fossilised | It's AU time

"That may be too late, how long before I get out of this wretched place? Or are you planning to assist me in springing for freedom before they decide I am fit to be unleashed once more on the world?"

Thor had impressed upon him how urgent it was to find these people, and he had said that he would return to talk to Loren shortly and that he should have them all assembled by then. That would not happen if he had to wait for a month or two before they deemed him sufficiently healed to leave.

"Perhaps now? Fetch a chair, I am certain we could make the exit before we were stopped."

“No.” He was putting his foot down here. “Loren, you’re staying in the hospital until you’re safe to move. You still can’t get anywhere in Manhattan. It’s a disaster area. Remember what it was like after Katrina? Well, that’s what is happening here.” The annoyance was hard to keep from his voice even if he was trying very, very hard not to let it seep in there with the exhaustion. “Let me see what I can dig up before we start stalking people.”

But to what end? Telling people his fiancé was having dreams about thor trying to gather people together-- It sounded like some straight to Netflix TV show!

Maybe getting Loren the laptop wasn’t the smartest thing.

Hopefully J’s girlfriend was down with the crazy. Tony was running out of options. “You just have to promise me that you’ll stay here and stay safe, all right?”

"Oh yes, I must be safe," he said, the words dripping the venomous sarcasm. "Safe and secure and useless, trapped in here while others do all the things of worth and I must do naught but lie in a bed. I am fine, Anthony, I know my own body. I can survive perfectly well out of the hospital."

He hated it here anyway. He hated being coddled, prodded, poked, and tested. He hated the ignominy of using a bedpan and being given a sponge bath, he wanted to go home. He had a stupid idea that he would be immediately wonderful in a wheelchair and his gut and spine would cause him no issues in getting around at all.

Besides, it wouldn't be for long, just until this was all sorted and everything was reversed. That was what Thor had promised him (or so he believed).

"Anthony, please. I ask you little, but I cannot stay here."

Tony wiped at his mouth, at the unfettered growth on his cheeks and chin making his eyes stand out more brightly. He dropped to Loren's bedside, facing him, and took his hand. "Please don't do that to me. You know that you're my weaknes. You know I'll do anything you ask. But if you ask this of me, I'm going to hurt you more than I want. The condo isn't ready for you. I haven't gotten far in the upgrades. I can take you to your brothers but if you get another infection, I don't know what I'm going to do. You need to stay here, please, until the doctor says you're good to go." He knew Loren would hate him for this. He just needed to be all right with that. "I'm going to have a talk with some people. And I'll go see Wilson. But you have to stay here so you can be monitored. I'm not losing you because you're bored."

That might have gone too far but Tony could do nothing to help that.

He left Loren seething at him, rob ably yelling, and strode out of the hospital room. His shoulder banged into Banner and he nearly knocked himself into the wall, hissing up a storm. "Damned it, I--". Oh. "Doc. Gotta do me a favor. Loren is trying to pull the i never ask for anything card to make me bust him out-- can you up his sedatives? I need... I need him to heal."

Tony had a lot to cope with here. Loren was dead from the center of his back down. He'd never urinate again without a catheter. He would never get an erection again-- And now he was losing his precious mind. Tony wasn't coping too well here.

Bruce was a little out of it that morning, he kept having odd dreams the night before. He would vaguely see that blond brother of Loren's in his head, muttering about gathering people, but it had always been very faint and nonsensical. He might have called off today, he was technically a volunteer at this hospital after the disaster, but he had news that he'd wanted to share with Loren.

"What? Oh-- No, of course he's not ready to leave. Listen, Tony, there's a doctor across country called Dr. Strange, he's one of the best surgeons in the world and he might be able to do something to repair some of the damage in Loren's spine. It would never give him full range of motion, but it it was successful then it could return some feeling and even, given enough physical therapy, allow him to walk with crutches."

It was only then that he took in the pallid nature of Tony's skin and the dark circles under his eyes.

"...I know you want to be here for him, but it might be best to take a few days off. You need to take care of yourself as well."

A hollow eyed stare followed Bruce as if he was still walking before Tony's gaze snapped back into focus. "What...? No. Listen. He wouldn't leave me here alone." Which wasn't true. Tony spent s week in the hospital after his accident and Loren had never been by once. He'd never stopped by when Tony was home and recovering either. He was fickle and afraid. But Tony was too. He was afraid that if he left for too long, something terrible would happen.

He set a hand on Bruce's shoulder and squeezed, though.

"But tell him about this Doctor. I have the money to get him there once they allow for air traffic again. Tell him that we can do this together without and weird dreams, okay?" Yeah. He was exhausted. He was so exhausted that he was babbling.

"How strange that you should mention dreams, I've been dreaming of Loren's brother the last few nights. I don't usually dream about the families of patients."

Bruce offered a small and gentle smile, voice soothing as he tried to get a hand on Tony's shoulder in return to guide him around the corner to where some chairs were situated. The man was running on fumes and adrenaline, he was clearly not far from a collapse of his own.

"Listen to me, Tony. You go home and get some rest. I don't want to do this, but I will bar you from the hospital for two days if you don't start taking care of yourself."

“Not two-- Jesus, Banner. It’s me and Thor and that’s all he’s got. He thinks he’s stronger than he is and hey, what? Dreaming about Thor-- Did he mention someone named Sam Wilson?” Tony wasn’t sure if it was catchy, this sort of craziness, but he felt like it was starting to affect him too. And if it got to Banner-- What was he going to do?

Rubbing a hand across his eyes and looking up, unsure of how, exactly, he’d gotten into a seat without noticing it, Tony stretched his legs out in front of him and picked at the fabric over one knee.

“Because Loren spouted off a ton of names to me. Names he didn’t know but I do. Jarvis, Rhodey, and this chick named Wanda or Wendy or something. And some athlete that Thor’s girlfriend used to date. And this Sam Wilson guy who evidently works with the VA. No. No, actually, this is getting too crazy. Maybe you’re right. I need to sleep.”

That was a little odd, he too had heard the name Sam Wilson, but he could see that now wasn't the time to go into that with Tony. He looked as if he might be about to cry or faint, and Bruce couldn't let him continue like this in all good conscience as a doctor and semi-friend.

"Loren will be alright for a couple of nights, I'm sure Thor will come to see him and I'll make sure that he knows you aren't there because I've banned you. He can be angry at me if he needs someone to be angry at."

Honestly, sometimes he was a bit worried that Tony was in an abusive situation.

"Come on, my shift is over. I'll leave word at the nurse's station to up his dosage of sedatives and drive you home."

Most of Tony wanted to tell Bruce that he was highly capable of doing this himself, that getting home wasn’t going to be an issue, but that wasn’t the case. He wasn’t sure he could maneuver through all of the checkpoints for leaving the island today and so he thanked Banner and headed out to the garage where his car was. The ride home was silent, which was crazy considering how Tony liked to talk, but it was a good thing that Banner lived fairly close by. Why were they all in Brooklyn?

Perhaps Loren ought to have mentioned the other names his Dream-brother told him. Banner, Rogers, Barnes-- That might have made Tony a little less anxious. Especially since Banner had filled him in that he dreamed about Thor too. With his mind racing, it was hard for him to keep up with his own mind let alone try to formulate any of that into words.

So he didn’t bother to try.

Instead, as they pulled into one of the garage bays below the condo, Tony kept his eyes shut and his inner monologue internal. Right up until the car engine turned off.

“Loren said if we get everyone together, we can fix it. Fix this. I still think it’s crazy.”

Bruce had made sure to mention his own name, as well as Rogers and Barnes who were two men that he had never met, and hearing that these names overlapped with what Loren had heard was both terrifying and intriguing. He wasn't the sort of man to ever discount any theory, no matter how insane, until it had been proven beyond all reasonable doubt to be nonsense.

"Any crazier than possible aliens over New York that were here and vanished in a day?"

He had no idea what these dreams meant, and he definitely wasn't a religious man, but he couldn't just ignore the fact that they had both dreamed about things that it wasn't possible to dream about.

"It might be worth looking into, at least. But not tonight, tonight you need to rest. Doctor's orders. Goodnight, Tony."

Whenever Tony did find himself bedding down, his own fiance would appear before him in the dream. But a little taller, dressed in green and black stylised leather armour.

"Anthony, finally, why have you not be sleeping these last few days? You have made this much more difficult."

“You need me,” Tony ended up mumbling into his arm. He had opened one eye – or one dream eye at least – just to see who was talking to him. Loren had the weirdest accent. Posh-British. Not that sing song scandanavian he had fallen in love with. It made his nose wrinkle. “I’m trying to be there for you.” So why was he popping into his dream? Was Loren sick? Hurt? Did something happen while he wasn’t there?

Tony jerked his head up, but the dream didn’t dissolve. Loren was still standing over him in that strange Harry Potter get up. Was he trying to be Snape? Was this his subconscious telling him to take Loren down to Universal Studio and see Diagon alley?

“Are you okay? Other than the crazy accent…”

"Must you always be nonsensical in every realm and reality? My accent is that of the All-Speak, modified to fit your primitive language, now be silent and listen for we do not have much time to speak."

Loki flicked his fingers and a glow of green light surrounded them, before a chair appeared from nowhere for him to sink into. He crossed his legs as though he had all the time in the world despite what he had said.

"My name is Loki of Asgard, you may know me under a different name or you may never have spoken to me before. It matters not. You must find the following people and assemble them swiftly. Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Steven Rogers, James Barnes, Bruce Banner, Wanda Maximoff, Edwin Jarvis, and James Rhodes. Do you understand?"

“We’re leaving Thor out of the lineup this time?” Tony pushed himself up, seeing his hands on his knees. It was such a weird dream. He usually just dreamed about flying to private islands or wearing expensive suits or driving tricked out cars… But this was just weird. One on one with Loren.

Or. Loki. Ha.

“Or is there just too much Norse mythology already for you? Because damn. No really. Damn. Loki of Asgard?” He burst out laughing, hand to his stomach, and stood up to gaze more directly at this version of his fiancé. “So funny. I love it. I’m going to call you Loki from now on. Even if you threaten to throw things at me. Oh. And by the way, I already have those names. So you’re a little late.”

"I already know that Thor has been contacted, I have done so myself."

He would not trust that to any other, though his stupid brother had seemed even more foolish than usual, refusing to listen to any of his warnings and merely babbling about what an odd dream this was, chortling about which of his friends may fill the other Norse myth roles. Fool.

"Do not force me to harm you to prove my point, Anthony, for I will do so if you do not take seriously what must be done."

No wonder Thor had yet to receive results even from his other self, was everyone in this world stupid?

"Dream you is more of a jerk than awake you," Tony frowned, hip out and arms crossed. "And that's saying a lot. Why can't I just have a normal, sexy dream? Or Thor. Why can't I have bearded Thor?" Oh shit. That's probably what Loren was afraid of. "Not that J want to dream about your god damned brother like that, okay? So don't hold it against me. I'm just saying that if everyone else is dreaming about Thor, I should too. For some damned consistency. And listen. That's the same list you guys gave to you-- uh. My fiancé. Whatever. So we have it covered. Why don't you send dreams to Sam Wilson? No one has ever fucking heard of him."

Tony wasn't seeking to be hurt. That was something he had in common with his other selves. Hurt just seemed to seek him and he didn't really protect against it.

He also wasn't afraid of Loki's threats. You couldn't really be hurt in a dream.

Probably.

Nevermind that aliens were real and his fiancé wasn't as raving mad as he was starting to think.

Fiance. So they were engaged in this reality, he had seen others where they had ended up together and those where they had ended up mortal enemies. He counted Anthony among his friends, tentatively, though his love was his brother. Anthony remained happy with Banner and their daughter, though Loki had attempted to tempt him into bed once or twice, all to no avail and to Thor's amusement.

Irritated, he reached out and pressed his hand abruptly and fiercely to Anthony's chest, a flare of green light causing a burning pain that would fade as soon as he dropped his hand away. But it left a perfect handprint behind, a mottled red mark of his presence, which would even be on his waking body.

"I am not dream for your pleasure, nor a hallucination to be ignored. I am a God in my own right, Anthony Stark, and you will listen to what I have to say to you. Gather those named at these coordinates..." He gave the coordinates where Stark Tower should stand, but obviously did not in this reality. "...within seven days. My brother and I shall return then to attempt to fix this rift."

The pain was intense but brief, and though Tony didn't smell burned flesh, he imagined he did. Or dreamed he did? Either way, he smelled it and a yank up of his black tank top left him hissing at the handprint scarring his chest. Jesus Christ, why the hell-- I didn't say I wouldn't. You didn't have to actually-- Wait. Aren't I supposed to wake up if I get hurt-- Oh come on!" he lamented, pressing a hand over his chest as he scowled at Loki.

If Loren ever became this moody and obtained God-like powers, they would have to have a genuine discussion about boundaries. Tony didn't have that many but he was drawing a line at this.

"How about you do us a favor and you reverse time to the day after Christmas so Loren isn't fucked up for life? How about that?!" He wasn't really super hero material. He never had an epiphany. He was still a selfish man.

Loki was not sorry for injuring Anthony, the wound would not even scar permanently given enough time and they were running out of patience to allow those they were talking to to think them nothing but dreams or hallucinations. This must be healed soon or the rift would grow wider and they would all be ruined by it, this world was not equipped to handle what their worlds had to offer.

"My counterpart has become ruined? Tell me in what way?"

That was upsetting to hear. Not because he cared about Loren's pain and suffering, but because it was embarrassing to think that any version of him might be considered weak or pitiable. He did not wish to come here with his brother and see Thor's sympathy directed at any facet of himself.

“Your little rift in space-time or whatever left him paralyzed. He can’t walk. He might not ever be able to walk again.” The bitterness was part exhaustion and part fear. He loved Loren, he did, but to be tied down to someone that was angry and insufferable and now made worse because of his injury was a daunting task. Their whole lives were going to forever change. They had two good years together and now a life time of suffering for Loren-- Tony knew he wasn’t strong enough for this. He knew he couldn’t go without. He knew he’d cheat and he’d lie and that scared him, but it was realistic.

It just hurt. It really, really hurt him. Loren was supposed to be the person he spent forever with. They were supposed to travel and enjoy themselves and chase after each other in the snow… They weren’t supposed to be this way.

Tony felt shameful pricks of tears in his eyes.

“So let’s make a deal. You’re the Norse version of the devil right?” Figures. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll help you fix this if you fix him.” It was selfish. Tony made no move to say or think otherwise.

Loki knew what the devil was thanks to research and exposure to Midgard, and the comparison was both amusing and insulting. He raised an eyebrow, the expression on his face clearly stating that he had no sympathy for his counterpart, he more thought the mortal to be pathetic and useless to have got himself in this position.

"I am no devil, and I do not make bargains such as this. You would be well to simply rid yourself of one who has lost any use, he would have been better dead."

Standing up from the chair that he had created, Loki contemplated for a moment.

"Perhaps I will assist you in fixing him, such is not beyond the medical capability of Asgard, but I am not convinced that any effort deserves to be spent in such a way."

Tony’s eyes hardened, a little upturn of his mouth showing hos cruel he thought this was, or how cruel he’d thought this might be. “You need us all at this corner in seven days, right? Well, I could just not go.” That was spiteful. He’d be raining down terror and chaos on his reality. And he didn’t give a crap. Let it all burn. His happiness with Loren meant more to him than this world.

It probably should terrify him that he thought that. It didn’t. It didn’t mean a thing to him at all, actually.

Tony set his hands on his hips, the handprint still firmly visible on his chest like the arc reactor use to do on Loki’s best and closest friend. He jutted out his hip and he dug in his heels like a child more petulant than even Loki’s offspring.

“Fix him and I’ll do whatever you want. The world isn’t worth saving without him,” Tony insisted.

Loki's lips turned up all of a sudden, amused and perhaps slightly touched at the devotion. Though he had now been happily wed for many years and a mother for more, he still held that spark within him that demanded to be loved, that demanded to be thought of in ways that placed him above everyone else. To see that Anthony would sacrifice his whole world for the sake of Loren was good, better than good.

"Very well," he murmured. "But you will be where I have stated, and you will bring all the people I require so that my husband and I can address you all."

To fix a wound to the spine of a human was not precisely simple, more difficult between realms, but it was not impossible either.

"I shall prepare, go to where he sleeps tomorrow night and I shall assist."

Tony arrogantly agreed, said very little about who Loki’s husband might be, and tried to force himself to stay on target here. It wasn’t easy. He wanted to rush back to Loren’s side or call up Banner and tell him he had gone off the deep end, but in reality, Tony just slept, showered painfully (that handprint hurt!) and ate as he watched the news. Loren would get the full day to himself to work on whatever it was that he was working on because Tony had an ex-soldier to see about a crazy dream.

The same ex-soldier that was trying to get Bucky to open up with a little one-on-one time. Steve was just out in the lobby, collecting literature and speaking to men and women that passed through with reverence and awe. Those that served their country held a really very special place in his heart, even if he was physically unable to serve himself.

Sam was a good looking guy with a calm attitude and an easy smile. He told Bucky his story without waiting for Bucky to open up to him. He told him all about what it was like to in the air force, how special he felt to part of the aircraft testing unit, and how ultimately, he paid the price when his partner died in a crash of a top secret stealth glider that they had been testing. Sam might not have been captured and tortured, but he knew all about loss.

Even though Bucky was nervous as hell and defensive about needing to be here at all, Wilson made it bearable. He had a way of talking that was sympathetic and understanding, but not pitying. He was oddly easy to open up to and he didn't talk down to Bucky, he just talked to him as if they were both sensible adults there to help out with a problem that there was no need to be ashamed of.

It helped, hearing about how he had served and lost, it was far more palatable to accept help from a therapist who had actually been through it rather than just a random therapist who thought they understood. Bucky didn't open up a lot, but he did tell Sam in a few words what had happened to him, and some of the issues he had now he was back. Sam also saw his file. Severe PTSD, but that could be dealt with. In the end, he signed Bucky up for one weekly group therapy course, once per week sessions one-on-one with him, and his choice of social emotional wellness course. He also strongly recommended that Bucky stop looking for work right now and focus on getting well, and advised that he allow Sam to put his name down for an official service dog to help veterans with PTSD.

Sam poked his head out of the room when they were almost done, smiling over at the blond man who had accompanied Bucky here and gesturing him in.

"Steve, do you want to come in here for a moment? I'd like to talk to you too, and Bucky and I are just wrapping up."

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