Sorry for the little delay on this one! Life got in the way for a week, but I wrote this all in a day and I've come back with the longest chapter yet.

There were some scenes in this one that I think I rewrote 30 times before I was finally kind of happy with them. But I really like how everything turned out in the end, so enjoy and leave a review if you're feeling it! (:

The lunchroom had been enough interaction with others for the day. Ciara escorted Loki back to his room after their rooftop conversation, and then retired to her own to shower. It was minutes later that she was asleep on her bed, and the day disappeared.

11:44

When Ciara eventually woke, she was disoriented. The clock was even more disorienting.

Holy fuck. I just slept through the whole day.

She began to get dressed, her fingertips brushing over the amputation point as she leisurely moved. The skin was fully healed, with just a light pink sheen from the scar that had formed over to show for what had happened. Her adjustment to the prosthetic had happened so organically, it was just built into her routine. It was so low maintenance that it was surreal.

But then again, her grasp on and the gap between what was real or not had become more of a blurred line than a harsh border as of recent.

She would, however, have to seek out Tony somehow at some point to inquire about merging the remote that controlled the leg with her watch.

The largest problem - and it could barely be considered on - she had encountered so far was dressing over the leg, and that was miniscule compared to the hell she had planned on going through. The news of the serum had been a shock to the system to say the least, but the benefits she was reaping were unlike anything she had ever felt.

Meeting tomorrow 9:00

Ciara lifted her phone from the desk and read the message a couple times. Natasha had sent it.

Bring Loki.

She stared at the screen, then sent back:

Who else will be there?

Natasha was quick to reply. Everyone.

There must have been a development in the Asgardian situation. She couldn't even fathom the reason for Loki's invitation other than if circumstances were dire.

Same room as last time? She said.

Yup.

Ciara tossed her phone back on the bed and looked in the mirror. The reflection that looked back at her was so different from what she had been accustomed to, but it grew more familiar to her by the day.

The introduction of the serum had changed her body. Her muscles were more angular, defined. Feminine curves were no longer as present - that is, they essentially weren't - and her eyes had this sharpness to them that made the steel blue of them more shocking than ever.

Her mind remained the same, but the enhanced senses allowed her to take in and process information faster and more efficiently. She didn't think any clearer, per se, but it felt like she took in and had more data to work with.

Ciara finished getting dressed and glanced at her watch, 12:06. A solid nine hours to kill before the meeting, assuming she wouldn't be getting any more sleep.

She headed out of her room, slipping her phone in the pocket of her pants. The hallway was empty when she scanned her tag to unlock and knock on his door. There was some shuffling from inside, footsteps, and then he was standing in front of her.

Door open. Her watch beeped at her.

Loki had not changed from what he had been wearing that morning, and his oddly normal appearance was something she would have to grow accustomed to.

"Hey." She said.

Loki's eyebrows raised, and he gestured for her to come inside.

Ciara gathered herself. "No, we're going somewhere."

"At this hour?"

"Not a fan of surprises?" Ciara said.

Loki smirked and crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Depends what kind of surprise it is."

Ciara tilted her head and crossed her arms as well. "Have I ever led you wrong before?"

"Not intentionally."

"You're more than welcome to stay in your room."

"As long as the company is pleasant."

"Company is leaving." She snorted and looked at him incessantly. "Let's go."

To Loki, the very sight of her was enough of a pleasant surprise. The room was dull, boring, and in it he was left alone with nothing but his thoughts. And his thoughts were toxic. They bounced inside of his skull and reverberated with feelings of trepidation.

That this person before him would suddenly disappear, that he would alienate her or wrong her in some shape or form and he would be alone again.

That the Asgardians sent to kill him would be a force SHIELD was incapable of stopping (this thought was combated by the excitement he felt at the prospect of facing them, as he yearned for battle).

Ciara rescued him from his own mind. Around her he felt at ease and it was a feeling that was unfamiliar to him, but more and more he felt himself seeking out.

"After you." He said, stepping out next to her and shutting the door behind him.

As they entered the elevator Ciara hit another unmarked button.

She smelled clean. Her hair was not tied up. It was a bit of a mess, and it fell along her shoulders and back in silver tresses. Loki felt his desire to reach out and touch her grow.

You are so enticing. He thought to himself.

They stepped off onto a floor that opened up into a massive room not unlike the lobby of the building. Except this one was zoned into different areas. One housed what appeared to be a shooting range, another a variety of exercise equipment. A chemical smell wafted through the air and Loki couldn't figure out the source of it.

"Am I to know what I'm looking at?" He said.

Ciara grinned and began walking towards the shooting range. She glanced back over her shoulder and replied. "Training hall."

No others occupied the room at that hour, so there was no one to pay mind to Ciara and Loki as they approached the range.

A cage stood a couple feet from them, and she used her tag to release the lock on it and reveal the firearms within, all of which were some variety of handgun. She selected one, as well as a magazine, and then shut the cage. The lock reengaged.

"This is your surprise?" Loki asked, but he could not keep a smirk from tugging on the corners of his lips.

"Yes." She said, sliding the magazine in and watching him intently, no longer grinning.

"It's a good surprise." He mused.

Ciara set the gun down on the counter. "Have you ever shot a gun before?"

"I can't say I have." He stepped up to the counter and turned his head to shoot her a smile. "Not my preferred weapon." A golden glow radiated from his hand, and in its place a dagger appeared. "Ladies first."

Ciara snorted and turned to the range, lifting the handgun taking a moment to breathe before she fired off three subsequent rounds at one of the targets. Each landed in close proximity to the bullseye, just shy a couple of millimetres on each shot.

Loki didn't hesitate to go next, releasing the dagger in one fluid movement. The weapon was engulfed in another glimmer of gold, and it split into three smaller version of itself, each of which nailed the bullseyes of the targets. Before Ciara could react, he repeated the process, the blades once again hitting their marks.

Ciara did not shift her focus from the range. She raised the handgun and let loose several rounds at the center target, many of which skimmed the handles of the knives. The clicking of an empty clip followed her final shot.

"Fuck." She muttered, then turned to him. "You're cheating."

Loki frowned, but a laugh escaped his lips and he held up his hands as if claiming innocence. "How am I cheating?"

"Magic." She said.

Loki dropped his hands and chuckled. "It does not take magic to be skillful."

Ciara placed the handgun back down and shrugged. "Teach me then."

"Teach you?"

She nodded. "Teach me."

Loki's eyes narrowed. He lifted his hand palm face up, and another knife materialized. "Take it."

Ciara faltered, uncertain, before she grasped the handle. The weapon was incredibly lightweight, and the handle felt as though it melded perfectly to her hand as she held it.

"Look at your target." He said.

Ciara faced the range, and Loki stepped up behind her.

"Visualize what you want to do." He spoke softly, and she flinched as she felt his hands rest on her shoulders. "Picture what you want to do. What is it that you want to hit?"

"The target." She said.

Loki smirked and lowered his head, so he was just inches from her ear. "No, your target."

Inhaling deeply, Ciara tightened her grip on the hilt. She felt his hands leave her shoulders as he took a couple of steps back.

In her mind, the image of the center target had changed. In its place she envisioned a faceless figure, the one that she had imagined since her mission not long ago. The one who Clint had taken out just seconds too late. The person who had fired the bullet that would take her leg and set in motion events that could never be undone.

Ciara released the dagger the same way Loki had. It did not split, nor did it hit the bullseye. It landed just below where his had. Frustrated, she turned to look at him.

"Not bad." He said, stepping closer to her. "It'll come. With time."

"And lots of practice." She said, exhaling sharply through her nose.

The sound of footsteps approaching them from the elevator drew their gazes away from one another. They belonged to Natasha and Clint, both dressed in their respective uniforms. Ciara could see the bow peeking out from over Clint's shoulder.

"Change of plans." Clint regarded the two of them carefully. Their close proximity, the way Loki towered over, blocked her from his view. "Meeting is happening now."

Ciara took a step to her side, away from Loki. "What's going on?" She said.

"Get your gear from Armour and meet at Command in twenty." Clint said, and the two agents turned to leave.

Ciara's gaze darted to Loki, and he spoke. "Meeting?"

"Meeting." She began striding to the elevator. "I'll explain on the way."

They stood in the elevator in silence.

Loki and Ciara had gone right to Armour to get her outfitted. What she wore resembled a black SWAT uniform, but with less bulk to it, and no headgear. It fit her semi-tightly, and the pant leg traveled beneath the prosthetic to wrap around the residual limb. She had her hair drawn back in a braid and a firearm strapped to her thigh. Her expression had not lost its stoicism since they left the training hall.

Loki had exchanged his earthly appearance for a lesser version of his black armour, but he still looked undoubtedly regal. When Ciara had told him of the meeting she was informed of earlier in the day, and of the invitation that had been extended to him, he had felt a shift. SHIELD was genuine in regards to their intentions of making use of him, and there he was. About to be made use of.

A pair of agents were waiting for them when the doors opened.

"With us, please." One of them said.

They followed them through a doorway, into a separate room - one that resembled Command on the helicarrier Ciara had once been on - and were greeted by the sight of the entire team. The room was almost empty except for them.

Nearly the whole team surrounded a table, and Fury immediately caught sight of them as they approached.

Ciara scanned the faces present. Clint, Natasha, Steve, Fury, Thor. No Bruce, Hill or Tony.

Fury tipped his head towards Steve. "Brief them."

The captain paused as he looked them over before he talked. "An hour ago one of our recon teams reported Asgardian movement a couple of blocks from here. They've missed two check-ins since." He took a deep breath, and his jaw clenched. "We're locking down the base."

"We're letting them come to us?" Ciara said.

"No, that's why we're here." Natasha replied. "We are going to find them first."

Ciara nodded. "Where are Stark and Banner?"

"They won't be here until tomorrow morning." Steve answered.

"You'll be in teams of two. Thor and Rogers. Barton and Romanoff. Volkov and Loki." Fury said, interjecting. "Volkov and Loki will be going to the last known location of the Asgardians. Set up somewhere safe and wait for further instructions." He watched Loki with a narrowed eye as he spoke, his voice stern. "Barton and Romanoff, you're going to the last place the recon team was when they checked in. Stay close to Volkov and Loki, in case they have company. Thor and Rogers, you're search and support. Sweep the surrounding area. Keep an eye out and stay communicative." The director placed his hands on the table and scanned the room. "Questions?"

When no one spoke, Fury continued. "Good. Usual rules apply. Keep it discrete, and get it done."

As they all walked back and boarded the elevator, Ciara had to bite her lip to hold back a small laugh at the comedy the visual of all of them encased together must have been.

This is serious. Don't fucking laugh. She thought.

When the doors finally opened on the garage level, Clint raised an arm abruptly. It landed on Loki's chest, stopping him from walking forwards.

"Watch her back." Clint said, glaring at Loki, Loki returning the stare.

Loki's eyes narrowed, but he was unmoving. Steve, Thor, and Natasha turned back to look at the three of them.

"I believe it's your job to watch our backs, Agent Barton." Loki said.

"Hey." Ciara said, alternating her gaze between the two of them. "Not now."

Clint stared coldly for a couple more seconds before he dropped his hand, and the three joined the others.

"We go on foot. GPS's are set on your watches." Steve said, then looked to Ciara. "Loki doesn't have an earpiece, so you need to be with him at all times." She nodded in response.

They all halted in front of the garage door ramp. The Captain scanned his tag next to a smaller, personnel exit to the left of it.

"Stick to the backstreets, and report anything you see." Steve said.

Each of them filed out the door, moving up the ramp and branching out into separate directions. The dim light of her watch came aglow and the device vibrated on Ciara's wrist, displaying the route. Loki walked behind her, seemingly blending in with the shadows of the buildings as they advanced down an alley.

Comms check. Natasha's voice said in her ear.

Check.

Check.

Check.

Check.

"Check." Loki whispered, throwing a sideways smile at Ciara.

They walked in silence for a couple of minutes. The night gave them some cover, and Loki and Ciara moved carefully. The streets were mostly empty, and they likely weren't the most odd-looking anyways should they happen to be spotted.

"Coming up on the location." Ciara said. They were just around the corner from the intersection the Asgardians had been spotted by. If they were still around, they would be close.

We're on the Northwest roof. Clint said. Ciara looked up to the specified spot, and could make out the top of his distant figure. Her eyes traced along the edge of the building until she made out Natasha about halfway to the other side of the roof.

Ciara turned to Loki and tipped her head out towards the intersection. "This is us."

Loki surveyed the area, leaning against the wall of the alley and peering out onto the street. A couple of people entered a shop across the junction, and a car drove by.

Movement, southwest rooftop. Natasha said.

Ciara's head shot back as she looked up, pulling her handgun from its holster. The fire escape obscured her view. "We're going up." She said.

No, stay. Natasha said, then continued. Steve?

On our way. Steve replied.

"We're bait." Loki whispered, looking up the side of the building.

Ciara pressed the mute on her earpiece - so that she would not be heard but she could hear them - and brought her attention back to him. "What?"

Loki's lips were pressed together in a firm line, and he returned her stare.

"We're bait." He repeated.

That was when it dawned on her. He was right. Fury had sent them directly into the heat, so that the others could take the Asgardians out from a distance. She could hear her blood as it rushed, and her ears grew hot.

Fuck. She thought.

We're on the southeast rooftop. I have eyes on them. Steve said. I can only make out three. They're on the western corner.

Loki and Ciara stood in the alley adjacent to the building the Asgardians were situated on. Both of the other pairs would have to cross a street to reach them. She unmuted her earpiece.

"We can't stay here." She said, then looked at Loki. "We need to get across the street."

Loki seemed to understand what she was insinuating immediately. He would have to use his magic to disguise them if they were to cross safely. With a nod, they were engulfed in a glow, and civilian clothes replaced their gear.

"Coming to you, Cap." Ciara said, then moved out from behind the cover of the alley and onto the sidewalk. Loki walked next to her as they approached the crosswalk.

More movement. I see four. Clint said.

"Hold my hand." Ciara mumbled.

Loki didn't falter at the order. He casually grabbed her hand and displayed a smile, clearly fake. Ciara's chest grew tight, but she smiled back.

Be inconspicuous. She thought. Act natural.

The two began across the street, and Loki's hand felt ice cold in her grip.

"What's going on?" Ciara muttered, her mouth nearly unmoving.

They're not moving. Natasha said. They're just standing there.

Movement, northeast rooftop. Steve said.

Ciara and Loki's feet hit the sidewalk, and she took a left turn, then a right down the alleyway next to Steve and Thor's building. They were back in their armour as soon as they were hidden from view.

How many? Clint said.

Two. Steve replied. Standing on the corner. Stay low.

Ciara took deep breaths. Each rooftop on the corner of the intersection was occupied; Steve and Thor on the southeast, Clint and Natasha on the Northwest, and the Asgardians on the other two.

Ciara leaned against the wall of the building, examining the fire escape that led to Steve and Thor's roof.

What's the plan here guys? Natasha said.

"Thor, we're coming up to you guys." Ciara said, pulling herself on top of a garbage container and gesturing to Loki, and then the fire escape. She jumped and grabbed hold of the metal bars, pulling herself up until she stood on the grated platform. He followed suit, and they began upwards.

Northeast rooftop, they're moving. I think they're going down. Thor said.

What about the four on southwest? Clint asked.

Still standing there. They're facing your building, Clint. Steve replied.

Loki and Ciara reached the last platform, and he hoisted her up to the roof ledge. Without standing, she rolled over the edge, on to the roof. A couple of yards away Steve was crouched, just the top of his head peeking out. Thor was further down the roof, also crouched, and he gave Ciara a curt nod. Loki pulled himself over the ledge to meet her, and they began to make their way to Steve.

Do they know we're here? Clint said.

They could have been expecting us. Steve replied.

Ciara leaned against the barrier that ran around the edge of the roof, her eyes glued to the door that led up to it from the building.

The timing was almost impeccable.

The door burst open, and out came the two she guessed had just come from the Northeast.

"Behind us!" She shouted, firing off a couple rounds and diving behind a cement structure jutting out of the roof.

On our way. Natasha said, her voice full of breath as she and Clint lifted themselves over the ledge and dropped to the fire escape of their building.

Bullets peppered the structure Ciara was behind, and Loki looked to her from behind a mess of piping.

"Are they using guns?" She said.

Loki nodded, and Ciara edged out from behind her barrier to fire off shots until the magazine was empty. Thor and Steve were completely out of her sight.

Crossing the street. Natasha said.

Thor and I have you covered. Steve said.

Ciara took a breath and unsheathed two knives from their holsters, locking eyes with Loki. She mouthed the words: On my count. He nodded.

"One…. Two…. Three."

Ciara and Loki burst out from behind their covers, Loki taking lead, both of them zigzagging their routes as they advanced towards the attackers.

His daggers met their target almost immediately, and Ciara met hers with a tackle. It felt as though she was taking down a pillar. An elbow met her chin and Ciara felt her teeth bear down on her tongue, and the taste of iron filled her mouth. The two of them scrambled for a moment, Ciara slashing with a blade and catching flesh. This was met with a kick backwards, and it took a moment for both her and her attacker to rise to standing. The man that stood across from her was massive, clothed like a human, and he brandished a blade of his own. She advanced, deflecting a strike with one of her knives and jabbing with the other. She missed her target, and was knocked backwards by a blow to her chest, her weapons flying from her grip.

Once again Ciara stood, eyeing the hulking Asgardian coldly before she charged. He slashed and she ducked, stepping inside and landing an uppercut, followed by an array of punches that met their target with force. When she heard him drop, she drop-kicked the hand that held the knife and straddled his chest, landing blow after blow, until the figure beneath her was limp and her knuckles throbbed. Her ears rung as a hand pulled her back by the shoulder.

"Hey! Hey!" Clint's voice broke through her frenzy. "Get up, we've got company."

The four Asgardians from the other rooftop had joined them.

Clint grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up against the structure with the door that led down into the building.

"How many?" She said, catching her breath and spitting out the blood that had pooled in her mouth.

"Four down. Six to go." He said.

Ciara nodded and stood, reloading her handgun and peering out from behind the wall.

Steve was engaged with one of the Asgardians, and three more converged on Natasha and Loki, both of which brandishing handheld weapons; Loki with his daggers, Natasha with what looked to be a shock baton.

"Where's Thor?" Ciara said.

"Alley." Clint replied, as Natasha made contact with her baton and Loki plunged a dagger into the throat of the downed attacker. Another dove towards Natasha, knives in hand, and both Clint let an arrow loose, dropping him. The third fell when the Captain's shield made contact with his chest and Loki finished him off. The Asgardian that had been occupied with Steve lay on the ground in a similar fashion to the one Ciara had fought.

Clear on the ground. Thor's voice came through the earpiece.

"Barton!" Steve shouted, and Ciara had no time to react. An Asgardian had come from the building door behind them, gun in hand, aimed directly at Clint's back.

But the bullet didn't reach its target. Loki hurled himself forwards in between the attacker and Clint, grappling as they made contact. The trickster summoned a dagger in his hand and with one fell swoop buried it into the assassin's chest.

"Fuck." Ciara said, rushing to Loki's side as he slid off the body of his victim. "Are you hit?"

Loki raised his hand, and she could see where the bullet had hit. The back of his hand showed a perfect circle where the bullet should have hit, but the skin wasn't punctured. It looked like a bruise.

"You're bulletproof?" She said, pushing him on the chest as he stood up. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Not entirely." He said, but a small grin graced his features.

"Not even remotely funny."

"Save it." Steve said, looking directly at Loki and Ciara. Sirens sounded in the distance, growing closer with each passing second. "Head back to base with Thor. We'll handle this."

Ciara nodded and turned to Loki. "Let's go."

They traversed back down the fire escape, Thor waiting for them at the bottom. Two more of the assassins laid at his feet.

By the time the debrief was over, the sun had started to rise.

Loki and Ciara began the trek back to their respective rooms. His hand had become a shade of blue that looked unnatural, and Ciara's body felt like all of her energy was so devoted to healing itself, there was barely any left for walking.

When they finally reached the hallway outside of their rooms, her will ruptured and she enveloped him in an embrace.

"Ciara." Loki said.

He was taken aback by the closeness, clearly in the eye of the hallway cameras, but she didn't seem to care. He wrapped her arms around her, and they stayed like that.

It was only fair that at that moment the elevator doors would open, and out walked Barton. He froze at the sight of the two of them.

"Ciara." Loki whispered, and she removed her head from his shoulder, releasing him from her arms.

"Clint." She said, and her entire body stiffened.

Clint was quiet as he stood there. He seemed to ignore Ciara, his gaze completely fixated on Loki.

"I came to thank you." Clint said. He still wore his uniform, and his eyes looked sunken and tired. "For having my back tonight." Clint approached them and held out his hand.

Loki looked down at the hand quizzically before he turned to face the agent head on. He took the outstretched hand and they shook.

"I'll see you two later." Clint said, turning to leave.

Loki's brow furrowed. "Agent Barton." He said, and the Agent regarded him as he continued to speak. "Thank you."

Clint dipped his head slightly but didn't respond, leaving the two of them as he made his way back into the elevator and disappeared from sight.

"Fuck." Ciara said, letting her head drop back onto Loki's arm.

"Good fuck?" Loki answered.

Ciara just laughed, and shook her head. "Not sure yet."