soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

i've had this other story idea for a while now, and i'm trying to figure out which one to use, so i needed your guys' advice. I'll put up the prologue for this one, and nothing else, and i want you guys to choose over which one you would like to see more - this one, or the one before - and i'll get working on it. I'll also be updating a oneshot today too, so yeah :)

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~~Tony Stark~~

"What are you saying?" Tony pushed, walking over to Strange.

"I'm saying," he snapped back. "That something is going to happen soon. Something big."

"What the hell is that supposed to tell me?!" Tony shot back, annoyed. "Tell me what is actually going on!"

Pepper laid one hand on Tony's arm, trying to calm her husband. Somehow, her touch always seemed to do just that. Tony's tensed muscles relaxed. "Tony, I'm sure he'll tell us more, won't you?" she gestured back to Strange.

He tilted his head to the side in thought before turning away from them and walking over to his desk. "I don't know how much more I can tell."

"What do you mean?" Pepper pressed gently, speaking before Stark could.

"It's not that I can't tell you, it's just the fact of what I do and don't know. Carol has been dropping subtle hints here and there, but she hasn't been straight forward with me."

"Well tell her to get with the program," Tony hissed. "I want to know what's happening to me!"

Suddenly Strange shot around and was instantly at Stark's feet. "You think you're the only one who's changing? What about the rest of us? Have you ever thought about them? How Captain Rogers is getting weaker, How Vision is turning more human, or how Dr. Banner can no longer change into the Hulk anymore?" he spat in Tony's face.

Tony glared back at him, squinting his eyes and twisting his face into a scowl. "Now see here, doc. I am completely concerned with the safety of my wife and I at the moment. And yes, I know very well what has been happening lately with the others. And quite frankly, it's not my main concern!"

"Well it should be!" Strange growled. "Contrary to your belief, you are most definitely not my main concern at the moment! I am not trying to help myself; I am more concerned with helping the entire team, just as you should be. I am trying to my best ability to use what's left of my dying powers to save our super-behinds, and unless you have a problem with that, I suggest you keep your fine bickering to yourself!" With that last remark, Strange waved his hands quickly and disappeared behind a portal.

His anger boiling, he turned back to Pepper who had retreated to the couch with her head in her hands. Tony walked over to his bride and settled next to her, tracing small circles on her back. "It's okay babe, we'll figure this out."

"Will we though, Tony?" she asked, her voice cracking. He wouldn't admit it, but he hated when her voice went that low and sad. It made his heart tremble with sadness.

"Yes, we will." We have to, his mind mentally finished. But truthfully, he didn't know the answer, and that scared him even more. Tony Stark always had an answer, but this time, he didn't. Whatever was happening to the team, was happening fast, almost too fast to control. Stark felt himself changing - his witty and snarky side stayed the same, but somehow he felt as if he was, well, getting, dumber, if that made any sense. He was starting to forget certain mechanics, and just the other day he had forgotten the passcode to get into his own lab, from which Pepper had to come and pop in the digits. It made him wonder how Parker was doing back in Queens. It also made him think about the other half of the team, the half that he would much rather prefer to stay away from - Steve, Bucky, Clint, Wanda . . . all them. However, he knew it was in his best interest to at least be slightly concerned.

The truth was, Stark didn't want to go through another crazy magical war phase. They had already done that once, with Thanos two years back, and he sure as hell didn't want anything even remotely close to that happening again. And yet, here they were.

Suddenly Rhodey's voice could be heard over the intercom; but something was different - his voice shook with nerves, and Tony could sense that was struggling to get the words out. "T-Tony, Pep, come quick," He barely coughed. The couple exchanged a quick glance before racing down the hall to the elevator.

When they reached Rhodey's quarters, Tony was shocked beyond belief. Inside, lying face first and seemingly unconscious on the floor, was Loki.

No one knew where he had disappeared to after Thanos' demise, and Thor had refused to even speak of it. So for two entire years, no one knew what had happened to him. Until now.

"Loki?" Pepper said softly.

Tony cautiously walked over to Rhodes, keeping his gaze on Loki. Sure, from what Thor had told, Loki had been a hero in saving Asgard's people, but that didn't mean they could trust him any more than they could in New York years ago. "Rhodey . . . what is he doing here . . .?"

"I don't know," he responded nervously. "I was just in here and I just turned around and t-there he was."

"Tony . . ." Stark turned around to face Pepper, who had propped Loki up against the bed. Pepper was blocking his view of the god, so he shifted over to her side, not sure what to think after what he saw.

Loki was unconscious for sure, but very much alive. However, his hair was . . . shorter . . . and almost curly, and wasn't black it was . . .

Dirty Blonde?

Stark couldn't believe he didn't notice that when they walked in - he looked nothing like himself, aside from the face and the body shape. His face was more slim, and less powerful-looking. Really the only thing to confirm it was him was the green leather suit he was wearing.

What the hell . . .

"Tony," Rhodes said from behind them. "What's happening?"

"I don't know," he spoke over his shoulder. "But whatever's happening, it's happening fast. I sure as hell hope Strange and Carol can find some sort of cure, and quick. I have a feeling things are only going to get worse."