Naomi and Tony crossed over the complex's threshold, stepping out onto the grassy field surrounding the facility. Thor had instructed them to go to the courtyard, although seeing as the facility didn't have a courtyard, they had instead decided on wandering the luscious grounds in search of Loki. They walked side by side, making small chit chat to fill the air. Tony could clearly see Naomi's apprehension at seeing Loki again- her excitement mixed with nervousness making for an interesting display of fidgeting hands and wide eyes.

Tony hadn't had much time to think on the pair's relationship- which was very clearly more than friendship despite Naomi's protests that he wasn't her boyfriend. His first impression of Loki had been less than delightful, as the man had appeared to be some sort of cocky, glory-driven psychopath over anything else. Though- and Tony would never admit this to anyone outside of possibly Naomi- he had found the God to be rather funny at the time. If Loki had remained the same deranged grease-ball that he had been in 2012, Tony wouldn't have even entertained the idea of him and Naomi being at all romantically connected. It was still odd to think about, but his perception of Loki had admittedly begun to shift before he had even encountered him again.

It brought a small smile to Tony's face, tuning out of Naomi's story about some drunken adventure on Asgard as he reminisced. Those first few days he had known Naomi were some of the most formative of their relationship, in his opinion. Endless hours of pouring over research, scrolling through her prophetic phone for information on anyone and everyone as they tried to hatch a plan to save the universe. It had been tiring, and more emotionally stressful than either would like to confess, but looking back Tony mainly remembered the good parts. The laughs, the drinks, and the little moments when Tony was able to see into Naomi's personality, to see what drove her to stay up late trying to save people she didn't actually know. And to some extent, Tony still didn't know. She was an enigma, Naomi Swanson, and he was sure that if he asked her, Naomi herself wouldn't be able to fully explain why she had been so willing to drop her entire life for this mission. But what Tony did know- and came to learn very quickly during their planning- was that Naomi was passionate.

He could remember so clearly, her speaking about every hero they discussed with vigor, bringing up their good and bad traits, their backstory and their beliefs. She was so determined that every hero was worth saving, and perhaps that could be described as naiveté, but Tony found it endearing. Even when they arrived at the more controversial figures, Naomi kept up her attitude, and went so far as to brand Loki as one of the 'heroes,' much to Tony's shock.

Naomi seemed different when she spoke about Loki. Perhaps it was the way she spoke quicker, or her hands moved wildly about as she described his motives and his childhood, or how her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, but Naomi had always held him in a different light than the others. It was the only reason Tony had considered teaming up with the man- he wanted to see if the newly reformed Loki was worthy of all Naomi thought him to be. Of course, the Stark hadn't decided that yet, but he figured that Loki was good enough to deserve a proper reunion with Naomi. He could give the God of Mischief a stern talking to about his intentions after Loki found out Naomi was even alive.

Tony hummed quietly in response to Naomi- still not fully listening. Instead, he allowed his mind to peacefully wander to what interrogation techniques he would use on Loki later as he appreciated the setting sun over the grass. He could ask Natasha later, he thought, before getting jolted out of his headspace by Naomi, who put her hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, I think that's him!" She gasped, using her free hand to gesture toward the edge of the clearing, where he could dimly make out a figure standing near the trees. He squinted, making out dark, form-fitted clothing and what appeared to be long, black hair. Not to mention the man's impeccable posture, evident even from this distance.

"Ah, there's the bastard." Tony said. A swat to his shoulder made them both grimace in pain, as Naomi's arms were still giving her grief and Tony was overdramatic. "Okay, okay. So maybe he's not a total bastard-"

Naomi gave him a pointed look.

"Fine. You win." He put his hands up in surrender. "There's the man-God thing of your dreams. Now go run off into the sunset together-"

"Jesus Christ, Tony!" Naomi whisper-screamed, glaring up at him. He just laughed in return, beginning to walk backwards towards the compound to leave them two alone.

"Okay now be safe, young lady! I want you back by ten o'clock, you hear!" Tony said, taking great amusement in the way she groaned in frustration and glanced back toward Loki to see if he had overheard- which, if he had, he hadn't reacted to the noise.

"Okay Dad." Naomi replied sarcastically, but it was hard to keep the smile out of her voice, or off of her face as she watched Tony turn to walk back to the buildings. She could hardly be annoyed by all of Tony's teasing, especially since it had helped keep her mind off of the difficult conversation ahead.

Steadily, Naomi breathed in, then out, focusing on the rhythmic beat of her heart. Turning back toward the trees, she looked over Loki's stiff figure, frowning slightly. She had never known him to be so still- simply standing there, staring forward into the small bundle of trees separating the facility's grounds from a large pond. She started forward, her footsteps softened by the well-manicured grass. As she neared, her eyes began to pick up on more details in the fading sunlight. His hair was more unruly than usual, as if perhaps it had been done correctly but then run through with a pair of hands several times, creating fly aways and a slight frizz. His suit, too, was not up to Loki's usual standards as Naomi could see wrinkles on the back of his jacket, not to mention the lived-in appearance of his slacks.

Naomi bit her bottom lip, speeding up slightly. It was worrying to see Loki in a disgruntled state, as the man usually kept his exterior immaculate to compensate for his admittedly troubled mental state. Naomi had thought that things were getting better with him through their late night talks and such, but it seemed her 'death' might have sent the man into a downward spiral since he was now allowing his outward state to reflect whatever was going on in his head.

"Stop, Thor." Loki's voice suddenly rang out, stopping her in her tracks. "You know I do not wish to see anyone."

Naomi hesitated for a moment, still several feet away from him. Her frown deepened- his tone was clear and strong- but having known Loki for longer, she knew better than to look on the surface to figure out how he was doing. The undertone of Loki's voice gave him away, there was a raw, worn quality to it that worried Naomi.

"I'm not Thor." She replied, calling out a bit loudly in her haste. The effect on Loki was immediate. His figure tensed- shoulders locking inward, hands at his sides clenching into fists. Naomi tried calling out again,

"Loki-"

"Stop." There was no attempt to hide the inner turmoil this time, as Loki's voice emerged as a pained hiss that she strained to hear. "Stop this trickery." Naomi bit deeper into her lip, edging closer to him.

"It's not a trick, Loki... I'm here."

Loki stayed silent for a long while, the only noise between them the light press of Naomi's boots against the grass. She stopped a few feet away, pressing her hands to her chest despite the pain because she needed the comfort. His form was trembling lightly- from fear of allowing himself to hope she was alive, only to have it dashed when he turned around, or anger at the thought of someone tricking him using her voice, or whatever else, Naomi couldn't tell. She could only see that he was hurting, and it pierced her deeply. She felt responsible for it- from pulling that stupid sacrifice stunt in the first place to not racing to find him as soon as she could.

Naomi shifted her weight nervously, unable to stand still. One hand reached out slowly, separating from her chest inch by inch, craning out to touch him. She feared startling him in this fragile state, but she needed him to believe her, needed him to realize that she was okay. She whispered, "Loki..."

Painstakingly slowly, Loki turned. His pale face, illuminated by the glow of dusk, appeared tight- composure maintained but shattering by the second. Trembling lips pressed together was barely enough to suppress the quiver of his jaw, which seemed to shake his entire form. His eyebrows turned up slightly, a small crease formed between them. Loki's eyes, however, gave him away the most. Rimmed in red and bloodshot, a heart-wrenching mist laid over them that threatened to spill over at any moment. The color of his irises seemed diluted as they flickered over her face rapidly, searching vainly for any sign that she was an illusion, or some sick spell cast upon him.

Naomi's own vision grew blurry, pain in her arms forgotten as she reached to him slowly with both hands. "I'm here." She repeated, trying to pour all of her emotion into the simple words to convince him of the fact. Loki stayed silent, eyes widening as his breathing deepened- slowly, it appeared to dawn upon him that she was, in fact, alive and in front of him. Naomi's breath hitched when his gaze slid down to her hands, outstretched in the distance between them- but still hesitant to touch. With a gulp, and quaking fingers of his own, Loki reached, and closed the gap, interlocking his pale hands with hers. Naomi let out a gasp of a breath at the contact- not from the sudden physical pain, but from the relief that he seemed to be accepting her as real. He stared at their hands, concentrating intensely on the feeling of her fingers fitted against his, palms pressed together. She kept her eyes on his face, watching the panes of his expression shift as the realization overcame him. Loki's came up to meet hers for a split second, ripping his hands away before grasping her torso and pulling her into him. Naomi faltered before returning the embrace, the stinging in her palms growing harder to ignore. Instead, she focused on the way his arms pressed against her back, the feeling of his cheek against her temple and his hair falling into her hopelessly blurry vision. They clung to each other unabashedly, standing serenely still in the fading light.

"Naomi..." Loki breathed, shoulders relaxing slightly as he exhaled the word. She grinned into his suit, the heartache of seeing him so devastated easing with every second. Again, he pulled away from her only to crane back in, pressing his lips to hers in a desperate kiss she returned eagerly. Afterwards, the couple contented themselves with holding each other, drinking in the moment of sweet relief.

"I'm sorry I left." Naomi said bleakly, knowing that words could hardly make up for whatever she had put Loki through. She couldn't see his expression, only felt the way her pulled her even closer.

"Promise me that you won't ever again." He whispered, voice burdened with intensity.

"I promise." Naomi replied immediately, clenching her eyes shut. "I'll never leave you again." Her heartbeat thundered at the commitment, every fiber of her being hellbent on staying true to her word. Loki sighed against her, content.

"Come then, darling. It grows dark."

Hands clasped together firmly, they began the walk back to the complex- its artificial lights replacing where the sunlight had left them. They walked slowly, soothed by each other's presence in the absence of everyone else. For the moment, all they needed was each other- and the promise that they would stay by one another's side, always.