Back From the Future

Chapter 25~Unreality: Part Two

<SORRY I HAVENT POSTED IN SO LONG>

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Stephen woke up with snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes. His brain still laced with the after effects of the reality stone, he took his time sitting up brushing off the substance, feeling like a groggy teenager that had just been woken up for school after staying on their phone till 4 AM. Yet he didn't even notice he was sitting in six inches of snow until a good amount of time had passed where he was just clearing off his beard. His mind simply didn't pick up the oddity as he routinely cleaned himself off as a human does when they're covered in something. The reality stone was truly something.

Although it was impossible to actually know how long he had been laying there, based on the heavy snowfall from above and the amount covering his clothing, he took a wild guess that he wasn't unconscious for more than 15 minutes. Stephen was aware of the unpredictability since reality sequences from the stone and the mirror dimension were similar in their workings where time didn't really work right. They unfortunately weren't too similar however since he wasn't in control. That meant that he not only had no way to get out but also had no idea how much time had passed back in the real world where it mattered more. Six hours, three seconds- it could be anything and he would have no idea. Fuck.

"Loki!" he called aloud as he jumped up to his feet among the powdered dust, both remembering that he had a boyfriend and needing a distraction to avoid getting overwhelmed by his own brain. Loki's smile was absolutely perfect for the latter. "Are you here?" No response was given, not immediately, so instead of focusing on his anxious thoughts of a lack of regulation, he tried to instead take in his surroundings and get a grip on that. But there was really nothing to look at. It was just more snow against a dark red sky with nothing on the horizon and little to no visible vegetation. And none of the latter that were actually there were recognizable. So he was back to being anxious very quickly.

"Loki?!" he desperately yelled once more in another attempt for company. It would also be really nice to know that Loki was safe instead of having to also worry about his whereabouts. Well... 'safe'. He would still be in the hands of someone who wanted them dead, but they would nonetheless be together.

That time he did get a response. "Stephen?"

As soon as he turned around he saw Loki's form racing toward him, making a smile quickly grow on his face and his arms open to let him jump into them. Loki of course took him up on the invitation. "Thank god you're here," the latter confessed in a rush as he pressed his face into the crook of his neck, legs squeezed around his waist and his arms secured on his back. "I thought I was alone."

"Me too, fuck me too," Stephen whispered back with his hands as tight as he could close them on his sides. "I love you."

"I love you too." Loki dropped back down to his feet to cup his stubbled cheeks and kiss him, both smiling into it despite their extremely desolate location and dire situation. They had to find joy in the little things. And, in the stupidest cliche of all, that joy was in each other.

When they separated their foreheads stayed pressed together for both the stability and their stupid little gay touch starved hearts, grinning softly as snow continued to pile on top of them. "Are you okay? Did the stone have any effects on you? How do you feel?" Stephen suddenly questioned when the yearning silence reminded him of how much clearer his mind felt with Loki's presence. Or just the passage of time. But probably Loki.

Loki threaded their fingers together and squeezed in thankfulness for his consideration. "I was a little groggy earlier, but I'm certainly feeling much better now."

"Are you sure?"

"I promise I've been through worse with the stones."

Stephen frowned from the reminder of Thanos and cupped his partner's cheek softly, pressing their lips together in a silent way of telling him that he loved him and would do anything in his power to protect him further. Loki grinned into the kiss as he understood. "Yes, Stephen, I promise that I'm okay. How about you?"