The white blanket of snow was now covered with splatters of blood, as the team of heroes did their work. Natasha and Nora move forward, guns in their hands, shooting the HYDRA agents that come in their way. 

With a nod, both of them split into different paths, with Natasha covering the path they come from and Nora moving forward. 

A sound of wind cutting alerted Nora, as she ducked the incoming knife, the sudden motion sending the gun slipping from her hand. Executing a backflip, she ducked away from another bullet that almost hit her, almost. The agent before her sneered, brandishing a knife. Nora's grip tightened on the dagger she'd retrieved from her boot.

"Oh, you've chosen the wrong target, dear," she taunted, her eyes narrowing. But her boots halted, and her posture shifted. Five more agents surrounded her. 

Nora's lips curved into a wry smile. "Well, this complicates things."

Tony's voice crackled over the comm. "Sweetheart, you alright, or do I need to play the role of knight in shining suit?"

"Oh, I'll manage, Tony," Nora replied. "You focus on blowing things up, 'kay?"

The first agent lunged, blade aimed at her throat. Nora's reflexes kicked in—she spun, her leg connecting with the agent's hand in a roundhouse kick. The knife clattered onto the snow. Nora countered, driving her dagger into the agent's abdomen and heart. Blood stained the pristine white.

The second agent fell, and Nora leaped, using her legs to immobilize the third. She hurled him aside, deflecting blows from the remaining two. Her sleek daggers danced through the air, blood spraying as she severed their necks. Knees buckling, they collapsed.

Her hand brushed away the droplet of blood that dropped on her face, "Well, that was easy," walking forward, she grabs her gun which had turned quite cold due to the snow, her steps leave footprints as she walk forward. 

"The west side is cleared," Steve voice come over the comm, a little breathless due to the cold and as he looked at the dead bodies of the agents, his shield stained with blood. Clint stood beside him surveying the scene. 

"So, is the east," Natasha said, shooting the last one of the remaining agents in front of her. 

Nora looked around the base, the gun in her hand it's wall made of solid bricks that seemed to sustain years of cold, before pressing the device in her ear, "All things look pretty clear here too," 

"Then, it's time for blowing this ragged structure up," Tony said, his eyes focused on the mountain cliff, just above the base, on which snow was accumulated, perfect to demolish it in one shot, holding his armored hand in front, he aimed at the cliff, the gauntlet glowing white bright. 

Jarvis voice however ringed in his ear, "Mr. Stark, this does not seem to be a good idea-" the AI started, but Tony being Tony, not even let him finish blast his laser on the cliff. 

"-as Ms. Reyes is just below it." Jarvis finished, causing Tony to freeze midair.

"Jarvis, you snitch, why won't you tell me that before," Tony voice was filled with irritation and concern as he boosts off toward the base. The cliff, however, had started to crack and fall on the base by the amount of power exerted on it, and within seconds the whole base that once stand tall and camouflaged in the snow, was turned into nothing but ruble. 

"Stark, what have you done?" Natasha spoke over the comm, her eyes trailed on the figure of Iron man suit, she could see that was near the rubble. 

"Hold on, why is not Nora speaking over the comm?" Steve asked, "Tony," he warningly added, knowing that the genius's panicked voice some moments ago, meant something definitely went wrong. 

Tony's armored form hovered above the rubble, his thermal scanner sweeping frantically. The familiar heat signature—the one he desperately sought—eluded him. His heartbeat raced, anxiety clawing at his chest. It was a sensation he knew too well, akin to the day he lost his parents—the gut-wrenching fear of losing someone irreplaceable.

"Will you all just come here and help, instead of blaming?" Tony quipped over the comm, frustration lacing his voice. His eyes darted from one debris pile to another, seeking any sign of life. Please, not her.

Natasha's voice cut through the chaos. "Tony, what the hell have you done?"

Steve's concern echoed hers. "It better not be what I think it is."

But their words blurred into a cacophony. Tony's mind raced, memories of Nora—guarded, empathetic Nora—flashing before him. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not like this.

"Guys, why are you all panicking? Who died?" Nora's calm smoky tone contrasted sharply with the chaos around them.

"Oh lord, where are you? Are you alright? Tell me you were out of here, why aren't you saying-" Tony's hurried voice was interrupted by the soft chuckle that resonated from Nora.

"Alright, Tony relax, Yes, I am alright, second, look at your back," And then, he saw her. Nora's white combat suit dusted with debris. Tony's helmet retracted, revealing his anxious expression. He moved toward her, ready to pull her into a tight hug, but something stopped him.

Nora was levitating. Her arms were spread wide, and she hovered above the ground. Tony blinked, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.

"Air manipulation," Nora said, her eyes meeting his. "I'm not that easy to kill, you know?"

He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, "You're full of surprises, Nora."

She smirked, raising an eyebrow, "And you're full of reckless decisions, Tony."

"Thank god, you are alright," Steve voice cut through the conversation, as Nora eyes divert toward the ground where the base was in rubble, there standing was Steve and Natasha, their eyes containing both relief seeing her well, and surprise seeing her, well, basically flying.

─── · 。ﾟ

"You know you scared the crap out of me, out there," Tony whispered, as they entered the quinjet. 

Nora's smile was small but genuine. She bumped his shoulder playfully. "I'm alright, Tony. Don't worry. I still have a lot to do." 

And as he saw her walk away to Natasha, he knew he'd found someone who made his heart race for reasons beyond fear or danger. And in that moment, Tony Stark—the genius, the playboy, the man in the iron suit—realized that he was falling from something far more treacherous than sky.