Disclaimer: The Avengers characters are not mine, just borrowed for this story.

Reviews are always welcome and appreciated

This is a Halloween themed story I've had sitting on the computer for a couple of years but never seemed to remember to get it cleaned up until after Halloween had passed. This story is going to follow after No Rest for the Wicked and takes place before the events of Captain America 2.

Idle Hands are the Devil's Playthings

Part 1: Prologue (The Boogie Woogieman)

"Thor," called Sif, quickening her pace to catch Thor's attention before he asked Heimdall to send him back to Misgard.

Thor glanced towards the door surprised. "Lady Sif, to what do I owe this unexpected goodbye?"

"Do you really have to leave?" she implored, "I fear there maybe something that requires your attention at home." The Warriors Three had dismissed the situation as mere coincidence and paranoia and while she wanted to agree with them, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on.

"I have promised Jane, but what has peeked your concern?" Matters of state had taken up much of Thor's time of late and though Jane hid her disappointment well, the god hated to have to disappoint her once again for trivial things; especially since they had been ships passing in the night when they were on the same planet.

"Lately there has been a certain level of..." she paused briefly, choosing her next words carefully, "mischief afoot. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was Loki up to his usual games."

Thor's lip tightened at the mention of his deceased brother; Loki for all the evil he wrought, sacrificed for Asgard, for their family, for Thor, in the end. It was hard to forget the atrocities committed at Loki's hand but it was even harder not to mourn the family bonds that could have been once Loki saw the error of his ways.

"The people of Velmir had been plagued with such an unease when we visited, and now I fear it has followed us home to Asgard," warned Sif.

Thor's hand tightened around his hammer. "And has this mischief brought any harm to anyone?"

"No. It is merely... inconvenient." There was nothing dangerous transpiring; things appearing and disappearing that could be explained as absentmindedness, voices that weren't there, tripping over items that hadn't been underfoot moments before.

The god of thunder shifted from foot to foot as he weighted the responsibility of his duties to both his kingdom and the people that mattered. He wouldn't be gone long and there was not actual evidence of threat to Asgard; surely the All father and the legendary warriors of Asgard could manage small inconveniences should the concern bear fruit. "Then I shall leave this mere inconvenience in your capable hands until I return from the Misgard celebration of Hallows Eve."

Sif nodded solemnly before taking her leave of Heimdall's tower. Thor was probably right; the matter warranted little concern. She would trust the future ruler of Asgard.

Thor took a step towards Heimdall but stopped short. A great unease swept over him and he turned sharply to see who was spying on him. All that lay behind him was the vastness of Asgard.

"Are you ready my prince?" asks Heimdall, noticing Thor's hesitance.

Sif's paranoia was brushing off on him. There was no one there and nothing to be concerned about; if someone was lurking in his shadow, the chosen son of Asgard would know. "Yes, indeed. Take me to Jane, please Heimdall."

A bright and blinding light poured onto the balcony at Stark Tower, growing in circumference and intensity. The sudden intrusion had caught Pepper off guard; her nose thoroughly stuck in the latest pile of paper work requiring her undivided attention. The sudden and unannounced appearance of Thor forced a surprised scream from Pott's lips as she knocked over the small breakfast table she had been sitting at. Tony had arranged a romantic brunch for the pair, for which he got full marks but in true Stark fashion was currently late for.

"Most people use doors, Thor," she panted, still trying to catch her breath. All of Tony's craziness had taught her to keep calm under pressure but she'd never lost her kneejerk reaction to surprises, even with the sudden influx of people and strangeness they brought to the tower.

"Most do not use cosmic travel as a means of getting here," he replied seriously, helping her stand the small aluminum table back on its feet; the last remains of brunch unsalvageable.

Pepper conceded, "That is true. The others have been in and out of the main living room all morning trying to get ready for the party tonight."

"And has Jane arrived yet?" he asked, trying to downplay his eagerness at being reunited with the scientist after several months apart.

"Not yet," apologised Pepper. "But her assistant Darcy said she would absolutely be here tonight, just rather late."

"Then I shall make myself ready for the night's festivities." He nodded in thanks before heading inside.

Pepper looked dejectedly at her unorganized stack of papers; half and hour's worth of work wasted. She glanced at her watch. Applying the Tony Stark rule of distracted brilliance she probably still had another two hours to get things straightened out before an exceedingly apologetic billionaire poked his head outside asking for forgiveness. She paused in shuffling her papers, overcome with an extreme sense of being watched. A quick glance around the balcony dismissed the idea of any other intruding Asgardians or other team members, allowing Pepper to get back to work.