Chapter Text
eternal Eterea
Earth-200207: December 2014
Toni tapped her fingers over the sink, watching her reflection in the mirror with narrowed eyes. Her hair had gotten longer again, she noted, which was not ideal. They might not have had any fights since Thanos - suspiciously enough - but she should definitely think about cutting it again.
But, at the same time she had missed her long hair and-
“Toni?” called Stephen, knocking at the door. “Peter wants to say goodnight.”
“One sec!” she called out, double checking her face once more before grabbing her bag and opening the door. “Where is my darling?”
“Here,” answered Stephen, handing her the phone as he opened the door for them both.
“Hey, Pete. Why are you still awake?”
“We are on holiday,” he complained. “We don’t have to go to bed early when we’re on holiday.”
“I swear I’m living in a time loop because we have the same argument every time you go on break for school.”
“You should give up, at this point.”
“Pete, have you ever met the person who is able to out-stubborn me, yet?” she questioned, making Stephen beside her chuckle.
“Yeah, but I am all of your stubbornness and all of dad’s stubbornness together, so I think I might win,” he informed her, and Toni snorted as they arrived at the bottom of the stairs.
“Immovable object meets unstoppable force? And what happens when the immovable object grounds the unstoppable force?”
“Mamma!” complained Peter. “You play dirty!”
“Exactly, that’s rule number one of winning. Never play fair.”
“What are you teaching our child?” demanded Stephen, as they stepped into the cool air of the night, and she stuck out her tongue at him.
“You are a terrible role model.”
“Love you too, cucciolo. Now be good, turn off your phone and go to sleep.”
“Fine. Notte, mamma."
“Buona notte, Pete,” she answered, sending him a kiss that he did not return because her son had now become evil.
She pouted at Stephen, reaching to interlock their fingers. “Our son doesn’t love me any more.”
“Oh no, what evil sin did he commit now?” he asked, voice a little mocking.
“He did send me a kiss me goodnight back.”
“It’s over,” he said, theatrically, laughing when she pushed him away with a glare.
“Rhodey, as my man of honour, why did you not object to me marrying this asshole?” she demanded, sitting down with the rest of their friends in front of the fire.
“You insisted,” he said, as Hope also finished her call to the twins. “Every day it was ‘can’t wait to marry Stephie’, ‘oh, I love you Stephie’, ‘everyone look at my ring-'” he laughed when she threw some sand at him, glaring.
“Don’t listen to them, Antoinette,” told her Loki, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I have a divorce lawyer on speed dial whenever you are ready.”
“You are a pain in my ass, Friggadottir,” complained Stephen, but there was no bite in his words nowadays.
They would never be the kind of pals that would sit and braid one another’s hair, but Toni knew that, in their own way, they had come to care for each other now.
“Fifteen years,” said Sharon, dropping the plate of hot dogs on the ground and sitting down. Her body was now completely healed, and she could move and walk around un-aided again. Her smiles had also returned, and even though she continued to visit Yelena in the hospital - who still had not woken - she was not as defeated and depressed as she had been right after the battle.
Toni was glad.
“Fifteen years,” repeated the blonde. “And we’re all still here. Can you believe it?”
“Of course I can,” said Bruce, grinning as he grabbed a hot dog for himself. “Friendships like ours don’t just end. Staples of the Universe, right?”
Toni snorted.
After the wedding, she had decided to finally come clean about the time travel, at least to the other Sentinels.
She had expected a lot more rage and anger than what she had been faced with.
At first there had been anger, especially from Bruce and Hope. Sharon and Rhodey had remained quiet, and had been the ones to calm down the other two so that Toni could finish explaining everything.
But then, as Toni gave a - severely edited - recount of what her life the first time around had been like, the anger had subsided, quickly replaced by horror regarding all the shit Toni had suffered through. By the end of it, all four of them had simply hugged her.
There had been some hurt that she had not told them before, but none of them was stupid, and they could see how, had she, Loki and Stephen come clean earlier, a lot of things would have gotten more complicated.
But just as Toni had hoped for, none of them had walked away from her, basically repeating the words Carol had told her all those years ago.
In the end, the choices they had made, were their own. And they weren’t their counterparts.
“So many things have changed,” mused Rhodey, accepting a bottle of coke from Loki. “And so many things have remained the same. And this place has not changed in the slightest, even the rooms look the same.”
“Right?” said Bruce. “For a second I almost thought I had been sent back to the past.” He shuddered at the thought. “Not going to lie, it would have been a mess.”
Toni agreed, but she wasn’t going to say it out loud, of course.
“One break up, three weddings, three children, several injures and life altering decisions later,” said Stephen, smiling at the rest of the group. “And here we are.”
“Here we are,” repeated Hope, snorting as she bit into a hot dog. “Any more life altering decisions to share?”
“Well, since you asked,” said Loki, pulling her hair back slightly. Everyone turned to look at her with a frown and she smiled, a hint of a blush on her face. “Me and Sigyn are pregnant.”
“SHUT UP!” Shouted Sharon, Hope choking on her hotdog and Rhodey trying to save her while at the same time congratulating Loki.
“Congrats!”
“I have so many questions, but also congrats, Loki!” said Bruce, giving her a half hug that she accepted.
“Congratulations,” said Stephen, then frowned. “When you say ‘we’...”
“Perks of being two magic users,” she said, smirking. “We can share the pregnancy.”
“Oh, you lucky bastard,” said Hope, red faced. “Still, congrats.”
“Science doesn’t work like that,” complained Bruce, and Loki snorted, before turning to Toni.
She was the only one who had not joined in the congratulations but was instead staring at her with her mouth wide open. Loki frowned. “Antoinette?”
“Wow,” said Toni, ignoring everyone’s eyes on her as she dug into her handbag. Then she pulled out two small objects wrapped in paper, handing one to Loki and one to Stephen.
“What-” asked Stephen, then making a wheezing sound when he unravelled the piece of paper.
Loki gasped, turning to stare at her. “Shut up.”
“I found out like ten minutes ago,” she started, and then everyone was screaming again, Sharon throwing herself over Stephen so she could hug both Toni and Loki at the same time.
“I can’t believe this! Congratulations!”
“This soul siblings business is not that serious, how is this possible?” demanded Hope, also reaching forward to hug them, hot dog forgotten. “Your children are going to be soul cousins!”
Toni peeked over Hope and Sharon’s shoulders to look over at Stephen.
He was still staring at the stick without making a sound and she swallowed, slowly detangling herself from the other two.
“Steph?” Shit, perhaps she should not have just impulsively given him the news in front of everyone. But Loki had announced it and she had been so shocked-
He looked up at her, still a little wide eyed. “Seriously?”
She shrugged, smiling hesitantly. “I wouldn’t joke about this, you kno-” she yelped when he suddenly let go of the pregnancy test, pulling her forward towards him. “Hey!”
“I love you,” he told her, and finally, finally, he was smiling. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Toni grinned back, previous anxiety disappearing. “As you should,” she answered, their lips crashing together a second later.
“We’re going to have another kid,” he said, as soon as he let go of her, and Toni nodded without saying anything. There was no need for more words.
“Group hug!” demanded Sharon, and a second later Toni could barely breathe as Loki, Sharon, Bruce, Hope and Rhodey insinuated themselves in the hug.
When the New Year’s struck, they did not even notice, too busy holding tightly onto each other.
Cauldron of Cosmos
Earth-199999: July 2018
“Hey, Stephen!” called out Tony, walking inside the Sanctum. He did not even need to knock anymore: at this point the door just opened automatically for him, which Tony found very convenient, and Wong very annoying. He always looked over at Stephen with judgement whenever he found Tony walking in without needing an invitation, which was hilarious. “Where are you- what the fuck.”
The last part was sort of muttered, as Tony stopped in the middle of the area he had decided was the living room, staring at the image in front of him with his eyebrows all the way to his hairline.
Stephen was standing in the middle of the room, the big witchy cauldron Tony forgot the name of in front of him and bubbling menacingly. And at his feet was laying a blue skinned man.
Not blue as if he had gotten a bad case of hypothermia or something, but actually blue.
Like those aliens from Avatar.
Or maybe one of those creatures from the various dimension Stephen told Peter of and Tony pretended he did not care about?
He crept in closer, eyes on both the cauldron and the alien asleep (or dead?) at his feet.
He knew better than to touch anything inside this freak museum, however, so instead moved until he was standing in front of Stephen, waving a hand in front of his focused face. "Hey?"
Stephen looked up at him with a frown, expression quickly turning surprised and harried as he saw him. “What are you doing here?" he demanded, harshly enough that Tony jumped, bracing himself on the cauldron to not accidentally spill its contents. Stephen's eyes went even wider at that. "Oh shit, you need to move, get-”
“What-” said Tony, and then yelped as rays of light shone all around them.
He had a second to see Stephen’s exasperated expression, before his world was engulfed in blue.
Tony fucking hated magic.
Earth-199953: September 2018
Stephen opened the door to Tony and Loki, the first looking relaxed while the second was scowling. And unfortunately he needed the help of the scowling god of misplaced jealousy for this.
“Hey, thanks for coming-”
“Why are you bothering us?” demanded Loki, arms crossed around his chest even as he allowed Tony to drag him inside. “I have children. You are very lucky Modir was there and willing to look after Adis, because otherwise-”
“Would you rather I try to figure it out myself and destroy the Sanctum doing it?” he demanded, and Loki’s scowl grew, though he did not respond.
“Come on you two, quit your sniping,” said Tony, focusing on Stephen. “What’s going on? You were vague in your phone call.”
“That,” he said, pointing at the Cauldron of Cosmos, which had been hissing and bubbling for over half an hour now. “I don’t know what’s happening, considering it’s always been empty, and Wong seemed equally as confused.”
Loki frowned, as he and Tony approached it. “What even is this-” he started, frown growing when suddenly the bubbling stopped, the liquid within it disappearing.
Tony leaned forward to look at it as did Stephen. “What did you do to make it stop?” he asked, looking over at Loki. Stephen had not even seen him move, but now the bubbling had stopped when no matter what Stephen had been doing, nothing had happened earlier.
“I haven’t done anything-” started Loki, when suddenly a blue light seemed to appear from inside the Cauldron.
They did not even have time to scream before they were swallowed inside of it.
Earth-200000: June 2018
“The Cauldron of Cosmos erupting like this,” said Loki, watching it in fascination. “How peculiar.”
“Why?” asked Stephen, who was sitting beside him, a bookin his hands.
“The Cauldron of Cosmos is inaptly named,” explained the mage. “It is more a Cauldron of Universes. It allows beings from other Universes to cross through and meet in a neutral pocket dimension when called forth.”
Stephen nodded, looking at the liquid inside it curiously. “How do you know who it’s calling, though?”
Loki shook his head. “Dimensional magic is not my domain,” he explained with a shrug. “I only accidentally came across this information when I was reading up on how to free Hela. All I know is that when the person - or the people, I suppose - that are being called upon come, the water inside it will stop boiling and the Cauldron will transport you to another Universe.”
“That’s interesting,” said Stephen, peering into the Cauldron once more. “What happens if I just throw something inside of it?”
“Why do you sound like me when I’m trying to get Bruce to do experiments with me?” came Tony’s voice as he walked inside the room, a grin on his face.
“We are planning magical experiments,” explained Stephen, allowing him to kiss him as he stopped beside him. “Why are you here?”
“Wow, is this the way to greet your-”
“Would you look at that,” said Loki, voice placid and intrigued. “It appears that the person the Cauldron was waiting for has arrived.”
Stephen looked back at the Cauldron, one eyebrow raised as he watched the water levels go down. “Chances that we are facing something dangerous?”
Loki shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Your guess in wh-AH!” screamed Tony, blue light flowing out of the Cauldron and immediately swallowing all three of them.
Earth-200207: January 2015
“What is wrong?” asked Loki, appearing inside of the Sanctum.
Stephen relaxed slightly when he saw him, though he still appeared anxious. “I am not exactly sure,” he explained, pointing to where Toni was standing beside the Cauldron of Cosmos, trying to scan it with zero results.
“It’s been bubbling for like an hour now, but there is nothing inside of it,” she informed him, as Loki moved closer.
“Have you done something to it? And where is the Ancient One?”
“In another dimension. Wong has gone with her, and Master Drumm left me in charge,” he explained, trailing off as the bubbles seemed to recede as soon as Loki had stopped beside it. “What did you do?”
Loki looked at it warily. “I haven’t done anything. What is this thing?”
“You don’t know?” asked Stephen surprised. Loki shook his head, though he was frowning slightly. “It’s the Cauldron of the Cosmos. It’s-”
“This is the Cauldron?!” said Loki, looking at it in shock. “Oh, we need to-”
He did not get to finish before suddenly a blue ray of something seemed to shoot straight out of the Cauldron and swallow them whole.
+++
The Cloak managed to catch Toni before she fell to the ground, Loki landing on his feet and Stephen cushioning his own fall with magic.
“Thanks, Levi,” said Toni, patting it on the lapel as he deposited her more gently to the ground.
“Are you okay?” asked Stephen quickly rushing towards her.
“I’m fine,” she assured, though she did not push him away. “Lokes, you?”
“I’m fine, Sigyn is pregnant today,” he explained, shrugging.
“What happened?” asked Stephen, looking over at him. “You were about to say something before... this happened.”
“I did a lot of reading when I first met Antoinette,” explained Loki. “About dimension travel. The Cauldron of Cosmos was mentioned. It is, in simple words, a manner of summoning alternate versions of yourself throughout the Multiverse. I wasn’t aware Kamar Taj possessed one.”
“Summoning alternate versions of yourself?” asked Toni, half wary half intrigued. “Are you saying that another version of you, me and Stephen summoned us?”
“Most likely-” he started, stopping as a blue portal appeared, dropping three people in the dark room they were in, two landing on their feet and catching the other before he could land on his face.
“Oh look, it’s you,” said Toni, watching as the other Loki looked around him curiously, the other Stephen helping Tony up. “Hi!”
Other-Loki’s eyes fixed on them, and he tilted his head to the right. “Hello.”
“What the fuck,” said Tony Stark, squinting when he noted Toni’s trio. “Uh, I think I hit my head.”
“Nope, just travelled across the Multiverse,” said Toni, trying not to laugh. “First time?”
Other-Loki and Other-Stephen looked intrigued. “You’ve done this before?”
“Not quite like this,” said her Loki, nose twisting. “I suppose you are not the ones who summoned us?”
Other-Loki shook his head. “Me and Stephen were hanging out at the Sanctum when we noticed the Cauldron bubbling. However it wasn’t until Anthony showed up to bother us that it started working.”
“I came to get my boyfriend and daughter, since you’re always monopolizing their time!” complained Tony, glaring before turning to Toni. “I’m glad to see that I make a hot girl, though.”
“Of course you do, our mother is Maria Stark,” said Toni, before shaking her head. “Run me back on the daughter part again?”
“Oh-” started Tony, just for a third portal to open to their left.
This time, all three of them landed on their feet, though as soon as they had, Other-Other-Loki had a dagger in his hands aimed at Other-Other-Stephen. “I’m going to skewer you, what have you done this time ?!”
“I haven’t done anything!” complained Other-Other-Stephen, making sure to keep Other-Other-Tony between them. “I-”
“Hey, is anyone else seeing like two sets of Loki and Stephen, another Tony and- wait, is that me if I was a girl?”
“Yes,” said Toni, pointing a thumbs up at them as Other-Other-Loki also turned to face them. “This is getting confusing, I cannot call you Other-Tony and Other-Other-Tony.”
“I have been calling you Girl Toni in my mind,” offered the first Tony, and she snorted, while all three Lokis rolled their eyes in synch. “Wow, that’s freaky.”
“Okay, I’ll be Antoinette since I’m the only one with a different name, he’ll be Prince Loki and he’ll be Stephie.”
“No one in this room is calling me Stephie,” said Stephen, like the spoilsport that he was. “I’ll be Sorcerer Stephen.”
“But we’re all Sorcerers,” pointed out Other-Stephen.
“And we’re all Princes-” added Other-Loki, just for Other-Other Loki (the one who had tried to stab his version of Stephen) to immediately turn into a woman. Other-Loki appeared vaguely amused. “Point.”
“I shall be Princess Loki, he will be Prince Anthony and he’ll be nuisance Stephen,” said Princess Loki, earning a scowl from her Stephen.
“No, I will be Master Strange instead, and this is not my fault!”
“I don’t believe it,” told him Princess Loki, eyes narrowed. “Every time you decide to cast a spell, you cause problems.”
“That is not true, Stephen is a talented sorcerer,” complained Other-Loki, much to the other two Lokis disbelief.
Other-Stephen grinned. “Thank you, Loki.”
“Since the Nine Realms decided it for me then, I will be King Tony,” said Other Tony - the one who looked the oldest out of them, so far - with a big smile on his face. “And you-”
“Don’t you fucking dare-”
“Will be Queen Stephen,” he finished, grinning impudently even when... Queen Stephen glared at him. “What? The Nine Realms decided, my beautiful baby mama.”
“I've told you, you are the baby mama, not me.”
“Don’t the two of you start this again,” complained Loki, focusing on the rest of the people in the room, who were gaping at them. “I will be Mage Loki.”
Toni blinked. “I have so many questions, but let’s start with why is Stephen ‘Queen’?”
“Is it like drag queen or...” asked Prince Anthony, also looking at them in mild curiosity.
King Tony grinned. “Nope. Long story short, Lokes and Thor are problems, and they went around telling people I was the King of Earth and then the Nine Realms believed that was an official title.”
Toni turned to Prince Loki with a grin. “So that’s just a thing you do, then? Crown me royalty whenever you meet me?”
“She did it to me too!” said Prince Anthony, giving Loki a kiss on the cheek. Which she allowed without even rolling her eyes.
Toni frowned slightly at this, as did Prince Loki, but then Prince Anthony was talking again. “Though how does that translate to Stephen being Queen?”
“Thor came back to Earth with Carol, saw me, Stephen and Friday standing together and immediately knew she was our daughter. And since I’m King, Friday is a princess which means - to him and the Nine Realms - that Stephen is my Queen.”
“FRIDAY?” Questioned Toni, staring at him in confusion. “As in... our AI?”
“Time out!” said Prince Anthony, looking horrified while Princess Loki was holding his arm, glaring fiercely at Master Strange, who looked like he was mentally preparing himself for what was coming next. “Back the fuck up a second. What do you mean that you and Stephen have a daughter together? You are... married to Stephen Strange?!”
“No,” said King Tony, while Toni and Stephie glared at Prince Anthony. That was so rude. Prince Anthony relaxed slightly, and then King Tony continued. “We only started dating like a month ago.”
“You’re dating Stephen Strange?!” repeated Prince Anthony, at which Princess Loki’s glare sharpened. “Why would you do that?”
“I’m married to Stephie,” offered Toni, one hand raised, and the horror just grew as Prince Anthony grabbed Loki.
“Why would you do that?!”
“I take offense to that,” muttered Master Strange.
“I’ve always known you were biding your time to steal my husband,” said Princess Loki, which made Toni’s group choke while the other trio looked only a little surprised.
"Your what?!"
“Why would you do that?” demanded Prince Loki, looking horrified.
“Sweet home Alabama,” whispered Stephie, shaking his head. “Though, I cannot lie: pre 2010 me is feeling very vindicated.”
“Except we never even hinted at being anything other than siblings,” said Toni, punching his shoulder.
“I have several siblings, but Anthony has never been among them,” said Princess Loki, also grimacing and looking confused.
“Infinity Stones shenanigans,” explained Toni, Stephie and Prince Loki at the same time.
“What I want to know is why am I the only Tony present who isn’t married?” demanded King Tony, turning to glare at Stephen. “First you get me pregnant without my knowledge or permission, then you refuse to make an honest man out of me-”
“Please stop talking.”
“Wait, I’m curious,” said Toni. “How did Stephen Strange get you pregnant?”
“He did not, Ant- King Tony is just too dramatic for his own good,” said Mage Loki, rolling his eyes. “I would feel sorry for you, but you’re the one who decided to kiss him while you were in Hel, so it’s your own fault.”
“So many questions.”
“Anyway, the Earth we came from,” explained King Tony. “Thanos came, he won,” everyone in the room but his group stiffened. “And then the snap got undone five years later, and I died during that. But Stephanie here is a big gay mess who could live one more second in a Universe in which I did not exist, so he stole the Infinity Stones and then used them and mine and his DNA to create a body for FRIDAY. Then Loki showed up and the two of them sent Fri back into the past three days before ULTRON happened to make sure I survived and we didn’t lose again, literally erasing their entire timeline by doing this.”
Toni turned to Stephie with a pout. “He undid his entire Universe for his Tony and you sent me back to another Universe all alone. Are you not ashamed?”
He just rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of respect in his eyes.
Meanwhile Princess Loki and Prince Anthony looked confused. “Who the hell is ULTRON?”
“ULTRON,” said Toni, frowning at them. When she was met with confused expressions, she elaborated. “ULTRON, the AI you and Banner created after the whole Mandarin debacle and that was taken over by the consciousness in the Scepter?”
“Me and Banner did start talking and becoming friends after the Mandarin debacle, since he helped save Pepper,” said Prince Anthony. “But we never made an AI together.”
“And by consciousness do you perhaps mean Avenger?”
“According to Friday he called himself ULTRON, not ‘Avenger’,” said King Tony, looking very confused, and then turning to Toni. “What did you have?”
“Don’t know, yet,” she said, shrugging. “Basically what happened is that we got to the fight with Thanos on Titan,” understanding from King Tony, Mage Loki and... Queen Stephen while the other three just stared in confusion. “And then Stephie-”
“Sorcerer Stephen-”
“-made a bet with the Infinity Stones, which basically sent me back to the past of another Universe. I was originally from Earth-199999 and then I got sent to...”
“Earth-200207.”
“Earth-200207,” repeated Toni. “So we lived the whole Invasion, Fall of SHIELD, ULTRON, Civil War mess in Earth-199999, but Earth-200207 was different. It’s 2015 when I’m from, and while the consciousness is gone and we fought Thanos, I don’t know if we’ll still have ULTRON or not.”
“That’s crazy,” said Prince Anthony. “We did have the Invasion and the Fall of SHIELD, but me and Bruce never made an AI together.”
“Were you guys not friends?” asked Toni, moving towards Prince Anthony at the same time as King Tony did, and all three sat down on the ground, Levi quick to wrap herself around Toni. The other Cloaks had also moved towards each other, but Levi did not seem interested in Cloak gossip. It had gotten much clingier after finding out that Toni was pregnant.
“Kind of? I mean, he was a consultant at SI - mostly because of Ross - and was always going between New York and India. But because of Amaya I wasn’t really keeping him close, at least at the beginning.”
“Interesting,” said King Tony. “We did work on ULTRON, but Fri arrived three days before and told me what would happen if I kept it up, so I deleted the program.” Toni nodded in understanding, then King Tony frowned. “Who’s Amaya?”
“Our child,” said Princess Loki, who was standing with the other two Lokis. “One of them. Amaya and Adis.”
“I have pictures!” informed them Prince Anthony, pulling out his StarkPhone immediately and showing them the homescreen with two adorable children smiling. “Amaya is 8, Adis is 5 months old.”
"Cute," said King Tony, Toni also nodding.
"Amaya looks just like you, but with Loki's eyes."
“I still can’t believe you went and slept with Tony Stark,” said Prince Loki, nose twisted slightly.
“I can,” said Mage Loki, with a thoughtful expression. “He can be annoyingly charming.”
“Lokes, are you propositioning me?”
“If I had to proposition one of you, it would have to be Stephen. Full offense.”
“Thank you,” said Queen Stephen, with a smug expression, while King Tony pouted and the other two Stephens looked horrified.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, but what is going on here?” asked Stephie, pointing between Queen Stephen and Mage Loki. “Why are you two so... chummy?”
Queen Stephen frowned. “Why wouldn’t we be? We’re friends. Aren’t you?”
“Never,” said Princess Loki, crossing her arms around her chest. “Did you know that he still harbours feelings for Anthony despite us being married?”
“Why are you like this? I’ve told you countless of times, I had a crush on him in the early 2010s, but I’m over him now!”
“As if anyone could ever get over me,” sniffed Prince Anthony, to which Princess Loki nodded imperiously.
“You are not helping, Stark.”
“Wasn’t my intention to.”
“And me and the sorcerer are reluctant allies and soul brothers in law, but we are not friends,” said Prince Loki, with a slight grimace.
Toni raised an eyebrow at him. “Did or did I not catch the two making that magic show thing together at Pete’s last birthday?”
“Peter!” said King Tony, sounding delighted too. “So you have Peter as well?”
“Yup,” she said, grinning. “He’s our son.”
“What,” said Prince Anthony, Master Strange looking horrified behind him while Princess Loki’s eye twitched.
“On Earth-199999 I don’t know for sure, though I do know that Tony Stark - right, I was a man on Earth-199999 - and his mom slept together nine months before he was born. But now he’s me and Stephen’s baby.”
Princess Loki turned to look at Prince Anthony, who immediately shook his head. “Not a chance.”
“Are you sure?” asked Toni. “His mother is Mary Fitzpatrick. She might have worked for you in November of 2000.”
“She worked for me,” offered King Tony, frowning. “But I got a vasectomy the second I turned 21, so no dice.”
Prince Anthony just shook his head. “I’ve seen a picture of Peter’s mom but as far as I know, I’ve never met her before. Though, I have known him since he was ten years old and him and the Iron Kids have accidentally called me dad before.”
Stephie’s lips twitched. “The Iron Kids?”
“He is very conceited,” explained Princess Loki, ignoring his squawk of indignation. “But he means Peter, Harley, Ashley, Vision, Amaya and Adis.”
“So you do still have Vision!” said Toni, smiling a little wistfully. “How is he? Hold on, what year are you from?”
“He is quite all right, and we are from September of 2018.”
Prince Loki tilted his head slightly. “So you have faced Thanos already too?”
Princess Loki looked very pleased. “Indeed. In the end, Mother and Modir were the ones to kill him.”
Mage Loki’s head snapped up in shock, while Prince Loki’s eyes narrowed. “When you say ‘Modir’ you do not by any chance mean Laufey, do you?”
Princess Loki frowned. “Of course not. By Mother I mean Frigga, and by Modir I mean Hela.”
“Your Mother is alive?” asked Mage Loki, with an heartbroken expression in his eyes. Which quickly turned into one of horror, as Prince Loki made a dying sound beside him. “What do you mean that you mean Hela?! My sister Hela?”
“She’s Thor’s sister,” pointed out King Tony. “But Loki’s biological mother.”
“No, she isn’t!” said Mage Loki, looking horrified. “Farbauti is my mother and also Hela’s mother. She was Odin’s first wife, and then she faked her death because she hated him, and ended up marrying Laufey-King and giving birth to me!”
“That’s so weird because in our Universe Laufey is Loki’s mom while Odin is his dad,” said Toni, because she enjoyed drama and the horrified looks on the other two Lokis faces as her Loki tried to breathe normally again were hilarious.
“What?!” demanded Princess Loki, looking as if she was about to throw up. “Odin... cheated on Mother? With Laufey?! In the middle of a war?!”
“You should have seen the scene after Thor found out,” said Stephen. “I really thought we were going to bring Ragnarok three years earlier.”
“So Laufeyson is a constant, but the other parent changes,” said King Tony, looking thoughtful while the three Lokis all looked different degrees of sick. “As does your relation with Hela. She’s your mother, and a half sibling to both of you.”
“I love Keeping up with the Asgardian Royal Family,” said Toni, and Prince Anthony nodded with a grin.
“I said I wanted to pitch it to a TV network and Loki threw a ladle at me,” he said, with a pout.
“And I’ll do it again,” threatened Princess Loki, before turning to look at the other Lokis. “So you have Peter, but no Amaya and Adis, and apparently no Vision I’m assuming. What about the other kids?”
“We’ve got Harley and Ashley,” offered King Tony. “No Vision because we scrapped Ultron. Peter of course, and we have Fri - though she’s 22 years of age and not a kid. And Shuri and Amadeus come hang out at my Compound. And Fri likes to hang out with Monica Rambeau and Darcy Lewis. She’s also good friends,” he made a face at that, “with Nebula.”
“Nebula!” said Toni, smiling while Prince Anthony and Princess Loki frowned. “I love my blue meanie. We have Peter, Harley and Ashley too. Then the bots and AIs, which include Fri. And Audrey and Kyle Rhodes.”
Both Tonys stared in shock. “Rhodey has kids?!”
“With Maria Hill?” added Prince Anthony, to which Stephie frowned.
“Who?”
“You guys are still friends with SHIELD?” asked King Tony, to which everyone in the room grimaced in disgust.
“Ew, no. We saved Maria, Sharon and a bunch of SHIELD agents after the Fall of SHIELD, and they became loyal to us. Maria and Rhodey then started dating like two years ago,” explained Prince Anthony, before turning back to Toni. “Who did Rhodey get with?”
“We have not even met Hill on Earth-200207. I don’t even know if she exists. And Rhodey married Hope in 2005.”
“Van Dyne?” asked Prince Anthony, to which Princess Loki too appeared surprised. “Woah. She’s dating Pepper in my Universe.”
“Lang in mine,” said King Tony.
“Who the Hel is Lang?” asked Prince Loki, looking at her in confusion. “An Avenger?”
“I have no idea where he is in this Universe either,” she told him, shrugging. “But in Universe A, he robbed the Compound at the behest of Hank, and was on Cap’s team during the whole Civil War thing, and ended up in the RAFT. No idea what happened to him after that. Universe B have no idea what he is up to, and don’t care enough to find out.”
“He tried to rob us too, but Loki caught him,” said Prince Anthony.
“Us too, but JARVIS caught him and sealed him inside the Compound,” explained King Anthony. “But anyway, good for Rhodey and Hope. And Maria Hill, I kicked her out after Fri came back and told me that she, Rogers and Romanoff knew the truth about what happened to my parents and never told me.”
“Rogers lied in your Universe too?” asked Prince Anthony, with a grimace. “Such a bastard.”
“And ours too,” said Toni, shuddering. “In Universe B he never got the chance, because I already had Barnes and the Sentinels, but Universe A him and Team Cap really did a number during the Accords and the Civil War.”
“Ah, Barnes,” said Prince Anthony with a grimace. “Cap’s kryptonite. So glad T’Challa is the one dealing with him while Rogers is still running from the law with Romanoff.”
“Our Barnes became Captain America,” said Queen Stephen, which made the other group stare. “Rogers is in prison, as are the Maximoff twins, and Romanoff is dead.”
“The twins never got powers in Universe B, Romanoff was killed during the Battle of Earth, Rogers went to therapy and is now in art school, and JB - Barnes - is a glorified babysitter for the kids,” offered Toni, snorting at the expression on their faces.
“Our Maximoffs signed the Accords and are now under the care of Agatha Harkness,” explained Princess Loki, which had everyone gasping in shock.
“They signed the Accords?!” demanded King Tony. “Pietro and Wanda Maximoff?!”
“Agatha Harkness as in the Ancient One’s girlfriend?” asked Stephie in shock.
“The Ancient One is gay?” questioned Queen Stephen looking appalled, which was the case for Master Strange too.
“Can we go back to Steve Rogers going to therapy?! How did you do that?”
“JB was out of HYDRA’s clutches before he was awakened,” she explained, and everyone nodded because of course that made sense.
“He had his security blanket and was less of a problem, checks out,” agreed Prince Anthony, shaking his head.
“What I want to know,” said Princess Loki, looking at the other two Lokis. “If neither of you dated Anthony, who did you date, if anyone?”
“I married Sigyn,” offered her Loki, which earned him a thoughtful look from Princess Loki and a blank one from Mage Loki.
“Who the Hel is Sigyn?” he asked.
“Sigyn of the House of Iwaldi,” explained Princess Loki. “The seamstress? We ended our courtship when she went to Alfheim, surely you must know her. She was my first kiss.”
“You’ve kissed other people?” asked Prince Anthony, one hand on his heart. “Since when?!”
Princess Loki rolled her eyes fondly, while Mage Loki still looked baffled. “I know Hilda of the House of Iwaldi is a seamstress, but I have never met what I assume is her daughter. Sif was my first kiss.”
“WHAT?!” demanded the other two Lokis at the same time.
“The Lady Sif? That vengeful little wrench with a much too poisonous tongue who believes she could ever be at the level of a Valkyrie? That Sif?” demanded Prince Loki, and even Toni was shaking her head.
“I’ve met Sif. She’s a bitch. You could have done better, Loki,” she told him, while Princess Loki just looked disgusted.
Mage Loki glared. “I did not say I still fancy her or anything of the sort. But she was the only woman among the warriors and I was the only man among the seidrmadrs, in our youth. Before she became the wretched woman she now is, we were friendly.”
“I was friends with Hogun, once upon a time, but never her,” said Princess Loki, shuddering. “Ew.”
“I was friends with Sigyn,” said Prince Loki, with a shrug. Then he smiled. “And now we are married and are going to have a child together.”
“You’re pregnant?” asked Princess Loki, looking a little surprised. “Oh, are you sharing the pregnancy?”
“Are you doing what?!” asked Prince Anthony, him, King Tony and the other Stephens also looking shocked.
“Indeed we are,” said Prince Loki, turning to smile at Toni. “And Antoinette is pregnant too.”
“Yup,” said Toni, smiling for a moment before throwing a narrowed eyed look at Stephie, who just looked smug. “Though he is not sharing this pregnancy with me. Asshole. Still our kids are going to be soul cousins and it's going to be great ,” she finished, high fiving Loki.
“We should get you both out of here, then,” said Princess Loki, appearing a little concerned. “Surely it isn’t safe for you to be here.”
“It’s not unsafe,” said Mage Loki. “If whoever performed the spell knew what they were doing-”
“I can guarantee you it was Stephen Strange.”
“Why do you always attack me?”
“I’ll take that action.”
“Fuck you, Stark.”
“This version of you won’t get to, I’m very sorry to say.”
Mage Loki, King Tony and Queen Stephen just looked at them as if they were a very bizarre specimen. “I think the second you married/slept with Loki, things went wrong,” informed him Queen Stephen.
“Not really,” said Stephie, snorting. “In fact, I think you are the anomalies. The first thing I did when I met Loki on Earth-199999 was put him in a trap portal and make him fall for thirty minutes. The first thing he did when we met again on Earth-200207 with our memories was try to kill me.”
Princess Loki gave Prince Loki a look full of judgement. “You let yourself be captured by this two bit sorcerer?”
“Cut me some slack, I did not know Midgard still had sorcerers,” complained Loki, Master Strange glaring at them both. “I thought-”
There was a sudden flash of blue, and all nine of them turned around to see yet another trio appear. This one did not fall from a portal, more like they apparated and Toni knew with certainty that they had to be ones who had used the Cauldron.
And when the third Tony Stark looked up and stumbled back in surprise at seeing them, she realised that she recognised them. “Hey. Tony?”
His eyes found hers, and his eyes widened. “Toni! What are you doing here? What is going on?”
“You know them?” questioned King Tony, looking over with curiosity, and Toni nodded, moving towards him.
“Yup. Long story short, they are from Earth-199999, aka us without the time/dimension travel. What are you-” her eyes fell on the unmoving body between him and Original Stephen, and she gasped. “Loki!”
Original Tony was standing, looking dazed and confused. Original Stephen was on his knees on the ground, and in front of him was what Toni could only guess was Original Loki. Except, unlike his companions, he was completely blue, and his eyes were closed.
“What the fuck!”
“What is wrong with him?” asked Mage Loki, sounding a little uncomfortable. “Why is he in his Jotun form?”
The rest of the group had circled around them, all staying a few steps away but also staring in confusion.
Original Stephen looked at Original Tony in irritation. “Thor came back a couple of days ago. He found his brother at the coordinates Stephen and Loki 1.2 gave him,” he said, pointing at Prince Loki and Stephie. “However, he was unresponsive, and even with Mantis’ help we were unable to wake him. So I used to Cauldron of Cosmos to try and get in contact with other Stephen Stranges and Lokis who could help me out. I was mostly looking for Earth-200207 Stephen and Loki, so apologies to the rest of you.”
“I knew it was your fault,” hissed Princess Loki, glaring at a disgruntled Master Strange.
“And then Tony decided to barge into the Sanctum and in the magic circle I was using for the spell, which I’m guessing called forth other Tony Starks as well.”
“How can he barge into Sanctum?” questioned Prince Anthony, looking confused. “I always have to knock.”
Original Strange blushed slightly at that. Master Strange looked a little judging, while Queen Stephen and Stephie shared a look, but Original Strange ignored the question. “So can you help me?”
“What happened?” asked Princess Loki, the only Loki to not appear at all uncomfortable at the sight of blue skin.
“And why is he in his Jotun form?”
Princess Loki frowned at Mage Loki, even as she went on one knee beside Original Loki. “His seidr is most likely doing everything it can to keep him alive,” she informed him. “Which would of course tug away at his glamour. And if Odin is dead and therefore the magic is not being syphoned from him...”
“He is,” said Prince Loki, face tight as he went one knee on Original Loki’s other side. “And he is like this because Thanos killed him.”
The other two Lokis looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I told you, we were originally from Earth-199999. It is a long story we don’t have time for now, but originally, before Stephen made his bet, we lost. Thanos killed me, and then I woke up on Earth-200207 minutes before I attacked Jotunheim. But Death never takes me.”
“Hela,” said Mage Loki, and Prince Loki nodded.
“Indeed. I believe that Hela did not let him die, just as she did not let Thor die after Thanos attacked the Sanctuary. But then Thanos snapped his fingers.”
“He destroyed the Reality Stone,” caught on Stephie. “And magic went haywire. So Loki 1.0 is... stuck?”
“Indeed,” he said, hesitating for only a second before putting a finger over his forehead. He closed his eyes.
“Are you performing mind magic?” questioned Mage Loki, looking perturbed.
“There is a lot we haven’t explained, but-” he paused, eyes snapping open. “Antoinette, I need your aid. And I need the ropes of Angoza.”
Toni stepped forward, as Original Stephen made some electrified looking ropes appear.
“No,” said Princess Loki, shaking her head. “The ropes will burn his Jotun skin, we cannot take too much heat in that form. How do you not know this?”
“I don’t make a habit of parading around like that,” informed her Prince Loki, frowning at her. “You do?”
“Of course I do,” she said, looking at them in confusion. "It is much more comfortable to visit Jotunheim in that form."
"You've gone to... visit Jotunheim?"
"This is not the time for that tale either," said Princess Loki, shaking her head. “Anthony, the nanite bracelets.”
“Will they be strong enough?” asked Mage Loki, frowning slightly.
“Anthony is a technopath,” she explain. “I obtained him a golden apple.”
“Those exist?” asked Original Tony, standing beside Stephie. His eyes caught on to the ring on his finger, and he smiled at him. “Oh, you two got married? Congrats, Strange.”
“Thank you.”
“Okay,” said Prince Loki, once Mage Loki put the bracelets around Original Loki’s feet and hands. “Who knows the most in regards of the healing arts?”
“Me,” said both Original Stephen and Stephie. They nodded grimly at each other, as did Prince Loki.
“Good. Focus the healing magic around his neck.” They both made mandalas appear around their wrists before focusing orange magic on each side of his neck. “Mage Loki, Prince Anthony-”
“Prince Anthony?!”
“Keep him contained. Panic tends to make me just a tiny bit stronger, so don’t underestimate him just because he was all but dead moments ago.”
“But how are you going to wake him?” questioned Princess Loki, as Prince Loki put a hand over Original Loki’s forehead again.
“With Mind and Soul,” he answered. “At my signal, Princess Loki I’m going to need you to shoot raw seidr at him. Master Strange, Queen Stephen, can you direct uncontrolled magic?”
Both nodded.
“It might be overkill, but more power the better. Antoinette?”
Toni took Prince Loki’s hand in hers as she put the other hand over Original Loki’s chest. She did not close her eyes, instead focusing on the bizarrely dark orange sphere in his chest (everyone in here but her Stephie and Loki had orange spheres). It was there, but it was tremulous, shaky. Like a flame on a birthday candle that was doing its best to survive even though people kept blowing.
The room was quiet for a few seconds, only the sound of magic all around them, before Toni felt the shift from Prince Loki.
“Now!” he said, as soon as Original Stephen and her Stephie stopped using their magic, and then all three magic users not currently employed sent jets of powerful magic at Original Loki. His eyes snapped open, unseeing, as his heart seemed to be shocked into overdrive, and Toni acted without needing further prompting.
“Loki, wake up!” she demanded, voice full of charm speak, and Original Loki’s eyes focused immediately, a shocked gasp leaving his lips.
Immediately, he tried to kick back, tried to push them off him and escape, but Mage Loki, and Prince Anthony’s nanites held, keeping him in space.
Toni recognised the panic in his eyes, and moved once more into his field of vision. “Loki.”
His eyes fixed on her face, breathing still faster than normal, and then he paused. He stopped struggling, blinking at her in confusion before looking around him, eyes growing more and more confused and narrowed as he took each of them in.
“Is this Hel?” he finally asked, catching his breath. “There are four Stephen Stranges and three male Tony Starks. This must be Hel.”
Three out of the four Tony/Tonis relaxed at the familiar snark, while Original Stephen rolled his eyes. “You’re not dead. You were stuck, so I went and got some other Stephens and Lokis from the Multiverse to unstuck you.”
Original Loki sneered at him. “And I should thank you for this? I did not ask you to save me.”
“You promised Thor that the sun would shine on you again,” reminded him Prince Loki. “Or did you forget that?”
“We truly are the only Stephen and Loki that get along,” said Mage Loki, letting go of Original Loki when he appeared to have started to calm down and moving towards Queen Stephen. “I feel sorry for the rest of them.”
Original Loki looked at him in disgust. “Why would you be friends with that sorcerer?”
“He faced off and beat Dormammu, and his future self is the reason I have my brother and sister, and that Asgard is still standing.”
Original Loki’s eye twitched. “He faced off who?”
“Ah, so it’s a thing,” mused Stephie, smirking at the grimace on Prince and Princess Lokis’ faces. “You give me a smidge of respect whenever you find out I fought off Dormammu. A staple of the Universe?”
“Fuck off,” said both Prince and Princess Loki, then smirking and high fiving each other, while Mage Loki looked disapproving.
“You two have spent a lot of time on Midgard, haven’t you?”
King Tony rounded on him. “Now that I think about it, I have never heard you swear.”
“And you never will,” told him Mage Loki, sniffing as Princess Loki went on one knee beside Original Loki. “I am not like you vulgar Midgardian heathens, and someone has to make sure Friday continues to be a proper lady.”
Original Loki stiffened as Princess Loki whispered something in his ear, noted Toni as everyone else spoke. But then he nodded, jerkily, and she made a movement of her hands that had him turning into the pale Loki she knew and conjured him a new and unbroken outfit.
She made eye contact with Prince Anthony, the only other person to have noticed anything. He mouthed ‘internalised specie-ism’ at her, and she nodded minutely in understanding.
Original Tony clapped his hands together, getting everyone's attention on him. “Okay, so are we leaving or are we staying? Cause my fiancé is home pregnant and I don’t want her to start panicking or worse, decide to leave me because I was forced to go back into hero work.”
“You didn't even do anything,” said Original Stephen, while the other two Tonys frowned at him.
"Fiancé? Wait, who are you dating?”
“Pepper,” he answered, which made Prince Anthony choke, Princess Loki look shocked, King Tony appear vaguely surprised and Queen Stephen surprised and unsurprised at the same time. “Why, who are you dating? I know Toni is dating her Stephen because of amazing dick game-”
“Please stop,” begged Stephie and Prince Loki at the same time.
“But what about you?”
“I am not married nor engaged, but I am dating Stephen,” said King Tony, once more glaring at Queen Stephen. “I am feeling neglected. You can do dramatic shit like destroy an entire timeline because you’re in love,"
"What?!"
"But you can’t put a ring on my finger? Stephen Strange, I am disappointed.”
“I’m married to Loki,” said Prince Anthony, ignoring the choked and horrified sounds from the Original trio. “Like a normal Tony Stark. My Pepper is dating Hope Van Dyne.”
“Why would you do that?” demanded Original Loki, looking like someone had just filled his shoes with shit. “What is wrong with you? Are you the crazy Loki?”
“Okay, first of all that’s rude, you would be blessed to date me,” informed him Original Tony. Then he turned to Prince Anthony. “Second, you are insane. A normal Tony Stark would be whichever Tony Stark managed to marry James Rhodes.” At this, all three other Tonys nodded because he wasn’t wrong. Whichever timeline in which Tony and Rhodey got married was probably the closest the world would get to world peace. “Third, holy shit. Been a while since I heard the name Hope Van Dyne.”
Toni turned to him. “Did you listen to my advice, at least?”
“Yup. Turns out, it is true,” he said and Toni breathed out. A puzzle finally finished. “I haven’t told him yet. Or Pepper. I have no idea how I’m going to do that. Also, thank you for CASSANDRA. The Guardians have left, but Nebula has decided to stick around, and Pepper served the Original Avengers with a restraining order.”
“Nice,” said Toni.
“Wilson apologised, believe it or not, but I refuse to go anywhere near Barnes and gave him a restraining order too. He’s just... he’s creepy, and I don’t like him.
“Ross tried to get Visions remains to an organisation called SWORD that is being led by this skeevy guy called Hayward, but I stepped in. Maximoff tried to attack me when I did, because apparently I was going to do something evil with his remains, but between this bracelet and the Sorcerers of Kamar Taj she got taken down mighty fast. Rogers tried to come after me, but the Cloak and FRI can be very protective, as he and his merry band of criminals have found out quickly. They-”
“I don’t understand any of what is going on,” interrupted Original Loki, looking very tired, irritated and confused. “Can we go back to Thanos?”
“Dead,” told him Original Stephen.
Original Loki stared at him, breath catching slightly. “How certain are you?”
“We have a picture of his head in the Compound,” told him Original Tony. “You can watch it as you recover.”
Loki squinted at him. “As I recover? As I recover where?”
“In my Compound, of course,” said Original Tony shrugging. “No offense but you still look like death, and I’d rather you did not get carted off to prison as soon as we return to Earth, considering they still consider you a criminal and the Asgardians-”
“The Aesir-” corrected Prince Anthony, Princess Loki, Mage Loki and Prince Loki.
“- are still on shaky terrain and busy building New Asgard.”
Original Loki continued to stare at him with suspicion. “Why would you do that.”
“Every other Tony has a Loki and a Stephen, but I just have a Stephen and I don’t think that’s fair,” he answered without missing a beat. Then he shrugged. “Also, because you look like you could use the help.”
“So it’s pity, then.”
“No,” said Prince Loki, shaking his head. “Every version of Tony Stark is very naïve and ridiculously good, even towards those who don’t deserve it.”
“Especially if your slights are not, by his own vision, unforgivable or committed under your own volition,” added Mage Loki.
“It is a very worrying trait,” agreed Princess Loki.
King Tony frowned. “I feel like I was praised but also as if I was insulted,” he said, Toni and Prince Anthony also nodding.
Mage Loki patted his cheek. “You’re very pretty,” he told him, which immediately made King Tony grin.
“Awh, Lokes-”
“That is disturbing,” said Toni, Stephie and Prince Loki looking a little disgusted beside her.
“Yeah, late 90s Stephen Strange is upset and also very glad that Loki is married, and also pregnant,” said Stephen.
Princess Loki turned to look at Master Strange. “You ever look at Anthony again and I will castrate you.”
“Why am I getting threatened for the actions of other versions of me?!”
“Very well,” said Original Loki, who had been talking to Original Tony while the others were bickering. “While I am still of the opinion that this is a version of Hel, I suppose thanks are in order, and I am willing to relocate into this... Compound until I have recovered and your Midgardian authorities have stopped fighting like children over when and if they get to kill me.”
“They won’t kill you,” said Original Stephen rolling his eyes. “Worse comes to worse, we’ll just tell them Kamar Taj can keep an eye on you.”
“You cannot.”
“Want to bet?”
“You are both pretty,” told them Original Tony, which made Original Loki roll his eyes, while Original Stephen blushed slightly.
Ah, so the crush was still going on? Yikes.
“Thanks,” then said Original Stephen. “For helping out.”
“We were forced here, without a chance to refuse,” grumbled Loki, relaxing minutely when Prince Anthony put an arm around her.
Original Stephen ignored her. “I will now send you guys back home.”
“One sec,” said Toni, quickly grabbing Original Tony and pulling him aside. King Tony and Prince Anthony also approached them, while the Lokis and the Stephens also grouped together.
“Am I the tallest?” questioned Prince Anthony, looking pretty pleased with himself.
“No, you’re just wearing insoles,” said King Tony, rolling his eyes.
“I’m not wearing insoles,” lied Prince Anthony.
“Bitch please,” said Original Tony, scoffing. “I am you. I am pretty sure I have those exact shoes at home.” Prince Anthony grumbled something under his breath, and then Original Tony focused on Toni once more. “What is it, Tiny Toni?”
“I am not tiny,” she said, glaring, which only made all three of them laugh meanly at her. “This is why people don’t you like, you are so mean.”
“Stephen is meaner,” said King Tony, shuddering. “He tried to feed me mustard.”
“Ew,” chorused the other three, shooting a glare at the foursome of Stephen Stranges.
King Tony stared the longest. “Four Stephen Stranges... I swear I had a dream like that once.”
“He hasn’t shown you the cloning trick, yet?” she asked him, which made Prince Anthony look at them disgusted while Original Tony looked both appalled and intrigued. King Tony just looked very intrigued, but Toni had a point. She turned to Original Tony. “You. You have to be careful with Loki.”
At once all three Tonys turned serious, King Tony nodding. “He is very prickly, and he likes to pretend that nothing can hurt him and that he doesn’t care, but he does care. He helped me and Friday out a lot in the beginning, and yet he always acts shocked the second someone else praises him or is nice to him.”
“He is very stubborn too,” added Prince Anthony. “And in need of probably a lot of therapy, though he will be very resistant if you talk to him about it now. He understands mental health and all that just fine, but he sees everything through Aesir lenses and considering your Loki has probably never gone to Jotunheim to make nice and apologise...”
“Just... be nice to him,” finished Toni. “He’ll probably try to push you away, and I cannot say he is one of yours with the same certainty I did when it came to Stephie, but I know that his loyalty is invaluable, if you manage to gain it. He is...”
“Lonely,” finished King Tony, Prince Anthony nodding absently as he played with his wedding ring. “So even if you don’t become best friends you can still be at least friends. At least.”
“I’ll do my best,” said Original Tony. “I mean I’ve already adopted Nebula, what’s another stray?”
“Yeah, don’t call him a stray to his face,” offered Prince Anthony, with a raised eyebrow. “That will go a long way into letting you guys become friends. Or you could do what I did and offer him a pink raspberry cosmo and listen to him talking to you about space.”
“He chased after me, and then we bonded over talking about dimension travel and cradelaides,” offered Toni.
“He liked Friday more than he cared about me, at the beginning,” said King Tony. “So no advice from me.”
“You guys give terrible advice anyway,” he informed them, looking over at where the groups of Lokis and Stephens were separating, the Cloaks shaking lapels. “But thanks.”
“Group hug,” said King Tony, which they all immediately obliged. Though Toni really resented being the shortest of the group, the Multiverse was a bastard for this.
Then they separated, the four trios going to stand at different corners of the room. Original Loki looked a little thoughtful, though he still looked tense as he stood beside Original Tony and Original Stephen.
“Goodbye,” said Original Stephen, making blue magic fill in the room.
“And good luck with the baby Antoinette and Prince Loki!” called out Prince Anthony, which made Original Tony stare at them in bewilderment.
“Hold on, what-”
Earth-200207: January 2015
“Woah,” said Toni, as they landed back where they had come from. “That was trippy.”
“Right?” asked Loki, linking their arms together. “I can’t believe there is a Universe out there where I am such close friends with Stephen Strange.”
“Yeah, I think that Universe has to be a trick of some sorts, because I can’t shake the fear that those three might genuinely end up as a throuple by the end of this entire affair,” said Stephen, shuddering.
“I’m more disturbed about the existence of a Universe in which me and Loki are married, to be honest,” said Toni, making a face. “Though I cannot deny that Amaya and Adis are ridiculously cute.”
“Yes, Princess Loki showed me the pictures. She is very proud of them too.”
“Apparently she nearly gave birth while she and her Stephen were kidnapped by their Karl Mordo and Tony showed up and killed him,” offered Stephen. “And the other Stephen Strange trains and learns magic with Loki. It’s crazy.”
“I still cannot believe Mage Loki did not know who Sigyn was,” said Loki as they walked through the portal Stephen had made them and into the living room of the Tower. “Like he just... did not know who she was? And Princess Loki knew who she was, but she was not that interested in her?”
“And her mom is Hela ,” added Stephen, looking over at Loki. “That is so weird and so much more fucked up, if Odin still locked her up.”
“Do you know what the worst part of her cursed timeline is?” asked Loki, with a grimace. “Thor is her uncle. Norns forbid.”
“Yeah,” said Toni, shaking her head. “We really got the best timeline. Sucks to be the rest of them, really.”
Earth-199953: September 2018
"That was so weird," said Anthony as soon as they re-appeared in the Sanctum.
"Yeah," agreed Strange, making a face. "I have heard and seen thing I wish to never witness again in my life."
Anthony snorted, eyes finding Loki's right after. Whatever he saw in her expression made him change his mind regarding what he was about to say, and he smiled at her, taking her hand in his. "Hey."
Loki did not reply, raising an eyebrow at him, but Anthony just smiled, rolling his eyes slightly. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Strange leaving the room.
"I love you," informed her Anthony. "I've never liked Stephen Strange as anything other than a friend, and despite everything we just saw in that void dimension thing, this hasn't changed."
"Two versions of you are dating their versions of Stephen Strange and-"
Anthony interrupted her by pulling her down in a soft kiss, gentle lips tracing the contours of her mouth for a second before he let go.
Loki could not stop herself from smiling back when he did, which only made his smile grow. "You can feel my emotions, Lokes. Has anything changed at all in my feelings for you from before? The only change I could see happening is me loving you even more than before after witnessing the other Tonys' awful decisions in dating."
Loki snorted. "Those were truly appalling decisions," she admitted, and Anthony nodded decidedly.
"Right? Pepper? Dating Stephen? Marrying Stephen? It's all just so..." he shuddered, and Loki's smile grew a touch wider. "I am clearly the luckiest Tony in the Multiverse. Because you are my wife, and Amaya and Adis' moddy, and their life in comparison sucks." He put his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to himself. "Okay?"
Loki made a show of rolling her eyes, but she couldn't deny his words pleased her. She had not really thought that Anthony would suddenly decide to be with Strange, but she couldn't deny that the existence of multiple Anthony - well, one Anthony and one Antoinette - dating Strange made her taste something bitter in her mouth. Like, what if she had not found him that day at that gala and Anthony and him...
But there was no point in dwelling in what ifs, she decided as she kissed him once more. What mattered was now, and now Anthony was her husband, and Strange was not particularly interested in him. Though Loki was going to keep her eyes open regardless, in case this visit had awakened any sudden desire in him.
Anthony then chuckled slightly, and shook his head when Loki looked at him questiongly. "I can't believe there is a Universe in which you and Stephen are best friends."
"Ugh, do not remind me of that," complained Loki, untangling herself from him and offering him her hand. "That is going to give me nightmares forever."
Mage Loki was clearly a very damaged individual.
"I feel more bad about the so called Original Loki," then said Anthony, and Loki also grimaced as they moved towards the exit. "He really did not like being Jotun, did he?"
"He did not," she agreed. "And considering how depleted his magic is... that is definitely not going to end that well."
"Maybe it will," said Anthony shrugging. "He has a version of me, and even though you don't like him, Stephen wouldn't be outright mean to him. Yo, Strange! We are leaving!"
They did not get a response as they walked out of the Sanctum, and Loki sighed. "Perhaps. One thing we can agree on, however?" She smirked at Anthony's questioning look. "We have the best Universe."
"Hands down!"
Earth-200000: June 2018
"That's so crazy," said Friday, staring at them in open intrigue as they finished their story. "You met alternate versions of yourselves."
"Yep," said Tony, and Stephen pretended he couldn't see him scowling at him. "And two are married, and one is engaged. Which brings the question: were me a Pepper a thing, in the Universe you came from?"
Stephen did look up at that, and Friday made a face. "What's the point of knowing? You are happy, aren't you?"
Stephen turned to look at Tony, not exactly nervous, but definitely eager to know the answer too. Loki was also sitting in the living room with them, also glancing at Tony in curiosity.
Tony did not let them wait long, shrugging after only a second. "Mostly curiosity as to how things might have turned out like, in another Universe. But," and at this he did smile at Stephen. "Yes. I am happy."
Stephen smiled back.
"Good job, Anthony," said Loki, sounding amused. "That's exactly how you get a ring on your finger, keep going like this and if he loves you truly he'll propose in a month."
Tony cheered while Stephen scowled at Loki. "You know, with behaviour like this I can see why the other Stephens and Lokis aren't friends."
Loki just rolled his eyes at this, and Stephen did not miss the not at all surprised expression on Friday's face. Which meant that they hadn't actually been friends in the original timeline before it broke, either.
"I can't," admitted Tony, shaking his head. "Honestly, it was so weird to watch the other Loki try to attack you on sight. You two are like... supposed to be best friends. Bitchy and dramatic gay magic users. It's in your blood."
"She was not going to kill him," protested Loki, but he did not deny anything else that was said.
Stephen was pretty sure Loki had arrived to the same conclusion he had, but in the end, as Friday had said earlier: did it really matter how things had gone the first time around? Friday had been sent back to stop certain things from happening a certain way, it was just right that their Universe was slightly different.
"I think she might have, if he had been any slower," said Stephen, and then shook his head. "But I mostly feel bad about the other Stephen Strange. The one who did the spell."
"What about him?" asked Tony, confused.
"He's head over the heels in love with his version of Tony Stark," said Loki, looking at Tony in slight disappointment. "He looks at him just like this fool used to look at you. It was a very sad affair."
Stephen could not deny that claim, but he could glare at Loki for saying it like that.
"That's sad," said Tony, grimacing. "Though never say never, his Tony did look intrigued when Girl Toni mentioned trying the 'cloning trick' in bed, which," he turned to Stephen, who had choked on his tongue as soon as the words had left his mouth. Tony was leering at him. "I need a demonstration. Cannot lie, four Stephen Stranges in one place-"
"Friday come, I'll save you from this."
"Has awakened something in me," he finished, ignoring the horrified looks on Loki and Friday's faces as they fled, and instead sauntering closer to him.
Stephen managed to stop coughing, face red as he tried to breathe normally again. "You're a menace," he informed Tony as the man dropped over his lap.
"Show me four Stephen Stranges and you'll quickly figure out why the other Tonys are married," informed him Tony, eyelids drooping as he pressed his mouth over Stephen's neck.
He had Friday as a daughter, Loki as a friend and this incredibly sinful nightmare of a man as a boyfriend: Stephen had absolutely won the lottery when it came to having the best Universe.
Earth-199999: July 2018
The Heladottir's magic was uncomfortable on Loki's skin.
He could recognise it as his own easily. It carried almost the same exact shade of his own seidr. But it was like an ill-fitting shirt on his body, and if he did not pay attention to it, it slipped, showcasing the blue of his true skin.
The last time Loki had been in his Jotun skin he had been on Thanos' ship, begging for death.
He forcefully shook those thoughts from his head, fingers tracing the sides of the magical mirror Stark had handed him. The human was still in the room, prattling to the servant in the walls and on the communication device in his hands, but Loki had ceased to listen to him as soon as they had arrived in this Midgardian healing room in this 'Compound'.
Stark had also offered to help look over his injuries but Loki had forcefully declined the offer.
He remembered quite clearly some of the colourful threats the Director and his minions had made towards him, and he knew Stark to be one of Midgard's finest thinkers. He was not going to chance it.
His eyes fell on the magical mirror in his lap, and Loki swallowed.
Everything that Friggason had said appeared to be true. Through magical feats that Loki had only ever read about in books, they had defeated the Mad Titan, killed him, and undone most of the damage the Titan had wrought. The Asgardians were residing on Midgard now, and Thor was King.
And Loki was alive.
He still was not quite sure how this had come to pass. He had heard the theories, of course, regarding Hela and her part in it, but it was still shocking to him. After everything that had happened, after he and Thor had made sure that she died once and for all, why would she still try to save him? And if she hadn't, then who?
Loki recalled dying. He recalled it quite clearly, actually. He remembered the touch of those terrible fingers around his neck-
"Your fingers are turning blue again," informed him Stark, and Loki swore under his breath, pushing the enchantment back in place.
He hated this. He did not want this, but his magic was still replenishing, and he just needed for this to-
"You know, you can just let yourself turn blue," 'helpfully' informed him Stark. His eyes appeared very sincere when Loki turned his eyes on him. "I'm not gonna judge. Nebs is blue, and Hulk turns green, so I-"
"This is not about you," he told him, voice harsh. Typical of heroes, to think that everything could be fixed through the power of acceptance.
Loki knew he should definitely try being nicer to the man who could solve a lot of his problems on Midgard until Loki got enough of a hold on his seidr to see Thor face to face without fear, or shapeshift as he pleased, but he couldn't find it in himself to be.
"I hope you understand that I am not one of those other Lokis," he continued, flinty eyes fixed on him. Stark remained remarkably unafraid, and Loki wondered if he appeared that pathetic, if Stark trusted Strange's hidden protective sygils around the room that much or if the Midgardian was just stupidly brave. "Maybe Heladottir married a version of you, perhaps Friggason believes a version of you to be his sister and mayhaps Farbautison has befriended both you and the sorcerer, but they are not me. I am me. And I will never be them."
Stark frowned at him. "Uh, duh? When have I ever implied that you are them?" He stared at Loki's confused expression for a second longer before rolling his eyes. "Oh. Reindeer games, I was just joking with the whole 'they have a Loki and Stephen' comment. I am not helping you in the hope you decide I'm your soulmate or we become best friends."
"For Thor, then?"
He made a face. "Definitely not. Me and your brother are not really friends. No, I'm helping you because I have an unhealthy saviour complex and you looked like you could use a hand. I mean, if you want to run off when my back is turned, you are welcome to do that. I'm not gonna stop you, or anything. But I have hit rock bottom several times in my life, not the last when Thanos managed to snap and I lost people important to me for almost a month. And you know what they say, like recognise like."
"We are not the same."
"Of course not, you're taller," he quipped, and Loki refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing him smile at the idiotic joke. But Stark seemed to note it anyway, if his smirk was anything to go by.
+++
Strange returned a few minutes later through a portal, and immediately dropped something on the bed.
Loki's eyes narrowed at the sorcerer, not moving an inch. "What is that."
While he was not truly upset at him for finding a way to bring him back to life - bring him back to Thor - Loki did not like this man any more than he had before. It had been quite upsetting to see Farbautison and his Strange acting so close to each other.
"Bracelets of Phadora," he said, and Loki startled slightly, before moving towards the object.
And sure enough, those were the form-trapping shackles that Odin had threatened to use on him several times over when he had been younger and kept 'embarrassing him' by shapeshifting in his female form at Court over and over.
Before Loki had always thought of them as a nightmare, a punishment of the highest calibre.
But in his condition...
He looked up at Strange, who was watching him with thinned lips, arms crossed around his chest. "What is the price?"
"Don't fuck us over," answered Strange immediately, and Loki smirked at him.
"Are you going to trust me if I say 'I won't'?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"No," answered Strange. "But at least I will know in my heart that I tried and will easily step aside to let Kamar Taj deal with you."
"No threatening the invalid," said Stark, before Loki could explain in excruciating detail how little he thought of the Ancient One's little sorcery club.
"He deserves it," commented Strange, not turning his back on Loki but shifting his attention on to Stark. "What did you want, by the way?"
"Uh?"
"Earlier," clarified Strange as Loki put the bracelets on. The feeling of the constraining magic draping over him was uncomfortable, but Loki still let out a relieved breath when Heladottir's magic stopped shifting from his skin. "When you came by?"
"Oh, right," said Stark, turning to face Strange fully. "Pepper wants to meet you."
"W-what? Why?"
Loki looked up at him with a frown at the uncharacteristic behaviour, but Stark did not seem to note anything out of the order. "Pep. She has decided that you deserve 60% of the credit in my reformed behaviour and newfound care of my self, and thus wants to thank you in person," he said, rolling his eyes. "So she wanted you to come for dinner tonight, if you're free."
Oh, thought Loki, as he watched Strange struggle to find a reason why he should refuse the invite. He was into Stark.
Ew.
And Stark had invited him for a meal with his woman.
That was not pleasing.
He pushed away the memory of the lock of Sigyn's hair in Friggason's hair, and tried very hard to ignore the slight feeling of kinship towards the annoying mortal as he ended up agreeing to Stark's invitation.
He did not even know if she was alive or if she had perished and when
Stark just smiled, blissfully unaware of what he was doing.
But when Strange turned his attention on Loki once again, Loki schooled his expression once more.
As he had told Stark before, he was not who the other versions of him were. And considering how happy they were, he really must have gotten the short end of the stick.
But at the same time, he still had Thor, and for better or for worse, Stark had decided to stick by him, for now. And he had not missed the tracking spell Strange had put in the cuffs.
If nothing, this was going to be entertaining, at least until Loki's magic healed.
And after?
Loki could only say that the sun would shine on him once more.