╟╫╫╫╫╢

"Here we are," Natasha said, opening the door to a small, cubical room. It sort of resembled what I imagined a fancy prison might look like.

A twin bed was tucked in one corner, and a desk and chair were set against the window. I noticed the faint hum of the engines that followed you from room to room.

"Cozy," I said, as I looked around. I noticed my duffle bag had been left on my bed.

"You get used to it," Natasha said, striding in and closing the door behind her. She slumped onto the bed, crossing one leg over the other. "Besides, hopefully we won't be up in this thing all that long."

"And what happens after all this?" I asked, sitting down in the chair and looking sideways at her. "I just go back to living a regular life? Or is S.H.I.E.L.D. one of those things where once you're in the only way out is dying?"

Natasha chuckled, shaking her head. "No, Alivia. You'll be more than welcome to leave. Although, if you want my advice, I think the best thing for you would be to stay on with S.H.I.E.L.D. We could provide you with more than adequate accommodations, and a safe place to train."

"All in return for sticking my neck out whenever the world happens to be in the midst of global catastrophe," I answered, "That doesn't seem like it's for me."

"Then... Why are you here?"

I opened my mouth to answer her, but paused. Why was I here? I'd answered Maria quickly, almost on impulse, entirely without thinking. On the surface, I told myself it was because I'd like to believe I'm a good person, and when tasked with saving the world, good people usually did it without complaint or hesitation.

But maybe it was more than that. I looked down at my palm, curling my fingers as a small flame kindled in my hand. Maybe I wanted to see what my powers could really do. Maybe, I was tired of holding back.

But all I said was, "I don't know," as I let the flame die out.

There was a brief silence as Natasha studied me from across the small room.

"When Loki said he knew you intimately," she finally spoke, "What did he mean by that?"

"He... He didn't mean anything. I was involved briefly with he and his brother when I was taken to Asgard. It was a long time ago."

"I didn't know they let humans into Asgard," Natasha eyed me, raising a brow.

"They don't, generally."

"So how did you end up living on earth?" Natasha said, "If you're an Asgardian?"

"My mother was from Asgard, she died when I was young. My dad, though, he was from here," I explained, leaning back and folding my hands together, "Somehow, I managed to make contact with Asgard the night I was attacked. Loki and Thor's father, Odin, tried to help get to the root of my powers. When he gave up, his fallback plan was to lock me away. Thor and Loki helped me get out."

Natasha nodded thoughtfully. "Loki doesn't seem like the generous type. Why would he help you?"

"Loki was a lot of things back when I knew him. Arrogant and annoying, for sure. But something's changed in him. Something's there that wasn't before," I responded, "I barely recognize him anymore."

"This is why I don't trust people too easy," Natasha said, sighing, "Whenever I do, they always seem to turn into someone I don't recognize."

I looked at her, swallowing. "That agent that Loki took... Barton? He was a friend, wasn't he?"

Natasha met my gaze and nodded softly.

"He pulled me off of a dark road, Alivia. Showed mercy where mercy wasn't due. I'm only here because of him."

I pressed my lips together into a thin line, "I'm sorry. I'll do what I can to help you get him back."

"Just watch your fire near his hair," Natasha chuckled, "He'd definitely kill me if you messed up his hair."

I smiled too. "So... Cap has super strength, Tony's got the suit... What's your thing?"

Natasha's smile widened, and she stood up, extending a hand to me.

"Well, why don't you come with me and find out, huh?"

╟╫╢

"Jesus H. Natasha," I groaned as Natasha easily flipped me onto my back and pinned me to the ground within seconds of starting, "You're a fucking badass!"

"Call me Nat," she smiled, offering me a hand, "You alright, Alivia?"

"Oh yeah," I lied, stretching, "I'm used to my friend Gale tossing me around when we spar." I paused for a moment, looking at her. I don't know what possessed me to say it but, "And, hey, you can call me Al."

"Sure, Al," her smile grew, as she dropped back into a fighting stance, "Here, I'll show you where you went wrong."

We sparred for the better part of an hour. No offence to Gale, but it felt as though I'd learned more in an hour with Nat than in a year with them. Then again, I ended up on my ass a hell of a lot more too.

I groaned, rolling my shoulder as she helped me to my feet yet again.

"While you're at it, I'm pretty useless with a gun, too," I said, lifting my hands into the position she'd shown me.

"Ooh, guns. My favourite hobby," Nat's hands raised to match mine.

Just before we could begin, the door to the gym creaked open. I looked up. My hands fell to my sides.

"I've gotta go for a bit," I looked apologetically at Nat, "I'm sorry."

"No sweat," she swatted her hand, "I can throw you on your ass anytime."

She winked and I rolled my eyes at her, making my way to Thor, who stood waiting for me at the door.

"You and I've got a lot to talk about, lady Byrd."

"Uh oh, we aren't on a first name basis anymore?" I asked as we stepped out of the room, "Did I do something to piss you off?"

"What? No, I thought I'd be polite," he stuttered, "I haven't seen you in over a year, after all."

"Well, usually when you see an old friend after a while, you hug them," I said, opening my arms and raising my brows expectantly.

He wrapped his arms around me. I was 5'4", so I completely disappeared into his massive biceps.

"It is good to see you again," Thor said, "I wish it had not been so long."

"How is your mother?" I asked, as we pulled apart.

"She is well. It is thanks to her that none from Asgard came looking for you," Thor said.

"But how come you never came, Thor?" I pressed, as we entered into a stairwell and ascended to the runway overhead. "You told me you would at least visit to deliver news."

"That's what I wanted to speak to you about," Thor answered gravely, and we began to walk the perimeter of the aircraft. "Not even a month into your departure, Asgard was attacked by a race called the Frost Giants. My friends, Loki, and I paid them a visit on their home planet. When my father discovered this, I was stripped of my powers and banished to earth."

"Why didn't you come to me, then?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

"I appeared in some distant land by the name of Mexico. The new one, not the old," Thor explained, "I met some humans, whom I asked to direct me to New York City. I planned to purchase a steed to come and find you, but couldn't find one."

"Alright, so how does that lead to Loki becoming an evil, power-hungry overlord? And that still doesn't explain why I never heard from you? I see you've got your powers back, so I assume you've been back to Asgard too?"

"At the same time that I was away, my father fell into a coma. Loki became acting king of Asgard."

"Clearly he didn't let the power get to his head."

"My brother visited me on earth, tricked me and told me my father had died. He sent the Destroyer, a protector of Asgard, to earth. My friends and I tried to get the people to safety. I won back my powers in the fight and returned to Asgard." Thor took a pause there, clasping his hands. I reached up a hand and squeezed his shoulder. He smiled weakly at me and continued.

"I learned, upon my return, that Loki had orchestrated everything. He'd struck a deal with the Frost Giants, and granted them safe passage into Asgard. He made play that he would let their leader, Laufey, kill the king. But, to paint himself the hero, he killed Laufey and 'saved' my father. He wanted to use this would-be assassination as an excuse to destroy the Frost Giants' planet. I stopped him at the Bifrost. I was forced to break the bridge to stop him obliterating Jötunheim. Loki... He almost fell, but held on by a single hand. I tried to pull him up but he..."

"He what..?" I asked slowly, afraid of the answer.

"He let go. I thought him dead."

"Why would he..." Why would he let go? I bit back the question. "Why would he do all that? Why did he became so desperate for power?"

"Sometime between Loki's 'death' and you leaving, he learned the truth of his parentage," Thor answered lowly.

"What do you mean?"

"Loki is not truly the son of Frigga and Odin," Thor said, his voice unsteady, "He was son of Laufey. A Frost Giant, taken from the planet years ago and raised as Odin's own."

I wanted to kick myself, because my first urge was to run to Loki and comfort him. He was a mass murderer, I tried to remind myself. He'd betrayed his own brother. And, in a roundabout way, had betrayed me too. I'd trusted him, and he'd come to my home to kill, destroy, and reap havoc.

And I surely wasn't about to let him succeed.

╟╫╫╫╫╢