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(no subject)

Who: Natasha Romanoff + you (+ maybe some Bucky Barnes)
Broadcast: Video
Action: Mostly no, but we could work something out.
When: Now

[The video feed start, focusing tightly on Natasha's face, the only visible backdrop a rather generic portion of cabin wall.]

So checking the date, seems like it's been a while. Nice to see everyone's back in the air. Hopefully in one piece. I see a few people have left.

Anyone want to fill me in on the important details? Or should we let sleeping dogs—

[The sound of a door cuts her off the, and Natasha looks up. Whoever she sees, her expression softens. She smiles slightly, lifting her chin slightly and turning her head to catch a kiss from some loser tall enough that only the lower half of his face makes it in the frame. The stubble on his chin and the shape of his mouth might be enough to identify him though.]

A lot of catching up to d—

[Suddenly the feed cuts out.]

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Barnes.

[Natasha sighs, because she still doesn't have all the details, though she has the gist.]

He was in hiding. Someone wanted to cause infighting between Tony and Steve, and they used Barnes to do it. Steve couldn't stay out of it with Barnes involved, and Tony and me... we were trying to keep him from making things worse.

[It went about as well as you'd expect.]

[Thor can read between the lines here. The Avengers, for all their virtues, have come to blows before. They argue, they disagree, they go off and do their own thing. Thor himself was guilty of doing that. That was just their personalities clashing, though. This was outside interference.]

How bad was it.

[It must have gotten worse.]

No one died. Rhodey was hurt, probably paralyzed. I don't know the full fallout of that—I had to make a quick exit about the same time.

[He leans back in his chair a bit, letting that news sink in. Rhodey was paralyzed, and no one died... but there was fighting, and it sounds ugly. Even with the details Thor can't quite fathom how it came to this. Nothing had ever seemed that dire from the moment the Avengers were formed.

He shakes his head, and says the only thing that comes to mind.]

I am sorry to hear it.

Me too.

[She wishes that were the end of it too.]

Tony found out Barnes killed his father. That was the end game. It was aired by someone who wanted to capitalize on he divisions within the Avengers to destroy us.

He didn't do half bad, either.

[Thor's brows knit together at that. Separate as he is from most of the other matters, that is something he can relate to. And he sympathises with Tony, whatever else might have occurred and whatever fault might be his in all of this.]

That's an awful thing to learn.

It is. There a lot there to take in. Especially because Steve knew, and didn't tell him.

What? Why not?

I can't say for sure, but can't imagine it's easy to admit that your best friend killed your old war buddy, who's also your new friend's partner.

It's not easy, no, but it would have been the right thing to do.

[A secret like that is explosive, and proved to be exactly that. Thor's had enough experience now with what happens when things like this are covered up to be less accepting of it than he might have been otherwise.

Still, he sighs, pushing some of his hair back.]

But that's no matter now. Is Stark all right?

Depends what you mean by all right. Back home, I haven't seen him since it happened. Here...

[It's a different situation, but at least one Natasha can speak to.]

No. He's not. But I think he will be, with time.

[Thor nods at that, musing. Time is often the only way past the hurdles life throws at you. There's no rushing it either, despite how frustrating it can be. Glancing at Natasha again, he picks up on what she said.]

So you haven't gone back to New York?

I came here before it was all settled back home. Last I remember, I was about to become a wanted woman because I helped Steve avoid getting arrested.

And now you're here.

[Along with Steve and Sam... and Barnes.]

I am. And I have been. It's complicated. But I didn't want any of this to take you by surprise.

[It still has, really, but he knows what she means.]

I appreciate it. Does everyone else here know about it too?

[There are others from their world besides the Avengers.]

I think so, more or less. It's caused some tension.

[A pause before she adds:]

Knowing Barnes didn't have a choice in the matter doesn't make it easier for some people to look him in the eye.

And I don't blame them for that.