Time Keeper and Grim Reaper

Chapter 4

[Alex's POV]

"J, could you please help me to check if Tony's ready? If not, do whatever you want to speed up the process." "Certainly, Young Lady." There was a hint of a playful smirk in the voice and I snicker. "Thanks, J. You're the best." "You're most welcome, Young Lady." Before I could count down to 5, Tony came out, screaming. "What the fuck! It's cold freaking water, JARVIS!" The said butler was silent and he turned to me accusingly. "You put him up to it, aren't you? Traitors!" I finally broke into laughter, putting the glass of champagne onto the table. "It's just barely cold water. Just enough to send you out, Bambi." "Don't you 'Bambi' me! I need a sufficient bath and shower to deal with that pirate later." "It's already past 7pm, Bambi. We are supposed to meet the team at 6pm. Sharp." "Oh, come on. Relax. What can he do even if we are late?"

Rolling my eyes fondly at that retort, I shook my head in defeat. How much have I pampered him over these few years? "Young Lady, Director Nick Fury of SHIELD is on the line." "Alright, pull him through." "Stark." "Little Nikkie." There was a small curse at the other end of the line and I immediately grinned. He always hated the nickname. "Change of location. Germany." "What?" "We might have found Loki. He's making a scene." "Location?" Tones walked out with his under armour out. "Stuttgart, Germany. 28, Konigstrasse." "Okay, we will be on our way." Cutting the line, Tony asked. "Ready to test your new updates?"

[Steve's POV]

I barely arrived in time, pulling the man behind the shield along with me. "You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing," I noted, watching him pushing himself up from the floor. What's with that outfit? Is that a new thing now? "Oh. The soldier. A man out of time." "I highly disagree that I am the one who is out of time." And just like I had calculated, Agent Romanoff appeared just in time with the jet behind me, firearms ready to fire. "Loki, drop the weapon and stand down." Loki fired a blast, aiming at the jet and Agent Romanoff managed to move in time. Grabbing this opportunity, I let the shield fly, leaving my hand in perfect aim, and distracting him for a split second. This is all it takes to create a precise window for the innocence else to leave. Catching my shield on a rebond, I block an attack barely on time. Damn, who is this guy? I could barely keep up with his speed and strength, and I was nearly at my limit when I missed his onslaught at an unexpected blind spot, pulling my shield up barely in time to save my own skin. "KNEEL!" Loki scowled, pushing his sceptre another inch down. I took in a deep breath to gather my strength. "NOT TODAY!" Jumping up, I send a powerful kick into Loki's guts.

[Natasha's POV]

"Damn, they are all over the place." I cursed under my breath, waiting closely for the right second. Just then, there was a small buzz over the comms, and the system was immediately overridden. "Agent Romanoff, did you miss me?" "No to you. Yes to her." I sassed, and it was immediately followed by a peal of delighted laughter. "Aww, I miss you too, little spider." The increasing volume of the music signals the arrival but was quickly shut off as Alex scolded lightly. "Tony! Subtle!" "How about a no?" As if on cue, there was a blast, landing right into the target's chest, but a pale emerald green surrounded him instantly, containing him along with the blast before letting him off. All I caught was a slight narrowing of his eyes before he disappeared from the floor. "CAP!" I warned over the comms as I watched Loki appear behind him, sceptre rising to raise an attack when she out of nowhere with a pale emerald screen in hand, effectively returning the blast.

Alex!

It must have taken him by surprise as Loki went crashing back into the steps, a few meters away. "Checkmate." Alex crossed her arms in delightful glee while Tony landed, as if on cue, raising his repulsors, weapons ready to fire at any second. "Make your move, Reindeer Games." Loki slowly raised his hands. "Good move." "Mr Stark. Miss Stark." "Captain." All Alex was to give a small nod of acknowledgement.