"Sir," Jarvis's voice broke through Tony's thoughts, though his fingers kept moving, "Mr. Thor has arrived on the roof."
"Is he coming in?" He didn't bother glancing away from the screens.
"I have directed him into the elevator, sir."
"Thank you, J. Ask Rogers to come up here."
"Yes, sir."
Tony spun away from the desk. He grabbed his glass and was pouring himself another scotch when the elevator opened.
"Man of Iron!"
He rolled his eyes. "Not my name, Thor. We've been over this."
"Yes, of course. My apologies, Friend Stark."
Another eyeroll. "Eh, close enough."
"You called?"
"Yeah. We've got a situation."
"Hmm... That is terrible news. Things are not well on Asgard either."
A wry smile quirked Tony's mouth. "Oh, what's wrong in paradise?"
"Loki has escaped, and the All-Father is angry beyond reason. I fear what will happen if he is not found soon."
Tony snorted. "They really did a number on you."
Thor frowned. "Who? Did... what to me?"
"The triplets."
The elevator dinged. "Stark..." Steve hurried over. "Thor, I'm glad you're here."
"I'm glad to see you well, Captain. Friend Stark was just about to inform me of the current trouble."
"Yeah," Steve glanced at Tony, and then looked back at Thor, "and what's the big idea letting your brother escape and not telling the rest of us?"
Tony grimaced. "Damn it."
"What is this?" Thor looked between them. "You know my brother's location?"
"Apparently–"
"Shut up!" Tony hissed.
Steve and Thor looked at him.
He heaved a sigh. "Long story short: triplets' brains got tangled with Loki's while he was on the Helicarrier. When you took him back to Asgard, they started basically torturing him, his mind reached out and found the triplets. Once they realized it was him and got the whole story, they decided to bust him out of prison. We called you, Thor, and you brought them to Asgard – it should all be coming back to you shortly – they stayed for a while as ambassadors and then hid in your rooms, busted him out during a feast thing and he magicked them all back here. They stayed here about 10 days to rehab him after the beat down he'd gotten, and then took him home with them. Also they're sort of all in love with Loki and he's in love with them."
Thor looked confused for a moment and then his eyes widened. "How could I possibly have forgotten that?"
"The triplets buried it in the back of your mind so you couldn't be accused of doing anything," Tony said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "There's a lot more info where Loki's concerned. The triplets will be better able to explain, but he's not as evil as we think. He's been with the triplets for a couple weeks and everything's been fine. He's actually been really sweet with them, and is taking good care of them. So at very least," Tony looked between them, "don't attack him when they get here. Let them explain."
Thor frowned for a moment, but nodded. "Now what is this trouble you have called me here for?"
Tony glanced at Steve, who looked away. He shook his head and headed to the windows which still showed the maps and everyone's progress. Another red and silver dot had appeared at Stark Tower.
"I've called all the Avengers to the tower. The triplets got a call this morning from Fury, calling the seven-eight code."
"Seven-eight, but that is the code signifying SHIELD's intent to harm us," Thor said, frowning at the map.
"Yeah, that's why I turned on the signal. We wanted to make sure you at least knew. That way SHIELD couldn't trick you to come down and use you against us. You wouldn't have to stay since this doesn't directly involve you."
"Nonsense, you are my friends. I will not leave you to fight this battle alone. Now that I understand what happened with Loki it is best if I remain to speak with him before I return home. Is he intended to remain on your planet?"
"For now, yeah. He'll stay with the triplets. At least until SHIELD finds out. Then I don't really want to think what will happen."
Steve stood stoically nearby. His gaze snapped to Tony. "What do you mean?"
Tony turned to look at him. "Their minds are connected. What one experiences, they all experience, at least to a point. We don't really know what that means as far as death, but... we know what it means for torture." His face grew dark remembering the missions that had gone wrong. It wasn't common, but things happened from time to time.
"When are they due to arrive?" Thor asked.
"Any minute now," Tony said, glancing at his watch. "Jarvis, where're they at?"
"They are turning onto Park Ave, as we speak, sir."
"Thank you. Tell them it's safe to bring Loki up with them when they get here."
"Yes, sir."
"Is their apartment ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. They can take the time to stop and drop off the pets if they want, there's no rush."
"Yes, sir. I will let them know."
Tony turned back to the map when Jarvis's voice sounded in the room again.
"The triplets have arrived in Stark Tower, sir. I have informed Ms Potts."
"Thank you, J."
The doors opened and the triplets stepped out.
You're sure you're cloaked, Loki? Lizzy asked in their minds.
Yes, my darling. He ran his hands over their backs.
The three men were standing in conversation, a world map splashed over the windows behind them.
Ready? Michael asked.
Arriana's heart stopped the moment she saw Steve, and at once she felt joy and pain fill her. She ran her hand over her chest. Loki squeezed her shoulder.
Go hug your captain, he said in her mind.
He's not my captain.
You never know, but he is your friend. Now go hug him. You want to.
Tony spotted them and grinned. "There you three are."
Steve's face lit up when his eyes settled on her. "Arriana!" He started toward her, but then stopped.
Loki nudged Arriana. The frown that clouded Steve's eyes moved her. She ran to him, a wide smile on her face. His eyes cleared, his beautiful grin in place as he opened his arms and scooped her up.
"God, I missed you." He breathed in her delicate scent, feeling how perfectly she fit against him.
"I missed you, too." She buried her face in his neck. He lifted her so easily and held her so tightly. Tears squeezed from beneath her lids.
He gently set her down, and suddenly neither knew what to do.
Arriana wrapped her arms around herself. "How have you been?"
"Oh, uh, alright." His smile was a little tight, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good... that's good." He pushed non-existent dirt around with his toe. "Oh, uh, thanks for my apartment... thing, here."
"Did Tony show you?" Light leaped into her eyes again. "I was hoping you'd like it. I mean, it wasn't all me, but I got to help."
"Yeah, it's..." He sighed. "It's beautiful." He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was everything he wanted, right in front of him.
Tony had shoved Thor over toward Michael and Lizzy, hoping Steve would impulsively spout his love to Arriana.
"How was the flight?" Tony asked, hugging them.
"Just fine," Michael said. "Arriana drove the tower nuts."
"Really?"
"New guy," Lizzy said. "Ed had to take over when she started the descent."
"Did she take the big slide again?"
"Oh, yeah," Michael chuckled.
"I love when she takes the big slide."
"What is 'the big slide'?" Thor asked. He gave them each a nod. "Greetings, friend Michael, friend Lizzy."
They internally rolled their eyes, but said nothing since he meant no harm.
"Arri's really good at making steep take-offs and landings," Lizzy said. "She made a steep landing."
"Ah, I see," he said, though Lizzy knew he did not see. "I'm fairly good at steep landings myself," he chuckled.
They forced a smile, but no one in the room felt much like laughing at the moment.
"How was Bruce when you talked to him, Tony?" Lizzy asked.
"Nervous." Tony grinned and hugged her. "Actually, he'd just been working on some poor bastard, so he was fairly calm."
"A little adrenaline does calm him down."
"So I heard." Tony gave her a wink.
With an eyeroll, she jabbed him in the side with her elbow. "Don't you tease him." A small smile forced up the corners of her mouth. "Besides, it was good for him."
"That is always good for everyone." Tony pulled her over to the map with Michael following. "He's here..." Tony pointed to the green dot.
"He's not going to appreciate that you made his signal green," Lizzy said.
He shrugged.
Loki gave her a wink. I'm going to go listen in on Arriana's conversation.
I would argue more, Michael said, but I want to know how things are going too.
Pressing a kiss to the back of Michael's head, Loki slipped away from them.
"So how has your side been?" Steve asked.
Arriana frowned. "My side?"
"Yeah, after the battle." His blond brows pinched. "You were injured."
"Oh, my side." She waved aside the thought. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"Maybe Dr. Banner should take a look at it when he gets here."
She shrugged. "He probably will whether I think I need to or not, but it wouldn't hurt. He'll probably check Lizzy and Michael's injuries too." Her curtain of golden-red hair fell forward.
Before he could stop himself, Steve reached out and tucked the soft locks behind her ear.
Warm tingles shuddered through her body and she reached for his hand, but recognition sprang to life in his eyes and he pulled his hand back.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Oh, uh, it's fine." She dug a toe into the rug. "How are your injuries? I mean, I know... they were better... by the time I left, but, uh... have they..." She fumbled for words. "Have they given you any more trouble?"
"No," he said, "no, they've been fine."
"That's good."
They fell silent again. Arriana's eyes flicked over Steve's shoulder where Loki prowled, watching and listening. Tell him, he said in her mind.
No. She gave him a fleeting glare.
"You okay?" Steve asked. He glanced over his shoulder. Loki stood invisible, waving ridiculously at him. "Did you see something on the map?"
"Oh, no." Arriana waved the concern aside. "I... I thought I saw something outside. Sorry."
"No need to apologize. We need to be on high alert right now." The thought shook the cobwebs of love loose. He turned to study the map. "What's the ETA on Barton, Romanoff, and Banner?"
"Hmm?" Tony glanced up from arguing with Lizzy about Bruce while Michael distracted Thor. "Oh, Jarvis will let us know when they're in range."
"Stark, we need to know where they are. They're targets too, and–"
Arriana put a hand on his arm.
"And now that I can get a word in," Tony said, rolling his eyes. "I am monitoring them, Rogers. I know exactly where they are within 25 feet. And last I checked, sitting here wringing my hands won't get them home any faster or safer. Jarvis is watching everything. He'll alert us if anything changes. So much as a traffic jam."
Lizzy put a hand on Tony's back as his voice rose a notch.
"We should be suited up and ready to go in case anything happens," Steve said.
"Stealth is not your strong suit, Spangles. Leave this to the professionals."
Steve stepped forward and Loki darted out of the soon-to-be-battleground.
"Oh, hang on!" Arriana leaped in front of Steve, planting her hands on his broad chest. "Tony is doing everything we can right now. While we're all targets, the fact that Directory Fury called us, tells me we were the first targets. Which means, there should be time to pull everyone back."
"The captain is right," Thor said. "This means war. We should ready ourselves." He lifted his arm and a moment later his hammer flew from the far end of the room, flying straight at Loki. He dropped to the floor to avoid catching it with his face.
The triplets gasped and jolted toward the spot where he lay on the floor.
Tony frowned for a moment, and then nodded, taking a drink. He leaned down to Lizzy, and whispered, "I'm assuming since I didn't hear any cry of pain that our resident megalomaniac is fine."
She nodded.
Steve frowned, looking between the three and Mjolnir. He followed Arriana's gaze to a blank space on the floor. She let out a sigh and turned back to him. He watched her for a moment before it dawned on him.
"Is he here?" he asked her.
Her gaze leaped up to his for a moment. Cheeks warming, she looked away, not able to look into his eyes as a jumbled concoction of emotions swirled and boiled through her.
"Is who here?" Thor asked.
The triplets all instinctively looked to Tony.
"We're good, Point Break. Chill."
Thor's usually cheerful air clouded. "Loki?" He pounced on the spot they had been looking.
Loki leaped out of the way a moment before Thor's hand closed on him.
"I know you're there, Loki," Thor roared. His tree trunk arm swiped through the air, the other wielding Mjolnir.
Loki jumped and darted out of the way again and again, nearly being hit by the hammer several times.
The triplets leaped forward, putting their hands up. The hammer came down against the invisible wall in front of Loki. Rainbow-colored lightning cracked through the room with a wave of hot air.
Tony's breath caught for a moment, his hand leaping to his chest as he overbalanced. Steve jumped forward and caught him.
Lights flickered. "System malfunction," Jarvis said.
With a painful jolt, Tony started panting.
"What the hell just happened, Stark?" Steve asked, pushing him upright again.
Tony frowned as he looked around. The map flickered with the lights. Tony shook himself and groaned. "Good job, Point Break." He moved back over to the DJ station, staggering slightly, and tossed up several screens. "Give me a damage readout, Jarvis."
"Loki is here," Thor roared.
"I told you that before." Tony shot a glare across the room. "Everybody knock it off until I get Jarvis back online. We're flying blind without him."
Thor frowned for a moment. "You told me... what did you tell me?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "Not now." Steve opened his mouth. "You too, Spangles. Do you three want to try to sort out Thunderhead while I fix J?"
The triplets turned back to Thor.
"Keep his attention and I'll unlock the wall," Lizzy said and grabbed Thor's wrist.
"What are you doing?" He started to pull his arm away. He frowned slightly. Lizzy dove into his mind, weaving and winding her way through more easily than the last time.
"Thor," Michael barked. Thor looked at him curiously. "You can't just swing that thing around in an enclosed area. You could kill someone."
Jarvis's voice crackled slightly as he spoke. "A power surge of 18.6 gigajoules has shocked my operating system, sir."
"Run rapid systems check, J. Move to emergency mode and force manual lock down," Tony said, he rubbed his chest again. "I thought we could take in that much power and redirect."
"You were in no danger," Thor said calmly with a frown. "I would not harm you."
"One, you were trying to harm someone," Micheal said, "so if you'd hit someone with the hammer, harm would have happened."
When Thor started to speak, Arriana held up her hand.
"I have met your mother, and I know she would not approve of you whipping that thing around inside." He clapped his mouth shut. "That's better."
"And two," Michael continued, "there is such a thing as an accident. It means you didn't mean to do the thing, but that doesn't stop the thing from happening."
"But if Loki is here..."
"Do you see damage and destruction?" Arriana asked, her head swaying dangerously like a cobra. "Other than what you caused with your hammer, there is nothing going on that has anything to do with Loki. So whether he is here or not, doesn't affect anything."
"Sir," Jarvis's voice crackled harshly, "the direct power... surge does... not appear to... be the problem."
"Shit, stay with me, J. Have we overcharged and hit the Arc Reactor? Readouts look fine. Magnetic field intensity looks good. Show me the flux density."
"Arc reactor... operational..."
"Jarvis, give me the data," Tony barked, turning and throwing screens all around him. He spun around, his eyes flicking back and forth through the scrolling numbers.
"But... but Loki..." Thor mumbled.
"There it is," Lizzy mumbled. "Timber." She pulled the proverbial pin holding the wall in Thor's mind together.
The memories of helping them break Loki out of prison rushed forward. With a giggle of a head rush, Lizzy allowed herself to be swept out of his mind with the force of the rushing memories.
Thor shook his head. "What... what has happened?"
"Tony, what's going on?" Steve asked.
"Not now, Steve," Tony hissed. His face grew pale, sweat beading his forehead. "If Jarvis goes offline we're sitting ducks, and Bruce goes down in that plane."
"What?" Lizzy spun around with a shriek.
"Triplets, get over here and check the data. I need to find the problem."
They rushed over, taking positions in front of scrolling screens, stances wide and hands clasped behind their backs as their eyes began to race over the numbers and letters.
"What are we looking for, sir?" Michael asked.
"Anything, get me anything. Code errors, frayed wires, broken light bulbs for god's sake."
"Excuse me, Dr. Banner," came a tense female voice.
He jolted upright as the world lurched. "What's going on?" His heart thudded against his ribs and his head rushed, throbbing as the beast rattled his cage. The plane lurched.
"We seem to have a system malfunction." The flight attendant stood at the door of the cabin. "The pilot is currently flying blind and we are trying to get in contact with Mr. Stark. Please secure the five point safety harness in your seat."
Thoughts flying through his mind, he grabbed the belts on either side of him. "What... what's going on?"
"We've had a major system failure," she said again. "Secure your harness. It is a parachute, expandable flotation device, and contains a month's worth of water filtration and basic nutrition needs."
He frowned again, but obediently buckled his harness. "I don't think this is going to help."
The plane pitched to the right and lurched again. And so did Bruce's heart as pain spread across his body.
"No."