Work Text:
As he lay there dying, Remus prayed to any deity that would listen to let him live just a bit longer, to let him take in breaths until he could see his son one last time.
Little did he know, Fenrir listened. Himself a forgotten god, no longer worshipped, he could not ignore the howl of despair of a fellow wolf, and one who had been created by his namesake, no less.
It was easy for Gods to meddle in the affairs of mortals, but it always brought on unexpected consequences.
So Remus lived, buried his wife, raised his son, saw him married, and welcomed his grandchildren… And yet, in this ever-changing world, Remus stayed the same. Getting odd looks was the least of his worries. Tongues were beginning to wag, and the last thing Remus wanted was to bring any shade to his son's happiness. He deserved that much, so Remus faded away without inflicting the sorrows of a farewell, or something as dramatic as faking his death. He was simply… away, and hoping to fade from memory.
He travelled the world, always alone, trying to understand why he was the way he was. He even ended up in a sorcerer's lair in New York who allowed him access to his library, all the while informing him the answer was not there.
"Helpful," Remus muttered and got whipped in the calves by the animated red cloak the sorcerer wore in retaliation
But Dr Strange had been right, and as much as life at the Sanctum was entertaining, it was time to move on. However, he had one last interesting encounter on his way out when he tried to stop a wild umbrella crashing through the mansion. By the time Remus caught up, scrambling down the grand stairway, he had to manoeuvre over a mountain of muscles by jumping over him, and, thanks to his wolf like agility, landed in a crouch in front of a dark haired man in a tailored suit. Remus couldn't explain it, but when their eyes met, he froze, rooted to the spot.
"What is this?" the dark stranger asked, addressing Dr Strange. "Another one of your tricks?"
The sorcerer looked between them and sighed.
"No. Just fate. Off you go then," Strange said as if they were all bothersome children, his powers sending them tumbling through the portal he had conjured.
The man with the dark hair brushed off his suit, looking around at the beautiful landscape before asking:
"And where is this godforsaken place?"
"Norway," Remus answered after he had sniffed the air.
"Figures."
"Wait. Who the blazes are you?" the muscular blond asked, before turning towards his companion. "And how do you know him?"
"I don't. He smells of Fenrir."
Remus bristled at that. Insinuating the bite Greyback had cursed him with made him smell was quite insulting.
"I didn't know the wolf spawned bastards on Midgard. Are congratulations in order?" the blond mocked.
"Can you think with something other than your cock, brother. The bond here is magical in nature, and this midgardian is neither mortal nor mundane. How fascinating. However…" he waved towards an old man approaching them.
From that point on, Remus somehow got involved in a godly family feud as they unilaterally decided he was a cousin of sorts. Remus didn't care as long as he got to meet this Fenrir who had made him the way he was, but first, he had to save these two idiots from themselves and the rest of the universe. Honestly, the trouble they got into, worse than the Marauder and Harry put together!
But it was worth it. They were worth the trouble. Thor, because he was a bit like Hagrid. A likeable giant idiot with an unhealthy love for dangerous things, his brother included. And Loki, because he was a lot like Tonks, all things considered: a shapeshifting troublemaker with more sass than good sense. Remus couldn't help but be drawn to him, wishing he was Tonks sometimes, wishing he would morph into her at other times just so he would get his goodbye. However, he knew it wasn't right and brushed the thought aside, busy as he was trying to get the two brothers not to kill themselves, or each other, every other second. It was exhausting.
And then Ragnarok happened. And he was there to witness it. Him. Remus. A nobody and he was right there on Asgard to witness a legend take form. He felt small all of a sudden, as he could only watch from afar the events unfold while the two Gods filled the prophecy: Thor in full battle mode, and Loki doing Merlin knew what.
Unfortunately, Fenrir had been controlled by the evil sister from hell and battled to the death with the inflatable green guy, so Remus never got his answers in the end.
He got better though: two friends as different as night and day and who he would not have to bury because just like him, they did not age.
"Shame about Fenrir," Loki said out of the blue as they leaned on the deck, looking at the infinite deep space around them.
Remus smiled lopsidedly at him and shrugged.
"Maybe I wasn't meant to know. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I've always had rotten luck."
"You've stuck by our sides through all this with nary a scratch, Moony, I'd say that's quite fortunate," Loki pointed out.
"Yeah, at least I'm going back home. I think I've gotten space-sick. I miss the sun. What are you going to do next?" Remus asked.
They would have no more reason to stick together, although Remus hated to admit it.
"Rebuild a new Asgard, I suppose. I can't imagine the mess it will be if I let this oaf in charge of the city planning," Loki whispered theatrically with a tilt of his head towards Thor who was tossing kids in the air to make them laugh. "You'd better stick around, too. Your wand magic is useful for menial work at least."
Remus snorted. The few times they had mock duelled, Loki usually won because of his daggers, not his magic. Remus was more than happy to accept the invitation however.
"We'll make your statue bigger than Thor's. He'll hate it," Remus offered.
"I always knew you were smart for a wolf," Loki smirked. "Come. Let's free Thor from the vermin to plan ahead."
They were discussing which authority to contact to obtain refugee status and a place to settle when their path, in all of the wide infinite space, was cut off by another ship.
"Expecting anyone, brother?" Thor asked.
"I'm not the one with overbearing friends. Your Avengers, mayhaps?" Loki shot back with a scowl.
"I was thinking of your many enemies, actually," Thor corrected before looking at him next. "Your people?"
Remus scoffed.
"I will eat my paw the day I meet another wizard in space."
The strange ship continued to advance and they waited in tense anticipation, not overly surprised when the other ship began to fire at them. It was brutal, loud and hopeless. They could do nothing. Not flee, counterattack, or even protect their own. Remus dropped his wand when another hit shook the whole ship as he was trying to put fires out. He might have died like so many others if Loki had not appeared out of nowhere and tackled him to the ground. All he remembered after that was a bright blue light and no more.
When Remus regained consciousness, blinking under the bright sunlight, there was no more space, ships, gods or aliens. He might have thought he had dreamed the whole adventure with Loki and Thor were it not for the state of his half burned clothes and the smell of burning flesh lingering in his nostrils.
With great effort, Remus pushed himself up and looked around him for other survivors, but he was alone in the grassy meadow. He called for his friends, but to no avail. He was alone once more, and he didn't know why or how, only that Loki had something to do with it. He had… saved him? Sent him away? Remus was torn between gratitude and annoyance at his high-handed ways. What was he supposed to do now? How was he going to find them? With resignation, Remus decided to make his way back to the sanctum and ask for Dr Strange's help.
Loki was dead. Remus could not believe it. After all, from the stories he had been told, Thor had believed a couple of times already that Loki was dead when he, in fact, was not. Maybe this was just another of Loki's tasteless tricks. He would knock at his door one day, alive and well, with that stupid smirk on his face, and Remus would curse him so hard… Remus sighed, uncurled his fists. He wouldn't. If Loki appeared in front of him, Remus would hug him with all his might. He was so tired of losing his friends. Life was not worth living through all this heartache.
And then Remus died. Like half of the universe, he didn't realize it, leaving behind only a new wand in a pile of ash.
In the blink of an eye, he had resurrected. Again. But so had half of the world, throwing it in utter chaos, the likes of which even Loki would admire. Remus supposed he was not all that special now, and, like half the world, he ran around to check on his loved ones. Teddy was well, he had not been "snapped" as people seemed to call it, but his wife, Victoire, had, and it had taken a toll on him. Time would make it right. Harry had been snapped, as had half the Weasleys, but by the looks of it, they were having a party to celebrate their loved ones return. Remus looked on from afar, feeling both relief and regret at not being a part of them anymore, but it was better this way. Finally, he went to visit Dora's grave, cleaned it and transfigured a fresh wreath of flowers in shades of pinks.
"He's well," Remus told her, touching the cold stone of the tombstone. "He's happy."
And what else was there to say. He'd had so little time with Dora.
Remus then visited Thor who was even mightier than before. A bit scary, to be honest. The hug he had given him upon seeing him nearly crushed his ribs. Unfortunately, their happy reunion soon turned bittersweet as the ghost of Loki lingered between them.
"You had much love for my brother," Thor boomed, clapping him on the back so hard, Remus sprayed out the sip of beer he had taken.
"Yeah," Remus answered as he wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "He is… was… kind of hard not to like. ' Mischief managed' took on a whole other meaning with him."
"And he was much gladened to befriend someone who understood his ways. You were his first true friend, you know. Tis a shame you had so little time together."
Remus nodded his head sadly. That seemed to be his burden in life, much more than the curse of lycanthropy as he had always thought. James, Lily, Sirius, Dora and Loki… it made him hesitant to grow attached to anyone else ever again. Maybe that was why Remus avoided everyone after that. Maybe it was to hide away his broken heart, because it would not withstand another blow. Remus was determined to live on as a hermit, and yet, someone knocked at his door. Nobody should know where or how to find him. Not even a lost muggle, not with his wards. With his luck, Remus expected the worse as he slunk to his door with his wand in hand. He yanked it open, and froze.
"Ready for a little mischief?" Loki asked as casually as if they had just seen each other yesterday, eyes twinkling and that knowing smirk on his face.
Remus shook off the shock, and poked the vision in front of him with the tip of his wand. He knew almost anything was possible with magic, and worse, with Gods… Thor had told him Loki had supposedly died more than once. And yet, Remus had refused to hope. He poked him again and Loki frowned.
"Are you quite done?" he asked.
"You are so dead," Remus said.
"Hardly."
"You will be when Thor finds out."
Loki winced. Finally, Remus accepted that this was real and he grinned wolfishly, pulling Loki into a hug, which he grudgingly accepted.
"Are you that happy to see me, or…" Loki teased, voice seductive.
Remus looked down to see his wand trapped between them.
"Wanker," Remus scoffed before getting Loki to come in for tea and tell him how he had escaped death once more, but his friend's explanations gave him a headache.
Remus was not even sure this was his Loki, and not a copy from another timeline or dimension.
"A copy?" Loki repeated in outrage. "Of all the insults, wolf! You should know better. Thor, yes, he can be fooled far too easily. It's embarrassing, frankly. But you know me, and I know you."
Loki leaned forward, eyes boring into his. Remus gulped as he felt heat rise in his cheeks. Loki had always had this intimidating presence about him that cowed most people, but which Remus found utterly fascinating and alluring. Did Loki know? Remus had hardly wanted to admit it to himself, much less advertise it, so Loki couldn't possibly know. Right?
The corner of Loki's mouth quirked upwards, and Remus groaned, realizing the berk did know. Remus was never going to hear the end of it now, or so he thought, but after following Loki into more mischief than he thought possible, Remus was proved wrong. Loki did not mention it even once, not even to tease him as he so liked to do. The God that he was did not seem to care how Remus felt for him one way or another, and yet, Loki was always the one to seek him out when Remus tired of mischief and hid in a corner with a book for some peace and quiet. In fact, Loki seemed to glow brighter as he basked in his measly mortal devotion.
"I heard you have a new cult following in California. Why don't you go bother one of your worshippers?" Remus snapped when Loki tried to pry his book away from him.
"Because none of them do it as well as you do," Loki replied as if it was obvious.
It wasn't. Not to Remus.
"Do… what?" Remus asked with narrowed eyes as he peered at his friend over his book, wondering if Loki was mocking him.
"Love me. All of me. Those fools are so picky. They only worship the horns," Loki sneered, hands mimicking the giant golden horns of the helmet he usually wore in public.
"I'm sure if you invite yourself at their homes and overstay your welcome there, they'll worship the rest of you as well," Remus muttered, keeping the book firmly in front of his face to hide his blush.
"No they won't. They'll cower or hate me. They always do. All except you."
"You can't know that," Remus reasoned. "Give anyone a chance to know you, the real you, and…"
"And?" Loki teased with a chuckle. "You know, when Thor boasts about people loving him, he's not actually exaggerating, we can feel these things."
Remus felt his mouth go dry.
"You can?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Long fingers clung the top of his book and it was pulled down. Remus gathered his courage to look up at Loki.
"I can," Loki confirmed with a nod, offering his hand.
Reluctantly, heart pounding, Remus took it and was pulled up to his feet. If only Loki wasn't so… godly, Remus would not have such a hard time controlling his emotions around him.
"And no one is as sincere as you," Loki added huskily. "No one could possibly be."
Remus looked at his hand still clutched possessively in Loki's, then up into his unusually dark eyes.
"Oh dear," Remus murmured, heart racing so fast it was making him dizzy.
Thankfully, the rush stopped when Loki's lips brushed his own. This moment in time an eternity where nothing else existed but a silent promise between them. Loki stepped back, radiating smugness once more.
"Come, little moon, let's manage a little mischief tonight, rattle a few cages, shake the world, and turn it upside down."
"All in one night?" Remus asked, amused despite still trying to process what had just happened to him, to them.
He had learned long ago to go with the flow when Loki was in one of his mischievous moods. Loki smiled back, accepting the challenge, and they disappeared into the night to become legends.