Chloe slipped down from the rafters into the kitchen, moving over to get herself a cup of tea and working on not startling Bruce. She did glance back at Steve when she heard him approaching the kitchen area on his rounds of the house.

Natasha ended up in the living room, since that was the most central point in the house, but she didn't sit, instead standing in the middle of the room.

Bruce heard Chloe come down from the rafters and moved over so she could get to the tea. He leaned against the counter, glancing at Steve as well as the were came into the kitchen.

"You're welcome to some tea, if you like," he said quietly.

Clint had taken up his lookout spot up in the rafters, keeping an eye on the front yard of the house.

Chloe made her cup of tea and stood in the kitchen holding it like a lifeline, clearly aware of the tension in the house but unwilling to talk about it.

Steve shook his head a bit, glancing at Chloe before focusing on Bruce again. "Heard anything from Tony yet?"

Bruce shook his head.

"Not yet," he said. "Natasha went to check on him a few minutes ago, and she's back in the living room now."

Steve nodded once and went back to prowling, trying to give Chloe a chance to relax some. If she could with the atmosphere in the house.

The tension in the house stayed high. It took a little while, but Tony finally got into contact with Zee about things. It was time to figure out what to do.

Zee got out there the next day, looking at the wards first. They weren't his specialty, but he could probably add something himself or call in a favor from someone who did deal with wards. And then he went to go deliver the news to Tony.

"The Association has decided to send in an investigative team," he said, watching Tony carefully. "A group of three people to asses the situation here."

Tony carefully kept his expression bland and neutral.

"I see," he said. "And what do they hope to find?"

"A normal collection," Zee said blandly. "Not some haven for weres with no rules and no leader." He raised an eyebrow at Tony. He'd been appointed to that group, but he wouldn't say so yet.

"They aren't a collection," Tony retorted. "Everyone here is allowed to leave if they want." That was made very clear to everyone who decided to stay: they weren't forced to stay, and could leave at any time. "Besides, if it was a collection, it would have to be Athena's, or Bruce's, and neither one of them is in charge here."

"I'm telling you what they want to see so they don't have to charge you," Zee said with a shrug. "If they find something else, then charges will be brought up against you."

Tony ground his teeth in frustration.

"Is that all?" he asked.

Zee shrugged again. "No one wants to see weres that are free to roam," he said. "Especially not right now." Because he didn't need to tell Tony that there had been some bad press recently concerning some wolves.

Tony knew about the recent bad press. It was something he knew Steve liked to keep up on, so the whole house inevitably heard about it at some point.

"We'll figure something out," he said.

Zee nodded and turned to leave. "I found a few patches that could be added to the wards," he said. "If you wish me to bargain on your behalf, or arrange a meeting. And I'm one of the three to be visiting in four days."

Tony looked at Zee carefully, trying not to be too suspicious.

"What would you ask for in exchange for such assistance?" he asked, not accepting anything for the moment.

"My Tad is looking for a job in the area," Zee said. "Keeps grumbling about his apartment." He raised an eyebrow at Tony, because he knew Tony could get Tad a job fairly easily if he wanted.

"So far from home?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow. "Thought you liked to keep your anklebiter close."

"College," Zee explained with a shrug. "Besides, I'll be out here for a little while anyway due to this... examination." He muttered a few foul things in German, but not Old German, so he wasn't really pissed. Yet.

Tony was quiet for a moment.

"I make no promises," he warned. "Not while all of... this... is going on. If things clear up right, then I'll see what I can do for your boy."

Zee nodded. "About as much as I expected," he agreed mildly. "I'll let you know about the wards."

Tony nodded and turned back to his work table. He had a haven to somehow figure out how to save.

Zee left, heading back home for now. He figured he would do what he could to keep the haven a haven, not just for Tony's sake. Hopefully the other two assigned to the team wouldn't be publicity hogs.

Tony sighed and made his way out to the main room. Time to tell the others and figure out a plan.

Natasha was still in the living room keeping an eye on the staff, although she did watch for Tony too when she heard him coming down the hall.