Chapter Four: Tony

~New York~

"Tony. Tony, are you listening? Hello?" came Pepper's voice from beside him.

Tony Stark shook himself from his trance and looked at her. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was asking you if you'd heard from Banner today. He's been in the lab all day and hasn't come out even to use the bathroom. I'm a little worried about him," the blonde repeated, crossing her arms across her chest.

Bruce had decided to stay in New York after the incident with Loki and the Chitauri. Just in case, he'd justified. Being the hospitable people they were, Tony and Pepper had offered to let him stay in Stark Tower with them, since it had been decided that he'd' be a great help to Tony in the laboratory while Bruce wasn't at his new job as a pediatrician or on a mission trip to a Third World country that he insisted needed his medical expertise.

"Then why don't you check on him?" Tony asked.

"What if he's gone all… you know… Hulk and starts throwing test tubes and sulfuric acid my way?" she challenged.

"You bob and weave," he said as if he should add 'duh' to the end of the suggestion.

"Very funny," he deadpanned. "You're afraid of the giant green monster so you send me in to do it. Thanks a lot."

"Oh, don't get snarky with me. It's just my way of showing you that I have confidence in your bobbing and weaving abilities," Pepper played off as she wound her arms around Tony's neck and brushing her lips against him.

All too soon, however, they were interrupted by a loud banging at the door.

"Go away!" Tony yelled.

"Not happening!" a deep voice shouted back.

Grumbling, Tony pulled himself from Pepper's grasp, and walked to the door only to find Nick Fury standing livid behind it. "Where's Selvig's device?" he demanded.

"Well, hello, to you too, Fury. I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. At least I was until you barged into my home without invitation," Tony nagged.

"Where. Is. It," Nick asked slowly, annunciating every syllable with dangerous precision.

"It's in the lab as always."

"What's going on up here?" Banner asked as he entered from the lab. "Nick? Oh no, don't tell me. I don't want any part of this."

"Bruce, tell Nick Selvig's portal machine is in the lab where it always has been," Tony commanded.

"Of course it it," Banner confirmed. "I just saw it in there less than a minute ago. Why? Are aliens and demi-gods ravaging the streets of New York again?"

"Everything looks fine to me," Pepper chipped in from the window."

"We picked up energy level spikes in New Mexico earlier today equivalent to that of when the Asgardians dropped in for a visit. Twice, one after the other."

"New Mexico?" Tony repeated softly. "Wasn't that where Point Break's girlfriend lives?"

"And where Thor dropped in the first time?" Banner added.

"Precisely."

AN: Ok, everyone. Sorry, it took so long to update, but my computer had a virus and then I had a massived case of writers block and was at summer camp for two weeks, so I've been busy, busy, busy.

Anyway, I'm not too proud of this chapter simply because it's short and mostly dialogue, and writing for Tony isn't easy when you consider having to live up to his infamous smart alec attitude. Plus, I intended to have Phil come in and be the one to interrogate them about Selvig's machine, but then I realized that Phil… died, so I took three hours to pause and wallow in self misery while I worked out a new plan before finally decided that Fury would have to do as a replacement.

On another note, I'm so sorry that in the last chapter my links weren't put in, so I put them on my profile in case anyone cares to look at my dA or my tumblr, where I post Andrea updates and an absurd amount of Avengers fandom crap.

So, for everyone reading, thank you so much for giving this little story your time! Please, review. I've gotten numerous Story Alerts (for which I'm eternally grateful), and I know I can't force you to review, but I pinky promise I won't bite if you leave a little comment for me. Thanks again so much!