A/N: Well, here's this! I remembered a couple hours ago (it was a busy day) that I was supposed to write a chapter of APNHF today! So I rushed to my computer and squeezed this from my brain to my keyboard. :) Enjoy.
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!
All four boys were huddled around a window, watching Frigga and Odin pull up at the curb with identical scowls on their faces. Loki and Thor's stomachs dropped when they saw their parents (Odin especially) and Loki quietly scurried off to his room. Tony shot Thor a worried look when he saw Loki and Thor sent a desperate one back at his friend. "Uh, Mrs. Rogers?" Tony called to Steve's mom. "Thor and I think we left the planes in the backyard. We're gonna go look for them real quick and Steve's saying bye to Loki upstairs."
"Okay, Tony." Sue mumbled without looking up from her work.
Confused but trusting, Steve hopped up and followed Loki upstairs while Tony and Thor headed outside. They stopped at the garage and slipped inside, Tony flipping the light-switch on. "Okay, Thor. What's going on? Is Loki okay? Are you okay? You seem so...tense now."
Thor sighed and sat down on an upside-down bucket. "Dad's getting really mean. He didn't even say 'hi' to Loki when he came home from his trip. And I don't know why. Apparently neither does Loki. It's like Dad's just - holding a big grudge for something Loki didn't even do!" His voice got higher and more frustrated as he went on. "The worst part about it is Mom isn't doing anything. She just gives that frown. I don't know... Sorry, I shouldn't be telling you about this. It's not like you can help." Thor mumbled the last part half to himself.
"Hey," Tony said, pulling up an actual chair and plopping down beside his best friend. "My dad's got the number one temper in America and only stopped drinking himself to sleep a few years ago. I know what grudges are."
"Yeah, but a few years ago, you were six. You don't really remember alot of it."
Tony frowned as he thought back and a dark cloud passed over his eyes. "I remember alot of yelling. And crashing and banging, and Mom screaming at Dad. And whenever he got mad or I did something bad, he'd just look at me, with those big eyes and I just knew that he honestly wished I didn't exist. It was like...wishing you could literally disappear." Tony shivered. "Kinda like your dad did when he left, only worse 'cause mine was drunk."
"I'm sorry, Tony. I didn't mean to-"
Tony looked up and wiped at his eyes. "No. No, it's fine. It's not like he ever hit me or anything. Besides," he smiled. "It was years ago and I barely remember it. I bet I made things alot worse in my head." He sniffed. "Enough talking about me. The point is, I kinda know what Loki's going through. I could talk to him if you want."
Thor hesitated. "What would you say? I'm trying to keep Loki from really finding out that Dad doesn't like him, but it's getting harder." He let out a big breath. "I wish I knew why."
"Well, as far as I can tell, your family doesn't have any big dark secrets." Tony paused. "Do they? Like have you ever walked in on your parents fighting?"
Thor didn't hesitate before shaking his head. "No. The maddest I've seen them at each other is what you saw in the car." I wonder what they were fighting about, he thought to himself.
Tony sighed. "Well, it was worth a shot. I don't know, Thor. I guess your dad just doesn't like Snow White gone boy." Then he mentally chuckled. Hey, I wonder if Loki's adopted or something. He considered mentioning it as a joke, but he knew Thor'd be horrified at the though. Not 'cause being adopted is bad or anything (they all knew Steve was) but the idea of Odin hating his kid because of it was.
-0-
Odin and Frigga entered the house and found the living room empty besides Sue, who was previously sitting on the couch, but now stood to greet them. "Hey! How was your dinner?" Her smile faltered when she saw their frowns. "Not well..." she mumbled to herself. "I'll go get the kids."
"Oh, no need!" Frigga stepped forward. "I'll go get them. Do you know where they are?"
"Last I heard, Tony and Thor were looking for something outside, and Loki were Steve are upstairs."
Without further ado, Frigga traveled through the kitchen and stepped outside. There was nothing for Odin to do but collect the rest of the kids, so he headed up to Loki's room. It didn't take long to get there. The door was partially open and when Odin walked in, Loki was on the floor picking something up from the floor and Steve was sitting on the bed, looking rather forlorn.
-0-
Steve climbed the stairs and approached Loki's room, knocking on the closed door. "Yeah?" His friend's voice was small; he sounded scared.
"Hey, Loki, it's me. I thought since I was going soon, your parents being home and all, I'd say bye."
The door creaked open and Loki's face appeared. "Are they in the house yet?"
Steve shoved his hands in his pockets. "I don't think so. Is something wrong?"
Loki shook his head quickly. "No. I just - I just wanted to make sure my room was clean."
Only a sigh was heard. It was as good an excuse as any. "Can I come in?" Loki backed away and allowed Steve to sit on his bed. The blonde wanted to ask what was wrong, but he knew that Loki would say 'nothing' even though they both knew there was. So they just sat there in uncomfortable silence, Loki occasionally hopping to the floor to pick something up.
Until Odin came in.
A/N: On that cheery note! :) You can expect another update tomorrow, even though this one was a close call. I hope nobody objects to Tony's and Steve's pasts - I mean, feel sorry for him, but don't get really mad at me for writing it. :)
Review, please! I'm curious about what you all think of this chapter.
