When Stark and Banner began serious work, Snow decided on retiring to her room, where she was less of a distraction. She would have stayed to help, but she had no idea what they were doing. No shame in admitting what she could and couldn't do.

And so, on the semi-comfortable bed, she lied, allowing her thoughts about all that had occurred, all that would occur, flow freely. Steadying her breathing, her fears, her concerns, steadying them, a dire attempt to stay her focus when needed.

Half an hour, or so, later, a knock emitted on her door, then another, then another, till it was enough to wake her, startled at that.

She quickly got up, patting down her hair and clothes as she opened up. An agent stood urgently at her door step, requesting her to follow him to the lab.

Confused, she does as told. On the way, the agent hands Snow an earpiece, insisting she not remove it as he explained the situation. Apparently, agent Romanoff had managed to confirm that Loki meant to unleash the Hulk in some unknown way.

Naturally, hearing this set her heart and mind down and into emergency mod. Super aware, and greatly concerned. She didn't even have time to figure out how Nat had managed to get him to talk, or what he might have said.

It didn't matter, though, as she was ushered into the lab, where Nick seemed to be glaring at Tony and Bruce for a reason she'd discovered when Tony asked, "what is phase two?"

Strolling cautiously in, she catches a glimpse of Steve storming past her, evidently tense as he banged some sort of machine gun onto the nearest table, staring intently at Nick.

"Phase two is: S.H.E.I.L.D uses the cube to make weapons," he states grimly.

At that, White, Stark, and Banner, all turn to Fury in shock and slight disgust.

Steve turns to Tony. "Sorry, computer was moving a little slow for me," he tells half-jokingly.

Really?!

Weapons?!

"I thought the Tesseract was 'uncontrollable', director?" Snow inquires with bitter sarcasm. Nick turns to her with the slightest hints of guilt showing, like a victim in a court room.
"White, we gathered everything related to the Tesseract. This does not mean that we're making-"
"I'm sorry, Nick!" calls Stark suddenly, flipping a hanged screen towards them that very clearly showed the exact opposite of what he was about to claim. "What were you lying?" he questions daringly.

Nick shuts his mouth.

He needed them on his side. They could not turn against him now!

But they were…

"I was wrong, director. The world hasn't changed a bit," Steve utters in disappointment at him as Snow breathes calmly.

Just then, Natasha and Thor walk in. Bruce turns to her. "Did you know about this?" he asks threateningly.
"You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?" she asks warily.
"I was in Calcutta. I was pretty well removed," he states with dry humor.
"Loki is manipulating you," Nat warns, and, yet again, Snow's heart clenches. It wasn't fair, was all she could think.
"And you've been doing what exactly?" he retorts seriously.

Things were getting tense,

fast.

"You didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at you," Nat says realistically.
"Yes. And I'm not leaving, because suddenly you get a little twitchy," he stresses.

All remain their silence as Bruce speaks, worried of saying the wrong thing, making a wrong move, provoking him in any sort of way.

"I'd like to know why S.H.E.I.L.D is using the Tesseract," he points at the screen Tony had flipped, "to make weapons of mass destruction!" he exclaims.

Nick eyed for the proper reply to that. They knew that much, they might as well know the rest of the truth.

"Because of him," Nick points to Thor, who turns to him in shock and confusion.
"Me?" he asks innocently. The others listened intently.
"Last year," Nick resumes, "earth had a visitor, from another planet, who had a grudge match, that levelled a small town," he says, referring to Loki. "We learned that: Not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned."
"And this is your solution?!" asks Snow disbelievingly. Nick turns to her once more.

He needed her the most.

He is about to speak up, but Thor beats him to it. "My people want nothing but peace with your planet!" he exclaims.
"But you're not the only people out there, are you?" Fury retorts, silencing them. He had a point there.

"And you're not the only threat. The world's filling up with people who can't be matched. That can't be controlled," he states, eyeing most of them in reference. They're slightly offended.
"Like you controlled the cube?" pushes Steve.
"Your work with the Tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and whoever he's working for. It is a signal to all the realms that the earth is ready for a higher form of war," Thor explains.
"A higher form?" Steve asks.
"You forced our hand!" says Nick. "We had to come up with something!"
"A nuclear deterrent," utters Tony from beside Snow. "Cause that always calms everything right down," he says in cold sarcasm.
"Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark," Nick retorts.
"That is neither here nor there, Nick," Snow notes firmly. Tony appreciates it. Nick clenches his jaw at the piling up disagreements.
"I'm sure if he still made weapons," Steve starts, "Stark would be neck-deep in-"
"Hold on. How is this now about me?" Tony questions irritably. 'For god's sake' thinks Snow tiredly.
"I'm sorry, isn't everything?" Steve asks half-light-heartedly.
"I thought humans were more evolved than this," Thor comments in disappointment.

So did they.

"Excuse me! Did we come to your planet and blow stuff up?!" retorts Nick.
"You treat your champions with such mistrust," Thor elaborates irritably.
"Yet you expect us to trust you," Snow tells Nick in disappointment.
"Are you guys really that naïve?" asks Nat. "S.H.E.I.L.D monitors potential threats."
"Then that's it, isn't it? You only see us as threats," states Snow bitterly.
"Sno-" starts Nick.
"Captain America's on threat-watch?!" Bruce exclaims in sarcasm.
"We all are," replies Nat neutrally.
"Wait. You're on that list? Are you above or below angry bees?" Stark asks humorously.
"Stark, so help me god! If you make one more wisecrack!" exclaims Steve. Tony fakes a gasp.
"Threat! Verbal Threat! I feel threatened!" he retorts, honestly making the others smirk.
"Show some respect," Steve tells.
"Respect what?!" Tony retorts.

…

And as the supposed teammates,

our heroes,

our protectors,

argue away,

some very real threats prove their presence, on the way.

The argument escalates further, and takes a darker, more threatening turn.

"You speak of control, yet you court chaos," says Thor.
"That's his M.O. Isn't it?" asks Bruce. "I mean, what are we? A team? No. We're a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We're…

We're a time-bomb,"

he says, painting a grim picture for them.

And it was then, that the group was reminded of exactly why they were in that very room, in the first place.

"You need to step away," warns Nick seriously.
"Why shouldn't the guy let off a little steam?" Tony asks, slapping his hand onto Steve's shoulder casually.

Steve shoves it off furiously. "You know damn well why! Back off!" he shouts. Tony glares back.
"…I'm startin' to want you to make me," he retorts bitterly.

"Enough!" starts Snow, stepping between them once more.

All stop and watch the outcome of her interference with two near-erupting volcanos.

Neither men had anything against Snow. It was only right that she would be the one to stand.

"Look at us!" she scolds. "Look at what is happening! The world out there is at stake! And we're in here, fighting like children," she utters in disappointment, brushing shame down all of their faces,

and

admiration

from Nick.

"I know…it's hard to see, but none of us are wrong," at that, many would like to argue.

But something about Snow, her posture, the calm in her tone, the way she spoke, so raw, everything about her demanded a sense of respect.

"The only problem, is our non-acceptance to a difference in opinion. And the sooner…we accept…the better our chances at winning. At saving lives…That is what we're here to do…"

Silence.

Silence…as her words sunk in.

Silence, and nods,

nods of acceptance.

They were convinced.

"She's right," starts Tony, Steve nodding.

Thor smiles contently. His respect for Snow had grown vastly in only a few seconds. His brother was lucky to have someone like her in his line.

Snow's content with the wave of calmness that had washed over the room. "So, for the sake of keeping the chaos to a minimum," she smiles somewhat proudly, a look they almost needed, "would you boys be willing to shake on it?" Snow grins, making both Tony and Steve chuckle at how silly that sounded.

Nick watched closely. Would they really do it? Was she really that convincing?

And a second passes.

The two men turn to one another.

Heavily, reluctantly, Steve puts out his hand.

And just as heavily, and just as reluctantly,

Tony takes it.

The idea of those two shaking hands was almost impossible. It was like a break through.

Not only was Nick greatly impressed, he also saw opportunity in what had just happened. She had a hand over them that he didn't have. It was necessary. If he could get her on his side, he would have them too. Of course, such thoughts, he kept to himself.

A beep suddenly sounds, startling them somewhat. "Got it!" Tony grins happily. Bruce goes to observe the screen.
"You've located the Tesseract?" Thor asks.
"I could get there faster," notes Tony, readying to leave.
"The Tesseract belongs on Asgard! No human is a match for it!" he proclaims, daring anyone to say a word against it. They don't, even though Nick would love too.
"You're not going alone," says Steve to Tony.
"No, he's not. I'm going with him. I can fly, remember?" Snow notes. Tony smirks knowingly, and Steve is confused. She hadn't told Rogers about all of her powers yet.

From beside the computer, Bruce discovers something direly dreadful.

The Tesseract.

It was only a few feet away from them.

…How?

Unfortunately, no time was left to figure that out.

An explosion sounds,

shakes the ground.

The sound of metal clattering, like tables being flipped over,

nearing them.

Heat. It was getting hot.

Smoke.

And then.

…

Boom.

All of that, in a manner of two seconds.

XXXXX

Onto the cruel floors, she was thrown, covered in dust, and shreds of glass. Smoke blocked her vision, and heaved her breathing. The sound of alarms blaring across the floors screamed in her ears. Her body ached from the fall, but was quickly recovering as she focused her powers on it urgently.

She pushed off the ground, stumbling slightly. Snow eyed around. She couldn't see Tony. She couldn't see Steve. She couldn't see anyone. The room seemed as though an earthquake had hit. The floors were up and down!

"Ma'am!" yells a female agent from out near the door. Snow turns to her frantically. "You need t-" and before being able to finish her words, the woman took a single shot in the head,

and fell.

Dead.

Snow's heart raced, mind wired up, and rage fueled her soul. She spurred to her feet,

and,

instead of hiding back,

Snow mentally counted to three,

and stormed out, where the red lights shimmered.

More shots fired her way. Using her golden-colored force-fields, they bounced against her shield, and tumbled to the ground, leaving her armed adversaries aghast.

Snow can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment,

for finally standing,

against what shouldn't be.

And with a twist of her clenched fist, the three or so mercenaries were vigorously shoved into the adjacent walls. Once. Then twice, till none could move.

They weren't dead, just unconscious, but if she had to, she would.

It was a step in her life she never wanted to take, but she was too involved to turn back now.

This was war, blood was bound to be shed.

At least she was on the right side.

Uncertain of her next step, Snow turns back to the agent that had fallen nobly. Her hearts aches, and a fire starts in her chest. A raging, wrathful,

flame,

for vengeance.

"…White, do you copy?!" Nick's voice calls through. Snow clicks her earpiece.
"I copy, Nick," she replies warily, noting the haste in his tone.
"The Hulk has been unleashed on the interior deck!" he tells.

Her heart races faster,

with fear,

but her mind yells at her to run, in that very direction, and stop Bruce from tearing the ship apart,

or worse.

"I'm on it!" she retorts, storming off.

She wasn't sure where she was going as she zoomed down the hall. Fortunately, she passed by some neutral agents, that pointed her in the right direction.

About to head off once more, another agent yells, grasping the attention of all those present. "Take COVER!" he screams as he himself jumped out of fire range from the incoming assailants.

Snow stood her ground, conjuring another force field to keep the persistent bullets at bay as all, including the attackers, watch in amazement.

But that didn't stop them from trying to take her down. Still, their attempts were shameful as she walked heavily towards them, step by step, till she was close enough to push the two in front of her into the back walls, encouraging the covered agents to step into light and fight back more publically.

One of the mercenaries attempts to throw her a supposedly unexpected punch to the back of the head, but she could sense his presence, turning at just the right moment to grasp his arm, and twist it with diabolical force that stabbed fear into the man's heart as she pressured till she heard bones crack, insuring his harmlessness. Those karate lessons finally payed off.

There were but a few left, and she could hear Bruce's mad roars from the lower deck. She needed to get down there now!

Snow turns to the nearest agent. "Can you handle this?!" she asked. The agent gave her one knowing nod.
"Go!" he assured.

And she was off.

Pushing past the many guards and agents, alas, Snow reached the deck, and was presented with a wary sight.

The Hulk.

With all his might!

And, unfortunately, all his rage.

Poor Thor was stood in a very difficult position, one where Bruce-No-Hulk, attempted to squash him down with his tree-sized arm that Thor held up with both hands, using all his strengths, so much, that where his leg and knee stationed, the ground began to crack.

He notes Snow, and smiles warily, holding his humor in the worst of battles. "C-com to join the fffun?!" he asked.

Snow averted her attention from him, to the Hulk. "HULK!" she calls.

The name catches the Hulk off guard, and he turns in confusion. Having caught his attention, even though he was still attempting to flatten Thor, Snow becomes wary, and nervous. Her mind throws words at her to choose, and say. She speaks. "You don't want to fight us," she raises her hands in surrender.

However, the Hulk found it quite irritating that the woman would assume what he would and wouldn't want.

"I've already tried that!" yells Thor, causing the Hulk to turn back to him and let out a core-shaking roar, splattering drops of saliva onto the God of Thunder's reddening face, weighing down on him. And Snow could see, Thor couldn't hold much longer.

Thinking fast, she zooms forward. She skits to the Hulk's side hurriedly, then floats several feet off the ground to get a good, high hit-point. Aiming at his side, Snow conjures up an immense amount of power, holding off, then lets go,

shocking the incredible Hulk

to the other side of the room,

and releasing Thor from his misery.

She rushes towards him, holding him up and secretly healing most of his aching muscles, even at the risk of wearing her down slightly.

"That was…good," he comments, somewhat baffled by the lengths of her abilities.
"Yeah? Not good enough," she calls back as their frenemy got back to his feet.

Snow and Thor stood side to side, both holding their fists up as the great beast glared intently at them, striking them with grand concern for their lives and each other.

With no second to spar, Hulk charged at his adversaries. Their reflexive motion sent them both bolting in opposite direction just before the Hulk crashed into them like a speeding truck.

Thor and Snow then halted, switching back. Thor hopped up, falling onto the Hulk's back before he regained focus. The Hulk immediately began to thrash and grasp at him as Thor attempted chocking him out cold with his hammer.

On the ground, Snow used her force-fields to halt the Hulk's motion, and it was taking a lot out of her.

In a fit of strength, the Hulk used all his might to push up and into the upper floor, breaking her force and causing her to fall from inertia as Thor was thrown up with him.

"Thor! We need you in the holding cell! ASAP!" Nick calls out on the coms. Thor hesitates with his decision of hurrying after a possibly escaping Loki, or holding down an overly destructive Hulk.

Hearing this, Snow jumps to her feet, flying up and into the hole the Hulk had made.

Quickly she ducks as Thor is sent flying over her head, screaming. She then gets up, and holds a field against Hulk's smash attempts, buying Thor time. "Thor!" she shouts. "Go! I'll keep him down," she says. Snow then looks to see great reluctance in Thor's eyes as he pushed to his feet. "GO!" she yells once more.

And so, Thor storms off, to keep his brother in check, trusting Snow to do what he couldn't.

Turning back to the situation at hand, Snow groans in pain as the Hulk rained fists down her shield, aching her every muscle, making her wonder how in the world she would get out of this one.

And that was when a fighter-jet appeared at the outer window. In a manner of seconds, the window glass crashed down onto the ground, and splattered around, along with a hefty amount of bullets directed at the relentless beast.

The Hulk cried out in frustration, just before he leaped into the air,

and onto the jet,

confirming that the pilot would have nightmares for years to come.

Snow took cover near the doorway from all the shots, and when the Hulk was out of sight, she reappeared, to an alarming view.

The Hulk was tearing and smashing at the jet, that was then sent flailing into the sky helplessly.

Not if she had anything to do with it.

Snow runs out to the edge of the no-longer-a-window, and immediately bounces out, insuring her concentration on flying, something she wasn't all that good at. She took calming breaths from fear of falling or losing control.

She then followed after the Hulk and the jet in haste, but only caught up when the pilot in his ejection-seat was grabbed vigorously by Hulk, keeping him from fleeing away.

Fighting nearby, Steve catches sight of Snow, and informs Tony of the situation, who was desperately attempting to fix one of the Helicarrier's broken wings as Steve himself fought rogue mercenaries.

Snow zoomed forward, and halted a few feet away from the jet, using her force to pull the man, and his seat, towards her, then back into the Helicarrier just before the jet was blown to bits, and the Hulk was sent flying away.

"Bruce!" she shouts, about to head after him.
"Snow! Don't!" calls Steve through the coms, grasping her attention.
"Snow. He'll survive the fall. Loki's escaping! They need you back there!" explains Tony in haste.

Unable to think straight, Snow took a leap of faith, and made the decision to trust Tony and Steve, storming back into the ship.

XXXXX

"Move away, please," Coulson requests of Loki, who was stood directly next to the control-panel, having tricked Thor into the cell instead of himself.

There was a plan. His own. Not the Other's.

Well, if failing was a plan, then that was his plan.

Defeat.

And, for that to happen, he would have to provoke his adversaries, in any way he was offered, especially his brother, who simply needed to stop caring so much for him.

Loki's mind may be in dismay, but at least one thing was clear.

He didn't want this.

Any of it.

For the past year, all he'd ever wanted, was for the pain to end, to find peace,

and if that was in death,

then so be it.

He tried, he really did.

Selvig, the one building him the portal. Though Loki's words were heard, written words weren't, and he made it quite clear for Selvig, he did not wish for the portal to be indestructible.

A failsafe, the last hope for earth's protectors.

This agent. He seemed noble. Stood here, alone, facing a God. Very brave. What shame it would be to end him. Yet, how encouraging it would be for Thor,

to truly turn against Loki.

Though it felt like he'd lost his path, he was still the God of Mischief. If he wanted to trick Thor into thinking he'd actually killed the determined agent, he could.

"You like this?" the agent gestures to the complex-looking weapon he gripped in his hands, aimed at Loki as if it would actually make a difference.

Oh, how Loki wished it would.

"We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does. Wanna find ou-"

And it was then that Loki decided to act. From behind Coulson, he actually stood, driving the scepter into the agent's back, in a place he knew would seem to kill, but only for a short period, enough to convince Thor before he set him loose into the air.

"NOOO!" screams Thor wrathfully and in pain, banging at the reinforced glass.

Coulson tumbled to the floor, sliding down the wall adjacent, unable to breathe right, body drained of all energy left.

At least it was temporary.

Loki gave him one last pained look before he turned back to the panel, insuring he bore a cold, dark mask for his heartily sibling to hate.

Loki turned to see Thor eyeing him with such despair, such disappointment.

Thankfully, or not, it wasn't the first time he'd seen that look in his brother's bright eyes.

He had to end this though. Push it further. He had to ensure his brother's hatred. For the sake of humanity.

For the sake of peace.

And with one, final, feigned grin, Loki pressed the button,

and his sibling

fell.

And he walked away…

XXXXX

Snow sprinted down the halls, dodging, pushing people out of her way.

Running through a room that was right next to the holding-cell,

she saw him.

And he saw her.

A moment passes, neither quite sure how to act. Both direly in conflict.

She should attack, apprehend,

yet,

she'd never felt more hesitant.

And Loki. He was too far gone to be able to comprehend what he felt in that moment. To make sense of it.

But he felt.

A part of him saw something in her. A glimmer of hope. And his heart encouraged it, fighting so brutally against his mind, to keep his owner from causing her harm. From killing her out of necessity.

And she? She couldn't.

How could she?

How could one, not see, nor hear, but feel someone's deepest of pain, most raw of human emotions, and still strive to cause them agony?

She was afraid this would happen. She was afraid she would slip.

Still, as if subconsciously, she had both her hands balled up and ready for any sudden movement.

Then,

the last thing she'd ever expected to happen,

happened.

Loki raised up both hands,

speaking in a tone she didn't quite read.

"You…don't want to do this,"

he utters with a voice as smooth as silk. It was like a warning. She wasn't sure.

Snow hears his words, and is surprisingly able to make sense of them.

"No…I don't," she replies.

Neither wanted to harm the other.

But what was right?

What made sense?

What…had to be done?

No.

She had a job to do. She owed these people,

compensation for all the years she'd stood idly by,

and done nothing.

"But I have to…" she whispered in despair.

And he doesn't blame her…

He wasn't going to enjoy this.

With a fit of energy, Snow pushes forward a field, which he, being the first, had managed to cut through, like a knife to an apple, using his scepter, and the stone it held.

Recovering from shock, Snow lurches forward, putting up shield after shield as he cut through them effortlessly.

Alas, she'd managed to reach him attempting a punch. He grasped her fist firmly. She quickly used her leg to hit him in the knee.

He tumbled back, then pushed forward, swinging about the scepter that she'd managed to block with the fields, just a second before it cut through them.

Alas, he was able to push through quickly enough to cut a deep wound into her arm.

And still, she held her ground, hissing in pain, as he watched in disbelief,

the wound heal.

Having no more time to spar, Loki, using his own magic, creates a delusion for her to see, as he hurriedly stepped behind her. And before she was able to sense him, he drove a dagger into her side, causing her to scream in sharp pain.

Loki held her free arm with his own firmly as her back rested strictly against his chest, and he insured that the dagger was held in so she was unable to heal and stand tall.

"Uhh…" she breathed, tears of pain brimming her eyes.
"Shh…Don't fight it, love," he whispered in her ear, warm breath stroking, feeling needles stab at his heart.

Loki pushed down, and she fell down with him. Still holding the dagger in, Loki lied her gently onto the floor as she eyed him in agony, and grand confusion.

Was he really going to let her live?

Loki couldn't say much more. But he had something else for her.

Snow felt his cold, slim fingers, linger on hers, unwillingly toying with her heart, then something of rough texture. He placed it in her palm, and it began to feel like a crumbled paper of some sort. He then closed her hand around it, giving her one last look of despair with his striking, ocean-shaded eyes,

before he got up,

without pulling out the dagger,

and vanished from her sight.

XXXXXXXXXX