TIME
Getting back to Earth was a lot easier than Tony expected, but going through the Bifrost? Incredible.
Loki had warned him about keeping his eyes shut, but there was no way Tony was going to miss an opportunity like this so he’d stubbornly kept them open.
He couldn’t even begin to regret doing that.
Oh, as soon as they’d landed on solid ground, his knees had buckled and he’d heaved painfully into the grass, emptying his stomach of its contents, but it had been so worth it.
For a moment, he was able to see it all.
Past the whirring colors, past the darkness and the stars, he’d seen everything.
And it had been beautiful.
The pathways interlocked, looking like tree branches, huge and gnarled and elegant, twisting together, leading to the different realms. He’d seen snow and fire and gold and water and so many other things he couldn’t even try to describe, and a tree so large he couldn’t even see the top of it.
And then it was over, and he was heaving, and Loki was sighing, magic flaring green as he teleported them to the tower, and he couldn’t help but think; we are so doing that again.
Or maybe he voiced it, he couldn’t be sure, but Loki was looking down at him with a fond smile and pulling him carefully upright, hand resting supportively on the small of his back.
“What now?” Tony asked, gazing around the penthouse of his tower, frowning as he took in the disaster that it still was- they’d been gone a few days, and no one had bothered to fix it? That was just rude.
His gaze flit over to the window and he couldn’t help but shudder at the shattered glass that remained; that certainly wasn’t a good memory, and from the fractured look Loki was giving it, he was thinking the same thing.
“Now,” Loki answered at last, tearing his gaze from the window. “Now we get something to eat, and then we rest.”
With a flick of his wrist and a smattering of green sparks, the penthouse slowly started to fix itself. It was fascinating to watch, like something out of Harry Potter, and Tony couldn’t help but grin, watching as blood was cleaned and glass was mended and furniture was righted.
“Mm,” Tony hummed and nodded his agreement. “I could eat.” He waved a hand distractedly outwards. “Wake up, everyone, daddy’s home.”
Almost immediately, the lights flickered to life, and a moment later, a comfortingly familiar voice rang out,
“Welcome home, sir.”
Tony’s grin widened. “Man, is it good to hear your voice, JARVIS.”
“I never thought I would say so, sir, but it is quite good to hear yours as well,” JARVIS stated dryly, though his voice was tinged with relief (and Tony still marveled at the fact that he created an AI that could even voice relief, let alone all of the other things JARVIS often voiced).
Tony couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled from his throat and he reached a hand out blindly to tangle his fingers with Loki’s, knowing that the other would always find his hand.
“It is good to see you as well, Loki,” JARVIS continued, and Tony looked back at his boyfriend in time to catch the pleasantly surprised smile on his face.
“You as well, JARVIS, though I do hope I will not be taking any impromptu trips out the window?”
“I shall certainly endeavor not to do so, Loki.”
Tony snorted but dragged Loki towards their bedroom, listening to Loki and JARVIS’s light banter on their way over, warming at the familiar sound.
Kicking off his shoes and tossing his coat on the floor, he threw himself onto their bed with a content sigh, wriggling around until he was comfortably propped against the pile of cushy pillows resting along the headboard, staring pointedly at Loki until he got the hint and rolled his eyes, but obediently followed suit, settling himself on Tony’s right side, a comfortable warmth pressing against him.
Only once Tony stared at him again, though, did Loki sigh dramatically and wave a hand lazily through the air, magically procuring them both something to eat- absolutely mouthwatering cheeseburgers, and Tony made grabby hands as soon as the scent reached his nose.
Biting into the burger, he moaned happily, and leaned over to rub his head against Loki’s cheek in thanks, too busy devouring his food to say anything.
Loki, however, merely wrinkled his nose in equal parts disgust and fondness and, ever the prince, delicately bit into his burger, taking a much smaller bite than Tony had and finishing his bite before murmuring,
“You are quite welcome, Anthony.”
After that, they are their food in silence, Loki wordlessly procuring bottles of water for them as well.
Quietly, Tony pondered how they were going to play out their next move- they both knew where the stone was located, but getting it would be much more difficult.
Tony had only met with Dr. Stephen Strange on one other occasion, at some fancy business conference or another, maybe a charity event but he wasn’t quite sure, and neither of them had gotten along; both of them were too opinionated, too intelligent and brash and they had butted heads so intensely that they had actually had to be placed in separate rooms lest their arguing spiral into something more violent.
There had been a good amount of name calling, an intense amount of subtle yet cutting insults, a rather indecent amount of schmoozing, and brazen shows of intelligence or mild sabotage in an attempt to one up the other.
It had actually been a lot of fun.
It was rare for Tony to find someone who went head to head with him (aside from Loki, of course), and when he found that rare someone, he couldn’t let them go, and that often lead to more problems than anyone could handle.
Hence the separate rooms.
So no, Tony and Strange didn’t get along, but Tony was betting it would be Strange’s intellect that got them the stone. In the end, Strange was a smart man; not as smart as Tony, but close, and once they had explained, he would hopefully see the merit in giving them the stone.
If not...well.
Between a genius and a god, they could find other, less civil ways of getting their next gem.
Pulling himself from his thoughts, Tony turned his gaze onto Loki, who was swallowing down a mouthful of water, and couldn’t help but wonder what his boyfriend had seen; how bad it truly must have been for Loki to just...not say anything at all.
Tony recognized that faraway, haunted look in the others eyes- had no doubt it was in his own right now, had stared it down in the mirror more times than he’d ever like to admit, and he found himself desperately wanting to get rid of it.
Loki put his water back on the nightstand, and Tony tugged him closer and then down, wriggling them around until they were laying down instead of sitting, the plush blankets pulled over them, cocooning them.
Loki blinked leisurely, amusement slowly working its way into his eyes as Tony wiggled until he found a comfortable position, and then pulled Loki even closer, settling his boyfriend in with his head pillowed on Tony’s chest, one of Tony’s arms around his shoulders, Loki’s arm slung over his waist, their legs tangled together, pressing them together completely.
“Get some sleep,” Tony murmured softly into Loki’s hair. “I’ll be here. We’ve got a long day tomorrow.”
“Mm,” Loki hummed and nodded, settling more comfortably against Tony. “Indeed we do. Rest, my love, and I will be here for you as well.”
Warmth bloomed in Tony’s chest, pushing out some of the dark iciness that had settled hollowly beneath his ribs after their time in the cave, and he couldn’t help but smile and press his face into Loki’s hair, inhaling deeply and holding him tighter, before allowing himself to drift off to the sound of Loki’s steady, even breaths.
***
Morning found them appearing within the front doors of Strange’s house at the foot of a large, ornate staircase, and a voice calling out from atop it,
“It took you long enough.”
Tony’s head swiveled immediately, gaze landing on Strange who was…floating down the stairs, a bright red cape flowing leisurely behind him.
Loki make an inquisitive sound, part amusement and part curiosity, and Tony just blinked; this certainly wasn’t the same Strange as last time, and Tony said as much.
Strange snorted and rolled his eyes, saying,
“You turned into a superhero with a flashlight in your chest, Stark; I think it’s safe to say neither of us are the same.”
Tony tilted his head conciliatorily, and said,
“Yeah, alright, that’s fair. But- a cape, seriously? Did no one learn anything from The Incredibles?”
Strange just stared at him, dead eyed and unimpressed, so Tony sighed but continued,
“Okay, so we need the time turner.”
“Alright.”
Tony froze in shock and felt Loki still beside him; a predator waiting to pounce.
A trap.
Right? It had to be.
Strange is a wizard now, okay, and he’s in charge of guarding the Time Stone; handing it over to Tony without so much as questioning the reason why it was needed would be like, the worst thing to do, given his propensity for mild explosions and poking at things he knows are only going to hurt.
Strange knows this.
Everyone knows this.
So….why?
“I used it,” Strange answered their unasked question, eyes solely focused on Tony, like Loki wasn’t even there. “Accidentally, but I did. I know what’s coming, Stark, and while I may not like that you’re dating Public Enemy Number One, and while I may not particularly like you, I do, against my better judgement, trust that you have the universe's best interests at heart.” Strange did an odd hand gesture in front of the gaudy necklace hanging around his neck and slowly, it opened, revealing a gently glowing green gem. Slowly, carefully, it settled itself into a small wooden box Strange procured from...somewhere, the glow cutting off abruptly as Strange snapped the box shut.
Strange held it out but paused halfway to Tony’s outstretched hand, eyes darting to Loki- who still hadn’t moved- and then back to Tony.
“If he gets ahold of this gem, that’s it. He’ll have the power to redo it as many times as it takes to get the rest. Guard this with your life- both of you. Because if Thanos gets it, he’s won.”
Something cold and uncomfortable shuddered down Tony’s spine, and Loki tensed even further at the mention of his torturer.
Tony slid closer and tangled their fingers together before holding out his free hand, twitching his fingers for the box and ignoring the discomfort at being handed something- this was too important to let a stupid little hang up like that get in the way.
Strange slowly closed the distance between them, box held hesitantly aloft, and Tony clasped his fingers around it, squeezing it tightly.
“You may not want to trust me with this, Strange, but trust my fear.” Trust that the last time I was this scared, I blew up a terrorist organization. Trust that the last time I felt fear like this, I flew a nuke into space. Trust that I’m most dangerous when I’m afraid of what will happen if I’m not. “He will never get his hands on this.”
Strange watched him searchingly for a long moment before nodding once, sharply- and then he released the edge of the box entirely, trusting it in Tony’s hands.
Immediately, Tony passed it to Loki, who swirled it into his pocket dimension with ease, eyes never leaving Strange’s face.
“Do we have an ally in you, Stephen?” Loki spoke finally, eyes dark and serious, face intent.
Strange eyed them for a moment before saying,
“If it is necessary, and the time is right.”
Loki nodded and didn’t give either of them time to say anything else- his fingers tightened around Tony’s and suddenly, they were back in the penthouse with their newest Infinity Gem safely in their grasp, and their future looming ominously before them.