A Funny Thing Happened During The Battle of New York

xxiii.

I passed out on the incredibly uncomfortable cot in the "cell" after staring at the wall for an undetermined amount of time. I thought the fact that I was being held against my will might keep me up, but the lack of sleep the past few days caught up to me.

I jerked awake, drool coating my cheek, when a loud beeping sound emitted from my wrist. I blinked blurry eyed at the cool metal band wrapped snuggly against my skin.

I stared at it—wondering if I had dreamed the noise—when a small red light started blinking on the edge of the metal. Upon closer inspection I could see a tiny hole that the contained the source of the light. When my face was nearly an inch away from it's surface—due to me trying to figure out how to turn off the light—a voice startled me so badly I jerked off the cot and on the floor.

"T-man to Birdie, come in Birdie."

I groaned from my place on the ground as Tony Starks voice continued to sound from my wrist.

"When I got a call from our mutual friend and resident senior citizen, I thought to myself, what HAS my favorite barista gotten herself into this time? And wouldn't ya' know it when I turned on my little tracking device it shows you holed up inside the Triskelion—under armed guard. Tsk tsk little bird, seems you got yourself into a bit of a pickle."

"Lovely to hear from you again too, Tony."

"I'm honestly a bit hurt that I'm only hearing from you under duress..You never visit, you never call..."

"Tony." I sighed.

The millionaire continued his rambling as I lifted myself from the ground.

"I thought we were besties, I let you use my fancy espresso machine.."

"Tony!" I barked.

"Yes dear?"

"You're rambling." I said, suppressing a grin.

"Ah, yes. It's a thing I do. Anyways. Seems like you could use some help."

I sat down on the cot and stared at the bracelet.

"What's the plan?"

"Well I am glad you asked....believe it or not S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't done much to update their firewalls since the last time I hacked into their system."

"You've hacked them before? Why am I not surprised?" I muttered.

"I'll have you know that the last time was perfectly warranted....."

A strange tremor went through the building and I looked up at the ceiling. Tony was still rambling about weapons schematics and the attack on New York when it happened again, this time a bit stronger. A feint booming noise accompanied the next few tremors and dust began to float from the ceiling.

"Tony?"

"That's my name."

"Something's going on." I whispered as the glass of water they had left me had tiny ripples on the surface of the liquid.

"Oh? Yes. That—well seems like your boy toy has gotten himself into somewhat of a pickle as well, he's currently topside dealing with the rabble."

"What?!" I squawked shooting to my feet.

"I've been tasked with getting you out of the danger zone, I thought I'd mentioned that already. Anywho, as I'm currently on a tiny island sipping on ridiculously expensive fruity drinks I'm unable to be there in person—so you'll have to make due with my replacement."

The door to my cell burst open, I swallowed back a shriek as I came face to face with Iron Man. My eyes widened as the helmet opened up, followed by various other compartments opening showing the space where Tony should be.