Brother Avengers

Brother Avengers Chapter 12

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world,

But if they don't play together,

The club won't be worth a dime."

-Babe Ruth

Thor, his helmet under his arm, ducked through the low door of the long, hollow, metal snake and paused on the threshold, glancing around. His cape swished as he walked. The interior of this vehicle, something that these Midgardians called a "subway car," was muted gray, with white bench seats bolted to the sides, and neatly-packed racks of various pieces of armament—vests, guns, grenades—hanging from the walls. It smelled of plastic, and oil. Harsh artificial lamps lit the small, narrow chamber. Thor hefted Mjollnir, and slid it into his belt. He glanced to his left, to the front of the car, to see Steve, Tony and Logan waiting. Steve sat on a bench, his elbows on his knees, a curved, circular shield strapped to his back. Tony, wearing a black jumpsuit, plopped down in a rotating chair that moment and leaned back, his "suit case" tucked between his feet. Logan stood apart from both of them, his arms crossed. He looked the same as usual, except his signature smoking device was absent. They all lifted their faces to Thor as he entered.

"Where's that baby brother of yours?" Logan asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Washing his hair or something?"

Irritation rose in Thor's chest.

"If you're referring to Prince Loki," Thor growled. "He is on his way."

"Oh, good," Logan muttered. "Can't wait for his sunny contribution to all this."

"Listen, the guy's a realist, okay? He gives his honest assessment," Tony said, holding his hands out. "And you're not exactly Mr. Happy either, Claws."

"Great, a nickname," Logan said, rolling his eyes. "Does that mean I get to call you Tin Man, now?"

"Guys..." Steve sighed, running a gloved hand through his hair. They fell quiet. Thor stepped nearer and eyed Steve. He wore a similar jumpsuit to Tony's, though Steve's was more padded, with a belt, high boots, and deep blue, red and white markings—and a white star on his chest.

"What is this heraldry?" Thor gestured to him.

"Hm?" Steve sat up, his blue eyes meeting Thor's for the first time.

"This star, these colors," Thor clarified. "What do they mean?"

"Uh..." Steve sat up, and glanced down at himself. "Well, they're the colors of the American flag. White for purity, red for valor, blue for justice," he said, pointing to the various colors on his uniform. "And on the flag...Well, there are thirteen red and white stripes, for the thirteen original colonies, and there are forty-eight stars on a field of blue, representing the forty-eight states—"

"You're just an encyclopedia, aren't you?" Tony remarked, looking around. "A regular know-it-all Eagle Scout."

Steve frowned at him.

"I was just answering a question—"

"Yeah, well, there aren't forty-eight states," Tony corrected folding his arms and raising his eyebrows at him.

Steve blinked.

"There aren't?"

"Fifty, genius," Tony said. "Might want to take a look at that flag you're wrapped in once in a while."

"Hey, lay off," Logan snapped at Tony.

"What—does the Captain need protection?" Tony shot back. "He should know that—everybody knows that."