A/N: I'm back! I've seen FFH, I loved it but I have decided that Warrior will end at Endgame. How I don't quite know yet but it's going to be epic!

Asgard

Thor knelt down at the foot of Odin's throne, setting his hammer on the ground in front of him. He bowed his head, not wanting to look into the disappointed face of his father.

"You once said there would never be a wiser King than me." Odin sighed."You were wrong." Thor looked up at his father, shock evident on his face. "The alignment has brought all the realms together. Every one of them saw you and Karina offer your lives to save them." Odin paused and looked down at his son. "What can Asgard offer its new King in return?"

"My life," Thor replied quickly. "Father, I cannot be King of Asgard. I will protect Asgard and all the realms with my last and every breath, but I cannot do so from that chair." Thor sighed quietly. "Loki, for all his grave imbalance, understood rule as I know I never will. The brutality, the sacrifice…it changes you. I'd rather be a good man than a great King."

Odin chuckled, "Is this my son I hear? Or the women he loves?"

"When you speak, do I never hear Mother's voice?" Thor replied fondly. "This is not for Jane, Father. Nor Karina. Neither of them knows what I came here to say. Now, forbid me to see her or say she can rule at my side, it changes nothing. For both us."

Odin sighed, sinking deeply into his chair. "One son who wanted the Throne too much, another who will not take it and a daughter in love with Midgard. Is this my legacy?"

"Loki died with honour," Thor said sadly, "I shall try to live the same. God knows Karina will. Is that not legacy enough?" Thor looked down at his hammer and picked it up, offering it to Odin.

"It belongs to you," Odin told him, waving his hand. "If you are worthy of it."

"I shall try to be," Thor replied with a soft smile.

"I cannot give you my blessing, nor can I wish you good fortune."

Thor looked down sadly. "I know."

"If I were proud of the man my son had become, even that I could not say, I would speak only from my heart." Odin cleared his throat, sitting up in his throne. "Go, my son."

"Thank you, Father." Thor bowed as he stood up, turning on his heel and walking away.

"Thor!" Odin called suddenly and the god turned around. "Tell Karina that she's free to go where she wishes. She's no longer bound to the throne by me or anyone else." He paused, a fond look on his face. "She's free."

"I will," Thor replied, nodding, "I'm sure she'll be grateful."

Odin watched as Thor walked out of the throne room. As soon as he was far enough away, a glimmer of green magic passed over the King, revealing Loki sitting in the throne of Asgard.

"I'm sure she will be," Loki whispered quietly, a fond smile on his face.

Avengers Tower, New York City

Karina waved tiredly at the very confused and rather horrified receptionist as she passed the front desk in the lobby of the tower. An even more confused scientist held open the elevator doors for Karina, shuffling into the far corner, out the way.

"Good afternoon, Karina," JARVIS said pleasantly as soon as the doors shut. "I'm assuming you're heading up to the personal floors?"

"Yup," Karina said, swinging her arms. She'd come straight from Greenwich to New York thanks to a jet sent by Fury. Karina had briefed the agents who'd arrived to contain the mess, since Thor had gone back to Asgard, leaving her in the lurch, and had quickly ran away before she could be accosted into helping out. She hadn't changed out of her dirty armour, nor had she actually stopped to check her injuries.

Of which there were many.

The scientist, who'd been unfortunate enough to be in the elevator with Karina, scurried away when it arrived on the 37th floor, leaving Karina alone with JARVIS.

"Can I say, Karina," JARVIS said suddenly, "it's good to have you back."

Karina smiled up at the ceiling, "it's good to be back, J." The doors slid open and Karina stepped out, only to be immediately engulfed in a hug.

"Never do that again," Tony muttered, hugging Karina tightly. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and Karina laughed softly, hugging him back just as tightly.

"I'm fine," Karina said smiling broadly. Her smile faltered slightly as a sharp pain hit her side and she gripped her ribs tightly. "Ok, maybe slightly less fine than first thought." Karina's grip on Tony's arm increased as her body began to sway and the pain from all her injuries finally hit her.

"Yeah, no you're not," Tony muttered, scooping the woman up into his arms. "Medbay, now."

Karina had no energy left to protest as Tony carried her into the Medbay, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You still awake?" Tony asked, glancing down at Karina.

"Hmm," Karina mumbled, scrunching her eyes shut. "I really should get another job, this shit's exhausting."

Tont laughed as he gently set Karina down on a spare bed in the Medbay, noticing how she winced as she leant on her right side. "Let's see it."

Karina looked up at him. "What?"

Tony crossed his arm. "The injury you're so obviously hiding."

Karina rolled her eyes, hissing as she aggravated her injury as she tried to undo her armour.

"Here," Tony said, walking over to her and undoing it for her. He set it down on the chair in the corner of the room and walked back over as Karina gently lifted her shirt off her wound.

Tony hissed, gently prodding it. "Shit."

"What?" Karina exclaimed looking down. "Oh."

The graze from the laser wasn't actually that bad. It was the black and blue bruising all around her side and the black lines leading from the wound that did it. Karina poked at it, hissing quietly as she inspected it herself. The black lines would soon fade, that was just a side effect of the Aether and the gun.

"It's fine," Karina said, waving off Tony's concern.

"It's not," Tony replied, gently dabbing at the wound with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Karina clenched her fists as the alcohol seeped into the wound, digging her nails into her palm.

"Ow."

"That's what you get for saving the world."

Karina sighed, rolling her eyes as she leant her head back against the pillows as she finally took it all in. After all the pain of losing her mother and brother in a matter of days, Karina finally felt safe. Finally felt like she was home.

"Reports are still coming in but from what we understand, this is a confirmed extra-terrestrial attack on Greenwich. The number of victims is still unknown with many hospitals struggling to cope with the number of injured coming through their doors. Many survivors of this attack, however, have been hailing the Avengers members Thor and Karina as heroes for stopping this attack before it caused more destruction.

"Greenwich university and the surrounding area are thought to be closed for many weeks to come and the government agency S.H.I.E.L.D have been put in charge of the extensive clean up op – "

Clint set the remote down on the coffee table, looking at Karina. "It wasn't your fault," he said softly, sitting down next to her.

Karina inhaled sharply, closing her eyes, "I know," she muttered, rubbing her face. She stood up and walked into the kitchen, grabbing a glass from the cabinet filling it with water from the tap. The freezing water stung her teeth as she swallowed it, trying to get rid of the lump in her throat as her eyes began to burn.

"Then what is?"

Karina bit her lip, gripping the sink tightly. "Before, Greenwich," she said quietly, turning to face Clint, "the Dark Elves invade Asgard. They tore through the throne room, slaughtering everyone in their path." She let out a shaky breath, wiping away her tears and Clint stood up walking over to her. "My mother and I, our duty was to protect Jane from Malekith and ensure he didn't get the Aether. It almost worked, we almost fooled him. But…" Karina trailed off, searching for the words. "Kurse, his second – in – command, he killed my mother right in front of me. I was powerless to do anything because Kurse almost killed me too.

"Hundreds of Asgardians died that day, during the invasion. My mother was just one of them. My father then shut down the Bifrost, refusing to let anyone in or out. He practically sentence Asgard to death, waiting for Malekith to come again. So, Thor and I decided to commit treason and take Jane to Malekith ourselves. We broke Loki out of prison because he was the only one who knew how to reach the pathway.

Karina paused, inhaling deeply as she tried not to break down sobbing. Clint approached her, putting a warm hand on her shoulder, rubbing circles gently. A single sob escaped as Karina took a breath in, rubbing her hands together.

"We reached Malekith, but our plan went wrong. He got the Aether and left Kurse behind to finish us off. Loki died protecting me. My mother died protecting me. I could've stopped it! I should've stopped it!" Karina yelled, tears falling down her face. "It's my fault that they're dead, that they both died right in front of me."

Her knees gave way and she fell to the ground, Clint falling with her as she sobbed into his chest.

He rested his head on top of hers, rubbing her back. "Ssh," Clint whispered, holding her tightly, "it's not your fault. Malekith and Kurse killed them, not you. You're alive, and that's what matters."

The lights in the gym were a stark contrast to the night sky of New York. The music Karina had put on had long since ended and the only sound was her fists meeting the punching bag. Her entire body was coated in sweat and the front of her hair was stuck to her forehead. There was a loud thud as Karina punched the bag off the chains, sending it flying across the floor. She stood there, panting, staring at the spot where the bag had landed.

"Karina, there are spare bags in the cupboard to your right," JARVIS called quietly, breaking the woman from her thoughts.

"Yeah, thanks, J," Karina muttered, slowly sitting down on the floor. She took her gloves off and began unwinding the wraps on her hands. There were a few angry red marks on her knuckles that Karina knew were going to turn into bruises later. Karina groaned, putting her head in her hands and clenching her hair.

"You saved the world, you know."

Karina chuckled humourlessly. "And lost my mother, my brother and my best friend in the process," she turned to face the newcomer. "It'd better be worth it."

Fury shrugged as he stepped into the light. "You don't know until it's over. The world's still spinning, people are still just as ignorant; I think you did a good job."

"What do you want, Fury?" Karina asked, jumping to her feet and walking over to the broke punching bag.

"You're a good warrior, Karina," Fury replied, "and an even better woman. I'd like you to join S.H.I.E.L.D."

Karina scoffed, dragging the bag over to the cupboard. "I already have."

"As an agent."

Karina paused, clenching the chain tightly. "You want to use me as a killing machine?"

Fury shook his head. "Only if you choose to. I don't trust many people in this world, Karina. But in the short amount of time that I've known you, I feel like I can trust more than some people I've known for years." He sat down on the bench, watching as Karina dragged a new bag out the cupboard and walked over to the hook hanging from the ceiling. "I need someone to work with Romanoff and Barton as well as working with the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. I don't know how you've done it, but they trust you. And that's a trust that's hard to earn."

Karina grunted as she lifted the bag onto the hook. "So, I would be going on missions. Where I would kill people. Where I would be torturing people."

"Not necessarily. Killing? Possibly, depends on the who and the what. Torture – that's more Romanoff's thing. You'd be my, for lack of a better phrase, 'spy on the inside'."

Karina snorted as she undid her braid, untangling her hair with her fingers as she stood opposite Fury. "Spy on the inside?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows questioningly. "You know I can't just say yes."

Fury nodded, standing up, "You have until December, that's the deadline for new recruits."

"You're not going to make me go through that whole thing, are you?" Karina called as Fury left the gym.

Fury turned around, arms behind his back, "no. Basic training, yes. You have an advantage of being a goddess and all. But all eventualities must be covered, and I need to know that you're capable." He nodded at her, "you know where to find me when you decide."

Karina sighed as he left, crossing her arms. Either way, she was a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. This would just be a way of helping more people.

"Karina, Dr Banner says dinner is ready," JARVIS called.

Karina waved at the AI as she left the gym, "Tell him I'll be done in a minute."

Silence had fallen over the dinner table as everyone tucked into the roast Bruce had prepared for them. Steve, Tony and Thor were both absent. The billionaire had a date with Pepper uptown, Thor was still with Jane and Steve had gone off the radar for a bit, trying to get his head around the 21st century.

Karina picked at her food, tearing her chicken apart with her fork as she thought over Fury's offer. Would it be such a bad thing to be at the centre of all the action? It would certainly give her something to do, stop her becoming lazy and reliant on her magic.

"Ria, are you alright?" Clint asked and Karina jumped, her fork clattering on her plate.

"Yeah, I'm f- what made you join S.H.I.E.L.D?"

Clint and Natasha stared at her, the former gaping like a fish at the 360 degree turn in the conversation.

"Made – us – what?"

"I'm just, thinking," Karina said quietly, popping a piece of carrot in her mouth.

Natasha set her fork and knife down, leaning back in her seat, looking at Karina curiously. "I had no choice. It was either S.H.I.E.L.D or die. Naturally, I chose S.H.I.E.L.D and I can say I have very few regrets."

"Fury hand-picked me from a group of recruits. I guess I chose to go to S.H.I.E.L.D, but if I didn't, I wouldn't be here right now. S.H.I.E.L.D saved my life, gave me a purpose," Clint said quietly, pouring some more gravy over his dinner.

"Fury's spoken to you, hasn't he?" Natasha asked, eyeing Karina as she shifted in her seat.

"No," Karina chuckled nervously, stabbing a ball of stuffing. "Maybe. Yes," she quietly admitted, shoving the stuffing in her mouth.

"The bastard," Clint growled, a dark look in his eyes.

"No, no," Karina said, the words muffled by the food in her mouth, "it was an offer. In no way was he threatening me or making me. He said he trusts me more than people he's known for years. Besides, I'm already a part of S.H.I.E.L.D by being an Avenger. This would just be working with you two and reporting back to him."

Clint inhaled sharply, resting his hands behind his head. "And the, less cinematic part of the job?"

Karina chuckled lightly as his phrasing. "That's all Nat's job."

Natasha said nothing, simply incling her head in agreement. "If you do say yes, it will become your life. It will be hell on earth at times and it will try to break you."

Karina shrugged, her fork dripping gravy onto the table, "I've been in three wars, fought countless battles, faced aliens, Loki, had a temple collapse on me and I've lived with Thor for 1200 years. It'd take a lot to break me."

"Humans aren't the same as aliens," Natasha replied.

Karina smiled, "they're worse, I know." She sighed, setting her cutlery down and leaning forward, "Nat, this could be my chance to do something with my life. To become more than just a princess."

Clint smiled fondly, "You already are more than that."

"To you maybe. But I need to prove it to myself. How else do I move on?" She uttered the last part quietly, but Clint still heard it and his face fell slightly.

"I think it'd be a good thing," Bruce said suddenly, reminding everyone he was there. "You'd be working for Fury, not the council, not the government. He doesn't trust easily and from what I've seen and heard, he wouldn't have asked if he wasn't certain."

Natasha sighed quietly, picking up her cutlery and cutting a potato in half, "when does he want to know by?"

"December," Karina said, watching Natasha. "He said basic training and something about all eventualities."

The assassin nodded, swallowing her mouthful. "If you do say yes, we'll stick with you. Be your punching bags, whatever you need." Natasha looked at her and Karina was surprised at the intensity in her eyes. "I trust you."

"Me too," Clint added, leaning forward and winking at Karina. "Whatever you need."

Karina nodded, looking down at her dinner. "Thank you."

Clint grunted, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth and asking JARVIS to switch the T.V on. Bruce sat there quietly eating as he watched the news whilst Natasha quietly began cleaning up. Karina smiled fondly at her friends as she scraped her chair back and put the jug of water back in the fridge.

It wouldn't be so bad with her friends by her side. It gave her a chance to do something for once whilst Thor was off god knows where. It gave her a chance to be something more than just the Goddess of Fire.

December 1st, 2011

"Why a tree?"

"It's tradition."

"It's a tree."

"Not a real tree, although some people do have those."

"But…it's a tree."

Tony rolled his eyes. "You've said that already."

Karina watched Tony carefully as he and Bruce wrapped the lights around the tree. "Isn't that a fire hazard?"

Tony sighed. "No."

Bruce chuckled as he untangled the line of lights, passing them to Tony. "You've never celebrated Christmas before?"

Karina shook her head, perching on the arm of the sofa and picking up a red bauble. "No. It was seen as a Midgardian custom, nothing more. The majority of the city thought it was kinda stupid."

Tony whipped his head around, eyes wide. "Stupid?"

Karina gestured to the tree, raising her eyebrows. "You are literally decorating a plant with lights and sparkly hangy things."

"That's not all there is to Christmas," Bruce said quickly, noticing Tony's mouth open to argue back. "There's the presents, the tv, the family time, the food."

"What? A dry, boring ass turkey?"

Bruce smiled. "More like beef, chicken, pork, duck. Anything. It all depends on who you are. Some people have turkey, sticking to tradition. Others have beef with all the trimmings. The best bit, though, is the roast potatoes."

Karina's eyes lit up. "I love roast potatoes. Especially yours. They're so crispy!"

Tony yelped suddenly, cursing loudly. "Bloody lights," he muttered, sucking on his finger.

"Ah," Bruce looked down guiltily, "I forgot to mention that the wire was exposed somewhere."

Tony glared at his friend as he continued putting the lights on the tree, this time with slightly more vigour.

"Is everyone coming here, for Christmas?" Karina asked, looking out the window as the snow began to fall faster, blocking out the majority of the skyline.

"I'm not sure," Tony replied, his voice slightly muffled by the tree he was behind. "It depends when Barton, Romanoff and Rogers get back from their mission. Last I heard they were somewhere in Hong Kong. Any idea where Thor is?"

Karina shook her head, "none. I haven't heard from Jane, so I assume they're together somewhere, but he did mention going back to Asgard."

"It'd be nice to have everyone back together," Bruce said quietly, opening the box of decorations as Tony plugged the lights in. "We've yet to have a Christmas with everyone present. Tony spent the first Christmas after you went being kidnapped and blown up and then last year Clint and Nat were on a mission and Steve was somewhere in DC."

"Hang on, back-track a sec," Karina said, holding up a hand, "Tony was what now?"

Tony paused mid bauble hang and slowly turned to face her. "Ah, I might've forgotten to tell you."

Karina raised her arms exasperatedly. "You forgot to tell me that you were kidnapped?"

Bruce nodded, clearly enjoying someone else chewing Tony out for once. "And he had his arc reactor removed."

Karina let out a screech, eyes widening as she jumped up from the sofa and ran over to Tony. "What?" She patted his chest, mouth falling open when she realised it wasn't there anymore. "What the hell, Tony?"

Tony shrugged, hanging the bauble on the tree. "I also ended up making something like 50 different suits, Pepper and I had an argument and my house got blown up."

"He gave his address to a terrorist."

"Yes, thank you, Bruce." Tony sighed. "I wasn't in a good place after New York."

"I don't think any of us were," Karina replied softly, fiddling with a bauble shaped like a wooden train. "I know I wasn't."

"Did you get the president kidnapped and almost kill your girlfriend?"

"No, I just blew up a temple, stopped a revolt, committed treason and destroyed Greenwich," Karina replied, shrugging. "Usual, everyday stuff."

Tony sighed heavily at Karina he stared at her. She raised her eyebrows at him in question as he continued to stare. "You're unbelievable."

"Hey!" Karina exclaimed, following Tony as he stepped away from the tree, admiring his handiwork. "At least I didn't get the president kidnapped!"

Tony turned slowly and glared at her. "That was one time."

25th December 2013

"Ok, this wasn't as bad as Asgard made it out to be," Karina said as she dipped a tortilla chip in the salsa. "I'm actually enjoying myself."

Tony rolled his eyes as she popped the chip in her mouth. "I did tell you."

Karina shook her head. "You didn't tell me about Nat's legendary brownies."

"You're lucky you even got one," Clint grumbled as he watched Home Alone on the T.V.

Natasha sighed heavily as she leant into the sofa cushions, tucking her hands behind her head. 'Because the last time I left you with them, you ate them all and made yourself ill."

Karina chuckled as Clint threw a cushion at the red-head, the offending object hitting Steve in the face instead.

"Thanks, Barton," Steve muttered, throwing the cushion on the empty chair next to him.

"Seriously, though," Karina said as she finished her chip, "all you do is open presents, eat food and watch films."

"It's just a shame Thor isn't here," Tony said, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. "Any idea where he is?"

Karina shook her head. "Jane called me to say he went back to Asgard after they spent some time together, but he didn't say why or how long for. We did, kind of, commit treason on our way out."

"Only you could be charged with committing treason against your own father," Steve chuckled.

"It means I get to spend Christmas here eating food."

"And then you have boxing day where you get to eat even more food," Clint added, stealing a chip from the bag on the table.

"Exactly!" Karina exclaimed. "A holiday dedicated to just eating food is the best holiday."

Bruce chuckled, "then you're going to love thanksgiving."

"What's thanksgiving?"

28th December, 2013

Karina groaned as she was slammed into the floor of the gym for the second time that day. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and bruises were already beginning to form on her skin from where Natasha had landed hit after hit.

"You're getting better," Natasha said as she held out a hand to Karina.

"At what?" Karina asked, taking Nat's hand and letting her pull her to her feet. "Being beaten up?"

"No, learning how to avoid attacks, using their weaknesses against them. You can't always rely on having your magic and sword when you're in the field."

Karina nodded, taking a big sip from her water bottle. "Is this you training me up to be an agent?"

Natasha shrugged as she lifted two wooden poles from the wall, throwing one to Karina who caught it effortlessly. "Maybe. Or just improving your skill as an Avenger."

"Do you think I'd make a good agent?" Karina asked as she twirled the wooden pole between her fingers.

Natasha paused, tilting her head as she thought. "You have the potential to be one of the best. Not because of your skillset but because you genuinely care about people – you want them to feel safe and to be able to live their lives. That's what makes a good agent." She moved into a fighting stance; feet spread equally apart. "Come on, we haven't got all day."

Karina rolled her eyes as she followed Natasha, getting into her own stance, making sure Natasha wasn't just going to knock her over before they'd even begun.

It didn't work.

January 15th 2014

Karina tried to ignore all the stares coming her way as she marched down the corridors of the Triskelion. She'd dressed down in a pair of dark blue, ripped jeans and a black sweater with a dark green jacket over the top, but the agents still recognised her face, eyes widening in surprise and shock as she passed. One had even walked into a door, too busy staring at her to pay attention to where he was going.

Turning left down the long, glass windowed corridor, Karina spotted the golden plague on a door, marking Fury's office. She knocked once and barged in, choosing to ignore the fact that there was someone already in the office. If she didn't do it now, she never would.

"Karina, I'm in the middle of a – "

"Yes."

Fury frowned at her with his one eye. "I'm sorry?"

Karina sighed deeply, "I said, yes."

Fury's eyes widened ever so slightly as he registered what she'd just said. "Michaels, Wilkinson, we'll finish this later on."

The two agents quickly got up out of their seats and practically ran out of the room, shutting the door behind themselves as Karina sat down in the vacant seat. She crossed her arms, propping her legs up on the chair next to her, staring at Fury intently.

"Why yes?"

"I had planned to give you a rousing speech about how it benefits other people, etc, but it's more so I don't get bored. There's only so much Stark one can take before you want to launch him off the helipad."

Fury chuckled quietly, smiling at her. "It won't be easy."

Karina took her feet off the table, leaning forward. "When is anything in life easy?"

Fury nodded. "True, I'll give you that." He leant back in his chair, hands behind his head. "What are your conditions?"

"I answer to you." Karina looked at Fury carefully. "I don't want to be the council's puppet, being sent on missions to do their dirty work etc. I don't want to be abused because of who I am, treat me as if I was any other agent. I want to do work that benefit's us. Benefit's the world, the Avengers."

"You mean taking down HYDRA."

Karina shrugged. "If that's what it takes. But HYDRA isn't the only threat out there, is it? I'm saying yes because I know that I can help."

Fury stood up, pushing his chair back as he did so. He held out his hand and Karina stood up, taking it firmly. "Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D, Karina," Fury said as they shook hands.

Fury wasn't wrong when he said it wasn't going to be easy. Karina had been put through rigorous training on Asgard, not being allowed to go off to battle before she could fend off her brother and his friends. S.H.I.E.L.D's training was a different kind of rigorous. It wasn't just physical training, learning how to fire a gun, get out of chains and ropes it was mental too. Interrogation techniques, how not to give away information and getting used to the hardships of the job.

Karina found the mental training the hardest. She was a good person, always trying to use death as a last alternative, unless they were aliens from outer space trying to kill everyone. Every time she was tied up, either to a pipe, a chair or to the wall, not panicking was the hardest thing to do. Even though she knew she could escape if she needed to – super strength and magic did give her an advantage – it still scared her.

The worst part was having to learn how to fight without her magic. They were two sides of a coin in a way, entwined together. But it was important in case some maniac managed to supress her magic or completely get rid of it. Every swing of her sword without her magic flowing through it felt heavy and empty. Natasha often reprimanded her technique, saying she was sloppy and slow. Tired.

It wasn't that she was tired. She just felt heavy without it.

"Karina, snap out of it and concentrate," Natasha snapped, swatting Karina's arm with the pole she was holding. "Let's go again."

Karina grunted as she pushed herself up off the floor, picking up her pole and moving into a fighting stance. Everything hurt and she was exhausted, but Karina knew she couldn't just give up. Nothing ever got accomplished that way.

Clint and Steve had appeared in the training room an hour ago, both doing their own thing, occasionally looking over at the two women as they fought. There had been other agents in the room, watching them, but they'd dispersed rather quickly after a stern glare from Captain America.

Karina's eyes widened and she quickly fell to her knees, sliding under Natasha's kick and stumbling to her feet the other side, hair in her eyes as her braid finally gave up. Natasha didn't wait, swinging her pole at Karina's head, causing the women to roll to the side, picking up her pole and swinging it up to meet Nat's. Pushing against it, Karina managed to make Natasha take a step back and let down her guard on her left side.

Seeing a chance, Karina took it, swinging her pole at Natasha's side as the assassin regained her balance. Using a small amount of magic to speed herself up, Karina was o focused on the opening on Natasha's side, Karina didn't see Natasha's pole swinging towards her head.

Natasha didn't have time to pull back as the pole smacked Karina on the head as Karina hit Natasha's side, both falling to the ground. The noise of their poles and themselves hitting the floor gained Steve and Clint's attention and both looked around. Steve ran over as

Karina fell to the fall, limp and unconscious, Natasha curling in on herself slightly as pain radiated from her ribs.

"Karina?" Steve called, gently shaking her as Clint ran over to Natasha.

"What happened?" Clint asked as he helped Natasha up.

"I had an opening on my left," Natasha winced, letting out a quiet yelp as Clint prodded her side, "she went for it and I didn't have time to pull back. Hit her in the head with the pole."

Karina's eyes fluttered open and she squeezed them shut as light overwhelmed her vision. "Ow. My god, you hit hard, Tash."

"You cheated," Natasha replied the smirk on her face turning into a wince as Clint pressed against her side.

Karina grasped Steve's arm tightly as he helped her sit up, holding her head in her other hand. "I did no such thing."

"I saw you glow purple, Ria."

"I don't glow, I sparkle. And besides, I didn't rely on it, I just used it to help my attack."

"I think you both need to go to Medical," Clint said, rolling his eyes at Karina although there was still a glimmer of concern behind his eyes.

"We're fine," Natasha said, standing up whilst holding her side.

"I can't stand Medical," Karina added, leaning heavily on Steve as she stood up. "They always get far too excited when I appear and keep wanting to prod me with needles."

"So, that's a no to Medical, then," Clint said sighing. "At least give yourselves half an hour break before going at it again."

"If you insist," Natasha grumbled, hobbling over to the lockers, Karina following behind her.

Natasha held the door open for her friend, letting it swing shut behind them both leaving an astounded Steve and Clint behind.

Training between those two was definitely going to be the end of them.

A/N: I'm so glad you're all enjoying my little story. I'm getting back into writing, I had a blip ( Get it? ;) ) but I am back and raring to go. If you want to yell at me about FFH feel free to do so, just don't put it in the reviews. NO SPOILERS!

Anyhoo, see you next time!

Incorrect Quote:

Tony, on the phone with Karina: What are you doing?

Karina: The dishes

Tony: Did I just hear a laser gun?

Karina: It's a bad neighbourhood