Chapter Four

Amelia stood in front of the mirror with a dead look in her eye. She was used to missions involving a certain level of emotion, but it was rare when it involved her being terrified. She knew it was her duty to full fill her mission, but this time it was different. Her grandfather was her last living family and she would be damned if she let antlers take him. He had made it personal and this time personal was a good thing.

She straightened out the long black dress she was wearing to the gala and checked to make sure her new earpiece was in place. Once she was sure she was ready she left to meet Steve and Natasha at one of the jets. Coulson, Steve, and Natasha were already waiting for her when she made her appearance. The plan was to drop her off somewhere close to the museum so she could report back what was happening on the inside. If it was a success then they should get the upper hand, but if she failed... Amelia shuddered at the thought of failing.

"Are you ready Mila?"

Natasha's soothing voice brought her out of her thoughts as she looked at her friend with determination, "He threatened the wrong world."

Natasha nodded before boarding the jet and getting it ready for departure. While she was doing that Amelia made her way over to Coulson and Steve who were once again talking about trading cards. She understood Coulson's obsession with Captain America, he was the best hero of his age, but her admiration didn't go quite as intimate. For Coulson's birthday, that year she had gotten him a record player and a record full of songs that were made in Captain America's honor. Needless to say, his reaction was priceless and had left him humming the tunes for weeks.

"I'm happy to hear that you'll get them signed, but would you stop harassing the man?" Amelia called out as she neared them.

Coulson looked over at her and rolled his eyes, "I was only trying to debrief him on the mission."

Amelia cocked an eyebrow, "Don't lie to me."

Coulson scoffed, "I am not lying Lili."

Amelia let out a giggle as she shook her head looking toward Steve, "Help a girl out?"

Steve placed his hands up in surrender, "I'd rather not get in the middle."

Coulson nodded patting his shoulder, "Smart move."

While Steve was distracted with Coulson and his touchy hands Amelia took a moment to admire him in his uniform. Steve really did look good in the whole stars and stripes theme. His blonde hair was combed and gelled in a 40s style that made him look very handsome. Amelia was very happy to see that she had gotten his dimensions right when helping Coulson with the suit.

Amelia was so busy praising her own work that she didn't even notice Steve looking at her embarrassed yet confident look, "See something you like?"

Amelia blushed deeply at having been caught staring, but replied, "Just admiring my handy work. The suit makes your butt look nice."

All of Steve's confidence diminished as he looked ready to die of embarrassment at Amelia's comment. Amelia, on the other hand, let out a laugh and went to board the jet when Natasha gave the go. When she turned back Steve had reluctantly followed her onto the jet. Amelia waved back to Coulson who saluted the trio.

Once the quinjet was in the air Amelia sat across from Steve and began fidgeting with the clutch she was holding, which held a small knife inside. She was nervous to be going back into the field after staying in her cubical for so long. She knew she wouldn't be rusty with any of her skills thanks to Natasha and Clint's surprise spar days, but the feeling of going out on a mission felt foreign to her. Steve seemed to pick up on her nerves and sent her a worried look.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked.

Amelia looked up at him, her brown eyes meeting his blue ones, "No one is ever sure of anything, but I am sure that my grandfather and those innocent civilians need me. If I don't do this then they die and I lose the one thing keeping me grounded in life."

If Steve was surprised by Amelia's harden tone although he didn't show it. Instead he gave her an encouraging look paired with one of his dashing smiles. Amelia liked that about Steve. He came from a time where very few women showed their interest in being equal to men and yet here he was encouraging one into battle. He also didn't belittle her or push her to sit this one out. Instead, he was on her side and for that she was grateful. Amelia felt her heart tug a little as she remembered reading his file and how much killing he did in Germany. She wondered if he will be alright as well.

She didn't have time to ask as Natasha announced they were at her drop off location. She sent Natasha a smile and was about to step off the quinjet when Steve grabbed her arm. It wasn't ruff or anything, instead, his hold was rather gentle and strong. She looked up at him in confusion, but he seemed stunned by his actions as well. He quickly let go of her arm, which now tingled from where his hand had been, and scratched the back of his neck.

"I just wanted to tell you to be safe." He said.

She smiled at him, "You too. Just because your a seasoned soldier doesn't mean I won't worry about you or Nat."

Her statement got a chuckle out of the old man. She saluted him goodbye as the quinjet took to the sky. She watched it go for only a moment more before turning and beginning her mission.

It wasn't hard to locate antlers once she reached the museum. The sound of soft music that had once graced the gala had been shattered by the sounds of screaming civilians. Amelia quickly made her way over to the scene only to watch in horror as a German police car flips over with one blast from Loki's staff.

She pressed her earpiece, "Nat are you seeing this?"

It was static for a couple of seconds before Natasha replied, "Where do you want me?"

Amelia pushed her way through the crowds, but it was to thick for her to make any headway before Loki yelled for the crowd to kneel. She followed his orders so she remained undetectable, but she was beyond pissed that she was kneeling before any man. Amelia was taught from a young age to never let any man control her. Her father and Grandfather, as well as Fury and Coulson, were furious when she was being taught how to be a good wife by a friend's mom. They decided then that she was not going to be like most girls and they were right. Most girls wouldn't be caught dead working for a secret organization and have two assassins for siblings.

Loki seemed to enjoy the look of the puny humans on their knees as he smiles and spreads his arms, "Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."

"Nat come from the south side you'll have a better angle," Amelia whispered into her com.

"Roger that."

Amelia smirked knowing that Loki was about to meet his match when the voice she hoped she wouldn't hear on this mission spoke.

"Not to men like you."

Pure terror coursed through her veins as Amelia looked to her left to see her grandfather standing up against the maniac. He was dressed in his usual tan trench coat and carried with him his ivory walking stick. He looked like he was out of breath as he struggled to keep on his feet. Amelia was worried over how he would react to being this close to someone who reminded him of Hitler and she was right. He looked ready to collapse.

"There are no men like me," Loki stated.

Amelia watched as her grandfather shook his head and he placed his hand over his heart, "There are always men like you."

"Hurry!" Amelia whisper shouted into the com as Loki chuckled in a sinister way.

"Look to your elder, people." Loki began and her eyes widened in horror as he raised his staff toward her only living relative. "Let him be an example."

"NO!" She cried and tried to take the blow, but she was too far away to reach him in time.

Amelia wanted to look away to avoid seeing her grandfather turned to ash, but something compelled her to keep watching. She let out a sigh of relief as Steve arrived just in time. The force of the blast from Loki's staff was enough to ricochet off of Steve's shield and sent Loki on his ass, but not before it bounced off of Loki as well and hit Amelia. She let out a painful cry as the blue light hit her exposed skin. It felt as if her flesh was being melted off, but only for a split second. When the pain subsided to a bearable point she looked down to see a symbol appear on her left shoulder.

"Mia!"

The sound of Steve's worried tone was enough to snap Amelia out of her horror as she looked over at him, "I'm alright."

He didn't look convinced but didn't persist on the matter, instead, he focused back on Loki who was still recovering from his fall, "You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."

Amelia slowly made her way over to where Steve and her grandfather were. Her grandfather pulled the brunette into a quick embrace before letting her get back to work, knowing full well she had lives to save. The Agent stood beside Steve who only acknowledged her presence by shifting his body slightly so that it covered her right side from Loki's prying eyes. The maniac seemed to enjoy the show of protectiveness that Steve showed his companion and smiled cruelly.

"The soldier. A man out of time." He began while standing up to face them.

Steve didn't bite Loki's obvious attempt to make him feel insecure about his current situation and instead announced, "I'm not the one who's out of time."

Only seconds did those words leave his mouth did the quinjet arrives over the trio's head with a machine gun pointed right at Loki.

Natasha's voice came loud and clear over the speakers, "Loki, drop the weapon and stand down."

Amelia was the first to notice Loki readying his staff as he moves to blast the quinjet out of the sky. She quickly radios to Natasha to veer left and she follows her orders without question. Amelia watched as the redhead maneuvered the quinjet just in time to avoid the attack. While Loki was distracted by how Natasha would know to avoid his latest attempt at destruction, Captain America took this time to throw his shield and attack Loki head on.

Amelia decided that this fight only needed one hero today and proceeded to help civilians to safety, including her grandfather. Once she was sure that the civilians were safely out of harm's way she turned back to check on Steve only to find Loki standing over him with his scepter's tip on his helmet. Anger coursed through her veins as Loki shouts for him to kneel.

Steve seemed to mirror the tech nerd's anger as he smacks the tip away from his head and yells, "Not today!"

Amelia watched in anticipation as Steve flips up and knocks Loki out with his legs. She noticed Loki getting ready to grab Steve and flip him over, but she intervened by throwing her dagger. It hit its mark with unmatched accuracy and Amelia watched in triumph as it wedges its way into Loki's hand. Her attack caused Loki's focus to switch onto her and she quickly got ready to knock him on his ass.

The Agent didn't get the chance however when suddenly Amelia's favorite ACDC song, "Shoot to Thrill" began playing over the quinjet's stereo. At first, she thought it was Natasha trying to give her some music to fight, knowing she always performed at her deadliest when she had music, but that was not the case.

The music was followed by a very familiar voice, "Agent Romanoff, did you miss me?"

Steve, Loki, and Amelia all looked to the sky to see Tony Stark aka Iron Man arrive in style. The gleam of the red and gold suit was enough to make the brunette glad she was on Stark's good side. The man had some nice weapons at his disposal. Tony flew over and blasts Loki right back to the ground before touching down. He moves to stand up and pulls out every piece of weaponry the suit has and points it directly at Loki.

"Make your move, Reindeer Games."

If the situation wasn't so serious Amelia would have laughed at Tony's nickname for the maniac. The three of them prepared for a fight but were all surprised when Loki puts up his hands and surrenders, while also materializing his armor away.

"Good move," Tony said before lowering his weapons.

Steve was first to greet Tony, "Mr. Stark."

Tony looked over at the man briefly before looking back at Loki in suspicion, "Captain."

While the two men got acquainted Amelia took a hesitant step forward to see if Loki would react, but once she realized that Loki had truly surrendered she let her rage show. The woman marched straight for him and punched him straight in the jaw watching in satisfaction as he sprawled out on the pavement.

"You will never control me."

Loki looked up at her and tilted his head, "And why are you special?"

Amelia placed her hands on her hips and smiled, "I'm not. I just know that if I was meant to be controlled, I would have come with a remote."

Loki seemed to be trying to comprehend what a remote was as she walked away and finally greeted Stark, "Finally decided to show up?"

Tony smiled at her and gave her a mock bow, "Pleasure as always Agent Nilson."

The flight back to the Helicarrier was a less than pleasant one. Amelia didn't have time to introduce her grandfather to Steve, but he assured her that just being saved by Captain America again was a dream come true. She was worried about his blood pressure. She had one of the medics that had arrived on the scene check him and was only satisfied when the doctor confirmed that he was fine. She gave her grandfather a kiss on the cheek before leaving the scene. They needed to get Loki back to base.

Amelia sat next to Natasha in the copilot seat and proceeded to tended to her arm, but couldn't seem to touch it without wincing. The adrenaline of a good fight had long since expired and while she was managing it hurt like hell. She was about to give up when Steve offered to wrap it up.

"Thank you," Amelia said before wincing as he pulled a little too tight. "Um... Steve."

"Sorry," Steve replied automatically realizing he was treating a woman and not a man and quickly proceeded more gently than before. "That should hold until we can get you seen be a medic."

She nodded already dreading having to go see any of the S.H.I.E.L.D medics. They were way to nice for their own good. The last time she went in for her annual examination one of the nurses had offered her a lollipop. She was blonde with blue eyes. Amelia couldn't remember her name, but she swore it started with a 'C'.

Natasha laughed when she heard Steve mention her sister seeing a medic, "Good luck with that."

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, "What's wrong with seeing a physician?"

"Nothing," Amelia replied. "I just don't like being treated like a kid."

Natasha laughed before gesturing at the consul, "Can you contact Fury?"

Amelia nodded and quickly dialed his extension. It didn't take long for him to answer and ask about the mission. She let Steve answer all the questions as she tried to get some rest before they landed. She had almost dozed off until lightning almost hit the aircraft, causing all of its passengers to go on high alert.

"I don't like it," Steve says automatically after finishing briefing Fury and Amelia nodded in agreement.

Tony cocked an eyebrow, "What? Rock of Ages giving up so easily?"

"More like Antlers surrendered too easily," Amelia replied causing Tony to laugh at her nickname for Loki. "There was almost no fight."

Steve sent Tony a disapproving look before proceeding to agree with Amelia, "I don't remember it ever being that easy. This guy packs a wallop."

Tony just sighed and leaned back as if on vacation, "Still, you are pretty spry, for an older fellow."

The brunette shot Tony a warning look but he ignored it.

"What's your thing? Pilates?"

Steve looked at Tony confused, "What?"

"It's like calisthenics," Tony replied, but Steve still wasn't getting it. "You might have missed a couple of things, you know, doing time as a Capsicle."

Steve looked at Tony as if he couldn't believe how inconsiderate and egotistical the man was. He glanced over at Amelia for an explanation, but received a shrug, "I didn't think he would show up."

Tony looked at her, "And miss seeing Kim Possible in action?"

Amelia shook her head at the nickname and was about to continue the spat when Steve jumped on the bandwagon, "Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in."

Tony turned his attention back to Steve, "Yeah, there's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you."

"That's because you can't keep a secret," Amelia interjected.

Tony was about to retort but had to catch himself as lightning nearly hit the jet again, making it shake violently. Amelia swiveled back around in her seat and looked at the sky in confusion. It was clear all the way through Germany, but somewhere along the way, the sky clouded over with a freak thunderstorm. She would have been worried, but she felt like she had seen this somewhere before.

Natasha voiced everyone's thought out loud, "Where's this coming from?"

Thunder rumbled overhead and Amelia furrowed her brows as she quickly typed calculations into the computer in order to get a reading on the storm. The algorithm was easy to write, but the jerking of the jet made it harder to type. While she was doing this Steve checked on Loki only to see him staring out the window intently.

"What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?"

Loki didn't acknowledge Steve's jest, but rather stayed focused on the window, "I'm not overly fond of what follows."

That's when it all clicked as the readings came to view. She HAD seen this kind of storm before. It was back in New Mexico when she was still a technician and they first made contact with Asgardians. This was no freak storm this was...

"Thor!" Amelia shouted, but her yell fell on deaf ears as she turned around too late to see Thor fly out the back with Loki in his grasp.

Tony was the first to spring into action as he placed his iron man helmet on, "Now there's that guy."

Natasha looked over at her, "Another Asgardian?"

Amelia nodded.

"Think the guy's friendly?" Steve asked.

"Doesn't matter. If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract's lost."

Before Amelia could tell Tony that Thor was on their side he was already heading towards the back and getting ready to chase after the God of Thunder. She knew his attempt to catch up to the god would be futile, but the way Thor had grabbed Loki made her think that he wasn't going to leave the planets orbit just yet. Which meant Tony had a fighting chance at catching up to him. However, being a worthy opponent was another matter entirely.

"Stark, we need a plan of attack!" Steve called out.

"I have a plan," Tony replies turning to look back at them. "Attack."

Those were the last words Tony said before jumping out of the jet and chasing after Thor. Amelia cursed and was about to radio Fury that they had unexpected company when she saw Steve move to grab a parachute to follow. She knew he was a man of honor, but this was a fight that was way out of his element. The moment Natasha tried to reason with him is when his stubborn side comes out.

"I'd sit this one out, Cap," Natasha called trying to maintain control of the jet.

"I don't see how I can," Steve replied.

Natasha only shook her head, "These guys come from legends, they're basically gods."

Once Steve had situated his parachute he turned to look at the two women, "There's only one God, ma'am. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."

"Steve please reconsider this."

Her warning fell on deaf ears as he jumped out the plane to follow Tony. She let out an exasperated huff as Natasha moved the quinjet to follow them. Amelia knew she should be glad that Steve wanted to help out, but she knew what Thor was capable of. She just didn't want to see him get hurt. He was a good man and right now the world needed men like him. They just weren't in fashion anymore.

"Are you worried about him?" Natasha asks as they watch from the quinjet as Iron Man tackled Thor to the ground.

Amelia looked over at her, "You're not?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow clearly seeing the worry all over her sister's face, "It's just I've seen how hard it is for you to trust and yet just 30 minutes ago you trusted Steve to protect your grandfather."

"I didn't really have a choice," Amelia replied trying to put on a poker face but failing. She never really was good at poker. "Loki wasn't exactly going to stop his killing spree because someone asked him."

"You also let him protect and help you as well." Natasha pointed out which caused her to let out a huff in frustration.

"Can we just get back to watching Thor kick Tony's ass? It's a rare phenomenon when someone can put Stark in his place."

"This conversation is not over Mila."

Amelia sent her adoptive sister a look to shut up. She watched Thor and Tony fight and smash down every tree possible. It didn't take long for the fight to turn into a stalemate with neither party backing down. When she thought the two were about to pounce on each other yet again Captain America's shield ricochets off both Thor and Stark, stopping them. The pair look up to see Steve standing on top of a fallen tree with the shield back in hand.

"That's enough!" Steve shouts before looking toward Thor. "Now, I don't know what you plan on doing here-"

"I've come here to put an end to Loki's schemes!" Thor interrupts.

"Then prove it!" Steve calls out. "Put the hammer down."

Amelia knew that was the wrong choice of words when Tony replied, "Um, yeah, no! Bad call! He loves his hammer!"

A split second later, Tony is sent flying through the air as Thor shouted, "You want me to put the hammer down?"

Amelia watched in horror and awe as Thor leaped high into the air while raising his hammer in the air before bringing it down on Steve. Steve's reaction time was impeccable as he crouched down and held his shield up for protection. Just as Thor's hammer makes contact with Steve's shield a massive implosion of light reacts to the vibranium in the shield creating a massive shockwave that eradicated anything standing within a mile.

Natasha curses under her breath at the damage while Amelia groaned realizing she would have to report this... in detail.

"Are we done here?" She heard Steve call to the two men.

Amelia quickly grabbed the radio, "You just made my mission report a lot longer. Get your asses back on board... NOW!"

They didn't need to be told twice.