are you broken? so am i. (Strangefrost story)

V

They ended up in a near pub, talking for hours about everything. About their childhood, how Stephen became what he is now, about his sister, his neurosurgeon career, the car accident, about the Ancient one. In the exchange, Loki told him about his parents, what Asgard was like before Thanos destroyed it, about his relationship with Thor and many more. After a few hours, they were both quite tipsy, not thinking twice about what the other thinks about them.

"To be honest, I- I always admired your powers. You were able to trick me. You know *pointing at himself* me, God of mischief and trickery *pointing at Strange* you, a mortal. Unbelievable." Loki chuckled, the sorcerer joining him. "Oh, stop it. I'm not a mortal. I am THE mortal. The best sorcerer on this planet or even in the multiverse. Little respect, you puny god, or I'll let you be falling through my portals again." A green glow surrounded Loki and suddenly Strange see himself sitting opposite him. "Little respect, you puny god," Loki said as Strange, sarcastically, then changed back. The two stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter. When they calmed down, Strange asked: "How do you do that? It's amazing." "Show me how to open portals and I'll show you how to disguise as another person." "Agreed!"

The next few days, they spent most of the time in Sanctum, Strange showing Loki the multiverse and how to possess the energy of multiverse and use it for relocation. "We're using the mystic language, you may know it as 'spells', not to change the reality but to shape it by energy from other dimensions to create shields, portals and weapons." "So that means, my magic is creating a new reality, yours is only reorganising the existing." "Exactly. That also means, your spells need much more energy than my ones. Therefore, it shouldn't be so hard for you to learn it." "Wow, I've never thought about it this way. Where do we start?"

It was New Year Eve, the whole team drinking and celebrating. "So you want to tell me you're okay. There won't be any crazy fights, tricks or polecats anymore?" Sam asked Stephen suspiciously. "Well, let's say we sorted it out on the Christmas Eve." Strange answered, smirking at Loki. "Hallelujah! And then that Christmas miracles don't exist," Bucky chuckled. "What time is it?" Loki asked Stephen. "Oh, twelve to midnight, we should go prepare." Then turned to the rest, clinking on his glass to get attention. "As it's the end of the year, Loki and I have a little surprise for you to apologize for the last few months. Therefore, I'm asking you to get your coats and we'll meet in front of the compound in a minute. Thank you."

When all of the guests got on the spot, it was five to midnight. Suddenly music started to play from nowhere and they saw two portals, Loki and Strange stepping out on the free space in front of the building, then flying a few meters above the ground. The show started. Strange drawing huge luminous pictures and whole scenes into the air, Loki adding colourful fireworks, glimmers and sparks, fire dragons, ice snakes, big ships and breathtaking flowers flying around them. In the end, the big 2023 appeared in front of them, all bright and shining and with a midnight strike, the final fireworks lightened the sky, changing the number to 2024, everything disappeared with a green and yellow wave of glow and the last beat of the music.

The whole team were standing there amazed by the show, bursting into applause and cheers. "Happy new year, everyone! Hopefully, better than the previous one." Sam shouted, all cheering and toasting. As they came back in, they all kept chatting and talking about the new year and upcoming events. All except Loki who was sitting on the bench by the entrance to the building, enjoying the night sky and chilly weather.

"How are you never cold?" Strange teased as he sat down next to Loki. "You know I'm a frost giant. I could turn you in an ice cube if you annoyed me." The god chuckled, smiling at Stephen. "Why aren't you with others inside?" Strange turned his head to the night sky. "I wanted to wish my friend belated Happy Birthday." "Did Thor tell you when my birthday is?" Loki asked, looking at the same direction as Strange. "No." Loki turned to face Strange, his eyebrow raised. "How do you know then? No one else knows it." "I looked through the time." Loki's expression fell, turning away to hide a tear, speaking up again after a moment of silence. "Did you see her?" "Who?" Strange asked confused. "My mum. The biological one. The one who left me." Loki answered, tears glistering in his eyes, heavy silence lying between them again. "Yes. Yes, I did."

And with those words, they got completely quiet, not daring to break the silence, Loki standing up and leaving soon. "I just wanted to be nice." Strange sighed and came back inside. They didn't talk about it any further, Loki avoiding everyone for the next few days, not leaving his room, thinking, making a decision. A week after New Year Eve, he knocked on the door of Strange's room. As he heard 'come in', he opened the door, not waiting for Strange to ask what he wants, Loki spoke up himself: "I want you to show her to me. Let me see her... Please."