"Can I help you?" Steve asked the man that had knocked on the door to their motel room. He was large, enough to fill the doorframe height to width, had long blonde hair and a short beard, and he looked angry.

"I need to speak with Tony," gruffly said in a thick English accent. Confused and alarmed now Steve cocked a brow grip on the gapped door hardening, posture guarded as his tone asking:

"About what?"

"My brother."

"Your brother?"

"Hey. Who's this?" Tony curious asked approaching from the bathroom.

"You tell me where my brother is, now," forth the man took a thudding step – Steve shot a hand behind to his holstered rifle held out the other glared at the fuming blonde sternly.

"Thor?!" Tony exclaimed then from beside him made him glance his way bizarrely ask:

"You know this guy?"

"Course I know this guy," he even smiled, genuinely enough that it fazed Thor's sternness slightly. "How did you – You know what? Let's talk outside," he moved past Steve put a hand to a perplexed Thor's shoulder.

"Tony," the former tensely called.

"Relax. I'm dating his brother."

"What brother?"

"Later. Thor. Buddy. Come on. Let's talk. I'll be right back."

"Tony."

"It's fine."

XXX

"How did you find me?" he inquired somewhat worriedly very aware should Loki know he won't like this. Through the mini-parking lot they walked Thor stomping beside him.

"Doesn't matter," abruptly turned to face him adds impatient: "I know my brother calls on you, I know you can reach him. I must speak with him urgently."

"About what?" Tony shot back thoughtless promptly to which Thor bitterly retorted:

"That is not your business, huntsman." He rolls his eyes at the naming further angering for a beat Thor before he more soundly started:

"Look, we got off on the wrong foot. Can we put labels like 'huntsman', and 'werewolf' aside and just talk, two guys? That okay?"

"…Fine."

"Okay. You wanna get something to drink?"

"I need to talk to Loki."

"Alright," said swiftly to calm him. No Loki won't like this one bit, but he can practically feel Steve's eyes from at the still open door on them. And Thor seemed not a man past making a scene so they'll have to contain and resolve this, he and Loki both because he doubts that Loki'll be on this matter placid, that Thor's here to seek him again he's not sure how those conversations go – however they do,

he wants this time to be different.

He's heard enough to know that Thor for his brother cared truly, as did Loki for him regardless what he speaks he can't fool Tony or doesn't even try to.

Though he doubts either man'd let him much intervene in any way, much as he does that they'd this time reconcile should they go about the matter as they do normally– he must somehow sway them, to let the past go move forward speak and see,

what they mean to each other excluding all else of facts or truths around them. He must try, must and he can't phrase why exactly.

"I can get him here, but we gotta move. Why don't we go book you a room?" he gestures walks forward, over his shoulder quietly, casually though with an edge says: "Act cool, okay? My hunter friend over there doesn't know a thing about Loki and I wanna keep it that way." Thor takes this into account, as he had Tony's almost glad reaction once realization when they met'd befell him.

Fandral (as Loki'd suspected would) had indeed called him; by chance he'd found Loki.

For days Thor'd wished he could somehow reach him, tell him what had happened, ask for his help,

…because it feels like he's by himself and drowning…

Contacts throughout the years they'd made he calls a friend with a propeller plane, hours and he's in Nebraska.

Skills a werewolf hones and in most Thor's very well-practiced, heightened hearing included – Fandral leads him in the woods there's the building, he strains his ears listens closely, there's too many voices,

but he catches Loki's and he catches his name spoken, softly, by another man likely the one Fandral'd mentioned he'd seen Loki in form as though protecting.

They were bantering, flirting – Thor'd faced his friend promptly asked him to describe this 'Tony' precisely.

The glowing chest bit painted a bold marker.

Hours he'd set camp Fandral supplying him with necessities from town, including a car as he sat waiting for Stark to move, and followed him.

He and one 'Rogers', were to hunt a witch – bewildered Thor must ask:

"Why would a hunter court a werewolf?" Tony smiled faintly.

"We used to ask ourselves that. It stopped mattering very quickly…" said low, reminiscent almost. "I know you don't know me, but I know a lot about you," he paused says as he turned back to face him: "Enough to know how much you mean to him," an expression he bore grave, but gentle when he added stoutly: "I care about him, very much. And, believe it or not. I care about you too." Thor raised a brow high features puzzled twining. Tony's voice and face remained steady and what he said then had Thor's unravel. "Because in spite of, all that happened, all that'd come to light, you still stood by him. You loved him. He's stubborn I know. But he loves you too, even if he won't say it or show it."

So impacted Thor'd fallen Tony saw the way his blue eyes welled and his own chest tightened. Brief smile he gave softly said then: "Come on," turned but Thor called him:

"Tony," quiet he stood for a beat, before lowly, in earnest, speaking. "…Thank you. For saying that." Browns gleamed a smile wider and he stated matter of factly:

"It's the truth," he made to move as Thor was still for another moment. This stranger he's known for all but moments comes to claim so well he knows his brother and what he'd deny even, says things and in a manner that impact both and overwhelm him, things he…did not anticipate when he'd set out on this to hear things he…never could've imagine how…badly he wished to hear, know but…how's he to take to heart this man's words as truth – who even – He needs to see Loki.