Frost Bite

Teamwork

Arriving at the building, the team ducked into the alley next to it for a few moments. Loki put a hand on Amy's shoulder. "It's not too late to back out - we will manage, honestly, and no hard feelings. It's a lot to take on for a first mission." he looked at her softly, trying - and failing - to maintain the facade of leadership. Part of him was so proud of her, but part of him wanted her to run for the hills and be safe. That part was to be disappointed. For a moment, she smiled at him like they were the only two people in the world, then she seemed to mentally roll up her sleeves and straighten her back. Time for work.

"No," Amy shook her head. "I'm staying, but thanks for the option. I just couldn't live with myself if I stood by and shook in a corner." she crossed her arms and looked at them all, especially Loki with a fierce stare of determination. Inside, she was a shaking, howling mess, but she wasn't giving in.

"Ok," he nodded and turned to look at everyone, "time to move. just to recap... Fandral - you and Amy take the side stairs to the penthouse. Less chance of being disturbed, they'll be watching the elevators." The two of them nodded testing their comms as they waited. All good.

"Volstagg, lobby and work up, just neutralise anything that has a hydra badge. No questions, just get them tidied, ok?" Loki smirked. He knew how much Volstagg loved to 'tidy up' the enemy!"

"Be my absolute pleasure!" he grinned, running his thumb along the edge of his sword.

Sif, Hogun? You two in tandem with us. We'll draw Tony off with luck, and you know what to do? " they nodded,

"Take out the main services and then head for the penthouse?" Hogun repeated the plan discussed earlier. In truth, they still weren't convinced Loki and Thor could take Tony on themselves, but they weren't about to start another fight here.

Everyone knew what to do, and for a moment, they just stood and looked at one another. Then Sif spoke "OK let's do this. Once you have Pepper Amy, remember, just sing out, and we'll come get you all to safety."

A final nod to everyone, and they split into their teams. Amy and Fandral were first to leave, and Loki wanted so badly to kiss her good luck, but he restrained himself. He made do with a long look and a "stay safe my love" in her head. She smiled and looked at him, nodding. The last he saw of them was Fandral holding the door open for her to enter the building, then it closed with a thud.

"She will be fine brother, she's tougher than she looks!" Thor broke into his momentary lapse, and he came back into the present with a start.

"What? Yes. Yes, of course she will." he retorted rather more sharply than he intended and instantly felt bad. Thor had only been trying to be nice. He turned to apologise, but Thor just smiled and winked.

Minutes later, the four of them were in the main hall, having met little resistance so far. A few individuals but nothing like the strength of force they had anticipated.

"I don't like this. It's too quiet," Sif commented as they made their way through the lobby to the stairs. Elevators were a no-no, too easy to tamper with and deadly when they went wrong.

"Mhm, know what you ..." Loki started to respond when there was an almighty crash from above them, and they were showered with glass. The whole front of the building had just been destroyed by a powerful but tiny warhead. A warhead fired from the shoulder of the Mark 42 Suit now hovering over them in sentry mode. The disembodied voice of Tony Stark sounded from the drone.

"OK, you and Point Break just need to give up right now. There is no option where you come out on top. There is no way I'm letting you jeopardise anything achieved, and I have every intention of leaving you here in pieces."