Tori

     I stand next to Steve and Thor while Steve and I tend to Clint's injuries. We are on a much smaller version of the quinjet, but it's actually more comforting, in a way. I sigh and look at Clint as Natasha comes up beside me. Tony flies the plane in his little cockpit and Bruce listens to his soft music to calm him down. Natasha leaves us and goes to Bruce, whispering to him.
     "Thor, report on the Hulk," Natasha calls.
     I take a step closer to Steve as Thor answers the assassin's question.
     "Gates of Hel are filled with the screams of his victims," the Norse god answers, loudly clasping his hands together.
     Steve and I look down at the floor, very ashamed of his answer.
     "They're not the screams of the dead, of course," Thor adds as he watches Bruce bury his face into his hands. "No, no, uh, the wounded screams, mainly complaining, whimpering, uh, complaining, and, uh, tales of strange deltoids, and uh, yeah."
     Steve looks up at Thor with a grin on his face, trying to contain his laugh. I stare at the floor, shaking my head. Thor slowly walks away, leaving the awkward conversation.
     "Hey, Banner," Tony calls from the control area. "Doctor Cho's on her way in from Seoul. Is it okay if she sets up in your lab?"
     "Uh, yeah," Bruce replies. "She knows her way around."
     "Thanks," Tony says, lowering his voice. "Tell her to prep up. Barton's gonna need the full treatment."
     "Yes, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. replies.
     Tony turns around in his chair, ready to press buttons as J.A.R.V.I.S. continues to speak.
     I feel a comforting hand on my hip, asking for me to look up. I have eye contact with a concerned Steve, whose eyes are filled with worry.
     "Are you sure you're okay?" he asks me in a low voice.
     "I'm positive," I whisper. "I would never lie to you, Steve."
     "I know," he sighs. "It's just, I feel like they're making you go on missions a little too early. You may not be fully recovered."
     "You could say the same thing about yourself," I say, taking his hands in mine. "I'm really worried about you, Steve. It's only been a few weeks since the whole 'you-know-who' incident."
     "I know," he says in lower than a whisper. "I know, but I'm used to that kind of stuff and I'm healed."
     "Just, let's not do anything too crazy."
     "Yeah,"
     Steve pecks my forehead, giving me a reassuring smile. I hear Tony's footsteps coming toward us, glancing at the scepter.
     "Feels good, yeah?" Tony asks. "I mean, we've been after this thing since S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding parties."
     "No, but this brings it to a close." Thor replies.
     "As soon as we find out what else it's being used for, and that doesn't mean just weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?" Steve says.
     I zone out, becoming bored of the business talk.
     "—just a few days before the farewell party. You're staying, right?" Tony says.
     "Yes, yes, of course," Thor says. "The victory should be honored with revels."
     "Yeah, who doesn't love revels?" Tony mutters. "Captain?"
     "Hopefully this puts an end to the Chitauri and H.Y.D.R.A.  So, yes, revels." Steve responds with a grin.
     The men look at me, waiting for my opinion on the matter.
     "I'm with Steve," I sigh. "As long as the Chitauri and H.Y.D.R.A. are done for, we should have a period of celebration."
     Tony nods, looking off into the distance.

•••

     We land on a small landing platform at the Avengers Tower. The back opens up, revealing the two ladies standing outside — the doctor and Maria Hill. They roll Clint out of the aircraft,  Natasha included. Hill steps around Thor, who carries the scepter that is in a small holder.
     "Lab's all set up, boss," Maria Hill calls to Tony.
     Tony looks around from his chair at the front of the aircraft, trying to keep his best poker face.
     "Actually, he's the boss," he says, pointing to Steve. "I just pay for everything and make everyone look cooler."
     I roll my eyes, standing up from the ground with Steve.
     "What's the word on Strucker?" Steve asks Maria.
     "NATO's got him," Maria says.
     "The two enhanced?" I ask, standing next to Steve.
     "Wanda and Pietro Maximoff," she says, showing Steve and me a photo on her tablet. "Twins. Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia's had a rough history. It's no where special, but it's on the way to everything special."
"Their abilities?" I ask Agent Hill, stepping inside of the Avengers Tower.
"He's got increased metabolism and an improved thermal homeostasis. Her thing is neuroleptic interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation," Maria replies, sighing. "He's fast and she's weird."
"Damn," I mutter, placing my hands on my hips. "And I thought I was weird."
"Well," Steve says, stifling his laugh. "They're going to show up again."
"Agreed," Maria mumbles, the elevator dinging as it opens. "File says they volunteered for Strucker's experiments. It's nuts."
Steve presses the button that leads to a different floor as I stand next to him.
"Right," Steve says. "What kind of monster would let a German scientist experiment on them to protect their country?"
"I think we all know the answer to that one," I laugh. "But I wouldn't always say 'let'."
"We're not at war, Captain," Maria spits.
"They are," Steve barks, the elevator closing shut.