With an exaggerated strut Tony moved up to the disheartened Asgardian and put his hand on the tall man's shoulder "Well, I kind of figured if you were going to be working with us for a while you might prefer better lodging than an old missile silo. So I pulled a few strings; might have lied a little to some rather disagreeable stuff shirts and had your stuff moved into the main building. Don't worry though I'll take the heat from Cyclops when he finds out and starts yelling. Just don't try and take over the world for a few weeks and we'll be set." He said with a sniff. Laughing uproariously Loki allowed himself to be guided to his new quarters. Taking the opportunity to regal the very likeable and entertaining Stark with tales of mischief from his days on Asgard. Tasha watched from the shadows the ease with which Tony and Loki bonded with a shake of her head. Knowing that letting those two get together was going to be a constant source of annoyance but at a loss for a way to stop it without doing something drastic. She slips back into the side door of the building to find Althia the others. She didn't trust this new Loki.

Thor was nowhere in sight when she found Banner and Althia sitting close together the low voices and giggling changed her mind about going back to the lab. She changed direction and headed for the briefing rooms at the other end of the building. Clint dropped in at her side as she walked towards one of the briefing rooms to write a report to Fury. "So, how's everything been here at the funny farm?" he asked adjusting an arm band as they walked. "Well as you know Banner and Althia are together and acting so cute around each other at some point Tony's going to vomit." She told her longtime partner letting him finish getting his laugh out of it before continuing. "Loki was apparently planning on 'winning the girl' and wasn't too happy about the arrangement." At which point Clint stop her with a hand on her arm and a worried look before she could continue "He saw her near Thor and had a fit but she chewed his ass. I'm rather proud of her for that actually." She described the confrontation as he chuckled. "He doesn't strike me as that kind of guy who lets go of something once he wants it." She told him. Clint snorted "No, I don't see him being the better man either but then again we don't know much about him besides what Thor tells us and what he did in N.Y." Clint definitely still held a grudge against Loki. "What have you been up to?" Tasha asked as they enter one of the secure briefing rooms. "Oh, spying on Loki mostly. Up until he passed out in Starks jet it was very informative." Barton replied with a smirk. "Oh really, you going to write up a report?" Tasha asks as she sat and proper her feet on the table. "Ha, you know better, I recorded the entire night and uploaded it to Fury this morning. I did ear mark some of the more interesting points. Not including Starks stewardesses playing with stripper poles." He said wiggling his eye brows "Clint you're a pervert." Tasha grinned. "Comes with the job." He replied completely serious. "Loki spent the night drinking and watching Thor try not to look at the girls. He wants Althia, and a chance to get back at Thanos."

"So what was the light show upstairs last night?" Clint asked without looking up. "Clint Barton did you go spying on Banner and Althia?" Natasha growled pulling her legs off the table. "How I was recording in the jet remember?" the blonde spy replied. Squinting Tasha decided that she didn't believe her pervert of a partner could have resisted peeking in on the couple. "I warned you." Her head bending over her phone. "What are you doing?" looking up Hawkeye asked. Turning the phone to show him a picture from Mexico she smiled. It had already been sent to Tony's phone. "Oh shit." With a quick check of his equipment Barton jumped on the table to vanish into the ventilation system of the building. With a smirk Natasha began to type up her report. Torturing Clint was her second favorite activity so the grin lasted till her phone went off ten minutes later. ~Hey, how did you know the light show was Althia and Bruce if you weren't watching them? ;) ~ she read from Clint and her grin turned into a salacious smile.

Bruce found it hard to focus with Althia around, he kept smiling and her habit of touching him had taken on a whole new meaning. He hadn't felt this way since Betty. She was very intelligent despite the years without a shred of education. She used the same trick to study as she did to transcribe. Even in the gym her body seemed to thrive; she preferred activities in high open space. Her balance was unbelievable and her depth perception accurate enough to calculate distance in a blink before she leapt or swung across high bars that challenged Hawkeye with his gear. Her body moved with a fluidity and grace now that she had built it up from the husk that had come from Hydra. Tasha took her to exercise and train twice a day. Pushing her to master an extensive hand to hand combat style and she took up any offer to train with the other agents.

During her after noon training Althia was sparring with a guard using batons. The short sticks added to her reach which helped negate her lack of height and arm length. He swung low and she sailed straight up her legs tucked under her as she brought the practice sticks down drumming him on his head gear. Something cracked audibly and the man dropped limo to the ground. Tasha smiled and called the match while Althia tearfully dropped to his side. Other guards and the field medics rushed in to check him but she had already removed the fractured helmet and laid her fingers on his bare scalp; there was a noticeable dent in his head. "I'm sorry." She wept as her power rose into her fingers. The medics slowed watching her as the injured man moaned and started to sit up. She let him be led away and stared at the ground.

Tasha was surprised when Althia told her she wouldn't spar with the guards anymore. The man was the third she'd nearly killed. The impact had been enough to destroy his gear and crush in a portion of his skull. Althia didn't want to kill anyone and Tasha led her out of the gym. They walked for a while as Tasha spoke about what she did for SHIELD. "You don't have to be like me Althia but there may come a day when you have no choice but to kill." She said calmly. She stopped and looked out through the fences that surrounded the base. "It's a gamble training you. You are stronger than an average woman but you also have a lot of control. Trust yourself and focus on your training. I promise you won't kill anyone on accident." She looked at the woman and smiled "I trained you better than that." Althia grinned a little sadly "I never thought about having to kill anyone. In all the time you've been training me. Is it something that happens a lot in the world?" she asked and Tasha shook her head. "No but you aren't going to live in the regular world. You're going to be in SHIELD and sometimes we have to do things we don't like to protect the rest of the world." Tasha patted Althia's shoulder "Everyone on this base took a gamble joining SHIELD. All were trained to kill if they have too." Althia nodded thinking about the weapons locker in the infirmary and library. Each was tagged for one of the staff even the doctors spent time in the range practicing with their fire arms.

"I'll keep training but I need to tell you something." Althia said turning to walk back to the gym. Tasha followed her and let her find her own words. "I was in the gym on the helicarrier that last day. I had been lifting weights and went to get some water. I didn't see Agent Roberts change the settings." She paused a look of confusion on her face. "I lifted 200lbs." she said and fell silent. Tasha grabbed her arm turned her to look into her eyes. "Once?" she asked and Althia shook her head. "I wasn't paying attention and I just started lifting it like I would my assigned weight." She blushed and turned her face away. "What am I Tasha?" she asked and Tasha didn't respond right away. Althia started to walk away Tasha had taught her that silence will often get an answer when continuous questioning didn't. Natasha Romanov looked at the slender arms that hung at Althia's sides. They'd been treating her as if she were completely human and restricting what she did. When they got back to the gym Tasha had her shower and dress. "Let's see if we can get Bruce to test your limits." She said and Althia nodded.

Nothing could have shocked Bruce more than Loki's politely phrased request for a meeting. Delivered in writing by one of the numerous assistive personnel at the base.

Doctor Banner

I realize we've had our differences and that you, with good reason, hold no respect or affection for me. I would like none the less for you to accept my request for a private meeting. If this is unacceptable I am willing to meet you on your terms and of course at your convenience. If we are to be companions for the foreseeable future it behooves us to come to some sort of understanding. If for no other reason than the happiness of the woman we are both fond of.

Loki Odinson

Assuming it was some sort of trick didn't need to be contemplated but the trickster had a valid point. The terms of Odin's agreement with Fury as well as the fact that he was going to be following Althia around for the rest of her life meant Bruce was going to have to deal with him. The idea of a constant animosity and conflict in his life exhausted him just thinking about it. After discussing it with Tony he sent a reply to Loki that he would meet the reformed Prince in one of the numerous briefing rooms. Althia was delighted that Loki had made the offer and she encouraged Bruce to at least speak with the man this once. Her voiced hope that if they couldn't become friends they could find a way to live peacefully with one another. With a sigh Bruce pulled her gently into his arms and buried his head in the curve of her neck in resignation. She was so perfect for him if he could only find a way to stop her brain from having nightmares that tore holes in her body remembering her past.

Tony was fascinated by her admission and immediately asked her to pick up various large objects around the room. He only stopped when Bruce force him too. They used several methods to test her strength and even her flexibility working well into the evening. Bruce collected data and used a number of strange devices with a Stark logo on her. As far as they could tell she was limited to about 300 lbs. lift and her ability to grab the item. At the end of the day Althia reported the findings to Eldworth. He was encouraging and told her to report any additional findings.

"There is one last thing we can do." Bruce said as he pulled her close and hugged her after a frustrating morning. Althia stiffened she knew what tests they hadn't done from her time in the infirmary. They needed a blood sample. She started to shiver as Bruce explained his theory. Bruce felt horrid even mentioning it but there was no other avenue they hadn't tried. She wasn't ready yet was obvious by her reaction. "I'm sorry I can't I just can't." She choked and hated the fear that welled up even thinking about the needles. Bruce pulled her into an office and held her. "Can you tell me about it?" he asked her and she took a deep breath. She slumped against him and let her mind shut down. He asked and she wouldn't deny him not ever. "It was a while ago. One of the scientists he employed thought they could use my blood. So he" she had to stop a minute. Shivering as the memory rose in her mind. Her voice went numb as she described having needles repeatedly pressed in her arms and legs for days as they attempted to drain her blood. It hurt so much as her power tried to compensate sought something to heal and sealed off the needles to stop it. They never got very much before her blood stopped flowing. Finally he gave up using small needles and a long thick needle was used. There was no drug that cut the pain as he stabbed it into her over and over. Bruce watched her face as she spoke. She didn't seem to be expressing any reaction as she described the event.

Tony came in as she was speaking and yelled. He pulled Althia out of Bruce's arms and tipped her forward across his arm. She was limp and the back of her shirt was spotted with blood. Bruce called her name as Tony laid her face down on the floor. "Althia its ok, you're safe." He dropped down at her head and touched her cheek. She was cool and her breathing was shallow. She was asleep and talking to them about her captivity. Tasha came and flipped her over cursing in Russian and calling her name. "Angel?" Althia whispered and yawned. She stretched and light shown from her back as the wounds vanished.

Bruce pulled her up into his arms shaking his head. They were silent for a while as he held her. Bruce stiffed and sat up; he stared at Althia a moment. "That's it!" he gasped. "Get everybody together in the meeting room where we first discussed your nightmares I think I know what might be causing this." He kissed her lightly and moved to stand up. "What? You figured what out?" She asked struggling up from the floor. "Sort of but I've got to check some things." He said pulling her under his arm a kissing her forehead. Standing up Tasha and Tony looked at him. He squeezed her hand and sent Althia off to gather Loki and Eldworth. Tasha followed her out and stayed in the hall whispering to her before she sent her on the errand. She seemed to fly as she left her feet barely touching the ground as she ran out.

Moving through the building Althia texted Eldworth. She loved the little devices that made it so easy to talk and see her friend's no matter where they were on the compound. Loki's new rooms weren't far and after months of daily exercise she was reveling in the strength and endurance her body had achieved. She's put on a lot of weight so she no longer looked like a dried up stick figure wrapped in raw clay. The sun had kissed her skin to a warm tan under the brilliant sun on the helicarrier and here in the desert. Her hair was long and fell in thick waves; when down would it brushed the top of her hips in a roan cloud. Braided it thumped against her back as she ran. The dress was loose and knee length she ran easily now her legs covered in a layer of muscle that flowed as she moved. Taking the stairs, an act that made most groan, delighted her as she could run up them two at a time or simply leap from one level to another using the banisters. No one had seen her leap straight up from one banister to another yet nor did the gym provide such a challenge. So she hadn't had a chance to show this skill to any of the others. She still got winded more easily than the others but she was definitely stronger and faster than she had ever been. She also was a little frightened by the elevators; in small spaces she would panic if she tried to take one alone.

She leapt from the first floor banister straight up twisting her torso around backwards to grab the second floor banister and swung her leg up on it. She smiled perched for a moment on the thin round rail her left leg stretched along it her right still dangling loose over the empty space. With ease she slipped silently to the floor and waited where the stairs exited into the main hall as her guard came pounding nosily up the stairs. Grinning "Are you sure you can't fly?" he asked her not the first time. She just smiled and let him open the door for her. She never went farther than he could catch up in few seconds after he scolded her for vanishing on the way to meet Natasha one morning. It was easy to determine which room was Loki's because there were two guards stationed outside. One was a man she knew well "Sam!" she said grinning as he turned to her. A small smile curled his lips to see her. "Althia, is that really you?" He asked as she walked up. Nodding she only hesitated a moment when she looked into the eyes of the other man; she knew him a little but he'd never been someone she was comfortable with. She glanced at his name tag 'Davis' it said. Then curiosity flowed into his eyes and she shook off the momentary association she had made. "Hello Sam it is good to see you. I have missed the familiar faces on the Helicarrier from the moment I had to leave." Politely and with care for her sometimes random terrified reactions he slowly put his hand on her shoulder. "Miss some of us missed you a lot too." He replied only to have her wrap his waist in a hug before stepping back. "I never thanked you for everything. I know now that your job was put on hold for me. I appreciate you being my teddy bear though." 'She turned out real pretty' he thought looking at her fully. He felt protective over her in a way he hadn't for anyone since he was a kid. "I am actually here because Doctor Banner wants Loki for a meeting." She told him watching his eyes harden at the Prince's name. "Just a minute let me check to clear that." Sam said putting his finger to the com bud in his ear. It didn't take long for the affirmative reply. Without knocking Sam opened to door and announced her presence.

Loki was curled in a chair by the window when he heard her voice. It was unexpected to say the least but he found despite her choice he would welcome her company. Thor had only just left after saying fair well. It was odd behavior usually Thor wanted to be in the center of everything. Maybe it was the relationship with Jane. It wouldn't be the first time a woman held Thor's attention more than the thrill of battle or politics. The door opened without a knock; the complete lack of manners a constant minor irritant to him. "Miss Althia is here to see you." The paler guard announced as if his hearing wasn't good enough to know what they said mere feet from him. "May we please have a minute Sam?" her voice still held the slightest catch of fear but her lilt and phrasing was properly respectful was like music after the illiterate babblings his ears had been picking up since entering the room. "Sure miss, if you need us we will be right here." Sam said. "Thank you. We will only be a minute or two. I promise." She replied as the door closed. Loki watched her move across the room his only motion was to place his feet on the floor. Even in the simple act of walking she moved with breath taking grace. Gods he wanted to see her in a proper gown. The simply shift she was wearing rested alluringly in all the right places but he felt as if she were running around half dressed. Silently he dressed her for Asgard. The dark around her eyes from lack of sleep the one thing that detracted from her beauty. "Loki, I want to ask something of you. If you don't mind." She said as she stopped a few feet from him. Standing still waiting for his reply she didn't fidget or slouch. Waving his hand towards the other chair "Sit my lady and divulge your mind to me." He nearly purred at her. When she smiled at him it was all he could do not to pull her into his arms and trace the curve of her lips. He had never been so quickly smitten with a woman. His face showed nothing of his thoughts only faint curiosity. "Natasha says I need to learn to fight but she's going to have to start field work soon so she told me to find someone I was comfortable with to be my new trainer." She spoke in a small and deliciously trembling voice "Bruce is afraid that sparring and training with me might change the way the Hulk reacts to me and Clint…Clint scares me sometimes when he looks at me." He watched her lips as the idea of close combat training with her gave him delightful ideas. At times she was bold but it seemed a fleeting and alien state to her. "I was wondering if you would mind; I know you have to protect me anyway but it's just that" she pauses her eyes demurely on her lap as she thought busily trying to find the words. "I would be honored if you would agree to be my combat trainer." She finished a very lite blush on her cheeks.

'Dear gods how is he supposed to maintain control around such a tempting morsel' Loki thought and knowing exactly what she was in truth didn't disturb him. Though if he agreed to her request it would definitely avoid the inevitable boredom and without actually doing anything he could be blamed for, aggravate that infuriatingly smug Banner. It did lead to a great deal of temptation. He chose a simple tactic "Lady Althia, are you sure this is what you want? The training we Asgardians receive is very rigorous starting at a very young age and lasting nearly a hundred years. Also I am not the gentlest or most patient of teachers. Surely there are others who you are comfortable around better suited to assist you in this? I do not wish in any way to cause you to fear me." He responded his voice holding just the slightest touch of reservation. "Please Prince Loki, I know I've done well in all my studies save this area. Everyone says I am a wonderful student. If I fail to please you I will at that time accept dismissal without complaint." Her eyes meet the prince's begging him without words making him swallow a sudden knot in his throat 'talented tongues have better uses' he thought. "If you are sure and your Doctor Banner doesn't…" where he knew she would interrupt him she did. "I know he will be resistant but I need someone I'm not afraid of and can't seriously injure." Se bit her lip and looked at him. "I almost killed a guard this morning. I'm strong; it wasn't the first time." She shook her head. "Bruce, yourself, and Thor are my only options." Seeing the sudden tension at the mention of his brother she pushed a little "If you are serious in your reluctance I will have to ask Thor." His eyes burrow into hers making her look down 'oh the little minx! She is trying to manipulate me!' he was amused at her attempt. "No, that won't be necessary I simply don't wish to create any unpleasant situations for you." He replied letting the words rush just a touch fast. "Perhaps once you've completed your other studies we could meet?" He slowed his words back to normal. "Determine what time you wish to start your training and I will be there. Agreed?" he finished rising from his chair he extends his hand to assist her from her chair. Smiling she took it and allowed him to help her up only to gasp when he bent over her hand he laid a whisper of a kiss across her knuckles his crystal blue eyes turned up to her face. "Yes, well, I will see what schedule they have for me and send word before dinner." She stammered losing her composure completely. She quickly turned toward the door missing the mischievous grin on Loki's face as he missed the triumphant one on hers. Without missing a beat he followed her through the hastily opened door and down to the meeting room. The ever present guards made no indication of leaving his side were completely ignored by Loki who started the trip asking what studies Althia has undertaken.

Genuine shock stopped him in his tracks when he heard the odd combination of primary subjects she was taking paired with field triage from the staff in the infirmary and she described preliminary courses for mechanical engineering recommended by Tony. Althia admitted having had no education at all and only having learned to read and write once she came under the protection of SHIELD. It bothered her to admit it to him. Seeing her discomfort at the admission Loki worked quickly to adjust the situation. Taking her hand in his he lifted her chin so she looked at him "Lady, I am astonished you have acquired the knowledge of decades in a few scant months of freedom." As his sweet words eased the tension in her she started to preen under his compliments. 'The All Father should have given me back to Thanos if he really wanted to punish me or left me on Jutonhelm I'll have this woman worshiping me before the seasons turn.' Loki thought in amusement.