Loki's Little Witch [en]

chapter 18. there's something wrong with Loki

Tony couldn't help but let out a groan from his mouth as he reached for one of the many glasses stacked in the top drawers, and in an involuntary move, he brought his other hand to his rib. It had been less than 24 hours, but it was certainly enough for the pain from all the blows he'd taken during the explosion to settle in his body.

And that action didn't go unnoticed, as Bucky Barnes noticed that groan as he entered the kitchen at that exact moment, that without hesitation, he approached the brunette, taking the glass and handing it to him.

"Thanks."

Tony said, looking away as quickly as he could and instead, his eyes inevitably fell on the redhead sitting on the porch bench that he could see through the kitchen window, causing Bucky to follow his gaze, shyly looking at the young woman before looking down, clearing his throat to get the attention of the man next to him.

"Um... Sam and I talked, and... we're leaving tonight."

Stark licked his lips, "you don't have to do that... maybe we're the ones who should leave. I don't even know why we came back to this place."

They simply didn't have the brains to think of anywhere else after the day the'd had. From one moment to the next, they had lost everything: the place they had spent almost a decade building up, the one Tony was convinced would be their forever home, the one he swore was the safest place for his family, was now nothing more than rubble.

Bucky couldn't help but give the young woman another quick glance since Stark remained quiet, "the important thing is that you're all fine."

The man's words made Tony look for his eyes for the first time, "yeah, and I was actually meaning to thank you... for taking such good care of my boy all this time."

Bucky tried to hide a smile, "it was nothing. He's a great kid. I have no clue what he talks about half the time, but he's really funny."

Tony tried to laugh, but it only made his diaphragm tense and he once again brought his hand to his ribs, causing Bucky to chuckle silently.

And even though it had only been two weeks since he'd met the youngest of the Starks, even after he and Sam had firmly opposed when Steve offered to babysit them, Barnes had managed to grow fond of the boy, who although didn't shared their blood, he'd learned was as brilliant, if not more brilliant, than his father or grandfather, and he was certain would make a great superhero once he dared to reveal his powers to his dads.

However, the laughter that the man who never thought he'd forgive the man who murdered his parents, managed to share for a moment with the man who never thought he'd get forgiven for having committed such atrocious act and for being responsible for breaking apart the team he'd worked so hard and spent so many years building, to the poing that he'd entrusted him with the life of his own son, was suddenly silenced by a roar that gradually intensified as the entire safe house was illuminated by a beam of light so powerful that it managed to slip through every window.

Bucky couldn't help but frown, unconsciously raising his arms, while everything was so evident for Tony, that it took him the same time as his daughter stood up from that bench, for him to already be crossing the door, trying to catch up with her aftr she hurriedly ran to the pair of men who appeared from within the beam of light that soon faded away.

Wanda's eyes crystallized from one second to the next before lunging at the dark-haired asgardian, who was leaning on his blond brother and who let out a moan of pain at the contact of the young woman's body, who soon stepped away to grab his face.

"You're okay, you're okay," she sobbed as the god of mischief moved his brother's arm away so he could hold the redhead.

"Are you okay? Are the babies okay?" he inquired, scanning the young woman's face, who quickly nodded.