Into the Lions Den

The journey to Prague was agony.  In more ways than one.  

She was clad in a battle suit, unfamiliar and unwieldy  since she was more used to suits and heels than Kevlar, Vibranium mesh and Spandex.  She'd felt very self conscious walking into the hangar to board the jet, but the instant Natasha saw her she'd wolf whistled and made her laugh.

"Look at you all dressed up with somewhere to go Missy!" she whirled her round and hugged her, whispering into her ear "you'll be fine, Loki wont let anything  happen to you!" she winked and pulled back. Louder now she said "Come on let's get you settled" and they walked into the Quinjet arm in arm.

She sat on one side, her daggers strapped to her thighs,  a pistol in a holster and her coms unit in place.  She almost felt like a real Avenger.  Almost.  Clint and Natasha were piloting, Bucky and Steve sat in back with her.  That just left Loki.  He was late.  As usual.  Just as Steve was about to go searching for him, he waltzed up the ramp in full Asgard battle armour.  She swallowed and stared, her stomach doing somersaults.  Damn he was hot.  His eyes flicked to her instantly and she realised he had read her mind.  Shit.  The wall went up instantly, her face settled into a mask of indifference.  For a second he looked astonished then he too became a model of casual disinterest.  

The atmosphere was so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Even Bucky noticed and he was usually the one causing an atmosphere.  He could freeze a room at 2o yards with his stare when he got going. "So you two seem to be getting on like a house on fire!" he said with a wry smile, nudging Steve who smirked at the floor, "just kiss already and get it over with"

"Bucky!"

"Barnes!" 

They cried in unison, both wanting to be the first to deny it but only making things worse.  Steve and Bucky shrugged, looking at each other "Have it your own way " Steve remarked and the subject was dropped.  

As they flew, they went over the plan again. They would land just outside the city,  liaise with their contacts and travel in under the cover of darkness. Once at the building, Buck and Steve would go first, clearing a path. Ali and Nat would follow on and they would be followed by Loki, keeping rear guard watch. The first sign of trouble, they would make sure Ali got out and away with any information she might have at that point.  Clint would stay with the cloaked jet and be ready to extract them at a moments notice. It all seemed simple.  Too simple.  

Loki said as much. "This isn't right, I just have a bad feeling.." he started, looking at Steve imploringly "We should just take everything we can find and bring it back to the jet for Ali to look at there".  He raised a hand to silence her as she started to protest. "Not now.  I know YOUR feelings" he glared at her and she felt a little ashamed so said nothing "I'm just thinking of how to minimise the risk to my FRIENDS" the final jibe hit home and she lowered her head, eyes full of tears.  She'd pushed it too far.  Too far to come back from now.  Bracing herself inwardly she glared up at him. "Fine by me SIR" she spat.

"Enough you two!" Steve raised a hand.  "the plan stays as is.  End of.  We're here.  Suit up and ship out" he stood and picked up his shield.  "Let's get this done."

The five of them exited the jet into the night.  Clint put it into cloaking mode and they stood in the dark and waited.  They had barely gotten used to the low light when a figure approached them, 

"What are you looking for?" the voice said from the dark

"Something we can't see and can't hear." answered Steve carefully, Ali felt Nat put a hand on her arm to reassure her and she felt Loki take a step closer behind her.  In the reality of the situation, being a 5 year old served no purpose.  She took a step back, pressing against him, feeling his chest armour reassuringly against the back of her head. 

"Breathe" he whispered in her ear. It took all her resolve not to cry, and not just through fear.  Instantly, faced with more fear than she had ever known, she regretted every horrible thing she had ever said.  Even now, after all that, he was protecting her.

"Why do you want it?" the dark stranger asked, challenging Steve again.

"We don't, you do"  there was a pause then a small laugh, a man's face appeared out of the gloom, illuminated by a torch like some kind of spectre. He was tall, about the same height as Steve, but scrawny and instantly Ali took a dislike to him.  Something about his eyes.  Loki felt her stiffen and put a hand on her shoulder, his thumb rubbing the side of her neck in silent acknowledgment.  He didn't like him either.  This smelt.

"Sorry about that, hate the cloak and dagger stuff but... " he shrugged "My name is Rumlow - glad to meet you all.  This way.." he indicated off to his left and a waiting vehicle, shrouded from view by some trees.  As they made their way to the covered truck, Steve and Rumlow chatted amiably, Bucky and Nat followed, scanning around, still on alert for any Hydra interception.  Loki, still behind her with a hand on her,  whispered to Ali "If I push you, run, run back to the jet as fast as you can and don't look back."  She didn't speak, didn't look round, but she tapped her right hand dagger twice. To anyone else a gesture of distracted nerves, but to Loki an agreement.

He didn't push her and she didn't run.  They got to the truck and got in without incident. It began to look like they had been overly suspicious.  As they drove away to the city, they pulled the back canvas door cover over the end of the truck, blocking the view into it.  And blocking the view out which, as they were to discover later, was a mistake.  They didn't see the dead bodies lying in the darkness by the side of the hedgerow, their uniforms and weapons stolen, their mission interrupted.  Hydra wasn't lying in wait for the team, Hydra already had them.