Hey folks, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who are sticking with the story and adding it to your favorite lists. It makes me so happy that so many of you are enjoying it. I also want to send a HUGE thank you to my best friend Kyla (PyroQueenOfFire), without whom this story would not have happened nor would it have gotten this far.

Kyla is also writing a story featuring Sharon and Angel as main characters titled Take Me or Leave Me, you should all head over and have a look at it, it is AMAZING and awesome. Kyla and I both have plans for more stories including Angel and Sharon in them, we LOVE writing about them in the Avengers universe and we have many other ideas we want to use with them.

Dedicated to Kyla, who understands just how much I adore photos of goofy animals

CHAPTER TWELVE

Angel lay on Sharon's bed for a long while, salt trails from her tears dried on her cheeks and her face reddened slightly. She couldn't understand why Sharon would do this; she understood the scared part. After Steve's reaction to the news Angel wished she had kept it to herself, she wished Natasha hadn't told her that she knew about her and Sharon, she wished she hadn't warned Sharon, and most of all: she wished she wasn't a mutant.

She'd never been ashamed of herself before, but she felt a gaping hole in her chest that hurt her beyond belief. She stifled another sob as she curled tighter into the fetal position. She'd never felt so alone than at that moment. There was a reason why it was always she and Sharon against the world, why they stuck by each other and kept their abilities a secret. Now because Angel got too reckless she lost both her best friend and a man she'd really grown to care about.

She wanted Sharon back; she needed her best friend there by her side. She wished she had gone with Sharon; the thought of being in proximity with Steve when she repulsed him was unbearable. It was too late to try and join Sharon; Nick had given an order that by no means was Angel to leave the ship and gave them ear and eye protection so that they won't be manipulated. Angel wasn't sure whether to be offended or amused by Nick's precautions, but her mind shifted over to a new target: Barton.

He was the last one to see and talk to Sharon before she'd left the carrier, Angel was sure that he was connected to Sharon's departure in some form. Maybe Natasha had told Barton their secret and he confronted Sharon about it and scared her off. Then Angel remembered that he was only just informed of Sharon's secret.

Angel wanted answers. She wanted someone to explain why this had all happened. She sat up straight, a fire now blazing in her chest. She walked out of the room and made her way through the corridors with a mission in mind…

*.*.*.*.*.

Clint stood over one of the tech's shoulders as the computer rapidly searched through images taken by video camera's all over the earth hoping to capture Sharon's face. She couldn't have gotten far without getting caught on camera… Clint thought, leaning forward and staring closer at the rapid flow of images passing by the screen.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him backwards. He slammed down on the ground and felt a knee dig into his chest. He looked up and saw Angel looming over him with a determined look on her face, "What the hell did you do to her?" She growled.

"I don't know what you're talking about- AGH" Angel dug her knee hard into his chest, making him wince and grit his teeth, "She was having an emotional breakdown, I comforted her."

"You did something that drove her away and I want to know what." Angel snarled.

At that moment Steve walked into the room and saw what was happening and rushed over. He grabbed Angel and pulled her off Clint, who let out a cough and rubbed his chest where Angel's knee had been putting pressure. Angel thrashed in Steve's grasp, "LET ME GO!"

"What do you think you're doing, Angel! Clint's trying to help and find Sharon!"

"He's the one that drove her away!" Angel continued to thrash a bit.

"Look I didn't do anything! I swear, after I stopped her from punching the bag she collapsed and started to sob. I tried comforting her but then she pushed me away. I tried getting her to tell me what was wrong and let me help but she only kept pushing me away," Clint leaned on one of the control panels and sighed, "Before she left I asked her if she thought I was repulsive, if that was the reason why she kept me at a distance. She then said something about how she was the abomination. At the time the remark confused me, but after you told me her secret it all makes sense."

Angel's eyes welled up in tears, but she kept them at bay, "I see, do what you can to get her back here Agent Barton. But if you hurt her you will answer to me, don't forget that I can manipulate you into having you cut open your abdomen and pull out your own guts until you fall over dead." With that she turned her power onto Steve.

Steve noticed a faint tingling in the back of his head, next thing he knew he let Angel go. He stood there a few moments trying to figure out what just happened. Before he could react Angel had left the room.

He continued to stand there feeling confused when Clint walked up to him, "She just manipulated you." Clint said, "You feeling alright?"

"Yeah… I just never felt that before…" Steve was filled with confusion, trying to wrap around all the recent events.

"You'll be fine Rogers, excuse me while I get back to work." With that Clint went back over to the control board and continued staring at the computer screen.

Steve stood there for a moment before leaving the room, going to his quarters to sort out some thoughts and conclusions that needed reassessment.

*.*.*.*.*.

Loki approached Sharon, who wore the gown he'd given her. She looked like a goddess; it made Loki smile. He stopped in front of her and put his hand on her cheek, lifting her face so that he could gaze into her eyes.

"You're the most beautiful thing I've seen in all the realms."

With that he turned and took a crown off a pillow a servant was holding behind him. He placed the crown on Sharon's head, "My queen."

Sharon looked up at him, "My King."

Feedback is always appreciated! Don't be shy!

Alasiel