Few Days Later

"Director Fury, Coffee?" Nora asked, raising a cup of coffee, which she retreated with a shrug after seeing his serious expression, "No? Well, your bad. Anyway, I almost thought you forgot about our deal," taking a leisurely sip of her coffee, she placed it on the table with a gentle clink. "But turned out, your memory is still not affected by your age," 

"You are spending too much time with Stark, aren't you?" Fury asked, his hands behind his back.

"His influence is showing, isn't it?" she asked pressing her lips in a straight line. 

"Yes, it is," he said. 

"Guess I'm in good company," Nora replied, "But let's get down to business. The deal—I help you demolish five HYDRA bases before you target the one, I want gone. I am taking this Velkan base in the first one you want gone,"

Fury's gaze bore into hers. "Yes, but I hope you know, you're playing a dangerous game, Reyes."

"Isn't that what we do here?" Nora's eyes held a mix of defiance and pain. "Dance with danger, hoping it won't consume us. I will keep my end of the deal, you keep yours." 

─── · 。ﾟ

"Where is she?" Tony asked, tapping his feet impatiently on the quinjet entrance. 

Natasha adjusted her tactical gear, her gaze sweeping over the array of weapons and gadgets. "She was talking with Fury. Relax, Stark."

"And it should not take this much time," Tony said, a small cease in his eyebrows.

Before Natasha could respond, the Quinjet's hatch slid open, and Nora stepped inside. Her combat boots clanked against the metal floor, and her silver hair framed her face like a halo. Her smoky timbre cut through the tension. "Sorry guys, the talk with Fury took longer than intended," she said, her white boots clanking as she enters in the Quinjet. 

Tony's gaze lingered on Nora, her combat suit mirroring Natasha's, except it was white with blue accents. It was the first time he had seen her in that, and God, she looked more than hot. The stark contrast of the pristine white against her skin, the way the fabric clung to her curves, accentuating her strength and grace—it was a sight that both intrigued and unsettled him.

"Sit tight, sweetheart," Tony said, diverting his gaze and taking the controls. "We're about to fly." 

As the Quinjet lifted off, Tony stole another glance at Nora, his focus half on the controls, and half on her. Nora's silver hair framed her face, and her emerald eyes gently shine amongst the fluorescent lights. 

Steve leaned over. "Keep your focus, Tony. We've got a mission."

Tony tore his gaze away from Nora. "Right. Mission. But damn, Steve, have you ever seen anyone look that good in combat gear?"

"Focus, Tony. We'll save the admiration for later." Steve remarked rolling his eyes. 

"It's easy for you to say that" he murmured, reluctantly focusing on the controls in hands and not on the beauty behind him. 

After the Quinjet was safely soaring in the sky, with the destination set. Tony left the controls relying on his ever-present Ai, Jarvis, to fly it in autopilot. However, his gaze that was on the sky was on the person, in front who seemed to strum his heartstrings in the most melodious sound.  

"Quit staring," Nora said, with a sigh, feeling his burning stare on her. 

Tony's response came with a teasing lilt, a smirk playing on his lips. "There's nothing to stare at, sweetheart," he retorted, his tone light but his eyes not leaving hers.

She looked away a flush creeping up her neck involuntarily, by the intensity of his gaze "Then stop undressing me with your eyes," her voice firm, despite the thumping of her heart. 

"Yeah, I should really stop doing that," he said, his eyes now on the window, the outside terrain was covered with rugged mountains with a blanket of white covering every inch, a few tundra bushes pass by occasionally. The sky was clear with few clouds, offering a pristine view. "By my eyes, I mean," 

Nora turns toward him with a ridiculed expression, "You know the HYDRA base in Velkan, is currently snow-covered," she said, moving closer, her smile containing a hint of irritation, "because believe me, no one will find your body," 

With a glare at him, her steps fade away from his side, standing by Natasha's who was conversing with Clint, "Sometimes, I forget I am talking with a walking danger," Tony said to himself, with an amused smile on his lips. 

And God, do he love this walking danger, talking with her, he means, obviously. 

─── · 。ﾟ

"So, are we going to see your magic, hot stuff?" Tony voice was a mechanic tone behind his Armour's helmet, the gold and red shine in the few sunrays that manage to get on the ground. 

"Who knows, if the situation calls for it, maybe," Nora replied, her breath forming delicate clouds. "What is the plan, anyway? Do we sneak inside or blow-up stuff before even getting near?" 

"According to data, this base does not contain any information we need to retrieve, so..." Steve trailed off, his hand grasping the shield just a bit tight.

"We are gonna do some fun stuff," Tony completed. His repulsors flared to life, propelling him skyward. "I will take the lead, gladly," he said, his voice coming from the comm device, "A medium size base, not that much security, I will say we can grab a cheeseburger in New York, if we hurry," 

"Say for yourself, I will prefer steak," Natasha said, her slender fingers loading the guns. 

"Let's talk about the menu, after we come back, alright," Steve said, a smile playing in his lips.

Nora listened to their banter, amusement dancing in her eyes. It was her first time demolishing a base with the Avengers, and she'd expected a more somber atmosphere. But they seemed relaxed, as if danger was just another part of their routine. It was comforting, in a way—to know that maybe a mistake wouldn't cost her their suspicion or disappointment. 

"And here we go," Tony said, blasting off a missile that hit the base.