UNKNOWN GUEST

#17 That's America's A$s!

Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff, my parents, walked ahead of me as I decided to give them their space for what I hoped would be just the first of countless moments together. They strolled side by side, and I could see that this was their first chance to truly interact outside the chaos of the mission.

Agent Romanoff broke the silence, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "There's quite a buzz around here, now that you've come out of the ice."

Dad's response was a warm, understated smile, and he seemed genuinely pleased by her observation.

She continued, "I thought Coulson was going to swoon. Did he ask you to sign his Captain America trading cards?"

"Trading cards?" Dad and I asked in unison, our voices overlapping in surprise. I winced internally, realizing I'd made another slip-up. Both of them turned their heads towards me. Dad's smile grew a touch wider, while Mom just shook her head with a bemused expression.

It was striking to see how easily Dad's smile seemed to come around Mom. It was as if she had this effortless effect on him. The fact that Dad could barely contain his smile at just meeting her was both touching and slightly disorienting. I hadn't expected their interaction to be so immediate and natural.

Mom resumed walking, her gaze returning to Dad as she answered, "They're vintage. He's very proud of them."

Dad nodded in acknowledgment, still smiling. Their chemistry was undeniable, and it was clear that this reunion was special for both of them.

Just then, I spotted a man in a suit scanning the area with an air of discomfort. Dad immediately recognized him and called out, "Dr. Banner!"

Dr. Banner stepped forward, and Dad extended a hand to shake his, breaking the intimate moment between my parents. As I saw that my presence was no longer necessary for this interaction, I decided it was a good time to make my exit.

When Agent Romanoff glanced back at me, I said, "I'll head inside."

She nodded in understanding, her attention already shifting back to the conversation with Dad and Dr. Banner. I made my way into the Helicarrier's chambers, letting the door close behind me.

I made my way to the operational area, where the hum of activity and the glow of multiple screens filled the space with a sense of urgency. Maria Hill and Agent Coulson were deeply focused on the monitors, tracking the agents' efforts to locate Loki around the globe. I approached the desks, standing beside Agent Coulson, and began scanning the screens.

Noticing one particular system, I recognized Agent Morse working diligently. I spoke up, "Agent Morse, why don't you track Agent Barton's rifle? He had it with him."

Agent Coulson and Morse exchanged a brief, meaningful glance. Coulson gave a subtle nod of approval, and Morse immediately began typing satellite codes into his terminal. The rapid clicks of his keyboard echoed in the room as she initiated the search for Uncle Clint's weapon.

Within moments, Morse's screen lit up with a result. "The gun is spotted at the north border of Mongolia and Russia."

Coulson nodded thoughtfully. "That means they're heading towards Europe."

Agent Morse glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, prompting me to offer a little more insight. "Let me know if I can be of any help," I said, trying to sound casual but a bit eager to contribute.

Coulson rolled his eyes slightly but with a hint of a smile. "I've worked in Logistics at the base for a month," I added, hoping to reinforce my capability.

Coulson gave a nod and turned back to his work, which meant I had a bit more leeway to assist if needed.

I turned around and saw Agent Romanoff walking in with Captain Rogers and Dr. Bruce Banner. Director Fury's voice cut through the buzz of the room, "Agent Romanoff, show Dr. Banner to his office."

Agent Romanoff nodded and led Dr. Banner further inside. "You'll like the setup, Doctor," she said, her voice professional but warm.

As they walked away, I couldn't help but notice Captain Rogers—my dad—standing a bit behind, his eyes fixed on Agent Romanoff with an almost unmistakable admiration. His gaze lingered on her as she guided Dr. Banner, and a small, amused smile spread across my face.

My dad's focus was unmistakable. He was already getting quite attached to Mom, even in this first meeting. I shook my head with a mix of sympathy and amusement. My poor father, clearly smitten and caught up in the charm of Agent Romanoff. 

A few minutes later, I overheard a conversation between Agent Coulson and my dad, Captain Rogers. The topic? Autographs on trading cards. Coulson seemed a bit flustered, but his enthusiasm was unmistakable.

"I mean, if it's not too much of a trouble," Coulson said, his voice carrying a hint of embarrassment.

Captain Rogers responded with his usual calm demeanor, "No, no. It's fine."

Coulson continued, "It's a vintage set. Took me a couple of years to collect them all."

There it was—the biggest Captain America fan was none other than Agent Coulson. The thought made me smile, knowing that even top agents could have their moments of fandom.

Just then, Agent Sitwell's voice cut through the chatter. "Sir, we got a hit. 67% match. No, it's 79%."

Coulson and I quickly moved toward the desk to see what was happening. Coulson, focused and serious, asked, "Location?"

Sitwell glanced at the monitor and replied, "Stuttgart, Germany. 28 Koningstrasse. Loki is not exactly hiding though."

Director Fury's commanding voice followed, "Captain. It's time."

Captain Rogers sighed deeply, his expression serious as he nodded. He turned and headed off to suit up, his steps measured and determined.

I looked back at the screen, and what I saw made my heart race. Loki wasn't trying to hide at all. Instead, he was casually roaming the streets of Stuttgart, Germany, his figure clearly visible as he wandered without any apparent effort to conceal himself.

As I observed, Mom walked up to Director Fury with a serious expression. "Is he in Germany? What about Barton?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with concern.

Fury sighed, looking tired. "Loki's spotted in Germany. And we don't have any updates on Barton and Selvig."

Mom nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. Just then, Maria Hill stepped in, "Do you need a pilot?"

Mom's lips curled into a slight smirk as she replied, "I'm the best one here."

Then, she glanced at me with a playful challenge in her eyes, as if daring me to volunteer to tag along. I sighed and raised both hands in mock surrender. Mom rolled her eyes at my antics.

At that moment, my dad emerged in his Captain America uniform. I could barely contain a chuckle because the suit was so tight on him, the American flag emblazoned across his chest accentuating every muscle. His face, though, was a mask of focus and discomfort as he adjusted to the restrictive outfit. The suit seemed to be giving him a hard time, but he was clearly more concerned with the mission ahead than his attire.

Dad walked towards the awaiting jet with purposeful strides. Mom's gaze followed him, her eyes softening with a mixture of admiration and affection. All the agents, including Maria Hill, watched him as he walked by. Hill's lips twitched into a smirk, clearly amused by the sight.

As Hill's gaze met mine, I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "That's America's ass." The comment, though quietly spoken, drew a chuckle from Hill. She shook her head, a grin playing on her lips, before turning back to her work.