I understood that I offered to assist Dr. Banner earlier on, but I wasn't too thrilled by the idea of being in the same room as a man who could turn into a green giant at any moment.

And from what I could read of Dr. Banner, he wasn't too thrilled with the set up either.

However, we were able to adjust to one another's presence.

Banner and I took time in familiarizing ourselves with the equipment, setting workstations and assigning computers to complete certain tasks. We got along well, sharing the same ideas and understanding each other's level of intelligence. We even had the same familiarities with the equipment.

There were many voids filled with silence, as we avoided the topic of conversation unless it was absolutely necessary. Very few times it was.

I would sometimes stop and stare at the doctor while his back was turned, studying his movements and habits. He definitely was a tense person, and constantly nervous. I supposed he was just as afraid of the beast as we were. He noticeably avoided me at times, which I took no offense in. But I also recognized the fact he was calmer with only one other individual in the room.

All in all, we developed a mutual understanding of one another, meeting the other's needs and living up to respect each other.

Nonetheless, I desired more conversation than what was exchanged, which was little to none.

Despite all the toys in the lab that had been on my Christmas list since I was nine, my mind was still buzzing with all this new information, trying to recall every piece of knowledge of Astrophysiology, gamma radiation readings by spectrometers, and, at the same time, focus on tracking down this cube possessing energy capable of destruction on a global scale - all while still trying to process the events of the last twenty-four hours.

There I was, a teenager that just barely broke through the brink of adulthood, with no experience out in the field, not sure what to expect or how to prepare for the unexpected, a title placed on her forehead, knowing she has to be the reason for the capture of a powerful villain...

It basically defined overwhelming.

But above all, none of these reasons filled me with more concern than the thought of my mentor trapped under a spell, unwilling serving this evil entity, doing his every deed at mere request. Hawkeye was the only one I ever truly felt a family relation too. Sure I had my Uncle Stark, but he was never much of an uncle or a father to me, though he loved me like a daughter, there was no connection.

I couldn't imagine losing Hawkeye, not after all the years we had been through together. It was always his pep talks that kept me going. Romanoff was strict and merciless in her training session, but Hawkeye kept it calm and relaxing. It was a decent balance.

Before he left, just after finishing our last training session just days ago, when Stark interrupted my day off, he gave me something to help me remember I wasn't alone, no matter how lonely I felt. It was a pendant I wore around my neck, a reminder of someone very special who always watching over me. But I dared not show anyone. I kept it tucked under my shirt out of sight and not in the way.

I placed a hand over its intended position, praying Hawkeye to be brought back safely.

It was that moment when I made a promise to myself: when I find Loki, I would make him pay for what he did to my mentor. It's funny, looking back on it my young mind was not fully aware of the situation at hand. It wasn't until later did I truly understand what it meant to be an Agent, and the reality these villains brought.

Dr. Banner and I worked well into the night, mostly keeping to ourselves, but managed to pass around a few words every once in a while.

"So," I started out softly, "they found you in India?"

Banner glanced, but kept his gaze at a constant focus on his work. "Yeah. I don't know how they do it."

"That's a pretty, um... strange place to seek out peace and quiet," I commented casually.

He shrugged. "I'm doing good for people who need it. That settles some comfort in me."

Incredible, I thought. If only there were more people like him in the world, minus the Hulk.

It truly amazed me how a man with such a terrifying side to him could possess such a soft heart for people in dire need of doctors and medical attention, despite his unpredictable side.

"That's great. It really is."

I checked my phone to acquire the time, finding we had been hard at work for hours.

"Oh my gosh, we've been at it for nearly the whole day. You must be exhausted Dr."

He shook his head. "Not really. I'm alright."

How the time flew. But that was nothing new for me. Back at Stark Tower, a day without a schedule was a day in the lab, and they always seemed to fly.

It was a good time as any for a stretch. "Well, I'm going to the bridge for a break and to find a snack machine around here. Do you want anything?"

"I'm fine, but thanks."

I nodded in acknowledgement as I left the lab and headed back the same way I had come towards the bridge. Everyone was still hard at work, just as I had left them. Eyes were glued to the computer screens, orders being given left and right, nearly more than half of the agents had a cup of coffee at their station. That's when I confirmed my theory about SHIELD agents never sleeping, especially on a mission.

Off to the side were Steve and Coulson, side by side, of course. I walked over to join them, catching them in the middle of a conversation.

"I mean, if it's not too much trouble," Coulson said.

Steve shook his head. "No, no. It's fine."

Coulson smiled, showing a little too much happiness at that simple response. "It's a vintage set."

That's when my eyes rolled to the back of my head. Not the trading cards...

"It took me a couple of years to collect them all." The more he rambled, the more I took notice of Steve's uncomfortable posture and expression. Could I blame him? "Near mint, slight foxing around the edges, but..."

"We got a hit," an agent suddenly announced, breaking the void. My attention immediately aimed its way at the main computer system in which Fury stood before. "Seventy-nine percent match. Weight, crossmatch, seventy-nine percent."

Coulson stepped forward in action. "Location?"

"Stuttgart, Germany. 28, Konigstrasse. He's not exactly hiding."

I stared at the image of the character shivering at the sight of him. Although it was only an image, he seemed real enough to be present. But he was definitely the one I saw in the files, only this time, he dressed in a more modern fashion.

"Is that him?" I asked.

"Affirmative."

Fury whirled around. "Steve, Stark, you're up."

Steve glanced me an irritated expression before hurrying off to gather his suit and gadgets.

About to follow, Fury called me back to grant me further instruction. "Stark, hold up. You're going undercover."

"Undercover?" I questioned. "As in?"

"Loki is at a gala in a museum. No doubt he'll be sneaking in to cause trouble, and not in a good way."

I nodded, following well. "Of course."

"I need you there to stop him, or to keep the public safe should he try anything."

A smile crept towards my lips, tugging at its corners. "In other words, I get to crash a party."

"Better get to it."

I rubbed my hands together, smiling boldly as I skipped off to gather my own gear. Luckily, I was prepared for any occasion.

"Oh boy. I haven't crashed a party in months. This is gonna be fun."