Tommy is casually massaging Buck's scalp with one hand, the other stretched out on the backrest. This is so nice. Tommy's lap is so comfortable, his fingers in Buck's hair feel so good and the view is great. He hadn't known that the underside of a chin could be so interesting, but it's a really nice chin and there is this beard growing on it.

So far, Buck finds he's completely transfixed on it. How the stubble frames the sharp lines of Tommy's face. How it leads into the short hair at his temples. How it fades downward his neck. Revealing his Adam's apple.

It's ridiculous. How can a man's neck be so hot?

A man's neck.

"Hey," he says and Tommy immediately drops his gaze from the TV and meets Buck's eyes, "you're really beautiful"

As far as Buck can see from where he's looking up at Tommy from beneath his chin, the guy is actually blushing.

"You think?"

"Yes! Beautiful with a ri-di-cu-lous-ly hot neck." He says and lets his finger wander over Tommy's Adam's apple and down toward his clavicle as he accentuates each syllable. Tommy chuckles warmly and Buck has the sudden urge to nuzzle his face against Tommy's stomach.

Except when he turns his head, it's not Tommy's stomach he nuzzles into.

It's, uh well, it's Tommy's dick.

Above him, Tommy takes a sharp breath.

He hasn't exactly come face to face with Tommy's dick yet, but now that he's here, it's kinda nice actually.

On impulse he sticks his tongue out and brings it to the denim of Tommy's pants.

The denim tastes like denim, but it gets delightfully damp with the condensation of Buck's open mouthed breathing against it.

Also. When he connects his lips to the fabric, he can feel Tommy's dick underneath it.

It's exciting.

Tommy squirms a little, angling his hips slightly away from Buck's mouth - which rude - and his teasing "Can I help you?" comes out a little breathy.

Buck just hums and follows Tommy's hips with his mouth.

Somewhere above Tommy says something but Buck is way too distracted by the little twitch of Tommy's dick to understand what he said. But it probably warrants another affirmative hum. He even adds a murmured 'yes' for good measure, before he dives back in to suck on the fabric.

Tommy clears his throat and brings his right hand up to cup Buck's jaw.

"Evan Buckley, meet My Dick. Other people have also called him 'beast' or 'magic wand', you are free to find your own-"

Buck stops mid-lick and pulls back a little. "Tommy!" He exclaims scandalized towards Tommy's stomach, "don't tell me about other people giving nicknames to your-your dick!"

"I was trying to break the ice for you two," Tommy chuckles. "And, as you might have noticed already, he's really excited to meet you!"

Stunned by the ridiculousness, Buck lets his head fall back into Tommy's lap and stares up at him in disbelief.

Tommy looks down and when their eyes meet, they break out in laughter in earnest.

"Why on earth would you introduce your dick like that?!"

"You said you wanted it!"

"I what? Tommy I wasn't listening to anything you said, I… I was bewitched by your magic wand," he wheezes out eventually.

"Don't laugh at him! He's fragile" Tommy's whole upper body trembles with laughter.

In awe, he puts a palm against Tommy's stomach to feel it it shake with the contractions of his diaphragm. Being with Tommy is just so much fun and listening to him laugh is the best sound in the world. Or a close second to Jee-Yun's overexcited shrieking chuckle.

"Yeah? Is he?" Buck lets his hand trail lower, palming Tommy's dick over the pants. "Feels solid to me"

"He could use an ego stroke, though," Tommy says overly casual.

Buck hums considering.

"Does he need an ego stroke, or would… I don't know… an ego suck suffice too?"

Tommy freezes, his blue eyes have taken on a hungry shade. "Yeah. That would work"

Satisfied for the moment, Buck turns his head back and licks broadly over Tommy's crotch.

"Is the denim doing it for you or do you want me to loose the pants?"

Tommy looks serious when he roams over Buck's face with his eyes. They're not playing anymore. Tommy is checking in with him.

He wouldn't have thought that an ordinary BJ would be a whole thing, but Tommy apparently treats it as one. It makes Buck wonder if he should have been more worried about it. Mostly, he's just excited. And surprised, pleasantly so.

"Uh, yes. Tommy, please loose the pants," he nods and sits up to give Tommy room to undress.

Excitement and anticipation thrums through all his veins.

"How do you… where should I?", he finally asks when Tommy stands to step out of his jeans, revealing tight black boxers.

And a considerably sized bulge.

A stupid, primal part of his brain immediately compares it to his own. Which is really rising to the occasion. Beyond the internal dick measuring, however, Buck is extremely turned on.

He must have made some sort of sound while adjusting his sweatpants accordingly because Tommy's head snaps over to him and he raises an eyebrow to go with his smirk.

"See something you like?"

All he can do is nod, unable to lift his gaze from where it's fixed on the point where Tommy's happy trail disappears under the waistband of his boxers stretching to contain Tommy's boner.

He can feel his mouth actually watering. Which he figures will come in handy for what he's about to do.

Oh, wow, he really wants to get his mouth on that dick. Like now.

"This is really working for my ego, kid," Tommy smiles and lowers himself onto the couch again, "You good to kneel?"

"Yes! Definitely!"

He's halfway down already when Tommy holds out a pillow for him. "Make yourself comfortable, yeah?"

Buck spares all of four seconds to actually find a position on his knees that doesn't bother the sensitive nerves in his left one before he looses patience and runs his hands up Tommy's hairy calves. Leads them higher, over Tommy's knees, along his thighs. They are so muscular, dear Lord.

And then his fingertips reach Tommy's boxers. "Hngh" He's so past coherence, absolutely dazed by Tommy's body, by the excitement to experience him in a completely new way. He leans closer until he touches Tommy's clothed dick with the tip of his nose. Tommy moans and it quickly becomes another one of Buck's favorite sounds.

Slowly he tilts his head back and drags his nose up the length of Tommy's cock until his mouth connects with the root of it. When he opens his eyes, Buck can see Tommy spreading his arms across the back of the couch, fingers digging into the fabric as if to constrain himself.

Huh. That would be so hot actually. Filed for future reference.

"Any last wishes before I suck your brains out?" It's meant to be playful and meant to display a little more confidence than Buck really has. Sure, he loves giving head, but so far it's exclusively been vulvas he's given head to. So, this is a little out of his area of expertise. For now. He can't wait to change that.

"Cover your teeth?" Tommy says seriously. Which is a genuinely good tip. Buck hums and tucks his teeth behind his lips testing.

He sneaks his index fingers into the waistband of Tommy's boxer, left and right of his dick.

"Is he ready to meet me now?" he asks with a teasing smirk curling his mouth, dragging his eyes up Tommy's impressive stomach and chest raising with shallow breaths, his cleft-chin, his nose, until their eyes meet.

"Yes! God, Evan, just, ahhhh, yeah yeah" He interrupts Tommy by fishing his erect cock out of the underwear and immediately licking a wet strip along the underside. Tommy's breathy sounds of encouragement, the way his hips buck up a little and the velvety feel of dick against Buck's tongue have him press a hand against his own dick.

The other hand he uses to guide the tip of Tommy's cock between his lips. It's delicious. He can feel a moan escaping him involuntary and sending vibrations on Tommy's skin. Which rewards him with another of Tommy's deep, grumbly moans. One of his big hands find its way into the back of Buck's neck. Not quite forcing his head closer into Tommy's groin, but placing a weight there to keep him close.

Oh, Tommy could absolutely use Buck's mouth like he was nothing more than a toy. Also hot. Also filed for future reference.

He keeps sucking on the head of Tommy's cock and massaging the shaft with one hand and he isn't sure if he ever was more content than right this moment. Tommy is so big and he tastes and smells so manly, and he's so strong. It's almost overwhelming. But this just makes it better.

On the next lick across the head, Tommy's hips snatch forward, pushing his cock deeper into Buck's mouth. He wonders how much of it he could take into his mouth and throat. Tries to swallow more of it down. Hits the back of his throat with it and promptly has to pull of to fall into a coughing fit.

"Sorry! Sorry, Evan. I'll keep still!"

"Don't," cough, "you dare!"

"Oh? You like that?"

"Yes! Ohmygawd. I love this so much, Tommy"

Having had to pull off of Tommy reminds Buck of his own dick. He rubs at his furiously. Just a little release and as soon as he's done coughing, he can dive back into it again.

"This is so hot. Don't get off yet, yeah? I wanna make it good for you later"

"Hngh. No promises," he breathes out. He does pulls his hand away from his dick and places it on top Tommy's hand on the back of his nape. Makes Tommy pull him back onto his cock. Breaths out slowly through his nose and sinks down on Tommy's cock. He still can't fit all of it into his mouth. But it's as much as he can manage without triggering another coughing fit. Or worse, his gag reflex.

Plus, Tommy sounds fairly satisfied with the way he squeezes and caresses around the root of his cock. Eventually venturing out to fondle with his balls. Heavy and hairy. The contrast between his coarse balls and groin and the smooth slickness, Buck's spit mingling with Tommy's precome on his dick is almost too much. He drops Tommy's cock from his mouth and pants against it heavily.

"You good?"

"I'm so close already, Tommy. Oh god, I don't think I can -"

Tommy twists a foot to press down on Buck's crotch. Buck releases a guttural groan and presses his face into Tommy's groin. Right where his pubes frame the root of his cock. He ruts against Tommy's foot. And then Tommy says "Come for me, kid" and it's over. Buck spills into his sweatpants embarrassingly fast.

His orgasm soars through him, Tommy's scent surrounding him completely. It's awesome.

And then it hits him that Tommy hasn't come yet. Shit. His checks burn up with shame.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," he hurries to say. Readies himself to dive back into it again. His jaw aches a little, but he's on a mission to please. He hasn't come before a partner in ages. It's something he prides him self in. Prioritizing his partners pleasure.

Tommy uses his hold on Buck's head to push him back though.

"Stay like this a little? Let me look at you like that while I jerk myself off?"

He whines. "I can… I will… I said I was gonna suck your brains out. I can…"

"Shshsh. You sucked me stupid plenty already. Sit back and let me enjoy watching you?"

Honestly, despite himself, there isn't really much Buck would confidently be ready to do to get Tommy off right now. So he just sits back on the balls of his feet, eyes fixed on Tommy's dick. The way his other hand has come down from the backrest to squeeze his cock. Its almost filthily wet. The mess Buck has made with his spit and Tommy's precome that's drizzling out of the head steadily.

"You've been so good to me, Evan," Tommy murmurs between lazy strokes of his hand. All Buck can do is watch transfixed. Tommy's cock is so big, but in his huge hand it almost looks delicate.

Tommy bucks his hips one, two three times and then he spills over his hand with a soft sigh.

There's pearly white come on Tommy's fingers. It looks obscene. Buck can't help the audible gulp he makes at the sight.

"Can I lick it?"

"What?"

"Lick your fingers?" He's already leaning forward, inching closer towards Tommy's hand where it's still loosely resting on his cock.

Tommy only moans, but opens his hand and his palm to Buck. He starts with Tommy's index and middle finger. Sucks them into his mouth and licks them clean. The second he tastes Tommy's come, he knows his brain chemistry is altered forever. He eagerly progresses to the other fingers, licking every single drop of come off of them, lapping at his palm messily. Tommy's other hand, still resting at Bucks' nape, flexes.

"Come up here for a kiss?"

"Yeah," he breathes and climbs into Tommy's lap for a deep kiss. Messy as it is, it's perfect.

Perfect how it feels to straddle someone's - a man's - lap. Perfect how Tommy's stubble rubs against Buck's cheek when he rests his forehead in the crook of Tommy's neck. Perfect how Tommy's strong arms wrap around him and pull him close.

This right here - basking in the afterglow completely surrounded by Tommy - is pure bliss.

Word of the "corpse army" had caught Luo Binghe's attention. Either the "army" was exaggerated, or the demonic cultivator was hiding more corpses. He wasn't quite sure how he wanted this meeting to go yet. As he circled the cultivator, the cultivator turned so that his back was never to him.

"I think I knew that," the cultivator continued, "from before. I just wasn't really paying attention. It's hard to really be aware when you're not really all there. But hey, I have a golden core now too!" He hummed as he thought, tapping his flute to his chin. "Though it interacts differently with resentful energy."

Luo Binghe decided he needed more information. He forced his stance to relax and pulled on a large, charming smile. "From before?"

"I don't blame you for not remembering," the cultivator said with a wince. "That place was..." He trailed off with a frown.

Either this man was a good actor or he was truly empathetic to Luo Binghe's struggles - whatever struggles he was referencing. Since the man was being vague, he was inclined to believe that this was all some strange ploy. He raised an eyebrow and teasingly said, "This lord would be bereft to believe he had forgotten a face like yours."

"Oh." The cultivator's eyes widened and a grin stretched across his lips. A blush pinched his cheeks, though he didn't seem to take the flirtation as genuine. He didn't react the way others usually did; their defenses falling apart and dissolving underneath one carefully charming smile. "Well. You wouldn't have known this face. Seeing as I wasn't a face. I was a spirit."

It was very hard keeping his smile after that. Luo Binghe stopped himself from lurching forward with wild desperation. His throat squeezed shut.

"That place" was the Endless Abyss. "From before" was when he was trudging through it with nothing but the floating fire of a spirit long dead. His heart trembled.

In a life where he had known nothing but abuse and abandonment, that one spirit fire had kept him company. It was discordant and never really there. It lacked warmth. It was nothing but an echo of a person.

But it tried to make him laugh. It gave him tips. It guided him through sand storms and pure darkness. It had stayed by his side almost to the end - when it stopped Xin Mo from consuming his mind.

"Wei Ying?" Luo Binghe asked, dumbly.

It was stupid to ask because - if... someone had somehow known about that, all the man had to do was nod and smile at him. There was no way to prove that it was actually-

But then Wei Ying laughed. It was his laugh. Head bent back, he cackled; it echoed across the plains, unbidden by any shyness. "So you do remember! After becoming so big and powerful, merging the realms-"

Luo Binghe was across the field of corpses in an instant. He meant to take Wei Ying in his arms, to hold him close and breathe him in. He was alive. He was alive. Alive, alive, alive-

Something suddenly slammed into his back. It felt as if a giant hand transpired from the air and pressed a finger against him and pressed him into the earth.

"Wow there!" Wei Ying said with a skittering laugh. "I know you came here to kill me - which... you don't need to! The army wasn't mine. I took care of it, actually. Easy enough. I kept a few... at least until you dealt with them..."

"W-Wei Ying!" Luo Binghe roared, shocked that his cheek was pressed against the earth. He tried pushing and shoving upwards, but an impossible weight held him down. He had never felt anything like this before.

Wei Ying crouched down beside him and stared at him curiously. He smiled. "You've done a lot for yourself. And I'm really proud of you, kid!" He reached out and patted his head.

With a shaky breath, Luo Binghe tried to reach out and grab onto him.

Wei Ying danced away with another laugh. "Don't worry! I won't be getting in your way again, Luo Binghe!"

"W-Wait!" Luo Binghe grunted, struggling. "Don't-"

"That talisman will wear off soon, especially with your level of power," Wei Ying assured him. "I'll make sure nothing comes by to take advantage of you. It was good seeing you again - and remember! I promised to stay out of your way."

"Wei Ying!!" Luo Binghe cried.

And still, something was missing. A void that even the featherlight touch of his mothers illusion couldn't heal. Maybe he was too far gone, too different from the rest that he would never feel what was so clear for everyone else.

Loki adored his mother and the people of Asgard and he loved how Thor had grown, but none of them loved him in equal.

And then his mother was gone, her light she gave to the long halls of the palace had been snuffed out, leaving trails of darkness in her wake.

And once again, Loki was a weapon yet filled with guilt and loneliness. 

Faking his death helped in a way, it allowed him to help his people and finally step out from the shadow given to him by his name and lineage. For once, he was helping his people and once again his ruse came crashing down.

Loki loved his brother, but he also hated him at times for how Thor only seemed to love him when he was useful. 

Loki didn't know what love felt like when it wasn't tethered to a purpose.

Fighting side by side with his brother for once as an equal and not a weapon brought him peace in a way that he hadn't known since childhood. He was fighting with his brother for his people and while he still felt like a weapon at least it was for a cause he believed in.

With Hela's death he felt nothing except sorrow for in another world that could have been him. In a world where he was born first and was allowed out of the shadows he could have been a weapon more crazed than he believed. 

With saving his people he now had a purpose, even if they no longer had a home. It didn't require glory, It just simply was.

It was while flying toward a place he dreaded to return that he truly felt fear once more.

Thanos' ship was approaching. 

The Mad Titan had returned.

Loki's life had been filled with battle, wars he never wanted to wage or have any part in but for once there was a battle he was prepared to stand for.

But, his need for control had doomed them. He had hoped to use the Tesseract should they need a bartering chip, a way to help his people and yet it was what had drawn the Titan to them.

As he lay on the ground and watched as his people lay dying around him he wept. Families slaughtered, his own with them, and still the pain in his chest never ceased to hurt.

As he closed his eyes he heard people yelling as their ship was torn apart. 

Suddenly there was an orange glow he could see approaching and he hoped it meant his end was nigh. Maybe the pain would finally cease.

—

He opened his eyes once more to a cuff around his ankle once more in a cage. 

This time, a man sat across from him and greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, Loki. My name is Mobius and I think we could help one another."

Through battles and laughter and surprisingly joy Loki began to feel the pain in his chest cease little by little.

It wasn't due to the endless achievements or the saving of his friends. And what a marvel that was, having friends, people who had proven they cared for him and not just the trickster and weapon ready to be pointed at another.

He was worth more than his abilities, he made Mobius laugh at idiotic jokes over pie. He met Sylvie in her chosen timeline for some terrible Terran food choices and watched as a part of them each healed little by little with every story of their childhoods they shared, both the good and the ugly. He talked strategy with B-15 and spoke with Ouroboros about changes that needed to be brought to the TVA.

And best of all? They listened. He had a voice, a power of its own compared to his family that had often only valued his words in times of desperation.

And suddenly he knew what the crack in his chest was, the pain he felt when he used to worry over being normal. About if he was enough for Asgard.

It was the lack of true, unselfish love in his life. 

His mother had told him many times as a child of the epic love story of her and his father and while he laughed and found it amusing, he had never once aspired to have that for himself.

He had seen his brother quest after women until his heart seemed to settle on his beloved Jane and all he could see was how his brother seemed satisfied with a singular romantic lover whereas it was barely a fleeting thought for his own. 

He had watched as Hela's hatred for their people and their family had torn his home apart. 

He thought he was broken, unnatural, that the constant battles and deception had turned him rotten- incapable of such a thing. That he too would eventually follow in his sister's path.

He had never considered that maybe it wasn't something he desired from the start.

He had his friends, his chosen family of people who loved him and had stuck their own necks out for him and that was enough. He may no longer have the adoring looks of his people or the gentle touch from his mother but he, for once, felt complete.

He felt loved.