When I woke up, I was on the floor. Everything ached. This was the thing I hated most. The aftermath. I pushed myself up into a sitting position. The clothes I wore yesterday had been torn to pieces. I groaned. Those suits were custom made. I'd have to have a talk with Director Fury. That was my last suit. I glanced around my room. The place was a mess. The drawers of my dresser were open and clothes were flung everywhere. The nightstand next to my bed was crushed into splinters. Even the bed frame was broken and bent. And that was made from metal! There were scorch marks on the walls and ash littered the floor. Unbidden I felt tears run down my face. I hated this. I hated turning into this…thing with no purpose other than to destroy.

The mirror in my room was cracked from my episode last night and it distorted my reflection, separating my face into different pieces. It was fitting, I thought. There were so many parts of me, so many different pieces that came together to make me who I was. I focused on my appearance though. My face was sickly pale with tear tracks painted on my cheeks, which always happened after a change. My golden brown eyes were bloodshot and dark bags hung underneath them. My blue black hair was oily and sweaty and hung lifelessly around my face. All in all I looked like a mess.

I sighed and looked through the mess of clothes to find something reasonable to wear in place of my uniform. I ended up wearing black skinny jeans with a dark grey t-shirt. I finished it with a pair of sneakers and throwing my hair up into a messy bun. It wasn't exactly appropriate wear for my job but they'd have to suck it up. I was not in the mood. My stomach growled. I needed food a.s.a.p. With one last look at the mess I'd be cleaning up later I left and headed for the kitchen.

Having eaten something small in the kitchen and not wanting to go back to my room, I wandered the empty halls. It was still late enough that everyone was still asleep, and I thanked whatever higher power there was for that. People avoided me when I didn't have an episode. They ran from the room if I entered after I had one. It made me feel like shit. I didn't choose to become like that. It was a culmination of a number of things.

I found myself heading for the lab, carrying a cup of tea with me. Nobody's ever there. It was my unofficial room and everybody knew it. So when I saw a light coming from the lab, I frowned. I was going to forget about it and go back to my room, but the lab was my space as petty as that sounded. I didn't have much that was mine. All my books were there anyways. So I stood in the doorway looking for whoever violated my little hide-away and even though his back was turned, I knew who it was. I cleared my throat.

"Good evening, well, good morning Dr. Banner," I greeted him shyly, still embarrassed by my actions on the deck. What they must think of me. I wouldn't be able to look at any of them for quite some time. Normally I was more composed than that, but seeing Stark- my father, I thought sarcastically- threw me off completely. Banner turned to look at me. I must've startled him. He stared at me thoughtfully for a moment.

"Hey," he said quietly. We looked at each other awkwardly for a moment.

"Are you, uh, I mean, do you mind if I come in? I'm not interrupting you am I?" I asked.

"No, no, of course not," he said bringing another chair over so I could sit next to him, which I thought was sweet. "So what brings you here at this time of night?" he asked turning back to the computer screen in front of him.

"I couldn't sleep and my room isn't exactly… habitable," I chuckled. "What are you doing here Dr. Banner?" I asked lightly. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye with a raised eyebrow before sliding the screen away from him and turning all his attention toward me. He looked exhausted if the bags under his eyes were any indication.

"Bruce," he said. I looked at him confused. "Call me Bruce," he clarified. "And I've been doing research for Fury all night. I didn't even realize what time it was. Sometimes I get a little carried away with my work." I nodded, and finding no words to say pulled up a screen of my own and pulled up some article on Senator Kelly's sudden change of heart when it came to the Mutant Registration Act. I think Bruce, I liked that name, went back to his work. I don't know how long we stayed in silence with him doing whatever research he was doing while I read up on mutant activity.

"You take a special interest in mutants?" Bruce asked me out of nowhere.

"Something like that," I kept my eyes on the screen.

"Ms. Mayfield," Bruce began but I cut him off.

"Call me Kathy or Kat Bruce. It's only fair," I smiled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him smile too.

"Kathy," he said slowly, testing the name out. "Do you mind if I check your hand? I used to be a doctor before S.H.I.E.L.D dragged me away from it." I stiffened. My hand? I had forgotten that he had noticed it was bleeding. I slowly held my hand out to him. His hand completely engulfed my own as he stared at the palm of my hand. His skin was rough and calloused and holy Jesus it was so warm. I couldn't help the blush that spread across my cheeks and down my neck, nor could I help the obviously less than steady breath that entered my lungs.

"Incredible," he breathed, blowing his warm breath across my palm. The hairs on the back of neck stood on end and I could feel the goose bumps on my arms. What was wrong with me? "There's no sign of any break in the skin. No scabbing, no scarring. How?" He looked up at me and must've seen the obvious discomfort in my face. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't pry. But…this is why you're interested in mutants right? Because you are one?"

"Someone's quick on the pick-up aren't you Captain Obvious?" I lashed out and snatched my hand away from him before he saw…anything else. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "I'm sorry Bruce." He didn't look hurt or upset. He just regarded me carefully. He shrugged.

"For what? I understand completely. I shouldn't have pried. It's obviously something you're uncomfortable discussing." And he did look like he understood. But he was a scientist. They always wanted to know more.

"I thought you were a physicist," I joked. "Did you get a degree in therapeutic studies too?" He cracked a semi-forced smile. A natural light started shining in through the window. Sunrises on this ship always left me feeling lighter. I smiled, unable to help it.

"Kathy," Bruce pulled my attention away from the window. "What do you know about me?" I raised an eyebrow. What was this about?

"Are you referring to the multiple degrees you have or the fact that you lose control and turn into a large green rage monster?" a new voice called from the door. It was Stark. As an automatic response I clenched my fists and I stiffened. Bruce glared at Stark but I noticed there wasn't much heat behind it.

"Thank you for that Tony," Bruce sighed. He looked at me curiously and then deflated in what I guess was disappointment. Oh no. I hoped he didn't think I was like this because I was afraid of him. That wasn't it. Of course I had already known about him being the Hulk. It just really didn't bother me. Breathe Kathy. In. 1,2,3,4,5. Out. 1,2,3,4,5. I felt a hand on my shoulder and almost lost it.

"Not a problem Jolly Green. Anyways Kit-Kat, I hope you don't mind the nickname, you left quite the impression yesterday." God how long ago was it that I wished I had a dad who gave me cute nicknames? "Mind telling us what that was about?" I stood up abruptly knocking his hand off my shoulder and turn to face him.

"You," I pointed at him, "You don't touch me and stay away from me. Don't give me nicknames, don't talk to me. Don't even look at me okay?" I could feel myself choke up with tears. God I was so weak and emotional. Stark and Bruce both looked at me with shocked expressions. So I did what I do best. I ran away.

I ran back to my room and slammed the door. I sat down against it and cried. I couldn't do this. How could I? He was my father. He had no idea who I was, didn't even recognize the last name. He was the reason for every bad thing in my life. I hated him so much.

I don't know how long I simply cried, or how long I just sat there afterwards trying to catch my breath before there was a knock on my door. I cleared my throat. "Who is it?" Dammit. My voice was definitely still shaky.

"Lady of the Fields, it is I Thor. I was sent by the one known as Fury to come collect you for a meeting." I chuckled. This guy was too much. Lady of the Fields? I stood up and opened the door. Thor took in my appearance. "You've been crying have you not?" He looked at me worriedly.

"I was," I nodded, "but I'm better now." I tried to give him a reassuring smile but couldn't gather up the energy to do so. I motioned down the hall. "Shall we?"

"In a moment, small woman. I believe you are in need of the cheering up as you mortals call it no?" He was completely serious.

"It's all right Thor. I'll be fine," I tried to convince him. He obviously didn't buy it. So he wasn't completely clueless. Good to know. Before I fully understood what was happening my feet had been lifted off the floor and I was being bear hugged by the god. He spun me around in circles. I couldn't help myself, I laughed. We both did. His laugh was deep and loud and I wouldn't be surprised if it was heard all the way down the hall.

"Come, now Kathy of the Fields of May! Let us go onward to the gathering of warriors!" He swung me onto his back and took off running down the hall. He definitely reminded me of an over excited child. We laughed and yelled all the way to the deck. People who had the misfortune of being in the same hallway as us had to throw themselves against the wall to avoid being pummeled.

All eyes were on us as we arrived on deck. Some agents held back laughter; Agent Hill merely raised an eyebrow at us. I made eye contact with Bruce and he smiled shyly at me. Steve and Natasha just looked at us like we were crazy, and Tony well, I didn't even bother looking at Tony.

"Enjoying yourself Agent?" Hill asked once my feet were once again planted on the floor. Thor ruffled my hair, effectively knocking my hair out of the bun it had been in. "And why aren't you wearing your uniform?"

I looked at her sheepishly. "I kinda, you know, wrecked it. And it was the last one I had."

Hill rubbed her temple, something she did when annoyed. "Very well Agent. We'll work on getting you a new set after this."

"What exactly am I here for again?" I asked. I still was unsure why Fury included me in this, whatever this was.

"We've captured the terrorist known as Loki. Fury is down there with him right now. As you are a part of this team I figured that it would be appropriate for you to be here and watch his interrogation." Hill looked like she wanted me to be anywhere but there. I just nodded and joined the group at the table, making sure I was far away from Stark but close to Thor. I barely knew him but he had grown on me. Kind of like an older brother. I tuned in to the conversation on the screen. And then all hell broke loose.