Chapter 52 – A Moment of Calm

Tony feels warm. As his brain slowly regains normal function he also realises something else: he feels rested. Blinking he lets his eyes adjust to the dim morning light, it must be just after dawn, and then frowns as the world moves up and down in a steady rhythm.

Oh yeah, he looks up from the solid pillow he's made use of during the night to remember Steve had stayed. Propping himself up on his elbow he takes advantage of the rare opportunity to properly look at the soldier at ease; one of Steve's arms is wrapped around his waist and it tightens a little in his sleep as Tony moves, and the inventor can't help but smile when he settles again, face turning to him in his sleep.

'You really are a sap aren't you?' he whisper-chuckles as he brushes a strand of blond hair back from his face; Steve's been letting it grow a little longer than normal recently and Tony decides he likes it. Now if only I could convince him to start a beard, he muses, running a light finger down the smooth cheek and letting it rest on his bottom lip.

'What are you up to?' Steve asks, eyes still closed as Tony removes the finger.

'Just thinking,' he replies.

Steve chuckles and opens his eyes, smiling up at him. 'If there is one thing you are never doing, Tony Stark, it is just thinking. There's too much going on in your brain for that.'

'Well for once, my dear Captain,' Tony smiles back, 'my brain appears to be working slowly enough that I can be just thinking.'

'And what are you thinking about at,' Steve pauses to look over at the clock, 'half past five in the morning?'

He has to take a couple of seconds to process this information. 'It's half five?'

'Unless your clock is wrong,' Steve raises an eyebrow. 'You alright?'

'Yeah I…I slept through the night.'

Steve opens his mouth to reply then frowns and closes it, before saying quietly. 'So did I.' They look at each other in surprise for a couple of moments. 'How long has it been since you slept through?'

Tony shrugs and looks down where he's resting a palm on Steve's chest. 'Probably before MIT. At first it was fitting in with college life, then it was the parties and alcohol, then it was the nightmares…' He trails off and looks back into blue eyes. 'What about you?'

'Not counting the time spent in the ice, it was before I lost Buck.'

'Did you,' Tony pauses, then forces himself to carry on, 'did you have any nightmares last night?'

Steve shakes his head, a look of surprise on his face. 'No… how did you know?'

'Because I didn't either,' he replies, 'I didn't dream I was drowning once.'

'I don't feel cold,' Steve admits, pulling him closer with the arm around his waist, 'I didn't feel the ice in my sleep.' Then he surprises Tony by pulling him down for a kiss. 'Thank you,' he whispers against his lips as he pulls away a fraction.

'What for?' Tony asks, slightly embarrassed at how breathless that kiss made him.

'For warming me up from the ice,' Steve responds, opening his eyes so all Tony can see is bright blue.

'You pulled me out of the water,' he replies, 'I think it should be me thanking you. Either way you know what this means?'

'I have a feeling you're going to tell me anyway.'

'You're only ever allowed to sleep in my bed from now on.'

Steve laughs and pulls him in for another kiss. 'I think I can manage that.'

They settle back down, with his head resting on Steve's chest again, and Tony has to marvel at how happy he is to just lie in bed not doing anything. It doesn't take his brain long to ruin his new-found peace by reminding him of the situation facing them. 'Steve? Do you think we're doing the right thing? Having Wade and Loki here I mean.'

'I don't know,' comes the reply, accompanied by a sigh big enough to lift half of Tony's torso from the bed. 'I wish I did. The one thing I will say about Wade is we know he'll protect Peter, and he's proven he'll help us because he knows it's what Peter would want. If nothing else we can trust that. Though I'm not sure how I feel about their relationship.'

'You and me both. But Steve when Nat and I were talking to Peter… it scared me how much he feels for Wade. I don't think he even realises how much he feels for the guy; he did make the good point that Wade has his back in all aspects of his life though, at least he can keep up with both Peter and Spider-Man.'

'That's true,' Steve muses. 'Do you- you don't think he loves him do you?'

'If he doesn't already,' he replies, 'it's only a matter of time.'

'Tony the age gap is too big, sure you're not going to just let them carry on?'

Tony chuckles and looks up at the soldier. 'As Wanda pointed out yesterday Steve, we can't exactly comment on age gaps. You're a good fifty odd years older than me, not to mention you were friends with my father; I think at this stage you're the definition of a cradle-snatcher.' He laughs at Steve's frown and presses a kiss to his forehead. 'Don't worry babe, I'm very glad you are.'

Steve just rolls his eyes. 'What does that make you then? A grave-robber?'

'Well that just ruined my mood. You make it sound like you're a zombie or something, and I'm into a lot of things but necrophilia is not one of them I'm afraid.'

'Necro-what?'

Tony laughs. 'That is most definitely a conversation for another time, babe, right now we're getting side tracked. I don't think Peter's in any danger from the relationship side of things with Wade,' he cocks his head as he thinks, 'I mean Peter was telling us, well more like moaning, about the rules Wade had put in when they agreed to date. He even went so far as to say they weren't allowed to kiss before Peter was eighteen.'

'Seriously?'

'Yeah but Peter's convinced him that one needed changing,' Tony can't help but chuckle, 'I need to hear the story I think; but Wade's not moving on the others. Which makes me feel a little happier if I'm honest; plus if I can make an attempt at holding down a relationship with Captain America I don't think I can say Deadpool can't have a chance at holding down one of his own.'

'With the kid you've practically adopted,' Steve points out.

Tony sighs. 'Yes I know. But we have to remember Peter has taken on super villains, he's a superhero in his own right, and he is nearly old enough to be making this decision himself. He's not stupid and he can look after himself; not to mention he's got a good enough relationship with several members of the team, and his aunt and Happy, that I'm sure he'll let someone know if something does go wrong.'

'You're right,' Steve sighs, 'and we should give Wade a chance to prove himself, he has been making better decisions recently by all accounts. We shouldn't be making an enemy from someone who could be a valuable ally; and by all accounts wants to be an ally.' He looks back at Tony. 'And Loki? You were pretty quick to help him out before we knew he'd been under mind control when we first fought him.'

'I know,' he admits, 'I'm sorry I shouldn't have jumped to making a decision but… it was the reaction the people he'd grown up with had when they saw what he really was. Even though he'd just apparently been prepared to sacrifice himself to save them they just wanted to let him die because he was something different to what they thought. It wasn't his actions that were forming their opinion, it was something he couldn't control. It…it reminded me of how people reacted to Wanda and Bucky when they first came back, and how people used to be about Bruce and the Hulk.'

Steve runs a hand up and down his back. 'I understand, and I think you made the right decision Tony.'

'Thank you,' he presses a kiss to Steve's lips, a sigh of relief and happiness leaving him. 'Plus Bruce was happy to support him so I knew something had to have changed; it's not like Bruce trusts people easily.'

'We've just got to convince Clint of that when he arrives,' Steve points out.

'I know,' he grimaces, 'we'll just have to do what we can. Hopefully the big looming threat will help with that. Not that it's making me any bigger a fan of having to work with Dumbledore and Gandalf.'

'How about we go get some breakfast,' Steve suggests, 'and discuss this more up there? I'd rather keep work out of our bed if you don't mind.'

'Our bed now is it, Spangles?' Tony grins, making Steve blush.

'Yeah well I figured you'd rather me move in here than you move into my room,' he replies, 'besides I've got less than half the amount of stuff to move than you have Mr Billionaire.'

'Touché, Captain,' Tony laughs as he lets Steve escape from bed, watching the man walk across the room to the bathroom. 'By the way I'm very much enjoying the view! Would be better if you lost the pyjama pants though.' He laughs as Steve gives him the middle finger over his shoulder before closing the bathroom door behind him.


It's surprising how quickly he's become accustomed to the new coolness, in a way it's comforting, as if he's been coping with the temperature too high for his whole life without even knowing it could be cooled down. He sighs, resisting the urge to bury into the covers, knowing there is a lot that needs to be accomplished today, and opens his eyes, blinking in the morning light.

'Shouldn't you be with the survivors?' he sighs as he spies the form sitting in the corner.

'I'm glad to see you awake, brother,' Thor smiles at him. 'Brunnhilde is with them and has promised to ask Stark's newest system to alert me if they require anything. I wanted to ensure you were well.'

'Did you believe your friends were going to murder me in my sleep? If so it's a wonder you suggested we come here in the first place,' Loki rolls his eyes, sitting up.

'No I…' Thor trails off and looks through the window, the eyepatch making him look more like Odin than he ever has before. 'Something inside of me believes that what has happened between us, the trouble between us, only started because I did not make it clear how much I care for you, Loki. I did not want to make the same mistake again,' he turns back to look at him, and Loki is surprised at the wetness in Thor's eye. 'Now that we are on the same side, brother, I do not want to give you reason to doubt again.'

'Thor I-' for once Loki is at a loss for words.

'I've lost you before, Loki, but you always came back. This time…it didn't feel like you would.'

'Thor,' Loki knows that, not all too long ago, he would have hated himself for the next words that would come out of his mouth, 'I will not be able to change my nature overnight, I will always be one for mischief and there may be times you doubt my intentions, but I swear to you that from now on, we will be the brothers we were before.'

Before he can stop him, Thor has crossed the room and brought Loki into a bone-crushing embrace.

'Thor you great oaf let go of me! I'm hurting you!' he shouts as he hears the sound of singeing flesh. Thankfully his brother does as he is told and Loki pushes himself to the other side of the bed. 'Give me a moment,' he says in response to the crest-fallen expression on the blond's face, taking a deep breath and concentrating on the well of magic he can feel restoring at his core. 'There,' he says, feeling his Asgardian form snap into place.

'Are you sure you are recovered enough to be doing that?' Thor asks warily.

He nods in response. 'It is a fairly simple spell. Here I should be able to help with the worst of the frost bite too,' he holds out his hands and Thor places one of his in them without a second thought, an action that Loki will deny warms him.

'Brother,' he pauses, then continues, expression unsure, 'you have not returned to this form because you think that is what I want have you?'

Loki shakes his head. 'Not entirely; for one I didn't know I could take on my frost giant form without the Casket, now that I have spent some time in the form I feel I may be able to take it at will. For another I can cause harm to others when I am in it and I'd rather not be giving frost bite to every person who touches me. Until I am better able to control it I think it best I return to the form I am more comfortable in. Besides this is how everyone knows me, and it will stop the annoying nicknames from Stark.'

'Well,' Thor chuckles, 'it will stop some of them. I just didn't want you to feel that you had to take this form if you did not want to; you are my brother whether you look Asgardian or Jotun.'

'I-' Loki is taken aback by the sincere comment. 'Thank you, brother.'

'I shall see you upstairs for sustenance,' the blond says, laying a large hand on his shoulder as he stands and leaves the room. Loki tries not to think too much about their conversation as he prepares himself for the day, but a small part of him feels something dangerously like contentment as he runs the water in the shower and tests the temperature.


'So what I really want to know,' Loki hears Bucky say as he enters the common area, 'is since when are you gay? I thought you took some girl to Homecoming?'

'Is the child's relationship still the main topic of conversation?' he rolls his eyes as he heads towards the fridge.

'None of your business,' Bucky snaps at him, glaring to drive his point home. Loki simply sighs and takes out the carton of orange juice, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

'I would have thought the imminent invasion was more pressing than the boy's sexual preferences.'

'I agree!' Peter huffs, passing him a glass from a cupboard. Loki thanks him and gives him a genuine smile, offering the carton to the boy when he's finished.

'Am I not allowed to be genuinely curious? Besides this has just come out of the blue!' Bucky addresses his statement to Peter, rather than to him and Loki resists the urge to smirk. He needs to not provoke the team if he is to stay here.

'I'm bi alright?' Peter sighs.

'Since when?'

'Since like forever,' the boy rolls his eyes at Loki and he tries not to laugh, taking a swig from his glass.

'Bucky why is this suddenly so important?' Steve asks with a sigh from where he and Tony are sat on a sofa; Thor is in a chair opposite them and Sam is in another, the aforementioned soldier is the other side of the breakfast bar to him and Peter.

'I'm curious!' the dark haired man answers. 'And how come you never mentioned it before?'

'You never asked?' Peter responds.

'I'm curious now though,' Sam pipes up. 'You said you've known you've been bi for a while, so I take it you've either had a boyfriend or had a crush on a boy before right?'

'Is this the wrong time for me to be walking in?' Wade looks between the occupants as he makes his way to the kitchenette; at the glare Bucky sends him he spins on his heel and goes to the sofas.

'Orange juice?' Loki offers, and if he's being friendly to the mercenary just to irritate Bucky then no one needs to know.

'Err… yeah?' Loki tries not to smirk at Bucky as Peter passes him another glass, he really does. He fails miserably.

'If I answer the question do you promise to stop interrogating me on my love life?' Peter asks as Loki takes the glass to Wade, who gives him a soft thank you. He notices his brother's eye roll and knows Thor has worked out his kindness has an ulterior motive.

'Yes they do,' Tony's tone is firm and Bucky puts his hands up in surrender.

'Fine,' Peter huffs, crossing his arms over his chest, 'I had a crush on my childhood friend before I even met Liz, but I knew I found girls attractive as well so… yeah.'

'Childhood friend as in Ned?' Wade asks.

'What? No!' Peter laughs. 'I knew Harry way before I met Ned, but he and his family moved away a few years ago and we fell out of contact; I haven't seen him since I was like twelve.'

'No more questions!' Tony interrupts before anyone else can say anything. 'We've got other things that we need to talk about.'

'Tony,' T'Challa enters as Loki takes a seat on the sofa on one side of Wade, Peter taking a seat on the other; Loki notices Bucky's frown and grins, raising his glass at the soldier, which only earns him a glare. 'I wanted to propose something.'

'As flattering as the proposition is I'm not on the market for marriage I'm afraid,' Tony quips, ignoring his partner's frown.

T'Challa chuckles and shakes his head. 'I was going to suggest we ask Shuri to come and see if there is anything she can do to help you remove the arc reactor if that was something you still wanted to do?'

'What?' the inventor looks up in surprise. 'But the doctor's said it was impossible, that my chest would likely collapse if the reactor is removed; it's basically holding me together in more ways than one.'

'Wakandan technology is more advanced than most places,' the king responds, 'including in medicine. Shuri may be able to do something, even if it is just to strengthen your chest cavity.'

'I- thank you,' Tony says. 'I could get FRIDAY to send over the scans?'

'If you are happy to do that,' the king nods.

'Loki is there anything that might be able to help the process?' Thor asks him.

'Excuse me?' Bucky demands. 'How is the mind controlling maniac going to be of any use with healing?'

'Thor sit down,' Steve sighs, 'and Buck, back off.' Then the soldier turns to look at his brother. 'What do you mean, Thor?'

'My brother is referring to the time I spent in the healing chambers when I was learning magic with our mother,' Loki responds. 'She insisted I learned some form of healing magic as it was a good way to learn intricate control; Thor teased me mercilessly at the time as healing was usually seen as women's work. He soon swallowed his words when we were out on quests and my small knowledge came in useful on more than one occasion.'

'I was young and stupid,' Thor mumbles, face red, 'and I was jealous that mother had given you magic and said I didn't have the patience for it.'

'Wait, what?' Loki blinks, taken by surprise. Thor had been jealous of him?

'So you could help to heal Tony's chest?' Steve asks.

'I am by no means a great healer,' he responds, trying to shake himself from his shock, 'but I may be able to work with the technology you speak of to increase the healing benefit. However my magic is returning slowly after my injury, the amount required for this sort of spell would be greater than what I could safely perform now.'

'Please tell me we're not-'

'Thank you,' Tony cuts off whatever Bucky was going to say. 'Whether you can help or not, I appreciate the offer.'

Loki is about to respond to thank the man for housing them when the sound of sparks interrupts him and a portal opens in the room. 'Oh good, my favourite person is arriving.'

'I thought we said we'd meet at midday,' Tony raises an eyebrow as Strange walks through the open portal. 'Some of the team are still not up.'

'Wong is at Kamar-Taj doing some more research and I am unsure how long he will be, I've put some spells up around the Sanctum that will alert me if anything enters and decided it would be better for me to be here so at least one of us will be on time.'

'So you arrived early,' Loki raises an eyebrow at the wizard, having not forgiven him yet for their last meeting.

'Remind me why I shouldn't put you in a pocket of reality away from me again?' Strange asks.

'I would not recommend that course of action,' Thor growls.

'Alright all of you stop!' Tony snaps.

'Is it just me,' Nick Fury says, entering the room, 'or are we still more interested in fighting each other rather than planning how we will be defending ourselves against the bastard that intends to wipe out half the universe? Now I suggest you all pipe down and sit your arses down so we can start talking. Any objections?'


A/N: I'm a terrible human being I totally forgot I hadn't updated this week! I'm so sorry! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, although it is a little bit of character bonding rather than pushing the story forwards.

Thank you to everyone who continues to leave reviews on this story, I really do appreciate them all. I'm sorry I haven't had chance to respond to them yet, it's been a bit of a crazy week. I will do it by the end of the weekend though.

Do let me know what you think of this chapter, I'm really interested to hear what you think of some of the interactions. Hope you all continue to enjoy this story!

L x

So there's two sneak peeks this week because I honestly couldn't choose between them:

'Want to avoid this Wilson?' Clint growls, picking another knife from the block on the side. Before he can even lift his arm to throw it, the archer's flying side-ways to land in a heap by the windows. 'What the hell just happened?' he groans, then his eyes go wide as he sees his attacker.

'Try it again and I'll put you through the window,' Peter's arm are crossed over his chest. 'Now is anyone else going to try and kill someone or can we get back to working out how to save the universe?'


'Steven Grant Rogers I swear to God if you say you are not going to fuck me through that mattress because I'm still recovering I am going to-'

'Do you have to be so crude?' he interrupts him with a frown.

'Fine,' Tony rolls his eyes. 'If you don't make sweet love to me until neither of us can walk straight I'm going to kick you out of the bedroom for a month.' At Steve's raised eyebrow he adds. 'Ok a week. I wouldn't last a month. I'd last a week.'