"…I didn't know you were dating anyone." Tony didn't answer. "…Who is he?"

"No one you know."

"I gathered that much…Where did you-"

"Look," whirled from the window his head said tersely: "not to come off, as a dick, but can we maybe not do this right now?" Steve at his face twisted and wide gaze asked worried:

"Is everything alright?" No response browns shot back to the windowview absent. He began suspecting he and the 'angry brother' had quarreled and probed: "…Did something happ-"

"His mom. Passed away, okay?" sternly said with a clear indication to quiet. Taken aback Steve uttered somber:

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

"Sure you are."

"Tony-"

"I-…" trailed off and Steve who twenty minutes ago hadn't a clue he was with someone remained trying to process and comprehend the gravity of the matter, which comes into focus in a manner he hadn't expected when Tony as though to himself lowly, stiffly whispered: "I should be with him…" He couldn't see his face that was turned away but the premise of was twisted and in his seat he sat stone-like fist clenched top his knee tightly.

He doesn't know of whom he speaks not even his name, has trouble grasping…that it was a guy, and that for him Tony sounded so distraught and anxious.

For a long time even with Pepper he and most of everyone at base had one perception of Tony, the playboy out not to settle because why or because he can't or doesn't want to, to suddenly see and be told that he is with someone – for how long, and in secret? It's not in any aspect like him which makes Steve wonder, need to ask, and althemore worry. Forgets not what's been said and what had happened, was empathetic and wanted to console him.

"…Okay, if the lead's a dead end, I'll put someone else on track and we can go. I can take you to him. Wh-"

"No…Just. Drive. He's too far – I'll call him later."

"…What's his name?"

"…Will. William." So strongly he had to fight the irrational urge to speak his real name.

"How long have you been together?"

"Look can we just skip this part? I'm seeing someone, his name is Will, end of discussion okay? Let's just get this done and get back, minus the small talk."

"…Okay."

XXX

Deeper into the woods they trailed parallel to the roadway of pebble rocks and dirt, that of left and right were buildings and houses one story or two stone or wood-made, aged over a hundred years some younger. Oil lamps and torches light the nighttime dimly, silhouettes of people most clothed in century-old fashion, a rusty car or two parked here and there, and stables housing barely any horses.

The cemetery was dark lit solely through moonlight, succumbed and interspersed in foliage and overgrown ivy. Deeper in a clearing of recent graves made over a dozen, a jaded stone for each set and engraved with names and kind phrases, flowers on the soil and frames and other memoires.

Before the one with the largest gravestone and indigo aster flowers top the bed, knelt a man hunched over, to shoulder greyed hair let down in an unkempt manner as his pose there on his knees lying in the dark silent.

"Loki," he'd uttered in an aged voice quiet. The brothers stood some feet from, Loki a step behind stiff and anxious. Odin rose slowly, tiresomely to his feet. Old as he was his form had not slackened he remained as fit and burly, his face and one eye both wise, and frowning. One glance he gave his younger son, addressed the other sternly. "What is he doing here?" Thor tensed and Loki fought a scowl.

"He's come to see mother."

"Has he?" scorn in his voice and eye as he faced then the latter. "Bit late, isn't it? My 'son'." He and Odin had not a word shared since the truth was spoken. In the beginning he'd wondered often, what he thought why he did what he did – what he meant to him, what and what, but the things Thor'd said, the way that he had those few times they'd met. This was not an anticipated outcome; it put him on an edge sharp both in rage, and hurt, with every word that next was from Odin coldly spoken. "Six years she waited, for you to come, bother paying a visit to the woman who had loved, and raised you, as though you were of her own blood."

"But I wasn't, was I?" tears in his eyes stung burned he dammed them back jerked up his thoughts that spiraled weeping.

"And yet? And what had you given in return? You threw eighteen years of care, nurture, discipline, education, and kindess-"

"And pity?"

"Yes, Loki. And pity. Are you satisfied?" incredulous he asked him. "What else is there to feel for a helpless babe who had lost his mother and all kin, alone in the world with no one to care for, and we cared for you, and you spat in our faces," a sneer and there was hurt in his eye and Loki hissed back collected barely:

"You, lied to me."

"And has the truth relieved you?"

No. It never had.

"Father that's enough," Thor insisted disbelieving.

The truth often rarely is resolving. Yes he lied, to his brother and told him, that alike Odin wanted him returning, held back the fact that in any conversation on him he'd scoff and be scornful, criticize and judge him for leaving, for allowing himself to turn for following Laufey, late leader of the pack, responsible for robbing him, of her.

"Indeed I believe it is," he muttered as scathing and more than done Loki stepped back, vanished.

"Lo-" He was gone. Thor faced his father seething. "…Why?"

"Do you think me foolish boy?" Odin snapped all pretense faded. "With Loki or without him, there will be, no, marching into battle – do you understand? I forbid it-"

"Then you have sentenced us to death!"

"Then so be it!"

"…I understand, that you are hurting, as are we all…He has as much a right, to grieve her."

"He abandoned her, all of us-"

"And he is back now!...And he is willing, to do, whatever it takes-"

"He cares not for the pack and whatever he is he cannot protect us! He'll have us killed – as will you if you-"

"And as will doing nothing!"

"We are not. If and when they come, we will stand, and we will fight, until the last Asgardian drop, of blood…" He was lost, so blinded by grief Thor could see this. There'd not be the slightest chance to sway him. He hasn't then a choice.

"We'll not speak of this again," Odin decided. "…And as for Loki…He may return as he likes but disobey my orders – either of you – he's never to set foot on these grounds again. Persist and you shall follow." Thor silent stood wrathful but composed himself strongly. More than any of them Odin'd been impacted arguing with him'd be more harmful than pointless. It's dreadful how he believes truly: "I'll not risk the life of every Asgardian to satiate your thirst for vengeance," than to see that to stand defenseless was as damning.