform, while rolling her eyes in the best style of a certain God of Mischief they both knew, while Iron Man's wife returned to him, understanding that they were giving him a chance to stay alive

_Hey man, who are you? - War Machine asked him, pointing one of his cannons at him, very close to his face.

_Someone whom you should stop threatening, unless you want to lose much more than the motor skills of your lower limbs, mortal

He felt that someone said behind him and he found himself torn between wanting to hit his forehead and eat his partner mouth with a kiss.

Honestly.

Loki in protective mode, "this mortal is mine and nobody touches him", was in equal parts infuriating and charming.

_Honey, I think that before anyone disappears, we better explain ourselves

He said in a calm voice as Colonel Rhodes kept pointing at him.

_Please, we don't have time for this – the God commented and a green light appeared in front of him, disarming the cannon of the military man who screamed in surprise and outrage - Where is my brother? Where is Thor?

_ Is that an alligator? - Spiderman asked to one side of both of them.

_ His name is Loki - replied the younger variant of his partner - Like me. A pleasure.

Oh yes.

He had almost forgotten.

After having stolen his two hours of rest, Loki, had insisted on going to rescue his Majesty from the void.

They both come out on the hill from which he transported himself to their TVA when he said his goodbyes to Sylvie and Loki. The place looked exactly the same as they had left it: a gloomy garbage can crammed with everything that the TVA discarded.

_ Where do you think he is?

He asked Loki looking around.

The God of Mischief sighed and pointed to where the cloud that had previously been Alioth was.

He swallowed hard.

The being that had managed to defeat time and that, as his now partner explained to them, had been turned into a weapon by the one who remains, was still paralyzed, surely wrapped in the illusions that Sylvie's enchantment, powered by Loki, continued to create in its conscience.

_Did I tell you how amazing you are?

He asked turning to meet his eyes.

_Sylvie is the one who enchanted that, Mobius.

_No - he pointed out - She is one of your variants and, sure, she has great power, but to get that thing so paralyzed, it’s really not her work. That's you.

The God denied smiling and extended a hand that, taking advantage of the solitude in which they were, he took between one of his without hesitation.

They started walking towards where Alioth was floating.

As they got closer, his heart sank a little when he saw the scorched earth remembering how the Loki in his classic variant had interacted with him and how he had served as an interpreter for the other two. Both Kid Loki and Alligator Loki were tremendously young. Full of life and ideas. Their adult version, no. He still kept within himself a monumental power, of that he had had no doubts and his Loki had confirmed it when he explained how with a ghostly projection of Asgard of gigantic size, this version of the God had distracted Alioth to allow them to get Sylvie to perform the enchantment that still had it as a prisoner; but, still strong despite his years and enormously ability, the sadness and loneliness of the quasi-old version of Loki had saddened his soul. At that moment he had wondered about what would happen to his Loki, if his ambitions and Sylvie's did not coincide and he ended alone one more time, with the words of everyone who had sentenced him in the past, including briefly his own, as his only company, for the rest of eternity.

He squeezed the God's hand, then.

He hated putting it like that, but he was very grateful that things between those two had not worked out and, instead of the uncertainty, his Loki, had, for his scarce and mortal years, the certainty that someone would always be on his side.

_There they are

Indicated the God pointing with a finger and he grinned.

On a small elevation of ground, the two who they were looking were seated.

It was a somewhat bizarre image, although he had to admit that it had always been, the crocodile and the young God together.

_Majesty - said his Loki to the boy when he reached his side - Alligator.

_I cannot return to the kingdom - the boy said sighing, as he got up - Our other variants are still there.

He closed his eyes for a moment when he saw what the boy had in his hands.

Classic Loki's helmet. Rusted and battered. With the traces of Alioth's intervention.

_Maybe we can offer you - he said then opening his eyes again, placing his free hand on the young man's shoulder - a better alternative.

_Eh… Hi! My name is Peter… I mean, Spiderman! - the boy from Brooklyn introduced himself, looking down at the crocodile in amazement - Is it dangerous? Does it bite? Is it true that that collar that you put on Mr. Stark its stopping his death?

_Yes, he is dangerous. Yes, he bites, if he wishes - Kid Loki replied following the accelerated train of questioning from the other kid - According to Mobius, that necklace delays everything that happens, then, it is not like stopping, but it delays enough the things so we can do something to solve it.

_Oh great! - the other boy exclaimed, coming forward to give an effusive hug to his Loki, to the younger version of his Loki and even a pat on the head to the crocodile version of both before they had a chance to react - How do I help? I heard you need Mister Thor. Did I look him for you?

_There’s no need for that - they felt someone say in front of them and they saw the Hulk, Valkyrie and a little further back, the brother of their God, totally speechless, advancing towards them.

His eyes widened when the beast hugged him warmly.

_Loki! - said the Hulk separating to pass him to a brunette woman who was wearing a Valkyrie uniform - I told you he could be alive! I told you!

_We... you scared us... a lot... - the woman expressed after the hug, while hitting his sides.

_Hey! Don’t do that! - he exclaimed pointing a finger at her, but before he could express his discomfort at the abuse he saw in the eyes of the beast and the female such an expression of relief at seeing him alive that... simply took away the will to complain.

Mobius had quickly explained to him the relationship that his own self, in this same timeline, had had with both of them and, after so many turns he had had lately, he did not had the heart to disappoint the shield brothers of his brother, telling them that he did not remember them. That he could not do it because the Loki that they had known, had been disabled by the transit of the timeline that he had to cross.

So, he cleared his throat thinking of what to say, but, before he could do anything, the unmistakable voice of the Asgardian giant was felt to ask.

_Brother?

He swallowed hard.

His mortal partner had also explained to him that Thor had not been able to adequately overcome his loss and that of the existence around him and that... he had fallen into a self-destructive spiral, although in the end he had managed to recover.

However, it was one thing to know it and quite another to see it.

He raised an eyebrow with a sigh and walked over to his idiotic older brother.

_I should stab you just for not taking care of yourself - he said holding his beard to pull it and bring it closer to his face - You are not Volstagg, Thor. That stomach doesn't fit you, brother.

The half-blond Asgardian stumbled, but then he smiled wide and his own brain braced for what he knew was coming: one of the brute's trademark "loving" hugs.

_Thor! Breathe! I… cannot! Thor! - he gasped when he was squeezed into the arms of the other God.

_Never do this to me again Loki! You are alive! I don't care if you stab me whenever you see me! Don't ever leave me like that again! Mother and father are gone! And I though... - Thor said without paying much attention to him, to separate and look him in the eyes while he tried to catch his breath.

_Are you crying? - he asked surprised to see the God of Thunder, literally sniff and blink quickly in a futile effort to hold back his tears.

_For the Valhalla ... - he whispered, putting his hands on his waist - Thor! Do not Cry! I am alive! And I am here! And it's not just me! - he exclaimed, pointing to the other versions of him that approached - Believe me when I tell you brother, you will not lack Lokis in the future.

_How come? - the Asgardian asked, looking alternately at the three, without understanding anything at all.

_It would take a long time to explain and... I promise to do it later, but, the three of us - he said pointing at them - are Lokis.

There was an astonished gasp from several of those present and his brother turned his head slightly, observing his other versions, while he crossed his arms expecting for the chips to fall on that blond head.

He could call Thor a thousand times an idiot. Because it was his prerogative and because with him, the big man with the huge heart was, but... his brother was the rightful King of Asgard. He had been raised to command and trained not only by Odin, but by Frigga. He could distinguish things that others could not. He had the means to do it. And he demonstrated it when moments later small lightning bolts came from between his fingers that descended to the ground and climbed through the body of his variants, which flashed green at the touch of the seidr of the Lord of thunder and lightning.

He turned smiling and lifted his crocodile version to give it to his younger version, nodding in direction of his brother.

The boy who, according to his own sayings, had killed his own Thor in his timeline, took a deep breath and advanced until he found himself in front of the blond Asgardian, who put a hand on his shoulder smiling.

_ It has been a long time since I felt Loki's youthful energy - he said seeing both of them - It's... a relief that all three of you are well. Mother would be proud that you have met.

_How much you want to bet that in seconds we have an Asgardian god being hugged by a crocodile and the Grinch junior?

Mobius asked him in his ear and smiling sideways he raised his hand, to count down with his fingers that did not reach three, fulfilling the analyst's prediction, the stubborn boy had sunk into his brother's chest, while his crocodile version, had risen to his shoulders to wrap his tail around him, in what he assumed was his reptilian way of hugging.

He denied with amusement to see… would it be okay to call him brother-in-law or would it be too soon?

Either way.

Thor. The God of thunder.

That at that moment was patting the boy on the back with one hand, while with the other he was doing the same with the alligator’s head.

It was quite an image.

_Mobius. Loki - B-15 told them taking them out of the family reunion - We are reaching the limit.

They both nodded and approached Thor.

_Brother, Starkson needs our help - Loki said to the God who had just separated from his other versions - Can you lend me your power to assist him?

The blond God nodded and the three of them walked until they were next to the dying body of the engineer.

_Mortal - Loki said to Pepper - I need Mobius, B-15 and all those who are not from Asgard to move away.

_What are you going to do? - Asked the CEO.

_This - Loki explained opening his hand to show him a small golden capsule - is distilled from Idunn. One of our mother's Frigga specialties.

_She always gave us two of those pills before going to combat, Lady Pepper - added Thor - Although we are gods, we can be wounded... or killed. Idunn apples were the only way to recover after an encounter that left us seriously injured.

_ And if Tony takes it... is he going to become one of you? - the woman questioned them both.

_No. His wounds are too deep. No mortal should hold any of those things - Loki said to her pointing to the infinity stones that were in a container that B-15 had brought to remove them from the engineer's gauntlet safely - With the help of Thor and mine, we will be lucky if that vial allows him to regain full health without consequences.

He was going to give it to Peper Potts.

She had nerves of steel.

She turned her face to see her husband and raising her hand, she caressed his cheek, then stood up looking Loki in the eyes.

_New York was a disaster after what you did. I lost years of my life rebuilding that city. Give me back my daughter's father… and I'll consider we’re even.

His partner nodded and the woman allowed herself to be guided to a safe distance.

_How do you want us to do this Loki? - Thor asked the God of Mischief waving his new hammer to summon his element.

His partner opened the vial, dropping the liquid into the engineer's mouth, then turned away, grinning wickedly.

_As we do it always

He told his brother, who, laughing, shot him with his rays with all his might, at which Loki brought his wrists together opening his hands, capturing the energy of the God of Thunder in a ball that in seconds was surrounded by a green halo, which he spun to make it impact squarely on the destroyed Iron Man suit, enveloping the engineer's body in an explosion of light that left everyone blinded.