Disclaimer: I don't own anything
"So, when do we leave?" Steve Rogers asked, having just been explained why Thor's mother was there.
"I cannot ask you to come. It is not your fight, but mine and my sons if they are willing to come." Frigga nodded and thanked Steve for their proposition.
"In fact, if it is our fight. You said so yourself, Earth might be in danger. We can't risk another alien invasion and if it happens to help Thor in the meantime, all the more reasons to help." A voice said from the ceiling. Clint jumped in the middle of the room.
Though he did not fancy having something to do with any alien besides Thor and maybe Loki, their friend needed their help. That's not exactly what they signed up for when they entered this team, but in his line of work nothing is like you're told it's gonna be.
"Okay, time for a meeting." Tony said and left the room followed by Natasha, Clint, Steve and Thor. Coulson had been in a lot of awkward situations during his life, but being in the same room with Loki and Frigga might top any other experience. He put his hands in his pockets and started to walk around the room trying to figure out a question to ask someone. Probably Frigga.
"So, how's space?"
Damn it. Now he sounded like Darcy Lewis. Phil briefly wondered what had she been up to and whether she was still mad at him for the 'treasure' he had 'stolen' from her.
"You mean besides my husband not being my husband? Excellent." Frigga snapped, but closed her eyes and took a deep breath after that "I am sorry. I should not direct my anger at you."
"It's alright. You've been through a lot"
Now he saw where Thor had his short temper. Loki too.
"Agent" Phil's head turned towards the door.
Tony Stark leaned on the door frame. "You coming or not"
Huh. He did not expect being included in the 'team meeting'. Nor did he expect Tony to lead it, but stranger things had happened.
They all entered a room in which Phil had never been in. It was a normal size room, unusual for the tower which seemed only to have small apartment-size rooms. There was a glass table on the middle and some blueprints and holograms next to the walls.
There were the exact number of chairs as Avengers, but because Tony refused to sit, muttering something about Pepper telling him all he does is sit on a chair in his lab, Phil was now seated on a chair at the said table.
Like an Avenger.
"Great. We're all here. Wait, someone call Bruce" Tony instructed
"I'm here" Bruce Banner stepped inside the room and took a seat. Natasha started to explain what happened but he motioned for her to stop.
"I know. Loki told me everything" he then sat down too on the only chair remaining unoccupied. He looked tired and worn out, so Natasha made the logical assumption he had been down in the lab experimenting god knows what. At least this time he didn't burn his hair accidentally.
"Well..alright then. So we have gathered here today to answer a question. Will we or will we not help Thor. Those who are against the idea please raise your hand" Tony paused to look around. No one raised their hands "Great, this meeting is over. Now. I really want to see the rainbow bridge because-"
"Wait." Phil interrupted Tony's rambling "Are you guys really not going to explain why is Loki here?"
"Odin punished him. Something about making up for his mistakes." Clint shrugged like talking about why a serial killer, the same one which brainwashed him and killed Coulson, had been living with then was nothing. "Or maybe fake Odin punished him. I don't know. He's here anyway, next topic, please"
"And has he done anything to achieve that?" Phil wondered out loud, using the same unaffected tone like Clint had. They wanted the professional way and Phil was an expert at that. While they didn't turn melodramatic and cry 'why did you do that to us, Phil' or have someone from their team fall far the bad guy, Phil was okay.
They Avengers looked at each other, either trying to remember if the god had done anything, or deciding if they wanted to tell Phil. Probably the later.
"He helped us defeat the man which can control metal." Thor tried to say it as nonchalantly as he could, but the pride was noticeable in his voice.
"Magneto?" Phil asked as if there was any other metal controlling man on Earth. Although if he were completely honest, he had read in some classified shield files about other mutants who could in some aspects control metal. Mutants never ceased to surprise him.
Natasha nodded. "I can't say that we wouldn't have managed without him, but there would have been more collateral damage."
"And I suppose Fury doesn't know"
"He probably thinks something's off. That's why you're here, isn't it?" Clint raised an eyebrow at his former handler.
All eyes were on him, but Phil decided he was done lying to them. If he wanted their trust back he had to start telling the truth.
"Yes. The mission I was telling Clint about was just so I could make you believe I was gone and figure out what you were hiding."
"Typical Fury" Phil heard Natasha mutter. It was in Russian, so he was sure Clint heard it too, because he replied with 'tell me about it' in the same language.
It had been fun, back when they were just Strike Team Delta, making Clint and Nat believe he didn't understood Russian. They usually just muttered swears directed at him under their breaths, but still, it was amusing watching them trying to figure out why he had sent them more paperwork than usually.
"And now you are just going to, what? Go to Asgard?" Phil looked at Thor, silently hoping the god wouldn't be offended. Phil did not fancy being struck by thunder. "Just like that? Thor and Loki's mother comes in, saying there's something wrong there and you just decide to leave this planet? The planet which you have to protect? This whole team was form entirely for this purpose. Saving the planet."
"The son of Coul is right. You do not need to come. It is not your duty nor would it make you any good. You must protect Midguard, not Asgard. I shall leave for Asgard with my mother and Loki, if he wants to go. However, I would understand if he didn't. It is my duty to avenge my father." Thor finished his speech, but the other Avengers didn't look impressed.
"As you said, Thor, you will avenge your father. I understand. That is your duty. But remember what our team it's called? It's called the Avengers. Our job is to avenge." Steve said and then pointed at Coulson. "The team has been formed to avenge the Earth. I understand that. But we did avenge it. Many times since your death. But this time there's another planet that needs to be avenged. It shouldn't be only about saving the earth and the humans. If back in my time we, Americans, would have decided it wasn't our duty to help the others, thing about where we would be now." Steve stood up, knocking his chair over in the process. "Asgard needs our help and I'll die rather than stay here and do nothing."'Steve looked around to see looks of admiration on his teammates' faces, even if Tony wouldn't in a million years admit, that was an encouraging speech.
"And if the agency has a problem with it, I will personally tell Fury to shove it up his –"Clint started to threaten the Director, but Natasha cut him off
"If Fury has a problem with us helping out a team member and does something as meaningless as frown about it, I will personally dump all his secrets on the internet," Natasha threw Tony a glare as he choked back a laugh. "You have anything to add, Stark?"
"No, I mean, yes, I mean- Well I never took you for the one to use diplomacy instead of violence"
Banner snorted. "Yeah, diplomacy"
Coulson threw his hands up in surrender but also to distract Nat from her batter with Stark which, in Coulson's opinion would have ended in blood. "I don't think any of that is necessary. Especially Clint's imaginative idea," Phil glanced at the archer, who was barely holding back a prideful smile. "I will speak with Fury myself,"
"Not about Loki, I hope" Bruce said with a knowing look which was a little bit threatening knowing what the guy could do if he got upset.
With a sigh and millions of thoughts running through his head, Phil said something which he was sure was going to make him feel sorry someday. "No, I'm not going to say anything about Loki. However, I might be able to convince the man that if Odin doesn't rule Asgard anymore, his impostor might not have peaceful thoughts about our own planet. Your visit there could make sure there won't be any threats from the planet."
"Thank you, son of Coul. We are most grateful for your silence, my brother and I." Thor nodded at the agent.
"So, when do we leave?" leave it to Barton to be the one to lighten the mood.
"Wait! Wouldn't it be suspicious if you, your mother and Loki suddenly returned to Asgard after Frigga came here?" Bruce asked Thor
"And wouldn't it be even more suspicious if we all showed up with you three?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
Clearly the needed to think about this. Just bursting through the halls of Asgard wouldn't do.
"We should talk with Loki and Frigga about this, don't you think? They might come up with something" Clint suggested.
"Yeah, they're both sneaky enough to figure out a plan. No offence." Tony turned to Thor.
"None taken, my friend. They are, indeed "sneaky" and very cunning. Also their magical abilities will definitely make it easier for us, even though Loki's aren't at their fullest yet. I suspect the impostor has something to do with that too"
"Let's go, then" Natasha decided.
Shorter than usual, but I hope you'll like it.