Nora sat on the couch with Darcy and Bruce as the TV played something in the background. They were all talking amongst themselves as Darcy was trying different designs for Nora's nails. After a little while, Tony came into the room, clearly unhappy, while Pepper followed closely behind him.
"What's with the monkey suit, Stark?" Darcy teased, setting down the nail polish on the table. Nora laughed at Tony's pouted glare as he pulled at his tie, straightening it. Bruce chuckled almost silently, a smirk clear on his face.
"We're going to a big party for the company and its affiliates," Pepper explained, grabbing a clutch purse off the counter. She had on a long, elegant black dress on with one shoulder strap across her shoulders. Her hair was curled and fell in bouncy waves over her shoulders. "Tony actually has to show up."
"I do not," Tony grumbled. "Come on, Pep," he pleaded, holding his arms in front of him somewhat dramatically. "I'm so close to a breakthrough with a new suit!"
"And you'll be just as close when we get back," Pepper replied with a smile.
"I saved the world, can't I catch a break?" Tony tried. "Doesn't anyone else have to go?"
"Nope," Pepper quipped instantly, grabbing his arm and heading for the elevator. "Besides, you're the one with the ever-rising company, not the Avengers." Then she looked over her shoulder as they walked into the elevator. "See you guys later!" Tony just grumbled as the elevator shut, and the three of them burst into laughter.
"He really doesn't like to go to meetings or anything, does he?" Nora laughed.
Darcy and Bruce shook their heads. "He doesn't care for the fancy clothes anymore," Darcy explained.
"Yeah, but he does like all the attention he gets," Bruce continued.
Darcy snorted. "That he does."
They all started laughing as Bruce told them stories of Tony's antics. "You should've seen him at the giant press conference last year. He basically asked someone if they got paid for being an idiot, because then they'd be richer than he was. Pepper had a field day with that one."
Nora could imagine it, more laughter escaping her. Practically hearing his voice in her head, she wished she could be as brazen as Tony, but she didn't think she could quite pull it off. After a few more stories, Bruce told them he was going to do some more research and that he'd try to be back for dinner.
Darcy flipped through movie channels as Bruce left, finally deciding on a movie. "Seriously? Mean Girls?" Nora asked the woman. "Haven't we watched this like a hundred times by now? We can quote the whole thing almost."
"Oh, my poor dear cousin," Darcy patted her on the shoulder softly, with eyes full of pity. "This movie is eternal!"
Nora rolled her eyes at Darcy dramatics, but smiled all the same. As they watched the movie, quoting all the parts as they happened, Loki emerged from the hallway. Nora and Darcy were crying from laughing so hard, and Loki just looked at them like they had lost their minds. Not saying a word, he headed to the fridge.
"Hey, Loki," Darcy called as Loki pulled some juice from the fridge. "Tony tells me you're blue, what gives?" Loki choked a little on the drink he had taken, then turned to Darcy, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh my God, Darcy, you can't just ask people why they're blue," Nora laughed, paraphrasing the movie. That earned her an irritated look from the Asgardian. She tried to look apologetic… but she knew she failed miserably. Darcy was definitely blunt, no wonder her and Tony got along.
Loki just looked at the two of them, grimacing slightly.
"Leave him be, Darcy," Nora told her cousin, the smirk still on her face. Seriously, he really needed to loosen up a bit. "He does look pretty neat, though." As Loki stood there for a moment, Nora turned around to look at him again. "Do you wanna join us and watch a movie?" she offered.
It took him a few seconds to answer, but when he did, Nora half expected his response. "No."
"Yeah, like you have more exciting things to do in the freezer downstairs," Darcy scoffed sarcastically. She turned back to the TV, watching the last few scenes of the movie. Loki remained quiet, looking at Darcy seemingly insulted. Nora smirked at his look of astonishment and shrugged at him, before turning back to the TV too.
"Will you be staying, Loki?" Jarvis' voice asked. "Shall I try to find a suitable movie for the three of you?"
Silence fell as Darcy and Nora sat there for a few seconds. Since they were facing the other way, Nora assumed Loki had teleported somewhere within the tower to avoid them; so she was pleasantly surprised when Loki sat down in one of the lone armchairs next to the couch. Even if his movements gave away his reluctance to do so.
"I shall find a movie for the three of you," Jarvis announced, the TV automatically zooming through the channels and searches. Nora was pleasantly surprised, but glad Loki had joined them. He had been keeping to himself the last few days. She wasn't sure what he did while locked away in the freezer half the time, but Nora was slightly worried for him. He had been slightly more snappy with everyone lately, even Tony tried not to joke around his as much. She figured he was worried about Thor and Asgard; maybe they could distract him for while.
Pepper watched, amazed, as Tony went from pouty, sulky child, to a suave and cocky man. The change happened as soon as the limo door had opened. She tried not to roll her eyes at him. The switch from not wanting to attend, to hogging all the attention was baffling.
Tony was such an enigma sometimes.
Pepper made pleasant small talk with some guests as her and Tony made their rounds. Pepper herself found these gatherings tedious, probably as much as Tony. Not that she'd ever admit it to him. One of them had to be responsible. Many of the guests in attendance didn't know a thing about Tony's company, only the fact that they made monetary gains by working with Stark Industries. The few people that she could remotely talk business with were too busy trying to get Tony's attention and practically ignoring her.
This is what made Pepper loathe these parties. Sure, everyone knew that she ran the company single-handedly almost (or at least without help from Tony), but the people that were here weren't at the endless board meetings and conferences to obtain that knowledge. They just assumed she was there to be Tony's date, and her figurehead role was nothing more than superficial.
She was talking with one of the men's wives about their family. Some of the men's wives weren't so bad. In fact, Pepper usually tried to keep contact with some of them every once in a while. She had no idea how they put up with their husband's sexist attitudes, but she wouldn't interfere. It wasn't her business. She knew Tony had his fair share of bad habits and opinions, but her capability was never questioned in the slightest.
"Mind if I steal her for a dance, ladies?" Tony's voice cut in smoothly as she felt his arm sneak around her waist. The women shook their heads and smiled at the two as Tony led Pepper away to the dance floor. "Ready to head back yet?" Tony asked, the two of them swaying to the music slowly. "These people are more clueless than Cap when I try to talk quantum physics with him."
Pepper gave him a slight smack on the arm, fighting back a smirk of agreement. "Tony!" These people are really dull though, she thought with a slight grimace.
Tony just laughed at her almost reprimand. "Come on, you know it's true. They're monumentally boring."
"Perhaps," Pepper conceded. "But these parties are a necessary evil."
"Can't I just show up in an Iron Man suit and dazzle the masses and leave?"
Pepper grinned, leaning her head against Tony's shoulder. "You tried that once, remember?"
She could feel his laughter through his chest. "Yeah… It only made the night drag on longer, until I flew home." She felt him look around quickly. "Come on, no one's looking, we can totally sneak out the back."
Pepper pulled back with an un-amused facial expression. Was he really expecting her to just up and leave? She couldn't just shirk her responsibilities as CEO. "Tony, we can't-"
Tony ignored her as he suddenly pulled her behind the large DJ booth and towards a vacant hallway. Laughing rebelliously, Tony pulled Pepper through several hallways, following some invisible path. It was a good thing she could run in heels without twisting an ankle.
"Tony! Tony, over here!" a myriad of voices called out suddenly.
"Damn," he muttered, helping Pepper to a full stop. Cameras flashed and blinded the couple as reporters and interviewers swarmed them like gnats. Tony turned on his pseudo charm for the people, and Pepper caught her breath behind him. She couldn't help the feeling of disappointment flow through her. In truth, she had wanted to escape. It figured she'd have to wait a bit longer.
"That is not how magic works," Loki commented, grinning slightly evilly. He then caught the pillow flying at his head easily.
"Quit ruining Harry Potter for me, Loki!" Darcy shouted as she threw another pillow. Nora laughed as he caught it again effortlessly. After searching through dozens of movies, they couldn't decide on one, so Nora had told Jarvis to pick for them by randomly selecting from what was on cable. The search had landed on Harry Potter. Darcy and Nora had been excited, while Loki hadn't complained (much). Then he had purposefully started to mock the movie which ended with random projectiles being thrown at him. He hadn't retaliated, other than to keep poking fun at the movie. Nora just leaned away out of the line of fire.
"Who wants popcorn?" Nora chirped, hoping up and walking to the cabinets. Darcy called out a "yes!" as she watched the movie. Quickly, the sound of popping kernels filled the room as the TV went to a commercial. After a few minutes, Nora poured the bag into two big bowls. Loki looked surprised when she offered him one of the bowls. Nora gave him a quick smile before flopping back onto the couch next to Darcy.
"Your form of entertainment is rather dull," Loki commented offhandedly, eating a few pieces of popcorn.
"Because you were so fun to be around in Asgard," Nora said sarcastically, shaking her head. She didn't think he knew the meaning of fun.
"I apologized," he huffed somewhat defiantly.
"Did you though? I don't recall an "I'm sorry" ever being uttered," Nora teased him, throwing a few pieces of popcorn at him. He frowned and went to retort when he suddenly became tense. Then his eyes widened, before narrowing again suspiciously. "What's wrong?" Nora asked, seriously. Loki looked towards the large balcony doors and stood. Suddenly, there was a faint vibration under Nora's feet. "Loki?" she tried again.
He walked over to the glass doors, looking out into the city. His eyes scanned the surrounding area quickly.
"Spit it out already," Darcy snapped a little. Nora and Darcy were watching Loki, turned around backwards on the couch.
"The Chitauri," Loki answered finally, quietly. Nora and Darcy shared an anxious glance. This couldn't be good.
Tony was almost at his patience limit (which, admittedly, wasn't very high to begin with). All the reporters and interviewers were wearing on his nerves. Some scathing insults sat at the tip of his tongue, but before he could get the chance to speak his thoughts, the ground started shaking. Tony instinctively reached for Pepper, making sure she was okay.
"Please don't be aliens. Please don't be aliens," Pepper muttered quietly.
Oh, please be aliens! Please be aliens! Tony thought. Anything to get away from the party and away from the cameras.
Shouts and yells started up a few blocks away. The cameramen and reporters scattered quickly. Tony ran forward near the street, pulling Pepper with him. Quickly, he looked back and forth trying to find the cause of the shaking. Suddenly, Tony's phone began to vibrate in his pocket. It was Fury.
"Stark, we have incoming!" Fury's voice snapped through the phone.
"Thank you, God," Tony muttered, already hauling Pepper towards the tower. It was a good thing they were only a short trek to the tower. With the people running around, scared, driving would be near impossible.
"Excuse me?" Fury demanded.
"Nothing," Tony quipped. "What is it now?"
"The Chitauri again. There's a large group of them just south of you, and headed your way. Gather-"
Fury was cut off by a loud, echoing screech as the large flying creature flew overhead. Pepper pulled away from Tony to cover her ears. Shit, Tony inwardly cursed. He grabbed Pepper and pulled her along again. Forgetting Fury was on the line, Tony hung up and dialed the tower. "Jarvis, send me a suit, now!"
"Already deployed, sir."
"Great, thanks. Where's Cap?"
"He left for his apartment yesterday. I have already tried to call for him, but I received no answer."
"Dammit, get me Bruce then," Tony ordered, watching as the large Chitauri deployed its annoying reinforcements. Dozens of them fell to the ground as the creature still few overhead. Pausing for a moment, Tony watched as the thing turned right ahead of them. Wait…why was that thing going that way? Surely it wasn't a coincidence…
"Is it heading for the tower?" Pepper asked, slightly winded from running.
Another deafening screech sounded as another flying Chitauri rounded the corner a few blocks west of them. "Jarvis, the suit!" As Tony finished his command, he saw his suit flying at him through the city lights. He let Pepper go for a moment as the suit quickly molded around him. Screens popped up in his mask. "How many of them, Jarvis?"
"From my calculations, roughly one hundred, sir. Plus the two large ones."
Well, it could be worse, Tony thought. "Is there a portal somewhere?"
"It doesn't appear so."
Tony turned to Pepper, his mask pulling upwards. "Go find somewhere safe, and be careful." He gave her a look, trying to display the thoughts currently running through his mind. Pepper gave him a similar look and nodded, determined.
"Be careful, Tony," she demanded before heading back down the street. His mask fell down and locked into place, and he flew off.
Loki stared into the city below. The chill he felt go down his spine was an eerily familiar sensation. Repulsive, but familiar. It was the same feeling of being in the void.
"Loki?" Nora's voice called him gently.
He watched as she approached him in the reflection in the glass. She was worried like her cousin behind her. He looked past the glass into the city again. It was then that he saw the large flying beasts weaving its way through the city. He couldn't help his lip curling in disgust at the large stupid creature. Truly, it lacked finesse. It was more of a giant annoyance than anything.
"Is that Tony?" Nora asked to no one in particular as she came closer to the balcony door. Loki scanned the area quickly, easily spotting Stark's fighting through the air. He was trying to destroy some of the smaller Chitauri as they leapt from the flying beast.
"Anytime someone wants to help would be fantastic!" Stark's voice entered the living room. "Where the hell is Bruce?"
"I'm here, Tony," Bruce's voiced called suddenly as he entered the room.
"Well, Hulk out already," Stark snapped. There were faint sounds of explosions and the suit flying through the air in the background.
Loki remained looking through the glass at the city. He could see two flying beasts now, and the humans running amok through the streets. He might have found the chaos exiting once, if he had caused it perhaps. But he was too distracted trying to figure where the Chitauri came from. He could see no portal, and surely the humans would be monitoring for such energy spikes.
"Are you sure you need the Other Guy-" the doctor began.
"I know I'm great and all, but some help would be appreciated," Tony called through the room a bit snarky. Loki could practically hear the man rolling his eyes. "Yes, I'm sure! This isn't a leisure call, Bruce. There's too many for just me. I can't protect people from getting hurt and attack at the same time. The other suits aren't ready yet."
Loki looked at the doctor. Clearly he was reluctant to change forms and assist Stark for whatever reason.
"Before I die of old age, Bruce!" Tony snapped. "Cap is MIA. Romanoff and Barton are on some mission for S.H.I.E.L.D., and Thor's not here. There isn't-"
"Excuse me," Loki interrupted calmly.
"Yes, Reindeer Games?" Tony muttered, more loud noised filtering through the line.
"I would like to…assist," Loki continued, choosing to ignore Stark's name calling. Silence surrounded him as everyone looked at him in astonishment. Even Stark was speechless.
"I'm not sure," Banner said. "We haven't told Fury you're here, and with the Chitauri suddenly here, it wouldn't look good for you."
He was surprised by the doctor's concern, but that wasn't going to stop him. "Then me destroying the threat would only be good for them to see," Loki smirked, the anticipation of battle already humming through his body.
"Fine," Stark responded finally. "Besides, since when do I care what S.H.I.E.L.D. thinks anyway? Suit up Reindeer Games, you're on deck." Then the connection went silent.
Loki couldn't help the malicious grin of his now. Finally, he could kill some Chitauri. He couldn't before when he lead them here years ago, no matter how much he wanted to. Now he was practically being handed the opportunity. An opportunity he wouldn't refuse.
"I think your evil is showing, Loki," Nora said, slightly anxious as she watched him carefully. He just grinned at her. This was the perfect chance to rid himself of some of his pent up frustration, and a way to enjoy himself all in one. Nothing could spoil this for him.
Hello Loki lovers! I present to you another chapter! I hope you liked it because I had fun writing it. The next chapter may take a little while to post because I'm currently on vacation, and it was my bday, and I won't be back home for a while. If you'd be so kind, a review would be the best bday present ever! Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Toodles -K