Warnings: PG13, because there's a small flashback into Natasha's childhood (which we all know ain't that nice). My fiance assures me it's PG13 though, and he's pretty good about those things.

Last Time:

The Avengers. Those meant to watch over his little brother. Those who failed in that task. But Thor struggles to push the anger away. It cannot be his new friends' fault. He knows their bravery and kindness. They would not simply hand Loki over, and never to those as evil as Hydra. He prays none of them were harmed or killed in the attack – for surely that is how Hydra came to have Loki.

"Indeed," Heimdall says, interrupting Thor's thoughts. "They seek your brother with every means possible."

As well Thor knew they would. He should never have doubted them. "Are they much harmed by Hydra?"

"Very little, save their pride." Heimdall turns his sword and a path booms open. Colors of every spectrum roar into existence. "It seems Hydra has future plans for them."

Natasha ignores the growing pit of unease in her stomach and scrolls casually down the hall. The thick red rug muffles her footfalls. Christmas lights are still up. They sparkle bright colors of joy that mock the serious situation. And it is serious. Who knows what Hydra is doing to Loki right now?

You do, that small voice left over from her time in the Red Room whispers.

Ice goes down Natasha's spine.

She's probably the only person here who has any idea what Loki's going through. And even then, her Intel on Hydra is several years outdated. They could've upgraded to more advanced technology – that's almost a given – or looked into less lethal ways of extracting information – this isn't a mercy for their captives, as it only prolongs their agony.

0/0/0/0/0

"No, Natalya," the greying matron says as she stalks around her. "Your task is simple. Extract the information from this woman, and you will pass. Fail, and I shall give your place to Gretchen."

A shiver of something goes down Natalya's spine. She won't call it fear, that emotion is long dead. Maybe apprehension? Natalya knows she needs her position to be secure. It's her only hope of survival. Therefore, she must complete this test.

Her life depends on it.

And so, even as the blood drips down, even as the screams get hoarser, Natalya still stands before the yellow-haired woman. "Where is the American spy?"

"I don't know," the woman sobs, her curls matted against her sweat-soaked face. Her harsh breath rattles off the metal walls. "Please, I don't know."

Natalya has the Room's agent up the ante. Now cries echo off the walls. Pleas. Natalya steels herself against them. It is either her life or this woman's. Natalya knows which one is more important.

"Where is he?" she asks when the agent stops.

"I don't know! Ple-e-ease!" the woman begs, as Natalya signals the agent to begin once more. "I don't kno-o-o-w!"

….

Natalya succeeds in the end.

0/0/0/0/0

So, yes, Natasha pushes the bile back down her throat and walks into Stark's living room as if she hasn't a care in the world. Ruminating on her fears won't do a thing for Loki. She'll deal with it after they get him back. She'll allow herself a private moment to think only then.

Stark, Banner, and Clint are lounging on the couch in a sad attempt to look casual. Natasha snorts. As if she can't figure out they were using Jarvis to hack into Shield Intel. She hopes they got in. They need to find Loki soon, or there won't be anything left to save.

Steve is mysteriously late.

So, of course, this is right when something big decides to attack the roof. Wam! The entire room shakes and the lights go out, plunging the room into pitch black. Another Hydra attack? Or something worse? By now, someone has got to know that the Avenger's Tower has been infiltrated. Some of the lower level mobsters might try their own luck. A dim light comes through the windows as Natasha's right hand goes to the butt of her gun, while her left pulls a knife from her boot.

She'll not be caught off guard again.

"Really? Now?" Stark whines. Natasha can just see the black outline of his body in the grey lighting. He's still on the couch, along with Banner. Clint's standing up. She can't see if he's armed, but she assumes he is. He's too smart not to be.

"Ugh!" Stark continues. "And Shield said they'd upgraded us to a Security One status."

Something rustles from his side of the room, and Natasha sees him stand. "Guess that shows how good they are. You doin' ok, Brucie?"

"Fine," Banner grinds out. He doesn't sound fine to Natasha, but she hopes he can keep Hulk from emerging. A large, angry Neanderthal isn't what they need right now. Maybe later, when they've regrouped and understood the situation better. Right now, they need Banner more than Hulk.

"Jarvis?" Stark calls. The shadow of his head looks up to the ceiling.

Nothing.

Natasha upholsters her gun, and tugs it up and out. If they got Jarvis offline again, this isn't any low level mob attack. This is Hydra. Back for more kidnappings…or to kill them. Her inner cynic begrudgingly agrees with Stark on Shield's security. This is pathetic.

She'll tell Phil his theory on a mole is becoming more than theory….if she lives through this.

Someone tiptoes into the room. The light from the window doesn't reach them, but Natasha can hear their shallow breathing. She holsters her gun without a sound and then tackles the intruder to the floor. Yanking the man's hair back – bone structure can't be anything but a man – she prepares to slit his throat if he doesn't answer her questions.

"Na-ta-sha," Steve strains to get out passed her hold.

She lets him go slowly, so as not to hurt him further. "Sorry."

He coughs. "No problem. Better to have you on guard."

She gets off and helps him off the floor. "Jarvis is out again."

"I know. Tried to reach him before I got here. Nothing." She feels him inch closer. "Think it's Hydra again?"

Natasha doesn't miss the dark anger in those words. There's a long-held grudge in Steve, one that only needs a match to ignite. It's a dangerous liability to save in a teammate. Regardless…

"Maybe," she says. "This is longer than last time."

"You can say that again," Stark interjects. She hears him shuffle. "So, unless they got lost on their way in, I'm guessing we've got a horse of a different color here, folks."

Natasha can feel elation wafting off Steve at the reference – she knows he knows that movie – but, like a good soldier, he tables it for later. Instead, he clears his throat. "Any idea who it might be?"

"If I knew that, I'd be Jarvis." Stark sighs. "But I'm not sitting around like a duck. Let's go, Brucie. We'll introduce them to Hulk."

"Tony –"

"Relax, science bro. We'll only let him tickle them."

Natasha shakes her head. She has stealth training in darkness. Clint does too. But the other three will be as helpful as ice in a blizzard. More a hindrance and danger, than anything else.

"And how do you suggest we get to them?" she asks.

"Byyyy," Stark sings, and a bright beam of light ticks on. "Using my handy, dandy flashlight!"

"And alerting them to our presence before we even see them," Natasha says.

"Ergo, we bring Hulk." Stark pauses and glances at Banner. "You don't mind going in front, do ya, Brucie?"

There's a slight, but real, hesitance there. Stark seems to like Banner, and doesn't want to offend the man. Not because Hulk might come out and kill him. But because he likes Banner as a person. Interesting. She'll have to update his profile page. Seems he can work with someone.

Banner takes a deep breath. "I'll do it."

"You sure?" Stark asks, leaning down so he can catch Banner's eye. "I can always just go down to the basement to get some toys."

"I'm sure." Banner gives a small smile and sticks his glasses on the table. "Let's go."

She takes note that he doesn't immediately transform. Smart move. It'll give them more an element of surprise in the dark halls.

0/0/0/0/0

Everyone's steps seem to be amplified by five in the darkened halls. They might as well be shouting and banging the walls to Natasha. She hopes it's not the Red Room, trying out their luck too. Any agents that place sends will be as good as her, if not better – Natasha's not stupid enough to think she's the best anymore.

Clint's outline glances around a corner, bow and arrow at the ready. She watches as he scans the room and then whispers 'all clear'.

"Okay, this is getting weird," Stark says. "We've gone through two levels now, and got nothing. Not even a peek-a-boo. Does anyone else think this is weird?"

"It's weird," Steve says. "Natasha?"

She's about to answer when someone big turns the opposite corner. There's no personnel allowed on this floor, so it can only be an intruder. She's on them faster than she can blink, wrapping her legs tight around their neck. Another man. He grunts as she swings him to floor. Clint shouts a warning to their attacker. Who ignores that in favor of smashing Natasha on the side of the head. Her entire field of vision goes out and she can feel herself going limp.

They're dead.

If this man can take her down, the others – with the exception of Hulk – don't have a prayer.

But, strangely, when her eyesight comes back, it's not to the sound of her new team dying. But to Thor's worried face, illuminated by…his hammer? She blinks. How hard was she hit? Thor's face relaxes a little when she does.

"My apologies, Agent Romanoff," he rumbles. "Too many things have happened as of late. I'm afraid I attacked when I should have waited longer."

Ah, that makes more sense. She sits up, wincing as pain lances through the side of her head. "It's nothing."

Thor frowns. "I think not."

She levels a glare his way and a soft smile crosses his face. But it's quickly gone.

"I fear I am the cause of your tower's problems. I…" the alien looks ashamed. "I did not think of the effects the Bi-Frost might have on it."

"You didn't think what raw power might do if it whapped into a tower?" Clint's tone is shocked. The archer raises an eyebrow. Natasha agrees this is a large oversight on Thor's part, but also knows that right now isn't the time to ream the alien out on it.

"Why are you here?" she asks him. "Has Heimdall seen something?"

His eyes widen for a second. "You are indeed correct. I have a location."

It's more than she hoped for. She waits for his temper to flare. They were, after all, supposed to watch over his little brother. It took Natasha a while to figure that angle out, but once she did, it made perfect sense. Yet…Thor says nothing to accuse them.

Banner clears his throat. "We…we're sorry, Thor. We didn't –"

"I know, my friends," Thor says, sending the shorter man a kind look. "I do not blame you for this."

"Where is he?" Natasha asks. They can leave the mushy talk for later.

"Near a small town called Shuya. It is near…Russia?" Thor's forehead wrinkles. "Will you be able to find it with Jarvis?"

"Once he's online again, yes," Stark says. There a small hint of a jab in those words. Stark doesn't take kindly to anyone messing with his things. Natasha sees Thor grimace.

"I apologize, friend Stark. You know I would never harm Jarvis intentionally."

Stark's face smooths out. "Yeah, I know. Just…try and find a nice patch of grass next time, buddy. It's not like we'd miss you or something."

"Indeed."

Steve lays a hand on Thor. "We all make mistakes. It shouldn't take Tony too long to have Jarvis up and running. Right, Tony?"

"Of course."

And there's the arrogance Natasha was waiting for. Trust Steve to know when to call it out. Now Stark will be aiming to get them up and running in record time. Not that he'd have been slow before, but now he's got his ego to boost…and Steve to prove right.

And just to prove he's mostly back to normal, Stark pauses at the doorway. "And, just cause no one else is asking…since when does Mew-Mew glow in the dark?!"

A smirk spreads across Thor's face.

And that's it. Man, what a long chapter for me (8 pages!). I know, it's not that long on here, but I'm quite proud of myself for it. Also, a few notes. I'm not sure "Natalya" is Natasha's old name, but I liked it, so I hope you can forgive me if it's wrong.

And...the tower going out. Yeah, about that. Now, I know it's never said in the movies or comics, but I thought it'd be a neat little humor things to have the Bi-Frost short out the tower the first time round. I mean, that's a LOT of raw energy there, people.

Thor's hammer glowing was just too good to NOT use. To answer any questions, Thor has to ask it/her to glow, otherwise it'she stays 'dark'.