<div class="floatleft">(http://thewolfmancometh.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/the-avengers-robert-downey-jr-tony-stark-iron-man.jpg)</div><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>  Name:</strong> Tony Stark<br/>  <strong>Title:</strong> Iron Man<br/>  <strong>Location:</strong> Maria's Private Office<br/>  <strong>Time:</strong> 5:40pm EST Thursday<br/>  <strong>Tags:</strong> <strong>Maria Hill, Bruce Banner</strong></span></span><br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">          Upon lifting the phone to his ear, Tony answered short and simple, <strong>"This is Stark."</strong> Had he run out of hundreds of words to say in his last rant on Maria, or was he subconsciously following up her final insult with acceptance? The middle-aged man had even offered Maria a wink with his first words through the device.<br/><br/>     That annoying expression was followed by Tony's response to the person on the other line, though he was still looking in Maria's direction, as if he was using every opportunity to take a jab or two. <strong>"Are you sure you don't want to know?"</strong> said through a goading smile. <strong>"I'm just checking out - in, I mean checking in with Director Hill. Come on, ask me what she's wearing"</strong> Tony teased.<br/><br/>     Another moment passed as the person on the other line was speaking. The arrogant philanthropist was already thinking up creative ways to describe her attire without giving too much away before his eyes suddenly narrowed in seriousness. <strong>"What?"</strong> Tony was shocked - for some reason he had been expecting - hell, even planning on Loki escaping... the man was just too shifty to stay contained for long; but already?! <strong>"Call Cap, assemble the team. I'm on my way."</strong> And with that, Tony hung the phone up; not wasting the time to listen for a response.<br/><br/>     Tony's eyes zoned out for the briefest of moments as every corner of his brain began to ignite with the possible implications of the news he'd just heard. His fingers worked furiously over his phone as he began activating different programs remotely from the handy little device. It was almost as if he'd tuned out his current environment and the fact that Maria was still present, waiting for his call to end. It seemed like many moments had passed, but it really hadn't, Tony's gifted mind was just in overdrive.<br/><br/>     The fact that he was in Maria's office eventually made it through his blazing queue of thoughts, and he looked up to see her staring out the window. The dots began to connect then as he looked at her, standing in such a commanding pose over the Helicarrier - her Helicarrier. Hill's promotion into the position once held by Fury now finally made sense. They'd canned him, not because of his cavalier attitude, but because he had made a grievous err in judgment. Loki was free, and he let Thor take him (not that he could have done much to stop him)... but how did they find out. Or did they just assume?<br/><br/>     Stark slipped his phone into his pocket and crossed his arms, deciding it was in the best interests of everyone for him to share the information - if she didn't already know. Stark may be reckless, arrogant, and a sexist asshole at times; but he truly cared about others somewhere deep inside. It allowed him to swallow himself for just a moment to grasp the bigger picture. <br/><br/>     He offered her the news straight: <strong>"Loki has escaped."</strong></span></span></div>