Chapter 2

*Stark Tower, Manhattan*

Blaine was assigned as the greeter. 

Tony and Cooper were too busy doing something with the company in DC and they were going to be an hour late, so it was up to Blaine to get everyone together, to control a room full of superheroes, their offsprings and proteges, with only his--admittedly impressive, but at this time not extremely useful--boxing skills.

Hawkeye arrived first--Clint he had to remind himself--with Mike and Santana. 

Blaine had always liked Mike. They’d hung out a couple of times at past reunions and he was a pretty cool guy and an excellent fencing partner.

Santana on the other hand...Blaine had always made sure to steer clear of her. She always had this air of formidability around her and her sharp tongue was legendary. Only her sisters and her mother could temper her wrath.

Clint gave him a stern nod. “Blaine. Where’s Stark?”

“DC. He and Coop will be along in an hour.” 

Clint nodded and made his way over to one of the couches, perching on the edge.

“Good to see you again, Blaine,” Mike smiled, gripping Blaine’s shoulder.

“Likewise,” Blaine nodded back. He turned to Santana. “I heard about Brittany and Mercedes. I’m sorry.”

“Save it, hobbit,” she snarked, brushing past him.

He stood there awkwardly by the door.

The rest soon followed. Natasha showed with Bruce and Artie. Then Jane and Sam joined. Then a lightning storm happened and Thor came in from the balcony. Cooper swept in an hour late with Tony and Steve laughing together. 

Everyone together and buzzing and chatting. 

Blaine had never felt so left-out in his life. 

He sat in a corner, sipping his root beer, watching everyone interact. The adults were all old friends. Mike and Santana had grown up together due to Natasha and Clint’s close relationship. Sam and Artie both had abilities and they were close friends. Cooper fit in with both groups seamlessly and acted as a bridge between them. 

There really wasn’t a place for Blaine, or anyone for him to talk to.

“Sir?”

He frowned at the blinking red computer screen. “What’s up, Jarvis?”

“There appears to be a security breach one level down. The guards are trying to take care of it, but it appears to be aiming for your gathering. I’ve tried to inform Master Stark--”

“It’s okay, Jarvis,” Blaine sighed. “I’ll handle it.”

“Very good, sir.”

Blaine looked across the room and everyone talking and laughing together. He contemplated telling his father, but knew that he’d be unable to get his attention.

With a sigh, he stripped off his tie, unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, and ditched his blazer before heading down a floor.

Getting off the elevator, he spotted the problem immediately.

A boy was being tackled by a guard at least three times his size. Blaine frowned, jogging towards the mayhem. 

The boy’s elbow shot back and the guard slammed into the ceiling. The boy rolled out of the way before the guard crashed to the ground. Another guard came and the boy punched him in the chest, knocking him back ten feet.

“Not bad,” Blaine called out.

The boy flinched, turning. “Listen, Rogers, I’m here so you can fuck off--” He froze when he saw Blaine.

“You lack basic form and actual skill, though,” Blaine shrugged.

The boy blew a piece of chestnut hair out of his face and straightened his shoulders. He was wearing leather boots that laced all the way up to his knees, skinny jeans, a designer tee, and an asymmetrical jacket. He arched an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

Blaine shrugged. 

The boy ran forward and tried to punch him. Blaine dodged easily, weaving around his fist before pulling back his own and hitting him right on the jaw, following through with a blow to his solar plexus. The boy fell to the ground, winded. 

“The key is to be quick, not strong. Precise, not blunt,” Blaine said, circling him. “Also, don’t try to break into a building with one of the most high-tech security systems that also happens to be teaming with superheroes unless you have a death wish.”

“I’m not breaking in!” The boy snapped, sitting up. “I was invited to the little Avengers reunion or whatever the hell people want to call it.”

Blaine blinked. “How can you be? Everyone’s already there.”

The boy rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. All the Avengers and all their kids, except Mercedes and Brittany, right?”

“Right,” Blaine said.

“So tell me, who did Captain America come with?”

Blaine opened his mouth, then frowned. Captain America had come with Tony and Cooper. But he always came alone, he didn’t have family. Blaine stared at the skinny boy. There was no way this kid could knock a three hundred pound security guard into the ceiling with just his elbow. 

Cautiously he extended his hand down. “My name’s Blaine.”

The boy shook it, then used it to pull himself up. “Kurt.”

Blaine nodded and they started walking to the elevators. “So you’re Steve’s...son?”

“Great-grandson,” Kurt grimaced. “He had a...tryst one night back in the forties before he ended up frozen for decades and grandpa was born. Then he got married and had mom. Then she got married and had me. Then grandpa and mom passed so I’m all that’s left of Rogers’ legacy.”

“I’m sorry,” Blaine said gently, calling the elevator. “I know what it’s like to lose a mother. And have an Avenger in your life that you’d rather...not.”

“Oh?” Kurt frowned. “Sorry, but I can’t place you. Are you the Hulk’s son?”

Blaine grimaced. “No, I’m...ah. Well...Blaine Anderson-Stark.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. “So I...oh. This is...well...ahem.” He cleared his throat, blushing.

“What?” Blaine grinned, nudging him in the side. 

“Well...I hear about the Starks all the time. You guys are always in the paper and well...” He bit his lip, looking to the side. “Frankly, I always thought that you guys were kind of assholes.”

Blaine laughed loudly. “You’re not far off, especially when it comes to dad and Coop.”

“Ah. Yes. Cooper.” Kurt cleared his throat, pointedly looking the other direction. “One often reads of his exploits on Page Six.”

“Yeah, he’s not what you’d call subtle,” Blaine sighed.

Kurt laughed. “Sorry, but you’re not at all like what I’d expect a Stark to be.”

Blaine shrugged. “Well, you’re not exactly how I’d picture Captain America’s great-grandson.”

Kurt inclined his head. “Touche.”

They stepped off the elevator together.

“Kurt!” Steve pushed his way past Bruce and made his way over to the two. “Tony, this is Kurt. I was telling you about him on the way over, remember?”

“Right!” Tony grinned, holding out his hand. “The great-grandson. And you say you’re not an old man.”

Kurt shook his hand stiffly, quickly snatching it back. 

“What’s wrong, Kurt?” Steve asked, taking in Kurt’s appearance. “Did...have you been fighting?”

Kurt turned to Tony. “Your security is annoying and they wouldn’t let me in.”

“Damn,” Tony muttered, taking in the bruise on his jaw. “They did that to you?”

“No, they were useless. I got the shiner elsewhere.” He clapped Blaine on the back a lot harder than necessary.

Tony actually looked impressed. “Well, now that the gang’s all here, I guess we can get started.”

Blaine sighed and walked over to his corner, resigned. He was surprised when Kurt followed him, pulling up a stool next to his. “Got any ginger ale behind that bar?”

Blaine grinned and poured him a glass and they settled into to listen to their relatives talk it out.

“Okay, let’s get to the bottom of this,” Santana piped up suddenly. “What’s the amulet?”

Bruce sighed. “It’s actually just a stone that was carved into an amulet for safekeeping. It’s one of the last remaining fragments of the Bifrost Bridge.”

“So it works as a portal?” Sam frowned. “From Earth to Asgard?” 

“Not just Asgard,” Thor said gravely. “To all the worlds, like the original bridge. But it cannot be controlled.”

“So it could put you any place at random,” Mike muttered.

“Not to mention it’s insane power and magic capabilities,” Tony snarked.

“So Loki and the Brady Bunch took the amulet,” Santana frowned. “Then they took Britt and Cedes. They tried to take me too, but I got away. Why? I don’t get it.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Clint smiled grimly at her. “Natasha’s now vulnerable. You three are what’s most important to her.”

“We’re all in danger right now. We have to leave.”

Everyone turned to look at Kurt in surprise. 

“Kurt,” Steve laughed. “There’s no need to be frightened. Yes, Loki is dangerous, but we’re the world’s greatest super heroes. You’re perfectly safe.”

“No, you idiot! By inviting me here you’ve put me at risk. All of us!” Kurt snapped, standing. 

“Kurt, what are you talking about?” Blaine frowned.

“Think about it--god, Tony, Bruce, you guys are supposed to be geniuses, haven’t you figured it out?--why didn’t Loki take Natasha? She was trapped, right? Why not just take her?”

The room was silent.

“I don’t get it,” Cooper muttered.

“Because he wanted her to send the message! Come on, Clint! You just said that Natasha is now at risk because two of her daughters were taken! So what would you do if you were Loki? You’d want to make all of you vulnerable. So you attack one of the members, take their children. But don’t take them, because they have to spread the word.”

“Oh.” Realization trickled down Blaine’s spine. “Oh no.”

“Because he knew what you all would do! You’d grab those closest to you--even you, Rogers. You couldn’t stand the sight of me until yesterday and suddenly we’re now all chummy chummy? I bet Loki didn’t even know I existed. But all of you grab those nearest and dearest and do you hide us all separately? No. You bring us all together, make us one big target that’s easy for the taking. And you put us in the one place that Loki would be sure to check first--the fucking Manhattan skyscraper with the giant ass Avengers “A” on it! We’re sitting ducks. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Loki’s here already!”

A cold hand clamped down on Kurt’s shoulder.

“Well, you have to hand it to the boy,” a low voice drawled from behind Kurt and Blaine. “He is quite clever.”