Perhaps it was a good thing Loki waited so long to tell the Avengers about the Sokovian base. They probably needed to practice with the smaller ones in other countries before taking on this juggernaut anyway.

The walls seemed impenetrable, though Stark was doing his best, and the hidden weapons in the forest were creating quite the ruckus. Heavily armed vehicles and Hydra operatives were getting to be quite annoying, but not as annoying as the Avengers constant banter in the ear pieces. Particularly the Captain correcting Stark's vulgar language upon finding and energy field surrounding the building.

"Loki's scepter must be here," Thor said, "Strucker couldn't mount this defense without it. At long last."

Loki rolled his eyes at it being called his scepter. He didn't want anything to do with it.

"You doubted its location, brother?" Loki asked, using a sword to remove the arm from a Hydra agent, "After I so nicely told you where it was?"

"Forgive me," Thor grunted and Loki saw a crack of lightning in the distance and then heard a scream, "But you must admit it is a little odd that after nearly two months of searching you find it just now."

"Oh I'm sorry," Loki killed another man and spun around to shoot a blast of magic at a vehicle. The magic slid in and activated every explosive that the truck carried, creating twice the spectacle as Thor's lightning, "I was terribly busy finding the locations of the last four bases we destroyed! Any you don't have to say 'at long last' like I've been putting it off."

"At long last is lasting a little long, boys," Romanoff said and Loki couldn't help but agree.

"Yeah," Barton agreed and then there was another explosion, "I think we lost the element of surprise."

"Wait a second," Stark said, "No one else is going to deal with the fact that Cap just said 'language'?"

"I know," Rogers sighed, followed by a loud crash, "It just slipped out."

Loki tried not to chuckle, he really did, but a small part of him was mildly entertained. He'd been realizing more and more lately that the Avengers were not like Thor's other friends on Asgard. They disliked him, yes, but they could also work with him and they, at least, had a sense of humor. Even in the midst of fiery chaos.

He supposed their banter wasn't that annoying. It certainly distracted him from thinking of the other issue he had to deal with while they were in Sokovia. Blaze would be waiting for him, he knew. What he didn't know was what she wanted in return for curing Maisy's nightmares. Perhaps she couldn't even do anything about the dreams and this was all a set up. Afterall, Blaze had loved Egil like a brother, perhaps this was simply an excuse to get revenge for his death. Of course, Loki couldn't allow that to happen. He had too much to live for now. Maisy, Linn, their life together, even his brother and new teammates. So, if Blaze had revenge in mind, she was going to be sorely disappointed.

While the Avengers reigned terror on the poor Hydra agents outside, Blaze impatiently swung her sword in lazy loops while watching Strucker panic inside. She'd been told to wait with the twins until she was really needed.

Suspecting Strucker was going to leave her to guard the scepter while he made a hasty retreat, she tuned in her Asgardian hearing to see what he had to say after he'd given a rallying speech.

"No surrender!"

The troops echoed his cry and then he turned to another man.

"I am going to surrender."

Blaze overheard and she scoffed.

"Of course he is," she muttered.

"What?" The fast boy asked her and she got an idea.

"Strucker is afraid," she told the twins, "Perhaps you should take some of the fear off his mind by going to stop the Americans?"

"We are not ready," the girl said, chin pointed outward defiantly. She'd never liked Blaze.

"I know," Blaze smirked, "You're just kids."

The twins scowled in tandem and were gone before Blaze could even blink. That ought to cause some fun out on the battlefield. Perhaps convince her princey to get a move on.

She knew she'd said she'd go and find him, but she was really hoping he'd get closer to the base before she needed to. It had snowed outside and there were few things that Blaze hated more than the cold. But if Loki didn't hurry up and move in closer she supposed she'd have to bundle up and go have a chat with him.

She grinned at the thought of the bargain she was about to offer. He'd hate it, but he wouldn't be able to refuse such an opperitunity. And then Surtur would be pleased with her and she could leave this snowy wasteland and all of the stupid mortals.

Impatient to be off the planet, she suddenly decided to go out and meet up with Loki. She made sure Strucker wasn't watching and then stole some Hydra winter gear and snuck out of the base. Once she set foot outside she felt the chill bite into her exposed face and she wished she'd thought to grab goggles or a scarf.

Trudging through the snow, she kept her eyes peeled for…

BANG!

A flash of green light shot up from nearby and she grinned, picking up her speed. When she saw Loki she drew her sword with a chuckle and went to engage him. This would be fun. Even if he was expecting her, he'd never see what she planned to do coming. Even if he did, there was no way he could stop it.

A note from the author: I'm just going to, uh, I'm just gonna hide in this reader-proof bunker for the time being. Not for any particular reason. Everything is going to be fine. Totally fine! Yep. I'll just lock this door here and you guys can have this nice cake I made for you and, uh, some mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes, and all the comfort foods! Any comfort food you want. Huh? Why am I being so nice? No reason. Can't an author give her readers nice things without dredging up drama? Hahaha... ha.

PFoD Update: MetallicarBaby is making a cake for a baby shower for Maisy! Anyone else feel like having a party? Actually, uh, we might want to wait a few chapters for a party... no reason or anything.

Thank you all so much for reading!

Special thanks to my reviewers:

MetallicarBaby: A baby shower would be so much fun! Oooh, maybe I can make it a one shot like the birthday party for Ninja Squirrel! That would be so much fun! :D

QueenBookDragon: Don't worry! The pharmacist was very comforting and helpful so Maisy's not too bad off. ;)

Ninja Squirrel: Loki's not the only one in for a surprise... Was that too cryptic and creepy? Eh, well, no regrets!

Y'all are my favoritest people on the whole interwebs! Thanks for being awesome!