If possible, Loki's shoulders wound even tighter. He stilled his hands, left hand gripping his right elbow. He could attempt to show him, but how would the shackles handle that? The last time he'd tried to break them, he'd been utterly exhausted almost instantly. Odin's magic was strong, and Loki was barely anything but a beast of snow at the moment. There was no hope for him.

"You know not what you ask," Loki hissed through clenched teeth. He turned abruptly, leaning into his brother's face. He got close enough that their noses almost brushed, green eyes bright and angry. "You have humiliated me enough, Thor, son of Odin. You know I am not your brother, you know I am the son Odin did not want, and you have brought me back to this pathetic plane that sees me as much a failure as our own realm. What more do you want from me, oh greedy Thor? What secrets can I keep as my own from you?"


As angry as he was, there was more exhaustion behind it than malice. He was tired, truly and whole-y. The shackles took everything from him, all of the energy he'd have pumped into his seidr was instead sucked out through the shackles. It left him just a bit bereft, and a lot bitter. More so than usual.

X

"Hey," Steve frowned and hurried out of the elevator, despite his turmoil and apprehension. He watched Tony tilt dangerously before sliding to the floor and hurried over to kneel beside him, frowning. Conflicted or not, Tony was still a...friend? Of sorts. He felt obligated to help. "How much did you have, Tony? Do you mind if I pick you up, we're right outside your door."

Thor stood watching Loki move so close and speak, why did the trickster god have to stand in front of him just wearing a towel, and yet he did not look away. "You're also something no one else can even be and you are more than just the 'son' of odin or the 'trickster' god, and yes I think you do have secrets still apparently" Thor was getting distracted by his brother "You need to sleep, we'll talk later" he took a step back and headed for the door "If you can't even accept me as a brother after all we've done together, then fine, don't. But I won't give up on you, no matter what that has to mean" Thor had originally sat a thick album on the bed before finding Loki in the bathtub taking his steamy, hot bath. He walked out of the door wishing he wasn't so easily bothered by his brother as he shut the door leaning on the wall outside for a moment to relax.

~ ~ ~

"Spirytus" Tony mumbled knowing that Spirytus is polish vodka and incredibly sharp to where it could take your breath away. 92-96% alcohol is in one bottle alone and the water can't be taken away anymore than that. Though he misheard the question and only gave what he thought he had to drink away. "Nexttimenotgoingtodrinkthat..." his words mixed together as he heard Steve speak, he wasn't in a position anymore to do anything else. Tony nodded feeling quite useless because he got so drunk so he couldn't even walk himself anymore. He was going to need lots and lots of water in the morning and a bathroom close by (which was connected to his room)

Loki settled back on the heels of his feet, chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Anger made his limbs ache, his fingers itch. He wanted to move, wanted to let the siedr wrap him in layers and layers of destructive colour. Let it out, let it tear this place to shreds. Wanted to tear Thor to shreds. He watched him go with malice and wished, if not every death, then every inconvenience on his life.

The shackles glowed for the third time in a day, draining the urge to destroy, and what was left of his energy. He settled on the bed heavily, almost shaking with his exhaustion, when the heavy tome on the bed beside him caught his eye. With a frown he grabbed it by the corner and tugged it onto his lap, ran his hand slowly over the leather cover. What in the Nine was this? With a huff he glanced back at the door, but, ever curious, he pushed past his irritation to open the book with caution.

X

Steve sighed through his nose and leaned, pulled Tony's arm over his shoulders. One of his own arms slipped under Tony's knees, the other around the small of his back, and he stood with him. Tony weighed next to nothing (a lot weighed next to nothing now, and wasn't that still fascinating?), making it easy to cradle him against his chest. Tony was little, and it warmed his heart some.

Being small meant nothing when it came to strength of heart. They were both exemplary examples of this.

Once in Tony's room, he settled him on the bed and helped him out of his shoes. "I'll bring you some water and asprin, leave them on the bedside table. Alright?"

This was created from the memories of what I can remember as of being so young up until now or recent at least. Created as a gift for Loki himself, he probably won't accept it, and I am pretty sure I am doing this for nothing. However, here it goes anyways, Loki if you are reading this, this is for you soon pictures were revealed with light words explaining what was happening or had happened.

Mother held you and I have to admit when I saw you so small for the first time you were so cute. I was afraid you were so fragile then, but sometimes I wondered just how much stronger and better you would become more than me
Here is one when mother found us asleep so young, I was always crawling into your bed at night, even if I was the one to get in trouble. it was well worth it brother, I had so much fun during those times.
Ah yes this time I remember, you did this quite often whenever I would sneak into your room to share your bed, and well I don't remember much. You know what of a heavy sleeper I am.
Troubled I was always in trouble or getting myself into trouble by doing stupid and rash things, but they were so fun. One time I hid father's helmit and he had to go off to battle with a different one. I pleaded so much to you just so you would help me in the end, and you did. I was grateful even if I didn't show or say it much. Sorry brother.
There were times we also ran off together and played outside all day avoiding the lessons we had to learn. Well, I had to convince you most of the time, but it seemed to work out pretty well. We always had to hide and sometimes we would come back saying we were in our rooms reading, even though no one ever believed I was reading. Haha.
Mother was alot happier with your flowers as beautiful as they were than my own I picked for her. Then again I probably shouldn't have picked out the ones with dirt still attached, she may have said she liked it, but I heard her afterwards, and well...she didn't really like them all that much.
Reading You were always reading something at just about everytime you could, I would go crazy if I read that much in one day, but I noticed you sure loved it. I found you under a tree one day reading and came over to say hello, it was a beautiful tree, and you beneath it made the beauty even more radiant.
Before now, I have always seen you sit alone with the birds or just thinking about if you weren't being dragged off or reading something. You helped me with so much and I will admit. I envy you brother I have always wanted to be like you, I may have been the strong child father wanted, but I never had the things you did. You are so smart that I can't even comprehend the things you would read about and its something I probably could easily learned if I tried. I loved how mother loved you more than me, she would never tell me why of anything, and always would talk or console to you. You can even do magic, all I can do is wield a hammer of thunder and without it all I have is my strengths. But you have so much more...

The memories went on with pictures as well as the fun things they had done together or gotten in trouble for. Most of the time Thor was laughing. Back then as children Loki even smiled or laughed. I never want to lose you, Loki. If I do, I have no reason to want to be king anymore. I haven't for a long time cared about the throne since that last day on the bridge, and I thought you to be dead

~ ~ ~

Tony felt himself move without standing up, his thoughts were clouded, and his judgement...well was pretty much dead. He felt so warm and safe leaning against someone or something...Who was it? Oh yea it was Steve, he felt so nice to be close to, and he wondered if he dared to question why. Being placed on the bed after feeling like he was floating, Tony felt his shoes removed, but didn't question it as he fell into a slumber. His chest rising and falling with each breath as he laid there.

It was as if he was possessed. He continued to turn the pages, watching Thor on occasion...but his eyes continued to drift to himself. The younger version, with such bright eyes and small smiles. It was almost alien to watch. This boy, this long-dead child, was no more. Loki's eyes were dim, now. Tired, bitter and angry. With a growl, that low and guttural Jotun noise, he shut the album with a snap. He shoved it off his lap and stood, turned instead to dig through the clothing Thor had brought him for his nighting gown.

He would not let such a show of compassion change his mind. Such sentiment to cloud his judgement. However Thor had made the strange book, he would not know. He would not ask. This was prison, not redemption.

Even as he put his clothes away, he continued to glance back at the album. Once the clothes were in the closet, he grabbed the book and set it in a bottom drawer beneath trousers to hide it, seething. Out of sight, out of mind. Yes?

X

Steve sighed and left Tony there, moved to get him some water and some pain medication. Once that was set on the side table, he frowned down at his friend. Alcoholism. Probably on the horizon if it wasn't there already.

With a sigh, he covered Tony with the comforter and turned out the lights. There was little he could do but hope.

"Jarvis?" He glanced up when he get into the hall, because it was his instinct to look up for an omnipotent being. "Keep a close eye on his vitals okay?"

Thor wound up making it across the hallway to his room and shutting the door as he climbed into the bed falling asleep waiting for the hours to waste away and exhaustion to take over.

~ ~ ~

"As you wish, Mr. Rogers" Jarvis responded keeping an eye on Tony "I do believe it's time for you to get some sleep as well" Jarvis added, he was not programmed with emotions, though he did learn quite well on how to react to human life forms and their needs or wants.

~ ~ ~

Bruce was still asleep as the hours passed until the next day came and as soon as morning arrived he left to take a walk away from other people. Mostly Loki, but if anyone annoyed him right now it wouldn't be good, and he would go off on anyone since the trickster god was back. More like murderer, but he couldn't just call him that after all that he has done in the past.

~ ~ ~ THE NEXT DAY ~ ~ ~

Steve snorted and headed back down to the elevator, needing to go first to his own room. "Thank you, Jarvis. On it."

X

Come morning, Steve was up at five for a morning jog in the gym, and by six was making himself breakfast. He was halfway through frying some eggs before he hummed, glancing up briefly. A thought sparked him, worry, about Tony's condition the night before. And Bruce's, actually. He hadn't been to content. "How's Tony doing? And, while we're at it, how's the new addition? Bruce?"

It wouldn't do to have an angry Bruce lurking. Or...a more angry Bruce than normal.
X

Loki was perfectly content, sleeping deeply and with his limbs all over, hair a wild black mess about his head and all over the pillow. One leg stuck out of the sheets, and one arm hung over the edge of the bed. Loki, for almost all of his life, had been an early wiser. A very, very early riser. But when you've been sleeping on the cold, hard ground of the prison of your father's, and you've slept very little in doing so...well.

He was comfortable. The bed was warm. And it was soft. He was out cold, and it would require someone waking him, or making a loud noise of some sort, to jar him out of it. If he'd had the choice, he'd be happy to sleep all day in the cloud of a bed he'd been gifted.

"Mr. Stark is still asleep, as for the guest he is being taken care of by Mr. Thor himself. You are the only one awake within the mansion seeing as Mr. Banner had already left earlier this morning before your morning routine." Jarvis answered honestly adding "Mr. Stark is starting to wake up"

~ ~ ~

Tony stirred feeling thirsty as he slept through the night until a wave of nausea hit him and he raced to the bathroom being in there for half an hour. Once he felt better enough to get up he brushed his teeth, but could feel his legs feeling weak. So he climbed back into bed curling up, he could smell something similar that he knew before, but what was it...

~ ~ ~

Thor, in the middle of the night some time, made it to Loki's chambers and slipped into his bed sleeping next to his brother. He had scooted pretty close like they were children, and didn't care if Loki was going to kick him off the bed or not. Sleeping the rest of the night, Thor stayed asleep until he opened his eyes realizing which room he was in. Thor then closed his eyes again to go back to sleep hoping to enjoy being near his brother this much till then.

Steve nodded and turned back to his cooking. With a hum he poked the frying eggs as they began to congeal appropriately. "When he's able, tell him I'm making a breakfast made for hang-overs. He'll need some protein."

He had a brief thought of Bucky, and it was painful. Of breakfast shared between the two of them, since his mother worked so long and so often. He shook his head and stirred the eggs around.

X

Loki slept contented for quite some time. It wasn't until the late morning that he woke, yawning and letting his eyes flutter open. To a blond head. Briefly, for just a split second, he observed his bedmate thoughtfully. Lovely hair, strong shoulders. He must have had a wonderful night. So why didn't he hurt like he should have.

And then he actually looked at his bed partner. The second, panic-stained thought that passed through his mind was 'I didn't...I don't hurt. Did I? By the Allfather.'

The third thought was tainted in rage, because memory returned. He all but launched himself out of the bed with mach force, stumbling as he landed on his feet. "Thor!" He screamed, rage making his vision blur. "What in the NINE REALMS do you think that you are doing? What sick fantasy is this, do you see me as a child or as a wench whom you can just... just..." He waved his arms, hollering at the sleeping man. The jotun growl made it's way up through his throat and he covered his mouth. Still raging, he hurried into the bathroom.

And he tried to convince himself his face was red only because of irritation.

"Sir, Mr. Rogers has requested me to tell you that he has made breakfast downstairs, and awaits your company" Jarvis spoke to Tony after he climbed back in bed after brushing his teeth "Should I send him up to your room for assistance?" Jarvis asked once more as Tony replied "No, it's fine." trying to recall what happened last night, then shrugged it off, and changed into a nicer outfit heading downstairs seeing Steve making breakfast or finished by the looks of it. It took him about fifteen minutes to head downstairs after trying to clean up before going around others. "So what exactly happened last night?" he asked totally clueless as to what he did or say "Did I say anything stupid?"

~ ~ ~

Thor blinked waking up sleepily and the moment he saw his brother run into the bathroom. "Loki?" he asked climbing out of bed walking over to the now closed door of the bathroom "Is something the matter?" Thor obviously saw nothing wrong with sneaking into his brother's bed in the middle of the night. "Loki? Brother?" he asked wondering if Loki would answer him, he did hear him yell, but he was too asleep earlier to hear about much. Though he did hear some of it.

(im trying so hard not to do the "Wanna build a snowman" line post lol XD)

Steve was quiet while he scooped bacon out onto a pair of plates, the eggs already set out and steaming happily. The bacon was accompanied by pancakes, albeit the stack of pancakes was on it's own plate. Coffee was percolating. Steve was many things, and that included a good cook. What he wasn't good at was bridging complicated gaps, and wasn't this one. He sighed and pushed a plate at Tony, waved a hand.

"You accused me of stealing the next person you chased," He decided to go with simple. If Tony didn't remember, then it wasn't a big deal. They could move past it. Right? Right.

Right?

Steve shook his head. "You were pretty messed up about Pepper. I didn't understand most of what you were saying."

X

"Yes there is something the matter," Loki jerked the door open, eyes wide and wild, a blush high on his cheeks. Whether from rage or, other things, Thor had no need to know. He clung to the door, still too tired to really...care. About being angry. "Do you even have a brain, Thor? Do you regularly slip into people's bedchambers to rest in their beds? Do you share with Sif? Hogun? Surely Volstagg's wife objects. Fandral then, I'm sure he welcomes you with wide open arms." The word was half spat at him, sarcastic.

He threw an arm at him, making a motion. "I'm not your concubine."

"I did? That doesn't sound like me" Tony said thinking about how egotistically he would go around boasting. He could get any girl he wanted even if his girlfriend...ex girlfriend decided to go with his best friend. 'How the hell did I not see that coming?' he thought to himself taking a seat grabbing a cup of coffee "Well if it means anything, I don't even remember what I had to drink last night" Tony took a drink of the coffee enjoying how it warmed him up and made him feel even more awake than ever.

~ ~ ~

"Yours is the only bed I have slept in brother, you should know that well, we are brothers after all, I see nothing wrong with it" then he listened more to what Loki was saying and now it was starting to anger him. Thor was instantly inches away from his brother catching his arm "I never would have thought of you like that, brother." after realizing how hard he was squeezing Loki's arm he let him go and walked out of the room, before leaving he said "You have far much more worth any of those low lifes in which you speak. I apologize if I scared and offended you, but I will not apologize for bringing you here" then he left closing the bedroom door.

"It wasn't," Steve agreed, setting a mug of coffee in front of Tony beside his plate. After Tony was served, he turned to make himself some breakfast. He could stand a couple of pancakes at least. "I know you tried to have some vodka, but both Jarvis and I thought that to be a bad idea. Before then I have no clue. You got weird upstairs," he made his plate and came around the corner to sit beside him.

"Did you meet anyone while you were out? You kind of collapsed in the hall, it wasn't exactly a boost in confidence in your situation. I know it had to hurt but..." He frowned. The last thing he needed was Tony to be an alcoholic....reminded him too much of his father. He shook those thoughts out of his head.

X

Loki winced when Thor grabbed hold of his arm, bending a bit at the hip to try and ease some of the tension. It didn't help, and he stared up at his brother with a vague, timid sense of fear. This was it, he'd pushed him too far. And this time, Loki couldn't protect himself.

And then he was let go. He immediately gripped his own arm, stumbling to lean against the door frame as Thor made his way from the room. Never had he heard his brother refer to his friends as such, even when fighting with them. His confused expression followed his brothers back, even as the door shut. More worth? Than the Warriors Three?

Funny. Cruel. Words made of silk that Loki would have once thrived on, so many years ago. Instead he hated them. Wanted nothing more than those words to burn for the sentiment they held. Wanted himself to burn on their pyre for how, still a part of him, some small, childish part of him reached for those kind words. Wanted to wrap himself in them, the love of his brother, like he did in days since gone.

"If only you knew the monster you had had in your bed, brother dear," he whispered, looking down at his hands. The shackles had begun to frost, some, barely containing the beast that lay beneath his pale skin. "I would be worth less than dirt to you, then."

"Weird? As in how, 'weird'?" Tony asked wondering what the heck he did last night, right now he wouldn't remember as the alochol was still in his stystem, though later on in the day or next few days he probably would. He remembered Loki was being there as well and wondered what he was up to. Let alone what old thunderhead was doing as well.

"I remember Pepper arrived with my best friend and they told me what was what." Tony shrugged "Anyone else? No, not that I can recall right now, it wouldn't be like me to find someone else on a subject like that, and actually vent. I don't care how drunk I am, I don't vent unless I trust that person"

~ ~ ~

Thor made it back to his room then changing into his Asgardian appearance leaving the mansion to go out for some fresh air. Maybe later he would take his brother out to get some fresh air later, but right now he wanted nothing to do with him. Thor shook his thoughts away, he needed to stop thinking about his brother, his brother was long gone, and now...now he hurt him...Thor was going through so many emotions that he wasn't sure what was going on.

"You were fine, but once we got to your floor, you sort of went limp,"He shrugged, poured a minimal amount of syrup over his pancakes. "One minute you were fighting mad--you got kind of physical in the elevator--and the next you were sliding down the hall and you wouldn't even look at me. I just want to make sure you're alright." He glanced at him, then back down at his pancakes while he cut them into fours, and then into eighths.

He decided not to bring up what Tony had said in the elevator. Even if it was nagging him, Tony wasn't in a position to have that kind of conversation. Steve...well, Steve wasn't sure if he was even able to have that kind of conversation. He stuffed some cake into his mouth.

X

Loki lingered for only a moment. He had enough of him coherent and heard his brother enter and leave a room, his heavy footfalls fading away. Good, let him leave. He'd leave Loki along, at least for now. He could focus on purging himself of these dreadful feelings, these awful sentiments that did nothing but hold him back.

The rest of day was open before him, though he could roam, he chose to stay within the confines of his room. He settled on the mess that was his bed, spread his fingers over a few of the tomes Thor had brought him. A smile settled on his lips, these books familiar friends. How strange for he, the son of a nightmare, to find solace within the pages of ancient tomes. Them absorbed his mind, letting the troubling thoughts of his brother who was not his brother fade away, swept into oblivion by ancient runes.

"Fighting mad I can see-wait, physical how?" Tony asked starting with the meat on the plate which was normally what he always did first. Listening to Steve talk about last name made Tony think more and more about it trying to remember it. Something came to mind as he remembered something about pushing Steve up against a wall in a small room that reminded him of the elevator "Nevermind" he quickly said "I don't think I want to know anymore" meaning he remembered the elevator scene "Anything that happened last night, you won't tell anyone will you? I doubt my threats would work against you anyways" Tony spoke almost choking on his bacon piece.

"My lips are sealed," Steve waved his fork around, trying to offer a smile. He wasn't sure if Tony remembered exactly what happened, but judging by his face he remembered enough. That made Steve uncomfortable, but if Tony didn't feel like breeching it, Steve wouldn't, either.

Tony hadn't denied it, though, not yet. And that kind of brought him pause. Was it true, then, or just a drunken threat after all?

When Tony started to choke, Steve patted his back a bit firmly to help him out. "Don't suffocate--"

"Don't you two look chummy," Clint's amusement clear in his voice.

Steve whipped around in his seat, startled. Clint and Natasha never made any noise, and it still scared him to death. Clint was grinning, still in uniform save for his lack of bow and recoil gauntlet. He just shrugged a shoulder and went around the breakfast bar towards the fridge.

"You're back early."

"I did what I needed to, Nat's got the rest. She's sort of a one man machine anyway," he bent to poke around in the refrigerator before coming back up with an apple. "Damn, Tony, you look like shit. Rough night?"

Tony looked over giving Clint a half smile after calming himself down from what he remembered and shrugged "Yea, rough night" just agreeing with it "How was your mission?" he knew he couldn't ask about the details, but how it went it should have been alright. Tony looked over at Steve not wanting to tell Clint just yet about their little visitor, but knew it would have to come out eventually.

~ ~ ~

Banner was making his way back to the mansion that they stayed in, okay it wasn't a mansion technically, it was a big building in which they all stayed in like a super nice hotel with superficial intelligence as their defense system thanks to Tony. Though he couldn't believe Tony didn't leave much room for argument about Loki staying there, what was he thinking after what Loki did, and if the people of earth ever found out, they were all soon to be dead.

Clint shrugged a shoulder and hopped up onto the kitchen counter beside the fridge, flakes of dirt and dust trailing off him like dark rain. He crunched a bite out of the apple and hummed around it, thoughtful.

"Did what I needed to," he repeated, crossed his ankles. The narrowed his eyes a bit and glanced between them, when Steve shared the same look with Tony. Steve wasn't too inclined to share with Clint, either, but then again no one would really want that kind of job. "It went well enough--you two alright?"

"Awesome," Steve chirped, eyes darting back to Clint. "We're peachy."

"Peachy," Clint repeated, one brow lifted. He took another slow bite of his apple, chewed, swallowed. He almost commented when he saw a tuft of brown hair over Steve's shoulder, lifted a hand to wave as Bruce made his way inside. "Hey, Banner! Long time no see."

Steve winced. If anyone would blurt out the...sensitive, information. It'd be Banner. He was...probably the most upset. He and Clint both would, if left to their own devices, tear the place apart looking for their special house guest.

Tony kept quiet, it was better if he didn't say anything, though now that Bruce was here he had a feeling that would change. Listening to Clint talk to the other who walked in hoping Bruce wouldn't go all big and green on them. "Why don't you ask Stark that question, I am only here to get my things, and go back to what I was originally doing before this pathetic little team existed" with that Bruce went to leave then turned to Tony and Steve "Since it was Stark who didn't argue much on that subject, why don't you tell Clint just who the guest is to stay here while I go pack by bags, nice to see you again Clint, try not to kill them too much" and he walked out of the room leaving Tony to want to leave as well, though he stayed put. "What was that about?" Tony asked trying to play it off like he didn't know and hoped Steve would go along with this for a bit if they could pull it off.

Bruce was leaving? Steve lifted his head to watch Bruce as he passed through, eyes sad. He wanted to call after him, but before he could get a word in, Bruce was firmly throwing them under the bus. He felt heat rising in his face, and then Tony spoke, and he knew, he knew he was a terrible liar, and Clint was almost terrifyingly trained in little movements of the body.

"No clue," he offered, and then promptly stuffed his face full of pancake to nearly the point of choking. If anyone could talk their way out of the hawk's eye of their dear Clint Barton, it would be Tony. But even then, Clint was about as cuddly as the bird he was named after -- and that wasn't much.

"Wait, wha--Bruce--" Clint hopped off the counter as if to follow him, but he knew when to pick his battles. Instead, bright, sharp eyes turned back on Steve and Tony. Steve, who was trying desperately to disappear despite his bulk, and Tony, who looked like a snake in the grass. His fingers twitched, briefly. "What was that about? What's this about a guest?What did you two do this time?" He watched Steve mumble around his mouth full of breakfast pastry, cheeks pink. And he knew for a fact it wasn't from choking. The man was hiding something. And, considering Steve and Tony were all but joined at the hip now-days...Tony was hiding something too.

Or, rather, someone.

"Tony. Who did you bring here?"

Tony stayed silent shrugging "We didn't do anything" technically he did do something and no one else could get another word in "Nothing to worry about bird boy, let's just leave it be. He did't agree with something that happened yesterday, let's not start it up again" Tony didn't know how to smooth talk his way out of this one.

Tony stood up his hands in defense "Hey hey, I didn't bring him here" Tony said not bothering to hide it anymore, he knew Clint would find out, and if he didn't find out at that moment...well he would in a matter of moments. "Thor brought his stupid brother back here under magical shackles in order to redeem himself, and the fact that no where else can hold him as quite well as we can. I say that's not a bad thing and yes we're keeping an on him, is that such a bad thing?" Tony actually hated the idea himself.

Clint goes unnaturally still, and Steve wonders, idly, if he's even breathing. Doesn't matter, Steve's tactical, and stands up when murder settles in Clint's eyes. He knows when to step in.

"Now, Clint--"

"Is that such a bad thing?" Clint hisses through tight teeth. "Is that such a bad thing? You want to tell me if it's a bad thing if the man you brainwashed you into murdering people for him, living under the same roof, is a bad thing? Stark, I know you're low but I didn't know you were that oblivious." He shoved himself off the countered, leaving the kitchen for the main entry. "I'm going out."

"Clint--"

"Out!" He didn't look back.

"Damn. That could have gone better." There's a crunch from an apple and Steve jumps nearly out of his skin, twisting to look back into the kitchen. Bucky just grins around his mouth-full of fruit, sitting criss-cross on the island between the bar Steve and Tony were eating at and the fridge. He's still in pajamas, a loose grey t-shirt and a pair of shorts.He wiggles his fingers amicably, silver shining in the florescence. "Sorry Stevie."

"You scared the life out of me."

"Tried that once." He motions with his apple at Tony. "You get your tactical skill from your dad, by the way." A thumbs up. "Good job there, kiddo."

"Play nice," Steve sat back down and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I'm bein' have," Bucky rolled his eyes, then settles his attention back on Tony. "By the way, Thor left earlier this morning. They had a fight."

"About what?" Steve frowned. Bucky shrugged.

"Hell if I know. Thor was loud, as usual. And I'm keeping close tabs. I don't do too well with brain washers either." His smile was cold and tight. "Better safe than sorry."

Tony watched Clint staying silent, Tony's best feature was his silence during hard times, and not to get upset like others. Tony shrugged "Well that could have gone worse" he probably should count himself lucky that he wasn't killed yet over something like this. Then again his death wouldn't do anything to change the fact that Thor brought his brother here and is now under protection.

"Seriously I didn't give you a key, how do you keep getting in here!?" Tony exclaimed confused, he even put motion sensors everywhere in the mansion, so how did this out of date old man keep getting it? "They're brothers, they're going to fight, I'm going to my study if anyone needs me" Tony left going upstairs to his study to work more on his inventions, once in there and the door was shut his mind didn't want to work like it was supposed to, in fact his mind was filled of that night in the elevator.

"You try being twenty five for seventy years," Bucky hollared after him, eyes bright and amused. Then turned back to Steve, who maybe had given him a code to get in. Steve fidgeted under his scrutiny, before snorting softly and getting up to start cleaning up the dishes. Bucky hopped off the counter to help him. "Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Need to talk about it?"

"Probably."

"Do I need to kick his ass?"

"No," Steve laughed and nudged him, scraping the leftover pancakes into the trash. Bucky hummed and scrubbed at some stuck-on syrup. Steve continued scrape and hand plates to his friend, and once that was done, switched to his other side to dry when Bucky handed him clean plates. Silence stretched on, the clink of plates and Bucky's metal hand the only noise. "I know it's like...2014, but I don't think anybody knows. And I don't even know if he meant it. I mean, you used to joke around with me--"

"I was joking, and I didn't assault you in an elevator, Stevie." Bucky set the plate he was scrubbing down. "That's different."

"He didn't assault me." He leaned his hip against the counter.

"I'll go beat him up like I used to," Bucky grinned at him, and it made Steve nervous.

"Don't do that--just. Keep tabs on Loki, Natasha will when she gets back no doubt. But--"

"I'm what you got. You're such a punk."

"Jerk." Steve smiled and Bucky rolled his eyes.

-X-

Sir, Loki has left his room and is heading towards your penthouse. JARVIS said pleasantly over the com in Tony's study.

Loki was indeed, bored of his bedroom and having figured out enough of the lift. He knew only one other room in this building, and if it was at all like it had been the last time he was here, it had a better view than his meager bedroom did. He was interested in that idea.