And so we met the dawn...

At the pinnacle of his skyscraper in New York, Doctor Strange and Loki sat upon the wide terrace, greeting the dawn as it broke over the horizon of the vast metropolis. Strange carefully cradled a cup of tea in his hand, while his beloved enjoyed a mug of strong coffee. The pale blue sky began to leisurely shift into shades of pink and violet, soothing the gaze of the two lovers as Stephen and Loki dangled their legs over the edge of the roof—the sorcerers' favorite sanctuary. Stephen lifted his sky-blue gaze to Laufeyson, who sat humbly beside him, slowly sipping his still-hot drink, having not yet uttered a single word. " It seems this is the calmest moment in New York," the Doctor said quietly, a faint smile playing upon his thin lips as he broke the pleasant silence. "Yes, such tranquility can only be found at this hour," Loki drawled thoughtfully, his gaze buried in his half-empty cup of coffee. "New York... such a noisy city. It seems that here, even at night, there isn't a single second of peace." Stephen chuckled, setting his nearly finished tea beside him and reaching into the bag he had managed to bring from home. He withdrew a plaid blanket—a gift Loki had given him once, long ago, in honor of their friendship. How long ago that was; many years had passed since then, and now their friendship had blossomed into something far greater. We certainly have things to remember... Stephen couldn't suppress a broad smile as he sifted through the memories bound to his god, and he quickly draped the blanket over Loki’s shoulders. Even though the summer days had finally begun and light was breaking, it was still cool at such an early hour. The mage worried—would his beloved catch a cold? So what if the blood of Jotuns flowed in the god's veins? That didn't offer one hundred percent protection against a cold, did it? Loki merely smiled, lifting his emerald eyes to his beloved. Nestling into the plaid, he shifted closer to the Midgardian, resting his head upon Stephen's broad, sturdy shoulder. Finally emptying the two unfortunate cups of their now-cooled beverages, they watched the rising sun, its first rays finally enveloping them in warmth and light. "You know, I visit other planets and different dimensions often, but this place... it is special." Loki himself could scarcely believe he was speaking this way about a place on Earth. Before meeting Stephen, he had considered this planet little more than a junkyard, and humans merely refuse—the lowest of dregs. But Stephen... he had forced Loki to change an opinion that had been cemented for centuries. "Yes, New York is an amazing place. And I am glad I can share it with you." They fell silent, listening as the city began to wake, the streets filling with people and cars. The sun had fully risen now, and a soft light wrapped around every corner of the city, blinding to the eye. "Doctor, do you know that I have been looking for something like this for a long time?" Loki asked with a smirk and a note of naivety in his voice, squinting against the bright sun. "I feel the same, Loki." The mage bestowed a soft, loving smile upon the god. After so many years... ten years of a relationship, to be precise, he had learned to understand Laufeyson. A single glance was enough to know what the Trickster needed. And that was precisely why the Doctor had led Loki here, to the tallest skyscraper, from which almost the entire city could be seen and which offered a magnificent view of the sunrise. He knew—Loki needed this right now. And then, beneath that magical dawn, they interlaced their fingers, as if assuring one another of their presence and devotion. For a moment, they forgot about their duties and their battles; they simply enjoyed the moment and felt their bond growing ever stronger. "And so we met the dawn..." Loki exhaled languidly, committing every second to memory as he fell back onto the surface, spreading his arms wide. "Magical..." "Thank you, Stephen..." Loki said then, addressing his beloved. "For this sunrise." "As long as you are smiling," Strange replied, looking down at Loki lying beside him. They remained seated there, watching the sun, which with every passing second brought them more warmth and hope.