Chapter 21: What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

"Where are we now?" Tauriel's voice echoed in the darkness.

"I do not know, but if we wait long enough, we'll end up somewhere with a bit more light, right?" Pepper replied.

"What the hell just happened?" Walter gasped.

"I think I figured it out. And Loki, it doesn't really have to do with the convergence like you were thinking," Stark took out his cell phone and flipped on the flashlight, illuminating the area. "Looks like a closet…" He moved towards what appeared to be a door. Turning the handle, he opened it. "Voila! We are here! Wherever here is, but at least there's a bit more light."

They stepped into the room. "So you were saying you know what is causing all this… this bouncing around between and around realms?" Loki prompted.

"Well, I think I do. It seems it all stems back to you, Loki. When you were killed… or rather not killed since you seem to be very much alive. Anyways, someone or somehow, maybe a rift in the Universe? But something didn't want you dead… and it happened at the same time his world popped into existence." Stark jerked a thumb towards Thranduil.

"My world has always existed," Thranduil countered.

"Well, not according to their records," Stark replied. "They only had nine realms down. Yours might have been lost or something. Now that might have come about because of the convergence. Either way, it all stems back to Loki. If we all think about it, most the of the movement has been centered around Loki."

Loki pondered that for a moment, then nodded. "It does make sense, sort of. But who wanted to save me?"

"Someone who didn't think it was time for you to die? Didn't you say your daughter was in charge of that?" Thranduil asked.

"Well, not really. She knows if someone shows up if they belong in Hel or Valhalla, but I honestly don't think she goes beyond that," Loki replied. He snapped his fingers. "The Norns!"

"The norms? No, this isn't about standards… we're talking about…"

"Not norms, Norns!" Loki said excitedly. "The Fates as you might call them. They rule our destiny. Obviously they do not believe I should die yet." He grinned complacently.

"Interesting. So these Norn people can do that then?" Stark asked.

"I guess so. I have never met them, so I cannot speak for them," Loki replied.

"Well, seems you are on their good side, for now anyway. Now, let's figure out where we are," Stark replied.

"We're in Naw'lins, right?" Walter asked.

"Possibly not," Tauriel said. "If this is like everything else that has been happening, we are somewhere else."

"But how'd we git here?" Walter asked.

"I haven't figured that part out yet," Stark replied. "Oh, crap!" He had opened another door and entered the room. He walked over to the window. "Pepper… recognize this place?"

"Vegas? We're in Las Vegas?" She was able to quickly pick out a few landmark hotels from the window.

"Listen, you guys just stay put. Stay right here while I go down and find out what hotel we are in," Stark said. "Pepper, come with me."

Tony and Pepper exited the room, leaving the others. They waited for twenty minutes.

"Why are we just sitting here? Will we be attacked if we leave? Are these Lost Vegans dangerous?"

"No, they ain't no vegans… well, there might be vegans, ya know, plant eaters, but doubt they'd hurt us," Walter replied. "I wonder where Charlie is? Ya think he's back in Naw'lins?"

"Most likely. This thing seems to be choosy about who gets to travel," Loki replied.

Stark burst into the room. "Okay guys. We gotta move. Follow me."

Loki and Thranduil exchanged a glance. "As you command, Lord Stark."

They followed Stark out into an empty hallway. He walked down to the end and pressed a button. "We're in the Bellagio, which is good. They know me here…"

"Tony, who doesn't know you here?" Pepper asked.

"Right, well. Anyways," he held up a key, "I secured us a suite for the night."

"How do we get to this sweet? Although I am not really hungry for anything sweet at the moment," Thranduil replied.

"Suite, like in a bunch of rooms, not a cake, okay? And we take the elevator," Stark pressed the button again. "Where is the stupid thing?"

"You press a button for this elevator? What precisely is an elevator?" Loki asked.

"It's a room that transports you to another level," Tony replied. "Remember the one in the store in New York? Where we got the tuxes?"

"Given the fact we've been transporting without an elevator, why do we require one now?" Loki asked.

"It's not quite the same. This keeps us in the same spot, just moves us higher or lower, depending on where we want to go."

"And where do we want to go? I personally would like to go back to Middle Earth. I rather liked it there," Loki said.

"I am in agreement with him. Can it transport us back to Middle Earth?" Thranduil asked.

"No." The doors of the elevator chose that moment to open. "Come on, everyone in."

Once everyone was inside, Tony pressed one of the buttons and the doors closed.

"You are certain this will not take us somewhere else?" Loki asked.

"No, we're just going up to the suite," Tony replied. Seconds later, the doors opened onto a luxurious suite. Tony stepped off. "Welcome to your home for the night. Place has got everything, even champagne."

"Well, it cannot be too bad then," Thranduil admitted as he entered the suite and began to inspect the accommodations. "Rather pleasant, in fact." He disappeared through one door. "I shall take this room!" He announced.

"Fine, Loki?" Tony pointed towards another door. "That room for you then. Pepper and I will be in there," he pointed out another room, "Tauriel, you and Walter can pick whichever room you want. There are three more bedrooms over there." He pointed out the rooms. "I'm having breakfast sent up first thing in the morning, so make sure you stay in here. Got it?"

"Of course," Loki replied, heading off to inspect his quarters. He returned back to the main sitting room. "They will do, I suppose. Now, you said there was champagne?"

"Yep, and cheese, crackers… all kinds of snacks!" Walter had scavenged through the refrigerator and cabinets, collecting all the food and setting it out on the table. "Help yourself. Charlie's gonna be mad he didn't get to come."

Thranduil reappeared. Inspecting Walter's collection of food, he picked up a plate and selected an assortment, piling his plate full. He poured himself a glass of champagne and seated himself upon a huge white sofa.

Loki followed suit, and soon they were all seated. Walter picked up the TV remote and clicked the huge flat screen television on. "Let's see what's on TV, eh?"

"TeeVee?" Thranduil looked quizzically at Walter.

"You don't have TV where you come from?" Walter asked.

"No, I have never heard of TeeVee. What is it?"

"Well, it gives you the news, or movies, or sports… we watch it, well, I don't normally as I don't have one, but most people do." Walter clicked through several channels.

"Ah, movies. Yes. We did watch several movies while we were at Lord Stark's palace," Thranduil replied. "I was not aware that the name of the device was TeeVee."

"Not TeeVee, TV," Walter corrected him, finally picked a sitcom to watch. "Great! A Big Bang Theory marathon tonight! You guys are gonna love this."