Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own any of characters depicted below that you may recognize...they belong to forces higher then me, and I respect them and applaud them for their beautiful creations.


Loki II

"Alright, Harper and Morris are still unconscious in the Med-Bay, Jarvis is set to let us know when they wake up, and I'm beyond pissed. Tell me, Loki, what the hell are you doing on Earth?"

Clint's arms were crossed and his eyes were narrowed, and Loki, standing in front of the Avengers wearing black slacks and a green button-up, sighed heavily.

"I was sentenced to a certain amount of prison time while on Asgard and was later offered another deal." He said bluntly. "I helped Thor with a mission of his and he promised me after a certain amount of what you Midgardians call community service, I would be free to do whatever I wished."

"So Thor knew you were on Earth this whole time?" Avery clarified. When Loki nodded, Avery pointed at Thor with a frown. "You're grounded." He ordered.

Thor rolled his eyes. "I'm not grounded." He argued. "I didn't tell you he was on Midgard because you would've objected to his presence."

"Damn right we would've!" Tony burst out. "The guy broke my window, brought an army of aliens here, destroyed Manhattan, broke my window,"

"Alright, Stark, we get it." Tasha rolled her eyes. "We all know what you're REALLY upset about."

"You weren't even supposed to have any contact with him." Thor continued. "He's also not even supposed to be here anymore."

"He's done with his community service?" Bruce asked.

"It was over months ago." Thor admitted. "I'm not even sure why he's still here."

"Why are you still here?" Clint pressed.

"I'm here because of Harper." Loki crossed his arms.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Steve snapped.

"It means that the fool Matthews somehow retrieved my blood and injected it into Harper, and so I'm partially responsible for her."

"I don't buy it." Clint shook his head.

"Of course you don't." Loki rolled his eyes.

"Perhaps you should start from the beginning," Thor advised. "I'm not following your train of thought."

Loki huffed. "When I first arrived to begin my service, Thor led me to Harper's charity, simply her senior project at the time."

"So Liam doesn't exist?" Steve spoke up. "He's not a human you mind-controlled or body-snatched?"

Everyone shot Steve a weird look, and he shrugged. "It's a valid question."

"Liam does not exist." Loki said after a moment. "He's simply a disguise I wore in order to complete my community service."

"Oh." Steve shrugged. "Okay. Continue."

"I worked with Harper for half an evening and she overheard a conversation between Thor and I in that same night. She knew who I was but agreed to keep my secret and allow me to continue my service. I assume the Colby child overheard something or knew something, and he attained my DNA and sent it to Matthews. Nevertheless, she was injected with my DNA along with yours,"

"Which is the only reason she didn't go completely feral." Bruce spoke up.

"Incorrect." Loki snapped. "Her strength of will is the reason the combined DNA didn't burn her up immediately and the relationships she's forged helped snap her out of the Feral. My DNA was just a bonus, but nonetheless, it made her partially my responsibility."

"I wouldn't say that if I were you." Tony joked. "Steve doesn't like to share."

"When Harper fully realizes the depth of the secret Rogers has kept from her he won't have anyone to share." Loki snapped.

Tony's gaze dropped. "Oh yeah." He grimaced. "I hadn't thought about that."

"Well I assure you, HE has." Loki's gaze shot to Steve, whose face was pale. Thor coughed, and Loki rolled his eyes.

"Anyway; I disguised myself as a doctor and slipped into Shield to examine her when she was unconscious. While I was there I set up a mind connection between the two of us."

"You did what?" Clint jumped up.

"Oh calm yourself, Katniss," Loki spat. "It simply allowed for the two of us to communicate in her mind and dreams. I've been training her to control her Feral and have been teaching her magic through this connection."

"So that's why she has such a tight control on it." Tasha nodded slowly. "Not only is she releasing nightly so it doesn't build up, but she's also been learning."

"But she never said anything." Steve argued.

"Because she doesn't know." Loki said simply. "These dreams and memories are stored in a part of her brain that she can't reach when she's conscious, as per her request."

"She purposely doesn't want to know what she can do?" Tony rephrased. Loki inclined his head.

"Harper is well aware that she needed to learn how to control her abilities, but she also wanted to pretend she wasn't a freak- her words. So we compromised."

The Avengers took this in, Team two remaining mostly silent so the adults could process.

"So your community service is over; but you're still on earth because of Harper?" Bruce asked slowly.

After a hesitant pause, Loki nodded. "Correct." He agreed.

Thor shook his head. "Loki is no threat to midgard, and he maintains residence only to do good,"

"Calm down Thor." Tony shrugged. "We're not kicking him off the planet. He's cool."

"For now." Clint muttered.

Steve rolled his eyes. "But now we have to tell Harper everything."

"No need."

Everyone whirled around to face the doorway, where Harper stood swaying slightly and holding onto Morris for balance.

"You heard everything?" Will guessed, and Harper nodded. Her eyes were dull, and no one could tell whether it was from pain or weakness.

"I'm…." Harper took a deep breathe. "I'm gonna go." She nodded.

Steve took a step forward, "Harper," He breathed, but Harper shook her head tightly.

"You had one job, Steve." Though her voice was weak, it held a conviction that had Steve freezing in his tracks. "No secrets." She laughed softly. "And you couldn't even do that."

She stood as straight as she could. "You guys are all on the right track, you don't need me as a trainer anymore…I officially release you into active duty and absolve myself of all responsibilities." She nodded slowly.

"So…I'm gonna go. And for everyone's sake," Harper sighed. "Just…leave me alone for awhile."

The group was silent, and Morris grimaced at everyone but helped Harper walk away. Before she left the room entirely though, she turned to Loki.

"You coming?" She rasped, and after a quick look at Thor, Loki nodded and hurriedly ushered out Harper and Morris out of the Tower.

"Well." Tony said after a moment. "That sucked."

Steve shot Tony a dark look. "That…." He rolled his eyes, "Is a gross understatement." He strode away.

"Hey!" Thor called out. "Where are you going?"

"To get a drink!" Steve responded curtly. Thor sighed and followed after the angry soldier.

"Fine…but remember you're still banned from Barney's!"


The Steve Inquisition

"Hey Morris." Steve fidgeted on the front steps of Morris' apartment, trying to ignore his black expression. "I know you're probably not very happy to see me,"

"Understatement of the year." Morris interrupted flatly. "You had one job; protect my kid and keep her happy….instead you lied to her."

"I know." Steve said glumly. "I'm a horrible person."

"Yes you are." Morris agreed matter of factly. Steve winced.

"Listen, I don't need to talk to her or even see her, I get she's still probably mad at me,"

"Another understatement." Morris snorted. Steve made a face.

"I get it, okay?" Steve snapped. "I just wanted to make sure she had a place to stay, that's all." He huffed. "Is she staying with you, or not?"

Morris was silent for a moment. Then he stepped back and held his door open. "Come in for a second." He said slowly.

Steve entered the apartment, taking in the bachelor colors and dark furniture.

"Harper's not here." Morris said after a moment. "I've kept in touch with her, she's okay," Morris promised, "But I've got to be honest, she's furious with you."

Steve nodded slowly. "She has every right to be." He agreed. "I promised her no more secrets while keeping the biggest one of all from her."

"She's very angry." Morris said again. "But her whole life has been shattered; she believed she was normal, and now she knows she's not. That's a huge adjustment she needs to make, and she needs to deal with that first. She'll come to you when she's ready."

Steve nodded slowly. "But…what if she's never ready?" He asked, revealing his worst fear.

Morris shrugged. "She might never be ready…and that's a direct consequence of your actions. You should prepare for that potential outcome."

Steve shook his head. "That would break my heart." He admitted.

"Well…" Morris said after a long moment. "Then you guys would be even."


Steve knocked three times, very firmly, and then he waited.

A young teen wearing ripped jeans and a faded One Direction t shirt opened the door. She sneered.

"Who are you?" She bit out.

Steve frowned. "My name is Steve," He said slowly. The teen narrowed her eyes.

"And what are you selling?" She asked in a bratty tone. Steve furrowed his eyebrows.

"Caitlin, take a chill pill." Declan appeared from around the corner and sent Steve an apologetic smile.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and stomped away. Declan shook his head.

"Sorry about that." He grimaced. "Come on in."

Steve stepped inside slowly, taking a liking to the brightly lit home.

"I assume you're here about Harper?" He asked, and Steve nodded.

"Is she here?" He asked hopefully.

Declan shook his head. "Sorry dude. We've been in contact, but she's not staying here." He shrugged. "She's pretty upset."

"How much do you know?"

"You mean about her being a superhero and no one telling her?" Declan rolled his eyes. "I know all of it. WE," he stressed, "don't keep secrets from each other."

Steve winced. "Right." He shook his head. "I know she's mad and doesn't want to see me, but I just want to make sure she's alright." He explained bluntly.

"Well," Declan hesitated, "She's struggling. Anyone in her position would be, but Loki's been really helpful, so,"

"She even told you about that?" Steve asked surprised. Declan shrugged.

"She kind of had to after he appeared in my living room and threatened my er…male body parts if I hurt her." Declan chuckled.

Steve filed that information away for later.

"Loki's her friend, weirdly enough, and he's been really helpful." Declan continued. "She'll work through this, and then I'm sure she'll be in touch with you." Declan reassured. "You just have to give her time."

Steve nodded slowly. "Right." He sighed. Declan had said much the same thing Morris and said, so with a sigh, he made his way toward the front door. "Thanks, Declan." He smiled gratefully at the firefighter. "I'm really glad she has you."

Declan grinned. "Well…I'm really glad I have HER, so.." He shot Steve a warm smile. "Just hang in there Cap. It'll all work out…you'll see."

"Right." Steve nodded slowly as he closed the door. "Hopefully it will."

But with his luck…it probably wouldn't.


"Freeze!" Steve obeyed instantly, stopping in his tracks at the imperious voice. Loki, looking like Liam, approached Steve with narrowed eyes. "What do you think you're doing here? Come to bother Harper?" He accused.

Steve rolled his eyes. "Actually I'm here to bother you." He admitted. Loki frowned.

"Why?" He asked bluntly. Steve shrugged.

"It's been a week since I've seen Harper," He admitted. "I've been told you've kept in contact with her. I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

Loki scoffed. "She's coping." He said after a moment. "She's had a lot to deal with these past few weeks, and all of the stress caught up to her. She's not ready for your nonsense, though, so you need to leave."

Steve raised his hands in surrender and nodded. "That's all I wanted to know." He admitted, turning back the way he'd come.

"Wait." Loki demanded, and Steve turned back around slowly.

"You hurt her." He accused. "And you won't get off for that easy."

Steve chuckled bitterly. "Loki," he said frankly, "If you can think of a way to punish me worse than I'm punishing myself, I'd give you a medal." He marched towards the exit, missing the way Loki watched him go; with a combined look of speculation and…respect?


Bachelor Party

"This is the best idea I've ever had." Tony adjusted the ruffles over his shoulder.

Jake frowned down at his clothes with a grimace, then shot Tony a look.

"Okay, I'm in such a good mood, I'll admit this wasn't my idea, it's too perfect." Tony grinned and looked over the rest of the group. "But I totally forgot whose idea this was. Whose idea was it?"

"Who do you think?" Steve said sourly. "It was Harper's."

Tony made a face. "Cheer up sour puss. The only reason Harper isn't currently living with you or talking to you is because you're a dirt-faced liar,"

"Hey!" Steve frowned.

"Rude but true," Tony shrugged, "So all of your problems are your own fault and you just need to suck it up for one night and be happy for me, because in two weeks I'm getting married…alright?"

Steve groaned…loudly, and for a long time. When he finally stopped, he forced a smile onto his face and held out his hand.

"Just give me the damn dress." He bit out.

Tony mock gasped. "Language, old timer!" He joked, handing over a puke green chenille dress thing. It was hideous, and on Steve? It was also hilarious.

"Beautiful." Tony mocked. "Now." He held up his paintball gun with a grin. "Let's go take out these punks."

"I'm pretty sure we're going to win." Steve bit out. "I have a lot of rage in my soul."

Jake, the third partner on their paintball team, rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. Use your rage!"

Tony grinned. "Let's do this."

Tony Steve and Will went head to head against Tasha, Dave, Scottie and Avery, and Thor, Clint and Will, while Bruce took pictures. The paintball match while wearing ugly thriftstore bridesmaid dresses was a huge success, and Thor, Clint and Will took home the win, though Tony argued for a long time that they had somehow cheated. Nonetheless, Clint, Thor, and Will reluctantly accepted their three tickets to The Lion King, the musical, which the rest of the group laughed long and hard about.

"Did you really think you could keep that from us?" Tasha joked, entering the tower still paint spattered.

Clint made a face. "I was hoping so." He admitted, following her to the living room.

"Nice try." Bruce shook his head. "But Tasha ratted you guys out."

"Betrayal!" Will gasped jokingly, somehow spotless.

Thor shrugged. "I am not ashamed of my love of musicals." He said simply. "I find them quite enjoyable."

"And you're the only one who can get away with saying that." Tony clapped Thor on the shoulder. "Except maybe Steve." Tony sent Steve a leer. "Please tell me you secretly love musicals too."

"They're not bad." Steve shrugged. When Tony gagged, Steve grinned. "Oh shut up, man."

Tony shook his head. "Never!" He mockingly lifted his hand in oath.

Steve shook his head, smiling.

Two weeks with no sight of Harper and it had been devastating to pretend everything was okay, but his team was on his side, and for the first time in 14 days, it didn't hurt so much to smile.

"Don't freak out, I'm only here for one second."

The Avengers and Team two whirled around to stare in shock at a fidgeting Harper, Loki standing a few feet behind her and glaring warningly.

"Hey…guys." She said slowly, not making eye contact.

"Steve." She said after a few moments.

Steve swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

"Harper." He said after a few moments. Harper looked up quickly, making eye contact. Her eyes flared from brown to Violet to brown very quickly, and she looked down again. The Avengers and Team Two shared a look.

Harper was here.

…With Loki.

…What Now?


But seriously...what now?

~CLC~