Barton and Drake walked in on quite the scene. Tony stood on the far counter, holding a tray of crystal glasses in one hand and balancing himself with the other. His eyes were trained on the real source of conflict.

In the middle of the room, Thor and Banner stood ready to throw blows, eyes flashing. Brooke stood between them, a single hand on each man's chest, and her feet bracing her to hold them apart. Mjolnir sat innocently at her feet. Her nostrils flared, belying her inner rage.

"What in the world happened?" Barton exclaimed.

Brooke's eyes shot daggers. "No talking, Hawk Man." The atmosphere in the room was so thick that it seemed like it might explode at any moment.

Drake took a step back, knowing a fight was ready to break loose. "Um... Brooke? You might want to move."

Brooke heard Dragon, she just didn't care. No fighting. She'd seen enough fighting.

"Think you can call me a supercilious medicine man and get away with it?" Bruce roared.

"Hey, don't rage monster my tower again!" Tony warned from his spot on the counter.

An evil grin spread across Bruce's face. "Okay. Call me what you want... little princess."

And that settled it. Thor pushed past Brooke's arm, and inadvertently sent her sprawling toward the couch. He settled his hands around Bruce's neck and squeezed, pushing the large man back toward a wall. They ended up on the floor instead.

Brooke bounded for them and grabbed at Thor's arm, but he pushed her aside. She hit the wall hard, lost her balance, and sank to the floor. On her hands and knees, Brooke lifted her eyes menacingly. "That's it."

She sprang to her feet and rushed to the men fighting on the floor, Bruce just barely managing to hold himself back from turning green. She caught one of Thor's arms with her legs, used her momentum to duck into a combat roll, and tore his arm from Bruce's neck.

Bruce gasped for air as Thor turned to regard the little girl with a big punch. She rushed him again, this time sending a kick to his abdomen.

"No fights!" Brooke shouted as Thor stumbled backwards.

"Be careful, tiny human. It is not wise to anger me."

"Not wise to anger me, either."

Thor reached to detain her before she did something atrocious, but Brooke ducked under his arm and jumped on his back. She wrapped her arm around his neck and held tight. Thor gripped her small hands in his big ones and flipped her over his head. She landed on her feet instead of her back, as he had probably expected.

One spin, and she was facing Thor, their hands still entwined. She gripped tighter and jumped, bringing her feet into contact with his abs again. She let go at the same time and backflipped to land in the center of the room as Thor staggered.

He raced for her with a roar.

Brooke gripped Mjolnir's handle and waited until Thor was almost upon her. A spin to get her balance and find momentum, and then Mjolnir made contact with Thor's chest.

He dented the wall as he hit it and slumped to the floor.

Tony, Bruce, and Hawkeye all stared at her with mouths agape. If their jaws had been able to come unhinged and fall to the floor, they probably would have.

/

Implanted a device? Kitania froze, on the verge of standing up and running, but instead choosing to sit in stunned silence. What device? What kind of person was he? She could not believe her bad luck. She had run away from that stupid, horrible situation only to find herself talking with a could-be serial killer. Just great.

She listened to his side of the conversation, already fully confused. He mentioned Stark like he didn't get along with the guy. And what did he mean by "the madman with the monsters"? That didn't sound promising. And amplifiers, what were they? As a pianist, the only things she could think of were the giant speakers she often used to magnify the sound of the keys.

Demetri hung up, but he didn't seem to notice her at all.

Buck up, Kitania scolded herself. Just spit it out. It's now or never. "They heal."

Demetri snapped back to attention when Kitania spoke. "What? Oh, your power. They heal? Wonderful. That's a wonderful power to have." He was obviously still distracted with his thoughts.

Kitania rolled her eyes and held in the tears. He didn't even care. She was an idiot to think he could care about her stupid superpower. He couldn't even focus long enough to really register what she said.

"Are you kidding?" she scoffed. "It's not wonderful. I'm a freak!" She stood and shoved her hands in her pockets. She had been a fool to share her secret. "Do what you will with the new information, just don't act like you care. Because, obviously, you don't."

"Wait! Kitania!" Demetri reached out a hand to stop her, but couldn't find her. "I'm sorry. You're right. That was really insensitive of me. I just have a lot on my mind right now. You're not a freak. Kitania?" He listened intently, searching for retreating footsteps. When he heard nothing, Demetri sighed heavily and slumped back against the bench. "Great job, De," he mumbled to himself. "Drive away the only girl who understands and actually speaks to you without money being involved. Great job."

He leaned his head back, removed his sunglasses, and placed a hand over his eyes. For a genius, he could be such an idiot sometimes.

Kitania spotted the man down the sidewalk, stopped dead in her tracks, and thought her heart would burst from the stress. It couldn't be. Not here. Not him. How had he made it all the way to New York? She knew replying to that email had been a stupid idea. She should have let it go. Now he was here, across the park from her, and she didn't know what to do.

So she turned back to Demetri. "You realize I'm still right here, don't you?"

She hoped her fear didn't show in her voice. If that man so much as ventured into her peripheral vision, she would have to either book it or fight. Running sounded a lot better with each passing second, but she remained by the bench. Maybe the blind guy had some other superpower that could help her.

Demetri immediately lifted his hand from his eyes. "O-oh. Of course I knew that." He sat up and cleared his throat. "Of course. Please, come sit. I'm sorry if I offended you."

Kitania felt her muscles stiffen, getting ready to fight or flee. "I think I'd better stand right now, thanks. And I'm not easily offended." She glanced over her shoulder, and saw him getting closer. "Have you... have you actually paid a girl to talk to you?"

Demetri laughed. "Of course not. Women usually only like me for my money." He smiled, relaxing again. "Why don't you want to sit?" He noted the nervous tone in her voice. "Is everything alright?"

"Um... well..." Kitania gulped and slid her sleeves down over her palms. "Not really, no. You know that past we were talking about? The one that I have? I think it may have just caught up with me."

"Oh, dear." Demetri sat up straight and pulled his knife from his belt. "Kitania, I can help you, but you have to do exactly as I say."

He grabbed his white cane, folded it up, and put it away. Then, with a twist, what had been his knife was now a single metal rod, with the blade stashed somewhere inside.

"Come with me." He stood, dropped one end of the rod to the ground to use as his cane, and held out his free hand to Kitania. "Let's go for a walk. If anyone is following us, I'll be able to hear them. But, I need for you to walk in the grass. If you walk on the gravel, I'll hear both your footsteps and theirs and will not be able to find your pursuers as easily. I know I look like an ordinary blind man, but how often do looks deceive? Come."

Kitania managed to turn off the lumen in one of her palms and grabbed Demetri's hand with that one. "I've got it. Do exactly what you say. I won't let you down." She threw a glance to the man quickly progressing in their direction scowled. She'd like to see him try to do something. Anything. Bring it on.

Demetri began using his metallic rod as a cane, and led Kitania away from the bench. He was careful to stick close to the grass, so Kitania could walk in it. He listened intently for the sound of footsteps behind him. "When I tell you to," he whispered, "go and hide behind a nearby tree. I don't want you getting hurt in the fight."

Kitania didn't know if she really wanted to hide. More like she wanted to shove that man's face into the pavement. Over and over again. But, she knew he was stronger than she was, so she would do what Demetri asked.

She hazarded one more glance over her shoulder. Not far now. And he looked like he'd spotted her. That same glazed-over expression. That maniacal smile that preceded his creepy stalker come-ons. Even seeing him smirk like that made her want to jump in the shower and stay there until she was pruney all over.

Demetri felt Kitania tense. "I won't let him hurt you," he whispered. "How far away is he?"

"I don't know," Kitania didn't dare to look behind her again. "Couple hundred feet max. And closing fast." She clutched her free hand to her stomach. "I don't like this. I feel like I'm going to puke."

"You'll be fine, Kitania." Demetri whispered comfortingly. "Shh... Let me hear his footsteps."

Demetri kept his thumb on the trigger of his staff, ready to send out the blades and the rest of the rod in one swift motion. All he needed was the guy to get close enough. "When he gets within reaching distance, go and find somewhere to hide. I'll take care of the rest."

Kitania breathed. In and out. One last glance over her shoulder told her it was time to hightail it out of there. So she released Demetri's hand and dashed for the nearest wall of shrubbery. If there was one thing she could do, it was disappear. Even if it made her feel like a coward.

Demetri felt her release his hand and heard the footsteps behind him. He turned toward the man. "I would suggest you leave Kitania alone. I don't know who you are, or what your game is, but you'd best leave her out of it." With a shink, the blades in Demetri's staff came out, each about a foot long. "If you know what's good for you, you'll turn and leave before this turns ugly."

Kitania peered out from behind the bushes. She could see and hear it all. This had to end better than last time.

Richard Edwards, creep that he was, stopped a foot or two away from Demetri and sneered. "This isn't your fight. I just need to talk to her." He turned to walk around Demetri entirely.

Demetri grinned. "You were warned."

With a snap, the rest of Demetri's six-foot-long Vibranium staff came hurling out of itself. With one swift motion, he slammed the metal into the man's shins, knocking him to the ground. He shoved one metal blade into the ground next to the man's head, too close to his ear for comfort. It was his final warning. "The next one takes your head clean off."

Kitania watched Mr. Edwards as he slipped a hand into a pocket and drew out a taser. Excruciatingly slow. Slow enough she knew he wouldn't make a single sound. So she took matters into her own hands. She raced across the grass and with a single kick sent the taser flying. The next kick made contact with Richard Edwards' gut.

And she just kept kicking, talking between impacts. "You idiot stalker! Get over yourself, curl up, and DIE!" Her final kick landed in a particularly sensitive area, and Richard groaned and curled into the fetal position. Served him right. But, then, his eyes opened to meet hers, and Kitania saw she had only made it worse. He'd never give up. One more kick to his kneecap, and then Kitania fled for her life.

Demetri stood, dumbfounded, as he tried to regain his bearings. He'd heard the scuffle. Kitania hadn't exactly followed the plan, and it had caused him to lose his sense of direction. He listened intently for the sound of the man on the ground. "I'll tell you what... how much would it take to get you to go away? I am a man of both money and power. Just name your price."

Richard chuckled. "Couple million. Might shut me up for a while. But it'll take a lot to stop me. She owes me."

"Hm. Why does she owe you, if you don't mind me asking? And, I think I can take care of that couple million. Tell you what, I'm a scientist and I'm looking for volunteers. It's just a little brain scan, really. And in exchange, you'll get your millions, and the girl. What do you say?" Demetri flipped the switch on his staff, sending the blades back in. He gave the staff a little twirl, letting it drop back down to the size of his cane. He leaned on it, nonchalant, and looked in the man's direction.

"Let's say she left a... permanent mark on my life and I've come to collect the note." He shrugged. "Couple mil and the girl, you say? I'm in."

Demetri grinned. "Great! Let me just call my limo, which will personally transport you to our facility. Just a couple of tests, and she's all yours." With that, Demetri pulled out his phone, flipped it open, and pushed a button. "Yes, go ahead and send the car around."

Within minutes, a sleek black limousine came driving up and stopped at the curb nearby. Demetri gestured toward it, and walked to the front window. "I plan to walk home. Our new... friend... here wants to volunteer for project X. See that he receives the utmost care. And do everything you can to make him comfortable. Everything."

"Of course, sir." The driver held the door open for the strange dead-man-walking, knowing exactly what Demetri's instructions were.

As the limo pulled away and Demetri stood there, grinning from ear to ear, he knew poor Richard would never be heard from again.

Kitania stepped out from behind a tree, stunned and still terrified. "You... you let him get away! You offered him a ride! Do you know what he'll do to me? You just signed my death sentence!" She was yelling, but she no longer cared. Richard was still out there. She still wasn't safe.

Demetri's smile faded away as he heard Kitania screaming at him. "Calm down. He's not going where he thinks he is. I am not only a man of wealth, but of power. My men are taking care of him."

"What, like, to a prison?" Kitania flailed her arms, even though she knew Demetri couldn't see her exasperation. "He'll just escape. I stabbed the guy with a pen and he still didn't give up. You think a measly cell is going to make any difference in the long run?!"

"He's not going to a cell. He's going somewhere far worse. You're safe now." With that, Demetri gave his staff another twirl, folding it back into itself. He grabbed his white cane, folded it out, and began to walk in the other direction. "Come along, Kitania. We never finished out conversation."