Starting Over - Loki (COMPLETE)

44) Shawarma

"This better be good, Stark," Natasha warned.

"Please, call me Tony," Tony flirted back.

The Avengers, for once in their lives, had listened to Tony and decided to get shawarma. Not one of them knew what it was but any food would be gratefully received at this point. So, mucky and grimy and covered in Chitauri blood, they entered the shawarma place.

"Got any tables?" Tony asked cheerfully.

The staff, in the process of sweeping the floor because it looked like a bomb had hit the building, froze at the familiar tones of Iron Man. Then they just stared at the sight.

Iron Man may have taken off his suit but Tony Stark was just as famous as the former. Sure he may have some sort of gunk in his hair but nobody was going to mention it.

Alden Walker, or Loki as he was now known to be, was in some sort of wizard's get-up, hands still glowing with magical, psychedelic sparks.

Steve Rogers, the national icon Captain America, looked exhausted but was at least still wearing the stars and stripes.

Thor, the most muscle anybody had ever seen on earth, seemed unsure of himself with his tattered red cape dragging behind him. His long blond hair was certainly matted but it was the thought that counted.

Bruce, Natasha and Clint were far less easily recognised but, standing beside the likes of Tony, Loki, Thor and Steve, were obviously the remaining three Avengers.

The woman sweeping pointed a shaky finger towards the tables.

"You can put two tables together if you like," she said, summoning her courage. "On second thoughts," she reconsidered, "You can put three or four tables together."

"Thank you!" Tony replied jubilantly. "There'll be a big tip for you!"

Astounded, the woman backed away into the corner, speaking quietly with the only other present staff member. Loki noticed the man taking photos and chuckled to himself.

"Calm down, Tony," Loki advised him. "Don't scare them away."

"I'm not!" Tony protested.

"You kind of are," Steve pointed out.

"Urgh, fine I'll 'calm down'," Tony huffed.

Within minutes, they all had drinks and were perusing the menus. Shawarma turned out to be a dish of Middle Eastern origin, according to the explanation on the menu itself. The dish consisted of meat cut into thin slices, then stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning vertical rotisserie or spit. Shawarma was originally made from lamb or mutton but this particular joint served lamb, mutton, chicken, turkey, beef or veal. 

Taking pity on the two members of staff who had been overwhelmed with clearing up after the Chitauri invasion and again by meeting the seven Avengers face-to-face, Loki clicked his fingers and the place was instantly repaired. The floor was no longer dusty or cracked, the tables regained their usual positions and broken objects instantly repaired. The staff merely stared at Loki, gobsmacked.

"I think you're showing off now," Tony commented, looking around excitedly.

Magic would always amaze the billionaire. Steve, by comparison, looked disconcerted but, after all, the guy was trying to adapt to the twenty-first century and then they'd thrown magic into the mix. Bruce, like Tony, seemed hugely interested and Rhodey proud. The two S.H.I.E.L.D agents seemed impressed but not overly shocked and Thor alone was unmoved. He'd seen Loki do far more amazing things with his Seidr.