Chapter Text
It was a typical Tuesday afternoon at the tower and Darcy was checking up on her scientists. Things were finally back to normal for her after Loki had turned her into a cat. She wasn't complaining, after all she had ended up with a smoking hot boyfriend and she was currently enjoying the first stages of a healthy relationship.
Bruce and Erik were at a conference, so her workload was less hectic. If she was lucky, maybe she would have a romantic night with Steve. They usually stayed in and he made the best pasta. He even made his sauce from scratch.
Darcy tucked Jane into bed, her best friend was worn out after a massive science marathon.
"The stars, Darcy." Jane muttered even as her eyes closed. "So pretty."
"Yes, Janey." The assistant smiled fondly as she turned the lights off. "The stars are pretty."
Jane turned over and with a delicate snore, she was fast asleep.
"One down, one more to go," Darcy closed the door.
"I believe that sir fell asleep in his workshop," Jarvis advised her.
"Thanks Jarvis," she sighed. Tony was hiding out in his workshop again. "He's been drinking all day?"
"I'm afraid that I am not permitted to disclose any information when it comes to sir's alcohol consumption." The AI could be dry and so clever.
"That's a yes then. I'm worried about him." She spoke as she headed to the R and D floor. "Its like the workshop has become his foxhole and he's hiding from the world. The Ten rings and the Mandarin did a real job on him."
She hit the elevator button and stood back. "I wish that I could help him." And Pepper, she added mentally. Pepper Potts was still trying to figure out her new Extremis related abilities but Tony seemed to trigger her. He didn't mean to, but Pepper had a short fuse and Tony made her angry so easily. That left a lot of stuff burnt to a crisp, Pepper fleeing in tears and Tony would retreat to his workshop.
"You are helping, Miss Lewis." The AI assured her.
She walked through the workshop as Jarvis opened the glass doors for her.
She greeted Dum-E who was busy at the smoothie station and she waved at You and Butterfingers. The robots whirred about, cleaning the floors.
Darcy looked at the work stations, there was no sign of the billionare, philanthropist and People magazine's man of the year for the last four years.
Well, except for this year. Thor had taken all the sexiest man alive awards for this year.
She huffed an impatient breath as she peered under the counters.
She headed to the couch closest to the bar and sure enough, she spotted the fringes of the old grey SI t-shirt.
"Tony?" She called softly as she moved to the couch. She shot backwards in alarm, hitting her elbow hard against the table behind her. She steadied the bourbon and tequila bottles that littered the table.
Darcy kneeled forward carefully and pried away the SI t-shirt, the jeans lay bunched up on the couch.
"Tony?" She asked again softly.
Bright obsidian eyes stared back at her.
"Loki?" She called.
Darcy looked down at Tony, she didn't know what to do but she knew who was responsible. "Loki did you just turn Tony Stark into a fox cub?"
The silence was resounding but she could feel the distinct aftermath of magic. "More mischief Loki?"
All she heard was the soft yipping of Tony who was trying to talk to her.
He was gorgeous. Burnt umber fur with a black frame around his mouth, where his facial hair had been. He was small and she just wanted to cuddle him. He looked scared and he crept closer to her, nuzzling her with his cold nose.
Darcy touched his red coat and brushed her fingers all the way down to his charcoal tail.
"I don't get paid enough for this," she said loudly for Loki's benefit.