Where is she? Loki wondered, irritated beyond belief. Kate was supposed to meet him in the training hall ten minutes ago. They were then supposed to head down to one of the Interogation rooms that had been remade into what Stark called, an 'Anti-Kate' room. Loki sneered at the name.

The glass was infused with vibranium and three times as thick as it had been previously. The walls were solid concrete, and small devices set in to the corners would easily be able to lock on her and shoot her with a tranquilizer dart. It was where she'd be reintroduced to the avengers. It would be effective if the girl went on a rampage, but there was no doubt in Loki's mind that it would damage her on a psychological level. Her mind was broken enough as it is.

Loki was not looking forward to it. In his opinion, it was a terrible idea. She would end up hurting herself. The enchantment Thanos had cast was solid, and absolute. Slowly familiarizing her with them would do nothing but strengthen it, but he had his orders. His punishment bound him to Thor, who had of course agreed to the idea. The idiot didn't care about Loki's warnings, no he would do as he saw fit. Which was a bad idea.

One of the many bruises that he sported twinged painfully. They hadn't healed properly, even with his limited healing magic, it should have worked by now. Without Kate's knowledge, he and Thor had gone to a small outpost in search of information on her. He'd learned little, the most interesting being the fact that Thanos had three daughter assassins. One went missing. After said knowledge was gained, he got into a fight with a particularly rude creature. The thing gave him several bruises and scrapes, but it had ended up in tank of acid. Loki was pleased with the outcome, but Thor wasn't. A smirk lit his face at the memory.

He checked the clock up on the wall. She was twenty minutes late. Something wasn't right. He didn't care about the girl at all.

Liar. That little voice whispered. As hard as he tried to deny to himself, he did nurture a certain, regard for her. Liar. She was his investment, a way to grace himself back into Asgard. Liar.

Without even realizing it, his mind was made up. He set off in the direction of her room. When she wasn't training or taking her meals, she was either there or wandering about the carrier. He'd caught her a few times attempting to enter classified rooms, to which he had told her to go ahead and try, if she wanted her wandering privileges revoked. She hadn't seemed too keen to enter after that.

Loki knocked on her door, once, twice, and finally tried the knob. It was unlocked. Kate never left it unlocked. She was incredibly paranoid of an intruder. Kate had once confided in him that she slept with a knife under her pillow and one hidden in her bathroom. In a moment of disdain, he'd said something rather cutting. She hadn't told him anything else after that. In his opinion, she shouldn't be telling anyone anything personal, especially anyone who worked for SHIELD.

He gently pushed the door open, and nearly lashed out from frustration. She was asleep. Curled up like a cat, her fur shades of dark blue and green. Perfectly, annoyingly, peaceful.

He stalked over, and grabbed her by the scruff (she now had one, to Loki's great amusement), and dumped her on the floor. She instantly jumped up, already in battle mode. However, when she did finally process the fact that Loki was indeed there in front of her, she just blinked slowly and turned a dark stormy grey.

"What do you think you were doing?" he seethed.

"I must have dosed off, sorry. Sam had me- "

"I don't care what your earlier training consisted of! You were supposed to be down in the training hall thirty minutes ago!" He nearly yelled, pointing at the door for emphasis. Didn't she understand how serious this was? If she managed to mess up the rest of this operation, not only would Fury revoke privileges, making it harder on Loki to train her, he would also tighten security and Kate would likely never see the light of day again. No matter how much he tried to deny it to himself, he didn't want that for Kate. She had no idea what she was and he wanted to keep it that way. In the last few days, he'd finally figured it out, and it startled him to no ends why he hadn't seen it before.

"I'm… I'm sorry." She stuttered, clearly taken aback at his rage. "I'll do better next time."

There won't be a next time! He nearly snapped, but instead tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath, smoothing out his shirt.

"Fine. For now, follow me, don't speak unless spoken to, and no matter what, don't make this any worse than it already is." He ground out. She frowned, but nodded.

With Kate in tow, he led her through a maze of narrow passage ways and check points. At each one, he had to resist the urge to scream at the guard to let them through. The idiotic mortal didn't need to check that this was indeed Kate Smithton and Loki Laufeyson.

Finally, they made it. Forty-five minutes late.

Loki ignored the stares of the agents, and placed Kate in the small, heavily fortified room. She didn't argue, but he could see fear in her eyes. He looked away, shame bubbling up slowly. It was ridiculous, but none the less he felt it.

Once he was situated in his own small room, with one door that opened in to the one occupied by Kate, did he tell Fury they were ready.

"We will be discussing punctuality later Loki." He said. Loki rolled his eyes and nodded.

The speaker above his head crackled before Fury's voice replaced it. "Kate, do you know what we are doing today?"

"No."

"Good. We are trying to reintroduce you to some people." He said without preamble.

Loki studied the girl's face closely. It went from nervousness to closed off as soon as the words left Fury's mouth. Kate wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what was going on now.

"Just relax." He added. Loki snorted. Yes, expect the young transformed girl, locked in a small room, to relax.

The room beyond Kate's was empty. The room behind her was were Loki would watch. He waited.

Then, Romanoff appeared on the other side of the glass.

Loki watched in utter fascination. Kate's posture changed, her wings raised threateningly, her tail arced in the air behind her like a scorpion's. Then, a ripple of black flowed across her. Her claws emerged, glinting. Loki noticed that under the lights, the normally soft thick fur, had changed. It took on a dull, metallic quality, and seemed to have flattened more. Loki cataloged all this in his mind, ready to be properly thought out later.

"Hi Kate." The widow's voice was expressionless and betrayed nothing. Kate however, didn't.

With a roar, she launched herself at the glass, claws sliding right off. This only seemed to infuriate her more. Her fur flashed red, and then she disappeared. Her uniform however, did not. Loki watched her stalk around the room, before ending up back in front of the glass.

She flashed back into view, once again jet black.

"Alright, Loki. You're up." Fury said grimly.

Loki nodded. He slowly opened the door, keeping an eye on Kate. Most likely she wouldn't attack him unless he did first. What he hadn't expected was complete disregard. She didn't react. No ear twitch, shifting, or anything she naturally did when she sensed another presence near her. It was baffling. Even with the programming spell, she should still notice him.

The door snapped shut behind him. That got her attention. She spun around, eyes wild, teeth bared, and claws up. Her head was tilted to the side, and she seemed to be analyzing him.

Loki stared her down. He would not be intimidated by her. At the moment she was nothing more than an extremely deadly attack dog. Loki had to make it clear that he was in charge.

He watched intently as the animal that was Kate accepted his dominance. She flicked her head to the side, then turned her attention back to the agent.

"Kate, it's- "She cut her off with a roar, again attacking the glass. Romanoff's eyes widened slightly, and she backed away a little. For once, Loki wasn't amused or smug. She had every reason to fear Kate.

The enchantment was strong. Being in the same room with Kate told him that. There was a current of magic around her that gave him a sick feeling… he recognized that current. Remembered it on him…

"Kate." He said, using the same tone he used during their training.

No response.

"Kate." He repeated.

Nothing.

He sighed. This was not going to be easy.

In two steps, he was right behind her. Carefully, he laid a hand on her shoulder. She spun away from him, growling. Her attention was fully focused on him now. Her pupils had dilated to cover every millimeter of her irises. Her ears were pressed against her head. She was the perfect image of a feral animal, pure and simple.

He snarled back, ready for her attack. But it never came. Instead, she lowered her arms and wings, backing up into the corner, her claws sheathed.

He stared at her. He had distracted her from her target. This wasn't how someone under a programming spell acted. Its purpose was to force the recipient to do something, no matter what. She should be trying to kill him, attack him, something other than submission. There was another force at play here.

"Kate, go over there." He said, pointing to the other corner. She didn't respond, just stared a little over his shoulder, arms tucked against her sides.

This time, he attacked. With no weapons, a normal mortal would be killed quickly by her. But Loki wasn't a mortal. He was a Jotun.

For the first time in months, he let his true form out. Blue skin and red eyes, dark blue veins, and skin colder than ice. He swung at Kate, who quickly ducked away. She lashed out with her claws, but he was too quick. They slammed into the wall at full speed, causing her to yelp. He took the opportunity to aim a kick at her. It connected, but instead of hitting fur, he hit hard scales. Her fur had somehow hardened to a shell, natural armor. With one attack failed, he reached down and placed both hands on her wings, pinning them down. She bucked, thrashed, and yowled, but she couldn't move. Her tail lashed around his legs. It was like a club. Loki growled, pressing harder on her wings.

So this is how you beat her. He thought. All one has to do is hold them down.

Finally, she gave up. White foam covered her chin and fangs, her eyes were empty and she looked depleted of energy, but he knew better. Kate had stamina for days. It was unlikely she was tired already, impossible actually.

But he let her up anyways. He had proven to her who was in charge. Now even animalistic Kate would obey him, hopefully.

"Kate, stand over there." He pointed to the corner. She went.

"Kate, do not attack Agent Natasha Romanoff." He commanded. She didn't say or do anything, but he knew she heard.

"Kate, stand down." He said. She visibly relaxed, but her eyes didn't waver.

Loki looked to Romanoff, motioning her to come in. She did, carefully.

Kate didn't so much as glance her way.

"What did you do to her?" she asked.

"I was wrong. It is not an enchantment, but mere brainwashing and torture. Years of it." He supplied.

She was silent for a moment. "Can't you get her to be normal again?"

"No, only her master can."

"Her master? You mean…" she trailed off, staring at the poor girl.

"Yes, Thanos is the only one who can do anything." He spat.

"But she obeyed you. How did you do that?"

"One of his techniques is training his soldiers to obey his officers if he isn't around to give orders. Risky, but everyone fears Thanos enough not to disobey or even think of betrayal. Normally, it's a few well-chosen words and images, but with his personal assassins, it requires a more combative form." He paused before adding. "However, when Thanos shows up, she will default. Any memory of my dominance will be erased."

She nodded. "Why isn't she like this all the time?"

"You, Widow should already know that." He said curtly.

She was quiet. "I thought you weren't allowed to access the files."

"I get bored."

She nodded.

"I'll send Stark in." And with that, she left.

Once she was gone, Kate blinked. She moved slightly. After a minute or so, she seemed to come back to her senses. The black leaked away, a miserable blue taking place.

"Ow." She muttered, before slumping against the wall, a violent display of colors battling across her.

Loki rushed forward to help her down to the floor.

"What happened?" her slurred, eyes darting to everything.

"What do you remember?" he asked.

She frowned, staring at the floor.

"I… a fight. Something red. Pain. Rage. Nothing else." Her eyes widened. "Did I… did I hurt someone?" her voice rose an octave. She seemed on the verge of panic. He could see her starting to shake.

"No, you didn't." he sighed.

She relaxed, but still looked miserable, and exhausted.

He made up his mind. She couldn't do that again. Loki cursed himself for feeling so protective of her.

He left the room and went into the hall outside. Romanoff was giving her report to Fury. That could wait.

"Fury, she's done." Loki told him, giving the director a cold glare.

"Excuse me? She isn't done until I say so. Understood?"

"No. You will drive her insane. I was wrong, this isn't some spell that with time can be broken, it's brainwashing. Torture. The affects are similar, obviously." He said curtly. Fury regarded him coldly.

"The plan continues. You finish your job and nobody else gets hurt."

Loki had to take a moment to calm down. "Oh yes, because it doesn't matter if Kate loses her mind as long as she's your little weapon."

"She isn't a weapon. She's a hero, or will be when her training's done. No, she won't lose her mind because she's tougher than you think. Now, get back in there and do your job, or she will be trained under my guidelines! Got it?"

Loki didn't answer, just turned on his heel and entered the room, not even looking at Kate, who in turn struggled to her feet.

"Can I go?" she asked weakly.

"No."

She gulped, took a couple deep breaths, then sat back down, leaning her head against the wall.

Loki watched in anguish as a single tear leaked from her eye. But he banished the thought away. Fury was right. Kate was tough.

Natasha was furious with herself. Why had she even suggested this to Fury?

When she had gone into that little room, she had braced herself for what would happen; Kate's attack. What she hadn't thought of, was how shocking it would be. For just a moment, Kate was still herself, and then the beast had emerged, a switch flipped.

Black as tar, and just as dangerous as the Widow herself. No, more than dangerous, deadly.

Nat had watched as Loki tackled Kate and fought her. She'd been worried that he would hurt Kate, but then realized that it wasn't Kate she should stress over, but Loki. She had nearly nicked his throat a few times, and Nat had seen the marks they left on the disemboweled agent.

The man Kate had unwittingly attacked, had died approximately three hours ago. Everyone was under orders not to tell Kate. Besides that, the matter was heavily classified.

Now, the Widow stood against the wall, listening to Loki and Fury argue over Kate. As much as she was loath to admit it, she agreed wholeheartedly with Loki. Kate couldn't do that again. The psychological trauma she would go through was too much.

Nat glanced at the screen across from her. The image of Kate huddled against the wall, caused a stirring of emotion. Familiarity. In that moment, it wasn't a winged girl in there, but a six-year-old Natalia crouched down, awaiting punishment. She blinked, and the memory was gone.

Loki stormed past, heading back into the room. Natasha didn't move. Didn't argue with Fury. Didn't even talk to Tony as he strolled by. What she did do was disappear from the area, in turmoil over memories and the present.

With each avenger that came in, with each transformation Kate underwent, Loki's patience withered and his rage grew.

By the time Thor came, he was ready to kill. Not Kate though, Fury. The idiotic mortal did not understand what was happening to Kate. She was slowly losing her mind. Even during her episodes, the signs of madness clung like spider webs. Less precision, more recklessness.

Right after Banner had departed, she had curled up and refused to move or even acknowledge him. In any other circumstance, he would not have allowed that.

Loki glanced up at Thor. His brother seemed sickened by the quivering form of Kate. His face was pale and for once Thor's shining confidence had gone up in smoke.

"Kate." He crouched down to her level, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched, but adamantly stayed put. "Kate." He tried again, putting a little more authority in his voice. He heaved a sigh. From the perspective of the man in charge, doing this now made sense. After today, Kate would be able to go on missions without being set off. But from the point of view of someone who possessed even a teaspoon of empathy, this was terrible. "I'm sorry." He murmured just loud enough for her to hear. As he stood back up, he wrenched Kate up by the scruff as well. She didn't so much as yelp.

She must have seen Thor, because the beast surfaced. The only difference between now and the past times, was that her efforts were less enthusiastic.

"Kate. Do not attack Thor unless ordered." He said. She stopped, and returned to her corner. The perfect soldier, he thought grimly.

Thor's gaze lingered on her as he left, sadness clouding his eyes.

Loki caught Kate right as she was crumpling to the ground.

Her eyes were closed, as if she were asleep. Sadly, that was not true. Kate merely lacked the energy to open them.

"Sit. Your almost done." He said quietly. She curled herself into a ball, tail wrapped around her legs, wings curled over her shoulders.

She whimpered, but no tears fell.

"Open your eyes." He said, reaching out to put a hand on her arm. As soon as he did, a hiss escaped her, and she pulled away. He let go, frowning.

"Open your eyes." He tried again, putting more force into his words but not raising his tone.

She whimpered again, curling into herself even tighter still.

"Kate, open your eyes." Even though it tore at his heart, he used the tone she associated with training.

Her eyelids twitched, slowly fluttering open.

Loki felt his hard mask crack. Deep pain fractured her spirit. He could see it, almost feel it himself. Kate was breaking, and it wasn't her fault or even the Avengers, as much as he hated to admit it. It was Thanos's. The flame of hate Loki harbored for the titan grew stronger. He knew what he had to do.

Reaching out, he put one hand on Kate's forehead and murmured a simple spell. Her face became serene. With little difficulty, he scooped her up and carried her out.

Once he entered the hallway, the guards tensed, looking to Fury for directions.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked, giving the guards a pointed look. They drew their guns, circling around him.

"She's had enough." Loki said simply, voice unemotional.

Fury gave him an incredulous look. "I'll tell you when she's had enough, understood? Get back in there, and finish!" he jabbed a finger at Kate, and then the room behind them.

"No." Loki snarled darkly. This petty mortal could do nothing to him.

Fury's face took on a dangerous quality. "Fine. Have it your way."

He flicked a finger at a guard behind Loki, who whirled around. A small compact weapon, resembling a mortal gun, was aimed at Kate. However, it was green, with a symbol imprinted on the side.

"That is the most powerful stimulant in the world. If you don't put her back, she won't sleep for another two days. I've heard that it's painful to be under, for the first few hours. After that, the effects are more permanent. I wouldn't ever use it on one of my own, but I think Kate can handle it."

Loki snorted. "And you called me a monster."

"I never said I wasn't."

Taken slightly aback by his statement, Loki was silent.

The heavy tread of footsteps reached his ears before they did Fury's. He hoped that the owner was not another mortal moron. "Fury, what is this?" Loki had never been so happy to hear the Captain's voice.

"None of your concern, Rogers." He replied calmly. Loki's back was to the men, blind to the interaction.

"I think it is if one of my team is involved."

"She isn't part of your team, not yet any way."

"And not at all if you have it your way." Rogers said, anger in his tone.

"Been snooping, have you?" Fury asked calmly. "If you have any issues you can take them up with me later."

"Don't worry, I will. Loki, where are you taking her?" the Captain asked.

Slowly, he turned to face them, effectively shielding Kate from the gun.

"To her room, where she should be." He replied, focusing on Fury. Loki gave the man the coldest glare he could. To his credit, he didn't flinch, but there was a bit of fear in his eyes that gave Loki great pleasure.

Rogers nodded, motioning for the guards to move. They cast weary glances to one another, unsure who to follow.

Finally, they moved, defaulting to the Captain. For once, Loki silently thanked the Captain for being who he was.

Fury didn't say a word.

As he walked by, Loki shot the enraged director a cocky smirk.

Rogers gave him a cool look. Was that respect in his eyes? Maybe.

Loki carried her to her room, aware the Captain was following at a distance.

He put her on the bed, and left.

As he was turning away, the Captain caught his arm. Loki turned to look at him coolly.

"What was that?" he asked, nodding at Kate's closed and locked door.

"Regarding what you know about me, Captain, I do know when it's time to quit." He said lowly, pulling his arm away from him.

"I was wrong about you. I'm sorry." He said, genuinely apologizing.

Loki could have laughed, and did as a matter of fact. "Don't judge me too early." And with that, he left.

Okay, so I love Mondays now because I love to post! I think I look forward to this more than you guys do sometimes. Today was my first day of high school! Hopefully, it wont' impede on my updates and quality. Man you seniors are tall! Hope you guys liked this chapter, things are going to start falling into place soon. You will definitely see more Astra next chapter. It's so weird for me to read my own work. I can't believe I started this last in May of 2015! I hope my writings gotten better. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my AMAZING followers, AWESOME favoriters, and UNBELIEVABLY HEROIC reviewers. It's you guys who keep me going! Thanks so much! Please REVIEW, FAVE, and FOLLOW!