Love Like Winter
"It's in the blood,
It's in the blood.
I met my love before I was born.
He wanted love,
I taste of blood.
He bit my lip, and drank my warmth,
From years before, from years before.
From years before."
"Love Like Winter," AFI
Chapter 1
"When I'm tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day
And dream of a girl I used to know
I closed my eyes and she slipped away
She slipped away"
"More than a Feeling"-Boston
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers or SHIELD. They belong to Marvel/Disney.
Tony Stark never knocks, or in this case, announces his presence as he enters Steve Rogers' apartment. He's got it in his head, at some point, he's going to walk in and see goings on he really doesn't want to see—something on his top 10, no top 20 list of things he can live with knowing about but didn't need to see. Jarvis could have let Rogers know he was there, but he pads into Captain America's bedroom, throws back the covers, poking Rogers in the ribs.
"Scooch over, Spangles," Stark said, trying to slide in by the other man.
"Don't be so impatient," Rogers answered back, scooting over as asked, slipping an arm around Stark as he curled up next to him.
Within minutes, Rogers was back asleep, but Tony was still awake, arc reactor shining in the darkness. He knew it was bound to happen sometime, and sooner happened rather than later. Happy Hogan had finally asked for his blessing to propose to Pepper. It made Tony a little sad—it meant a great chapter from his life was finally closed, but two of the people he loved most were together. He couldn't deny them that.
He and Pepper were still friends, well, more than friends, and less than lovers. Family, Stark figured. Pepper, Happy and Rhodey were his family, and since the breakup, his fellow Avengers were becoming more like family. Rogers, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton had moved into the floors he'd designed for them in the tower. Also, the promise of floors dedicated to research and development enticed Jane Foster and Erik Selvig to move in, and with them, came Darcy Lewis. Tony had his Avenger family and his science brotherhood, so he was content. Content was good. He could live with that.
Then there was the SHIELD contingent. Finding out Agent Coulson was alive was one of happier days in recent memory. He was currently in the field with his new team, but Tony was doing everything he could to make Fury let Coulson come back to the Avengers Initiative. Fury's answer had gone from "maybe" to "eventually" and Stark wanted it now.
Jasper Sitwell was a decent replacement for Coulson, but more often than not, Maria Hill handled the Avengers briefings. She rubbed Stark the wrong way, and she even tested Rogers' patience sometimes. Didn't matter at the moment. He started thinking about new armor designs, how Harley was doing, anything to distract himself and try and get some sleep.
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Asgard
Thor was fast asleep when his mother woke him, frantic, dragging him from bed, waiting only long enough for him to dress.
"You must help me see to your brother," Frigga said, taking her son's hand, leading him through the palace.
"What has Loki done now?" Thor asked.
"The guard said Loki was sleeping peacefully until a short time ago, when he woke, and started screaming for you," Frigga said. "They came to me first, and I went to Loki, but he would not speak with me, only asked me to you to him. And I dare not speak of this to your father, at least not until I know what is going on."
"Where is Father?" Thor said.
"Conferring with his ravens," Frigga said. "They seem to be the only beings that give your father any solace these days."
"He does not seek your counsel?" Thor said.
"Odin is a stubborn man," Frigga said. "A trait inherited by both his sons."
"Father acts as if Loki is dead," Thor said.
"To Odin, Loki is dead," Frigga said. "I hope someday he changes his mind. Loki is still my son, and your brother, regardless of his true origins."
"Maybe Father regrets his treatment of Loki," Thor said.
"My son, where Loki is concerned, your father has many regrets," Frigga said. "Right now, worry not about your father, but your brother."
She lead Thor into the room holding Loki's cell. Loki stood when he saw them enter, and the guard stopped mother and son.
"Leave us," Frigga said, gaze icy as the guard looked to Thor for confirmation, but he ignored him, but obeyed his queen's request. Satisfied the guard would not return, Frigga left her sons alone, standing guard outside herself, looking back only long enough to watch Thor enter Loki's cell.
"What is it, brother?" Thor asked, reaching out, gently, as he would with a frightened horse.
"The Chitiauri," Loki said.
"What of them? We defeated them," Thor said.
There was a clarity in Loki's gaze that hadn't been there in months, and tears glistened in his eyes.
"You don't understand," Loki said.
"Then help me," Thor said, placing his hand on Loki's shoulder.
"Those butchers. . .they took him," Loki said.
"Who?" Thor asked.
"My son," Loki said.