Steve sauntered into the communal kitchen area of the tower, with his ears, hair and tail all dripping wet from taking a shower recently. He wore the biggest, goofiest grin anyone, including Bucky, had ever seen on him. He began to hum to himself as he made a cup of coffee for the still groggy Tony and a hefty breakfast for the rest of the team.
Tony was pleased to see the taller of his two mates had already made him a cup of coffee for the morning before taking it with him to the workshop, passing by the panoramic windows in the hall to find that the sun was barely beginning to reach over the horizon with its rose hued glow. Shrugging his shoulders at the sight, he slowly shuffled his way toward his destination, where he'd stay for the next few hours.
Steve rolled his eyes at Tony's practically sleepwalking form as he made his way to his 'playroom', as he and Bucky liked to call it. He quickly finished up with the pancakes, oatmeal and orange juice as the sun started to break through the horizon. As soon as he had turned off all the kitchen appliances, he made his way back to their den to wake Bucky and check on Cherokee.
Upon entering the room he was greeted with a soaked and shirtless feline and the soft snores of their sweet little Angel. Bucky placed a finger over his pursed lips to shush Steve as he entered their domain, and without a sound managed to get dressed for the day and leave to seek out Tony. Steve chuckled under his breath at the flashy, James Bond-esque way Bucky left the den, shaking his head as he curled up next to Cherokee's sleeping form. Within minutes Steve was fast asleep, breathing in sync with his mate.
"Hello Friends." Thor's booming voice echoed throughout the common area of the tower, and one particular feline was none too happy about it.
"Pipe down, you blonde wingnut." Tony said, barely catching his favorite mug after being startled. He glowered at the god as he took his place at the kitchen island next to Bucky, his tail twitching behind him.
Bucky kept silent, except for the near undetectable pur he let out to calm his mate as he began to rub Tony's back to soothe him, knowing that the genius was not much of a morning person to begin with. At 8 am, he'd already been up for a few hours before Bucky finally managed to drag him out of his workshop to eat.
"But Tony, we have just arrived back. Come, celebrate our most recent victory." The god's voice boomed throughout the room again, giving Tony a mild headache.
"Calm down, Thor. It's still early for most of us." Natasha spoke, her voice gentle as she passed, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "And where is the All American Rogers? Aren't you three inseparable?" She gave a pointed look to the pair of felines at the end of the island.
"He's probably comforting our newest family member, an omega girl he rescued while you guys were away on that mission. She mated and bonded with Steve not long ago and she's been a bit skittish. We may not see them for a while longer." This time Bucky spoke up, his hands never leaving Tony's back.
"Female Omega? It has been quite a while since there has been a female omega on Midgard, correct?
"Yes, but she seems to be even more special than that. I will explain later."
"Stevie did make all of us breakfast before returning to her." He added, trying to hint at Tony to eat something. Just as he had finished that last statement he could hear Tony's stomach rumble.
"Okay, Okay." Tony said, letting Bucky know he finally got the hint. He grabbed a plate and piled it up with pancakes covered in sticky maple syrup and a small bowl of oatmeal with butter and brown sugar. As he returned to his seat, Bucky reached out to take his plate so that he wouldn't drop anything. "So where are Birdbrains 1 and 2?" He asked between huge mouthfuls of oatmeal.
"Over here, asshat!" Hollered one irate, purple clad "birdbrain". Tony knows how much Clint hates being called by that nickname and yet every time he thinks Clint is in a different room he uses it. "I may be deaf and You may be stupid but these hearing aides you made work perfectly, you jackassed prick." Clint knows he can hit pretty hard especially for an omega, and uses that to his advantage every chance he gets, which is whenever Tony decides he wants to pick a fight.
"Ooh, I'm so scared, Hawkguy." Tony calls back, his trademark sarcasm dripping from every syllable. "Why don't you save it for the honeymoon." He adds with a smug grin.
The Hawk in question turned bright pink and stalked away muttering, "I don't know what you're talking about." Leaving the group snickering at his reaction, and a very confused Falcon in his wake.
"What was that about?" Falcon, a.k.a. Sam Wilson, asked the group.
"Oh, nothing to worry about." Bucky replied behind a chuckle.
Everyone noticed how well Clint took to Sam when he started living with the rest of the avengers. It was kind of cute in an awkward sort of way, a clusterfuck of pining and obliviousness as Tony put it. For all of Clint's pining, Sam was oblivious. Even if he started the flirt little game they've been playing for months, poor Clint was too far gone by this point.
"I can't believe he hasn't noticed how Clint's scent changes around him." Natasha whispered to Thor, who then proceeded to laugh not-so-inconspicuously.
Sam's expression changed from one of utter confusion to utter shock in an instant, letting it sink in for a moment before bolting in the direct that Clint had gone. "Oh. My. Gods. Um, gotta go guys..."
As soon as the red clad soldier was out of sight everyone burst into fits of laughter. Natasha was clutching her sides, while Bruce and Thor leaned on each other to catch their breath. Tony wiped away a tears as he clapped Bucky on the back to keep him from choking on his own tongue.
"Took 'em long enough." Bucky commented.
"Sure did, Now how about food?" Bruce questioned.
"Here you are, big guy." Natasha handed him a plate full of food.
"I have an announcement for you, brothers." Thor's voice boomed as his face took on a serious expression. "As we all know, my brother, Loki, must be punished for his wrong doings. The Allfather has come to the conclusion that he should be at the mercy of those he wronged, or at least SHEILD."
Everyone's jaws, except for Natasha, hit the counter.
Taking advantage of the stunned silence, Loki appeared next to his brother. "Hello, mortals."
Once, Tony had regained his ability to speak he immediately began cursing and raising hell about the Trickster's presence in his tower. It took everything Bucky had to not drag his omega out of the room to calm him down.
"Calm yourself, Starkson. I am a ward of SHEILD, not the avengers. My duty is to redeem myself with your world not to destroy or rule it. This is a punishment meant for me after all." Loki replied to the omega's questions and complaints. "I do not have much of my Seidr left. As a part of my sentence I cannot have use of it until I am deemed worthy. I have only enough to keep my Aesir form and care for my son."
"I don't give a rat's ass what you're-, Did you just say 'Son'?" Ton stopped in his tracks, all eyes on Loki looking for an explanation.
"You have a son? Who would even mate with you?" Natasha asked.
Loki gave her a cold glare before responding. "Yes, I have a son, and though it none of your concern, Mortal, I did at one time have a mate. A beautiful, young Omega woman."
"Okay, then where is the child?" Bucky asked this time.
"He is here somewhere on my person." He searched his robes for a minute or two before holding up a small red fox with, what looked like, little white wings on its back. "He takes after me mostly. He has potential for great power but he prefers to stay dormant in this form. He has his mother's affinity for premonitions and flight and my affinity for illusionism and shape changing."
"Aw, he's cute. How old is he? And what is his name?" Bruce's face giving away his innate interest in the small creature.
"He is only a year in Midgardian time, and his name is Phillion. It was the name that his mother chose for him before his birth." Loki's expression softened as he spoke about the child.
"Where is your omega?" This time it was Natasha who asked.
"We- I do not know. It is complicated to explain so I won't but she is most likely dead." His expression hardening at the question. He replaces the child within the pocket that he took him from.
Ignoring his brothers suddenly rigid behavior, Thor moved on, "Tony, will it be acceptable for Loki and the child to stay here in the tower under supervision? Since he is in SHEILD custody as of yesterday it might be best if the were the case."
"Under one condition. If I so much as suspect that you are planning something or harm anyone whatsoever, you will be headed back to SHEILD and I will personally see to it that it is a total hell. Understood?" Tony snapped, sounding almost like 'Captain' Rogers.
"Understood." Loki replied with disinterest. It didn't much bother him though, he didn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms.
"We can figure out a room for you tomorrow. Until then you can stay with Thor on his floor."
Loki gave a curt nod and made his way to the elevator with his brother in tow.