We did well last week with the PS, so here's a little extra chapter. Can we go much higher this week?
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After getting a detailed rundown of why the Coulson Team was even a thing and who was on it, Dante was starting to feel like maybe—just maybe—he had a little too much freedom.
Was this that legendary top-performer treatment?
The kind where you take a dump on your boss's head and he still claps like you just landed a triple-double?
Dante wasn't sure if Fury felt that way, but he did know one thing…
After all that chaos, the noisy lounge finally went quiet.
Could Hela have straight-up wrecked Ada and Harley?
Harley might be unpredictable, but Ada—Ada was the Agent when it came to reading people. No way she lacked that much awareness, right?
So, Dante crept up to the lounge door and peeked through the crack.
What he saw was Hela putting down his phone, arms wrapped around the two "older sisters" flanking her—slightly shorter than her, but still intimidating.
Ada and Harley's earlier hostility toward Hela? Completely gone.
From their eyes, Dante could read only one sentence:
"Death Goddess is awesome."
Seriously?
Dante figured it was time for him to step in and break this up. All this hugging and cuddling…
He was so freaking jealous.
Jealousy really does something to your cellular structure.
Cough, cough, cough! "Ada, re-confirm the landing site and perimeter situation. Harley… what the hell are you doing with that hand?! What kind of normal person just rests their hand on someone's chest?!"
"I saw that Hela-sis had a stain on her chest, so I was helping her rub it clean," Harley replied shamelessly, her tone unnervingly reminiscent of Dante's own teenage years.
Then she and Ada squeezed past him…
And that psychotic girl even pinched his butt on the way out—blatantly taking advantage of him!
"Hey! Don't you know I sell skills, not sex!? That's an upcharge!"
"My Pudding, you've been acting super innocent lately. Can't you learn a thing or two from Hela? At worst, I'll let you pinch me back after the mission."
Harley shot Dante a teasing look, then giggled and walked off.
"Like I'd believe that!" Dante grumbled, then shot a resentful glance at Hela. "This is your fault. How'd you get them on your side?"
"Women just love me."
Hela said it like she was reciting a fact about gravity—no brag, no emotion. Just cold, unshakable truth.
Which somehow made it even more devastating.
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The Airbus carrying the Star Team finally landed at the target site after a long flight.
And that's when Dante realized—this wasn't some frozen wasteland.
A whole scientific expedition unit was already stationed there, camped up and unloading the heavy-duty gear needed for excavation.
With great power comes great responsibility, but it doesn't mean you're supposed to do everything.
Like right now—digging out a frozen artifact. Sure, he could just Green Lantern-punch a hole through the ice, but letting the professionals handle it wasn't wrong either.
Of course, if Thanos or General Zod showed up mid-dig, Dante—as one of the FBI's top field agents—would absolutely be the first one diving in to throw hands.
Everyone had their job.
Still…
Dante wasn't exactly worried the digging would take too long. What did bug him was the idea that, after all this slow-cooking, something from the mission's fine print might crawl out and put on a whole off-Broadway performance.
"Fair enough," Dante admitted. "But since we're already here, and there's a faster way to dig him out, standing around watching them set up just feels like a waste of time."
"You've got a point. If it saves resources and time, why not?"
Naturally, Coulson was thrilled with Dante's approach.
After all, who did the digging didn't matter—his job was just coordination, not leadership.
Plus, he was dying to meet his childhood idol in person.
Coulson joining the FBI was partially thanks to Captain America's wartime legend. The man still kept a Captain America trading card in the pocket of his inner suit jacket.
"Alright then. Ada, Harley—tell the scientific team to halt setting up the heavy equipment. Have them focus on perimeter security instead."
After giving the order, Dante turned to Coulson. "Let's go. I'm guessing you want to be there when the most iconic Superhero in the Bureau's history sees daylight again."
"Wait, I can go down with you?"
Coulson had assumed Dante would be using his powers solo, and he'd just wait up here for the big reveal.
He didn't think Dante's power included carpooling.
"What are you talking about? Of course I can bring someone. If I couldn't carry you, how would I bring that frozen popsicle back up?"
With that, Dante led Coulson off the Airbus, with Hela and Loki following behind.
And as soon as they got off—
Every head turned.
Not because of their high stats or intense aura—but because…
They were way underdressed.
Loki, at least, was in a dark green suit.
Hela? Hela had bare shoulders.
Good thing they were the Goddess of Death and the God of Mischief. Normal people would've frozen solid five minutes ago.
Cough cough cough, Dante cleared his throat. "You two don't think those outfits are a bit too flashy for this location?"
Sure, the FBI had more superpowered personnel than ever now, but this excavation squad had folks on loan from other departments too.
Let's not make this too extra.
Loki—Earth's most environment-adapted Asgardian—reacted immediately. Emerald magic surged from him in a soft wave that rippled through the outer circle of spectators.
When it faded, both he and Hela were dressed in fur-lined cloaks straight out of a fantasy novel.
"They'll forget we ever got off the plane like this—in ten seconds."
"Look at that," Dante muttered. "The mage finally remembered he can use magic to solve problems."
(To be continued.)
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