With the plan set up, it was only a matter of time and patience. We had no idea how long it would take until we could get Loki to show up, and even then we- or rather, I- would have to convince him to stick around so we could stop the Chitauri. A plan which seemed so desperate and likely to fail, one where Loki could just as easily use us for his own purposed and then dispose of us when he wanted.

After we'd finished that meeting, Tony took me back to the tower and hooked me up with a room. The others were to pack up the stuff they needed and then come here straight away- there was no knowing when the god might show up. The playboy had also given me access to one of his many credit cards, telling to 'spend as much as your conscience allows' seeing as I had nothing at all except the Loki outfit I was wearing, my proper clothes probably already disposed of on Asgard- including the dagger and the picture, something which saddened me greatly.

As it was I didn't feel like going out at that precise moment, looking out of the windows which made up one wall of the corridor I was standing in and looking out at the horrible weather. If I hadn't known that Thor was on Asgard I would have claimed that someone seemed to be having a hissy fit.

"Why did you agree to the plan?"

I turned away from the window to see Steve standing a few meters away, hands clasped behind his back and his back straightened. His face displayed a stern disapproval, but his eyes betrayed a curiosity and I knew that he was angry at himself rather than me. Did he believe that he could have changed the outcome of this? Or was he angry because there was no other option?

"It would be selfish of me to put my life ahead of the whole Earth," I replied, leaning back against the cool glass.

"But aren't you scared?" he asked as he walked over towards me, slowly and carefully. "I mean since you're not a hero- I mean, fighter."

My lips twitched slightly as I tried not to smile, running a hand through my hair in an attempt to hide my face and in a gesture to calm myself down.

"Of course I am," I said, he looked bemused then and I continued. "But that still doesn't mean I should be selfish."

He smiled as he stood next to me, looking out the window and down at the city. Occasionally a bolt of lightning would flash, lighting up his face and making it hard for me to tell what he was thinking.

"You'd make a great hero, ma'am," he finally said. "You have heart."

"Yeah, but no fighting skills," I pointed out, "only my healing skill."

"It's a very helpful skill," he said, turning his head to look at me. "Although I do agree that it would be useful for you if you did have some combat training."

"Why don't you teach me then?" I asked, and then tried to cover the blush on my face. "I mean, I'd appreciate it if you would teach me a few skills."

"Sure," he agreed, smiling at my embarrassment.

Inside I was fangirling out- I was going to get trained by Captain America! The world's first superhero! Imagine what Coulson would think if he found out. Speaking of which, I hadn't seen Coulson since I took the blade for him- I wondered where he was.

"Thanks," I said, hoping I didn't sound like I was mentally doing a victory dance.

"No problem," replied the super soldier.

"What's no problem?"

We both turned at the same time, Tony making his appearance with an awkward Bruce behind him. Tony looked out at the window, then around the corridor and then back at us.

"Is there something interesting about this hallway I don't know?" he asked, walking over to us and looking between us curiously.

"Well up until a moment ago you weren't in it," I replied at the same time as Steve went to speak. Tony as usual just thought it was hilarious and grinned at me.

"You are so charming sometimes," he said, turning to Bruce he added; "Isn't she?"

"Perhaps if you were nicer to the lady," began Steve. "She would be nicer to you."

"You look lovely today," Tony said to me, a teasing smirk on his face.

"Go to hell," I replied casually. Tony pointed at me and looked at Steve as if to 'see?' and Steve just shrugged, trying not to smile as Tony huffed childishly.

"Fine then, I guess I'll just take Bruce to his room," he said, turning and walking away with his nose in the air.

"Drama queen," I said, and he turned to flash me a grin before continuing on in his bizarre way; Bruce following him somewhat reluctantly as he tried to distance himself from the billionaire. When they had disappeared, Steve and I looked at each other before laughing.

"Wow," I commented, and the soldier nodded in agreement. "Now that was weird."

Steve excused himself later on, leaving me to stand out in the corridor and look out at the storm. It fascinated me because I'd never seen one this big, but also scared me when the lightning struck a little too close or the wind seemed to shake the whole building. I could see the red tail lights of the cars that clogged up the streets and the lights turning on in the other buildings as the sky became even darker.

I suppose part of the real reason I stood here was because I felt… I wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't a nice feeling and being around the others made me feel nervous. Like they could see straight into me and were laughing at me or pitying how scared I was, hating me because Loki came to me.

Everything had moved along so fast last time I was here that I never got chance to actually sit down and pay attention to what I was feeling. The mixed feelings of fear, excitement and wonder were how it felt to be here, proud and happy when the Avengers got along with me, and the hatred and pity I felt for Loki.

"Do you really think you can do this?"

I almost jumped as Clint appeared suddenly, a serious expression on his face and a bag slung over his shoulder.

"Well Loki isn't going to be captured-"

"But you're not capturing Loki," interrupted Clint. "You're going to befriend him and make him play good cop for a while."

I was a bit taken aback by Clint's sharp tone- I mean I knew he'd have issues with Loki because he brainwashed him, but this was different.

"Not befriend him, just-"

"Keep him around so he can stab us in the back once we've dealt with the Chitauri," he finished, and I felt my temper flare up at the interruptions.

"Well if you can think of a better plan then be my guest," I snapped. "Do you think I like the idea of being all nice to him? The guy stabbed me twice, he's dropped me off the Helicarrier and you think I want to be his friend?"

It was his turn to be taken aback as we stared each other down, neither of us knowing what to say and daring the other one to make a move. Don't get me wrong, we both were ready to make this a full blown argument but we were both mature adults and knew that fighting was wrong.

"Now if you'll excuse me I have better things to do than shoulder your grudge with Loki," I said, breaking the silence and walking off in the direction of my bedroom.

Day one and the team was already beginning to fall apart.