Yep, definitely Loki's kid.

Chapter 16: A Less Aggressive Intervention

"Guys I am fine! Trust me!"

I am not fine.

"I promise I am ok, I just fell. Now can we please stop talking about it, it's kind of embarrassing."

I am not ok.

"Finnley, you don't get that from falling. You can talk to us."

No, I really can't.

I look around the room, desperately trying to think of something to say, maybe a half-truth, just something that will get them off my back but not lead them to the orphanage. I can't leave those kids.

I start to grow more anxious as I look around. Tony, Clint, Sam, Steve, Bucky, Wanda, Pietro, Thor, Bruce, and surprisingly even Loki are all staring at me, well Loki isn't, he is still simply reading his book, but he seems to be occasionally looking at me out of the corner of his eye, maybe not as absorbed into his book as he is trying to appear.

My palms sweat and my throat runs dry.

"It-it's just this kid at school. It's really no big deal." I purposely make my voice shaky and small as I look down trying to sell my half-truth.

It's not a lie, Flash did do some of this, barely any in comparison to Ms. Santina, but it is not a lie.

I glance towards Peter, silently praying that he would not blow my cover. But of course, my prayers are not answered.

"Finnley, you were clearly in pain before school as well though."

Screw you, Peter. (not actually though, Peter is amazing and could do no wrong)

Quickly coming up with something I continue. "I may have seen him yesterday as well. When I was leaving the grocery store he stopped me outside and tossed me around a bit in the alleyway." I try to say as convincingly as possible as I do my best to look sheepish.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as both Loki's nose scrunches up and Natasha narrows her brows further.

There is a slight pause of silence before Steve buts in. "Now it is never good to fight, you need to be the bigger person, but, you should know how to defend yourself if you ever need to. Have you ever learned any self-defense?"

Oh, I can defend myself alright, I may even take you down in a fight, old man.

But for the benefit of my lie, I swallow my self-pride and shake my head no.

I once again watch as Loki's nose scrunches up and an unpleasant look comes over his face like he just smelled some rotten food.

"Look, I will do something about it next time, but can we please just drop this? I don't even understand why you care! I just want to get to work as that is what I am here and get paid to do and you all can get back to minding your own business!" I say with a more bitter and harsh tone than I intended and then walk out of the room and towards the lab.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It is about 10 minutes later when Tony and Peter finally come into the lab as well. I don't look up from the project that I am working on and they do not say anything, and that is now it remains for the next few hours.

Eventually, much later, Tony pauses his music and turns towards us.

"I'm hungry, would you guys like something to eat? We can get some food delivered up here?" He says in a cheery voice seeming to be trying to lighten the tense mood that I know is my fault.

Partly because I am still feeling bad for earlier, and also because I am really not in the mood for fast food I reply with an offer.

"I can just go grab some food from upstairs for us if you would like?"