Chapter 9- The Calm Interlude
Given the fact that they only had three days until the impending Loki invasion, Thor and Bruce thought it best to prepare right away, wasting no time on idle chitchat. The Avengers (including Bucky this time) holed themselves up in their so-called "Strategy Room" which was really just Tony making a living room sound pretentious.
While they worked, Kurt and Santana took some time to themselves, during which Kurt was apologising profusely and relentlessly.
"Santana, you're not listening to me. I put you in danger, I did that. Sure, Loki took you but if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in a situation like that.
Santana rolled her eyes. "Yes, what happened was fucked up, I'm not going to disagree with you there. And yes, Loki wouldn't know me if not for you. But what you're not understanding is that Loki chose to abduct me. Loki chose to take me to an abandoned...whatever it was. He chose to do the same to you. Are you going to blame Steve for that?"
Kurt shook his head angrily and then relaxed. "I see your point. I was just worried. Even Thor doesn't know the extent of Loki's rage or what he's even capable of doing. Nobody knows whether this invasion is going to be like. People could die, Santana."
Santana shrugged. "People could die crossing the street every day. Look who we have on our side. Look what they've faced. They're all still alive. Kurt, we have a fucking Hulk."
"That's true, I guess. I'm just torn about this whole situation."
"Steve?" She whispered.
He nodded. "He means a lot to me and vice versa. I'm just starting to wonder whether our relationship is just a lightning rod for Loki."
Santana bit her lip. "Look, Loki is a sadistic little freak who's going to do what he wants regardless of what choices you make. I say hold on, because isn't that the same thing you asked Steve to do when he was having doubts?"
"How is it that you always know how to point me in the right direction?"
She smirked. "Because, I'm the best friend ever. Now go away, I'm waiting for Natasha."
"So what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Count the ceiling tiles?"
"That does sound like something that you would enjoy doing."
Kurt flipped her off and was about to go and find some way to amuse himself when Clint exited the room.
"Everything okay, Clint?"
Clint nodded. "Steve just thought it'd be best if you guys were in there. Keeping things from you would only lead to disaster in the long term."
"Understandable. We'll try not to get in the way."
Clint waved him off. "Nonsense. Look, you guys know just as much about Loki as the rest of us, not counting Thor. Any advice is good advice at this stage. When you've got three days to plan for an alien invasion, there's not much that is unhelpful. Well, a lot of what Tony's saying at the moment isn't exactly relevant."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
Kurt waved to Santana, who shrugged and followed both he and Clint into the room.
Kurt took a seat in between Steve and Bucky while Santana was offered a seat in between Natasha and Tony. Kurt almost scoffed thinking about the fun she was going to have over there.
"You doing okay?" Steve whispered before Tony resumed talking.
"Yeah. I still feel bad, but Santana reminded me that it wasn't actually my fault."
"Good, I'm glad. It's important that you know that."
Kurt turned to Bucky and smiled. The latter gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Kurt equated this to being Bucky's version of a warm hug.
"So, let's not beat around the bush. There's a huge attack coming and we have to figure out how to stop it. Looks like it's all up to you, Thor."
Thor gaped. "Man of Iron, I have told you many times that I know nothing about what my brother is planning."
Steve noticed that Kurt was itching to say something. "Just say it. It could help."
Kurt nodded. "What about anyone else back at Asgard? Surely there's some source that might have some idea what's going to happen. Maybe somebody your brother was close to, if sadistic dictators can actually get close to someone."
Bruce turned to him. "Kurt…"
"No, Banner, it is fine," Thor nodded understandingly. "Loki has hurt Kurt personally and also his best friend, he has every right. Loki has always been problematic, that has never been up for a dispute. But he is also correct. There must be somebody on Asgard who might know something. I shall return there just for a day to try and find out everything I can. The way time works up there, I'll have more of it than I would down here. I'll simply have Heimdall monitor you all so I know when I should return. I should leave as soon as I can so we can be prepared."
"How can we contact you?"
Thor looked upon them seriously. "Hopefully I will be done before you even have to."
Tony rubbed his hands together as Thor left the room sans goodbyes. "Well, that was dramatic. Class dismissed, I guess."
As everyone got up, Steve tugged on Kurt's hand.
"Can I show you something?"
Kurt nodded.
Steve nudged him into the elevator on their floor and pressed for Floor 22. The ride up was silent as Kurt and Steve just looked into each other's eyes. There they found a world of meaning. Their lives had been completely different in a number of ways, but both collided when they look at each other. Everything that they had never had, everything that had escaped them was right there, staring right back at them. It was quite literally them against the world and even amidst all of the chaos and the kidnapping, things were still looking up.
Steve stepped into the hallway and dragged Kurt to a random room on the level. It was empty and Kurt looked around him in wonderment.
Everything surface was a window. The walls, the ceiling, even the floor was transparent glass. Kurt felt a little uneasy but it was okay because Steve was with him and he trusted Steve with his life. The man had proven that by saving it several times now.
"I come here when I need to reflect. When the world seems too small and my problems seem overwhelming, I come here at nighttime. I realise just how big the world is, how bright the stars shine and how small I am in comparison."
Kurt gasped. "This is beautiful."
"It is," Steve agreed, though he was staring at Kurt the entire time. "Sit down right here, in the center of the floor and just take a minute. Just look around you. This room was designed to be separate from the building. I'm not sure why it's here, but I'm sure glad it is."
Steve jutted off to the side as Kurt sat cross-legged in the middle of the room.
Kurt took his moment to correct his breathing before opening his eyes and staring up into the starry sky above him.
It was exactly how Steve said it would be. His issues seemed insignificant, as miniscule as every star seemed from this distance. It was as glorious as Steve had described, and Kurt found himself changing. Just a little bit, but enough.
And this was his new home.
"Thank you for bringing me here. I think I understand you a little better now."
"I'm glad," Steve replied, his voice echoing around the room. "Look, nobody knows what's going to come out of this invasion, but we're all going to fight like hell to save this world and I'm going to come back to you afterwards. We're going to be together and we're going to spend nights sitting in this room and talking. Learning everything about each other, laughing at stupid jokes we've heard and just being. I'm going to come through this on the other side, Kurt. For you."
Kurt blinked the tears from his eyes and nodded. "You are going to come out on the other side of this, Steve. But you're not going to be fighting for me."
"I'm not?"
"No. You're going to be fighting for you."
