Love in a Winter Wonderland

Mar. 2nd, 2023 02:21 pm
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Eva has always been like her father in so many ways, and so like him, she has never been a morning person. But when she opened her eyes to see the snow falling outside her window, it was enough to make her get out of bed earlier than she originally felt like. After she wrapped herself in a thick robe, she then headed to the kitchen to make herself some nice, hot mocha coconut coffee. With her mug in hand, she stood at the kitchen window staring out the window at the winter wonderland outside lost in her thoughts until she heard a knock on her door.

"Who in the world?" she muttered, as she walked to the door.

Eva checked her door camera first, and she couldn't believe who it was she was seeing standing on the other side of her door. She felt her heart pounding as she reached out, and opened the door. "Loki! Oh my gosh!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "What are you doing here?"

He was obviously stunned for a moment as he neither moved nor spoke, but then he lifted his arms to hug her back. He murmured in her ear, "Why I came to see you," he replied, "Of course."

The hug lasted for another few seconds then Eva pulled away, and gestured towards the interior of her home. "Please come inside!" He nodded, and stepped into her house, his eyes scanning the room.

As she followed him inside, and offered to take his long grey coat from him, Eva couldn't help but feel a little flustered. She and Loki had been friends for years, but lately in the last few years, there was always an underlying tension between them that she couldn't quite explain. "Do you want some coffee? It's mocha coconut!" she asked, motioning to the Keurig.

Loki nodded, and Eva made him a cup, savoring the warmth of the mug in her hands. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the snow fall outside.

Finally, even he must not have been able to take the tension in the room as Loki broke the quiet to ask her. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

Eva hesitated. It was freezing outside, but something in the way he asked made her say yes. They bundled up in their coats and hats and stepped outside into the snow.

As they walked, they talked about everything and nothing, the snow crunching under their feet. Eva felt her cheeks grow warm, and not just from the cold. She couldn't help but feel drawn to Loki, despite the fact that they had always just been friends.

Eventually, they found themselves at a park that was close to her house, and Loki led Eva to a secluded spot. "I have something for you," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

Eva's heart began to race as she opened the box. Inside, she found a beautiful necklace, the pendant shaped like a heart. "Loki, it's gorgeous," she breathed, feeling her face grow hot.

Loki smiled, taking the necklace from her and fastening it around her neck. "It's not as beautiful as you," he said, his eyes locking deep into hers.

At that moment, Eva was finding it hard to breathe. She had never seen that look in his eyes before. She realized in that moment that what she had been feeling all these years was mutual. As she watched, Loki started to lean towards her, and before she knew it, his lips were pressing against hers. Eva immediately deepened the kiss, and cupped his face with her gloved hands. Suddenly, Eva found herself almost face down on the bench when Loki pulled away, and sprang up, walking away from her at a fast pace.

Eva was stunned for a second, and then sprang up to hurry after him, catching up to him quickly. "Loki, is something wrong?"

He didn't slow his pace, and he nodded. "Yes, I've ruined
everything!"

"Ruined everything how?" Eva asked in a breathless tone as his fast pace was starting to get to her, even as fit as she was. "Loki?"

Loki stopped suddenly, and without facing her answered her. "I-I shouldn't have kissed you!"

"Why shouldn't you have kissed me?"

He sighed, his head dropping. "Because you see me as only a friend, nothing more or less. For me to kiss you, that is a betrayal of our friendship, as I am trying to turn it into something it is not. I'm sorry, Eva. It will not happen again." With that said, he started walking again, this time at a much slower pace.

Eva shook her head, and went after him. She walked beside him in silence, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say to him.

"If you wish to return the necklace, I will understand, as it was a presumptuous gift on my part," he said, sounding utterly defeated.

"Oh for crying out loud, would you just stop being an idiot already?!" she exclaimed.

Loki stopped walking once more, and looked at her. "I beg your pardon. What did you say?"

"I said would you stop being an idiot already?!"

"I am not being an idiot!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are, or you wouldn't have ended one of the most epic kisses ever until we were both out of breath!"

Puzzlement crossed Loki's features. "'Most epic kisses ever'? Am I to understand that you are telling me that you were enjoying my kissing you?"

Eva took a step closer to him. "Yes, you big dolt! That is exactly what I am telling you! Believe me, if I hadn't been, mythical god of mischief and chaos or not, I would have knocked you out cold with the right cross my Dad and all of my Uncles helped me to develop, and left your butt there on that bench to wake up on your own!"

"You would have?" Loki said.

"Yes, I would! Loki, I... I love you!" she exclaimed.

His eyes widened, and then he closed the gap between them. "You what?"

"I said, I love you!" Eva muttered, dropping her head. "I have for a long time, I think." She bit her lip, hoping now she wasn't the one to destroy everything between them.

He placed a gentle hand underneath her chin, and lifted her face up. "Eva Stark Anthonysdottir, I love you too."

"You do?" she asked in a whisper.

Loki nodded. "Eva, there are so many things I love about you. I love the way you see the world. You have this unique perspective that I can't help but find so fascinating. Ever since we met, you have challenged me in ways that no one else ever has. You've made me see the universe in a new light. You make me want to be a better person."

As she stared into his eyes, Eva felt her knees going weak. She knew without any doubt that Loki is the one she loves without every part of her heart. She knew with all that she is, he is her soulmate, and they will be together forever. With this knowledge and certainty, she is the one who initiated their second kiss.

For a long time, they stood there, kissing in the snow, with the hot intensity of their passion keeping them warm. As they finally parted, Eva couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected, snowy morning that had brought them together.

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Weather Eye

Feb. 23rd, 2023 02:55 pm
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 Never again would Happy Hogan hear Tony Stark's voice, see his mischievous grin, hear his laughter, or get an out of nowhere bear hug. The pain of his loss still lingered fresh in his heart, even though it had been months since the Avengers had brought everyone back in the Blip.

As he stood by Tony's grave, Happy couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. He had promised to keep an eye on Morgan and make sure she was okay, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed her father. Tony had always been so much more than a boss to Happy; he was his friend, his confidant, and his inspiration.

But now he was gone, and all Happy could do was honor his memory by keeping the Stark legacy alive. He would protect Morgan with everything he had, just like he had promised Tony he would. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to move on from his grief and live his life in a way that would make Tony proud.

"Well so long... Tony," Happy mutters as he starts to turn away. He walks a few steps, stops, and looks back. "I think you already know I am going to do everything possible to look after them all, but I still want to say it, which is... silly I know because I don't even know if you're still somewhere to hear me. But just in case you can somehow hear me. I... I just want you to know that I will look after them. And when I say them, I'm including the ki— Parker, um Peter too. I'll keep a weather eye out, I promise."
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The One Thing

Feb. 12th, 2023 01:41 am
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"No! Honey, no! No! Don't do it! Don't do it!"

At hearing the plea, Rhodey throws back the blanket and rushes down the hallway, hoping that this time he would prevent—

He bites back the curse when he sees the little form huddled by the shut door, clutching her favorite stuffed dog in her arms. Her eyes are gleaming with tears in her eyes when her little head turns up in his direction, and her bottom lip is trembling.

"Uncle Rhodey, I...I..." The little girl breaks down, unable to get out any other words.

Rhodey kneels beside Morgan, and wraps his arms around her. "Shh, sweetheart, I'm going to help. I know you want to help too, but I've got it." He picks her up, and points her towards her bedroom. "You go back to bed. I'll take care of this." He watches as Morgan goes back to her room, and the little girl shuts the door behind her.

Once she's safely back in her room, Rhodey goes back to the bedroom door, and not hesitating he turns the doorknob. He doesn't announce himself in any way, neither does he seek permission to enter, he just enters the room.

Tony is still asleep, and therefore still in the clutches of his nightmare. He is jerking, flopping, and moving all over the bed he once shared with the woman whose death he can't escape even in his dreams.

Rhodey approaches the bed, does what he knows is the best way to awaken Tony when he's caught in a nightmare. He touches Tony's shoulder, and keeps his distance as much as possible since on the first night he had to do this, Tony socked had him in his sleep. He wasn't hurt too bad in that instance, but Rhodey honestly preferred to avoid sporting another shiner for a couple of weeks!

"Tony! Tony! Wake up! Come on, man, wake up!" he says, shaking the other man's shoulder.

Eventually Tony's eyes opened, he looks at Rhodey, and he states more than he asks. "I did it again."

Rhodey nods as there's no denying it.

"Sorry," Tony mumbles, sitting up. "I can't stop dreaming about her or when she..."

"I know, Tones," he says, laying a hand on Tony's shoulder. "It's only been a month. You've got to give yourself time to—"

"Get over it?! Is that what you were going to say? Hmm? Because if that's what you were about to say to me, then I'd really like for you to explain to me how I'm supposed to do that when my life is gone and she's not ever coming back!"

Rhodey didn't miss the fact he said life and not wife, and it'd been the truth since that day.

One month ago, to the very day this morning, they had all been on the destroyed grounds of the Avengers compound fighting Thanos once more. A Thanos who, as it turned out, to be from 2014. But that fact had not made him any less dangerous or less determined to remake the universe in his own image. They had all been struggling to keep the Infinity Stones out of his hands when Pepper had been the final one holding the gauntlet when the mad Titan believed he had won.

He believed he had the Stones in his possession, and had even snapped his fingers. But they were actually with Pepper as she was the closest to him, and Tony had programmed the nanites in the gauntlet to respond to her as though her suit were Tony's own.


"I am inevitable!" Thanos had gloated before he had snapped.

When nothing happened as he'd expected, he had looked over where Pepper was, holding up the Stones for him to see. She had said nothing in reply to him, just gave him a look that alone should have killed him, and she snapped her fingers.

It's symbolic that when he lands, Tony is momentarily brought to one knee — for Tony will be brought to his knees for the rest of his life by what's about to happen. He quickly is on his feet, and he rushes over to where Pepper is half sitting, half laying up again some rubble. As he approaches her, he wants to yell from the agony that engulfs him when he sees half of her beautiful face is burned beyond recognition.

No, please no!

He kneels down beside her, and places a hand on her chest. "FRIDAY, vitals!"

Pepper stirs, and looks at him, smiling as much as possible as the AI responds, "Life signs are critical."

Tony starts to speak to her when he realizes some of the others are not behind them. He looks around, not really seeing that Thor or Cap are there, keeping their distance. He doesn't even see Rhodey has arrived or even Peter because there's only one person he's looking for.

"Strange!" Tony calls out when he sees the sorcerer. "Thank God! She's dying! You've gotta help her!"

Strange gives a head shake, and tells Tony quietly, "I'm sorry, Tony, but there's nothing that I can do for her now."

"But you've got to! She's not supposed to die! I'm the one who's supposed to die! Please! Please, Strange, you've GOT to HELP her!"

Rhodey doesn't know WHO the oddly dressed man is or what he can do to help Pepper, and he does not care. All he cares about is what he can do to help Tony get through the next few minutes without adding more regrets than the ones he is already going to have.

He puts his hand on his friend's shoulder, and says in a firm voice, "He can't help her, Tony."

Tony's head turns towards him, "Yes, he can! You weren't there on Titan! You didn't see what he could do with all his hocus pocus! He can save her! I know he can!" he looks over at Strange. "Show him, Strange! Show him what I'm talking about!"

Strange didn't say anything or move.

"Show him!" Tony insisted, taking a step towards the sorcerer.

Rhodey grabs his arm, and stops him.

Tony tries to jerk his arm away from him. "Let me go!"

"Tony! He can't help her, and you are wasting the precious little time Pepper has left trying to make him! Time need to be spending with her!"

It's like a light goes off in Tony's head, and he realizes that Rhodey is right. He immediately tugs on his arm again, and since this time it's clear that he wants to go to Pepper, Rhodey releases his hold.

"T-Tony..." Pepper whispers as he kneels by her.

Tony takes her hand into his own, cursing the metal encasing it. "I'm here, Pep. I'm right here."

It's obvious Pepper's having a hard time focusing her eyes, or perhaps his gone blind as she does not look at him. But she smiles for him, as much as she can. "Glad."

"Oh Honey, why did you do it?"

"L-L-Love y-y-y-you."

"You did it because you love me?"

"Yeah."

"Oh Pep..." Tony says, and stops there.

It's obvious Tony is trying not to break down sobbing as his breath hitches several times.

"Ro...ro... dee?"

Rhodey hears his name, and in an instant he's on her other side of her. "I'm here, Pepper."

"T-take c-care o... ny and M-M-Mo?"

It is Rhodey's turn to fight back tears, and he nods. "I will. I promise you, Pepper. I'll take care of them both."

She smiles again. "Goo... hey... be... kay."

"Yeah, they'll be okay. I'll make sure."

Her head turns in Tony's direction again. "T-Toe... l-l-l-love you... m-much."

Tears are running down his face as Tony replies, "I love you too, Pepper. More than you'll ever know. Please stay with me. Please don't go."

"C-can't. Tired. Ssss... tired."

Tony looks at Rhodey, then back to her, "Then go to sleep. I'll be... I'll be right here, Pep."

Pepper doesn't respond to him. Instead, as they watch, her body relaxes, and her blind blank eyes become empty. Tony stares at her, as though he can't believe or accept what he's just seen. But then reality sinks in, and he screams.

It's the most primal sound of agony Rhodey has ever heard, and he's heard more than his fair share on countless battlefields.


"I told Pepper one time that she was the one thing I couldn't live without, Rhodey, and I still can't! I want to die! I want to blow my brains out so I won't have to go another day without her!"

The second he finished speaking, Rhodey's hand found its way across his cheek. In response, Tony gives him a shocked look as his own hand goes up to his cheek.

"What the actual—"

"Don't you ever say something like again, Tony Stark! Pepper died, she died so you can live, and be here for the daughter who thinks the sun raises and sets on you! I know you miss her more than I know or can imagine. But that is no excuses for what you just said and I don't want to ever hear you say those words again!"

Tony looks like he is going to fight back for a second, and then he nods. "Okay."

Rhodey nods too. "Okay."

"Okay."

"Good."

Tony starts to lay down again, then stops. "I woke Morgan up again."

He wishes he could deny it, but Rhodey sighs. "Yeah, you did."

Muttering a curse, Tony places his feet on the floor, and stands up.

"I'm not going to get any more sleep tonight so I am going to go see about Morgan. If she's still away, I'll get back to sleep. If she's sleeping, I am going to sit by her, and remember why I can't lose myself in the pain."
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