Nina's POV
A knock sounded at my door and Cap poked his head inside.

"Nina, suit up. We've got trouble on the way. Strange called it a blizzard elemental. It plans to freeze the whole city," he commanded.

"Alright. Do you have a team assembled?" I asked, shifting off the bed and walking over to my closet.

"Natasha, Tony, Strange, Loki, Bucky, Thor, you and me," he said. My hands froze on one of the combat suits as the names were listed off. I turned to face him.

"Strange and Loki? Are you certain it's a good idea for to pair them up for this battle?"

"They've got the magic. It'll be useful. Why? Something bothering you?" he said.

"It's just…they've been arguing a lot lately. I don't know how they'll be able to fight together without getting into an argument,"

"I'm sure they'll be fine. I've paired you and Bucky together anyway. You two are more in sync when it comes to battles. Plus, your calmness reaches great lengths. It shouldn't take too long. Meet downstairs in 15," I nodded and changed swiftly, sweeping my hair up into a ponytail. I went downstairs, taking my place beside Bucky as Steve debriefed us on the game plan. The idea was to try and take the elemental by surprise. Already there was tension building, knotting my muscles as I looked between the two sorcerers.

"Hey, relax. There's nothing to worry about. We'll be fine. This being won't know what hit them," Bucky whispered in my ear. His hands came to rest on my shoulders, massaging them. This action eased some of the tension I felt, but it didn't erase all of it; the anger still apparent between Strange and Loki.

"I hope so. Do you think those two can remain civil enough for this battle? Things could go awry if they start arguing," I said, tilting my head in their direction. Bucky's hands drifted down to my arms, his chin resting on the top of my head, his body shifting closer, warmth spreading all over me.

"I don't know. Steve will keep them in line if they do argue. We won't have to worry. We work well together. Maybe we can grab pizza after this. If you would like to," he answered.

"Ready team? Let's go. Time to save the world again," Steve ordered. We went to our jet, taking off to Manhattan. I linked my fingers through Bucky's metal ones, seeking comfort and courage. My gaze panned over to Loki and Strange, their bodies were still tense, sparks of anger vibrating between them. I couldn't do anything about it, saving my reserve of power for the enemy only. I could only hope both Steve and Bucky were right. For the team's and humanity's sake.

I couldn't be more wrong. We came in, the jet experiencing a bit of turbulence due to the massive blizzard already taking over the city.

"Hold on. It's going to be a rough landing," Natasha stated, gritting her teeth as the jet landed and landed hard, jostling us. Bucky's hand squeezed mine tighter, a spike of fear lancing through him. It vanished in an instant and we unbuckled making our way out of the jet.

"Maybe we should have used a portal to come in. But the wizard here didn't want to strain his magic," Loki said, a bitter tone lacing his voice.

"We need all the strength we have. This one is a powerful elemental. If we tire ourselves before the fight, then it could potentially wound us or worse kill us," Strange snapped.

"I have plenty of magic. Then again, I've practiced it for centuries unlike-,"

"Gentlemen, can we focus? We've got a job to do," Tony said, assuming a position to prepare an attack.

Strike one.

"All I'm saying is-,"

"Not now. Bucky, Nina, Nat, go down to the path we talked about. Strange, Loki take the front. Tony and I will take the sides. Thor get prepared to light it up," Steve ordered. Strike two. Loki grumbled and we got to work, Strange and Loki shot out magic to bind and confuse the elemental allowing Thor to light up the sky, cutting through the blizzard. This angered it, a male, as it turned out, and he lashed out, shoving back the sorcerers. Steve and Tony attacked from the sides, Bucky joining in from behind.

Unfortunately, he was intelligent and dodged out of the way. He wrapped Steve in a ball of snow, froze Tony in his tracks and built up a gust of wind to fling Bucky back into me. He landed on top, our lips inches apart, immediately getting up to help me stand.

"Nina, try to calm it. Do it now," Natasha hissed when the elemental pushed her to the ground, gravel cutting into her arm, leaving a gash on her skin. Focusing on my power, I reached out extending it to the man. He howled and outstretched both hands. Ice materialized in a trajectory towards me.

"Nina! Move!" Bucky shouted. I leapt away from the shards' path, my body hitting a vehicle. It knocked the breath from my lungs. We regrouped and figured out a new course of action.

"You should just let me attack it up close. Magic and daggers at once," Loki stated, anger contorting his features.

"We need to work as a team. You could get hurt working alone," Strange argued back.

"Let me have Nina. She could disorient him,"

"Up close? You're insane. She'll get wounded or worse. She doesn't flow easily with you. You'd need Bucky to…" Strange and Loki screamed and yelled at each other, not paying attention to the elemental. Everyone else was trying to weaken it, going in from all directions.

"Guys. Stop fighting, help us," I shouted, my gaze turned on them. I was beyond frustrated with the arguing and easily annoyed with them. A mistake, which lead up to disasters. The second I turned away the elemental conjured up another blizzard with winds strong enough to send anyone to Central Park. Too bad we had moved to a different terrain when Stephen had created a portal to get us away from the city; We were located in an area where caves were surrounding us.

"Nina!" I heard Bucky yell, felt his arms snag around me. Everything slowed down as it happened. Bucky had me, shielding my body as the wind swept us up and back. Remember the cave? Our bodies flew to it, we hit a wall; Bucky hit it first, somehow managing to be behind me. We fell, the forces of the hit hard enough to cause boulders to close up the cave. Darkness shrouded us, our team wouldn't be notice until the battle outside ended.

Dammit! Strange! Loki! Get you heads out of your asses and fight," Tony shouts.

"But…"

"Now! We've almost won. I don't care what you're arguing about. Leave it alone and use your magic," Steve orders. No one has noticed the absence of Nina and Bucky, who are trapped in a cave. Bucky, since hitting his head, will have a gash that needs to be tended to. Nina will have to be a temporary nurse, doing the best she can until help arrives.

Putting the argument away, which somehow turned to the competition for Nina, they secured the victory.

"Nina will be impressed from my power. I've been practicing more. Yours hasn't changed much," Loki stated.

"Nina loves bravery more than-,"

"Stop. Both of you. You almost cost us because of your arguing. She's right. Learn to be civil to each other," Steve snapped.

"Cap?" Tony asks.

"What?" Steve growls, frustration getting to him.

"Where are they? Nina and Tin man? Where did they go?"

"What do you mean? They were right…" Steve says, looking beside him. Everyone looks around for the two missing Avengers.

"Steve? The cave? It's closed in. I thought I remember it being open" Nat says.

"Nat call in for help. Now," Steve says, fearing for his best friends' safety.

Nina's POV

I groan as I sit up in the darkness. Reaching down for my flashlight on my belt, I turn it on, examining my surroundings. The light lands on Bucky, accelerating my fears.

"Bucky? Hey, wake up. Come on, Bucky. Please, wake up," I say, rolling him on his back. The light is bright enough to illuminate the gash on his head, the blood leaking out. I notice his backpack, which had fallen off when we flew back. I unzipped it, finding an extra shirt and some other first aid supplies and two bottles of water. I rinsed my hands and opened a pack of gauze to prepare for a quick bandage. I cleaned off the wound and pressed the gauze against it to staunch the bleeding. Lifting his head, I placed the extra shirt, not folded under it.

"Steve? Nat? Tony? Can anyone hear me?" I called out in the ear comm, hoping to get help. Silence, nothing coming in and I assumed nothing going out. Our communication to them wasn't an option, which meant they couldn't hear us. Maybe they haven't even noticed we were gone. I heard a groan, my attention back on Bucky. He tried sitting up, but I stopped him.

"No, no. Lie still. I think you might have a concussion," I said, pressing my hands to his chest.

"Where are we? What happened? Are you alright?" he asked.

"I think we're in a cave, probably happened when the elemental attacked us. I'm fine. I may have some bruises or scrapes. I don't know. There's not enough light. Communication is damaged, so no one knows we're here," I explained. My voice shook and he reached up to touch my cheek.

"Hey, easy. They'll find us. Don't worry," he said.

"If Strange and Loki hadn't been arguing, we wouldn't be in this mess. I took my eyes off the enemy for a second to yell at them. I-,"

"Nina, stop. It's not your fault. They'll find us. Once they notice we're not there," Bucky stated, wincing at the pain. I managed a small smile helping him drink some water. I hoped he was right. Maybe they had help on the way. A few minutes drifted by and I shivered, the coolness of the cave affecting me, despite the warmth I had before. Adrenaline is wearing off, I thought.

"Nina, cuddle with me. I can see you trembling," Bucky said, tugging my hand.

"Won't you get cold too?"

"I've got plenty of warmth to share. No need for you to freeze on my behalf," I sighed, giving in and curled up next to him, my head on his chest. He chuckled, the vibrations hitting my cheek.

"What?" I asked, looked up at him.

"We're finally hanging out without interruptions," he answered.

"I wouldn't say this is an ideal hang out. We're stuck in a cave waiting on our friends to rescue us. After a battle and an argument between the two who keep crashing out usual hangouts," I stated.

"No, not ideal. Though, I'd love nothing more than being around you. You're the best part of my day. Nina, I-,"

"Found them! Bucky! Nina! Hang on. We're going to get you out soon," Steve's voice echoed through the cave.

"Hurry! Bucky's hurt. He hit his head when we were flown in here," I said.

"We've got medical help here. Just give us a few more minutes," he said. While we waited on them, I turned attention back to Bucky.

"What were you saying?" I asked.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter. Do you still want to get pizza later? We could order in it if I'm not cleared to go out," he said.

"Are you sure? It sounded important. Pizza sounds great. Let's order in anyway. It's been one hell of a day," I said.

"You can say that again," What felt like ten minutes went by and soon we were being helped from the cave. Paramedics checked out Bucky, determining that he had a concussion. They gave him strict instructions to stay in bed and rest. We headed back to the compound ordering pizza for a night in. He wanted to stay in my room away from anyone else.

We watched a short movie before he fell asleep, his arms wrapped tight around my middle. A knock sounded at my door.

"Come in. Quietly, please," I said. Steve opened the door, revealing both Loki and Stephen.

"They have something they'd like to say to you. Don't you?" Steve informed me. When they stayed silent, Steve shoved them both forward, folding his arms across his chest. Stephen was the first to clear his throat and speak.

"Sorry, Nina. I didn't mean to put you and Barnes in danger," he said. He sniffed, bright blue eyes meeting mine. They were filled with tears and I released a sigh.

"You're forgiven Stephen. Loki, do you have something to say as well?"

"If Strange hadn't-,"

"No. Wrong answer. You're at fault as much as he is. He's apologized. Are you going to say sorry?" I snapped, making him flinch.

"I…" he paused, dragging a hand through his raven locks. "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have argued and caused harm to you and Barnes. I'm sorry he was hurt trying to protect you," he said.

"Apology accepted. Don't let it happen again," I said. They nodded and left the room, except for Steve whose gaze was on Bucky and me.

"What is it Steve?" I asked.

"You look good together. Have you considered dating him? I can see the chemistry you two have," he commented.

"I have. I like him. No, I love him. I do, but I'm not sure how he feels," I answered, casually stroking Bucky's hair. The movement caused him to stir and tighten his grip around me.

"I don't know. He could have a crush on you too. You could ask him out and see what happens. Just a thought. Guys don't always have to make the first move," Steve stated.

"Good night Steve. Don't meddle with my love life. I know you mean well, but things will work out how they're meant to," I told him. He laughed and turned to leave.

"I'm sure they will. Good night, Nina," I snuggled down in the sheets, turning off my lamp and pulled Bucky closer as if it was even possible. I kissed his cheek and fell into a deep sleep. A nightmare a few days later would bring me back to the first night we met, and it would reveal feelings neither of us expected.

A sorcerer sits alone in his Sanctum. He's pondering whether or not he should continue this competition. He's a reason she almost got hurt, instead hurting one of her closest friends. Stephen Strange likes Nina, that much is true. He'd love to be in a relationship with her, but he's starting to notice a pattern.

Would he be willing to give up the competition to win her over by being himself? Would he give it all up even it meant he would lose her to someone else? The answer is yes.

Loki, on the other hand, refuses to call off the competition. He's having too much fun. He regrets someone would got hurt because of it, but it won't stop him from tearing Nina away from Stephen Strange. He hasn't noticed the same pattern as Strange has. The truth will reveal itself in a few weeks' time. The end result will leave Nina heartbroken, though she has found love in the one person who matters the most.