This is part of a series but you can read it on its own. Although the work that immediately predates this, The Soldier, really should be read as it is referenced directly or not. Really other than that you can skip the rest and still understand.
Over the last half year the team had simultaneously grown closer and more disparate. On one hand, half the team, usually anyone who was available and willing, would follow leads on Barnes. Except for Tony, who resolutely refused to help; rarely was he asked in the first place. His pulling away everyone could see but few tried to stop; most figured it was warranted or that he would deal with it and come back around. Much to everyone's annoyance; Barnes remained as elusive as a wanted man with a metal arm could be.
After yet another failed lead that had sent the usual crew of Steve, Natasha, Sam, and Loki to some tiny village in Bangladesh; Loki simmered with anger. "This is ridiculous! He has one realm to hide it. How has he alluded me- us- so successfully?"
Natasha shushed him, though she looked no less annoyed than he. "I expected him to be good, but not this good." She adjusted the shawl around her shoulders and started the trek towards the Quinjet. "Don't worry, Steve." She glanced towards Steve, who lagged behind. "I feel like we're getting closer. There's only so many places he can hide."
Taking a moment to assess their captain, Loki grimaced at what he saw. Steve was trying hard to stay positive but Loki could see his facade beginning to crack. The faster they found Barnes the better, whatever the outcome would be. Loki was starting to have serious doubts about how Roger's old friend could be used against him under the wrong circumstances.
And every group of Hydra stragglers or anyone willing to decode the files released by Natasha had the ability to do just that. Every mission they fought, Loki wondered if that would be the time Steve paid for his vulnerabilities.
Much to Loki's, and the rest of the exhausted group's displeasure, such a possible situation presented itself as they returned to the Quinjet. Clint, their resident pilot for their searches, took in their downtrodden expressions. "No luck, huh?" He paused then swifty held up a tablet displaying a mission log. "So, I got a tip from some of our "friends" in the CIA about a possible Hydra base about a hundred miles from here. While we're in the area we could check it out. The five of us plus Thor, he could probably join us pretty fast, should be a cinch." Clint finished with a shrug and a nod towards Steve.
Steve sighed, all eyes were on him as he contemplated the situation. Finally he spoke. "Sounds good. Did our source get us a building layout or any information on the facility."
Turning back to the cockpit, Clint nodded affirmatively. "Yup. You guys can skim what we know while we fly there. I'm gonna contact some nearby agencies who can clean up after us so we don't have to stay and babysit anyone we take into custody."
As they took off, Clint sent around a thick packet of notes which Loki barely glanced at, skimming through lightly. He passed it around to the rest of the group, all of who appeared to do the same thing. Not long after take off a thump sounded from above their heads. "That would be Thor."
The blonde Asgardian hopped into the hold as the back of the jet briefly opened. He appeared slightly windblown but greeted them with his usual level of enthusiasm."Fine night for such a brawl, no?"
"Brother, I am inclined to believe that any time of day is a good time for a fight when you are involved." Loki motioned towards the seat next to him as he spoke.
Thor took his seat but shook his head. "You are not entirely mistaken but, nay, if it is a battle I cannot put my heart behind than I would rather not. Speaking of-" Thor turned to the rest of the team. "Bruce and Tony send their regards and wish us the best of luck.
Sighing, Loki closed his eyes and leaned his head against the cool metal walls of the hold. "Well, there will be no luck needed if we have a plan. Rogers?" Without looking at Steve, Loki questioned him.
After a short pause, Steve replied. "I'm working on it."
By the time they reached the facility a plan had been formulated. They were high above the remote lab; Clint circled it as they prepared for the initial assault.
Thor jostled Loki's shoulder lightly as the two of them prepared for the drop order. "Remember in Alfheim? When we broke up that raider group by jumping right into the middle of them?"
Nodding, Loki grinned. "Ah… Yes, if I recall; Sif very nearly broke her leg upon landing. That was, perhaps, a fraction too reckless." He laughed shortly. "Good thing we promised Father to never do something like that again."
The jet dipped steeply before leveling out; it's back opened and wind howled into the hold.
Yelling above the noise, Steve motioned towards them as he double checked his parachute. "Now's the time!"
The two of them nodded and stepped towards the edge. The facility, now much closer, sprawled beneath them. The wind tugged at Loki's hair. With a look at Thor; the two of them leapt from the jet.
They fell fast and the facility rushed towards them. Halfway down, Thor grabbed Loki by the shoulder and slowed their fall with Mjolnir. They hit the ground quick but light and the Hydra agents around them yelled out in surprise as a blur of green and red felled their compatriots within moments.
Loki heard Thor laugh as the two of them worked their way through the courtyard they had landed in. Dagger in hand, he cut down agent after agent. Mjolnir flew past his head, taking out one of the agents as they attempted to run for an alarm.
It wasn't until they had cleared at least half the courtyard that the agents left standing got their bearings enough to fire upon the two of them. As the first bullets pelted their armor, Loki threw up a quick light shield. The gunfire seemed to draw the attention of the rest of the compound as soon after a shrieking alarm began to blare. Loki called out to Thor as they moved back to back. "It seems they've finally caught on!"
"Aye!" He heard Thor shout. "Any moment now-"
A hail of bullets from above cut Thor off and momentarily silenced the courtyard. Any agents that had been remaining dropped to the ground. Loki looked up to greet Steve, Natasha, and Sam; all of whom landed lightly on the grass. The two without wings began to unhook their chutes. Loki dispelled the protective bubble and grinned at them. "You nearly missed all of the excitement."
Natasha returned his grin. "Can't let you two have too much fun."
The blaring alarm continued as the five of them split into groups, cornering off sections of the compound. Loki and Sam stalked through the thin, humid corridors. Distant sounds of gunfire and shouting echoed eerily around them. They traveled in silence for a few minutes before finally encountering more agents.
The hallway opened into a wide room cluttered with desks and files. Hydra agents rushed around, emptying cabinets. The alarm blared ear-piercingly loud.
Looking to Sam, Loki whispered under his breath. "Stay here, I have an idea."
Sam arched an eyebrow but nodded and knelt down, raising his weapon.
Loki slipped into the room, unnoticed in the havoc and noise. It wasn't until he reached nearly the center of the room that one of the agents noticed him. Before the man could so much as cry out; Loki grabbed him and leapt onto a desk, holding a dagger to his throat. Shouting, Loki drew the attention of everyone in the room. "Surrender or I shall strike you down!"
The room froze almost instantly and fell deathly silent. Loki saw some of the agents glance towards the exit to the hallway, where Sam now stood in full view, gun drawn. Then one of the agents closer to Loki pulled out a pistol and fired. Loki let his captive take the shots and pierced the offending agent through the throat with a thrown dagger. The room fell quiet again as Loki stood up straight, dropping the now dead hostage agent to the ground.
The rest of the room dropped to their knees, hands above their heads.
Smiling, Loki relaxed. "Good choice." With a quick spell he downed everyone in the room, knocking them unconcious. Hopping off the desk, Loki began to skim through some of the files and papers scattered about; stepping over unconscious bodies as he did.
Most of the papers were old S.H.I.E.L.D. files. Few of them interested him; most were easily decipherable in public knowledge now. He recognized files on himself and the rest of the team and tore them up with a snarl. The papers did nothing but remind him how exposed he had become; what Natasha had done was necessary but not preferable.
Sam walked over to him, stepping over or on the unconscious agents. "That went surprisingly well. I contacted the others, they're in the middle of cleaning out their sections."
"I hope those government officials Barton mentioned are inbound because I am not watching over these goons for longer than I must."
"Yeah, he said they're about ten or so minutes out."
Satisfied, Loki continued with his readings. He noticed a small map in the corner of the room and strode over to it. Pins dotted its surface. Picking up the files next to it, he recognized Barnes's grainy picture. Glancing back at Sam, who was busy handcuffing unconscious agents, Loki quietly flipped through the folder. He recognized most of the information from the team's own digging. Setting down the file, he turned his attention back to the map. Most of the pins were places Loki recognized as places they had already investigated but a few of them were new. After a moment of contemplation, flicking his eyes over the small writing next to each pin; clearly written in a different language but what were certainly addresses, he rolled the map up and tucked it into his armor.
00000
Tony poured himself more coffee and shuffled back to his seat. Installing a coffee maker in his studio was the best idea he ever had. He took a long sip and laid his head among the scraps of metal around him, waiting for the drink to kick in.
There was a sudden shuffling behind him; he tiredly assessed the likelihood of an assassin appearing in the tower. He didn't move.
"How long have you been awake?" Loki strode up, his voice smug.
Glaring at him weakly, Tony lifted his head from his scrap metal pillow. "One time you were awake for literally a whole week you have no dog in this fight, pal."
Loki waved a dismissive hand, smirking as he pulled up a stool. "I am a god, I can do that."
"You passed out on the couch during movie night and the popcorn went everywhere." Tony saw Loki blush slightly and dip his head.
"Point made. Nevertheless, you should sleep. I can't have you dying on me from sleep exhaustion; your life is already short enough as is."
Picking up a half made repulsor, Tony shook it blearily at Loki. "Love reminders of my encroaching death, really does wonders on my self esteem. Anyway, I'm working on something.. It's important."
With a doubtful look, Loki picked up one of the small pieces of scrap metal littering the table. "It will not be if you accidentally blow your hand off."
"I'm- I won't do that. Put that down, I need it." Frowning, Tony pointed at the small piece of scrap in Loki's hand.
Grinning, the god stood, still fiddling with the scrap. "Only if you promise to go to bed."
"I am not playing this game with you, asshole! Put it down." Standing, Tony wobbled slightly as he pulled away from his desk.
"Ah yes, you made a very compelling argument as to why I should do that." Smugly, Loki held his hand up in a fist, far out of Tony's reach.
"I swear I'll kick you and it will hurt."
"Go to bed, Anthony."
Glaring at Loki, Tony sighed heavily. "Fine… fine. You win."
Loki hesitated, squinting at him doubtfully. "Do I, really? I do not think I have ever won an argument with you that quickly."
"Ugh, don't get used to that; just get out of my hair. And put that thing down!" Exasperated, Tony threw his hands up.
"No need to be dramatic." Loki smirked at Tony's annoyed exclamation. He dropped the metal and winked. "Goodnight, Tony." The god disappeared from Tony's workshop.
Rolling his eyes, Tony picked up the scrap metal from the floor. It had been bent into the shape a very small bird. After staring at it for a few moments, Tony sighed and pocketed it. Giving a look back towards his workspace, Tony shuffled towards the elevator. "Turn the lights off behind me, Jarvis, I'm heading to bed."
"Yes, sir."
AN: It's finals season and I'm very tired (which is my excuse for the title of this) but this story is finished and I will be updating it every two days around noon. Would like to hear feedback, always encouraging.