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batsutousaiTitle: Give This Man His Wings
Series: Interaction
Fandom: Marvel (movie 'verse) & Real Person Fiction
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: M/R
Pairings: Tom Hiddleston/Loki Odinson, Chris Hemsworth/Elsa Pataky
Warnings: RPF (legit warning), off-screen character death, war, magical torture
Summary: This is the story of humans and monsters and gods, of living and dying for your home, of facing down futuristic armies with pitchforks and torches, of discovering hope when you need it most.
This is the story of how Loki Odinson turned his back on his family to spend his last days with the mortal he'd fallen in love with, prepared to suffer any fate if it meant he could spend one last hour with Thomas' pulse steady against his skin.
Disclaim Her: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Marvel. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The characters of Thomas "Tom" Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, and anyone else you don't recognise from the comics are based on real people, and no offence is intended; this is only for the amusement of myself and other like-minded (read: mentally ill) fans.
A/N: Sequel to Walkin' Through This World Alone and Code Name: Group Hug. I had intended to have CN:GH posted before this one, but Chris has been giving me oodles of trouble. (Surprise, surprise. XP) So. You definitely should read WTTWA before this fic, but you should be able to keep up fine without reading CN:GH. (Though, if it's up, read it. Says I, says I.)
Warnings are relatively light, compared to WTTWA, but I do beat up on Loki and Tom both, so do be warned. Porn is limited, word count is extreme (worse than WTTWA, not quite as bad as Victims of Ourselves), and feels may or may not require tissues.
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Thomas and Loki had returned to London after months abroad – trading between interviews and filming fast enough to make both their heads spin – at long last. They managed to catch a couple of days break before Thomas was due on the set for Thor: The Dark World, which were spent spending time with Thomas' family, ducking paparazzi, and curled up together in their bed.
Thomas' sudden jump in popularity had left the mortal completely flummoxed, and Loki made a habit of pointing out, every time Thomas started muttering disbelievingly, "Of course they'd love you, you idiot. You play me." To which Thomas would roll his eyes and comment on Loki's self-superiority, forgetting entirely to hold on to his disbelief. In truth, though, Loki was torn between jealousy at the attention his lover was receiving, and pleasure that Thomas had received the adulation he so rightly deserved. Loki also felt no small pleasure that his mortal lover's 'fans' would never, in truth, have him, for he was Loki's.
Despite the good in Thomas' popularity – the ease of finding work and being able to provide for both himself and Loki, who could not provide for himself; the love and support of people the world over; the knowledge that the mortal actor was bringing happiness to so many – there was also a great deal of bad. The lack of privacy was daunting, but made easier by Loki's ability to drag Thomas into his semi-corporeal plane and duck those that would hold them while Thomas wished to explore a new city or get something to eat that wasn't set food. Loki's regular pranks on unsuspecting paparazzi made for more than a couple laughs for Thomas, as well as those who couldn't see Loki whom were equally bothered by the annoyances.
The worst, so far as Loki was concerned, were those mortals who called themselves fans, yet would turn against Thomas at the slightest provocation. Following close behind were those mortals who would attack actresses with whom Thomas starred or spent but a second with, including his sister, or act falsely as someone they were not for Thomas' attention. Loki had taken part in more than one rant against such, his acidic comments delighting those 'true fans' and, hopefully, bringing those less loving to their knees, where they belonged.
Thomas seemed mostly resigned to the evils of his popularity and focussed on the good, rather than the bad. (And if he became just the littlest more interested in taking Loki to bed after a rash of nasty comments, Loki wasn't about to deny him.) Loki wasn't nearly so benevolent, however, and they'd had more than one argument about it.
It was such an argument – set pictures had been promised by an account pretending to be the official Thor: The Dark World account, which turned into another stupid Loki'd joke, and after the fakes had claimed Thomas was in on the joke, everything had exploded – which found Loki curled up on the couch at Thomas' flat while the mortal and Chris Hemsworth – who was staying with them at Thomas' insistence and with Loki's approval – left for a short day on set.
Loki was not pouting – okay, maybe a little – and glaring at the closed laptop on the table in front of him. He could do things on the internet, but he feared the stupidity from yesterday – and Thomas' stupid apology, as if it had anything to do with him – would just send him into a fit again. He tried reading a book – Thomas had an extensive enough collection, both digital and paper, and Chris had brought a couple of his own – but that failed to hold his attention for more than an hour before he was up and pacing, looking for something more active to do.
He thought about going outside, but a quick glance showed the previously clear skies to be clouding over with nasty promise. He frowned, briefly concerned for the two mortals in Surrey, then threw up his hands, figuring they could take care of themselves, and went in search of Thomas' secret stash of superhero toys. He was pretty sure the mortal hadn't realised Loki had found it yet, and as long as Loki didn't do any irreparable damage while using the Loki figure to smash the varied heroes, it was likely Thomas would never discover his knowledge.
Lightning flashed outside the windows, thunder rumbling angrily in its wake. Loki paused for a moment, glancing out the window in the bedroom with no small concern; he'd been on Midgard for long enough to know that storms didn't act like that, no more than they did on Asgard. Unless Thor was involved.
"Thor's in a different realm," Loki reminded himself. "Freak event." He dropped to the ground and felt under the bed for the small chest with the figures inside and pulled it out with a smile edged with nerves.
Loki had just stepped back into the living room, headed for the dining room table to have enough room for an epic battle that the Avengers would lose – Loki would take especial pleasure in beating on the Thor figure, though he usually included his brother on his side, more in a show of fondness for Chris than because he honestly believed such would occur in reality – when another boom of thunder shook the flat, followed by a pounding on the front door.
Loki froze, clutching the chest over his thudding heart and staring at the door. Thomas and Chris both had keys if they had need to return, and those in London who knew of Loki and wouldn't freak out to find the door opening of its own accord were either at work themselves, or knew to find the two mortals on set, should they have need to speak with them. Any others would simply have to return at another time.
The person outside pounded again, then called, "Loki!"
Only one person could boom in quite that way, though Chris could manage a fair approximation.
"Go away!" Loki shouted back at his brother, taking two steps back into the bedroom and hiding around the edge of the doorway.
"Open this door, Brother," Thor ordered through the door, thunder rumbling warningly outside. "I have no wish to break it down."
"Then don't," Loki snapped, stepping out from around the doorway and glaring at the front door. "Just leave."
"Loki," Thor said and something bumped against the door. "Please. I have orders to speak with you."
"Go back home and tell Odin he can shove his orders up his–"
"Loki!"
Loki's lips curled with a smirk for a brief moment before thunder again boomed, shaking the flat. "Stop that, you ugly oaf!" Loki snapped. Was it really any wonder that Loki was terrified of thunderstorms, having a brother capable of creating them when his temper was high? Thomas had been endlessly amused the first time he'd found Loki curled under the covers, and he still grinned over it, but he'd learned that teasing Loki only ended in Thomas sporting a bruise and Loki locking himself in the nearest small space with a door for the extent of the storm.
"Open this door!" Thor shouted back and slammed a hand against the door.
"Oiy!" Loki heard from outside the door, and he couldn't decide whether he was happy or horrified to recognise Chris' voice. "Stop hitting our door!"
There was a quiet moment, then Thor said, "Who are you, mortal, that you would wear my face?"
"Chris Hemsworth. Move."
"You would think–" Thor's voice cut off suddenly, then, "And you."
Loki hurried towards the door, because he didn't like that note in his brother's voice, and he would rather he stood between Thor's anger than Chris or – worse – Thomas.
"If Loki's hiding in the bathroom because of you, I will find a knife and give you reason to wear an eye patch to match your father's," Thomas stated, calm and pitched in a tone Loki used against opponents whom had tickled his ire. "Get out of my way. Now."
Loki pulled the door open just as Thomas was moving to press his key into the lock. Thomas blinked once, then stepped forward and wrapped Loki in a hug. Loki wrapped his free arm around Thomas in return, burying his nose against the mortal's throat and taking comfort from his nearness. It was still storming outside and Thor stood in their doorway, staring in disbelief from next to Chris, and Loki wasn't sure what changes his brother would bring, but he knew he didn't want them, didn't want to lose the home he'd found with Thomas.
"Guys, move," Chris ordered. "Tom and I both need to change, and we're starting to attract a bit of attention."
Loki blinked and realised that Thomas was, indeed, soaked. "Idiot," he snarled, pulling away and pointing towards the bedroom. "I won't have you catching another cold on me, you complete moron."
Thomas chuckled and he leaned forward to press a kiss to Loki's cheek. "I'm going," he promised and moved towards the bedroom. "Put the kettle on?" he added over his shoulder as Chris edged past Loki, familiar enough with the magic that kept him and Loki apart to know when there was room to get by.
Loki and Thor stared at each other for a long moment, Loki glaring while Thor just looked flummoxed. Finally, Loki snarled, "Are you going to stand there like some dim mortal all day, or will you be coming in?"
"Loki!" Thomas called from the bedroom, disapproval in his voice.
Loki's words did move Thor to action, however, and he stepped through the open door and past the slighter god. Loki closed the door behind him, only keeping from slamming it to avoid another shout of disapproval from Thomas, then turned and stalked into the kitchen. Thor's footsteps, heavy even on carpet, followed him and Loki ground his teeth together to keep from snarling at the blond oaf.
Thor held his silence until Loki had the kettle warming on the hob and was pulling out mugs. "You look...well, Brother."
"And you look ever the same," Loki replied with a bite. He placed the fourth mug a touch too hard and it knocked loudly against the worktop, not breaking only because it was plastic. (Loki knew better than to give his brother ceramic.) "Why have you come?" he demanded, biting back, 'Why now? Why not thirty years ago when I needed you?' because Loki was no more interested in seeing Thor cry for Loki's pain now, than he had been then.
"Know this, Brother," Thor said, voice torn between sorrow and a tightly controlled anger, "This was not the punishment I would have seen befall you."
"No?" Loki returned, pressing his fingers against the chest he'd set next to the mugs and smiling bitterly. "You would have rather sewn my lips shut. Again."
There was a sharp breath just behind Loki and he tensed when Thomas' familiar arms wrapped around his waist, the mortal's head burying against Loki's shoulder.
"I had not wished to see you in any pain," Thor swore, the sorrow heavy in his voice.
"Liar," Loki hissed; he'd seen Thor's expression when he'd led him back to Asgard, the anger dark in the usually friendly blue eyes.
"I believe him," Chris said, and Loki glanced back to see the blond mortal leaning against the doorway, wet hair tangled around his ears and eyes staring, unseeing, at where Loki and Thomas stood before the array of mugs.
From anyone else, Loki would have brushed the words off, but it was hard to do when coming from his brother's look-alike; Chris had long been Thor's voice for Loki, the brother he longed to speak with, but could no longer reach. He let his shoulders slump in defeat and leaned back against Thomas, who turned his head and pressed a kiss to the side of Loki's neck.
Thor glanced uncertainly back at the blond mortal, then returned his gaze to Loki and Thomas. "Did not your punishment disallow the contact of mortals?" he enquired, sounding uncertain.
Thomas let go and Loki knew the mortal had wish to speak so Chris, too, might hear. "Yeah. I'm, ah, sort of the only one that can. Well, the only one that can directly interact with Loki, at least. Loki talks with people over the internet, and he and Chris sort of use me as a medium, when they're not typing to each other over instant messenger." He rubbed a hand over his chin, then held it out towards Thor. "Tom Hiddleston, by the way. I'd apologise for earlier, but, well, I'm not really sorry."
"Surprise, surprise," Loki muttered.
"Thor," the elder god said, uncertain. "Thank you, I believe, for taking care of my brother."
Loki tensed at the finality in those words. "What is that supposed to mean?" he snarled.
"I thought Lo still had, what? Seventy years left?" Chris said, frowning at his caped clone.
"You're not taking him back," Thomas insisted, catching on to Thor's meaning after Chris and Loki's comments.
The kettle let out a whistle, sharp in the sudden tenseness and making them all jump.
"Tea," Chris said unhelpfully, forehead lined with a heavy frown.
Thomas nodded and turned to see to the kettle, Loki standing a little too close next to him, yet not quite in the way.
They settled around the dining room table, Loki and Chris well-used to Thomas' insistence that, while they were in his home, all meals – a quick cuppa included – be taken around the table, as they rarely made use of one while away. Thor followed, uncertain and grim.
"I think I now understand why Father gave this to me," Thor commented after everyone had taken a sip. He passed a golden armguard across the table, not unlike those Loki had once worn with his armour.
Loki considered the armguard for a long moment, wishing he could read the magic he could barely sense woven into the metal. With his magic closed to him, however, that was but a dream, and he allowed a humourless smile before slipping it on, figuring that the Allfather couldn't possibly make his life any more a hel than it had been, not with so simple a creation.
Chris jerked in surprise next to him, his eyes lighting on Loki, for once. "Shit." His gaze flickered between Loki and Thomas, then he commented, "Lo, you need a haircut," as he reached out to touch Loki's long black hair, which he hadn't much cared to cut for some years.
Loki was left staring in disbelief as Chris not only saw him, but then tugged on a lock of his hair.
"My God," Thomas breathed, then winced reflexively, used to Loki preening when he mentioned the word 'god'.
Chris pushed out of his chair and Loki had enough time to start partway out of his chair, looking to flee, before the blond mortal had wrapped him in a hug.
Thomas let out a brief laugh before he covered his mouth, eyes dancing.
Loki glowered at his lover from behind Chris' large arms. He allowed the hug for a moment, aware of how much Chris had wanted to do it, before he finally snapped, "Hemsworth, let me go before I hurt you such that you can't act for a week."
Chris laughed and returned to his seat, grinning like an absolute idiot.
Loki wanted to make a comment – and Chris would actually hear him for once – but Thomas said, "What does Odin want?"
Chris' smile vanished and Loki looked to his brother in time to catch the tensing of his shoulders, though whether it was for Thomas' disrespect or the changed atmosphere, Loki couldn't tell. Thor nodded once, then said, "I am uncertain how much you know, as to the proceedings that led to my brother's punis–"
"He brought the Chitauri down on an alternate Earth," Chris said, smile falsely friendly. And was it really any wonder that Loki would prefer Chris to Thor any day?
"Don't forget Thanos," Thomas added absently from behind his mug.
"Mm. Puppet master. Always playing from behind the scenes."
"Not this time," Thor announced and both mortals straightened, worry sharp in their eyes. Loki narrowed his eyes at his brother, demanding without words for Thor to explain. Thor sighed, sorrow heavy on his shoulders, and said, "We became aware of him but one year ago. He rained fire and death down on Midgard – our Midgard – and laid waste to the entire planet."
"God," Thomas breathed, horrified. Across from him, Chris ran a hand over his face, expression grim. "Were there any survivors?"
Thor nodded. "Not many: Captain Rogers, Lady Natasha, Dr Banner, and some dozen SHIELD agents and younger Avengers. They fight, now, for Asgard." Thor met Loki's eyes. "Thanos sits at our gates. We've held him off well thus far, and may well push him back, given time, but all will be assured with your assistance. Father will end your sentence–"
"No," Loki said, shaking with the effort to keep his voice calm.
"Loki," Thomas hissed disapproving. "You can't refuse–"
"You do not comprehend the idiocy of these actions," Loki snapped. Thomas flinched and Loki looked away for a moment before turning his glare on his brother. "You would have me chose between worlds."
"I don't– Loki, you make no sense–"
"You didn't know," Loki realised, staring at the honest confusion and hurt writ across Thor's face. "He didn't tell you." He laughed, bitter and not at all surprised. "He wouldn't; you would have refused."
"Lo," Chris interrupted, confusion and fear warring in his voice, "why don't you explain things to the rest of us?"
Loki smiled bitterly and reached out to wrap his fingers around Thomas' wrist, taking comfort in the steady thrum of his pulse. Thomas moved his hand from his mug and twisted to return the grasp, long used to the ways Loki drew comfort from him. "The powers which sent you here will have attracted Thanos' attention," Loki told Thor, keeping his voice steady, because it needn't be sharp to wound his brother, not for these words. "Thanos wishes to bring death to any he might, and he has his own means of passing the walls between realities; Odin would use this world as a distraction, a quick snack set before the Mad Titan that will take him but a moment to devour, but would still have his eyes turned from Asgard."
"Norns," Thor breathed.
Thomas' grip had tightened against Loki's arm as he'd spoken, and a glance showed his mortal lover torn between horror and resignation. To Loki's other side, Chris had hidden his face in his hands, shoulders held low.
"Had I known, Brother–" Thor swore.
"This was not your doing," Loki replied tiredly, anger burning in his heart at Odin's cruelty. He shook his head. "Had the Allfather sent you but a year ago, I would have returned. Now..." Loki offered Thor a smile. "Asgard is defended, this world is not; I will offer what little I might. If it is the will of the Norns that I die here, then I will."
"Loki, no," Thomas insisted, tugging on Loki's arm. "No. Go home."
"This is my home," Loki insisted, because this world had become more his home over the past year, than Asgard had ever been. "I will not leave you, any of you," he added, looking to Chris, who managed a broken smile, "to die. Not when I might offer assistance. I'm hurt that you would think me so heartless," he finished, turning back to Thomas.
Thomas looked away, ashamed and hurting. "I don't want to watch you die," he admitted. "I know you don't want to watch me die, either, but..."
"I am long resigned to it," Loki finished for him, because they both knew that Loki would outlive Thomas by centuries.
"I might–" Thor interrupted and grimaced when the other three turned to him. "I might remain. To give my own aid."
"No," Loki insisted. "Your place is in Asgard."
"This threat is my doing, Brother!"
"This threat is Odin's doing," Thomas stated, just sharp enough to catch Thor's attention. "This burden his his to carry, not yours."
"Your addition here would do little but slow Thanos," Loki soothed, seeing the lines of reluctant defeat in the set of Thor's shoulders. "You're needed in Asgard; here you will just be another casualty."
"Don't sacrifice the universe for your pride," Chris added and Thor flinched, because these two mortals always knew exactly which weapons would cut the deepest against the gods they portrayed.
"I understand," Thor said and stood from the table.
"How long do we have?" Chris asked, sudden and appearing to surprise even himself.
Thor shook his head. "The journey took me a little over a day; I know little of this magic, however." He looked to Loki, then.
Loki shrugged. "A smaller force will take shorter to travel the barrier. For one person, a day is about right; for the numbers he will send... I give us a month at the most, a week at the least."
Chris nodded and pulled out his phone.
"Chris, what are you–?" Thomas started.
"A video," Chris explained. "There aren't any superheroes here for us to hide behind, only men and women in uniform, carrying guns. It'll be hard to get them armed for something they think is a story, but if we've got a bit of truth..."
"You are actors; what truth will mortals find in film?" Loki asked, but he was already warming to the idea; they would need some proof, and all he had to offer was himself. If Chris had an idea...
"Not a film," Thomas recognised, pulling out his own phone. "Home video. It's not perfect, people will still claim it's been doctored, but there's something about badly-filmed videos that makes them more believable." He let out a quiet laugh. "I always wanted to direct a film."
"My idea; I'm directing," Chris insisted.
"Two cameras; we'll both direct."
"I'm a god," Loki snarled. "I will direct."
Chris and Thomas traded vaguely horrified looks, then chorused, "No."
"Loki, you cause more than enough trouble on a real set."
"Your films are meant as entertainment; this is a matter of your planet," Loki snapped. Then, because he couldn't resist, added, "Anyway, the only props I might misplace here appear to be mugs and a hammer I cannot pick up. Ah. And Thomas' chest of toys."
Thomas turned towards the worktop, where Loki had left the chest with his Avengers figurines. "What is–? Loki!" He turned an irritated look on the god, who just smirked. "We'll talk later. For now–" He turned the back of his phone to face him and Loki realised the two humans had already started filming. "Hi. Tom Hiddleston."
"Chris Hemsworth," Chris said when they both turned their cameras to him.
They turned to Loki, next, and he flashed them an evil little smile. "Loki. God of Mischief and Lies. Banished Second Prince of Asgard. Etc, etc, etc."
"You forgot prop thief," Chris pointed out.
"Prop misplacer, thank you," Loki returned drily. "Thomas has never let me keep one for longer than it takes him to discover I have it."
"Chris," Thomas interrupted and the blond actor flashed an apologetic grin before they both turned to Thor.
"Thor, son of Odin Allfather, First Prince of Asgard."
"So, for the viewers out there, Loki's been on Earth for a bit over thirty years now; part of a long sentence handed down by Odin," Chris said. "He's been living with Tom for the past year, and no one's seen him because he's usually invisible."
"Armguard," Thomas requested.
Loki sighed and pulled off the golden armguard. Chris' eyes unfocussed, proving the Allfather's magic was again separating Loki from mortals, and Loki waved a hand at where he'd placed the armguard on the table. "Are you taking this back?" he asked his brother.
Thor shook his head. "Father never ordered I return with it, only that I give it unto you so we might include those mortals you have made peace with."
"Lo makes headaches, not peace," Chris retorted, but the joke fell flat and Loki put the armguard back on so he could raise an eyebrow at the mortal and he'd actually see it. "Sorry?"
"Loki and Thor are from an alternate reality, where the events of Avengers Assemble and those films that came before really happened," Thomas explained.
"They have created video of our lives?" Thor asked Loki.
Loki waved a hand at him. "Yes, yes. And a comic book series, which is much less accurate."
"And these two–"
"Thor, could you hold your idiocy to yourself for the moment?" Loki requested.
"Loki," Thomas complained and Loki rolled his eyes.
"Apologies," Thor offered. "This is, truly, a matter of little importance. Please, continue."
Thomas blinked at the blond god, then glanced towards Loki, who raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay. Um." He shook his head. "Thanos made his bid in their original reality and apparently took out Earth, save a few humans who are working with Asgard to protect their home. Odin sent Thor here to retrieve Loki, but also to distract Thanos with our reality for a bit."
"His armies will come," Loki said flatly, looking between the two phones when they turned to him. "They will come, and they will do to this world what they did to that other. There are no heroes here, no men in suits powered by an arc reactor, or scientists that become untouchable monsters when their temper is high. There are only mortals – humans – with your machine guns and bombs capable of destroying your world before Thanos could even think to set foot on it.
"I do not know if we can make more than a dent in Thanos' army, but if I have learned one thing of your people, it is that you will try, that you will do everything to protect that which you hold dear, even when you cannot hope to survive. Do that now, for those you care most for, for your property, for yourselves. Not, as Odin would wish, for an alternate Asgard that has no hold over your realm. And, maybe, you will prove yourselves better than any of us who believe you less; perhaps you will surprise those of us who call ourselves your gods."
Thomas reached out and caught Loki's hand on the table, entwining their fingers together. Loki met his eyes, saw the approval bright within them, and looked away, heart thudding in an entirely unfamiliar way.
"Right," Chris said and they all glanced at him. "That's what we've got," he explained to the cameras. "And Tom and I, we're going to try and get the word out, but it's up to you lot to force the issue. And, yeah, some of you are gonna think, 'Oh, it's just Tom and Chris, having a laugh,' and that's fine. We can't make you think otherwise. But for us, right now, this is real. This isn't Thor 2, this isn't some bit of fun that's gonna have us turning around next week and saying, 'Loki'd'."
"Loki says we have a week, maybe a month, if we're lucky," Thomas added. "It's not much time–"
"It is more than our Midgard had," Thor commented grimly. "They had but moments."
"We'll take it," Chris decided. He glanced at his phone, nodded, then touched the screen. "I should look into a flight back to Australia."
"Elsa and India," Thomas realised, a sick sort of understanding in his eyes; Chris' daughter was just over four months old and they were facing a war with the potential to wipe out all humans.
"And splitting our resources a bit," Chris agreed, eyes not looking up from the screen of his mobile.
"I can take you," Thor offered and the two mortals looked to him with surprise while Loki raised an eyebrow. "It causes me no additional difficulty, and I would offer what little assistance I might before I must return."
"I– Yeah. Yes, thank you," Chris stuttered, standing from the table and looking uncertain how to proceed. "I should– Let me pack a couple things..." Then he sort of half stumbled out of the kitchen, headed for his suitcase at the end of the couch.
Thomas slipped his own mobile away and stood. "I'm going to go help Chris," he told Loki. "Try not to cause any trouble?"
"I am, as ever, on my best behaviour," Loki replied easily.
"Let's try my best behaviour for today," Thomas suggested before leaving the kitchen.
Loki and Thor watched each other from across the table for a long moment before the elder prince sighed and leaned against the chair he was standing behind. "This world suits you, Brother."
Loki snorted. "These mortals suit me. This world, as a whole, I could care less for."
Thor inclined his head, allowing that. "It warms me to see you so at peace, for all that my return has ended that. I had...spoken to Heimdall, some, of what befell you." Loki stiffened as Thor looked up at him, expression broken. "If I could have put end to your pain, Broth–"
"What's done is done," Loki snarled, unwilling to listen to Thor apologise for something neither of them had control over.
"Done or not, Loki–"
"What, then?" Loki interrupted, expression dark. "You would have come and, what? Odin would have allowed you no more than a year, and then I would again be alone. Perhaps you would have eased some of my loneliness, perhaps you would only have made it worse; I cannot say, and neither can you. It's done, past." Loki sighed and looked down at his new armguard, tracing the markings on it with his eyes. "You need to stop returning to old pains, Brother; it's a habit unsuited to a king."
Thor let out a choked sort of noise and Loki looked up, his stomach sinking to find his brother's eyes bright with tears. "What king might I be, without you as my Council?"
Loki looked back down at the armguard, swallowing against a block in his throat. "You'll certainly get into less trouble," he commented flippantly.
"Loki–"
"You will manage," Loki insisted, refusing to look up, "as you have managed these past years. How long has it been?" he wondered, because time passed differently between the Nine Realms, and he had little doubt it would be the same between realities.
"Not yet forty-six years," Thor replied and Loki nodded even as his brother went on to say, "I have always looked to your logic, your quick mind, Loki–"
"You listened to it rarely enough," Loki replied drily, chancing a glance up at Thor. The elder was still visibly upset, but no longer near tears.
Thor winced. "I am more the fool, then," he allowed. "And who will, now, attempt so to hold me back?"
"Norns save whoever it is," Loki muttered.
"Loki."
"Sif and Hogun both are wise enough," Loki announced. "It has never been just me that tries to stop you, Thor, I am simply the least likely to back down. Where you would promise to heed me, you must now heed them. Yet, as much as it lies to you to listen, it lies to them to speak; as they once stood so adamantly against me, they must learn to do with you, no matter what treason they might commit. Remind them of that, from me."
Thor nodded and ducked his head. "I will," he whispered. "Would you have me return with any other messages?"
Loki's lips twitched with a smile. "Tell Balder to grow a spine."
They shared a laugh over their lesser mentioned brother; Loki had taken great pleasure in teasing Balder at every opportunity, while Thor had tried his best to physically toughen the youngest Odinson up, which left them with a brother who was nearly as strong as Thor, but had a tendency to jump at his own shadow. Frigga had taken to coddling Balder as Thor and Loki outgrew her motherly attentions, which didn't help.
Loki returned his attention to his armguard as his mirth faded. "My love to Mother and Sleipnir. And Jörmungand, if he retains his life."
"He does," Thor replied gently. "He, too, has found home in Asgard for her defence."
Loki smiled, pleased to hear that his son was being given the chance to regain his lost honour. "I'm glad."
Thor shifted on his feet, then asked, "Any others?"
Loki considered that, thought of all the words he should like to bestow upon Odin, and shook his head; he wouldn't make Thor speak such hatred to his father.
Thor's shoulders fell. "I see."
"Ah, wait," Loki announced, flashing his brother a mischievous smile that brought a wary smile to Thor's lips. "I would have you remind my idiot of a brother that, should he truly require my council, his niece is not so difficult to bribe."
Thor laughed. "True enough. But, Brother, what if you should reside in Valhalla?"
Loki raised both eyebrows at him. "Really? Valhalla?" He snorted. "Do you dream oft of me as such?"
"You would not be the first Jötun to walk those halls," Thor replied quietly.
Loki sighed. "It is not my species that would deny me, Brother, as well you know. Look for me in Niflhel."
"I thought Valhalla was for anyone who died in battle," Thomas said from the doorway, looking between the two gods with a faint frown.
"It is...slightly more than that," Thor admitted. "There are deeds to be weighed, much as is said to be done in the writings of your jealous god, but one must die fighting for a cause they believe to be just before they might face that weighing."
Thomas looked at Loki, his eyes speaking volumes about how truly he believed Loki would make his way into Valhalla. He chose not to vocalise his thoughts, instead announcing, "Chris is ready whenever you are, Thor."
"I understand," Thor replied, straightening from his slouch against the chair. "Brother? Will you see us off?"
Loki gave a loud sigh as he rose from his seat. "I suppose I must, lest Hemsworth hold it over my head later."
The three of them joined Chris out in the living room, then made the trip out to the street, where there would be room for Thor to take off. Chris dropped back to walk with Loki as they left the flat to ask, "Is this safe, though? I know I carried Natalie for the one scene in Thor, but–"
"Don't touch Mjölnir," Loki suggested and Chris grimaced. "I would have insisted on another mode of travel if there was any true danger, Hemsworth. I don't care for Thor's method and don't care to travel it with him, but it is safe enough for even so pathetic a creature as yourself."
"It's probably a bad sign that you insulting me is what makes me feel better about this," Chris muttered and Loki snorted.
And then they were stopping at the edge of the pavement and Chris pulled Loki into a hug, which he bore with more patience than he would have before meeting Thomas. "Take care of Tom," Chris whispered and Loki nodded. "And yourself," the mortal added, pulling back to meet Loki's eyes.
Loki flashed him a smirk, promising nothing, then replied, "My best to India and Lady Elsa."
Chris nodded with a smile, then moved to give his farewells to Thomas.
Thor took Chris' place. "Brother," he murmured and made to put his hand at the back of Loki's neck, as between warriors, before suddenly changing the motion and pulling Loki into a hug.
Loki wrapped his arms around his brother and hid his face against Thor's neck, tears coming to his eyes without his say. "Brother," he whispered back and Thor's arms tightened enough to break a mortal's back. Loki's shoulder felt oddly damp and Loki resisted the urge to sigh, because of course Thor would cry. "Idiot."
Thor let out a wet chuckle and drew back, wiping fingers awkwardly under his eyes to mar the glistening lines marking his cheeks. "I'll be back," he promised. "When Thanos has fallen, I will return with what assistance I might. Asgard is home to any who have nowhere else to go, no matter their previous crimes."
Loki smiled and inclined his head, understanding the last to be aimed at him. "Luck be with you in your battles, Thor Odinson," he murmured and raised his hand to rest against the back of Thor's neck. "And, should the Norns will it, we will meet again."
Thor returned the gesture. "Luck be with you, Loki Odinson," Thor intoned, hand tightening against Loki's neck before dropping away.
Thor moved out into the road, Chris following along and looking only a little nervous when the god wrapped an arm around him and raised Mjölnir up to the sky, calling on the dying storm still darkening the sky and strengthening it. Thomas came to stand next to Loki and entwined their fingers just before the flash of lightning hit the two blonds and drew them up and away. The rain, which had died off while they'd been inside, started up again and Thomas and Loki were quickly soaked.
"I'm not going to Valhalla," Loki said to his lover, heading off the discussion he was certain would come.
"One attempt of genocide–"
"Thanos will want me alive." Loki had failed Thanos, plain and simple, and the Mad Titan wasn't one to let failures go unpunished. Loki would die only after he'd been broken in so many ways that he couldn't even conceive of fighting any more, would never see Valhalla because he'd given up fighting so long before that such acts were no longer even a dream.
Thomas fell very still for a moment before he turned and pressed his face against Loki's shoulder. "Oh my God," he whispered, just loud enough for Loki to hear him over the rain. "Oh God."
Loki squeezed the hand in his. "You're going to catch a cold."
Thomas nodded and kept close to Loki as the god led the way back inside, hands still clasped tightly together. The armguard was dropped, unneeded, on the living room table as they retreated to the bedroom to change out of their wet clothing.
Loki couldn't say who distracted who with a kiss, but neither of them cared to stop and they fell into the bed together, skin chilled and more than a little damp. Thomas' mobile started singing from inside his wet trousers as the mortal pressed into the god, and they paused for a breath before they kept on, nothing more important in that moment than what they had on that bed.
As they breathed together after, the mortal a comfortable weight against Loki's chest, Thomas whispered, "I love you." Three words neither of them had actually spoken to each other before, for reasons each their own.
Loki swallowed and tightened his arms around Thomas' waist. "I love you, my Thomas," he whispered back, voice heavy with tears, and Thomas leaned up to press a kiss to the corner of Loki's left eye as a single drop fell. "When he comes, please leave? I wouldn't–" Loki drew one hand up Thomas' spine and over his shoulder to brush against his cheek. "Don't let him touch you." Because Loki could hold out against physical pain for more than long enough that Asgard's defenders had the chance to do some serious damage against Thanos' army, but knowing the Mad Titan had Thomas would destroy him.
"I won't," Thomas promised and rested his cheek against Loki's, breath mingling and hearts beating out a familiar rhythm between them.
Thomas had nearly dozed off, lulled by the calm before the storm and Loki's fingers scratching through his short hair, when the front door pushed open. "Tom?" his agent, Michael Symons, called.
Thomas groaned and rolled off Loki, waiting until they were no longer touching to call, "In the bedroom, Mikey. Give us a moment."
"Alright. Chris around?"
Thomas paused in front of his dresser for a moment before replying, "Uh, no. No, he had to– Hold on, Mikey. Loki, get up."
Loki sighed and finally sat up. "I was comfortable."
Thomas reached across the bed and brushed at the edge of Loki's eye, as though going after the stain of further tears. "I know," he murmured, "but we can't stay in bed. Not now."
Loki caught the mortal's hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "As you say," he agreed and let Thomas pull him off the bed.
Michael was sitting on the couch when Loki and Thomas emerged from the bedroom, stress writ all over his face. He offered a sort of helpless smile and explained, "They put out the call thirty minutes ago for everyone to head for the set. Neither you nor Chris were answering your phones, so I agreed to drop by."
Thomas sighed. "We had a...visit. From Thor."
Michael glanced to Thomas' side, as though he might see Loki. "Loki's brother, Thor?"
"The same," Loki agreed as he slipped his new armguard on, smirking when the mortal jumped.
"Bloody hell," Michael breathed and reached forward like he meant to poke Loki and see if he was real.
"Desist," Loki ordered, gently knocking the hand away. "My brother didn't come with pleasant news."
Michael looked to Thomas, who nodded. "The Chitauri are on their way. Loki thinks we have a week at the least, a month at the most."
Michael dropped his head into his hands and groaned. "I don't get paid enough for this."
Loki snorted. "Take it up with the Allfather. He's the one who thought to use your planet as a distraction from Asgard."
"Great." Michael rubbed at his face and glanced up at the standing males. "What, exactly, are any of us supposed to to about this? If the Chitauri are anything like in Avengers Assemble–"
"They are very like that," Loki assured him.
"Chris and I made a video, which we're both posting to the web," Thomas explained. "He's gone back to Australia to do what he can there, while I see what I can do from here. If we can get all the armed forces of the world to rally, we may have a chance."
"And if no one will listen?" Michael asked. "If everyone takes this a some giant prank?"
"Then your world will burn," Loki replied coldly, no hint of the mischief-maker most knew him as. "You will be made to watch as your fellow man is shot down while fleeing, or ripped limb-from-limb. There will be no mercy, no relief but death. You will fight, or you will suffer and die."
Michael set his expression. "And you? Are you running home? You said Thor had been by."
"Loki's staying," Thomas said quietly from Loki's side. "Odin sent Thor to bring him back to Asgard, but he refused."
"Why?"
"It is not to you to question my motives, Symons."
Thomas shook his head, warning his agent away from furthering that line of question. "I need to post this video and make some calls, get as many others who already know about Loki working with us. Mikey, could you call Alan and apologise for Chris and I?" He managed a tired smile. "I don't know how much he'll believe, but I can come by set on Monday with Loki to try and talk him around, if he's willing to wait."
Michael nodded and stood. "Anyone else on set that we should expect to leave for home in the coming days?" he asked.
"Lady Katherine, Elba, and Skarsgård have all 'met' me," Loki offered, "and Hopkins and Ladies Natalie and Jaimie are aware of me, in that they have been nearby as I was spoken of or to."
"A lot of us," Thomas clarified.
Michael sighed. "I'll let him and everyone at the office know what's going on, then," he agreed. "Keep me in the loop as much as you can, though, Tom. And call Luke before he finds out what you're up to from someone else."
Thomas grimaced at the thought of his publicist's reaction to him using his popularity to get the word out without warning him ahead of time. "I'll call him first," he promised and Loki snorted.
Michael nodded. "Good." He stopped at the door to look back at the two look-alikes in the middle of the room, Thomas looking down at his mobile as he sorted through his contacts. "Take care of yourself, Tom. And you, Loki."
Loki inclined his head. "We will be as careful as we ever are," he promised.
"Not reassuring," Michael returned before leaving them to it.
They spent the rest of the day with Thomas ringing those he knew who had 'met' Loki – or at least had been convinced that he existed – while Loki handled posting the video Thomas had made and fielding any questions. Most of the internet appeared amused by the video, commenting on how it was a lovely joke, but Loki kept on Thomas' account, firmly promising it was the truth. As others that Thomas or Chris were contacting started getting the word out themselves, those who were laughing fell silent and the uncertain 'Could it be?' questions started picking up speed.
And then, jackpot: Someone near Thomas and Loki's flat had caught Thor and Chris' exit from the road on video and posted it on YouTube. The video caught the sudden strengthening of the storm, the lightning that had picked up the two look-alikes, and Loki and Thomas standing in the rain.
Following on that, a number of Australians spoke up to say that Chris was back in the area – Thor had apparently overshot, and Chris had been required to walk to his home – even though he'd been seen in London just before the freak storm had sent everyone running for cover.
As sudden as Thor's storms, the entire internet – or, the six sites that Loki was keeping tabs on at that moment, at least – exploded. Some people were panicking, a couple were talking about how they knew the Mayans had been right, a good third were talking of visiting friends and family or seeing places they had wanted to visit before their death, a few were lamenting their lives, and then there was the calm corner, the group that asked, 'How can we help?'
It was to the last group that Loki turned his focus as Thomas admitted some of his fellow actors and actresses from the Thor: The Dark World set, the lot of them letting out surprised noises to see Loki curled up on the couch with the laptop. 'Talk to your governments,' he told them. 'Tell them to mobilise their forces, make them listen. There will be no hope without a defence, and that defence lies in the hands of your governments.'
"I'm not sure how I feel about the long hair," Kat Dennings said as she dropped onto the couch next to Loki.
"He's not getting it cut," Thomas said for the god as he leaned against the arm next to Loki and read over the page he was on. "I've been trying for months, but he refuses. It's going well, then?"
"Well enough," Loki replied and typed out a quick response to a stupid question before focussing his attention on his lover. "Did you require me?"
"We brought Indian food with us," Kat told him, nudging him with one foot. She blinked, then nudged him again. "Cool."
Loki sighed. "What is it with these mortals and constantly touching me?" he asked of Thomas as the mortal took the laptop from him.
"The novelty should wear off after a couple of days," Thomas replied, eyes already flicking across the screen, catching up with everything that Loki had been keeping up with. "Stop using my account to be a jerk, Loki."
"They listen so much better when they think it comes from you," Loki returned sweetly.
Kat laughed. "This is awesome," she told them before shoving at Loki's leg with her foot a third time. "Go get something to eat while Tom apologises to everyone."
Loki snorted – he could see Thomas typing out an apology as Kat spoke – and stood to gather some food. He was distracted along the way by a couple of the others that had come with Kat, and bore their interest in his existence for a good twenty minutes before he retreated back to the couch.
"If one more person touches me, I will remove this thing," Loki muttered of the armguard to Thomas as he took the mortal's previous position on the arm of the couch, Thomas having slid down into Loki's abandoned spot.
Thomas smiled and reached up to run his fingers through Loki's hair, his other hand moving slowly over his keyboard. Loki leaned into the touch as he munched on the food he'd brought back with him, scowling.
"You're still here," Kat pointed out. "I thought you said–"
"Thomas doesn't count," Loki snarled, turning his head and nudging Thomas' hand to signal that he should scratch an itch where his fingers were. Thomas' eyes flickered up to him, dancing with silent laughter, before he did so.
"I suppose," Kat allowed and they fell into silence for a long moment.
Thomas finally removed his hand from Loki's scalp so he could place the laptop on the ground and scoot over on the couch. "Come here."
Loki dropped into the open space, squeezed tightly between Thomas and the arm of the couch, but comfortable in spite of it. Thomas wrapped his arm around behind Loki's waist, his hand resting on Loki's thigh and held so the god could wrap his fingers around Thomas' wrist and feel his pulse, which Loki did. Thomas laid his head against Loki's shoulder and the god only now saw the lines around his eyes that spoke of the stress and fear hidden behind Thomas' constant good humour. "Go get some sleep," he murmured, half order, half suggestion.
Thomas breathed a quiet laugh. "People over."
Loki shook his head. "I will see to them; this is more wearing on you than on me."
"Be polite," Thomas ordered even as he pulled his wrist from Loki's grasp and rose from the couch.
"No promises," Loki returned and the mortal laughed as he moved towards the bedroom, waving at one of the others.
Loki did end up remaining polite, helped by the mortals leaving of their own volition within the hour.
Kat was the last to leave, hugging Loki and grinning when he huffed in irritation. "Most of us are heading back for the States tomorrow," she told him. "Tom already knows, I think, but pass it back anyway. And it was good to actually meet you, Loki. Without, you know, set pieces randomly disappearing from one spot and reappearing five feet away. Which, always a laugh, but still disconcerting."
"Good bye, Lady Katherine," Loki insisted and she laughed as she finally stepped through the open door, waving.
Loki closed the door behind her and sighed as he looked over the flat. The mortals had mostly cleaned up after themselves, but there was Indian food left over to be cleaned away and a couple dirty dishes. Loki was becoming quite used to cleaning up around the flat – too used to it, he sometimes thought, considering he was a god – so he set to it without complaint, pleased when the room was again clean. Those things Chris had left behind, he slipped into a cupboard, and then sent the mortal a quick message asking if he wanted it posted to him, or would rather it remained in London.
Everything quiet and in order, Loki slipped into the bedroom and under the covers with Thomas. The mortal let out a sleepy mumble and turned towards him, only stilling when Loki wrapped him in an embrace. "Sweet sleep," Loki whispered against the faint curl of Thomas' hair before settling in to rest himself.
-0-
They were just finishing with breakfast when Luke Windsor came by, wearing a pressed suit and looking more than a little frazzled. Loki didn't want to think about how long the mortal had been up already, especially when placed against the early hours that he and Thomas kept.
Luke sort of stopped for a moment upon spotting Loki, who smirked at him, then shook his head and looked at Thomas. "I'm being hounded for a press conference. A lot of it is people looking to find the joke, but the office and I agree that this might be the thing to bring more people around." He glanced at Loki. "The only problem is convincing them you're the real thing and not someone who just looks exactly like Tom. Can you use any magic?"
Loki took off the armguard and set it on the table.
"That's about it," Thomas offered his publicist while Luke shook his head. "Well, and his usual tricks," he added just before Loki covered his hand, making Thomas vanish from Luke's sight.
"We'll just have to find a way to make it work," Luke decided, too used to the disappearing act to be thrown by it, and Loki let Thomas go and put his armguard back on with a huff. "Unless you have something more pressing," Luke continued with the air of someone who knew well Thomas and Loki's schedule was empty, "I'd like to try and fit this in this afternoon."
"The sooner the better," Thomas murmured, glancing at Loki, who nodded. "We don't have a lot of time."
"Then I'll set something up for noon. Do I need to write you a statement, or would you rather just make it up as you go?"
"Loki's not going to follow something pre-written," Thomas commented.
"Tedious," Loki agreed, picking at his nails.
Luke sighed, then pointed a stern finger at the god. "Do not set anything on fire this time."
Loki smirked. "I would never."
"He won't," Thomas promised, rolling his eyes.
Luke looked like he wasn't sure he believed him – Loki smirking from the other side of the table didn't help – but there wasn't anything he could do about it. "I'll see to it there's a car here by half eleven to pick you two up," he promised, turning to leave. "Please stay indoors until then."
Thomas glanced past Luke, at the closed door, and nodded. "We can do that."
Luke nodded and left them.
Thomas cleaned up their dishes in silence before saying, "They're going to want to know why you've stayed."
Loki sneered. "It's not for them to know," he commented, pushing away from the table and turning towards the laptop.
Thomas caught his arm and turned him until they were facing, raising his hands to cup Loki's face. "I'm not ashamed of us," he murmured. "And anyone who would think you weak to stay for love, has never had anything worth fighting for."
Loki caught his hands in the pockets of Thomas' trousers. "I would not see them use us against one another," he admitted, knowing better than to lie to his human.
"They won't," Thomas promised, thumbs rubbing Loki's cheeks. "Do you trust me?"
"No," Loki muttered, but he did. "You will make so many of your fans most upset."
Thomas laughed and pressed a quick kiss to Loki's mouth. "You're going to enjoy that."
Loki's mouth curled with pleasure. "So I will," he agreed smugly.
Thomas' hands dropped away from Loki's face, pulling Loki's from his pockets. "Come on. Let's see what the night has wrought."
-0-
The press conference went about how they'd expected; having a mostly exact copy – save their differing hair and the insistent green of Loki's eyes vs the uncertain blue-green of Thomas' – made a lot of believers, and Loki vanishing when he removed the armguard turned most of the rest. Only a couple remained sceptical, one of whom insisted, "If you were the real Loki, you'd perform magic."
"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" Loki had replied. "Have you missed entirely that I am denied my magic?"
"Oh, I'm sure that's just a lie–" the man started, ignoring the others around him trying to hush him.
Thomas groaned and didn't even bother grabbing for the god when Loki jumped from the platform they were on and stalked purposefully down the cleared aisle between the chairs until he was standing next to the reporter. "Were I to be lying, ant, you would never doubt my words," he promised before grabbing the reporter by the throat and throwing him, bodily, against the far wall, some eight metres away. Then he returned to Thomas' side, reporters flinching away from him as he passed them.
Thomas gave him a tired look. "Was that necessary?"
Loki shrugged, his irritation drained from his bearing. "I was only told not to set anything on fire."
Thomas sighed, but didn't bother telling Loki off further, instead looking for more questions, which were slow in coming, everyone far more wary of the god after his show of strength.
When the question about why Loki had remained finally came, it was from a mousy-looking woman in the front, her hands shaking as she asked it, as though half afraid she, too, would meet a wall.
"I have something to protect," Loki replied shortly. Then, after a beat, his lips curled with a smirk that made everyone in the front row tense, and he grabbed Thomas' chin, pressing his mouth tight to the human's. Thomas kissed him back without hesitation, one hand threading through Loki's hair in a familiar motion, and Loki felt himself relax in spite of their audience.
There was a stunned silence as they pulled apart, Thomas smiling at Loki with a gleam of amusement and approval in his eyes. Then everyone started talking at once, asking everything they could think of about their relationship. Loki left Thomas to those demands, his fingers curling around the mortal's wrist to soothe his temper at the prying.
By the time Luke ushered them away from the cameras, Thomas looked more than a little strained, though he smiled for Luke and those waiting for them away from the reporters. "New rule," the publicist said tiredly, "no throwing people."
"Noted," Loki replied drily and pulled off his armguard. "Please see this returned to our flat?" he requested of Luke.
Luke frowned and took the armguard, looking to Thomas as Loki vanished. "Certainly. But why can't you–?" He fell silent as Thomas, too, vanished. "Oh," he murmured to the empty space and smiled.
Loki smiled to himself, certain Luke understood his intentions, and drew Thomas from the room and through the waiting crowds. Thomas made no complaint at ducking further questions, just tightened his hand against Loki's when they moved through the crowd, people parting unconsciously before them.
Back at their flat, Thomas pulled Loki into a kiss, whispering, "Thank you," against the god's lips.
"Would that I could send you away from this," Loki murmured, brushing his fingers over the stress lines deep on Thomas' forehead.
Thomas huffed a laugh. "And leave you to kill people for being too stupid to bother saving?" he teased and Loki smirked. Thomas' smile gentled. "I would rather be here, where I can do as much as I can to help, then hidden away with a cuppa, unbothered."
"I know," Loki agreed and kissed the human. "Let us see what we may, then," he suggested, nodding towards the laptop.
-0-
Part Two of Two
The Interaction Series:
Part One: Walkin' Through This World Alone
Part Two: Code Name: Group Hugs
Part Three:Give This Man His Wings
..
Series: Interaction
Fandom: Marvel (movie 'verse) & Real Person Fiction
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: M/R
Pairings: Tom Hiddleston/Loki Odinson, Chris Hemsworth/Elsa Pataky
Warnings: RPF (legit warning), off-screen character death, war, magical torture
Summary: This is the story of humans and monsters and gods, of living and dying for your home, of facing down futuristic armies with pitchforks and torches, of discovering hope when you need it most.
This is the story of how Loki Odinson turned his back on his family to spend his last days with the mortal he'd fallen in love with, prepared to suffer any fate if it meant he could spend one last hour with Thomas' pulse steady against his skin.
Disclaim Her: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Marvel. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The characters of Thomas "Tom" Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, and anyone else you don't recognise from the comics are based on real people, and no offence is intended; this is only for the amusement of myself and other like-minded (read: mentally ill) fans.
A/N: Sequel to Walkin' Through This World Alone and Code Name: Group Hug. I had intended to have CN:GH posted before this one, but Chris has been giving me oodles of trouble. (Surprise, surprise. XP) So. You definitely should read WTTWA before this fic, but you should be able to keep up fine without reading CN:GH. (Though, if it's up, read it. Says I, says I.)
Warnings are relatively light, compared to WTTWA, but I do beat up on Loki and Tom both, so do be warned. Porn is limited, word count is extreme (worse than WTTWA, not quite as bad as Victims of Ourselves), and feels may or may not require tissues.
-0-
Thomas and Loki had returned to London after months abroad – trading between interviews and filming fast enough to make both their heads spin – at long last. They managed to catch a couple of days break before Thomas was due on the set for Thor: The Dark World, which were spent spending time with Thomas' family, ducking paparazzi, and curled up together in their bed.
Thomas' sudden jump in popularity had left the mortal completely flummoxed, and Loki made a habit of pointing out, every time Thomas started muttering disbelievingly, "Of course they'd love you, you idiot. You play me." To which Thomas would roll his eyes and comment on Loki's self-superiority, forgetting entirely to hold on to his disbelief. In truth, though, Loki was torn between jealousy at the attention his lover was receiving, and pleasure that Thomas had received the adulation he so rightly deserved. Loki also felt no small pleasure that his mortal lover's 'fans' would never, in truth, have him, for he was Loki's.
Despite the good in Thomas' popularity – the ease of finding work and being able to provide for both himself and Loki, who could not provide for himself; the love and support of people the world over; the knowledge that the mortal actor was bringing happiness to so many – there was also a great deal of bad. The lack of privacy was daunting, but made easier by Loki's ability to drag Thomas into his semi-corporeal plane and duck those that would hold them while Thomas wished to explore a new city or get something to eat that wasn't set food. Loki's regular pranks on unsuspecting paparazzi made for more than a couple laughs for Thomas, as well as those who couldn't see Loki whom were equally bothered by the annoyances.
The worst, so far as Loki was concerned, were those mortals who called themselves fans, yet would turn against Thomas at the slightest provocation. Following close behind were those mortals who would attack actresses with whom Thomas starred or spent but a second with, including his sister, or act falsely as someone they were not for Thomas' attention. Loki had taken part in more than one rant against such, his acidic comments delighting those 'true fans' and, hopefully, bringing those less loving to their knees, where they belonged.
Thomas seemed mostly resigned to the evils of his popularity and focussed on the good, rather than the bad. (And if he became just the littlest more interested in taking Loki to bed after a rash of nasty comments, Loki wasn't about to deny him.) Loki wasn't nearly so benevolent, however, and they'd had more than one argument about it.
It was such an argument – set pictures had been promised by an account pretending to be the official Thor: The Dark World account, which turned into another stupid Loki'd joke, and after the fakes had claimed Thomas was in on the joke, everything had exploded – which found Loki curled up on the couch at Thomas' flat while the mortal and Chris Hemsworth – who was staying with them at Thomas' insistence and with Loki's approval – left for a short day on set.
Loki was not pouting – okay, maybe a little – and glaring at the closed laptop on the table in front of him. He could do things on the internet, but he feared the stupidity from yesterday – and Thomas' stupid apology, as if it had anything to do with him – would just send him into a fit again. He tried reading a book – Thomas had an extensive enough collection, both digital and paper, and Chris had brought a couple of his own – but that failed to hold his attention for more than an hour before he was up and pacing, looking for something more active to do.
He thought about going outside, but a quick glance showed the previously clear skies to be clouding over with nasty promise. He frowned, briefly concerned for the two mortals in Surrey, then threw up his hands, figuring they could take care of themselves, and went in search of Thomas' secret stash of superhero toys. He was pretty sure the mortal hadn't realised Loki had found it yet, and as long as Loki didn't do any irreparable damage while using the Loki figure to smash the varied heroes, it was likely Thomas would never discover his knowledge.
Lightning flashed outside the windows, thunder rumbling angrily in its wake. Loki paused for a moment, glancing out the window in the bedroom with no small concern; he'd been on Midgard for long enough to know that storms didn't act like that, no more than they did on Asgard. Unless Thor was involved.
"Thor's in a different realm," Loki reminded himself. "Freak event." He dropped to the ground and felt under the bed for the small chest with the figures inside and pulled it out with a smile edged with nerves.
Loki had just stepped back into the living room, headed for the dining room table to have enough room for an epic battle that the Avengers would lose – Loki would take especial pleasure in beating on the Thor figure, though he usually included his brother on his side, more in a show of fondness for Chris than because he honestly believed such would occur in reality – when another boom of thunder shook the flat, followed by a pounding on the front door.
Loki froze, clutching the chest over his thudding heart and staring at the door. Thomas and Chris both had keys if they had need to return, and those in London who knew of Loki and wouldn't freak out to find the door opening of its own accord were either at work themselves, or knew to find the two mortals on set, should they have need to speak with them. Any others would simply have to return at another time.
The person outside pounded again, then called, "Loki!"
Only one person could boom in quite that way, though Chris could manage a fair approximation.
"Go away!" Loki shouted back at his brother, taking two steps back into the bedroom and hiding around the edge of the doorway.
"Open this door, Brother," Thor ordered through the door, thunder rumbling warningly outside. "I have no wish to break it down."
"Then don't," Loki snapped, stepping out from around the doorway and glaring at the front door. "Just leave."
"Loki," Thor said and something bumped against the door. "Please. I have orders to speak with you."
"Go back home and tell Odin he can shove his orders up his–"
"Loki!"
Loki's lips curled with a smirk for a brief moment before thunder again boomed, shaking the flat. "Stop that, you ugly oaf!" Loki snapped. Was it really any wonder that Loki was terrified of thunderstorms, having a brother capable of creating them when his temper was high? Thomas had been endlessly amused the first time he'd found Loki curled under the covers, and he still grinned over it, but he'd learned that teasing Loki only ended in Thomas sporting a bruise and Loki locking himself in the nearest small space with a door for the extent of the storm.
"Open this door!" Thor shouted back and slammed a hand against the door.
"Oiy!" Loki heard from outside the door, and he couldn't decide whether he was happy or horrified to recognise Chris' voice. "Stop hitting our door!"
There was a quiet moment, then Thor said, "Who are you, mortal, that you would wear my face?"
"Chris Hemsworth. Move."
"You would think–" Thor's voice cut off suddenly, then, "And you."
Loki hurried towards the door, because he didn't like that note in his brother's voice, and he would rather he stood between Thor's anger than Chris or – worse – Thomas.
"If Loki's hiding in the bathroom because of you, I will find a knife and give you reason to wear an eye patch to match your father's," Thomas stated, calm and pitched in a tone Loki used against opponents whom had tickled his ire. "Get out of my way. Now."
Loki pulled the door open just as Thomas was moving to press his key into the lock. Thomas blinked once, then stepped forward and wrapped Loki in a hug. Loki wrapped his free arm around Thomas in return, burying his nose against the mortal's throat and taking comfort from his nearness. It was still storming outside and Thor stood in their doorway, staring in disbelief from next to Chris, and Loki wasn't sure what changes his brother would bring, but he knew he didn't want them, didn't want to lose the home he'd found with Thomas.
"Guys, move," Chris ordered. "Tom and I both need to change, and we're starting to attract a bit of attention."
Loki blinked and realised that Thomas was, indeed, soaked. "Idiot," he snarled, pulling away and pointing towards the bedroom. "I won't have you catching another cold on me, you complete moron."
Thomas chuckled and he leaned forward to press a kiss to Loki's cheek. "I'm going," he promised and moved towards the bedroom. "Put the kettle on?" he added over his shoulder as Chris edged past Loki, familiar enough with the magic that kept him and Loki apart to know when there was room to get by.
Loki and Thor stared at each other for a long moment, Loki glaring while Thor just looked flummoxed. Finally, Loki snarled, "Are you going to stand there like some dim mortal all day, or will you be coming in?"
"Loki!" Thomas called from the bedroom, disapproval in his voice.
Loki's words did move Thor to action, however, and he stepped through the open door and past the slighter god. Loki closed the door behind him, only keeping from slamming it to avoid another shout of disapproval from Thomas, then turned and stalked into the kitchen. Thor's footsteps, heavy even on carpet, followed him and Loki ground his teeth together to keep from snarling at the blond oaf.
Thor held his silence until Loki had the kettle warming on the hob and was pulling out mugs. "You look...well, Brother."
"And you look ever the same," Loki replied with a bite. He placed the fourth mug a touch too hard and it knocked loudly against the worktop, not breaking only because it was plastic. (Loki knew better than to give his brother ceramic.) "Why have you come?" he demanded, biting back, 'Why now? Why not thirty years ago when I needed you?' because Loki was no more interested in seeing Thor cry for Loki's pain now, than he had been then.
"Know this, Brother," Thor said, voice torn between sorrow and a tightly controlled anger, "This was not the punishment I would have seen befall you."
"No?" Loki returned, pressing his fingers against the chest he'd set next to the mugs and smiling bitterly. "You would have rather sewn my lips shut. Again."
There was a sharp breath just behind Loki and he tensed when Thomas' familiar arms wrapped around his waist, the mortal's head burying against Loki's shoulder.
"I had not wished to see you in any pain," Thor swore, the sorrow heavy in his voice.
"Liar," Loki hissed; he'd seen Thor's expression when he'd led him back to Asgard, the anger dark in the usually friendly blue eyes.
"I believe him," Chris said, and Loki glanced back to see the blond mortal leaning against the doorway, wet hair tangled around his ears and eyes staring, unseeing, at where Loki and Thomas stood before the array of mugs.
From anyone else, Loki would have brushed the words off, but it was hard to do when coming from his brother's look-alike; Chris had long been Thor's voice for Loki, the brother he longed to speak with, but could no longer reach. He let his shoulders slump in defeat and leaned back against Thomas, who turned his head and pressed a kiss to the side of Loki's neck.
Thor glanced uncertainly back at the blond mortal, then returned his gaze to Loki and Thomas. "Did not your punishment disallow the contact of mortals?" he enquired, sounding uncertain.
Thomas let go and Loki knew the mortal had wish to speak so Chris, too, might hear. "Yeah. I'm, ah, sort of the only one that can. Well, the only one that can directly interact with Loki, at least. Loki talks with people over the internet, and he and Chris sort of use me as a medium, when they're not typing to each other over instant messenger." He rubbed a hand over his chin, then held it out towards Thor. "Tom Hiddleston, by the way. I'd apologise for earlier, but, well, I'm not really sorry."
"Surprise, surprise," Loki muttered.
"Thor," the elder god said, uncertain. "Thank you, I believe, for taking care of my brother."
Loki tensed at the finality in those words. "What is that supposed to mean?" he snarled.
"I thought Lo still had, what? Seventy years left?" Chris said, frowning at his caped clone.
"You're not taking him back," Thomas insisted, catching on to Thor's meaning after Chris and Loki's comments.
The kettle let out a whistle, sharp in the sudden tenseness and making them all jump.
"Tea," Chris said unhelpfully, forehead lined with a heavy frown.
Thomas nodded and turned to see to the kettle, Loki standing a little too close next to him, yet not quite in the way.
They settled around the dining room table, Loki and Chris well-used to Thomas' insistence that, while they were in his home, all meals – a quick cuppa included – be taken around the table, as they rarely made use of one while away. Thor followed, uncertain and grim.
"I think I now understand why Father gave this to me," Thor commented after everyone had taken a sip. He passed a golden armguard across the table, not unlike those Loki had once worn with his armour.
Loki considered the armguard for a long moment, wishing he could read the magic he could barely sense woven into the metal. With his magic closed to him, however, that was but a dream, and he allowed a humourless smile before slipping it on, figuring that the Allfather couldn't possibly make his life any more a hel than it had been, not with so simple a creation.
Chris jerked in surprise next to him, his eyes lighting on Loki, for once. "Shit." His gaze flickered between Loki and Thomas, then he commented, "Lo, you need a haircut," as he reached out to touch Loki's long black hair, which he hadn't much cared to cut for some years.
Loki was left staring in disbelief as Chris not only saw him, but then tugged on a lock of his hair.
"My God," Thomas breathed, then winced reflexively, used to Loki preening when he mentioned the word 'god'.
Chris pushed out of his chair and Loki had enough time to start partway out of his chair, looking to flee, before the blond mortal had wrapped him in a hug.
Thomas let out a brief laugh before he covered his mouth, eyes dancing.
Loki glowered at his lover from behind Chris' large arms. He allowed the hug for a moment, aware of how much Chris had wanted to do it, before he finally snapped, "Hemsworth, let me go before I hurt you such that you can't act for a week."
Chris laughed and returned to his seat, grinning like an absolute idiot.
Loki wanted to make a comment – and Chris would actually hear him for once – but Thomas said, "What does Odin want?"
Chris' smile vanished and Loki looked to his brother in time to catch the tensing of his shoulders, though whether it was for Thomas' disrespect or the changed atmosphere, Loki couldn't tell. Thor nodded once, then said, "I am uncertain how much you know, as to the proceedings that led to my brother's punis–"
"He brought the Chitauri down on an alternate Earth," Chris said, smile falsely friendly. And was it really any wonder that Loki would prefer Chris to Thor any day?
"Don't forget Thanos," Thomas added absently from behind his mug.
"Mm. Puppet master. Always playing from behind the scenes."
"Not this time," Thor announced and both mortals straightened, worry sharp in their eyes. Loki narrowed his eyes at his brother, demanding without words for Thor to explain. Thor sighed, sorrow heavy on his shoulders, and said, "We became aware of him but one year ago. He rained fire and death down on Midgard – our Midgard – and laid waste to the entire planet."
"God," Thomas breathed, horrified. Across from him, Chris ran a hand over his face, expression grim. "Were there any survivors?"
Thor nodded. "Not many: Captain Rogers, Lady Natasha, Dr Banner, and some dozen SHIELD agents and younger Avengers. They fight, now, for Asgard." Thor met Loki's eyes. "Thanos sits at our gates. We've held him off well thus far, and may well push him back, given time, but all will be assured with your assistance. Father will end your sentence–"
"No," Loki said, shaking with the effort to keep his voice calm.
"Loki," Thomas hissed disapproving. "You can't refuse–"
"You do not comprehend the idiocy of these actions," Loki snapped. Thomas flinched and Loki looked away for a moment before turning his glare on his brother. "You would have me chose between worlds."
"I don't– Loki, you make no sense–"
"You didn't know," Loki realised, staring at the honest confusion and hurt writ across Thor's face. "He didn't tell you." He laughed, bitter and not at all surprised. "He wouldn't; you would have refused."
"Lo," Chris interrupted, confusion and fear warring in his voice, "why don't you explain things to the rest of us?"
Loki smiled bitterly and reached out to wrap his fingers around Thomas' wrist, taking comfort in the steady thrum of his pulse. Thomas moved his hand from his mug and twisted to return the grasp, long used to the ways Loki drew comfort from him. "The powers which sent you here will have attracted Thanos' attention," Loki told Thor, keeping his voice steady, because it needn't be sharp to wound his brother, not for these words. "Thanos wishes to bring death to any he might, and he has his own means of passing the walls between realities; Odin would use this world as a distraction, a quick snack set before the Mad Titan that will take him but a moment to devour, but would still have his eyes turned from Asgard."
"Norns," Thor breathed.
Thomas' grip had tightened against Loki's arm as he'd spoken, and a glance showed his mortal lover torn between horror and resignation. To Loki's other side, Chris had hidden his face in his hands, shoulders held low.
"Had I known, Brother–" Thor swore.
"This was not your doing," Loki replied tiredly, anger burning in his heart at Odin's cruelty. He shook his head. "Had the Allfather sent you but a year ago, I would have returned. Now..." Loki offered Thor a smile. "Asgard is defended, this world is not; I will offer what little I might. If it is the will of the Norns that I die here, then I will."
"Loki, no," Thomas insisted, tugging on Loki's arm. "No. Go home."
"This is my home," Loki insisted, because this world had become more his home over the past year, than Asgard had ever been. "I will not leave you, any of you," he added, looking to Chris, who managed a broken smile, "to die. Not when I might offer assistance. I'm hurt that you would think me so heartless," he finished, turning back to Thomas.
Thomas looked away, ashamed and hurting. "I don't want to watch you die," he admitted. "I know you don't want to watch me die, either, but..."
"I am long resigned to it," Loki finished for him, because they both knew that Loki would outlive Thomas by centuries.
"I might–" Thor interrupted and grimaced when the other three turned to him. "I might remain. To give my own aid."
"No," Loki insisted. "Your place is in Asgard."
"This threat is my doing, Brother!"
"This threat is Odin's doing," Thomas stated, just sharp enough to catch Thor's attention. "This burden his his to carry, not yours."
"Your addition here would do little but slow Thanos," Loki soothed, seeing the lines of reluctant defeat in the set of Thor's shoulders. "You're needed in Asgard; here you will just be another casualty."
"Don't sacrifice the universe for your pride," Chris added and Thor flinched, because these two mortals always knew exactly which weapons would cut the deepest against the gods they portrayed.
"I understand," Thor said and stood from the table.
"How long do we have?" Chris asked, sudden and appearing to surprise even himself.
Thor shook his head. "The journey took me a little over a day; I know little of this magic, however." He looked to Loki, then.
Loki shrugged. "A smaller force will take shorter to travel the barrier. For one person, a day is about right; for the numbers he will send... I give us a month at the most, a week at the least."
Chris nodded and pulled out his phone.
"Chris, what are you–?" Thomas started.
"A video," Chris explained. "There aren't any superheroes here for us to hide behind, only men and women in uniform, carrying guns. It'll be hard to get them armed for something they think is a story, but if we've got a bit of truth..."
"You are actors; what truth will mortals find in film?" Loki asked, but he was already warming to the idea; they would need some proof, and all he had to offer was himself. If Chris had an idea...
"Not a film," Thomas recognised, pulling out his own phone. "Home video. It's not perfect, people will still claim it's been doctored, but there's something about badly-filmed videos that makes them more believable." He let out a quiet laugh. "I always wanted to direct a film."
"My idea; I'm directing," Chris insisted.
"Two cameras; we'll both direct."
"I'm a god," Loki snarled. "I will direct."
Chris and Thomas traded vaguely horrified looks, then chorused, "No."
"Loki, you cause more than enough trouble on a real set."
"Your films are meant as entertainment; this is a matter of your planet," Loki snapped. Then, because he couldn't resist, added, "Anyway, the only props I might misplace here appear to be mugs and a hammer I cannot pick up. Ah. And Thomas' chest of toys."
Thomas turned towards the worktop, where Loki had left the chest with his Avengers figurines. "What is–? Loki!" He turned an irritated look on the god, who just smirked. "We'll talk later. For now–" He turned the back of his phone to face him and Loki realised the two humans had already started filming. "Hi. Tom Hiddleston."
"Chris Hemsworth," Chris said when they both turned their cameras to him.
They turned to Loki, next, and he flashed them an evil little smile. "Loki. God of Mischief and Lies. Banished Second Prince of Asgard. Etc, etc, etc."
"You forgot prop thief," Chris pointed out.
"Prop misplacer, thank you," Loki returned drily. "Thomas has never let me keep one for longer than it takes him to discover I have it."
"Chris," Thomas interrupted and the blond actor flashed an apologetic grin before they both turned to Thor.
"Thor, son of Odin Allfather, First Prince of Asgard."
"So, for the viewers out there, Loki's been on Earth for a bit over thirty years now; part of a long sentence handed down by Odin," Chris said. "He's been living with Tom for the past year, and no one's seen him because he's usually invisible."
"Armguard," Thomas requested.
Loki sighed and pulled off the golden armguard. Chris' eyes unfocussed, proving the Allfather's magic was again separating Loki from mortals, and Loki waved a hand at where he'd placed the armguard on the table. "Are you taking this back?" he asked his brother.
Thor shook his head. "Father never ordered I return with it, only that I give it unto you so we might include those mortals you have made peace with."
"Lo makes headaches, not peace," Chris retorted, but the joke fell flat and Loki put the armguard back on so he could raise an eyebrow at the mortal and he'd actually see it. "Sorry?"
"Loki and Thor are from an alternate reality, where the events of Avengers Assemble and those films that came before really happened," Thomas explained.
"They have created video of our lives?" Thor asked Loki.
Loki waved a hand at him. "Yes, yes. And a comic book series, which is much less accurate."
"And these two–"
"Thor, could you hold your idiocy to yourself for the moment?" Loki requested.
"Loki," Thomas complained and Loki rolled his eyes.
"Apologies," Thor offered. "This is, truly, a matter of little importance. Please, continue."
Thomas blinked at the blond god, then glanced towards Loki, who raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay. Um." He shook his head. "Thanos made his bid in their original reality and apparently took out Earth, save a few humans who are working with Asgard to protect their home. Odin sent Thor here to retrieve Loki, but also to distract Thanos with our reality for a bit."
"His armies will come," Loki said flatly, looking between the two phones when they turned to him. "They will come, and they will do to this world what they did to that other. There are no heroes here, no men in suits powered by an arc reactor, or scientists that become untouchable monsters when their temper is high. There are only mortals – humans – with your machine guns and bombs capable of destroying your world before Thanos could even think to set foot on it.
"I do not know if we can make more than a dent in Thanos' army, but if I have learned one thing of your people, it is that you will try, that you will do everything to protect that which you hold dear, even when you cannot hope to survive. Do that now, for those you care most for, for your property, for yourselves. Not, as Odin would wish, for an alternate Asgard that has no hold over your realm. And, maybe, you will prove yourselves better than any of us who believe you less; perhaps you will surprise those of us who call ourselves your gods."
Thomas reached out and caught Loki's hand on the table, entwining their fingers together. Loki met his eyes, saw the approval bright within them, and looked away, heart thudding in an entirely unfamiliar way.
"Right," Chris said and they all glanced at him. "That's what we've got," he explained to the cameras. "And Tom and I, we're going to try and get the word out, but it's up to you lot to force the issue. And, yeah, some of you are gonna think, 'Oh, it's just Tom and Chris, having a laugh,' and that's fine. We can't make you think otherwise. But for us, right now, this is real. This isn't Thor 2, this isn't some bit of fun that's gonna have us turning around next week and saying, 'Loki'd'."
"Loki says we have a week, maybe a month, if we're lucky," Thomas added. "It's not much time–"
"It is more than our Midgard had," Thor commented grimly. "They had but moments."
"We'll take it," Chris decided. He glanced at his phone, nodded, then touched the screen. "I should look into a flight back to Australia."
"Elsa and India," Thomas realised, a sick sort of understanding in his eyes; Chris' daughter was just over four months old and they were facing a war with the potential to wipe out all humans.
"And splitting our resources a bit," Chris agreed, eyes not looking up from the screen of his mobile.
"I can take you," Thor offered and the two mortals looked to him with surprise while Loki raised an eyebrow. "It causes me no additional difficulty, and I would offer what little assistance I might before I must return."
"I– Yeah. Yes, thank you," Chris stuttered, standing from the table and looking uncertain how to proceed. "I should– Let me pack a couple things..." Then he sort of half stumbled out of the kitchen, headed for his suitcase at the end of the couch.
Thomas slipped his own mobile away and stood. "I'm going to go help Chris," he told Loki. "Try not to cause any trouble?"
"I am, as ever, on my best behaviour," Loki replied easily.
"Let's try my best behaviour for today," Thomas suggested before leaving the kitchen.
Loki and Thor watched each other from across the table for a long moment before the elder prince sighed and leaned against the chair he was standing behind. "This world suits you, Brother."
Loki snorted. "These mortals suit me. This world, as a whole, I could care less for."
Thor inclined his head, allowing that. "It warms me to see you so at peace, for all that my return has ended that. I had...spoken to Heimdall, some, of what befell you." Loki stiffened as Thor looked up at him, expression broken. "If I could have put end to your pain, Broth–"
"What's done is done," Loki snarled, unwilling to listen to Thor apologise for something neither of them had control over.
"Done or not, Loki–"
"What, then?" Loki interrupted, expression dark. "You would have come and, what? Odin would have allowed you no more than a year, and then I would again be alone. Perhaps you would have eased some of my loneliness, perhaps you would only have made it worse; I cannot say, and neither can you. It's done, past." Loki sighed and looked down at his new armguard, tracing the markings on it with his eyes. "You need to stop returning to old pains, Brother; it's a habit unsuited to a king."
Thor let out a choked sort of noise and Loki looked up, his stomach sinking to find his brother's eyes bright with tears. "What king might I be, without you as my Council?"
Loki looked back down at the armguard, swallowing against a block in his throat. "You'll certainly get into less trouble," he commented flippantly.
"Loki–"
"You will manage," Loki insisted, refusing to look up, "as you have managed these past years. How long has it been?" he wondered, because time passed differently between the Nine Realms, and he had little doubt it would be the same between realities.
"Not yet forty-six years," Thor replied and Loki nodded even as his brother went on to say, "I have always looked to your logic, your quick mind, Loki–"
"You listened to it rarely enough," Loki replied drily, chancing a glance up at Thor. The elder was still visibly upset, but no longer near tears.
Thor winced. "I am more the fool, then," he allowed. "And who will, now, attempt so to hold me back?"
"Norns save whoever it is," Loki muttered.
"Loki."
"Sif and Hogun both are wise enough," Loki announced. "It has never been just me that tries to stop you, Thor, I am simply the least likely to back down. Where you would promise to heed me, you must now heed them. Yet, as much as it lies to you to listen, it lies to them to speak; as they once stood so adamantly against me, they must learn to do with you, no matter what treason they might commit. Remind them of that, from me."
Thor nodded and ducked his head. "I will," he whispered. "Would you have me return with any other messages?"
Loki's lips twitched with a smile. "Tell Balder to grow a spine."
They shared a laugh over their lesser mentioned brother; Loki had taken great pleasure in teasing Balder at every opportunity, while Thor had tried his best to physically toughen the youngest Odinson up, which left them with a brother who was nearly as strong as Thor, but had a tendency to jump at his own shadow. Frigga had taken to coddling Balder as Thor and Loki outgrew her motherly attentions, which didn't help.
Loki returned his attention to his armguard as his mirth faded. "My love to Mother and Sleipnir. And Jörmungand, if he retains his life."
"He does," Thor replied gently. "He, too, has found home in Asgard for her defence."
Loki smiled, pleased to hear that his son was being given the chance to regain his lost honour. "I'm glad."
Thor shifted on his feet, then asked, "Any others?"
Loki considered that, thought of all the words he should like to bestow upon Odin, and shook his head; he wouldn't make Thor speak such hatred to his father.
Thor's shoulders fell. "I see."
"Ah, wait," Loki announced, flashing his brother a mischievous smile that brought a wary smile to Thor's lips. "I would have you remind my idiot of a brother that, should he truly require my council, his niece is not so difficult to bribe."
Thor laughed. "True enough. But, Brother, what if you should reside in Valhalla?"
Loki raised both eyebrows at him. "Really? Valhalla?" He snorted. "Do you dream oft of me as such?"
"You would not be the first Jötun to walk those halls," Thor replied quietly.
Loki sighed. "It is not my species that would deny me, Brother, as well you know. Look for me in Niflhel."
"I thought Valhalla was for anyone who died in battle," Thomas said from the doorway, looking between the two gods with a faint frown.
"It is...slightly more than that," Thor admitted. "There are deeds to be weighed, much as is said to be done in the writings of your jealous god, but one must die fighting for a cause they believe to be just before they might face that weighing."
Thomas looked at Loki, his eyes speaking volumes about how truly he believed Loki would make his way into Valhalla. He chose not to vocalise his thoughts, instead announcing, "Chris is ready whenever you are, Thor."
"I understand," Thor replied, straightening from his slouch against the chair. "Brother? Will you see us off?"
Loki gave a loud sigh as he rose from his seat. "I suppose I must, lest Hemsworth hold it over my head later."
The three of them joined Chris out in the living room, then made the trip out to the street, where there would be room for Thor to take off. Chris dropped back to walk with Loki as they left the flat to ask, "Is this safe, though? I know I carried Natalie for the one scene in Thor, but–"
"Don't touch Mjölnir," Loki suggested and Chris grimaced. "I would have insisted on another mode of travel if there was any true danger, Hemsworth. I don't care for Thor's method and don't care to travel it with him, but it is safe enough for even so pathetic a creature as yourself."
"It's probably a bad sign that you insulting me is what makes me feel better about this," Chris muttered and Loki snorted.
And then they were stopping at the edge of the pavement and Chris pulled Loki into a hug, which he bore with more patience than he would have before meeting Thomas. "Take care of Tom," Chris whispered and Loki nodded. "And yourself," the mortal added, pulling back to meet Loki's eyes.
Loki flashed him a smirk, promising nothing, then replied, "My best to India and Lady Elsa."
Chris nodded with a smile, then moved to give his farewells to Thomas.
Thor took Chris' place. "Brother," he murmured and made to put his hand at the back of Loki's neck, as between warriors, before suddenly changing the motion and pulling Loki into a hug.
Loki wrapped his arms around his brother and hid his face against Thor's neck, tears coming to his eyes without his say. "Brother," he whispered back and Thor's arms tightened enough to break a mortal's back. Loki's shoulder felt oddly damp and Loki resisted the urge to sigh, because of course Thor would cry. "Idiot."
Thor let out a wet chuckle and drew back, wiping fingers awkwardly under his eyes to mar the glistening lines marking his cheeks. "I'll be back," he promised. "When Thanos has fallen, I will return with what assistance I might. Asgard is home to any who have nowhere else to go, no matter their previous crimes."
Loki smiled and inclined his head, understanding the last to be aimed at him. "Luck be with you in your battles, Thor Odinson," he murmured and raised his hand to rest against the back of Thor's neck. "And, should the Norns will it, we will meet again."
Thor returned the gesture. "Luck be with you, Loki Odinson," Thor intoned, hand tightening against Loki's neck before dropping away.
Thor moved out into the road, Chris following along and looking only a little nervous when the god wrapped an arm around him and raised Mjölnir up to the sky, calling on the dying storm still darkening the sky and strengthening it. Thomas came to stand next to Loki and entwined their fingers just before the flash of lightning hit the two blonds and drew them up and away. The rain, which had died off while they'd been inside, started up again and Thomas and Loki were quickly soaked.
"I'm not going to Valhalla," Loki said to his lover, heading off the discussion he was certain would come.
"One attempt of genocide–"
"Thanos will want me alive." Loki had failed Thanos, plain and simple, and the Mad Titan wasn't one to let failures go unpunished. Loki would die only after he'd been broken in so many ways that he couldn't even conceive of fighting any more, would never see Valhalla because he'd given up fighting so long before that such acts were no longer even a dream.
Thomas fell very still for a moment before he turned and pressed his face against Loki's shoulder. "Oh my God," he whispered, just loud enough for Loki to hear him over the rain. "Oh God."
Loki squeezed the hand in his. "You're going to catch a cold."
Thomas nodded and kept close to Loki as the god led the way back inside, hands still clasped tightly together. The armguard was dropped, unneeded, on the living room table as they retreated to the bedroom to change out of their wet clothing.
Loki couldn't say who distracted who with a kiss, but neither of them cared to stop and they fell into the bed together, skin chilled and more than a little damp. Thomas' mobile started singing from inside his wet trousers as the mortal pressed into the god, and they paused for a breath before they kept on, nothing more important in that moment than what they had on that bed.
As they breathed together after, the mortal a comfortable weight against Loki's chest, Thomas whispered, "I love you." Three words neither of them had actually spoken to each other before, for reasons each their own.
Loki swallowed and tightened his arms around Thomas' waist. "I love you, my Thomas," he whispered back, voice heavy with tears, and Thomas leaned up to press a kiss to the corner of Loki's left eye as a single drop fell. "When he comes, please leave? I wouldn't–" Loki drew one hand up Thomas' spine and over his shoulder to brush against his cheek. "Don't let him touch you." Because Loki could hold out against physical pain for more than long enough that Asgard's defenders had the chance to do some serious damage against Thanos' army, but knowing the Mad Titan had Thomas would destroy him.
"I won't," Thomas promised and rested his cheek against Loki's, breath mingling and hearts beating out a familiar rhythm between them.
Thomas had nearly dozed off, lulled by the calm before the storm and Loki's fingers scratching through his short hair, when the front door pushed open. "Tom?" his agent, Michael Symons, called.
Thomas groaned and rolled off Loki, waiting until they were no longer touching to call, "In the bedroom, Mikey. Give us a moment."
"Alright. Chris around?"
Thomas paused in front of his dresser for a moment before replying, "Uh, no. No, he had to– Hold on, Mikey. Loki, get up."
Loki sighed and finally sat up. "I was comfortable."
Thomas reached across the bed and brushed at the edge of Loki's eye, as though going after the stain of further tears. "I know," he murmured, "but we can't stay in bed. Not now."
Loki caught the mortal's hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "As you say," he agreed and let Thomas pull him off the bed.
Michael was sitting on the couch when Loki and Thomas emerged from the bedroom, stress writ all over his face. He offered a sort of helpless smile and explained, "They put out the call thirty minutes ago for everyone to head for the set. Neither you nor Chris were answering your phones, so I agreed to drop by."
Thomas sighed. "We had a...visit. From Thor."
Michael glanced to Thomas' side, as though he might see Loki. "Loki's brother, Thor?"
"The same," Loki agreed as he slipped his new armguard on, smirking when the mortal jumped.
"Bloody hell," Michael breathed and reached forward like he meant to poke Loki and see if he was real.
"Desist," Loki ordered, gently knocking the hand away. "My brother didn't come with pleasant news."
Michael looked to Thomas, who nodded. "The Chitauri are on their way. Loki thinks we have a week at the least, a month at the most."
Michael dropped his head into his hands and groaned. "I don't get paid enough for this."
Loki snorted. "Take it up with the Allfather. He's the one who thought to use your planet as a distraction from Asgard."
"Great." Michael rubbed at his face and glanced up at the standing males. "What, exactly, are any of us supposed to to about this? If the Chitauri are anything like in Avengers Assemble–"
"They are very like that," Loki assured him.
"Chris and I made a video, which we're both posting to the web," Thomas explained. "He's gone back to Australia to do what he can there, while I see what I can do from here. If we can get all the armed forces of the world to rally, we may have a chance."
"And if no one will listen?" Michael asked. "If everyone takes this a some giant prank?"
"Then your world will burn," Loki replied coldly, no hint of the mischief-maker most knew him as. "You will be made to watch as your fellow man is shot down while fleeing, or ripped limb-from-limb. There will be no mercy, no relief but death. You will fight, or you will suffer and die."
Michael set his expression. "And you? Are you running home? You said Thor had been by."
"Loki's staying," Thomas said quietly from Loki's side. "Odin sent Thor to bring him back to Asgard, but he refused."
"Why?"
"It is not to you to question my motives, Symons."
Thomas shook his head, warning his agent away from furthering that line of question. "I need to post this video and make some calls, get as many others who already know about Loki working with us. Mikey, could you call Alan and apologise for Chris and I?" He managed a tired smile. "I don't know how much he'll believe, but I can come by set on Monday with Loki to try and talk him around, if he's willing to wait."
Michael nodded and stood. "Anyone else on set that we should expect to leave for home in the coming days?" he asked.
"Lady Katherine, Elba, and Skarsgård have all 'met' me," Loki offered, "and Hopkins and Ladies Natalie and Jaimie are aware of me, in that they have been nearby as I was spoken of or to."
"A lot of us," Thomas clarified.
Michael sighed. "I'll let him and everyone at the office know what's going on, then," he agreed. "Keep me in the loop as much as you can, though, Tom. And call Luke before he finds out what you're up to from someone else."
Thomas grimaced at the thought of his publicist's reaction to him using his popularity to get the word out without warning him ahead of time. "I'll call him first," he promised and Loki snorted.
Michael nodded. "Good." He stopped at the door to look back at the two look-alikes in the middle of the room, Thomas looking down at his mobile as he sorted through his contacts. "Take care of yourself, Tom. And you, Loki."
Loki inclined his head. "We will be as careful as we ever are," he promised.
"Not reassuring," Michael returned before leaving them to it.
They spent the rest of the day with Thomas ringing those he knew who had 'met' Loki – or at least had been convinced that he existed – while Loki handled posting the video Thomas had made and fielding any questions. Most of the internet appeared amused by the video, commenting on how it was a lovely joke, but Loki kept on Thomas' account, firmly promising it was the truth. As others that Thomas or Chris were contacting started getting the word out themselves, those who were laughing fell silent and the uncertain 'Could it be?' questions started picking up speed.
And then, jackpot: Someone near Thomas and Loki's flat had caught Thor and Chris' exit from the road on video and posted it on YouTube. The video caught the sudden strengthening of the storm, the lightning that had picked up the two look-alikes, and Loki and Thomas standing in the rain.
Following on that, a number of Australians spoke up to say that Chris was back in the area – Thor had apparently overshot, and Chris had been required to walk to his home – even though he'd been seen in London just before the freak storm had sent everyone running for cover.
As sudden as Thor's storms, the entire internet – or, the six sites that Loki was keeping tabs on at that moment, at least – exploded. Some people were panicking, a couple were talking about how they knew the Mayans had been right, a good third were talking of visiting friends and family or seeing places they had wanted to visit before their death, a few were lamenting their lives, and then there was the calm corner, the group that asked, 'How can we help?'
It was to the last group that Loki turned his focus as Thomas admitted some of his fellow actors and actresses from the Thor: The Dark World set, the lot of them letting out surprised noises to see Loki curled up on the couch with the laptop. 'Talk to your governments,' he told them. 'Tell them to mobilise their forces, make them listen. There will be no hope without a defence, and that defence lies in the hands of your governments.'
"I'm not sure how I feel about the long hair," Kat Dennings said as she dropped onto the couch next to Loki.
"He's not getting it cut," Thomas said for the god as he leaned against the arm next to Loki and read over the page he was on. "I've been trying for months, but he refuses. It's going well, then?"
"Well enough," Loki replied and typed out a quick response to a stupid question before focussing his attention on his lover. "Did you require me?"
"We brought Indian food with us," Kat told him, nudging him with one foot. She blinked, then nudged him again. "Cool."
Loki sighed. "What is it with these mortals and constantly touching me?" he asked of Thomas as the mortal took the laptop from him.
"The novelty should wear off after a couple of days," Thomas replied, eyes already flicking across the screen, catching up with everything that Loki had been keeping up with. "Stop using my account to be a jerk, Loki."
"They listen so much better when they think it comes from you," Loki returned sweetly.
Kat laughed. "This is awesome," she told them before shoving at Loki's leg with her foot a third time. "Go get something to eat while Tom apologises to everyone."
Loki snorted – he could see Thomas typing out an apology as Kat spoke – and stood to gather some food. He was distracted along the way by a couple of the others that had come with Kat, and bore their interest in his existence for a good twenty minutes before he retreated back to the couch.
"If one more person touches me, I will remove this thing," Loki muttered of the armguard to Thomas as he took the mortal's previous position on the arm of the couch, Thomas having slid down into Loki's abandoned spot.
Thomas smiled and reached up to run his fingers through Loki's hair, his other hand moving slowly over his keyboard. Loki leaned into the touch as he munched on the food he'd brought back with him, scowling.
"You're still here," Kat pointed out. "I thought you said–"
"Thomas doesn't count," Loki snarled, turning his head and nudging Thomas' hand to signal that he should scratch an itch where his fingers were. Thomas' eyes flickered up to him, dancing with silent laughter, before he did so.
"I suppose," Kat allowed and they fell into silence for a long moment.
Thomas finally removed his hand from Loki's scalp so he could place the laptop on the ground and scoot over on the couch. "Come here."
Loki dropped into the open space, squeezed tightly between Thomas and the arm of the couch, but comfortable in spite of it. Thomas wrapped his arm around behind Loki's waist, his hand resting on Loki's thigh and held so the god could wrap his fingers around Thomas' wrist and feel his pulse, which Loki did. Thomas laid his head against Loki's shoulder and the god only now saw the lines around his eyes that spoke of the stress and fear hidden behind Thomas' constant good humour. "Go get some sleep," he murmured, half order, half suggestion.
Thomas breathed a quiet laugh. "People over."
Loki shook his head. "I will see to them; this is more wearing on you than on me."
"Be polite," Thomas ordered even as he pulled his wrist from Loki's grasp and rose from the couch.
"No promises," Loki returned and the mortal laughed as he moved towards the bedroom, waving at one of the others.
Loki did end up remaining polite, helped by the mortals leaving of their own volition within the hour.
Kat was the last to leave, hugging Loki and grinning when he huffed in irritation. "Most of us are heading back for the States tomorrow," she told him. "Tom already knows, I think, but pass it back anyway. And it was good to actually meet you, Loki. Without, you know, set pieces randomly disappearing from one spot and reappearing five feet away. Which, always a laugh, but still disconcerting."
"Good bye, Lady Katherine," Loki insisted and she laughed as she finally stepped through the open door, waving.
Loki closed the door behind her and sighed as he looked over the flat. The mortals had mostly cleaned up after themselves, but there was Indian food left over to be cleaned away and a couple dirty dishes. Loki was becoming quite used to cleaning up around the flat – too used to it, he sometimes thought, considering he was a god – so he set to it without complaint, pleased when the room was again clean. Those things Chris had left behind, he slipped into a cupboard, and then sent the mortal a quick message asking if he wanted it posted to him, or would rather it remained in London.
Everything quiet and in order, Loki slipped into the bedroom and under the covers with Thomas. The mortal let out a sleepy mumble and turned towards him, only stilling when Loki wrapped him in an embrace. "Sweet sleep," Loki whispered against the faint curl of Thomas' hair before settling in to rest himself.
They were just finishing with breakfast when Luke Windsor came by, wearing a pressed suit and looking more than a little frazzled. Loki didn't want to think about how long the mortal had been up already, especially when placed against the early hours that he and Thomas kept.
Luke sort of stopped for a moment upon spotting Loki, who smirked at him, then shook his head and looked at Thomas. "I'm being hounded for a press conference. A lot of it is people looking to find the joke, but the office and I agree that this might be the thing to bring more people around." He glanced at Loki. "The only problem is convincing them you're the real thing and not someone who just looks exactly like Tom. Can you use any magic?"
Loki took off the armguard and set it on the table.
"That's about it," Thomas offered his publicist while Luke shook his head. "Well, and his usual tricks," he added just before Loki covered his hand, making Thomas vanish from Luke's sight.
"We'll just have to find a way to make it work," Luke decided, too used to the disappearing act to be thrown by it, and Loki let Thomas go and put his armguard back on with a huff. "Unless you have something more pressing," Luke continued with the air of someone who knew well Thomas and Loki's schedule was empty, "I'd like to try and fit this in this afternoon."
"The sooner the better," Thomas murmured, glancing at Loki, who nodded. "We don't have a lot of time."
"Then I'll set something up for noon. Do I need to write you a statement, or would you rather just make it up as you go?"
"Loki's not going to follow something pre-written," Thomas commented.
"Tedious," Loki agreed, picking at his nails.
Luke sighed, then pointed a stern finger at the god. "Do not set anything on fire this time."
Loki smirked. "I would never."
"He won't," Thomas promised, rolling his eyes.
Luke looked like he wasn't sure he believed him – Loki smirking from the other side of the table didn't help – but there wasn't anything he could do about it. "I'll see to it there's a car here by half eleven to pick you two up," he promised, turning to leave. "Please stay indoors until then."
Thomas glanced past Luke, at the closed door, and nodded. "We can do that."
Luke nodded and left them.
Thomas cleaned up their dishes in silence before saying, "They're going to want to know why you've stayed."
Loki sneered. "It's not for them to know," he commented, pushing away from the table and turning towards the laptop.
Thomas caught his arm and turned him until they were facing, raising his hands to cup Loki's face. "I'm not ashamed of us," he murmured. "And anyone who would think you weak to stay for love, has never had anything worth fighting for."
Loki caught his hands in the pockets of Thomas' trousers. "I would not see them use us against one another," he admitted, knowing better than to lie to his human.
"They won't," Thomas promised, thumbs rubbing Loki's cheeks. "Do you trust me?"
"No," Loki muttered, but he did. "You will make so many of your fans most upset."
Thomas laughed and pressed a quick kiss to Loki's mouth. "You're going to enjoy that."
Loki's mouth curled with pleasure. "So I will," he agreed smugly.
Thomas' hands dropped away from Loki's face, pulling Loki's from his pockets. "Come on. Let's see what the night has wrought."
The press conference went about how they'd expected; having a mostly exact copy – save their differing hair and the insistent green of Loki's eyes vs the uncertain blue-green of Thomas' – made a lot of believers, and Loki vanishing when he removed the armguard turned most of the rest. Only a couple remained sceptical, one of whom insisted, "If you were the real Loki, you'd perform magic."
"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" Loki had replied. "Have you missed entirely that I am denied my magic?"
"Oh, I'm sure that's just a lie–" the man started, ignoring the others around him trying to hush him.
Thomas groaned and didn't even bother grabbing for the god when Loki jumped from the platform they were on and stalked purposefully down the cleared aisle between the chairs until he was standing next to the reporter. "Were I to be lying, ant, you would never doubt my words," he promised before grabbing the reporter by the throat and throwing him, bodily, against the far wall, some eight metres away. Then he returned to Thomas' side, reporters flinching away from him as he passed them.
Thomas gave him a tired look. "Was that necessary?"
Loki shrugged, his irritation drained from his bearing. "I was only told not to set anything on fire."
Thomas sighed, but didn't bother telling Loki off further, instead looking for more questions, which were slow in coming, everyone far more wary of the god after his show of strength.
When the question about why Loki had remained finally came, it was from a mousy-looking woman in the front, her hands shaking as she asked it, as though half afraid she, too, would meet a wall.
"I have something to protect," Loki replied shortly. Then, after a beat, his lips curled with a smirk that made everyone in the front row tense, and he grabbed Thomas' chin, pressing his mouth tight to the human's. Thomas kissed him back without hesitation, one hand threading through Loki's hair in a familiar motion, and Loki felt himself relax in spite of their audience.
There was a stunned silence as they pulled apart, Thomas smiling at Loki with a gleam of amusement and approval in his eyes. Then everyone started talking at once, asking everything they could think of about their relationship. Loki left Thomas to those demands, his fingers curling around the mortal's wrist to soothe his temper at the prying.
By the time Luke ushered them away from the cameras, Thomas looked more than a little strained, though he smiled for Luke and those waiting for them away from the reporters. "New rule," the publicist said tiredly, "no throwing people."
"Noted," Loki replied drily and pulled off his armguard. "Please see this returned to our flat?" he requested of Luke.
Luke frowned and took the armguard, looking to Thomas as Loki vanished. "Certainly. But why can't you–?" He fell silent as Thomas, too, vanished. "Oh," he murmured to the empty space and smiled.
Loki smiled to himself, certain Luke understood his intentions, and drew Thomas from the room and through the waiting crowds. Thomas made no complaint at ducking further questions, just tightened his hand against Loki's when they moved through the crowd, people parting unconsciously before them.
Back at their flat, Thomas pulled Loki into a kiss, whispering, "Thank you," against the god's lips.
"Would that I could send you away from this," Loki murmured, brushing his fingers over the stress lines deep on Thomas' forehead.
Thomas huffed a laugh. "And leave you to kill people for being too stupid to bother saving?" he teased and Loki smirked. Thomas' smile gentled. "I would rather be here, where I can do as much as I can to help, then hidden away with a cuppa, unbothered."
"I know," Loki agreed and kissed the human. "Let us see what we may, then," he suggested, nodding towards the laptop.
Part Two of Two
Part One: Walkin' Through This World Alone
Part Two: Code Name: Group Hugs
Part Three:
..
