"Weren't you supposed to collect the evidence?" Tony Stark glanced at the unfamiliar S.H.I.E.L.D. agents before him and raised the briefcase containing Loki's scepter.
The Mind Stone was inside.
"Rumlow and his team were assigned to search and rescue," Steve Rogers said solemnly to Tony Stark.
"Thanks for your tech, Tony."
"No need to thank me, Cap." Tony Stark stepped into the elevator and raised a hand to stop the big green guy behind him.
"No, no, no, Hulk. Take the stairs. This thing's full."
A massive fist-shaped dent appeared in the closing elevator doors. Stark Industries built its elevators tough; otherwise, they would have been stuck in a shaft a hundred floors up.
"You should eat some chocolate spread and get some sugar to your brain!" Tony Stark shouted, whether Hulk could hear him or not.
Stark Tower had one more repair job on its list.
"Tony, are you sure you don't need to go home and rest?" Steve Rogers asked, concern clear in his voice.
"I heard you threw a pool party a couple of days ago. Maybe you fell onto the chest of some Vibranium lady."
Pfft—!
Tony Stark, wrapped in bandages, looked back. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Thor were struggling to hold in their laughter.
"Sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Steve Rogers smiled.
"You did. But I have to correct you: she wasn't a Vibranium lady. She was an Adamantium lady."
"I fell onto the chest of an Adamantium lady," Tony Stark said through the gaps in his bandages.
He had drunk too much last night. While sleeping in the materials storeroom, he had missed a step and smashed his head against an MK50 suit modified with Adamantium.
"That must have hurt." Thor raised an eyebrow.
Tony rubbed his neck. "Uh, yeah...