Author's Note: Thank you to helenofargos and Fanfickisara for the wonderful comments.

An elongated sigh escaped my lips as my mind seemed to wander repeatedly despite my vain attempts to clear it and it persistently directed my thoughts to-

"Tony Stark," I murmured with a modest grin at the thought of the man.

"Who's asking," said man called out casually as if he hadn't snuck in and startled me.

Tony threw his arm around my shoulder, he seemed partial to the gesture with most everyone. Natasha wasn't exactly my go-to BFF, she wasn't one to talk about problems, much less with me. Tony knew of my lineage but not of the issue at hand and I certainly hadn't intended to inform him either but the words already began to slip out.

"I-I think I've been having dreams of Loki."

"Are you positive it's him? Not just your mind playing tricks on you? Does he know-" he shot out words rapidly.

"I don't know," I hissed in annoyance and shrugged his arm off.

Why did I confide in him? He can do nothing.

Perhaps Tony took my prolonged silence as careful thought to each of his questions but as time dwindled I grew increasingly agitated yet he didn't seem to catch the message and offered more advice much to my dismay.

"No one would want to be stuck with him. We can get someone else to do the job," Tony paused. "Come back to the lab, we'll have lunch with the others so you won't be alone."

"I'm not alone," I snapped.

Tony rolled his eyes and threw a playful jab. "Constance, we're... just get up."

A sole growl escaped my throat as I complied, rising languidly, with only half-hearted reassurance fueling my actions. As we walked to the lab, the nagging feeling of forgetfulness was cut short when I realized my water bottle was gone and Tony swiveled round to glance at me.

"Forget something?"

"Water bottle."

"I'll get it."

"No, you know what? I'll skip the lab and grab it."

He gave a terse nod before I rushed away to retrieve my bottle and take a much-needed shower. I rejoiced as splendidly scorching water hit my back, the air was fragrant with blackberry soap but it didn't last. I reluctantly got out and looked to the bed which beckoned me with the temptation of restful slumber.

My mind seemed to like taunting me with magnificent indigo mountains, golden wheat fields stretching as far as the eye could see, and an azure sky. A sycamore tree loomed in the distance, its branches and leaves pronounced against the field. The tree provided a great amount of shade and there he stood. A wild breeze rustled my hair, harshly shoving my body in that direction, I shook my head and sat hiding in the rippling grains.

Nothing... nothing... I've no desire to go there.

The ground began to rumble at the thought, chunks of earth spilt and disappeared ahead of me. I bolted upwards, tripping in the process, before taking off to the source of the commotion with a sprint until I reached glistening waters that shimmered from the sun, showing my muddled reflection.

"It has to work."

I instinctively sucked in a breath before dunking my head under, a feeling of discomfort soon turned into a fierce burning sensation. My mind was racing and I was unable to form coherent thoughts but at the same time it was continuously telling me that I needed to get to the surface. For how little time I was under the water, it felt like I had been going at it for an hour. The pain of drowning mixed with an odd incredulity that this was actually happening, a process filled with desperation and awkwardness. My mouth was open and my throat completely contracted. My body was warped in an awkward posture floating upwards; torso arched forward, limbs flowing backward, and eyes gazing straight up. I was running out of air. I tried to look up to see sunlight, but there was none, only darkness closing in from all sides. I let out another breath of air, this one more copious than the others. My body went limp, my mind blank and I gave up on all effort. I just let go, and my flaccid body just floated in the water for a few seconds. My lungs had given out, and there was no pain, just comfort.

I choked as my chest rose and fell rapidly trying to accommodate large intakes of air. That death felt too real. At that moment, I was reminded everyone was most certainly waiting.

"Let's hope I can hurry there in this state."

I charged, hopping down the stairs landing with a thump. My ankles would be sore later for that stunt as I shuffled around a corner, not bumping into anyone but smashing into the wall. Tony would most likely chide my lack of punctuality even though he was late for anything he deemed unimportant and no one bothered to tell him off anymore. A thin sheen of sweat coated my forehead and I took a couple deep breaths, striding in to find all the guys halt in conversation to regard me.

"What happened to you," asked the Captain, referring to my disheveled appearance no doubt.

"Umm... I-I, eh... took a-"

"Long shower," questioned Bruce.

"Nap. Miss anything?" I tried smiling only to start coughing harshly.

"Not a great deal, Lady Constance. Stark is in the kitchen," Thor boomed with fork and knife raised to the ceiling.

Yet again Tony's astonishing universal inventions had stunned me and I had intended to greet him but a particularly nasty bout of coughs replaced my words. Tony peeked over his shoulder, before resuming whatever it was he was doing.

"Nice to see you showed up, we all thought you didn't want to come."

"Sorry about that, went out there again."

"You know," Tony began slowly. "Stay here with me, and the others."

"There'd be no one to cover my shift." He looked disappointed and a tense silence fell between us, a timer finally breaking the quiet.

A tray with a great deal of food stuck out and I grabbed five casserole dishes balancing everything with ease. Tony stared dumbfounded when I gave a wink and we began heading into the dining area. It was scalding but the pain kept me centered, alert, positive that this was-no, is reality. The guys looked viciously hungry as they stared intently at the dishes in my hands. Natasha had joined them sitting next to Bruce and Steve at the edge of the table. She missed Clint, that much was evident. I set a tray near her and smiled slightly but she just stared back with a cold expression.

In no time, everyone was eating and not a word was said. When our plates were empty, everyone was full except Thor who demanded dessert. Tony went into the kitchen to set his machine, giving what seemed to be one final glare towards the clock. I stood to leave when a hand yanked my wrist tightly and caught a glimpse of Natasha. The guys were too busy laughing and chatting to listen.

"Be careful."

Loki always stood up with his hands folded neatly behind his back, commanding respect and submission from anyone he deemed a weaker being.

"I must say it is a luxury for you to visit me, it gets quite lonely in here. They leave you to do what they won't, how they mistreat us." There was that insufferable smirk that grated my nerves.

"Whatever you say."

"Quite rude to drown yourself just to avoid me."

No, I refuse to believe it, he's playing games.

Yet that feeble reassurance did nothing to rid my sickly, pale complexion or the fact I stumbled down the stairs seemingly hitting each platform below with only a thin cushion of blood to ease the fall.