Marvel At What Could've Happened

Chapter 13

AUTHOR'S NOTE, IMPORTANT: I have been trying to avoid AN's but I feel like I need to say this.  I'm leaving this here as a warning.  I'm not going to lie, this is a rough chapter.  It takes a dark turn that maybe you weren't expecting, but I've been trying to hint towards.  Please, if you are uncomfortable or disturbed easily, skip at least the end of this chapter.  I wouldn't write the content of this chapter unless I felt it was important to the character's arcs.  Just know that something's coming.  With that said, enjoy the most you can.

"If y'all don't stop arguing, I'm going to put it on the game and be done with it," Steve threatened.

"I swear to God, Cap, if you make us watch baseball, I will personally kick you off the team," said Tony.

"Seriously? It's the Yankees against the Red Sox, that's not one to miss," Steve replied.

"Can we please just watch Master Chef?" Clint asked.

"Wow, Barton, could you get any lamer?" Tony sounded impressed.

"I'm on Clint's side, Tony. Or maybe a travel channel show?" asked Bruce. Steve sighed.

"Tony? What do you want?"

"I don't care. Top Gear. Extreme RV's. What's on the Sci fi channel?"

"Loki? Any votes?"

"I- I have no idea what any of it is," Loki said, sounding overwhelmed.

"What about How It's Made?" Bruce suggested.

"I'm down for that," Tony said.

"Whatever," Clint groaned. Steve flipped through the guide until he found it on the science channel. Despite the original resistance to it from half the group, they found themselves practically mesmerized by the show. It was one AM when Steve pulled himself together and shut it off, much to Tony and Bruce's chagrin.

They all began to drag themselves off the sofa. Steve glanced at Loki, noticing that the young man was hesitating. Loki pulled himself to his feet and took a moment to steady himself. Steve frowned.

"You alright, kid?" Steve asked.

"Yes, Rogers, fine," Loki breathed, and started to walk out of the circle of couches.

"Wait, can I talk to you?" Loki stopped.

"It's late, Rogers," he said.

"Yes, well . . ."

"Well, what?" Steve stood awkwardly, not answering until the others were out of earshot.

"It's just, you don't look like you've been sleeping well anyway." Or eating, or doing anything well, Steve added to himself.

"I've been sleeping fine, but thank you for your concern." Loki started to turn away again.

"The circles under your eyes tell me differently." Loki turned back.

"I'm fair-skinned, Rogers. My hair makes me look worse."

"BS. A few weeks ago you looked fine."

"And I'm still fine. It's one in the morning, of course I look pale and tired."

"True. But it doesn't explain why you can hardly stand or why your clothes look like sacks on you. Do you even realize?" Steve was becoming more disturbed the more he looked over the younger man.