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"Bucky is alive." Tony repeated it because it was the third time that Steve had said it, half asleep and mumbling into his glove at the restaurant. He was probably the only one still mostly awake right now, invigorated, as if lightning was flowing through his veins. His heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest and like he could actually feel the earth turning under his feet-- He was probably just hopped up on adrenaline, though. He didn't question it. Not yet.

Thor was gone, off to locate his 'incorrigible' brother who destroyed their city. Banner was housing meat with soulless eyes as he recovered from the Hulk. Their two assassins were sending each other furtive glances that Tony interpreted as querying where they would fuck later. And that left only Rogers to focus on because he was the only one saying anything.

"Okay, I'll bite." He plopped down his sandwich, watching Bruce reach across him to pick it up again and eat that too, interrupting his train of thought towards Rogers. "You know, I'll just get you another one," he said under his breath, but Banner wasn't paying a lick of mind to him, like he was simply going through the motions.

Tony rolled his eyes and focused again on the blond mumbler.

"Who the hell is Bucky?"

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Steve was flushed brighter than a sunset in shame. This was a secret he had kept since he had first realised that he liked the look of men's bodies just as much as the acceptable feeling of liking to look at women, and suddenly it was spilled out in the open for all to see.

He knew that things were more progressive these days, and that was good. It could only be a good thing for the world if people felt safe enough to love whoever they wanted. But he was a product of his time, he had been raised believing that men who desired other men like that were perverse. Or even mad. He didn't really think that, not truly in the heart of himself, but he couldn't help but picture his mother's gentle face and how horrified she would be if she knew this.

"Alright, stop." That was his captain's voice, sharp and commanding. "I didn't ask for speculation on my-- habits, and I'll thank you not to keep going. There was nothing between Bucky and I but friendship, I loved him like a brother, that's all."

"The love between brothers is oft complicated," Loki murmured, slyly. "Filled with hatred and shame and all manner of things you may prefer it weren't."

That hurt. Thor felt the sting, of only because Loki seemed so dead set on destroying his entire life and all of his relationships in one fell swoop. He wasn’t ready yet to give up on Loki, though he knew he was filled with chaos and blind hatred. He still believed his brother redeemable. He believed family could fix him.

Thor crossed his arms over his massive chest and let Steve say whatever else he needed to say to feel secure. He did not understand much about humans but time spent with Jane and watching her small television had clued him in on some things. Shame was something these people took pride in. He grasped the reasons very little and so did not let the conversation linger when there was much else to speak of.

“Loki, you will find these other nearby shapeshifters. It will be part and parcel of your debt owed. I know you are capable of these things.” Now was a time to goad his brother into showing off.

Loki snorted ungracefully. Thor was not quite the manipulator that he was, and trying to goad him into showing off was a fairly obvious ploy. It didn't stop him from wanting to, his palms practically itched with the need to show them all how powerful his sorcery was and what knowledge he possessed that others could only dream of.

But he simply lifted one eyebrow. He would not be goaded, not today, he had to play the longer game if he stood any chance of getting out of this alive.

"I rather think that debt will be paid in full when the All-Father snips my head from my neck, I see no reason to spend my final hours acting as a hound on the hunt for your benefit."