"Jarvis, can I have a private phone?" I asked and forced my eyes open as Jarvis produced the emergency phone.

I scrolled through the contacts and found the one I was looking for.

"Who is it now?" An aggravated voice came from the other end.

"Hey Darcy," I smiled.

"Steph?" Darcy asked startled.

"The one and only,"

"We haven't spoken in ages! How are you girl?"

"Feeling fantastic, and you?"

"Great! Hey we could go grab coffee or something."

"Actually, I'm calling for a favor," I said.

There was a brief crackle of silence and I sucked in air.

"Sorry, weird car stopped. Anything you need,"

"Would you mind if I stayed over a couple days?"

"Uh . . ."

"I promise I'll help clean, but I won't have much money, so paying rent is going to be a bit hard."

"Oh yeah, no problem, still know where I am?"

"Yup,"

"Alright see you soon."

"I'll be heading over when it gets dark."

"Be careful,"

"Will do,"

I hung up and looked around.

"Miss Musgrove, I don't know if it's the best plan to leave just yet."

"Jarvis, look I have to. It's going to hurt Tony more if I tell him no and stay than if I leave him unanswered." I sighed.

There was beeping and I nodded, confirming myself. I had to get more clothes from upstairs; that was the only hard thing. That and money.

"Jarvis . . ."

"I already know. How much do you need?"

"Two thousand?"

A pile of crisp clean bills appeared out of the wall I took it and pocketed it. I turned invisible and walked out. Tony had left the lab so now it was quiet. I walked out and headed upstairs to my room. I got to the floor and I noticed Clint sitting at the table. I smiled and shook my head. No, I had to keep moving; I teleported into my room as to not alert Clint. I looked around. Nothing in my room had been moved since I was last here. I pulled a duffle bag out from under my bed. The second I touched it, it turned invisible. I piled clothes into the bag. I stuffed all but fifty dollars into the bag, the rest stayed in my pocket. I thought for a second and pulled out a notebook and a pencil I wrote something on it and tore the paper out. I also grabbed an extra set of ropes. I shouldered the bag and crept back down to the lab. I stepped into the lab and I distinctly heard the song Addicted by Saving Abel playing from the room. I walked over to the door and looked inside. Tony was asleep and his eyes were blotchy.

"It's not like you to turn away, from all the bullshit I can't take. Just when I think I can walk away. I'm so addicted to all the things you do,"

I had a feeling this song had been on repeat. I walked inside; I was about to put my hand on his shoulder, but I retracted it quickly. I saw that the shirt I had folded up had been laid on the floor. My jacket that I had taken off was next to it. The sleeves were touching as if they were holding hands. I hesitated. I grabbed my jacket and put it on. I grabbed the long sleeve and left the note in replacement. I left the room and wandered to the med room. I stuffed the pill bottle into my bag and left Stark Towers. I plodded through the snow and headed to Darcy's apartment. When I got there the sun had just set. I rang the doorbell and soon Darcy appeared. I dropped my bag to the ground and hugged Darcy.

"First is ice cream, then life story, kay?"

I smiled and nodded. I picked my stuff up and brought it to the spare room. I came out and sat on Darcy's couch. She soon brought me mint chocolate ice cream and faced me. I realized she was wearing boy shorts and a tank top.

"Aren't you freezing?" I asked the New Mexico native.

"Nope!" She said and smiled brightly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Alright, spill," she told me and took a bite of the ice cream.

I bit my cheek and started back when my dad disappeared. I told her everything that led up to my leaving the Avengers. I told her of the fights, the drinking, all of it. When I told her about when I left, I didn't say anything about me being a thief. When I finished she looked at me with big deer eyes.

"What?" I asked, squirming under her surprised gaze.

"Just, wow," she said and finished up her ice cream.

I rolled my eyes and dug my spoon into the dessert.

"And you left just like that?"

"I needed to; I felt I was going to explode if I stay any longer." I doubled over.

Darcy threw a pillow at me and I sat up and glared at her.

"You all had that and you leave, for this place to!" She yelled at me.

"Hey, don't criticize me! At least I didn't tazer anyone!" I smirked and she jumped on me, pushing the pillow down on my face lightly. I swung my arms trying to push her off.

"He was freakin' me out!" Darcy yelped and took the pillow off of me.

"Excuses, excuses," I laughed and stuck my tongue out at her.

She reciprocated the action and took my half empty bowl. She went into the kitchen and I noticed her phone on the coffee table.

"Have you had dinner?" She called.

"Ah-no," I said watching the kitchen as I grabbed her phone.

I stuffed it in my lap when Darcy appeared in the doorway.

"Do you want anything in particular?"

"Spaghetti?"

"Right on," she said and spun into the kitchen.

I unlocked her phone and went to the contacts. I smiled deviously and started with the A's. I went through changing all of the contacts to fictional characters. I stopped when I found Tony's number. I was about to open the messages between them when Darcy's hand snatched the phone up.

"Privacy, bro, seriously," She said and raised an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes and she looked through everyone in her contacts.

"You changed everyone's name?!" She demanded.

I smiled innocently and she rolled her eyes. She walked back into the kitchen and made the rest of the spaghetti. When she was done Darcy came out with two bowls. She flipped on her TV and Big Bang Theory came on. We ate and watched in silence. As ten rolled around we both let out a yawn.

"Alright, we both need to go to bed." Darcy said and walked to the kitchen. I followed and we both put our bowls in the sink. We walked down the hall each to our rooms. I flopped onto the bed and closed my eyes; forcing my brain to ignore everything. There was one thought that would not go away: Tony. I couldn't help thinking of the kiss and lying on the couch. The latter was more than an act of friendship from me. I screamed into the pillow and was still until I couldn't breathe. I rolled over for fresh air and closed my eyes. The second I did the image of the arc reactor in the dark formed. I tried to will it away, but to no avail. I made a frustrated sigh and rolled over onto my back and stared into the darkness. I felt my body slip into sleep, but my mind kept reeling. I imagined when I was on the couch with Tony. I felt his fingers running down my spine again, his thumb rubbing circles on my arm, the cool metal of the arc reactor. I blinked hard and pinched myself. No, what about Clint? Did I even still have feelings for him? I rolled my eyes at my childish thoughts. I sounded just like the twilight girl. I quickly shifted my thoughts to Loki.

Where was he? Was he even alive? I knew I would never know until I actually saw him; assuming I ever saw him again. No I couldn't think like that. I bit my cheek harshly and cleared my mind of all thoughts. Eventually I fell asleep.

AN-

YAY! A chapter to start/end your day. So I have a few . . . surprises for later on. Mwahahaha- what, evil things? Me? Nah . . . :D