A Poisoned Touch

Odin stayed until dinner. They were all sitting around the big table, introducing the three Asgardians and the man out of time to Thai food. It was going well until a thought struck Steve and he choked on his noodles.

Thor was there to pat him on the back, directly over that tattoo, in between his wings.

“Steven, are you well?”

“Yeah sorry. I just, who is going to stay behind? We can’t all go right? Someone needs to stay behind in case the Avengers are needed.” He looked around the table and couldn’t find a face he didn’t want to take with him.

“Father could we not summon Sif here?”Thor asked and yeah, maybe leaving behind an Asgardian might help.

“I can stay. I’ve run Shield ops for years, and maybe we could get Sam here?” Clint offered.

“I can call for Sif, aye. And perhaps Fandral. The two of them could fight in your stead.”

“Serve that fool, indeed. I would much rather not deal with him whilst we have talks with the Soros minister.” Loki added.

“But then how will I beat him up for you?” Steve asked, with a cheeky grin.

“I do not doubt you will still have a chance, even if we leave him with your archer.” Loki made a thoughtful face, “perhaps Clint could best him too. Fandral was never good with long range weaponry.”

“What’s the deal with this guy Lokes?” Clint asked after swallowing his food.

“Ah, well…”

“Fandral is a bit of a rascal when it comes to other’s feelings.” Thor added politely.

“It would be my absolute pleasure to kick his ass at the range. Make your calls, your highness.” He turned to Odin, “I’ll call Sam, see if he can get up here tomorrow.”

“You don’t mind running interference with Shield?” Steve had to know. It was the easer question, rather than asking if he was fine letting his partner, in all sense of the word, go off world without him.

“Nah. I’m used to it. Plus, I won’t lie, It’ll be amusing if we do get a call out and Sam and I show up with Asgardians that aren’t Thor or Loki. Fury will shit a brick.”

“Okay then.” Tony waved chopsticks around as they all chuckled at Clint.

“Jarvis, get Wilson on the line. And then let’s make sure we got accommodations for two visitors.”

“Sif will not have a worry about where she lays her head, Fandral on the other hand…” Loki spoke.

“There are stories of a narcissus here, is that correct? Thor added. Steve nodded. “Ah, well, Fandral is very vain. A good warrior to have at your side, though his golden armor often will blind both friend and foe.”

“This guy sounds like a man I wanna know.” Tony laughed, just as Loki snorted.

“Your vanity pales in comparison. But my brother is correct that he is handy to have in battle. There are none, aside from possibly myself or my mother, who is as good with a blade.”

“Both of them will be a boon to any company they join. Sif is a formidable warrior in her own right. Fandral often brings amusement to any camp. I am certain they will make up for what this planet loses when you journey to Asgard.” Odin stated, and it was clearly a conversation ender.

“Sir. I have spoken to Sam Wilson and he has accepted his summons. He will arrive in the morning while you are at your meeting.”

“Thanks J. Okay, I’ve gotta crash so Pepper doesn’t castrate me. We leave tomorrow evening?”

“Yes man of iron. Though I shall be leaving presently. I thank you for your hospitality. For myself, my sons and the warriors who shall arrive in the morning.” Odin stood with Tony. The younger swanned out like he was wont to do, but the Allfather pulled each of his sons up out of their chairs to take a hearty, backslapping hug.

“My sons, I shall send Sif and Fandral in the morning. And I shall await your arrival in the evening.”

“Give mother my love, father.” Thor asked, stepping back so Odin could pull Steve up as well. His hug was less hard, and more careful around the white wings.

“Steven, I look forward to seeing you in the evening as well. I believe Eir does as well, they were quite enamored by you on your last visit.”

“Thank you sir. I’m real excited to see Asgard again. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to sketch some of it this time.”

“We will do our best to give you some time to pursue your artistic passions.” He walked back to the still open door to the balcony. “Farewell all, until we meet again.”

“Heimdall!” He called out and there was the tower shaking again and Odin was gone in a flash of blinding lights.

“Father, on Midgard. You must be special indeed, my good captain.” Loki slumped into his chair. Steve sat next to him, wondering if again he was putting stress on their relationship. Loki seemed to be at odds with Odin more than Thor was. But it wasn’t his place, no matter how much he wanted to understand.

“What do you mean?” Nat asked and Steve was going to buy her flowers or something.

“Father hasn’t come to Midgard since before your crusades. He has, on more than one occasion, likened Earth to a backwater planet.”

“Brother, he came here for you. He stood there to tell Fury that he would not touch you. Perhaps you should, what is the term? Give him a break.”

“Aye Thor, you are right.” He shook off his attitude, sitting straighter in the chair. “Now, since we will leave tomorrow, if anyone needs to know what to bring, I shall help with that.”

“What’s the timeline? How long are we going to be off world? And I know you said no science stuff for Bruce and Tony, and this is ostensibly a peaceful assembly, but I don't go anywhere without weapons.” Nat ticked off her questions one by one.

“I do not begrudge that at all Widow, I too do not go anywhere without a blade.”

“Yeah, but you’re pretty much a weapon yourself, like Steve. I’ll have more than one blade on me. I just don’t want to upset royal sensibilities.”

“You will be fine Natasha, most everyone on Asgard is carrying.” Thor told her.

“Warrior culture.” Bruce piped up. “I’m just packing clothes. My weapon is part of me. And saying that, I'm going to go meditate. I will see you guys in the morning.”

After Bruce took his leave, Nat and Clint did as well, probably to get a few hours alone before they were separated. It left Steve and the brothers alone.

“Want to go hang out in my rooms?” Steve offered. There was no reason to hang out on the common floor if it was just them. Plus, he felt more comfortable stretching his wings out in his own space. He always kept them pulled close on the common floor.

“Aye let us go, Loki can spend the night in my rooms.”

“Really brother, propositioning him right in front of me?” Loki raised one eyebrow and Steve couldn't help but laugh.

“That is not what I mean, brother. We share a floor, as you well know.”

“He knows Thor. He’s just picking at you. It’s what brothers do. Bucky was the same back when I was a kid.” It still hurts how much he missed his best friend. But he was learning to remember the good stuff, keep it with him.

“Aye, it is indeed, what he does. I do not love him any less for his actions.”

“Now that we are alone,” Loki started, sitting on Steve’s couch. “He pulled out the same bottle as from the day he told Steve what he was. “Let us share a drink that will actually affect us, and we shall talk about how amusing it will be watching Stark on Asgard and unable to get his fingers into anything.”

“Yeah, he’s bound to be pissy about that.” Steve wiggles his toes into the plush carpet before taking a drink. “Mind if spread out?” His back got tight when he didn’t flex often enough, and he was getting there quickly.

“No, please.” Loki took another sip, almost choking on it. Clearly he hadn’t expected Steve to take his shirt off.

Steve laughed as he dropped it on the cushion next to him, and then with a roll of his shoulders, extended his wings fully. Feathers fluttered before settling perfectly. He pulls them back soon enough. He caught Loki staring, which was unusual.

“Is there… Um, are they bothering you?” He was not a fan of the tremor in his voice but he’d found that Loki and Thor were the only ones who didn’t stare, so this wasn’t ideal.

“No. Not at all. In all honesty, they are beautiful.” Oh, well...that is nice.

“He speaks the truth. They are quite a thing to see. I admired them for a long time before you allowed me to touch.” Where Loki’s compliment made him happy, Thor’s made him blush.

“I didn’t know that.”

“No, you would not have. You were still adamant at keeping us all far away from you. I am gladdened that we have moved past that.” Thor moved to sit next to him, running his big, blunt fingertips along the edge of the feathers. They ruffled under his touch.

“Thor might not have ever met one of your kind before, but I have. There are many different forms and colors of wings amongst your kind. I have never seen another that had such pure white feathers. Even they keep you apart from those around you.” Loki sipped on his elven wine, seemingly considering his next words. “Everything about you is special Steven. I am often quite awed to be in your company.”

“Wow.” Steve barely got that out, before Thor was jumping up to yank his brother into a hug.

“Put me down you oaf!”

“Brother, kind words from your mouth mean more than anything.” Thor wasn’t bothered at all when a green, shimmery shield went up between them, pushing him away from Loki.

“Well, I save the kind words for those who truly deserve them. There can not be a person more deserving. I do not know what he sees in you.”

“Oh well, he is kind.” Steve figured that was a given. “And he understands me. Shared life experience is not something I’ve found with anyone else here, in this time.”

“Thank you elskan, I am happy to be kind to you. Always.”

“Oh, the mush. I shall retire now. Tomorrow will be full of preparation for our travel. Sleep well you two.” He vanished, and no matter how many times he saw it happen, it was always going to amaze him.

“Well, you gonna spend the night? You can if you wanna.” He hoped Thor would choose to spend the night, he did enjoy those big arms wrapping around him.

“If you continue to sound all Brooklyn on me, you will find it hard to get me away. Come, let us retire to bed.” Steve squeaked when Thor scooped him up, but he loved it. Honestly didn’t think he’d ever get tired of being the smaller of the two of them.