This is the long awaited second chapter! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I liked writing it.

This part is completely different in both feel, and style than the first chapter.

Lila and Cooper Barton were in tears.

They had searched for days- days, looking far and wide across the country side for Lucky. Lila had made posters, printed low quality pictures with scribbled phone numbers and longing requests for help.

Their neighbours, sad to see such an unfortunate event, promised to spread the word and search around their own homesteads and the surrounding lands in case the sweet dog had gotten lost or trapped somewhere unusual.

They had kept their hopes up, driven by the strong and beautiful personality of their mother, Laura.

By the time a week had passed, their phone silent and unanswered, Laura was nearing a point of desperation.

Lila slouched, a metaphorical dark cloud hung over her head and dampened her cheeks with its rain. She was miserable- she had hardly spoken more than a few mumbled sentences; her school teacher was beginning to worry about her.

Cooper was handling it better, although he too was struggling to remain optimistic in the face of such a loss.

Lucky had been an important member of their family. He was handpicked as a puppy from a batch of pups almost four towns over. Lila hadn't released the squirming infant until they had drove all the way home- bickering with her brother for hours over possible names.

Lucky was Cooper's best friend through childhood friendship drama and fallout, running alongside him through the fields and keeping him company on the common fishing trips in summer. Lucky had scared off the imposing thief, trying to sneak through the one creaky window and off with some of Laura's fine china.

(That had been eventful in itself, if Lucky hadn't been the one to scare him off, Laura knew a certain archer would have snuck through at some point and nailed him to a wall.)

Lucky wasn't just a friend, he was a constant living reminder that although their dad was often gone for work and for business, he would always return and until that day, a happy dog with soft eyes would lay with the children in wait.

Except now, that wonderful dog had wandered off and gotten lost, or perhaps worse.

Laura sighed, wringing her hands with a dishcloth mournfully.

She wasn't looking forward to the phone call she would eventually have to make.

"All I'm saying," Clint argued, pointing his spoon threateningly at Steve, "Is that if Catnip has that effect, it should be illegal for cats-"

"No no," Steve shook his head adamantly, although a small quirk of his mouth betrayed how amused he was by the conversation, "It's not like it's hurting the cats-"

"But it's a drug!" Clint argued, "You're supposed to tell me that drugs are bad, Mrs. America!"

Steve blinked as if startled, "Well, yes they are-"

"Alcohol is a drug," Bruce offered quietly, nursing his cup of morning tea with the smallest spark of humor in his eye, "If I recall correctly, there was a rumor going around that you could drink quite a bit, Steve."

"What?" Tony gasped, stumbling and squinting at Steve from above his noticably dark eye bags, "Captain Chastity over here actually drinks?"

Steve looked abashed, "I'm not from the era of prohibition!"

"Oh my god," Tony looked stunned for a moment, "You were alive then, I can't imagine the horrors."

"Back on topic!" Clint argued, tossing his spoon into his bowl of leftover milk, "Catnip! Legal or no!"

"You better say legal, big green," Tony pointed at Bruce, "If you're huffing up the human equivalent-"

"Enough about me," Bruce blurted, blushing awkwardly, "Steve what are your opinions-"

"Wait," Clint paused, peering at Bruce curiously, "You use- whoa, wouldn't you know. I thought you needed a special card for that."

"Oh, Brucey Baby has all the good stuff," Tony chuckled amused, finally achieving his satisfying mug of black coffee, "Medical my gorgeous as-"

"What?" Steve blinked in confusion and shock, "What is- what does Bruce have?"

"The good stuff," Tony stated with a mock sense of awe, "The holy grail of intoxication. The slave and cause of thousands of underage MIP's, the reason why my first babysitter always smelled bad-"

Clint snorted loudly, "Second hand smoke must have gone to your head."

"Cigarettes?" Steve guessed awkwardly, "That's not bad, right? Everyone smokes."

They paused, "Oh yeah," Clint blinked blankly, "Don't do cigarettes, they cause cancer."

Steve flinched in horror, "What?"

"Weed doesn't though!" Tony chirped excitedly, "All of that beautiful beautiful green-"

"Tony," Bruce sighed, rubbing his hands against his eyes, trying to hide as much of his face as he could.

"Oh no, I was talking about the other guy's toned back. I should take a pic, Brucey. It puts David Hasselhoff to shame."

"Wait, Stark," Clint paused curiously, "Shouldn't that uh, that flashlight make you able to get a card?"

Tony sighed dramatically, "Listen bird-brain, that green may do it for others but I prefer the finer levels of intoxication. Like scotch, or aged wine, or ketamine."

"Ketamine?" Bruce squawked, jolting upwards and nearly falling off his barstool.

"Joking! Joking!" Tony defended, winking subtly at Clint.

"What's-," Steve paused, looking dreadful of his question, "What's ketamine?"

"Horse tranquilizers," Clint cheerfully stated, "A syringe of that knocks you right down."

"Oh," Steve blinked calmly, "I've done that."

This time, Bruce did fall off his chair.

"What?" Tony gasped, jaw dropping comedically. Clint choked on spit, coughing loudly in between hoarse laughter.

"Yes?" Steve stated, looking incredibly uncomfortable, "when soldiers were injured, meds for animals were cheaper-"

"Oh my god," Tony's voice was very strained, "Steve's taken Bald Eagle medicine. He is the pure embodiment of Murica."

Steve looked very uncomfortable, "Was that...bad?"

"Oh Cap," Clint sniggered, watching as Bruce finally stumbled back to his seat, "Times have changed so mu-"

A loud chipper ring echoed around the kitchen, ending the conversation. Clint jumped at the sound, pausing for a brief second before he fumbled with his phone, struggling to get past the fingerprint lock screen.

"Oh," Clint smiled, looking at the caller ID affectionately labeled 'Nest', "One sec, fellas."

Although his teammates acted generally like children, they all had a good understanding of respect for privacy.

They shifted away, discussing something else animatedly in a quieter tone to not disrupt Clint's phone call.

"Hello," Clint chirped, holding the phone to one ear while rising to place his used bowl and spoon in the sink, "what's up?"

"Hey there," Laura's voice paused, uncomfortable, "are you busy?"

Clint frowned, "Now, or as in do I have a mission soon? Nothing that I'm aware of, although if there's a code which could happen at any moment I am. It's been quiet in the city, so I should be in the clear."

"We watched the news on the last fight, that teammate of yours, the one with the Hammer is Lila's favorite."

"Aww, don't go breaking my heart here," Clint teased with a smirk, "I thought I was. Is there something wrong? You seem a bit off."

There was a pause, then Laura sighed heavily with the unmistakable sound of stress, "Yes actually. Lucky ran away."

"What?" Clint tensed, blurting the word in disbelief. The bowl clattered loudly in the sink, silencing the entire room, "When was this?"

"About a week ago. We've been looking and putting up posters, we haven't seen any signs or heard anything."

"Have you checked the-"

"The local pounds and kennels haven't said they even seen one that looks like Lucky. Lila is so upset, and Cooper is having friend trouble again-"

Clint scowled and leant over the counter, closing his eyes and bracing his head on his chin, "Alright alright. I can look-"

"No, Clint, I don't want to have to take you away-"

"It's fine, they can handle things without me-"

"Clint you have a city to protect-"

"Well pardon my language, but this city can go to shit for all I care."

Laura paused, "You don't mean that and you know that. I just wanted to call and let you know. Maybe you could visit soon? Cheer up Lila or take her to the fair?"

"Of course," Clint nodded quickly, even though she couldn't see it, "Yeah, I can totally do that. You holding up alright?"

Laura paused, "I'm doing fine. Lucky's a smart boy, he'll show up-"

Then Clint remembered, and boy was he happy he did.

"No no- look," He jolted upwards, fueled by the energetic energy he had been lacking just moments earlier, "Okay, I'm going to find him and I'll bring him back-"

"Clint-"

"No no, shush. Shush right now," Clint argued, "I got this, I've got friends in high places that can help. Actually, literally high, I'm on the eightieth floor of the tower."

"...You always did like high places,"

"I feel a joke coming on, and I'm going to stop you before you even say it."

He could hear her slight huff of laughter, the one sound she made when she had a smile she was trying to hide.

"Why, Mr. Hawkeye, I would never-"

"Nope, nope. Shut your face, right now. You don't get to talk unless it's about how happy and amazing I am to bring back Lucky."

Her mood sobered, "Clint, even you can't find him if we've been looking for days-"

"Excuse me," Clint smiled happily, "I have blackmail on the Iron Head."

"Please tell me you didn't just use Cooper's nickname for him to his face."

Clint peered over, seeing Tony's silent face mirroring his words in outrage, "Yeah, well, that was my bad."

"You're a terrible influence,"

"And you love me."

He could tell that she was smiling, "I do. Very much."

What Clint never told Laura, was that he had Lucky implanted with a tiny microchip, top of the line technology at the time.

Laura would have called him paranoid, although Natasha had silently agreed with his precautions.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of precise satellite reception (and decent cell service), Clint knew that they would only be able to find Lucky's location within a few square miles.

If he happened to have a Norse god, and a metal man in the sky searching for a poor little dog, well, Clint was just using his resources.

Of course, convincing the Avengers to help him with a highly classified search and rescue mission would be more difficult than he had originally thought.

Clint moved with the sleek motions of a jaguar on the prowl- dropping and flipping out of the ceiling in one practiced movement to land soundly on the coffee table, and knock the bowl of popcorn all over the spluttering billionaire.

"What the-" Tony gasped out, flinging his arms upwards to protect him from the buttery spray, "-Clint!"

Clint grinned, wiggling his fingers in hello.

"You-" Tony gasped, jolting to his feet and staring at the grease marks on his already well stained shirt, "You wrecked my shirt!"

Clint paused, "I think it was already wrecked before I got here."

Tony scowled, "That's not fair- Steve, tell him that's not fair."

Steve blinked, baffled by the intensity and speed in which things had escalated, "I uh, I don't believe that I should involve myself-"

"Steve!" Tony squawked, looking thoroughly baffled and hurt, "You're supposed to take my side!"

Clint was suddenly overcome with the intense desire to hit Tony with the popcorn bowl.

He did, and the responding clatter of a metal bowl on Tony's skull was eerily nostalgic.

Tony yelped, cradling his skull with a look of sheer disbelief.

"You- You hit me with a bowl."

"Shame," Natasha spoke dryly, walking into the living room in soft looking grey sweatpants, "I was saving it for when we decided to watch a horrible movie. Maybe a documentary about your life, Stark."

Tony pouted, "It would have been amazing, if it's about me."

"Unless it was underfunded and staffed by PBS." Clint wisely noted, "I haven't seen them work magic in years, and Stark honey, you need a little bit."

"I'm being attacked," Tony blinked, "Steve, I'm being attacked here."

Steve blinked, "I just want to read my magazine here in peace, can't you take this outside? Or to the park?"

"Can't you take this outside?" Tony mimicked sourly, "We're only going outside if I kick Clint so hard in his as-"

"Alright boys," Natasha sat heavily on the nearest couch, her lips twisted in the slightest smile of amusement, "This is about the rescue mission, right?"

"What?" Steve jolted upwards, eyes hardening at the words, "What rescue mission?"

"My rescue mission," Clint smoothly took control of the situation.

"What, are we off to find your lost pride?" Tony muttered sourly, kicking the bowl across the ground as if to spite it.

"No no, but I do need your help." Clint paused, hopping off the coffee table onto the least popcorn layered spot on the carpet, "Or actually, I need your tech."

"Oh," Tony dramatically groaned, "So that's why you hit me with a bowl."

"I'll hit you with something worse if you don't listen," Natasha threatened calmly, "Like your loyalty."

Tony flinched, "That was low hanging fruit, Daddy Long Legs."

Natasha nodded slightly, acknowledging the jab.

"Is this- is this mission from SHIELD?" Steve asked worriedly, "How is it that we're just now finding out about it?"

"Actually," Clint confessed awkwardly, "I need your help to find my dog."

There was a pause in the air, drawing tension to a singular moment which Tony broke with laughter.

"A dog?" Tony guffawed, "Okay, first, I'm impressed that you managed to sneak a dog in here. What have you been doing- throwing its poop out the window?"

Steve flushed in second hand embarrassment and looked at Clint shyly.

"No no," Clint soured, "It's my dog but he got loose and we can't find him. He's in Iowa, but he's got a GPS chip on him, which is why I need your help."

"Right," Tony used one finger to collect the unshed tears from his eye, "A dog ran all the way from New York to Iowa in a few days? What did you do, stick it with Bruce's blood?"

"No," Natasha spoke calmly, "It got loose from his farm and ran off. Or that's what Clint's wife told me."

Tony choked on his own spit.

"What?" Steve sounded strangled, "You- you have a- no no I mean, I'm sure she's a great dame, but-"

"-I'm dying" Tony gasped for air.

"Oh she is," Natasha smoothly interjected, sparing Steve from further embarrassing himself, "She is very lovely and has a kind personality. You'd like her."

"-help," Tony choked out, still struggling to breathe.

Clint snatched the bowl, and whacked the man in his chest, hard. This time, the metallic resonating noise was even louder, from where the metal had clipped the outer rim of the Reactor's casing.

Tony jolted in surprise, drawing in a ragged inhale before he hacked a few more times.

"A wife," Tony spoke, voice uncharacteristically hoarse, "-right, you have a wife and you drive Pepper almost as insane as I do-"

"That's a lie," Natasha sighed, "But if you annoy Laura in anyway, I will tear out the wires from your suit and strangle you with them."

Tony nodded energetically, "Right right, you know it's going to be fun when Widow here threatens me before we even leave the tower. So a wife, wow-"

"Yep," Clint dryly summarized, "I need your help to find Lucky."

"Oh god," Tony winced, wrinkling his nose in distaste, "that's a horrible name."

"I think it's fine," Steve looked confused, "Bucky had a dog named Lucky when I was growing up."

"It sounds like a kid came up with it," Tony complained, "Why is it so lame?"

"My daughter did come up with the name," Clint scowled, "Help me find my dog, dam-dang it." Clint quickly caught himself, peering at Steve cautiously, "Gosh diddly darn dang it."

Tony grinned savagely, and nodded slowly, "Fine fine, I'll find your mutt if you introduce me to your wife."

"And daughter." Steve added in politely.

"No no," Tony pointed blindly at Steve in his peripherals, managing to miss the soldier by a large angle, "I'm not thinking about that until later, or I'll choke on my own spit again."

"Oh trust me," Natasha muttered lowly, "We wouldn't mind if you choked."

Bruce was easy to get on board- he liked dogs since they were one of the few animals which didn't panic at him instantly.

Thor was even easier; the large Asgardian was excited to see the mortal breed of the fierce hounds he knew well. Within a day, after the paperwork had been completed and sent in to SHIELD, they were loading food and bags with spare changes of clothes and other necessary toiletries into the Quinjet.

The plan was to fly the Quinjet over most of the distance, landing it near a private airport and taking several rented cars (each driven by Natasha and Clint) towards the location of the farm. Tony's GPS radar had been programmed into each of their phones, allowing them each the ability to locate the general area where Lucky was.

As they got closer, the coordinates would become more localized as the signal was detected by one of Stark's large and confusion machines. From there, it was fairly straightforward.

Natasha, driving Thor and Steve in her rented Range Rover had long since vanished on the highway. Clint, steering his own rented Truck (mostly to accommodate the strange metal machines Tony insisted they bring with), was working to move Bruce and Tony towards his farm.

He had expected the two to quickly begin the quickly spoken jargon Clint never understood. Instead, Clint was privy to the amazing spectacle that was, Bruce Banner casually rapping along to the poor music selection the car was equipped with.

The soft spoken man had the ability to quickly speak on par with auctioneers- something Clint had seen when he and the scientist were making fun of a storage unit TV show. Bruce's tongue moved at a speed Clint had only seen in YouTube videos, rambling out individual words so precisely it fell into the harmonic slur of modern rap.

Tony of course, was eating this up with hysterical laughter and breathless smiles.

Bruce fumbled with his glasses, cleaning the lenses as he hummed over the more profane swear words of Kanye.

"You're a rap god," Clint moaned, even he was unable to escape the pleasant mood the truck was infected with, "You haven't messed up once."

"I uh," Bruce hunkered forwards sheepishly, "I don't know the words to Rap God."

"Wait, you can do it?" Tony balked, "Well, you probably can. This piece of diesel fueled junk doesn't have Rap God does it?"

Clint flipped the channels on the radio, flickering over several country music channels before settling on the unusual cassette tape they had been playing, "Unless you think Blake Shelton counts."

"Freaking Iowa," Tony scoffed, "All that there is here is corn, corn, corn, oh look, a sign saying that we're all being condemned to hell, and more corn."

"Don't forget Grandpa's pumpkin patch," Clint wisely added, "I don't know why, but there's like, four of them on the way there."

"Four pumpkin patches?" Bruce asked interestedly, "Statistically that's unlikely."

"It's even weirder that they're all Grandpa's pumpkin patches." Clint agreed, "Aren't old people supposed to retire to Florida?"

"Can't," Tony grunted, "It's sinking underwater since Global Warming is a thing."

"That's unfortunate," Clint agreed, passing around a slow creeping hummer on the road, "Kanye cassette one more time?"

"Can we take a moment here, because someone had to custom make a Kanye cassette."

"It's Iowa," Clint shrugged, "I wouldn't be surprised if we passed one of those three wheeled motorcycles."

"Heaven forbid," Tony agreed, "Bruce, you ready for this?"

Bruce rolled his shoulders, reclining backwards to rest against the short backrest in the bench seat. He lifted one hand, pointing at Tony uncharacteristically and relaxed, "Hit it."

The sun was beginning to go down when Clint peeled off the highway onto the pothole filled road of a small city. He kept driving, past the last sign of civilization, ignoring the golden arches out into the countryside.

Soybean fields grew all around him, a breath of fresh air from the plethora of corn.

Bruce had nodded off, once again displaying his unique talent of falling asleep in any position he wanted.

Tony was fiddling quietly on his phone, glazed brown eyes illuminated by the electronic blue of his screen. He had entered his mechanical Zen mode, and Clint had no urgency or desire to draw him back out of it.

Bruce jolted awake the moment they pulled off ancient pavement onto hard packed dirt- by then the sun had set and the sky was beginning to grow hazy with the sight of millions of stars.

There was no air pollution or light pollution, and soon the only light on the road was Clint's flickering high beams and starlight.

"Is Natasha there?" Tony spoke for the first time in hours, peering up from his phone like a zombie.

"Probably," Clint shrugged, rolling his right shoulder as he steered with his left, "It's fine, Cooper wanted to show her the one fish he got mounted. She can handle them."

"Tony said you had a daughter, is that Cooper?" Bruce asked quietly, voice thick from sleep.

"Nope," Clint popped the P, switching hands lazily, "That's Lila, Cooper is my son. Little ball of energy, he'll chat your brains out if you give him enough time."

Bruce made a small sound of agreement, before he stumbled off back to sleep.

It was well into the morning by the time Clint turned from the main dirt road onto the grey gravel one, rented wheels bouncing over the one pothole he had filled every year although it never seemed to get better. He passed the tire swing, parking next to the large Range Rover already cold from the night air.

The farmhouse was glowing warmly, illuminating the night from its many windows. Clint spotted a curtain being pulled to the side- then the screen door was pushed open and two small figured sprinted over the ground.

Clint waited, forgetting for a brief moment that Lucky wouldn't be running out with them, barking all the way across the grass.

"Up and at 'em, boys." Clint grunted, reaching over to shove Tony out of his weird trance, "Show time."

"Wha-" Bruce yawned, blinking quickly to try and gather his wits, "What-"

The driver's door was yanked open and a young squeal of excitement jumped into the car, climbing onto Clint's lap with the energy of a puppy.

"Daddy!" Lila squealed, pawing at Clint's seat belt to try and unhook it, "Aunt Tasha came and said that you would be here later-"

"Did Aunt Tasha tell you that it's past your bedtime?" Clint scolded gently, "You knew I'd be here tomorrow, silly-lily."

The girl beamed, regardless of the fact she had disobeyed, "But then I wouldn't see you get here!"

Tony blinked, and for a small moment the man displayed the most vulnerable expression Clint had ever seen on him. Tony's one hand was half extended, frozen in the air like he was afraid to say something or touch a venomous beast.

"Dad?" A boy asked, peering into the dark truck, "You get here alright?"

"Sure did," Clint agreed, twisting and maneuvering Lila in his grip so he could step out while cradling the smaller boy, "You know Richardson is growing Soybeans now?"

Cooper tilted his head interested, "They are? Harper said that they would be but I didn't think they'd actually be planting this year."

"Soybeans!" Lila chimed, "no more funny Potatoes."

"I don't know," Clint twisted his expression to look deep in thought, "Imagine if we found a potato that looked like George Washington."

"Can't beat Abraham Lincorn!" Lila laughed, arguing ferociously.

Clint heard the other door to the truck open, and the telltale signs of two sets of shoes stepping down onto the dirt packed ground. Lila twisted, peering over Clint's shoulder to see the new visitors.

"Uh," Cooper paused, looking at his feet shyly, "Nice to meet you, my name is Cooper-"

"Lila!" Clint's daughter chimed, trying to shove one of her arms over Clint's shoulder so she could shake, "Nice to meet you! Mummy said that you're Mr. Bruce and Mr. Stark!"

"Oh uh," Bruce smiled nervously, bending his knee so he could formally shake Cooper's hand, "It's nice to meet you, Cooper and Lila."

Stark scratched the back of his neck, looking at Clint with the longing expression of 'Help me!'

Cooper mirrored it right back at him.

"Alright alright," Clint soothed the situation, "How about we head inside, I'm sure Tasha already worked out the sleeping arrangements-"

"Yeah!" Lila cheered excitedly, "I'm sleeping with Aunt Tasha-"

"In your princess bed?" Clint gasped in mock disbelief, "You think Tasha can handle Snow White?"

"It's Ariel now!" Lila informed him proudly, "And Cooper has the couch,"

"You're sleeping in my bed, Mr. Stark." Cooper's blush was so strong; Clint could see it in the dark.

"Oh, uh," Tony shifted his weight uncomfortably, "That's okay kid, I uh, I can take the couch."

"What, and miss meeting Jarvis the Beta fish?" Clint wiggled his eyebrows and cackled as Cooper shot him a glare, "C'mon Tin Head, you'll love it."

Tony flinched and looked at Cooper in confusion, "You- you have a fish named Jarvis?"

"Thanks' dad," Cooper hissed under his breath.

Clint shifted Lila to rest in one arm, while he used the other to loudly stage whisper, "You're his favorite."

Cooper groaned.

Laura was a beautiful woman, with brown hair and slight wrinkles which didn't detract from her beauty.

She looked right at home, serving pancakes from a black skillet onto Thor's plate, smiling and heaping the mound until it surpassed the limits of human hunger.

Lila sat across from Thor, her eyes wide and sparkling as she waited for Thor to dig in happily.

Cooper and Tony existed in a state of perpetual awkwardness, neither exchanging words beyond uncomfortable small talk. Natasha found it absolutely hilarious, although she was preoccupied with getting the rest of breakfast ready to go.

Bruce and Steve sat next to each other, Steve being ever so respectable and gentlemanly in another person's home. He had even made the bed that he and Bruce had shared- something Tony had scoffed at.

"Good morning!" Clint loudly yawned, walking into the main room from the stairwell. His hair stuck upright in the nearly trademark Barton-Bedhead, scruff decorating his chin and jawline.

"Daddy!" Lila squealed excitedly, "Tasha said that we could braid your hair!"

Clint blinked, nodded enthusiastically and snatched a mug of coffee. He didn't seem to process the words until a few sips later, where he looked questionably at Natasha.

"I bought hair extensions," Natasha clarified, setting a platter of scrambled eggs on the center of the table, "Lila wanted to braid yours as practice."

"Practice?" Clint blinked tiredly, "For who? Your mother?"

Laura laughed, a happy sound although her eyes glittered mischievously, "No, we're having a contest. Mr. Odinson was rather vocal with his appreciation for human braids."

Thor glanced up, a piece of pancake caught in the scruff just below his lip.

"Ah," Clint nodded sagely, "But only if you make me look beautiful."

"Can I do your makeup!" Lila's eyes lit up excitedly, "Aunt Tasha can help!"

"Okay, not that beautiful," Clint settled, "I don't think the mirrors could handle it."

Cooper smiled slightly, fiddling around with the toast on his plate and his fork.

"How did you sleep?" Laura asked Steve and Bruce, tucking one lock of hair behind her ear.

"Oh, excellent Ma'am." Steve instantly responded, smiling what had to be a practiced expression, "You have a wonderful home."

"You could learn a lesson from him, in being polite." Laura teased Clint.

"What?" Clint gasped in surprise, straightening and crossing his arms, "That- that is the least possible thing I could learn-"

"Daddy, you have some egg on your face," Lila stage whispered, reaching up to try and knock the stray yolk free.

Steve's lip twitched, whereas Bruce just laughed quietly under his breath.

"What about you, Mr. Stark?" Laura inquired, "It may not be Egyptian cotton but I hope it was alright."

"Wha- oh no it was fi-" Tony blinked quickly, clearing his throat quietly, "It was wonderful, Ma'am."

"Wow," Laura smiled, looking at Clint with one eyebrow raised, "You said he wasn't tamed."

Clint pouted, "It's because you're too pretty. He always gets all docile for the pretty ones."

"Would you like any more to eat?" Laura asked pleasantly, "I can put on another pot of coffee if you'd like."

"Yes- erm, yes please. Ma'am." Tony awkwardly added on the end, "More coffee I mean."

Laura rose, walking into the kitchen with barely disguised laughter, "You have the diet of Cooper, once that boy found hot chocolate that's all he drinks now. Lord spare us when he discovers coffee."

Cooper flushed and ducked lower to stare intently at his mangled piece of toast. He stabbed it with his fork again.

"No shame in caffeine," Tony defended, "It keeps genus' brains going. It's the fuel for brilliance."

"Oh don't I know it," Laura smiled, returning with the steaming pot, "Cooper here is top of his class, and won the last science fair."

"Mom!" Cooper hissed under his breath, looking more scandalized by the second.

"Science fair?" Steve asked interestedly, tilting his head with a small smile, "making a volcano?"

"That's been around since your time?" Clint snickered, "ah, what a classic."

"Cooper designed a foldable bullet resistant shield for SWAT Team use," Natasha clarified, leaning against a wall with a ceramic mug covered in tiny spiders in her hands, "I contributed with the bullets."

Tony blinked in surprise, "A foldable riot shield? That's ridiculous, the strain would compromise the security- the joints wouldn't hold up, how did you make the folding pattern? Hydraulics? Do you know what those even are?"

Cooper blushed and scowled at his plate, "Origami, reinforced Kevlar in Origami folding patterns."

Tony barked out a single sound of laughter, before he paused, "wait, origami? How did- Bruce did we ever think of that? How did we never think of that?"

Bruce looked at Cooper and smiled invitingly, "that's very smart to have come up with. Do you like machines or inventing?"

Cooper flushed even further, and squirmed under the sudden attention, "I- I like making things. It's easy and it makes sense."

"You must be well admired amidst your companions, little one." Thor spoke, his voice several notches louder than anyone else's. The large man looked intrigued, although he was still focusing on a fierce battle of arranging leftover syrup into art with Lila.

Cooper flushed and looked more embarrassed than before, he looked down at his plate once more without responding. Tony frowned thoughtfully, looking slightly disheartened with the bitter taste of nostalgia.

Laura opened her mouth to change the topic- although a sharp elbow gently prodded her side. She glanced at Natasha, who gave the subtlest shake of her head.

"You know, using Origami may actually help with flexibility for the suit," Tony spoke, not having noticed Natasha or Laura, "I don't really know much about paper folding though- actually I don't know the last time I held paper. Digital new wave, but if you show me that project of yours, it would be a huge help."

Clint lifted his mug to hide his smile.

See the kids at Cooper's school be jerks now.

Cooper's head shot up and his eyes widened. His jaw twitched as he stared at Tony, who was adjusting his posture uncomfortably.

"Whatcha gonna call it, Nightlight?" Clint asked, arching one eyebrow challengingly at Tony.

Cooper looked scandalized at how rude his father was. Clint mentally wished that Cooper wouldn't say anything long enough-

"Maybe I should make something for you, Legolas, since you're always running off buildings with no armor." Tony snarked back, easily slipping into the usual type of verbal battles, "Or maybe I should make you an inflatable fanny pack with how often you trip over your own shoes."

Clint scowled, "That was one time. Once."

Lila giggled happily, "You tripped over your own shoes?"

"I should tell you about the San Antonio incident," Natasha hummed casually, "Giant scorpions and cowboys."

"No!" Tony yelped, waving his hands dramatically, "Nope nope, we do not have to tell them that story-"

"Oh don't tell me you forgot what happened," Clint teased with a glowing spark in his eye, "Never forget the Alamo."

"Hey, I know," Tony dramatically announced, trying to hush the archer before he could elaborate on the spectacular flop, "It'll be Cooper Alloy- you know, like Copper, it's a pun,"

"I'll 'Cu' later with it," Bruce spoke, lip twitching as he added his own pun to the pile.

"When we're talking about origami," Steve started curiously, "this is the origami that I know, right?"

"You're good," Natasha assured, "Good old paper folding, not that much has changed, Cap."

Steve looked visibly relieved, "Thank you for the breakfast, ma'am. Would you like help with the dishes?"

Laura beamed, "So polite, I think I have the dishes although if you would help with outside, Clint can show you where, it would be a huge help."

"That," Clint added playfully, "And we have a bet on if you can rip a log in half with two hands. She says you can't, I say you can. C'mon Cap, show off your inner masculinity and do it for the home team."

Steve gave a small awkward laugh, "Uh, I'll give it a shot?"

"Good man," Clint nodded eagerly, "Now, can you split more than Thor though?"

"Now that bet I'm willing to get in on." Tony piped up, a wicked glint in his eye, "And by that, I mean Steve you're going down."

At noon, Tony was ten dollars more rich and the Barton homestead had enough wood to last them until the next fall.

After settling down for a light lunch, mostly prepared by Natasha with Bruce's help, the group spread out a local map Natasha purchased from the nearest gas station and began to map out the necessary data.

Tony fiddled with a sharpie, a bright purple taken from Lila's craft box. He drew rough locations, mapping paths and conversing with Clint over the time estimates for each location.

Clint was surprisingly helpful- although he didn't understand Tony's device, he did know which roads would have less traffic or which corn fields were absolutely off limits.

The idea was simple, between the two cars Clint and Natasha would create a quasi 'net', where Lucky's GPS coordinates were somewhere in between. By maintaining roughly, the same distance or orientation, they would be able to localize the signal and pin point it to a fairly small area.

The signal already was coming in several miles North, where Laura and the children hadn't ventured. The rough direction already inspired the three that there was hope, already Lila was skipping around excitedly.

There wasn't much that far North, mostly open farmland people utilized for raising animals than crops. Sparse forests and scattered lakes existed, providing a slight challenge in contrast to the open valley the Barton Homestead was built in.

Eight miles North wasn't terribly far, by sunset, Lucky would be welcome home with gentle pats and a firm belly rub.

"Alright squad!" Clint bellowed, walking out towards where the various cars were parked in the gravel driveway, "Time to roll!"

"Can I say it?" Lila gasped excitedly, "Can I please?"

"Go for it, Silly Lily," Clint beamed, bouncing her in his arm, "Real loud so everyone can hear."

Lila nodded, cupping her mouth and shrieking with the voice of a young girl, "Avengers Assemble!"

"Come in Widow," Tony spoke casually, "I repeat, come in Widow."

"We're on a cell phone. Not a walkie-talkie, Stark."

Clint rolled his eyes, braking slowly at a stop sign planted firmly in the middle of a tractor crossing, "You have no sense of adventure. Live a little, we're on a high stakes rescue mission here."

In the backseat, next to Bruce, Lila giggled.

"Fine," Her sigh was loud enough to come in over the phone, "Widow here. Do you copy, Rust-Bucket?"

"That's just mean," Tony pouted, crossing his arms although she couldn't see it, "I'm so hurt over here."

"Of course you are. You must be weeping from how merciless I am."

Lila giggled once again, "Aunt Tasha!"

Natasha's voice almost instantly lightened, "You need a reminder of my wrath, Lil'? Need another tickle battle?"

"No no," Lila backed up, "I'm good, that's not needed, that's not nec- nessa-" Lila paused, looking at Bruce silently.

"Necessary?" Bruce guessed, causing Lila to nod, "Yes! Not necessary."

"Sure thing, Lil'." Natasha responded calmly, "Cooper says that the radar went down a step."

"Oh, cool cool," Tony blinked, checking the screen on his own radar, "Ours did too. That shaved off a few miles."

"Ah, yes," Natasha confirmed, not sounding confused although not sounding concerned over the data.

There was a muffled pause before Steve spoke, his voice unsettlingly loud before he adjusted, "What exactly is a step. What is this thing measuring?"

Tony scoffed, "It's measuring the dog, Captain Obvious."

"Right," Steve paused, "But is this in units of dog? Did we just go down a step of dog?"

Tony made a dramatic sigh, mostly to amuse Lila with his overdramatized movements, "Do I have to explain everything-"

"It may have been nice if Bruce came with us, you know," Steve spoke back, although his voice was light, "Two genius' in one car may wreck the poor thing."

Tony rolled his eyes, "You don't need Brucey, you have Cooper. See? Equal genius distribution right there."

There was a pause on the other end, causing Clint to bark out a laugh which devolved into sniggers.

"Careful there," Clint's chest heaved, "You'll give that kid a nosebleed with how much he's been blushing."

"He's smart," Tony defended sharply, "Don't know how your bird brains ever made that."

"It's all Laura," Clint explained cheerfully, "Hear that, Lila? You got Mummy's great looks too."

Lila nodded energetically, peering out the window and pointing at a corn field to show Bruce something Clint didn't understand.

The call reconnected and the cars slowed before reversing, turning at the first crossroads to become parallel once again.

"Is there any music?" Lila asked curiously, "Mummy always plays music."

"Only Kanye," Tony instantly replied, "Which is not okay for innocent ears."

Lila pouted.

They turned twice more, finally narrowing the area where Lucky's signal was coming from to a desolate little town, marked more by a single gas station and a half dozen stores.

Clint spotted Natasha's Range Rover approaching from the opposite direction- they had already figure the general property where Lucky's signal was originating.

Natasha pulled over sharply, braking sharply and abusing the rental car with relish. Clint chugged along, slowing and parking next to the tinted off-road car.

Clint rolled down the window slowly, quirking one eyebrow with a bland face, "Hey there," He started casually, "Come here often?"

Steve, having rolled down his own window in the other car, didn't know how to respond.

Thor opened his back seat door with a bit too much force, nearly knocking it into the bed of Clint's truck. He apologized, the words audible even through the metal body.

"Is this a chip break?" Tony piped up, peering out of the window up at the locally owned hardware store, "This is a chip break. You want chips? Bruce? Doritos? Fritos? Other brands that end with 'os'?"

"Oreos?" Lila asked hopefully, already reaching for her seatbelt.

"Go get 'em, kid." Clint advised, unbuckling himself to hop out of the car, "We'll have a small rest stop, maybe they know the property or who that land belongs to."

Steve stepped out of the car, looking too pristine in his designer jeans Tony stocked his wardrobe in. The super soldier wiped his palms over the denim thighs, something Clint took satisfaction in seeing.

"You know this place?" Natasha asked casually, crossing her arms and leaning against the Rover.

"Nah," Clint shook his head, "This is right on the edge of the township. I never really went this high, people from the kid's school may be from around here though."

Natasha nodded, ruffling Cooper's hair as the young boy darted past to try and subtly catch up with Tony. Clint chuckled, finding the sight almost adorable.

Another car pulled up, chugging along and parking a few spots over.

"Hello!" The man nodded, the worn fabric of his pants and shirt showing him as a local resident, "You new around here?"

The hardware store must have really been the hub of activity if it was that easy to recognize them.

"Yeah," Clint nodded back, giving a short wave, "Looking for a dog around here. Got it chipped, but isn't very specific to where the signal's coming from."

The man nodded knowingly, "Those cell signals, the one over west of the creek went down a year ago in that twister."

Clint winced, "Wicked one?"

The man just gave him a knowing look, causing Clint to step out and around the truck.

"Walter," The man introduced himself, offering one fairly clean hand, "a farm just up the road, I like to keep in touch with everyone nearby."

That wasn't unusual, with how rural the land was it was almost necessary to know everyone who wandered through.

"Clint," he introduced himself, giving a firm handshake, "Far South, you grow corn?"

"Oh no," Walter shook his head, "Mostly renting out equipment to whoever needs it, sometime I sell out or take in the occasional saddle that needs it."

Clint nodded appreciatively, "You have many? Horses I mean, seems like good land for it. I've been considering, for my daughter."

Walter's face lit up, "Oh they're wonderful, great friends, ya know? Haven't had a problem in a while, Loptr's been taking in anything that needs a place- you ask Miranda yet about your dog? She handles all the strays, boards them for a bit or heads over to Loptr if they need help."

Clint tilted his head interested, "Loptr? That an animal rehab?"

"Not officially, "Walter shrugged, "At least not by state, but I haven't seen a single unhappy critter over there. Miranda sometimes takes a few out for show, presentations to the school and so on."

Clint nodded, "Sounds like a good man. You close? With this Miranda?"

Walter's expression lit up, "Sure am! Here- we'll go see her now."

Clint shrugged at Natasha, but followed the man up the steps into the store. There was a bell behind the door, signaling not only to the woman at the counter, but also to Clint's entourage with a bag full of snacks and gummy worms.

"Walter!" The woman beamed, "You know these folk?"

"Daddy!" Lila cheered, "This lady was the one with the llama!"

"Alpaca actually," Miranda corrected.

"Oh, that's cool," Clint brightly stated, although he had absolutely no idea what Lila was talking about.

"At the school," Cooper clarified with a small smile, "She brings in animals for demonstrations,"

"Applewood, right?" The woman asked, fishing for the name of the school, "Great crowd, I'm heading back in a few weeks with Hilde- she's the big dark horse!"

Lila cooed and assaulted Tony's ears with her gibberish filled rant of how pretty the horse was.

"So, you visit Loptr recently?" Walter asked pleasantly, "These kind people said they were missing a dog, afraid Loptr might have taken in another stray."

Miranda hummed under her breath, "I'd give him a call but his phone isn't working again, I swear he's almost Amish. It's possible, that man hoards animals like a pack-rat."

Walter chuckled heartily, "Well, I can head on down and see- you got a spot for that chip?"

Tony fumbled in his pocket, pulling out the flat screen with the grainy photo of google maps. A small red dot signaled the location or the area it was originating from- one glance had Walter beaming.

"Yep! That's old Loptr," He assured with a nod, "I'll take you over right now if you'd like, it's just off the main road, although he's a bit wary with new people."

"You've helped us already," Clint assured, "You don't have to do that."

"Nonsense," Walter shrugged off the complement, "Been meaning to see if he needed help with that new rabbit hutch I saw him building last."

"Tell him I say hello!" Miranda beamed, passing over the plastic bags filled with snacks, "tell him to answer his phone!"

Walter laughed heartily, giving a wave to Thor, Steve, and Natasha before starting up his own truck. As he pulled away, Clint spotted strange dents on the far side of the reflected car.

They followed him, this time with windows rolled down to breathe in the lukewarm air of Iowa countryside. Bruce started sneezing, which naturally led to Tony going into a complete fit of sneezes, flailing and all.

It was a short distance before Walter's truck pulled into a dirt path just past a large homemade sign, stapled with posters of animals for adoption or for sale.

The truck bounced along, past a single dog laying in the shade of a recently painted house. It perked its ears, jumping to its feet before it barked excitedly in circles.

"There ya are!" Walter shouted, stepping out of his truck and petting the happy dog, "Loptr's farm."

Natasha parked nearby, everyone piling out and looking around curiously. The land wasn't that different than Clint's, perhaps more trees and a greater abundance of wild flowers.

"Alright, let's get our puppy back!" Clint cheered, drawing a large grin from Cooper and breathless smiles from Lila.

Thor shivered boldly, pausing and glancing around with a perplexed look.

"What's wrong?" Steve asked, frowning at Thor's confusion.

"There is," Thor paused, looking unsure of himself, "I feel as if a sudden light has turned its eye upon our company."

Clint frowned at the words, "A great eye? Is there a-" he paused, subtly motioning towards the two children, "is there a code here?"

Thor shook his head, "I say naught, my friends. It is not malevolent in spirit," Thor grinned toothily, pointing towards the house, "Onwards!"

The dog barked, wagging its tail happily as it bounded up on its haunches over and over. Its tongue lolled out, whining happily as Natasha spared it a gentle scratch.

"Pretty girl, isn't she?" Walter asked, slightly alarmed by Thor's strange spectacle, "Rare too, a Carpathian Shepherd, Miranda and I think. Sigyn the pretty girl," Walter beamed.

Once again Thor faltered, glancing at the dog hesitantly, "Sigyn, you say?"

"What's wrong?" Clint asked, wishing he had his bow on him, "trouble?"

"Nay," Thor's expression looked vaguely haunted, "A maiden's name once was Sigyn, before Valkyries granted her wings into Valhalla."

Walter was almost certainly weirded out by now.

"Loptr's probably out back," Walter jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "Should I, ah,"

"We're good," Natasha smiled politely, "The name Loptr sounds Norwegian, perhaps it's just coincidence."

"Or we have an Asgardian on our hands," Tony muttered sourly, rolling his shoulders unsure.

"Daddy," Lila argued with a frown, "The lady says the animals are from here."

"That's true," Clint admitted, "Whoever it is takes in animals and then rents them out for schools, so they can't be all that bad."

"Loptr's one of the nicest men you'll ever meet," Walter argued, "Come on, I'll introduce you all." He turned and walked firmly over the ground, the dog, Sigyn, bolting and racing around the house out of sight.

They barely made it to the edge of the house's foundation before an entire pack of dogs ran out and around, yipping and barking loudly.

"Holy-" Tony yelped in surprise, "Is that a wolf?"

Indeed, there was a wolf, a great creature that was considerably slow, although was missing one of its legs. Its eyes were shockingly intelligent, although it was running second in command to the friendly Sheppard.

"Hello boys!" Walter greeted pleasantly, giving a few nice pats to a wriggling whippet and a very old basset hound, "We're here to see Loptr!"

Sigyn barked, then ran out of sight around the back of the house once again.

"This is getting super weird," Tony confessed, keeping Cooper on the inside of the circle of Avengers.

They walked around the side of the house, escorted actually, to see a large pasture with wooden fences housing a large alpaca, a great dark horse, and a small goat.

"Loptr!" Walter bellowed, looking around with a frown, "Loptr! I have some nice people here looking for a new dog!"

It was unusually quiet.

"Is that a mushroom garden?" Bruce blinked, pointing to a weird herb garden speckled with garden gnomes and toadstools.

"Forget that," Tony blinked, "There are otters, in a pond."

Lila peered around excitedly, "It's Snow White!"

"Right," Clint shuffled uncomfortably, "so this Loptr guy-"

The large barn door opened, and from the gate a single figure walked out with a recognizable dog limping at his side.

"Lucky!" Lila shrieked excitedly, running forward towards the two.

"Lila!" Clint barked, jerking his arm out to snatch his daughter and hold her protectively close to his chest, "Cooper stay back!"

"What is it?" Cooper asked, stumbling backwards where Tony placed himself in front of the boy, "What is-"

The figure paused, green eyes widening and observing the group.

"Loptr!" Walter smiled, ignorant of the increased tension and horror of the group, "These nice people lost their dog and the chip said that it was here!"

The man paused, looking at a metal bucket in his hand overfilled with soiled straw, and the dirt caked jeans and decidedly human plaid shirt.

"Well," Loki spoke, aging twenty years in a few moments, "This decidedly could have happened better."

"Loki!" Clint hissed, curling his body over his daughter while glaring with the rising boil of pure loathing, "What are you doing?"

Loki paused, opening his mouth although he clicked his jaw shut as Sigyn ran over wiggling. The dog barked, Lucky barked in return, and Loki sighed.

"Thor," Loki's voice was frosty. (The group also ignored how Walter was stumbling over his own words,) "I call Hoenir."

Thor's tense muscles instantly went lax, "You offer truce?"

Loki didn't blink, "As mote by Mimir."

Thor relaxed entirely, "Peace, my friends," He smiled, "A web of ancient rest has been laid."

"What?" Steve asked, still holding his hands in front of his face in a boxing pose, "What are you talking about."

"A treaty," Thor explained, "My brother shalt not strike or harm in exchange we too, do not."

"What?" Walter weakly asked, looking around and at Loki in confusion, "Loptr, what-"

"These are the Avengers," Loki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exhaustion, "Perhaps it best you leave,"

"What? No," Walter argued, "If, if these folk think you a threat-"

"Walter," Loki sighed exasperatedly.

"-You aren't bad!" Walter argued, "You wouldn't, you don't have a single thing here that would hurt a fly!"

There was a loud shriek of something decidedly pissed off and feline. From an open hatch on the roof of the barn, something tawny and lithe leapt out and surveyed the group with long fangs.

"Is that a lion?" Tony gaped, "You have a lion?"

Walter made a girlish yelp.

"Oh for Urdr's well-" Loki sighed, setting the metal bucket of soiled straw on the ground. He turned, pointing at the agitated lioness and shouted back annoyed, "No, go back inside and leave these people- yes, give me twenty seconds and you'll have your food!"

The lioness curled its large lips, showing yellow fangs.

Loki raised his arms in the air and argued back, "Well I don't care, have Freydis explain!"

The lioness sat and snorted sourly, its tail twitched although it didn't look likely to pounce.

"What-" Walter still looked pale, "A- a lion-"

"Her name is Mira," Loki rubbed his temples, "as wonderful as this conversation will be, spare me naught more than a moment to feed her, she has an insufferable personality."

The Lioness shrieked in response, almost as if it understood.

"You don't honestly expect us to-" Natasha started, crossing on front with the swaying movements of a panther.

"Peace, Lady Widow," Thor's voice grumbled, "If my brother dares strike, he will be smote by the fates themselves. We are under ancient truce, where words and blood have bound our meeting for warmer crossings."

Natasha did not look happy, but she straightened.

"Right," Loki scowled, rubbing his hands on his jeans, "under the bindings of Mirmir, I invite you inside my residence."

Thor beamed, "Brother! You have settled with akin to the Vanir!"

Loki flinched, "I am not your brother."

Sigyn whined, looking uncomfortable and upset. Loki glanced at her, his expression softening as he clicked his tongue, "Our words are distressing Sigyn, please, perhaps our conversation should be moved indoors."

Lila tilted her head, holding her arms outwards with an open expression of pain, "I- Lucky?"

The other dog, the border collie nearest Loki, wagged its tail. It made a high pitch bark, glancing at Loki happily, then back at Lila.

"Oh," Loki blinked, "Hamingja was lost from your estate."

"What," Clint asked cautiously, "Who the heck is Hama- Hami-"

"Hamingja," Thor spoke fluently, tilting his head curiously, "It is 'luck' in our tongue. I believe the hound you named Lucky has been granted shelter by my brother."

"I am not-" Loki held his breath before sighing loudly, "Lucky, expresses gratitude and fondness. He has missed you so, and has wounded himself and was unable to return."

"You're talking to him," Natasha spoke bluntly, eying the lioness who basked in the sunlight, "You're speaking to all of them."

"Aye," Thor nodded calmly, "My brother is gifted with silver tongue."

"Silver tongue," Tony echoed numbly, "Right, as in-"

Loki stuck out his tongue, it shimmered and rippled like liquid mercury.

"-Right," Tony's jaw clicked, "Literally silver. Of course."

Cooper shifted his weight, and Lucky barked loudly, looking at Loki.

Loki nodded, waving his hand dismissively as he picked up the bucket of soiled straw once more. Lucky took off in a hobble, Sigyn rushing over to assist his hobbling walk over to the group.

Loki threw the bucket in a wooden wheelbarrow, settling the empty bucket nearest the wheel. He turned and pointed at the lioness, snapping loudly.

The lioness growled, but rose slowly and jumped through the hatch back into the barn. The horse tossed its head, having spotted Walter.

"Hilde says hello," Loki drawled, pointing to the pale and uncomprehending man, "Perhaps you should remain outdoors until you have recovered."

"Right," Walter spoke, looking just as offset as everyone else felt, "I'll do that."

The Alpaca looked over curiously, the goat keeping near as they both peered over at the group.

"Daddy!" Lila gasped, pointing at the Alpaca, "That's it! That's the llama!"

"Oh god," Tony breathed, "That bas- that bass, sends these animals to schools."

"I'm doing nothing wrong!" Loki defended himself, "They assist because they desire to do so!"

"You can't continue doing this," Steve looked firmly at Loki, his face a hard read, "We'll be taking you in-"

Loki hung his shoulders, giving a loud human groan of annoyance, "Why can you mortals not leave me alone?"

"Guys," Bruce spoke quietly, the only one out of all of them who was actually armed, "I think we should listen to him."

"What?" Clint gasped, tightening his grip on Lila, "I'm not-"

"Let's just try," Bruce advised quietly, "We're under truce, right?"

"Aye," Thor advised, "My brother cannot harm us."

Clint's lip curled, "I am not letting that monster near my children-"

"And I would not let mine near you, Archer." Loki spit out, glaring sourly, "In memory of Sigyn, I ask you dare not sour this place."

"Oh," Thor exhaled heavily, nodding somberly, "Aye, Loki. We will not taint the shrine you have constructed."

"Shrine?" Natasha asked cautiously, "This place?"

"It's a memorial," Tony blinked, looking around in confusion, "One weird way to make one I guess."

"If you are done," Loki clipped, "Then we should further our discussions inside. Freydis has alerted the others."

"The others?" Cooper asked with restrained curiosity, "There's more?"

There were indeed more.

Loki walked in and shucked off his outer jacket, revealing that he was wearing a shirt that was shockingly human. A battle worn cat padded over the tile, missing one eye and having the shreds of an ear left. It meowed curiously, brushing against Lila with gentleness of a mother.

"This is- Jesus Chr-" Tony choked, pin wheeling his arms as he stumbled into the living room, "What is that?"

Loki glanced up halfheartedly, "That is Carl."

The gigantic snake lifted its head lazily, flicking its tongue before flopping back on the couch with the definition of relaxation.

"You go all fancy with the names," Tony snarked, "All Norse and showing off, and then you give us Carl?"

Loki blinked slowly, "Carl says 'Hello'."

There was a loud bang from outside, although the group ignored it through effort.

"He's beautiful," Lila gasped, reaching out to touch the giant snake.

"Don't touch it, Lila," Clint warned, "It's dangerous."

"Carl is not," Loki snapped, "All of my wards are of no danger and will present no danger to your offspring. They are not to be harmed."

"And if they do?" Steve asked boldly, "What assurance do we have that you will not find a loophole in this truce you have?"

Loki's lips curled back and his expression twisted into something savage, "I swear," he spit the word sourly, "On the amber grasses that mark the tomb of my beloved."

There was a gasp from Thor, and somehow, that finally cemented how serious Loki was.

There was another bang, everyone ignored it.

"Okay," Clint scowled, "fine, but the next time you attack us, we know exactly where you are-"

Loki raised his hands in exhaustion and disbelief, "I do not desire that!"

Bruce tilted his head curiously, "You don't?"

"No!" Loki shrieked, "Why do you simple mortals intrude and pester me with such, with such ridiculous claims? I only wish to be left alone."

Bruce nodded, sympathetic, "He's fine."

"What?" Tony gaped, "Are you kidding- he, he freaking invaded the planet-"

"And the Other Guy broke Harlem," Bruce countered, "He just wants to be left alone. He's serious, I can tell."

There was another bang.

"We'll leave you alone," Natasha growled, pointing threateningly, "but if you do a single thing-"

"I would never sully the name of which this land is remembered for," Loki's eyes blazed, "And you best not challenge me over things you dare not understand."

"Fine," Clint bluntly stated, glaring, "But if you do anything."

"I know," Loki exhaled heavily, peering down as Sigyn brushed her grey fur against his leg. His expression softened, "I offer my blade for the deed itself."

Thor nodded, "You have honor, brother."

Loki didn't respond.

There was another bang, this time Tony whined, "what is that?"

Loki paused, walking over to peer out the front window.

For a split second, a human emotion of intense joy and amusement overtook his feature. Along with his dirtied jeans, human shirt mended from tiny tears and faded from the afternoon sun; Loki looked entirely content and relaxed.

He looked peaceful, and everyone could respect that.

There was a bang, this one prompted an actual giggle from the god's lips.

"That," Loki trailed off, eyes filled with restrained mirth, "Is Magnus. Fear he, as his noble title is Magnus, Destroyer of Trucks."

There was another bang, now identified as the sound of a goat head-butting the rented truck Clint had brought.

"Fear he." Loki wisely added, lips twitching.

Tony rubbed his eyes, looking so certainly overwhelmed he didn't know what to say, "Rest in Peace, Kanye Cassette."

"Right," Clint sighed, petting Lucky who was thrilled with the new development, "let's go home."

There you go, there's the ending of this story.

I tried to make it light hearted, plus I've never written Clint a major role. It was difficult, but exciting.

Also!

If anyone would like to work with me on a new story, please PM me.

The story will either be:

-Angst Tony (My specialty)

-Angst Peter Parker/Spider-Man with Deadpool (movie verse) and Avengers (Not a ship fic)

Let me know which you would prefer at least, or shoot me a message if you have ideas.