A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Back on Midgard

—-Loki—-

I step through the portal still full of sorrow I know Stark would have been gone in as few as fifty years anyway but I still find myself mourning his death as I would a friend from Asgard. I feel a hand on my back and turn to see Thor looking at me in concern. I have to do a double take.

"Since when did you have two eyes? And heterochromia?"

His inexplicable new eye is brown contrasting greatly with his natural blue eye color. He smiles slightly it's also underlined with sorrow.

"The rabbit gave it to me I was going to announce it when the others came back but..."

'Rabbit'? I'm not in the mood to correct him... I nod. I had simply been too distracted to notice the eye. I obviously wasn't the only one that had overlooked it either Sam hasn't said anything about it yet. Neither has anyone on the team that I'd noticed. I take another look, the eye somehow suits him.

"Looks good."

His smile becomes slightly less sorrowful.

"Was that a complement?"

I find myself smiling slightly as well.

"Never. Simply admiring the technology."

He chuckles slightly.

"Of course."

Shortly after we step through Fury comes into the room looking at us hopefully. He looks confused when he sees the whole group noticing Tony's absence.

"Is Stark...?"

Rogers shakes his head. Fury looks at Pepper solemnly. Fury doesn't press for a further explanation. His air of professionalism wavers slightly with his expression this has hit him just as hard as the rest of us.

"Mrs. Stark you have my sincerest condolences."

She nods looking like she's about to break down into tears. Fury looks at Steve whose holding the gauntlet. He sighs.

"We got them all?"

He nods.

"Then let's finish this. The other stones should be arriving any minute."

I look out the window that's off to the side of the room the scene in the sky is utterly terrifying. I can't really blame Midgard for being in chaos at the sight. What I assume to be Galactus is looming in the sky. An unbelievably large being, his figure eclipses the sun which has seemed to permeate the sky with an odd dark violet hue. The other Avengers see my expression and take a look for themselves. Upon seeing this Steve's jaw drops and he utters a phrase he's always seemed to refrain from saying.

"Oh my God..."

We all marvel at our oncoming doom. Not five minutes later I'm pulled from my stupor by the sound of a familiar jet engine. I tear my eyes away from Galactus to see the Blackbird landing on the compound's lawn. Sam looks at Fury in surprise at this. He explains.

"They've been a great help in keeping order. The U.S. waved the Sakovia accords for the X-men. We'll see how long it lasts but as of now they're technically a sub-sect of the Avengers initiative at least in America."

Sam smiles at this. Logan, Storm, and Bruce get off the jet. Logan's holding a briefcase that I recognize far too well while Storm is carrying a small case similar to a jewelry box. Shortly they join us in the compound. I'm confused as to why Bruce is with them but perhaps it's due to something with the radiation in the stones. He looks around the room becoming worried.

"Where's Tony?"

At the question being asked for the second time since our arrival Pepper seems to break down. She begins crying and Bruce's expression becomes sorrowful as he puts two and two together. Sam looks over at Pepper sadly and I see tears form in her eyes.

I take Sam's hand she's been strong for everyone else today including myself but I know she needs someone to lean on too both figuratively and literally. She leans against my arm burying her face into the leather of my sleeve for a moment. I take my other hand and rest it on her head. Logan sees this and looks at me in concern over her being upset.

"...we lost a friend today."

He nods grimly at my explanation. He sets the case on the table then opens it. 

"Let's get this done."