Supervision
They'll be all right
When Natasha walks into Stark Tower's penthouse apartment, she doesn't know what to expect. World War III. Maybe? Ragnarok. Perhaps? Plates being thrown combined with hysterical shouting and screaming. Definitely. She really was readying herself for the worst. Tony was never subtle about anything, and she was worried about how Loki reacted to being told Mischief may not actually be allowed back to live with them. She at least thought there would be a disastrous tension hanging thick and uncomfortable in the air. However, what she is greeted with pleasantly surprises her. Snuggled happily into his lover's chest on the sofa, Loki has his legs thrown over Tony's lap, with Peter contentedly lying on his mother's thighs playing with his fingers. The family is happy, happier than she has ever seen them.
The unexplained change is most apparent from Loki. His entire aura is different, like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, his heart lighter. She is thankful that Tony's brilliant plan to "beta test" Mischief's return has not damaged their relationship. Despite her well-practiced expressionless exterior, the assassin could not bear to see this relationship end. This is the relationship that made her believe that love was possible for someone as damaged as her. They were perhaps the reason her and Clint lasted past the first few months. It's now been years! If for whatever reason Tony and Loki were separated, their own decision or not, it would end up killing them both. It would probably even rip a hole between galaxies, both of them beyond capable of creating a spell or a machine to do such a thing.
But that simply wasn't an option anymore. They have a baby to care for. They created a life, and they simple could not leave him through either separation or… worse. But Natasha knew that would never happen, they love that little bundle of joy far too much to let a simple argument destroy an entire future together. Peter was a lucky child, even if he didn't know yet. He would want for nothing. His parents — the genius-billionaire and the God of Mischief — love him; Earth's mightiest heroes — including his Uncle Thor, future King of Asgard, Captain America, national icon, two master assassins and the Hulk — love him; and despite what the director of S.H.I.E.L.D really says — "get that stupid ass baby away from me" — Fury loves the little one too.
When Loki looks up from cooing over Peter, he sees the Black Widow, dressed in a casual pair of jeans, shirt and leather jacket, with a very familiar carrier in her hand. Lumbering along behind her, Clint stumbles in carrying the much less precious cargo of other cat-related items. A broad smile widens on Loki's lips, his perfect white teeth glaring happily. Sat in buzzing excitement, Tony picks Peter up from Loki's legs, freeing the other man. He kisses his lover's cheek to encourage him over to his redheaded best friend, knowing how much Loki wants to see his cat again.
Loki hesitantly stands from the sofa and feels his hand squeezed by Tony. It's okay, go, Tony mouths and his nods towards the others in the room. Kissing him gratefully, Loki walks towards Natasha. She places the pet carrier on the floor before he gets to her and is embraced in a tight hug from Loki. He holds her close, thanking her profusely for looking after his beloved cat. Taking a deep breath, he kneels beside the carrier and tentatively opens the door, bending his neck forward to look inside.
Immediately the black ball of sleek fur strides forward and nuzzles his face against Loki's cheek affectionately. He remembers me. Loki takes in the sight of Mischief; he's a little bigger than before, the last of the kitten in him now gone. His coat is healthy and his eyes shine just as bright. Loki kneels fully on the floor, delicately stroking the felines back with one hand and tickles under his chin with the other. The strong, satisfied purring is loud enough to echo across the room to be heard by Tony on the sofa. He drops his eyes to the child in his arms and Loki looks up from his place on the floor, both smiling as Peter gurgles excitedly at the new sound.
Natasha looks to Clint, who smiles back at her just a gladly. After a few more minutes of playful cuddling between pet and owner, Loki stands and hugs Natasha again. He moves over to Clint and hugs him too. He invites them to stay for dinner to show his gratitude, but they have to politely decline, something about a briefing for a new non-Avengers mission that they leave for they day after tomorrow. They all know that means they won't be seeing each other for at least a couple of months minimum. Tony stands to join the other three, bringing Peter to see his favourite assassins. Clint is the first to jump in to hold Peter, bouncing him in the air, as he giggles happily. Natasha is next to hold Peter, this time gently in her arms, the child looking a little green from all the movement inflicted on him by Uncle Bird-Brain. She really doesn't want baby sick over her lovely jacket.
No one can decide whether Clint's almost tearful goodbye, I'm gonna miss you little buddy!, is a dramatisation or whether he's being serious. With his promise to be back as soon as he can, they all decide that he really is going to miss Mischief. Finally Natasha manages to pry Clint from the floor, and the couple are ready to leave. Once in the elevator, they wave farewell to the now complete family. Tony is stood with his arm tightly around his partner's waist, Loki is leaning into the others hold, cuddling Peter to his chest. Mischief is sat on Loki's feet, his tail wrapping around his leather-clad leg. Natasha smiles gently to herself as the elevator doors closes and they begin their descent to the ground floor.
They'll be all right, she thinks as the memory of their happy faces fills her head and smiles. No Ragnarok today.