"I wonder which one of you I should kill first." Loki commented, his eyes set on Leah Harris. A super soldier and a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. She was injured, she could barely stand.
"Don't even try it. I swear if you touch her, I'll kill you." Clint hissed, nocking an arrow. Loki looked at him and laughed.
"Ah, Agent Barton…Protecting your friend again." Loki said, jumping down. "How sweet." He knocked Clint's bow out of his hand and raised his scepter, placing it at Clint's heart, taking him over again.
"No…" Leah whispered, her eyes wide.
"Well, I'll be seeing you all, I suppose." With that Loki vanished, Clint with him.
They reappeared at the same location, as before. The caved in, S.H.I.E.L.D facility. There a girl waiting there for them. Her white hair covered her ice blue eyes.
"Welcome back, brother. I see you retained Agent Barton." Her voice was warm; it didn't match her ice cold personality.
"Indeed I did. Skadi, did you just sit here, this whole time?" He asked, with a smirk.
"Indeed. I find it quite cold down here." She smiled. "I like it. Oh and welcome back, Agent Barton."
"It's nice to be back, Madame Skadi." Clint told her. Loki smiled, at the two of them. He could see a look in Skadi's eyes that was rarely there. Caring, she cared for Clint greatly.
"Sister, if you could escort Agent Barton back to his room, it would be greatly appreciated." Loki told Skadi.
"Of course. Anything else that you will need any assistance with, brother?" Skadi asked, as she stood.
"Not at all."
"Understood, come along Agent Barton." Skadi and Clint walked out and towards the bedrooms. It was quiet, neither of them speaking. Suddenly Skadi stop and turned towards him.
"Yes, Madame Skadi?" Clint asked. She sighed, pressing a pressure point on his neck. He blinked, the blue fading from his eyes.
"Shhh…I'm here to help. Thor sent word to me as soon as he arrived on Midgard. I can help you escape."
"And why should I trust you?"
"I am the reason you are no longer under, Loki's control." Clint looked at her, and nodded.
"We'll leave now then. Aric is waiting for us." Skadi turned and continued to walk. Clint hurried after her, slightly confused.
"Who's Aric?"
"You will see soon enough."
Soon they came to the surface, where a giant snow white wolf was waiting. The wolf nuzzled Skadi's neck with his nose when she walked over.
"Aric, this is Agent Barton. Agent Barton, Aric. He's our ride." Skadi climbed upon the wolf and offered her hand. Clint took it and joined her.
"Hold on tight, Agent Barton." With that Aric took off at hyper speed. They arrived back in Manhattan in no time.
"Your friends are waiting in that tower. They must be very worried about you." Clint nodded.
"Yeah, thanks Skadi." He said, jumping down.
"Of course. I should be off. Loki will be wondering where I've gone."
"He'll kill you, if you go back. It's Loki, he'll know what you did." Skadi looked at Clint and smiled softly.
"I know, but it won't be me that he kills. Loki will go after who I care about."
"Then stay. We'll protect you. Thor will protect you." Skadi looked at Clint, confused.
"I cannot put you in more danger than you are already in."
"It's too dangerous, going back." Skadi sighed again, thinking about her options.
"You are right. I will stay here and help you." Skadi jumped down, smiling softly.
"Good. Let's go then." Skadi nodded and they walked into Stark Tower.
Leah was waiting, for them on the third floor.
"Chernaya Vdova." She said into her communicator, stopping the two.
"Da?" Natasha replied.
"Barton nazad , i u nego yestʹ nekotorye devushki s nim."
"On v normu ?" Leah looked at Clint, examining his eyes.
"Da."
"Uznaĭte imya devushki."
"Ponyal." Leah looked at Skadi. "What's your name?"
"I am Skadi. The Goddess of the Hunt and Scandinavian Winter."
"Ona govorit, chto yee zovut Skadi . Boginya okhoty i skandinavskikh zimnikh" Leah said, her eyes flicking back to Clint.
"YA budu prositʹ Tora , yesli on znaet, chto yee" Natasha replied.
"Khorosho. Pozvolʹte mne znatʹ, kak tolʹko mozhno."
"YA eto sdelayu." Leah sighed, looking at the two in front of her again.
"You have no idea what I just said, do ya Clint?"
"No, all I caught was that you were talking to Tasha." He said, rubbing the back of his head.
"You are such an idiot." Leah said as she hugged him. "You ever do something like that again…" He hugged her back, laughing.
"I know, I know…You'll let Panther rip me limp from limp."
"I'll rip you limb from limb!"
"Should I be concerned at all?" Skadi asked, watching the pair. They laughed.
"We're always like this." Clint told her.
"Yeah, now come on. Everyone's been worried about you."
"Got it." Leah led Clint and Skadi up to the tenth floor where everyone was waiting.
"Ah, sister you made it." Thor said when he spotted, Skadi.
"Hello brother." She greeted, smiling.
"He's normal, right?" Tony asked, looking at Clint.
"Yes, Stark he is." Leah said, her voice harsh. It was quiet as Thor and Skadi caught up. Nothing really of interest to the others.
Soon enough everyone began to fall asleep. Only Natasha, Steve, and Leah were up, sitting at the bar. Clint and Skadi had fallen asleep on the couch.
"Night guys. I need to get some sleep." Natasha finally said, standing and heading to the room that Tony had provided.
"Night, Tasha." Leah told her.
"G'night ma'am." Steve said. It was quiet then, neither person knowing what to say to each other.
"Kinda think the war was better than this. At least we weren't hiding out." Leah finally said.
"That's the truth, you should get some rest miss. You've been through a lot." Steve told her with a smiled.
"As should you, Captain. Your sister must be waiting for you." Steve sighed.
"Ah yes, Stephanie."
"Are you two fighting?"
"You could say that. She's upset because I keep thinking about this girl from the war…"
"Peggy. She never did forget you. Even showed up for that date, all dolled up."
"Not Peggy, there was someone else." Leah looked at him, hidden behind her emotionless eyes was hopefulness.
"Would you mind telling me, you don't have to though." Steve looked at her, smiling softly.
"Her voice was the last I heard before Stephanie and I went down."
"Y-You heard me…?" She asked shocked.
"Yes, I did. I never got a chance to respond." Leah smiled, this one reaching her eyes.
"Why didn't tell me, before?" Steve looked around, making sure that Tony wasn't around.
"Well, you were always with Howard. I assumed you two were, together."
"Briefly, after the war ended."
"Oh."
"Yeah, you're right though. I should get some rest." Leah stood and stumbled. Steve caught her right before she hit the ground.
"Perhaps, you should stay with me tonight. So someone can take care of your injuries."
"Right. Thank you, Captain."
"Of course, Miss Harris." Steve picked Leah up and carried off to his room. The two fell asleep easily. The night was peaceful and quiet.
Translation:
Chernaya vdova: Black Widow
Da: Yes
Barton nazad , i u nego yestʹ nekotorye devushki s nim.: Barton's back, and he's got some girl with him.
On v normu: He back to normal
Uznaĭte imya devushki: Find out the girl's name
Ona govorit, chto yee zovut Skadi . Boginya okhoty i skandinavskikh zimnikh: She says her name is Skadi. The Goddess of the Hunt and Scandinavian Winter.
YA budu prositʹ Tora , yesli on znaet, chto yee: I'll ask Thor if he knows her.
Khorosho. Pozvolʹte mne znatʹ, kak tolʹko mozhno.: Alright. Let me know as soon as you can.
YA eto sdelayu.: I will