THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR DMS AND REVIEWS, YOUR SUPPORT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME!
THIS CHAPTER SUMS UP WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DESI BEFORE THE WHAT-IF GOES INTO EFFECT.
THE ONLY CHANGE IS AT THE END, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO READ THIS FOR A REVIEW.
IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME, I'M SO SORRY, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO READ THE ORIGINAL: AVENGERS: TRIALS OF DESTINY SERIES ONE ON MY PROFILE.
PLEASE ENJOY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT.
For the next month, Natasha and Clint took turns putting her through vigorous endurance training and fundamental physical defense for when she was secluded from everyone. She was surprised that they weren't harder on her, but she knew it was because she wasn't expected to be on the front lines or a soldier.
She has just finished running an obstacle when she got a call on her phone.
She smirked when she saw Nat's name on her screen.
"Hi Nat, how are you?" Desi chimed happily.
"Always nice to hear you Tiny," Nat joked, a new nickname Nat created recently.
"I'm guessing you didn't call because you missed me?" Desi teased, walking over to the elevator.
"Nope, meet me at the shooting range. It's time for weapon training. See you soon."
Click.
Desi chuckled as she entered the elevator and headed to the fourth floor, and she was more excited to start this. She couldn't wait to get her hands on a pistol again, but she knew Nat wouldn't settle for just one weapon. The elevator chimed open, and she saw various agents around her in their glass cases in the shooting range and quickly covered her ears from the loud noises.
Because of her ability, Fury decided that training her alone was the best option but with it came another agent's glancing at her with disdain. She was used to this, but she was done looking for everyone's approval.
She was scared to say it, but she made friends with Natasha and Clint. She never had friends before, with her brothers her only source but even then her brothers had days where they kept their distance from her unless work came her way.
Making her way through the double doors, she smiled when she saw Natalie standing there with her arms crossed.
"That was quick." Natasha said, a smirk on her face as Desi came on approach.
"I thought we should train you in weapons, preferably guns that are easy to maintain. Do you have any experience with weapons?" Natasha asked as she guided her over to the wall of large weaponry of guns.
"A sniper rifle, but that was one time. My brother Lemi trained me with a pistol though to defend myself." Desi admitted, frowning in her own disappointment.
"I prefer pistols anyways; it helps with close distance anyways...did you enjoy using it?" Natasha asked.
"Oh, for sure. I really hope I get to learn more." Desi told her.
"Good, you're familiar with the pistol enough for me. We're going to have you try an assault rifle; it's medium but can do more damage for long range and short range." She said, smiling as she handed her a pistol.
"You got it, boss." Desi said with a smile.
"Good, follow me." Natasha said, walking over to the large space in front of them.
Desi didn't realize it before, but she realized there were armored mannequins all around the room in -various spots.
"I intentionally left the target posts off, I want to see how accurate you are and how fast. You need to show no hesitation and go based on extinct, just like hunting. The targets will be moving just like an average person, this is moving target simulation" Natasha told her, clasping her on her shoulder as she walked behind her.
Desi took a deep breath, preparing herself as she waited for Natasha's callout.
"Target time?" Desi asked.
"No limit, just as quick as you can." Nat assured her,
"Ready..."
"Set..."
"Go!"
Desi ran forward, and the sound of fake bullets being shot, flashed all around her to help prepare her for battle. She saw movement all around her, and she panicked for a moment. She shook her head and fired with little hesitation with her new assault rifle before she got behind a large crate.
Allowing herself to reload, she charged back out into the simulation. She saw movement above her and took her shots before she reached her last target on the floor.
"Time!"
Desi took a large sigh of relief, walking back over to Natasha with a smile on her face. However, her smile turned into a frown when she saw the look on Natasha's face as she looked down at her tablet.
"Out of the 20 targets, only a few were critical, the rest were non-threatening injuries; if they landed." Natasha said, giving her the results. Desi's frown dropped more, but Natasha threw her a small smile.
"It's alright, this is training. Take a moment and we'll try again while I reset." She said before she looked back down at the tablet.
Desi closed her eyes, trying to collect herself. She needs to push herself to make her father proud, and her brothers to trust in her; she needed to stop being afraid. Her brother's words ran through her mind:
"You'll die out there! Do you hear me? We won't be there to protect you! None of these people actually give a damn about you! You'll be just as friendless and alone as you are here! You won't last a week out there! You'll be coming home in a box!"
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as those words replayed in her head.
"Ready!"
Deep Breath. "Set."
Deep exhale. "Go!"
Desi looked around her area as she made her easy, taking her shots and taking cover as the loud noises and flashes erupted all around her. Making quick work of her targets, she used a rope to quickly climb up and take out the dummies on the second floor of the building before dropping, reloading her gun as she made her way over to the opposite end of the simulation, taking out the remaining targets.
"Time!"
Desi fell to the floor, letting out a large sigh of breath, feeling tears in her eyes as she heard Natasha speak.
"Good work Tiny, you managed the targets precisely, looks like I'm not going to be as worried about your weapons training as I thought." Nathasha spoke, her voice getting closer to her.
"That's good." Desi spoke.
"We just need to work on your speed and multi-tasking..." Natasha stopped when she looked up from the tablet, to see Desi sit up with tears in her eyes, her body slightly shaking.
"Hey, you okay? Breathe for me." Natasha spoke, careful not to touch her.
"I'm fine, it's not a panic attack. I just...I thought of my brother's last words to me. It's one hell of a motivation to use during training." Desi explained, smiling at her in assurance.
Natasha nodded, remembering those exact words.
"It's good for motivation but uses that for your practice when you begin your next training tomorrow. I know it's hard for you to control your emotions but remember: your enemies can use that against you." She explained.
"Put more pressure on her, that's helpful."
Des looked over to the unknown voice to see none other than Tony Stark standing there. He wore a black suit with a blue buttoned-up shirt underneath, with his signature smirk on his face.
"Tony, what brings you here?" Natasha asked as she stood up, allowing Desi to recollect herself.
"Agent Coulson needed me to sign off on some things, but when I heard we had a new agent named Destiny joining us last minute, I had to wanted to meet them personally." He told her before looking down at Desi, standing now in front of her.
Desi smiled when he offered her his hand, his smile never wavering.
"Here, let me help you up." Tony offered, and she quickly took his offer.
He pulled her up, but never let her hand go as she gave it one firm shake.
"I'm Tony Stark and you must be Destiny; you seem a bit young to be involved. Do you also have a special set skill?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir Tony. I'm a witch doctor, but you can call me a healer; whatever makes you more comfortable." She spoke.
"Good, a healer. Good to know you're not a risk, but your training says otherwise." Tony jested, but she knew he was analyzing her.
She looked over to Natasha, and she smirked at Desi before nodding; he was safe to speak with. She looked back over to him, looking between both women; he knew.
"I'm a curandera in my hometown. I can help with healing others physically, spiritually, and emotionally; simply put. I'm sure real doctors will be used first, but I'll be with the Initiative exclusively. This training is just in the event I'm without assistance, I'm no soldier." She spoke.
"Good, is there anything I should know?" he asked, accepting her explanation.
"I'll assume there are more details for you in the file, but I need to avoid skin-to-skin contact for now. That's how I heal others, hence the gloves. But touching my skin can allow me to read you." She said, shrugging.
Tony looked at Desi again, who looked more than confused.
"Can I have my hand back now?" Desi asked, giving him a light squeeze.
He let go, but another smirk came on his face.
"I'm going to like having her around, good kid." Tony said, taking a step back to give her some space.
"Have you heard anything recently?" Natasha asked. Within the past few months, she noticed that more people were coming and going.
"Scientists are working on something; Agent Barton just got the order for a new assignment tomorrow." Tony spoke, causing both Desi and Natasha to frown.
"I have given an assignment this morning for tomorrow also." Natasha said, looking for Desi.
Desi couldn't help but sigh.
She knew this day would come.
"My training's nearly done, Agent Hill called me for a debrief meeting tonight..." Desi said, realizing something big might be coming.
"Be prepared for anything, ask questions; they're detailed for a reason." Natasha told her. She nodded before letting out a sigh.
"Anyways, would you like me to pick another weapon?" Desi asked, wanting to take advantage of the time she had left with Natasha.
"Get a short barrel for me, it'll be good for close range." She told Desi.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sir Tony, I hope to see you around." She said with a smile before walking away.
"I'll see you soon." Tony spoke, smiling as he watched her walk away, Natasha elbowing her.
"Remember your girlfriend, Pepper..." Natasha told him, hearing him make a painful 'oop' noise.
"Force of habit, sorry. Anyways, I should go. Take care out there, Nat." he spoke as he cautiously walked away.
"A pleasure to meet you, Destiny!" Tony shouted, waving at the woman.
"Bye, Sir Tony!" Desi yelled.
"Why do you call him that?" Natasha asked.
"He's all armored up like a knight. You know, Iron Man?" she explained, making Natasha chuckle.
"Never tell him that. Now, time for shotgun training."
Desi sat in the middle of the room on top of the metal table, her short legs dangling as Tony came over to her, making quick work to remove her gloves.
"Thank you, Angel." He said with a smile as she took his hands. Within seconds, his aches were gone, and she was careful not to invade his emotions too much.
"All clear, Sir Tony." She said with a smile as he winked at her.
"You know, you should come by Star Tower sometime, both of you. You'd love it, top 10 floors easily with no people and nothing but toys, it'd be Candyland." Tony offered them as he went to stand beside Bruce.
"I would love to actually; I've never visited New York before." Desi stated.
"No thank you, it wouldn't be safe. Last time I went, I destroyed Harlem." Bruce admitted, looking to Tony and Desi hesitantly as he continued his research.
"Well, I promise it'll be a stress-free environment. No tension, no surprises." Tony said, with a curious look on his face.
Desi's eyes widened when she saw him dangle the electro wand.
"Tony!"
The warning came too late as he probed Bruce's side, hearing him let out a zap.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" she asked as she slid off, jogging to Bruce's side.
"Really, nothing?" Tony inquired as she stood beside Bruce, her hands on his exposed arm.
"I'm good, promise." He assured her, allowing her to touch him as he felt a part of his anger goes away briefly by her magic.
"Are you…Bucky?" she asked.
Bucky blinked, but still, no response came from him.
"I'm afraid your prisoner is a non-talker, a mute." Loki chimed in.
Thor glared over at him.
"Am I not allowed to speak?" Loki spat.
Thor looked away, refusing to give him satisfaction.
Desi bit her lower, considering how to get through to him, but she knew she'd eventually have to touch him.
"Open the door, please." She said, hoping she sounded determined. The moment the door opened, he attempted to leap out but was unable to break free. Thor and Tony immediately put their arm out protectively in front of Desi, making Loki narrow his eyes at the men curiously.
"Someone you know says he used to call you Bucky, that was your nickname…" Desi said.
"He…knows me, how?" Bucky spoke finally, making her body chill.
"He didn't tell me, I'm afraid, but maybe you met back when you both served in World War II, does that sound familiar?" Desi asked as she slowly brought the men's arms down, walking very slowly towards Bucky. He watched her as she entered, attempting to lung out, with another fail.
"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes." Desi said with a sympathetic smile as she took off her gloves. Bucky had a tense look on his face, she could see in his eyes what affected him.
His eyes looked lost; his eyebrows crunched together almost contemplating something.
"What do they normally call you?" Desi asked, but he looked almost hesitant.
"I'm Winter Soldier." Bucky said softly.
"I know you must have questions…do you want to remember?" Desi asked.
Bucky looked at her with fury in his eyes, and she quickly interjected.
"It'll just be you and me, nothing and no one else. No machines or any form of punishment, I promise." Desi told him, noticing his metal arm.
Bucky took a deep breath, and after a moment, he nodded.
Desi smiled once more and slowly approached him.
"Tell them to close the door." Bucky said, watching for a change in her behavior.
She didn't waver though, her smile never dropping.
"Close the door, will you?" Desi spoke, looking over to Tony.
"Uh, Angel, not a good idea." Tony said, but Thor ignored him, pressing the button.
"Are you insane?" he exclaimed, but Thor shook his head.
"He's a soldier; it's for his safety more than hers." Thor said, crossing his arms. It bothered Tony, but he knew he was probably right. Tony had to have faith in Desi, her code word repeating in his mind as he continued to watch them.
"Leave." Bucky spoke.
"Afraid we can't do that, metal man." Tony said.
"She's our responsibility, I'm afraid. We will stand back though, near the door." Thor told him as he walked away. Bucky's eyes pierced Tony's until Tony finally relented, walking over to Thor.
"I don't like this one bit…" Tony spoke, and Thor couldn't help but nod reluctantly. Bucky looked back at her and noticed her smile never left, noticing a small dent of a dimple outlined on her cheek.
Bucky noticed her chocolate brown eyes piercing his, her long black hair braided over her shoulder. Taking in her attired, she wore a teal jumpsuit unlike the others, but she carried no weapons on her.
Either she was a skilled killer, or she was not a soldier.
"I'm going to touch you, okay? Please, don't pull away, you must let me in so I can help you." Desi told him.
"How do I know if I can trust you?" Bucky asked her, narrowing his eyes at her.
She chuckled before she let out a loud breath, putting her hands on her hips. She bit her lower lip for a moment before she looked back up at him.
"Since you're sharing, why don't I show you some of my past? Personal stuff, too; is that fair?" Desi asked.
Bucky stared at her but eventually nodded once, his eyes never leaving hers as she bent over, slowly placing her hands on his forehead. Immediately he felt her soft cool hands on him, feeling something warm wash over his body he had never felt before, closing his eyes as he felt a bliss he had never felt before. She was glad he was at peace for a moment before she began, searching for him again.
"Bucky…" Desi whispered.
Immediately, she was hit with a flash and clung to it before it disappeared.
Bucky grunted as they both watched a memory of uniformed Bucky with two women and a short scrawny man following behind him as they watched Stark Enterprise presenting a test model of a new car. She realized this man was none other than Steve Rogers, watching as Bucky intervened when Rogers was cornered in an alleyway.
No sooner than the memory, another came through of Steve Rogers rescuing Bucky now built as the Steve Rogers she knew, but Desi could feel Bucky's anger, immediately calming him down.
Bucky was struggling to process all of this: the man he attacked was someone he considered a best friend.
Bucky's anger was quickly just as gone, feeling the warmth wash over him again. Desi felt another memory come through and it was then that she let out a whimper as she watched Bucky fall off the train, watching Steve as he watched in horror. She felt the tears, the anguish, the fear in Bucky as he fell, and Desi let out a scream as Bucky hit the ice.
Thor and Tony moved closer, their body tense as they watched; Natasha, Bruce, and Steve watching the live feed with heavy tension in the air. Natasha didn't show but she wanted nothing more than to be alongside her. Steve on the other hand was nearly ridden with guilt, he shouldn't have asked, knowing he was partially responsible, but he needed her to complete this.
He needed his best friend back.
Bucky felt his anguish quickly disappear but hearing Desi in pain was almost as painful for him.
"S-So cold…" Desi whispered, feeling her body shake.
Bucky's eyes widened and that's when he knew, this woman was seeing and feeling everything, he had experienced in these memories.
Something in Bucky snapped as he lunged once more multiple times from his chair before it finally broke.
Thor and Tony nearly ran over when they realized what was happening.
Bucky pulled Desi onto his lap, wrapping his metal arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. As Desi straddled him with her legs on each side of his, she began to whimper once more, and he couldn't help but feel regretful for making her feel this way. Desi felt his warm hand grab her left hand and she felt a sense of peace for a moment, but she needed him to focus. She slowly opened her eyes and saw as he was staring at her again, placing her hand on his cheek.
Desi hesitantly dropped her hand to his other cheek, closing her eyes again as she tried to re-focus.
Bucky closed his eyes, sliding his hand into Desi's loose hair, cradling the back of her head, and pressing her forehead against his as he opened himself up to her again. She then saw another dream, feeling cold once more, and whimpered as aches entered her body once more, watching as he was awakened with a metallic arm against his will. She watched him as he was trained but when he began to question things, they strapped him to a chair like the one they were on.
Giving him a mouthpiece, he was forced down and felt plates on their forehead and that's when she knew she was in trouble.
Desi let out a blood-cry scream as she felt the shocks enter her body, crying out with tears rolling down her face as she endured. Bucky pulled her tightly against him as she thrashed, shushing her softly, watching the days pass in repeat. The team couldn't stand to watch as she continued to cry and scream out numerous times, until after what felt like forever, she finally stopped.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Desi said under her breath, curling the strands of Bucky's hair behind his ears tenderly before she went back into his mind, and he watched all the assassinations he had done effortlessly.
Desi never got to capture their faces, but she heard their voices, and she had to remember them. It made her blood boil to hear the Russian words, making him go into Winter Soldier mode, but deleted it from her mind; he would never need them again. Eventually, the memories led to today, and she heard more unknown voices, but the order was given to kill everyone on this ship, starting with Captain America.
Desi gasped as she finally finished, letting Bucky go as she tried to recollect herself, her tears still stained on her face as she tried to collect her breathing. He had finally remembered some things, but his memory was still foggy from other things. But he knew that he and Steve Rogers were friends, and he had Desi to thank for this. She looked down and noticed they were in a very intimate and inappropriate position, and she felt his arm tighten around her.
"Here's my part of the deal." She said before she placed her hands on his forehead once more.
Bucky then closed his eyes as memories that were not his own enter his.
He saw Desi herself being taken away as a child, watching her as she was raised to live off the land, and saw as she thrown as a child into a shed; crying as she was consumed by the darkness with the door closing on her.
She was unwelcomed by her family and community, hearing people calling her a curse, a devil, but he saw her smile never fade. He saw her fight off spirits and healed others, still willing to help despite everything. He even saw her the day she was recruited when she left home and had heartache when she said her goodbyes to her brothers.
Bucky then saw as Desi met the others, she didn't overshare, but she showed how she first met everyone onboard, including her interactions with Steve Rogers, and realized that Steve had changed; he never spoke to a woman like that before.
He could see her alone on the ship with offensive comments still being made to her, mistrust amongst themselves, but he felt no emotion like she did. She slowly pulled away as the emotions came back flowing through her, her body tremoring as if she felt the shock run through her body still.
Bucky wiped Desi's tears away; he endured a lot but wished it on no one.
"Did…that help?" Desi asked, her voice ever so soft.
Bucky nodded, but he didn't answer.
Her emotions began to bundle up again though, she had to leave soon and recollect herself.
"Mercy, come back to the bridge." Fury's voice rang from the intercom.
Bucky didn't want her to leave yet.
Desi closed her eyes, squinting them as she felt let out a shaky breath, tears coming back up; she wasn't ready to see everyone. Bucky's hold tightened on her when he saw her reaction, but he saw Tony and Thor slowly approach the door.
"Release Lady Destiny, she's been ordered to return with us." Thor told him, hammer in hand.
Bucky slowly stood up, cradling Desi bridal style, but Thor stood in his way.
"I'm afraid you haven't been cleared to leave this capsule yet. Please put her down." Thor spoke.
Bucky didn't budge but Desi let out another shaky breath as her emotions were going into overdrive again, the flashes coming back in her head.
"Angel?" she could hear Tony call out to her, but the shocks were running through her again.
"Ba-Banana." Desi whispered.
Thor charged into the room, pushing Buck back as he yanked her out of his hold, handing her over to Tony. Tony immediately carried Desi out of there as Thor closed the door, leaving Bucky to glare at him.
"What's going to happen with her?"Bucky asked.
Thor saw a flash of concern on his face, but Thor chose not to answer, following the duo hastily.
"Fancy her after such an intimate bond, huh?"
Bucky glared over to Loki, seeing him smiling at him mischievously.
"Miss her on your lap, do we? I must admit, you looked almost ready to ravish her. She must really feel…delectable." Loki continued.
"Do you ever shut up?" Bucky barked, sitting back on the broken chair.
That's when he saw on the floor her gloves and picked them up carefully. He tucked them into his jacket, but he couldn't help but look down at his hand where his mark glowed. He never thought he'd meet his, let alone in this situation but he knew one thing:
He wanted to protect her.
"What happened to you?"
Loki stopped speaking when she looked at him with sadness on her face.
She slowly approached the glass, she had to know what was pushing him to this moment, why he was this way.
"What are you doing?" Loki questioned, looking at her cautiously.
"Forgive me…" Desi whispered before she placed her hands on the glass.
"Stop it!" Loki's eyes widened in bewilderment, slapping his hands on the glass, hovering over hers.
Desi rested her head against the glass as she slid down, flashes of Loki's memories hitting her harshly. From finding out his origin, his father is enraged with him as his skin turned, and Thor is favorited and doted on. She watched Loki being ignored and punished severely when Thor walked away, the way he doted on his mother.
Loki was made to be an enemy of his own, and he became what they saw in him.
Desi saw the attempt to kill Thor unsuccessfully, and his attempt to kill himself in his father's hands.
"Oh, my God." Desi stuttered, tears forming in her eyes as she felt all his emotions, the pain was overwhelming to take but she endured as it led to this moment.
She saw him make a pack for the tesseract, she saw Barton and who she assumed was the scientist, but she saw the scepter glowing in a way that the naked eye couldn't see.
And she saw flashes of Bruce also, a loud roar that was inhuman.
Loki felt her in his mind but quickly searched her memories as well.
Loki saw a platinum blond woman on a white horse, her armor held with a star in the middle of her chest, her headpiece with Pegasus wings that glowed almost angelically as if she was an angel, with a long flowing gold cape. She charged through a battle with a sun-designed shield and a gold sword. She fought vast enemies, slaying them in her path as she fought her way through. Without a touch, she waved her hands and healed, even resurrected people from the dead. She helped people crossover, guiding them to the gates of Valhalla.
Loki saw her hugging a younger Frigga, fighting against a woman, and hearing her shout the name of Ker. He watched as they fought until Ker was slain, but the woman was clinging to life as she fell onto her side. On her final breaths, she saw a vision of a baby abandoned in front of a nearby altar and teleported herself to this baby.
When she arrived, the baby had died before her eyes and the woman's heart stung. The baby's blue lifeless eyes pierced hers, and she felt the desire she once had for a child ache in her heart. She pressed her hand against the baby's chest, her hand glowing gold, resurrecting the baby back to life. The baby glowed a golden silver color before crying out once more, her blue eyes shifting to brown; just as the woman was.
"You must live. I love you, my daughter…"
He quickly saw her memories of her being sent off at such a young age, saw glimpses of her training, and her return home to her family. She was unwelcomed by her family, and he watched her as she was expected to treat everyone kindly, yet received nothing but mistrust; a feeling he knew too well.
He saw her brothers showing kindness to her, but her mother had demanded a home for her, for her daughter to be at an arm's distance from the family. He saw her abilities at work and saw when they came for her. He knew now that she was like him; alone with only herself, a vagabond, with no place of her own.
She let out a large gasp as she was able to finally pull out of the sequence of events, her tears not seeming to stop.
"You didn't deserve that…" Desi said under her breath.
"What?" Loki looked at her, confused.
"You didn't do anything wrong…it wasn't your fault." She said, cupping her face as she wiped her tears away.
He slammed his fist against the glass, his eyes glaring daggers at her.
"What did you see?" Loki asked Desi.
"Everything…you didn't…you didn't become this way initially by choice." Desi said as she struggled to stand.
Loki suddenly saw her in a new light.
"You should be afraid." He told her.
"Oh, believe me, you in this glass prison is your fault, you DID choose this! I just meant before all this, before you plotted against Thor." Desi explained.
No fear of him…
Her compassion…
Loki looked down at her.
"…Join me."
Desi looked up at him in confusion, hearing his soft voice as he crouched down to her level.
"What did you say?"
"I would make you one of mine, my personal savant. If you serve me, you'd be respected, and you'd be able to help others in a way that no one else can." He offered.
She shook her head, "I'm already doing that in my own way, thanks." She said softly, feeling uncertain about his sudden change in demeanor.
"Would you rather be with someone who will be honest with you, or remain with the ones who would so easily deceive you?" Loki asked her in a vulnerable tone.
On the opposite side of the ship, Nat's eyes widened in worriedness, and the men in the room glanced over at her with suspicious glares.
"What are you talking about?" Desi asked with an uncertain voice.
"Would you like to see for yourself, darling?" Loki asked, gently placing his hand on the glass.
Desi hesitated. The voice in the back of her mind was telling her all sorts of reasons as to why this wasn't a good idea, to trust in her team, but one voice was telling her to do it. She carefully placed her hand on the glass and gasped as a memory entered her mind.
Desi saw a platinum blond woman on a white horse, her armor held with a star in the middle of her chest, her headpiece with Pegasus wings that glowed almost angelically as if she was an angel, with a long flowing gold cape. She charged through a battle with a sun-designed shield and a gold sword. She fought vast enemies, slaying them in her path as she fought her way through. Without a touch, she waved her hands and healed, even resurrected people from the dead. She helped people crossover, guiding them to the gates of Valhalla.
Desi saw her hugging a younger Frigga, fighting against a woman, and hearing her shout the name of Ker. Desi watched as they fought until Ker was slain, but the woman was clinging to life as she fell onto her side. On her final breaths, she saw a vision of a baby abandoned in front of a nearby altar and teleported herself to this baby.
When she arrived, the baby had died before her eyes and the woman's heart stung. The baby's blue lifeless eyes pierced hers, and she felt the desire she once had for a child ache in her heart. She pressed her hand against the baby's chest, her hand glowing gold, resurrecting the baby back to life. The baby glowed a golden silver color before crying out once more, her blue eyes shifting to brown; just as the woman was.
"You must live. I love you, my daughter…"
The vision quickly changed to Loki with Clint amongst the scientists and quickly noticed Loki going through a tablet as he sat down. She stood over him and her eyes widened in fear when she saw him going through her file. Reading through what he saw, she saw her basic information on file but slowed down when she saw the comments.
They were suspicious of her.
She panicked when she saw her blood sample on file:
Diana Montoya DNA Match: 0%
Lemi Montoya DNA Match: 0%
Cole Montoya DNA Match: 0%
"She's been marked as a potential risk after the blood work, no word as of yet of how to proceed with her." Clint told him.
"What do you think of her though?" Loki asked.
"She won't be a threat to anyone right now. Natasha and I are making sure of that." Clint said with confidence.
Desi rested her head against the glass as she dropped her hand, breaking the vision. She let out a sob as she shook her head frantically.
"No, no, no, no, no..." Desi cried, tears running down her face as she replayed the vision in her head over and over again.
She felt deceived, and betrayed, but she tried so hard to fight this.
Loki swallowed hard, remembering the same pain he felt when he discovered his own identity.
"I know you, Lady Destiny. You are the daughter of Lady Eir, The Goddess of Healing. You died as a baby and were brought back by Lady Eir as she died in battle, making you the child she desired all her life. Your so-called friends know about this and choose to hide this from you, darling." Loki said.
"Why would you show that to me?" Desi asked, her voice fragile.
"I…know what it's like. Be careful who you trust, darling."
Desi thought of her family's treatment of her but now with Nat and Clint's relationship with her; was she a threat? Was any of their interactions real? She shut her eyes as tears came down her face once more.
"I know it's not much to you now, but my offer still stands. I would hide nothing from you: you would know your place with me. I would hide nothing from you. You've seen me, I know your pain. They would never trust you, but I would trust you." Loki reminded Desi.
"Banana." Desi whispered as she closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing as she tried to control her sobs; tears not seeming to stop coming down from her eyes.
Within a second, Thor came through and ignored Loki's glare; he needed to focus on getting her out of there.
"Prepare yourself, Lady Destiny." Loki warned her. Rather Desi wanted to believe it or not, the truth was going to come out sooner or later.
Thor carried her bridal style, allowing her to hide her face in his chest as they left the room.
"Loki…wants… Bruce," she said in between breaths to Thor. "avoid…tesseract, he's using…that as a beacon…to encourage anger." Desi said as Thor put her down in front of the elevator.
"I need you to focus on me, Lady Destiny." Thor offered as he took Desi's hand into his.
"I…can't." Desi said in between sobs. She was struggling to contain herself; she felt a surge of pain and energy come off her.
Her body began to glow a gold color, but Thor instinctively wiped her tears away, unsure how to support her.
"Look at me." He told her, but she continuously shook her head. He felt her body tremble, noticing her shortness of breath. He grasped her face in his hands and pulled her towards him.
She felt his breath faintly on her face and slowly fluttered her eyes open, his blue eyes piercing hers.
"Look at me. Now," Thor spoke, remembering her last panic attack, "say the next number. Twenty."
"N-Nine…" she felt herself choke up; her breath hitched.
"Keep trying, okay? Again. Twenty." He repeated in a gentle tone.
"Nine…nine...nineteen." she whispered.
"Good. Eighteen." He spoke, encouraging her.
"Seven…teen." She said, feeling another sob escape her.
"Good, now. Sixteen. Finish it for me, okay?" he said, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.
"Six…teen." She spoke. She saw the concern in his eyes, his emotions matching that as they came through her with his touch. She continued counting down as she felt herself slowly calm down enough to collect herself.
"Are you alright?" Thor asked Desi.
"No, but we need to…go." Desi said as he removed his hands from her face.
"You need to rest." Thor told her.
He looked stunned for a moment when she looked at him with fury in her eyes.
"Rest won't help with the pain I feel right now. I need to…help Bruce." Desi spoke.
Thor quickly lifted Desi up bridal-style, hearing her yelp as he brought her over to the elevator. Once the door opened, he walked in and slowly put her down to her feet, dropping his hand to her arm respectfully as she took a large deep breath.
Giving Desi a passing glance, Thor could see her nearly deflated, a frown placed on her face. Thinking back on Loki's conversation with her, Thor thought of the name Lady Eir. She was known in Asgard as the Goddess of Healing…making Desi part, if not, Asgardian. He didn't know about her background and how she was raised, but based on what he saw, he knew she wasn't properly trained.
Perhaps he could talk to his mother and assist her in this?
The elevator opened them to their floor and already noticed a heated conversation taking place. She heard the talk of Phase Two, their angry emotions filling the room, but what alarmed her was the scepter.
"Guys…"Desi tried to warn them.
"Stay out of this!" Steve yelled at her.
"Taking it easy on the kid, yeah?" Tony chimed in.
"Take off the armor and what are you?"
Desi sighed as they began to bicker, but she felt for Bruce, his talk of trying to end his own life. She froze in fear when she saw the scepter in his hand.
"That's what's triggering this, don't you guys feel that?" Desi questioned.
"Feelings don't mean anything here, Destiny. Maybe you should go see a real doctor, something you're not." Steve told Desi, making her frown.
Bucky narrowed his eyes at Steve, angered by his attitude toward her.
"Don't you take your anger out on me, Captain Crunch." Desi scoffed.
"Good one, kid." Tony said with a smirk.
"Tiny." Desi felt her body tense when she saw Natasha approach her and she immediately took a step back from her reach, making Natasha alarmed at her sudden demeanor.
"I…can't right now." Desi spoke, her voice shaky.
Natasha nodded, reluctantly left to stand beside Fury, leaving Desi attempting to calm herself once more as the men continued to challenge each other.
Desi gasped as there was loud, causing everyone to jolt around chaotically.
The ship rocked, causing chaos as the alarms rang off as everyone tried to steady themselves.
Desi flew back through a hole in the floor, yelling as she fell through.
"Desi!" She could hear Bucky's voice when she realized then…she was following down to Earth.