Chapter 1

I stood, arms crossed, contemplating the choice laid in front of me. It was a very complicated situation. Should I choose the rich, luxurious taste of chocolate OR the fruity, scintillating taste of strawberry? This was not a decision to be made lightly and the anxiety was getting to me. I closed my eyes tightly, jumbled the ice cream bars around in my hands and picked whatever ended up in my left; strawberry.

Delish! I opened the wrapper and stuck the ice cream bar into my mouth.

The frozen treat was delicious but…its sweetness could not remove the bitter taste lingering in my mouth. I scowled as I glanced around the empty mess hall. They all left me high and dry when the emergency call came in from Fury; something about Thor's shady brother wreaking havoc in midtown.

It wasn't fair! Yeah sure maybe I've only been part of the Avengers initiative for a few weeks, but I'm not a child! The only one around here older than me is Thor and he was the whole reason I sought out the Avengers in the first place. I wasn't sure if I really was immortal, but time didn't seem to have matured me much. I still look fresh out of college and "was no more the wiser" or at least that's what everyone told me. Whatever.

I wandered around the 12th floor of the newly constructed S.H.I.E.L.D. main headquarters located in Manhattan. Fury ordered the building to be built shortly after assembling the Avengers so we would be situated close to where action usually broke out. Why does the city always attract the weirdos?

The heels of my boots clanged lightly on the shiny metallic floor. I even went through all the trouble of suiting up, just in case. As I rounded the corner, a cacophony emerged from the private research lab shared by both Tony and Bruce.

What jerks! Not even telling me they were back!

I bit off a huge chunk of ice cream as I stormed inside, confident that only Tony would be making this much of a racket!

"You know Tony you coul half tol me you were back!" I yelled; my mouth still full of ice cream as I burst into the lab. I also made sure I had the best "I hate you all" face on that I could muster.

And that's when my eyes locked with his.

Black hair…green eyes…devilish smile…NOT Tony…

Suddenly this was all making sense! I spat out my ice cream like a crazed cartoon character.

"Loki!" I gasped as I stood flabbergasted in the doorway.

"My, my, that was awfully attractive…and incredibly deductive." The slender man's eyes flickered; his voice dripped with sarcasm.

My eyes grew wide as I noticed what he was holding. Loki followed my gaze to the glowing blue staff clutched in his right hand.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I thought retrieving it would require more…cunning. I must admit I'm a bit disappointed." He paused thoughtfully. Then he turned his attention back to me, "Would you like to see what it does?"

Judging by the notorious rumors I had heard about him and the grin of Cheshire cat-like proportions plastered on his smug face, I firmly decided, No, I don't want to see what it does. Despite desperately wanting to turn and run, I held fast. It was time to either put up or shut up and I wasn't fond of the latter. I adjusted my feet, slowly, giving myself a good, solid stance. Loki tilted his head slightly as he gingerly stepped in my direction.

This isn't going to end well for one of us…