A/N: I'm soooooooooooooo sorry this update as taken to frickin' long! I would have posted this chapter last Friday, but my internet has been on the fritz all week and I haven't had time to go find a wifi hotspot anywhere. Also, I'm sorry that this chapter is a little on the short and uneventful side, it's more of a filler chapter. Thanks a million to all who reviewed and/or followed my story last chapter! You guys literally rock my world!

P.S. I do not own the Avengers, just Kate Poole (as creepy as that sounds)

Kate followed Coulson as he made his way through the many corridors of the Helicarrier. After about two minutes of silence, Kate sighed and addressed her fellow agent.

"Your timing is impeccable, Coulson." She cringed when she heard the slight tremble in her voice, so she cleared her throat and continued. "I was just about to make up an excuse to leave before you walked in. That interrogation was going nowhere." She stated, trying to add an air of nonchalance to her voice. When Coulson remained silent, Kate decided to change the subject. "Sooooo...Stark didn't tell you why he wanted to see me?"

"No." Coulson replied succinctly. "He did not." Kate stared at him suspiciously.

"Alright. Spit it out, Coulson." Kate demanded. "I know your not usually 'Mr. Talkative,' but this is ridiculous." When he didn't respond, she put her hand on his shoulder and forced him to stop in the middle of the almost deserted corridor. "What's eating you?" Coulson raised his gaze to meet Kate's before speaking in a hushed tone.

"I heard what Loki said to you. All of it." Kate averted her gaze from his.

"How?" She muttered.

"I was monitoring the security feed." He replied softly.

"Did Fury tell you to do that?"

"No. The director is not aware that I knew about your interrogation of Loki."

"Keep it that way." Kate stated softly, but vehemently. Coulson dropped his almost permanent poker face at this comment.

"But Kate," he replied, worry written on his face, "a threat like that shouldn't be taken lightly. I must tell Director Fu-"

"No!" Kate stated loudly, garnering the attention of a few passersby. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued softly. "No one must know about what went on during that interrogation. This is between me and that green eyed freak." She pointed towards the direction in which they had just come when she mentioned Loki. "I don't want anyone to get hurt because of this. Because of me." She paused and took a calming breath. "Loki is insane, and I don't know how he would react if someone tried to get in the way of something he wanted. I can't risk it." She placed her hand softly on Coulson's shoulder and locked eyes with him. "Please, Phil." Coulson stared back at her for a moment longer before shaking his head and sighing.

"Fine." Kate removed her hand from his shoulder and took a step back. "But if he hurts you or tries to, I will interfere." Kate nodded at this in silent agreement. Coulson stared at her a moment longer before turning and continuing down the corridor towards their destination, Kate following closely at his heels. When they reached the main lab in which Tony Stark was apparently working, Coulson stopped and turned to face her.

"Take care of yourself, Agent Poole." Kate nodded slowly as Coulson turned and made his way back down the corridor. Kate took a deep breath before swiping her access card and entering the lab. When she entered, the two men working looked up. She recognized one of them as being the infamous Tony Stark, but his companion was the man in the purple shirt that she had not recognized from the meeting the previous day.

"Agent Poole!" Tony Stark exclaimed as he raised his hands up in excitement. "Just the woman I wanted to see!"

"Coulson said you needed me, Mr Stark." She stood at attention and put her hands behind her back.

"Please, call me Tony." He smiled at her indulgently as he made his way from behind the counter he was working at and towards Kate. "And yes, I do need you..." Hey eyed her appreciatively. "in more ways than one." He added suggestively.

"What Mr. Stark means to say," the mystery man in the purple shirt made his way from behind the counter and towards where Kate and Tony were standing, "is that we would appreciate it if you could possibly give us a quick summary of the intel you collected while working undercover." He reached a hand out towards her and introduced himself in a quiet, mellow voice. "I'm Bruce Banner by the way, sorry we haven't had a chance to meet properly yet." He smiled shyly as Kate took his proffered hand and shook it lightly. Kate stared at Dr. Banner curiously. So this timid little man was the beast they called the Hulk? She thought to herself. Interesting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Banner, I've heard so much about you and you remarkable work."

"Thanks." He replied quietly.

"So what kind of intel do you need exactly?" Kate asked. Bruce opened his mouth to speak, but Tony cut him off.

"Oh, you know..." He shrugged his shoulders and continued, "What's his favorite color? Boxers or briefs? Democrat or Republican?" He crossed his arms across his chest. "The usual." Kate couldn't stifle her laugh. Tony may be a rich, sarcastic asshole, but he was a funny rich, sarcastic asshole. He provided a dash of humor to her not so humorous life. Because of this fact, Kate decided to play along.

"Well, if you don't already know the answer to the first question, your either not the genius everyone thinks you are or your color blind, because his favorite color is practically the only color his clothes are made from. Question number two poses rather a problem seeing as I have not had the distinct pleasure of seeing Loki out of his crazy Disneyland costume. For all I know, he goes commando. And lastly, I'm pretty sure he's neither Democrat or Republican, but his own party all together, which is most likely named after him." Kate crossed her arms and leaned back against one of the counters in the lab, smiling smugly. "Did I miss anything?"

Tony and Bruce stared at her in shocked silence for a moment before Tony burst out laughing.

"I like this girl!" He wagged his finger at her as he laughed. "She's got spunk! Nobody on this damn boat has any spunk."

"Tony," Bruce stated softly, "I think we should get back to the matter at hand."

"Right you are, my dear fellow." Tony responded in a fake British accent. "Why don't you take the reins on this one, Doc." Bruce nodded and took a moved to stand directly in front of Kate before speaking.

"All that we need to know is if you noticed anything suspicious going on around you when you were undercover."

"I hate to break it to you doctor, but anything regarding Loki is pretty suspicious." Kate replied.

"What I mean to say," Dr. Banner corrected, "is if you noticed any big projects or developments of any kind going on in Loki's...lair."

"Now that I think about it, I caught a quick glimpse of Dr. Selvig and it looked like he was working on something big." Kate responded. Tony, who had been casually leaning against the counter, straightened and approached Kate and Bruce, his eyebrows drawn together in thought.

"Could you describe what Dr. Selvig was working on?" Tony asked, his expression serious.

"Um, I'm afraid not." Kate replied sadly. "I only saw it for a moment before Loki led me away. All I know is that it was big." Tony and Bruce looked at each other as if they were trying to swap thoughts telepathically. After a few moments of charged silence, Kate decided to excuse herself.

"Well, I'll leave you two alone now." She said as she stared backing up towards the door. It wasn't until she had reached the door and opened it that either man recalled her presence. Tony turned to look at her curiously before smiling.

"Thank you for your help, Agent Poole." Although he was smiling his voice sounded a bit strained. "We'll see you around." Kate nodded and walked out the door, frowning in confusion. That was weird, she thought, I wonder what they were so worried about?

Loki sat quietly in his cell, his brows furrowed in thought as he stared intently across the cage. The women who called herself the Black Widow had just attempted to weasel information out of him, and much to his chagrin, had succeeded in guessing his next move. Loki cursed under his breath as he stood to pace around his cell. That red headed whore would be the first one he would take care of once he got out the damned cage. But thoughts of the Black Widow brought another, more appealing, female agent to mind.

"Kate." He whispered with a maniacal grin on his face. Every time his thoughts turned to that spirited vixen, he couldn't help but to smile. He wanted her. More than he had ever wanted another women in his centuries of existence. Although she was not a beauty like the women of his homeland, she possessed a fiery spirit that boiled his blood like no other Asgardian beauty could. When he could finally make Kate his, and he would make her his, no power in all the nine realms would remove her from his side. Loki smiled at this thought as he leaned against the wall of the cell and closed his eyes. He was just thinking of ways to bring a satisfying end to the Black Widow, when a massive roar echoed throughout the ship. Loki's face lit up with a grin as he whispered.

"And so it begins."

Please review! I love me some reviews!