Warnings: Nothing past PG13 (I think).

The floor's covered in glass still. Tony hasn't had the chance to let his babies get to it yet. Fury hates when they make too much noise when he yells. Party pooper. So, yeah, there's glass still and the smell of smoke. But the bar's got a few booze left, so Tony takes that as a win.

"How did this happen?" Fury spits out, his black coat slowly turning pink around the edges. Great. That means Tony still isn't cleared from all that heebie-jeebie magic that girl has done to him. Wonderful. Just what he needs when Fury decides to pop in – unannounced, he might add. But that's Fury for ya, all pomp and spontaneous appearances. Not as good as Natasha or Clint, or even Phil, mind you, but close.

Maybe a 7/10? A close 50/50? No, maybe more a 30/70.

"Stark!" Fury barks out, and Tony jumps. Bruce nudges him and sends Fury a dark look. Tony appreciates the backup.

Okay. Right. Meeting. Loki gone. Bad stuff.

Tony slumps again in his seat on the couch. "I don't know what you want me to tell you, Fury. Hydra got in – thanks for that, by the way, your security sweeps have reached a new low today. Magic was performed – and don't even get started on that whole 'you should've been prepared for that' speech. It's been – what? – maybe five months since New York attack? I'm working on it, but I'm not god, regardless what the magazines say, I can't do it just like that! And now Loki's gone. So, yeah, we're screwed."

Sheesh, what did that girl put in her magic? He hasn't babbled like this since…well…since never. Great. More magic messing mind stuff. He's so getting Jarvis to ban all magic from his houses. Forever. Except for Loki, you know, when he gets all better. They need a couple of hitters on their team too. Maybe that Doctor Strange guy as well? Have to check him out first. His beard's suspicious. And….wait, what was he doing again? Oh, right, spilling his guts to everyone in the room.

Great.

"Got anything to add, Sparkle Pants?" Tony asks Steve.

Steve bristles slightly at the insult, but rolls on, full steam ahead, like Tony knew he would. Good. Let Captain Goodie-Two-Shoes do the explaining. He likes being in charge anyway, so he can take the rap for them too. Well, most of it. Tony isn't going to let Fury fire him or anything.

"We had no warning, sir," Steve says.

Oooo! Is that a hint of criticism for the golden boy? Nice. Tony didn't know he had it in him.

"Nobody had any warning, Captain," Fury says in return.

"That's the thing, sir. We should've had some." Steve sits forward, elbows on his knees. "You said your teams were looking into it. That they were close. Yet they somehow missed this. How?"

"Rest assured, Captain, I intend to find out."

"We have a mole," Phil says out of the blue.

Fury steams, but doesn't negate him. Interesting. So, Fury suspected it. Well, good to know he doesn't think his little organization above turning sides. Phil takes the stink eye Fury gives him and sends a bland 'I'm-not-impressed' look back. Sweet. Tony really should've made some popcorn for all this.

"There's no other explanation, sir," Phil continues.

"Right," Fury says, straightening. Oh boy, Daddy Popeye is ticked. Which means somebody's gonna be hurting soon. Hopefully, not them. Hey, it wasn't their fault! They tried. Tony has the bruises to prove it – and by the way, that cheap shot from the Magic Girl while he was unconscious was…well, cheap. Not cool, MG, not cool. Fury clears his throat. "Romanoff. You're going black. Find out where Loki is. Report back."

"Yes sir." Natasha gets up, all smooth danger, and leaves without another word. Tony catches Phil watching her and wonders if he's as worried about their Widow going into the enemy trenches as he is. Steve sure is, if that hard look in his eyes are anything to go by.

"Barton, you're reporting to base. Let's catch this mole quickly." Fury pauses. "But under the radar. I don't want Hydra knowing we're any closer than we were a few hours ago."

"Yes sir." Unlike Natasha, Clint stays seated. Fury levels a glare at the archer, but doesn't order him gone. Clint just shifts his legs. Great. Tony's missed some secret message. Ah well, that's what Jarvis is for. He'll catch all this on tape and Tony will go through it later.

Fury spins away, his now, thankfully, black coat billowing. Really, Tony wants to know how he does that every time. It's got to be some hidden talent. Anyhow, Fury leaves in a quiet huff and everyone else mopes from their seats.

"Well!" Tony says, slapping his knees and pushing up. "I dunno know about you, kiddos, but I intend to make myself useful. Brucie, you with me?"

Bruce, bless him, gives a tiny smile and nods. "Sure. Better than sitting here."

"Exactly! I knew you'd understand. Come on!" Tony wraps an arm around the thinner man's shoulders. "Science awaits us!"

He waits until they're way out of ear shot down the hallway before slowing down. His arm stays in its friendly position, but he does sneak a glance behind. Bruce snorts.

"You're not very subtle."

"Awww, Brucie, you wound me!" Tony pouts, grinning as they step into the elevator. "Now, what say you and I go find us some Hydra."

"I thought Miss Romanoff was assigned that."

"First off, you gotta stop calling her that. I'm surprised she hasn't knocked you upside the head for…oh wait, no, I'm not. Lucky you, having a Hulk. Right, moving on, she hates it when people call her 'Miss' anything. I sense some history there, but Daddy likes his tongue where it is, so no speaky on that point. Anyhow, just call her Natasha."

Tony leans against the elevator wall. It hums behind him and vibrates his shoulder blades. "Second, she may have the mission, but that doesn't mean she's going in blind. Not on our watch."

Bruce's smile gets all genuine. "Of course."

"Hey, now, none of that mushy stuff! I have totally selfish, ulterior motives for doing this!" Tony sniffs. "I just wanna stick it to Fury that I know best."

"Uh-huh."

The elevator dings and they both get out. Tony huffs. "You know, you're a right pain when you get all snarky."

"But you keep me anyway."

"No duh! Who else would I have as my science bro?" Tony grins. "Certainly not Richards. Guy's about a fun as a wet blanket…wait, those can be kinda fun…hmm, maybe a disco dance…nope, that's insulting to all cool disco dancers…man, maybe he defies definition. I'll have to tell him that!"

"You do that, Tony," Bruce says as they enter their lair…errr, science shop. "So, what's the plan?"

"Well, you know how I was working on that tracker for Loki's magic?" Tony waggles his eyebrows. "Should be the same in theory for MG, right?"

"MG?"

"Magic Girl." Tony waves a hand. "Moving on. We get this up and running, and she won't know what hit her!"

"I doubt anyone who meets you does."

Look at me, getting an update out within a month. I'm so proud of myself for sticking to my schedule. I hope this was a good filler chapter. It made sense, to me, to do it from Tony's POV. He's the most fun to write, out of all the Avengers. :D

Reviews are life, people.

Next update should be at the end of July, hopefully.