What is this?

Chapter twenty-two

It was wednesday. Tony and Steve hadn't been talking to each other, both looking gradually worse and worse. It was bothering everyone, but none of them really knew what to do. It was quiet at lunch. At least in their table.

"Sooo did you hear they're thinking for a new theme day? You know, like soup-wednesday", Clint asked everyone.

"Yeah I heard something like that", Natasha nodded.

"What do you think it'll be?" Pietro wondered.

"I'd like a poptarts day!" Thor declared.

"If we going with utopia I want a waffle day", Sam chuckled.

"Ooh fondue day would be nice!" Pietro got excited.

"That'd be a mess. I guess a vegan, or at least vegetarian, day would be nice. I'd like to know if more people would open their minds to those options then", Bruce admitted.

"Plum day would be nice too", Bucky had a sparkle in his eyes.

"What about you Steve? Tony?" Pietro tried asking.

Tony just became an even smaller ball and Steve was almost like he forgot how to talk: "Huh? Yeah. Uh? Yeah waffled would be nice."

After that he sank down back into his thoughts. Everyone looked at each other. They had to do something.

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Bruce was walking in the hallways towards his next class when he was stopped.

"The date is still on, right?" Loki questioned.

"Yeah, of course", Bruce nodded.

"Oh thank god. It seemed like you started avoiding the idea", Loki let out a breath.

"Oh I'm sorry. It's just.. I don't want to do it before the two are talking again. I couldn't do that to Tony, I'm sorry", Bruce apologized.

"No need to apologize. Your caring side is one of the things I fancy most about you", Loki gave a rare fond smile to the other.

Bruce could feel a blush forming on his face so he turned his face away.

"Uh, thanks", he murmured.

Loki chuckled, that wasn't something that needed to be thanked for.

"So, no date before mister 'not good enough' and mister 'probably just hurt' talk with each other?" Loki asked.

"Yeah. Preferably they'd make up and leave this behind", Bruce confirmed.

"Then we need to help them", Loki announced before leaving Bruce confused and alone.

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"Brother! I need your help", Loki yelled at his brother at the other end of the hallway.

"Why?" Thor inquired.

"Tony Stark and Steve Rogers aren't talking", Loki started.

"Yes I know that. I'm their friend unlike you", Thor commented.

"Let's pretend you didn't make that comment. We need to get them to talk with each other", Loki continued.

"Why do you care?" Thor questioned.

"My date depends on it", Loki admitted.

"So you're in it only for your selfish reasons?" Thor confirmed.

"Well, yes, but does it really matter? Shouldn't you be happy that I'm willing to help", Loki was genuinely confused.

"That's not-" Thor began, but realized Loki wouldn't understand, so instead he asked something he shouldn't have: "Who would be your date?"

"Bruce Banner", Loki deadpanned.

Thor knew Bruce was the answer, but for a moment he had hoped it was someone else. Thor wanted to be the one to take Bruce on a date. However he loved his brother more than anything despite their rivalry and seeing Loki happy was the best thing he could ask for. So he agreed to helping him.

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"Tell me again why are we here and why is your brother here too", Natasha demanded.

They were all, well not all, Thor, Loki, Natasha, Bucky and Clint in the boys changing-room. Bruce was left out so Loki's intentions wouldn't be exposed, Pietro wasn't exactly the best at keeping secrets and Sam was nowhere to be found.

"Well, Loki came up with a plan and we need your help", Thor started explaining.

"A plan for what?" Bucky scoffed.

"To get Tony and Steve to talk again", Loki answered.

"Wait, have I missed the train? Why do you care?" Clint questioned.

"My date depends on it, now moving on", Loki stated.

"So the plan is to get them to the same place at the same time", Thor offered.

"Sounds like a pretty simple plan if you ask me", Natasha noted.

"If you have a better plan then please, by all means, do present it", Loki said sarcastically.

"I have to side with Natasha. But if we did act on it, how would we do it?" Bucky asked.

"Well, that's where I need your help. You're Steve's bestfriend. You could easily lure him into our trap", Loki explained.

"What about Tony? Oh, can we just like kidnap him?" Clint got excited.

"Yeah, why not. He's small enough for that", Loki allowed.

"That still leaves the question of where are we going to shove them?" Natasha hinted.

Everyone went silent. Loki had thought about the plan, but not exactly where the plan would take place.

"Steve likes to spend time in the art class every now and then", Thor recalled.

"Are you suggesting we lock them in the art class?" Bucky confirmed.

"That could work. Soviet spouses, you get Steve there. Then Clint and Thor will kidnap Tony and bring him too", Loki instructed.

It wasn't a foolproof plan, but it was good enough. They agreed it would take place on friday after school since on thursday the football team had a meeting.