Eris' POV

I could only hear the sound of a TV turning on somewhere behind me. The voices flooded my ears as a news reporter interviewed people. She was asking them what they saw, what they think happened.

"Sir, what exactly did you see yesterday?"

The reporter inquired.

"Well, there was this girl and she just ran up to the bad guy like it was nothing. And he didn't try stopping her or hurting her, he hugged her back and then they left. After that the little girl started catching on fire. I mean-she was literally on fire! Some woman tried getting her to calm down but then this giant wall of fire spread throughout the courtyard..."

A man told her, sounding out of breath.

"Only one person was killed in the blast and several others were injured. The police have not released the name of the deceased but we will keep-"

I opened my eyes finally to a bright white light shining down on me. I had to close my eyes again and rolled over onto my side with a groan. I opened my eyes again, used to the light now and slowly lifted myself off of the...metal table? I was in a sterile white room that looked like a science lab. I craned my head towards the TV to see a man sitting in front of it. He was wearing a purple button up shirt and he had neatly kept dark hair. He turned to me suddenly in shock but then smiled at me warmly.

"So, you're awake."

He stated, getting out of his chair. He walked over to me and sat down in another chair beside the table I was on.

"Where am I?"

I asked, rubbing my eyes tiredly. He was watching my every move, calculating me.

"You're at S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters. I'm Dr. Bruce Banner."

He said, extending his hand for me to shake.

"Eris."

I told him quietly. He smiled more.

"It's nice to meet you Eris. I have a couple of questions for you."

He replied calmly. I nodded, putting my hands in my lap.

"First, do you remember what happened yesterday?"

He inquired. I furrowed my brow in thought and shut my eyes. For a moment, nothing came to me. But the memories came flooding back like a wave and I felt tears brim the corners of my eyes. I nodded again.

"What do you remember?"

He pressed, his eyes studying me intensely.

"They were...taking him away, my friend."

I began sadly, the memory crushing my heart.

"You mean Loki?"

He asked, raising a brow. I gave a curt nod.

"But I hadn't seen him in so long, I couldn't let him leave without saying goodbye. Once I had, they left and I...everything...was burning."

I began, shivering slightly at the thought of the intense sensation.

"I felt like I was going to...die, I was in so much pain. It hurt to breathe and when I opened my eyes, I was covered in blue fire."

I continued, ghosting my fingers along my arms as I remembered the way it burned.

"My mommy tried to get close to me, she wanted to help but I knew if she touched me she'd get hurt. The heat and pressure kept building until I...couldn't see anything anymore, I couldn't even feel the fire."

When I finished, I chanced a glance up at Dr. Banner. He was looking at me with pity in his eyes and I looked up past him. Outside the glass there was a gathered group of people, listening in awe. I pulled my eyes away and stared down at my dress.

"I didn't hurt anyone, did I?"

I asked, dreading the answer I knew I would receive. I looked up at the man again and his lips parted to say something he wasn't sure he wanted to.

"Your mother died in the sudden explosion. Everyone else escaped with only a few burns."

I winced when he told me of my mother. I'd done it again, I'd killed a person I held so dear to me. Maybe my mother didn't blame me for what I did to my father but...I still felt responsible, it was my fault, I was the one who killed him. And now the only person I've ever lived with was gone. Tears fell from my eyes onto my dress and I sniffed in a failed attempt to stop them.

"I'm sorry."

Was all I could say before breaking into sobs. Dr. Banner placed a gentle hand on my shoulder in an act of solace but it did little to comfort me. The door just a few feet from us slid open to reveal my aunt Jane.

"Eris,"

She called, tears in her eyes. I slipped off the table and ran into her arms, wrapping my arms around her as best as I could. I felt so weak as she picked me up, cradling me to her chest.

"Are you okay, bunny?"

She whispered hoarsely, her voice strained with emotion. I shook my head 'no' and buried my face into her shoulder.

"It's all my fault."

I cried, my voice muffled by her shirt. She held me tighter and swayed from side to side to try and calm me.

"No, no, it's not your fault, bunny. Don't you ever say that again!"

She cooed, her movements and voice calming me almost instantly. My breathing slowed as I relaxed into her. Before I knew it, I was asleep.

Third Person POV

Bruce offered a chair to Jane once Eris had fallen asleep and she took it with a thankful nod.

"Do you mind if I ask a few questions about her?"

He questioned. He didn't know if she would be much help as far as providing him with answers but she might be able to explain better than a five-year-old. Jane nodded as she pet her niece's hair.

"Right, so, how long has she been like this?"

He asked, receiving a questioning look from Jane. Bruce cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I mean, how long has she been able to do the whole...fire thing?"

He rephrased the inquiry.

"Well, it isn't really something she can control, but the first time we found out she could, she was only an infant."

She replied, reflecting lightly on the memory of the night her brother died at the hands of his own child.

"So this has happened before?"

Bruce pried, writing down notes on a clipboard. Jane gave a nod.

"Yes, and she ended up killing her father in the process. But that was the only other time it had happened at such magnitude."

She answered, her heart growing a little heavier at the thought of her brother.

"You mean it's happened on a smaller scale?"

Dr. Banner inquired, his brow furrowing.

"She has a bit of a temper. From what her mother and I saw, it only ever happened in emotionally stressful situations. In other words, her emotions drive the ability within her. She can usually come down from these little bursts but...I guess it was too late."

Jane stated sadly-she and her sister-in-law became very close after her brother's death. Jane looked up to see Bruce scribbling notes furiously on his clipboard. His brown eyes peered over at the two over the frame of his glasses.

"Since she is so unstable, we would like to keep her here until she can control her outbursts."

Jane stiffened, though she now worked with S.H.I.E.L.D, she wasn't sure what they would do to her only niece if she left her there with these scientists.

"What do you intend to do with her while she's here?"

She asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. Bruce smiled a little.

"We plan to teach her how to control her ability and run a few tests on her to see where she gets the power from."

He explained rather calmly. Jane hesitated to answer, she might not be able to see Eris if they keep her here.

"Can I visit?"

She asked hopefully. She knew this would be best for Eris if they succeeded in helping her control her powers, but she didn't want to risk losing her either.

"Of course, you're welcome to see her anytime."

He told her with a charming smile. Jane smiled back briefly and shifted slightly in her chair.

"Okay..."

She said shakily as she stood.

"There's a bed for her over there."

Bruce said, pointing over at a cot on the other side of the lab. Jane walked over and carefully eased her niece down onto the bed but Eris immediately opened her eyes wide.

"Hey, bunny,"

Jane cooed, tucking a few stray hairs behind the child's ear with a sweet smile.

"Are you leaving?"

The girl asked, a little scared to be left alone.

"Yeah, but I'll be back soon, okay? Be a good girl for me, huh?"

She said with a wink. Eris smiled faintly as her aunt planted a kiss on her forehead. With another long look, Jane turned and left the lab, leaving the girl alone with Bruce. He was busy messing with something on a table before he turned to her with a needle and a few vials. Eris swallowed nervously, she hated shots! But she stayed put as the good doctor came over to her and knelt next to her bed. He placed the vials on the bed and tried to look as kind as he could, he didn't need her exploding again.

"Is it okay that I take some blood?"

He asked, trying to be cautious with her. Eris pursed her bottom lip and furrowed her brows.

"Will it hurt?"

She whispered fearfully. Dr. Banner smiled and shook his head.

"You won't even feel it."

He fibbed, he knew it wouldn't hurt her so she really might not feel it. He looked for a good vein and prepped the skin with an alcohol pad.

"Alright Eris, go ahead and look up at the ceiling for me."

He instructed, positioning the needle. Eris did as she was told and looked up at the ceiling. She felt a small prick in her arm and winced a little but soon relaxed. Dr. Banner connected one of the vials with the needle and tube, collecting rich red blood. He watched the girl for a moment to check on her, she was doing alright. The first vial filled and as he put the next one on, he spoke.

"Good job, keep looking up, we're almost done."

He praised as another stream of blood began to pour into the vial. Once that one was filled, he removed the vial and the needle from the girl's arm. He put a cotton ball down on the tiny dot and patted Eris on the arm.

"All done, kiddo. You did great!"

He said, meeting her emerald eyes. She smiled softly as Bruce wrapped her arm and the cotton ball with a bit of gauze. The door opened and in walked Tony Stark with his usual smirk. He came over the the two over by the cot and smiled down at Eris.

"Hey Sparky, you hungry?"

He asked the girl casually, the nickname earned him a glare from Bruce. She looked up at him and blinked at first. She suddenly felt shy and looked down at her feet, nodding in response.

"Well, why don't we get you something to eat?"

Tony suggested, extending a hand out for her to grab. She just looked at it for a moment before slowly getting off the cot and walked over to him. She paused, not sure if she wanted to take his hand but she reached up and held onto it gingerly, still afraid to make contact with others. She didn't know if she might explode again in such a sensitive state. As they neared the door, Tony spoke.

"We'll be back in a little bit."

He said as the door opened for them.

"I'll be here."

Bruce mumbled, doing something with the vials of blood he'd collected.