st_ormbreaker | (no subject)

Thor idly throws Mjölnir up in the air with a spin, then catches it easily in one hand. He always tends to play with his hammer whenever he's feeling restless and for some reason, he feels restless now. Going home suddenly feels incredibly important, even though the only thing waiting for them there is the festival and accompanying feast for Walpurgis. The holiday might have felt important when he was much younger, the same way Yule was important to him when he was very small, but 1500 years of celebrating and feasting had drained his excitement for it. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it (he did) -- at this point, it felt more ritual than anything else.

Still, there was something that felt important about it this time in ways it hadn't before. He couldn't help but think it was because Tony was accompanying him. None of the other Avengers had ever had the chance to visit his homeworld, and it was difficult for him not to feel excited and proud to show it all to someone.

"You will want to stay close," he says, before he lifts Mjölnir. "You do not want to fall off of it."

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There was surely some piece of wisdom, some comforting word he could summon that would break the tension. Tony had become adept since his stay, certainly moreso than he'd ever been. Nothing was coming. Thor was a void.

Still, he had his truth. Despair, relief, they were comforts that Tony Stark still wouldn't allow himself to wallow in. Not before his supposed death was staring him right in the eye.

"...It's not over. Not for you. Not for me."

And for the first time since he sat down on the edge of the bed, Thor manages to make eye contact with Tony.

"If we remember when we go back," he says hoarsely, "there's still a chance you can stop it from happening."

Maybe not in Thor's reality, but if he could stop it from happening in Thor's, in Loki's, in Quill's, in Rocket's, in Peter's, then it would make what he endured worth it.

There it was. The spark of hope.

"I don't know what'll happen." Tony was quick to admit, rising to his feet. "Maybe everything will change. Maybe nothing will. But I'm going to tell you what I told Loki six years ago. If we can't protect the earth, you can be damn sure we'll avenge it."

While he had Thor's eyes, Tony extended his hand.

"On your feet, Point Break. Please. I need you."

Thor's eyes follow as Tony stands. They have no idea what is going to happen, if changing things is even possible.

But Thor wants to believe it, because it's nicer than believing the alternative.

Thor swallows.

Then he takes Tony's hand and pulls himself to his feet.

Tony's gaze followed Thor as he rose, keeping their grip tight.

He was sure there were more words, somewhere, but they were for later. He jerked Thor's arm down, bringing their lips together.

Thor is so taken aback by the sudden jerk of Tony's arm that ehwne his lips meet Tony's, they are slightly parted in surprise.

It takes him time to register what is happening. He allows their lips to stay together for a few moments before he pulls away, his mismatched eyes blurred with affection and sorrow. "Quill doesn't know," he says, his voice steady. It's the first time he's called the man by anything but moron. "Neither does Loki." Obviously. "I haven't spoken to the Spider-Boy, either."

Tony is the first to know.

Tony wore a nakedly infatuated look following the kiss before his expression hardened. Business time.

"And we're keeping it that way." 'For now.' "If there's a decent reason to get folks worked up about a future that may or may not happen, I can't think of one."

"I am glad we are in agreement."

Thor didn't want anyone to know, even Tony, and yet, it had come out without him meaning to.

Thor smiles thinly, then runs a hand through his own hair.

"And I'm sorry you had to find out."

"Save it. I'm serious." Tony rapped Thor's arm with his knuckle. "Me and my old man rarely saw eye to eye, but I can appreciate this gem: a man never cries until its all over."

He began to walk past to lead the pair out for that fly around, but paused. "But...you know. If the urge strikes before then, I'll be here."

Thor follows after him, and he wonders why it's possible for him to feel hollow, and yet hopeful at once.

Thor places a hand on Tony's back.

"Same goes for you," he says.