Warning: PG13, if that.

The elevator doors slide open and Tony watches as Professor Xavier glides out in his silver chair. The mutant looks cool as a cucumber as he directs his chair closer to the table they're all at (totally doing normal things and not spying on his session with Loki!). It's a mini miracle, Xavier's nonchalant attitude, considering he's been in a room alone with Loki for like two hours. Not that Loki would do anything, just...Loki.

Yeah, that about says it.

To quote Brucie, the guy's a 'bag full of cats'. Hisses, howls, claws, and anger. Well, when he's not crying or being semi-lucid.

Thor practically bounds over. "Were you able to fix him, Professor?"

"I cannot just 'fix him', Thor." Xavier stops besides Steve. "His mind was ravaged by Thanos. I can't even begin to tell you how painful that is - for anyone. That he's this far is astounding."

"But...just yesterday evening we spoke."

And this morning he screamed while trying to claw his way through the wall. There was blood everywhere. Clint got all white, enough so that Tasha made him spar with her.

"I thought you said he was improving," Thor says, almost whispers. "Your mind works were easing his memories. He told me so himself."

"As in any recovery, there will be lapses. Many of them. Some worse than others. This is just one of those bad times." Xavier sends Thor a sad smile. "Go to him. He's asked for you."

Thor rushes out as if the Furies (and yes, those are real) are after him. He even forgets Mjolnir.

Steve looks over at Xavier. "He's still dying."

"Yes." Xavier sighs and rubs his temples. "I can't dabble in his magic. It's too far out of my realm and power. Fix his mind, that I can do. But his magic needs someone more adept than I."

It'll crush Thor.

They tried to reach Strange, but got told he was on some hippie, mystic retreat and was not to be disturbed. Snobs. Tony sips his bourbon. He ignores Steve's disapproving look. What? He's stressed and Pepper locked him out of the labs for a day. Sleep is overrated, ergo...drinks.

"Well, Strange is out," he informs Xavier. "Got anyone in your corner?"

Xavier gets all distant - enough so that Tony wonders if he's contacting someone - but shakes his head. "No. The only one is not yet ready. Her powers would overwhelm her, and kill hundreds."

"Right. No understudies." Tony downs the bourbon. "Kay. So I'm going to go annoy Fury. Bet he knows something. Steve, you feel up to researching Norse stuff? Maybe we can get Daddy to answer faster."

Steve snorts. "I'm going to the library."

"Barbarian."

"It has things Google doesn't."

"Name one!"

"Ambiance."

"Touche." Tony winks at Xavier. "Thanks for helping where you can, Professor."

"Of course." Xavier rolls his chair into the elevator. "I have set another appointment with Loki for next Thursday. Jarvis has it noted on your calendar."

"Jarvis, you seeing the Professor on the side?"

'Of course not, sir.'

That snark will never get old.

"Right. I'm off," Tony grins, "like a piece of cheese."

Steve rolls his eyes. "More like bad eggs."

"I resent that." Tony saunters off, his hand already typing out the numbers he wanton his cell.

A ring.

Two.

"Hello? Mr. Stark?"

"Hey, Jane. Any progress?"

"Some. I think I might have the right frequency. Darcy, don't touch that! Now I have to make it stay longer than four seconds."

"That's awesome!"

It really is. Means they might be able to ping Daddy Odin themselves, instead of going through bird.

"Don't tell Thor just yet though. I don't want to disappoint him."

"My lips are sealed."

He's pretty sure she snorts. What is with people and snorting at him? He can be serious...mostly. (But why ruin a good thing by being mature?) There's a high pitched beeping on her end.

"Everything okay?" he asks. He'd hate for her to blow up. Thor would pout for days, and Tony might miss her genius a teeny, tiny bit.

"Just Darcy making toast again."

He's seen that in action. It's a thing of horrific beauty.

"I'll let you go then. Lemme know if anything changes."

She hangs up.

Tony stuffs his phone into his pant pocket and knocks on a bedroom door. A muffled 'come in' comes through. He does so. Ugh! The place smells clean. It shouldn't be allowed, this kind of OCD. Tony glares at Phil.

"I thought we talked about this, Agent. No super cleaning while you sleepover."

"I swept."

"And dusted, and washed the windows, and polished the wood." Tony sniffs. "I have robots for this."

"You need something?" Phil raises an eyebrow.

Oh boy. The eyebrow of doom is out.

"Know any magic dudes or dudetts?" Tony plops down on the immaculate couch. "Xavier says his only bet is too underage."

"Jean would be."

Great, even Agent knows who this is.

"So?" he prompts, waving a hand. "Anyone?"

"Perhaps..." Phil shakes his head. "No."

"Agent?"

"I thought maybe Merlin, but it's nearly impossible to find him when you want."

"Wait...Merlin, Merlin?" Tony slumps. "Any other ancient myths I should know about? Loch Ness. Big Foot. Maritans."

"No."

"So, no Merlin?"

"I doubt it." Phil rests his chin on his fist. "Strange is out, of course."

"Hippie."

The eyebrow of Doom turns into the Volcano of Wrath.

Tony is unrepentant (mostly). "Btw, Clint is kinda messed up from seeing Loki all freaked out."

"We talked."

"He good?"

The volcano goes back to a simmer.

Tony is unmoved (a little).

"Go research, Stark," Phil says. "I'll see if I can dig up anyone on Shield's end."

"You're a dream!"

Phil snorts.

Again, with the snorting! Tony's going to start a tally.

But for now, on to the books about unicorns and my little ponies!

So, it's a little rough. I apologize for that. I needed a filler that explained Loki's rapid recovery of his memories. I hope it's believable enough. I couldn't really think of anyone else, besides Strange (and I didn't feel up to writing TWO snarksters). And yes, it's short, but...filler. Hope to have a longer one soon (fish).

Lemme know what you think. Any wishes or prompts for the next chapter are more than welcome.