disclaimer: do not own marvel, never will.

this is an unbeta'd product, so all foolish mistakes are solely mine and mine alone. Woe me :p

Chapter 34

Bob groaned and leaned back is his car seat, it wasn't a beauty to behold but it had four wheels, breaks and signal lights that actually worked. The beast, that's what he called her. Named after the loud gurgling sound she made when he turned the keys. The beast and his small apartment were all the riches he owned and needed. There was no point spending money on overpriced luxuries; after all he'd learned the hard way that nothing went the way you wanted. Always prepare for the unexpected, manage your savings and be kind to strangers.

So here he was, at five in the morning, playing chauffeur for the richest man in town, Tony Stark. Who wasn't a stranger any longer, more like a mutual acquaintance, Bob guessed. Another good example of ending up in unexpected places, if somebody told him five months ago that helping that poor disoriented kid would lead to this he'd call them crazy.

Heck he'd still call them crazy.

Half of the time Bob was furious with Starks ridiculous behaviour. No sane man woke another up at three in the morning to "pick them up". It wasn't even asked politely, more…thrown his way in hope he'd catch it.

Half of the time, Stark was a decent man who did the right thing. Albeit in a rather eccentric flashy way, loud, in your face attitude and a smile that drew in women, or men. Sometimes he was a selfless hero putting himself on the frontline so that others didn't need to.

A hand moved in front of Bob's face rapidly making gestures to his left. "Wait, wait! It's a left right here."

Bob slapped the hand blocking his vision. Most of the time, Tony Stark was still annoyingly similar to a hyper active brat, and not the adult he could be. "Can't ya just tell me where to go?" He turned left on fifth, thankful that there was no traffic this time of night." It's not that hard at all ya know."

Tony rolled his eyes and shook his hand in mock hurt. "Why can't you drive something decent With a gps? Or board computer. "Soon enough his attention was trailed off to something else he noticed, as he poked the concerning device with curious interest. " I can't believe this thing still plays cassettes" Pepper had hired Bob and although Tony didn't know what the older man got paid it was sure as hell enough for at least a small BMW business car. This atrocity smelled like a sweaty, grease stained, sugar addict was its previous owner, in retrospect it probably was true.

Expensive stores with vague but stylish window displays flashed by as they drove. "We're here, park the car somewhere close by" Happy always found a spot, so it couldn't be that hard, especially considering the hour of night.

Bob refused to believe his ears. "This is Soho you moron!" He simply received a blank unimpressed stare back. "Ya don't have a clue what parking costs here do ya? I can't just park here." An hour parking here would be a month's wage in Bangladesh, if not more.

"Yuppie" Bob muttered under his breath.

Tony stepped out the car and put on his shades. "I'm sorry; i can't hear you over the sound of my awesome." Or pretend awesome, because he felt ridiculous wearing a hospital dress, slippers and Ray ban's. However if somebody could pull it off and start a new trend it would most definitely be him.

There was no front or visible store name, nothing giving price what the pristine, creamy white building was but a small polished copper nameplate. "Come on Bob, you can bill the ticket to me if you get one." Car parked crookedly the bold man hurriedly crossed the street. The intercom buzzed and Tony pushed the door in, one of the many benefits of being famous and rich was that everything opened for you at any given time, day or night.

Giving good tips also helped. And let it be known that Tony Stark was a very generous man.

They weren't even half way the hall when a large, opulent door slid open and an immaculately dressed man greeted them. "Tony! Darling it's always nice to see you." Slow but gracefully the man turned to bob. "And you are?"

"Euhhh, Bob pleased to meet ya." He held out his hand, expecting to be greeted with another handshake. Instead both he and Stark received an air kiss on each side of the cheek.

The engineer appeared used to this and was already making his way inside. "Jacques, let's get this party on the road. I don't have all night." It was a clothing store, one that would glare at you with malicious intent if it was capable, Store was such a mediocre name after all. A boutique, filled with tailored suits in all imaginable variations ranging from classic attire, to as flamboyant as the store's owner.

Jacques gave Stark's hospital dress a disgusted glance. "You're right you do need my help urgently. I have a suitable selection ready for you right here." He stared in contemplation at the casted leg."Hmmmm... I would have to adjust the trousers, this simply won't do…"

Tony didn't need to browse; he was already eyeing a deep black suit paired with a golden tie. "Bob here also needs a set. Nothing extravagant, just simple and clean. "Further inspection proved it to be a very dark midnight blue instead a colour that instantly reminded him of Loki." I'm taking this one."

Bob froze in his footsteps. "What! I don't need a suit. I've got one from Prato men's fine wear, wasn't even a hundred bucks." He could feel Jacques prying eyes measuring him from a distance, before he was pushed into a mahogany wood stall with velvet curtains was a sincere while the store's owner said. "Oh you poor thing..."

When Bob emerged he had to admit the suit he wore felt more comfortable compared to the one he had. His arm movement wasn't obstructed and the legs were short enough. Bob drowned in his own; it was hard finding pants if you were short and stocky. From the adjoined room Bob heard the rhythmic ticking of a sewing machine, soft melodic music and a female voice asking politely to sit still. Naturally he expected to see a woman adjusting Starks pants while the man in question patiently waited.

Well he was wrong about that.

Very wrong.

Jacques himself was busy on the sewing machine with a pure look of concentration, pins in his mouth and softly humming to the tune of a classical music piece. The tailor had disappeared in his own world, as if the others in the room didn't exist. All in all, Bob thought, he was doing a good job ignoring Stark.

Bob wished he could say the same.

Stark had a phone pressed to his ear and was charmingly smiling as he chatted away with charismatic persuasion. In front of him a young women was trying to apply foundation on his face in order to cover the remaining bruises. Her efforts were valiant but in vain, the engineer used his hands, arms, expression and whole body to talk. His call ended with a "Yeah, thanks, bye" and a lewd wink that made the make-up artist blush cherry red.

Deprived of his sleep Bob was growing more ticked off by the minute. "Don't you have the decency to wear pants like a normal human being?" Locke had acted like a spoiled Prince without any emotional intelligence whatsoever. Yet everything had been a lot easier than this overgrown kindergartener.

Tony saw how red Bob was turning. "Easy there." He said lowering his hands slowly up and down in a calming manner. "There isn't enough New York for two green raging behemoths."

The constant tacking of a sewing machine stopped and Jacques handed Tony his newly adjusted pant for fitting. "I can't believe you made me cut those perfects pants. And Velcro ughh..."

Tony eyed the garment and tried it on "perfect fit, Velcro solves everything." Well nearly perfect anyway, the tailor here worked wonders if you were willing to pay the price.

Jacques visibly shivered at the comment. "How crude. I much preferred to dress that lovely new assistant of yours. Now that was a man with refined taste darling, and quite the looker to." He drew in a deep breath and sighed. "Shame he didn't want to try on..."

Tony snapped his fingers in front of the tailors face." Hey! That's my assistant you're daydreaming about." Shouted Tony instinctively, surprised by his own words he snapped shut. It only lasted a moment but the knowing leer the tailor gave, told Tony his jealous spat had betrayed him.

Jacques was very amused by this new discovery. "Interesting..." In his hands was a leather bound booklet, well used by the look of it. After scribbling a few notes Jacques said." I shall send the receipt to the usual address." With a shark like smile he added." Let your lovely assistant take care of it."

They were out of the exclusive store and back into the car before Bob could reject this ridiculously overprized suit. Thoughtfully he watched Stark fumble to find a comfortable enough position. Once seated Stark looked out the window and impatiently tapped his fingers on his knee.

Bob knew he couldn't have misinterpreted the conversation; the defensive shout had been too fast for that. If he hadn't seen the surprised look of a dead fish on Starks face he'd had a hard time believing it. That had been a small but genuine outburst of jealousy.

Their drive to airport was uneventful and silent. Bob didn't know what to say for the moment, or rather said he was saving it for later. Stark was busy talking again, this while he made wide exaggerating gestures to show the route. It wasn't long before Bob drove to see a private hanger and turned as white as a sheet. "Please tell me i don't need to go on that thing. "A small black aircraft waiting outside, it looked like the lovechild from the chopper in Airwolf and the Delorian.

Tony rounded up his conversation on the phone and grinned happily. "Where is your sense of adventure Bob! The open skies for the taking, damsels in distress and one-eyed pirates." One of these day's he would give Fury a black leather pirate hat to match his coat. He lifted his sunglasses and gave an affirmative nod to the crew that got her ready. "Well Bob, come on, she doesn't bite you know." There wasn't anything like her in the world; literally, he'd designed her from scratch for those special occasions you needed to travel to places your private jet couldn't take you.

Tony had dubbed her the Humming bird.

"I do really need you to get on board. It's all part of my plan." Demanded Tony casually shoving Bob towards the Hummingbird. "I mean scheme, he'd like that better." Scheme, list a trick they all these words had that certain feel of Loki, while plan just sounded dreadfully ordinary. Steve would have a solid trustworthy plan, Loki would have a devilish scheme.

Before bob boarded the aircraft he managed to say one thing before the door shut. " Prepare for the shovel speech of your lifetime Stark."

"Stark knows." she stated softly.

Clint nearly spewed his drink out. "What the? How the hell does he know." Very carefully, and out of Natasha's reach he asked. "You didn't get caught did you?"

The glare she gave him could have made a grown man shit his pants. "No seriously, what the hell happened."

"I'd like to know that as well." Said Steve entering the common room with Bruce in tow Earlier this day he'd paid Fury a visit, they kept him off bay, trying to convince him that the commander wasn't there. When he finally did see fury the man was as misleading as always, although he did mention that if Steve could prove Loki had even a speck of innocence in him during the attacks on New York he'd "gladly" keep his hands off.

Natasha kept an eye on Clint. "I used one of his distorters to reroute a fake video feed." As if it was an apology Clint held out a glass of water. She accepted it and took a sip before she continued her story. "I believe Starks own paranoia is to blame, the device sent out a signal. he tapped into their system that way."

Clint groaned and perched on the kitchen counter, which had become his spot during any meeting. "Doesn't he ever sleep like a normal human being."

Steve looked at Hawkeye sternly. "It's not like i have the same sleeping pattern as before the serum. None of us are normal people." He needed what, about four hours of rest. It wasn't as if he could sleep longer than that, even if he wanted to. Especially on nights like this, lying in bed alone overthinking things.

"Natasha, Clint, get the quinjet ready for take-off." He fiddled a bit with what Tony called a smartphone, build sturdy enough to withstand clumsy super soldiers. Steve had quickly become used to the small device, grateful that Jarvis was connected to it. "Jarvis can you connect me to Dr Foster please."

"Certainly sir Rogers." Answered the A.I. in an almost pleased way.

Steve saw his screen emitting a light blue and gently tapped the dice twice. "Dr Foster? Is Thor there I'd like to speak to him.

"Who the hell is this? How did you get this number" Pried the demanding, impolite voice of a young woman.

Steve didn't want to dally and came straight to the point." Captain Rogers, i need Thor on..." A loud enthusiastic squeal, hurtful to the ear, made him pull away the phone in surprise.

Carefully he tried again, hoping that the girl's sudden enthusiasm had subsided. "Hello? Who is this?" He'd know dames could swoon over him; it wasn't any different in the forties. Lord knows he'd caught the dancers from the USA show ogling him several times, one time a lady went even as far to pull him down for a straightforward rough kiss. Explaining it to Peggy was one of the worst things he ever had to do. Steve had been nervous, sweaty and felt a dire need to continuously apologize.

Before he could dwell on the thought the girl rambled on. "Oh my god it's Captain America himself on the phone. I'm Darcy by the way, Jane's assistant." Just when Steve figured he was talking to a normal enthusiastic fan Darcy yelled."JANEeeeee Captain tight-ass is calling your boyfriend. I'm putting him on the speaker."

Somewhere in the distance Steve heard, what he assumed to be, Jane's voice shouting a desperate "Darcy no."

In a deeper, flirtatious voice Darcy continued her one-sided conversation." Hey, how you doing? "

Steve knew that it was a pop-culture reference, he'd heard, and seen Tony use it before often combined with a nod or wink. So he was well aware, even without seeing Darcy that she was wiggling her eyebrows. "I'd be doing a lot better if i could speak to Thor."

" Nnnngh..." Darcy groaned. "Polite and sassy you're a keeper."

"Darcy!"

Somewhere in the background Steve heard a small struggle over the phone combined with a nagging soft "Nooooo." Within seconds however he recognized the familiar booming voice of the thunderer. "I see you have been victorious my Jane, i expected no less. How do you fair Captain of America?"

Finally Steve felt for Jane, who he heard discussing with her assistant in the distance. "I'm doing well Thor, but we need you here if you can make it. We found Loki, i know that you're not allowed to do anything to directly aid him by law." Which Steve still found a ridiculous idea. Thor still cared for his younger brother, and if something dire happened he couldn't do anything but let it. Steve found it unusually cruel. "However I'd still like you there with us. We're leaving now for the hellicarrier to tell Fury to let him go."

"I will meet you there my shieldbrother! You have my gratitude for helping him, Loki did no harm this time." Thor and his hammer had taken off. Leaving behind the sound of a storming crack in the air, and rush of whirling wind.

If fury wanted only a grain of evidence, then Steve would gladly shove it under his nose.

As always thank you for the patience guys!
Next chapter we'll have the "great" escape, it's going to be a long one so i'm working my way through it slowly.

Feel free to leave some food for the soul( aka reviews)