98- Avengers (4)

Mason boarded the Quinjet with Steve and Romanoff, as it was capable of going slightly over Mach 2, so it was faster than Mason moving by himself. Not to mention they were about five kilometers in the air.

The fall itself was not a problem, but reaching the ground would take some time, and he had no idea where they were, nor where Stuttgart was, so even if he had been faster than the Quinjet, Mason would have taken it.

As the aircraft moved at twice the speed of sound, Mason looked at Steve, dressed in his old Captain America costume, the very same one Mason had met him in and that the Captain had worn during World War II.Sensing Mason’s judgmental glance, Steve wanted to say something about Mason’s own attire, and after a second said, "At least my costume is bulletproof. They also said some old-fashioned might be just what people need."

Mason sighed and patted Steve’s shoulder. "As your teacher, I think you should follow your heart and be your own person. As a man of the 21st century with some taste, you look like a boy scout."

Mason left him to ruminate in the back as he joined Romanoff at the front, plopping down in the copilot seat as he asked, "So, Ms. Black Widow, I must applaud your skills. I would have definitely remembered a woman like you, had I seen her. But if not for your Chi signature, I’d have said this was our first time meeting."

She gave him a side eye and said, "If you are trying to compliment my looks, I was built and shaped by men from my very roots, turned into something that barely qualifies as human. Something far enough that I cannot train this cultivation of yours."

That should have turned the conversation awkward, but Mason peered at her with interest instead, humming, "Well, maybe not quite as bad as you think. The main problem appears to be lifespan… I usually know better than to ask a woman her age, but you are a little older than you look, aren’t you?"

"You could say that. But don’t bother with…" she gestured between them vaguely, "this. I’ve long come to terms with it. Focus on the mission, Mason."

Mason tilted his body to force himself into her field of vision, staring into her eyes with a grin. "Mason. We’re not quite close enough to be on a first-name basis, Natasha, but I’ve noticed this was something people did anyway. Is it in my psych eval? A way to make me lower my guard? Or something else?"

Natasha replied dryly, "You want people to like you, even if you won’t admit it. Probably not even to yourself. It’s not why you do what you do, fortunately, but it remains true. Going on a first-name basis gives the impression that we got closer."

She turned her head to look at him in the eyes, adding with a little smile, "But for me? I actually like you."

Mason rolled his eyes, slamming into his seat as he complained, "You spies are as frustrating to deal with as telepaths, I never quite know what’s on your mind, or if you’re being genuine or not."

"Think how people feel when they stand next to someone capable of crushing their hearts in a blink."

Mason had to admit she had a point, so he said nothing to that, asking instead, "Speaking of which, I’m sure you saw what happened to that town in New Mexico. Puente Antiguo, I believe it used to be called, before it was wiped off the map. We’re about to attack the brother of the one who did that, a self-proclaimed god. Feeling okay?"

A small source note: this copy lacks permission from the author, whose publishing page carries the chapter and supports their work.

She snorted softly, "Me? I’m not leaving the Quinjet. You’re the one who’s going to fight him, so I should ask you that question."

"Oh, I’ll be fine. Thor is not just the God of Thunder, he is also the God of Strength in his pantheon, so he is presumably the strongest one. Loki pertains more to trickery, so I don’t expect him to be that great a fighter, or to be very strong either. Actually, I’m more worried about what got him to show himself so… easily."

Natasha gave a slight head tilt. "Well, we’re about to find out."

The Quinjet slowed, and Mason had to hold onto the frame of the seat as about ten gs of force slammed into him from the sudden deceleration.

They had arrived above a plaza overlooking what looked to be a large museum. A large crowd of civilians was kneeling on the ground, prostrating before what could only be Loki. Even from up in the sky, Mason could recognize him with that ostentatious golden and green armor, or that staff.

A staff that might very possibly hold the Mind Stone.

Natasha gave the two a cheery, "Good luck, boys," as the two leaped down from the back of the Quinjet.

Steve landed just in time to block an energy blast from Loki, even redirecting it straight into Loki’s face with his legendary Vibranium shield.

The crowd of Germans all looked up at Steve in shock, as he calmly stepped towards Loki, jabbing, "You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."

Loki quickly got back up, seemingly uninjured from the blast as he cracked his neck, groaning, "Ah, the soldier. The man out of time."

He looked up, and so did everyone else, to see Mason slowly descending from the sky, his robes billowing in the absurdly low gravity. His face was severe, and Loki looked a little more guarded as he added, "And you, the defier."

Mason gently landed on the ground, and the Quinjet hovered above, its weapons bared at Loki as Natasha called over the PA, "Loki, drop the weapon and stand down."

Mason, who had his Divine Intent locked onto Loki, felt his intent to fire a bolt of energy at Natasha and thus moved instantly.

The ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of his move, his body blurring from the ordinary man’s perspective as he arrived in front of Loki before he could attack.

Loki possessed a much better reaction time than an ordinary man and redirected his staff towards Mason, but Steve was faster, throwing his shield at Loki.

It arrived a fraction of a second faster, forcing Loki to block, and as the shield bounced back, Mason was in front of the so-called god.

Mason started with a probing punch, placing about 70% of his strength into it and cladding it in Sunfire. It was by no means weak, but it offered Mason flexibility. Placing 100% power into an attack meant becoming trapped by one’s own momentum, forcing one to see an attack to the end.

And considering he was facing Loki, the God of Trickery, Mason was cautious.

And yet, as Mason watched out for any tricks, for a spell, an illusion, a counterattack, Loki did none of those things, blocking his punch with his staff instead, a mocking smile on his face.

The smile was turned upside down when Mason’s fist landed on the staff. Loki’s body was sent skidding back, his feet creating two deep grooves into the ground. Mason did not let up either, following Loki closely as he delivered blow after blow.

Mason appeared to hold the absolute upper hand, but he was feeling cautious inside. Loki had become trapped on the defensive now, and any attempt to attack would only mean giving Mason an opening, but Loki should have been skilled enough not to get himself in this situation.And when dealing with the God of Trickery, nothing was ever as it seemed. And here, even if Loki wanted to be captured like in the MCU, surely he would avoid a beating if he could, right?

But Loki did nothing to flip the situation, and a moment later Steve slammed his shield into Loki’s side, forcefully creating an opening for Mason.

Mason rapidly punched Loki’s chest five times, utterly breaking his defence, before slamming a full-power punch into the Asgardian prince’s face.

Resilient as he might be, Loki was driven into the ground, utterly shattering it as Loki whizzed, struggling to breathe. He was barely holding onto his scepter anymore.

It was precisely at this moment that a pink light flashed beside them.