Take Your Tiny Hands Into Mine

9

Days later, a certain conceited wizard had transported everyone to Wakanda.

Steve and Tony went out to the public to discuss the Snap (and the circumstances,) which they found out the rest of the world decided to call it the Blip instead.

Finally, everyone was suited up and gathered in Wakanda, ready to execute the plan they all had been memorizing for the past few days.

Doctor Strange had even willingly transported an angry Valkyrie and the reaming Asgardian refugees to Wakanda, where they sought out temporary asylum; courtesy of King T'Challa.

After the physical reunion with Valkyrie—a hug here and there, a punch, rushed out apologies, a slap and then a friendly elbow nudge later, they had told Valkyrie what to do and say.

Loki even helped by using his magic to make sure everyone remembered what had to be done. Soon enough, everyone had benefited from Loki's magic in a way.

The large group was currently gathered around Loki, who was now preparing himself to go and obtain the Time Stone.

He looked around at all the now familiar faces.

Stark.

Rhodes.

Captain Rogers.

Barton.

Agent Romanoff.

Sam.

Barnes.

Nebula.

Quill.

Drax.

Mantis.

Groot.

Rocket.

Peter.

Captain Danvers.

T'Challa.

Shuri.

Banner.

Valkyrie.

And most importantly, Thor.

Loki stepped up onto the platform.

"This thing is unnecessary–"

"You ready, Lokes?"

Loki composed himself, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

He bent his knees slightly.

"Ready."

And in a flash, he was gone.

A moment of silence passed over the group of heroes.

"Are you sure he ate that plate of food earlier? We really need him to come back."

"Oh," Thor started. "We made sure," Nebula finished with something that could've been mistaken for a small smile on her face.

Maybe it was an accidental smirk.

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After what felt like hours, Loki reappeared dishevelled, but with the green stone in his grasp.

He collapsed to his knees when he fully landed on the platform.

"How was it?"

"Words cannot be used to explain my experience, dear gods–" Thor and Bucky helped Loki up to his feet, while he attempted to swat their helping hands away.

"Did the Sorcerer Supreme push your astral form out of your body, and send you into the Astral Dimension?" Stephen asked Loki.

"Oh, yes. I was very surprised but it was an interesting experience." Loki paused, remembering the feeling of his soul being torn apart from his body, and seeing his Jotun form—Loki paused. Her facial expression hadn't even changed the slightest when she saw that his looks were incredibly deceiving. "We also shared some words of wisdom."

Stephen let out a low chuckle.

"Alright! Do you need to recharge or anything?"

Loki handed Strange the stone, they both used their magic to make sure they didn't fully hold it flesh vs stone.

They were taking no chances.

"First, Stephen here will teach me how to wield this stone."

Wanda smiled sadly, "That will be three infinity stones that you've wielded in your lifetime."

Loki bit his lip, after some light quarrels and anger fueled unwanted intruding into each other's brains, they figured out that they weren't all that different, along with Barnes.

They became frie– no... acquaintances. Loki doesn't have friends, he never has and never will.

T'Challa crossed his arms. "How much time will you need?"

Strange smiled.

"Actually, we can do this really quickly. How much time do you think–"

"Half an hour?"

"Yeah, okay."

And the pair went off along with the stone, to practice using it.

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Valkyrie slipped behind a bar to pour herself a much needed drink (that was allowed by the owner of the place) when she noticed Bruce and some other man also settle down at the bar.

"Hey, angry girl."

Brunhilde couldn't help but smile at the nickname; she missed it dearly.

"Big guy, what brings you and your friend here?" She raised her eyebrows, expression now permanently unamused.

She was upset.

Upset that Loki convinced her to join the fight.

Upset that her most painful memories rose up.

Upset that Asgard was destroyed.

Upset that the population of Thor's people was cut in half.

Upset that not only it was halfed once, but twice over.

Upset that she was rendered useless, and only good for bringing the refugees to safety and away from the threat.

Upset that Loki died on her.

And most importantly, she was upset that she wasn't already chugging down the strongest drink she could find.

"My name is Tony," the guy was waving his hand in her face. "Sorry, you spaced out." Before he could remove his hand from the air she slapped it away.

"Ooh! Harsh–"

"Tony."

"Yeah, Bruce?"

"The, uh... people of Asgard. " He gestured to Valkyrie. "Have gone through a lot these past days."

Tony leaned back in his seat.

"Everyone has."

Bruce took Tony's and Valkyrie's drinks and pulled them toward his chest.

"We've got a battle to win soon."

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June 7, 2021

I have no clue what I'm doing. I abandoned this for a little while and now I'm lost but I'll continue it, I promise!