Helloo! Sorry this took quite a bit longer but I struggled to get it written, hope you enjoy!

Shout Outs!:

CHSHiccstrid

Good! Thanks, I definitely struggled a bit with that part, mainly because for a while I wasn't sure where I wanted to take it, glad I got her down well though. Gosh, I love Goose.

SmolAvidReader

You welcome:) Oh, I had too much fun with Fury XD

Journal 2, Entry 25: "Of Mission Successes and Failures"

Toothless and Stormfly flew through crystal skies, well above the grey haze covering most of the Archipelago. They spun around each other while their riders laughed and tried to tag each other in a game where one would break off and the other would pursue. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky before they headed back to the ground. When they penetrated the cloud cover for the first time in hours, they found they were not far from Berk and while the clouds were quite grey, they were not yet ready to dump their sleet.

Hiccup prompted Toothless to fly for the cove—still a secluded spot even after all these years—and Astrid on Stormfly followed them. They all dismounted and Astrid beamed as she sauntered over to her husband. Hiccup grinned, holding her around her waist as they moved over to a boulder so Toothless and Stormfly could continue playing without fear of trampling them.

Astrid hummed and laid her head on Hiccup's shoulder. "This is nice. We should do it more often."

Hiccup rested his head on hers and watched their familiars play. "I agree. And now that the Dragon Rider Bootcamp is finally finished, we should have a bit more time."

She laughed shortly and leaned down to dig through the saddle back, pulling out two yak-roast sandwiches and handing one to Hiccup. "Well, I'm free tomorrow."

He took the sandwich and grinned. "Well, I could use a partner testing new shields and the offensive additions I've made."

Her eyebrows rose with interest. "I'd be delighted to help you. Up to a spar now?"

He stood and offered a hand. "With you, M'lady, always."

She beamed and took it before retrieving her axe while he plucked Inferno from his calf. They began circling each other and their familiars paused to watch them battle it out. Stormfly chirped every time Astrid's axe clashed against Hiccup's Inferno and Toothless roared encouragingly for his other half.

Hiccup stood with the other chiefs around a large table that projected a dozen different live feeds. A few leaders of Wakanda including even T'Chaka were present as well despite having little involvement with the actual invasion about happen, beyond providing materials and a few new weapons, preferring to stay completely anonymous.

Questions of confirmation rang systematically across the comms as the groups settled into place around the planet. Hiccup tapped his communicator, linking it to all feeds, and looked at the other chiefs and king. They all nodded, faces grim, and returned to watching the screens. "Sœkja."

The screens which had all been showing different relatively calm bases burst to life. Explosions filled the screens and audio as Berserkers ran in, living up to their names, but the Outcasts weren't going to be outdone. Dragons rained Hel-fire throughout the bases as the Vikings infiltrated and took whatever information they could before Hydra decided the battle was lost and blew the base themselves.

One screen flashed brightly and Hiccup noted a part of that flash was the new Ygg-Hop activating before the Berserker reported. "Sir, made it down to the lowest level—this base was cleared to house the Winter Soldier but he was not present. They blew the level before I could see much beyond the threshold. A chain reaction started after, and the base has fallen."

The current Berserker chief- a man with dark hair so short it spiked naturally at odd angles, growled and responded through his own communicator. "Good work. Tell your team to come back home and debrief. Were you able to gather any information from their systems?"

"Thank you, Chief. We did, but how much I'm not sure."

The Berserker Chief frowned but refrained from passing judgement. This wasn't new but it was, as always, annoying.

A few minutes later, another mission leader reported an Asset ready base had also been detonated as soon as he breached the room he would have been kept in. The other bases fell in a few short minutes with only two bases managing to escape being blown to smithereens even though most residents had crunched the pill.

Congratulations were being sent across the comms as well as orders to bridge the few wounded directly back to the Defenders while also coordinating the New Berkians to the standing bases to do a full check for anything valuable.

T'Chaka stood from his seat and smiled at Hiccup while clasping his hand. "A well-executed attack, my friend."

Hiccup smiled in return, mostly in relief that there were no casualties. "A large thanks must go to your people for the visors. I know it helped seeing into the rooms as well as overriding any of their technology."

T'Chaka chuckled. "It is good knowing we can help the world in some way without exposing ourselves."

Hiccup glanced back at the screens. A few had flickered out—having been abandoned after the bases were destroyed into an unrecognizable crater. "Yeah…we Vikings don't mind being a bit brash."

Several of the chiefs and operators around the room heard him and snorted. The Changewings Guild commander turned to face them, clearly amused but also a tad worried. "Especially not after your involvement in WWII. I'm sure it made most of them curious, and it hasn't been helped by Nuffink's near exposure when he came across the Winter Soldier."

Hiccup winced. "We have had a few close calls which is why we've increased security and planning for this mission." He turned to T'Chaka. "Will you be joining us for the celebrations?"

T'Chaka grinned. "And miss a Viking party? One would have to be mad. Not to mention T'Challa has been dying to visit Sigyn again, something about comparing notes on mythologies?"

Hiccup smiled, thinking about Ivana's great-something granddaughter who was around T'Challa's age. Both were currently very fascinated in each other's mythologies and how they had been skewed by outsiders. "We look forward to it."

*O*

Pierce flew furiously from one of the remaining bases, the one that thankfully held the Asset, to the nearly abandoned Camp Lehigh. Zola needed the new information so they could plan accordingly and very carefully now that they were wiped out to a fourth of what the proud organization used to be.

It was annoying to have to keep inputting the information instead of just connecting him wirelessly like all the other bases but that was far too risky for their greatest asset. Without Zola, Hydra might very well have been razed to the ground by the blossoming SHIELD alone. Now it was even more imperative he remain a secret with this still unknown enemy systematically destroying them. It was terrifying how close they just now came.

However, they should invest in finding a secure way for the computerized human to contact the outside world in case the worst happened. The 'how' was the tricky and most worrisome part when they weren't entirely sure that this enemy wasn't somehow using that to find their bases. He shoved the thought away. That was for technicians and computer people to figure out, not him.

It took far too long to reach the old camp and as he stomped across the ground to the munitions bunker, he couldn't help but wish the place had been blown up back when Rogers and Hyse were training here. He entered the main room and Zola's screen was flicked on.

Pierce silently inserted the disc and waited impatiently for Zola to quickly read through all the reports. Zola's computers whirred, processing his anger. "How is this possible?"

Peirce's arms crossed and his scowl deepened. "How should I know? It shouldn't be! Taking down single bases occasionally should be impossible enough, but this? They've clearly infiltrated us more than we thought possible."

Zola quickly calculated their losses as well as what bases and undercover agents still remained. It wasn't great but it at least left them with a promise to recover in a few years. With proper planning and action, they should be back at their previous strength in a decade. Among the highest priorities was preventing the loss of any more bases. "This cannot continue and with these losses, we cannot continue our research of the anomalies and their connection to Hyse's people, nor how to use them against Hyse."

Peirce grunted in agreement. Before all this, they had lost two more teams in different locations to the research—wiped out as the first had been. "How do you propose we do that? It's not like we haven't been trying to do that exact thing since the sixties!"

Zola's image glared at him and had he still been human he would have growled in annoyance. "Until now, we've been trying to operate discreetly, but with these last attacks—I believe it is time we act more rashly if Hydra is to survive, let alone come out victorious."

Peirce's eyes widened and a small thrill ran through him. "Are you suggesting we bring Hyse in?"

Zola's green face contorted in some worry but also set determination. "Yes, I see little option otherwise. With Hyse, we have both a hostage as well as an informant—if he can be broken."

Pierce snorted and crossed his arms again. "He's old. He won't last long."

Zola's digitalized eyebrows rose. "And I saw him young and impressionable when Schmidt was at his finest."

Peirce growled and turned on his heel. "Well, we will see which it is soon enough."

*O*

Tony met Hakon at the airport terminal and waved him over to the car that sat idling. Tor barked and ran out, tail wagging and eagerly greeted Tony. Tony chuckled and gave Torbjörg a few scratches before hugging Hakon.

"How was the flight?"

Hakon grimaced. "I still hate flying in those death contraptions."

Tony sighed and slid into the car, oddly enough not into the driver's seat. "You know, if you let me fly you, it would be a bit better than commercial."

Hakon smiled gratefully but he couldn't just say that he flew like Wakandan royalty. "Thanks, Tony, but it's fine. Really."

"Your choice." Tony shrugged before his face brightened." Oh! I want you to meet my new chauffeur, bodyguard, and a few other less important things. Obi insisted on hiring a bodyguard mainly with my growing popularity. Anyway, uncle H, Happy. Happy, Hakon."

Hakon smiled at the man in the driver's seat who turned to shoot him and Tony a smile of his own. "Harold Hogun," He said and turned an amused frown at Tony. "He insists on the 'Happy' nickname."

Hakon chuckled. "He does it for everyone." He turned to Tony with a wry grin. "I'm just surprised mine is H. It's pretty tame."

Tony's nose wrinkled but he shrugged. "I was two."

Hakon ruffled his hair. "I know, kiddo."

The car ride fell into lighthearted chatter, Happy was more than eager to divulge Tony's more embarrassing stories after he started on the job while Tony threatened to fire him but his voice was too high to be taken seriously. Hakon was also just as willing to divulge some of Tony's less brilliant childhood moments.

They finally turned off the highway and onto the quieter road that led to the high-class mansion while Tony huffed and slumped in his seat, settling for petting Tor, who eyed him in amusement. He started to lean forward to cut into the conversation and remind Hakon that he too was involved with the SI Halloween incident as well when a loud pop ripped from the front passenger tire.

Happy cursed and pulled the car over before getting out. He glared at the tire then huffed and scowled at the road, while Tony was already out of the car, popping the trunk and grabbing the spare. Hakon took the jack and socket wrench.

Happy got the jack under the car and Tony started working on the tire despite Happy's protests that he could do it. Hakon shook his head and watched Tony work quickly with a smile. "Don't bother Harold, he's in his happy place."

Tor pressed against Hakon's legs and watched Tony for a moment before sweeping his gaze around the gentle hilled landscape, ears twitching at a phantom sound.

Tony protested. "I'm just faster than Happy at changing a tire."

Happy rolled his eyes and let Tony finish before offering him a rag. Tony took it gratefully before looking at the tire more closely, curious as to what made it fail since it was almost brand new.

Tor's ears shot up and his head turned towards a field milliseconds before a loud sound cracked through the air. Hakon yelped, staggering a step. Tor was instantly in a crouch and snarling while Tony and Happy crowded around Hakon.

Tony held him as he pulled a dart out of his back while half supporting his weight as he regained his bearings. "What the-?"

Hakon spotted the dart's similarities to those used near sixty years previously. "Odin's beard. Tony we-we need to go. Now!"

Tony tried to squash down the panic he felt rising and kept an arm around Hakon as he turned back towards the car. He reached out for the handle when Tor plowed into both of them and sent them tumbling into the dirt while the air rang around them and Happy cried out. Tony and Hakon looked up at the man who pulled another dart out of his arm then grunted and collapsed against the car.

Hakon swore and ripped the back door open to use as a shield. He shot Happy a quick glance and was relieved to see that he was still breathing.

Tony grabbed his phone and started dialing when it tumbled out of his hands with a perfect circle shot through it. "Good Thor! Fine, time to start shooting back."

He opened the front passenger door and grabbed a gun from the glove compartment. Tor locked eyes with their shooter and Hakon prompted him over the bond to go after him. A trail of gunshots followed the black blur but eventually lost him in the tall grass.

Tony turned to Hakon, doing his best to contain his terror but he also worried for his uncle who was shot first. "You okay?"

Hakon nodded, fighting against the wave of tiredness washing over him—it was annoying but not overwhelming yet. "If we can get out of here. Sorry in advance, kiddo. I think this is because of me."

A commotion rose from out in the field before Tor yelped but Hakon felt mostly anger and not pain through the bond. That didn't stop Tony from looking stricken.

Tony shook away the wave of fear and building grief. He snorted before responding humorously but following where his godfather was silently pointing to. "And it might not be because of the 'Merchant of Death'? I'm offended."

The light glinted again and Tony pressed the trigger. Someone grunted as a metallic ting ricocheted across the field. Tony swore and fired again, but the person already moved and ran out of the field, startling close and frighteningly fast.

Hakon and Tony rolled in opposite directions as another dart was shot at the pair and impaled itself into the ground where Hakon had knelt a moment before. Tony was barely on his knees before he was firing again and their brown haired, masked attacker grunted in pain as the bullet tore through his thigh. It didn't seem to faze him as he continued with his attack and kicked the gun away from Tony and into the field before attempting to follow through with a punch, but the remaining Stark dropped to the ground and scurried around the hood of the car.

Hakon's breath hitched on the other side of the car as the man faced him again and easily jumped over, standing only a few feet away. He wanted to be shocked that it was the Winter Soldier but he was more resigned by the revelation than surprised. Really should have expected something after the last attack.

The Winter Soldier leaped at him again and he managed to twist away while also delivering a swift kick with his prosthetic to the man's wounded leg. He hissed and drew another pistol, only for Torbjörg to leap out of the field and chomp down on the flesh wrist.

The man reached over with his metal arm and ripped Tor off, throwing him into the car with enough force to leave a dog shaped dent. "Tor!" Hakon cried and took off after his friend only for the Winter Soldier to grab him around the middle despite his badly injured wrist—Hakon cursed whoever it was that recreated the serum.

He called forth his knife and swiped at the man, but only succeeded in getting that hand captured in the metal one. He reached up with his free hand, grasping for a purchase, and grabbed the mask. He yanked, hoping to pull the Winter Soldier off balance enough for him to wiggle out but the mask only slipped free and fell to the ground. He grunted as the grip around him tightened and called for Hela's dagger.

The Winter Soldier caught his wrist and Hakon flipped the blade to slice it into the premade wound, but he kicked Hakon in the knee, distracting him long enough to have his arms pinned and both knives confiscated. The Winter Soldier kept him at a small distance, some inkling of a whisper from a time he couldn't remember making him oddly cautious with the man.

Hakon growled and prepared to lose a small wave of magic but the Winter Soldier grunted and turned to glare at Tony who was holding the discarded pistol from before. Tony frowned and looked at a switch, not even realizing it had settings.

Hakon slammed his head back and landed a blow to his nose, startling the assassin enough to let him slip free. He scrambled back several steps to Tor, who was shaking his head as he attempted to stand, before stopping dead and staring in shock at his would-be captor. "Bucky?"

He had only met the man a few times and he had changed a good deal—only partially thanks to the serum—but it was him.

The Winter Soldier, or Bucky, shot him a confused glance before a tiny click from the pistol Tony held, which switched the ammo from darts to bullets, snapped him back to attention. He ran forward, using his prosthetic arm as a shield for the shot that Tony got off, and snatched the gun with his metal arm then crushed it before plucking the dart out of his side.

Tony swore in Norse and jumped away from the Winter Soldier's grab. He turned away from Tony, no longer deeming him a threat without a gun and advanced on Hakon who knelt beside Tor who growled at the Winter Soldier but was still a bit shaky on his feet, however, no less determined to defend his other half.

"Uncle H!" Tony cried and lunged over the hood of the car at their attacker, silver knife gleaming as he drove it into the metal arm. He hadn't expected the Vibranium knife to slice smoothly through the unknown metal, but he managed to drag it from mid bicep to forearm before he was tossed away, the knife miraculously still in his hand. He rolled on the asphalt for a moment and groaned, he could only imagine the bruises he was going to have as a result of this.

Hakon stood at the ready as soon as Tony shouted for him, a dagger already in hand. He couldn't help the proud smirk as Tony so admirably stood against the Winter Soldier and how well he did it, but it was quickly replaced by the fear for Tony as he was tossed away like a rag doll. He wanted to feel something, some underlying shock that they were hurting Steve's best friend, but at the moment he just couldn't grasp it. He shoved those thoughts far from mind as the Winter Soldier advanced on him again, his prosthetic arm whirring and squealing badly.

He bent his knees and shook off another wave of looming sleep. "Bucky, please, if there's anything left of you in there—please resist. It's me, Hakon, Steve's friend."

Bucky slowed and glared at Hakon and he almost swore he saw something glint deep within them but a cocking gun caught both their attention's and broke the small spell.

Tony knelt by a still unconscious Happy, coat clearly in disarray from Tony rifling through it for his weapon, and aimed at the Winter Soldier. "Take one more step towards him and I'll blow out your remaining arm."

The Winter Soldier's eyes narrowed at Tony before being drawn back to Hakon by Tor snarling furiously at him. He assessed his situation quickly and was as startled as his emotionless mind could feel at the realization that he was overwhelmed and this mission was going to be a failure. Carefully, he took a step back and Tony didn't seem to mind him backing away.

Hakon's face pinched and reached out for him before drawing short. "Bucky, we can help. Please let us."

He glared at Hakon before disappearing back into the field. Somewhere deep down, he was terrified to report his first failure and also curious at the odd designation.

Hakon's shoulders fell as Bucky retreated and disappeared. Not Bucky, the Winter Soldier.

Hakon was drawn out of his thoughts when his knees started to weaken and breaths became a bit quicker, the wave of tiredness washing over him again as adrenalin started to wane. Tony ran over and grabbed him, helping him into the back seat of the car before running around to lift Happy. "Tor, help me get Happy in then we're getting out of here."

Hakon shook his head again, he couldn't fall asleep yet, and tapped his communicator. "Astrid—we were attacked. Winter Soldier…"

Tony whirred around after he slammed the driver door shut and he gunned the car. "Aunt Astrid! Call the police, or SHIELD, just get someone down here!"

~What's going on?!~ Astrid finally managed to ask, voice lined with panic at Hakon's groggy voice. ~The Winter Soldier, what?~

Tony sped the car towards the nearest populated area, riding a little above the safe limits of the spare tire's operational speeds. Hakon, meanwhile, gave Astrid a quick brief of the ambush—gripping the seat with white knuckles as Tony took a turn a little too fast.

Astrid swore in ways that made Tony blush and he mutely felt bad for whatever people she and aunt Peggy had gone after on a few of their paired missions. Especially since aunt Astrid said she was going for the fun of it. ~Where are you heading?~

"Coming up on New Hyde Park," Tony answered and glanced back at Hakon. "You doing okay, uncle H? What did that guy hit you and Happy with anyway? A sleeping dart? Why did it affect Happy more than you?"

Tor licked Hakon's face and he smiled tiredly at his closest friend and held up a hand to stop Tony's questions but he didn't see it as he turned to focus on the road and make sure no crazy kidnapper-assassin tried to follow them. "Too many questions. Yes, a knockout dart. I'm guessing they reduced the concentration due to my age—their mistake."

Tony scowled back at his godfather. "Yeah, need a bit more information. Happy should be able to take twice the amount of whatever you can…except maybe ale."

Hakon cracked a smile, fighting the urge to lay his head back and close his eyes for a moment. "That's a long story."

Tony's brow furrowed. "Okay, fine. How about why you called your would-be kidnapper Bucky? You can't possibly mean Steve's old pal—he was older than Steve to begin with!"

Hakon chuckled dryly. "Also an equally long story…one I'd really like a nap before telling. Which I don't want to risk before getting somewhere safe."

"Well that we can agree on. Then I demand an explanation!" Tony cried then cast a worried glance at Happy but he was peacefully snoring softly.

"Okay," Hakon said softly, stroking Tor's fur to give his body something to do. "You deserve that much."

"You think? The guy shot my phone!" The car gently turned off the main road and down another that led deeper into the bustling city.

~Okay, Coulson is the closest without…Your father had an office in the area, Tony, you remember where it was?~ Astrid asked, voice laced with panic.

Hakon could sense that she and probably the others wanted to send in proper protection detail but were restraining—however the warning was laced in her tone. If there was another attack, he didn't doubt for a second that they would burst through Yggdrasil.

Tony nodded and changed lanes. "Yeah. Pretty well ingrained in my memory—it was his main base of operations for finding dear, ole Stevie."

"Thanks, M'lady…sorry. I shoulda been more been more careful."

~We all should have known better.~

"I still want an explanation for what that means!" Tony shot back.

Astrid was silent for several seconds before replying. ~This is gonna get messy."~

"Tell me about it…that comes after the nap though. Hey, see if you can get a trace on the Winter Soldier…"

He could practically see her smiling softly. ~Already working on it.~

The car stopped and Tony turned around. "We're here. Can you get in on your own, uncle H?"

Hakon nodded and cracked the car door, waiting for a moment in case Bucky had managed to follow them, before opening it fully then letting Tor jump out first so he could use the large form of his best friend for balance. "Not a problem, I'm just a little tired not—oh. Maybe having Tor would be helpful."

His knees shook worse as he stood and Tor waited for a moment before moving again, prodding the bond to keep him moving. Tony ran around the car and slipped an arm around Happy before awkwardly carrying him inside.

Curious office workers came out, one woman went to Hakon's other side to offer support and he smiled gratefully at her while a man hurried to help Tony. They were herded into a back room with no windows and Tony suggested they take the day off. It only took a little prompting for them to do so and Tony and Tor took up guarding the door.

Half an hour passed before the front door opened and a voice called out, "Agent Phil Coulson of SHIELD. Hakon, you here?"

Hakon grinned and waved for Tony to stand down. "Back here, Phil!"

Tony blinked at the fair haired man, still gripping Happy's pistol tightly. Coulson smiled reassuringly at Tony before kneeling by Hakon after giving Tor a customary first pat. "What happened? All I got was a Winter Soldier attack?"

They nodded and Coulson grunted in frustration, that really wasn't something he had wanted to deal with personally. He helped Hakon stand then moved to help Tony and Happy. "There's a secure bunker under the basement. We'll be safe there until reinforcements come."

Tony's mouth dropped a bit in shock and started to question him but stopped then grumbled about his father helping to found SHIELD. Coulson caught Hakon's gaze while he was distracted and nodded reassuringly. Once they were secured in the bunker with Hakon and Happy on cots, Coulson prompted them for an explanation again. Hakon sighed and looked up at Tony before they started explaining. It took almost an hour for Coulson to be satisfied with the recount of the encounter that couldn't have been longer than five minutes.

Tony narrowed his eyes at Hakon and Coulson, the former of which looked ready to pass out on the cot he was laying on. "Okay, we gave you the low-down of what happened. Now please explain to me why it is you two seemed to know something about him or why you seem convinced he's a dead guy," He said, pointing to Hakon.

Hakon winced under Tony's angry stare. Tony felt a bit bad about that but considering what he just went through it was little more than an inkling. "We, SHIELD, has known about him for a little while."

Hakon started, Coulson took over as he was the main representation from SHIELD. "He's little more than a phantom. We suspect he's been the cause behind several murders over the years. Truthfully, they started building up a few years after the war once we started really looking into it. We had no idea his identity."

Hakon stared at Tony before glancing at Coulson. "My people, we've known about him since—since Howard's accident."

Tony clenched his fist and glared at Hakon. "Explain."

Hakon took a breath as Tor left his side to nuzzle Tony, who gave in and started scratching him which was rather cathartic. No doubt the dog's plan. "I've told you a bit about my people…"

Tony gave a short laugh and continued to scratch Tor. "Yeah, they almost sound like Viking Atlanteans."

Hakon smiled while Coulson laughed. "Well, we weren't entirely into SHIELD's idea when Howard proposed it, then when I was outvoted to bring on Zola…"

Tony's shoulders fell and he rolled his eyes but disbelief lay in them. "Don't tell me you created your own super spy organization."

Hakon grinned guiltily.

"And I wasn't invited?! I am very hurt." Tony's face pinched but little of it was due to true anger. After a minute of holding the charade it fell to near indifference. "So…you're both double agents-"

Hakon and Coulson started to protest but Tony held up a hand. "Look, I don't really care. As far as my personal life, I'm more inadvertently invested in whatever secret organization uncle H built than SHIELD that I know my father built."

Coulson's shoulders fell in relief but he still looked up at Tony. "I do care about SHIELD and our mission to protect the people, but they're limited in ways…For as much of a secret that they are, they're still relatively known and restricted in certain senses."

Tony nodded and looked between Hakon and Philip. "Don't suppose you'll tell me what exactly your people are fighting against besides the typical terrorist speil? I'm assuming it's the same people who sent the not-so-dead friend?"

Hakon nodded. "It is but…really I think it's safer if you don't know about them. Knowing you, you'll go snooping and that will get you killed like Howard."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "It almost did just now!"

Hakon winced and fell into contemplative silence for a long moment while Tony stared down hard on him. Finally he sighed and shifted positions before meeting Tony's eyes. "You have to swear you won't go looking for them. They'll probably keep an eye on you, if they aren't already, but I won't have you making a larger target of yourself."

Tony grit his teeth but eventually managed to growl out, if only to get some true answers, "Fine."

Hakon raised an eyebrow and looked seriously at his godson.

Tony groaned and hung his head before saying, more resigned than annoyed, "I won't go looking for this ghostly organization. I'll mind my and SI's own business."

Hakon nodded acceptingly and smirked at Coulson who felt a pit grow in his stomach. "Good, 'cause I'll have Phil here check up on you when I can't."

Tony gawked at his honorary uncle. "I don't need a babysitter!"

Coulson's nose wrinkled but he didn't say anything. Tony blew air out before calmly looking expectantly at Hakon.

"Hydra." Hakon said with no preamble and Tony stared dumbly at him.

He started laughing despite Hakon's seriousness. "You mean the group good ole Steve gave his dying breath to raid and abolish their main base that housed the location of every base and operative they ever had?"

Hakon waited until Tony calmed down and took his seriousness more seriously for himself, which he did after a minute—a little startled that Hakon had yet to say anything else. Snarky or otherwise

"You're not joking, are you?" He said softly, all humor gone.

Hakon remained impassive but his lips did quirk downward ever so slightly. "I would never joke about something like that. Hydra was and is, above all things, a covert research group that's always sought world domination. After their straightforward method failed in the war they switched tactics. They let SHIELD and the Allies find the bases and operatives listed in that main base, but they still had several unlisted locations that my people managed to track down. Mostly."

Tony sat heavily on an empty coat. "I don't suppose there's a Scotch in here?"

Phil hummed and started looking through a few cabinets. After all, Howard Stark was the one to sanction this refuge. He returned a minute later with three glasses and Tony downed his in one gulp.

Tony took a breath after the familiar burning passed to center his thoughts. "So, the gist of what I'm understanding, is that Hydra isn't gone, they've been playing and growing in the background and SHIELD is largely unknowledgeable of their existence-"

"Entirely," Phil interrupted. Tony's eyes widened and he started to say something about that but Phil continued. "Hydra, or I should say Zola, has done an impeccable job of keeping Hydra entirely off the radar. Our people, Hakon's and mine, only knew they continued to exist because of a bug that was planted long before the final raid by Rogers was made."

Tony deflated a little and turned to Hakon. "Why did you never tell dad?"

Hakon's eyebrows pinched together. "I couldn't convince him to leave Zola out of the group, what makes you think I could have convinced him the group that Steve seemingly delivered the fatal blow to wasn't actually destroyed? And even if I eventually did manage to convince him…Zola was already ingrained and placing his own people in SHIELD. I was afraid telling him would lead to—well, it led to that anyway."

He leaned forward and grabbed Tony's hand, eyes sorrowful. "We've been taking down their bases but they keep popping up. We didn't want to tip them off that we knew of the extent that they had infiltrated SHIELD. What happened with Howard and your mother, we had no warning whatsoever for that, and I'm sorry. We only learned about the Winter Soldier shortly after the…"

Tony grunted and stood, pouring himself another glass—taking a moment to take in the wonder that this was his father's Scotch and he was drinking it not even a day after surviving the Winter Soldier that his parents hadn't managed to. "So, how does SHIELD know about the Winter Soldier if you've never told them about Hydra? Do they know it was him that killed…?"

Phil shook his head, more relaxed now that Tony's initial anger had passed but all could tell it was still there and simmering. "No, all footage was either destroyed or confiscated by Hydra before SHIELD could get a chance to look into it. As for how we know of him…Director Carter got curious about a series of mysterious deaths. That's when we started picking out local rumors of a phantom that was 'spotted' near the sites of the deaths. Then, just a few years back, one of our top agents was shot on protection duty. She made it, but the person she was protecting didn't. However, she did manage to get a look at his face, well, if you want to call it that when half of it is covered with a mask and his hair is so long that the upper half was just as obscured."

Hakon looked at Phil before staring at Tony. "Needless to say, his identity will remain unknown to SHIELD. We're gonna have to give a report but if the Hydra plants in SHIELD think we know who the Winter Soldier used to be, we'll make bigger targets of ourselves."

Tony smirked at Hakon. "So I can say you went a bit senile and thought the assassin looked like an old friend from WWII?"

Phil snorted in an attempt not to laugh and Hakon glared at Tony for a long moment before smiling. "Sure, that's believable enough. Actually, probably best that you do, get the rumor circulating back to the high command since I did say his name and I have no idea how much he reports, best to just assume everything. You are insufferable though, kiddo."

Tony beamed. "But somehow you still love me."

Hakon's smile shifted but no less filled with warmth. "Like my own son. Alright, now that we're safe and explanations are out of the way, let me sleep off this dart's poison. It's a killer trying to stay awake with this stuff running through your system."

Tony shook his head and looked over at Happy before dragging his chair closer to Hakon's cot. "How have you managed to stay awake when Happy passed out immediately?"

Hakon's eyes were closed but he smiled impishly. "I'm a pretty spry old man. Plus I'm sure I've pulled more all-nighters than Happy can shake a stick at…it's a similar feeling."

Tony smiled softly at his godfather's snark and waited until his chest rose and fell evenly before pulling the blanket up to his chest. Torbjörg jumped up on the cot and started nuzzling the blanket around until he had a nice nest next to Hakon's chest. Then, he laid down with his large head covering his other half's chest and neck.

Tony turned to Phil who was finally finishing his glass. "So…any ideas on what to do while we wait?"

Phil chuckled before spotting a deck of cards tucked into the cabinet. "Ever play poker?"

Tony beamed. "Oh, I've been taught by the best. Jarvis can play a mean game and you gotta watch out for uncle H too."

Phil chuckled and dealt the cards.

*O*

The Winter Soldier slid into the back of a van a few miles from the ambush site. His field handlers glared at him and the sight he presented. "Report." The man in the driver seat growled.

The Winter Soldier removed his hand from the bullet wound on his thigh. The bleeding had already stemmed from the enhancements. The extra man poked at it but he didn't make any sounds of discomfort as he tended to and wrapped it up. Enhancements or no, it could still get infected. "Mission, failure. His abilities were downplayed due to age. One dosage did not affect him—a mistake that will not be made in the future—and I was unable to inject another dosage into his system before I was too greatly compromised. The presence of Tony Stark also hampered retrieval; he proved to be an unexpectedly resistant ally to Hyse."

The man at the wheel ground his teeth. "How?"

"Underestimated. He fought back with a knife that disabled my arm."

Both men now stared at the titanium arm in shock, neither had paid any attention to it until he mentioned its non-functionality. The man who made a temporary patch sighed despondently. "Command isn't going to like this."

The driver glared at his companion and started the van. "Like they're going to believe a knife could do that kind of damage to titanium, let alone that the Asset failed and both men undoubtedly saw his face?"

"They did." The Winter Soldier said emotionlessly.

The men felt their blood chill, not only had the Asset failed, he also let his face be seen. This was going to be a nightmare to report then salvage their rankings to be anything other than garbage men.

*O*

Fury rubbed his good eye in weariness and exasperation. This was his first time dealing with Howard's protégé and Hakon was of little help when the young Stark started pestering him about any Winter Soldier information. It was difficult to find reasons against telling him when he fought the ghost himself and undoubtedly helped prevent the nightmare of Hyse's capture.

His only saving grace was that they honestly knew next to nothing about him which was infuriating because that meant they had no idea who targeted Hyse. Hyse was little help in that area as well since he pointed out that he had a great deal of enemies for simply helping to found SHIELD and being the only inventor left in the Stark-Hyse power team.

Goose brushed against his leg and purred, successfully diverting his thoughts for but a moment—a moment he would gratefully take. "Hey, Goose, how are you doing today?"

He bent over and picked up the Flerken and let it settle in his lap before he started gently stroking his head. "Such a nice Flerken." He cooed in a voice that he would deny to anyone but Maria and Hyse. On Earth anyway.

Goose's purr deepened and leaned into his hand more.

"Your old buddy Hyse is causing quite the commotion…again." He said as he resumed typing up the report before printing it out so it could be added to Coulson's.

Goose mewed and Fury swore he saw an amused glint in the extraterrestrial feline's eyes.

Several months later Hakon visited Tony. This time Coulson insisted on accompanying them. Tony had some business to take care of at SI, much to his consternation, so Happy and Phil chatted together while Hakon trailed after Tony. An hour passed and neither Phil nor Happy heard a word from either man.

Phil turned to Happy and set down his coffee, an odd feeling in his gut. "Where is your security room?"

Happy's face pinched in confusion but led him deeper into the facility. "You don't think something could have happened to them here, do you?"

Phil took a controlled breath. "Anything is possible and Fury will kill me if it does." Not to mention his wife and the Guild commander…or gods forbid Loki finds out before we can deal with it. That's a joke with the bond they share, de'd probably be back on Midgard before we realize anything's wrong.

Happy pulled out his phone as he unlocked the door for the agent and called Tony's number, it rang until it eventually hung up and went to voicemail. Happy still wasn't overly worried. Tony rarely took calls—the only time he ever saw him take them consistently was for Hakon, or more recently, his newest assistant Virginia Potts.

Phil's eyebrows rose and Happy shook his head before calling Hakon, having been given the number for emergencies. It too rang until it finally opened the voice mail. Phil hunched over the security guard's shoulder, ordering him to find the pair.

Happy felt panic begin to arise when cameras swept the entire facility and found nothing, the camera guard too began to sweat.

Phil blew a heavily and annoyed breath before asking for the seat. The guard quickly gave it to him and he started rewinding the footage for the last time they were seen and sending a silent prayer to Loki. He stopped the tape suddenly at a small flash of movement that both the security officer and Happy missed.

Three pairs of eyes watched the screen carefully as Phil tracked the flashes of movement through several offices. Each time the timestamp marked their stay of three minutes before they moved on.

Eventually they managed to catch up with the pair and Phil adjusted the camera to the reflection in the window that caught Tony and Hakon hiding under a conference table, but on top of the chairs that were scooted underneath and a spot too dark to be a shadow curled up in the center.

Happy cursed Tony for giving him a heart attack before his glare turned into confusion. "What are they doing?"

Phil frowned, he had a pretty good idea. SHIELD was only mildly aware of it, but Hakon's exploits were notorious in his homeland, only outdone by Loki himself—or the times that they teamed up. "They're Lo-pranking Tony's employees."

Happy groaned then shivered. Tony rarely went on an escapade, and usually only when Hakon was around, from the stories he'd heard, but he would never forget the one time he was subject to one of Tony's pranks. Trying to find anything that matched for a month after was impossible.

They watched the pair remain motionless as a secretary, accountant, and another man—Happy wasn't sure of his position—walked through the room to their offices on the other side. A few minutes later the secretary's phone rang and she took care of whatever business that came through then hung up. The cameras showed an office a few doors down with an accountant and his phone rang just as the secretary hung hers up.

He frowned and answered the call only to stare blankly at the phone before shrugging and hanging up. At the same moment in the office next door the phone rang and the man answered only to hang up a moment later and the secretary's phone rang again. The cycle continued several times, all three of them growing increasingly angry with the empty phone calls until the accountant's phone rang. He sighed in relief when it was a true phone call and happily answered the question before hanging up. The second man twitched when his phone rang and glared at it until it finally stopped.

There was peace in the office until the secretary got another phone call then the accountant's phone rang again. He screamed in frustration when nothing answered and slammed the phone back which set off another round of telephone.

Phil shook his head as he watched the chaos. He truly sympathized with the workers. Everyone in the New Archipelago had been subject to a Hiccup, Loki or a Thorston prank at one time or another…he was the cause of a few himself as well as the recipient. It was a Throston family tradition, after all.

The trio in the security office kept watch until lunch when the three victims left in a huff, eager to get away from the demonic phones. The culprits finally came out of hiding, faces red from stifling laughter, and were kind enough to fix the phones before slipping out expertly.

Happy had stood behind Phil the entire time in amazement and thought that there couldn't be any argument that Hakon had a hand in raising Tony. The security officer struggled to follow their leave and would have lost them had it not been for Phil's expertise.

Once Phil confirmed that the pair were headed out to the main entrance he stood and left with Happy, shaking his head and attempting to hide an amused smile.

This chapter took forever to get written mainly because I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen with it but I think it turned out well. I don't know how you felt but it's actually a decently long chapter but doesn't really feel all that long. Oh well. See you soon!