Another chapter up! Yay
Loki didn't know what time he had woken up or why he had. To him, it has felt like only a few hours. But, when he looked at the clock it reads 2:35 pm. He's slept for longer than what he had expected. Sitting up, Loki runs a hand through his messy hair. Sighing the Norse being slid out of bed and went to a jointed bathroom.
Once finished with his business, Loki heads to the kitchen. But he stops, tilting his head. The penthouse is loud with two voices. Wondering what's going on, the trickster steps in and blinks. The penthouse is a mess. Blankets and pillows strewn about, the sofa turned over, and a window is broken. But most of all, Tony is pinned to the ground by Mjolnir. What the hell happen?
And there are no kids in sight.
"Wha-what happened?"
Loki stumbles over to the grounded man. What happened while he was sleeping? Where's the kids? Why is Tony pinned by the hammer? Where's Pepper? Is there anything that's not damaged? So many questions run around Loki's head that the God is afraid to even hear the answers. So much for hoping nothing destructive happens.
"It's a long story." Tony wheezes, the wind having been knocked out of him.
"I bet it is." Loki huffs, eyes widen.
Tony clears his throat and motions his head the hammer pinning him to the ground. Said magical item has its handle leaning on his side. And the man of iron can't move it, trapping him. "A little help?"
Loki glances from the hammer to tony and back. The trickster doubts he can move the hammer, since only those worthy can. And Loki doubts that he's worthy. But he has to at least try. Maybe he could lift the hammer. The god takes a deep breath and grips the handle. He pulls. But the hammer doesn't budge. Both know what this means. Loki shakes his head and tony sighs, defeated.
"Where's the kids?" Loki asks, looking at the damaged room.
"Um...sleeping?" Tony's gulps, eyes darting from side to side.
Loki raises a brow. Being the god of lies did have one useful ability to Loki. The Norse being can tell when someone is lying. And trying to lie to the god of lies is impossible. Or just a very bad idea. And Tony should know this.
"Causing mayhem."
The two men look at the doorway of the penthouse and see Pepper holding Peter. Her hair disheveled, her expression exhausted, and her clothes are ratty. She looks like she needs chasing children all morning. Behind the woman is Natasha. And she looks as bad as Pepper, but with an irritated face. Loki sighed, knowing that it's the rest of the day is going to belong.
"Figured. The God mumbles.
"They were fine until lunch." Tony huffed. The inventor is not very amused with a hammer pinning him. "Tired to ask what they wanted, then shit hit the fan."
"I can see that." Loki mused. The penthouse had given him an idea of how bad things had gotten while he slept.
"Ok. So, who's 'mommy'?"
Loki looked at Pepper with a confused expression. What did she mean by mommy? Pepper kept a poker face, but Loki can see a slight hint of annoyance in her face.
"What?" The Norse beings question. But a giggle brings his attention back to Tony. Said man is trying to hide a smile.
"Tony," Pepper groaned, placing a hand on her hip. "What did you do?"
Tony sucks a breath in and gulps. If one would have to guess, Tony seems to be a bit nervous. There's even a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. And Pepper's glare isn't helping the inventor's composure. And Loki sighed. He knew something was up.
"I was playing with the kids and may have called Loki...mom." Tony gulped, fingers tapping against the floor. Tony cringed as Loki sighed and Pepper groaned.
"Dammit Tony." Pepper snorted.
"I am not a mother." Loki huffs. Why would Tony even think that? The mortal man knows that Loki is not a mother at all. And no, the Norse deity will not confirm or deny the myths about him.
"Guess you are now?" Tony bit the inside of his cheek.
"Tony, you're an idiot" Pepper states, shaking her head.
"Agreed." Loki snorts.
After pulling the hammer a second time, all three had given up on removing it. They'll need Thor for the hammer removal. So, they started on the next task, finding the kids. With Peter and Natasha already found, Loki suggests that Pepper stays in the penthouse. He'll find the rest. He didn't want the ones that were found wandering off as they searched for the others. And Tony can't watch them due to being pinned. So the trickster is off to find the little troublemakers.
"Where are you kids at?" Loki calls, hoping to hear the sound of a child. "Come one, guys. Playtime is over."
Loki had a feeling about where one of the kids could be at. If Loki's gut feeling is right then the little archer had set up on his little high perch. Climbing the stairs and sighing, Loki stops and runs a hand through his hair. How can looking after kids tire you out so much? Oh right, they're hyperactive balls of energy, no wonder every adult is tired to the bone.
"Loki, sir wants to know if you've found any of the children," Jarvis stated. Though the sudden voice did make Loki jump.
"Not yet," Loki calls. The male sighs and heads to the place where one child may be. "Sorry Tony, you'll have to wait."
Once getting to the spot that he had found Clint in the first time he's disappeared, Loki looks up. He's pleased with what he finds. Clint is sitting in his little perched with a toy bow. And some toy arrows to boot.
"Clint there you are!" Loki muses and sees the archer's little smile. The boy sets the toys down and holds his arms out.
"Up!" The toddler calls with his arms waving.
Loki chuckled and used his magic to left the boy up and into his arms. The toddler wrapped an arm around Loki's neck and place his head on the trickster's shoulder. Loki hums and looks s at the ladder that leads up to Clint's little perch. Well, adult Clint's perch. He'll mention this to Tony about removing the ladder or something. But, for now, he'll get this kid back to Pepper and the pinned man.
"Oh, there's one kid," Tony says as Loki walks in. Clint clung to him like a monkey.
"Yes," Loki muses, a smile on his face. "He was easy to find."
"Wonder if the others will be like that." Pepper pipes up, bouncing peter on her knee.
"Doubt it." Tony grunts. He wants this hammer off of him soon.
"Unfortunately,' Loki sighs. "I think he's right."
"Hope not." Pepper whispers.
Loki left Clint with the others, once he had wiggled out of the archer's grip. Said kid didn't want to let go and in truth, Loki didn't blame the boy. It seems all the kids want the trickster's attention. And he doesn't have like 12 pairs of arms for holding. So the kids have to make do with what Loki has. Though, Loki didn't have to worry about Clint wandering off. With Pepper there, Loki knew the archer is in good hands. Now, where would the others be?
"Why can't I find them?" Loki mumbles as he runs a hand through his hair. Where are these kids at? Clint was the first Houdini and now the others followed.
"Sir, I may have an idea that might help."
Loki jumps at the A.I.'s voice. He hasn't heard Jarvis at all today and the Norse God has a habit of forgetting that the A.I. is there. So, of course, when Jarvis speaks Loki ends up jumping. Of course, Loki ends up feeling embarrassed about it since Tony likes to make fun of him for it. But, the trickster pushes that to the back of his mind. He needs to find the kids.
"Do tell," Loki calls out to the A.I., leaning on a wall.
"I've noticed with Clint that he tends to go to where he felt most comfortable. Most at home." Jarvis responds.
"You mean his perch?" Loki hums, rubbing his chin in thought. Clint did seem to be comfortable in his perch. Maybe Jarvis is onto something.
"Yes." The A.I. said, almost pleased. "I have a theory that the other children may do the same."
Loki nods. Yes, this could be what the children are doing. But right now, Loki will test this theory. "You may be right," Loki said heading to the Gym. He has an idea to where Steve might be.
And It seems that the theory might be right. Loki found Steve and Thor in the gym looking at everything with deep interest. Loki chuckles and scooped the little soldier and Thunderer up. Then headed to another part of the building. He found Bruce outside the Lab he and Tony worked in. so now all kids were accounted for and Loki hums pleased.
"Come, now," Loki said, getting the three to follow him. "We need to discuss lunch."
And why so much damage has happened to the penthouse.