Stars Dance

Stark Tower

Against my better judgment i did try to go to sleep that night. After checking in on Astella, multiple times, and pacing my room i laid down and turned off all the lights hopping sleep would find me. It didn't. Groaning I sit up on my sheets and run my hand down my face in exhaustion and frustration. I wanted to go check on Astella again but I could just see Natasha shaking her head at me and telling me how suffocating I was being. Even though,really, Astella didn't know who I was most of the time. I got up anyways and changed out of my cotton pants and grabbed my jacket. I pulled my shoes on and headed out the door and down the hallway. There were still people running around at this hour so the halls were full of activity. I ducked down her hallway to her room when the alarm went off. I expected her to come out of her room and barrel down the hallway instead Clint stepped out.

"What's going on? Where's Astella?" I questioned.

"She escaped." He muttered crossing his arms over his chest.

"Escaped, but her door is motion censored if she escaped.." Barton interrupts me.

"She disabled everything before she left. She knew what she was doing." Damn it Astella.

"How long has she been gone? Do you know?" Clint brings up his arm and cheeks his watch.

"Ten minutes at most." I sighed in frustration.

"She could be half way around the world by now!" I shouted at him.

"You don't think I know that." He replied with a glare.

"So I'm guessing you both realized she's gone." Natasha said with a sigh as she walked up.

"Yes." Clint and i replied harshly at the same time.

"Stop the tough macho act and let's go find her." i turned all of my anger and attention toward her.

"How! We can't track her. We have nothing to track her with." Natasha just stared at me. Had they accomplished that? Bugging her? "Don't tell me you guys bugged her." i demanded. Natasha rolled her eyes and began to walk away.

"We didn't. The bugs wouldn't stick." Natasha says rounding a corner.

"Guys." Dr. Banner's voice came over the com-link as Clint and I jogged to catch up with Natasha. "We have a call from Stark." that stopped us in our tracks.

"Patch us through." Dr. Banner didn't reply but soon we could hear Tony's arrogant voice in our heads.

"So Banner how are things with the stars and stripes club. Fight any good monsters with your big bad posse lately?" i sighed.

"Stark we've been trying to reach you for weeks why are you calling now?" Clint questioned.

"Hmm. Oh right that whole not returning calls thing. Well I'm a very busy guy as you know. I may have a little problem on my hands right now though. Hey! No put that down!" clearly that last part wasn't meant for us.

"Stark who is there with you?" i asked a bit hopeful.

"Well let's just say i know what all those calls were about. Astella! Hey! Calm down!" Astella. There was a giant crash followed by a yelp from Tony. "Hurry." the line went dead.

"Well we know where she is now." Natasha said lightly heading the other way back towards the elevator.

"Banner? You coming?" i asked. He was silent i think he was shaking his head.

"No i think i'll let you guys handle this on. Say hello to Tony for me." he clicked off and we stepped inside the slow moving contraption up toward the surface world.