"…Are you together now?" Indeed, Bruce had asked.
"Yes," so indifferently, so swiftly Tony had said. In his tone a challenge when he asks: "Is that a problem?" And if it had been?
If Bruce were to stand there and describe how ludicrous, how wrong and insensitive it is, to dismiss and refute the love and the care of the woman that had in his absence imploded, tears of fear and agitation, nerves that rattled she tried relentless to keep calm and think and act in hopes to find him, save him.
…But it had not been her that had claimed his rescue…This it seems was all it had taken to return and so promptly finalize their relation. Not past a day, now he believes not past that hour it had taken her to leave had likely he already made for another's arms, the past between him and this woman so easily forgotten, so effortlessly tossed aside uncaring.
For what? For whom?
…
…Loki…
…It's always Loki…
…
Slowly now he shakes his head, and why is it so unsurprising when Tony nods saying: "Not that it would've mattered if it was." Of course not. What in the world matters above Loki to him? What was there that for him he would not do? Who would he not oppose? Where was the line he would not cross?
"Bruce," Thor's voice calls a beat after they'd left, closer to him come those thudding steps and a heavy hand lands atop his shoulder, turning him and up Bruce looks meeting his gaze that was of some bother, he says: "…I am as well disquieted by Pepper's abrupt departure." They hadn't the time to process properly this. Pepper to them was…a constant, a fundamental member of the household – never mind how true that amongst them…she was out of place – to them she was someone, a friend and in their lives especially those were so scarce.
"And I understand," Thor speaks on, "that this…between my brother and Stark, may appear the reason," 'Isn't it?' argues Bruce in thought. "…Perhaps it is. In part. But we cannot also deny it to be true that she and Stark do not often agree. And as I've heard before our arrival, Loki and I, this has always been the conduct of their relation."
"Every relationship's got its ups and downs, Thor," 'don't excuse this.' "It's nothing they couldn't have worked out before. It's this thing with Loki," 'that's all it is.' To the side Bruce looks saying: "what apparently's been going on a lot longer than we…" he trails of now seeing, straight at Thor looking prudently. "…But you always knew, didn't you?"
Down Thor's gaze goes, nods admitting: "…I suspected it, early on."
Early on.
Early on, true, but there were questions then and was this the answer?
…But why so strange does it strike Bruce? Reasonable enough, how didn't he see it?
There were so many signs, so many now surely they'd meant nothing else – why then had it been so vague?
To question why to him Loki speaks to wonder why the chance Tony gives him, where's the resent that had been within them in him?
Whatever the reasons they'd learn to Loki's actions still to wonder why so close they'd grown so quickly.
Why the private nights, why the pair of chairs at the dining table, why to either sides of that armchair in the lounge must Tony sit, why when he opts for the mid of the couch and Loki's there he'll ditch his chair in favor of the spot by Tony in the corner, furthest from the others and to him nearest, why so close they stand when speaking, why some glances lasted long, why in silence their eyes would meet and often stay, end in some instants where Bruce could swear that one was smiling.
In such thoughts behind lenses dart his eyes back and forth. "…God to think of it now…It's been so obvious…I mean, all those times they…" With a gaze that had suddenly widened: "When Tony got into that cell with him. And I mean, that was months ago." How long truly?
Had it always been the reason, had it always been so simple?
…
So why hadn't he seen it?
…
Because of her…
By sense he concludes the concurrency of this relation, and the one Tony claimed to have with Pepper.
To wonder wrathful how he would do this to her? Him. Tony. His friend, the one he cared for and respected, stood up for and supported. To see him stoop so low this long ago, all along lying to her, to all of them.
Lying.
Thor sees the rage upon the doctor's face, well conjects as to his thoughts when hissing he starts: "He's been-"
"Banner," called sternly. "Stark does not strike me as the kind of man to engage in illicit affairs." 'Oh that is so funny.'
"He certainly has the reputation to support that insinuation." To have heard or been told he was a changed man…
…All that Loki's done is evoked the worst in him…
Now he lies, and very well.
Now he snaps and barks and yells. Speak a word against Loki and an altogether different person Tony becomes.
The worst in him.
"I suspect so does your brother," Bruce adds with more spite than he'd first intended to voice. Brows furrowed now and frowning Thor promptly interjects.
"You are wrong." 'Am I?
Course Clint's right to ask; how well do you know your brother really, Thor?
You just talk like you do same way Tony does: blindly. Maybe wishing you're right and maybe sometimes you believe that.
Maybe it is what he wants you to think, so you never see it coming when he stabs you in the back.'
"Loki's partners are numbered and in courtship he was always faithful." 'I'm sure that's true.' "Yes, he has a past of deceit and manipulation," 'so what are you trying to convince me of, Thor?' "but in these matters he does not jest." 'Why wouldn't he?' "Loki has always been of a distant, solitary nature." 'True. And?' "It is on the very rare occasion that he has let someone into his heart, to claim to love them – that term he doesn't use lightly." 'Wait…'
At this those passive features resolve and more he looks to stunned, confused that like so…that hadn't occurred to him at all.
…
…When he spoke to the team voicing his thoughts, thoughts for Tony's sake – he'll say – remained objective. He remained unbiased, to Tony himself to ask the team to trust his judgement, nor mentioning the fact that like them just as well he did not want Loki on the team nor in the least did he trust him.
He stood his middle ground, attesting that Loki could be of use, should be of use, admitting that he may turn, asserting their ability to subdue him, supported by the fact that he was weaker than before.
…Stating they cannot know…if by him Tony may as well turn…But affirming that whatever the odds they'd play their parts, keeping, like them and their thoughts, from choosing deeper to delve in ponder of possible outcomes of Tony's direly dreaded deviation.
…
…
…He speaks this way…
he and Nat,
the two that Loki by name had mentioned to Nick,
reminding him and them all…
…that at the end of the day…it could verily be claimed…
…
…they were as bad as he was…
…
…Parts of them do find this true…
…
…Parts they loathe, but thoughts they hold to.
Remembering, again and again reminded:
they cannot change their past they cannot escape it.
…
…They try now
with the chances
that they had been given
to right the wrongs that they'd made…
however many, and whatever it would take.
…
…So when they speak…in a manner which almost seems like they mean to speak for
…
Loki.
…
…
…They do not trust him, no.
…But they're so willing both, more than they know.
To give him a chance.
…
What Thor had last uttered pulled Bruce from the defensive state of mind he'd boar for Pepper's sake. Even Tony from his mind goes, and solely now he thinks of Loki – really thinks of him.
Thinks of all that has been, all that he's seen and all that he's come to learn.
The way in which by Tony's side he always stands, not metaphorically but very literally.
Because it was Loki and because of his deeds it's of the logical conclusion to come to assuming that of Tony Loki sought something, by staying so close was building to it, slowly earning his trust to use him, then aside toss him careless, an act after such bondship would prove as justly equal to a very sharp stab that all along they've only worked to spare him, talking, yelling, trying to persuade him to pull away but he doesn't.
From him he does not want to part and assertively claims he will not because…what if he loves him back?
…
…
…What if they were wrong?
…
…Think for a beat, what if what Thor speaks is true?
"…Did he say that? That he loves him." Thor can see the way this word had altered the doctor's thoughts so, and for a minute he thought to lie, but opposed and admitted:
"No," adding quickly and candidly: "But to me it is clear enough…" Clear enough.
…As clear as it had been that all along there was so much more between them?
…Maybe…
"There is a chance Tony knows, that likely Loki's told him," and he has a guess as to when that might have been, the incentive.
…At the thought of it there again is a frown, gaze turned down. "…When we had heard on the tv. That Stark," he won't speak it because it was not, he was fine he will not think it. The reminder of that phrase that Bruce knows he is grateful as much that Thor does not resume it, voicing instead the point he meant to make. "…Loki was in drastic dismay." This Bruce wouldn't know because at the time he hadn't seen Loki in sight, hadn't spoken to him but he knows Thor had. "And had he not found him…" the implication is clear and it needn't be expanded.
…It's a question he'd never asked himself before, and when Nat had earlier phrased it it was more formal, classifying Tony as nothing more than Loki's ally…Because saying otherwise, proposing the idea that Loki actually cared and was scared to lose him would be mocked and refuted the way Clint claims it's all an act.
…Was it?
Were it not, what would that make of moments this care had shown truly? Moments that Bruce had seen.
Quarrels he has his back, the incident in the lab, what happened in the park, how without a second's waste for his rescue Loki made, Tony's face with what can only be magic that had been plain unscathed, to Fury Loki stood states asserting that with him he will fight and will not be stopped – never mind the counter he'd offered – in the end like Nat had said he meant to keep him safe.
…
So how implausible was it, really?
"He knows what it means to lose him," Thor argues on. "He will not risk that chance – that is why I am certain that Loki would not betray him…"
No, he wouldn't…was the natural, more sensible, more compelling conclusion, than to think that after all had been he would only use him.
…
Just the thought to Thor as of yesterday was impossible.
It had taken one look, the manner on their way back in the jet that his brother's eyes had locked with Tony's. The latter smiled all but faintly then browns to Loki's wound had returned attentive.
But greens stayed leveled, for over a minute on his face sat watching, quietly, taking in his every feature in a wholesome admiration, adoringly, lovingly.
There's an ease on Thor's face now as he speaks: "He and Stark...more or less, are equals. With a shared number of similarities that makes it difficult to find something their views would contrast upon." Though to Bruce their resemblance was more troubling than as to Thor pleasing, but the matter of contrast and how their views do not as often…
…as often as what?
…
…As often as Tony's do with Pepper's. "Though it grieves me that Pepper has left and that she and Stark have separated," says Thor dejectedly though Bruce doubted the sincerity of those words quite.
And it bothers him still, more than anything just the timing, less that now they are together because…well it's not so bizarre or…wrong.
If be it one thing, it made sense. At this indeed Thor adds confidently: "I feel it is in their best interest each. She would find someone more like-minded. And she will be happy. Happier, I believe, than she ever has been here." Here? Her home? Has she been unhappy? Or does he mean to say with Tony? Has she been so truly unhappy with him?
Thor speaks it seems in elaboration to Bruce's ponders. "This life. What we do, what Stark does. He is a warrior, as are we." Is that what they are? "And a warrior's life is always at risk." That may be true, more true than he believes any of them would ever prefer. "But this puts great strain on her emotional well-being." Countless incidents could attest to that; she was always of an anxious, overreacting nature. "It is more fit she be with someone able to sustain a more stable life." Maybe.
Maybe that is for the best, for her.
"…And that Stark be with someone. Who understands the toll this life can take upon oneself." Does Loki? Does he really understand?
…Bruce supposed…After all, at the core, he was a warrior too.