All the stories Tony's dad had told him about working with Captain America in the war had been running through his mind during his flight to the Virginia house, and then throughout the drive to the capital. As a boy, he'd been in awe of those stories, but the older he got, the more they felt like a standard he could never reach, and as an increasingly jaded adult who saw the fakeness and hypocrisy of so many of the people around him, he'd started to look back on them with skepticism.

Now, actually sitting on a bar stool next to Steve Rogers, Tony wondered what sort of person America's poster boy really was behind all the image and hype. The impulse to be a snarky asshole just to see how he reacted had died down when he caught the tail end of Rogers's conversation with General Ross, which intermissioned with the latter stalking off to the bathroom with a scowl ruffling his mustache.

"Tony Stark," he said, sticking out his hand. Rogers reached out and shook it.

"Howard's son," he said. "You look like him."

It was a good thing they were in a bar if Rogers was gonna say shit like that right out of the gate. "You're much less black-and-white than in your photos," Tony observed. He turned to the bartender, who had dollar signs in his eyes. Like practically everyone Tony ran into since the first Iron Man presser, the guy obviously knew who he was. "Single-malt Scotch on the rocks."

"Coming right up, Mr. Stark," said the bartender, now grinning.

There was a bit of a pause, and then Rogers coughed and said, "You, uh, live in D.C?"

"Malibu," said Tony. Rogers looked blank, and it occurred to Tony that Malibu wouldn't have been a very happening place in Captain America's day, at least as far as a guy from New York knew. Weird. "California," he clarified. "I just flew over."

Rogers' eyebrows went up. "So you're a civilian pilot too?"

"Technically," said Tony. The bartender was back with the Scotch, which he tried to hand him. Tony shook his head and pointed at the bar. The bartender put it down, and Tony took it. He eyed Rogers over the rim of the glass. "I guess he flew you around a lot."

"Most of the time he's—" Rogers stopped, his mouth tightening. "He was back in the lab at SSR headquarters, but yeah. A few missions." He got a pained look on his face. "Fury gave me a lot of files. I read about what happened to Howard and your mom. I'm sorry."

Tony drank a very large mouthful of the Scotch. What came out after he swallowed was, "That was nineteen years ago."

"Right." Rogers grimaced and looked down at the drink he was holding. "I don't know when I'm gonna get used to this. It feels like it was the day before yesterday he was sitting next to me in the strategy room."

That set off an entirely unsolicited stab of envy tangled up in old grief. Tony drowned it in the last of the Scotch. He felt bad for the guy, really, but he also wanted to change the subject. He definitely didn't want to grill Rogers about what his dad had been like in the '40s. Not even a little. "Yeah," he said, "I was held captive by terrorists for three months a couple years ago, and it was hard enough getting back into the world after that. Can't imagine missing, what, sixty-six years. You should go easy on yourself."

"I'm not sure I know how to do that," said Rogers under his breath.

At that point, General Ross returned from the men's room. Now that Tony got a better look at him, he was willing to bet he came to this bar already hungover, despite the crisp Army suit. His eyes fell on Tony and narrowed.

"Mr. Stark," he said.

"General," said Tony.

"What brings the great Iron Man to D.C.?" Ross glanced from Tony to Rogers and back again. "Planning to make another spectacle at a Congressional Hearing?"

"Kinda hard to do these days, with you taking up the entire schedule," said Tony.

Rogers choked on his drink while Ross's eyes flashed.

"Don't pretend you're here by accident. What exactly does an ex-weapons manufacturer who turned his back on his country have to discuss with one of our greatest war heroes?"

Rogers's mouth twisted. He clearly didn't like that label. Tony could have pointed out that switching from carelessly feeding weapons into a jingoistic approach to foreign policy to advocating for accountability and funding all kinds of causes that helped improve the lives and opportunities of Americans was hardly "turning his back" on his country. He also could have mentioned the Distinguished Service Medal the Army had given him after everything that had gone down at the Expo. But why go on the defensive when he could make this douchebag's blood pressure rise instead?

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt you in the process of renewing his captain's commission and getting him his G.I. Bill benefits?" he said. "It looked like you were just trying to booze him up so he'd help you with your PR problems. My mistake." He glanced at Rogers, whose expression indicated that he'd already come to a similar conclusion about why Ross had brought him here. "Of course, the general already told you all about how two subjects of his botched taxpayer-funded supersoldier project smashed up half of Harlem last month, didn't he?"

"I'm sure he was getting to it," said Rogers, leveling a cold stare at Ross.

Ross glared for a few seconds, evidently struggling to keep his temper under control. He wasn't making a lot of headway there. His fists were clenched and his lip was curled. "Howard must be rolling in his grave after what you've done to his legacy," he said finally.

Lines like that generally worked better when they came from actual old friends of Tony's dad's who said them while using a paralyzing device on him. From someone like Ross, they were just funny. "I guess that's going around," said Tony. "Your daughter seems real proud of you lately. Loved her op-ed in the Times."

Ross lunged, and for a split-second, Tony thought he was about to be strangled by a three-star general in a crowded pub, but before he could reach him, Rogers was off his stool and had Ross face-down against the bar with his right arm twisted up painfully against his back. Patrons and staff in the vicinity, a little slow to react, started yelling and scrambling to get farther away, and Ross shouted insults that got lost in the din.

"Sir, you need to back down right now," said Rogers.

"Get the hell off me!"

Rogers let up the pressure on Ross's arm, and the general righted himself immediately, his face a deep purplish-red. Pointing at Tony, he barked at the bartender, "Get this piece of shit out of my sight!"

"Ooh awkward," said Tony. "I probably should've mentioned that I bought this building ten minutes ago."

Ross looked like he might actually have a stroke, but instead he turned and stormed across the stunned, silent bar, threw the door open, and disappeared outside.

"Let's get a round for everyone on me," said Tony. There were a few whoops, the bartender nodded and called over his colleagues, and the bar quickly returned to its previous noise levels.

Rogers looked at Tony. "You always this good at making friends?"

"Compared to being struck by lightning and turned into a squirrel, I'd call this a pretty good day."

Rogers frowned. "Turned...into a squirrel?"

"I got better. Anyway, you never answered my question."

"Which one?"

"Has Fury told you about the Avengers Initiative yet?"

Rogers settled back onto his stool. "Guess he hasn't gotten around to it. He mostly filled me in on the end of the war and how SHIELD got started."

"Makes sense. Too much for one day?"

"Pretty sure I passed that point in the first five minutes. What's one more thing?"

"Okay. Fury has a harebrained plan to get a bunch of people together with unique skills and abilities as a defense against threats a SHIELD or military taskforce wouldn't be a match for."

"What kind of threats? People like Red Skull?"

"I don't know what he had in mind when he first came to me, but there could be something about an intergalactic warlord or two," said Tony blithely. Steve's eyes went wide. "The whole team's getting together for the first time tomorrow, if you want to come. A couple guys from another planet and one from Ross's questionable military research project are gonna be there. Should be fun."

"Another planet." Rogers obviously regretted not waiting to learn about this.

"Yeah," said Tony. "Big universe out there, apparently. Lightning, squirrel—that was them." He decided it might freak Rogers out a little too much if he said any more about that (particularly the part where said aliens already knew he was out of the ice and had asked Tony to make contact with him). "They're cool. You'll like 'em."

X

Thor couldn't be more excited about the trip to Earth. At last, he would see his mortal shield-sister and brothers all together in one place again, along with his actual brother. It was an occasion that ought to be marked with days of feasting and celebration.

Beside him, Loki and Banner spent much of the journey from Gladsheim to the Observatory discussing the latter's research with Jane and Erik, but Banner spoke less and less the nearer they drew to their destination. At first, Thor thought it was simply because he wasn't accustomed to riding a horse, but his gentle mount wasn't giving him any trouble as she trotted alongside Gladr and Lettfeti. Something else, then.

"Are you well, Banner?" said Thor. "Not anxious about traveling by Bifrost again, I hope?"

"No." He shot a rueful glance at Loki. "Do I have a reason to be?"

"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean," said Loki.

Banner grimaced and Thor grinned briefly. "Then is it Earth? All will be well. We have our plan. It's a good one, and we'll be among friends."

"Potential friends," Loki corrected pointedly, as though Thor needed another reminder that he alone carried all the history of the Avengers and would have to take care not to overwhelm the others before they had the chance to build ties to each other. He was determined not to let that spoil his good mood, not when those were so hard to hold onto these days.

"I know that rationally," said Banner, "but it's not easy to shake off the mindset of the last five years of being on the run and a danger to everyone around me."

"Perhaps your mind would be easier if you'd accepted a few of those offers to spar," said Thor. Talk had spread quickly after the manner of Banner's arrival on Asgard (Volstagg and Fandral's doing, no doubt), and Thor had gotten several requests from eager guards and Einherjar since then to persuade Banner to let them try a few bouts against him.

"Not everyone finds battle as relaxing as you, Brother," said Loki. He turned to Banner. "Though he may have a point. Your green beast has only come out in times of great distress thus far, has he not? A chance for some harmless fun could do him good."

"Assuming harmless fun is something he's capable of," said Banner, his doubt evident. Thor thought back to the Hulk's lighthearted interactions with Brunnhilde on Sakaar and wondered how he could bring something like that about again when they returned.

They reached the Observatory and dismounted. Banner caught his boot in the stirrup and nearly fell on his face, but the mare stepped helpfully to the side to steady him. He gave her an appreciative pat.

Heimdall stood at his post inside the great sphere, and he inclined his head to them in welcome.

"How fared Stark with the request I made of him?" said Loki.

"He has succeeded," said Heimdall.

"Are they ready for us?" said Thor.

"The son of Coul awaits you at the Bifrost site."

"Excellent," said Thor. Heimdall turned Hofund in its plinth and the machinery ground into action. They walked forward into the roaring colors.

One heady rush across the stars later, their feet met Earth's soil. Agent Coulson stood a little ways off, and he drew closer as the Bifrost's energy faded. "Welcome back," he said. It was difficult to discern his line of sight behind the sunglasses he wore, but his head turned in Banner's direction. "Dr. Banner."

"Uh, hello."

"I'm Agent Coulson of SHIELD. There are a few things we need to brief you about." His head tilted down slightly. "I didn't bring any spare Earth clothing with me, but we can get you some at the Triskelion if you don't want to draw a lot of attention."

"That won't be necessary," said Loki. He waved a hand. In a flash of seidr, the special tunic and breeches crafted for Banner on Asgard vanished under an illusion of Earth clothing, which consisted of a purple shirt with buttons and a pair of brown trousers. Loki's surcoat and Thor's light armor were also obscured by illusions. Loki appeared to be wearing a dark green suit, and when Thor looked down, he saw a casual shirt, jacket, and jeans. Mjolnir appeared as an innocuous umbrella. The sight had him grinning again. He hadn't told Loki about that.

The corner of Coulson's mouth twitched up. "It's good to have you guys back," he said.

"It's good to be back!" said Thor. "There's something we need before we meet with the others, though. I'm not sure how difficult it may be to obtain." He'd given the matter a lot of thought. Fighting alongside one another was the best way to forge strong bonds of friendship, but failing that, there was something he believed had a good chance of it.

"What kind of thing are we talking about here?" said Coulson. "I'll do what I can as attaché, but I don't have unlimited resources to work with."

"Have you a way to contact Stark?"

I've never had a harder time writing a dialogue scene than the one with Tony and Steve at the beginning of the chapter. I got like two lines in and then stared at it for a long time, totally blank. I was starting to think I'd need to rewatch at least the first two Iron Man movies and Captain America to get anywhere, but then I talked to my baby bro about it. We talked through Tony's and Steve's mindsets for a while and he helped me generate a few ideas for lines. I'm extremely happy with the result.

Challenging in a different way was Tony's snarky banter with Ross, because there's a whole fascinating political divide right under the surface, but Tony's not the type to get on a soap box if he can be mouthing off instead.

And then there's our Asgard boys. I might need to draw Loki with curly hair in a dark green three-piece suit now, but what potentially difficult to obtain thing does everyone reckon Thor thinks is the key to a successful first team meeting?

In general, it seems like the Thor corner of the MCU fandom is in agreement that Thor is wonderful, but I've noticed there is less agreement when it comes to Tony and Steve. That actually came as a huge surprise to me, because I love them both (for very different reasons). When Civil War came out, I saw it twice, and I wore my Iron Man shirt one time and my Cap shirt the other time. This fic isn't going to be choosing a side, if there are even going to be sides. I just write 'em like I see 'em. Just so that's clear.