After having an early breakfast with everyone Desi had washed up before quickly getting dressed in her joggers and a black sports bra, with a white crop top. She took a deep breath, walked out of her room and she placed her hair in another large bun when she saw Nat waiting beside the elevator.

"Morning how are you feeling?" Nat asked her.

"I'm feeling good, just nervous about my training." Desi admitted as they entered the elevator.

"You have nothing to worry about, everyone will be there to help, and everyone is excited to see you at work." Nat told her.

"What…did you guys plan exactly?" Desi asked.

"You'll see it when you get in there." Nat said vaguely.

Desi sighed as the elevator door pinged open and a large room behind a glass-like window, extremely tall; this must be where Tony tries out new things.

"Angel, thank you for joining us!" Tony spoke as his eyes landed on her.

"Wouldn't miss it, even if I wanted to!" she jested, knowing full well that Thor would come for her if she tried to bail.

"I'm proud to say that we have made the perfect simulation for you." Tony told Desi as she stood beside him.

"Oh, great…" Desi said; she could only imagine what Clint and Nat programmed in there for her, let alone Thor.

"We went over the simulation many times last night and we think we created the perfect one for you. I need to go over some rules with you though." Tony told her.

"I'm ready, what are they?" Desi asked.

"All the weapons you'll need will be in the simulator, so there is no need to call on your weapon. Just remember that you are alone in the simulator." Tony told her.

"So, here's how it works Angel…" Tony spoke, as he waved his hand over the console, and a large field was shown to her with piles of throwing axes in various places, various guns around the field, and even swords.

"Everyone you see is already programmed, remember that none of this is real. It'll just be you, but you can call on one person to help you. Preferably not Thor or Barnes though, deal?" Tony told her.

"Of course, no problem." Desi agreed.

"One last thing…Thor told us about the training you need to go through. I was able to add mood enhancers, so you will be able to feel the emotions as if they were real. Let me know if it doesn't work, alright?" Tony informed her.

"That's great, thanks."

"Go ahead and enter whenever you're ready." He told her.

Desi took a deep breath and made her way toward the simulator when she saw Bucky approaching her.

He took one of her hands into his, his other hand brushing along her exposed hip, causing her to shiver as she smiled up at him. Bucky smirked at her reaction, bringing up his other hand to her cheek, and leaning down to kiss the corner of her mouth.

"Good luck, doll." He whispered.

She blushed, "Thank you." She said softly.

Desi chuckled when Thor shoved Bucky out of the way.

"Good luck, my star." Thor said, pulling Desi against him, wrapping his arms around her waist, and placing a kiss on the opposite corner of her cheek.

"Uh, Sparky? Metal Man? Remember what I said about being clingy." Desi heard Tony speaking, making her laugh.

"This is just a simulator guys, give her some space before I do, okay?" Clint said, eyeing them carefully.

Thor made a face but released her, allowing her to finally make her way through to the simulator.

Desi stood patiently, grabbing one of the throwing axes when a chime echoed through the room.

"Your mission: hold the line until reinforcements arrive."

Desi was on high alert when she both human armored enemies and the Chitauri's and took in her surroundings when she heard familiar voices. Desi saw her friends fighting around her and was about to help her dearest friend Nat when she heard a loud roar. She threw her axe at the Chitauri approaching her before grabbing another two and running past him. She had to stay sharp, throwing another axe at another Chitauri nearby when she was tackled. She fell on her back with a grunt before she pierced the axe in his head. Watching the body disappear, she quickly stood, her axe still in hand as she reached for another one.

She continued defending herself relentlessly, being mindful not to exert herself when needed. Her eyes widened when the armored human aimed his gun at her, causing her to erect a shield when she threw an axe at him, but he ducked.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Desi yelled as she dived behind a crate, grabbing a pistol on the floor. She stayed on the cover as she shot at him but heard another Chitauri screeching as it charged toward her.

"God damn it!" Desi swore before she threw her axe remaining at him.

He swung it out of the way, and she immediately panicked before she rolled out of the way.

She looked around and saw a sword, grabbing it as she stood. Remembering her training with Thor, she spread her legs apart, with her left leg bent slightly, and her right leg forward. She held the hilt with her left hand loosely, her right hand in the opposite position before she swung upward, slaying the Chitauri before she erected a shield again. She ran forward toward the armored man who continued shooting at her before she swung. He brought his gun up and blocked it but she shield-bashed him. As the enemy, she lifted her sword but froze when she saw his eyes.

She stabbed him in the arm before he disappeared, feeling her hands shaking as she felt her hands shake but she had to fight this.

There would be a time when Desi may have to kill a person, but she still didn't have the stomach for it. She panted as she grabbed another gun from the floor. She would carry herself for lord knows how long using what resources she had until she heard her friends call her.

She turned around and saw her friends on the floor, her eyes watering when she saw them injured, covered in blood and injuries. Desi brought her hands up, creating a dome, humming a tune as she watched for them to heal. She heard roaring behind her and saw a handful of enemies her way but continued her spell.

If the barrier was up, the enemies couldn't come in.

Desi watched as her friend's injuries slowly disappeared, feeling the enemies hitting her dome but it was tiring her out faster than she anticipated. She wanted to finish this alone, to prove herself, but she knew she couldn't continue like this.

"Steve, I need you!" she yelled.

Steve wasted no time running towards the simulator, glad that she trusted him with her life as he came into the simulator.

"Shields up." Tony yelled as he swiped his iconic shield into the program. Steve saw it appear in his arm and ran towards her, "I've got you!" he exclaimed before he threw his shield. She sighed in relief before she finally finished her healing.

As she dropped her barrier, Steve stood with his back pressed against hers as he surveyed the area, his hand reaching out behind him.

Desi felt Steve's hand and clasped it.

She felt him worried, protective, and yet content.

"Remember, it's just a simulator, sweetheart." He told her.

Desi heard choppers approaching as the body of her friends disappeared; this part of the training was over. She picked up the pistol on the floor and began to shoot at incoming enemies as Steve took care of the armored men, noticing her hesitation from earlier when she fought them off. When her gun ran out of ammo, she grabbed for a sword once more when she saw Steve throw his shield once more and froze, looking down at her shield curiously. If she could manipulate her shield…

Maybe?

She took a deep breath and tried to throw her shield, but it disappeared a few feet away from her.

The team was watching curiously but Tony and Thor knew what she was trying. Tony knew she needed motivation and threw in one civilian: a child.

Her eyes widened when she saw the child crying on the floor, her fear in fear as the Chitauri's approached her.

Steve turned around to jump in when he heard Tony in her earpiece.

"Give her a moment, she's trying something new." Tony said, and Steve whispered an 'affirmative'.

She ran forward and tried again, clinging to her emotion of fear as she threw it. The shield bounced back on the enemies surrounding her before her shield disappeared with the enemies, the child included.

Desi gasped in surprise, quickly grabbing the sword on the floor before she turned back. She looked up and saw Steve smiling at her.

"Impressive." He said with a smirk she'd never seen before.

"I learned from the best." She said with a wink before she brought the hilt of her sword back up to her face, her back pressed against him again. The duo fended them off flawlessly, Desi adjusting to the sword when they were surrounded again.

"Duct!" she yelled.

He squatted down as she bent backward, swinging the sword in a full circle, slaying the enemies in one sweep. She grabbed his hand, helping him back up, but his hand never released hers as the simulation ended around them. She sighed in relief before she felt her knees go weak momentarily, Steve wrapping his free arm around her waist.

Desi blushed when he felt his hand against her skin; she could've sworn he felt his thumb caressing her.

"I'm good, that was, wow. That was a lot." She jested.

"You did really well, we made a good team out there." He said, taking a good look at her.

In all the time he knew her, he never got this close to her, and he took in her features. Her eyes were dark brown, and her smile almost never wavered. Even now, she looked at him curiously, but her smile never dropped.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"You're very beautiful, Desi." He said, smiling at her with a knowing look.

Her eyes widened, her blush coming back to her cheeks.

He smirked at her reaction as he slowly released her, feeling the goosebumps on her body when he brushed his hand around her waist.

Thor and Bucky crossed their arms, their eyes narrowed at his boldness, and the team knew better than to call Steve out. The duo had walked back towards Tony when Clint came over to them.

"Holy crap, that shield throw was amazing, Desi!" Clint exclaimed as he was twirling her in his arms.

She squealed before she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck as he put her down on her feet.

"That was surreal! Oh my god!" Desi exclaimed, overly excited with a wide smile on her face.

Clint took her hand and guided her over to the team; they were proud of her when they realized how far she's come.

"It looks like I don't have to worry as much anymore, but we do need to address the main issue." Nat said.

"What's that?" Desi asked Clint, who released her hand before he wrapped it around her shoulder.

"You hesitated with the armored guy; you can't afford that." Nat told her.

"What we're wondering is why you hesitate?" Tony asked.

Desi took a deep breath, Clint squeezing her shoulder in reassurance.

She looked up at Clint for a moment, wrapping her arm around his hip before she decided to be honest with them.

"I…I don't want to kill anyone, but I know that there may come a time when I have to. That's why I hesitated before I went for the shoulder…I'll just work harder on the simulations." She answered.

"The simulation won't prepare you for that." Bucky told her.

Desi frowned but nodded, she knew he was right.

"What surprised me was the fact that you wielded the sword so well, are you sure you never wielded one before?" Bruce asked her but she shook her head.

"I just used some of the techniques Thor taught me back on Asgard." She answered, looking over to Thor with a smile.

"I'm proud of you, we should look into getting you a sword once we visit Asgard again." Thor told her as he took a step towards her, but Clint took a step back, dragging Desi back with him.

"Nu-uh, you two are too clingy; I'm afraid as her big brother here, you both keep your paws off my little sister for now." Clint said, looking down at Desi with a big smile.

She held her head up high, smiling in approval before she looked at him with a scrunched-up nose.

"Sorry, what he says goes." She said, giggling with Clint.

"If you'll let me; I'd love to make you a suit and sword now." Tony offered.

"Oh, Tony. That's sweet of you to offer but are you sure?" she asked.

He smiled, patting her head briefly. "Let me, kid. Have faith in me, okay?" he told her.

She nodded, her smile never waving. "I always do, Sir Tony." She spoke.

"Good, now come on. You need to bathe, and we'll order some lunch, okay? You good with pizza?" Clint asked.

"Yeah, of course! Pepperoni, please!"

The day and come and gone as night slowly crept in, the team bonding throughout this time and Desi was all for this.

The team took turns speaking of their past missions as Tony and Bruce spoke amongst themselves.

Desi left Natasha's side to walk over to Tony and Bruce, who both beamed at her.

"Hey guys, what are you two discussing?" Desi asked.

"We were talking about your armor actually." Bruce answered.

"Question: body suit or two pieces?" Tony asked.

Desi throws him a suspicious look. "Bodysuit is good, but two pieces would be faster to dispose of." Desi answered.

"Hmm, good point…" Tony said out loud as he took out his phone, and Desi could only assume he was taking notes.

"Why don't we make this interesting and play 'Never Have I Ever', to help break the ice?" Nat asked.

"I'll never be drunk then, I'm afraid." Desi joked but Clint sat on the armchair of the sofa behind Nat.

"Let's do it, let's have fun!" Clint said, calling everyone over to the living area.

"Oh, this should be interesting." Bruce said under his breath, sitting across the trio.

Desi sat down on the other sofa, with Bucky quickly sitting beside, Thor standing near the coffee table so he could keep his eyes on the two of them. As Tony and Pepper sat with Bruce, Steve grabbed his whiskey and stood with Thor.

"Let's start small, huh? Never have I ever had a dog." Nat said before she took a drink, noticing Bruce, Desi, and Clint take a shot.

"Bruce, a dog?" Tony asked.

"Short-lived, his name was Charles." Bruce answered.

"Oh, this is easy for you. Never have I ever...slept in someone else's bed." Clint spoke.

Desi watched as everyone took a shot including herself, noticing Clint's eyes widen at her.

"Wait, what? Was it your brother's bed? Parents?"

Desi blushed, feeling in the corner of her eye Bucky's heated gaze on her.

"I plead the fifth." Desi said, feeling cheeky at that moment.

"My girl." Nat said with a smirk.

"Alright, never have I ever had sushi." Tony said.

Only Steve and Desi didn't drink.

"Steve, really?" Nat questioned.

"You don't know where it's been." Steve answered lamely.

"Never I have ever stolen something." Bruce said. Everyone took a sip, and Bruce was curious about Desi.

"I'm surprised, what did you steal?" Bruce asked Desi.

Desi smiled, biting her lower lip as she thought about it.

"I may have stolen a man's jacket; it was of my favorite band. I had just come home and wanted to be a little rebellious; my father was not happy with it, but he let me keep it. 'Just this once' he said." Desi said with a chuckle.

"Never have I ever given a fake name." Pepper said in turn. Pepper smiled when she took a sip with Steve, Buck, and Bruce takes a sip.

"Never have I ever gone streaking." Buck said, taking a sip with Steve, Thor, Clint, Tony, and Natasha.

"Really, Legolas?" Tony teased.

"I was overrun with ants; I always check twice now."

"Never have I ever driven a car." Steve said, hoping to make it easy for everyone.

The team's glare went to Desi who didn't take a sip.

"Wait, what?" Nat said, taking a seat back as double glanced at Desi.

"Well, I didn't think I'd make it this far." Desi said with a nervous chuckle.

"Desi, we need to write a list of what you HAVEN'T done." Nat said.

"We are going to do a speed run: you only." Clint announced.

"You'll be very disappointed." Desi warned them.

"Never I have ever had a driver's license." Tony asked.

Desi pouted.

"Never have I ever gone to a club." Pepper asked.

Desi remained unmoved.

"Never have I ever smoked." Bruce asked.

Desi blinked.

"...Never have I ever had a boyfriend." Clint questioned.

Desi took a deep breath, feeling a blush on her cheek.

"Desi...never have I ever kissed someone." Natasha asked.

Desi gave Nat a hard stare before she put her drink down.

"WHAT!?" Clint stood up, and Desi looked worried.

"Oh, is this not normal? I told you guys I only came back home a few years ago, and it was very sheltered. My bad." she explained lamely, chuckling nervously.

Buck and Thor's eyes were heated at that moment; their eyes preyed on her form and Tony was quick to intervene.

"Wash those eyes, she's not offering herself! Stand down, you brutes." Tony exclaimed, Pepper and Bruce watching in amusement.

Steve looked to the floor and took a deep breath; that was unexpected.

"Well, I'm a loser, you guys continue without me while I get a Sprite." Desi said before she went over to the bar.

Bucky stood abruptly, following her.

"Hands to yourself." Clint teased, watching them carefully.

Bucky saw her droopy eyes and took her hand as Thor spoke in turn of the game.

Desi looked at Bruce curiously but followed him as he pulled her towards the loveseat near the bar, unsure what was happening as he sat down. She rolled her eyes when she was pulled down, wrapping his arm around her waist, and pulling her head down to his shoulder with his metal hand. She draped her arm around his stomach, her hand touching his metal arm.

"You smell like plums…" Desi whispered, sighing in relief when she smelled Bucky's scent.

Bucky smirked when he heard Desi's adorable yawn.

"Sleep, doll. I got you." Bucky told her before she fell asleep in his arms.

Pepper secretly took a picture of the two of them together, looking to Tony.

"What are you thinking?" Pepper asked Tony, she knew him long enough to know how his mind worked.

Tony couldn't stop himself from glancing at Desi once more before he took a deep breath. He sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

"She's not my kid or a sibling, but…damn she's got something special. I'm going to make work on a suit and weapon for her; is it wrong to feel like that? To protect her as if…." Tony asked, explaining himself the best he could.

"It's not Tony, I mean, look at how everyone has cared for her since she came back. She's adored by everyone here, that little sister adoration. It's okay to think of her that way, and not feel conflicted by it," Pepper spoke,

"All she has left is this team, it's okay to look at her like a family member would. Oh, here's an idea," Pepper continued softly, rubbing his back affectionately, "why don't you and her wake up early? Do all those tests you've been dying to do? You said Desi agreed to it."

"I'll do my best." Tony said, allowing himself to feel this way. At the end of the day, Desi helped him and Pepper without hesitation, not asking for anything. Others would take advantage of the situation, and she still had a naïve side he wanted to protect; knowing the day would come that it'd be destroyed but he'd prevent it as much as he could.

"And you have your whole team to back you up." Pepper said with a smile.

Morning came and Desi realized as she awoke groggily, she was alone on the sofa, and yawned loudly as she sat up slowly.

Desi froze when she saw Tony coming into the room, with Pepper waking up from the sofa side them.

"Good morning!" Pepper yawned, making Desi giggle.

"Morning!" Desi responded as she slowly stood up, smiling back over to Tony as he approached her.

"Hey kid, ready to work on your suit?" Tony asked with a playful smirk.

"Oh my god, really? Yes, yeah, of course!" Desi exclaimed.

"Great, go ahead and change also, we'll need to do some test runs, okay?" Tony asked of her.

"Got you, I'll be right down." Desi said before she ran to her room.

"Oh, and Pepper?" Desi spoke as she looked back to Pepper, "Thank you for staying with me last night."

"You're welcome, sweetie." Pepper said with a smile before Desi closed the door.