Pawprints

Tony was bored.

Really, really bored.

At that moment, he was attempting to jump off the armchair and land perfectly on a cushion that he had dragged to the floor.

Yes, he was that bored.

Just as he was about to attempt the feat that was worthy of multiple prizes, he heard some scuffling noises in the common area. Slowly slipping off the armchair, he padded cautiously towards the common area. There were two men, dressed casually in black and grey. One was holding a knife and the other, a baseball club. They were mumbling among themselves but their voices were loud enough that he could hear a good amount of information.

The one with the knife was turning in circles, grumbling, "Joe, do you think that Mr Stark is hiding somewhere else?"

Joe was swinging the baseball bat around, "Bob, just do a last sweep and we can move on! The big boss will get angry if we stay in here for too long."

Tony was, frankly, offended. These two thugs were who they sent to kidnap him? They probably didn't know right from left. They must have someone smart behind the scenes to hack JARVIS- he wasn't responding so Tony assumed the worst. Tony was about to trot away and hide when someone picked him up by the scruff of his neck. Yelping in surprise, Tony struggled futilely against an unyielding hand.

Just then, an oily voice made him stop in shock. "Well, boys, looks like you missed someone." Joe and Bob immediately froze, and stood to attention sheepishly. Tony tried to look behind him to see who was talking but the way the kidnapper was holding him made it impossible.

Tony decided to go for plan B- the one he just made up. Twisting around as best as he could, he nipped at the Big Boss' hand. Taken by surprise, he dropped Tony and Tony was off like a shot.

Scrambling down a random corridor, Tony vaguely heard the Big Boss shouting at Bob and Joe to chase him. Thumping noises were coming nearer and nearer, and Tony powered on, not heeding his panting and his obvious fatigue. Bursting out onto the Movie Room again- He had gone one full circle without realizing it. Bob was right behind him and he yelped in pain as he felt the knife cut into his leg, blood dripping out of the wound. He stumbled to a stop, panting. "Oh well, I hope Clint and Natasha and Bruce find me soo-" There was a sharp pain to the back of his skull and everything became black.

Bob gingerly picked up Tony and deposited him into a duffel bag that Joe held open. "Boss, once we get to C-" Joe began.

"Shut up, you idiot!" The Big Boss interrupted sharply. "Who knows how long the effects of the alien tech last on that stupid AI. Let's go."

"But Boss, the mess here?" Bob asked tentatively. The Boss smiled slyly, venom dripping from every word as he spoke, "Leave it. Those stupid Avengers will eventually find out anyway. Let's just get out of here- and fast."

Looking out of the window, the Boss grinned, "Just in time! The heroes get to join the party!" Nodding at Bob and Joe, he slid open the door and they strode out, using the back entrance.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

"Nothing! Not a single clue, not even from the blood and fur on the floor!" Clint yelled, waving his arms around wildly, barely missing Bruce's head.

Natasha stepped into the room, having called Fury to notify him of what had happened. "We have to keep searching. They can't get out of New York in a day. We should comb the city for anyone suspicious."

Clint growled at that. "Yeah, like we can do that! For all we know, they have alien tech that can be used to get in and out of the city, and fast!" Steve knew it was time to intervene.

Striding in front of Clint, Steve held up his hand soothingly, "Clint, arguing with each other isn't going to help find Sta-Tony." Clint caught his mistake, and his eyes glinted sharply.

"You didn't think like this when you scolded him so harshly that he hid himself away due to embarrassment! Did you?" Clint yelled mockingly. Steve flinched away but composed himself quickly, saying, "I'm sorry for what I did, but we have to find Tony quickly, and arguing isn't the way to go."

Clint scowled at him one more time and turned away, pacing again. Steve rubbed his temples, praying to whatever God out there that Tony's disappearance wouldn't tear the team apart.