Chapter Text
"Never fall through space," Loki commented as he and Stephen trudged along. "It never leaves you anywhere good. Like, the only places that open up to space are the ones that are bad, or something. I don't know."
"Please shut up," Stephen muttered. Loki had no intention of shutting up, if only because he was bored. They'd been walking for what felt like hours- might have been, at this point- and the only people they'd found had asked if they were fighters or food. Loki had wanted to stab people, but Stephen had acted first, dropping the whole group through a big portal. Loki had to admit that it was funny to watch from this side. As long as it wasn't him.
"You know, you're not very talkative."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Oh, believe me, I would love pretty much any other company at the moment too. Except maybe my sister. She'd try to kill me again. But anyway, that doesn't seem to be happening, unless you want to just leave. Could your infinity stone make this walk to any faster?"
Stephen glared at him.
"Right, right. Portals?"
"I have to know where I'm going."
"Could you take us back to Midgard?"
"You think I haven't tried?"
"I wouldn't put it past you not to. Can you do anything useful?"
"I notice you're not exactly helping either."
"I'm not the one who specializes in taking people places."
"You think that's my entire job?"
"What is your job, exactly?"
"Protecting this reality."
"That's not at all vague. Do tell me, would you be interested in killing my former boss at any point? Because really, I would appreciate the help. He's coming back to Earth at some point, if that's incentive. And straight to you, if I had to guess. After all, you do have a stone. Sooner or later, he'll come for it. You could just go to him instead of waiting around. I'd help! I have some really good reasons for wanting him dead, so you can trust me with this. Like with Thor and that thing with the Dark Elves. I had personal investment."
"Didn't you also use that to fake your death and impersonate your father for five years?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't mention that." Loki actually didn't have any ulterior motive for this. His own continued existence was enough. Not to mention he really wanted Thanos dead, and would even if he managed to convince himself that he might be left alone, which he wasn't foolish enough to believe. After all, Thanos had promised, as had the Other, and Asgard had no shortage of infinity stones.
"I'm not an idiot," Stephen informed him, "and I'm certainly not stupid enough to team up with you. You're quite possibly the least-" he cut off, and Loki stopped walking at the same time Stephen did. They'd been so intent in their bickering that they'd practically stumbled upon the city.
"Finally," Loki groaned. "I was going to stab someone if we kept walking for much longer."
Stephen casually stepped aside.
Loki rolled his eyes. "Not you," he informed the sorcerer. "If I killed you, I would have no one left to annoy, and then the walking would be even more boring."
"Forgive me if I don't find that comforting," Stephen told him. Then he seemed to leave it. "What do we do?"
Loki grinned. This was his element. "We head to the biggest, shiniest building and get ourselves an invitation," he replied, gesturing to the tall, golden building that might have been made of salvaged junk, but was clearly important, if the faces carved into the sides said anything.
This would be fun.
"This is never going to work," Stephen grumbled as they approached.
"See, you just don't know how to read people," Loki shot back. "You see these people? They're festive! Exuberant! Flashy! They appreciate glamour and shiny, noticeable things. And where do you think they get that from?" He paused for appropriate dramatic effect. Really, these truly were his type of people. "Their leader! The 'Grandmaster' we keep hearing about. So what do you think is going to charm such a man? You must be as loud, flashy, and bright as a man that could inspire so many people to be such!" With this, Loki's outfit shifted slightly. It was subtle, but the highlights of gold, the way the green was a brighter shade, the way even the black accents seemed to shine, these details a man like the Grandmaster, though Loki had yet to meet him, would spot and pick up on. Surely the man would see in him near an equal in the way of grandeur. Near, of course, because to such a man no one could quite come to his level, but near. "See, Stephen, you must lighten up. You certainly have the color scheme down- the cape is perfect-"
"It's a cloak."
"-and the glowing golden magic is wonderful. But you, Stephen, are not a bright person. You're serious, and grumpy. That's what needs to change. Now, I expect nothing when no one is around, but in public, you must smile more. No scowling. Seriously. The scowling is very bad. Bounce with your step a little. These are small things, Stephen, but they are important to master. They change your whole presentation."
"Loki."
"Don't interrupt. Now-"
"I'm not going to go around acting like... you."
"Oh, the sarcasm, now that is good, that we can work with. It gives you flavor, gives you bite. They'll love that. But in that case, form to that image. You must-"
"Loki. I'm not standing around while you give me acting classes."
Loki shot him a glare. "Stephen, Stephen. If we want this to work, we must work together."
Stephen raised an eyebrow.
"You're right, you're right. Just... don't antagonize anyone, and let me do the actual talking. And maybe pretend to like me?"
"Never going to happen."
"Worth a shot."
Getting an audience with the Grandmaster went surprisingly well. Loki walked up to the guards in a boisterous manner, and Stephen gloweringly followed behind, and all Loki had to do was compliment the aesthetic of everything and mention that they were new to the planet and they were being escorted inside to see the Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster was an older but still spry-looking man with a beautiful look- short silver hair, golden robes, coupled with blue underneath. Loki barely had to fake his enthusiasm. "Ah! You must be the Grandmaster. Such style could never be topped, and how it has inspired this place. The perfect blend- beautiful! And the way it has spread throughout all I have seen! Really, it is amazing to be in your presence."
The Grandmaster turned to the woman hovering behind him. "I like this one. I'm keeping him." Then he turned his focus back to Loki, who was beaming at him. "Pleasure to meet you, really. I heard you're new here? I do love it when we get new visitors, they're always fascinating. Now, how did you find your way to this place?"
Loki's eyes lit up. "Here? How could I not? Gorgeous, truly, how could I resist making my way closer? And with the potential to meet the man who I've heard inspired and created this place? I simply could not pass up the opportunity."
"I'm so glad you did. I'm in need of a new court member, actually, if you would be interested in a position."
"How lovely!" Loki declared. "Loki, God of Mischief, at your service."
"And your companion?" The Grandmaster eyed Stephen.
"This is Stephen. Don't mind him, he can't help it. It's just what he's like." Stephen huffed in the background.
"And how did you two come to know each other?"
Now, that was the tricky part. He needed an excuse to keep Stephen around, as he didn't like the idea of taking his eyes off the sorcerer and his infinity stone and potentially helpful portals. They needed to be close. More than friends, but there was no way he was calling Stephen a sibling after his history with them. What...
Oh. That was an idea. Stephen would hate it, and Loki didn't like it all that much either, but the Grandmaster would love it, and it would certainly cement their place here.
So Loki threw an arm around Stephen's shoulders, pulled him close- closer that Loki would have liked, but it was good for the act, and prayed the sorcerer would go along with it.
"He's my fiancé!"