Aria sighed as she stared at the looming building above her, the sign just reading an "A" now instead of S.T.A.R.K. Aria began to regulate energy into her legs before running up the side of the building, Loki's plan repeating in her mind. Of course he would've told Selvig to make a flaw in this machine that can only be exposed by her. Her ability to manipulate energy was vital to stop the machine and close the portal. He explained that he wouldn't be able to be there with her, having to keep the façade up that he was against them. What he said made sense, if the Titan found that Loki had been broken free from his control then there would be nothing stopping him from coming here and retrieving the scepter and cube himself. Granted, Aria would be able to keep him occupied but if he brought a whole army again she wasn't so sure. Loki's memories showed just how much of an army this guy had and while Aria was confident with Hati, she wasn't sure she could take it alone. If this was a lot for her and a group of others to handle, she could only imagine adding a strong and mentally capable evil.

She reached the top quickly, jumping over the edge where Selvig and the whirring machine were. He turned to look at her with a crazed expression, a smile erupting on his face.

"AH so the bug in the machine has finally surfaced. Loki said that when you came then this would all end. As much as I am fascinated with all the knowledge she has shown me, I know you have to close it."

"She?"

"Oh yes! The cube. She speaks a foreign language but it's just as clear as if she was speaking English. The things I have seen know no bounds due to her influence."

"Dr. Selvig, I'm sure you're just feverish due to the mind manipulation. Loki said once I closed the portal he would relinquish control, so hopefully your mind goes back to being sane. Now if you don't mind, I would leave if I were you."

He nodded his head quickly before rushing down, sparing one last longing look at the cube. Once he disappeared, Aria looked at the cube. He was right, the cube seemed to hum a song to her that made her skin prickle. Her stomach was filled with butterflies and her mouth seemed to water as if she was looking at her mother cook a meal. She blinked rapidly before shaking her head. She had a job to do.

Ah it's such a treat to be so close to the cube once more.

So, how should I go about this?

With our energies combined and my entirety made up from the cube, running a large amount of ours into it should cause it to falter for a second. There is a barrier around it but the barrier is made of energy, we could syphon it.

I see...if I come into contact with the cube will it react the same way the scepter did? Like graft a portion of itself onto me.

You will only know once you come into contact with it.

Great...

Aria grumbled an annoyance at the God who tasked her with this before putting her hand up to her ear and pressing the earpiece to turn it on, "Aria here...I can close the portal. If anyone can hear me, I can close it."

"Do it!" Steve voice rang in her ears, his breath ragged as if he was struggling.

"No- wait," Tony's voice interrupted. Aria began to summon energy into her right arm, listening intently.

"These things are still coming Stark," Steve replied as he grunted out something incomprehensible.

"I've got a nuke coming in and it's gonna blow any minute...I know just where to put it."

"Grab it and go Stark. I'm giving you 2 minutes, but this portal is closing." Aria stated coldly.

She pushed the earpiece again and looked at the cube. The humming was getting louder, intoxicating to listen to. Aria bit the inside of her cheek and the pain subdued the trance the song was inducing. She stepped forward and put her hand out, watching as the shield began to react to her. What sounded like electricity purred out and Aria sent a small amount of energy to her eyes as well. The shield had a blue tint to it, the cube a much more intense shade. Both were moving around frantically, swirling and twisting. She reached out and touched the shield with her hand and was amazed to see the shield's energy rush to meet her hand. She pushed against it harder and saw the energy of the shield being sucked into her palm. She breathed out and closed her eyes, focusing on the foreign energy being dragged in. It felt cold causing her skin to prickle at the sensation and even had a jolt go down her spine before she began to pull from her and Hati's energy to surround it. It was all so tedious, pushing their energy to her arm while calling the energy to her, and enclosing the foreign energy with theirs all at once.

Even with Hati supplying his chasm of power, Aria could feel the beginnings of exhaustion creeping up on her. Even so she kept at it. Biting her lip hard, she groaned at the weird sensation enveloping her chest. She closed her eyes tightly while still dragging in energy and suffocating it with theirs. It felt like an eternity before she finally felt nothing pouring into her. She opened her eyes and let her lip go with a shaky breath, a copper taste filling her mouth. With a small smirk, she saw that the shield around the cube was no more. All that was left was to return the surplus energy into the cube to short circuit it. She made a move to step forward but felt her body fall forward instead. Catching herself with her hands, Aria began coughing erratically. Her chest heaved and her eyes watered but she knew without a doubt that there was blood coming out with each cough. The scarlet color over the rooftop confirming her thoughts.

What the hell?!

We have too much of the foreign energy in our system. I can't infuse it like initially thought…if you don't expel it soon there's a chance it can kill us.

So the energy is basically poisoning us?

In short terms, yes.

Of course it...would be...do you hear that?

Aria breathed in and out heavily, each breath burning her. She moved towards the cube, it's lullaby so soothing to her. Aria smiled softly, unfeeling to the blood pouring down the side of her mouth.

We're so close Hati. Can't you hear it? I think it sounds like my mother...

Ignore the song and focus. We're being poisoned Aria.

But it's so beautiful…

The frosty nature of it's energy began to spread, her focus on encompassing it with Haiti's and hers slightly gone. Regardless, she continued crawling to the cube that just seemed to be calling out her name. Asking her, no, begging her to touch it. She reached up weakly with her hand and watched astonishingly as a light began to shine in the small space between her finger and the cube. She felt the pull towards the cube become even stronger and unable to fight it, Aria found herself drowning in its song. The voice in the back of her head that did belong to her kept screaming something but it wasn't headed, for something else was whispering in her head.

Wonder of the blood who runs in these veins? Oh child you have not a clue to your strengths.

Aria looked past the cube but wasn't seeing the destroyed New York City. In it's place was an empire of what seemed to be gold. Her eyes kept staring steadily ahead even as it felt like she was floating in thin air, her body nothing but a leaf in a glowing breeze. The empire loomed ever largely, yet Aria didn't feel threatened. She felt welcomed. At the edge of her vision she saw a man, tall and strong, standing with other men boasting about something. What struck Aria was the man's hair…it was pink. Before she could even began to mold a thought pain wrecked her chest and a coughing fit followed. She blinked distortedly before her eyes saw the dismantled buildings once more and her hand pressed against a face of the cube. She grimaced before looking at the cube suspiciously before shock overtook her.

On her arm, a piece of the cube was seemingly embedding itself into her skin. With eyes wide, Aria could do nothing but watch the shard cut into her. She noticed that a tendril of light was connecting the shard to the cube. Aria wanted to rip her arm away but couldn't find the energy nor the ability to. As the light began to move and touch her cut Aria felt a searing pain envelope her whole self, a scream battling its way out of her throat. She closed her eyes tightly before internally pushing the ball of energy out of her arm back into the cube. Slightly more forceful than intended but she was in pain. She sighed as a weight seemed to lift off her shoulders before being thrown back as a result of the cube and it's energy touching once again. Aria rolled about and managed to get on her back, just in time to see Stark fly the bomb into the hole. The cube whined before the beam leading to the portal flickered off. She watched with teary eyes at the portal slowly closing, waiting to see Tony fly out.

My dear, I'm afraid we will have to recount whether the man of iron lives. We must rest to heal…and adjust to the power we've been granted from my brethren.

Normally, I'd argue but I can't….

Sleep. We'll be okay.

Aria strained one last look at the portal before she took a deep breath in and closed her eyes on the exhale.

oOXXOo

Aria woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily and sitting ramrod straight from the floor. She looked around quickly before sighing out disdainfully. Another nightmare, another restless night. She wondered when the dreams would stop plaguing her but doubted they ever would.

"They needed to die Aria, they were the bad guys…killing innocent people…" she spoke softly to the dark room.

Snarling at herself for being pathetic, she got up and went to the kitchen. Grabbing a glass and filling it up with cold water, she leaned against the countertop of the motel she rented. While her day job was spent saving people and killing bad guys, it didn't pay nor did it offer her anything. The money she did have was from the few people who would shove it at her and unable to refuse, she would take it. Aria gripped the glass tighter. She hated living like this, scrounging around and barely making it through. In every aspect of her life. She slammed the rest of her water down quickly, her eyes closing tightly out of anger. Why did everything seem to be so unfair? Why was she stuck with an insatiable monster inside? Why did her family have to be gone? Out of blind rage, Aria threw the glass cup out and spun curtly. Not hearing the sound of it shattering Aria stopped before pushing her senses out.

The person behind her was great at covering themselves, but the absence of anything where they were standing stood out. She slowly moved her hand to her side to grab her single dagger and spun while flicking it at the intruder, just for it to hit air. She narrowed her eyes before relaxing slightly. She swore she could've sensed someone right there…

Behind you.

As soon as it's voice boomed in her head Aria felt a kick land in the small of her back, lurching her forward. Landing with a thump and the foot following through, Aria put her hands up in mock surrender. She turned her head and couldn't make out much, besides the color yellow of what seemed to be a jacket?

"Aria Czen…popularly known as Hellfire…" the intruder spoke, the femininity not lost to Aria. She nodded mutely. "Get up. We have much to discuss."

Once the foot gave an inch off, Aria grunted as she flipped to grab her foot and throw her. Well at least that's what should've happened. Instead it was Aria falling, but to where she didn't know as her back hit solid ground. She jumped up and spun around, eyes darting quickly back and forth. She seemed to be on a mountain of some sort, the jugged stone perimeter and the stone cold floor under her feet. She glided her eyes over to where the hooded lady was found to be standing. Aria stood up taller and retreated her stance, if this woman wanted her dead she would've died on the fall. She didn't let her guard down but Aria also wasn't stupid. This woman just transported her from her motel room to some carved out mountain.

The Ancient One stands before you child, bow in respect.

Bow? Isn't that so old school?

You were born 89 years ago.

Touché.

The woman moved forward a step, removing her hoodie as she did so. Bald yet sophisticated, Aria was reminded of a monk. She nodded her head and moved forward as well. They both stopped within a few feet of one another before the lady sat down, beckoning Aria to do the same. As Aria sat down, suddenly there was a small table garnished with a plate of fruit and tea. Aria blinked in confusion before looking up at the woman to see a small smile gracing her features. In an attempt to look unaffected, Aria sat still and refused to reach forward. Her mother taught her better than to act like a ravaging animal, even though her stomach twisted at the thought of denying food.

"You may eat Aria, I've known of your predicament for quite a while," the lady spoke softly, "in fact… we've been watching you for quite a while. I'm surprised you haven't taken notice."

"Well I wasn't particularly looking nor hiding." Aria spoke while eyeing the fruit, hunger banging her stomach. She reached out slowly and took one piece of watermelon with a small thanks sent the lady's way. "I would assume that you are The Ancient One?"

"Seems like the thing you harbor is good for more than just battle." She uttered unbothered as she reached herself for a slice of pineapple.

Aria stopped mid-chew and her eyes snapped to the lady's face, "I beg your pardon?"

"Yes I know of it."

"What is 'it'?"

"That is what I want to find out."

"I'm sorry to say no but if you brought me here to do testing," Aria spat the word out before sitting up even straighter, "then I will be on my way out."

"Where would you go?"

"Anywhere but here."

Their eyes interlocked and stared intensely. Aria narrowed hers while staring at the women, watching the beginnings of a smirk begin to form. What she found amusing was lost to Aria. Not many people knew about her companion, yet this weird lady from some far out mountain knows of it? She'd leave yes, but not until she found out what organization this was with their mind tricks and games.

I have no weapon or armor on. Hell I'm just in a tank top and some shorts.

You aren't without weapon.

Yeah I know but still, having a weapon would be really helpful right about now.

She's studying you. Watch yours-

"Are you speaking with it now?" The lady's voice interjected quizzically, genuine curiosity shining in her dark brown eyes.

Aria stared at her harsher, wondering how the woman could tell. She was now beginning to feel anxious and threatened. Aria took a moment to look over the woman thoroughly. Outside of her yellow jacket, she couldn't see much. But there was a weird necklace around her neck that seemed to whisper out to her. In fact, now as she eyed the necklace the thing in her head seemed to stir. Shifting uncomfortably, she nodded her head hesitantly. The woman stared at her in wonder which made her even more uncomfortable, the glint in her eye eerily reminiscent of someone else.

"How did you know?"

"Your eyes glaze over. But only faintly, one would have to be paying attention to realize. They would have to know what to look for."

"And you do?"

"Ah. I do. I feel like we're both in the position to offer one another good things. But as all good things come, we must wait for the time. Aria Czen, it was nice to meet you. We'll keep in touch." The woman stood up and Aria followed.

She put one hand out and began to spin her other hand, a portal seemingly coming out of thin air. Aria slowly turned her head to see a picture of her motel. She looked back at the woman who smiled before nodding her head at the portal. Aria gulped the knot in her throat before moving to step through the portal to her home. Fully back, she turned around and peered through the portal back at the woman. She wasn't sure what to say, this meeting so bizarre and confusing. Aria knew the woman had information but there wasn't going to be any disclosure.

"How will I be able to contact you?"

"You won't. But I'll know where you are. I'll fetch you once we both are ready."

"Ready? I'm ready now."

"You think so young one. But you have much to learn and persevere through. Only once time has been unkind to you will you see me once more. But for now, I leave you with a gift."

Aria blinked in confusion before a small weight made itself known in her hands. Looking down suddenly she saw her daggers in her hand. But how did she…? Aria snapped her eyes up in time to see the portal close. How strange. What was all that about?

A request to hand the necklace must be headed upon next meeting child.

Oh shut up. What would you want with a necklace?

You know nothing brat.

I know not to mess with someone who can conjure fucking portals. Maybe next time she'll strand us in the open ocean with sharks.

Aria giggled to herself at the thought before throwing her daggers on the couch. She walked back to the kitchen and grabbed her glass, that was mysteriously back on the counter, to refill it. Chugging the water, she set the cup in the sink before turning to walk to her bed. She felt exhausted enough to finally go back to sleep. Sighing, she turned and put her hand out to the couch where she had thrown her daggers. However, she wasn't expecting her dagger to fly back to her hand the moment she lifted them up and just thought about them. She gasped before dropping the daggers with a clatter. The words of the women echoing in her head.

But for now, I leave you with a gift.

Aria felt a giddy of excitement and spent the rest of the night fiddling with her daggers newfound attribute. For once in a long time, she felt like a child playing with a toy. As weird as the experience was, Aria couldn't help but feel happy it happened. Having daggers that could be retrieved with her thought alone was a game changer in every essence of fighting. Due to her newfound gimmick, she ignored the presence in her head and it's annoyance for her not grabbing the woman's necklace. She could care less.

oOXXOo

"Is she alive?"

"Her vitals are stable and her hearts still beating, what do you think?"

"I think you're insufferable at best. Just answer his question."

Voices slithered into her head, stirring Aria from her drift. She groaned out in annoyance and discomfort, moving her fingers slowly. She cracked open her eyes before shutting them tightly due to the assault they took from the light above her. She turned her head to the side before she felt a pair of hands on her, helping her into a sitting position. She reached out and grasped the arm, situating herself in a better place before opening her eyes again. Blurred vision greeted her before it cleared and she let out a shaken breath. She looked at the men surrounding her; Tony, Thor, and Rogers.

"There's his answer." Tony snidely remarked before turning to look at some screen.

Rogers huffed out in indignation before his eyes landed on her, "Are you okay?"

Aria glared at the foolish question before a cough flitted it's way out of her throat, "do you think I am?"

Thor laughed at her remark, his arms shaking against her. Once she swung her legs over the couch, he backed away and just stared at her. In fact, they all seemed to be staring at her now. Narrowing her eyes she made a move to get up, her throat immensely parched and none of them thinking to have water ready. She walked over to what seemed the bar and found bottled water. Quickly drinking it, she turned to the men to see them talking amongst themselves.

They're speaking of you.

Oh yeah like you know that.

Hear for yourself.

Aria internally groaned at Hati before walking over, "so did we win?"

"Yes. We did. But we thought you died."

"Why would you think that?"

"Your heart stopped for a whole twenty minutes. How you're up and talking is what I have no clue about." Tony continued humming as he peered at whatever was sprawled on his screen.

"Well I'm fine. Thor, may I speak with you for a moment," she watched as the other two were staying weirdly at her, "…privately?"

"Of course Lady Czen." Thor said with surprise littered over his features.

They walked a bit away from the the other two, a concerned look covering Thor's face. His blue eyes seemed to pierce her soul to which unnerved Aria greatly. She never liked when people worried over her, she could take care her of herself quite well. Despite that, she sent a small smile his way in an attempt to squash whatever he was feeling for her.

"Where you're from...the files said it was Asgard?" She started, watching him nod his head yes and continued, "is it made up of gold?"

He laughed and looked around sheepishly, before his eyes seemed to sharpen despite the wide smile on his face, "How would you know things of Asgard? None of the humans know it's nature outside it's name."

"Is there an Asgardian there with pink hair? He'd be tall, burly, and have a large sword." She pressed on, ignoring his question.

"Yes...he goes by Vidar Tilfeldig...but what concern brings him into question?"

Aria narrowed her eyes before relenting, "I…I envisioned Asgard in its golden beauty with him being a point of interest once I made contact with that stupid cube."

It is not a stupid cube imbecile.

It is stupid to me with all the newfound drama behind these things. Why do I barely feel you? What are you scheming?

Nothing but resting. Bringing you back from the precipice of death takes a toll.

Thor's smile dropped at her words and confusion laced his features. He seemed to think for a moment before he placed a large hand on her shoulder, "I believe it is best you return to Asgard with Loki and I. We'll be leaving in two days' time. There is a being of immense power there, one who can see all. He may be better suited to help you."

"Uh I think not. While she may be in great condition, Aria needs to stay on Earth." Tony piped into the conversation, his arms crossed against his chest.

"Who made you in charge of whether I stay or go?"

"You have some explaining to do. How did you close the portal? Who even are you? How can you even do what you do? We all have information on us but you, you have a name and a hero name. That's not enough to trust you that you'll do the right thing."

"You didn't have that same energy when you went through the portal to shove the bomb in their face. Hella trust there don't you think?" She countered while turning to face him full on.

"That's the thing. I don't trust you. Blame that on the adrenaline. Anyways, I had JARVIS search records for any information on you and nothing pulled up. No birth certificate, social security, VISA, zip. I do know you're not fully human due to the tests I did on the blood sample I collected while you were," Tony stopped to cough, "ya know, dead."

"I never agreed to a full investigation on my person."

"Well, I thought you were a goner so I said null to the a-okay," he shrugged his shoulders but his eyes remained glued to her.

I feel like we should slit his throat where he stands. Arrogance looks good on not one creature.

Says the most arrogant creature I've ever encountered.

"If Lady Czen were to be dangerous, we would have been fighting her. Not alongside." Thor interjected. Aria felt touched by his protectiveness.

"Tony, I think you're overstepping," Rogers warned as well. But he seemed to be wary as if afraid to anger her.

"No. I'm not. We all have an explanation as to why we can do what we can do. You have a bottle, this guy is a literal God, Banner got a little excited with gamma, and the assassins were trained to do what they do. I'm the smartest man I've ever met. Yet this woman comes out of nowhere," Tony moves to his floating screen behind him before throwing it out to them, enlarging the image that had been on it, "and she can touch the Tesseract barehanded? And c'mon, I wasn't the only one to notice the wardrobe change. What are you hiding?"

Aria glared at the image, hiding the surprise as she stared at the video feed. There she was on the rooftop but she couldn't see herself. Long white hair, blue glowing eyes, and an aura of deep blue energy surrounding her. Her bare hand on the cube with a part of it in her arm. Yet there was no mistake, it was her. She felt the phantom sting of the cubes power along the part it had embedded itself in. Her anger subsided and now she felt more of a discomfort. He was correct on some things; she shared not a thing with any of the people who she'd fought with. It was to no wonder why the aspect of trusting her was brought up.

You're not fully human.

It echoed further in her head. So she was right to feel so outcasted on Earth. Even before Hati made himself known she always felt different. Hell, what human had naturally occurring pink hair? She turned her head away from them all, thoughts rummaging her mind. She was half human, half something else. Her mind began to race with thoughts. Loki telling her that the nursery rhyme her mother sang to her was of Asgard, Hati being cryptic in his answers of her father, seeing Asgard and that man who bore a striking resemblance to her…her eyes widened as her thoughts went miles in sheer seconds.

"I'm both human and Asgardian." She whispered aloud.

"Sorry princess but you have to speak up. Courts orders," Tony sneered.

"I am both human and Asgardian," Aria repeated as she steeled her eyes on him, "at least I think…my dad may be on Asgard and I intend to find out."

"Do I hear daddy issues?"

"Don't anger me Stark," Aria spat at him.

"The only person I'm afraid of when it comes to anger is the big green guy. You? Not so much."

Aria snarled before taking a step towards him, "you should be very afraid. I can overpower that giant very easily but I don't because I don't want to kill that being. They don't call me a monster for nothing."

Don't. Please.

Tension was thick in the air between all of them. Aria couldn't fathom why Tony decided to try her the way he was. Unless there was an ulterior motive but it was lost on her. Nor did she care enough to linger, the other invasive thoughts threatening to tip her over the edge. Was her father really Asgardian? Why didn't he come looking for her? Why didn't he protect mother? Did he know of Hati? All these questions whirled around in her head and overthinking caused her to start being overwhelmed with emotion. To put the cherry on top, now she was in a stand-off with pesky humans and a God who wouldn't dare hurt either party. She scowled as she tried to figure out what she could offer them to get them off her ass. Telling them she was part Asgardian did nothing.

"If you want to know who I am, meet back here in ten minutes. I must tend to something else before saying anything," she growled out before turning to walk away.

oOXXOo

Aria closed the door behind her before slamming her back into it, sliding down to sit. She breathed out and leaned forward as she cupped her face with her hands. Strands of her pink hair came into view, the color angering her for some reason. It tied her to him, some man who she had once longed to know. Once tried searching for. She closed her eyes tightly but tears still ran down her face. She tried her best to hold them in but they were an unforgiving river. Uncontrollable. She balled herself together and wept as silently as she could.

She wept for her mother. Her brother. Her uncle. To the faceless people who haunt her dreams. To the little girl who she used to be. To the dripping blood off her hands. Aria breathed in harshly before letting her breath out, it coming back in hurried breaths. She wasn't sure how much more she could take, it felt like so much.

Why didn't he come save them?

She pictured her mother and brother still alive. She pictured the man who took her in as his daughter still alive. Her father was also in the mix, helping take care of them.

Why didn't he come looking for me?

The picture twisted and turned before it was a younger Aria, huddled under a canopy away from the rain. She was writhing in pain, cuts and bruises littering her body. She had escaped another facility trying to hold her, coaxing her to come under the guise as a "good guy" organization.

What could possibly be more important to him than his own flesh and blood? Does he even know my mother is dead?

The vision now changed to her last moments with her mother. Her gripping onto the very last bit of life her mother had, pouring energy into her to prevent the inevitable for just a few more seconds longer. He brothers cold hand resting in her free hand. Her whole world within her grasp, slipping through the cracks.

Why wasn't it enough? Why hasn't it ever been enough? Every single thing I do…just never enough…

Aria cried out into the back of her hand, muffling the scream erupting at the thoughts. She couldn't see, couldn't hear a thing but could only feel. Anger, sadness, disappointment; they washed over her like a tidal wave. All these years alive and nothing to show for it. Yes she was wiser and stronger, but it still wasn't enough. It never would be enough. She felt a bubbling energy begin in her chest as she cried, venting out the emotions she'd let simmer over the last two decades. And she couldn't shut it down. After seeing that her father was alive and uncaring to the fact her life was in shambles…it struck a cord in her she didn't know she could play. She kept breathing frantically, feeling the energy build up without her wanting it to. Her skin prickled as it grew and her eyes widened in terror. She felt like she was going to combust, literally.

She felt a hand touch her shoulder, which should've been impossible because she made sure she was alone. Her tear ridden eyes snapped up to the intruder, Loki's face watching over her carefully. Aria quickly noticed he had a muzzle on and his hands were handcuffed. She wasn't sure how she didn't notice him but didn't think about it too much. She then slightly wondered how much of her meltdown he saw but couldn't bring herself to care. The energy buzzing inside was too much on her mind to care for anything else. She watched him like a hawk, but knew he wouldn't hurt her. If he had wanted to, he would've taken his chance when she wasn't aware.

He closed his eyes and Aria felt a weird sense of calm reach her. Looking at his hand on her shoulder, she saw the faintest bit of a green glow emitting from his palm. She scrunched her brows in confusion but couldn't even feel worried. Now all she seemed to feel was contempt. Her breathing slowed and she found it odd that the negative emotions were just gone.

Must be his magic or something. No way I calm down by myself like that.

You're emotional state is worrying. Be grateful he stepped in otherwise I would've had to take control. That energy is still needing to be expelled, I have not the energy to diffuse it.

Where the hell can we expel it?

You'll find a way.

Thanks for the confidence.

Aria blinked rapidly before focusing back on Loki. He seemed so calm as he helped calm her. She wondered what kind of magic he was using to induce a calm state from her crazed one. She sighed as her chest tightened due to the energy swirling inside. She groaned before closing her eyes in pain due to the energy beginning to build up in her whole body. She grinded her teeth and took in one shaking breath before pushing herself up. She broke contact and the emotions hurtled themselves back at her with full force, but she continued walking forward. She closed her eyes and focused on the energy within, unable to find a "starting" point with it. She grunted before deciding to try something a little different. Aria walked towards the middle of the room they were in before she let go.

Every notion of holding the energy back crumbled. Along with her holding back herself from feeling everything entirely. She screamed out in anguish, dropping to her knees. Tears flowed freely from her eyes but she didn't care in this moment. As her knees hit the ground, the energy bursted from her whole body. It swirled and hit everything around; tables flew to the wall, chairs thrown up and around, and the floor beneath her cracked. By the end of her scream the room was in disarray but now she felt as if she could breath. The tension in her chest was no more and the energy buildup was gone. She stayed on her knees with her head down for a long moment, breathing in and out heavily. Aria cried silently, the thoughts of everything and nothing spinning her world. She slumped down to the ground and curled in, hugging herself to try and recollect herself.

Why am I so weak?

You are stronger than you give yourself credit for…

And yet I break at a vision of my father.

A hole in your life can be abysmal to deal with. Quite honestly, you dealt with such thing with as much grace. More than I thought capable.

Destroying a whole room out of emotion is graceful?

Yes.

Aria took a deep breath in and breathed out even longer. She needed to compose herself and stop acting like a child. But the gaping feeling she felt in her chest didn't disappear. She decided that she could run late to her "meeting" and laid there in peace, grateful for no disturbance as she collected her bearings. She was half Asgardian, half human…that's if her mother was human. Her father was alive and well in Asgard. She narrowed her eyes as she recalled Thor would be returning to that place in two days time. If her father wouldn't come to Earth looking for her, then she would go to him. If not to just give him a piece of her mind. And it certainly wasn't going to be the reunion she had dreamt as a kid. She pushed her senses out to see where Loki was, eyes widening when she felt his presence. Or lack of a solid one. She rolled over to her side, the one facing Loki, and saw him sitting there quietly with not a hair out of place.

"You're not actually in here are you?"

Loki seemed to smile if the indents around his eyes were any indication, before he nodded and his projection of himself disappeared in a light of gold and green. Aria sighed sadly as she was left alone, yet again. What was it about her that was so easy to leave? She curled tighter around herself. That was a question she probably wouldn't find the answer to and yet felt okay not knowing.

oOXXOo

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tony was sitting at the end of a long table, the rest of the team surrounding the sides. Aria stared out in front of her blankly, waiting for someone to say something. The silence was awkward as everyone digested what she had said. Aria glanced apprehensively at everyone, their faces all giving way to varying emotions.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"So you're saying you have a passenger in your body that you don't know what it is?" Tony asked slowly.

"Yes."

"And that he's what gives you power?"

"He strengthens what I already can do. If I didn't have him I would still be able to manipulate energy but probably not as strong as I can now."

"So enhances you. Okay I don't know about anyone else in the room, but I call horseshit."

"No Stark, in Asgard there are tales of vessels of perfect condition created to contain such entities that would otherwise rampage the Nine Realms." Thor calmly stated as he rubbed his chin in thought, "at least I believed they were tales. For each vessel must be part Midgardian, but I thought it foolish of how fragile you all are."

"So you're kinda like me with the green guy," Banner spoke out softly and almost as of thinking aloud. Aria smiled delicately at him, understanding passing through his eyes.

"Yes Banner. Except for me, he's always here," she pointed at her head, "never shuts up unless it's important."

"So he can speak to you?" Tony blurted out bewildered before throwing his hands up, "now I've heard it all. A god-wolf trapped inside a wizard."

"Yes and he can be very informative. Truthfully at first he scared me, but I was a child then. Now it's more of a mutualistic relationship, we both benefit from one another. And he's sealed not trapped, the tattoo I have is proof the seal is still set." She spoke gingerly as she gently rubbed the left side of her neck, Hati boisterously laughing in her head.

Mutualistic relationship? What benefit do you grant me?

A companion who can withstand your tendencies.

Ah yes but I would say more dampen them with your morality.

"What happens if the seal breaks?" Natasha piped in, leaning forward on the table.

"I…I don't know." Aria replied, "My mother I assume knew much more than what I can offer but as she has passed and probably would've been dead by now anyways, you know just as much as I do."

Silence again struck the group. But it felt more meaningful, as if they were all just digesting what she'd said. Aria sighed before she leaned back in her seat, mentally preparing everything she wanted and didn't want to say. While she may be disclosing a lot of information, she didn't want to tell them everything about her. They just needed to know a small bit to keep them satisfied. As she thought what she would say to them, that deep ache echoed in her chest after bringing her mother up. Of course she wasn't about to disclose the way her mother died or how when she did, Aria couldn't control their power. Or in any high emotional state it was hard to control their power. In fact, Aria wasn't about to mention that her ability to fully contain Hati was compromised with every stone she came into contact with. Or how their powers strengthened more with each interaction with said stones. Or how the stones created him and for some odd reason made him yearn for them. She didn't think that would go over well.

"Hati has helped me on various occasions. I assume he's the reason why I heal so quickly and why I am seemingly immortal. It does take a toll on him to bring me back from almost dying completely, but he just needs rest after. His energy compared to my own is vast but not infinite, as you can tell with the rooftop incident. I can assure you that he's bound to my person only, as in he can't abandon ship into another person. I also can't transform into his likeness like Banner can morph into the Hulk. My appearance does change yes but that's about all that occurs. I've also concluded he's a major reason why I've lived so long as well, being partially human you would think I would age but I stopped 'aging' at around 25 even though I'm actually 150 years old…" Aria explained while looking at each person.

"Can you control another persons energy?" Steve asked.

"Not that I'm aware. Just my own, which I'm still learning the capabilities. I know a lot of my power but not everything," Aria admitted.

"So you're trying to find out about your dad and you think he's on Asgard? Why?" Tony asked suspicion laced with every word.

Aria leveled him with a glare to which he matched annoyingly enough, "I think so because I had some sort of vision when I touched the cube. It was as-"

"Are you sure it was just a vision?" Banner interrupted hurriedly, his quiet manner now replaced with an excited energy, "because from what we know of the Tesseract, it can promote inter-dimensional travel. So the moment you touched it, you could've opened a portal unintentionally."

"If I did, then I'm not sure I would be able to tell you definitely. It felt as if I was floating…there but not there. I also never disappeared from the roof. Hence why I just say a vision."

Bruce nodded his head slowly, rubbing his arms as if he were cold. Aria slunk back in her chair, the hairs on her neck standing as all their eyes were staring at her. It unnerved her to the core, the various emotions playing on each of their faces. Looking at Tony, she knew nothing she said would make him trust her. She might've even gone as far as to say telling him everything has made him distrust her further. Of course he wouldn't, after everything she did and didn't say. She assumed that him and Banner caught on to her not spilling everything to them, not so sure about what the others could catch. Suddenly Thor pushed himself off the wall, striding towards Aria. She tensed and stood up as well, sending a small bit of her energy to her hands. Thor stopped just a hair away from her, his musky scent invading her sense of smell.

Aria didn't expect to be dragged into a hug. Shock shot through her and the energy sprang back to dwell within her. He pulled back and smiled a grand grin before turning towards the others, one of his large hands still planted on her shoulder.

"Aria is no enemy. In her eyes I see no evil…nor have I felt doubt of where her loyalty lies. To doubt her would be the same as doubting my alliance due to whom my brother is. We cannot judge Aria for what company she keeps with her, for the fact goes she never chose to harbor such demon," Thor explained as his grip on her shoulder tightened lightly.

His announcement seemed to make the others a lot less wary, but Tony still seemed to have an edge. At that moment though Aria could care less. Someone actually thought of her as good even after finding out she houses evil. An emotion sprouted in her chest and she felt it foreign, for it had been ages since she'd last felt it. She stared at Thor and hoped that her eyes could begin to showcase the emotion she felt. Someone accepted her. Despite her being inseparable from the chaos that was Hati. Aria was glad that Hati was silent on the matter, wanting to soak in the good feeling. These small wins weren't so small to her and she didn't need his smart comments bashing the good mood rousing in her chest.

"I think Aria should go with Thor," Steve drawled out carefully, "maybe her father can shed some light on what Aria is dealing with. Or at least the people of Asgard since they seem to know much more of this vessel situation. We can't help her here, at least I know I can't. The only thing I can offer is my friendship but I'm not naïve to think that's all she needs."

The others nodded mutely and Tony rolled his eyes. Aria shot him a grateful look, a small smile reflected in her eyes.

"I'll come back because at the end of the day, Earth is all I've known. I don't intend to stay in Asgard just because a man who may be my father is there," she stated aloud mostly for Tony, who was now pouring himself a drink.

I wonder what could go wrong…

Author's note

Yup I did it again :/ I'm beyond sorry! I will hopefully be able to provide better updates but as it goes, life is hectic and leaves me little to no spare time. Please let me know what you think though! I hope this chapter provides some insight to our main character :) I'll try to post another chapter tomorrow but I'm not sure if I'll be able to 100%. Thanks you bunches for taking your time to read this!