Update time. The Diner is somewhat fun huh? I wish I had a gay boss. But sadly mine is as straight as they can get. Too bad.

This chapter is dedicated to Embers in the Flames for writing the most kind-est reviews I have ever received...especially since they are my first. lol.

I also want to say that Tony Stark is indeed himself in this story, but he is not Iron Man. This is an AU story and I've chosen to keep everyone human with no super about them. That includes the Iron Man suit etc. But not to worry. All of the original Marvel characters still look the same. All muscled. All hunky and handsome. Even Steve will be still pumped up and all-american muscle. I just won't mention the serum that got him that way. So I didn't steal away that joy.

I do not own anything...except a waitress's uniform that's too tight and an X written on the sleeves with White-Out.

Darcy walked back to the counter. Frankie was standing there looking at her with his tablet on the counter. That's not good. Frankie never put his tablet down unless he was about to use the bathroom or getting dressed to leave.

"What's up Frankie?" Darcy asked while stepping behind the counter. She began to move to the far end, so that Loki wouldn't be able to see her if he decided to glance over.

Don't flatter yourself. The guy isn't gonna check up on you. You're not famous.

"Well Darcy. It seems that you have given the ring to that very handsome man."

"Wait what?"

Frankie smirked and pointed at the spot on her chest where the ring had been.

"Tall, dark and handsome over there must have been the guy that you bumped into last night because you gave him the ring."

"You were watching me Frankie?" Darcy questioned. It also bothered her on how observant he was.

"Of course. He's handsome don't ya think? Too bad he's not gay." Frankie sighed as he leaned over the counter in Loki's direction like a school girl.

Darcy laughed. Of course Frankie would know if anyone was gay. He had a freaking meter in his skull. The loon. But at least she wasn't the only one that noticed that he was tall dark and handsome. Mmmmmmmmmm yummy

"Well you have to be careful now. Allura is gonna be coming in for her shift soon and you don't want her to sniff him out." Frankie said while resting his hand on his chin. Staring at Loki.

"Frankie, that's a little creepy staring at him like that." Darcy said. She walked over to Frankie and mimicked Frankie's posture. From this angle she could see Loki's face from the side.

They had been staring for at least a minute when Loki turned his head and his Green eyes met her blue ones. Then he smirked.

Crap!

Darcy ducked down so hard she hit her funny bone on the counter's edge and let out a squeal as she fell butt-first onto the floor. "FUCK! Why do they call it a funny bone if it hurts so damn bad!" Darcy huffed as she got up.

Frankie on the other hand was laughing hysterically and watched as Darcy wobbled up. Somehow she had inched herself back far enough to be hidden from Loki's view.

"It's a funny bone because it's funny for others to witness your pain." And from that Frankie picked up his tablet and began to walk to the kitchens.

"Also I waved at him. So he's no longer smirking. But he does turn an interesting shade of pink. Too bad he isn't gay." Frankie smiled.

"Did you say you waved at him?" Darcy gasped while running behind him.

"Of course I did sweetheart! It was my only chance to see if he was off the market. And I must say he is clearly off. The way he made eye contact with you, it was like he was gonna watch you like how we were watching him." Frankie winked. He always had the strange actions when you don't know what he was gonna do until he already does it. He sure as hell wasn't shy about it.

"This isn't a romantic comedy Frankie where they fall in love at first sight. This is more of the movie where I stare at him until he gets uncomfortable and leaves. Days later a restraining order will magically show up at my door forbidding me to be 10 feet way from him. Then I come back to work and he's sitting there again and Boom. I'll be someone's jail-wife." Darcy smirked. Sometimes she got overly dramatic, and those criminal Mind marathons were corrupting her badly.

Pretending to pick lint off his black shirt, Frankie turned and looked at her.

"Ms. Lewis you have 5 more minutes of your lunch break left. Then you will have 10 minutes left before Allure gets here, if she gets here on time. Make a game plan girl." He smiled slyly and left.

Five minutes of break and ten minutes before Allura came? What was that all about? Darcy mindlessly pulled a granola bar out of a cabinet and began to chew on it.

What does he mean? Then it came to her. How can I be so stupid!

Darcy had 15 minutes before Allura came to steal Loki. Allura was a pretty blonde that worked at the diner. She had a reputation for stealing men and Frankie had definitely hinted to Darcy that Allura would take interest in Loki. Allura should have an 'Always Open' sign on her ass. Well if Allura was gonna challenge her, and Darcy knew she will, Darcy was gonna raise hell. Or at least fight with it.

Loki sat there in his booth. Sipping his coffee and pondering about Darcy, his lovely waitress friend. Thoughts raced through his head as he stared absentmindedly out the window.

This girl is definitely different. Not the normal person. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Loki stroked his silver ring as he thought about the girl. How would he ask her out? Will she say yes? Where would he take her? Does she already have a lover?

She may have a lover. A women like that never stays single for long. Loki thought. That dwindled down his spirits. What if he asked her out and she rejected him? Or worst, say that she had a boyfriend and would never be interested in him?

At that moment Loki felt like he was being watched. He glanced up from the window but no one was in the front of him. It must be his nerves.

Where did his little waitress go? Loki turned his head to the counter to find Darcy and another man staring directly at him. They both had their elbows propped up on the counters with their chins resting in the palms of their hands...staring dreamily at him.

The sight of his little waitress looking dreamily at him with half lidded eyes made him smirk. She had found him attractive. As he made eye contact with her she jumped up and somehow hit something because she fell down. Chuckling softly Loki smiled wider...until the man that was beside her waved to him with the flutter of his fingertips, his eyes half lidded as well.

Loki's eyes widen in surprise and he swiftly looked away while he felt his face getting red-hot.

Did that fellow just wave at me like...a lady?

Loki stared at the counter top and listening as booming laughter came from the counter's direction.

Oh my. That was a first.

Darcy was sitting on the kitchen floor for about 10 minutes, confused and nervous about what to do next. Should she just come out and ask Loki out?

No. Darcy grow a set and step up to that man!

Darcy got up, fixed her apron and walked out the kitchen, just as she was about to head around the counter, Allura stood there in all her golden glory, putting on her apron and staring at Loki's direction. Fuck!

"Hey Darcy who's that yummy rich guy in the booth over there?" Allura asked. She never bothered to say good morning to anyone. She was those types that didn't have conversations with others unless she wanted something. And by the way she was staring at Loki, she most definitely wanted him.

Why so you can run over there and straddle him?

"A customer that looks like he wants the check." Darcy said and hurried to Loki's table.

"I'll give it to him!" Allura said, quickly fixing her golden hair and grabbing a check book.

It would be easier if she would just strip naked and run to him. Save her the time. Darcy's clenched her teeth. Do not bitch slap her. Do not bitch slap her.

"No." Frankie said coming out of no where. "He's Darcy's customer and so she waits on him. Not you Allura. But since you're so eager to work you can go clean the tables on your side of the Diner" Or go in the bathroom and clean the drool off your chin.

Allura glared at Frankie and left from behind the counter. Her hair swayed as she slowly walked pass Loki's booth.

Darcy watched as Allura turned to Loki and said something to him. Loki looked startled at first and then smiled and said something back, keeping eye contact. Allura smiled wider and then walked to her side of the Diner, trying to swish her little hips.

That damn women! Darcy thought. She was wondering what Allura had said to Loki. Was he interested. He did smile at her.

"Thank god that Allura has a flat ass." Darcy muttered as she gathered the check books.

"Go work yours then." Frankie chuckled and pushed her along towards Loki. Game on.

Loki had finally gotten over his blush when a tall, bouncy blonde walked past his booth. And turned to him.

"Hey handsome." she said while smiling widely. The way she fluttered her eyelashes made it seem as though something was stuck in them.

"Hello" Loki said, trying to be polite. This woman was slightly getting on his nerves already. Reminding him of those women that would flirt with him and his brother at the parties his parents would throw. He loathed those women. For they only seemed to be Thor's type. Allura would have been the perfect match for Thor in a way. That made him even more uncomfortable with her presence.

"Will I be seeing you around here more handsome?" The blonde asked. Her blue eyes was unlike Darcy's. Instead of deep swirling pools, they looked icy glassy. As if there were nothing behind them and was nothing more then a shard of Chrystal.

"Perhaps you will." But I will not be looking for your company. He thought. He was only looking forward to his little waitress. And to that thought of coming to visit Darcy here made him smile wider. He was happy to know where Darcy worked now.

"Great!" She said and bounced. She gave him one more smile and winked. Then turned and walked away, trying to swish her hips but actually looking like she was trying to pull at her underpants. The way that she walked made Loki want to roll his eyes. Pity the girl is trying to hard.

Just then Darcy came sprinting up. Lightly bouncing on her feet. Here comes my little creature.

"Hey sorry about the wait. Want the check?" she asked. She slightly blushed then glared at the other waitress who was glancing over this way. It looked as though Darcy was going to attack the girl at any moment. Which made Loki smile. He nodded as Darcy dropped the check on his table and smiled.

"Soooo what's up?" She asked. Biting her lip. It sent Loki's mind into a frenzy. As a distraction he looked up.

"Hmmm...apparently the sky, but it's being covered by the ceiling." Loki wanted to slap his forehead. Great joke moron.

But his Darcy snorted and looked up. "Yeah the crappy ceiling, which I pray to everyday to not fall and kill us all. I don't know why Frankie never wants to hire people and fix it. He claims that it's not broke so he won't fix it."

As Loki was about to say something his phone went off in his pocket. He looked at Darcy with a guilty look in his eyes. She smiled and nodded her head.

"I'll be right back." She said as she skipped away toward the counter again, giving him privacy.

Irritated, Loki answered the call and snapped an hello.

"Hello Tony. What do you want?"

Tony chuckled from the other end of the phone.

"Well hello to you too sunshine!" He sung. Loki pinched the bridge of his nose. Tony was his business partner and his friend. His very immature, annoying friend.

"What do you want Tony? I was in a conversation with someone."

"Well Loki, I was being the awesome friend that I am and reminding you that the meeting is starting in 10 minutes and to get your skinny ass here."

Loki hung up the phone and looked at his watch. Damn it! I'm gonna be late!

Gathering up his things he looked at the counter but Darcy wasn't there. Loki sighed. He was going to say goodbye and get her number.

In a mad rush he yanked out a piece of paper in his pocket and a pen and scrawled a note to her to place next to his money and bill. He thought about leaving his number but his old manners thought that it would be best for him to get her number first in person. So he scrawled a message and raced out the door, not bothering to look behind him.

Darcy had left Loki to answer his call. While she waited for him to finish she took his empty dishes to the kitchen and dropped them in the sink. Returning to the front she became wide-eyed as she watched him race up and leave the Diner. Without a glance her way. Her heart fell.

Either Allura got to him while I was gone and scared him off, or worst. I scared him off and he was running away before confronting me. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to punch Allura right there in her mouth in-front of the whole Diner, but she also wanted to punch Loki in the face for ditching her without a word. Now I remember why I don't date. Men are asshats.

She walked over slowly and picked up the bill and the money. At least he payed his bill instead of dining and ditching. There she saw a folded piece of paper. What's this? She opened it and read the words written in neat, slanted writing.

Got called into a business meeting. I'm sorry for dashing off. See you tomorrow.

-Loki

Darcy took a deep breath. She felt silly. Of course he had a meeting. He was an important business man. That explained the phone call and him leaving in a hurry. See I'm not Godzilla. Not all men run...I think.

Looking at Allura and smirking, Darcy walked back to the counter where Frankie had materialized again.

"Where did our man-candy go?" He asked.

"Business meeting." Darcy said. Failing to hide her smile. "He'll be back tomorrow."

"And how do you know that Ms. Lewis?" He asked, leaning on the counter.

"He left a note."

Okay. I'm a little tired of the Diner now. It's been a few chapters now and I think Darcy needs to focus on work so the next chapter will be a new place! Also Allura is based off of the Enchantress, and Marvel character that was Loki's love interest in the comics. I've always thought of her as a girl who tries too hard to get the guys she wanted. Ugh. Don't you hate those kind of people. Let's hope Darcy could keep her in her place. The songs that was playing in the back-ground of the diner while all of this was in motion was Get Some By Lykke Li and Up In Flames by She Wants Revenge. Don't forget to review! More chapters, characters, and action to come!

-Midnight