#set at the end of Avengers (2012) right before they capture Loki

[twh-news]

Tom Hiddleston made his glorious debut as Loki in 2011's Thor, which celebrated its 10th anniversary exactly two weeks ago today. Since then, the 40-year-old actor's God of Mischief has gone on a remarkable journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he grappled with the living in his heroic brother Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) shadow and evolved from villain to antihero. Now, it's time for Loki to step into the spotlight on Disney+'s Loki. Ahead of the six-episode drama's premiere, though, EW asked Hiddleston to take us through Loki's greatest hits.

The audition (2009)

It's well-known that Hiddleston actually auditioned for Thor's titular role. "I remember thinking I should probably do some exercise because Thor is a very athletic character. So I did that, got into his kind of regime and did my camera test, and put on the blonde wig, and swung the hammer," he says. "But I do remember on the piece of paper I signed, it said, 'The role of Thor/Loki.' I thought, 'Okay...' Long-story short: Chris Hemsworth is definitive in the role of Thor. I certainly think so, and the right decision was made on that day. I'm very glad it went the way it went."

Thor (2011)

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, The first Thor contains the scene that truly set the stage for Hiddleston and Loki's post-Avengers breakout. After discovering he's actually descended from the Frost Giants, Loki confronts his (adopted) father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), about the deception in a harrowing and transformative scene. "That's the creation, in a way, of Loki's status as a villain, is this intense feeling of marginalization and isolation, [and] that he does not belong, that Thor is not his brother," says Hiddleston. "I'll never forget doing that scene because I had such respect, and still do, for Sir Anthony Hopkins, and suddenly I was having to play tennis with him in a very emotional place."

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige adds: "There's just so much pain and angst in it. I think that is the moment that Tom really got his hooks into the audience."

The Avengers (2012)

Loki has many memorable moments in The Avengers, but Hulk interrupting the "puny" god's egomaniacal speech and pounding him to the ground is the funniest. "I had a piece of wire tied to my ankle and there was a mat on the floor, which was out of shot, and three of the strongest stunt guys holding the wire at the end behind the camera. The experience being yanked out of frame was one I will not forget in a hurry," says Hiddleston, explaining he was the only one in front of the camera when they shot it because Mark Ruffalo didn't perform the role via motion-capture in that first Avengers film. "For about two years after that, I couldn't go through airports anywhere in the world without somebody kind of going, 'Hey, Mr. Loki, I love it when you get Hulk smashed.' It became a bit of a thing in a fun way,"

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Loki loves to use his powers to guard himself both physically and emotionally, as seen in Thor: The Dark World when Thor visits his imprisoned brother after the Dark Elves murdered their mother. At first, Loki is smug as always and everything seems in order, but Thor calls him out and the illusion dissipates, revealing that Loki is broken and grieving. "There's this love of their mother that unites these two brothers, adopted or not, and they form a kind of unpredictable and unstable alliance," says Hiddleston. "That scene was really key to anchoring that film in something honest and emotional."

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Loki learns nothing hurts like apathy when his brother reveals he's completely given up on him in this pivotal elevator scene from Taika Waititi's eccentric and warm threequel. "I think it really affects Loki. He thinks, 'Oh maybe I got this wrong. Maybe I did have a place in that family. Maybe this guy is my brother.' But it was a really enjoyable scene because it was just a very quiet moment with Chris in a very calm space in a big, colorful, spectacular film" says Hiddleston.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

After evading death many times, Loki finally met his end when Thanos (Josh Brolin) crushed his windpipe — but not before delivering a powerful speech in which he accepted all parts of himself, the Frost Giant and the Asgardian. "The redemption of Loki as a character was achieved in that moment of sacrifice and catharsis — that after all this time, after all this journey of feeling marginalized and fueled by jealous rage, he would risk his life to save his brother and call himself an Odinson. And I saw this perfect closure in a way," says Hiddleston. "I remember Josh Brolin could not have been sweeter. He was so generous. I walked into the room and he turned around and saw me come in, and just broke into this big wide smile, and opened up his arms, and enveloped me in a big hug and said, 'I'm sorry, man.'"

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

But Infinity War wasn't the end for Loki. Hiddleston appeared as the Avengers-era version of his character for Endgame's time heist. "It was really enjoyable to go back to this version of this character that I played before all of the evolution with those actors who I got to know so well and we'd all been on this journey together," he says. Of course, that Loki ends up stealing the Tesseract and disappearing, setting the stage for the Disney+ series. "Where does he go? When does he go? How does he get there?"

Loki (2021)

"If you've seen the trailer for Loki the show, you will know that Loki finds himself face-to-face with the TVA, the Time Variance Authority, who are an organization within Marvel Comics that govern the order of time," Hiddleston says. "I suppose Loki picking up the Tesseract in Endgame might have caused some concern. It is very exciting. The world of the TVA is a world of bureaucratic order, and of course Loki is the God of Mischief and Chaos. So you have the forces of order and chaos coming together, and that's where our story starts."

Bonus moment: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

At one point in the Thor sequel, Loki shape-shifts into Captain America, with Chris Evans making a cameo, while he and his brother escape Asgard. However, there's a version of that scene in which Hiddleston actually puts on the star-spangled hero's costumes himself. "[That] was a very strange and surreal moment, nevertheless enjoyable. So I got to feel whatever the feeling of wearing that suit [is], which is definitely a moment," Hiddleston recalls. "Then, they played that footage to Chris, and he did his best impression of me doing an impression him, and he does it brilliantly." High-praise from the God of impressions.

[lowkeyorloki]

lbd

After a fight with Loki, you wear the smallest dress you can to an Avengers press event...

(smut smut smut)

~

The party was awful.

Stark’s press events often were. It was interesting, how the media had changed over the past eight years. In 2012, you and the rest of the Avengers would only be seen on news stations. Now, it wasn’t out of the ordinary to for your names to be in tabloids next to celebrities like Taylor Swift or Noah Centineo. The team wasn’t just heroes anymore, you were public figures as well.

Hence the formal attire, the flashing cameras, the expensive wine. These events only happened about once a year- they were manageable. Just a pain. Besides, you always had Loki to endure them with.

Except, not tonight. And so, the party was awful, not just boring.

The argument you had with Loki last night carried over into today, and when you were asking him about the event, he gave you no answer. Never in a million years did you think he would ignore during this. The press, the world, had never really forgiven him for New York. He was hated by the general public. It didn’t help it was a well-known fact he was with you: you, the youngest Avenger. You, who had been America’s golden girl until Loki corrupted you.

That was what everyone liked to say. Really, you just got older. And cynical. You couldn’t fight the worst of the worst throughout the universe and remain idealistic. 

You and Loki had to stick together for public appearances. The reporters tore you to shreds if you didn’t. And besides that... You didn’t like not being around the god. It was so much better to face things with him. You were together. Even when things were tense, the two of you could always lean on each other. That was the nature of your relationship.

And yet, here you were, halfway through your third glass of champagne, giving Steve a half-hearted smile as he spoke. Every so often, your eyes scanned the large hall, eventually falling on Loki. He avoided your gaze each time.

You wanted to be angry, or bitter. That’s what you felt earlier today when he wouldn’t speak to you. Loki wordlessly dressed in his suit, looked you up and down in your floor length dress, and left your shared room. In a fit of rage, you had dug through your closet for something that would anger him. No, not anger. That wasn’t the right word.

Entice him. Make him protective. Despite your life with him, you were still seen as the innocent Avenger. The normal girl who stumbled into justice. You never wore short or form fitting clothes anywhere there would be cameras. You were modest. That was the role you were pidgeonholed into. Social media, combined with constant interest and exposure, ensured that. In 2020, half of being an Avenger was perception. Every team member was an archetype. Every team member adhered to that. Outwardly, at least.

So when nothing in your closet would accomplish what you wanted, you raided Natasha’s. She helped you pick out something no one would expect you to wear: A silky black body con dress. When you tried it on, it barely came halfway down your thighs. There was little left to the imagination, considering its length and low neckline. 

You paired it with heels, and painted your nails Loki’s shade of green. Natasha gathered your hair into a messy bun, leaving your neck exposed. Even Wanda joined in, brushing sparkles over your collarbone. You looked unlike you ever had before.

Honestly, you looked like Natasha did on a daily basis. That brought you some amount of comfort, knowing you wouldn’t be sticking out. But it went without saying you didn’t look like yourself, and no one had ever seen you like this. The press would have a field day.

But it wasn’t them you cared about. The only person you were thinking about was Loki.

And he didn’t even do a double take. When you first walked into the room, his eyes rested on you just a second. Then he turned away.

So you didn’t find yourself angry like you were just a few hours before this. When Loki ignored you, you only felt... Sad. Empty, almost. You had been upset with each other for less than a full day, but you missed him. If there was no animosity between you two, Loki’s hand would be on the small of your back right now, and he would be whispering into your ear. Sharing jokes about everyone at the party, wrapped up in each other.

You fought so little. It was something you weren’t used to. 

“Hey.” Steve sticks an elbow into your ribs, pulling you from your thoughts. Next to him, Bucky wears a worried expression. “You okay?”

You sigh. Tipping your head back, you drain the rest of your drink and then nod.

“I’m fine, Steve.” he looks uncertain. “I mean it. I can last one night without him. Just because I’m in a relationship doesn’t mean I’m any less independent.”

“I believe that.” Steve agrees.

“You only believe her because that’s how you are.” Bucky grins at Steve, leaning over to steal a quick kiss from Captain America. Steve smiles, just barely, and holds Bucky’s hand in his own after the dark-haired man pulls back. Your eyes flicker away, but a genuine smile grows on your lips. You love to see your friends happy. They deserve it, your whole team does. 

It’s moments like these, when Steve is focused on Bucky and you on Loki, you remember you and Steve used to date. It seems like a completely different time, but it wasn’t even ten years ago.

You were with Steve when Loki attacked New York.

“I’m going for a refill.” you state. Both men look uncertain. You pay it no mind. “Do either of you want anything?” 

They shake their heads in response, so you make your way over to the bar. There’s no one there, not even the bartender, which bothers you at first. Then you realize it’s exactly what you need. Just a few minutes alone to clear your head. The bar is in same room as everyone else, so classical music and conversation are all around you. Still, you manage to find solace.

It’s quickly interrupted. 

“Hello, darling.”

Loki.

His breath tickles the back of your neck as he speaks. As soon as you’re aware of his presence, his smell envelops you. You shiver, noticing how close he must be to you.

You don’t turn around.

“Hi Loki.” you greet him back, eyes forward. You voice almost shakes, and you exhale, willing yourself to keep cool. Loki was always so calm and collected, something he used as a weapon. Clearly, even against you.

Loki hums, and his fingers softly begin to dance over your bare shoulder. 

“You look different,” he states. “With those shoes, you almost reach my height. But darling, you have never looked so small.” Loki’s voice drops on that last word, and a wave of heat flashes through your body. You set your glass down on the counter next to you, worried whatever Loki does next will cause you to drop it.

“Funny.” you say. “I don’t feel small.” You know Loki, know what the word small is code for. “Or weak.”

Loki tuts, and his large hands slide from your shoulders to your hips. Your dress is so short that his pinkies lay on your bare skin.

“No, I suppose you don’t.” Loki leans in, his lips brushing the shell of your ear as he talks. You can’t help it, you tremble, your surroundings beginning to fade away as you focus on the god. “I bet you felt quite powerful, teasing me in this dress. Talking to Steve Rogers.” Suddenly, Loki pulls you into him, and you gasp. His length presses completely against your ass, and you are barely able to bite back a moan.

This is harder than you’ve ever felt him. Your breathing becomes hitched, but Loki’s strong grip keeps you glued to him. His fingers dig into your hips, and you’re sure there will be bruises tomorrow.

“Did you think,” Loki rolls his hips against you, causing a mewl to escape your lips. “...that I would forget your past with Rogers? That it had just, slipped my mind that he is the only man you have ever laid with besides myself?” Loki’s lips connect with the crook of your neck, pressing wet kisses there that are anything but gentle. “Or was that the point? To make me jealous?” Loki’s next words shake you the most. “Can you even count the amount of times I have been inside you?”

Just like that, his hands relax, and you begin to catch your breath.

“Smile.” Loki points, and you notice the groups of reporters making their way to you, cameras flashing. Loki pivots, turning both of you so you face the them. He drops one hand to his side, but the other snakes around your waist. It won’t be obvious in the photos, but his fingers are dangerously close to your heat, filling you to the brim with want.

Just as you manage to get yourself under control, the cameras begin flashing. You force a smile, and when you look at Loki, he’s staring straight ahead, expressionless.

You hated getting photos taken, knowing the headlines they would be paired with. But Loki hates it even more. You were always the victim in the media’s eyes, but Loki had never outgrown the villain. He worked so hard to be good, so hard to change. And for what? No one believed him, save for you and his brother.

Your heart grows heavy, and despite the fight, despite the teasing that left you melting in his arms, you want Loki to know you appreciate him. 

You tug on the front of his suit jacket, capturing his attention. Loki looks down at you, confusion in his eyes. You reach forward, placing your hand on the back of his neck and tugging him down so his lips met yours.

It was filthy, the way he kissed you in front of the press. Loki once again pulled you to him, your chests pressed together. He laid his hand on your back, and thank god he did, because it kept you grounded. Your teeth clacked together more than once, and Loki gave you no opportunity to gather yourself before he sucked on your bottom lip. Your were eyes closed, but you still heard as the reporters went wild, cameras snapping as they each tried to get the juiciest shot.

Loki was the one who ended the kiss, tugging away from you. He took your hand in his, waving with the other. In the crowd, you could see Steve standing in shock, arm around Bucky’s waist. Stark was next to them, looking furious.

Loki makes eye contact with you before he briskly walks away, tugging you with him. You have no time to ask where it is he’s taking you before you somehow slip into the kitchen unnoticed.

The kitchen staff stops, and you realize what this must look like to them. Loki, with a hungry look in his eyes, and you, swollen lips and practically half-naked. Jesus, was this where you thought the night was going?

“Get out.” Loki addresses the staff. They share glances, unsure of whether to listen. Loki sighs. “We are two hours into a four hour party. No one ever comes for food, they just want to drink. You are no longer needed. Now, get,” Loki’s irises flash green. “...out.”

They listen then, rushing out of the doors and through the backroom that will lead them from the building. The locks on each door click shut, surely a result of Loki’s magic. 

“You.” you squirm under the god’s harsh gaze. “Are a very. Stupid. Girl.” with each step Loki takes forward, you take one backwards, until your back is against the tiled wall. Your heart begins beating fast. You look to Loki’s pants, taking in the tent. Your heart rate accelerates even more.

He places his hands on the wall, one on either side of your face, trapping you with him. Wordlessly, Loki begins sucking on your collarbone, his lips moving down your breasts until they hit the neckline on your dress. Your eyes roll back, and you grip Loki’s hair tight. He rams his knee in between your thighs, and you cry out. 

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he rolls his hips, and now that you’re alone, you can feel and experience it to the fullest expense. Your mouth falls open as Loki presses his clothed length against your clothed sex, moaning and letting out a string of curses. “Look at me, darling.” You listen, obeying Loki as he removes his knee. 

Loki makes full eye contact as he takes your left breast in his hands, kneading and massaging you as he gauges your reactions. You begin panting, and soon enough, Loki grabs the front of your dress with both hands and rips it, exposing your bare breasts.

You hiss at the sudden cold, but it doesn’t last long as Loki sucks on your nipple, running his calloused thumb other the other. Loki swirls his tongue, and you whimper, arching your back. As the sensation builds inside you, Loki takes a steps back, drinking in the sight of you.

“The media won’t soon forget this. Until now, the worst they had caught us doing was holding hands.” he growls. His lips are redder than usual, and his hair was messy because of your fingers in it. “I can imagine the scolding from Stark.”

“Who cares about Stark? You just ruined Natasha’s dress.” you say, your voice strained. His absence is noticeable, and your body aches for Loki’s touch. He raises an eyebrow.

“Sweet girl, whose fault is that? None of this would ever have happened if you simply dressed appropriately.” the hair on your arms stands up. Loki hums. “I think you should make it up to me. You got us into this mess, did you not?” Loki smirks.

The feeling in your stomach builds up again, lust taking over you. You take off you heels, and sink to your knees. Loki’s pupils dilate as you move closer to him.

You unbuckle his belt, sliding it off and discarding it on the floor next to you. Slowly, you unbutton Loki’s dress pants, your fingers catching on the tip of his underwear as you do.

You want to draw this out, to tease Loki as he teased you. But when you see his hard length, and the damp spot on the cloth holding it, you can’t bring yourself to. Loki is a god, much stronger and faster than you. When you turn to dust, Loki will be as young and full of life as he is now.

But his needs are the same as any other man’s. You’re determined to fulfill them.

You brush your mouth over him, causing Loki’s eyes to close momentarily. When they do, you waste no time exposing him. Loki fingers run through your hair immediately, grasping tightly. You can hear his breathing become just a bit irregular. 

You keep your eyes on Loki’s as you lick him, from shaft to head. You lap at the precum there, then slowly take him into your mouth.

Loki lets out a sigh, his lips parting, and you rub circles onto his hipbones with your thumbs. You bring your arms against your chest, pushing your bare breasts up to make them appear bigger. You want to give Loki the best view possible.

It must have worked, because Loki’s hips buck forward. The tip of his cock hits the back of your throat, and you almost gag. Instead, you moan around him. setting a slow pace. Every so often, you flick your tongue across his head, and Loki tugs on your hair when you do.

Loki quivers, and he’s thrown his head back now. His eyes are squeezed shut, his mouth open, and he looks so pleased. Pride washes over you at the thought of you making him feel this way.

You bring your hand up, taking the parts of Loki that your mouth just can’t reach. With the added freedom, you circle his tip, switching up the pressure and surrounding him with your warmth. Carefully, you cup his balls, making sure every part of him is paid attention to.

Loki groaned as you fucked him with your mouth, cheeks hallowed. He begins panting, holding your head even tighter. His shirt has ridden up over his navel, and the sight nearly drives you crazy.

“I’m going to-” you don’t let him finish, picking up the pace until Loki jerks forward, spilling his seed with a curse.

There’s so much, some dribbles out the corners of your mouth before you can swallow it all. Your chests warms at the idea of part of Loki being inside you. You’ve barely leaned back to catch your breath before he’s pulled you up and into a kiss, groaning as he tastes himself on you. Your body becomes slack, relying entirely on Loki’s for support. 

“You’re insatiable.” he says into your mouth. He picks you up, and you wrap your legs around his waist. Loki carries you to a nearby counter and sets you atop it.

Your dress is hiked up to your hips now, leaving you covered in just a g-string. As Loki begins to take it off, you stop him.

“Wait.” you say. He stops, giving you a surprisingly soft look. “I just...” you splay your hands across Loki’s strong chest. “I want to see you too.” your voice is quiet. 

Loki places his hands over yours as you unbutton his shirt. You slide it down his shoulders, then trace his collarbones and curve of his abs. Under the fluorescent lights of the kitchen, Loki looks even more pale than usual, the sharp contours of his body illuminated and exposed.

You never grow bored of the sight of him.

Now fittingly bare, Loki’s fingers travel up your thigh and stop at your sex. Similar to you, his gives you a few strokes over your thong before he rids you of it in one fluid motion. He angles himself to you, his tip teasing your entrance as he smirks at your noises. 

He enters you all at once. You bite down on his shoulder, nails raking down his back. You hold tight to Loki as he sinks into you, moving in a slow and almost tantalizing way. There’s sweat on both of your bodies, and despite your exposed state, you feel yourself heat up. 

Loki’s rhythm increases as you adjust to him. His hips move back and forth, and your bodies move in tandem, made for each other. You coo into Loki’s ears, moaning about how good he felt. How breathless he made you, how only he knew how to make you feel this way. No one knew your body like Loki.

The coil inside you finally snaps as Loki hits a pleasure spot deep inside you, and you let out a cry into his shoulder. Loki cums not long after, his body going tense as he rides out the wave of pleasure.

He holds you, rubbing your back as the aftershock rocks through your body. You shake, exhausted and satisfied as you close your eyes for a moment of rest. 

Eventually, Loki sets you back down on the floor. He tugs your dress down over your legs, and tucks stray pieces of hair behind your ears. You watch him wordlessly, allowing him to take of you.

After Loki is dressed himself, he gives you the jacket of his suit to wear.

“Oh.” you look down, remembering he ripped your dress. You slip the jacket on, buttoning it to protect the little modesty you have left.

He takes your hand, leading you to the door and back into the party. Before he does, you stop.

“I’m sorry about our fight.” you say. Loki lets out a chuckle, making you feel silly.

“Oh, sweet girl. After a tryst like this, I can assure you all is forgiven.”

[danddymaro]

No Regrets | Loki x Reader

Set during Endgame // After time travel

Takes place in NY 2012 After Loki’s capture.

Includes flashbacks

fluff within angst 

A/N:  I’d been having this idea in mind for a fat minute, and NEED to share it.

Flashbacks are in italics : Example

Thoughts are italics  in quotes : ‘Example’

Word Count :  3683

No Regrets

"In and out," (f/n) thought to herself, walking along the corridor, the plan in mind being to retrieve the tesseract and return home.

'Rogers said he's got a plan for the scepter, so it's up to us to somehow get the other piece while it's still on earth... which, of course, is planted right in between a crowd of highly skilled, superpowered people,' She thought flatly, her eyes falling onto the walking Avengers.

'Well, at least, at this point in time, no one knows who I am,' She thought with confidence, certain it was to her advantage, ' so I should be able to maneuver easier than anyone else,' she added, flattening down her suit, hoping she blended in with the rest of Stark's employees.

' Here we go,' She then added, ready to make her way closer, but there was just one thing that stopped her. 

As she caught sight of him, she couldn't help but take a pause, and before she could help it, the single glance that was sent his way turned into a true, dedicated stare that lasted longer than it should have.

He then turned to her, letting his blue-hued eyes land on hers, and at that, she couldn't help but let a few tears slip.

' The sight of you this way, it's unbearable.' She thought with lament, hurt while having to see him restrained. His mouth was sealed, the lower portion of his face muzzled like an unruly, vicious creature, and the very sight hit her hard.

' And that lifeless color aqua that has taken over the sweet green gaze... if I'm not mistaken, that must be a sign of his control,' she concluded, knowing it was all connected.

'I wonder...has anyone bothered to see? Has anyone realized? ' She wondered, 

' Thor, have you bothered to look into your brother's eyes?' She thought with disapproval, though, knowing that either way, the blame would land upon the younger's.

'Damned if you do. Damned if you don't, right?' She thought with a shake to her head, already aware of how many of his experiences ended.

'At least...With that scepter far from you, those dark thoughts that monster implanted in you have slowly washed away.' She added with approval.

 '-Now,  In and out. The scepter and the tesseract both, all in one swoop.'  She thought to herself, reminding herself of the true objective, having to will herself from staring at him any longer.

   Loki tilted his head to the side, quietly watching as the woman turned from him, (e/c) colored eyes shying from him as she hid her face in a way that seemed shamed, as though there was a secret she harbored, and it truly piqued interest in him. 

A loud commotion then erupted and through the strange chaos, he took his moment of leave, escaping with the tesseract in hand, a mystical, soft blue cloud swallowing him, dispersing once he was out of sight.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

'That was a complete disaster,' She mused with a little scoff, having watched the entire scene unfold, momentarily shaking her head at the replay in her mind.

 "And of course, you took advantage," She hummed, unable to hold any grudge against the man as he did what came naturally to him,

"- it's just like you," She breathed with adoration.

  ' Get far away from here,' She inwardly pleaded, 

'Find somewhere that’s out of his grasp. ' She begged while slowly walking away, choosing to find an emptier area where no one could witness her departure.

She planned to leave without a witness, but as  she moved, she didn't notice the quiet steps that shadowed hers, not having anticipated it in the least bit.

"- As I left, I couldn't help but have one nagging thought in mind," She heard a familiar voice speak, and it made her last step come to a stumbled stop. 

'- Leave,' Her better senses instructed, 'Don’t stop,' She told herself.

'You can do it now...Right in this instant, and he won't ever know.' she reasoned.

'You don't know me.

I don't know the you, you are now. ‘ She silently told him.

‘ We're nothing but strangers, so, there's nothing to say.'  She tried to convince herself.

'But.' she then added, ' Would it be so bad if I just turn to you one last time?

Would it change anything?

If I could just see you one last time... right here...so near...' she trailed off before biting her lower lip in contemplation.

'Just one last time,' she declared, her fingers slipping beneath her blazer's sleeve, finding the button she needed to activate the suit, and immediately escape.

'One last glance, and then...we won't ever see each other again,' She thought with a soft sniffle, willing to indulge herself one final time.

Slowly, she turned to him, entertaining her heart with the request before she went back.

She promised herself that she’d leave right then and there, but she hesitated.

As her eyes landed on his full figure, she stopped, once again staring with the same melancholic (e/c) colored eyes that held everything from sadness and grief to adoration and tender devotion.

He was as beautiful as always, a sight her eyes would draw to, and now refused to tear from. 

'...I'm a horrible person.' She said to herself, 'Because I didn't come for the tesseract. 

 I didn't come for everyone else, 

I came for me.

- Just to see you.'  She admitted with shame.

Taking advantage of her current state, he moved quicker than she could react, reaching out to her with his right hand,  "it'll take just a moment," He told her, not wanting to waste time in idle talk, having his own method of finding her truths. 

“I just have to know what you’re hiding,” he let her know, the unrelenting  curiosity he had coming from a place he couldn’t name.

To his surprise, he watched as nearly every thought she held dear had him as the center. 

Furthermore, throughout it all, he saw himself under elegant lighting, one that was filtered through a gaze that always found him fascinating.

"My king..." She said while reached up to him, her hand sweetly grazing his cheek, both the touch and address rousing a little chuckle from him,

"King?" He breathed. "You've never called me that before," He added, soon leaning down to her, a dazzling smile on display. "...could it be that you’re teasing me?" he mused, touching her so sweetly it was as though she were made of glass. 

she lightly shook her head in denial before she spoke, "- It's because until now, I've never felt so sure," she started, briefly closing her eyes, relishing in the warmth of his palm, 

'Of this feeling...

Of you...'  she thought as she marveled at his perfect image.

 "- Of how precious you are to me," She then added while ascending, looking up at him with eyes that were so close to tearing she had to blink away the light glistening sheet that lay over her (e/c) colored eyes.

"You mean everything to me," She revealed to him, and as she said that, he held in a breath, his eyes fluttering close as she came even closer. 

A little peck then landed on the tip of his nose, soon bringing him out of his spellbound state, and realizing she'd purposely missed, he pouted, 

"-This, here is teasing," She giggled, not missing an opportunity to play with him, soon taking a little step back before she ran from him. 

'Chase me...

catch me...

Kiss me...

Play with me...

Show me a love that I've never had before,' She thought with happiness she never wanted to end.

'This is like a fairytale,' She then added, running through the lovely, blossom riddled field he'd brought her to, 'And everywhere feels like home when I'm with you,' She proceeded, not knowing anything of his realm, but feeling so safe and joyous that she felt like she belonged.

'I love you.' she thought as she tackled her down. 'I love you.' She continued to think as she laughed, the kisses that trailed down her neck tickling her so much she couldn't help but let the squeals escape as she tried to resist him, squirming. 

'I love you.

I love this.

I love us.

I don't ever want this to end.' 

He looked right at the woman as her tears spilled, his eyes wide as he witnessed the sorrow that came forth from reliving through such a lovely memory. 

"Please don't..." She begged him, because the only way to view the memories was to make her relive through every moment.

- But determined, he continued to dig through, wanting to know why she had memories he never recalled, and much more, why they haunted her so much.

He stood before her, the bloodied colored orbs that peered down at her holding a shine to them that seemed vulnerable and sweet, all in spite of the wicked color.

She bit her lip, not knowing where to start, or even how to touch him.

"Ah," He said softly, I see you find it unsightly," he huffed.

"No. You’re beautiful," She breathed, her hands both shaking as she went to touch him, "I just...you just look so beautiful," She admitted, nervously speaking. 

"Am I even allowed to..?" She asked him, her palms still hovering above his chest, the sweet warmth that radiated from the flesh forcing a shuttered breath from him as he was anxious to feel her.

"Darling," he said while taking hold of her two wrists, the grasp he held her with being so kind and sweet, she felt delicate and treasured.

 "I am yours, whether it be this form or the other, you should never hesitate to touch me," He told her, and at that, she brought her palms to his naked torso, the ridges of his skin that lay over his indigo flesh feeling strange, yet welcoming. 

Lightly trailing the lines, she swallowed hard, "Don't change back...for now... stay this way," She pleaded him. "Let me love you this way," She said while trailing her hands up to his face, the kisses that followed being so loving and tender that he lost himself in them, and only a low hum was his response back to her.

'The question is....how does it all end?' He asked himself, knowing it was painful.

 'If we were a walking pair, then where is your other half?' he wondered.

"Do you ever regret giving yourself to me?" He asked her, his eyes looking out into the vast space, "like now...do you begin to wonder what your life would have been if we would have simply walked past each other?" He continued.

"Of all the realms. 

Of all the various worlds that exist, (f/n), don't you ever wish you would have fallen for someone else? " He asked her, not having it in him to look at her as he asked the question, because there existed a part of him that regretted it all, knowing that she would have lived through fewer struggles. 

Asgard was destroyed, the place he promised would be thier home was gone, and only then did he really take into account the various compromises she'd made. 

" I took you from your home. I promised you a better life. 

I swore to you that we'd one day live a peaceful life." He went on. "But instead, you've gone from hiding to fleeting. You've shadowed my every move, and not once have I bothered to ask you if you're fine with it.

- Not once have I bothered to tell if the one person I  say I love most is truly happy," He said while reflecting upon every moment that followed after he took her from Midgard.

"And now, watching the remains of my home be destroyed, I begin to wonder if...

If once this is all over, you'd want to go back home, pick up from where you left off...

Find yourself -"

Shaking her head, she took hold of his hand, her head leaning to his arm, not waiting for him to finish the line,

'You can't be serious,' she thought while releasing a tired, little sigh that turned light right towards the end.

Together, they looked out into the darkness that held various stars and planets, things she could have never imagined viewing from such a range.

"- No one else has brought me this close to the stars," She said with a little smile, one that became contagious, and after he huffed out a little chuckle, he hung his head, the man seeming defeated. 

And for just a moment, they lived through silence, one that was broken as he uttered her name,

"(f/n)," he said then lowly, soon holding a serious tone that was proceeded by a long breath, "I'm serious..." He told her. 

"Me too," She answered back, her grasp going tighter, "I'm serious: I don't regret it. Not a thing. " She said with confidence. 

She then tugged his hand, turning to face him, and as he did the same she shook her head, despising the sullen look he wore.

"I'm not helpless," She started. " I could have gone back at any point," She told him as her other hand moved to lift his chin, her index curved into a little hook as she untucked the point from his chest, 

"If I wanted to, I would have fought you the entire way," She assured him, having to remind him that she wasn't as sweet as she looked. 

"I would have found a way to escape you, But instead, I followed my king wherever he went.

Instead, I chose to follow you into every little mess you created, because it's all worth it if I can stay with you." She admitted. 

"You're here, " she said while tapping her chest, knocking over her heart's home, "I feel you here," she chimed.

"Before you, I'd lived such a small and meaningless life," she told him. "I felt like I was nothing." She admitted. " Every day was like the one before, and every one that would come up next would hold the same ordinary routine." She then went on, " And I felt like I was missing something, but I just didn't know what," she said while looking into the special piece that made her life worth it all.

'You're worth it all, ' She added, sure that he was worth leaving everything behind. 

"Loki, I haven't lived as long as you, and I know that I won't get to reach an age that passes yours," She said with little amusement, "But ... that just means I'll get to live the rest of my life with you," She said while smiling, 

"And that's all I want," she told him. "That's all I'll need. Just you."

 At the mention, he seemed to deflate, because after all, she was only human, 

- just human. 

Despite her powers, when it came down to it, she was just a mortal, and he despised the reality of it.

. 

"- I hope I go before you do," He said to her, and at that, she felt her heart clench, "Don't you dare," She sniffled, the mere mention bringing forth tears, 

"Don't you ever leave me behind," she said in a small, broken voice. "Just take me with you," she then said, hiccupping, trying to laugh through the bitterness. 

'I know this is all talk...but for some reason, it rattles me,' She thought to herself, 

'just...whatever you do...don't leave me behind.

I'll go where you go.

Up to space, high above the rest of the worlds, or deep, down... way below everything else that exists...into the endless darkness.' 

"If you love me...if you really love me...you won't leave me behind," She told him. 

Rather than say more, he pulled her to him, kissing her wholeheartedly, not knowing what else he could say, because he could never bring himself to do such a thing. 

'If I can help it, I will make sure your unscathed. 

if it's possible, I'll just send you back home, use my last bit of strength to hide you, tuck you away, where you will never find the same end.' He thought to himself.

"Don't tell me..." Loki said with a low murmur, glaring down at her with darkness that shadowed over the pain he felt, realizing he was soon coming to the end of their tale,

"- I guess...I just don't love you enough," Loki said before he kissed her, smothering her with one last kiss before he shoved her out into the dark space, and as did so, she was enveloped by a bright light, the same one she'd gone through when she traveled with him to Asgard, 

" NO! NO! NO!" She cried out to him, trying to reach out to him, straining her arm to take hold of him as she was pulled away. Soon after, she desperately clawed at the air, trying to find a way back, even while knowing that she had no control over it.

"Loki! Don't do this to me!" She cried out, her voice raw with the strength behind each howl. 

"Please..." she choked out, feeling  her heartstrings slowly being pulled apart, forcibly snapped.

 And as he watched her go, he felt relief, knowing that she was far from the wreckage, sent back home, joining the rest of the Asgardians that had fleeted. 

'Thank you Heimdall,' He thought in silence, having to hold back the grave face that threatened to take over as he watched him take his last breath. 

' (f/n), If somehow...I make it back to you, then I hope you forgive me so I can bring to you the new start you deserve. 

But If I may perish today, 

Despise me my darling, do so, and let the love we had be forgotten. Let my memory be of a man so selfish, that he could not grant you what you most desired. 

Dedication. 

Promise.

Love.

I really am wicked, aren’t I?' He thought to himself, having heard her cries, but doing nothing to calm them.

After that, there was only a muted silence, a heavy weight that anchored him as he saw the world through her eyes,

'So, why are you here?' He asked himself again, watching the moment that brought them to where they were now. 

He witnessed their plan and throughout it all, he felt her true intentions, understanding it all.

She then shoved him away, finally breaking from his spell, but by then, she'd let him know everything he wanted. 

"-Mission a failure," She heard tony grumble through the communicator, and she nodded, already knowing why, seeing as the object they'd come for was now in possession of the dark-haired prince.

'it's not in me to fight you.' She told herself. 'it's not in me to hurt you...

But it's in me to let you go, hoping you find happiness that doesn't end in tragedy.

And if that means far from me...Then I’ll take it. '

 "Yeah," She responded before taking a long breath, realizing that now, she had no choice but to go back, but before she did, she had something in her chest that had to be let loose, 

"I still don't regret any of it," She told him, truly meaning it. 

'I meant every word,' She silently swore while mustering a bittersweet smile.

Her heart ached terribly, and she was so close to collapsing in misery, yet, all the same, she regretted not a minute of those sweet memories. 

'Suffering this much...it just means the happiness I had was true.'

"It hurts," She admitted, "But I'd do it all over again," She told him, " I'd go through an endless loop. 

I'd do it again... with you," She told him. 

Slowly approaching her again, he then stood before her, 'Throughout it all... I came to a point where I could hardly recognize myself,' he mused, being quick to cradle her cheek, the touch melting her in a way that made him pull up a smile that held fondness, as though he'd known her all his life.

'I saw a man that was certain. I saw one who felt fulfillment everywhere he went, only because you were at his side.

...Ah, So this is what I become,' He mused, '...This is what we come to be, together,' He then added. 

"- Me too," He told her. 

'During your time, I lived a joy unimaginable, 

You brought me to such bliss...that everything I've felt I'd wanted before now feels insignificant.' 

"- Everything will change," She informed him, knowing that now the mess they created in the past would bring forth a new reality,

'You'll have another life, and you'll choose another path that takes you far from me...and then we'll -'

"We'll remain a constant," he promised her, disrupting her train of thought.

 The oath made her smile,  a choked sound traveling from the back of her throat that morphed into a sweet chuckle.

'You'd do that?' She wondered. 'you have another chance, another choice, but you'd still go back to me?'

During then his arms were quick to wrap around her, holding her so tightly she couldn't budge.

“Thank you,” He breathed, holding every moment dear.

the familiar feeling of his arms around her brought her a peace she thought she could never live through again, and the serenity only doubled as his lips brushed hers, soon melting into a true kiss. 

'through this life and the next. 

In this timeline and mine... and just about every other...'

"Loki...I love you. I always will," She swore as she parted from him.

"I know, “ He mused, not needing to be told, because he’d seen it all. He’d been witness to it all.

“ And wherever you are now, I'll find you." He assured her, gracing her with a sincere smile, one that lasted until she left, going back to her own time. 

Afterward, he did the same, leaving, searching for his missing half. 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

I had so many routes I wanted to take!!!

Part of me wanted to bring him back with the reader to her time. 

However, another part of me  wanted  to let her stay with him instead, but then I thought about the poor gal stuck in thier time who would never get to live the loveliness of having this man.

 After all the thought,  we ended up with this- With them going thier separate paths.

Most of it had to do with past (f/n), and the fact that all in all, Avengers Loki isn’t  Ragnarok / endgame Loki. 

I love him so much, but Ragnarok / endgame Loki has come to a point where he has my everything, he’s so elegant and beautiful. 

And he’s come through such a long path...And developed so much.

- Don’t get me started. He’s not the same person...

I don’t know how to explain it.

Maybe it’s the long floofy hair, lol.

[just-fandomthings]

The TVA, Time, and Sleep

So Director Kate Herron said in a podcast interview that “they [TVA employees] don’t really get breaks. As people will spot on the posters, they get 17-minute lunch breaks [at the TVA], and there’s not really a day or night, so they don’t really ever stop working.” 

They don’t really ever stop working. 

There are a lot of alarming things about that- along with the fact that the employees only get a 17 minute break for what is otherwise a 23 hr and 43 min work day??! That’s outlandish and cruel and an awful working environment for these employees. And there’s honestly a lot I could say here about the time (or lack thereof maybe - “time passes differently in the TVA”) - and what that means for the TVA employees, but frankly that would be a conversation for another post as most of it would be speculation on the ‘creation of the TVA and all its employees’ and what that + the passing of time within the TVA means.

So let’s move on to Loki, who fell asleep slumped over his paperwork. 

Think about the timeline for this Loki: At the end of Thor (2011), he let go of the staff and was lost to space, set adrift for some period of time. From there, he was captured by The Other, who very likely tortured him. Context clues in Avengers (2012) certainly seems to support this (Loki trembling after his conversations with The Other, the dark bruises and shadows under his eyes and on his face, just to name a few). If we’re working off the assumption he was tortured, which really is all but confirmed at this point as far as I know, then I think it’s fair to assume Loki didn’t really sleep throughout his capture. 

And can you blame him? Considering he had been captured and tortured, it’s safe to say Loki’s guard was up tenfold- he was very likely trying to stay awake for as long as possible so as to remain aware of his surroundings at a prayer’s chance to protect himself. Which means he probably didn’t really sleep, so much as collapse from exhaustion/during one of his torture sessions. 

And from there, we see Loki get controlled, go to Earth, and go from one fight to another, ending with the Hulk beating him up BADLY. He definitely experiences some critical injuries, likely loses consciousness for a bit as well. He then loses the war, goes into custody, and then escapes with the Tesseract- only to then fall out of the sky during said escape. He gets what, a minute and a half to recover from that fall before he’s captured by the TVA minutemen?

And considering that the TVA only affords 17 minute breaks and experiences no day or night, their employees don’t sleep; there’s probably not even a sleeping chamber set up anywhere. So there we have Loki, who’s coming off capture, torture, fighting an all out battle against the Avengers... He very likely hasn’t slept or truly rested in months. 

Yet Loki sleeps. He puts his head down, cushioned on his arms, and he sleeps. Loki, who’s tired in every way possible, puts his head down and falls asleep right in front of Mobius, trusting Mobius in that moment not only to have his back, but to not hurt him as well. While Mobius, who knows every moment of Loki’s life, recognizes that Loki is exhausted and needs to sleep. So Loki sleeps, and Mobius lets him. 

[oh1captain9my4captain2]

Chasing Time

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Warnings: Major Endgame spoilers

Words: 2,100 (I am so SO sorry! I went a little overboard with this chapter😬)

With time constantly ticking by, the reader decides it’s finally time to start a family. With or without a man. So she recruits one of the Avengers for assistance. But how exactly will that pan out for them? (Part 12 of my series - Chasing Time)

With Christopher finally under control you were able to have a little peace of mind. Having a baby in Stark Tower with Steve, and Natasha was the greatest experience in the world. Although you and Nat had your differences, you had still managed to coincide with one another for the sake of not going completely mad. Shortly after discovering Christopher’s powers, though, you’d all made the move to the compound. Tony had left after making the super suit for his godchild with the announcement that Pepper was expecting; assuring you that if anything went wrong you should give him a call. Your kids were going to be almost nine months apart, but, even so, it took five years for them to finally meet.

“Christopher! Your lunch is ready!” You shouted down the hall to your five year old son. He’d been in the living room playing with his toy action figures which was a change from what he usually did; messing with his powers. Most of them had dissipated with time, but one of them in particular had stuck around for good. His metallic ability was the first one to go, along with the telekinesis shortly after; which you couldn’t say you were mad about. The one that stayed; being able to light things on fire.

Steve had grown to calling him the “human torch” at three years old, and the nickname stuck. They would practice the safety of super powers outside on the front lawn; which generally ended in more than one thing catching on fire while Steve attempted to put it out with the fire extinguishers that were always on hand. It was considered a good day when only a few things managed to get singed, and, while he’d never been as buff as his father, he still wasn’t the smallest boy in his class. One thing that never changed in the slightest was his striking resemblance to Steve, and you questioned when someone might begin to notice, but no one ever did.

“Mom, someone’s at the front gate. He’s yelling something about ants,” your son said, confused.

“Well, where’s Steve?” You asked, wondering why he hadn’t opened the gate, or at least check to see who it was.

“Nat told me he was at another meeting,” Christopher explained, setting his Captain America action figure on the bar as he took a few bites of his dinosaur chicken nuggets.

Steve had been attending more and more meetings lately. While he’d managed to help a few of the people move on, there were still several that remained stuck in the past; just like him. What you didn’t know was that he still talked about you there, and how he had been fighting this battle for over five years of whether he should move on from Peggy, or keep her presence alive through him. Steve talked about your son, and how close they had become; not to mention the feelings he got when he saw the two of you together. Whether you were playing, talking, or relaxing on the couch with Christopher, he still couldn’t shake the feeling that he might want something more.

Every time, the instructor always asked him the same question, sounding like a broken record. “What does your heart tell you?” That was the problem, even after all this time, it still wouldn’t give him a direct answer.

“What is that sound?” You heard Steve remark, coming into the kitchen and swiping a chicken nugget from off his son’s plate.

“Thought you were at another meeting?” You questioned, giving him the side eye for taking Christopher’s food.

“We finished early,” he corrected, listening even closer. “Am I hearing things, or does it sound like someone is yelling?”

“Must be your hearing, I read that it’s the first thing to go with age,” you joked, playfully, and he rolled his eyes.

“I told mommy some strange man has been yelling outside about ants,” Christopher shrugged, throwing his Captain America doll into the air as he pretended it could fly.

Steve’s expression shifted to curiosity before heading to the living room for Friday to pull up the front cameras for the house. On his way out of the kitchen, though, he turned around and pointed at his son. “Captain America doesn’t fly,” he corrected, smirking as he continued on his way.

“Friday, open the camera for the front gait,” Steve ordered, looking directly at a disheveled Scott Lang who was leaping up and down and shouting nonsense.

Natasha sat up from her seat behind him in shock. “What the hell?” She fumbled for the controls, zooming in on his face to confirm it was him.

“This is an old message, right?” Steve thought, trying to brush it off as some kind of coincidence, but what he hadn’t expected was for Natasha to shake her head no.

Immediately they opened the gate and let him in, freaking out when they learned how he had made it back. “Do you think we could get the others back the same way?” Steve considered as the excitement in the room began to build.

Scott went on about time travel, and later it was suggested that you all get the gang back together. What they had forgotten to remember was that Tony Stark was a father now, and so was Steve. Reversing the affects completely would still mean losing people you cared about. Which is why there would be no reversing it all; just bringing them all back to the present.

That’s exactly how you all ended up at Tony Stark’s cabin in the woods. You had to admit that the lake was beautiful, but the seclusion itself did not scream Stark Tower. No, it seemed as though starting a family had really caused him to change his ways.

To be honest, you hadn’t tagged along in the hopes of getting the opportunity to time travel. What you really wanted was to be able to see Tony again. Life had gotten in the way of you two, and, even though you were best friends, there still was never enough time for you and him to get together. He said he’d always be a phone call away, but you always told yourself that a phone goes two ways, and, if he didn’t want to talk to you, you would still be okay.

“Hey, tin-man, long time no see,” you snapped, smirking at him as you ran over to give Tony Stark a hug.

“What’s going on, guys?” He laughed, squeezing you tightly as he looked over at Natasha, Scott, Steve, and Christopher.

“We may have found a way to bring everyone back,” Steve informed him, using his authoritative tone. You had to admit, it’d been a long time since you’d heard him use his Captain America voice, but it was still just as hot as you’d remembered years ago.

“Sorry guys, I can’t. Anything else, anything, but not that,” Tony politely declined. Even after Scott’s in depth explanation, and how positively sure he was that it would work, Tony still refused to budge.

We left feeling less enthusiastic, but we had managed to convince Thor, Rocket, Banner, Nebula, Rhodey, and Clint to rejoin our team. Which brought us back to the compound where we were preparing our first jump.

Scott was the first to go back on his own which hadn’t ended as planned. First; we didn’t think we’d get him back, then he was a teenager, and an old man, and, finally, a baby. Until we‘d mastered it on the fifth try, and got the original Scott back.

After our first trial run with him we let Clint go back to guarantee our success. Which came back as our first official good leap, putting us in the clear to all go back together.

Not before Tony decided to make his grand appearance, though. I was expected to follow strict orders from Tony, and Steve. They wanted me to remain unseen since my past self wouldn’t have been with them after they’d captured Loki. I was basically just going to be there in the off chance that they needed me.

Christopher would be joining us in the jump, and, although his powers were dodgy at best, he still could come in handy. “Are you ready?” You had asked him as you took his hand. He shook his head excitedly, and gave Steve a smile before you all went back to the year 2012.

With the dispersal of everyone throughout the town, you and Christopher made your way to the lobby of Stark Tower. Tony said that it shouldn’t take him long and he would be down with the tesseract. As you waited there with your son, though, you began to question whether or not he was ever actually going to show. That was until he finally came down, and he still managed to let the tesseract fall into Loki’s hands so that he could get away.

“Well, that went better than I thought it would,” you admitted, sarcastically, as you rolled your eyes at him.

“Give me a break, I was trying my best. Where were you?” Tony remarked, giving you a side eye.

“Taking care of my son, and watching you, butterfingers,” you retaliated, annoyed.

“Looks like we’re gonna have to go with plan ‘B’,” Tony thought allowed as we met up with Steve and Scott.

“Tell me you got it?” Steve growled in his husky voice, already giving Tony a dirty look.

“Not exactly,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I have a plan, though!”

Tony’s plan was for us to go back to the 1970’s, and you were anything but okay with that. You knew there was a chance that Steve would see Peggy, and you didn’t know if you could handle that kind of rejection taking place right in front of you. It was one thing to imagine it in your head, but seeing it with your own eyes would be the very thing that would break your heart.

Of course that meant Tony insisting you go with them; partially because he wanted you as back up, and because he wanted you there for Steve. You hesitated, but agreed, and Scott assured you that he’d take care of Christopher while you were gone.

Steve seemed to know his way around the 70’s, and when you followed him down an elevator and into a dark room you felt your heart drop to your stomach. Peggy was standing on the other side of the glass in the middle of a conversation with someone else. Your eyes drifted to Steve who was watching her intensely, but you couldn’t make out the expression on his face. Was he considering the idea of running in there?

You were pulled from your thoughts by Steve who was gesturing for you to follow him out, so that you could get back to Tony. The entire time you couldn’t shake the idea, though, that something had changed. He seemed to hold himself differently, and his dark, stern, voice made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

“You may be the star spangled man with a plan, but are you sure you know where you’re going?” You scoffed, following him down enough hallways that you were starting to get dizzy.

“Be quiet,” he ordered, making it down a long stretch before pushing open a door as the sunlight poured across your face.

“You know, you may be in charge of everyone else, but I don’t have to listen to you.” The words cut like knives as they slipped off your tongue, and you immediately regretted having said it.

“Then why exactly are you here? I’m trying to help you, and if people hear you talking like that then you’re gonna blow our cover.” His retaliation hadn’t been angry, but informing, which made you realize that he hadn’t been saying it to be rude. No, he was doing it to get the job done, and get out of here. What was it that ran through his head when he saw Peggy after all these years? Why was he so ready to go back to the present?

It was too late, Tony was back, and you were all standing together to prepare for the leap back to the future. You would just have to give it a little extra thought some other time because, right now, looking up at him, it didn’t feel like you were standing next to Captain America. It felt like you were with the person you’d fall in love with oh so long ago; Steve Rogers.

——————————————

@carebaredanvers @torntaltos @homecomlng @bluediamondsevie @vesta-ro @iron-sass

@marcelaverzani @mrspeacem1nusone

@myles-production @stevieboyharrington

@mariemrose @ncrediblelove

@captain-seriously-don-t @xchrisxevansx @marvelouspottering @stat89posts

@denzmallows @imafangirlofeverything

@humandasaster @sgtevanstan @americasarse @theroyalbrownbarbie

[adriennestar]

Loved Endgame but... I'm gonna be that b*tch

I loved everything except Steve's ending. I will never be able to accept it and according to social media, I'm not the only one.

It's a slap in the face (actually more like an axe to the spine) to everything that Stucky has been through together in the MCU. All of their chemistry and feelings for each other that have been established are undeniably romantic and still stand. The Russos can't "Thanos" away "I'm with you till the end of the line" (ie "till death do us part") or that the only person Steve repeatedly goes to the ends of the earth for is Bucky, or that Stucky's story arc falls into many romantic tropes in the CA trilogy.

Evans said that Bucky is Steve's home and everything he needs while Seb has said that Bucky's relationship with Steve is probably the only thing keeping Bucky from killing himself. So in short, Bucky is everything Steve could ever need and Steve is Bucky's literal reason for living. Sounds pretty romantic.

In TWS, Steve goes on about his love life and wanting someone with "shared life experience" minutes before Bucky (his genetically enhanced super soldier ex, who has been frozen for a majority of the past 70 years, fought in ww2, and grew up in 1920s/1930's Brooklyn) shows up with just that.

Thor gives up the throne for Jane in Thor 2, Tony gives up his suits for Pepper in Iron man 3, and Steve gives up his shield for Bucky in Cap 2 AND 3.

"You're keeping the outfit right?"

"He left me for a damsel dark" (From the tavern scene in TFA when Bucky visibly is sad about Steve and Peggy)

"It's Been a Long Long Time" is still Stucky's song. It get's introduced with Stucky during their reunion scene in TWS.

"Even when I had nothing, I had Bucky"

"Your Bucky"

"Rumlow said Bucky and all of the sudden, I was a 16 year old kid again in Brooklyn". 16 is the stereotypical age (especially in fiction) people experience their first love and Steve without warning, reminisces about being that age upon hearing Bucky's name. He get's SO distracted that Rumlow is able to detonate a bomb in front on him.

Bucky is the only reason why Steve has EVER surrendered himself in battle.

In fiction, whenever a main character's love interest is captured, killed, etc, it becomes the main character's main motivation to save or avenge them. That is Stucky's entire story arc in Cap's trilogy.

1. Steve opposes 117 countries, for Bucky.

2. Steve fights half of his friends, the avengers, for Bucky.

3. Steve fights Tony practically to the death, for Bucky.

4. Steve would rather die by letting Bucky kill him than fight Bucky.

5. Steve single handedly storming that hydra base to save Bucky is the same energy as an old fashioned Disney prince, storming a castle and slaying a dragon to save the princess. (Not even joking)

6. Steve before he loses Bucky in TFA doesn't want to kill anyone but as soon he does lose Bucky he wants all of Hydra dead or captured.

Cap pulls a helicopter out of the sky with his bare hands to keep Bucky with him.

The images below are tweets by the writer for CA:CW

Did anyone else notice when Endgame Steve encountered his Avengers self, the 2012 Steve had the same reaction to seeing Steve's compass and hearing about Bucky still being alive? Because I did lol.

Picture either Steve or Bucky as a woman and then all of the sudden, even the most heteronormative minded people can acknowledge how immensely romantic Stucky's story arc is.

Over the years, Marvel sets up all of this romantic subtext/chemistry between Stucky, literally say Steve and Bucky are soul mates, then they shove a heteronormative end that goes against Steve's character/character growth down our throats.

They even add insult to injury by giving us a dry and lifeless Stucky scene before Steve goes back in time. The Ned/Peter and Tony/Peter reunion were 100 times more emotional than Stucky's. I feel like the Russo brother's intentionally drained the life out of Stucky's reunion scene while directing it by telling the actors to act as hollow and uninterested as possible because they're trying so hard to bury Stucky alive in a shallow grave.

Deep down I always knew they didn't have the spine to explicitly represent Stucky as the canon romantic couple they were in the MCU but Stucky is still real. They're just not OPENLY lgbt.

Speaking of the openly gay character in Endgame... thanks alot Russos 😧🙄. Thanks for throwing us some scraps on the floor when it comes to explicit representation while the cis/het's get to enjoy yet another banquet.

The MCU prior to Endgame has done nothing but heavily hint that Steve and Bucky are the love of each other's life and now they turn around and say "haha heteronormativity ftw". Stucky is a broken promise.

But I'm not giving up on Stucky. They are canonically lgbt just like Valkyrie(bi) and Loki(pan) even though they too didn't get explicit representation.

I guess I'm just going to stay mad about this forever. Someone has to. Stucky deserved better than to go out in such an insulting way.

PS

Peggy may be "the love of Steve's life" but Stucky were each other's first love back in the 1930's. "The first cut is always the deepest" is the notion that your first love will forever define your perception of love. Maybe that's why the very next person after Bucky Steve finds himself attracted to is essentially the female version of his first love.

Bucky and Peggy are virtually the same person, just of the opposite sex. They are both brave, intelligent, strong, capable, compassionate, good looking, sharp shooting, army brunettes, who hate bullies. They even get introduced by beating up a bully while sporting their army clothes. You just can't make this sh*t up!

You can have it both ways. Maybe one day Marvel will understand that.

My hopes are lower than the bottom of the Mariana trench when it comes to that though.

Rant over. Bye.

[idkstark]

ENDGAME SPOILERS

Please don’t read the following if you haven’t seen the movie, there will be major spoilers!

I just saw the movie and I just wanted to recap/jot down things that happened/stood out to me during the movie! Similar to what I did last year after seeing IW.

Right kiddos, let’s get into it

I honestly thought Tony was fuckign dead on that ship, the fact that Nebula was shaking him n shit?? I was scared outta my mind.

They really just ... killed Thanos within the first ten minutes lmao dfkhdsvgsjdhg. I was not expecting it at all. They cut his left arm off and then decapitated him, it was absolutely wild. 

At least Thor aimed for the head

OH and Tony yelling at Steve when he’s back on earth? yo i was looking around at my friends like uh is he ok ?? he needs some milk 

As soon as Thanos was like aha yea i destroyed the stones owo I KNEW they were gonna go back in time

Five year time jump? wack. BUT AHHHHHHHH

TONY HAS A DAUGHTER. i cried. Also his new house by the lake? its just to cute im happy for him

Scott’s daughter, Cassie, is a full-grown teen!!!

Thor plays fortnite with korg and miek 

he also uhhhhh gained a bit of weight. he isnt doing too well in new Asgard :(

Professor Hulk! smthn that i wasn’t expecting so early on

AHH Carol’s new haircut? that’s some good shit

The time travel was pretty neat

Cap fighting himself, tricking hydra, using Loki’s staff on himself. wild y’all.

tony and steve going back to the 70′s honestly made me cry. peggy was right there in-front of steve, and tony was able to have a conversation with his dad. it was actually wholesome too??

anyway, they get three stones from 2012

nebula and rhodey go to get the power stone. 2014 peter quill is dancing along like he does in the movie, gets knocked out. its quite amusing. 

rhodey jumps back but nebula cant bc uh oh!!!! thanos (from a different timeline or smthn) finds out what she’s doing!!

she gets captured

Evil nebula pretends to be future nebula and jumps back to the HQ using her gear

Thor goes back to asgard, talks to his mum, anddd he gets Mjolnir back! so he has both the hammer and Stormbreaker

the soul stone. omg. Nat and Clint were the only two there and they had a small fight over who should be sacrificed. it was like some lion king shit; natasha hanging onto clint whilst dangling from a cliff and letting go. i cried ?? i felt so bad for clint.

He goes back, avengers are like uh oh fuck. but they have all of the stones!

STARK GAUNTLET BABYYYY

banner uses it and snaps back those who were dusted. his arm gets a bit fucked up, but he tolerates it bc he’s in the form of the hulk.

it works! but then evil nebula uses the quantum realm thingy to bring Thanos’ ship to the HQ

immediately sends a bunch of missiles down, i really thought someone would die but thank god everyone was ok

this sets up the final battle ground!

Thor, Cap, and Tony all fight Thanos. They’re getting pretty fucked up. thor drops both of his weapons

dramatic music plays and Mjolnir hits Thanos and flies back around only to land in sTEVE’S HAND!!!!!!

HE’S WORTHY SAKDHSDKFS. The entire theatre cheered

just ???? seeing him wield Mjolnir and use the shield???? holy fuck

Thanos beats them up a bit more and then he calls on his army and like. they all form behind him and it looks like everyone is gonna get fucked up to be quite honest

BUT THEN you hear sam’s voice and u see dr stranges portal!!! 

a bunch of portals form and everyone walks out; t’challa, shuri, okoye, their army. the guardians. PETER!! bucky, literally everyone. they all stand behind steve and he says ‘avengers....assemble’ and everyone starts running towards one-another.........poetic cinema 

AHH and pepper is there!! she’s rescue!!!

the stark gauntlet is handed to t’challa (by clint) then handed to peter who hands it to carol.

also um. peter saw tony and he started rambling abt wht happened and tony just pulls him in for a hug. it made me cry again

all of the female heroes help carol bring the gauntlet towards Scott, who has his van, so tht they can destroy it or smthn. it had something to do with time travel and the quantum realm skfbsdg

uh oh they don’t get it there

Thanos sees them doing this and makes his army send more missiles down (which does deplete his own army by a large amount)

He’s right beside the gauntlet and so is tony

tony looks at strange who holds up one finger. the one in 14 million

thanos puts the gauntlet on and almost snaps his fingers but he’s stopped by carol. 

he removes the power stone and uses it to blast her away, then he puts it back in.

tony grabs his arm before he can snap, thanos shoves him away

i fully thought that was it for the avengers BUT MY BOY TONY!!!!!

Thanos goes to snap but nothing happens. turns out tony somehow transferred them to his own, built-in/nano-tech gauntlet!!!!!!! everyone cheered again y’all.....

he says “I am Iron Man” before snapping his fingers

lmfao thanos and his army turn to dust. by bye purple man.

by this point i was like yall where the fuck is tony he better be ok

yea about that.

I started to sob.

Tony is leaning against some debris and he’s struggling to breathe, right arm all messed up. Everyone rushes over. 

Peter starts saying smthn like “come on mr stark, we won. tony please” idk what he said exactly because i was sobbing.

Pepper comes up and says “we’ll be okay. you can rest now” and i, a fool, continued to sob.

he’s staring into the distance and his arc reactor dies.

i was SOBBIng

full on

i didn’t stop crying until the credits rolled

anyway, tony’s funeral.

his ‘proof that tony stark has a heart’ reactor is sitting on a bed of flowers that’s floating along the lake in front of his home

everyone is there. the guardians, black panther fam, avengers (minus nat), fury, etc etc.

even Harley from iron man three !! he’s so grown up now D:

Thor joins the guardians and leaves valkyrie to rule new asgard!!

Steve has to go back and return the stones to their rightful timelines but haha he stays there.

he grows old with peggy and they dance in their home. they were married yall!!!

Bucky, sam, and Bruce turn around and see him sitting on a bench a little while away.

same goes up and talks to him

i thought he was pre-serum steve but YIKES he’s old instead

he passes the captain america mantle to sam, i was so happy

there’s a lot i didnt mention but this is long enough as it is sdfgsdjhfg.

this movie just made me cry so much. it was the perfect end to this ten-year journey. i mean i would obviously love if they didnt kill off tony. he’s my favourite character so god damn was it hard to see him go. but it made it that much more emotional. marvel will always remain my favourite franchise of all time, this movie was absolutely everything i wanted yet so much more.

please dont be afraid to dm me about ur thoughts on the movie! cry abt everything with me!! ask questions!!

[my-status-single]

Tony’s Daughter part 2

Character Pairing: Steve Rogers x F!Reader (mentioned)

Word count: 820

Warnings: Reader is Tony Stark’s daughter, Reader has a set last name because it makes my life easier. Slow Burn

Synopsis: Part two in a series. Happens during the capture of Loki in the first Avengers(2012) film. Sorry, the whole steve/reader thing isn’t totally established yet. This is an intense slow burn.

Authors Note: I wasn’t expecting this to be as popular as it is, but I hope you enjoy part two.

Part 1

“Hello Steve.” You say softly, a sheepish smile on your face. Steve mostly just stares at you, his mouth slightly agape. “Wh-“ he huffs out a breath. “What are you doing here?” He finally stammers out. Natasha hums. “(Y/N) here is one of our top agents.” She says and claps you on your shoulder. You roll your eyes at her and just make your way to your office.

She laughs and looks at Steve then, continuing to lead him. “So how did you two meet?” She asks. Steve still looks a bit startled. “She uh…she goes to my gym.” He decides that’s a simple enough response.

Bruce still seems a bit uncomfortable about being here. “That was (Y/N) Clarke right?” He says. Natasha nods. “In the flesh.” Steve just frowns more. “(Y/N) is one of the brightest minds in the country.” Natasha explains to him. “Rivalled only by Tony Stark himself.” She smirks to herself because to anyone who knows who you are that’s quite entertaining. Steves confusion dissipates and is replaced by awe as he looks around the bridge. He quietly hands Nick a ten dollar bill.

About ten minutes later Doctor Banner is brought into the lab, your office is connected to it. “Agent Clarke, you’ll assist Doctor Banner until further notice.” She says to you through your open door. You nod and make your way over to him. You introduce yourselves and begin your work, soon you’re notified that there has been a face match for Loki in Germany and you and a small team are gathered and shipped out. Natasha is part of this group, and so is Steve.

He makes his way to stand by you as you fly. “You never mentioned you worked with SHEILD.” He says. You smile a bit. “You never asked, Captain.” You say, eyeing the suit. He rolls his eyes a bit and stays quiet then, but his fingers brush over yours gently before he drops down out of the jet. You stay inside with Natasha. You’re only there for backup, should you be needed. Which, with Steve being there was unlikely.

“You know, the last time I was in Germany, and saw a man standing over everyone else, we ended up disagreeing.” Steve says as he stalks his way toward Loki. It turned into a fight pretty quickly. Steve throwing his shield and Loki wielding the sceptre. You watched closely to determine if you should head down there. Steve got thrown to the ground and just as you were about to suit up yourself music started playing over the PA system, the crew looked confused momentarily but you just rolled your eyes.

“Miss me, agent Romanoff?” Your father's voice calls out over the system. Natasha looks a bit pleased. The fight is pretty much over then. They get Loki into custody and you simply await the very awkward situation ahead of you.

Tony is not the biggest fan of Captain America, something about how his father had seemed to prefer Steve over his own son. So being around him already had him on edge, when he and Steve boarded the jet he catches your eye and looks very less than pleased. You stayed near the front with Natasha as the atmosphere around Tony and Steve just wasn’t to your liking.

You and Nat look up in confusion when it seems a storm is starting.

“Where’s this coming from?” She says quietly. You look toward the back of the jet, Loki is sitting looking around uneasily.

“Scared of a little lightning?” Steve says and watches him.

“I’m not overly fond of what follows.” Loki responds. There's a thud at the top of the jet then, you all look up. Tony opens the back of the jet and another figure makes his way inside, he grabs Loki and then he’s gone.

“We need a plan of attack!” Steve says.

“I have a plan, attack.” Tony replies, he looks at you then. Even with the Iron Man mask on you know he’s glaring. “You stay here.” He hisses, and then he flies out of the back of the jet.

Steve is suiting up as well despite Nat’s protests. “You should listen to her Steve.” You practically plead, but soon enough he’s gone too.

Nat makes her way back to you. “So, when are you going to tell daddy dearest that you’re dating Captain America?” She says, it is only loud enough for you to hear but still your eyes widen and you shove her lightly. “Would you keep your mouth shut?” You hiss. “I’m not dating anyone.” She just smirks. “I saw him hold your hand, I’m a trained professional, I notice these things.” She says and shrugs. “Which brings us back to the main point, how are you going to tell your father?” She says.

You groan and slump against the wall because you hadn’t the slightest idea.

Next

Tag list (??? AM I DOING THIS RIGHT??))

@peregrinestook

[winterironspringfling]

2019 Spring Fling: Gift List

As always, a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who was a part of the exchange this year; the helpers, the participants, the people now leaving comments and kudos, and everyone who helped spread the word by liking and sharing our posts. This exchange wouldn’t have been possible without you.

You’re the best, you rock, we love you!

And now, without further ado: the complete 2019 WinterIron Spring Fling Gift List!

Enjoy! 💕

Sparks Fly by tisfan for Lets_call_me_Lily Tony travels to Shelbyville, Indianna to fix Bucky’s arm… and while he’s there, maybe they’ll go see the fireworks show together.

🌸🌸🌸

The Winter Sentinel by james for tarot_card Bucky tests as a Sentinel when he's thirteen, and he knows it means his life won't be easy.

Which is a bit of an understatement, really.

🌸🌸🌸

When We Met In Paris by TheVagabondBoy for scarynoodles Neither Tony nor Bucky expected to run into each other in a bar in Paris.

🌸🌸🌸

Mechanical Creations by celtic7irish for yourselenite Tony Stark is a tattoo artist who gains inspiration from all things technical.  When Tall, Dark, and Handsome walks in wanting a cover-up tattoo, Tony is only too happy to oblige. Oh, and did he mention? He really, really likes that metal arm.

🌸🌸🌸

My soul screams for you by IronEyes for Potrix In Siberia Tony learns how his parents really died. In Siberia Tony gets betrayed by one of his best friends. In Siberia Tony finds the killer of his parents and… his soulmate. Tony has no idea how to handle this, but he can’t stay away from Bucky.

🌸🌸🌸

The Beautiful Light of Madness in Your Eyes by tisfan for shadowgrl94 In the Soul Stone, time is relative, people are at peace. It is a paradise, but also a trap. Can Tony break the trap and bring everyone home?

Especially when he risks losing the only thing that matters...

🌸🌸🌸

To keep you safe inside my arms by ShadowsintheClouds for celtic7irish Tony and Bucky had been secretly dating for a while. They loved having their little secret. It was something special between them. But, a night out by the lake with the other Avengers threatens to take their secret away from them.

🌸🌸🌸

Kiss Me Deadly by yourselenite for MassiveSpaceWren Just a skip and a jump back in time before World War I where Anthony Stark and James Barnes are secretly together in the early 1900s.

🌸🌸🌸

Hold You Close (To Keep You Warm) by ChaoticDemon for sara_wolfe Five times Tony and Bucky cuddled for warmth and one time they didn't bother with the pretense.

🌸🌸🌸

Where No Other Love Goes by Stark-N-Barnes for TheSopherfly “I want to,” he confessed.

Bucky flinched.

“What?”

Tony stared at him with a look in his eyes that spoke more volume than words, as the realisation wrapped itself around Bucky.

“I don't want to hurt you…”  he whispered.

“Bucky…”

~or~

That time Bucky was undoubtedly in love with Tony, but didn't think he could have him.

🌸🌸🌸

And the light, it shines from you by Lets_call_me_Lily for its_inherited Tony and Bucky snuggling in bed; it's been a long day.

🌸🌸🌸

Connection and Intent by SierraNovembr for sleepoverwork When Tony’s father is murdered, he takes a desperate risk to uncover the truth and save the man he loves. It changes his life forever.

🌸🌸🌸

Puppy Love by Reioka for ShadowsintheClouds Bucky is learning to become a person again. When some guy starts crying all over Natasha's dog, he decides he's doing better than he originally thought.

🌸🌸🌸

Howlin' For You by justanotherpipedream for james When the sun goes down, Sheriff Bucky sets up his rifle, ready to shoot any gnoll, ghoul or beast that tries to raid his small town in the cover of the night. Night after night, Bucky keeps watch, running himself ragged all the while. Worried for his friend, Steve offers a solution to his problem.

“So your solution is that I get myself a mail order bride? An’ then what?”

“Or groom. We knew you like both options. You need a partner Bucky.”

🌸🌸🌸

Promises by Iron_Eirlyssa for Lunatical When a mission goes wrong, it leaves Bucky and Tony trapped together, waiting for help. That might turn out to be a good thing in the end, though.

🌸🌸🌸

We Fuck With the Lights On by badgerling for tisfan Bucky wakes up naked in a room. Tony Stark wakes up naked in the same room. Turns out, they're both actually okay with that.

🌸🌸🌸

Redemption by Lunatical for calmena After remembering they were responsible for the deaths of Howard and Maria Stark, Bucky and the Soldier start watching over Tony in a desperate attempt to redeem themselves. When the Avengers get ready to raid the Hydra base that's housing Loki's scepter, they're there to intervene.

Of course, they didn't expect to end up at Stark Tower, living alongside a bunch of superheroes, and they certainly didn't think they'd end up falling in love with Tony Stark. Especially since the man still doesn't know what they've done.

Will Tony ever be able to forgive them?

🌸🌸🌸

The Stranger in the Woods by TheSopherfly for JenJo “Mage shouldn’t be walkin’ in these woods alone at night,” James said.

Mage. So James knew, then. About Tony’s powers. Tony breathed deeply, the warm ghost of steam rising from his mug and tickling his nostrils. “Why’s that?” he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. He’d felt something in the forest, of course, but forests were always full of creatures and strange energies. Too many trees in one place scrambled his senses almost as well as a confusion charm.

“There are things in here that like mages a little too much,” James said, and Tony hung on the words in fascination. “Plenty of things that don’t like mages, too.”

🌸🌸🌸 

Fine Art by endof_theline for SierraNovembr Tony is a pre-tenure professor at the national defense research institute. His life is a ball of stress until he meets Bucky the barista at the local and remembers that there’s more to life than the next publication, but he might just be able to help with it.

🌸🌸🌸

Roses for a Wallflower by tarot_card for burbear Bucky keeps finding flowers: in his favorite books, on his spot on the couch, in his breakfast cereal box, you name it. When he looks up what the names are, he also finds their meanings, ranging from forgiveness to friendship to even romantic feelings.

🌸🌸🌸

(Don't) Believe My Words by FreyaS for IronEyes Tony Stark grew up knowing he was a disappointment and a failure in the eyes of not only his father but his eventual soulmate. After all, the words "I wish I'd never met you" can only be a rejection, right?

Bucky knew that he'd love the soulmate that would give him his beautiful soulwords but sometimes he feared they would never measure up to his celebrity crush, Tony Stark.

🌸🌸🌸

a tale of the lil' mer who could by sleepoverwork for badgerling Little mermaid meets Anthony Edward Stark and it turns out about as well as how you think it would.

(The scene of the shipwreck with Ariel meeting and saving Prince Eric, bless Part of your World, still one of my favorite songs even after all of these years)

Tony just needed space, which is exactly why he idiotically swam to the surface after dark, away from the safety and constriction that came from his pod, his home.

If given the chance, Tony knows he could find and save his parents. He just didn't know how to prove to everyone and the spirits of the sea he could, and would, do just that.

🌸🌸🌸

You Are My Sunshine by EchoSiriusRumme for gryvon Tony is captured and deaged while on a business trip, but the team - his family - jumps right into action to take care of their tiny, shy resident genius while they figure out how to fix this.  Or at least, they try to, concern growing each time he freezes at the sight of Steve.

But that was something personal, whispered to Bucky between frustrated tears one night, so Bucky wouldn’t be telling that secret unless push came to shove.

Too bad for Tony....it does.

🌸🌸🌸

Perestroika by blue_pointer for InsaneJuliann According to Doctor Strange's vision, Tony Stark is the only man who can save the universe from the Decimation. But who will save Tony Stark? Bucky must use the Time stone to travel to the past and make sure Tony makes it safely to 2023.

🌸🌸🌸

Drowning by sara_wolfe for EchoSiriusRumme It was only supposed to be a prank. It wasn't supposed to go this wrong...

🌸🌸🌸

Travelling the world only to end up home by JenJo for hopespym Bucky has been travelling with his son to try and find a blacksmith who can fix his arm.

He ends up back where everything started for him, in a place where he had once dared to dream of a future, before he had his heart broken.

~

Tony has spent his time building a name for himself as the blacksmith who can fix anything and everything. He never expected to see the man who broke his heart walk through his door.

🌸🌸🌸

What happens in Zurich by siyuttov for TheVagabondBoy Tony Stark is sent to evaluate the Winter Soldier, who claims to have defected from Hydra and is hoping SHIELD can help take down his former employers.

🌸🌸🌸 

Not Ideal but Workable by calmena for marsmaywander Tony and Bucky go on a date. It goes about as wrong as it can, to the surprise of exactly nobody.

They make it work, anyway.

🌸🌸🌸

tell me who i am (because i don't know) by scarynoodles for ChaoticDemon “Is that all you called me here for?”

Tony stands up abruptly, walking around the desk and glancing out one of the windows. “No, actually. See, Pepper’s been nagging me to get an actual bodyguard since that happened. Usually, I would just argue that I don’t need one, since – technically, I’m my own bodyguard, but now she won’t let up since I was in the suit and still couldn’t fight back against a civilian.” Tony ignores the heat crawling up the back of his neck at that. It had been pretty embarrassing that he’d been jumped like that. “I figured, I might as well hire someone on my own terms before she did it for me. And you’re a good guy, clearly, otherwise you wouldn’t have done what you did. So, want to become my bodyguard?”

-

It's 2012, and the Avengers have defeated Loki and his army. Tony has a new bodyguard, and all seems well.

Except – his bodyguard acts really strangely at times, and he doesn't seem to be caught up with the world around him. He has a dark, mysterious past which he refuses to divulge beyond little tidbits. Once, he claimed to have killed people. Not to mention he reminds Tony of someone he used to know – someone he used to love – decades ago.

🌸🌸🌸

How to Survive a Haunted House by marsmaywander for Briz “Lord save me from crazy white boys,” were probably going to be Rhodey’s last words. He didn’t care what his friend said; this place was haunted, and they were both gonna end up dead because Tony was too taken in by the ample closet space.

🌸🌸🌸

it starts and ends with memory by Rowantreeisme for Arboreal Tony Carbonell is a completely normal professor at MIT. He tutors kids, both in his class and not, and builds things in his free time. He feeds stray cats and drinks too much coffee and wears dorky shirts to class. He's also an Avenger and the son of the late Howard Stark. He's pretty sure, though, that no one except his two closest friends and his AI's know this. And then the Winter Soldier breaks into his home.

🌸🌸🌸

Will you? [Comic] by MassiveSpaceWren for FreyaS Tony hadn't planned his proposal like this...

🌸🌸🌸

Give or Take by beir for BrightEyesIllusionist After everything, the prince could only hope his ill-fated plan would work.

🌸🌸🌸

Near Miss by Arboreal for justanotherpipedream  A car accident, the police had said.  He could have lost them to something as stupid as a car accident.  

He could have lost them, and his last memories of them would be of arguing with his father and ignoring his mother.

Bucky's trigger words begin to fail.  This changes things.

🌸🌸🌸

Tony Stark's Home for Wayward Assassins by gryvon for Stark-N-Barnes Tony Stark's too busy running Stark Resilient and making technological breakthroughs in clean energy and medical technology to pay too much attention to all the superheroes that have been popping up since that crazy horned guy trashed New York City. Then one shows up at his house in the middle of the night demanding Tony fix his broken metal arm and Tony can't in good conscious kick him out after.

Or, how a Tony Stark that never became Iron Man ended up with a Russian assassin living in his mansion.

🌸🌸🌸

Moonshine by InsaneJuliann for blue_pointer Tony's a werewolf and a single dad, which means he doesn't have much time for the dating scene. But a small push from friends leads to him meeting Bucky. Totally human, great, and very interested Bucky. And for the first time in a while, Tony's interested in more than just a life that orbits around only his daughter.

🌸🌸🌸

Fake It 'Til You Make It by hopespym for Reioka So sure. Since he’d gotten back from his station overseas, life hadn’t really been treating him too good.

Before he’d gone he’d had no trouble at all finding someone for the night and even managed a couple of relationships that had all (seemingly) been going pretty well until he’d been left behind as the others continued on with their lives, and after he’d gotten back he hadn’t even really bothered anything.

And all Tinder got him was mugged one time.

🌸🌸🌸

Iron Man: Legend of the Seven Seas by BrightEyesIllusionist for Rowantreeisme Tony Stark is a black hearted pirate who ran away from home years ago. His latest target? The legendary Book of Peace which maintains the treaty between the kingdoms. But the God of Chaos has other plans for the book, and yet more for the black hearted pirate.

🌸🌸🌸

fight 'til we see the sunlight by burbear for siyuttov There are days where Tony regrets not going back on his word, where he wishes he had told Steve “No, actually, keep that murderer out of my house and as far from me as possible.” Pepper and Rhodey even said he should. Not in as many words, certainly not because of Barnes, but because they know Tony.  

Tony knows, though, that the safest place for Barnes—and everyone else, since the first day people found out about the Winter Soldier more and more civilians were getting grand ideas about bringing him in—is the Tower. His only stipulation is that Steve keeps Barnes away from him.

His timer is steadily ticking toward zero, to the day he meets his soulmate, but to be honest? Tony has a lot more on his mind than someone fate picked out for him.

🌸🌸🌸

When It Rains It Pours by DreamcatchersDaughter for beir Bucky's sure Tony is half werewolf, Tony is sure Bucky is all fae.... What happens when they are both wrong?

Or 3 times these idiots got it wrong and 1 time they got it so right.

🌸🌸🌸

Hope and Heroes by Zola9612 for endof_theline Young Tony was born without a soul mark. How does that affect his life?

🌸🌸🌸

Your Hand In Mine by celtic7irish for Harpyienkind Omega Tony Stark is the son of Lord Stark.  Ever since he presented as an Omega, he has been promised to Lord Barnes, a ruthless warrior of Hydra that he has never even met.  Three months pregnant by his lover and heat-partner, Bucky, Tony is terrified for both himself and the unborn child.  But Tony Stark has never backed down before, and  he’s not about to start now.

🌸🌸🌸

share and celebrate by Potrix for Zola9612 It’s been almost twenty-four hours, but still none of it seems or feels entirely real.

Well, to be fair, learning about the existence of parallel universes, finding out there’s at least one other Earth that has been destroyed by a threat his Earth isn’t even fully aware of yet, and getting two other-universe versions of people he’s currently not exactly on speaking terms with dropped into his lap has been kind of a lot.

It might take Tony another day—or year, more likely—to wrap his head around all of that.

🌸🌸🌸

Wanted: Boyfriend by Briz for DreamcatchersDaughter Well, it was not every day that a job offer knocked on his door looking like something straight out of a porno.

🌸🌸🌸

Cuddles by Briz for Iron_Eirlyssa Thing is, Tony likes touch. In fact, scratch that - he loves touch. He finds out that so does Bucky.

[aphrodaisyacs]

Stoki Fic Rec List

No Six Sentence Sunday this week just me and my first ever fic rec list. This is the result of me caring too much for a rarepair that not enough of the fandom cares about but ANYWAY. The fic rec lists I’ve seen for this pairing are quite a few years old, so I decided to make a new one of my own. The list is sorted in chronological order of the MCU timeline, and also quite long, which is why I put it under a read more:

under bright stars burning by @thelightofthingshopedfor (nearly 21k words, Teen and Up)

When Steve is a kid, he meets a boy named Loki who says he's a prince and shows him real magic. It's kind of weird (but that doesn't mean he doesn't like it).

A fic where Steve and Loki sort-of grow up together, but it’s still set in the canon-verse (don’t worry, the timeline discrepancy gets explained). Kid!Loki and Kid!Steve are so damn adorable, there’s quite a bit of angst between them but there’s also more than enough hurt/comfort to make up for it. I was so disappointed when this fic ended where it did, because I enjoyed it so much that I wanted it to go on forever.

Silver Moon by aurilly (23k+ words, Mature)

Steve and Bucky meet a weirdly dressed guy who claims to be a banished prince from some place they've never heard of. Most New Yorkers would have left the lunatic right where they found him, but Steve and Bucky have never been good at doing things the easy way.

Okay so I cheated a bit, because this fic is actually Steve/Loki/Bucky, but. It is so well-written that I’m including it in this list anyway. In this universe Loki discovers his heritage far earlier than in canon, which leads to a series of events resulting in him getting his powers stripped then banished to pre-WWII Midgard- specifically, Brooklyn. After repeatedly failing to convince Heimdall to return him to Asgard, Loki eventually settles into a life with Steve and Bucky. But then WWII happens. Slow build, quite a bit of angst, but there’s an optimistic ending.

Those Who Favor Ice by CatalenaMara (18k+ words, Explicit)

“You haven’t said anything incorrectly so far,” Steve said, and could hear an edge in his voice.

“Men of such beauty and strength and talent often feel they must outshine everyone they meet. That they must cast a very large shadow so that the world sees only them.”

So many emotions crossed Loki’s face so quickly that Steve could only interpret a few. Resentment. And longing. And need.

“I wasn’t always strong,” Steve said slowly. “Not as a child. I was sickly - so weak that anyone could beat me.”

Loki’s gaze sharpened. “And did they? Beat you?”

Don’t mind me I just love fics that feature Jotunn!Loki and/or Loki dealing with his heritage and Jotunheim in general. We get to see a possibility of what might have been if Heimdall hadn’t betrayed King Loki, which apparently involves Loki running off to become King of Jotunheim and later Steve’s lover. Beautiful prose, smut that doubles as character study, A+.

Madness by @scotlandevander (19k+ words, Teen and Up)

Time makes a deal and when Time makes a deal, it plays out till it is fulfilled. Steve Rogers is learning this the hard way and he’s quite sure it’ll end in madness.

Steve is stuck in a time loop spanning from the moment he wakes up in the 21st century to the events of T:DW. Needless to say it doesn’t take very long for him to run out of fucks to give. I really love the gradual development of Steve’s relationships with Bruce, Natasha and of course Loki throughout the loops. The progression of Stoki is slow mainly because Steve’s a useless bisexual and nice to read. Definitely one of my all-time favourites for this ship.  

Living Contradiction by Ebyru (1k+ words, Teen and Up)

Loki hates Captain America, but over time he realizes it’s a lie.

Excerpt: "Captain America is brave, strong, independent and an astounding leader. Maybe no-one can tell, but far beneath the mask of strength he wears and the flag he carries, Loki can see he’s just a follower."

Something short and sweet set vaguely post-Avengers (2012). Contemplative character study as Loki learns more about the man underneath the Captain America costume. I recommend this if you’re in the mood for a quick pre-slash read.

In The Land of Gods and Monsters by thisiswhatthewatergaveme (nearly 5k words, Explicit)

Steve makes a mistake: he lets his guard down. He lets a momentary relief cloud his judgment. He doesn’t spring into action when Loki spins around and presses a tight-lipped kiss against his mouth. Doesn’t even move when it softens, slightly, Loki’s hands curling over his arms.

And then the god is gone and Steve realizes something important. He realizes, perhaps for the first time, that there are different kinds of war.

While the author has tagged this fic as Porn Without Plot, I think it’s more accurate to say that there is plot, it’s just that the entire plot is centred on the build-up to the porn. And said build-up is mostly Loki catching Steve unawares to kiss him, interspersed with Steve suffering some moral crises over being attracted to his enemy.

Thawing Universe by Vulcanmi (17k+ words, Teen and Up)

A what if that starts after the events of Thor: the Dark World but before Winter Soldier. What if Loki had gotten tired of playing Odin?

Parts 1, 2 & 3 are purely Stoki, while part 4 & 5 are Thor/Bucky-centric with background Stoki. Loki gets bored of pretending to be Odin rather quickly, and thus he goes down to Earth to continually invite himself over to Steve’s apartment. Steve has exactly zero say in all of this. This series makes the pairing seem way more adorable than it has any right to be, all the while keeping everyone in-character. Part 1 builds the relationship, part 2 has the other Avengers reacting to it, and part 3 has Steve finally getting off his useless bisexual ass and asking Loki out for real. One of my favourite depictions of this pairing for sure.

Strange Love by @dvswraatins (12k words, Teen and Up)

It starts with a simple taunt.

Spoiler alert: the aforementioned “taunt” is Loki putting on a great show of seducing Steve in order to piss off Thor. Featuring Loki being unapologetically a piece of shit, Loki as a part-time Avenger and narration that becomes hilariously descriptive whenever Thor enters the picture. One of the things I adore about this fic is that it explores a dynamic for this pairing I didn’t know I needed- of Loki trying to use Steve for his own gain, but Steve manipulating him right back.

The Dreamfasting by suchaprettyface (80k+ words, Explicit)

This is the highly unlikely and yet somehow inevitable story of how Captain Steve Rogers, Avenger, becomes the lover of Loki Odinson, younger prince of Asgard and Public Enemy Number 1 according to the FBI database of known offenders.

Steve and Loki discover quite by accident that they are connected by a very old form of magic whose initial purpose seems to be getting them in each other's pants as often as possible. But there's far, far more at work than that...

To break this series down to its bare essentials: lots of porn + lots of plot. Post-AoU, Loki gets captured by SHIELD but almost immediately after Steve runs into him again, the two of them begin sharing wet dreams. The more dreams they share, the stronger the indescribable connection between them grows. Yet, in the background of all the dream-fucking, there is the mystery of why these dreams even exist in the first place, as well as Steve finding himself physically changed by them. 

Look At Me Now by @arimabat (33k+ words, Teen and Up)

Steve is on the run. His already complicated life becomes just a little more complicated when an old enemy shows up unexpectedly. But Loki has changed since their last encounter and he could have crucial information to stop a fast-approaching threat. If he’s willing to tell Steve.

Or, the one where Loki keeps bothering Steve until he figures out a way to get something useful out of it and then it all just becomes a mess.

Post-Civil War, pre-Ragnarok. Loki is absolutely delighted by a jaded, cynical Steve, and Steve is very much unamused by the unwanted attention. Steve attempts to take advantage of this attention anyway by interrogating Loki about the Infinity Stones, which leads to the gradual development of a relationship neither of them expected. I absolutely love the conversations and banter between everyone in this fic- not just between Steve and Loki, but also between Steve, Natasha, Sam and Wanda. However, (spoiler alert) the ending for this fic isn’t all too happy BUT the good news is that it’s part of a series, which isn’t complete yet at the time I’m typing this up.

Be My All-American Boy by @gavotteangel (6k+ words, Teen and Up)

It's Steve Rogers' birthday and it's Independence Day. Naturally, the freshly reunited Avengers vacation to a lake house and throw him a party. Nothing goes as expected.

Or: LOKI HAS A BIG FAT CRUSH HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FOLKS

Post-Ragnarok, post-Civil War, with a dose of Infinity War being cancelled. Highlights include Loki having a crush on bearded!Steve and abhorring the fact that the crush even exists in the first place, Loki trying his best to hold back his stabby instincts on his new allies, Loki and Natasha being drinking buddies and Loki eating the rest of Steve’s birthday cake out of pure pettiness.

I’m also going to shamelessly self-promote and rec my own series Mischief Managed (nearly 20k words, Teen and Up)

Set post-Ragnarok in an AU where Infinity War is cancelled and Steve and Tony have gotten their shit together.

The series follows Steve and Loki while they form an unlikely bond as they team up to prank others, again and again.

Initially based on this headcanon, with Steve getting the opportunity to confront Loki about it, which somehow leads to both of them teaming up to prank the rest of the Avengers. Part 2 expands on the unlikely friendship they formed in part 1, except this time Steve and Loki take advantage of the media circus and fake date to piss off homophobes. Meanwhile, the Avengers are forced to watch this train wreck happen in real time. According to the comments this series is funny enough that it made people laugh not that I’d be able to judge properly since I’m the one who wrote it. 

Tangerines are Sweet Enough by @fel-as-in-tumbld (4k+ words, General)

(Steve is seven, cold and hungry and it's Christmas morning; he's seven, sitting on the floor, pulling perfect miniature suns out of the foot of his stocking. Tangerines; he's seven, and he can feel the flesh tear under his thumbnail, can taste the burst of flavour on his tongue, the juice slide down his throat; he's seven, and he's sitting with his mother and everything has been cold and hunger, but there is this--tangerines, like eating the sun with his mother, and the warmth of her laughter--

Steve hasn't eaten a tangerine since she died, since Bucky vanished off to war; too many memories, too much intimacy.

Post-Infinity War fic where Loki actually gets revived I’m looking at you Russos. It has beautiful prose which sets a soft, wistful tone to the whole thing, helped by the fact that it takes place during the winter holidays. Steve and Loki’s relationship here is... well, melancholic, mostly, but it does end on a warm note. 

*

This rec list only reflects my personal reading experiences (and are also only limited to AO3), so feel free to add more suggestions in reblogs or replies!

Honorary mention goes to Remember This Cold by @veliseraptor (nearly 800k words, ranges from General to Explicit depending on the part) which I didn’t include in the main list because let’s be real, anyone who’s looking for Stoki fic recs has already read this series.

[myfanfictiongarden]

Amazing things in Avengers: Endgame

worst-best (or best worst?) way to start the movie

seriously that opening scene is heart crushing

Tony and Nebula bonding

Tony reunited with Pepper

ok, did not see that quick end of Thanos coming

5. years. later.

it’s a rat that saved the day!

poor Scott looking for his daughter

Cassie is alive!

Natasha holding things together, man does she do her best

“You know, if you're about to tell me to look on the bright side, I'm about to hit you in the head with a peanut butter sandwich.”

time travel becomes a thing

nice house by the lake

also, I love Dad!Tony

Time travel movie references

it’s professor Hulk, I guess?

and no one knows Ant-Man

Scott testing time travel

ok, ok, ok, I know Thor is having a super hard time with feeling guilty about only saving few of his people, but... Chris Hemsworth as beer-belly Thor is hilarious

Clint as Ronin is killing it- literally

“Don't.- Don't what?- Don't give me hope.- I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you sooner.” :...)

“I love you 3000.” you can not top that

Pepper supporting Tony is goals

ok, Clint volunteering to test the machine is great, but sending him back to his home where his family is still alive and he can hear them and bringing him back before he can see them? that is heartless

beer-belly Thor is still hilarious

love the research montage

I gotta admit, their plan to get the stones is really well thought out

the moment when they re-enter the 2012 time line

hahaha Bruce trying to act like the 2012 Hulk

the elevator scene that goes differently then what we expect

Cap fighting Cap!

Tony was so close! but nope, Loki has the Teseract

(wait, did he create a new time line with it?)

The Ancient One kicking Bruce’s astral form

and their arguments about time travel are actually pretty smart

Cap and Tony really did their research well

let’s go to the 70s

“Make love, not war.” Stan Lee, thank you for everything

Tony meeting his father- well not so future father to be

Steve seeing Peggy in the adjoining room but she not noticing him?

I loved the moment Tony could share with his father

Nebula and Rohdney coming across 2014 Quill is just funny, did Chris Prat really reinact that dancing scene?

things get complicated with 2014 Thanos, Gamora and Nebula entering the picture

it’s not like I saw it coming, but the moment Natasha and Clint arrive at Voromir you know she is gonna jump

that doesn’t mean it was less heartbreaking

today’s Nebula captured by 2014 Nebula to switch places is evil

with everyone back to the present you don’t need words to see how much the loss of Natasha means

Hulk using the gauntlet is the only logical option

goodness, the first thing we notice is different is that you can actually hear birds twitching, like... you only now notice they were not there before and you realize they fixed things

and then Clint’s phone rings with Laura on the other end

did not see Thanos’ attack coming

hard core attack

one moment of joy is followed by complete destruction of the Avengers base

let’s play a game of “who will find the gauntlet first in an apocalyptic setting”

Nebula kills 2014 self... is that possible?

Tony at his last, Cap’s shield broken, things seem at their worst

ok, the moment the portals start to open with Strange coming out followed by every Avenger that’s been dusted and then more and more portals appear with now a full army of sorcerers and Wakanda warriors- that’s just epic

“Avengers. Assemble.” !!!!!!!!

and you notice that even though there are like a million of things happening every single character has his own fighting style

Steve lifting Mjölmir is sooo awesome

“I knew it!” Thor you are the best

Peter Parker hidding with the gauntlet is so Peter Parker

Scarlet Witch more powerful then we ever saw her

now, Thanos getting all the stones together again and about to snap his fingers again only to realize Tony has them all- that did make the whole theater go silent

“And I ... am .... Iron Man.”

the decision to not give Tony anything else to say after that, only searching with his eyes for Pepper, was a very emotional decision

“We’re gonna be okay. You can rest now.”

Tony’s last speach is so incredible

“Love you 3 000.” RIGHT IN THE FEELS!!!!

can’t believe everyone we know came to the funeral, that... was truly a way to say goodbye to a character and the movies in general

not sure if Thor being part of the Guardians is a good idea, how can Quill and Thor survive on the same ship?

ok, Steve will bring back the Infinity stones to their times... but why does Bucky act like it will be forever- ... oh, now I got it

actually makes sense for Sam to be the new Captain America instead of last-century-and-brain-washed Bucky

not gonna lie, seeing Steve and Peggy dance in their own little house was what my heart has been waiting for forever

no end credits but the end cards will make you cry

[yankeeclapdoctor]

That ScreenRant article came out and I’ve decided now is as good a time as any to pour my 7-year-old Loki headcanon analysis gasoline onto the discourse fire

Seriously don’t keep reading this if you don’t want to be bombarded with pieces of what has been in my head for the past 7 years i’m not fucking messing around my friends don’t have a choice to be attacked with this shit when i start talking in person but it’s the internet so you do have a choice. but for the record: I don’t condone his attempts at genocide or other violent actions, and I know it’s bad writing, and i am also aware that it’s 2018 not 2013. But I still love him. Thank you good day

SO I went through and wrote all over the Marvel profile for Loki and here are some things I have to say that can actually be backed up by canon evidence (I have my other headcanons that are just mine that can only be expressed in angsty fanfic but this isn’t the place for that):

In Thor (2011), Loki brings the Frost Giants to infiltrate Asgard on Thor’s coronation day. He tells Laufey that it was “to ruin [his] brother’s big day,” but we also know from his argument with Sif and the Warriors Three that he didn’t believe Thor was ready to rule yet (and he was right! he didn’t go about any of what he did correctly at all but he was right that Thor wasn’t ready and if he hadn’t been right there wouldn’t have been a movie). He doesn’t ruin Thor’s coronation because he wants to be king, he ruins it both because he’s THE GOD OF MISCHIEF and because he thought he was doing what was best for Asgard (which comes from him just being an entitled little pompous bitch but we all knew that already). 

After he finds out that he’s a Frost Giant, he loses his fucking mind and becomes desperate for Odin’s approval and to be “worthy,” especially after having felt overshadowed by Thor throughout his life. Finding out that he was a Frost Giant and that Odin took him hoping to “bring about permanent peace through [him]” made him feel even more used and inferior, driving him to (understandably) lose it and try to prove himself “worthy” of being both Odin’s son and an effective person who can be powerful on his own, not just a pawn as Odin first intended for him. 

As he says to Thor, he “never wanted the throne. [He] only ever wanted to be [Thor’s] equal”—and this is true, both before he knows about his adoption and after: before, Loki felt overshadowed because Thor’s physical strength and status as the heir gave him more positive regard (fuck. look at me using my psychology terms), and afterwards he wants to be Thor’s “equal” just in being deemed “worthy” of Odin’s love and in being seen as a powerful independent person. When Thor asks him why he’s trying to commit genocide he answers, “To prove to father that I am a worthy son.” He thinks that the only way to prove to Odin that he is worthy is to prove that he should be a king, because Thor who has been deemed “worthy” by Odin (and by Mjolnir) is the heir, and therefore kings = “worthy” so Loki should become a king so he can be “worthy”!!! He’s fucked up!!! THIS IS NOT TO EXCUSE HIS ATTEMPT TO COMMIT GENOCIDE AGAINST THE FROST GIANTS. THAT WAS NOT OKAY. I am just deeply psychoanalyzing his motives because Tom Hiddleston played him with this amount of emotional depth and I will prove it by analyzing everything. 

Look at his eyes. what the Fuck. He’s so broken and hurt and out of his fucking mind. He doesn’t know what to do because he’s so angry that he’s a Frost Giant and hates that part of himself and wants to destroy it so he kills his fucking biological father and then tries to kill all the Frost Giants, rejecting them in an attempt to endear himself to Odin and the Asgardians while also believing he’ll never be accepted by them, especially Thor after he saw Thor go berserk on the Frost Giants at the beginning of the movie. and hearing Thor say anything contrary to the fucked up stuff he’s convinced himself of makes him lose it even more. 

ANyway moving on. So Thor stops the genocide from happening which is great (would have been nice if he’d succeeded in stopping it in IW too but oh well bad writing), but after Odin says “no, Loki” instead of you know maybe helping his sons up onto solid ground before trying to have a conversation, Loki lets go and falls into the abyss, definitely believing that he’s gonna die. 

The Marvel profile thing says he “arrives at the Sanctuary” and “meets the Other,” but it was definitely more like he fucking crashed there and got captured by Chitauri, brought to the Other who interrogated him about where he came from, brought him to Thanos, who then tortured him more. 

like...im sorry but this is not the face of a guy who was welcomed into Thanos’s creepy rock lair with open arms and martinis. He was fucking tortured. Not be be 2013 on main analyzing every frame to prove this again but I’m going to: he stumbles when he’s walking with Clint and Selvig to leave the big science room, and he has trouble getting into the truck thing because he’s INJURED from TORTURE see:

ass

[Not to mention all the dialogue in this scene that could be things he was told during his torture and brainwashing/manipulation that he’s repeating back as part of his mindfuckery, but I’m not gonna talk about it bc i know it’s also j*ss’s bad writing not knowing how to write Loki or anyone else and im not getting into that discourse right now. but also for my analytical purposes in my headcanon all of Loki’s dialogue in his first scene in Avengers (2012) is what Thanos told him during his torture]

ANYWAY my point is that Loki was not only influenced by the mind stone; thank you Marvel for finally acknowledging that that happened, but 

Loki was also tortured by Thanos and the Other prior to receiving the scepter

the Other threatens him with being tortured if he “fails” and “if the Tesseract is kept from us” and says “you think you know pain,” which could only refer either to him falling from the Bifrost and landing wherever the fuck he lands (whatever the fuck “The Sanctuary” is. Marvel you can’t just give things stupid cryptic names after the fact what the fuck that’s not fair), or to PREVIOUS TORTURE BY THANOS

the torture was physical as you can see from the everything about him in Avengers (2012), but also psychological as you can tell from his interactions with Thor throughout the movie. let’s take a look

ok well that’s sorta accurate to the feelings he had in Thor (2011). No evidence of brainwashing torture there. carry on.

See but that’s not right. Thor didn’t “toss” him, and while the influence of the mind stone could be warping his memory to make him think that, it would make more sense for Thanos to have used it or other torture to warp his memories to make him think that, to ensure that he would have this thought and this reasoning in his head before encountering his brother again [i know it’s really just bad writing shut up]. Thanos and the Other used Loki’s existing feelings of inferiority, thinking that ruling = worthiness, and resentment towards Thor to manipulate his memories, changing some of them with torture before giving him the scepter which then amplified those feelings and cognitive distortions (ha more psych terms) even more so he could carry out the plan to take over Earth. Playing on Loki’s existing resentment towards Thor made him willing to go after Earth, as he also pretty much says in this scene, so this all doesn’t excuse what he does. He isn’t being completely mind controlled. He’s been manipulated and tortured in a way that uses his existing negative feelings and tendency to create chaos as the GOD OF MISCHIEF to create violent action on behalf of a genocidal alien. Thor notices that when he asks this:

He recognizes Loki’s anger and resentment and twisted ambition from their last fight, but also sees from Loki’s descriptions of the tesseract’s power that his brother’s feelings have been manipulated and amplified by someone’s (and something’s) influence. His later interaction with Loki during the attack on New York when he appeals to him to stop almost works, in that moment people always screenshot to show that Loki’s eyes were blue and therefore he’s controlled by the scepter too oooooOOOOoooOOo (no guys Tom Hiddleston’s eyes are blue and Loki wasn’t controlled by the scepter in the same way as Clint and Selvig). Thor gets Loki to look at the violence around them and asks “do you think this madness will end with your rule?” and this gets through to Loki because he knows he’s not good at establishing order—he creates chaos because he’s THE GOD OF MISCHIEF. His ability to create chaos has been used by Thanos in a ploy to get the Tesseract, the idea that Loki would rule Earth used as vengeful motivation stemming from Loki’s pre-existing feelings of animosity and his earlier need to prove himself “worthy” that have been amplified by both his torture and the influence of the scepter. 

IN CONCLUSION (for now): Loki can create chaos, not control or rule it (see: Thor 2011), but his breakdown in Thor (2011) made him desperate to prove that he can rule, that he can fix problems he creates: he ruins Thor’s coronation and it goes too far, getting Thor banished and nearly starting a war with Jotunheim. He tries to fix it in an attempt to prove himself “worthy” to Odin, but can’t fix it. Thanos uses this need he has to prove himself to make him wreak havoc on Earth to get the Tesseract, but the Avengers defeat him, and Thanos not stepping in to get the Tesseract then 

shows that none of his plan was actually about Earth beyond trying to get the Tesseract and he used Loki’s resentment towards Thor to get to Earth for it

Marvel is bad at setting up long-term villains like Thanos and they should have done Secret Invasion instead because after Avengers (2012) they just fucking forget about him. because they should have introduced the other infinity stones earlier on so that him showing up made more sense. but whatever

So in actual concise response to Marvel updating the thing to say that Loki was influenced by the scepter/mind stone in Avengers (2012): yes thank you for finally fucking saying it and addressing one aspect of your inconsistent writing. We been knew. Loki was influenced by the scepter after being tortured and psychologically manipulated by Thanos and the Other between his fall from the Bifrost and the start of Avengers (2012). This does not mean he was not responsible for his destructive and murderous actions on Earth—that was fucked up—and he still very much did try to commit genocide in Thor (2011). I am not excusing that. However, he is a fictional character and I love him.

[wazafam]

The newest trailer for Marvel's upcoming Loki series once again features a shot of a redheaded woman sitting with Loki – but it's entirely possible this character is Verity Willis, not Black Widow or even Lady Loki. The third Marvel series for Disney+ will follow the exploits of the God of Mischief after the events of The Avengers, when a 2012 just post-Battle of New York version of Loki snags the Tesseract and poofs out of S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.

However, that action ends up breaking the timeline and so he's conscripted into service by Owen Wilson's Mobius M. Mobius of the Time Variance Authority, who capture and recruit him in order to help them fix the universe he messed up. The trailers make it appear as though Loki will be bouncing around various timelines and running into a number of new characters. One of those new characters is one some believe will actually be an old character: Black Widow. And, it's true, the trailer shots of a redheaded woman with a short bob sitting next to Loki in what appears to be an alien world does bear a rather uncanny resemblance, at least from behind and at a distance, to Avengers-era Natasha Romanoff.

Related: Loki Trailer 2 Breakdown: Every New Secret & Reveal

But there's another character being largely overlooked to this point, and it's one who has important ties to Loki in the comics: Verity Willis. Here's why it's entirely possible that the redheaded woman people keep spotting in the trailer is Verity, not Natasha - or even Lady Loki, as others have posited.

As with many Marvel movies and TV shows, the Loki series looks to be a very loose adaptation – call it a spiritual adaptation – of the Loki: Agent of Asgard series by Al Ewing & Jason Aaron. In that series, he's not working for the TVA, but the All-Mother. Determined to erase his past as a villain and become a truly good person, Loki agrees to be a secret agent for Asgard. For every successful mission he pulls off, one of his sins is stricken from the gods' record book and replaced with a good deed. Though it appears that in the series he'll be helping the TVA for slightly less noble reasons, at least at first, but the core premise is the same: Loki acts as an agent sent on various missions across time to right wrongs and atone for his crimes.

While Loki establishes himself on Earth, one human he meets becomes more important than anyone to him: Verity Willis. Verity is a human who, through an accident when she was a baby, possesses the ability to see through any lie or illusion, whether told for good or ill intention – making her an intriguing and formidable match for Loki, the master of lies, even with his magic. While he's shocked she immediately sees through his guise of an old man, eventually, the two form a bond that blossoms into a close friendship. Over time, Verity becomes Loki's best friend, arguably the only real friend he's ever had. While Verity hasn't made any appearances outside of the Agent of Asgard comics, she had an enormous impact on Loki.

It's unlikely that the woman in the trailer is Natasha. For starters, it's not generally been Marvel's way to reveal something that big in the trailers. Secondly, it just doesn't make much sense to bring her back. While Black Widow is now coming out a month after Loki, it was originally supposed to be released well before the Marvel Disney+ show and its new release date was only decided upon a few weeks ago. With Natasha's death in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow director Cate Shortland and Scarlett Johansson both have said that the movie was meant to serve as a final goodbye to Natasha and give her the proper send-off she deserves. With that in mind, it would be incredibly odd for Marvel to bring back Black Widow for a cameo in Loki as it would undercut the emotional impact of her sacrifice in Endgame and everything her solo film is trying to accomplish.

Related: Phase 4 Needs To Explore Black Widow's Death For Bucky's Sake

Of course, it is possible that it is Natasha in an alternate timeline: After all, of all the Avengers Loki has gone up against, Black Widow is likely the one he's closest to having a grudging respect for seeing as how she played him at his own game in Avengers to learn his plan for the Hulk. The others he doesn't have much use for, but Natasha's successful deception is something that, in his own perverse way, Loki would approve of. But even that doesn't make much sense.

Nor is it likely to be Lady Loki for no other reason than that it would be a wild reimagining of how she looks in the comics. In the comics, she's literally just the female form of the genderfluid Loki and as such looks exactly like him: Black hair, green eyes, pale skin. That's not to say Lady Loki won't be appearing in the Loki series - in fact, it seems almost certain she will, especially now that the trailer has confirmed there are "variants" of Loki in different universes or timelines – it's just that it's unlikely she's the redhead people keep spotting in the trailer. Even more than Black Widow, Lady Loki would be a character Marvel would absolutely not give away in trailers.

There is admittedly a third option: It's Lady Loki glamoured to look like Black Widow. If that were the case, technically, that shot in the trailer would neither undermine Natasha's end as it's not actually Natasha, nor would it give away that it's Lady Loki as it doesn't reveal her on the surface. Still, for everyone convinced it's Black Widow or Lady Loki in that scene are overlooking what Verity could bring to the series.

The Loki of the Disney+ series is not the Loki who found himself on a redemption arc after the brutal blow of his mother's death and helping Thor save Jane Foster in Thor: The Dark World, losing his adoptive father and defending Asgard against Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, or attempting (however uncharacteristically poorly) to kill Thanos and keep the Tesseract from him in Avengers: Infinity War. This is the Loki who was under the control of the Mind Stone until recently and who had attempted to take over the world by destroying New York. If he wants to be redeemed, something or someone will have to propel him toward a redemption arc. That something could very well be Verity Willis.

Related: Loki Trailer Confirms Loki Is Behind The MCU's Multiverse Problem

In the comics, Verity was the only person Loki couldn't fool and because he had to be completely honest with her, she was arguably the only person in this world or any other who got to know Loki for exactly who he was. It was Verity's faith in Loki and her true friendship that gave him the encouragement he needed to cast off his title of the God of Mischief to become the God of Stories. It mattered to him that she always knew he was telling the truth after a millennium of him lying so much for so long that no one believed him when he actually did tell the truth. As he says to her in Loki: Agent of Asgard #6, "Verity-- I'm sorry. I'm not used to having friends, and I don't know how to be a good one. But I'm trying. And I want to change. I want to be better than I am. [...] Just... trust me. Trust in me.”

While the Loki of the series is a pre-redemption Loki, it doesn't mean he's a completely different Loki. He's still the same Loki, just from an earlier point of time. All the willingness to become a better man and grow closer to Thor is still theoretically inside him – he just needs a bit of a push and a reason to want to become a better man. There are a number of different ways Loki could set him on a path to becoming a true hero, but it would create the most interesting dynamic if it were Verity Willis, and not Black Widow or Lady Loki, who helps the God of Mischief do it.

More: The Loki Series Needs To Show Thor's MCU Journey From Loki's Perspective

Loki Theory: The Woman In The Trailer Is Verity Willis (Not Black Widow) from https://ift.tt/3rUvto9

[fiftytwotwenty]

Movie Monday - June 8th, 2020

"Best Superhero Movie"

Spider-Man 2 (2004):

Spider-Man 2? Best Superhero Movie?

That's right, Spiderman 2!

There are Eight Spider-Man films in the Spider-Man lore (Maguire x 3; Webb/Garfield x 2; Holland x2; and an Animated Feature) - What makes Spider-Man 2 better than all other renditions?

The first Raimi Spider-Man (2002) film was excellent and in my opinion more ground breaking to comic/pop culture film than it's Origin Story predecessors, X-Men (2000) and Blade (1998). Spider-Man 2 tops Spiderman because it gets to swing right into action. The First Film in the franchise had to check-off the Origin Story Boxes: Kill off Uncle Ben, Learn to Use Powers, and Establish Social Class & Hierarchy with Peers all before Battling the Baddie, Green Goblin. The first half of the film makes Peter Parker/Spider-Man a Passive Protagonist.

The Second Film we are well versed with Spidey's background and built off the excellent installment which bred a more Active Protagonist with a More Grandiose Action and Sharper graphics.

Then we have Spider-Man 3 (2007)... Out of the Raimi triology it grossed the most money but toppled the franchise. The World Still Doesn't Know How...

Then we had the Webb/Garfield The Amazing Spider-Mans (2012 & 2014) reboots which had the advantage of better technology and a large sample base of what comic book fans and movie goers were looking for in a superhero film (there were 6 MCU films - Iron Man to Avengers - before Amazing Spider-Man's July 3rd release - 9 by the time we got to Amazing Spider-Man2), but The Amazing Spider-Man managed to dismantle the charm of the Raimi franchise. The Amazing Spider-Man produced lesser plots, villians, and protagonist.

Then we have the Watts/Holland's Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019) which are fabulous. Both films coming off the momentum of the MCU franchise are packed with powerful punches in a John Hughes fashion - Great Villians and Refreshing take on Peter Parker/Spidey, but as standalone films they seem to stand in the shadows of the MCU's Iron Man. Both Villians are birthed through hatred of Tony Stark and The Avengers which turns Spider-Man movies into a spinoff rather than a solo film.

Also with the Stark/Parker dynamic - Holland's Spidey comes off as a people pleaser who is trying to live up to someone else's standards compared to Raimi/ Maguire's version where we get a Spider-Man who makes his own conscious decision to stand up to injustice and learns how to be a superhero along the way making for a greater story arc.

Now Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is another tough contender - An absolutely fresh superhero movie which shows how much you can play with a Superhero Universe by giving us multiple perspectives from different Spideys. Perfect Characters mixed with humor and action - not just a Great Animated movie but a Straight-Up Excellent Movie, period.

I still have to choose Spider-Man 2 over Spiderverse as the latter is essentially an Origin Story which gets caught up more in self reflections than battles. If they make a sequel my tune could very well change.

Don't cry Spiderverse...Be Proud... You won an Oscar:

Now... Let's Machete through the MCU.

What makes Spider-Man compelling is Peter Parker did not choose to have Super Powers - he was bitten by a radioactive spider and made a conscious decision to use his newly gained abilities to fight evil.

Iron, Capt America, Thor, and Black Panther sought out their fights. They wanted their powers and abilities. The internal struggle with Parker/Spidey is he wants a normal life but cannot have one as it will bring harm amongst his loved ones - in Spider-Man 2 we see Parker try to give up Superhero antics for a life of normalcy where he can have a relationship and go to school, but in the end Parker realizes his responsibilities and decides it's best to live in secrecy. Stark, Rogers, Thor's lives are their Superhero identities in the film - They have nothing to hide - they are open books to the public.

Then you have The Hulk and Ant-Man:

Ant-Man/Lang is just aloof - just falling into plots and action haphazardly. Portrayed as more of a Slapstick Hero.

The Hulk/Banner does have a compelling story kind of like Spider-Man in a sense he to did not want his "powers".

Where they differ is Banner sulks way too much - We get it - You have no control - whereas Parker is more of a trooper who plays with the cards he is dealt. In Spider-Man 2 we see multiple times that Parker tries to do the right thing but can't please the ones closest to him: Let's down his boss, his professor/studies, his aunt, friends, and his crush Mary Jane - the struggle is real.

But what about the Team Ups? Avengers, Infinity War, End Game... even Guardians of the Galaxy... Surely they rival Spider-Man 2...

Well, They are Excellent and well crafted films - they effortlessly did what hardly any X-Men film could which is make an ensemble picture - multiple egos sharing screen time, Bravo.

Where I think they lose out is most of the stories draw conflict from internal bouts with other teammates. The stories will have the big baddies on the horizon ready for a battle, but the audience is taken on a side-bar to figure out the Heroes petty squabbles with their coworkers - Trust me - if they were real grown ass adults Capt America: Civil War could have been avoided.

Heck, Loki's first/main tatic in Avengers was to pit the team against each other - c'mon - same team guys...

So... We are done with Spider-Man 2 versus Marvel Universe...

Up Next... The DCU.

And There is Only One True Contender:

Through my research 95% of the time The Dark Knight comes up as the #1 Best Superhero Movie of All Time.

Claims that it was ahead of its time and that it is more than a Superhero Movie - It's a Crime Movie - No, no, it's a Cinematic Masterpiece.

A film that was able to capture a gritty darkness set in a realistic world.

The Joker steals the show - No other villian performance can rival.

And I agree. It is a well layed out Crime Drama which was nominated for multiple Oscars (with Ledger picking up one for his Joker performance) and Nolan did make a very plausible world.

But does that make it the Best Superhero Movie?

You already know my answer is "No".

For all the reasons why it is so reverred is what holds it back.

We are talking Superhero Movies - who wants to see a story played out in a super realistic world. Plus the Camp and Cheese of Comic Book movies is part of the appeal. And if we are talking Dark/Grittiness we got that with the Burton Batmans (excellent films as well) - Nolanites, I am sorry to tell you Christopher didn't invent style.

You want a Crime Drama - watch Heat (1995) . So many critics paired The Dark Knight to Heat ( a great movie) but again we are talking Superhero movies.

Finally, Heath Ledger's Joker launched multitude of character studies for years to come and it is well deserved... but the funny thing is he is the Villian... The Villian is more compelling than the Protagonist!

No one talks about Christain Bale's Bruce/Batman when they talk Dark Knight. Our hero is overshadowed! This is why Michael Keaton is my Batman.

We no longer have a Superhero Movie...We have a Villian Flick.

It's almost as if Nolan tried so hard to make a movie that appeals to a wider pretentious audience beyond the comic book crowd that he put too much emphasis on the baddie and not enough on the hero. The Joker drives Batman that entire film making him a passive protagonist.

Spider-Man 2 is a perfect mix/balance of all of the above...

We have a hero that constantly sacrifices.

A man who just wants to deliver pizzas and go on dates but is busy taking on a Megalomaniac with Mechanical Arms - who by the way Spider-Man inadvertently creates by trying to do the right thing - while also trying to transverse a rocky relationship with his best friend - who happens to be the Son of The Green Goblin - The Villian who died during battle with the Protagonist.

Alfred Molina's Doc Ock is excellent. His villian mission is plausible and his hatred for Spider-Man is justified making for epic battles.

Lastly, the humor/comedy lands just when it should and when action takes place it is on Fire!

Here's to You, Spider-Man 2:

[anthonianrhapsody-blog]

And the Best MCU Film is...

by Captain

Admit it. When the leaked footage of the Avengers: Infinity War trailer came out, you did one of four things:

1. Weep like a baby when Peter said “I’m sorry” to Tony; 2. Scream your lungs out when Steve (beard and all) came out; 3. Let out a big “oooohhhh” when Thanos hurled down that planet; 4. All of the above

As a crossover of 10 years’ worth of cinematic storylines, this mega-event of a movie is unprecedented. Before Infinity War drops next May (which is just 7 months away, but it SURE feels like an eternity away), let’s tackle a question that will trigger debates, challenge friendships, and even put marriages (!) to the test.

What is the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Before you blast this blog away with a Jericho missile (hats off to you if you got that reference), the writer would like to set a few parameters.

First, I’ll make it a top 5 list for better chances of acknowledging your favorite. Okay? Y’all happy?

Second, this article will cover only the first 16 MCU films—that is, the ones that have already been released at the time that this article has been published. Unfortunately, I have no Ancient One-like powers to look into the future. My list might very well be obliterated by upcoming flicks like Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther (watch out for the reviews! ☺). Also, I won’t be factoring in TV and Netflix content like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Defenders series. Different medium, different criteria.

Lastly, and speaking of criteria, allow me to declare my standards for film quality. (Feel free to argue with my rubrics in the comments section, but this is my list, so tough luck.) My biggest considerations are plot and characterization. As in, how good is the story that unfolds in the film? How developed are the character arcs and motivations, and why should I care about them? I also care about effectiveness of acting, visual spectacle, quality of shots and editing, and impact of auditory effects.

With that out of the way...

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Captain America: Civil War (epic airport scene vs. wildly impossible coincidences); Avengers: Age of Ultron (messy in places, but it’s just a special thing when Avengers assemble); the first Thor film (an underrated movie...shout-out to Tom and Kenneth)

Raise your right hand if you knew who Star-Lord and Gamora were three years ago. Raise your left hand if you were also aware that they were not in the original Guardians line-up in the comics. No hands raised? Then you’re just like the thousands of moviegoers who were pleasantly surprised by this franchise in 2014. With the careful handling of director James Gunn, this movie featuring C-list Marvel heroes captured the hearts of comic book die-hards and casual MCU fans alike. Guardians’ strongest suit is its comedy—Rocket Racoon’s unstoppable mouth, Drax the Destroyer’s dry humor (made special by wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista), and Peter Quill’s dancing-out-of-nowhere in the movie’s climax. And of course...I am Groot, ‘nuff said.

Throw in the brilliance of the film’s color palette and the soundtrack known as “Awesome Mix Vol. 1,” and you could say that it’s hard to find fault with this flick. But I do have (gasp!) a minor gripe. The film’s third act is all about the Guardians protecting the planet of Xandar from Ronan the Accuser, who wields the might of the destructive Power Stone. Problem is, the Xandarians weren’t given quite enough screen time. Every time I watch the film, I think to myself, “Who are these guys?” Sure, there are images of Xandarian families and children scurrying for their lives, but I just wish the development of these ‘sympathetic’ figures had been better.

That, frankly, is my only problem with an otherwise colorful, highly lovable film. As you’ll see, the next film did not commit the Xandar mistake.

#4: ANT-MAN (2015)

“So I’m at this art museum with my cousin Ignacio, right? And there was this, like, abstract impressionism exhibit. But you know me, I’m more like a Neo-Cubist kind of guy...”

Impossible as it sounds, these lines managed to make people laugh. Thanks, Michael Peña! Just like Guardians, the 2015 flick Ant-Man proved that Marvel Studios can do comedy effectively. Beyond its penchant for humor—as well as its dazzling array of museum-worthy visual effects—Ant-Man also got story-telling right. Any human being can relate to Scott Lang’s quest for redemption after his three-year prison sentence. The film tugs at your heartstrings every time Scott interacts with his daughter Cassie. And the film makes you hold your breath during the climax, when Scott sacrifices himself to save Cassie from the villain Yellowjacket. (Spoiler: Scott survived.)

Yellowjacket, however, is a testament to the widely discussed “MCU villain problem.” For all the wonderful heroes that Marvel Studios has brought to life, there is also a legion of antagonists that the MCU films have failed to maximize. In Ant-Man, Darren Cross is a rather menacing jerk (thanks to a great performance by actor Corey Stoll). But his screen time as Ant-Man’s evil counterpart could have been fleshed out and extended. As it was, Yellowjacket became just another dispensable villain to join the likes of Ultron, Ronan the Accuser, and Malekith.

But Ant-Man still succeeds because it makes you care greatly about Scott and Cassie. And it is precisely because of this that this film is ranked above Guardians. When you compare the two films, it’s easier to care for a human father and his innocent little daughter than an entire planet of unknown, unfamiliar beings.

#3: SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)

I have to be honest: the subtitle did not work out for me at first. When Marvel and Sony announced that they would be sharing Spidey’s film rights (hallelujah), I was hoping for a comic book-inspired title. Like Sensational Spider-Man or Peter Parker: Spider-Man. I know that the term “Homecoming” has several connotations (such as the Spider-Man character being welcomed back to the fold of Marvel Studios), but it just isn’t fierce enough for a superhero film.

Trust me, that’s about as much I’ll complain about this movie. Because everything else was...amazing.

To begin with, Tom Holland is the perfect actor for the title role. He brought a more youthful vibe to the Peter Parker persona than Tobey Maguire. And he embodied a more light-hearted, wittier Spider-Man than Andrew Garfield. As remarkable as young Mr. Holland’s performance was, the film’s showstopper was veteran actor Michael Keaton. Finally, a well-rounded villain! Keaton brought emotional depth to the role of Adrian Toomes/Vulture, who is effectively portrayed as a blue-collar worker wronged by society’s elite. The rest of the crew is just as outstanding. Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man) is used in just enough doses as the hero’s mentor. Jacob Batalon is hilarious as Ned, the techie best friend; while Zendaya is quirky as the mysterious Michelle persona (eventually revealed to be...wait for it...MJ).

Distinguishing itself as a teen movie, Homecoming is a refreshing selection among the grittier grown-ups of the MCU. Take your pick of adolescent drama: Peter’s fixations on his crush, the thrills and frills of weekend parties, the suspense of inter-school competitions. Indeed, this film offers a new flavor among the political thrillers and world-ending catastrophes of Captain America and Thor. The plot keeps you on the edge of your seats from beginning to end (though the climactic battle could have been more, um, climactic). Even the mid-credits scene keeps you fascinated in what happens next (hello, Sinister Six).

This is how good Homecoming is: up until earlier this year, I had a different top 5 list. Captain America: Civil War was on it. When Homecoming came out, Spider-Man swung all the way into my top 3. Tom Holland and co. were so good that there are only two films that they did not displace in my nerdy Marvel heart.

#2: AVENGERS (2012)

Assemble.

This might be more of a sentimental pick—I know that several critics would have Guardians at this spot—but I’m listening to my nerdy heart. In Avengers, several effective elements come together. The best part, of course, is the unprecedented, seamless merging of characters and plot lines. Marvel heroes from a 3-year period of films come together to protect humanity from intergalactic threats. If you faithfully watched the solo Marvel films before viewing Avengers, you were duly rewarded with a satisfying conclusion to Phase 1. If you watched Avengers in isolation, you would still be captivated with the colorful adventure of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

And oh boy, how the sparks fly! Even before a single fist landed on a Chitauri cheekbone, the in-fighting among the heroes was fun to watch. The verbal showdown between Cap and Iron Man was fascinating—enough to get everyone excited for a possible Civil War (which happened). Thor vs. Hulk and Thor vs. Tony were exciting heavyweight fights, and the mind-controlled exploits of Hawkeye (who eventually turned into a protagonist) added an extra layer of conflict.

Speaking of conflict, the plot’s intensity keeps the audience hooked from start to finish. The film opens with a car-blowing, Tesseract-grabbing heist perpetuated by Loki, the best MCU villain to date. The action sequences that follow—which include the forest duel and the Helicarrier fiasco—are visual stunners. The climactic Battle of New York is made even more hearstopping when the Avengers have to deal with the alien invasion and the nuclear missile out of nowhere. By the time Mr. Stark wakes up after his heroic sacrifice (with Hulk’s thunderous voice as the alarm clock), the viewer smiles ear-to-ear, satisfied that the good guys prevailed.

We haven’t even touched on the excellent cast—from Downey to Evans, Hiddleston to Ruffalo—as well as the fantastic effects and brilliant musical score. My only nitpick would be the slowing down of the film’s pace during certain expository parts. Perhaps Natasha’s conversation with Dr. Banner could have been just a tad shorter. Other than this, though, I am satisfied with Joss Whedon’s work to the point of considering Avengers a top-of-the-mountain film.

But not the top film.

#1: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)

I will argue all day, any day with anyone who disagrees.

The second Captain America installment is second to none in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, The Winter Soldier is the MCU’s standard-bearer for film quality.

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this film is its realistic approach. All the elements of The Winter Soldier make you believe that a “super soldier”—the stuff of comic book lore—can actually trade fists and save lives in a true-to-life episode of political espionage. Chris Evans gives justice to a highly conflicted Cap, who finds his classic American ideals challenged by 21st century US military “values.”

The action sequences are exquisite. The moment you see Cap deliver a spinning heel kick to a pirate (hello, Georges St-Pierre!), you know it’s going to be special. My favorite scene in the entire film was the elevator scene, in which Steve fights about a dozen Hydra henchmen by himself...and wins. The final act of the film is packed with suspense as Cap attempts to deactivate Hydra’s three Helicarriers designed for mass eliminations. But standing in his way—literally, they stood face-to-face on a very narrow passage—is the Winter Soldier, who is revealed to be Steve’s best friend Bucky. Cheesy as it may have been, the line “I’m with you till the end of the line” was a nice touch to the Cap/Steve vs. Winter Soldier/Bucky plotline.

Comrade Barnes may have been the cybernetically-enhanced villain, but Alexander Pierce was a great antagonist as well in the role of the slimy, intelligent bureaucrat. Robert Redford (God bless his kindred soul) proved in this film that he can out-act any performer that Hollywood has to offer. Memorable performances also came from Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Scarlett Johannson as Black Widow, and Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson.

As garnish, the Russo brothers added touches of humor and cleverness. Like the running joke of Steve telling Sam “I’m on your left,” or the subtle graveyard reference to Samuel L. Jackson’s role in the cult classic Pulp Fiction, or Steve’s list of pop culture items (Star Wars and Star Trek, anyone?). Indeed, Messieurs Joe and Anthony deserved the call to direct Civil War and the Infinity films.

I can only hope that Infinity War and its sequel (Gauntlet, perhaps?) will live up to their gargantuan hype. But don’t get me wrong: I am highly confident because the directors proved how excellent an MCU film can be when they made Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Dear readers, what’s your top 5 list? Do you agree or disagree with the list presented above? Let us know in the comments below!

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/how-to-make-an-avengers-film-in-11-steps/

How to make an Avengers film in 11 steps

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption The Avengers cast and crew (L-R): Joe and Anthony Russo, Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr, Jeremy Renner and Brie Larson

Avengers: Endgame, the fourth instalment in Marvel’s superhero crossover franchise, made an unprecedented $1.2bn at the box office last weekend.

It’s the biggest three-day haul in movie history; and a testament to the strength of Marvel’s serialised approach to story-telling.

Directors Joe and Anthony Russo said they were “definitely surprised” by the film’s “runaway success” – but also announced they were taking a break from the superhero genre, after making two Captain America and two Avengers films in the space of seven years.

“One of the most important things we learned is that when you’re shooting two of the largest movies ever made, and you’re shooting them back to back… is don’t shoot ’em back to back,” Anthony told BBC News, confirming the duo’s departure.

Joss Whedon experienced similar emotions after writing and directing the series’ first two instalments.

“Why on Earth would I make another Avengers movie? They’re really hard,” he mused on the DVD commentary for Age of Ultron. “It was ill advised. I see that now.”

But Marvel’s Cinematic Universe will continue – with new instalments of Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy already confirmed; and a new configuration of The Avengers almost a certainty.

If you somehow end up in the directors’ chair, how should you prepare? Here are 11 key lessons from the people who made the originals.

This article does not contain spoilers for Avengers: Endgame, but will discuss plot details from the preceding films.

1) Start out on a TV show

Image copyright Fox

Image caption The Russos directed the pilot of Arrested Development, and have referenced the show in both Infinity War and Captain America: Civil War

All three directors of The Avengers made their names in TV. Joss Whedon created Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Firefly; while the Russo brothers worked on cult comedies Community and Arrested Development.

Those experiences were invaluable when it came to wrangling a cast of more than 20 characters, “because they are all ensemble shows,” says Joe Russo.

“Those were shows that had to be executed in 21 minutes, they had to be funny, and they had to have a plot. And sometimes, like in an episode of Community, you’d have 30 speaking parts – so that’s an exercise that certainly trained you in trying to contain as many characters as we do in two hours.”

“We’re drawn to multiple points of view and group dynamics, because we grew up in a very large Italian-American family,” adds Anthony, “so we’ve always loved working with ensembles.”

2) Know the characters inside-out

Image copyright Disney

Image caption The first Avengers film brought together six heroes, now there are more than 20

The joy of the Avengers is seeing how these disparate characters, and the actors who play them, interact.

“There is a natural competition when the leads from two different franchises get together and it plays right into the competition of two heroes getting together – so it is delightful,” observed Infinity War script-writer Chris Markus last year.

“A very compelling element of crossovers is who has primacy. They’re all leaders, they’re all used to leading their own worlds, and once you put them into the same room, who gets to call the shots? That is a notion we revisit several times.”

Still, it’s a challenge to give 23 separate characters a distinct voice in the confines of a three-hour film.

Luckily, there’s an old screenwriting tip that comes in handy: If your characters are well-written, you should know how each of then would react if they accidentally fall into a swimming pool.

“Thor from Infinity War would mess that pool up,” says Anthony. “Whereas Rocket – he’s not exceedingly self-deprecating, so I think I could see him gag and spit. He’d be a little irritated.”

3) Take a lot of toilet breaks

Image copyright Shutterstock

Image caption Even superheroes need the bathroom

Scott Derrickson recently tweeted how he “ran into Joe Russo outside the men’s room,” while he was editing the Doctor Strange film in 2015.

“He pitched me the basic story for both Infinity War and Endgame [and] I told him that if he could make the first movie work, the second movie would be incredible.”

Which begs the question: How long did Joe keep his colleague waiting for the loo?

“I think it was like a 10-minute pitch,” he laughs.

“But the funniest thing is that people are like, ‘Do you guys get together at Marvel all the time and have meetings about the storylines?’

“And the answer is, ‘No, it all happens on the way to the bathroom’. That’s where everyone runs into one another and starts exchanging information.”

In other words, don’t hold it in.

4) Keep the story simple

Image copyright Disney

Image caption The search for the Infinity Stones is the key plot device of Avengers: Infinity War

For all of the acclaim heaped on Infinity War, the plot can be boiled down to three words: “Thanos wants stones”.

“We have so many characters in the movie that we knew if the plot was complicated, it would take too [long] to explain and that would take away from the characters and the action,” said screenwriter Chris Markus on the DVD commentary.

Even the number of Infinity Stones caused a headache, said co-writer Steve McFeely.

“Had we invented the idea of Infinity Stones in a vacuum, I’m sure we would not have decided there were six of them. Six MacGuffins is a lot for one movie.”

To keep things moving, the Russos dictated that every scene “had to do more than one thing”.

So the opening sequence – in which Thanos crushes the Hulk, kills Thor’s brother Loki and steals one of the Infinity Stones – conveys three plot points in two minutes.

“It establishes Hulk’s journey – he’s been defeated and doesn’t particularly want to help [Bruce] Banner over the course of the movie,” explained Anthony Russo.

“It establishes a vengeance story for Thor by taking out his brother, and it establishes the plot for stone collection.”

5) The odds should seem insurmountable

Image copyright Disney

Image caption Just another day at the office

“I wanted to make a movie where being a superhero wasn’t a free pass,” said Joss Whedon, about scripting the first Avengers film in 2012.

“Where things were tough enough that you would be as strong as you could possibly be and still not be enough to deal with what was going on.

“The stakes,” he added, “are always the same.

“The stakes are: You could die.”

6) Acknowledge the ridiculous

Image copyright Disney

Image caption He’s behiiiiind you

When your heroes are up against a sentient robot who’s ripped an entire city off the face of the planet, it pays to acknowledge that everything’s a bit far-fetched.

And so, at the climax of Age of Ultron, Hawkeye takes stock of the situation and says: “We’re fighting an army of robots and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense.”

“I refer to that as ‘inoculation,'” Whedon explained. “He says the thing we’re all thinking, and it plays.”

7) Talk to the animators

Image copyright Disney

Image caption Hulk and Thanos are based on motion-captured performances by Mark Ruffalo and Josh Brolin

The Avengers films are some of the most effects-heavy movies in history, with four major characters – Thanos, Hulk, Rocket and Groot – created by computer animation.

Making them believable is a crucial task, so both Whedon and the Russos started working with artists before the scripts were written.

“Thanos was difficult,” says Joe Russo. “We knew we were sunk if Thanos wasn’t photo-real, so we spent two years doing research and development on Thanos and making sure that he would work correctly.”

For his debut as the Hulk, actor Mark Ruffalo even wrote a letter to the effects team, stressing that his motion-captured performances were only the first stage of creating the character.

“We are all playing this part,” he wrote. “I have taken it as far as I can and you guys have to use what you can and then forget about me and become the Hulk.”

“It was incredibly inspiring to the animators,” recalled Whedon, who set aside a day to explain how the movie portrayed two different aspects of the green-skinned monster: “The one Bruce Banner becomes unwittingly and the one he decides to be”.

“What I found out later was that most of them – in fact all of them – had not been able to see the script, so they were just animating things in a vacuum,” he said. “So it was incredibly productive.”

8) Always put the raccoon on a chair*

Image copyright Disney

Image caption Size isn’t everything…

Have you ever noticed that Rocket – the CGI raccoon played by Bradley Cooper – is almost always standing on a chair?

“That’s a great point,” says Anthony. “When you’re dealing with characters of radically different sizes, it presents a lot of framing challenges.

“You start to learn tricks in blocking [staging the scene] to keep everyone in the same relative plane, so you can actually shoot them.”

(* or a table)

9) Ban t-shirts

When we first meet Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow in Avengers Assemble, she’s tied to a chair, barefoot and in a vest top, apparently being interrogated by shadowy Russian forces.

Of course, she breaks free in spectacular fashion… but her outfit made it one of the hardest stunt scenes to choreograph.

“Whenever you say ‘she has no sleeves’ to your stunt co-ordinator he cries man tears,” Joss Whedon noted afterwards.

“It’s very difficult to do a lot of these things if you can’t pad up the knees and elbows.”

10) Embrace the darkness

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Joss Whedon clashed with Marvel during the making of Age Of Ultron

Making these films is “incredibly physically demanding,” says Joe Russo, and there will inevitably be dark days.

“When you start out, it’s all perfect in your head,” Whedon told BBC News in 2015, “and when you work with the actors, it gets better.

“Then at some point you’ve been editing for so long you start thinking. ‘Who am I? What’s happening?’ and you forget why you ever showed up, and what you’re trying to say. And you despair. It’s a very bleak experience.

11) Emotion > action

Image copyright Disney

Image caption Thor is sad

Adding character beats to action sequences has been Joss Whedon’s calling card since Buffy – and he pulls it off perfectly in Age Of Ultron’s climactic battle, where Hawkeye stops whaling on the bad guys to discuss home improvements.

“You know what I need to do? The dining room,” he tells Black Widow. “If I knock out that east wall, it’ll make a nice work space… What do you think?”

“That sequence is, for me, the reason I show up,” Whedon said in the commentary. “Where two people in the apocalypse are talking about re-doing the dining room, that says more about their relationship than anything else I could have done.”

The Infinity War team made a similar decision. Their film doesn’t end with a battle but the emotional fallout of Thanos’s “snap” – scenes that left some viewers in tears.

So what will they feel when they walk out of Endgame?

“Catharsis,” says Joe Russo.

“We realise how impactful the Infinity War ending was,” adds his brother.

“We saw how difficult it was for many people and that’s something that we really respect. So we were very committed to paying off that kind of a story.”

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