Banner and Stark paced around the top floor of the tower, still waiting on the results from Jarvis.
"Sir, I've discovered disturbances in both the New Mexico and German regions."
Tony nearly jumped when he heard the animated voice. "Good. Arrange the jet for Banner and I.
We'll be headed to Germany; I have a gut feeling we should check there first."
Banner raised an eyebrow, "And how exactly do you know that's right?"
"Gut feeling, Banner. Keep up." He replied in a tone that dripped with 'duh'.
Banner rolled his eyes, but didn't protest.
"Sir, Miss Potts is still in possession of the jet."
"Then get me one from the airport, Jarvis really, way to problem-solve." Tony said with an annoyed tone.
"I shall arrange for it, sir."
Tony smirked; Jarvis was his favorite of his inventions. Well, at least a close second to the arc reactor keeping him alive.
An hour later they boarded the jet, the Mach 5 in tow. Not that he'd need it with the Hulk at his side, but as stubborn and human as Tony was, he wouldn't face a God without weaponry.
Thor landed just outside the city of Berlin and decided his best shot was to head to the airport. If Banner and Stark came looking, they would come by plane. Thor really hated traveling in a plane. He spoke no German but found a taxi with an American flag on it and waved it down. They gave him one look and drove off. Thor frowned. This would not be easy.
When he finally came upon the airport, he was nearly arrested for carrying Mjolnir into the building. So he sat outside wondering what he could possibly do now. Glancing across the street he saw a man staring at him as if he was a circus clown. Thor, for once, found himself caring about what he was wearing. Never had such vanity crossed his mind, but he felt like a sideshow in his Aesir armor.
Tony and Banner landed in Berlin around six a.m. the next morning. They climbed off the jet and were brought their luggage by the co-pilot. They walked through the airport discussing possibilities.
"How do we find him?" Banner asked, "How do we know he's even still in the area?"
"We'll start at the point of entry."
Jarvis pinpointed the location by latitude and longitude.
Their efforts became unnecessary when they found Thor arguing with a cop just outside the airport. They interrupted the heated discussion. Tony managing to convince the cop that Thor was a just a getup for their group. The cop was slow to believe him, but eventually stalked off angrily towards his bicycle. Yes, a bike, not a cruiser.
"Where does he put the people he arrests, in a basket on the handlebars?" Tony asked, snickering lightly at his own joke.
Banner ignored Tony, looking Thor up and down, "Let's get you some new clothes." He eventually decided.
They rented a car from a place next to the airport and went shopping for Thor's new wardrobe. All the payments came down to Stark, not that it was hurting his wallet in the slightest. It was odd, shopping for Thor when the world may soon be in peril once more from Loki. They laughed on their way back to a hotel, so they could discuss the matters at hand.
"Now that Thor is properly dressed," Tony smirked with obvious amusement, "Let's talk about Loki."
"So if Thor is in Germany, then he must be in New Mexico," Banner assessed, "unless he's found transportation."
"Please, if a taxi driver wouldn't give Thor a ride because of his appearance," referring to the Aesir armor, "then who would pick up Loki?" Stark countered.
"Yes, but shall we not forget my brother is a magic wielder. He could change his appearance." Thor reminded the group.
The other two Avengers just frowned. That was certainly going to complicate things.
They stayed that night in the Hotel, each with separate rooms, since Stark insisted.
When they woke they called the airport to schedule a flight back to the states on the jet, but the airport reported the jet was in use and wouldn't be available until the next day. Stark muttered under his breath after hanging up. With that, he called the front desk, requesting the rooms for a second night. It took slight bribery, but the Manager was able to move some guests, who were to arrive later that same day, to another, larger suite; compliments of the hotel for 'misbooking' their room.
"That's just lovely." Banner muttered.
"Not to mention the flight we booked will only go as far New York, so I have to arrange for my own plane to meet us back in the city." Stark added drily. "Loki could be just leveling towns for all we know!" he growled.
"Friends, my brother has hardly had the time to plan anything. My brother is very well organized and would not attack without careful strategizing. Not to mention S.H.E.I.L.D would be taking care of the situation if a situation even were to arise." Thor reasoned, still feeling defensive of his brother.
"Yeah, well, he's still an enemy of the U.S, and most of the world for that matter, and he shouldn't be loose, planning his scheme whilst he bides his time in hiding!" Stark yelled, angry that Loki was now back in the states where Pepper was and he was not there to protect her.
"Hey, you two!" Banner asserted, "We don't know that Loki will even try anything. He doesn't have an army this time, or his spear, and therefore can't do much harm, right? He's a logical man so he'll probably stay hidden so he won't be captured." Banner concluded with a stern nod.
Stark rolled his eyes. Thor returned the nod though, happy Bruce was not being as irrational as Tony was in accusing his brother of things below his IQ level. Stark was like that though, always assuming he knew what the other party was going to do, better than the other party even knew. Thor's thoughts then drifted to Jane. All-Father let her be safe if Loki were to seek revenge.
Their day continued on; simply planning on what they would do when they reached New Mexico and how they'd track Loki to wherever he managed to get to. They left early the next morning for New York.
Loki and Darcy entered the bar and Darcy immediately ordered some drinks, Loki only asking her that she order him something strong. They sat down and drank their liquor, having small talk until Darcy finally, after maybe four beers and nursing her fifth, asked him a real question, "So what's your story? How'd you end up in the desert without anything but the clothes you had on." Her words slurred ever so slightly, but Loki understood.
"Really long story, not one you'd like." He offered, avoiding the question.
"Wrong answer." She smiled, swaying slightly.
"Darcy, I think you've had too much." He laughed; a real laugh. The look on her face was priceless; along with her dazed, tipsy state. He considered taking the drink from her hand, but almost as though she'd read his mind she held the glass to her chest.
"No, I have not!" she laughed. "Now excuse me, I have to go to the ladies' room!" she downed the last of her drink and staggered off towards the restrooms.
A blonde sat in Darcy's previously occupied seat, a margarita in hand, and leaned towards Loki slightly, "Hey there." She giggled with a thick Texan drawl.
Loki studied the woman. Her hair was in loose curls and she adorned a tight t-shirt labeled 'Harley Davidson.' She wore the shortest pants Loki supposed he'd ever seen and cowboy boots on her feet.
"Hello." Loki said, smiling lightly. The woman was, in some regards, quite attractive.
"Don't think I've ever seen you around here." She giggled, followed by a hiccup which suggested excessive amounts of alcohol. She blinked a few times in what Loki decided was a flirtatious manner.
"I wouldn't suppose you had, seeing that I am not from this area, and you most definitely are." He said, feeling the woman's hand being placed on his knee.
"No you most certainly aren't." She hiccupped once more. She leaned closer towards Loki, who was currently seated with one elbow on the bar and leaning on it lightly. He tensed when she got close enough that her perfume became slightly overpowering. He would have made some comment, telling her in the nicest manner possible to remove herself from his personal space, when Darcy stumbled back from the restroom and came upon the scene.
"Hey you," she growled, "back off." Her anger flashed in her eyes. Blondie turned towards her, eyes drooping just slightly and a dumb expression on her face.
"Talking to me frizzy?" she sneered, glancing at Darcy's slightly mussed locks.
Darcy took a step closer, "Yeah cowgirl, I am." Darcy accepted the Blonde's challenge, "That's my seat and my guy."
Loki was pulled back to reality in those words. He'd been amused by the girl's meager insults and had been wondering as to where they would take it, when Darcy referred to him as hers. He glanced at her questioningly. 'Obviously she's very drunk.' He decided, mostly as to reassure himself.
"Your seat?" Blondie laughed. "Maybe, but this ain't your guy."
She rubbed Loki's knee for emphasis. Loki looked at her, rather annoyed by her touch. He may not be Darcy's 'guy', but he was no more this stranger's. He was about to object when cowgirl spoke up once more.
"In fact, you can have the seat." She snickered, and then did something Loki was both surprised by and rather loathed. She pulled herself into his lap.
Darcy looked as if she might explode. Blondie sat with one leg on either side of Tony/Loki's and had her arms placed just barely around his neck. She was about to lean into him further when, even before Darcy could deck her, Tony/Loki placed his hands on her hips and whispered into the girl's ear. Darcy felt heartbroken.
"Dear, it appears you've angered my companion and also me. I'm not aware of how drunk you are, but I'm perfectly sober and would still gladly push you into the floor and leave you at the mercy of my…" Loki paused for just a moment, "girlfriend." He decided this word, while not true, would most convince the girl of the situation. "So perhaps you should leave before I do so."
She sneered at him, "Whatever sugar, you aren't my type anyway, having your girl fight for you." She slid off his lap and started to walk off when Darcy slammed her square in the jaw with more force than Loki even knew her fist had.
Darcy mumbled something Loki didn't catch. The bartender turned around and stared at the blonde who lay on the floor. "I apologize for my friend's behavior. Perhaps she's had one too many," he laughed, keeping the air light-hearted. "Perhaps we'll just settle our tab and go." Loki paid the man and tipped somewhat substantially to buy the girl a drink when she woke. They then hurried out of the bar.
"I'll drive." Darcy giggled, but just after the words left her mouth she nearly fell. Loki caught her and lifted her back to her feet.
"No Darcy, I think it'd be better if you didn't." He laughed lightly at the dumbfounded look on her face.
"You're gonna drive?" She mumbled, glancing up at his face awkwardly. "Well, good luck finding the keys." She had a smirk on her face and he frowned.
"No, I think we'll walk." He decided, neither wishing to know the origin of the smirk, or to drive when he had no clue how to even start then engine. He started towards the hotel, when Darcy wiggled slightly.
"I can still walk," she huffed and he released, hardly aware he'd still been holding her slightly, "And by the way, party pooper, they were only in my back pocket." She grumbled as if an afterthought.
Loki stared at her realizing her intentions. Sif's hair, this woman is very brave when she's drunk. He walked beside her, making sure she didn't attempt another face plant.
When it came time to cross the road to their hotel, a car seemed to come out of nowhere and Loki pulled Darcy from its path, all the while with her screaming various profanities at the driver.
Loki finally managed to get Darcy into the hotel room and help her onto a bed.
"No, no I was gonna sleep on the other bed." She fussed.
"This one will do just as well." He told her.
"Tony?" she asked, her eyes scanning him carefully.
"Yes, Darcy?" he sighed, she was very needy in this state and he decided to never again allow her that many drinks.
"What'd you tell that chick?" She asked, suddenly seeming near sober.
"Nothing of importance," Loki said recalling his exact words rather embarrassedly.
Darcy frowned at him. "Why can't you tell me?"
"I do not tell you because it does not matter." He answered quietly, aware that he must sound suspicious.
"Tony I wanna know." She pouted.
"Darcy," he felt utterly exasperated, "I told her that she was making both you and me angry and to leave."
"That's all?" Darcy was skeptical, "That doesn't seem worth the trouble you went to it ignore completely." She also recalled the blonde referring to Darcy as 'his girl'. She'd really hoped those words had first been Tony's/ Loki's.
"Good night, Darcy." He shut off the light before she could respond. Darkness shrouded the small room. He carefully made his way to his bed and kicked off his shoes before sliding under the covers. He drifted into a peaceful half sleep, his mind awake with thoughts.
Darcy tiptoed to the bathroom. She pulled some PJs from the duffel she'd brought in from the car and replaced the twice used clothes. She didn't feel up to a shower, or even a bath, and decided she'd do so in the morning. She tiptoed back into the room. She crawled into the bed she'd originally claimed, a subconscious effort really, and curled into a comfortable ball.
When Loki felt her presence in the bed he sighed. The woman was obstinate. He started to switch beds when she rolled into his side. He listened to hear if she was entirely asleep and found it just so. So her movement had been completely sleep induced and was probably just a reaction to his shift in positions. He tried once more but she burrowed into his side.
He stared at the sleeping girl curiously. She was in fact asleep, or it quite appeared as such. His shocked expression formed into a frown. One he adorned much more often in her presence. The look did not suit his features, but none the less sat there adamantly. He thought irritably about the girl's behavior. 'I am to never allow her to be drunk again, and that is without question. This state is very agitating.'
Making his arm stiff so she could move no closer, he got up from the bed and walked inaudibly to the other bedside. He pulled back the covers, but stood stationary for many moments. Why had part of him wanted to stay? He dismissed the unfathomable notion and crawled into the cheap bedding; drifting off after a rather eventful, you might say, night.