Chapter 5
“Loki’s growth plates indicate that he hasn’t finished puberty,” Bruce says, holding the X-Rays.
“Fuck,” says Tony.
“We have to tell the others,” Steve says. “They need to know. They deserve to know.”
“We?” Tony smirks. “I want absolutely no part of telling Clint that Loki’s here. You want to keep him like a stray puppy, you have to tell the spies.”
“It won’t be that bad, Tony, seriously,” Steve says. (It’s definitely going to be that bad.)
“I have something important to tell you,” Steve starts. “It is going to be upsetting, but I really need you to hear me out.”
Natasha looks wholly unamused.
Clint shrugs. “Can it be any more traumatic than the last couple years?”
Steve grimaces, shifting guiltily. Natasha raises her eyebrow.
“About that,” Steve starts. “Loki’s in the Tower.”
Clint shoots up, grabbing a gun from its holster on his thigh. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
Steve sighs. “That’s the part I need you to hear me out on.”
Clint looks acutely murderous and Natasha doesn’t look much better. Steve is glad Thor’s not here — this is not a good time for Thor to make excuses for his brother.
“We have a strong theory that this Loki is not the same one who attacked New York. He has no memory of the last 200 years, acts and looks younger, and his X-Rays showed growth plates consistent with teenagers at 16.”
Clint laughs, sharp and ugly. “He’s fucking controlling you or something, because there is no way in hell that I am buying your bullshit.”
Natasha cuts in before Steve can respond. “You’ve had him long enough to do X-Rays?”
“Yes,” Steve says. Dodging the real meaning of the question, he continues: “His elbows, ankles, and wrists are fused. But the plates at his knees, hips, and shoulder haven’t fused yet. He is biologically a teenager.”
“I’ll make sure they don’t fucking fuse,” Clint mutters.
“When, exactly, were you planning on informing SHIELD about this?” Natasha asks.
Steve winces. “We weren’t.” At Natasha’s look — half derision and half amusement — he hurries to explain. “Loki has been in the cell or magic suppressant cuffs this entire time. If we found that he was the Loki we know, and faking it, we would have contacted SHIELD immediately. But it’s looking more and more likely that he’s actually a kid. And I cannot allow a child to get hurt — even if that child is Loki.”
“I still don’t like this,” Clint says. “In fact, I fucking hate it.”
“Look,” Steve starts.
“No!” Clint cuts in. “Does nobody remember that he undid me? He took me apart and put me back together so he could take over Earth for Thanos. He worked for Thanos and you want to convince me that he’s chill now? How do we know he’s not trying to bring Thanos back or something?”
Steve sighs. “We didn’t tell you before, because we wanted to be sure. But we’re telling you now.”
“Let’s just cut to the chase,” Natasha says. “You want us to lie to SHIELD.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t even consider it,” Steve says, using his best I’m-the-leader-please-listen-to-me voice. That voice has gotten a lot of use lately. “But I’m not okay with throwing a child onto the Raft and throwing away the key. I’m hoping you two aren’t okay with that either.”
Natasha shakes her head in amazement. “You’re really serious.”
“I don’t want to play this card,” Steve says. “But you know how important second chances are.”
Natasha glares at Steve, who meets her gaze and doesn’t look away. “Look,” he says softly, “I’m not asking you to be friends with him. In fact, we would love for you to help make sure he isn’t playing a long con on us. But he is staying in the Tower, and since you have floors there, it is right that you know about it. I don’t have a way to make sure you don’t tell SHIELD. But I can’t stand by and let a kid get hurt. I hope you feel the same.”
Natasha stares back at Steve. Finally, she nods almost imperceptibly. Clint still glares at Steve, anger and maybe a little fear in his eyes.
“Fine,” Clint says. “But he sets one fucking toe out of line and I will stick him full of arrows and then have Fury on speed-dial.”
“Understandable,” Steve says. “Thank you for listening.”