Hello everyone! This is my first story/post after years of reading on this site. Quarantine really has me re-watching my favorites and classics, and I'm currently on an MCU binge. My brain decided to pop this out, and because it wouldn't leave, I finally just wrote it all out. This is meant to be lighthearted and not heavy on the science and tech talk/lore from Asgard/lore from MCU. I will try my hardest to not get what I do have wrong though. I don't have the brain capacity to understand all the science from the ones that I've personally read, but honestly, props to the writers for going above and beyond for it. You guys did your research and I'm in in awe. I'm not trying to make this serious, so I'm going to only write what I can. I enjoy those quirky stories that have the Avengers in more domestic moments, while still being written in character, so this is what I'm striving for. I decided to rate this M after reading the rules & guidelines (again, first time posting) just because of language and mentions of drugs. I have no idea where this is going to lead me, so we're going to find out together. Hope everyone enjoys!

Chapter 1:

It was finally time for Alice's month-long break, and she was ready to relax. Her heterochromia eyes lit up at the thought of it.

The last six months have been non-stop work since they've transitioned into making the Tower into a hybrid of both magic and technology, with the help of Dr. Strange and Loki. Though the Avengers still didn't trust Loki on his own (the New York attack will always be on their minds), Thor vouched for him and for now it was good enough.

Alice ran through mounds of paperwork, got down and dirty with Bruce and Tony and their experiments, and ran correspondence with everyone that she needed to go through. If it wasn't Pepper reaching Tony for something, it was her. Being the assistant meant being another face for Tony. Not as public as Pepper, but enough that it got her clearance for everything she needed to do.

After all of it, she demanded at least a couple of weeks off, was granted a full month instead, and had both Tony and Pepper sign a contract, making them swear they weren't to reach her unless someone was actively dying. She may be useful, but she'll be damn sure she wasn't being worked to the ground.

Sweats? Check. Glasses instead of contacts? Check. Vape pen and food? Check. She was ready to start binging a show, scrolling through the options, when her phone lit up with a text.

Boss-Man: "Can you grab some coffee for us? 8 cups and in the meeting room, please and thank you!"

Alice sighed. After some internal debating, she put on a pair of jeans, grabbed her keys and pen, and headed towards the coffee shop on the 30th floor. The meeting room was only a couple floors above, so it shouldn't take that long.

She knew something was up. She was promised a break, and Tony wouldn't break that promise unless it was important. He could have easily asked someone else to get everyone coffee, but he texted her instead.

After grabbing the coffee, she headed up to the meeting room. Getting off the elevator, she paused a few hundred feet from the door she was supposed to enter, and wondered if it was okay to smoke. "Hey J?", she asked the AI.

The voice from almost nowhere answered back, "Yes, Ms. Grey?"

"If I take a couple of hits from my pen, do you think you can just...air it out?"

The AI paused before responding, "I would not recommend smoking inside, but if you do, yes, I can.

"Thanks J," she grinned.

"You are welcome, Miss Grey".

Deciding to take those hits, she set down the coffee to relax for a few minutes, before walking through the doors that contained the reason why she was not high as a kite and in sweats. Waiting until she minutely felt the effects, she picked up the trays of coffee and knocked on the door twice before entering.

There were eight pairs of eyes staring at her as she scanned the room. Tony looked like he had forced a smile on his face before exclaiming, "Ali!"

Alice entered the room and gave him and everyone else a small smile, before going to the first person to give the coffee to. The six original Avengers were there, along with Loki and Phil Coulson. I swear, if I get dragged through more shit… she thought. She worked her way around the room, and handed Tony's coffee last. Looking him dead in the eyes, she crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What do you want?"

Tony froze, and innocently asked, "What do you mean? We just wanted to see my favorite assistant!"

As he rambled on about how thankful he was that she worked so hard and gave out suggestions for what she could do during her break, Alice glanced at everyone else. They were all shifty eyed , looking at anything but her. Everyone except Natasha (the spy wouldn't dare show such an expression) and Loki, who looked at her with boredom and...curiosity? Most likely about her eyes. One was a mixture of blue-grey, and the other a hazel-green. She's gotten used to the double glances and curious questions from others. She turned her gaze back to her boss and narrowed her eyes. "Tony." He flinched a little under her gaze, knowing that she usually called him "Stark" unless it was serious, before going, "Well….."

She uncrossed her arms and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. There was always something with this job. She complained 24/7 that she wasn't paid enough for this shit, with Tony always chiming in, saying that he could always raise it. She never meant it, and he knew it. She wouldn't say she absolutely loved her job, there were things to every job that were tiring or troublesome, but this one she enjoyed. She enjoyed working, she enjoyed having responsibilities and leverage, and she enjoyed everyone's company.

But these last six months have drained her more than she liked, and it's taking her everything to not just walk through those doors and go back to her place. Out of respect for her boss and their friendship, she stayed.

"Tony. I'm going to repeat the question only once more. You and Pepper agreed to give me a break, uninterrupted. You two signed a contract. I am exhausted. I was about to start binging a series that I was supposed to start six and a half months ago. I only took a few hits from my pen before entering, but–"

"You're high?" Tony interrupted, wide-eyed.

"–more importantly, I put on pants for you!" she growled. "Also, what I'm doing in my free time is none of your business unless I make it to be. You know that. I'm not high enough for this, so for the love of god: What. Do. You. Want?"

Tony looked conflicted as she was ranting to him, staying quiet when she finished. The room was silent, and Steve looked like he wanted to say something, before Natasha shot him a look. Coulson was the one who spoke and broke the silence, "He wants to ask if you'll look after Loki because he's been forced to stay here on Earth as punishment. Thor has to go back, and nobody wants to leave him alone here."