A/N: Sorry this took so long guys! I get distracted by pretty much anything, and I got swept up in helping my mom with things and then the weather got really nice out, etc. This chapter isn't as great as I wanted it to be, but I really wanted to get it up for you all. Thank you to everyone who has favorited this story, as well as all of the wonderful reviews! I love you all! DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Avengers. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this. I would be spending my time more productively, like going on dates with Chris Evans. Or Tom Hiddleston. Or any of them lol.
In the next two weeks that followed the team had returned to some sense of normalcy. As the days stretched onward and no new leads were found on whoever broke in to Sam's house the trail grew colder and colder. It was never exactly "out of sight, out of mind" because Sam still felt the shadow of a threat looming over her, but with Amber safe and behaving as her usual spunky self, the team's protecting presence, and of course her budding relationship with Steve, Sam was able to feel at ease enough to relax into her daily routines.
Sam dropped Amber off at school twice a week for her classes, and in the time being she would go to their house and take care of things while working on her own classes online, or else go on missions with the team. After a few days the team eventually let Sam rejoin the missions, although no one was more hesitant than Steve to do so. They were worried about letting her go so openly, but as she explained, how much safer can you get than surrounded by the Avengers?
It was during one such mission that Sam was stationed out on a sidewalk in New York City, dressed as a civilian. Few people even knew there was a new addition to the Avengers, so she was an ideal spy on the ground. Right then she was supposed to be scanning the crowds for a man that had hacked into the white house security that morning.
"Hey there, pretty," a man said as he walked up to Sam. At first glance she mistook him for a homeless person, but it appeared he had purposely ripped up his jeans and not showered. His mother must be so proud of him. "Come here often?"
"Are you seriously trying to use a generic pick up line on me," Sam asked with distaste. She could vaguely hear the others in her comms system.
"I don't need much more than that. Normally I pick up girls on my good looks," he replied.
"Stark, I thought you were supposed to be stationed a block away. Stop hitting on Sam," Clint said in the earpiece.
"Ha ha, you are extremely funny. I do not engage in pedophilia," Tony replied.
"Lose him," Natasha said.
"As refreshing as your modesty is," Sam responded to the man before she could get sucked into the bickering, "I have a boyfriend, who I am very happy with."
"I don't see him here," the man said while looking around.
"You're about to," Steve said in the earpiece. It was time to get rid of this man.
"Look, you need to leave me alone," Sam said firmly. "My boyfriend is incredibly strong, and unless you can bench press at least 300 pounds, I suggest you leave."
"I don't need to bench press 300 pounds to bench press you," the man said with a wink. Sam stared in open mouthed shock at the man. "Why don't we go to a hotel around the corner and I'll be your personal coach."
Sam didn't think twice about what she did next. Moving forward, she swiftly stomped on his foot, followed by a very painful knee to the crotch. "Do I look like your mother to you," Sam said as she stormed away from the man and the crowd of gawkers. She heard what she was pretty sure was Tony's laughter in her earpiece. He shall pay later.
She wandered down a side alley, trying to get away from the scene. Footsteps echoed behind her and she turned around to see two men blocking her in from the way she had come. "In my country, women do not get away with treating a man that way."
"Oh, really? In my country, women don't take harassment quietly. It's illegal, and then people like the Avengers," she put emphasis on the words to signal to her team, "step in."
The two men laughed. "We have been in this country, and have yet to see your Avengers. Perhaps they are not as intimidating as you would have us believe? We're in the very city they hold their headquarters, and yet they have not once come close to stopping us."
"I'm kind of getting the impression you aren't just average creeps," Sam said as she backed further down the alley, making the two men move further in. They merely smiled.
"Hang tight. We're moving in," Clint said in the earpiece.
"When we are finished with your country, women like you shall learn their place, and then you will know better than to walk into a dark alley," the first man said as he moved in, just a step too close. Sam kicked out his right foot, and then hit him on the head as he went down. She looked up at the second man. As she was about to pull out a knife an arrow zipped over her shoulder and embedded the shoulder of his shirt deep into the wall. Hawkeye jumped into the alley way next to her.
"This is Hawkeye; your argument is irrelevant," Sam said. "By the way, you should know better than to walk into a dark alley. You meet the most dangerous people here."
One of the men in the alley did appear to be the one they were looking for. It was extremely good luck on their behalf. Clint and Natasha loaded up the two into a van and drove them off to the SHIELD base for further questioning, while Tony, Steve, Bruce and Sam chilled in the alley for a bit. Sam's phone rang at that moment, and she picked it up quickly.
"Hey Amber, what's up," Sam asked. There was a pause. "Tony, Amber said there's an intruder on the top floor." She paused and listened to the phone again as Tony and Steve prepared for a new fight. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about it then. Just hang tight until we get there." Sam hung up.
"I wouldn't be too concerned guys. She said, and I quote, 'he's tall, blonde. Hammer. Lightning,' so I would bet it's-"
"Thor," Steve cut in.
They quickly made their way back to the tower. On the top floor they found Thor and Amber sitting on a sofa together. What on earth they had been discussing, Sam did not want to know. She had to love Amber, but she was a little afraid of what the other girl thought qualified as a reasonable topic of discussion with a demigod from another planet.
"Thor, it's nice to see you again," Steve greeted as they got out of the elevator.
"My friends! I am glad to see you as well," Thor said as he stood up to greet them. It was then that a figure rose in the background. Previously unnoticed, there was another occupant was in the room. Several of the new comers reached for weapons as Loki stepped forward.
"Everything is fine," Thor said as he took in the tension in the room. "Loki has gone through his trial on Asgard and has been sentenced to remain on Earth, stripped of his powers, until he may repent for his crimes. There is no need for weapons."
The group cautiously lowered their weapons. Loki just looked exceedingly bored by the proceedings. If he had to repent, he might be stuck here a while.
"It's nice to meet you, Thor. My name is Samantha Harper," Sam said as she stepped forward and offered him a hand. Instead of shaking it, as had been Sam's intention, he raised her hand and kissed it. She tried very hard not to laugh and succeeded in keeping the same expression. Next to her, Steve visibly twitched.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Thor said as he let go of her hand. "And this is my brother, Loki." Loki stiffened when he heard the word brother, but directed his gaze at her in a not quite hostile, but neither was it friendly, fashion.
"Charmed," he said with an air of bored sarcasm.
Sam half smiled and politely waved. "Same here," she said.
Oh, there was just going to be bunches of fun in the tower now.