Thirty Two
Some six hours later, we had everyone together and ready to go. We had three trucks together with filled trailers. I had rented them under a fake name to throw anyone off. I left a secured file for Captain America. I locked the house down with the steel curtains and patched door. I hoped it looked like we were locked down inside.
"Everyone ready?" I turned to the group. "No powers from this point until we get there. We're driving cross country. If anyone of us gets lost, there is a burner cell phone in each car. Call me for directions. Try to stick together. It should take four days to reach our destination. And please don't get pulled over, we don't know who's the good guys anymore. Everyone got it?"
"Yes!" Shouted my small army.
We jumped into our designated trucks and hit the road. Jane drove the rear, with Thor and Eric Selvig. Pepper and Rhodey decided to drive with Clint, and somehow Bruce and I got stuck with Jane's friend Darcy.
I looked back at the house, one final time before pulling out of the drive. So many memories, I only hoped it would still be standing when we got back. I hoped Steve and Natasha were ok. I hoped they found the message and joined us.
Before the end of the first day, I was sick of Darcy. She talked nonstop about anything and everything, but mostly nothing. I was starting to think she enjoyed hearing her own voice. I tried turning the music up, but she only spoke louder. Bruce got smart and bought earplugs when we stopped for gas. I offered to trade her for Selvig. Thor and Jane said no, they didn't want her. I didn't want Pepper or Rhodey, that would just end in my driving off a cliff.
We stayed in a cheap motel in Texas. I sat on the bed, staring at my phone. I had cut the service to it, but my pictures remained. I stared at the picture of myself and Lana. Why had I sent him away. There was so much more I wanted to ask. I wanted to know why did he attack New York, where did the scars on his body come from, who was Thanos? I felt a tear run down my face. I was painfully sober, the first time in weeks. I could have made it work, it wasn't him being a guy that made it difficult. I'd been with guys before. It was during college and it was usually just a blow job to pay for drugs. But I could make it work. It was the mass murderer, delusional maniac I couldn't deal with.
I missed him. I could almost feel his lips on mine, almost feel his smooth hands brushing across my bare skin. I opened my eyes to my dark empty room. I cried myself to sleep.
Three painful days later, we had made it to Cincinnati without anyone getting lost, or killed. Even though I wanted to kill Darcy.
"Here, you can have her back." I walked a still chattering Darcy to Jane. She rolled her eyes at me.
"Where are we?" Pepper asked looking at the forest undergrowth. "I thought you said this was a safe house."
"We're here." I said as I approached a wall of ivy. "Guys, a little help?" Everyone looked at me funny, but moved to helped. We pulled the ivy down revealing a large bunker door. I grabbed the gauntlets from the car. Using the jet assist I managed the door open. It was big enough to drive into.
"What is this place?" Clint stared in wonder.
"Old missile silo. I've retrofitted it into a safe house. There could be a nuclear war going on out here, and we'd never know." I stood proudly.
"Did you buy this off QVC?" Darcy asked. I rolled my eyes.
"No…" I patronized.
"Well, let us go and get set up." Thor boomed.
We were able to drive all three trucks inside to unload. After unloading, Clint, Bruce and I returned the trailers and two trucks to the rental place in town. I was tired and painfully sober. I had to stay sober for the last four days to drive. We picked up twenty pizzas for dinner. I doubt there would be leftovers between the God and the nuclear reactor. Someone would have to go grocery shopping the next day. We were all just so tired from the four day trek across country.
The silo was set up a lot like Stark Tower. A common room near the bottom of the silo, and an elevator running the center. Each floor it's own separate apartment. Thor and Jane, Pepper and Rhodey, much to my dismay. Darcy and Selvig opted for a floor together, and I opted for the floor closest to my lab. Bruce took the guest room on my floor. The only bad part was, if you got hungry in the middle of the night, you had to go downstairs.
The first few days were fine as everyone settled in. It was hard watching Pepper and Rhodey.
It was hard watching them flirt and kiss. It was hard watching her be happy. I locked myself in the lab on the top floor. I refused to come out. I refused visitors. I told everyone I was working on an important project. In reality I was lying on the floor in a drunken stupor. I'd been thinking about Loki again. I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to see him. I needed away from all this happiness.