Chapter 2
Peter closed the door of the playroom as quietly as possible before turning around to where Loki was bouncing on his toes.
“What magic are you going to do?” He said in a whisper, just in case his mom overheard them.
Loki looked around as well, “Well, I was taught how to create doors to other places! I was thinking we go to that store you always talk about!” He said in a loud whisper.
Peter gasped. He meant the Lego Store! Peter loved the Lego store but didn’t go too often because mom said he had enough Lego at home to play with. All he had was the big ones though and he wanted the little ones. He wouldn’t put them in his mouth, no matter what his mom said.
“Yes! We have to go now before my mom comes to check on us.” Now Peter could be out with friends like Harley and Morgan was. This would show both of his parents that he was big and could go out as well.
“I have to look in your mind for the location, I don’t know where it is.” Loki always asked before going into someone’s mind. His dad said it was just polite.
Peter nodded, wanting to go before Friday decided to alert someone. Luckily Loki got with it and found the memory of Peter going into the Lego store, opening a portal to the alley beside it.
“Peter I must insist¬ –“ Friday began, but Peter took Loki’s hand and ran through before she could finish the sentence.
“Close the portal, hurry!” He said and Loki wasted no time closing it. They both watched as Peter’s playroom faded before looking at each other and grinning. This was going to be so fun!
***
“Mrs Stark, Peter and Loki have left the building.” Friday’s voice rang out in the middle of Pepper’s meeting with the board of directors.
“What?!” She cried in a panic, “Why would you let them leave unsupervised Friday!” The board wisely remained quiet, not daring to say a word.
“Loki appears to have learned how to open a portal to other places,” Friday responded, sounding as upset as an AI could.
“Well where did they go.” She prayed they went to somewhere the other avengers were or even to Harley or Morgan.
“I am unsure. They spoke about going to visit Peter’s favourite place but did not mention the location.”
Pepper jumped up from her seat, hanging up on the board as she went, this was more important. As she was racing out of the room she ran straight into Tony who was coming in.
“Whoa! What’s the rush Pep?” He asked, catching her before they both fell.
“Peter and Loki. They’re gone!”
“What?!”
***
Peter and Loki held hands as they walked into the Lego store, looking around in awe. No matter how many times they came here he was always taken aback by how amazing it was.
“Peter this is so cool!” Loki whispered to him and Peter grinned. He taught Loki that word last time they were big.
“I know! Let’s go look at the Star Wars and Avengers Lego!” Both boys rushed to where the Avengers Lego was first, giggling when they saw their dad’s.
“I want one!” Loki said, “Do you have any money?”
Peter shook his head. He usually didn’t need any because he was always with an adult. “Maybe we can ask to pay them later?”
Loki looked like he was contemplating it. “Do you think they will let us?”
Peter shrugged, “Dunno. I don’t think they cost much. I can tell them Tony Stark will pay them back. Everyone knows he has lots of money.” He said with conviction. He always heard how his dad was a billionaire in school. If school kids knew then adults had to.
“Which one do you want?” Peter asked, taking the Iron Man helmet down. Loki pointed to Thor’s hammer and Peter took that too, passing it to him. “Let’s stand in line and ask.”
Peter took Loki’s hand and went to stand in the queue but heard a familiar voice calling his name.
“MJ!” Peter loved MJ, he was in a lot of her classes in school and she always looked out for him, wiping his face if he got messy, or giving him his pacifier when he was starting to get tired in class. She even let him cuddle into her! She was awesome.
Peter dragged Loki over to where MJ was standing with a small Lego set in her hand. “Loki this is MJ! I go to school with her.”
“Hi,” He said shyly, clutching Thor’s hammer to him. MJ seemed to scrutinise him for a second before smiling gently back as if realising he was a little.
“Hello to you too. Peter has told me good things about you.” Loki blushed at her words, his smile growing. Peter was the best.
MJ turned back to Peter, “Are you here with your mom and dad?” She asked, eyeing them and their purchases up.
Peter shook his head proudly. “Nope! We’re big and here by ourselves!”
MJ’s could only stare in shock, no way in hell would Tony Stark let his baby wander New York alone, no matter how big he was. She would have to play this right.
“Cool, how did you get here?” She asked, feigning disinterest.
Loki blushed once again and Peter’s smile got even bigger, “Loki created a portal and we walked through it! We’re going to ask the people if we can have these and Tony Stark will pay them back.” He said indicating to their Lego sets.
MJ wanted to shake her head. Peter was lucky that no one overheard or realised who they were so far. She needed to get them back to the tower quickly. Thankfully it was only a few blocks from here. She eyed the two of them, clutching their purchases. She knew there was no way she’d get them out without their Lego sets.
“Okay, I’ll make the two of you a deal.” She said, hoping this would work.
***
All of the Avengers were in the lobby of Stark Industries, along with a teary-eyed Pepper and Jane. Thor and Tony stood side-by-side looking grim while Steve began giving out orders to find the kids.
“We need to check any place that Peter likes. We all know his favourite place changes from day-to-day so we need to check them all.”
When Pepper told Tony the kids were gone he instantly put on the alarm for them to assemble. No one blamed Pepper or even Loki for what happened. They just wanted them back safe. There was a lot of people that wouldn’t pass up on hurting Peter or Loki to get to Tony or Thor.
“We have to find them. New York is big but we have the resources- leave no stone unturned.” He continued. The lobby was empty and the building was on lockdown. All employees were on the lookout for the boys and the only ones that were working were the door guards. Both had images of the boys just in case, even though everyone in the building knew them. They were well-loved.
Romanoff, Barton, you two go east- I want you¬– “ He cut off, his super-hearing picking up a commotion from outside. Steve and the rest turned to the door as the security guards stepped aside, unlocked, and opened the door.
All of them let out shouts of surprise and relief when they saw a teenage girl walking through holding Peter and Loki’s hands. The two boys looked delighted with themselves as they walked in while the girl looked bored.
“Peter!”
“Loki!”
Pepper and Jane cried, rushing towards their boys and picking them up to hold them close.
“Hi, Mommy!” Peter said, cuddling into her, Loki giving Jane the same treatment.
After that Peter and Loki were handed to their fathers, getting an equally crushing hug before being passed to each Avenger for cuddles. The two boys were confused but happy with all the extra attention.
It wasn’t until they were safely back in their mother’s arms that they acknowledged the teenager that brought them in. Tony recognised her from Peter and Harley’s school.
“Let’s take this upstairs shall we?” He said, eyeing the Lego store bag she had in her hand, wanting to hit himself. Of course, Peter’s favourite place would be the Lego store. He always asked to go but they tended to put it off. That was obviously the wrong thing to do. Lesson learned.
Tony and the rest didn’t say anything as they made their way up. Peter and Loki, while still big, were getting hungry and tired after their adventure and wanted milk and a nap. The women took their favourite chairs, getting the boys set up for a feed while MJ Sat on the sofa beside them and the rest of the Avengers took any available seat.
“So, want to tell us what happened?” Tony asked, looking at MJ.
MJ shrugged, “ I was picking up a gift for my little cousins birthday tomorrow when I heard Peter. I called him to say hello and found out that he and Loki were there by themselves. I knew that they weren’t supposed to be so brought them back here. They were trying to buy some Lego with a ‘Tony Stark Will Pay You Back’. I bought them their sets because they wouldn’t leave without them and walked them back here. That’s it.”
Tony didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at hearing that. They were trying to use his name to get Lego sets as if it worked like money would. To Peter, Tony could do no wrong though so he could see why he’d think that.
“You go to school with Peter right? MJ isn’t it? Peter really likes you. Said you’re always looking out for him.”
MJ shrugged again, this time embarrassed. “I like Peter, he’s funny and kind. Some kids are jerks about classifications but I don’t care about that.”
Tony nodded as if coming to some conclusion. “Well, Peter likes you and it seems like Loki does as well. None of us will forget what you did for us today in protecting the two of them. How can we repay you.”
MJ smirked, “You can repay me by giving me the money for the Lego set’s I bought. They were expensive and we all don’t have Tony Starks money.”
Tony grinned back at her. He could see why Peter liked her, she was just like a mini Pepper. “Consider it done.”
It was a small price to pay for getting his kid back, and well, if her college tuition was paid in full for her in a few years’ time, no one had to know.