One by one the Avengers received Natasha's text. None could say they were surprised by Tony's actions. However most were rather shocked to see Loki in the picture. Most were unprepared to see Loki as anything but a cold and lifeless corpse.
As far as Clint had been concerned, Loki was dead. As in, body left behind on some random planet that he never needed to hear about ever again. As in never coming back. Dead as in, Clint didn't need to worry if his heart or mind would be snatched away. Now he had visual evidence that everything about Loki's death had just been a lie. And Clint wasn't happy about it.
As for Bruce, he didn't really care that Loki was back. Which meant he cared more for Tony's safety, his possible insanity, then the fact Loki was in a position where he could cause harm to innocents. The only thing that mattered would be to rescue Tony from any harm he may have to face.
Steve just felt bad. Other than Natasha he had been the only Avenger to know of Loki's return to Earth. And it wasn't that he was fine with the prospect of coexisting with Loki. He was fine with knowing that Loki was in his corner of the world. Fine with knowing that Loki had little reason to do much of anything. Yet now the worlds would be colliding once more and he actually felt a little bad for Loki. Because he didn't just see the villain. Steve saw a man kneeling, crying, before Tony in an open place. He saw someone who was lost and alone with nothing much left to lose. And Steve knew that Loki's problems were only bound to grow as the rest of his team found out the truth.
They all gathered on the top floor of Avengers Tower. Most arrived quickly seeing as they had already been in the building when they received the text. It was not quiet. Voices jumping from loud to louder as Steve let things slip and Clint got more and more enraged.
Finally Natasha walked in. And she looked calm, as if there was absolutely no problem that she needed to help deal with. As if she hadn't even received the text even though she herself had sent it. She gave the barest hint of a smile and sat down with her legs crossed.
"As you could see we have a problem. Loki has been on Earth, living here for sometime. He's been giving information to Shield. Or more accurately he has been giving information to Fury. In exchange he has been living a rather quiet life-"
Clint interrupted her. "You knew about this. How long have you known about this?"
Natasha tried to get back on topic, "I've known for as long as Fury deemed it necessary for me to know. The problem now is that Stark found him. And they seem to have formed a bond of some sort."
The team went back and forth accusing one another for knowing for not knowing. Clint was upset and made everyone know by just how much. Bruce had to leave the room several times.
But the worst reaction was Thor's. Natasha hadn't quite realized that Thor would receive the picture to his phone. She had meant to send it to the entire team. However this wasn't the sort of reveal she wanted to give to Thor. And it was with good reason she should have found a better way than by text.
Thor burst through the floor to ceiling windows, breaking practically every single one. And though it had been a perfectly sunny day to start with, by the time he was in the tower it was raining in full force. His hammer was out. Electricity in his eyes. And anyone with a thought in their head had the sense to get out of his way.
He held up the phone and surprisingly calm said, "What is the meaning of this?"
When no one answered him right away Thor gripped the phone tighter. This time he yelled, "What is the meaning of this."
"Thor," Natasha talked in her most placating voice, "Loki isn't dead. He tricked you-"
"Then why was I only informed of his trickery now? Why did you not tell me sooner? Why did he not come to me himself?"
Steve walked past Natasha and put a hand on Thor's shoulder. He could feel the electricity that could strike him at any moment. But he kept his hand there. "Thor, it was one of his terms. Not that he had been in much of a position to ask. But none the less he asked it and it was one of the things Fury granted him." Steve could feel the electricity getting stronger, ready to strike him down. He removed his hand and continued. "He asked that his status be a secret. He wished for people to believe that he was still dead."
Clint cut in, sarcastically, "As if he has reason to fear for his life or something."
Natasha gave him a look that if it didn't kill it sure would maim. But of course he chose not to look her way. Instead Clint kept on talking, "I for one am glad that he's back. That he's here. On Earth. You want to know why I'm so happy? Well I'm going to tell you. I'm happy because now I get a chance to kill that sick freak myself. And I'll make sure he's actually dead before I leave the body."
Before he was even finished Thor started going toward Clint. He dropped Thor with a crash when he was half way there. But before he could even throw one punch, Steve stopped him.
Steve stepped in front of Thor. He put his hands out and pushed with all his might.
And miraculously Thor stopped. But he was still tense. Body still trembled. Mjolnir flew back to his hand and it crackled. Thor stared directly at Clint, "If you," he looked around the room making eye contact with everyone, "or anyone else lay a hand on my brother you will not live long after."
Thor backed away from Steve and looked to Natasha, "Lady Natasha, would you be so kind as to tell me where my brother is?"
She wasn't sure if she should. Natasha wasn't sure what would happen if she did. But she did know she didn't want to die because she didn't say an address. So she gave him a smile and said, "He works at Tea and Potions. He practically lives there and it's only three blocks from here. I could show you?"
