~Six Years Later~

Eris' POV

I had graduated from high school with honors in all my classes, managing to be the valedictorian of my graduating class. It was an easy feat considering the material I was learn was simply review. I was of to college without any hesitation and majored in communication and again receiving the honor of being valedictorian. Even with so many work opportunities open to me and a wide skill set, I was having a difficult time deciding what I wanted as a career. That's when Tony suggested that I speak with Fury about working for S.H.I.E.L.D. I wasn't very sure of my abilities or if my skills even appealed to the board to begin with. But by some miracle, they chose to have me trained and join S.H.I.E.L.D.

Right now, I was training with Natasha. She was helping me fine tune my combat skills. She had taught me a few things when I was younger but needless to say, I was definitely rusty. Everyday we trained, she showed me techniques, I tried to apply them, and got my ass pounded into the ground. I worked with physical endurance with Steve, running three miles everyday and lifting weights. I had a lot of work to do in that aspect, I had zero stamina, especially when it came to running. Steve was strict most of the time, but always rewarded me with junk food if I did a good job. If I wasn't working with Steve or Natasha, I was with Tony and Bruce, helping them work on whatever it was they were doing. They'd been sneaking all sorts of advanced sciences into my daily learning while I had lived with them. In the rare event that I had actual free time, I spent it with Matthew, who had also managed to get into S.H.I.E.L.D. We continued our relationship all throughout high school, college, and our vigorous training at our soon-to-be place of employment. All was well between us, aside from the fact that whenever I was with him, I was thinking of another man. Almost six years without contact and I still couldn't get that bastard out of my thoughts. I couldn't muster any sort of hate or resentment against him, I just wanted things to go back to the way they were-when it was just me and him, nobody else. If the ring on my finger ever caught my eye, it didn't remind me of my boyfriend, it reminded me of Loki and what he said when he saw the ring for the first time. I still felt guilty for being with Matthew and pretending. I so badly wanted to love him as much as he seemed to love me, but my heart was hopelessly ensnared by my friend the first time I laid eyes on him. Every moment alone was a struggle with myself to keep up my façade, every second without him was torture.

Seven months into my training, I began to ask Fury and Thor if I could ever visit Loki on Asgard. Much to my dismay, I never received a clear answer from either of them. It was always, 'Go talk to Thor about it,' or 'Ask the man of Fury.' It was a horrid game of cat and mouse that I eventually gave up on and focused back on my training. It really wasn't a long stretch before my graduation would come and honestly, I was becoming restless. I could finally catch up to Steve when we would run together, I could take down Natasha without even trying, and Tony and Bruce weren't giving me a lot of work to do around the tower. Life was starting to settle down and I didn't like it very much.

As the days until graduation came to a close, I got more excited. As soon as I was finished training, I would finally be allowed to have missions. Thor and Jane were excited for me, congratulating me beforehand and embarrassing me slightly by telling everyone who didn't already know. When the day of graduation finally came, it was rather short affair, nothing like college or high school graduation ceremonies. We were simply sworn in and given our uniforms as well as our ranks. I had to say, the female uniforms weren't much different from the male counterparts, however, they did fit more tightly to a woman's form. But I wasn't about to complain, I looked damn good in my jumpsuit, and I knew it. After graduation, I began to cultivate a plan of attack, so to speak. I was going to once again ask to go to Asgard, but I needed the right hook to get my way. I just didn't know what it was yet.

Today was my first official day as an agent and I excitedly made my way to Fury's office to pick up the briefing file for my first mission. I knocked on the door, receiving a muffled, 'come in' from the other side of the door. I calmed my smiling face and walked into the room. Fury turned to me in his chair and smiled slightly.

"Agent Foster."

He greeted with a smirk. I held back a chuckle.

"Director Fury."

I said back, grinning now. He pulled out a folder and tossed it on top of his desk.

"Your first assignment."

He explained as I came closer and picked it up in my hands. I opened it and scanned over the information. When I was finished, my eyes came back up to Fury.

"This is it? I'm just escorting and protecting an ambassador to and from a meeting?"

I questioned, glaring at the man slightly. He sighed and rolled his one visible eye.

"A lot of people want this man dead, and we need you to keep him safe. It's an important mission."

He half lied and I continued to glare at him until he spoke again.

"Eris, you're fresh out of training, it's not like I can send you out on anything big yet-"

"Come on, Nick! You know I could handle something more important than...babysitting a grown man."

I argued, putting the folder back on Fury's desk.

"I know that, and that's why you're the only new agent with an assignment. The rest aren't ready to go out there, so take what you can get for now or I'll treat you like everybody else here."

He warned, his voice raising a bit in volume. I sighed.

"Fine, but for my next mission you'll send me on something with Natasha. I'm not gonna do these little assignments forever, you'll have to let me go eventually."

I said, becoming quieter at the end. His mouth tightened into a straight line and he exhaled loudly.

"You're right, the time will come when I won't be able to baby you anymore."

He began, coming around the side of his desk to stand in front of me.

"You're a grown woman now and...we're all so proud of you and what you've achieved."

He continued, cupping my cheek for a moment. I closed my eyes and smiled.

"Thank you."

I said, pulling him into a hug.

"I also have to get used to treating you as my agent first, and family second."

He told me, pulling away from the embrace and going back to sit behind his desk.

"Now, go on and get this done quickly."

He ordered with another smile.

"Yes, sir."

I replied, smiling back at him. I left the room and went into the cafeteria to read the file in detail. My mission was to pick up Sun Shuzhan, the Chinese ambassador and escort them to Morocco. I had to go now if I was going to be there on time. I went home and quickly packed a bag before heading to the airport to pick him up. I waited outside of the ambassador's gate, holding up a sign with his name on it. As the stream of passengers slowed and thinned, a rather round, and unattractive Chinese man approached me with a very set frown in his features. He seemed older than I was, but not by much. Maybe only ten years older than me. I forced the most believable smile to my lips as I could and spoke.

"Hello, ambassador Shuzhan, I'm Agent Foster of S.H.I.E.L.D and I'll be your escort and security for the remainder of your journey."

I greeted kindly. The man smiled just enough to show that he acknowledged my words and nodded politely as I showed him the way to the private plane waiting for us. I helped him maneuver around the bustling workers on the Tarmac and steered him to the stairs leading to the plane. We rode that plane for almost nine hours to Morocco and in that time, I learned very little about the man I was protecting. He was polite and he obviously understood English, but he didn't talk the entire time except to excuse himself to the restroom or for a nap. I sighed, what a boring man...I suppose it could be worse, I thought as I gazed out into the dark evening sky. I watched the red lights on the end of the wing blink continuously with dull thoughts. Whenever I didn't have to think of my everyday life, I would think back to Loki. I would wonder if he was okay in prison, I would wonder if I would ever convince Fury and Thor to allow me to see him. But most of all, I would wonder why he had left me all alone-without him visiting me in my dreams or sending an illusion down to me, I felt ever so lonely. Was he lonely too? Did he miss me? Was he thinking of me too? Did he still care about me? Did he even care that I was missing him? Did he remember how much I loved him, how much I still love him? A small part of me resented Loki for disappearing in all essence from my life but it was only because I was hurt, I felt abandoned. Stuck in these thoughts, I didn't realize my eyes drifting closed as I fell into a light sleep.

I awoke just as we began our decent into Morocco and stretched my tight limbs. When we landed, it was straight to the hotel we were staying in-I had a room next to the ambassador's so I could be close if anything happened. We dropped our luggage off in our rooms and changed before heading off to the meeting. I escorted ambassador Shuzhan into the building, keeping an eye out for any suspicious figures coming his way. I kept my gun in plain sight as a warning to any threat that I was prepared to protect the ambassador. We reached the meeting room and Shuzhan took a seat at the end of the table. I stood behind him, ever ready to do my intended job. I stood behind the man as he spoke to other men in a language I didn't understand-this lasted for just over three hours before I realized the others leaving the room. I stuck close to the ambassador's side as we walked back out if the building and into the car. We went back to the hotel and the ambassador changed again before telling me in very broken English that we would be going out to a bar tonight with some of his friends. I honestly just wanted to stay at the hotel and catch up on some sleep but I agreed, changing into something appropriate for a bar and strapped my gun to my thigh. I wore a fairly short, strapless, glittering black dress and a matching pair of heels. I brought my S.H.I.E.L.D issued jacket, desperately clinging onto something that looked somewhat professional. I was uncomfortable with the whole situation, I didn't want to be at a bar right now in a country I'd never been in before without any clue how to speak the language, I was a little pissed. I sat on the ambassador's right, to his left, three of his friends sat, trying to get the bartender's attention. I rolled my eyes, this was going downhill fast and we'd been here only ten minutes. The music thrummed in my chest, causing and uncomfortable anxiousness to rise in me. I didn't like bars or alcohol, or drunk people-it was one of the reasons I wanted Tony to stop drinking so much. My mind traveled back to the evening that changed him for the better. The night I came in sobbing and yelling at him, fed up with his alcoholism. I threatened that I would no longer be his 'little sparky' if he didn't get help.

"Tony, I know you can do this but I...I can't do anything more for you! I've tried to help but I can't, please, just this once, do something I ask of you. You're...you're like a father to me, okay? I need you around...just try for me, that's all I'm asking. I can't be around you if you're like this all the time...it hurts me to see you so out of control...I can't do it anymore."

For once, he actually heard my words and tried. It turned out that all it took was that attempt to stop, to cut down, he's been sober for seven years. Yes, he had his relapses, but he always recovered quickly. I was ripped from my reverie when I felt a rather sloppy tap on my shoulder. I turned to see the ambassador standing next to me with the rest of his small group.

"We dance now."

He told me, taking my hand and gently guided me from my stool at the bar. I did like to dance, but I didn't want to dance with him and his friends. There was the strong scent of alcohol coming from him and I tensed slightly. I smiled uncomfortably, not refusing his offer but not eagerly accepting it either. He pulled me into the middle of the dance floor with the others and began to dance like an idiot, and not really caring either. I sighed irritably as his eyes watched my body, hoping to see me move and I eventually did, but not before pouting for a moment. When I started to dance to the beat of the incoherent music, he smiled widely and clapped in glee. I soon closed my eyes and pretended not to be there anymore, I pretended to be alone in my home. No pressure, no people, no one watching my body with hungry eyes. I felt hands slip around my waist and I frowned, opening my eyes. It was some man I didn't know, trying to grind with me. I growled to myself but I didn't want to start a fight when I was supposed to be working. I turned to the stranger and put a good amount of space between us.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a dance partner."

I told him as politely as I could. He grinned and pulled me into his arms, once more grinding against me. I tried wedging my arms between us to get out of his hold but they were hopelessly trapped at my sides.

"Come, a beautiful girl like you comes here, looking for good time, huh?"

He accused real easing me enough to look me in the eyes. I frowned, baring my teeth in anger.

"No, I'm here on business. Please let go of me."

I hissed, wiggling around some more in a failed attempt to escape.

"What business do you have in a club? Are you a prostitute, you're the prettiest I've seen around."

He spoke into my ear. Just as I was about to use force on him, a gun shot rang out. My eyes widened and I searched frantically for the ambassador to make sure he was alright and not hit. When the man refused to let me go, I whipped out my gun and pushed the barrel of it against his crotch.

"You have exactly two seconds to let me go before I blow your dick off."

I snarled, shoving it harder into him for emphasis. He let me out of his arms without hesitation and I ran from the dance floor in the direction I heard the gun shot come from. I stopped when I found the ambassador leaning against a table, holding his side with a pained expression. His friends had scattered after the gun shot I assumed. I rushed to his side and took his hand away, revealing the gushing wound.

"Shit."

I cursed under my breath. The ambassador just kept crying, 'sorry' as I dragged him out of the club and to our car. I couldn't take him to the hospital, I'd be screwed for my first mission, it was my job to protect him and he gets shot the first night! I panicked as I drove back to our hotel and lead him to the elevator. He finally spoke another word other than sorry now, 'hospital' he groaned, a worried look in his dark eyes. I shook my head.

"This is my first mission, I can't have you hurt already, I'm gonna fix you up okay?"

I said as assuringly as I could as we got out of the elevator. I dropped him onto my bed. And got all the towels I had in my room. I folded a small washcloth up into a makeshift bit for the ambassador to bite on.

"Put this in your mouth."

I ordered hurriedly. He looked at me confused.

"What?"

He asked.

"I have to get the bullet out. This'll keep you from screaming or breaking your teeth."

I huffed, handing it to him. He still seemed worried but put the bit in his mouth while I washed my hands. I tried my best to be careful as I dug around for the bullet, but I still earned a few muffled cries from the man beneath me. I finally pulled the bullet out and I could do what I needed to. I was nervous though, I'd never healed a wound like this, it could kill me if I didn't get to the hospital soon enough. But I pushed the risk aside and placed my fingers over the wound and let my brain do what it always did. The easiest way I knew how to explain it is that I was transferring my healthy cells into his body and taking the damaged ones from him, kind of like switching places. The wound began to form on my abdomen instead and I cringed in agony but kept my hand on the ambassador. I began to shake from the effort and when it was finally done, I fell off of the bed, panting in exhaustion and pain. I pulled myself up against the wall and made my way to the door. I looked back at the astounded man still on the bed.

"Come on, now we're going to the hospital."

I told him. He stood up and nodded, still in shock of what just happened as I inched my way to the elevator. The ambassador took my arm and threw it around his shoulder as he helped me to the elevator. I looked at him, surprised that he helped.

"Thank you."

I breathed, looking up at him as the elevator went down to the lobby. He simply nodded, keeping his face forward. He took me to the front desk where they called an ambulance to get me. I was lucky that they came so quick, I was nearly dead from blood loss. The surgeons and doctors were puzzled as to why there was a bullet wound and no bullet but I just shrugged off their inquiry. When I was released, the ambassador and I flew back to New York, where another agent from China would take care of the ambassador from there. I went back to S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, where I was greeted by worried agents and the Avengers as well as Jane.

"What the hell were you thinking, doing something like that?!"

Fury snarled, anger and relief mixed into his tone. I cringed at his loud voice but I knew it was only because he was worried for my safety.

"I was thinking about my assignment, sir. My job was to protect him and keep him safe, and that's what I did."

I snapped back.

"You should've taken him to the hospital, Eris."

Tony chimed in, leaning back against a wall. I rolled my eyes.

"You're one to talk, Stark. She's healed you a few times too."

Steve came to my defense.

"Yes, but nothing like this! Not something that could put her in a deadly situation!"

Tony shot back.

"You could've died, Eris."

Jane spoke up, worry in her eyes. I sighed.

"Yeah, but did I die?"

I retorted, waiting patiently for a reply from any of them.

"No."

Fury answered after a period of silence.

"Right, then. Case closed, problem solved, meeting adjourned!"

I dismissed, waving them all off as I walked away. For a while I was alone until Matthew joined my side.

"Hi."

He said, reaching for my hand. I allowed him to hold it, even though I was in a sour mood.

"Hey."

I sighed, smiling a little at him. I didn't want to take my anger out on him. He smiled back and gave my hand a squeeze.

"I see you're still kicking."

He commented, sensing my sensitivity to the subject. I gave a curt nod in response. He wet his lips and looked ahead thoughtfully.

"So, your birthday's coming up-y'know, like, tomorrow... Any ideas on what you might want?"

He inquired, changing the subject in an attempt to thaw the ice around me. I thought for a moment before answering. There was something I wanted, something I'd been wanting for a very long time.

"I want to see Loki."

I told him, not looking him in his eyes. I couldn't, something always made me feel guilty when I looked into Matthew's eyes and spoke of Loki. I had told Matt all about the trickster god after he had found one of the crayon drawings I had made of Loki and I when I was little. I explained to him the entire story, excluding the part about my truly confusing and irritating feelings towards the Aesir. Though, Matthew knew Loki meant a lot to me, as my first friend. He knew how much I missed him, how much I wanted to see him. Somehow, he never seemed bothered or jealous by this. But that was something I was very grateful for, otherwise, it would be impossible to talk to him about Loki. Matthew nodded and smiled slightly.

"Well, then, you should talk to Fury and Thor about seeing him."

He told me, rubbing my back with his other hand. I pursed my lip a bit in thought. I'd asked them both many times now if I could visit Loki, but it was always a vicious cycle of, 'go ask...' And I soon gave up. But maybe now that I was older, they wouldn't keep giving me the runaround. I grinned and kissed Matthew's cheek before standing.

"You know what, I think I will."

I trilled, walking away with a hop in my strides.