Making it to my apartment was a relief. I was panting, muttering things to myself as I replayed the events, "I escaped the Avengers." With shaky hands, I threw my backpack off my shoulder and near my bedside. Carefully, I slipped the large object awkwardly out from the back of my jacket. I held the object in my hands, observing it carefully, "And I stole Captain America's shield." Disbelieving laughter shuddered through my body. How had I outsmarted the Avengers? Nobody just does that. I looked down at my hands and clenched them. This power shouldn't belong to me. I had done it again. I did the one thing I swore I would never do, and oath upon my parents grave. I was a disgrace.

Suddenly this room felt cramped. I opened the window, quickly shutting it when I felt a breeze of my panic, frustration, confusion, and pain. Ever since I had expressed emotion all I could do was continue. It was confusing and frightening. I was going to have to be wary of everything now. Stay inside, wear disguises.

My life was now a hide and seek game.

Meanwhile...

Nick Fury was not delighted by the news. He was pacing, "Not only did your careless actions cause us to lose visual of the target, but now she's stolen your shield, too!"

Steve stood across the room from Nick, the team silently beside him. Steve frowned, "She's not a target…"

"No matter what she is, you lost her."

Steve lowered his eyes.

Nick sighed. "We've been looking into this for months now, Rogers. Our plans were very specific." Nick's gaze held one of frustration and disappointment.

"I couldn't just.. snatch her. I'm not like that." Steve held a calculated gaze with Fury's. "She's barely an adult."

Nick nodded grimly. "Yes, we know. But now all are efforts are thrown to waste. We'll have to inspect and do more deep searching. I do believe you all remember how difficult it was to find her to begin with."

Tony had stayed silent for the entire time, but when he opened his mouth, everyone paused. "Captain's right." Everyone was too stunned to butt in. "We'll need to be more gentle around her." When everyone gave him incredulous stares, he scoffed, "Oh, come on. If it had been Peter, this would be an entirely different situation."

Nobody moved.

After a time of deep thinking, Clint smiled faintly, "Can't believe I'm saying this, but Tony's right. You with me, Romanoff?" His hint of a smile twitching upward as she have him a solemn nod. Clint gave a chuckle to his feet, then glanced up at Nick. "There you go, Fury."

Nick's serious gaze fell upon the four Avengers. "Alright then, what's the plan?"

Meanwhile...

I combed my hands through my hair, breathing sharply. My nerves were going haywire, feeling jittery and claustrophobic. I was curled up, sitting on my bed, penting myself up in the small makeshift house. I wanted to go outside; the apartment felt crushing.

I stumbled upward, glancing out the window. It was raining now. Thunder zapped through the dark clouds and rain licked the windows. I didn't have control of the weather, really, just the winds. It was a bit peculiar, though. How had it gone from sunny to thunderstorm so quickly?

I threw a raincoat over my shoulders, deciding I'd stick to the roof. I strode up the stairs, and when I reached my destination, there was an immediate smell of rain and the calmness. I really did love thunderstorms. The blissful pitter-pattering of rain filled my ears. Subconsciously, I let a grin etch on my face as I watched car tires slosh in the mud and windshield wipers throw sprays on water. Droplets drizzled onto tree leaves, drawing wet lines and patterns. The dark sky illuminated in flashes of light and crackling of thunder.

I shrieked when a hand touched my shoulder, and I scrambled to stand, nearly falling off the building as a new blast of wind hit me. Steady, strong hands met my shoulders, "I did not mean to startle you." A deep rumble came from the man in front of me. His chest was thick with armor, metal lacing his red cape. He had long, blond hair that blew in the heavy wind. His deep blue eyes met mine. This was Thor, god of thunder.

I stumbled out of his grip and swatted his hands away. Another Avenger.

"My friends have told me you are.. troubled." His face contained genuine concern. Noticing your behavior, he added, "I am not here to collect you, as you might fear. I am only a man of message."

Something about the way his honest eyes sparkled and his calm features caused me to allow vulnerability in my posture. If he had wanted to snatch me, wouldn't he have done so? He had every advantage. I scuffed my feet against the stone floor, "And why should I believe you?"

Thor looked upon me sadly, "You do not have to. But know I am not my brother; I speak the truth when I tell you I shall not touch you unless you consent to such. I will only listen to what you tell me. But do know that I do not judge." Thor slowly sat down beside me, careful to give me room. He rested his hammer on his thigh.

For a minute, I sat there, stunned and bewildered as to what I should do. "I don't need a therapist." I muttered, scooting away from the Thundergod. The awkward silence was intense, and that's when I blurted, "I haven't cried since my parents died." My eyes widened a bit, as if I had done something unspeakable.

His blue eyes encouraged me sadly. Hesitantly, I added, "I'm always scared that if I do, people will get hurt. That kids will lose their parents to my careless actions. That I'll be seen as a monster in someone else's eyes."

Thor watched the clouds roll, "That is a fair view." He understood. "I remember when I was banished to Midgard. Careless. Reckless. Loki had, again, attempted my execution.. His greed and envy had bested him and he had killed innocent Midgardians without slight hesitation." He paused as a flicker of lightning struck. "I do not see my brother as a monster, but he has made many terrible mistakes." He turned to me. The wind was deadly calm.

Nervously, I watched the sky. "Did you ever forgive Loki?"

Thor let out a hefty laugh, "More than I should have." He spun his hammer, "But he is still my brother." He paused. "He was driven by his emotions blindly. Destruction was caused. But I do believe you are no god of mischief." He gave me an believing smile, "You are suffering. As the saying goes, misery loves guests."

I chuckled, but the motivating words had struck somewhere in my gut, a metaphorical flower blossoming in warmth. "Misery loves company." I played with the sleeve of my raincoat, enjoying the cool rain on my hands. "But emotion still causes destruction."

"It does." Thor nodded thoughtfully. "But it's up for you to choose if it goes to a good cause, or to waste. Nobody can control their emotions, young one, not even me." He gestured to the rolling clouds.

"Are you…" I pondered. "Are you hurting too? I mean.. is that why the storm-"

"Perhaps I'm not much different from you."

I froze, considering his meaningful answer. A light, tickling breeze met my face as I thought about his response seriously. Maybe there really was another way to cope.

We sat in silence for a long time. I watched the headlights of cars glitter against the dark rain, the people rush to taxis. It was peaceful, and Thor was respectful of it. As if on cue, Thor broke the lovely silence. "I must be off, fair maiden. You have earned my respects. I do hope to see you again." He smiled.

"Goodbye." I smiled warmly. "Do visit sometime."

"I will." He promised. He backed away, raising his hammer. With a jolting strike of lightning, he's gone.

I stood, also, a stabbing, heartbreaking pain in my chest; knowing that when Thor did ever visit again, I would not be there.