AN: This chapter is all about the Thundershield fluff...

The conversation he'd just had with Bucky was up there in the top two most difficult he'd ever had. Seeing the realisation in his eyes that they were over, and maybe even worse was the quiet acceptance, because he thought that this was what he deserved. It wasn't true and Steve hated that he couldn't give Bucky what he needed to understand that.

He headed outside where the clouds were gathering, to calm himself down.

When he was a kid he hadn't been a big fan of thunderstorms, they were just something to be endured. Now however, he loved them. And Wakanda had lots of them. More often than not they were dry, and he would stand outside, watching in awe as the sky darkened and the steely clouds lit up with brilliant streaks of jagged lightening, and revelling in the power of the thunderclaps that followed. The feeling of insignificance was a liberating one, there was nothing even he could do in the face of such raw power. It was at times like this that he felt most alive and simultaneously at peace. The feeling wasn't a coincidence.

This particular storm felt more charged than usual and he wondered if he was just projecting that because of how much he missed Thor right now, but as the lightning strikes grew closer, his heartbeat quickened with anticipation, until one struck only yards away. There was a deafening crack, and for a moment the world disappeared behind a veil of blinding white light, but a second later everything was clear again and Thor was standing right in front of him. Steve had never been so glad to see him.

The Asgardian was dressed in civilian clothes and a million things raced through Steve's head. This obviously wasn't his first stop. How long had he been back on Earth? Why had he returned? Did it matter? No. The only thing that mattered right now, was that he was close.

Suddenly Thor was striding towards him, arms wide, and then Steve was wrapped up tight in his strong embrace.

"My darling..." Thor said, stroking his hair, and sheltering him from the cruelty of the outside world. Steve felt safe with him. They stood silently for a while, Steve doing nothing but taking comfort in being held. Eventually it was Thor who broke the silence.

"Forgive me, sweetheart. Had I known, I would have come to your aid."

Steve didn't blame him, Thor wasn't human, the Accords and everything with Tony had been Steve's battles to fight. He didn't need someone to fight for him, he could do that himself, what he needed was someone who could be there after the tough calls had been made. Someone who understood the burden of responsibility.

"You're here now."

"Yes," Thor said, tightening his grip. Steve loved how protected that made him feel. Like in the circle of Thor's arms nothing could touch him.

"You found your friend," Thor said, in an attempt to cheer him up but Bucky was a sore point at the moment.

Steve nodded against Thor's broad chest.

"I had to tell him about us," he admitted. Beneath his palm, he felt Thor tense.

"This pains you..." Thor observed, voice carefully measured. Thor was aware of his past with Bucky but they'd never discussed it in detail.

"It wasn't what he wanted to hear. I think he thought we might still..."

He could feel Thor's breaths becoming slower and more deliberate. It meant he was working to keep himself calm.

"And what did you believe would come of the reunion?"

This was the part where he had to reassure Thor of his feelings, and if his recent encounter with Tony had taught him anything, it was the power of the truth.

"I wanted to save my best friend. To give him everything he needs but I can't. Not when I love you."

Thor pulled back and looked into his eyes, Steve could see the question forming in them. A painful and selfless one. One he thought he had to ask.

"Would you have me step aside?"

"No. No that's the last thing I want. He'll be okay. I'm still here for him, he knows that, but that part of our connection is gone."

"Was taken from you..." Thor reminded.

What could Steve say? It was true he'd never have left Bucky willingly, but to say that he would change how things had turned out wasn't exactly right either because Thor was in his life now. The truth lie in between somewhere, he couldn't change the past, and he was grateful he'd found Thor, but to put that into words would sound too much like he was just settling. And he wasn't, he was with Thor by choice, because he loved him.

"I'm with you now, and I don't plan on having that change anytime soon."

Steve had always been better with actions than words, so he kissed Thor, slow and deep and unmistakably committed.

As Thor's confidence in the strength of their love grew, the kiss became electric, and Thor responded eagerly, tilting Steve's head back and delving his tongue deep into Steve's mouth. They'd been apart too long. This was the end of the first long period they'd spent apart since they'd been together as a couple and they needed each other.

"Mmm," Steve appreciated, "you're good at this."

Thor smiled at him, stroking a thumb over his cheek.

"Worthy inspiration is the key. And you, my love, are sublime."

Steve smiled at the compliment, and for a while they just gazed at each other, happy to be back together again.

Eventually Steve's thoughts wandered to the reason for their separation.

"How are things on Asgard?"

The look in Thor's eyes darkened.

"Complicated, I'm afraid."

"How so?" Steve asked.

"Father is missing. It is why I'm back on Earth. I needed permission to search for him in New York."

"Permission? The Accords don't restrict you from travelling here, you're free to come and go as you please."

"I am, yes. My brother however, is not. Loki it turns out was not as dead as I had thought."

"Loki's alive?"

Steve's mind flashed back to the destruction in New York. To him, Loki would always be a threat to be regarded with caution, one to be neutralised if necessary, but he knew the situation was much more complicated for Thor.

"He'd been posing as my father, ruling Asgard in his stead. His audacity knows no bounds. Nor his delusions of grandeur it seems."

Steve knew this information had serious repercussions for Asgard but they didn't concern him like the personal ones for Thor did. He reached up and rested a hand on the Asgardian's face, waiting until Thor's eyes connected with his before he spoke.

"And how are you?"

Thor looked uncertain for the first time. His relationship with his brother was a turbulent and complex one to put it mildly.

"When I mourned him it was as a hero. Now I have learned that he was just as deceitful as ever. He cares for nothing and no one but himself."

Even after everything it was Loki's hurtful dismissal of their brotherhood that affected Thor the most.

"But you still love him," Steve observed, letting Thor know he didn't have to pretend that only duty mattered. Steve too, understood that emotions played a huge part in reacting to a situation, regardless of how much in opposition with the cause they were. He'd have killed Bucky in Romania if he didn't understand that.

"No matter what he does, I find I still live in hope that one day he will change."

Steve knew the inadequacy Thor felt but he also knew there was nothing more Thor could've done. Loki had made his own choices.

"Well that's up to him."

"I fear you are right."

With nothing left to say on the matter, Thor turned his gaze towards the forest.

"It is beautiful here."

"It is," Steve agreed. "How long can you stay?"

Thor looked down at him, warmth filling his cerulean eyes once more.

"I think perhaps I can spare the night."

Knowing that he had the Asgardian for the next twelve hours, Steve let himself relax a fraction, and say the thing he felt most keenly.

"I've missed you, Thor."

"And I you, my love. Let us not waste a moment."

"My rooms this way," Steve said, taking Thor by the hand and leading him there.

AN: I think I watch too much Bold and the Beautiful... Thanks for reading :)