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2012. Steve was sure he punched the right date, still, there was something wrong about the whole place. It was as he remembers it: a lot of destruction, a lot of civilians. He felt a tug on his chest, like someone was asking him to follow an invisible thread.
He remembers his last conversation with Bucky and perhaps he's indeed taking all the stupid with him. He followed the silent voice, taking a look at his surroundings. He can't quite place what the difference is, but despite the same picture and same scenarios— He knows that this is not the same battlefield he fought to.
His theory was confirmed when he reached the Stark Tower. The building was almost at ruins. He looked at the digital clock barely hanging on a half crushed wall. They were supposed to head for shawarma now but instead he didn't encounter any of his teammates or any SHIELD agent. He didn't even came across STRIKE when he made his way towards the penthouse.
The elevator somehow still works despite the building's current situation. He felt the tug on his chest tighten, there again comes what seems like a whisper he cannot understand. Like the words was infront of him but he sees through it. He held a hand on his chest and muttered a silent 'I'm coming'. That seems to do the trick as he felt the person on the other end calm down.
In other circumstances, he would've find it weird. There was this Telepathic and Empathetic connection to whoever was holding the other end of the thread. He feels like intruding something he shouldn't. That whatever bond this is, it was not meant for him.
He stepped in on the Penthouse cautiously. The floor, compared to the destruction of the ones below, seems minimally scatted. The window where Loki threw Tony was much more destroyed. The bar counter have 2 scotch glasses filled to the brim, he suspects because the ice that was once there already melted. And there, on the Stark pad, was a lone familiar figure sitting on the edge. He again heard a whisper.
Albeit not understanding, Steve made his way towards the man. He felt the tug on his chest tighten once more before loosening completely until all he can feel was... contentment.
"Won't you sit down with me, my sweet?" Loki said upon feeling his lover's presence. He didn't bother looking up to the Captain, by now he had completely familiarized himself with the man's feature. He's confident he had memorized every bumps and curves by heart.
Steve, although confused, sat down beside the God. There was something different with this Loki too. Unlike the past difference he couldn't identify on the place, this was much more obvious. Much more easy to see.
There were no madness on the God's eyes, no venom in his voice, no hatred in his tone. This Loki was calm. He can still see the sadness but unlike on their first encounter it was not buried beneath many layers. And like him, This Loki seem content.
"Like what you see?" The latter joked when he felt the Captain's stares before finally looking at his lover's eyes. The God almost broke there and then, one look at those blue orbs he knows— he knows. "Oh Steve. My sweet, my love."
He doesn't understand but Steve let Loki cup his face. He felt the trembling hands hold his cheeks fondly. It made sense when he looked at the God's eyes and he sees, he feels. In another life, another reality, here he is or rather, a version of himself who was happy and content beside the God's presence. He felt the sky grumble, looking up to it he now noticed the rift still there and somehow bigger. He also then understood that in this reality, they lose.
Loki followed the Captain's eyes. He's ready, he knows what'll come next. Despite their obvious loss, He held his head high. He's confident that in Valhalla, his teammates, his friends, will be all waiting for him. Thor will welcome him with the proudest smile knowing that Loki died in valor and Steve— his Steve will have a small smile on his lips, waiting patiently for Thor to calm down and let him go before approaching him. He imagines how Steve will hold his hand reassuringly, how he will pull him in his arms as he finally let go of the tears he had been holding back. He imagines how his lover would kiss his temple, a silent gesture the captain does to tell him he's there for him.
"Did you win?" He asked silently, letting go of Steve's face to take hold of his hand instead, caressing it the way his lover used to. He looked up and saw the Captain looking back at him. He lets go of the hand he was holding hesitantly. "Sorry. It's just that uhm—"
"It's fine." Steve interrupted. "Yes. We did."
He stared at Loki, comparing the version he fought with and the one next to him. The God started fiddling with his fingers, looking up every now and then when the sky grumble as if waiting for something.
"Good. That's great." He noticed the God bite his lower lip in anxiety. "Listen, I don't know what reality or universe you're from but it's almost time. If you don't leave now—"
"You know," Steve interrupted once again. He knows he has to leave. But somehow, somewhere on his chest, something was pushing him to stay until he can. "In my reality, We won but you lost."
This got the God's full attention. He looked up to meet Steve's gaze. Steve had to swallow a lump down his throat before continuing because those eyes, those damn eyes was like talking to him.
"In my reality we're not— we're not lovers. You're our enemy. You led the Chitauri to Earth and we had to fight you." He saw the pain on Loki's eyes, as if he was the one who did it. "Only when you died that we found out that you let us beat you so we can win that battle. It was not the smartest thing to do but you did as much as you can despite the circumstances you were in. We didn't had the chance to thank you for that.
And hey, we're here. If you can pretend that I was your lover maybe I can thank you for the help you gave but we never got to acknowledge."
He's not sure why he said that. But then again, he was not sure of anything since he first stepped into this alternate reality. He saw the familiar shape of the nuke on the bridge and knew that they're almost out of time.
"Thank you, Loki." He said sincerely, placing a hand over Loki's. The God gave him a small smile before turning his hand over to grab Steve's.
"I'll see on Valhalla, Steven." The Captain only gave him a smile. Anytime now. Loki thought. Steve gave the God's hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go to arrange what he needed to get back, seeing this Loki decided to stare straight ahead instead.
"Goodbye, Loki." The God only closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips. It's time.
The two did not notice 5 people clad in all black walking towards them before it's too late.
"We are the Time Variance Authority and we hereby arrest you, Loki Odinson and Steven Grant Rogers, for your crimes against the sacred timeline."
Or maybe not.