Author's Note: I love this story with all my heart. I haven't had enough time for it recently, but I'll try and make some as the summer goes on.

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Chapter Seven

Small Hours

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Chloe Banner had the room of an artsy teenage girl. The walls were pale green, and covered with prints of famous paintings. There were even some of her own drawings displayed. One entire corner was dedicated to her easel and paints. She constantly had paint on her hands and a pencil behind her ear, a sketchbook under her arm, and pastels in her purse.

It was early December. Chloe, in a fit of festivity, had hung up her twinkle lights in her bedroom, and let them wind her into sleep every night. She would occasionally wake to hear Loki making his way to the elevator, heading up to sleep with his boyfriend. Sometimes, Bruce ate a midnight bowl of cereal. Darcy liked to watch the 3:00 a.m. Ellen Degeneres marathon.

It was a Saturday. Chloe sat in her papasan chair, sketchbook open and pencil flying across the page. Markus was fast asleep on the floor, cheek pressed against the carpet, legs splayed out.

A knock sounded on the door. Chloe glanced up. It was her father, leaning against the doorframe. Markus wouldn't wake up; he could sleep through anything.

"Hey. Uhm how long has he been asleep?" Bruce questioned.

"About an hour. He stayed up late last night playing Call of Duty." Chloe signed her name at the bottom of the page and flipped the book shut. "What's up, Dad?"

Bruce shrugged. "Just wanted to see how you were doing. Loki went out with Peter, and your mother is grocery shopping."

Chloe smiled then, a smile that she inherited from her mother. "I'm great, Dad. Everything is going really well. And I sent my portfolio to that really cool art camp I was telling you about."

"Good. You're talented, Little Bird."

They chattered a bit more, until Markus began to stir. Bruce chuckled and walked down the hallway. The shaggy-haired boy turned onto his back and smiled sleepily at his kind-of girlfriend. Chloe threw her sketchbook onto the bed and slid down onto the floor beside him.

"Hey," she said, delivering a small kiss to his cheek. "Nice nap?"

"Waking up was the best part," he replied. Chloe laughed at that and nuzzled her nose against his sweetly.

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"S.H.I.E.L.D. JUNIOR OPERATIVE PROGRAM"

Tasia was seated at her roll top desk, orange Pilot G2 pen in hand. It was a thick application, at least fifteen pages of extensive background check and recommendation. And, of course, her parents had no idea of her plans.

Full Name: Anastasia Katerina Barton

Parents: Natasha (Romanoff) Barton and Clint Barton

Parent Occupations: S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents/Key Members of the Avengers Initiative

Age (requirement: 12): 14

Grade in School: 8th

Grade Point Average: 4.00

ACT Cumulative Score: 32

It was an impressive application, to be perfectly honest. Tasia was a smart girl, and with her parents being who they were, it was genetically hard wired into her brain to be the best she could be. What her parents didn't know couldn't hurt them... And she would tell them. Eventually.

But her mom and dad were so protective of her. That's why she was trained by the Avengers and not the trainers at SHIELD. This was such a great opportunity, though, to fine-tune her skills. She had the potentially to be even greater, and she knew that with their help, that could be achieved. So she picked up her pen and began to scribble in information again.

Her guinea pig, Bones, nuzzled her elbow with his little nose. He was fat and a warm shade of brown. Tasia gently lifted him off the desk to set him down in his little bed on the ground.

"TASIA! DINNER!" Natasha called out. Tasia quickly hid the application and slid Bones into his cage, before heading out to the dining room.

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Peter didn't feel well when he and Loki got back from their date that night. He had a temperature of 103, and his skin was pale. Loki informed Steve and Tony, a worried look passing over their faces. Loki kissed his boyfriend quickly before bidding them adieu and heading downstairs.

Steve got Peter settled in bed, helping him out of his jeans and into some soft sweatpants.

"It's probably just the flu," Peter muttered, curling into his covers and sighing heavily. "I'm tired."

"Well, if you're still feeling bad in the morning, we're going to take you to the hospital." Steve ran his hand through Peter's hair and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, son."

"We love you, Pete." Tony added. The two men left, neither noticing the small, slowly swelling bite mark on their son's hand.

Instead of peaceful dreams, Peter's eyes flickered with nightmares, the pain throbbing throughout his body. He tossed and turned in the large bed, head thrashing back and forth. But then, all was still. When Loki entered his room at 2 am, the boy was sound asleep, his temperature back to normal. The younger boy let out a sigh of relief and snuggled against him.

"Wake upppp," Loki whispered, nosing at Peter's ear. Peter shifted sleepily , wrapping his arms even tighter around his boyfriend. It was nearly eleven in the morning. "Peter... Aren't you ready to wake up now?"

Peter was perfectly content just lying there, wrapped in a sea of warm blankets and Loki, who smelled like strawberry body wash. But then again, Loki had started to kiss Peter's neck, and that simply would not do.

"Morning," Peter mumbled. "What's up?"

Loki kissed him gently. "Nothing. So happy your temperature went down. I bet you're hungry; you didn't exactly eat much last night at dinner. Maybe we could order in? Chinese?"

"Yes, please."

"You stay here, I'll go order."

Peter watched him run out, a smile on his face. He kicked back the blankets and wandered over to his bathroom. A shower was definitely in order. He turned the water on hot, and stepped into the spray. His body felt... Different. His muscles more defined, his limbs more flexible. He blamed it on the amazing amount of sleep he had had, and began to wash his hair.

By the time he wandered out to the kitchen, wearing new sweatpants and an old soccer t-shirt, Loki was setting up the food.

"Why don't we eat in the living room, and watch a movie together?" Peter asked, grabbing the fried rice and crab rangoon. "I kinda just want to cuddle you."

Loki blushed, but grabbed the remainder of the food and followed Peter.

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A/N: So. Now is when everything starts.