Loki, dressed in attire similar to that which he'd worn during that miserable year imprisoned within the dungeons of Asgard, was sulking, arms crossed and emerald gaze icy and trained on Thor, who sat, reluctant, beside him. The metal chairs they'd been given were uncomfortable, and, across from them, Steve sat opposite Thor, nervously running a hand through his tousled hair and gazing down at the floor as Bucky, hunched down at his side, stared warily over at the mischievous god. Bruce, lounging in his rusty chair as gracefully as only Bruce could, stared at them all, huddled in a tight, closed circle of five people.
Dr. Banner cleared his throat awkwardly and nodded to himself, flipping yet another piece of yellow, stiff paper over on his notepad and clicking his pen as Loki took a deep, rattling, unnecessarily loud breath that broke the air of silence and tension that had begun to weigh them down. Bucky blinked stonily, his mouth twisted in a frown as the dim overhead light sent glinting, shivering lines of brightness over the silver of his metal arm, and Loki watched the display with contempt, leaning back in his seat even more.
"At least I didn't work for Nazis," he muttered angrily, and Thor turned a sharp glare on him.
"Loki," he ground out, irritated, just as Bruce murmured, mostly to himself, "We've been over this."
Steve, who had been silent for most of their session (a forced conversation riddled with accusations of mass murder from both sides in a weary attempt to defend their actions), straightened in his seat, blue eyes bright and angry and trained on the god.
"Bucky didn't know what he was doing; you knew exactly what you were doing and even enjoyed it," he spat, enraged, but Loki merely smirked at his irritation. Bucky, his gaze flicking between Thor and Loki in front of him, tilted his head and, with a haughty, smug grin plastered onto his face, laughed.
"At least I don't love my brother just a little too much," he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest as if he'd just won the lottery, and Loki's eyes widened with barely contained fury as Thor choked on the words he was about to offer. Loki's jaw muscle twitched, almost imperceptibly, beneath his pallid skin, and he mimicked Bucky's own posture, a strange, mirthful light coming alive in his glare. Bruce glanced between them, frowning in concern, and scribbled furiously on his yellow notepad, glasses slowly slipping down the bridge of his nose.
"At least I don't speak in homosexual code to my," Loki murmured, air-quoting his next words, "best friend."
Bucky's cheeks reddened just the slightest and Loki, in response, snickered triumphantly. Bruce looked up from behind the rim of his glasses, chewing on the inside of his cheek absently.
"I think we need a few more sessions."