Masks

Bruce seldom felt fear, but now, it was clawing at him, a trap he couldn't break out of entirely. Tony was in little better condition, pacing, frantically trying to home in on the signal from Catrin's bracelet. He'd had no success after several tries. Either Rumlow's 'employers' had taken it away from her, or she simply couldn't activate it. Which was possible, if she were still unconscious or restrained.

Bruce wrapped his arms around himself, refusing to blink tears away. If he had been there instead of upstairs, would this have happened?

"Hey." Tony caught the change in his mate's expression. "Bruce. This isn't your fault. You know that. Take it out on Rumlow." He came over, pulling his mate into a tight embrace.

"We were supposed to be protecting her, and she--"

"It's going to be all right. It is. We just have to get a step ahead of these bastards...and then we're going to burn them to the ground."

She'd dropped the tessen he'd given her. Diana had picked it up and brought it to them, her own anger visible too, before going to tend to Alfred's injuries.

"We need to get to Stark Tower," Bruce finally said. "We need backup. It won't help us to stay here, and it's not as if HYDRA--if this is them--won't know where to reach you."

Tony's face was pale, but he nodded, turning to Diana. "Once Alfred's okay on his own, can you follow us to NYC?"

"Yes, of course."

Bruce and Tony hurried to the 'copter.

Hold on, Cay. We're coming. Just hold on.

* * *

Outside Stark Tower, the sky began to darken with thick gray clouds.

Steve heard thunder booming from the 'windows' in their cell. He watched as lightning flashed across the skies, seeming to come out of nowhere.

He jumped as a shower of sparks burst from the security panel on the door. The building went dark, before red emergency lights came on overhead.

In her office, Pepper looked up, startled. "JARVIS? What's going on?"

"Mr. Odinson has returned. He is on the roof, asking for Sir. He says 'the all-seeing eye' told him that his shieldbrother needed aid."

"What? Why--" her phone rang. Seeing it was Tony's number, she hurried to pick up. "Send Thor down here, please."

"He's on his way."

* * *

Catrin regained consciousness a bit at a time.

Her head ached. She didn't move immediately, listening instead. Play possum. Don't act like a hero if you're ever kidnapped, her fathers had always told her. Go along. Wait for a chance to escape, but don't risk yourself. The first priority is to stay safe.

Her arms and legs were free, she realized after a minute. She was lying on something that felt like a mattress. And she could smell something...a few different somethings.
Her bracelet was no longer on her wrist, but her clothes were undisturbed. It didn't feel as if anything... had happened, while she was out. The cold knot in her stomach uncoiled a little. She breathed in.

Paint. Gasoline. Cordite.

Voices from some distance away. Muffled. She risked opening her eyes, then sat up a little when she didn't see anyone in front of her.

Huh. Not much...bare walls. No windows. A steel door that had multiple locks.

Ohhh, come on, really?

An octopus in black and red was painted on the inside of said door.

She half expected someone to come in and start doing a 'villain monologue'.

"Miss Stark." A voice issued from a speaker overhead. "Stand up slowly, please. Someone is coming in to you. If you try to escape or injure them, there will be rather painful consequences."

"To whom?" she wondered softly, fear beginning to be replaced by anger.

She stood, nonetheless.

* * *
"Lady Potts. " Thor bowed gallantly. "Is the Man of Iron not here? "

"He's on his way to the Tower, Thor. We've...had some trouble we need to solve before anything else."

"Banner informed me that the Captain and the Black Widow are being imprisoned, by your orders?" he asked, puzzled rather than aggressive. "What has transpired to set them at odds with you?"

"Thor--" Pepper searched for words.

"If someone threatened a member of Odin's court, would you just stand by and do nothing?" Banner asked. "They were harassing one of Tony's people. A woman who isn't Enhanced, nor a fighter. Their conduct is dishonorable. This is Tony's home, he and his people should be safe here of all places."

"We can show you the video footage of what happened, if you want," Pepper added.

Thor was taken aback, but then shook his head. "I don't dispute your judgment. As you say, this is yours and the Man of Stark's holding. Perhaps they should be quartered elsewhere, then. May I speak with them?"

"Pepper--" Tony appeared in the doorway suddenly, Bruce just behind him.

Thor half-turned, reaching for Mjolnir, before he caught himself. "Shieldbrother, what's happened? Heimdall said little, only that you would need help against...a Hydra?"

"Yes," Tony said flatly. "Right now, I'll take all the help I can get."

"I'm here," Thor rumbled. "May I have the honor of being introduced to your bondmate?"

At their surprised expressions, he chuckled. "I wasn't born yesterday, Stark, is that the saying?"

* * *

"Clark!" Lois called from their living room. "Phone call! It's Diana!"

He appeared next to her in a blur. She handed him the phone, walking away a little to give them privacy.

"Diana? What's--Okay. No, I can do that. I'll be right there."