After seeing Thor: Ragnarok and the end-credits scene and then the Infinity War trailer (the first one- the YouTube record-breaking one) I wanted to make a story concerning the events in between. I already know that when Infinity War actually comes out it's going to utterly destroy this head canon, but that's why it's a fanfiction and not a Star Wars novel.

Disclaimer: I'm not liable for any spoilers concerning Guardians of the Galaxy vol.2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, or information provided in the first Infinity War trailer. You have been sufficiently warned.

Oh, and I don't own any of the MARVEL franchise copyrights/trademarks. In case you were wondering.

The bridge was an oddity, and Peter realized-three fourths of the way coming over that anyone sitting so precariously may have wanted to be alone. He decided to say hello to the man anyways.

Sometimes the ones who want to be alone should be the ones you talk to.

That's not always true, Peter.

A greeting's okay, though. Right? Just a friendly neighborhood teenager, saying hello to a friendly middle-aged man.

That was an odd thing as well. The man looked on the young side of life. If Peter had to guess, he'd call him at the cusp of his thirties. It was strange for someone like that to sit on an old wooden bridge.

When he first approached the man ignored him. Peter awkwardly stood there, then gripped the railing of the bridge. "Hello." It was barely a squeak.

"H-hello, sir!"
The man's emerald-green eyes pierced him through, almost chagrined. "I heard you quite clearly."

Peter drew back too quickly, which meant he got splinters. It seemed rude to pick them out while he was engaged in a conversation. He lowered his hand awkwardly to his side and stammered out an apology. "S-sorry. I- you didn't respond, so I wasn't sure if you thought I was speaking to someone else, and you just sat there- what's so interesting about the ground? Not that there's anything wrong with it, I mean-"

The man silenced him with a raised palm, finding that enough to communicate. His gaze shifted back towards the river beneath him. "The water is…calming."

"...Okay." Peter was starting to wonder if he picked a wrong person to talk to.

Peter you idiot didn't someone ever tell you not to talk to strange strangers

He wondered if his awkward response was considered final enough to end the conversation. He ran through his options. He didn't want to pull out his phone because the hand on his cell phone side still had splinters in it, and pulling out splinters seemed rude.

He also realized why he was over by the bridge in the first place. The bridge crossed to a small park which crossed to a streetway which he usually used to walk to the now-abandoned Avengers Tower. Just to make sure that no one vandalized it or anything. And maybe to see if Mr. Stark was in there.

He did say he could visit, right?

"Uh, sorry man, I gotta go."

There was no reply until Peter was nearly off the bridge.

"And where are you going to?" He seemed more inquisitive than snide.

"My...uh...helping Mr. Stark with some stuff."

Those emerald eyes were back on Peter now, almost confused. "His place was empty, last I heard."

"Oh yeah, he moved upstate-" Peter instantly froze.

Oh man Oh man was I not supposed to say that- no, wait, it was on TV.

"Anyways, I was just about to check out the place- you see, I have an internship, so it's not illegal or anything, in fact-"

"I understand." Peter breathed out a relieved sigh. "I'm an acquaintance of Anthony's, actually; if you'd be so kind as to let him know I'm in the city…" His eyes turned wry. "Or better yet, I could surprise him. Upstate, you said?"

"Yeah." Now Peter was wearing a confused expression, but the most he knew of Mr. Stark's personal life was…sporadic. He figured that if Mr. Stark really knew the guy he would let him in. If not, well, he had well enough security.

I mean, Peter thought, he's a billionaire Avenger.

"That can be arranged." The man fluidly swung his legs around the railing so that he sat above the actual bridge part of the bridge. "Thank you." He walked over to shake Peter's hand, and smiled. "I'll be off then as well."

"Um…" It was bad timing. Peter hastily took out any visible splinters and shook, meeting the man's eyes.

Everything about him was formal. Even his clothes were sleek and refined, with tailored suit that made him appear like he'd only taken a break from one of the business buildings. But something about his stature made Peter think that he flew in higher circles, which would make sense if he really did know Mr. Stark.

The man nodded and drew away, implying for Peter to leave first. Peter took a few steps before fully turning around and running- then skidded to a stop and started running back.

"What's your na..." the words trailed off as Peter looked across the bridge. Whoever he'd talked to was gone.

Strange guy.

He examined his surroundings uneasily.

Maybe I should start walking a different route.

...

Strange kid. The child was unsettlingly similar to Stark, albeit more unsure, and the thought of it made Loki uncomfortable.

Then again, what should one expect?

Certainly not an encounter so soon, and one by accident. At least it seemed on accident, but one could never be too certain with the Avengers.

It seemed that since he'd last visited the Avengers had broken up. This was better for him, by all means. Divide and conquer.

Stop it. Loki grimaced, staring up at the billowing clouds. That's not why you're here.

It would be so easy, though. If Loki tried.

The truth was that Loki didn't have time to try, and he didn't particularly want to, not when Thanos was about to wreak havoc.

He'd rather stay out of the way where Thanos was concerned. He also knew, despite his self-lauding, that he wasn't nearly as strong as he used to be, and even then he wouldn't have dared to take Thanos on his own. If the Avengers were truly disbanded...

They were in greater peril than they knew.

Loki called a taxi, trying to figure out what to say- or who to appear as. As usual, he found the second issue easier to resolve than the first.

Second Disclaimer: I've never been to New York, so the direction and architecture of things is kind of wonky. Please bear with me on this *bear noises*.

Moral of this chapter: Stranger Danger. Even if it turns out to be Loki. Especially if it turns out to be Loki.

I'm really excited for Infinity War.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading!