After standing alone on the tarmac for a few minutes, Steve was surprised to find Brooklyn walking alongside Natasha towards the quinjet. He tilted his head, but Natasha just shrugged, "I need a copilot. I'm assuming you don't know how to fly a jet."
"That's correct." Steve answered as Brooklyn reached him. She grabbed his forearm and gave a firm squeeze, and he felt his nerves settle knowing she was coming along.
He took a seat on the bench he'd ridden on earlier, looking towards the cockpit where the two women strapped in to begin their flight. "How long till we reach Germany?"
"In the jet? Within the hour. We're pretty far from North America by now." Brooklyn called over her shoulder. Steve nodded, blowing air out of his mouth as he leaned his head back against the back of the jet, looking at the ceiling as they took to the sky.
Steve sat in silence as they flew, but the women he was traveling with talked amongst themselves. Steve wasn't sure if they meant for him to hear their conversation or not, but his heightened hearing caused their words to reach him anyway.
"So, Hayes," Natasha started casually, "rumor on the street is you weren't supposed to be working this week. Something about a boyfriend?"
"Yeah." Brooklyn replied quietly, and Steve puffed out his chest with air as he dropped his gaze to his feet. Brooklyn paused for a few moments, then added, "That was supposed to be confidential."
"Word travels fast."
"Who did you hear it from?"
"Oh, Rogers back there, he isn't quiet." Natasha said louder, and Steve lifted his head just a little, but didn't say anything more. Romanoff seemed observant. She was most likely watching his exchange with Brooklyn on the bridge. Everybody else was. Steve heard Natasha hum for a moment and ask, "This guy got a name?"
"Mason."
"Mason who?"
"None of your business, Romanoff." Brooklyn growled and Steve's instincts told him to defend her, but he knew she could handle herself. She wouldn't appreciate him jumping to her rescue. If he'd learned anything over their six weeks together at the Retreat, it was that Brooklyn Hayes didn't need help from anybody.
Natasha chuckled as the jet shifted to the right, "I'm just trying to make conversation. If I were trying to get information out of you, I'd be much more subtle."
Brooklyn huffed and looked over her shoulder at Steve, "Listen, if anyone needs help with their love life, it's Steve. He's a catch." Steve's shoulders stiffened as he shook his head, warning her to stop talking, but she just grinned and continued, "I've been trying to get him to call this lady we met in Central Park, but he's chicken."
"I'm not interested." Steve said bluntly and crossed his arms across his chest. "I don't know anything about her."
"That's how you get to know people, you go out with them." Brooklyn called and Natasha snorted, "What?"
"You two are like a married couple. You should just date each other."
Steve wanted to see what Brooklyn's reaction was, but he didn't want to seem eager. He already knew what she'd say, even if he always hoped her answer would be different. Today was no different.
She laughed, "Steve and I? Really? He's like a brother to me. I care about him, I love him, but I don't think we'd be a good match." Brooklyn suddenly dropped her volume, "At least, not right now."
"Hmm," Steve saw Natasha bop her head back and forth from the pilot's chair, then whisper something unintelligible, no matter how hard he tried to hear her. He looked up quickly and saw Brooklyn stare at him in panic, then look to Natasha and shake her head quickly.
Steve groaned loudly as he stretched, making a big show of getting up so they knew he was coming towards them, "Everything okay here?"
Brooklyn whipped around in her chair and stared up at Steve from under her eyelashes, "We're fine, Steve. Get off my dick."
Steve stammered as he took a step back, completely dumbfounded by Brooklyn's words, "Excuse me?"
"You're my best friend, but I just need a little space. I'm dealing with some things, and you're making them more difficult than they need to be. Please, just, calm down." Brooklyn spun back around and grabbed the controls roughly. Steve looked at Natasha, who just looked up at him with a neutral expression.
Steve stormed to the back of the jet and grabbed onto the beam above, clenching it tightly as he seethed. He couldn't wait to get out some of his pent-up rage, and he knew just the God of Mischief to take it out on.
"Mr. Stark."
"Captain."
Steve panted, frustrated that the arrogant, egotistical, over-the-top Tony Stark had barged in and taken over his mission. After getting his ass kicked and needing to be saved by Iron Man, Steve was sure Fury wouldn't want him on the Avengers. At least then he wouldn't have to face Brooklyn again.
Stark roughly grabbed Loki where he sat and pulled him to his feet as Natasha landed the jet in the square Steve had just fought in. He lingered back as Stark led the demi-god into the jet, replaying everything he could have done differently. He could have beaten Loki with a little more time. He had him on the ropes.
As Stark forcefully strapped in Loki to the seats, Brooklyn came sprinting past them both to Steve, startling him. "Uh, hi?"
She wrapped her arms around Steve's torso and hugged him tightly, "I was worried about you." Brooklyn murmured as she pulled away, pushing a chunk of hair behind her ear, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Steve said coldly. He tried to pass her and enter the jet, but she grabbed his wrist to hold him back. Although he could easily rip out of her grip, Steve sighed and turned to her sadly, "I'm just trying to give you space. I keep messing up."
"I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it. I'm just really overwhelmed right now. I have someone special waiting for me back in New York, and you just keep bringing it up, and it's hard because I can't be there... but you're important to me too, you know?" Brooklyn deflated a little, letting her shoulders drop as she sighed, "Natasha got under my skin and I freaked out, but it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me for being an ass?"
"You told me to get off your dick." Steve mumbled, looking at his shield strap like it was something terribly interesting. Anything so he didn't have to look at Brooklyn. "I'm sorry too. I'm overprotective, but you can take care of yourself. You're smart and any guy would be lucky to have you. I know you wouldn't be with someone who didn't treat you well, and I need to give you space. I have trouble sharing you."
"Really? I thought you played well with others?" Brooklyn teased as she started back towards the jet with Steve at her side. She eyed Tony Stark for a moment, then muttered, "I hope you play better than some of the others."
Steve inhaled sharply, drawing his lips into a firm line, and turning to Stark as his helmet flipped down to show his face. The billionaire looked Steve up and down and scoffed, "Every team needs a mascot."
Steve saw Brooklyn glaring at Stark from the corner of his eye and smirked, turning away from Stark to stand behind the cockpit, "They've still got the helicarrier over the Atlantic." Brooklyn explained quietly, looking up at Steve, before looking past him at Loki, "It'll be a little over an hour. Once we have Loki we'll start heading back towards the U.S."
Steve looked back at Stark, seeing him tapping away on his metal arm, "Alright, thank you."
He leaned against the edge of the cockpit, watching carefully as Brooklyn and Natasha worked together to take the quinjet into the air. Steve studied their steps, filing them away so he could learn how to fly the jet if he ended up continuing his work for Nick Fury. He heard the Director's voice coming through the radio, asking Natasha if Loki was saying anything.
"Not a word." Natasha grumbled under her breath, looking to Brooklyn who shared her unenthused expression.
"Just get him here. We're low on time."
Steve grit his teeth and shifted, looking back at Loki to find the man sitting quietly as he had been since they'd captured him. "I don't like it." Steve muttered to Stark, looking back to the cockpit to see clouds beginning to form through the windshield.
"What? Rock of Ages giving up so easily?" Tony quipped and Steve just stared at him dully, unamused.
"I don't remember it ever being that easy." He looked over his shoulder at Loki with frustration, "This guy packs a wallop."
He heard Brooklyn giggle from the cockpit, then clear her throat to hide it, but Stark narrowed his eyes at the woman anyway, "Excuse me, I don't believe we've met."
"He's talking to you." Natasha slurred to Brooklyn and Steve hooked his thumbs into his belt as he rolled back his shoulders. Stark seemed to see his discomfort, because he beamed at Brooklyn and leaned against the frame of the jet to get a closer look, "You know who I am, but I'm afraid I can't say the same."
"Agent Hayes, Sir." She answered professionally, sparing Stark a quick glance before looking back at the radar, "Agent of SHIELD."
"But who are you?" Tony pressed and Steve shifted back and forth, looking back at Loki, who stared up at the roof of the jet nervously.
Suddenly, thunder echoed as the clouds became thicker around them. Brooklyn looked to Natasha nervously, but the redhead's demeanor stayed the same as they continued flying.
"Is she a robot?"
"Leave her alone, Stark." Steve growled, "We have bigger things to worry about."
Stark laughed, looking back at Loki, "He hasn't moved an inch. I want to know what's Captain America's deal with the robot agent."
"She's not a robot."
"She hasn't said anything."
"Just because I haven't said anything to you doesn't mean I don't have a personality." Brooklyn called. Steve recognized the tone of her voice, she was annoyed and running out of patience, "The weather's getting worse."
"Robot." Stark pointed at Brooklyn and Steve clenched his fist down by his waist, using all his strength not to deck Tony.
Thunder rumbled so loudly it shook the jet, and Steve realized Loki was showing emotion for the first time since they'd strapped him in, "What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?"
The dark-haired man didn't even look over at the Avengers as he spoke, "I'm not overly fond of what follows." His eyes darted up as lightning flashed around the jet, until a beam of light crashed into the quinjet and shook it violently. Steve jut his arm out and grabbed the back of Brooklyn's seat, and she looked to Natasha worriedly, "What was that?"
"I'm gonna find out." Stark said as he opened the back of the jet, putting his helmet back on to prepare for flight.
Before he could leave the quinjet though, a massive blonde man in a red cape appeared on the ramp and stormed forward with a hammer. As Stark raised his hand to blast the stranger, he swung his hammer and sent Iron Man hurtling towards the front of the jet, knocking Steve to the ground beneath his heavy suit.
Steve grunted and pushed Iron Man away and tried to scramble to his feet as Stark began stalking his way towards the open back, "Now there's that guy." Stark growled as he prepared to leave.
"Stark, we need a plan of attack!" Steve called, but Stark just turned around and snapped, "I have a plan. Attack."
As Stark flew away, Steve quickly grabbed a parachute and began to pull it over his arms.
"I'd sit this one out, Cap." Natasha called, and Steve quickly tightened the parachute around his chest.
"I don't see how I can." Steve answered, determination flowing through him and deafening his senses to the logic of the redhead behind the wheel. He was so blinded by his determination to not let Stark win that he didn't even realize Brooklyn had scrambled from her seat to grab him by the arm.
She shook her head back and forth as she looked up at Steve, "So, like, I know we haven't been getting along recently, but please don't jump out of this plane."
"I have to."
"You really don't. Stark can handle it." Brooklyn argued and Steve pushed past her towards the back of the plane. "Steve, please!"
Steve reached the edge of the plane and paused, smiling sadly at Brooklyn over his shoulder, "If I don't get Loki, you can't go back to Mason."
Brooklyn looked like Steve had punched her in the face, and he didn't understand why, so he just jumped headfirst out of the back of the plane.
He pulled open his parachute when he was a few hundred feet from the ground, landing roughly and unstrapping the harness so he could sprint to where Iron Man was fighting Thor. He could see the lighting and blasts exploding ahead of him, and he ran up a hill, sliding to a stop on a fallen tree.
Steve chucked his shield at Thor and it ricochet off his head to Stark, then back to Steve's hand. "That's enough!"
He leapt to the ground thirty feet below, landing on his feet and facing the God of Thunder, "Now, I don't know what you plan on doing here-"
"I've come to put an end to Loki's scheme." Thor warned the soldier, clenching his hammer tightly as Steve planted his feet firmly into the dirt.
"Then prove it," Steve taunted, tightening his jaw as the god's fury shifted from Iron Man to him. "Put the hammer down."
"Yeah, um, no. Bad call. He loves his hammer!"
Steve was glad Thor smacked Stark away, because if the man made one more quip, Steve was going to bash his face in with his shield.
Thor turned to Steve, his boisterous yell echoing through the silent forest, "You want me to put the hammer down?"
Oh shit.
Steve braced himself as Thor leapt into the air and brought down his hammer on Steve. He instinctively raised his shield, bending his knees so they wouldn't break from the impact. As Steve's knees hit the ground, the hammer struck his shield and its power echoed through the forest as Thor and the trees were thrown back, his own strike reverberating against him.
The three men pushed themselves to their feet, looking at one another questioningly. "Are we done here?" Steve looked between Stark and Thor, knowing a truce was needed if they intended to stop Loki. Thor had said he'd come to stop his brother, so their interests aligned.
Thor nodded breathlessly, staring Steve up and down, "You're strong for a human."
"Yeah, well…" Steve grumbled as he looked up at the ridge, catching a glimpse of red, "Loki."
Thor followed his gaze and swung his hammer rapidly, flying upward to collect his brother as Stark flew after him. Steve groaned and began running towards the mountainside, seeing he'd have to climb since he couldn't fly like everybody else.
By the time he scaled the rocks, Thor had his brother held tightly in one hand while Stark had his helmet down, talking to Romanoff. Steve looked around quickly, realizing someone was missing.
"I can't believe you did that." Steve was struck hard from the side, planting his boot to make sure he didn't tumble back over the rocks. He looked down at Brooklyn, seeing her seething as she pulled her hair back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. "I told you not to."
"I told you I had to, so…" Steve trailed off, looking over Brooklyn's head to make sure nobody else was causing trouble.
She shoved him again, breathing through her clenched teeth as her chest rose and fell roughly, "You scared me. You could have died."
"I survived crashing a plane into the arctic, I think I can a jump from one. It's not my first time." Steve argued, stepping away from the edge since Brooklyn was determined to kill him herself. He followed Thor into the jet as Natasha took her spot in the pilot's seat.
Stark closed his helmet and looked around, "See you all at the carrier. Romanoff. Lief Erikson. Capcicle… 3PO." He took off into the sky, and Steve looked to Brooklyn, confusion written clear across his face to match that of Thor's.
Thor looked to Steve and the soldier rolled his eyes and he swiftly strapped Loki back into the side of the jet, mimicking the steps Stark took to secure him the first time since he couldn't be bothered to stick around and see Loki back to the helicarrier.
"I wasn't talking about diving out of the plane." Steve saw Brooklyn peek around to try to get his attention, but he focused on making sure Loki couldn't escape. "Stop ignoring me."
"I'm busy." Steve bit back, looking at Brooklyn from the corner of his eye as she closed the back of the jet. Loki chuckled and Steve glared at him, "You got something to say?"
"No, not at all." Loki smiled and Thor glared down at him, warning him to shut up. Steve looked from Thor to Brooklyn as Natasha began to take the jet into the sky.
Brooklyn had situated herself on the other side of the small jet, facing the wall with her arms crossed. Steve noticed her back was arched and her head was low, making her look small and scared. The soldier looked back at Thor, who just raised his eyebrow questioningly, "You got him?"
"Yes." Thor answered simply, and Steve nodded to himself, then went to talk to Brooklyn.
When he approached, he heard her sniffle quietly and wiggle her finger under her nose, pretending to itch it but Steve could tell she was crying. Was she crying over him? "I'm not going to apologize for doing my job."
"He could have killed you. He could have literally crushed you beneath your shield, and you didn't even flinch. I was so scared. I thought you were going to die." Brooklyn looked up at Steve, and he saw how watery her hazel eyes were. She was never this vulnerable with anybody, even him. "I messed up. I should have never asked to be your handler."
Steve's heart broke at her words, and his knees felt like they were going to collapse, "Why?"
"Because now I have a weakness." Brooklyn said bitterly. The slightest hint of a smile formed for just a moment before she turned serious again, "You know, if Jasmine died, I'd throw back a shot of whiskey in her honor. If Natasha died, I'd give condolences to Fury, and if Fury himself died, I'd probably just ask if my health insurance was safe. But you… if you died, I don't know what I'd do."
He smiled sadly, knowing her confession was grim, but she cared about him. She was worried about him, and he could see how terrifying that feeling was to her. Steve straightened up and snorted, pulling his brows together in mock disapproval, "Gosh, get off my dick, Hayes."
Her jaw dropped and she stammered as she tried to come up with a response. Steve just raised his brows expectantly, "What? Do you have something to say?"
"I have a lot of things to say, but with your soft disposition, you'd be appalled." She finally spat, blinking rapidly, and fighting back her shocked grin. "I have to go help fly the plane."
"We're almost there."
"Shut up, Romanoff, I'm coming to help fly the plane." Brooklyn called loudly as she beamed at Steve, inhaling sharply, "Well played, Rogers. I didn't think you had it in you."
God, I'd rather put it in you…
Steve smirked at his raunchy thoughts as Brooklyn walked away to join Natasha, looking over her shoulder at Steve and shaking her head at him. He took a deep breath and looked over, seeing Thor and Loki staring at him with matching expressions. Steve thought they looked smug, like they knew something he didn't.
"It's a long story." Steve muttered, mostly to himself, but Thor chuckled anyway, bellowing, "I look forward to hearing it," he looked to his brother and his smile faded, "once I get the information I need out of you."
Steve straightened up, taking a few steps towards Thor and looping his fingers through his belt, "He'll be taken into SHIELD custody. We'd appreciate if you'd allow us to follow procedure. If he cooperates, and so do you, you can take him when we've gotten what we need."
"Very well." Thor answered as the jet began to near the helicarrier, "He threatens your world. Do as you see fit." Thor looked to Loki for a moment, then the sight of the helicarrier caught his attention and he moved slowly towards the front of the jet, his cape floating behind him as he approached Brooklyn and Natasha.
Steve swallowed as he sized up the God of Thunder. He'd never faced a man who was so much taller and broader and stronger than he was. Steve's body and mind had been pushed to the peak of human potential, but he still couldn't hold a candle to that. He could already imagine Brooklyn dropping Mason like a sack of potatoes and running straight into Thor's arms, never sparing Steve so much as a passing glance. He would probably be forward enough to actually ask her out and give her what she desired. Steve had been relegated to what the modern pictures called 'The Friendzone'.
Natasha landed the jet and Thor allowed Steve to unstrap his brother before grabbing him roughly and holding him at the back of the plane. As the back doors opened, a dozen SHIELD agents took Loki from Thor and led the Asgardian to his containment unit. Agent Hill stood by as the agents passed her, eventually looking up at Thor and Steve.
"Fury wants you all on the bridge. He's going to interrogate Loki and he wants you all to see the live feed so he can get your opinions."
Steve followed Thor, but paused when he heard Hill say firmly, "Not you." He turned and saw that Hill was speaking to Brooklyn, and the agent stood straight and gave a firm nod, not looking upset about the order.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, probably. I'm going to try and sneak off for a few minutes. I have a call to make."
"Mason?" Steve asked, wishing he'd thought of something more to say so he'd have another chance at making his voice sound less defeated.
"Yeah. I just want to update him. Most assistants to government officials get a hotel room at the end of the night. Even when they get called away on a last-minute business trip." She shrugged and Steve tilted his head to show her he didn't understand what she was trying to say. Brooklyn sighed, letting her chest deflate and her shoulders relax, "He thinks I work for the American Embassy. All of them. He doesn't really know all the details, but, that's why I was in Phoenix, and that's why I had to go on such short notice."
"So, you're lying to him?" Steve asked, hating that he felt bad for the guy, "Your relationship is built on a fake life."
"No, our relationship is built on mutual respect and care for one another. My job is none of his business. When I'm there, I'm all his." Brooklyn corrected, pursing her lips as her eyes slid to the side for a moment. Then, she murmured, "Nobody can know I'm a SHIELD agent. It would put them in danger."
"But they'll never know who you really are-"
"What do you suggest I do, date somebody here?" Brooklyn gestured around and Steve was taken back by how surprised she acted at the thought. She had to know how he felt about her. He wasn't subtle about it. Still, she shook her head, pushing away the idea, "I can't date somebody from SHIELD, we die off too easily. Agents are just bodies borrowing time amongst the living in the name of what's right. Eventually, we all end up dead, and we leave behind everyone we love. Could you imagine loving someone who you're scared won't see tomorrow?"
"That's what we had to do." Steve said quietly and Brooklyn tilted her head, but before he could elaborate, he heard Agent Hill calling his name from down the hall. "I've got to go. I'll talk to you later."
Brooklyn just nodded and Steve looked down at his shield on his arm, "Could you put this away for me? Or do I need to be there to lock it up?"
"No, I can do it." Brooklyn carefully slid the disk off Steve's forearm and he nodded in thanks before turning on his heel and heading towards the bridge to join the other Avengers.