CHAPTER 15
It wasn't the fact that the bifrost was still unable to open on Midgard when Thor finally did return late in the night nor was it the fact that the team seemed to be no where to be found. No, the most alarming thing to Thor was running into Tony as he rushed down the stairs to visit his brother. Upon seeing the god, Tony seemed to freeze for just a moment before throwing his teammate a smile in the hopes that the other man wouldn't be suspicious.
"Stark, what are you doing down here?"
Apparently, that tactic didn't work.
"I was paying your brother a visit which I am entitled to seeing as this is my tower."
The god moved forward suddenly, startling Tony who took a few steps back. "If you so much as touch him-"
"Oh, like he doesn't deserve it after what he did to Natasha-"
"You do not know the whole of what powers are at play here." A cold and distant look was apparent in Thor's eyes. The haunting feeling they gave was enough for Tony to bite down him reply and maneuver his way around his teammate and back up the stairs.
Loki, who had heard his brother's voice echo from the stairwell, was at the glass before Thor could even round the corner.
"I did not do it, Thor."
That stopped the other in his tracks. "Can you say that for certain?"
Instead of answering the question, Loki changed the subject. "Are you sending me back to Odin to be locked away for the remainder of my life? I assure you the golden gates of Asgard will not stop the inevitable."
"That is for my team to decide." Thor looked around for a moment before closing in on the glass. "However, there is something I wish to discuss with you. What do you know of Thanos closing the barrier between our world and Midgard?"
The other brother shook his head. "Nothing. Rarely did my torture provide insight on Thanos' plans. Why do you ask?"
"Because," just for good measure, Thor checked over his shoulder one more time, "I managed to find a back communication with Heimdall who informed me that there is a bigger plan in motion."
"What could be bigger than taking over Midgard?"
The look on Thor's face was one even Loki had never seen and seeing it made him wish he had never asked the question. "He doesn't just want to rule the universe. He wants to eliminate half of the population."
"Half of the population? What is this? Some twisted dystopian young adult novel?"
"Loki did say Thanos was partial to massacres as a means to create peace." Thor reminded Tony who looked appalled at the new development.
"This isn't peace. It's insanity!"
Steve had managed to round up the team into the living room though whether they were all awake was another question entirely. He pretended not to notice how Bruce had managed to nestle in the couch corner with three blankets layered over himself. Natasha had come from her floor, still wearing pajamas and slippers. Before the captain could share about his earlier conversation with Clint, Thor had marched in with his own news.
"How long do we have?" Steve asked.
"A week at most." Thor sighed. "Heimdall is currently preparing to evacuate my people to safety which is what we should do with the citizens of this city."
"But if he still has the magic glove, it doesn't matter where we run." Bruce pointed out, his words slightly slurring from lack fo sleep. "We will all be dead."
"So what do we do?"
It was Natasha who answered. "We bring Loki back on the team."
Tony's opinion of her answer could not be more clearer as he groaned in frustration. "We are not bringing that psychopath back on the team!"
"You asked me how I felt when we first had this discussion and I said it wasn't his fault." The sling didn't hold her back as she stood up from the kitchen stool she had been sitting on to face her teammate. "I know how to take care of myself, Tony, and I say I don't think we can win without him!"
"She has a point-"
Tony didn't even let Clint finish his thought. "How do you know he won't do it again and no." He threw a hand up at Thor who had opened his mouth to respond, "I don't want to hear another word from you."
Natasha shrugged, though grimaced as a surge of pain rushed up her injured arm. "I don't. But I have a feeling that he's not the enemy here."
"Think about it, Tony." Steve started as calmly as he could, "What if Thanos made Loki look at fault because that's what he wants? He wants us to be out numbered and out maned."
"He got rid of Asgard and in framing Loki, has rid us of an ally powerful enough to push back. Tony," one look at the inventor and Steve could see he looked angry. However, behind his glossy eyes was something the other hadn't seen since the Battle of New York. Fear. "the man has been tortured for months now and he didn't say a word. We need that kind of power standing with us."
"But if he joins us, I can't do it…"
Tony's voice broke as he looked around from something to grab on to, deciding then to lean onto the back of the couch. His breath was shaky and his eyes shut tight.
Clint stepped forward. "Can't do what?"
"I can't protect you all!"
The revelation rang through the room leaving a deafening silence behind. Bruce sat up from his blanket nest with a look of worry as the rest of the team watched their teammate spiral in thought. "I can't keep you all safe if we face giants like Thanos or even if we face gods like Loki. I try day after day to create something that will make sure we come home alive but even then…" His gaze trailed to Natasha's arm. "You guys are the only team I've got and I know." Tony waved his hands in the air. "I know we're not perfect. Hell, we are barely even a team but I can't stand any more loss and I know no one here can either."
Although only seconds, it seemed as though an eternity went by before Steve cleared his throat. "Tony…"
"I know what you're going to say, Steve, and, if I'm being honest, I'd rather not-"
Whatever Tony was going to say was cut off as Steve walked forward and pulled the other man into an embrace. The billionaire froze in the position, having rarely hugged anyone other than Pepper or, occasionally, Happy since childhood. The sight was new for the others who watched on in surprise and awe. Even Clint, who was the least emotional of the group, seemed to feel a few tugs at his heartstrings.
Time passed and Steve didn't let go. There were many new boundaries being broken within their friendship with this hug and if neither of them said anything soon, he was pretty sure he was going to need to call JARVIS about where the ice was cause Tony was going to punch him right across the face.
However, a light touch pressed onto Steve's back as he felt two arms slowly find their place in the embrace. Nothing too aggressive or emotional but a clear sign of welcome. Seeing this movement themselves, the others slowly made their way to the two and joined in on all sides. They stood there for what felt like hours before Tony moved to pull away.
Looking at him, Steve could see a soft smile with a hint of water running down his cheek. Tony turned around at the rest of them, his smile growing as he looked at each one of his teammates- or rather his friends.
"We're here to protect each other." Steve said, "Whether from aliens or from ourselves."
Natasha placed her good hand in Tony's. "You don't have to worry about these things alone."
"We know what we got into when we signed up." Clint perched himself on the arm of the couch with a smile.
"And whatever is ahead, we will conquer together." Thor added. Bruce stood by his side and nodded with a sleepy smile which Tony returned. "Everything is going to be alright."
"What a touching moment."
Six heads whipped around to find the man called Ronan with two Chitauri standing on the kitchen island. The corner of the destroyer's mouth twitched into a smile, "Too bad it will be your last."
Thor reached out his hand, knowing all too well that Mjolnir would not make it in time. A knife appeared in Natasha's hand though from where, no one knew as Tony reached into his pocket for his emergency suit remote. Clint jumped from his place on the couch to the coffee table nearly missing the gunfire from the aliens weapons.
Just as Thor ran to shield his team from the force of Ronan's staff, a gold light burst onto the scene. Seemingly paralyzed in mid air, the intruders looked at one another confused. The moment only lasted a second, though, before all three found themselves being battered into the floor repeatedly by the force encasing them. When it seemed that the group was no longer conscious, they light intensified and blew through the nearest window, showering the floor with glass and sending the aliens soaring out over the New York skyline.
When the light retracted back into the room, it disappeared into a rather disgruntled looking Loki who was standing by the kitchen door.
For the second time, the room was plunged into silence broken only by the sounds of far-off sirens from the streets below. All eyes wandered between the massive hole on the floor and the god who stared back in anticipation of the wrath he figured was headed his way.
"So," Tony finally said with a nod of his head. "I guess reindeer games is back, huh?"
This time, Loki didn't even try to hide his smile.
