An Interesting Arrangement

Chapter 15

"How far till the drop sight?" Oki asked Loki, sitting in the copilot's chair.

Loki leaned over and glanced at a few things on the instrument panel. "Fifteen, twenty minutes tops." Loki said, calmly flying the plane.

Stephanie groaned in the back. "You know when people say 'superheroes' you think of glorious battles, not flying around in a cramped plane that has no real stereo."

Bucky rolled his eyes. "First of all, battle is not 'glorious'. It's horrible."

"Second, this plane could fit all the Avengers in it and still have room to spare." Natasha continued.

"Thirdly," Jace piped up proudly. "I just equipped the plane with stereo." He pulled out a remote and pressed a button. Instantly, A.M. by One Direction came blasting out.

"Cool." Oki said satisfactorily.

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "I can't believe that you idiots like 1D."

Loki put a hand over his heart. "Who wouldn't like Harry Styles?"

"Or Niall?" Bucky added, pretending to swoon. Oki giggled. He adored his uncles and loved family time.

"I'm more of a Liam guy myself." Jace added, smirking at his annoying older sister.

Stephanie just rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Natasha eyed Stephanie, a small crease forming between her eyebrows. Normally, Stephanie was pretty good. But she was really her father's daughter. And having him not around was hard on her.

She had just opened her mouth to say something when Loki whistled loudly. "Drop site in five."

That made everyone drop their differences and get suited up. They were all already in black tac suits made out of a thick but flexible material that covered their arms, legs, chest and even up their neck. The next part of their tac gear always came right before they got to the drop site. Guns, swords, bows and arrows, and daggers were strapped on in a timely manner in convenient locations. And finally came the masks. Since no one could know that Natasha was back in the field (especially not with the Winter Soldier and Loki) they all wore black masks like Bucky once had as the Winter Soldier. The kids wore it because they liked looking uniform, and if word got around that a bunch of kids were fighting crime, the Avengers would be on their tail and there was nothing Steve or Sam could do about that (Clint was retired and Thor was off world).

"Drop site in ten... nine..." Loki began the countdown as he sprinted for the back of the plane where the others were waiting to jump. Stephanie looked a little sick. There was jumping and shooting lightning and being in control and then there was free falling waiting for painful seconds to pull your parachute cord...

Natasha squeezed her daughter's shoulders encouragingly. "You'll do great."

Stephanie gave her a grateful smile as Loki said "One." And then it was business time.

They all leaped out of the plane. Loki closed his eyes and imagined flying. Bucky smirked and made himself as streamlined as possible so that he would be lower than Loki when he pulled the cord (the boys were in an endless one upping competition). Oki had actually shifted into an owl until he could pull his cord. Natasha had a reminiscent smile on her face, remembering when she used to do this with Steve. Stephanie looked like she was about to hurl. And Jace was ... taking a video? Well, he always was a little "special" (aka really annoying).