Chapter 16 - No More Lies

"This time, the Avengers will have no opportunity to creep back into their puny towers and buildings. I will see the light of their lives fading out from their eyes when I execute them one by one," Loki declared as he walked through the room that had used to be Perez's hideout.

His group of fighters had become bigger. An American sniper, an Argentinian spy, a French military and a Bulgarian combat fighter. They might be Midgardians, but Loki recognized fighting skills when he saw them. He used to be a decorated warrior for the Asgardian army - a general even. But now, he only had one goal. To find the Midgardian that held one of the infinity stones.

"Doctor Stephen Strange," Jaime Perez, one of his fighters, said. He was an experienced task force leader and would guide the attack against the current location of the so-called Avengers.

"He refers to himself as the master of mystical powers and member of the sorcerers. Is said to prevent this reality from all kinds of menaces." Jaime's voice was expressionless. One of the side effects of mind control.

"Fine," Loki said. "You will occupy the Avengers while I get the stone."

"Yes, sir," Jaime nodded. Not only would he attack the S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters. Loki wanted to see the Avengers burn. And well, he would.

"The time has come to let true greatness come over Midgard," Loki smirked, looking at the fighters who geared up for the fight.

〰〰〰

Katta hurried down the corridor to the laboratories to get Fenris. Together, their chances would be better to flee from the building. As she ran around a corner, she collided with something hard, sending her tumbling to the ground. Katta cursed but got up quickly to proceed her way when she found her arm in a tight grip.

"Where are you going?"

She looked up, meeting Barnes's gaze. Katta groaned inwardly, yanking her arm away from him.

"I need to get something," she said lamely, hoping that he would drop it.

"What?" he asked, mustering her.

"What what?" Katta retorted, glaring at him. He clenched his jaw, tilting his head. Annoyance was radiating off him.

"You're going to see the IT dumbass," he stated. Katta looked at him, baffled. Was he -- jealous? No way.

"If you wanna know, Banner summoned me to do some tests with me, for I am S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest lab rat," she spat. Upon seeing his mouth twitch, Katta knew that she'd chosen the right subject. It was evident that Barnes was still fighting with his H.Y.D.R.A time, maybe even more than she did.

"I-I didn't know," he muttered, stepping slightly back.

"You didn't know what?" Katta proceeded. "That I am tested with? That I have no idea what they are doing with me? Seems familiar, huh?" She pulled her jacket straight and walked past him, brushing his shoulder on the way. Katta listened intently as she marched further, breathing in relief upon noticing that he didn't follow. A slight pang shot through her chest as she recalled his expression. He looked almost hurt. Katta quickly brushed it off and opened the door to the laboratories without knocking.

Bruce and Fenris turned around, surprised, but she only smiled. "I wondered if I could borrow Mister Charleston, Doctor Banner."

Bruce looked at his assistant and began to smile shyly. "Sure, Miss Harlovsen." He nodded at Fenris and turned back to whatever he was working on at the moment.

His cousin followed her outside before his face turned worried.

"We need to go now," Katta stated, walking towards her room.

"What about the--"

"--Let me worry about that," she interrupted Fenris, holding the door to her room open, motioning for him to step in. The alarm went off. Bells started to ring through the building. Katta turned around to Fenris, who had automatically tensed, ready to defend and fight.

"Meeting room!" Steve yelled through the corridor towards the Harlovsens, who exchanged a quick look before following his command. Red lights flickered through the halls, and a loud voice gave instructions through the loudspeaker announcements.

Katta entered the meeting room, Fenris on her heels. She looked around for a seat. There was a free one next to Barnes. Slowly, she walked over while Fenris took one next to Clint. She felt Barnes's gaze on her and turned her head.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Oh, stop sulking, Barnes." Katta pressed her lips together and looked ahead. The door banged open, and Natasha crashed in, looking around. The loud noise had Katta jump up from her chair. Her heart beat fastly.

"Sit." She felt a tugging on her hand and sat back down. Barnes let go of her hand and crossed his arms. "Loud noises," he stated. "Happens to me all the time."

Fury entered and, without further comment, turned on the TV. Pictures of burning buildings and running people glimmered over the screen.

"But that is--"

"The Stark Tower. Exactly Mister Barton. Over the previous ten minutes, several buildings exploded. All are security institutions. Whoever did this had excellent knowledge about our network," Fury stated. If Katta didn't know better, she would say he was pale. Her hands began sweating. This must be the threat Doctor Strange had tried to warn her about. She hadn't made it out of the building in time.

"Alright. Everybody suit up. What are we waiting for?" Tony asked, upset. His face had turned a deep red as the pictured of his destroyed building had turned up on the TV. Katta looked around and saw concentrated faces. Fenris stood in one corner and sent her an uneasy look. She knew that his instincts screamed for him to flee as long as it was still possible.

The Avengers rose from their seats. "Come," Barnes said, looking at her. "Time to suit up."

Katta swallowed and followed him. Bucky was the first to reach the room and grabbed his combat clothing out of his locker.

His leather-like jacket left his left metal arm free. Weapon holsters were attached to his jeans and filled with guns and knives. Steve closed his suit's zipper and grabbed the shield while Clint loaded his quiver with arrows. Tony activated his iron suit.

A feeling of assurance flooded through Katta's body as she saw her combat clothes that had been taken away when she started working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Her trousers and jacket fitted like gloves, and the chest gear matched her boots' colour. She strapped the knives to her thighs and grabbed for the gun monition as Steve caught her wrist. She looked up and met his eyes. His face was distorted in a frown.

"Don't disappoint me, Katta. I want to trust you."

"Then let's do this," she answered grimly. This was not the situation to think about allies or flight. Katta didn't know what would come. What she knew was that she couldn't fight it alone.

Steve slowly let go of her wrist and put his helmet on. "You stay close to me," he commanded.

"Aye, sir," Katta smirked.

Fenris stood in the corner beside Bruce, who didn't need to change. He looked around nervously while trying not to let his senses take over. Whatever had caused Katta to change her mind and leave must have been severe. She would never bring her brothers in danger when there wasn't a good reason to do so. An explosion shook the building, and Coulson stormed into the room hectically, breathing deeply.

"Agents are being evacuated, but we need support in the west wing."

"Who is attacking?" Steve asked, marching towards the agent.

"The security system recognized three wanted international assassins around the building." Coulson gulped, looking at Katta.

"Show me the footage," she demanded, and he passed her a tiny device.

It didn't take her long to recognize the first man. "Jaime Perez." He moved so swiftly that he was rarely seen on the screen, dead agents marking his way. Natasha peered over her shoulder, sighing.

"And Milan Stevanof," she said.

"Why on earth would they work together?" Katta wondered, passing the device back to Coulson. "They are agents of opposing institutions."

"We can guess about that later," Tony stated, leaving the room. Katta followed him as Fenris grabbed her arm.

"What you're doing?" she whispered angrily, looking at Barnes, who watched them suspiciously.

"We need to go, you remember that?" he murmured.

"Be ready. And stay back. We don't want our covers to be blown." She nodded before leaving the room. Barnes ran next to her while she turned around a corner to follow Steve. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that almost the complete wing was destroyed.

"We're heading to the other side of the building," Natasha spoke through the earpieces. Steve went outside, looking around for the intruders, when a kick hit his face. The guy, Katta had recognized as Jaime Perez, stood next to him, pointing a gun at him.

Katta emerged from the side and tackled the assassin to the ground, both rolling over the floor. She pinned him to the ground, punching his face.

"PEREZ," she shouted, gazing at his face. Years ago, she had worked with him for a mission in Spain. He looked at her and started to grin, his teeth red from blood.

"Who sent you?" she yelled, shaking him on his collar.

Thor ran outside the building and appeared on her side. "He's not himself, Lady Katta," he frowned, looking at the assassin.

"And what does that mean?" she spat through gritted teeth while still pinning him to the ground. She recognized it the second he said it.

"He's under Lokis influence."

Katta backed away from the man and stood up, with him following. He looked between the different Avengers that observed him.

"What does he want?" Katta asked, a queasy feeling growing inside her.

"Only what he rightfully deserves. The power to inherit his world," Perez declared, glory filling his voice. Katta stepped forward and pulled out before knocking him to the ground, where he remained unconscious.

"What was that?" Bucky asked, grabbing her wrist.

"How do we know what they are after?" Steve added, looking at her angrily.

"Strange," she stated, frowning. "He was here today. Telling me, I must leave."

Steve opened his mouth and closed it again. "Loki is after the 'this could destroy the timeline' thing?" he asked. Katta nodded.

"That's what I gue–." A sharp pain jolted through Katta's shoulder. She flew back to the ground and saw one of the other assassins sitting on the roof of the building, a rifle in his hand. Steve instantly raised his shield while Thor swung his hammer and sent it towards the man.

Barnes knelt beside Katta, who touched her shoulder. When she raised her hand, she saw the blood dripping from the shot wound. She tried to get up but groaned at the pain.

"Dritt," she cursed, touching the back of her shoulder.

"That went completely through," Bucky stated, helping her up. Katta breathed a few times to concentrate on her task again and nodded. "It's fine," she said.

"We lost the woman," Natasha announced through the earpieces.

"Everybody assembles in the conference room. We need to meet up," Steve answered, running towards the entrance.

"You're good?" Bucky asked, running next to her.

Katta looked over her shoulder and nodded wordlessly. When she entered the room, Clint instantly rushed to her side to inspect her shoulder.

"This is a lot of blood," he mumbled.

"I have enough," Katta swatted his hand away.

"That was just a distraction. It is Loki. He is after something that Strange has." Steve shortly filled the others in with all the details.

"Then let's go to him and get whatever Loki is after," Bruce proposed, looking around questioningly.

"No, Strange asked me to leave today. I think he knew Loki was coming, and there must be a reason why we should not go to him," Katta interrupted. Another pain wave jolted through her shoulder.

"Why should we listen to this children-birthday-party-magician?" Tony hissed.

"We just do." Director Fury interrupted him as a matter-of-factly. Tony looked at him questioningly.

"I hope there is something that you know that makes you so sure, Director," he retorted.

"Next problem. Where do we go? Loki will definitely send more," Natasha asked, looking at Fury.

"All our backups are under attack," he answered.

Katta looked up and met Fenris's eyes. He quirked an eyebrow in a silent question. "Should we tell them?"

No fucking way. Hell would freeze before Katta would allow the Avengers to hide in their headquarters. She frantically shook her head.

Fenris rolled his eyes and aggressively nodded his head. Katta silently moved her lips. "Fuck no. Shut up."

What the heck has gotten into Fenris. He was the one who'd lectured her about how bad they were just this morning.

"Katta."

Her eyes widened. Fenris directly talked to her, completely forgetting about his character.

"It is agent Harlovsen," she answered, irritated.

Fenris scoffed and rose to his full height. Katta couldn't help but flinch. Above all the masquerade, she'd almost forgotten how threatening he could look. Fenris walked in her direction, a scowling look on her face.

"Oy, Charleston. Calm down and take a seat," Clint commanded. He tried to get in Fenris' way, but he quickly pushed him aside. Katta pressed her lips together and got ready for an old-school-family- discussion when Barnes stepped in front of her.

"You might want to back away, Charleston."

Fenris bared his teeth in a dangerous smile. "You have no idea what you just signed up to, Barnes." That was Katta's cue to interrupt. She surrounded Barned and pushed her right hand against Fenris's chest.

"What has gotten into you," she hissed, upset.

"You heard it yourself, Katta. This is about Loki. We need to deal with him, once and for all! I don't care who these idiots are. If they can help, then I say, we let them." Fenris's voice grew louder.

"WHAT IS GOING ON. EXPLANATION NOW," Fury yelled. Fenris looked over his shoulder and curtly glared at him. He then turned back to Katta and inhaled deeply.

"Katta. This is our chance for revenge." He grabbed her shoulder, where the shot wound still sipped blood. Katta flinched.

"This is only the beginning," he added. "You know what happened the last time. Kattalina, think good and think quick. This is not the time for holding grudges. You can do it afterwards."

Katta glared at him but finally - nodded. He was right. Damnit. Fenris curtly squeezed her arm and turned around. The atmosphere was strained as everybody looked at the Harlovsens, their hands on their respective weapons.

"Who are you? No more lies," Clint said, his face blank.

"Fenris Harlovsen." Fenris took off his glasses and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt.

"Harlovsen," Barnes repeated. Katta turned around to him. His glare was dark, and his breathing increased. He blinked a few times and shook his head. Oh my. This was the worst timing for a flashback.

"Steve?" she said, her eyes still on Barnes. Seconds later, he stood beside her.

"Bucky, come on. Calm down. We're talking this through once we're safe, understood?"

Steve looked between Barnes and Katta. She swallowed and nodded. "Y-Yes, promised." At this point, she'd say everything to release the tension.

"Promised," he grunted. Katta nodded again.

"NOW LISTEN," Fenris yelled.

Everybody turned to him. Fenris shoved his hands in his pockets. "We can offer you a safe place to stay for the moment. There are sleeping rooms and weapons. We're gonna buy ourselves time to plan the next steps and prepare an attack if necessary."

"And I suspect there is a condition?" Fury asked.

"Yes," Fenris answered. "When it comes to Loki, we get our chance to let him pay for what he did to us."

Katta felt her mouth drop as she slowly glanced towards Thor. He stood in the corner of the room, observing the situation. The whole time, he'd done nothing but watch - ever since Loki's name had been mentioned the first time. Slowly, he nodded and looked at Fenris.

"He will pay. I love my brother - but he went too far."

Fenris's lips lifted in a grin as he went his way, stretching out his hand. Thor hesitated. "You'll let him live."

Fenris nodded. "I'll do my best."

Thor struck in and shook his hand. Katta exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. It seemed like a weight had been lifted from her chest, and she felt wetness on her cheeks. Quickly, Katta swiped over her face. Tears of relief. Finally, the Harlovsens would get their revenge. And she would make sure that Loki suffered - how he'd made them suffer.

It was Tony who spoke up. "Quinjet, then?"

"Yes," Katta whispered. "Let's go to the Quinjet."