"This is the fight of our lives. And we're gonna win. Whatever it—-"Cutting off abruptly, Caps' gaze slides to something just over my left shoulder. His eyes were blown wide in surprise before locking back onto my face with a look of resignation. As if saying, should have known it wouldn't be this easy. A furrow forming on his brow, deepening into a hard look of confusion as his gaze returns to whatever is behind me.
Do I even want to know? No, the answer is no.
I turn around and immediately understand the interruption. There appears to be some weird-ass, glowing, gold rectangle 10 feet away from us, about a foot away from the controls and Banner.
"Are you guys… seeing this too?" Scott asks, the happy-go-lucky exterior shattering to reveal a more anxiety-filled expression.
"And here I was thinking I'd get home before Pepper is done making dinner." I complain.
"Not the time Tony." Steve sighs, an air of familiarity hits me, and I realize just how much I've missed this.
"... Maybe it'll just poof and away?" Thor drunkenly spews.
Shit, we really have to get Point Break on some salad or something.
Taking a deep breath, I take a small step forward.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y? You seeing anything." I ask my ever-present and loyal AI.
"Sir, there appear to be two —" She starts.
Only to be quickly cut off as two figures step out, the glowy, rectangle thingy immediately closing after them. As if that's not weird enough, one I never thought I'd see again. I'd hoped I'd never see again. The bastard just can't seem to stay dead for long. Like a stupid fucking cat.
Raising my blaters, I see the rest of the team getting into fighting stances or raising their respective weapons.
Everyone but Thor. The sight of his dead brother breaking through his alcohol-induced haze. His mouth dropped open like a fish and a look in his eye that seemed to be some strange combination of surprise, anger, sadness, happiness, relief, and something else. Something else that might just be concern for his piece of shit little brother who doesn't know how to stay dead and gone. Now, I'm no psychologist, but that look has a lot to unpack there, not that we have the time though with a - oh you know - half-crazed demigod standing 10 feet away.
Who unfortunately looks no different from the last time we saw him. When he was, oh you know, attacking New York with the intention of ruling because his daddy wasn't proud of him.
If I have to age, this son of a bitch should have to, as well.
But anyway, all just a normal Tuesday.
I find some solace, however, in knowing that he's not as suave as he was before. Now dressed in some nerdy ass button-up and tie. A cut across his right arm with blood poking through and a sword across his back. But it's still him all the same. Reindeer games in the fucking flesh.
Behind him stands another, dressed in much the same attire as Loki. With graying blonde hair and a pedo 'stache. Very unassuming and appears to be defenseless except for a strange device held in his hands. If he's keeping company with the god of mischief though, I'd wager it's best not to trust that initial assessment.
Out of breath - as if they had been running from something - they both look like a deer caught in headlights. Panicked, wide eyes looking between all of the Avengers in our matching outfitted glory.
Interesting, might need to store that away for later.
Jesus, I really hope this is resolved quickly so there doesn't have to BE a later in this hellscape of a nightmare.
I don't think I've ever been caught in a more intense moment, not since Afghanistan.
Sharing a look with his companion who puts a supportive hand on his upper arm, pissing me off in the process.
What has this asshole done to deserve comfort? He destroyed New York, killed hundreds of people, mind-controlled Legolas, and countless others, tried to kill his own brother on multiple occasions, and threw me out of my own tower, not to mention he —-
Cutting off my thought, Thor let out a heart-wrenching noise, a half sob half laugh that tore my heart to pieces. Relinquishing my glare on the two new arrivals I send a look to Thor hoping to share my sympathies with him. His gaze remains on his brother however, searching him up and down, looking for… well, something.
With an awkward little wave and an even more awkward smile, Loki opens his mouth and spews the most eloquent Shakespearean response that I've heard as of yet…
"Uh… surprise?"