Chapter TWO

Tony Stark stood staring at the mangled piece of technology in his hand and then gave the blonde giant of a man standing across from him an unimpressed look.

Thor stared back and gave a little shrug. "I merely tapped it," the Asgardian informed him.

Tony tipped the shattered pieces onto his desk and dusted his hands off. "Listen, Hammer Time, you've got to stop breaking my stuff. That was a piece of high tech coms hardware which you just pulverised."

Thor was unrepentant. "Thoust needs to make your toys more sturdy."

Tony's lips thinned in annoyance. "Again, not a toy and maybe thoust should just be more careful with thy giant sausage fingers," said Tony flatly. "I'm trying to hook you up here, Thor."

Thor just stared at him blankly.

Bruce looked up from where he was sitting on the sofa and going over some proto-type plans Tony had been keen for his opinion on. "Tony means he's trying to make sure we can all talk to one another," Bruce explained patiently.

Tony held out a hand to him. "I don't need a translator."

"We are talking now," Thor reasoned. "We have no need of your ill-made devices, Anthony Stark."

Tony gritted his teeth and waved at Bruce. "Okay, I need a translator, help a guy out."

Bruce shifted his weight on the sofa and looked over the top of his glasses at Thor. "Tony means when we're not in the same room. We need a way we can contact one another when we're not together and there is an emergency for the Avengers to deal with."

"The Jolly Green Giant is right-" began Tony.

"Pretty happy with just Bruce thanks, Tony," interrupted Bruce as he went back to inspecting the blue prints.

Tony continued on as though he hadn't been interrupted. "-If we're going to do this team thing, we have to be able to find each other in an emergency."

Thor arched a blonde eyebrow. "And you would expect us to wear this beacon always?"

Tony folded his arms in front of himself. "What's the matter, Thor, worried it's going to clash with the Shakespeare in the park look you've got going on?"

"I do not know what your words mean," said Thor coolly.

"He's insulting you," said Bruce, not looking up.

Thor's features darkened.

Tony rolled his eyes. "It's not the same if you have to tell them that. Where is the fun in that?"

Thor raised himself up to his full, impressive height, towering over Tony who didn't bat an eyelid. "I did not come to this realm for fun," said Thor, his voice ominously low.

Tony patted one well-muscled arm. "Well, mission accomplished there, big guy."

Thor looked over at Bruce. "He is mocking me?"

Again, Bruce didn't bother to look up. "Big time."

Thor turned his attention back to Tony. "Tell me why I shouldn't crush you right now, mortal?"

"Because genius billionaire is hell to get out of billowing red cape?" suggested Tony brightly.

Bruce sighed heavily. "Tony, don't poke the bear holding the giant hammer."

"Then the bear shouldn't break my stuff," Tony huffed.

Steve shook his head as he listened in on the chatter going on above him in the tower. "Sorry, Pepper," he muttered as he continued pounding away on the punching bag, "but I don't think I'm missing out on much somehow."

Bruce ran his hand through his dark hair, peppered with grey. "Look on it as a challenge, you have to make god-proof technology."

Tony cocked his head and considered that. "That would make me pretty awesome if I could pull it off." He nodded his head. "You know, more awesome then I already am, obviously."

"Obviously," said Bruce dryly.

Thor scowled and looked at Bruce. "How can you stand this one's endless wittering?"

"I only listen to every other word he says," said Bruce absently, squinting closer at a detail on the blue print. "It helps."

Tony wasn't offended. "That's probably for the best. My magnificence is best taken in small doses, like sunshine."

"Or sodomy," noted Bruce, straight faced.

Tony hid a smile at the other man's humour. Giant crazy monster lurking within aside, Tony had a certain fondness for the dry wit of the reclusive nuclear physicist.

Thor looked between them. "What is this word, sodomy?"

Tony smirked and looked at Bruce. "Your can of worms, Doc, you shove them back in the tin with Goldilocks. My advice, wear gloves."

Before Bruce could formulate an answer, Tony's phone rang. He pressed a button to take it on loud speaker.

Pepper's voice filled the room. "Tony, are you there?"

She sounded just a little bit out of breath and Tony glanced at his watch, noting it was about the time she normally went for her morning run.

"Hello, light of my life," he said blithely. "Enjoying your constitutional?"

"I was."

Tony picked up the largest remnant of his communication device and pulled on a loose wire. "Was?" he repeated distractedly.

"Tony, do you remember that discussion we had a little while back where you said you wanted me to have a security detail and I told you it wasn't necessary?"

"Mm, vaguely," he said, tugging a little harder on the wire. "I remember I was being perfectly logical and you were being hysterically unreasonable."

"Of course you do," she said dryly. Pepper sounded like she was getting a little more out of breath. "Quick question for you. Despite me telling you on numerous occasions that if you organised extra security for me I was going to cut important things from your body, did you go ahead and do it anyway?"

Tony blinked, Pepper suddenly having his full attention. "No," he said, the calmness in his voice belying the way his whole body had just tensed. "Why do you ask, Pepper?"

"Because I'm pretty sure I've picked up a couple of friends," said Pepper, her breathlessness becoming more pronounced. "And I can't seem to shake them."

All distraction was gone from his voice now. "Pepper, tell me exactly where you are," he said urgently. This was exactly what he'd been afraid of when he'd first brought up the subject of her having bodyguards. She ran a billion dollar company and was the girlfriend of not only Tony Stark but Iron Man. Tony had made a lot of enemies in his life which he hadn't cared about until Pepper had come along.

"About half way through the park, on the running track, coming up to the fountain."

"Don't panic, I'm on my way," said Tony, already running towards the door. "Jarvis, get my suit ready." He barked the command at his automated computer. Tony knew he was too far away to make it there on foot in time.

"Usually when you tell me not to panic it's the perfect time to start panicking," Pepper noted, her voice strained.

Bruce was off the sofa and standing beside Thor. Both men looked concerned. "Tell me where the maiden is," said Thor, gripping his hammer tightly. "I will fetch her to you."

"You won't find her in time, you don't know where you're going," said Tony, glaring at the door which held his mark six suit. "Jarvis, the suit, NOW!"

"There is a malfunction in the launch mechanism, sir," said an apologetic Jarvis. "The mark six cannot be accessed."

Tony's heart was pounding in his chest as he realised they were wasting precious seconds. "I'm coming down to the lab, clear the mark seven," he barked out.

"But sir, you still haven't finished the repairs from-"

"JARVIS!" Tony practically screamed at him to do as he was told. Tony was in the elevator, about to push the down button when his coms activated.

"Stark, I'm halfway there," came Steve's voice and clearly he was running as well. "I know where she is, I've got this."

Tony punched at the elevator button, knowing he wasn't going to leave Pepper's fate to anyone other than himself, but even so, he only had one word for Captain America. "Hurry," he rasped to the other man, even as fear clawed at his insides at the thought of someone hurting Pepper.