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There was a moment when everyone held their breath.

A simple moment in time in which, after the ball of light was cleared and only both gods were left panting with the body of the mortal still leaning against the ruins, everyone present held their breath waiting for the result of the last bet on destiny that they had realized in that place.

A blink.

Another one.

The power center of the Iron Man suit began to flash slowly but, after a few seconds, small beams of light were distributed through what was left of the suit, tensing the engineer’s body.

_Tony...

Pepper Potts whispered and he had to hold her by the arms to keep her from running to the side of her husband, who seemed to move guided by a force external to him, as he half stumbled to his feet.

The element of his partner's brother roared again in the distance and the blond God's eyes blazed in the dark.

_Of course - he hear his Loki laugh in the midst of the lightning bolts that fell around the three of them.

_What... what happens to Mr. Stark? - Peter Parker asked scared.

_Something... unexpected, but... not necessarily bad - explained the young variant of his partner shaking his head as he crouched down to see the crocodile - Shall we join them?

The reptile growled accepting the boy's arm, to climb on his shoulders and advance towards where the rest of the Asgardians of the place were, while from the sky full of lights, descended on all of them, a pair of black crows like night.

Definitely the Norns had decided to dedicate themselves to be comedians.

There was no other explanation but that.

Really.

_Hugin, Munin – he greeted the ravens associated with his father, once they had finally rested on the shoulders of the still disoriented mortal.

The birds let out shouts in response of his greeting, which caused his older brother to laugh deeply.

_Did you expect this? - Kid Loki asked, standing next to him.

_No - he said honestly, while his alligator version growled disapprovingly at him - Don't tell me I should have planned it better, it was impossible to do it.

_Peace, brother - Thor said approaching to pat him on the back - Do not scold little Loki. You have reason, but he is right too.

He brought his index finger and ring finger to the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes as he shook his head.

Valhalla gave him patience.

Thor associating with his reptilian version did not bode well for him.

_Point Break? Reindeer Games? - they felt that an extremely well-known voice asked them and opening his eyes he could see how the Iron Man pilot came to his senses - Why do I have crows on my shoulders? Is that a crocodile with horns?!

_Tony!

The human's wife's voice exclaimed and they were barely able to step aside before she, followed by Spiderman and Mobius, stormed past them to wrap her husband in a hug.

_Don't say it - he told Mobius when he noticed that he was holding back his laughter.

_I didn’t say anything.

His infuriating boyfriend answered to his warning by raising his hands in surrender, which made him narrow his eyes.

Oh, this was a total declaration of war.

And he was going to enjoy the result of it so much.

He thought, grinning maliciously, as he approached the analyst, to wrap his arms around his neck and kiss him in a manner similar to the one that the Stark Industries CEO was executing with Stark, her own partner.

Son of…

He was doing it on purpose.

He said laughing in the middle of the kiss as well.

He had Thor on one side and the two Lokis on the other. And, although his Loki did not remember the Hulk and Valkyrie, they were convinced that the God of Mischief who kissed him so openly in the middle of the battlefield, was the one who had fought alongside both of them.

Which meant that he was going to receive... five threats in order and, probably, one or another "affectionate" signal from… everyone of them.

And all thanks to, well, his partner and his brother hadn't… measured exactly how much energy and desire they had to use in combination to revive Tony Stark.

Really.

It was hilarious.

They should have known.

They had been his children after all, hadn't they?

Odin was never going to give up on living entirely.

He was simply... going to change form and personality and he would no longer be in Asgard, but... he was destined to exist again, as long as his people existed and their strength and ingenuity existed also, which Loki and Thor reflected perfectly.

And besides, it was not so bad to make things clear from the beginning.

Like when you put on a bandage to cover a wound and then you had to remove it. It was never better to do it slowly. You always had to do it quickly and at once.

So, he brought one of his hands to the waist of his God and with a jerk he made it basically bury himself in his chest, gasping in surprise, but never leaving the kiss he was giving him.

They parted laughing moments later when they felt two blows on the back of their heads that made them collide their foreheads.

_Can you two stop giving a show? - B-15 said muttering, although she half smiled seeing them.

_Something you want to share with the class, Loki? - Hulk asked his partner, also with a smile on his face.

_You are seriously slow, if you need an explanation after that - Kid Loki pointed out with a sarcastic low laugh.

_Please, Your Majesty, what did we say about being civilized? - he reminded the boy who rolled his eyes, while the reptile that he carried on his shoulders would swear that truly laughed in his tongue.

_Loki... are you sure that a mortal is a wise decision?

Thor pointed out supporting Stormbraker on the floor and looking at his God with intention, which caused his godly partner to narrow his eyes and prepare to answer him, so, before he said something he could regret, was his turn to covered his mouth with a hand.

_No - he said to Loki seriously - Don't do it. Remember we have a mission.

His partner pursed his lips behind his palm and exhaled not quite in agreement with the question, but knowing that he was right.

An answer with little wisdom in that place, was not going to redound to them in benefits.

You had to use diplomacy and… a certain sense of humor.

The audacity of his brother in asking that question.

Oh, his blood had boiled in seconds.

Was it that they were always going to distrust him?

Norns.

Why was he doubting about such an obvious stupidity?

They were always going to!

But… Mobius didn't deserve that.

Mobius was not a unwise choice, as the brute believed.

The heart does not choose. It never does. Otherwise, there would be no tragedies in romance.

_No - his partner said seriously after covering his mouth with his hand avoiding the answer he planned to give his brother - Don't do it. Remember we have a mission.

He exhaled with unhappiness.

It was true.

Which did not mean that it wasn’t unfair.

_Your Highness - Mobius then said to Thor, turning as he took his tempad out of his pocket - Would you do me the favor of moving half a meter to your left side?

_Why? - Thor asked surprised, but doing what he asked anyway.

_Is it true that Midgard has devices that allow recording images? - his younger variant asked Spiderman.

_Oh, yes, they are called smartphones – the other kid said, taking one out from within his suit - They record image and video. If I pressed the screen once, it saves a picture of what happens in front the camera lens and if I press and hold, it records everything.

_Could you... as you say, record what it’s going to happen to Thor? – Kid Loki asked the boy and the other nodded pointing the device towards his brother.

_Exactly there. Thank you.

Mobius told his brother, who had not stopped moving, while the younger ones talked and for a moment he was tempted to spoil the fun for him and Kid Loki, but... by Hel, his partner was in his right to bump heads with his brother and he wasn't going to deny him.

So, he just crossed his arms in amusement, while a portal opened in front of his brother and a giant tentacle came out of it that seized the God of Thunder, dragging him into the portal, without giving him time to react.

_Well… - he said to everyone who was around, as he bent down to pick up Stormbreaker which had been left on the ground when his owner was abducted - Anyone else who wants to object to something about what happens between Loki and me?

Several eyebrows raised plus the occasional amused giggle or grunt, but in the end, no one said anything.

_No that I don’t... feel flattered - his partner said approaching clearly amused with folded arms - but, didn't we have a mission to accomplish for which Thor was necessary?

_Don’t worry - he replied winking - It's like your situation with Sif, he's going to come back with a wounded pride because it's an old defeat, but not hurt at all.

Loki opened his mouth and closed it again, surely tying up the ends, then chuckling softly.

_I do not want to interrupt this precious moment - Tony Stark's voice commented as he reached them holding the hand of his wife - But... you are going to bring back our resident God of Thunder, right?

_Yes. My brother-in-law and I are only laying the foundations of a mutual understanding - he assured him, extending a hand to shake his - The name is Mobius and I am an Agent of the TVA, which is a temporal authority. Nice to see you back in good health.

_Thanks. The truth is, I have never felt better - answered the other, shaking his hand - And Pepper says that I owe it to Loki, to you and to that lovely lady in uniform.

_No need to thanks - he explained after greeting him - To be honest, we need you. We are on the brink of a multiversal war and… we need your brain and ingenious if we are to give reality as we know it a chance.

The engineer took a deep breath and then exhaled.

_And I thought my 53’s were going to be quite boring. But it turns out that I almost died after defeating the most unpleasant raisin in the universe, so that later two Norse gods returns me to life, one of whom we believed dead and buried in space adding to the circus that two ravens that seem to have adopted me as their pet me has find my shoulders as their new home and now I have to join a new top secret boy band, which includes the aforementioned God with performance issues and his bad-tempered boyfriend and a portable time machine a la Bill and Ted. As would JARVIS say...

_"You live to surprise, sir" - he finished the sentence laughing amused at the sarcasm of the engineer who answered him with a smile as well.

_Nope. No. Married and engaged and unwilling to get involved in Nordic dramas - he said, pointing a finger first at him and then at the ravens - But I accept, if there is no other alternative and if... one of you two gets rid of these two

_Hugin and Munin can understand you Stark - Loki commented to the owner of Stark Industries - You can ask them to only come back at the end of the day to comment on their observations, as they always did with my father. They are indispensable allies in the surveillance of the worlds, do not despise them.

_Are these two like... two intergalactic satellites? - asked the astonished engineer to his partner, who nodded - Cool. Hey guys, what do you say if we see each other later?

The crows squawked and took flight from the man's shoulders to lose themselves in the clouds.

_It's time to go - B-15 reminded them approaching with Spiderman and the other versions of Loki - I already gave the container with the Infinity Stones to Captain America, he will take care of returning them and, before you ask, yes, I warned him not stay in the past as he intended to do.

_And the others who have to come? - Loki questioned her.

_Doctor Strange will bring them once they finish returning those things, except, as you requested, the Scarlet Witch, the Captain and Mr. Wilson - B-15 assured him.

_ Why can't those three come? - Tony asked surprised at which, his wife and the God of Mischief stifled a laugh.

_Tony, obviously, they're not convenient in this scenario - Pepper clarified.

_I am not saying that Sam is not... too useful in a context of time travel and stuff, but Steve and Wanda are very powerful - said the engineer - Wouldn't be an advantage have them there...?

_If I want a speech about righteousness, I will ask Thor for one, Stark. He at least makes them entertained and does not try to become the commander of all the others when there is already someone else prepared for the post - Loki explained - And the one who calls herself Scarlet Witch is too unstable. Magic is like your creative experience. It takes effort and many centuries of practice. Giving the power they gave to someone whose species does not reach the century, was a stupid decision.

_Without forgetting - he added, opening the tempad - that at TVA, we are not in favor of operatives that attack their own comrades in the field. Which means that to those who are not coming you can add James Barnes and Clinton Barton. Who, on the other hand, need extensive psychological help and in our facilities they will not be able to obtain it.

_Rooftop care it’s not part of the TVA health care plan? - the inventor asked them amused when he saw how the portal spat at a soaked God of Thunder.

_Let's say that we are in the process of modifying that alternative - he clarified closing the tempad - If you have any suggestions in this regard, we will be happy to hear them, since the workers of the TVA, are directing the Time Authority as a team now.

_Talk to Pepper, she is a specialist in those types of plans - said the man patting his shoulder before both advanced towards Thor - Hey, Point Break! Are you well?

The God of Thunder was on his back, breathing heavily, as he laughed.

_Yes, friend Tony... I am somewhat beaten... but fine

He shook his head, as he dropped to one knee and fixed his gaze with Thor's, to tell him in a low voice.

_Majesty, I would like to start on the right foot with you, but... we are not going to do it if you insist on hurting, even if it is unintentionally, your brother. You do not know but he has gone through a lot in a very short time and... there was a moment when we both believed that we had lost the other forever, which is not an experience that I wish to anyone - he explained sighing - So... how about we start over and make sure neither of us screw up things enough so that your mother doesn't pull both by our ears for pissing off Loki?

Thor raised an eyebrow and stared at him for a moment, then turned his gaze to Stark and laughed.

_The lady Pepper?

He asked sitting down.

_I am not an oracle of yours, but if Mister Stark here is the reincarnation of we already know who, it is only a matter of time, don't you think?

They both turned their gaze to where the woman in question was, who was observing the scene with a soft glow around her body, which had nothing to do with the Extremis in her blood.