Out of Time ★ [1] ✔

Names Have Power

We were the topic of debate around the world: were we friends or foes? We were praised for saving Manhattan, but we were greatly criticized for causing destruction to it. We saved lives, but lost many. We were considered saviours to human kind, but also a time bomb. We were heroes, but then our motives were cloudy. The world's opinion on us was divided.

But I didn't care what everyone thought about me and my friends. I was glad to get out of the Battle of New York alive. 

My memories of the last moments of the battle and the last few days were hazy. All I remembered was talking to Steve before I went into the Time Trance, a little bit after it, and waking up in the Helicarrier infirmary after three days of being out cold.

"Hey," Steve had greeted when I awoke. "How are you feeling?"

"Peachy," I'd croaked. "Just peachy."

I had struggled to sit up when he gently pushed me back down. "No, no. Don't move."

I cringed in pain. "I couldn't if I wanted to."

He hadn't asked any questions after that. He'd known I wasn't in the right state, and I greatly respected him for that.

I vowed to tell him everything soon. I was done keeping secrets. I was done running. I was done keeping to the shadows to hide who I really was. I was going to be more open to those I was closest to. I owned them that. Especially Steve.

The next day, the Avengers met in Central Park. It was where we were to go our separate ways. We were no longer needed. That is until we were called upon again. I was hoping that it wasn't going to be any time soon, to be honest. If the next time was as brutal as what we'd just experienced, I wanted it to be a while down the track. That would be wonderful.

Loki, hands bounded and mouth closed off, was with us. As was the Tesseract. It was the Asgardians' way home. Thor had said Loki was going to pay for his crimes in Asgard, and I didn't argue. Unlike S.H.I.E.L.D.'s opinion on justice, I believed that the God of Mischief was entirely Asgard's responsibility, even though he caused damaged to Manhattan. He would receive his punishment accordingly, and I was fine with that. And that was why S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't a fan of me and my mouth.