Captain's Hart

Chapter 5 God of Mischief

Early hours of May 2, 2012

The ride back was silent, most of them too tense to say anything, although Steve and Tony threw the occasional nervous glance at Arianna. Tony knew she could have a temper and her wrath was not something he wanted to be on the receiving end of.

Steve however, had no idea and had been surprised by her anger, particularly the strong aura she gave off when she was furious. He had never been very good with women, and he certainly had no idea how to deal to an angry one. But considering his small experience with Peggy and taking into account that Arianna was apparently a highly accomplished agent, Steve decided he'd better not get on her bad side.

When they landed, there was an entire squadron ready to escort Loki to his cell. Nat led Thor and Steve on ahead to the briefing room on the bridge while Arianna cut the engines and locked the quinjet down. Tony stayed behind to give his suit a quick patch job, and to talk with Arianna.

"Sorry." He began as he worked the dent out of the suit's arm, and Arianna glanced up from where she'd been strapping down the jet. "I know, it was reckless, but you know how I am."

He shrugged and Arianna sighed. She knew it was the best she was going to get, and quite frankly, it was more than anyone, except Pepper Potts, got. So she just replied, letting her face soften: "Fine. Apology accepted. But try not to cause more trouble. Things are grim enough without you blowing something up."

She teased and he grinned as he promised: "Hey, I'll try, but you know it's not my fault if those guys can't take a good joke."

"I don't mean a good joke, Tony, I mean Banner." Arianna said, becoming very serious very quickly as she gave Tony a firm stare. "I need to find Clint, and he's our best guy. Try not to set him off."

Tony sighed and pulled a face but he raised his hand, as though he was taking an oath, as he promised her: "I won't push him more than I think it takes." "And that's all I ask. You know that." Arianna reminded him as she finished with the last buckle.

Tony replied lightly as he finished his work on his suit: "And it's why I like you kid. You know that." He mocked and she chuckled a little as they walked off, Tony heading to place his suit in the locker rooms safely while Arianna headed on to the briefing room.

Her face quickly became grim as she heard Fury start to speak to Loki over their earpieces: "In case it's unclear. You try to escape. You so much as scratch that glass." There was the sound of air rushing loudly, and Fury shouted above the noise it made: "Thirty thousand feet, straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works?"

The noise stopped abruptly, and Arianna quickened her pace towards where the others were. She heard Fury say: "Ant. Boot." She frowned- what did that mean?- but shrugged it off as Loki began to speak. "It's an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me." Loki commented slyly.

"Built for something a lot stronger than you." Fury retorted, and Loki replied lightly: "Oh, I've heard."

Arianna walked into the conference just in time to see Loki look directly at the camera in his holding cell, making it look like he was speaking directly to the team as they watched him say on screen: "The mindless beast, makes play he's still a man."

Banner shifted uncomfortably from where he stood at one side of the room. Loki went on: "How desperate are you, that you call upon such lost creatures to defend you?" Thor was standing with his back to the conference table, looking thoughtful, as Fury repeated: "How desperate am I?"

Nat glanced up as Arianna walked around, but refocused on Fury as he continued: "You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can't hope to control." Arianna sat beside Steve, opposite Nat at the table. She watched the screen as Fury spat: "You talk about peace and you kill 'cause it's fun."