I had no idea being on an airborne aircraft carrier would be so much more boring than headquarters on the ground. Coulson had me on super lock-down to protect me from Loki, which basically meant he locked me in my room. I tried to chat with Jane online but Director Fury disabled all meaning of social communication, so I was stuck playing Solitaire for hours.
On this particular day, I was on my way to winning my third game in a row, when Steve walked in.
"How's it going?" he asked, making himself comfortable on my bed.
"Well, I've changed the background on my laptop three times and figured out how to shoot a tissue ball into that trashcan without missing, so it's been an overwhelmingly productive day.
Steve winced. "That bad?"
I groaned. "At least on the ground I was able to walk around freely without an armed guard."
"Halle, we both know the first thing Loki will go after when he gets on this ship is you." He put his hand on my shoulder, "It's for your own safety."
"I don't need to be protected! I'm a combat agent, remember?"
"What we're dealing with is more than just throwing punches."
I sighed and laid my head against the wall. Leave it to Steve to be so level-headed. His whole aura radiated confidence, and it made me feel warm inside.
We were interrupted by a short nervous man adorned in glasses and a purple dress shirt.
"Steve," he said, twirling a pen in his fingers, "you're needed on the main deck."
"Be right there, Banner," Steve replied, and the man left.
"Wait," I said, slowly, "is that Dr. Bruce Banner?"
"Yep," he said, making his way towards the door.
The Hulk was here the whole time? I thought as Steve vanished. this was a lot more serious than Coulson was letting on. Going against all my instincts, I crept out of the door and made my way to the main deck, trying to look as casual as possible. As I hurried, I sensed somebody behind me.
"Going somewhere, Rhodie?" asked a smooth voice.
I spun on my heels to see a stone-faced Agent Natasha Romanoff standing with her hands on her hips. My stomach suddenly got the same butterflies I used to get whenever I saw her in action during my first years at S.H.E.I.L.D. headquarters. She was only a few years my senior, but she dominated me in combat. Natasha had been my idol, and now we fought side-by-side for S.H.E.I.L.D. and we had formed an unlikely acquaintanceship.
"Just, uh," I stalled, "goin' out for a bite! I'm starving."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "On the main deck?"
I cracked. "Natasha, you have to help me figure out what's going on up there. We're in this mess because of me, I need to make it right."
She gave me a cold stare before saying, "Banner has found Loki at a party in Germany. Fury's sending Cap and I in to retrieve him."
"Let me come!" I pleaded. "Please! I won't be a nuisance, you won't even know I'm there!"
"You asked for information and I gave it to you," she said, starting to walk away. "Now report back to your room or I will have to alert Coulson."
"Natasha, please!" I begged. "You out of anyone should know how I'm feeling, what with Barton down there."
She stopped mid-walk, and there was a silence so deep it ate away at my confidence. It was low, I admit, but there was no other way to convince her to take me. Romanoff and Clint Barton had been training together forever. The two were incredibly close, and there were rumors of romantic involvement.
After a long pause, Natasha replied, "we leave in ten. Meet me on the landing deck in five. Wear a disguise." A smile spread across my face and I was tempted to hug her, but instead I simply returned, "thank you."
In no more than three minutes, I was on the landing deck with Natasha. I tried to copy her dominating-ly graceful walk but felt clumsy in my thick jumpsuit.
"Do you really think all this is necessary?" I asked, adjusting a black beanie to hide all my ash brown hair.
"A disguise is the only way," answered Natasha. "We can't let Director Fury, or worse Steve, know you're here."
I nodded and put on a pair of aviators. We stepped in the plane and she fired up the engines.
"So what's your plan when we arrive in Germany?" asked Natasha. "Please tell me you weren't just going to attempt to talk some reason into Loki."
I blinked and realized that I had no plan, and this was evident to her. She groaned, "well I do have orders to follow so just sit and when we arrive, don't let your emotions get the best of you."
Speechless, I nodded again. I sat in silence until I heard the door open to the back of the plane.
"Okay, Nat," I heard Steve say, "let's make this quick." I turned in my seat and almost exploded laughing. He was decorated in a tight, spandex suit colored with red and blue which was outlined in three white stars. As I tried to regain my composure, Natasha lifted us off the ground and in the direction of Europe. I tried to look like I was helping fly the plane when actually it was her doing all the work.
Every now and then I would turn to get a look at Steve in his ridiculous outfit, but I would quickly turn away for fear of him recognizing me. After several hours, Natasha began to lower our altitude.
"We're coming up on the drop zone, Cap," she reported as Steve began to prep himself for a jump. We pulled up to a building dazzled in lights and filled with people in expensive outfits. But something was not right.
Then I saw him, or rather I saw them. There, in the middle of a square stood maybe ten Lokis encircling and trapping a large group of people. I watched in horror as one of the Lokis stepped forward. A tingle ran through my body as I stood with my mouth hanging open and hand against the glass window. This maniac was not the same man who whisked me off to Asgard.
In my state of shock, I didn't notice Steve jump out of the plane. My eyes were focused on the scepter Loki was pointing at an old man and I gasped as I watched a stream of the blue light exit the scepter. I slammed my eyes shut waiting for scream. But there never was one, and I opened my eyes to see Steve and Loki standing face to face. They were exchanging words and as Loki looked up at the hovering plane, Natasha spoke through the plane speaker, "Drop the weapon, Loki."
My eyes darted towards her and the intercom she was speaking through. Loki was dangerous and I couldn't let him hurt Steve; I had to say some. I got up and threw myself in front of the intercom.
"Loki!" I cried. "It's Halle!"
"Rhodie," commanded Natasha. "Stop."
"You need to stop this madness," I continued. Loki's head (as well as Steve's) turned towards the plane. "Please, do it for me." I took off my hat and sunglasses and pressed my face against the glass. "Please," I whispered.
What happened next happened so fast. While I had Loki's attention, Steve was able to throw a punch and their fighting began. As I cried, "no!" Natasha grabbed me from behind and buckled me into a seat.
"You've just jeopardize the whole situation," she fumed while locking me into my seat.
So I watched helplessly as the two most important men in my life fought violently. Natasha continued to hover around the two ready for air support, and I began to cry. I shut my eyes, wishing I was back in Asgard and far from this mess.
Suddenly, the PA system began blasting AC/DC. I looked up and Natasha seemed about as confused as I was. We saw a flash of metal and fire and I heard her mumble "Stark." Sure enough, Iron Man himself landed in the square and blasted Loki to the ground.
"Loki," whispered as Natasha lowered the plane. Steve and Tony pulled Loki into the plane and locked him into a seat in the back. Steve stormed up to Natasha.
"What the hell were you thinking, bringing Halle here?" he demanded. "It wasn't safe!" He eyes lowered and she said nothing.
"It's my fault, Steve," I said. "I made her bring me."
He turned around to look at me. "You had orders, Halle. Ones in place to keep you safe." He tenderly put his arm on my shoulder. "What if he had blown up the plane?"
"Don't touch her," Loki growled. I turned as best as I could in my restraint to meet his eyes. They looked cold and hurt, and I wanted to run to him.
"No talking, Reindeer Games," said Tony.
"You're going straight back to headquarters," continued Steve, "where you'll be safe-" He was cut short by a clap of thunder. I saw Loki's eyes dart around.
"Scared of a little lightning?" asked Steve, mockingly.
"I'm not overly fond of what follows," replied Loki.
As if on cue, there was a thump from above as if somebody landed on top of the plane. Steve backed up to stand next to me as the back door of the plane opened. A blonde, muscular man emerged from the storm and I instantly recognized him as Jane's lover and Loki's brother: Thor. Without bothering to ask, he ripped Loki from his seat, swung his hammer, and took off out of the plane.
We all stared in silence. Finally, Tony put on his helmet.
"Think he's a friendly?" asked Steve.
"Doesn't matter," retorted Tony. "If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesserac's lost."
"Wait, Stark," called Steve, stopping Tony from jumping out of the plane, "we need a plan of attack."
"I have a plan," he replied. "Attack." And he jumped out of the plane. Steve instantly moved to put on a parachute.
"Might want to sit this one out, Cap," advised Natasha.
He clipped the buckles on his parachute. "I don't see how I can."
"These guys come from legend; they're basically gods."
"There's only one god, ma'am," said Steve, "and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."
Before he jumped, I shouted "hey Steve." He turned to look at me. "Please bring him back safely."
He said nothing and jumped into the rain.