'Why do you look so sad, Wanda?' Coulson asked.

She shook her head, still distressed.

'What happened?'

'Nothing.'

Coulson nodded, turned and left the room.

Wanda buried her head in her arms. It was a dream after all. She didn't see anyone come.

She didn't know what she should be expecting, really. A ghost? A zombie?

'Shut up.' She told her brain.

OOO

'What is it like in Thor's home city? Have you visited there before?'

'Yes, but, the experience was pretty unpleasant.'

'Oh, really?'

'Basically I went on court and got banned from ever visiting again.'

'Why?'

'The King didn't trust me in his realm. He knew I have, destruction powers.'

'But that's just rude.'

'Hmph. Not the first place I am banished from.'

'How many places have you visited?'

'Not really 'visit', more like 'taking a rest and keep on going so no one will started blasting something after you'.'

'So, how many?'

'Pretty much every known place in the World Tree.'

'Hmm.' Peter stared up into the ceiling in awe, as if trying to imagine a tree growing in space. 'Are the stars different in each place?'

'Very.'

'Which ones do you like best?'

'I think, the ones in Asgard.' Elixir said slowly. 'They are the brightest and most colourful ones.'

'So, like seeing space without the need of a telescope?'

'Yeah, I guess.'

'Is it true that they believe that when they die they become stars?'

'Yes. When they die, they put the bodies in boats and float them down the lake, not bury them.'

Peter frowned.

'Why boats?'

Elixir shook his head.

'Not sure.'

Someone knocked on the door. Peter rushed over to open it.

'Oh, hi, Director.'

Elixir froze, even though he was blocked by the wall and wouldn't be seen by the visitor.

'Where have you been today?'

'Getting some fresh air. It was a bit stifling inside the building.'

'We keep the air con on 24/7.'

'And I also need some swinging around.' Peter quickly added.

'Do you happen to meet anyone today?'

'Um,' Peter hesitated. Elixir did tell him he shouldn't be found. 'I met Sam today.'

'Anyone new?'

'Nope.'

'Good. There's an evil kid running loose around the facility. He's about your age. If you see him, just report to any agent.'

'If he is evil why is he allowed to run around?'

'We have no choice. Someone forced us against our will.'

'Oh, really?'

'See you tomorrow.' Then the footstep travelled away.

Peter closed the door.

'I don't get it.' Peter frowned. 'Clearly you are not my age.'

'Yeah,' Elixir nodded. 'About four million years older.'

OOO

'Apparently, it wasn't just a potion accident.' Bruce muttered.

'What, so you are saying Elixir lied to Coulson?'

'No, if Elixir was four million years old or so, as he told Natasha in one conversation, and if we take Norse Mythology into consideration,' Bruce looked up from his book. 'Clearly he couldn't have came from any other place except for earth because he knew its four million years, and time doesn't really work in any other place.'

Tony scowled.

'I never knew you are interested in history.'

'I never expected myself to ever work with monsters, gods and robots all in one damn day either.'

'Yeah, that makes sense.'

OOO

'Four million?' Peter gasped.

'About that.'

'How do you know?'

'I keep track by making marks on the Stone Hedge.'

'But you said you only visited earth for one or twice.'

'Properly visited once or twice.' Elixir replied. 'The rest is just for the sake of making marks.'

'Wow.' Peter mused.

Another knocking came from the door. Peter ushered Elixir into his closet. They might have got lucky once, but its best not to risk it.

'Oh, hi Clint.'

Shoot, Elixir thought. Arrow man.

'Who were you talking to just then?'

'Oh, talking to Gwen on the phone.'

'I thought your phone got turned into a laser shooter after Tony took it.'

'I got a new one.'

'Show me.'

Peter walked around the room then returned to the door.

'Here. Tony paid for me.'

'Hmm.' There's a few clicks, and- 'Your call history said the last person you called is 'Mr Pizza Man'.'

'Its, a joke between me and Gwen.'

'Should we try this calling then?'

'No!'

'Who were you talking to.'

'None of you business.'

'Is it Elixir?'

'Um…'

'Yeah, he probably turned into a bird and flew out of the window.' Clint said, casually. 'Always behaving strangely and extremely not-predicting-'

'Why do you want to know whether he was here or not?'

'Nothing.'

'Seriously.'

'Fine, Natasha wants to find him so they could start with some tests.'

'Tests?'

'For his fighting tactics. Just to see how good, or bad, he is.'

'Oh.'

'If he comes back, tell him to go to B2.'

'Ok.'

The door closed.

Elixir opened the closet door for just a slight peak.

'Is he gone?'

'Yeah.'

Elixir sighed and allowed the closet door to swing wider.

'Where is B2?' He asked.

'Um, basement, where the training rooms are. I will take you there.'

OOO

'Nat, are you ok?'

Natasha scowled at Clint, putting him off. She wasn't panicking. She was just trying to lower her anxiety.

That was technically the same thing, but who cares.

The door opened, Peter steered Elixir in.

'Here.' Peter indicated the room. 'This is one of the training rooms.'

Elixir only nodded and stared up at the ceiling, at least twice as high as a normal room.

'Hey Peter.' Natasha said. 'Why don't you check on Wanda? She seemed a bit down.'

Peter frowned.

'Yeah, she should be in her room now.' Clint added.

With a funny look at both of them, Peter turned on his heels and left. The sound of the door shutting echoed through the spacious room.

Good, Natasha thought. They would rather do this alone.

Elixir looked extremely uncomfortable, being left in a room with two assassins.

He probably figured it out with his mind reading skills already. She thought.

'So, lets start will normal sparring. No weapons, no magic, no transformations and especially, no mind reading.' Natasha stressed on the last note.

Elixir smiled mischievously.

'Ok.' He shrugged.

OOO

Clint still didn't trust a damn thing about this kid.

Not, one, bit.

He watched warily as the two stood opposite of each other in the room. Elixir didn't look a bit frightened.

He should be. Natasha was just putting on her 'casual looks' to make him put off guard.

Clint could already predict what would happen in his head. The kid would end up in the medics for at least three weeks and Natasha will shrug the whole thing off like its nothing.

Clint was wrong.

Two minutes into it, and Natasha hadn't even touched Elixir. Not that Elixir was running away, but because he dodged every single thing without backing off.

Clint realized his mouth was open and quickly shut it.

But Natasha was just testing him first with basic stuff, and was most irritated that he hadn't hit back. So she stopped standing on the offence side and stepped back, exposing herself to anything.

'Go on. Or you don't know how?' Natasha said in a mocking voice.

Elixir didn't move.

Natasha punched him in his face. Clint bit his lip. He swore he heard something crack.

Then there was a blur, and Natasha was flying through the air.

Clint gasped and shot up to his feet. But of course Nat, being number one spy, allowed herself to take a dignified roll, rather than smack on the floor. Her face was frozen in surprise.

Elixir stood where he was the whole time, rubbing his cheek furiously.

Natasha wiped her forehead and brushed herself off.

'Let's take a break and then continue.'

Elixir turned and headed out the room.

'Nat, what exactly happened then?'

'He was fast, and strong.' Nat popped a coke and chugged it down.

Clint scowled. Natasha did get thrown across the room by a kid?

'He definitely had training. But more defense than anything else. Meaning, he hadn't gone on any fights head to head.'

''That's something to improve on then.' Clint tried to say something useful.

'No, for him, it might be because he has his other strengths. If you can change into animals, you don't need to practice fighting.'

'Makes sense.'

The conversation ended when Elixir returned.

'Sorry for throwing you.' He muttered.

'No offence taken.' Natasha replied lightly.

Clint noticed his cheek didn't seem bruised at all.

Maybe magic covering? He wondered.

'Right, if I remember correctly, You work best with daggers?'

'I don't mind, but I do prefer daggers and spears.'

A flashback came into Clint's head. When Loki walked down the dark corridors. His green cape dragged after him; his back slouched; his face scowling and drained; his hand clenched around the scepter. Day and night, he saw him limping around with no aim whatsoever and muttering to himself:

'Dead end…'

'Clint? I am asking you a question.' Natasha snapped her fingers in front of his face.

'Huh?'

'How about you go against Elixir with a weapon of your choice.'

'Oh.' He turned to Elixir. 'What are you using then?'

Elixir waved his and something glinted in the light. The two wicked looking daggers in his hand were made completely out of silver, and had runes engraved on its sides.

'I choose my bow and arrow.'

Natasha frowned.

'You sure?'

'Yes, but Nat, turn it to pillar forest will you?'

She nodded then went of to one side of the room. She tapped on the screen in the wall, and the floor shifted. The normal looking stone tiles rose and sank until the floor became uneven and solid pillars towered.

Elixir only stared at the sight.

'No wonder the ceiling is so high.' He mumbled to himself.

Clint smirked at his opponent's shock. He knew this particular training setting by heart.

'Same rules, Elixir!' Natasha called from somewhere above to monitor the scene easier. 'Now, three, two, one!'

Clint dashed off first into the fight, knowing exactly where to go.