"You're my brother."
"I'm not. When will you admit that?"
Thor took some step to Loki. Loki's eyes narrowed.
"Father misses you a lot. Mother cried very much for you."
Loki stood up and brought his feet to study.
"Loki!"
Thor's voice made Loki turn to him.
"If they do that, anything can change?" Loki asked coldly. "You always called me your brother. Can that change my blood?"
"What makes us as brothers is not blood. That's the time we spend together. You're my little brother."
"I cannot know how shadow can be a brother."
Loki turned back. Thor called Loki once more but Loki never looked him.
Avengers ordered pizza. It's pizza party. Now they are familiar to each other, so pizza party is good. They chatted, laughed at dirty joke, talked about everything and nothing. They held the party in the second living room as usual. Then Bruce noticed Loki was not in the room and Thor was a little depressed.
"Did you fight with Loki?" Bruce asked to Thor in low voice.
Thor surprised. "How do you know?"
"You ate only two box of pizza. That's unusual."
"I lost my appetite. Well, you know, there was some conflict as usual. ...I hate that conflict is usual communication way between us."
Then Thor grinned like everything is okay. Party is good. At least Thor can laugh. Bruce glared the Loki's spot several time during the party. But Loki never appeared.
'He might want to avoid party of avengers.'
They decided to watch one or two movies. Maybe one, because they are tired. Half of avengers would sleep during the not-bombing scene. So they stood up and brought their feet to the first living room. That room has far better screen and audio system.
Bruce gazed at leftover. There is a lot of untouched pizza because Thor didn't eat as usual. Avengers except Bruce are arguing about movies so they don't notice that doctor is not with them. He can be late a few minutes to movie night.
Bruce knocked the door of study. No answer. But JARVIS said he is here. So Bruce opened the door slowly.
"Loki?"
After few second, Loki responded.
"Why, doctor?"
In the study, there are so many books and bookshelves. Bruce cannot see Loki. Bruce took a step forward.
"Where are you?"
"Here."
"I can't see you."
"Then find me."
Bruce stepped forward. He walked among bookshelves. It's like a maze. He is now in the middle of the room.
"Loki?"
"Why do you call?"
"I just needed your voice as compass."
Finally Bruce found Loki. Loki is sitting on the window sill but he doesn't have a book. There is no book near Loki.
"What is that?" Loki pointed the dish doctor brought.
"Pizza. You will like it." Bruce put it down on the sill.
"Your little banquet is over now?"
"Exactly we decided to watch a movie."
Loki nodded. "Then why are you here?"
"I can be late some minutes." Bruce shrugged.
But Loki looked unsatisfied by the answer. He narrowed his eyes. Loki pulled his leg close to himself and put his chin on the knee. "That can't be a reason."
Bruce blurted. "You were not in your spot."
Loki makes a face and snapped sharply.
"Should I keep my spot and wait order?"
Bruce just stared Loki. Then Loki gritted his teeth.
"Sorry. I'm a little nervous."
"Is that because of Thor?" Bruce asked.
"Did he tell you?"
"I just guessed you two fought."
Loki snarled. "I hate him."
He closed his mouth and reopened.
"I hate him."
Strangely, Bruce can know that's both lie and truth. There are some distortions between the brothers. But he cannot say anything. Loki doesn't say anything. What they can hear is only some noise of night.
"You have to come back to your friends." Loki said quietly.
"Well, yes, they might start wondering."
"Yes, you must go."
Bruce reluctantly moved his step. When he was near the door, Bruce stopped at the spot. He turned to the direction where Loki is.
"Um, Loki?"
"Yes I am."
Bruce can't decide this is stupid question or not. "Do you want to come with me? I mean, for movie?"
Loki answered. "I don't want to sit with Thor face to face."
"You can't. It's movie night. So the room is probably dark and Thor only glared the screen."
But there is no reply. So Bruce turned back. He sighed mentally.
Loki suddenly said.
"I will go."
Loki and Bruce sneaked into the first living room. No one noticed them.
Natasha is sleeping on the couch. Tony and Clint are shouting about bad acting and poor graphics. Steve and Thor are overwhelmed by different reasons. Steve has a confusing look that means he cannot understand fully this age. And Thor is just Thor.
They sat on the empty seats and watched the movie. Loki sometimes asked to Bruce about Midgardian things on the movie in whispers. And Bruce answered every question. But the lapse between question and answer became longer. Bruce thought he was dozing off but he cannot help that.
He is tired. Hulk did a lot of work and he went through the pizza party. The couch is so comfortable. Even though sound from movie is very loud, he can feel his eyes shut. There is a whisper like calling him. 'Doctor? Are you sleeping?' He can feel he is leaning on something warm. It's peaceful. After a while, Bruce can feel that is shaking him gently, no, a little roughly. 'Doctor, the movie is over.' He can hear the sound of dropped popcorn bowl.
"Hell! I'm freaked! When did you come?"
"When you two shouted about the costume of bad guy." Loki answered. "Doctor, wake up now and go to your bed. You're heavy."
But Bruce cannot answer or even think what the meaning of the voice is. Another voice chuckled. "What are you doing, Hawkeye?" "Just take a picture. It's worthy to take a snap." Bruce feels all his sense faded but he cannot resist or think about it. Now he is sleeping dreamlessly.
When he wakes up, he is still on the couch. A blanket is on him. Bruce can see a cup on the coffee table. His sight is blurred but he managed to pick it up. Coffee is in the cup. It's already cold but anyway he drinks that.
Bruce coughed. It's really bitter and untasty. Is this coffee or venom looking like coffee?
"You are brave."
Bruce turned to the voice. That's Tony.
"You had to see Loki in this morning."
"Why?"
"He was struggling with coffee machine. And that," Tony pointed the cup. ", Is the result. I saw what buttons he pushed. I can sure that's nearly hell."
Bruce growled. "...Always gods are cruel."
Tony laughed loudly. "I think that's the advantage of being demigods favorite!"
Bruce chuckled and sipped the drink again. He coughed again.
Natasha got up from another couch. She ruffled her hair and asked to Tony. "Is it already afternoon?"
Tony shook his head. "No. Just 9:30 A.M."
"Don't lie to me. You're not Loki. You can't fool me."
Bruce raised his eyebrow. "Why can that be a lie?"
"Obviously, I can feel the sunshine in this room, so it's not night. And Tony Stark is opening his eyes fully. How can it be 9:30 A.M.? Where is my cell... oh, I got it. Now, It's... 9:34 A.M."
Natasha stared screen of her cell phone for a little long time. "Wow." Bruce hid his grin behind the cup.
"Tony Stark is opening his eyes in 9:34 A.M.? Really, world is full of amazements."
Tony snarled. "I can't understand why you are shocked that much."
[But I know, sir.] That's JARVIS. Of course he knows. He probably has all record of Tony's sleeping time. And Bruce secretly agreed with Natasha.
Yes, world is full of amazements.
He swallowed another sip of coffee, and coughed again. Tony saw him with pity eyes like he is seeing a slow child.
A/N : It's chapter 10! Hooray! But romance is just starting... They are complex. They needs more time.