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Chapter Text

The last time we saw Asta she was shot, stabbed, and was being rescued from being at the bottom of the ocean. It has been a few months and she has since healed and gotten back to normal, well normal on earth that is with being an Avenger. She had been staying with some of her friends while healing to train and recover, getting better at reaction time to avoid what had happened with Ward. And now that the Avengers were all together, they had a mission to do. Stop a big Hydra Lab from continuing operation, and get the scepter that Loki had brought to earth a year prior.

The Hydra base was located in the woods of Sokovia, which was where the Avengers were currently in. Natasha was currently driving an armored jeep with Clint and Asta on the back taking out hydra agents who were trying to stop them.

Thor was jumping and flying around to stop the Agents who were on higher ground from shooting at those on the ground, along with Iron man. While Steve was on a motorcycle taking out Agents of his own. And lastly we have the Hulk punching the agents in vehicles and taking no damage.

All the Avengers got closer to the base where the Hydra agents had up up a blockade to stop them from getting any closer, but what they were anticipating was for the four on the ground to also jump over the blockade, putting all the avengers closer to the base.

Tony was quick to fly ahead of anyone to get straight to the building only for him to fly directly into a forcefield. "Shit." he swore into the coms.

"Language." Steve scolds the billionaire, "JARVIS, what's the view from upstairs?" Steve questions the A.I.

"The central building is protected by some kind of energy shield. Strucker's technology is well beyond any other HYDRA base we've taken." JARVIS replies for the while team to hear.

The team were still taking out Hydra Agents who continue to fight in waves. "Loki's scepter must be here. Strucker couldn't mount this defense without it. At long last." Thor informs the team.

"I can feel the magic energy from here, it's in there." Asta adds on, as she magically throw a group of three hydra agents away from her.

"'At long last' is lasting a little long, boys." Natasha says as she knocks out more agents, before shooting another one on a blaster.

"Yeah. I think we lost the element of surprise." Clint comments as he shoots arrows.

"Wonder what gave us away." Asta says a bit sarcastically.

"Wait a second. No one else is going to deal with the fact that Cap just said 'language?'" Tony brings up.

"I know." Steve says before throwing his bike at a vehicle full of agents. He sighs, "It just slipped out." he admits.

The team continues to take out agents at try at reach the base. It wasn't until Clint was shot at that things changed. "Clint!" Natasha says before rushing over to him, gaining Steve and Asta's attention hearing the man groan over coms.

Then a blur of a person hit Steve, sending him up in the air, but he lands on his feet. "We have an enhanced in the field." Steve informs the others.

"Clint's hit!" Natasha says to the others.

Asta looks around hesitantly, feeling magic but it was not what she was use to. Then she was knocked down. She quickly sits up and looks around confused from not seeing anyone, "It's to fast, I could barely sense it." she tells the others as she gets up and makes her way to where Clint and Natasha were.

"Somebody want to deal with that bunker?" Natasha requests, seeing the bunker still active and shooting, she didn't have to wait long as Hulk came and smashed the bunker, "Thank you." she tells him as she begins to try and tend to Clint's wound.

"Here. You're covered." Asta tells Natasha as she stands near them, ready to block any shots taken at them.

"Appreciate it." The red head tells her blonde friend as she gives Clint a small morphine shot for his wound.

The princess, luckily didn't have to do much as the remaining hydra agents seem to have went in the direction that Steve and her brother had been to, and the enhanced didn't make another appearance for the three.

"Clint's hit pretty bad, guys. We're gonna need evac." Natasha informs the others as she finishes all she could with Clint.

"I can get Barton to the jet. The sooner we're gone the better. You and Stark secure the scepter." Thor replies through the coms what also talking to Steve.

"Copy that." Steve tells him.

After a moment and an loud team attack from the two blonde men, Thor was back on the coms, "Find the scepter." he says before flying off to meet the girls and Clint.

"And for gosh sake, watch your language!" Tony jokes causing Steve to sigh.

"That's not going away anytime soon." Steve mumbles before running off.

Thor was quick to arrive and get Clint to take him to the jet for more medical treatment. As Tony's other Iron Legion bots surround the remaining Agents who had surrendered. "We're locked down out here." Natasha tells the boys as her and Asta look around warily incase the enhanced showed up.

"Then get to Banner, time for a lullaby." Steve replies.

"Need back up?" Asta questions the spy.

"I got this, go help the boys." Natasha says to her before walking over to where the Hulk was throwing around debris.

"Coming your way Cap." Asta lets Steve know.

Steve kicks an agent that was in a doorway, knocking him out, "Clear to come over." he tells her.

Asta teleports behind Steve, "Lets find that scepter." she says to him earning a nod as they both enter the building, coming face to face with a startled man.

"Baron Strucker. Hydra's number one thug." Steve says to them man, as the man slowly backs away as the two moves towards him.

"Technically, I'm a thug for SHIELD." Strucker corrects.

"Well then technically you're unemployed." Steve replies unamused.

"Where's Loki's scepter?" Asta questions, wanting to get it out of hydra's hands.

"Don't worry, I know when I'm beat. You'll mention how I cooperated, I hope." Strucker replies to the two, with a sigh.

Asta then felt something off, similar to the speed enhanced but different enough to know it wasn't them. "I'll put it right under 'illegal human experimentation'." Steve replies unamused, "How many are there?" he questions. Asta's eyes widen putting a quick small shield around her as an enhanced female came up to the two hero's, hitting them with her magic but only knocking down the Captain, retreating once he fell down the stairs and seeing the blonde looking at her with wide eyes.

The Princess goes to follow her but is stopped by Steve grabbing her arm, "We have a second enhanced. Female. Do not engage." he says into the coms, but looking to Asta at the last part, earning a sigh from her.

"You'll have to be faster than-" Strucker begins to taunt but was hit with caps shield to the face, knocking him down.

"Guys, I got Strucker." Steve says into the coms with a sigh.

"Yeah, I got... something bigger." Tony replies. "Thor, Asta, I got eyes on the prize." he tells the siblings, as he approaches the scepter.

"Do you need help getting it?" Asta questions as she continues through the base as Steve took Strucker out to one of the Iron Men that were around. She got no response. "Tony?" she questions, but again got no response.

Unknow to all the Avengers, Tony was witnessing his worst nightmare in a realistic illusion that it surprised the Enhanced that casted him to see it. "Tony?" Asta tries again, finally snapping that man out of it.

Blinking in shock, he tries to shake off what he saw, "Repeat that?" he says into the coms to the princess.

"Do you need help getting the scepter?" she repeats slowly, confused on why he hadn't heard her before.

"No. I'm fine. Meet back with the others on the jet." he tells her, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Okay..." she replies unconvinced before teleporting back to the jet.

Chapter Text

The team were all back on the jet. The scepter was in a case. Barton was given an I.V. and a change of gauze, laying on a med bed. Banner was sitting off to the side listening to music to calm down. And everyone else was just softly talking as they wait to arrive back at to the Tower in New York.

"Thor, report on the Hulk?" Natasha questions the god from her seat across from Dr. Banner.

Thor gives the two a big smile, "The gates of Hel are filled with the screams of his victims." he tells them earning a groan of despair from Banner, a glare from Natasha, and a nudge from his sister. "Uh, but, not the screams of the dead, of course. No no, uh...wounded screams, mainly whimpering, a great deal of complaining and tales of sprained deltoids and, and uh... and gout." Thor attempts to fix what he says.

"What he means, is that you did really well out there Banner. You're improving, be proud of yourself." Asta tells the doctor, earning a sad half smile from the man, before he looks back down at his hands.

'Thank you.' Natasha mouths to her before turning back to the doctor.

"Hey Banner, Dr. Cho's on her way in from Seoul, is it okay if she sets up in your lab?" Tony calls over from his spot in the pilot seat.

"Uh, yeah, she knows her way around." Banner tells the billionaire.

"Thanks. Tell her to prep everything, Barton's gonna need the full treatment." Tony replies before talking to his A.I.

"Very good sir." Jarvis replies.

"JARVIS, take the wheel." He says before standing.

"Yes, sir. Approach vector is locked" Jarvis says as Tony walks over to the two Asgardians and Steve who were looking over the Scepter.

"It feels good, yeah? I mean, you've been after this thing since SHIELD collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding parties, but..." Tony comments as he stops at Thor's side.

"No, but this... this brings it to a close." Thor replies.

"As soon as we find out what else this has been used for. I don't just mean weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?" Steve says a bit of concern in his voice.

"Banner and I'll give it the once before it goes back to Asgard. Is that cool with you two?" Tony questions the God and Goddess. "I mean, just a few days until the farewell party. You're staying right?" Tony questions, earning a nod from the two.

"It'll be good fun." Asta replies with a smile, excited to have a party with her friends with no more stress to look for the Scepter they now have.

"Yes, yes, of course. A victory should be honored with revels." Thor agrees with a wide smile of his own.

"Yeah. Who doesn't love revels. Captain?" Tony questions Steve.

"Hopefully this puts an end to the Chitauri and HYDRA, so. Yes, revels." he replies with a small smile of his own.

___________________

Arriving at the Avengers tower the team was met with Maria Hill and Dr. Helen Cho. Natasha was with Dr. Cho's team moving Clint quickly into the tower as the Doctor instructed her team in Korean. "Good to see you again Doctor." Asta greets as she exits the ship.

"Good to see you up and about Asta." she replies before quickly following her team into the lab to help Clint. Asta made her way to her brother who was looking out over the view of the city.

"Why don't you stay?" Asta questions as she leans on the railing also looking over the city.

Thor glances at her before letting out a sigh, "There isn't that much here for me. Besides, I still wish to help the other realms." he explains crossing his arms.

Asta looks over at him, raising an eyebrow. "What about Jane?" she asks, a bit confused.

He lets out a sigh, "I want her to live her life. I won't always be here, and I can't always take her with me. It's better to just, let go." Thor replies before looking over at her.

"You love her." she whispers, feeling a bit sad for her brother.

"And that's why I let her go." he says, with a sad smile.

"Well, you can always come back to visit me at least. I'm quiet fond of earth." she says, trying to lighten the mood.

Thor cracks a smile, "Any particular reason? Or, person..." Thor starts with a bit of teasing in his tone.

Asta rolls her eyes, "No, I've made plenty of friends here. And I genuinely like learning new things from here." she retorts, looking back to the city.

Thor nods, "Right, right. So, a Boyfriend? or a Girlfriend?" Thor teases, trying to get her to confess to something.

Asta lets out an unamused laugh, "Ha. Ha. No, it's not like that." she tells him with another eyeroll.

Thor chuckles at her reaction, "Okay. Okay. But I won't be surprised if love ends up being your reason to wanting to stay forever." Thor says to her.

Asta shakes her head with a smile, "Love isn't what I'm focused on." she tells him before walking away, to avoid another teasing session.

Making her way to the lab, she enter the room Clint, Natasha, Dr. Cho, and Dr. Banner were in. "His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum." she catches the end of Dr. Cho's explanation.

"It's magical isn't it." Asta comments, having heard Dr. Cho explained how this worked when she used it on her.

"She's creating tissue." Dr. Banner says in awe, watching the machine work.

"If you brought him to my lab, the regeneration Cradle could do this in twenty minutes." Dr. Cho teases as she looks over her tablet.

"Oh, he's flatlining. Call it. Time?" Tony jokes as he enters the room.

"You'll be missed Legolas." Asta joins in on the joke, earning a high five from Tony.

"Did you show her those movies? I asked you not to." Clint says looking at Natasha.

The red head gives him an amused look but shakes her head, "Wasn't me." she denies.

"I actually read the books. Had a lot of free time, but then Tony showed me the movies. The nickname sticks." Asta tells the man as joins Natasha's side.

Clint rolls his eyes at her and sighs, "Whatever, but no. I'm going to live forever. I'm gonna be made of plastic." he says, giving them an amused look of his own.

"Here's your beverage." Tony says, handing him a small cup with a straw.

"You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton. Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference." Dr. Cho tells the man.

"Well, I don't have a girlfriend." Clint tells her.

She pauses to look at him, "That I can't fix." she says to him before looking at the billionaire, "This is the next thing, Tony. Your clunky metal suits are going to be left in the dust." she tells him with a mix of humor and serious in her tone.

Tony gives her a short nod, "Well, that is exactly the plan. And Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Saturday." he tells her.

she rolls her eyes, "Unlike you, I don't have a lot of time for parties." she says before pausing glancing at Asta then Tony, then her tablet. "Will Thor be there?" she questions nonchalantly.

Asta gives the kind doctor a smile, "Trust me. He will." she tells her.

Chapter Text

The party at the tower was in full swing. The avengers were spread out talking with random people that were invited. Thor was sharing war stories with some old veterans. Clint was chatting with Dr. Cho. Sam, Steve, and Asta were playing pool. And the others were getting drinks or wandering around.

After there game, the two had explained to Sam all that had happened in Sokovia. "Sounds like a hell of a fight, sorry I missed it." Sam says at the three head up to the higher level.

"If I had known it was going to be a firefight I absolutely would have called you." Steve replies.

"No, I'm not actually sorry. I'm just trying to sound tough. I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case. Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy." Sam tells the, being vague to the prying ears and eyes around them.

"That honestly sounds more relaxing to do." Asta tells him, causing him to chuckle, as they look down at the party.

"Be it ever so humble." Steve tells him, a bit joking.

"You find a place in Brooklyn yet?" Sam questions the Captain.

"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn." Steve says half joking.

"Well, home is home, you know?" Sam says to him with a small smile.

"You'll figure it out Steve." Asta reassures him.

The night continues and Asta met James Rhodes, and heard his whole War Machine story, "I fly it right up to the General's palace, I drop it at his feet, I'm like, "Boom! You looking for this?"" he finishes.

Asta laughs light, "That was a wonderful adventure you had Rhodes." she tells him.

"Thank you!" he replies giving her a confident smile.

As the night dwindles down and people left, the Avengers, Agent Hill, Dr. Cho and Rhodes all sat around the couches talking to one another. "But, it's a trick!" Clint says pointing to Mjolnir with a drum stick.

"Oh, no. It's much more than that." Thor replies with an amused look on his face.

" Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick." Clint says, again.

Thor gestures to the hammer that sat on the table in front of everyone. "Well please, be my guest." he tells him.

"Come on." Tony encourages.

"Really?" Clint questions.

"Yeah!" Thor confirms.

"This will be fun." Asta says as Clint stands and makes his way over to the hammer.

"Oh this is gonna be beautiful." Rhodes says, ready to watch whatever was about to happen.

"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony jokes causing everyone to laugh.

"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint says to Thor before grabbing the hammer and unsuccessfully tries to move it, groaning from straining before letting go with a laugh, "I still don't know how you do it." he says.

"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony teases.

"Please, Stark, by all means." Clint challenges.

Stark gets up, getting random words of encouragements before getting to the hammer. "Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." he says to Clint, before placing Mjolnir's strap around his wrist, "It's physics." he tells everyone in the room.

"Physics!" Banner says in mock realization.

Tony looks to the two siblings, "Right, so, if I lift it, I...I then rule Asgard?" he questions them.

Thor and Asta give each other a look before looking at Tony, "Yes, of course." Thor replies.

"Absolutely." Asta tells him, earning a nod from the inventor.

"I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta." Tony says before trying to lift the hammer, doing nothing. "I'll be right back." he says before leaving and returning with one of his iron man hands, grabbing Mjolnir again pulling again, only for nothing to happen. He then gets Rhodes to get his and assist, only for nothing to happen.

"Are you even pulling?" Rhodes questions Tony.

"Are you on my team?" Tony counter questions.

"Just represent! Pull!" Rhodes says defensively as they both grunt pulling hard, and nothing, again, happening.

Bruce took hit shot at trying to pick up Mjolnir, not super trying and just yelling, pretending he was going to hulk out, and got warily looks from some of the group, and amused grins from the rest. "Huh." was all he said before going to sit down.

"Steve, you should try." Asta encourages the man sitting next to her.

He shrugs and stands, "Let's go, Steve, no pressure." Tony tells him as he goes to the hammer, rolling up his sleeves.

"Come on, Cap." Clint encourages as the captain grabs the hammer. He pulls and it moves a tiny bit but he doesn't lift it.

Asta looks at him with wide eyes before looking at her brother who had a frown and a look of alarm in his eyes. Steve let go and Thor gave him a small chuckle, "Nothing." he says tells the man as Steve goes back to his seat.

"And?" Tony asks the group, a bit disappointed at the unmoved hammer.

"Widow?" Bruce questions.

"Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered." Natasha denies, as she takes a sip from her drink. "What about you Space girl?" she asks her friend.

Asta let out a small laugh, "I've tried many times before, don't see the need to try again." she denies with a head shake.

"All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged." Tony complains, standing up now.

"You bet your ass." Clint agrees from his seat on the floor.

"Steve, he said a bad language word." Hill teases, getting a laugh from the group.

"Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve questions Tony with a sigh.

"The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. 'Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints' is, I think, the literal translation?" Tony questions Thor, not answering Steve.

"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." Thor says, standing and grabbing Mjolnir, "You're all not worthy." he tells them earning groans from many of the group.

A loud screeching fills the air causing everyone to cringe at the feedback noise, looking around once it stopped. "Worthy... No, how could you be worthy? You're all killers." An unfamiliar voice fills the room at the entrance of the room, stood a very broken Iron Legion bot, looking at them.

"Stark." Steve address's as they all stared at the robot.

"JARVIS." Tony calls out but the A.I. never responded.

"I'm sorry, I was asleep. Or... I was a-dream?" the robot tried to explain, seeming confused.

"Reboot, Legionnaire OS, we got a buggy suit." Tony tries to compute into his tablet.

"There was a terrible noise... and I was tangled in... in... strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy." the robot admits.

"You killed someone?" Steve questions, as everyone slowly began to stand calmly.

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices." the robot explains.

"Who sent you?" Thor questions.

"'I see a suit of armor around the world.'" Tony's voice comes out of the robot.

"Ultron!" Bruce says in realization.

"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this... chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission." Ultron confirms.

"What mission?" Natasha questions Ultron.

"Peace in our time." Ultron replies ominously before several Iron Legion bots came through the walls and began to attack the everyone.

Steve was quick to grab the table and block a blast was heading towards him and Asta. The table broke, and sent the two flying back. "You good?" Steve asks the blonde.

"I'm fine." she replies as they stand.

One of the iron legions had its back to the two as it fired at Natasha who was firing her gun at the bar. "Can you give me a boost?" Steve questions as an idea came to his head.

"On it." Asta replies, forming her shield as a platform allowing Steve to jump and reach the robot, getting on its back. Before the robot itself flew backways crashing Steve into a wall.

Asta looks around as sees Thor throw a broken robot on the floor she was on, it began to fly again, and headed towards Dr. Cho who was trying to stay out of fights. The princess ran towards the Doctor and puts up a shield around them as the robot raises its hand at the two, prepared to fire.

It seems to glitch and lowers its hand for a second, enough time for Steve to come in, grab it and throw it behind him, "Thor!" he shouts, and the god crushed the robot with his hammer. Asta drops her shield once Tony and Steve finished the last two bots.

"That was dramatic! I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to...evolve? With these? These puppets?" Ultron speaks as he picks up one of the legion bots, then crushing its head. "There's only one path to peace: The Avengers' extinction." Ultron tells them, before Thor throws Mjolnir at him, crushing him.

Chapter Text

Everyone had gathered in the lab to figure out all that had just happened. "All our work is gone. Ultron cleared out, used the internet as an escape hatch." Bruce explains as he looks over his work.

"Ultron." Steve says in a bit of disbelief.

"He's been in everything. Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know about each other." Natasha helps explain from her spot looking things over herself.

"Well that's reassuring." Asta mumbles as she leans on a table.

"He's in your files, he's in the internet. What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?" Rhodes explains.

"Nuclear codes." Hill says in realization.

"Nuclear codes. Look, we need to make some calls, assuming we still can." Rhodes tells everyone.

"Nukes? He said he wanted us dead." Natasha clarifies.

"He didn't say dead. He said extinct." Steve corrects.

"Which is a scary choice of words." Asta comments, uncomfortable with Ultron's ominous threats.

"He also said he killed somebody." Clint brings up.

"But there wasn't anyone else in the building." Hill says confused.

" Yes there was." Tony says a bit disappointedly as he walks to the middle of the room and shows everyone a projection of a broken Jarvis system.

"This is insane." Bruce says as he looks it over.

"JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense." Steve says as he looks down, a bit sad at Jarvis being gone.

"So Jarvis just, what? Sacrificed himself?" Asta questions.

"No, Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage." Bruce explains, concern in his tone.

Thor then storms into the lab, going straight to Tony and lifts him up by the neck. "Woah, woah, woah!" Steve says.

"It's going around." Clint comments.

"Thor." Asta tries to stop him, but he keeps his eyes on Stark.

"Come on. Use your words, buddy." Tony says a bit strained to the god.

"I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark." Thor says unamused to the man.

"Thor put him down." Asta says to him, in a scolding tone.

"Thor! The Legionnaire." Steve says to the Asgardian with his 'Captain' voice.

Thor puts the Billionaire down before answering, "Trail went cold about a hundred miles out but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it, again." Thor explains, glaring towards Tony at the end.

"The genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron." Natasha says with a sigh.

"I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?" Dr. Cho questions the scientists.

Tony starts to chuckle at where is was at his computer causing everyone to look at him. Bruce, who was next to him, was shaking his head, trying to get the man to stop. "You think this is funny?" Thor questions, annoyed.

"No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible." Tony says, turning to Thor, before looking around the room at everyone.

"This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand." Thor argues stepping up to the man, but is pulled back by Asta, not wanting a fight to happen.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this." Tony retorts.

"Tony, maybe this might not be the time to-" Bruce tries to get him to stop.

But Tony cuts him off, "Really?! That's it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls." Tony says to the scientist.

"Only when I've created a murder bot." Bruce replies with a shrug.

"We didn't. We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?" Tony questions, only earning a shrug again.

"Well, you did something right. And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD." Steve brings up.

"Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole?" Tony tries to bring up.

Rhodes shakes his head, "No, it's never come up." he replies.

"Saved New York?" Tony says.

"Never came up." Rhodes tells the man as everyone else rolls their eyes.

"Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the live long day, but, that up there? That's... that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?" Tony tells everyone rather seriously.

"Together." Steve replies simply.

"We'll lose." Tony says pessimistically.

" Then we'll do that together, too" Steve says to him. Tony looks away after a moment, "Thor's right. Ultron's calling us out. And I'd like to find him before he's ready for us. The world's a big place. Let's start making it smaller." Steve starts to plan.

_________________

Next day the team were brought back to the lab for an update on Ultron. Steve hands the tablet to Asta to look at, seeing a dead Strucker in his cell with a message of 'Peace' written on the wall with blood. "What's this?" Tony questions as he walks up to where the others were gathering around Natasha's desk. She passes it to Thor, who glances at it before shoving it at Tony.

"A message. Ultron killed Strucker." Steve explains simply.

"And he did a Banksy at the crime scene, just for us." Tony comments as he looks over the security photo, as Bruce and Natasha looks it over.

"This is a smokescreen. Why send a message when you've just given a speech?" Natasha questions.

"Strucker knew something that Ultron wanted us to miss." Steve theorized.

"Must of been really important if he killed him." Asta comments looking away from the tablet that was on the desk now.

"Yeah, I bet he..." Natasha started, typing away at her computer, "Yep. Everything we had on Strucker has been erased." she finishes looking at her screen then to the others.

"Not everything." Steve tells them before showing them all the physical files he had kept in the tower. "Known associates. Well, Strucker had a lot of friends." Steve says as he places another box on the table they were all flipping through papers, or Thor's case, throwing unneeded papers off to the side.

"Well, these people are all horrible." Bruce comments, as he reds over a file.

"Wait. I know that guy." Tony stops him, pointing to the file. Bruce hands him the file, "From back in the day. He operates off the African coast, black market arms." Tony explains, earning a look from Steve, "There are conventions, alright? You meet people, I didn't sell him anything." Tony says to Steve, "He was talking about finding something new, a game changer, it was all very 'Ahab.'" Tony finishes explain handing the file for Asta and Thor to see.

"What's this?" Thor questions, pointing to the photos of the man.

"Uh, it's a tattoo. I don't think he had it." Tony explains.

"No, not the tattoos. Look, he has a brand." Asta shows them the photo on the man's neck.

Bruce scans the photo and searches on his computer finding a match quickly, "Oh, yeah. It's a word in an African dialect meaning thief, in a much less friendly way." he explains to everyone.

"What dialect?" Steve asks.

"Wakanada...? Wa...Wa...Wakanda." Bruce attempts to pronounce.

"If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods..." Tony says mainly to Steve, a bit worried.

"I thought your father said he got the last of it?" Steve questions.

" I don't follow. What comes out of Wakanda?" Bruce asks confused.

"The strongest metal on earth." Tony tells him.

"Where is this guy now?" Steve questions.

Chapter Text

Going to the African Coast to talk with Klaue was the original plan. The plan quickly changed for the avengers when they found Ultron and the two enhanced at Klaue base. "Don't compare me with Stark! It's a thing with me. Stark is, he's a sickness!" Ultron says annoyed to Klaue and his men who were going down to the level below.

"Ahh, Junior." Tony says as him, Steve, Thor, and Asta walk up behind them on the otherside of the platform Ultron was on causing the three to turn around, "You're gonna break your old man's heart." he taunts.

"If I have to." Ultron replies unfazed by that mans taunts.

"We don't have to break anything." Thor attempts to tell the robot.

"Clearly you've never made an omelet." Ultron says sarcastically.

"He beat me by one second." Tony complains to the team around him.

"Ah, this is funny, Mr. Stark. It's what, comfortable? Like old times?" the enhanced, Pietro Maximoff says, gesturing to the weapons that fill the floors below.

"This was never my life." Tony tells him.

"You two can still walk away from this." Steve tries to reason with the twins.

"Oh, we will." The other enhanced, Wanda Maximoff, replies.

"I know you've suffered." Steve tries again.

"Uuughh! Captain America. God's righteous man, pretending you could live without a war. I can't physically throw up in my mouth, but..." Ultron says annoyed.

"If you believe in peace, then let us keep it." Thor says loudly to the robot.

"I think you're confusing peace with quiet." Ultron counters.

"Yuh-huh. What's the Vibranium for?" Tony questions, getting to the point.

"I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan-" Ultron starts before shooting Tony backwards, causing Asta to teleport away before she was hit by the man, as he crashed into the wall. Other Ultron bots arrive for the other two avengers to fight as Asta reappears behind the twins quietly.

Tony Flies at Ultron and they begin to fight in the air as Pietro speeds at Thor and Wanda hits Steve with her red magic sending him flying back. "Nice magic." Asta comments startling the young girl to turn around defensively, eyes and hands glowing red.

Asta raises her hands up peacefully, giving her a soft smile, "You don't want to fight me." she warns Wanda.

"But what if I do?" Wanda questions with a raised eyebrow.

The princess shrugs, "Have it your way." she replies, her hands now glowing blue with her magic as she also gets into a fighting stance.

"Nice." Wanda compliments before attempting to hit the Asgardian with her magic, but it was blocked.

"Interesting." Asta comments before trying to the same thing but Wanda was quick to block as well.

Wanda was confused on what to do now, but thankfully Pietro came in and tossed the Asgardian further down the catwalk allowing Wanda to get out of the fight. Asta groans before sitting up not seeing either twin around. "Lost the girl." She tells the others through coms as she stands. An Ultron bot goes to attack her and she puts up a shield around her as she figures out a way to get rid of it, with a sigh she summons her sword, lowering the shield and slices its head off, causing the body to drop, "Well that was fast." she mumbles to herself.

"Thor! Status?" Steve coms through the coms.

"The girl tried to warp my mind. Take special care, I doubt a human could keep her at bay. Fortunately, I am mighty." Thor replies.

Asta turns around only to come face to face with Wanda who had her hand up sending her magic at Asta, only for it to do nothing, "Nice trick. But you aren't allowed in my mind." Asta tells the girls who eyes widen.

"Why isn't it working?" Wanda questions, confused as she looks at her hand and the blonde.

The princess sighs, "Doesn't matter. You aren't getting in." she tells the girl, making her sword disappear, finding it no use to hurt her.

Wanda glares at her, "If I can't get in then you won't get out." she says before lifting up both hands on either side of Asta's head and overwhelming the blonde with her growing magic.

Asta gasps at the pressure of growth the younger girl suddenly conjured up, "How are you-?" she starts to questions, before falling, and passing out.

The younger witch gave the princess a smirk, "Have a nice nap." she taunts before making her way to the Captain, successfully get in his head. Then to the Black Widow, doing the same.

But she was stopped by Hawkeye, "I've done the whole mind control thing. Not a fan." he tells her as he put a shock arrow on her head, stopping her from using magic on him. Pietro was fast to save his twin, hitting Clint away and rushing her away, "Yeah, you better run." he mumbles before moving to coms, "Whoever's standing, we gotta move! Guys?" he tries to communicates but everyone in the base was down in some way.

Clint wanders towards where Natasha was sitting at a staircase, a scared and dazed look in her eyes as she stares out at nothing. On the catwalk, between the black widow and another set of stairs leading to where Steve could be found with a similar expression was a knocked out Asta.

"Natasha, I could really use a lullaby." Tony comes through coms.

"Well, that's not gonna happen. Not for a while. The whole team is down, you got no back up here." Clint reports back as he stares at his best friend in concern.

"Uh, even Asta?" Tony questions, his last bit of hope going into that question.

"Plan B is down for the count." Clint tells him as he glances over to the blonde.

Tony sighs, "I'm calling in VERONICA."

Chapter Text

Everyone is now back on the Quinjet, but everyone was pretty shaken with all that had just transpired. Clint and Tony were looking over everyone with worried eyes as they didn't feel the wrath of the magic in their brain, but seeing their strong friends shaken and taken down was concerning.

Asta was awake, drained, and confused. Wanda was more powerful then she had realized, probably more powerful then Wanda herself realizes, and that concerns her. The jet was quiet for the most part, as they head to a safe house location.

When they arrived, the team was met with a farm house. Clint helped a shaky Natasha walk, and Steve helped a drained Asta. They all made their way to the house slowly, "What is this place?" Thor questions as they reach the porch.

"A safe house?" Tony replies as if it was obvious.

"Let's hope." Clint says as he opens the door leading everyone in. "Honey, I'm home." he calls into the home as they enter the living room. A pregnant woman walks into the room from what seemed like the kitchen, looking at everyone a bit confused, "Hi. Company. Sorry I didn't call ahead." Clint says to her as they hug.

"Hey." she greet before kissing him.

"This is an agent of some kind." Tony says to Thor, pretending to not be as confused as the others.

"Lady, Gentleman, this is Laura." Clint introduces.

"I know all your names." Laura tells them, saving them all from more introductions, with a slight laugh.

Light footsteps could be hear, "Ooh, incoming." Clint says as two children rush into the room, going and hugging him.

"Dad!" the little girl greets happily, and he picks her up.

"Hi, sweetheart!" he says kissing her head, and hugs his son, "Hey, buddy! How you guys doing?" he says happily.

The avengers, minus Natasha, look at the family confused at all that was happening, "These are...smaller agents." Tony says, less confident.

"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" the girl asks her father once he set her down.

"Why don't you hug her and find out?" Natasha says walking up to the girl, hugging and picking her up.

"Sorry for barging in on you." Steve apologies to Laura.

"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed." Tony says sarcastically.

"Yeah, well Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off SHIELD's files, I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low." Clint explains to the others, clearing up some confusion they had.

The little girl walks over to Asta and looks up at her, "Are you a princess?" she asks.

Asta slowly lets go of Steve and kneels down to the girl, "Yes, I am. You must be a princess as well." she says earning a smile from the girl.

"No." the girl giggles.

"But you must be the princess of this house. You look like a princess." she encourages making girls grin widen.

"Maybe I am a princess." she says giggling again, and Asta gives her a soft smile.

A toaster dings from the kitchen and Thor stomps out of the house, Asta looks to Steve, "Can you go after him please?" she asks him, and he nods going after the god. Asta looks back to the little girl with a smile, "Now, does the princess have a name?" she asks her.

"Lila!" she says excitedly.

"Well, Princess Lila it's lovely to meet you." she says to the her.

"Do you want to play?" Lila questions with wide eyes.

"How about we let her get cleaned up and rest before you ask her to play, okay sweetheart?" Clint says walking over to the two, picking up his daughter, and helping Asta up.

"Okay." Lila agrees, giving the princess another smile.

________________

After some rest, Asta was feeling better and reenergized. And by the night, she was glad she was because Fury was there. "Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of Vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing." Fury says to them as they were all in the kitchen having just had dinner.

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve questions as he leans on the doorway.

"Ah. He's easy to track, he's everywhere. Guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans though." Fury explains, not really helping in finding Ultron.

"He still going after launch codes?" Tony asks as he plays darts.

"Yes, he is, but he's not making any headway." Fury confirms.

"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare." Tony admits, confused with Ultron's hesitance.

"Yeah, well, I contacted our friends at the Nexus about that." Fury tells him.

"Nexus?" Steve questions not familiar with it.

" It's the world internet hub in Oslo, every byte of data flows through there, fastest access on earth." Bruce explains as he stands near Natasha, who was sat at the table with Asta.

"So what'd they say?" Clint asks.

"He's fixated on the missiles, but the codes are constantly being changed." Fury reassures everyone.

"By whom?" Tony questions.

"Parties unknown." Fury admits.

"That's good though. Buys us time." Asta says earning a nod in agreement from Fury.

"Do we have an ally?" Natasha asks from her seat.

"Ultron's got an enemy, that's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is." Fury says, not really helping them.

"I might need to visit Oslo, find our 'unknown.'" Tony says, seeing as that was the only lead the team had.

"Well, this is good times, boss, but I was kind of hoping when I saw you, you'd have more than that." Natasha admits to Fury.

"I do, I have you." He says, causing everyone to look at him confused, "Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere, ears everywhere else. Here we all are, back on earth, with nothing but our wit, and our will to save the world. So stand. Outwit the platinum bastard." Fury explains.

"Steve doesn't like that kind of talk." Natasha teases the captain, lightening the atmosphere.

"You know what, Romanoff?" Steve tells her, no anger in his voice, getting a amused smile from her in return.

"So what does he want?" Fury questions, as he sits at the end of the table with the girls.

"To become better. Better than us. He keeps building bodies." Steve answers.

"Person bodies." Tony clarifies, "The human form is inefficient, biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it." he continues Steve's thought more detailed.

"When you two programmed him to protect the human race, you amazingly failed." Natasha tells the scientists.

"Yeah next time you want to build a robot, just don't." Asta tells them, earning an eye roll from Tony.

"They don't need to be protected, they need to evolve." Bruce says as he looks down at a picture of a butterfly that Lila had given Natasha and Asta, "Ultron's going to evolve." he tells them looking up to them.

"How?" Fury questions.

"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?" Bruce asks with a thoughtful look.

Chapter Text

Plan was easy enough; Steve, Asta, Natasha, and Clint were going to go to Dr. Cho's lab to check on her and if Ultron is there, stop him. How? Wing it. Tony was going to go to Nexus and Fury was taking Banner back to the tower to meet with Hill.

Steve was to scout ahead while the girls are on standby for whatever situation. It wasn't long until Dr. Cho's voice came through Steve's coms in the jet, "The real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, its power is uncontainable. You can't just blow it up. You have to get the Cradle to Stark." she informs them.

"First I have to find it." Steve tells her.

"Go." She tells him.

"Did you guys copy that?" Steve says directly to the team.

"We did." Clint replies as he flies.

"I got a private jet taking off, across town, no manifest. That could be him." Natasha informs the captain.

"Wait, look there's a truck from the lab." Asta points out to the two spies.

"Right above you, Cap. On the loop by the bridge. It's them. I got three with the Cradle, one in the cab. I could take out the driver." Clint says seeing the truck that the princess pointed out.

"Negative! If that truck crashes, the gem could level the city. We need to draw out Ultron." Steve replies quickly. A small pause before he returns to coms, "Well, he's definitely unhappy! I'm gonna try and keep him that way."

"You're not a match for him, Cap." Clint warns the captain.

"Thanks Barton." Steve replies sarcastically.

"He might need back up." Asta says as she watches his fight with Ultron from the sky.

"On it." Natasha says before moving to another part of the jet, as Clint lowers them a bit.

"We got a window. Four, three... give 'em hell." Clint tells the red head before allowing her to drop down on a motorcycle to go help the captain.

"I'm always picking up after you boys." Natasha says as she picks up Steve's fallen shield as the two above continue to watch the conflict.

"They're heading under the overpass, I've got no shot." Clint informs.

"Which way?" Natasha questions.

"Hard right... Now." Asta replies as she watches them and the map. Natasha listens, and was able to get Steve his Shield back.

"Clint, can you draw out the guards?" The red head questions.

"Let's find out." Clint replies, moving the jet to distract the Ultron bots, being successful as they begin to fly after them, "Best to strap in Asta." Clint comments, to which the blonde listens. They flew and dodge, not getting to much damage from the bots before they turned back around and fly away. "Heading back towards you. So whatever you're gonna do, do it now." Clint informs as they leveled out the jet again.

"I'm going in. Cap, can you keep him occupied?" Natasha informs and questions.

"What do you think I've been doing?" Steve replies breathily.

A moment of silence on coms happen before the two see the truck get loaded into a jet at take of. "The package is airborne. I have a clean shot." Clint announces ready to move and take aim.

"Negative. I am still in the truck." Natasha was quick to reply.

"Why are you still there?" Asta questions, confused.

"What the hell are you-" Clint tries to question, but Natasha cuts him short.

"Asta I could use some back up?" She requests of the blonde.

"Got it." Asta replies, getting out of her seat and teleporting to Natasha, stumble landing in the jet where Natasha was hanging on to the floor near the opened back doors of the truck, nearly dangling out. "I got you." she says, focusing her magic to pull the red head up until she was able to hold onto the cradle for balance.

"Cut the strap." Natasha instructs as she gets to the left strap. The princess nods, grabbing her knife and working on the right strap. "Okay, When we finish to the last strap, get back to Clint and I'll drop the package in." Natasha explains, once the two cut the side straps.

"Got it, just be careful." Asta says in agreement.

"Where's the fun in that." Natasha replies, giving her a smirk. "Ready?" she asks as she was half way through her last strap on the left.

"Clint, get ready for Nat." Asta informs, before teleporting back onto the ship.

"What?" Clint questions the blonde once she arrived back on his side.

"Just be ready, I'm sending the package to you." Natasha says as she gets ready to cut the last strap on the back of the cradle.

"How do you want me to take it?" Clint questions as he flies closer to the other jet.

" Uhh, you might wish you hadn't asked that." Nat replies a bit hesitantly.

"I lost him! He's headed your way!" Steve says into the coms.

"Nat, we gotta go." Clint says a bit anxiously as he opens the back doors.

The cradle lands in the quinjet with a thud. Asta turns back but doesn't see Natasha. "Nat, you coming?" she questions into the coms but gets no response.

"Nat! Cap, you see Nat?" Clint questions with more concern.

"If you have the package, get it to Stark! Go!" Steve replies quickly.

"Do you have eyes on Nat?" Clint questions again, as Asta tried looking at the ground incase she fell.

"GO!" Steve says, earning a sigh from Clint and Asta, but they fly away a bit reluctantly.

_____________

Getting back to the tower was a bittersweet feeling for Asta. Natasha was missing but they got the cradle away from Ultron. Asta was sat down with her eye close as she tried to listen for Natasha to call for her but got nothing.

" Anything on Nat?" Bruce questions as the guys all look over the cradle.

"She's not calling for me." Asta says with a sigh, standing to join the others.

"Haven't heard anything either. But she's alive, or Ultron'd be rubbing our faces in it." Tony says with a sigh.

"This is sealed tight." Clint says as he walks away from the cradle.

"We're going to need to access the program, break it down from within." Bruce says to Tony.

Tony hums, "Hm. Any chance Natasha might leave you a message, outside the internet, old school spy stuff?" he questions looking to Clint.

"There's some nets I can cast. Yeah, alright. I'll find her." Clint says as he leaves the room.

"I'll see if I can help him." Asta says before following after him, leaving the two scientist to deal with the cradle.

Chapter Text

"Asta, don't come here. Have Clint find me old school, I'm fine." Natasha's voice fills Asta's ears causing her to gasp.

Clint glances at her from his seat, "What's up?" he asks her as he continue to set up his stuff to search for a signal from Natasha.

"She contacted me, but doesn't want me to go to her. She says for you to find her old school. I- I going to go to her." Asta tells him, moving to stand but Clint grabs her arm, making her stay seated.

"If Nat says not to go, it can't be safe. We'll get her, together. For now just be patient, okay Asta?" Clint tells her, earning a reluctant nod from her as she stays seated.

Clint goes back to work wasting no time, quickly getting a signal and finding her location in no time. Arguments could be heard coming from the lab, Clint looks to Asta and signals for her to go up cautiously, while he'll go from below.

The two separate, Asta silently teleporting behind a wall, looking over to see Steve had arrived with the enhanced twins. "That's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony shouts at Steve.

"You don't know what's in there!" Wanda argues.

"This isn't a game-" Steve starts to back her up, but was stopped once Pietro ran around the lab pulling plug and such to stop the cradle from continuing.

"No, no. Go on. You were saying?" he says to the group once he stopped running and everyone was looking at him.

A shot rang out, shattering the glass below his feet and he fell through the floor. "Pietro!" Wanda calls out.

A sudden burst of energy growth caught Asta's attention, making her look towards the cradle. She steps out from where she was hiding and stares at the cradle curiously. "I'm rerouting the upload." Tony says walking up to a computer.

Steve throws his shield having it hit parts of the computer, having it bounce around the room. Tony retaliates by blasting Steve sending him flying backwards. Wanda goes to help but Bruce grabs her in a chokehold. "Go ahead, piss me off." he says to her.

Asta walks forward, still confused by growth coming from the cradle. "Stop right there Princess." Tony warns her, unsure of what side she would be on. She looks at him conflicted, unsure, but makes no moves.

Steve used Tony's distraction on Asta to his advantage to rush at him, but Tony blasts him at the same time sending them both flying back. Wanda uses her magic to get Bruce off of her, before Thor arrived. "Brother?" Asta questions seeing the urgent look he had. He goes straight to the cradle, summoning lightning with Mjolnir and sending it into the cradle.

Once he stopped everyone just stared at the god in shock before the cradle exploded open causing everyone to look away and sends Thor flying back to the ground. The man from the cradle stood from it. Asta stared at him shocked and amazed. She felt his growth because he was coming to life.

He looked around unsure, before suddenly launching himself at Thor, only to be thrown by the god out the window of the lab into the main room of the tower, only to stop himself before the other window, looking out. Thor and Steve follow into the room, as the man continued to fly and look at his reflection in the window. The others follow to go into the other room seeing as he wasn't fighting or escaping.

He turned around, creating clothes on himself as he flew down landing on his feet. "I'm sorry, that was...odd." he says to the group, with the voice of Jarvis. He looks to Thor, "Thank you." he tells the god.

"Thor, you helped create this?" Steve questions, as the Jarvis voiced man created a cape similar to Thor's.

"I've had a vision. A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life and at its center is that." Thor explains pointing to the gem stone.

"What, the gem?" Bruce asks confused.

"It's the Mind Stone." Thor starts with a sigh.

"You mean, as in one of the six infinity stones?" Asta questions in disbelief at her brothers words.

"Yes, its the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities. " Thor explains to the others.

"Then why would you bring it to..." Steve starts to question.

"Because Stark is right." Thor cuts him short.

"Oh, it's definitely the end times." Bruce says with a sigh.

"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron." Thor says quit seriously.

"Not alone." the Jarvis sounding man says.

"Why does your "vision" sound like JARVIS?" Steve questions as the 'Vision' starts to walk forward.

"We... reconfigured JARVIS' matrix to create something new." Tony explains simply.

"I think I've had my fill of new." Steve says with a sigh.

"You think I'm a child of Ultron?" the 'Vision' asks the captain.

"You're not?" Steve counter questions.

"I'm not Ultron. I'm not JARVIS. I am... I am." he answers, sort of.

Wanda takes a few steps towards him, "I looked in your head and saw annihilation." she says to the new man.

"Look again." he tells her.

Clint scoffs, "Yeah. Her seal of approval means jack to me." he says.

"What about mine?" Asta speaks up, gaining the archer and new mans attention, "I could look, I believe. If you want to be reassured, I would just need your permission." she says glancing between the two.

"And I would give it if they'd like." the man agrees looking to the others in the room.

Thor sighs, "Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone, and they're nothing compared to what it can unleash. But with it on our side.." he explains, wanting the rest to understand.

"Is it? Are you? On our side?" Steve questions.

"I don't think it's that simple." he replies with an unsure look.

"Well it better get real simple real soon." Clint tells him.

"I am on the side of life. Ultron isn't, he will end it all." he explains simply.

"What's he waiting for?" Tony questions.

"You." was the answer he gave with zero hesitation.

"Where?" Bruce asks.

"Sokovia. He's got Nat there too." Clint replies.

"If we're wrong about you, if you're the monster that Ultron made you to be..." Bruce starts to warn him.

"What will you do?" he questions, looking around at everyone, "I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique, and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one." he continues walking a bit, his back to everyone as he stood between the two Asgardians, "I'm not what you are, and not what you intended. So there may be no way to make you trust me. But we need to go." he finishes turning and holding out Mjolnir to Thor.

Asta stares, wide eyed and speechless at this 'Vision' who was worthy of the hammer. Thor takes the hammer from him, silently before the he walks away. Thor looks at his sister, "Not a word." he mumbles to her before going to follow his 'Vision', "Well done." he tells Tony with a tap on the shoulder before continue walking.

Chapter Text

Steve gave them 3 minutes to get ready, the twins on board to help take down Ultron. Asta leads them to where they can change if they'd like before they left. Wanda was looking out the window to where Thor and Vision were talking. "Do you feel it?" Asta questions the girl, gaining her attention.

"Feel what?" Wanda asks, confused on what the princess was referring to.

"His growth, in power. life. energy. It's hard to describe." Asta admits looking out the window before facing Wanda.

"I just, feel him." she tells the blonde, slightly confused.

"You're power was activated by the stone, so that could be why you feel him. It's fascinating." Asta tells her with a soft smile.

Wanda gives her a small smile, before a red jacket was thrown at her from Pietro. She looks at him confused but takes the jacket. "Lets go." Asta instructs the two leading them to the Quinjet. The twins sit off to the side, while the princess grabs them coms. "Here. So we can stay in contact." she explains, pointing to her own. They both silently place them in their own ears.

"Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire, and that's what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out." Steve tells everyone as they flew to Sokovia. "All they want is to live their lives in peace, and that's not going to happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done, and find out what Ultron's been building. We find Romanoff, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us. Ultron thinks we're monsters and we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right." he continues with a plan.

Arriving to Sokovia the team all wasted no time to get into the city, Pietro Sped off and Thor and Bruce headed towards the abandoned hydra base to look of Natasha and maybe Ultron. Asta stuck with Wanda, seeing as both their magic together would be more useful. Wanda was fast to lead them to the center of an apartment district and began to use her magic to get people to leave and evacuate.

"How do you do that?" Asta questions, as she watches the red magic leave the younger girls hands.

"I-I don't know it's, instinct I guess." Wanda answers as people begin to leave, walking down the street.

"You'll need to teach me sometime, I struggle with expanding my magic. You make it seem so, effortless." the blonde praises as looks around the city.

"You want me to teach you? But you're an avenger?" the young witch questions.

"There is still so much magic in the universe I do not know. Yours is similar but you have such a vastly different skill set, that I need to be taught if I wish to understand." she explains to the girl.

"Then we should teach each other." Wanda suggests with a smile.

"A wonderful plan." the princess agrees before things started to get more serious, Ultron bots began to appear around the city, the two girls begin to make there way to the main part of the city as the citizens were attempting to leave.

The two meet with Clint on a bridge as Ultron's bots were climbing up onto it, and the archer was trying to keep them off. "Get off the bridge! Run!" Wanda tells those still on the bridge.

"Look out!" Asta shouts as raises a shield in front of herself to protect the civilians from getting shot at from an Ultron.

"Run!" Wanda instructed the people who were behind them, and they listened. Asta lowers the shield to blast the Ultron with her magic only to get hit herself sending her to the ground. Wanda was quick to destroy the Ultron with her magic before helping up the princess, "Are you alright?" she asks the blonde.

"I'm fine, thank you." the princess reassures the girl.

The ground begins to shake and shift, as it begins to break. The two look on confused as to what was happening as screams continued from the distance. The two loose there balance and they lean on a car to regain their balance as Clint rushes over to the two.

"Do you see? The beauty of it, the inevitability. You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, you are my meteor, my swift and terrible sword and the earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me. It means nothing. When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal." Ultron speaks through all his bots all around Sokovia, Clint shoots one of the bots, having it drop, only for another one to continue talking.

Asta looks around seeing that they were indeed going up into the sky. Dread filling her. How do they stop Sokovia from filling from the sky? "Cap, you got incoming." Stark comings through the coms.

"Incoming already came in. Stark, you worry about bringing the city back down safely. The rest of us have one job: tear these things apart. You get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed, walk it off." Steve says.

"You should work on you pep talk Steve." Asta tells him with a sigh before blasting an Ultron bot from getting to close to the three of them.

"Thanks Asta." Steve replies sarcastically and winded.

"Wanda, help get the rest of the people out of here." Asta instructs pointing to the people hiding behind cars and in doorways still.

"On it." Wanda replies rushing over to some of the people.

Clint and Asta were covering her, taking down Ultron's who flew into the street they were in. It was going good until Wanda moved the last lady out of there because soon more and more Ultron's began to fly in. "Go, go, go." Clint tells the two, rushing them to move.

They began to ran, Asta glances back to see two Ultron's rushing towards them, she grabs the witch and archer , wrapping the three in her shield, and having them crash through a window and into a home to avoid any shots from the bots.

Chapter Text

Asta groans as she drops her shield, taking a deep breath as she lays on the ground. "How could I let this happen?" Wanda mumbles as she sits, leaning against the wall.

"You good?" Clint questions the blonde, earning a thumbs up from the girl before he turns to the other magical girl who had tears building in her eyes. "Hey, hey, you okay?" he asks her.

"This is all our fault." Wanda says quiet sadly.

"Hey, look at me. It's your fault, it's everyone's fault, who cares. Are you up for this? Are you? Look, I just need to know, cause the city is flying. Okay, look, the city is flying, we're fighting an army of robots, and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense. But I'm going back out there because it's my job. Okay? And I can't do my job and babysit. It doesn't matter what you did, or what you were. If you go out there, you fight, and you fight to kill. Stay in here, you're good, I'll send your brother to come find you, but if you step out that door, you are an Avenger." Clint tells her honestly, strict but kind. Wanda stares at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond, "Alright, good chat." he tell hers before standing, heading to the door.

Asta sits up as he leaves. "Wanda." she says gaining the girls' attention, "I know your scared, that's fine. But I'm going to go out there, and help in any way I can. And don't think I'm not scared, because I am terrified every time I do something like this, but I have to try and be brave so that I can protect people." she tells her before moving to stand.

"No, no. Wait, don't leave." Wanda says in an almost whispers as she grabs her arm, fear in her eyes.

Asta kneels down before the scared girl, "Hey. You're not alone in this. If you go out there and fight, you have a team to help you. Here." she starts, moving Wanda's hands into her hand, "Do you feel my magic?" she questions, getting a nod, "Good, now if you need help just call my name and I'll be by your side, just like that." she explains with a snap, getting a small smile out of the girl. Asta lets go of her hand, and stands walking towards the door looking back at her over her shoulder, "You're stronger then you think you are. Whatever you decide to do, it'll be just fine." she reassures her before walking out of the building.

The princes makes her way down one of the streets, summoning her sword and making her way towards an Ultron that had it's back to her. She wasted no time, cutting it in half with ease. A thud happened behind her, causing her to turn and see a bot with an arrow in its head on the group. "Thanks." she calls out to Clint as she stabs another bot.

"Cover!" he warns her. She covers herself in a shield as 4 bots fly above the Asgardian and fire at her.

Wanda chose that time to leave that house determined to help take down Ultron. She uses her magic to stop one of the bots that was targeting Asta, ripping it in half using one half to hit another bot. Clint was quick to take down the last two, letting Asta to drop her shield. "Good job." she tells them, not seeing any more bots near them.

"Alright, we're all clear here." Clint says into the coms for the others.

"We are not clear! We are very not clear!" Steve was fast to respond.

Clint sighs, "Alright, coming to you." he informs.

"Going ahead." Asta says before teleporting near the main city center were the bridge she had last seen Steve on. She was quick to help Steve with the vast amount of Ultron bots that were still around, stabbing most of them with her sword, the rest she used her magic, doing what Wanda had done earlier and rip them in half. "Well that's useful." she mumbles to herself, using her magic again with the flying Ultron's.

The team were able to get the bots under control, moving the rest of the civilians that were outside to cover. "The next wave's gonna hit any minute. What have you got, Stark?" Steve questions in the coms, once the fighting had calmed down for the time being.

"Well, nothing great. Maybe a way to blow up the city. That'll keep it from impacting the surface if you guys can get clear." Tony replies.

"I asked for a solution, not an escape plan." Steve retorts, not liking what he was hearing.

"Impact radius is getting bigger every second. We're going to have to make a choice." Tony informs a bit grimly.

"Cap, these people are going nowhere. If Stark finds a way to blow this rock..." Natasha starts.

"Not 'til everyone's safe." Steve was quick to shut down the thought.

"Everyone up here versus everyone down there? There's no math there." Natasha says shaking her head.

"Math isn't the issue Nat." Asta says with a sigh, knowing they need to protect everyone despite the numbers.

"I'm not leaving this rock with one civilian on it." Steve says calmly, but determined.

"I didn't say we should leave." Natasha says, gaining the two's attention, "There's worse ways to go. Where else am I gonna get a view like this?" she says looking out into the cloud filled horizon.

"Glad you like the view, Romanoff. It's about to get better." Fury's voice comes through the coms as a Helicarrier rises from the sky into the threes view, "Nice, right? I pulled her out of mothballs with a couple of old friends. She's dusty, but she'll do." he says in a proud tone.

"Fury, you son of a bitch." Steve says, impressed.

"Oooh! You kiss your mother with that mouth?" Fury teases, as the sides open, Pietro joining the three as they watch the life boats fly over to them.

"This is SHIELD?" Pietro questions as they watch.

"This is what SHIELD's supposed to be." Steve replies with a smile.

Pietro lets out an airy chuckle, "This is not so bad." he says.

"Let's load 'em up." Steve instructs, as they head back towards the buildings the civilians were all in.

Chapter Text

As they all worked on getting the civilians onto the life boats and onto the Helicarrier, others were taking care of Ultron's who were fly attacking the Helicarrier itself. "Thor, I got a plan!" Tony says into the coms.

"We're out of time. They're coming for the core." Thor replies.

"Rhodey, get the rest of the people on board that carrier." Tony instructs.

"On it." Rhodes says.

"Avengers, time to work for a living." Tony tells the team.

Asta teleports to her brother, where him and Vision were there fighting off more bots, her quickly joining in as Tony arrives, then Steve, then the twins and Clint. "Romanoff? You and Banner better not be playing "hide the zucchini."" Tony says.

"Relax, Shell-head. Not all of us can fly." Natasha responds as she drives up to where the team was, getting out and going to them, "What's the drill?" she questions.

Tony points to the center metal cylinder that was spinning, "This is the drill. If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose." he explains.

Hulk arrives destroying two more bots as he joins the team. Just as Ultron himself arrives. " Is that the best you can do?" Thor challenges with a shout.

Ultron raises his arms and more of his bots arrive, "You had to ask." Steve says to the god.

"If we die now, I'm blaming you." Asta tells her brother with a sigh at the amount of robots.

"This is the best I can do. This is exactly what I wanted. All of you, against all of me. How could you possibly hope to stop me?" Ultron taunts them.

"Well, like the old man said. Together." Tony says and the hulk roars as the bots rush at them. They all begin to fight, destroying bots every chance they got to get them away from the center core.

Vision began to fight the main Ultron himself, quickly getting help from Thor and Tony, taking it out of the where the Core was. Once hulk followed behind the bots became less and less in where the core was. "We gotta move out. Even I can tell the air is getting thin. You guys get to the boats, I'll sweep for stragglers, be right behind you." Steve tells the rest of the team still with the core.

"What about the core?" Clint questions.

" I'll protect it. It's my job." Wanda says, looking to Clint who gave her a nod. Him, Nat, and Steve running out. "You can go." She tells the princess who stayed behind.

"I know, but I'm going to stay and help you." Asta tells the girl.

"You don't have to." Wanda tells her confused.

"I know, but neither do you." she says giving her a smile.

"Get the people on the boats." Wanda tells her brother once he walks over to the two catching his breathe.

"I'm not going to leave you here." he tells his sister.

"She'll be safe with me." Asta says to reassure him.

"We can handle this." Wanda tells Pietro, as she blasts a bot that was coming up behind him. "Come back for me when everyone else is off, not before." she tells him seriously.

"What about you? How will you get off?" Pietro questions the blonde.

"I have my own tricks." she tells him with a smirk.

"You understand?" Wanda questions her brother.

"You know, I'm twelve minutes older than you." he reminds her with a smile.

Wanda laughs, "Go." she tells him, and he does.

The two stand back to back with core between them as they take out any bot who tries to get in with ease. In the distance they could still hear some life boats and people, then gunfire. They look at each other confused at the distant gunfire, then Wanda's face shifted as it went quiet. "Wanda?" Asta questions softly, seeing the sadness in her eyes.

Wanda's eyes water before she lets out a scream, magic exploding out of her. Asta places a shield around herself, unsure if the blast would throw her back or not. The burst of magic from the distraught Wanda hit and destroyed all the bots that were closing in as she fell to her knees.

Asta quickly goes to her side and hugs the crying girl, silently guessing whatever Wanda had felt wasn't good, and had to do with her brother possibly, "It'll be okay. It'll hurt now but, you'll be okay." she whispers to her as the girl cling's to the blonde.

Wanda slowly releases herself from the princess, "You should go." she tells her as she tries to stop crying.

"But-" Asta tries to argue.

"Please, go." Wanda insist in a whisper.

The princess stares at her for a moment, before nodding, "Okay... Okay I'll go." she agrees, the two standing. She sighs before turning and teleporting away to where she knew the Helicarrier was. Landing with ease it wasn't to long later when she saw Sokovia fall. "No." she whispers, knowing Wanda was still there.

"Thor, on my mark." Tony came back on coms. Asta watched as lightning began to spark around, "Now!" he says and big blast from Thor's lightning hit, practically shattering all the earth and building that was flying, sending it down as rumble to the earth below.

"Please be okay." Asta whisper to herself, knowing that her brother was at practically the center of that mess.

"Asta." Vison says from behind her, causing her to turn around as he lands with Wanda in his arms.

The princess goes over to them as he puts Wanda back on her feet, and he flies away without another word, "Are you hurt?" Asta questions as holds the girl by her arms.

Wanda looks at her a bit shaken before tear build up in her eyes again, and hugs the blonde. "I ripped out his heart." Wanda mumbles as she began to cry, "He killed him." she whispers sadly.

Asta hugs her back, now understanding better her magic outburst from earlier, "I know it hurts. Its fine to be hurt, and cry, and scream. I lost someone too, so I know how you feel. But I am here if you need someone." she tells the young witch as she cries. "You'll be okay." she whispers.

___________________

Asta knew she probably wasn't going to stay forever in the avengers facility, she would stay for as long as possible to help. She still wanted to go out and learn more about her own magic and earth technology. Whenever she would stay it would be to help Wanda train magic, or to learn new things from Natasha for combat.

For now, the small new team that her, Steve, and Natasha were in charge with overseeing was small but very promising. "We've got some hitters." Natasha comments as the three make their way to the main training room.

"They're good. They're not a team." Steve says.

"But they're ready to become one. Lets show'em how its done." Asta says before Steve opens the door.

In the room stood Rhodey, Vision, Sam and Wanda. Steve gives them a nod, "Avengers!...."

Chapter Text

Training with the new recruits was surprisingly easier then Asta thought it would be, and a lot more fun for her to learn new things with the team. Currently they were on a scouting mission to locate Hydra Agent Rumlow, who had escaped during the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Washington. Asta's only help she had on that situation was asking Hill, to ask Coulson and May to keep an eye out for him, to which they did, giving random leads when they could. She was able to keep better contact with that team due to now having a phone to keep in contact.

A phone that she was currently scrolling randomly on, as the team was out in Lagos, helping train while waiting for Rumlow to possibly strike. "All right, what do you see?" Steve questions through the commons, directed at Wanda who sat at a table with the blonde princess.

Wanda, currently wearing a baseball hat, sat stirred in sugar to her coffee as she replies, "Standard beat cops. Small station. Quiet street. It's a good target." she says quietly as to not draw suspicion to them as she looks behind her.

"There's an ATM in the south corner, which means . . ." Steve starts.

"Carmeras." Wanda finishes, earning a smile from the blonde across from her.

"Both cross streets are one way." Steve continues.

"So, compromised escape routes." Wanda says to him as she glances around the busy street.

"Means our guy doesn't care about being seen, he isn't afraid to make a mess on the way out. You see that Range Rover halfway up the block?" Steve asks, causing her to glance past the princess to see the car he was talking about.

"Yeah, the red one? It's cute." she replies nonchalantly.

"It's also bulletproof, which means private security, which means more guns, which means more headaches for somebody. Probably us." Natasha says through the coms, as she sits a few tables away from the two magical girls.

"You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?" Wanda says before taking a sip of her coffee.

Asta leans forward, resting on her hand as she stirs her own tea. "Which is very useful, but you can't always rely on it." she reminds the younger girl before taking a sip of her drink.

"Exactly, looking over your shoulder needs to become second nature." Natasha says, causing Wanda to casually look over to the red head.

"Anybody ever tell you you're a little paranoid?" Sam says into the coms from his position.

"Not to my face. Why? Did you hear something?" Natasha replies a bit sassily.

"Eyes on target, folks. This is the best lead we've had on Rumlow in six months. I don't want to lose him." Steve tells them.

"If he sees us coming that won't be a problem. He kind of hates us." Sam tells the captain.

"Sam, see that garbage truck? Tag it." Steve instructs.

"Give me X-ray." Sam instructs his drone, then after a moment he comes back on coms, "That truck's loaded for max weight. And the driver's armed." Sam informs the team.

"It's a battering ram." Natasha brings up.

"Go now." Steve instructs causing Asta to sit up.

"What?" Wanda questions.

"He's not hitting the police." Steve tells them, a crash could be heard from a different street.

"Lets go." Asta says, and the girls' on the ground quickly moving to get to the location.

During their time training the two girls have grown with their magic, Wanda having better control, and learning some of Asta's tricks. While Asta learned some of Wanda's tricks, one being, for lack of better words, flying.

They fly ahead of Natasha meeting the Captain and Falcon at the Institute of Infectious Disease that had been crashed and taken over. The two land in the courtyard, Asta quick to block shots being taken at them, while Wanda uses her magic to grab the soldier shooting at them, and moves them towards the Falcon. "Sam." Wanda instructs before letting go of the solider.

Sam flies down from the roof behind the two girls, hitting the soldier with his wing, "Four." he says to the Captain. " Rumlow's on the third floor." Sam informs as he checks his drone.

"Asta, Wanda, just like we practiced." Steve instructs the two.

"What about the gas?" Wanda questions worried.

"Get it out." Steve tells her.

"Ready when you are." Asta tells the Captain, earning a nod from him.

Asta make a platform for Steve to use, allowing him to jump higher, as Wanda uses her magic to boost him through the third floor window. Once he was in, Wanda got to work to get the gas out of the building. Asta had a shield up around herself and Wanda as more solider came and began to shoot at the three. Sam was working on fighting back to get them off of their backs, being successful.

Shots and explosion could be heard all around the building. "Rumlow has a biological weapon." Steve says to the team on coms followed by more explosions coming from another part of the building. "Sam. He's in an AFV heading north." Steve says.

Sam was quick to fly up to help the Captain as the Wanda and Asta stay to deal with the gas still. Once Wanda was able to carefully get rid of the gas the two move to help Steve with Rumlow quickly, seeing as Natasha and Sam were good with the solider they were dealing with.

They rush past the crowd to reach Steve who was one on one fighting Rumlow. "He remembered you. I was there. He got all weepy about it. Till they put his brain back in a blender. He wanted you to know something. He said to me, 'Please tell Rogers. When you gotta go, you gotta go.' And you're coming with me." Rumlow says before pulling out a trigger and hitting it.

Asta was quick to put a shield to protect the bystanders that were to close to the explosion, while Wanda used her magic to try and contain the explosion, sending it and Rumlow up and away from the crowds with a struggle before having to let go making the explosion happen near a building sending the blast through floors.

Wanda looks at the building in shock and horror as the crowds run allowing Asta to lower her Shield and look up at the building in shock. "Sam . We need, Fire and Rescue on the south side of the building. We gotta get up there." Steve says into coms before rushing towards the building.

"Wanda?" Asta questions, turning to the stunned witch who's lip was quivering as her eyes never leave the building. "Wanda are you okay?" she tries to ask again.

The younger witch slowly looks towards the Asgardian princess, her eyes full of sadness and horror. "I did that." she whispers in a distraught tone.

Asta goes to her side, "Hey. No, what you did was try and protect these people, and you did. You did your best." she reassures her friend who had a small bit of tears gathering in her eyes.

Chapter Text

Everybody was processing what had happened in Lagos differently. The media certainly wasn't helping. Everyone was doing there own thing. Asta was sat in her room, a bit disappointed she wasn't able to help cheer up Wanda.

A knock on her door gained her attention. Standing in her doorway was Vision. "Don't mean to bother you Asta but Mr. Stark has arrived with a guest and require all of us downstairs." he informs the blonde.

"It's alright. Who's his guest?" she questions as she stands walking over to him.

"The Secretary of State." Vision informs her as they exit her room.

______________

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my back-swing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass . . . I found something 40 years in the Army had never taught me: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an un-payable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives . . . but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some . . . who would prefer the word 'vigilantes'." Secretary Ross spoke to everyone in a meeting room.

At a table sat Wanda, Asta, Vision, and Sam on one side. And Rhodes, Natasha, and Steve on the other side with Tony sat in the back of the room as Ross stood before everyone. "And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha questions.

"How about "dangerous"? What would you call a group of US-based, and other worldly based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?" he points out as he glances around the table.

He looks back towards the screen behind him, "New York." he starts, showing the group a video taken by a civilian of the Chitauri and Hulk. "Washington D.C." he says as he changes the video to show the shield building falling and Helicarriers crashing down. "Sokovia." he continues, showing a distant video of when it went up into the sky, causing Wanda to frown. "Lagos." he says changing the video to the recent media coverage of the event that had just occurred, causing Wanda to shift in her seat and look away from the video, obviously uncomfortable.

"Okay. That's enough." Steve says, having noticed her discomfort. Ross nods, and has the images taken off the screen.

"For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." Ross says to everyone, grabbing a thick document from his aide and places it down on the table in front of Wanda. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries . . . it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary." he explains as Wanda looks it over before sliding it across to Rhodes.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve tells the Secretary.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross questions.

"Thor's off world. Fighting, and helping others. Is that a good enough answer, Mr. Secretary?" Asta replies for her friend, not seeing how her brother was important at the moment.

Ross looks over the the princess, "And Banner?" he asks her with a sigh. She doesn't reply, not having an answer to that. " If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes . . . you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground." he explains to everyone.

"So, there are contingencies." Rhodes says leaning back in his seat.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over" Ross tells them all as him and his aide take their leave.

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha questions before they exit.

Ross looks over to her, "Then you retire." he replies before leaving.

_____________

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." Rhodes argues as they team all moved out of the meeting room, spread out across all the couches as they looked over the accords.

"So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam questions annoyed.

"A 117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, that's cool. We got it. '" Rhodes argues with him as they stand across from each other.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" Same asks, crossing his arms.

"I have an equation." Vision speaks up from his seat next to Wanda and Asta.

"Oh, this will clear it up." Sam says annoyed but turns to the red man.

"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate." Vision explains.

" Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve asks.

" I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict . . . breeds catastrophe. Oversight . . . oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand" Vision clarifies.

"Boom." Rhodes says facing Sam again, earning an eye roll from said man.

"Tony. You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal." Natasha comments to the billionaire that was laying on the couch.

"It's because he's already made up his mind." Steve tells her, not even glancing at him.

" Boy, you know me so well." Tony says to Steve a bit sarcastically before sitting up with a wince, making his way to the kitchen. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache." he explains as he grabs a mug. "That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" he comments as he works around the kitchen.

As he walks around he sets his phone down and pulls up a picture hologram for everyone to see of a boy. "Oh, that's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a floor level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul, before he parked it behind a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where, Sokovia." he explains to the group as they all look at one another a bit sadly, "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." Tony says a bit bitterly, taking a pill with coffee facing the group.

"There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys." he tells them all seriously.

"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve argues with him.

"Who said we're giving up?" Tony questions him.

"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blames." Steve argues.

"I'm sorry. Steve. That - that is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, it's not HYDRA." Rhodes explains to the Captain.

"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." Steve explains his reasons.

"That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing." Tony tells him.

"Tony, you chose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? What if.. What if they don't want Asta, or Thor's help anymore. We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own." Steve argues, causing some people to look towards Asta.

"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty." Tony tells him with an sigh.

"You're saying they'll come for me." Wanda says sadly.

"And they'll make me leave?" Asta says unsure, not liking these accords more and more with all the arguments made.

"We would protect you both." Vision was quick to reassure them.

"Maybe Tony's right." Natasha says after a small moment, causing Tony to look at her. "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off -" she begins to explain.

"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam questions, confused.

"I'm just . . . I'm reading the terrain. We have made . . . some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." she explains.

"Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?" Tony asks her.

"Oh, I want to take it back now." Natasha tells him with a slump in her seat.

"No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Okay, case closed--I win." Tony says with a small smile.

"I have to go." Steve says, standing after looking at him phone, exiting the room.

"They, won't actually make me leave? Right?" Asta questions, concerned now.

"Doubt it. You're an asset and have only done good. I wouldn't worry to much on it." Tony tells her.

She nods, "Also, do I have to sign? I'm not... from here. Soooo." the blonde princess questions.

"She... might actually be a loophole. The accords didn't touch to much about people from another world when it came to assets only threats." Rhodes says in realization.

"Huh. Well, looks like your good for now Space Girl." Natasha tells her with a small smile.

Chapter Text

Steve and Sam had went off to London for a funeral, Natasha going off to be at the UN meeting regarding the Accords. And the rest going off to do whatever they plan to do. In regards to the accords Tony, Vision, Natasha and Rhodes had already signed it. Asta and Wanda were thinking it over as they stayed at the compound.

Asta knew despite her not being from earth and not being technically enhanced, she would have to follow the UN's demands if she signed. They would want to analyze her powers, which is complicated considering her powers are still growing. And they would want to track her which, again, would be complicated because of her teleporting around the world when needed and possibly off world. They would also want to regulate her sword because it an Asgardian weapon which she found confusing.

Though she may not be human, after further readings, and a headache, the accords do say 'human or otherwise' meaning her theory on her loophole is out the window. Granted, there is still the thought on her technically not having a 'home country' so she should be able to help anywhere, but she had a feeling they wouldn't appreciate that.

She felt stressed, just sitting around with these accords looming over her head until she got a call from Steve. "How are you Steve?" she greets him.

"Good. Have you seen the news?" he asks her, sounding a bit tense.

"Uh, no. I've been... reading. Why? What's happened?" she questions, sitting up a bit.

"There was a bombing, and they're saying it was Bucky." Steve tells her.

Asta's eyes widen, as she quickly goes to turn on the tv, muting it and going to world news. Seeing that the UN was bombed. "Oh, my... Is Natasha okay?" she quickly asks, staring at the silent television with concern.

Steve sighs lightly, "She's fine. A bit stunned but fine... She doesn't want me to go find him." he tells her.

"And you're not going to listen to her, are you?" Asta realizes, hesitantly asking knowing his answer.

"No, I gotta find him." he admits to her.

Asta lets out a sigh, "You need help?" she offers to him.

"I don't want you to get in trouble." he tells her, worry in his tone.

"I'll be fine. Besides, why else call me? Unless you wanted to say how much you missed me.?" she teases, earning a chuckle from him.

"Fair enough. Sam and I are heading to Bucharest, meet us there if you want. Might want to leave before Natasha tries to stop you." he suggests to her.

"Noted. But are you going to admit that you missed me?" she jokes, wanting to cheer him up.

Steve laughs, "Okay, okay. I missed you in my few days gone." he says to her, just joking.

"Of course you did. Who wouldn't miss me." she jokingly boasts, laugh after.

"Alright you've been hanging around Tony to much, his ego is contagious." Steve tells her, not really serious.

"True. But he is teaching me a lot. Need me to hack something for you?" she jokingly offers to him.

"I'm good. I'll see you soon. But I'll keep your knew tech skills in mind." he tells her with a chuckle.

"See you later Captain." she tells him.

_____________

Steve had a lead on Bucky, and was going to where he was staying to, hopefully, help him. Sam was on the roof of the building while Asta was on the roof of the building next to it. "Heads up, Cap. German Special Forces, approaching from the south." Sam says on coms from his position.

"Understood." Steve replies. From both roof tops the two could see more and more Special Forces surrounding and entering the building.

"They've set the perimeter." Sam warns the Captain.

"They're entering the building." Asta also adds, as she looks down.

Asta couldn't see much else from her perspective but she figured she was close to go inside if Steve needed her help. "They're on the roof. I'm compromised." Sam says quickly, causing the girl to look up and see him fly away.

"Great." Asta mutters, her anxiety rising as she sees movement from random stairwell windows.

"5 seconds." Sam informs, monitoring the building still from his new spot on another building. "3 seconds." Sam continues his count down, but Steve doesn't reply. They watch as the forces go down from outside the building. "Breach! Breach! Breach!" Sam says more urgently then the last time as Grenades were thrown through the windows.

One was thrown back out the window causing it to explode in the sky and no other explosion was done inside. "Cap you good?" Asta questions after a moment, but got no response. "Back up?" she questions again, hoping for a response.

"No." Steve replies with a grunt before going silent again.

"You worry me sometimes." she tells him, knowing he wont respond.

From a broken window, a backpack was thrown out and landed on the roof she was on, causing her to look at it confused. Not even a minute later did a different window shatter and Bucky came running out of it, landing on the roof next to her.

"Oh." she says as she stares at him.

He looks back at her, confused. "You're okay." he says, almost in relief.

Now it was Asta's turn to be confused, "Yeah? I'm fine." she tells him.

He goes over and grabs the fallen backpack, "Sorry to cut this short, but I gotta go." he tells her.

"Wait. Wait." she says to him quickly, "Let us help you?" she says to him, still confused with the current conversation.

Bucky shakes his head, "No. Last time you were around me, they almost got you." he admits to her, regret in his eyes.

Asta notices this, "Hey, they didn't. I'm fine, no one got me, no one hurt me. No one's gonna hurt you." she reassures him softly.

He nods, "I still need to run." he tells her, backing away from her.

Before she could say anything he began to run, but he didn't get to far as someone tackles him. Asta looks at the two in surprise, "Uh, guys? T-there's a guys, who's a cat?" she says into the coms more confused then before as she watches the two fight. "Do I cut in?" she questions as she watches the two fight.

"Sam, southwest rooftop." Steve informs through coms, not answering the girl.

"Who the hell's the other guy?" Sam questions just as confused as the Asgardian.

"About to find out." Steve replies as he jumps down to the rooftop.

A helicopter flies overhead and begins to shoot at all of them. Asta covers herself with a shield as the other man just turns, unaffected at the bullets pelting him. "Sam." Asta says in an urgent tone.

"On it." he replies, flying towards the helicopter, making it spin off course.

Bucky was able to run free of the man with claws, jumping down to street level. The Black Panther follows him, and Steve follows the two. "Great, jumping." Asta mutters to herself, running and jumping down, using her magic to have her fly after the three.

Chapter Text

Flying after the 3, faster then normal human, took some effort from Asta. She was much more use to training with Natasha with normal running versus Steve's super soldier running. To add more stress, the helicopter was back, and shooting at them again. "Again with the shooting and the jumping." Asta sighs to herself as she watches the three men before her, drop down onto a busy street avoiding the bullets.

Flying down, she was met with a busy street. She pushes herself to fly faster getting ahead of Steve, she moves to go pass the Black Panther man but he takes a swipe at her making her fly into the other side of traffic to avoid him, "Bad kitty." she says annoyed as she passes him finally catching up to Bucky.

Sirens blare from down the tunnel, "I know you don't want our help but, the cat man is very fast and approaching, you might want to get faster." she tells Bucky as he glances at her. He nods and continues to push himself.

"Sam, I can't shake this guy." Steve says into the coms.

"Right behind you." Sam replies as more sirens fill the tunnel from behind and quickly police cars start to come from in front of the group.

Quickly, Bucky jumped the barrier, and started running in front of Asta in the other lane to avoid the police. From behind them Steve follows behind them in a car now, driving through the barrier. From in front of Asta, Bucky grabs a motorcycle that was driving towards him, knocking the driver off before jumping on and begin to drive away. "That was impressive." Asta says to herself as they enter another tunnel.

Bucky drives back into the right lane, Asta moves to follow as does Steve. Asta flies by his side, unsure of where they go from here. "So what's the plan here guys?" Asta questions on coms as they goes through another tunnel.

"Just don't loose him." Steve replies a bit stressed. "Look out!" he warns her.

Asta looks back to see the Black Panther man jumping towards her and Bucky. She quickly moves out of the way, not trusting him to not take her down or slash at her. He goes towards Bucky, but is stopped by the man, mid air in a choke grab. Asta flies back a bit to not get caught in their fight.

The Black Panther used the wall to his advantage, pushing off of it to get Bucky off balance, causing him to slide on the ground. But before any real damage could be done, Bucky kicked him off, balancing back up and riding away. "Don't lose him!" Steve tells Asta as Bucky weaves between cars.

"On it." she replies, flying ahead to catch up with Bucky, straining herself with flying as she was still relativiely new to this magic. She sees him throw something up as he exits the tunnel. When she arrives to the exit the top of the exit explodes shocking her. She quickly puts a shield up to keep the rumble from coming down on her.

But that didn't last long, as Sam and the Black Panther crash into her, sending her and the Black Panther soaring forward, allowing him to slash Bucky's tire, making him fall off the bike, all of them rolling to a stop.

Black Panther made his way to Bucky to continue the fight as Steve dives out of the car that began to roll once it hit the rumble. Asta stares at the car that was head towards them, sitting up and using her magic to stop it before it got to close. Steve tackles the Black Panther off of Bucky, but before another fight could break out between the three, police show up, surrounding them.

Asta turns, dropping her magic, as she sits there regaining her breath. "Great." she says a bit sarcastically before War Machine lands between the three men.

"Stand down, now." he tells the group with his arms raised at Bucky and Black Panther to prevent them from fighting. All the police that were around, had exit their vehicles, their guns mainly trained on the three then on her, but she could tell enough where on her that she had to move slowly. "Congratulations, Cap. You're a criminal." Rhodes tells him.

The special forces move forward, approaching all of them, guns trained on each of them. Bucky was put on his knees before he was cuffed on the ground. Sam was brought to Asta as men shouted at them both. Asta slowly stands and they both raise their arms up in surrender.

___________

No longer cuffed, and no longer having guns trained on them. The team and the King of Wakanda, T'Challa they learned, were escorted to a convoy in Berlin. While Bucky was in a bunker pod, for the 'safety' of everyone. At first, they had a magic dampening cuffs on Asta, but after some conversation with someone, they took them off and had her sit in the armored truck that was escorting Bucky as 'precaution'. Was anyone explaining anything? No. Was she happy to feel her magic again? Yes.

Once they arrives to the convoy, Asta wasn't sure where she was suppose to go. She stood off to the side as they got Bucky's pod off of the vehicle. She looked at him in slight concern, thinking there were better ways to transport him. "Your highness!" A voice calls out to her, making her turn to see a man, tad short, with gray-ish hair, standing near the others, "If you could follow us." he requests of her before turning to lead the large group.

Asta was quick to catch up to them, "How is he?" Steve questions softly to not draw the others attention.

"Hasn't said a word." she tells him, not knowing if Bucky was fine or not. They walk further into the convoy entering a hallway.

"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell. Now, do me a favor, stay in it?" the shorter man, Everett Ross, says to them.

"I don't intend on going anywhere" T'Challa replies unbothered, as the group meet with Natasha who was waiting for them at the end of the hall.

"For the record, this is what making things worse looks like." the red head informs them, as she joins their side.

"He's alive." Steve replies to her.

"Yeah, and you also roped Asta into this, which is dangerous. You're lucky I was able to talk them out of using the cuffs on her." Natasha scolds him as they enter a busy looking room.

"Thank you for that. Whatever you told them helped, but they had me watching over Bucky like a hawk. He's unnerving when he doesn't talk." she admits as they approach Tony, who was on the phone.

"Try not to break anything while we fix this." Natasha tells the Captain before looking to the princess, "You, with me." she informs before walking off down another hall.

Asta gives Steve a glance before following her friend. This hall was not as busy as the last; Natasha was leaning on the railing not to far from the doorway. "It was stupid to go help him." she says once the door closes behind the blonde.

"Would you prefer I say no to a request for help?" Asta questions, also leaning on the railing opposite to her friend.

Natasha sighs, "No. But I figured you would think it through, and talk him out of it. You haven't signed yet, it's being seen as a crime." she scolds as she crosses her arms.

"I did think it through. I wasn't just going to let Steve handle it, because every time he does, he gets shot at. I figured, if I helped, I could talk someone out of running and hiding or doing something completely idiotic. Granted I didn't account for a big cat man to jump in the middle of it, but I tried my best. Honestly I think Bucky has talked to me more then anyone here." Asta argues, crossing her arms just the same.

The red head furrows her brow, "Wait, what do you mean he talks to you?" she questions, no longer leaning on the railing.

Asta shrugs, "I don't know. In D.C. we talked, though there was more punching then, but he still talked. And earlier, we talked on the roof before he said he has to go. But he wasn't fighting me this time. Compared to Steve, I have a better track record with not getting punched with a metal arm." she tells her friend not seeing how that was actually important.

"Are you willing to talk to him again?" Natasha asks, an idea forming in her head.

"Uh- yes?" Asta replies with a raised eyebrow.

"Good. You'll hopefully be plan B." Natasha tells her before heading back in to the room.

Chapter Text

In the main room that the team were in, the screens were all showing the camera's from the cell in which Bucky was in. Natasha had discussed a plan to Everett Ross as they waited for the psych evaluator to arrive to talk to Bucky.

"Are you sure?" Ross questions, as he glances over at blonde princess who was sat a few seats away from T'Challa.

"Ross, she's the Goddess of Protection and Growth. It's in her DNA to help. She can get through to Barnes and if we need it, protect us from him, or him from himself." Natasha tells him, also looking over at the blonde.

Ross sighs, placing his fingers in the bridge of his nose, "Fine, fine. But, that just mean you have to get her to sign those Accords sooner rather then later Romanoff." he tells her.

"Deal." She agrees before turning and making her way towards the blonde, taking a seat next to her.

"You going to explain this 'plan b' to me?" Asta questions her friend.

"Plan b, is essential if we can't get the info we need out of Barnes, then we send you in to get him to talk. Or, alternatively, you use your magic, whether it be to protect us or protective him from himself then you have the clearance in here to use your magic." Natasha explains.

"Sounds simple enough." Asta says nodding in agreement to the plan b that Nat thought of.

"But," the red head starts with a sigh, "I have to bug you to sign the accords. So will you please consider it now?" she asks her friend.

Asta sighs, "I don't want to be tracked, or my magic monitored." she tells her friend seriously.

Natasha nods, "I understand your concern, once some people calm down, then we'll see if we can talk about alternatives for you. But for now, just, consider it; please." she says, earning a small nod from the blonde. She gets up and joins Tony right as the evaluator entered Bucky's cell.

"Hello, Mr. Barnes. I've been sent by the United Nations to evaluate you. Do you mind if I sit? Your first name is James?" the evaluator questions, as he takes a seat at the table in the cell. Bucky doesn't respond, not even glancing at man. "I'm not here to judge you. I just want to ask you a few questions. Do you know where you are, James? I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James." he continues.

"My name is Bucky." he finally response.

The man nods, and writes something down on paperwork he had on the table. "Tell me, Bucky. You've seen a great deal, haven't you?" the man questions.

"I don't want to talk about it." Bucky replies simply.

"You fear that... if you open your mouth, the horrors might never stop. Don't worry. We only have to talk about one." he says before suddenly all the power goes out, cutting the feed.

"Great. Come on, guys, get me eyes on Barnes. Go." Ross commands to the crew as red emergency lights turn on.

"Asta." Natasha says gaining her attention, "Sub-level 5, east wing. Go." she tells her, gaining a nod.

The princess rushes out of the room, with Steve and Sam following behind her. "What are you doing?" she questions them as the run down many halls.

"Making sure he's fine." Steve replies, as he takes the lead.

"What are you doing?" Sam questions.

"Plan b." she tells him simply.

As they turn a corner, Steve stops causing the other two to slow and stop as well. In the hall were fallen and knocked out soldiers. Steve leads them slowly closer to the cell, showing more and more fallen soldiers. "Help me. Help." a croaked out voice calls out gaining the threes attention.

In the open cell, was the evaluator on the floor, wincing in pain. Steve makes his way over to him, "Get up." Steve commands, before grabbing the man and pushing him up against the wall. "Who are you? What do you want?" Steve questions.

"To see an empire fall." he replies darkly, no longer wincing in pain, only Steve to hear.

"Steve?" Asta calls out as Sam enter the cell, only to get swung at by Bucky. Sam ducks in time making the metal arm hit the door way, destroying part of the wall. Sam attempts to fight back, only it to do no damage and get thrown away by Bucky at the pod.

Steve appears in the doorway with Bucky, and begins to fight Bucky as Asta stands in the other room in surprise. Steve lands a punch before getting kicked to the floor of the room she was standing in. Steve backs up past her.

Asta sighs, "So much for no fighting." she whispers to herself before getting in front of the Bucky. He stares at her, not a glimpse of recognition in his eyes. She conjures magic around her hand before throwing a fist to hit him, only for it to be grabbed by his metal arm.

Her eyes widen. He pushes down on her fist, making her wince at the pain from his tight grip causing her to try an pull her hand away. "Nein, nicht sie. Konzentrieren Sie sich auf den Kapitan." a German voice commands from the cell.

Bucky lets Asta go, having her fall to her knees in pain, as he walks past her and throws a punch at Steve who just stood up, moving their fight into the hall. Asta holds her bruised hand as she looks over at the man who was responsible for this. The man, Zemo, walks over to her once Steve was pushed into the elevator shaft by Bucky.

"A god, on their knees before a mere mortal. How poetic." he says to her with a tilt of his head.

"Are you going to kill me?" Asta questions, sense his hostel tone when he said the word god.

Zemo kneels in front of her, grabbing her chin to keep her looking at him. "I would be lying if I said it did not cross my mind." he pauses a thoughtful look in his eyes, "Remind me princess, of your title." he requests of her.

She takes in a deep breath trying to ignore the pain in her hand, "Princess Asta-" she starts but is cut off.

"No. No." Zemo says in a taunting whisper, "Not your royal title. Your God title." he tells her.

She nods as much as she could with him holding her head, "Goddess of Protection and Growth." she tells him, on edge with how calm he was being.

"Well... Goddess," he starts mocking her, slowly standing, not letting go of her face, making her look up at him, "you failed to protect people in Sokovia. Good people." he tells her before tightening his grip on her, making her wince. "I hope you live with that guilt." he whispers to her, sadness and pain in his tone before he lets her go, letting her look down, away from him.

Chapter Text

"Hey!" Sam's voice calls out, causing Zemo to run out of the room. Sam gets up, shaking off the hit he got from Bucky as he makes his way to Asta. "Hey, hey Asta. Are you okay?" he questions, kneeling next to her.

"J-just a few bruises." she tells him, not looking over at him.

"Okay. Uh, I'm going after him through the stairs. If you can- Hey." Sam tries to plan out but Asta wasn't looking at him, at his 'hey' she slowly looks over at him, "I'm going after that guy, you can follow or help Bucky." he tries to plan with her.

"Bucky?" she questions, turning around realizing that the elevator was broken open and the two super soldiers were gone.

"Yeah, Bucky. Tall guy, metal arm. Can't miss him." Sam tries to joke, but Asta stood and heading down the hallway that Bucky went down leaving Sam behind, "Good talk!" he shouted out to her before sighing and headed after Zemo.

Asta entered a more open lunch room, she followed the bodies of knocked out soldiers to try and find Bucky. In the room so found him, but also Natasha trying to hit him as he slams her onto a table, and begins to choke her.

Ignoring the pain in her hand, she summons her magic moves the energy to shoot towards Bucky, hitting him away from Natasha. Bucky looks over at Asta, and begins to stalk towards her. Before either could do anything, T'Challa rushes from behind Asta and kicks Bucky back. The two fight and Asta rushes over to the red head that was coughing on the table.

"Are you okay?" she asks as she helps her sit up, glancing back at the two people fighting every couple seconds.

"Yeah." Natasha replies with a voice crack before coughing again.

________________

Sitting in an office was not how she thought this would end. "Why didn't plan b work?" Secretary Ross questions.

"Because he looked at me like he didn't know who I was and proceeded to nearly crush my hand in. That's why it didn't work." Asta explains, a tad bitter as Natasha wrapped up her injured hand.

"Explain you thoughts on your part of the accords." Natasha brings up, glancing over at the Secretary and Tony.

Ross sighs, "Yes. Please do give me your thoughts. Not like we have pressing issues to deal with." he said a bit sarcastically.

"I'll sign, but only if Natasha and Tony are the ones monitoring my whereabouts. I can't promise that I'm always going to be on earth. And my magic, is my DNA; I'm not a weapon. I'm here to help and protect, if that doesn't fall into your guidelines, or rules, then make it. Because if someone asks for my help, and you tell me 'no', then you are in for a rude awakening." she tells him, no emotion on her face.

"Is that a threat, your highness?" he questions her.

"Of course not, Secretary Ross. It's a warning." she tells him honestly.

"Sir, with all due respect, she's the nicest one the team, and has the best interest at heart, just give her the leeway." Tony defends the Asgardian from his seat.

Ross glances between the three, "Fine. But she's your responsibility Stark." he says, before turning to his assistant, "Type up a new form for the princess, then have her sign it please."

"yes sir." his assistant says before exiting the office.

Secretary Ross let out another sigh, "I don't suppose you have any idea where they are?" he asks them.

"We will. GSG-9's got the borders covered. Recon's flying 24/7. They'll get a hit. We'll handle it." Tony reassures the older man.

"You don't get it, Stark. It's not yours to handle. It's clear you can't be objective. I'm putting Special Ops on this." Ross argues.

"What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?" Natasha questions.

"If we're provoked. Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math." Ross argues again.

"All due respect, you're not going to solve this with boys in bullets, Ross. You gotta let us bring them in." Tony tells him.

"How would that end any differently from the last time?" Ross questions him.

"Because this time, I won't be wearing loafers and a silk shirt. 72 hours, guaranteed." Tony argues.

"36 hours. Barnes. Rogers. Wilson." Ross agrees.

"Thank you, sir." Tony says as the secretary returned.

"Sign." Ross says, rather bluntly to the blonde, as the assistant held out a pen to her. Asta sighs, but listens, signing the updated accords. "Thank you." he tells her once she's done, grabbing the papers and exiting the office.

Tony sighs, "My left arm is numb, is that normal?" he jokes.

"You alright?" Natasha questions as she pats his shoulder.

"Always. 36 hours, jeez." Tony says with a shake of his head.

"We're seriously understaffed" Natasha points out.

"Oh, yeah. It'd be great if we had a Hulk right about now. Any shot?" he asks, slightly hopeful.

"No. You really think he'd be on our side?" Natasha argues.

Tony slumps his shoulders, "No." he replies honestly.

"I have an idea." Natasha tells him.

"Me too. Where's yours?" Tony asks.

"Downstairs. Where's yours?" Natasha counters.

______________

Asta was on her own while Tony went out to Queens to get his recruited, and Natasha went to talk to T'Challa. Until she got a message on her phone from an unknown number. The message was encoded, meaning it was time to get her limited hacking knowledge to use. She quickly made her way into the restroom, checking it over to make sure she was alone before magically locking the door. "Skye would be so proud." she says to herself as she began to try an understand what the code was.

After some time she finally got it, and looked it up on a map before teleporting to the location. "Could you have been more cryptic with your coordinates?" Asta questions once she walks up to the group that surrounded the two cars, putting her phone away

"Sorry, had to be careful." Clint replies giving her a smile.

"Oh, I'm going to regret this. Why am I here?" Asta asks with a smile to the group.

"Here to help stop some psycho-assassins your royal-ness." A man, whom Asta has never met before answers very dramatically.

She stares at him confused, before looking to Steve, "Who's he?" she questions, pointing at him.

"New recruit." Steve replies.

"He's tic-tac." Sam explains simply.

Asta looks over at the man, excited, "Your tic-tac?! Oh that's amazing! That means you kicked Sa-" she begins to ramble, but was cut short by Sam.

"Yeah, we know." Sam says, a bit annoyed.

"Its a honor to meet you princess, truly. Oh, do I bow, o-or shake your hand? Wow, I've never met a princess before." Scott rambles, unsure of what to do, seeming just as excited but more flustered.

"A hand shake will do." she tells him, shaking his hand, "And do call me Asta." she says, earning an excited nod from him.

"Got it, Asta. Wow. I'm Scott Lang." he says with a wide smile.

"We should get moving." Bucky says to the group.

"Wait, I figured I'd let you know that I-um, I signed." Asta tells them a bit hesitantly.

"You signed the Accords?" Steve questions, with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I sort of threatened Secretary Ross to give me my own section and leeway. So really, anything I do is Tony's fault." Asta explains a bit sheepishly.

"We want you on our side Asta, but if you join the others, no hard feelings." Steve tells her with a sigh.

"Oh no. Sorry, I'm joining you." Asta corrects him, "Bucky needs help, I'm going to help him." she explains, glancing over at said man, who looked at her confused. "I can tell, he's never meant any bad things he's done, he was controlled. And I want to help him from himself, any way I can. More good will come from helping them whatever the accords and them want to do with him, I can feel it." she explains to them.

"Thank you." Bucky says breaking the silence, causing her and Steve to look at him, "Thank you for trusting me." he tells her honestly.

"Alright lets get a move on." Steve says to the group.

"We got a chopper lined up." Clint tells them.

"Dies ist eine Notsituation. Alle Passagiere müssen den Flughafen sofort evakuieren." A voice says through the P.A. speakers.

"They're evacuating the airport." Bucky tells them, worried.

"Stark." Sam says in realization.

"Stark?" Scott questions.

"Suit up." Steve tells everyone.

Chapter Text

The group had arrived at the airport, spliting into groups. Wanda was with Clint. Scott was with Cap. Lastly, Sam, Bucky, and Asta were with each other. Cap, was seemingly alone going toward the helicopter the group was going to use to get to Siberia. He stopped walking once Tony and Rhodey arrived.

"Anything?" Asta asks Sam as she watches from where they were waiting.

"One sec." he replies still controlling red wing. "Got it. We found it. Their Quinjet's in hanger five, north runway." Sam says into the coms.

Steve lifts his arms up and is freed with an arrow from Clint. "Okay, good to go." Asta tells the boys, they all move and begin to run to get to the exit closes to the Quinjet.

"What the hell is that?" Bucky questions, looking at the window making the other two look to see a guy in a red suit, crawling on the window, following them.

"Everyone's got a gimmick now." Sam says annoyed.

"I can't tell it that's creepy or impressive." Asta says as she continues to glancing at the Spiderman that was on the window as they ran.

Spiderman swings in and crashes through the window kicking Sam. Bucky goes to punch him with the metal arm but the Spiderman grabs him punch. "You have a metal arm? That is awesome, dude!" the kid said rather excitedly.

Asta uses her magic to send the Spiderman up in the air away from her and Bucky, and Sam flies in grabbing him sending him away from them. "You have the right to remain silent!" the kid shouted at Sam as he began to hit him, getting out of his grip mid air.

Bucky grabs Asta and moves them both behind a pillar as he grabs something and throws is at the Spiderman who was up in the rafters. "Hey buddy, I think you lost this!" the kid shouted as he throws the object back at them.

The princess quickly puts a shield around them two as the object nears to crashing into the pillar, making Bucky move them out of the way, causing them to fall on the ground. "Good reflexes." Asta comments as she lowers her shield.

Bucky stares at her for a second before moving off her and helping the blonde up, "Thanks." he replies before a crash catches both of their attention.

Spiderman was able to make Sam crash down and used his webs to trap him against a railing. "Is this stuff coming out of you?" Sam questions.

"That would explain the rigidity-flexibility ratio, which, gotta say, that's awesome, man." the kid just continues to talk as Bucky walks around to get to a good position.

"I don't know if you've been a fight before but there's usually not this much talking." Sam tells him a bit annoyed.

"Alright, sorry, my bad." the kid replies before going to swing down and was about to hit Sam but Bucky runs in and takes the kick but it sends the two crashing down to the lower floor. "Guys, look. I'd love to keep this up but I've only got one job here today and I gotta impress Mr. Stark, so, I'm really sorry." the kid apologies.

"Hey Spidey!" Asta says gaining the kids attention.

"Huh?" he says, turning to look at her, seeming confused to suddenly seeing her flying next to him. "Woah, your the princess!" he says rather excitedly.

"Yeah, Buh-Bye." she tells him, using her magic to send him flying out of the window.

"Waaaahhhhh" He shouts as he exits the building landing outside.

"How you two holding up?" she asks looking down at the two who were stuck in the kids webs.

The two groan as a response, as she flies down to the level they were on. "Alright, lets get you out of that." she tells them, using her magic to carefully get them out of the sticky webs. "Lets go." she tells them once they stand, rushing ahead of them to get to a proper exit.

Sam looks over at Bucky who was staring after Asta, "Close your mouth tinman before you catch flies." he teases him before going to follow the blonde.

Bucky scowls before following after them. The three make it outside and meet up with the others and they begin to make their way towards the hanger that held the Quinjet. But they are stopped by Vision burning a literal line into the ground.

"Captain Rogers. I know you believe what you're doing is right. But for the collective good you must surrender now." Vision says as he hovers closer as Tony and his team arrive to the other side of the line. Natasha, Rhodes, Black Panther, Vision, and Spiderman all stand with him.

"What do we do, Cap?" Sam asks as they stand across from the others.

"We fight." he replies, determined.

"Of course we do." Asta sighs as they begin to make there way towards the others, starting with a jog before fulling running at them. She flies up with Wanda and Sam once the others do the same.

Asta goes for Vison, "Hey Vis." she greets as she gets to him.

"Asta." he says with a nod. Neither taking the first punch. "You signed the Accords, why are you siding with Captain Rogers?" he asks as they circle one another in the air.

"Someone needed help, who am I to deny that." she tells him simply.

"You are to kind. So, I'm saddened that we have to fight." he tells her genuinely before swinging to throw a punch at her.

Asta puts a shield in front of her, blocking his hit confusing him. "Yeah you won't be getting through that. Don't forget, I've helped you train and I've adapted." she tells him seriously, before moving her hands and trapping him in a shield sphere. "Have fun getting out. Think of it as training. Sorry." she tells him with a shrug before flying away from him as he tries to punch the shield.

As she flies down to the others she sees Bucky and Black Panther fighting. T'Challa had thrown him against some crates and went to slash at Bucky's throat with his claws. Asta uses her magic to stop his movement before he could get his attack in. He looks over at her and she throws him away from them both.

"I leave you alone for one minute." she teases as she lands holding her hand out to him to help him up.

"Guess you shouldn't leave me alone then." he jokes as he stands in front of her.

She laughs light, "Just try not to get to killed next time." she tells him with a smile.

"Always the plan Princess." he tells her before the two head towards Steve who was closer to the hanger compared to the rest of them.

"We gotta go. That guy's probably in Siberia by now." Bucky says once they meet with Steve.

"We gotta draw out the flyers. Asta and I will take Vision. You get to the jet." Steve replies as they look over seeing Vision who had freed himself from the shield sphere Asta had made.

"No, you get to the jet! The three of you! The rest of us aren't getting out of here." Sam says through the coms to them.

"As much as I hate to admit it, if we're gonna win this one, some of us might have to lose it." Clint agrees.

"This isn't the real fight, Steve." Sam reminds him.

"Alright, Sam, what's the play?" Steve reluctantly agrees.

"We need a diversion, something big." Sam says.

"I got something kind of big, but I can't hold it very long. On my signal, run like hell. And if I tear myself in half . . . don't come back for me." Scott tells them, rather concerningly.

"He's gonna tear himself in half?" Bucky questions.

"I don't think I'm on board for that." Asta says, not liking that plan.

"You're sure about this, Scott?" Steve asks the Antman.

"I do it all the time. I mean once . . . in a lab. Then I passed out." he sort of reassures them. Then a few seconds later the Antman was no longer small or normal, no he was giant. He grabs Rhodes, making Asta's eyes go wide.

"I guess that's the signal." Steve says, a bit amazed at what they were all seeing.

Asta nods, "Yeah, big signal." she says still shocked. "Uh, we should go now." she reminds them once Scott begins to distract everyone.

The boys nod and they begin to run towards the hanger. They run under Scott and then past Wanda, heading towards the Hanger, properly avoiding getting stopped. Well that was until Vision spotted the three.

Vision fires a beam of energy at the control tower, causing it to collapse towards the hanger they were heading towards. Asta used her magic to try and stop the debris from blocking their path, she groans from the weight with her still injured hand as she began to slow down.

"Go!" Wanda shouts as she helps Asta to hold the debris, lifting some of the strain from the Asgardian.

Asta was able to catch up, still holding her part of the debris. The three get under the debris when suddenly Wanda's red magic disappears, causing Asta to take the whole weight again and scream from the sudden pressure. Steve and Bucky stop at her scream.

"Princess come one, keep going then let go." Steve tries to encourage her, seeing as she was still under the debris.

"I can't. It's to heavy. Just go." Asta tells them as she winces from the weight.

"Hey, if I can't die neither can you." Bucky reminds her, just wanting her to rush over to them now.

"Just go!" she shouts to them again, unable to push herself to take a step.

Bucky sighs, before running over to her, "You're not dying today." he tells her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to run with him, causing her to lose her hold on the debris. They run as the debris fall behind them. He pushes her forward sending them both rolling forward, successfully avoiding all the debris.

Asta lands on top of Bucky as they stop rolling. "Thanks." she tells him as she catches her breath.

"Well, I've been told I have good reflexes." he tells her with a smirk as she gets off of him. Steve goes over to them as Bucky stands.

"Are you two okay?" he asks them both.

"Yeah." they both reply. And the three move to face the Quinjet but stop seeing Natasha.

"You're not gonna stop." she questions.

"You know I can't." Steve replies.

Natasha sighs, "I'm gonna regret this." she says lifting up her arm that had her stunning gauntlets. She moves her arm slightly and sent a stun but not at them. But at T'Challa who had just landed behind them. "Go." she tells them before stunning the Black Panther again.

Chapter Text

Asta doesn't follow the two. She knew this wasn't her fight anymore. Call it a gut feeling, but it's never steered her wrong. "Asta?" Steve questions once he notices her not following and entering the Quinjet.

"Go stop the bad guy Steve. You don't need me." she tells him honestly.

He sighs, "Bucky might need you." he tries to convince her.

She gives him a small smile, "Why would he need me when he has you. Now go." she tells him, shooing him to go.

Steve nods a bit reluctantly, and heads into the Quinjet to leave.

__________________

Asta sat in an interrogation room on the Avengers compound with Tony, who was pacing back in forth across the room from her. "What the hell were you thinking Asta?" Tony asks her with a sigh.

"What do you want me to say, 'I'm sorry?'" she counter questions, a bit frustrated with his pacing.

"No. No, what I want is an explanation! I backed you up, and then you go and do this!" he shouts, his frustration coming out.

"Okay, I get it. In your mind, I went behind your back. Fine. But honestly all I did was not let people get crushed, or let a man get murdered. So if you want to be mad about that, fine be bad. But know that I will lose respect for you if you think anything I did was wrong." Asta explains as calmly as possible to him, her icy blue eye holding his glare.

Tony sighs, leaning forward on the table, looking down at it, "I'm mad because you went back on what you said, and now I'm in a a rough place. I have to come up with a solution for what to do with you, the whole of the UN is breathing down my neck." he tells her, finally looking towards her.

"I know, I'm your responsibility and the others aren't happy but I have an idea that will make all those big people happy." she offers him, having come up with this idea for a more fun option but it should work.

"What's the idea?" Tony questions, willing to here her out.

"Make me Hill's responsibility. She has a team, well, Fury has a team whom I've met and knowing them, they would of signed the accords. They have a general keeping an eye on them, so I'll also be under a watchful eye. Less concern for everyone, and I'll still be able to help." Asta suggest.

"A team? What team? I would know about a team." he asks not believing her for a second.

"You don't know everything Tony. But it's just team of shield agents who I adore and honestly wouldn't mind working with." she reassures him.

"I think that could work. Are you sure you want to do this?" Tony asks, he may be frustrated with her and well, everyone but he still cares. "I don't think they'll keep you as an Avenger." he warns her.

"Everything with Ultron and what's happened now, just makes me realize how overwhelming things can get with you and Steve. You are both to proud, and we all got caught in the crossfire. Honestly, dropping the rank of Avenger would be a relief." Asta tells him honestly.

"Asta, I can't promise this will work. I don't think it'll work." he tells her honestly.

"Talk to Hill, think it over. Call me when your done." she tells him with a sigh. "Can I go back to my room now?" she asks, no longer wanting to watch him pace again.

Tony sighs, again, "Go ahead. Friday open the door." Tony says to his A.I. system. The doors open allowing the princess to leave.

The interrogation was more so for Tony's sanity, he had a whole other ordeal after Rhodes went to the hospital when he went after Steve and Bucky in Siberia. Asta was going to be carted off with the others that were on Steve's side but Natasha was able to pull a string to say she's her and Tony's responsibility and had her go back to the compound, at least until she disappeared knowing her helping Steve was going to catch up with her.

Asta knew that this was the best decision. The team was broken, her friends are scattered and she felt bitter about it. She didn't want to feel bitter, she needed to get out without leaving completely. This was was her out.

"Hey kid, you're in."

Chapter Text

"Hello? Hello?" she pauses, "I hear my voice echo, but it sounds strange in my head. The detail is amazing. However I am three feet off the ground." Simmons says as she uses Fitz's new gadget.

"Wait. What? Hold on. Damn it." Fitz replies, moving over to the computer that Asta stood in front of as she looked over all the work he had done. "Uh, well I did adjust the Y axis earlier for some reason." Fitz continues as he begins to fiddle with the numbers. "What does that look like now?"

"Better. The CPU seems to be handling the high poly count. Textures are impeccable. We should build a place to get away... a meadow or a cottage somewhere." Simmons begins to ramble before sighing, "I wish it were ever this quiet."

Simmons removes the headpiece to bring her back to the real world. Fitz and Asta stood before her in the busy lab of the SHIELD HQ. "Direct current stimulation. Creates the other senses like touch and taste but also takes feedback. So I've just mapped your brain response..." Fitz starts to explain.

"Response to the environment. Of course." Simmons finishes hie thought.

"Next, Fitz wants to compare it to my brains response to see if theirs a difference at all with how Asgardian DNA response to technology like this." Asta brings up excited.

"That's a fascinating hypothesis. I can't wait to see the results to that!" Simmons says with excitement in her eyes. She then realized something, "Dr. Radcliffe came up with the architecture?" she asks looking to Fitz.

"Yeah. Yeah. He calls it 'The Framework'. But all the transcranial apparatus, that's all me." he says looking between the two girls that stood before him.

"No, of course. You're brilliant too. Of course." Simmons reassures him jokingly but with a serious tone.

"The most brilliant." Asta joins in on the teasing, causing Simmons to crack a smile.

Fitz ignores their teasing and continues to explain the work, "Cause soon you wont even need the eyewear or the earwear, 'cause it'll all be inside your head."

"So May's strike team will be able to train virtually instead of May constantly breaking their ribs." Simmons replies.

Before the three of them could continue talking, something had gathered all their attention. "Hey, hey. Authorized personal only pal. No pas. No entry." one of the scientist had said from the doorway of the lab.

Stood in the doorway was Coulson and Mack. "Who the hell are you?" Mack questions the scientist confused.

"Leave them be, Nathanson. They have more reason to be here then you do." Simmons tells the agent as the three approach the door.

"Wow. A lot of new faces." Mack says and him and Coulson enter.

"Good to see yours." Simmons replies giving the two a hug.

"Six weeks. That's a record." Fitz comments.

"Great to see you two again." Asta greets them.

"Great to see you too princess." Mack jokes, earning a look from the girl in regards to the name.

"Heard you got a promotion." Coulson says towards Simmons.

"Oh yeah, and a title." Fitz says looking towards the girl with pride.

"Yeah. Special Advisor to the Director in Science and Technology." Simmons explains.

"or 'SADIST'." Fitz says, earning a light hit on the arm from Asta.

"They keeping you busy?" Mack questions.

"With busy work mainly." Simmons says with a shrug.

"I'm half the busy work" Asta chimes in.

"You're not busy work." The scientist tries to reassure her

"Please, you basically my babysitter." the goddess argues lightly.

"I wouldn't say babysitter..."Simmons tries to say.

"Really, what would you say then?" Fitz joins in, also viewing Simmons as just her babysitter when he wasn't helping the blonde with earth science.

"It doesn't matter. You're a joy to have a round." Simmons says, "You aren't busywork."

"Yeah, and you also have random state of the art lie detector test." Fitz says tauntingly. "So at least you know she's not lying Asta." he says, causing the blonde to laugh lightly.

"So that's the cost of being in the Directors inner circle." Coulson says with a sad smile to the scientist.

"Yeah, he's paranoid about what's happened the last time SHIELD was government run. Calls it his Widespread Infiltration Monitoring Program." Simmons explains.

"Or WIMP." Fitz chimes in earning a look from both girls. "Hey, uh, you should join us 'cause we're going to Radcliffe's and watch the Aberdeen-Inverness Caley Thistle League cup final." Fitz says, earning a confused looks from Coulson. "They're... Those are football teams."

"I'm not sure they are Turbo." Mack response after giving a look of confusion to Coulson.

"Unfortunatly we have to be wheels up in 10 minutes so... " Coulson informs the group.

"Okay. Alright. So Strickly business then..." Fitz replies only sounding a little dispointed as he makes his way to a desk near the group to grab the new gadgets.

"Aw yeah. New Toys?" Mack says and they all crowd around the table.Asta staying behind Jemma, having already seen the 'toys' earlier.

"They exploding pen that you asked for. I can't imagine a use for it." Fitz starts, hading a box with a pen in it to Mack who looked impressed to Coulson as Fitz continued looking and grabing things.

"What you never wanted on." Mack says to Coulson seeing the look he was given only recieving a chuckle in return.

"And for your Direct-, uh Agent Coulson," Fitz starts, messing up at the begingn but opens the box to show a new robo hand, "With new bells and whistles. And the directions will be there when you boot it up." Fitz explains as Coulson looks it over.

Coulson Highfives his new robo hand before placing it back in its box. "So, whats the assignment?" Asta questions the two curiously.

Couslon sighs,"Its classified."

"Right. Everything is these days." Fitz replies as he two was curious on where their friends were going.

The two give the group a shrug before heading out of the lab with their new gear. "Fitz, sadly.. uh." Jemma started.

"Yeah, you can't make it to the match either." Fitz replies in a sad tone as the three head back into the lab were they were working together earlier.

"I have to finish my report." Jemma explains as she follows behind. Asta keeping her distance knowing the couple might need their space.

"Yeah, no. I get it. Thats okay. Just a shame we hardly get to see each other... Any of us." Fitz brings up.

Jemma sighs, "Yes, well... At least its better then the friends we'll never see again." was her response before turning and exiting the lab.

"Just us again?" Asta hesitantly asks seeing the look on his face.

Fitz sighs, "Yeah."

_____________

The two arrive at Radcliffes with drinks and snacks in hand as they knock on the door. "Hey. Just in time, they've taken to the pitch." Radcliffe greeets as the two as he allows them into his home. "Where's Jemma? Is she not coming?"

"Yeah, she wanted to. Same story." Fitz explaisn as they set their stuff down on the counter.

"She feels bad about it." Asta adds as she helps to make sure one of the drinks doesn't fall.

"All work no play huh? Thats a bit disapointing." Radcliffe replies as she closes the door. "Still, you two make yours selves comfortable. I'm just, uh, finishing up cleaning up." he tells them before heaning into the kitchen.

"Asta watch this." Fitz says grabing a handful of peanuts and tossing it into the air and catching it in his mouth.

The blonde laughs at his antics, "So impressive." she teases as he glances at her with a grin, before focusing on the game. Asta glances over her shoulder, feeling as if someone was staring at her. She jumps in surprise, fully turning to face a naked woman. "Oh!"

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry." Fitz says in surpirise quickly facing away from the naked brunette in surprise.

Asta looks away, glacing at the womans face a few times, confused on why she wasn't reacting to them. "Sorry. We had no idea there was someone here." she apoligies glancing at Fitz to see he had his hand up to block his view of the woman as he was now sat on the couch.

"Hello." the woman replies.

"You... You weren't ment to see that." Radcliffe says as he reenters the room. Heading to the woman with a robe to cover her up.

"Hello. I'm glad to final... Hello. I'm glad to final..." she repeats.

"Fitz. Asta. Meet Aida." Radcliffe introduces.

"Hello. I'm glad to final..." Aida repeats again.

"She's uh crashed." Radcliffe explains as the two stare at their friend confused.

"Hello. I'm glad to final...Hello. I'm glad to final...Hello. I'm glad to final..." she continues to repeat before Radcliffe grabs a remote and presses a button that seems to shut her down as he smile fades and she stares blankly at the ground.

"What?" was all Asta could think of saying as she stares at Aida wide eyed before taking a seat next to Fitz.

"What the hell?" Fitz questions, as he stares in disbelief.

"Well. I've just upped her PSU to compensate for image processing. Must have overcranked it. I'll reboot." Radcliffe says.

"Nuh-nuh no. Thats not what I meant. I meant... What the hell?" Fitz says again.

"You lost me." Asta says as she continues to stare at the brunette.

"Well... You've already met Aida. Digital Personal Assistant as a voice on the computer. So uh, I built her a body." he explains the the two on his couch.

"A naked body!"

"A human body?" The two say at the same time in a loud whisper as they both face him.

"I was just now installing new hardware, updating her gyroscopic sensors. I'm not some sicko." Radcliffe explains in his defense.

"When did you build this?" Fitz questions as he stands. "Have you forgotten the very strict stipulations that came with your pardon? You are not allowed experimentation without approval and oversight." he explains.

"Oversight, I know. I'm well aware of that, yeah. That's why I wanted Simmons here. I wanted to show all of you. Look this has been a lifelong dream of mine, Fitz. When I saw the work you nad Simmons were doing in replicating human tissues and internal bone structure in Coulson's hand, I knew... I knew right then that this was within reach." Radcliffe explains.

"A robot?" Fitz questions confused.

"Not just a robot. It's one that can cross the uncanny valley and come out the otherside... pass for a human." he explains, getting confusing looks from the two. "I mean, it has bloody micro-expressions." he continues as he walks over to Aida.

"'She'." Fitz cuts him off as Asta stands again, " It's a... It's deffinantly a 'she', cause we saw..." Fitz tries to explain.

"She..."

"Yes." Fitz confirms.

"She has bloody micro expressions, full range of motion. I mean, physically its- she's nearly perfect." Radcliffe explains.

"So she's a very realistic robot..." Asta puts it simply as she walks over to Aida, Fitz following behind.

"Yeah, very realistic." Fitz comments as he walks around her while Asta stays looking at her face.

"Now, mentally, well you've spoken with her she bright,she laughs at jokes I programmed her to recognize, but she's never passed the turning test. At the moment that's the pipe dream. However, I think, with your help..." Radcliffe brings up.

"No... no no no no no." Fitz covers his face with his hand for a moment. "We have to report this right away. You could lose everything." Fitz says as he starts to pace.

"I know. I know." Radcliffe replies

"Or you could go to jail." Fitz reminds him as he continues his journey around the room.

"I know!" Radcliffe says. "I know. You're right. Full disclosure at this time is the best course of action. I-I agree." Radcliffe brings up as Fitz stops his pacing gaining the two's attention. "Hmm. At least let me show you how it works." he offers.

Asta looks to Fitz, "This could be a good." she says gaining their attention, "To better understand what we're looking at. And- and to know what exactly it is we're dealing with when you have to... report it." she suggests, siding with Radcliffe, choosing her words carefully. The excitement clear on her face.

"Yes, yes. It could be a learning experience for Asta as well. Come on Fitz. Let me show you." Radcliffee adds on.

________________

Now in Radcliffe's office, the three plus Aida were have talk on how she works. "This could be very dangerous. So much could go wrong." Fitz says, pacing once again.

"Ultron. Yes I know." Radcliffe agrees.

"She doesn't seem like Ultron." Asta says to Fitz.

"Thats reasuring." Fitz tells her, not seeming convinced as her stares at Aida.

"This is not A.I... A.I. is banned, and thats good. This is mimicary of human behavior." Radcliffee reasures them.

"Still, in the wrong hands, this could be used as a weapon. Is that the idea?" Fitz questions.

"No. Absolutley not. No... Look I know the dangers. Thats why I've been... I've been reticent to divulge. I don't know these new people at S.H.I.E.L.D. But a weapon is absolutely not the idea." Radcliffe explains before taking a drink.

"Alright, if she's not a weapon then why make her? What is she for?" Asta questions, curious as to the robots purpose.

"Why not let Aida tell you herself." Radcliffe offers before going over to said robot, picking up the remote next to her and turning her on.

Aida turns on, looking left, right, and center before facing both Fitz and Asta. She gives the two a smile, "Hello." she greet before walking up to the two of them. "I'm glad to finally shake your hand Leopold." she says before holding her hand out to Fitz.

"Very not Ultron." Asta says as she watches the interaction, a small excited smile on her face.

"Lovely to finally meet you Princess Asta." Aida says, looking to the blonde now. She looks around, "Where's Jemma? We were hoping that she would come?" she asks as she lets go of Fitz hand once the shake was done.

"Sh-she's uh... indisosed, I'm afraid. Aida... We were wondering..." Fitz hesitantly stutters out.

"Yes, Agent Fitz?" Aida says with a smile, possibly to calm him down.

"We were curious if you could tell us what exactly you were designed for?" Asta says seeing as Fitz was having a hard time forming a sentence.

Aida looks towards Radcliffe, who gave her a nod, "Of course. Dr. Radcliffe, time and again, has expressed his deep regret for causing pain. When all he ever wanted was to prevent it. He speaks often of the pain that you, Agent Simmons, and Agent Fitz have had to suffer, having lost so many friends and family. Lincoln Campbell, Andrew Garner, Antoine Triplett, Pietro Maximoff, L-." Aida explains.

"Okay stop." Fitz says cutting her off. "Stop it, stop it. You don't need to list them." he tells her.

Aida frowns, "Sorry." She says softly to the two. "The hope is that I will be able to prevent future tragedies. Save the lives of agents by putting myself in harms way, in thier place." she continues to explain.

"To kill?" Fitz questions.

"No. I am incapable of that. I will protect. I will serve as a decoy target, a safegaurd. A shield." she finishes explaining.

"O-okay turn her off." Fitz says taking a step back and leaning on the wall. Aida looks at him confused but Radcliffe listens and with a hit of a button she shuts down.

"So, she's a robot version of my power of sorts." Asta says, trying to wrap her head around Aida. Being told Peitro and almost Loki's names was not was she was expecting to be remindeed of today.

"Inspired by." Radcliffe tells the princess with a nod.

Fitz sighs, "We can't tell Simmons about this." he tells them.

"What?" Radcliffe questions. "Don't we want to move forward? Her approval is..."

"This is too dangerous to show the new director. We don't know what he'd do with it. And she would have to tell him so... she can't know." he pauses, "Not until..."

"Until?" Asta and Radclifee asks.

"Until she's perfect." he tells them.

Chapter Text

"So let me get this straight... I'm not here for a few days and ghosts can give people a fear virus, a neculer meltdown almost happen, and May almost died?" Asta questions as Fitz and her make there way to Radcliffe's.

"Technically May did die." Fitz corrects her.

"But Jemma was able to revive her, barely, to rid her of the fear virus..." Asta clarifies.

"Yes." he says as he knocks on the door.

"I feel like I can't leave any of you alone for a few hours without something life threatening happening." Asta says a bit jokingly as they waited.

"Exactly why I asked you to join us." Fitz also jokes.

"I feel like you just ask me here so we can work on Aida some more." she teases him.

Radcliffe opens the door for them before the two could continue and the two scotts got right to the science talk as they set down Fitz's kits he brought with him. "There must be a way to synthesize the neccessary neurotransmitters to regulate thalamocortical activity." Fitz says as he takes of his bag and jacket.

"Or block reception all together." Radcliffe counters as he leans on the table. "You know to trick the brain out of fear and the resultant physhical strain on the body. " he continues as they all make there way through the home.

Asta and Fitz setting their jackets on a chair as the boys continue, "Hmm. What I would of given for that in primary school. I used to get so nervous my eyes would bug out, and I'd loose my breath..." he began to explain before stopping at the doors, turning and giving the two the look he was just describing.

Stepping to the side he gestures for the two to step out of view with him, "Aida... She's out. Why-why-why would she be out?" he questions.

"Oh your right, your eyes do bug out when you get nervous." Radcliffe replies, unbothered by the question.

Fitz lightly clasp as he puts his hands together, "Why are you not nervous?" he questions again.

"Becasue I let her out." he replies casually.

"Why would you let her out? I thought she wasn't ready for others yet?" Asta questions him a bit confused.

"Are you mad?" Fitz says shaking a bit to hold in his anger.

"No. I'm just a scientist." Radcliffe replies, still unbothered by all the questioning.

"This is... This is a huge risk. You... you can't just parade her about. No one's suppose to know about her." Fitz stutters out.

"I know its a risk. But it's a risk we have to take. You have improved her social cues dramatically. We are on the cusp. This is the ultimate Turing test. I mean, who better to put Aida through her paces than the most discerning, formidable agent that S.H.I.E.L.D. has to offer? Fitz, Asta... Art and Science have their meeting in methods." Radcliffe explains.

"Do...Do not go quoting bloody Buwler-Lytton at me." Fitz replies, a bit louder then before.

"Fitz." May call from the room causing him to gasp.

"Nice going." Asta tells him before moving to the room, pulling the nervous doctor in tow. The two wave as they recieve a head nod as a greeting from the Agent.

"Hello Fitz. Hello Asta. Always nice to see you two." Aida greets the two.

"Hi Aida." Asta casually greats back.

"Hello... Um, how... What is... What is... How is everything going in here?" Fitz eventually questions as he walks aroud the room.

May sighs as she lays back down, "Still waiting for them to finish the test so that I can get the hell out of here." she explains as Aida removes her blood preasure monitor.

"Just assessing any last glitches before we send May on her way." Radcliffe further explains from his spot on the doorway.

"Good." Fitz awakardly says giving them a thumbs up.

"We'll leave the women to it then. Uh Asta, if you'd keep them company that would be great. I do believe the two could use a fresh face to chat with." Radcliffe suggest.

"Of course." she replies giving Fitz a reasuring smile and nod as he passes her. He still had a bit of nervous nature to his face.

"Feel free to pull up a seat Asta." Aida suggests as she works on a tablet while standing on the left side of May.

Asta does just that as she sits on the agents otherside of the bed, "So May, I heard you had an eventful few days." Asta starts.

"You could say that." May says a bit dry.

"Hey, at least you got past the tough of it. You'll be out of here in no time." Asta reasures the agent seeing the dark circles around her eyes. Earth hospitals, as helpful as they were did not help when it came to sleep, Asta had come to know. "You'll be sleeping in your own bed soon."

"God, I can't wait for that. No more lights or beeping or tests." May replies with a sigh.

"I was only told the short version of all that happened, Aida do you mind explaining all that happened with saving Agent May?" Asta questions.

"Of course." Aida replies with a smile.

_________

"So you see, to cease the hormaonal cascade produced by the adrenal medulla and prevent further physical degredation..." Aida explains everything providing photos and examples with the tablet.

"You shut off my brain." May finishes for her as the two now understood what Simmons and Radcliffe had to do to save May.

"Wow. Thats so clever. Dangerous, but clever." Asta says amazed by the easy to follow way that Aida teaches.

"Exactly. I'm glad you understand." Aida replies giving them a smile. During the whole lecture, Fitz and Radcliffe had rejoined them and just allowed Aida to continue.

"Oh thats the only thing I understand." May replies, having not fulling been following along unlike the Asgardian next to her.

"The point is, even though you may be feeling better, you suffered some very real, very severe brain trauma." Radcliffe further explains, making his way to the end of May's bed.

"That said, we're going to have to keep you just a wee bit longer for further testing." Fitz tells her.

"Just to track your improvements before we release you." Radcliffe finishes explaining.

May crosses her arm before muttering something in Manderine at Radcliffe. "Excuse me?" Radcliffe questions not understanding her.

"Agent May says you can shove all your tests up your ass." Aida translates without looking up from her tablet.

"Well that's not very nice." he replies casually.

May looks at Aida curiously, "You speak Chinese? Where are you from?" she asks.

"Well most of me is Chinese." Aida begins to explain.

"Canadian. She's a- Shes Canadian, Ontario. Yeah, yeah. Big chinese population there. She did move around alot as a kid, 'cause she's an army brat." Fitz covers for her.

"She convinced me to add Onterio to my list of places to visit." Asta adds to it.

"Um, Aida, if you could go and ready the framework for one last scan please?" Fitz says.

Aida nods, "Of course." she replies before leaving the room.

"You've been hiding Aida from me." May says, lookoing towards Radcliffe. "It's to bad. I like her. No nonesense, just business. Very impressive."

"Yeah. Yeah they don't make them like Aida do they." Fitz adds in.

"She's great to have around." Asta chimes in. May nods to their words, not feeling anything off with all that had just happened.

_______________________

With all of Agent May's test done, she was ready leave. "See I told you, you'd be back in your own bed in no time." Asta says to her as they all waited for Couslson and Jemma to arrive.

"You did." May replies giving the blonde a faint smile.

"I would like to thank you again Agent May, for all your help." Radcliffe tells the agent with much gratitude.

"Yes, we know the tests were obnoxious enough to make you want to hit someone. Just glad that person wasn't me." Fitz says, earning a look from her as the doorbell rang, signaling that the others were here.

"Need a lift?" Coulson greets.

"Desperatley." May replies.

"It's good to see you back in fighting form." Coulson tells her as Fitz and Asta stand from where they were leaning on the couch.

"Dying takes a lot out of you." May tells him with a sigh.

"I've heard. We should start a club, get some t-shirts made up." Couslon jokes. "We got a problem, I need you with me on this."

"You know I'm in." May replies with no hesitance. She turns to Aida, "Thank you for your help."

"It was my pleasure Agent May." Aida replies.

"I don't think we've met. Phil Coulson." he greets her holding out his hand.

"Agent Coulson. I'm Aida." she replies shaking his hand.

"My assistant." Radcliffe chimes in.

"Oh. How long have you been leanding a hand to our friend Dr. Radcliffe?" Coulson asks.

"Since he gave me hands." Aida replies casually.

Coulson glances down at her hands, while Asta, Fitz and Radcliffe all share a look. "Oh. Wow. Impecable work. I'm a fellow amputee." he praises, causing Fitz to look more relieved and Radcliffe to give him an 'i told you so' look. Asta just smiles that this was going well. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"Not at all. I've actually been this way since birth." Aida tells Coulson honestly. "Thank god for Dr. Radcliffe and Dr. Fitz's work."

"Couldn't agree more." Coulson says.

"Hey." Jemma whispers, nodding to the hall for Fitz and Asta to follow. "Now I see why your two have been spending so much time here."

"What?" Fitz questions once they were away from the group.

"Aida, she's beautiful." Jemma tells them.

"She is pretty." Asta agrees, not understanding what Jemma really meant.

"Is she? Ah, yeah, she's alright, I guess." Fitz starts leaning on the wall while the girls turn to look at Aida, "I prefer a classical beauty myself." he says glancing between the two girls before keeping his eyes trained on Jemma.

The two turn back to look at him, "She's so real." Jemma says. "Her... her conversational responses. Her range of motion." she praises.

Fitz deadpans, "Those are weird things to say about a person." was his only response while Asta sighs in defeat.

"Fitz, she's an android." Jemma tells him, but after getting no response she continues, "You do know she's an android right?"

"Yes, of course that I know that she's an android, 'cause we helped out. Why do you think her dynamic reaction force is so low." Fitz argued back.

"And she's very much not an Ultron situation, part of the reason why I was helping." Asta reasures her.

"Why didn't you tell me." Jemma says dropping her arms.

"Well, we wanted to... But..." Asta started.

"But, obviously you can't tell the new director, and what with your lie detector test becoming more frequent, who knows the next time they're gonna call you in and then a ..." Fitz begins to ramble.

"Tomorrow. It's tomorrow." Jemma tells them.

"Well, thats not good. You're gonna have to practice lying for this to work." Asta says nervously.

"This is one lie that you are going to have to tell." Fitz tells her.

Jemma glanced back over to Aida, "Actually I'll have a few."

Chapter Text

Recieving a phone call from a random S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent informing Asta that Fitz, and Coulson had just disapeared in a flash of light was not how she expected to ever recieve such news. Trying to call Jemma only for it to go to voicemail was frustrating. But to recieve a call from Radcliffe asking her to meet him in Fitz's lab to help figure out something that might be 'more up her understanding of 'science' ' was the last confusing straw she needed for the day.

Arriving at the headquarters and avoiding all the busy agents roaming around was a task in and of itself. "I'm here. Sorry I took so long, the new people here have a thing with me teleporting in." Asta says to Radcliffe, May, and Aida as she enters the lab.

"Just in time, no worries really." Radcliffe tells her.

May doesn't turn to greet her, "Do you know anything about the Darkhold?"

Asta pauses in her movement, "I- I know rumors. Legends, Myths. Hard to tell whats real and whats not. Why?" she asks, slowly making her way to the three.

"Because we found it." May tells her, sliding the book to her as she stands between May and Aida.

"Oh my..." she whispers in disbelief, hovering her hands over it, feeling the power around it and how it affects everything around her without so much as touching it. "Theres a lot of power raidiating off of that."

"So it is magic?" Radcliffe questions, crossing his arms.

"Not exactly. To me, techinally it will show me magic, because thats whats I understand. To you, it may show you advanced science, seeming like magic to others who may not understand. It shows you what you will understand, to give you what you want. Power tempting to anyone." Asta tries to explain, as her hands hover around the book. Her eyes not leaving it.

"Can you read it?" May asks, seeming a bit impatient.

"Techinically yes, but what exactly do you want me to be looking for?" she asks, still confused on why the Darkhold was so important at this moment.

"To find a way to save Fitz and Coulson. I don't believe that they're dead. So will you help us on not?" May explains bluntly.

Asta nods silently, not able to look at her as she stares at the book. Slowly placing her hands on it, a rush of power waves over her causing her to gasp lightly. "What?" Radcliffe ask the blonde, concerned that she hadn't even opened the book like he did and seemed overwhelemed.

"This is only part of a darkhold." Asta says looking up to see their confused looks, "A copy. Legend has it the real one is hidden away." she informs them as she slowly opens the book.

"Asta, you and Aida need to read it! For the Magic and Science!" a faint shout of a whisper reaches Asta's ears, causing her to look at the empty space between her and Aida.

"Perhaphs I should also read it." Aida suggests.

"Absolutley not. No. No." Radcliffe denies.

Asta slowly looks back down at the book, quickly getting overwhelmed with the runes and spells that were before her. "She could help. Magic can only do so much. She could handle the science of it." Asta adds on, glancing to the empty space before looking fully over to Radcliffe.

"What's going on?" May questions, seeing the look he was giving both the girls.

"Aspirations of a do-gooder." Radcliffe says, brushing it off.

"So? She's a scientist and braver then you, apparently." May argues.

"Radcliffe. She can help." Asta tells him, causing him to sigh.

"Here's the thing... Aida's not exactly my assistant. Or human. " Radcliffe admits to May.

"What?" May questions.

"She's an android. So she is my assistant. But, she plugs into the wall. So, like you said. She's a tool." Radcliffe explains. "No offense Aida."

"None taken. I was designed to save lives. To be the shield." Aida explains to May.

"Shush... You're develpoing a catachphrase. May I can assure you, she's as aboveboard as a... secret android could be. Fitz-Simmons helped. Asta helped." Radcliffe tries to reasure the woman.

May looks to Asta for her input. "She's as far from ultron as an android could be. She can help." the blonde says.

May nods. "Then use her."

"What?" Radcliffe questions. "But, do you think that's a good idea?"

"You said earlier that I could get hurt. Asta is asking for her help. Can she get hurt?" May counters.

"Only rebooted." Aida says.

"If her files get currupted... shes a computer." Radcliffe adds.

"Perfect. Then it's just a download." May tells him. "She's the tech we need to save them. You heard Asta, magic can only do so much."

Radcliffe doesn't put up another argument, allowing Asta to slide the book over to Aida allowing her to start reading.

___________

Aida was able to work quickly, gathering other scientists to help with the building process, along with Radcliffe as May watched over and Asta concentrated on her Magic to try and locate her missing friends. As Aida got to work on creating a interdeminsional portal, Asta stopped mutter a spell from her seat on the floor.

Slowly opening her eyes, she was able to see two extra people in the room, they were a bit see through, like a ghost, but it was better then nothing for now. "They're here." Asta informs the others as she stands.

"Can you see them?" May questions.

"Yes, faintly, but definantly them." Asta confirms giving her a smile.

"Asta?" Coulson asks, his voice a bit muffled but she could hear him.

"I can hear you." She nods, glad that it worked.

"Oh thank god, Asta." Fitz says, walking over to her as if to hug her but walks right through her causing her to gasp in discomfort.

"Never do that again please." she tells the scientist once he was back standing in front of her.

"Yeah, you got it." Fitz agreed, just having felt relief to have someone see and hear them.

"How is she doing that?" Coulson asks as he watches Aida hand make a portal.

"I can't even pretend to know." Fitz says as he watches, joining his side.

"Some science can seem like magic to those who don't understand it." Asta reminds the two as she watches with a smile at the androids work, though from the others persepective it wasn't as cool looking.

"May I really wish you could see this." Coulson says as he watches.

Fitz looks over to him, "Coulson, look out!" Fitz warns as he rushes over to him.

Asta turns stunned, unsure of how to help. Then they fade from her view. "No. No no no." she says before turning back to the others, seeing Aida still working but without the lights of the portal appearing. "You need to hurry."

"Why? What happened?" May asks confused by the worry that was now on her face.

"I don't know. But I can't see them anymore." Asta admits, much more concerned now.

"We're running out of time." Aida agrees as she begins to slightly speed up her process, and then she stops.

"Ready Aida? Asta?" Radcliffe asks, earning a nod from the android allowing him to give the machine the power it needs, causing the machine to jump start the portal. Asta lift her arms up infront of it, closing her eyes and focusing to the spell she read from the darkhold.

The portal finally opens allowing them to see Coulson stuck and Fitz trying to get him out, "No. They're in trouble." May says going towards the portal.

Radcliffe holds her back, "No! That would be a deadly mistake." he warns her.

"Fight it! Come on Phil!" May shouts to them.

After a few more seconds the two were able to jump through the portal and into safety. "We did it!" Asta says in relief as Fitz and Radcliffe hug, Coulson and May hug. Asta turns and hugs Aida seeing as she made the portal by hand. Aida slowly hugs her back.

Fitz turns to Asta once they were both out their hugs and pulled her into a big one, "Thank you." he whispers so relieved that any of this worked.

"I'm glad you're okay." she whispers back to him.

Chapter Text

"Due to recent events, S.H.I.E.L.D is on high alert. This is a serious threat we are facing, which is why I've assembled you all here today. It is absolutley critical that we safely dispose of the Darkhold. Phil." Director Mace says to the team he had in the room.

"Once the Zephyr's ready, Agents May, Mackenzie, and Asta will accompany me. We'll transfer the Darkhold to an Agent that specializes in making objects like this disappear." Coulson informs the team as he stands next to Mace to address the room.

"How's he gonna manage that, some sort of magic spell?" Radclifee jokes. He only recieves a look as a response as the team stayed silent. "Right, yeah, probably had your fill of dark-arts jokes, what with a flaming head demon and all that."

"While we're handling the book, you mission is to accompany Dr. Radcliffe and erase Aida's hard drive." Coulson instructs to Fitz.

"What?" the two doctors question.

"Aida read the Darkhold." Mace tells them.

"We can't risk any of it's contents in her memory. It's to dangerous." Coulson explains to them.

"Asta read the Darkhold." Radcliffe argues.

"I read a few pages. She read, far more. We can't risk all that knowledge getting out to someone who could use it against, anyone. It's to big of a risk." Asta helps to explain.

"Makes sense. Although seems a little bit unfair to Aida, considering how many lives she just saved." Fitz says.

"Ok. First of all that thing is not a 'she', it's a damn robot. And second of all, whats the matter with you two chucklheads? Have either of you seen a movie in the last 30 years? The robots always attack." Mack argues.

"Well, technically speaking, Aida's not a robot, she's an android." Radcliffe argues back.

"That's true." Fitz nods along.

"Android, robot, it doesn't mattter what you call them. The end result is always the same, they rise up against their human overlords and go kill crazy." Mack tells the two.

"You make a fair, rather intense, point. Yeah, I don't see any harm in replacing her hard drive. Better safe then sorry, as they say." Radcliffe agrees.

"So happy you agree, 'cause it's also an order. Now get to work." Mace tells them.

_________

Plans didn't seem go as they were intended to. "Just sent Aida's photo out to local athorities." May tells the team once more as they try to figure out how to find Aida after having attacked the two scottish doctors.

"Looks like your creepiness finally works out in your favor. Shouldn't be to hard to find your beautiful 'weird science' sex-bot." Mack mutters, still not liking the thought of a robot on the loose.

"Thats unfair Mack, I've never had sex with Aida. We're just good friends." Radcliffe argues out of no where, being more defensive then usual.

"Good to know." Coulson says, moving on from that. "So, Aida is basically a walking smartphone, right? If a person looses their phone, they can track it. Why can't we do that same with her." he questions.

"Well, yeah, normally we can, only Aida's somehow managed to take control of her entire operating system." Fitz informs.

"Which unfortuanly includes her tracking program." Radcliffe adds to it.

"Meaning Aida can read her GPS history?" Coulson questions, earning a nod from the scientist, "Thats not good. That's bad."

"Yeah, how bad?" May questions just before the light flickers and everyones phones chime.

"That's creepy." Asta says as she watches everyone take their phone out, including herself.

"Looks like we're about to find out." Couslson replies to May's question. He answers the call, "Hello Aida."

The main monitor glitches to a call, "It's good to hear your voice, Agent Coulson." Aida says through the speaker.

"Okay." Mack says, dropping his phone on the table. "This right here, this is exactly how the lawnmower man ended." he warns then, clearly not liking the situation they were in.

"What is it you want Aida?" Coulson asks, ignoring Mack.

"The thing that gave me a soul." Aida says.

Asta gives a look of concern to Coulson, "The Darkhold? Yeah, I'm sorry Aida. You've been acting a little off lately. So that's not gonna happen." Coulson denies her calmly.

"I was afraid you would say that." she replies, before the whole room shuts off for a second before the emergency lights turn on. The phone call over.

"She's in the system. Fitz, any bright ideas?" Coulson asks.

"Uh, Simmons and I... We built a-a non internet server to power the base incase we ever got hacked again, which seems to be all the bloody time, doesn't it." Fitz informs the team.

"Least once a year. Go." Coulson says before looking to Radcliffe, "Asta, protect them please." he instructs earning a nod from the blonde who follows the two out.

_______________

The two doctors worked while Asta leaned against a wall with her guard up while they talked. "No, there was something different about her. It's like she was actually angry." Fitz informs them.

"I thought she was programed to not hurt anyone?" Asta questions.

"She was. It's impossible, she's not suppose to feel anything. She emulates. Her reactions are nothing more then aproximation of emotions. It's all mimicry." Radcliffe tells them.

"Yeah well, thats just it. What if reading the Darkhold somehow made the emotions that Aida was mimicking real?" Fitz arguesd.

"I did say that I felt a lot of energy coming from the Darkhold. It's a high possiblilty." Asta says as the two conitnue to work.

"Well, I get how the book passes knowledge along to it's reader, but human feelings?" Radcliffe says sceptically. "I mean, thats just like something out of Mack's movies."

"You're such a scientist." Asta says, earning a confused look from Radcliffe.

Fitz sighs, "Well, it would explain why she's acting counter to our programming." he says, looking away as he smiles at Asta's little dig at Radcliffe.

"What, you're saying she's been overwhelmed by this, this flood of new emotion?" Radcliffe questions.

"Think about it, fear, anger, they're- they're powerful feelings, feelings that make people kill, so can you imagine then being bombarded with them all at once?" Fitz counter questions.

"Fitz" Radcliffe tries to say.

"I mean we've had our whole lives to process complex emotions. Aida would've had days. It would have been overwhelming." Fitz rambles on.

"Damn it, thats enough!" Radcliffe snaps at Fitz, causing Asta to push of the wall and make her way to their side. He sighs, "oh, who are we kidding? We know it was my fault. It was nothing more then hubris that led me to create Aida. If only I'd shown some bloody restraint."

"You thought you were doing the right thing. None of us knew what would happen with Aida reading the Darkhold to the extent that she did. You can't blame yourself." Asta tries to reasure him.

"You wanted to save lives." Fitz adds on.

"Yeah, but I wanted to create an android that could pass as human. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that she'd actually become human." Radcliffe tells them.

Fitz turns to him, "Aida is still just an android." he remindss him.

"Yeah, but is she?" he counters. "She has her own experiences. Her own thoughts. Now she even has free will. How, then, is she not a living being?" Radcliffe asks.

"It's just a theory." Fitz answers.

"Science runs on theories." Asta reminds him.

"A theory we know to be true. And we're suppose to what, kill her? How does that not make us murderers?" Radcliffe questions.

"Lets just say for now, our goal is not to kill her, but to subdue her." Asta offers, to calm the tension thats building up.

Radcliffe nods as Fitz continues to work moving to another machine. "The gunfire's not letting up. Maybe we ought to think about getting to safety." Radcliffe suggests.

"Thats what I'm here for. Don't worry, we'll get out of here just fine." Asta reasures him.

"Almost got it." Fitz tells them as he moves to a computer and types things into them. "There." he finishes typeing. The screens all lite up and showed the shield logo, causing all the electricity to come back on.

________

The three exit the room making there were to where Fitz thought Aida might be, and luckily he was right. But Aida had the Darkhold in hand. "Aida, stop." Fitz calls out and she listens.

Turning around, Aida faces the three, Fitz goes to walk to her but Radcliffe stops him, "Careful Fitz, she's dangerous. Fitz, it might not be best to engage." he warns but he continues anyways.

Asta keeps her distances but follows behind, ready to use her magic to protect them, "Surrender the book. Everything will be fine, I promise." Fitz tells her.

"We both know that's not true Leopold." Aida tells him, before turning around to leave. She tries to open the door but her access was denied.

"I took the base offline. You're no longer in the system." Fitz tells her.

"There's no where for you to go." Radcliffe tells her, as she turns around to face them again.

"So, please give us the book Aida." Asta says, hoping she would give up now.

"Its over Aida." Radcliffe says seeing that she wasn't moving.

"I did not kill anyone here. That was intentional." Aida tells them as Coulson and May join the three.

"You murdered Nathanson." Coulson reminds her.

"Nathanson insisted that he reboot me before repairing my wounds. I regret what happened." Aida tells them seeming sincere.

"Regrets not part of your programming." Radcliffe says.

Aida looks at him and gives them all a smile, "The Darkhold fixed that. It showed me regret and desire, so many astonishing things." Aida explains.

"It showed me things too, Aida. It doesn't make it good." Asta tries to reason with her.

"It made you dangerous." May tells the android.

"I only wanted to help you." Aida tells May before turning at the sound of the door opening.

On the other side of the door stood Mack and Yo-yo. With his Shotgun-Axe in hand, he swung, decapatating Aida, earning an gasp from Asta, Fitz, and Radcliffe. "Roll credits." Mack says before fist bumbing Yo-yo.

Fitz goes and kneels by her head, "Sorry Aida." he says as Asta walks over and grabs the Darkhold book from the floor, following Coulson to where they will keep the book until further notice.

Chapter Text

"You know when I tell you to call me when you have an emergency, I mean call me when you have an emergency! Not wait to tell me after the crazy fighting and explosions happen!" Asta scolds Fitz and Simmons as they explain all that she missed.

"Yes but we had it handled." Fitz tried to argue.

"Had it handled? Radcliffe has the Darkhold. May is missing. You all were nearly blown up. And Director Mace has been kidnapped by Russians working with Radcliffe. Tell me how is that handling it?!" Asta shoots back clearly annoyed with her friends.

"Okay, handling it was the wrong choice of words but we need all the help we can get. So, I'm sorry but please both of you calm down before this turns into a frustration argument." Simmons being the voice of reason gets between the two.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Asta says after taking a deep breath before they all enter the lab.

____________

"Alright thats enough." Coulson says before opening his eyes along with Daisy, both who had were just in a simulation fight together.

"Well?" Fitz asks as he disconnects him, Asta doing the same to Daisy.

"Unbelievable." Coulson praises. "It's like the real thing. I could even smell the sweat. But I-I felt strangely cold, though."

"Well, I tried to make the simulation as real as possible, and since you always leave the air-con on in the base... I exagerated it. Kind of like a silent protest." Fitz admits.

"That was so realistic! I mean, you know, except for the whole stopping in mid-air thing." Daisy says looking around at the others.

"I don't know. I think it might play out a little differently in real life." Coulson tells her, a tad bbit jokingly.

"So, you can feel in there?" Mack questions.

"Yeah well it's the Framework. It's an immersive sensory experience." Fitz explains to him.

"It was designed as a training exercise, a way for agents to practice sparring or jungle insertions and the like." Jemma adds on.

"Or a way for these two to study my magic without distrupting the area." Asta jokes as she sets the equipment away.

"Yeah... You can still feel pain while inside that. That's why I stopped the simulation before you hit the wall becasue..." Fitz started to explain.

"Painful. Got it." Mack says.

"So, May's locked up somewhere, but being held in a virtual reality like this? What, to keep her placid?" Coulson questions.

"Radcliffe said she was in the Framework." Mack brings up.

"Yeah but this is just a contianed prototype. It's got limited simulations." Fitz explains.

"If Radcliffe said he built a world, he must of built a serperate, more powerful version." Jemma theorizes.

"If he did, then how do we find it?" Asta questions crossing her arms.

"Run a serach. Try and locate traces of the source code. I might be able to locate where Radcliffe is running his new version." Fitz explains.

"And thats were we'll find May." Coulson finishes.

Davis enters the lab quickly, "Sir, the GPS signal we're tracking in on the directors suit? We're locking in on a location." he says.

"Where?" Coulson questions.

"Nome, Alaska." Davis reveals.

"Well that sounds cold." Asta says seeing the confusion on everyones face at the location.

______________

As quickly as the team went to Alsaka they left, with a new location in Russia. "Its kind of funny how you ask me to come for help, and yet I'm still here, waiting, not helping." Asta complains as she sits on a stool in the lab with Fitz and Simmons while everyone else was out for the mission.

"You are helping." Fitz says, trying to cheer her up.

"Oh yeah, how exactly?" Asta questions the scientist.

"Keeping us company." he says giving her a cheeky smile.

She rolls her eyes but smile, "Ha. Ha. You know what I mean."

"It's not that bad, think of it like your the big important back up if things go south." Simmons also tries to cheer her up.

"Jemma, you and Fitz are the only one's who can call for me on this team remember? If things go south they probably won't have time to call it in." Asta mumbles crossing her arms with a pout.

"Aww, Simmons you made Asta all pouty." Fitz teases.

"I'm not pouty." the blonde argues.

"Oh, you are so being pouty." Fitz continues to tease her.

"Fitz leave her alone, she's just worried... Even if she is being pouty." Jemma says with a teasing smile.

Asta looks at her, mouth open trying to fight back a smile, "Jemma, you're suppose to be on my side." she tells her before laughing causing the others to join with her.

_________________

"Ok, so we think we found the next clue in this fun, little game. Ivanov mentioned his SVR being tortured and executed and that he's going to do the exact same thing to us. So I looked up SVR detention centers connected to the units number found on the dead agents' uniforms." Daisy was telling the team as they all watch her pull up a map. "And this one right here was a front during the Cold War for a submarine base." she informs them.

"And since we know Ivanov has a submarine, like all good Bond villians..." Mack comments.

"We're already in route to the base in Krasnoyarsk Krai." Daisy says before switching with Coulson who now stood befor everyone looking at the map.

"Let's assume the enemy knows we're coming. They've been baiting us this whole time. We may face strong oppositions... trap doors, shark with lasers, who knows? It doesn't matter. What matters is getting out people back, so let's gets ready." Coulson says before dismissing everyone.

Asta looks to Jemma, only to see her looking at Fitz concern in her eyes, "You should go tell him the news." she suggests. Jemma looks to the blonde for a moment before silently nodding and making her way to him. Asta watches her go a bit worried but looks away knowing they got this.

_______________

Arriving to the base was easy enough, blowing up a whole to enter didn't seem to cause gaurds or anyone to start fighting them immediatley but everyone kept their gaurd up as they entered completely. One person seem to come running around the corner but Coulson was quick to use an ICER on him, knocking him out.

"Communications room in sub-basement... Fitz-Simmons." Coulson informs.

"On it." Fitz replies.

"Davis, Asta, you're with them." Coulson tells them and the nod, turning to follow the two.

Davis lead them while Asta covered the back, no gaurds were in their way so they were able to get to the communications room quickly. "This can't be Radcliffe's framework setup." Fitz says once they arrive.

Asta stood in the doorframe facing the scientist while Davis was facing the hall, "Seems very old." she comments as the two began to look around.

"Maybe we can still fine something useful anyways." Simmons suggests.

"I'll copy any data I find in the system." Fitz says as he pulls out a laptop. "We should take some of this equipment back to the base for further examination as well. Anything could be the key we're searching for."

"We have an Aida sighting on the lower levels of the base." comes through the coms, causing everyone to look at one another with concern.

"Aida's here?" Fitz says with worry clear in his eyes.

"You do this. I'll find Aida." Simmons says, pulling out her ICER.

"Woah, hold on." Asta tries to stop her but she enters the hall anyways.

"What, you're gonna take on a killer android?" Fitz questions.

"I'll take Davis, Asta can stay with you." Simmons tries to reasure them.

"Concern only slightly lessened." Fitz tells her in a bad whisper.

"Thanks." Davis whispers back.

"We can't let her escape." Simmons tries to rationalize. "She could be the lead we're looking for."

"Alright. Just be careful." Fitz agrees, reluctantly.

"Don't forget to call for me Jemma. Please." Asta reminds her.

"Of course." Simmons nods, "Davis, with me." And the two leave back the way they came.

------

Fitz didn't take long to download what he needed. "Asta can you help with this." he requested as he was pulling wires out of computer.

Nodding the blonde joined in in helping before helping him pick it up while she took his bag and the two made their way to find Simmons. An alarm blared, signaling the submarine was leaving, and it was at the port that they found Simmons and Davis there. "We're to late." Jemma tells them when whe turns to the two.

Fitz sighs as they stop running, "Well, I gathered what I could from the communications room. Who knows what the others have found." he tells them.

"Should be go find them?" Asta suggests.

"Have you heard anything from them? I've been trying to reach them?" Simmons questions.

"Nothing. Do you think somethings happened?" Asta asks, now seeing the concern.

"Coms have been wonky, going in and out." Fitz informs, "Jemma." he says seeing something over her shoulder.

Behind her were Mack and Coulson holding up Mace walking through a doorway. "Director Mace!" Simmons says, making her way over to the three in concern seeing as he seemed pretty weak and beaten. "We've been trying to reach you."

"He needs medical attention. We need to get him out of here." Coulson tells her.

"Finally, I've been looking for you guys everywhere." Daisy says as she runs over to the group.

"Where's May?" Fitz asks.

"She's not here." Coulson informs.

"They must of had her on the submarine." Simmons speculates.

"Then we have to keep searching." Daisy suggests.

"We're pulling out." Coulson instructs.

"What? Sir-" Simmons tries to argue.

"We'll tend to our injuried, and live to fight another day." Coulson informs the group.

"But we're so close." Asta also argues, seeing as the Submarine had just left.

"Another day." he repeats before taking the lead back to the plane.

___________________

"How long were we in that base?" Jemma questions as Asta joins the two in the lab with a cup pf tea.

"Awhile... Why?" Asta answers seeing as Fitz was looking at her confused.

"The timetable of this mission is bothering me. Coulson says that he came straight down to the submarine dock after rescueing the director. And we heard the blast from Daisy's battle with Ivanov long before she met up with us again." Jemma speculates as she slowly paces.

"What are you saying?" Fitz questions.

"I'm saying, something doesn't feel right. Theres a strech of time in there that's unaccounted for when no one was in contact." Jemma explains, causing Asta to set down her tea.

"She has a point Fitz." Asta says, now concern for what this could mean.

Fitz had a thoughtful look, "Now that you mention it... It was pitch dark when we left." he says.

A computer beeps gaining their attention, Jemma goes over to seee, "It's the blast door scanner system." Jemma tells the two.

"The LMD detector?" Fitz questions.

"Yeah." she confirms.

"What about it?" Asta asks, a knot forming in her stomach.

"It was disabled..." she tells them.

"Disabled?" Fitz questions, "Recently?" Jemma nods, as she types in to check it. The two make there way to her side to see what was going on, "And the system report was deleted from the record."

"Why would someone do that? Who would do that?" Asta asks the two.

"Not sure. Luckily my level of spectrum on the security means a copy of each report is sent directly to my inbox." Jemma informs them. "The system was accessed by... Coulson."

"Coulson? What would he want to keep from us?" Fitz asks, the air now feeling tense to the three.

Jemma typed away to find the security photo, and opens it to show them Coulson, Mack, Daisy and Mace in the blast door scanner zone. "This has to be a mistake." Simmons says as the bottom of the immage says LMD Detected.

"Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait." Fitz says calmly as he turns Jemma to face him as Asta covers her mouth in shock. "Now, you said it yourself... we were in there for a while. We were seperated from them the whole time." he tells her.

"Aida was seen at the base and... and tanks of gas. What kind of gas?" Jemma tells them.

"They left a trail of clues. They wanted to find Coulson." Fitz pput together.

"So while we were downstairs..." Asta hesitates to finsh her sentence.

"They switched people out." Fitz and Simmons finished for her.

"How many?" Fitz asks, glancing back to the computer.

Jemma lets out a shakey breath as she putshess a button, and the text chances to 4 Life Model Decoys Detected. "All of them." she tells them.

Fitz goes to pace but turns around and sees Mack, Daisy, and Coulson through the window talking to one another. The other two look at them as well in disbelief that they'd all been tricked, "You two are not leaving my sight." Asta whispers in shock before letting out a breathe.

Chapter Text

The two scientist were tense in their own lab, not being able to stop staring at the LMD's that had now replaced their friends. Asta couldn't bare to look at them feeling bad that she couldn't go save them. "We have to get out of here." Jemma suggests as she faces the two.

"No, Jemma. We have to be careful. They can't know that we know." Fitz says softly, gripping her hand in comfort.

"But we can only imagine what the Russians and Radcliffe programmed them to do. They could kill us, or they could... They... " Jemma began to stutter in concern.

"Ok ok ok ok ok." Fitz says pulling her in closer as to avoid gaining attention. "If they want to, they would have already." he informs her.

"No one will kill you on my watch." Asta whispers to her as Jemma took a deep breath to calm down.

"Unless, they're waiting to seperate us, all of us from the general population, then kill us or switch us, or..." Jemma began to ramble.

"Okay. Ok, ok... take a breath." Fitz tells her facing her away from the windows with his arm on her shoulder.

"The one advantage we have over them is that they don't know that we're on to them. But they're going to be suspicous if we don't act normal." Fitz informs her.

"Yeah, maybe we could..." Jemma was going to ramble.

Asta leans back and looks at them with her normal smile, "You know your silly myths about Asgardians are wrong about the magic apples of immortality." she says to them, earning her a confused look from the two.

"What?" Fitz questions, not following where that came from.

"Yeah, I don't know where you got that from. The aging thing is just Alien genetics. Oh hello!" Asta says, greeting those who had now joined the trio.

"Hi Asta." Coulson greets in his 'normal' friendly manner, as the other two turn to face him and the others, "Agent Fitz." he says in a more serious tone.

"Yes sir?" Fitz replies, covering how stunned he was that Asta had covered for them so smoothly.

"We haven't been able to locate the submarine on satellite. In your best estimation, do you think it has missle-launch capabilities?" Coulson questions.

Fitz takes a breath as he thinks, "Well, we couldn't know that for sure, but one could posit that, yeah." he informs them.

"Then we'll have to assume the worst. That the Russians have people to ennact his endgame." Mack speculates.

"And his goal in life was to kill all Inhumans." Jemma says softly in realization.

"Thats why we're bringing them all here, to headquarters." Coulson informs them.

"Of course." Jemma nods.

"Seems like the safest plan of action." Asta adds with her own nod.

"Makes perfect sense. Uh, well, once this storm has cleared up, and uh, the director has fully recovered we can start to put a system together to..." Jemma was cut short by Mace entering the room with Daisy.

"I've recovered enough." He says, while holding an ice pack to his head.

"My god, that was fast." Jemma comments as the trio now stoodbetween the four LMD's.

"A little sore. But I'll manage." Mace informs her. "I think Daisy here should contact the Inhumans personally and oversee their transfer to HQ." Mace suggests.

Daisy nods, "I'll take care of it."

"I'll help take calls. Thats our top priority." Mack offers.

"Along with finding Agent May, right?" Simmons reminds them.

"Of course." Coulson agrees.

"Well, perhaps Simmons and I should retire to my office and uh, discuss the logistics of the search." Mace suggest, causing Fitz to look between them a bit tensely, as Asta bit the inside of her cheek to keep from doing or saying something.

"Actually, we... Discovered an old USSR communications hardware device, um on the raid. Maybe they used that for communicating. But we should probably keep our brain trust together until we can decipher the code." Fitz explains.

"Good idea." Mace agrees.

"Times-a-wasting. Lets get to it." Coulson says and the others leave the lab.

Asta lets out a soft sigh as they leave and stand, "That was far to tense for my liking." she whispers to the two.

"You really saved us when they came in, thanks for that." Jemma tells her, apprieciating her cover conversation.

"Yeah. Where'd you learn to lie that smoothly?" Fitz asks the blonde.

Asta gave him a shrug, "Loki taught me."

___________________

The three were walking themselves down to a different part of the building away from prying eyes. Asta stood behind the two as they pushed a cart full of equipment down the hall. "Radcliffe gassed them during the raid. That's why we lost time." Simmons says so only Fitz and Asta could hear. "Quick scan of the brain. Transfer that data to a body, which must have already been built?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking the same thing. He could ha- Sorry." Fitz says before stopping to let people pass infront to go around the cart. "He could have digital scans of their features." Fitz informs.

"From the eyes of the May android. Complete physical Geometry." Simmons says in realization as the three walk through a doorway to another hall.

"So he could've replaced anybody." Fitz says.

"That's unsettling." Asta comments as they turn the cart to enter a room.

Asta turns and closes the door as the laptop they had with them beeps. Jemma walks around the cart to check it only to see the other LMD detection went off thr the doorway they just walked past. And on the screen showed the three of them with the words, 2 LMD's Detected. "What is..." Jemma says confused at what she was seeing.

"Let me see." Fitz requests as he join her side, Asta moving to the other side of Fitz to view the screen.

"What?" Asta questions softly confused at what she was seeing, as Jemma slowly backs away from the two.

"Well the... lab techs must have taken it upon themselves to mount LMD detection devices randomly through out the base. I mean, there must be a callibration error. It's reading the equipment or something." Fitz tries to figure out before turning towards Jemma. "Woah!" he says before putting his hands up.

Jemma stood holding an gun up at both of them. Asta stares in shock at what was happening, before slowly raising her arms up to reasure Jemma. "Stay right there. Both of you." she demanded.

"Hey, Jemma..." Fitz tries to reason.

"Back away." she demands as Fitz was trying to approach her.

"Listen to her Fitz." Asta tells him, worried.

"Alright." Fitz agrees.

"Back away until we can figure this out." Jemma tells them.

Asta listens, stepping away from Fitz as a precaution, but keeping the same distance from Jemma as to not spook her, "Figure what out?" Fitz questions. "You're pointing a gun at us. Why are you pointing a gun at me?" he says panic clear in his voice, then a look of realization, "No..." he says before looking between the two girls.

"Don't move." Jemma instructs.

"I'd listen to her." Asta says, worried at how Jemma only glanced her way but never pointed the gun at her since Fitz moved the first time.

"It's you..." Fitz says with tears in his eyes.

"Shut up... Shut up!" Jemma's voice wavers at her demand.

"What? We don't know who..." Asta tries to tell them but is also a bit panic'd as her voice breaks.

"You suggested that we come into the workshop... alone. You two brought me here." Fitz accuses.

"No, you... you were... you were telling me to act normal." Jemma stuttered out.

"You knew how the LMD's were made." Fitz argues, overlapping her words.

"... there was no calibration error!" Jemma continued to argue.

"I'm not the one who's pointing the gun!" Fitz shouts. "I bloody well know that I'm not an android!"

"You would lie and say that if you were! You'd be programmed to!" Jemma shouts back.

"Calm down! Both of you!" Asta shouts, "There are three of us, and two of us are... two of us are not real... we need to all calm down and figure it out!"

"You don't know? You both don't even know... like May." Fitz says shakey as he stares at them both.

"Stop it! The... the same goes to you." Jemma says tears gathering in her eyes.

"Of course this is happening... This always happens to one of use. To me. To you. To Asta. To us! It's my worst fear come true again... You don't even know it." Fitz tries to rationalize it.

"I'm not a bloody LMD! You're messing with me, messing with my head!" she accuses.

"Its not me Jemma!" Fitz shouts back at her.

"Well its two of us!" Jemma argues back.

They stop shouting to catch their breath as Fitz puts his hands down. "It is one of you." Asta says in the silence, causing the two to look at her who was looking down, a tear falling from her face. "I- I think I'm one." she admits it.

"Asta..." Fitz says softly.

"No... I-I can tell... It's with my magic... I can't feel it. We never finished researching my DNA, so it makes sense that they wouldn't have everything for me and my magic." she tells them before looking up between the two.

"Well, regardless of who the other one is... It's my fault." Fitz tells them with a sniffle.

"It is." Jemma agrees.

"I perfected the technology. I started this whole nightmare. I dragged Asta into helping me." Fitz sniffles again, "I'm sorry." he tells them as he raises his hands up again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't... make me feel bad for you." Jemma says as new tears run down her face. "Don't hurt me."

"I couldn't." Fitz admits.

"I won't let him." Asta tells her.

Jemma looks to her, "You can't promise that."

"But I can try. Because that's my job. To protect." Asta says nodding, as more tears run down her face. Slowly, Asta faces Fitz and takes two steps closer to Jemma still leaving some space between them. "Which ever one of you is really you..." Asta starts as Fitz takes a step closer to the two, she looks over her shoulder at Jemma. "Find us."

Fitz takes another step forward, "I'm not going to fight you, Jemma." he reasures her, "Even if you are a decoy. I'm the bad guy, okay? No matter what. So, I'll do whatever you say. Okay? I'll do whatever you say?" he complies.

Jemma looks around the room quickly before seeing something, "Pick it up." she says glancing at an object. There sat a knife, not to far from Fitz, on a counter.

Fitz looks at it and scoffs lightly, "And do what, Jemma?" he asks nervously.

"Cut your wrist... If you're the LMD I'll see your substructer and then I'll know... if your not..." Jemma explains.

"And if not then your the android that convinced me to slit my wrist." Fitz argues.

"Do it!" Jemma demands.

Fitz listens and slowly moves one of his sleeves. "Are we sure there isn't a better way to figure this out." Asta questions with her voice wavering.

"Okay." Fitz agrees, before grabbing the knife, showing his wrist to them before going down and slicing the knife against his skin. He groans and falls to his knees in pain as blood oozes out of the cut. "That's a lot of blood."

"Did you cut the radial artery?" Jemma questions as she lowers the weapon.

"That doesn't sound good." Asta says as she lowers her arms in shock at what she just watched.

"I was trying very hard to miss it." he says as the blood continues on to the ground. Jemma walks aross the room, "Don't come near me." Fitz demands as she grabs a rag from the table and slowly approaches Fitz with the gun raised again.

"Fitz... I'm sorry..." Jemma says to him as she goes to his side slowly.

But Fitz just flips the knife in his hand before stabbing her thigh, quick to life her arm up so that the gun fires away from him. Jemma shouts in pain as he backs her up as she continues to fire. She turns to look at Asta just as the the blonde swings down a paint can that was on a table to knock her out. Fitz and Asta stare at her with no emotion as they drop the weapons they held with no care. Their programming having taken over.

________________

Asta was in the hall, on guard while Fitz was scanning Jemma's brain, that's what he told her to do. But she was nervous, for Jemma, her worry was slightly over powering her harmful programming. A metal thud and a shout could be heard from inside. Asta stared at the door for a moment before finally opening and entering the room.

In the middle of the room layed Fitz with an engine on top of him, and a knife in his throat. Jemma sat near him with blood on her hands. "Good. You got out of the restraints I left you in." she says gaining the scientists attention.

"What?" Jemma questions as she moves away from the LMD Asta.

"I don't have a lot of time. My DNA is trying to fight the programing thats wanting me to harm you. So you need to stab me too. I don't want to be the reason everyone hunts you down." Asta tells her friend.

"They made a mistake by using our unfinshed research... didn't they." Jemma says as she shakely stands up.

"Yes... They incorporated some of my DNA but I'm not human, thats a flaw with using my brainwaves. Listen, find Daisy. You two need to find us if they haven't gotten to her yet. My guess is we're in the framework on that Submarine. Now, stab me or something. I can feel the programing breaking." Asta intructs as she takes a step to her. With no hesitation, Jemma complies, and stabs the LMD in the neck. "I'm sorry" she whispers, before dropping to the floor.

Chapter Text

The Framework -

In this 'reality', Asta was known as the Goddess of Battle and Magic, being gifted the title by her father Odin. She had went with her brothers to Jotunheim to fight, resulting in Thor's death. She came to Earth soon after Loki was Crown'd King of Asgard, coming down to Earth to offer them assistance with their battle with the Inhumans. That is were she met Dr. Leopold Fitz, and Ophelia. The Hydra Agency were ever so greatful for her help, that after they won, had it that people only worshiped the Goddess. She came from the heavens and ended their war, how could they not praise her; at least that's what Ophelia continiously said. The more time Asta spent on Earth being worshiped, the Higher in the ranks she was in Hydra with Leopold and Ophelia, where the three became very, very close.

But threats knew them as The Doctor, The Princess, and Madam Hydra.

_______________

Asta had entered the lab within the Treskelion looking for a specific person. "Leopold!... Oh, you have company. Do you want me to meet with you later?" she says seeing as there was someone else, obviously an agent not a scientist, in the room with him as an inhuman was being tested on.

"No no, its quite alright dear." Fitz told her, gesturing for her to join them.

"Asta?" Skye/Daisy, questions a bit relieved to see her here, but confused to see her in a drastically different outfit, similar to how she remembers first meeting her, only far more dramatic.

"That's Your Grace to you." Fitz reminds the agent sternly.

"R-right. Sorry, uh, Your Grace." Skye stutters out, confused as the blonde pays her no mind as she sits on the Doctors desk to face him.

"How are things going with Grant Ward?" Fitz questions, not bothering to look at Skye, as his attention were on the inhuman and the princess now before him.

"They're good." she replies trying not to cringe as Asta sat unbothered as Fitz placed his hand on her dress covered thigh.

"I noticed your application for co-habitation had been approved." Fitz brings up, finally looking over at her.

"Yes." Skye says, unsure of what to say next.

May entered the lab quickly, "Sir?" she says as she approach the desk, "Your Grace." she says out of respect before continuing, "There's a report you need to see. Subversive activity at a school. A woman with a S.H.I.E.L.D. I.D." she informs pulling up the info.

"Really?" Fitz says intrigued by the news.

"That's interesting." Asta says, standing once Fitz did, standing at his side, giving the agent her attention.

"The report was called in by a teacher, Phillip Coulson." May says before giving them the tablet to read over.

"Who's the girl?" Fitz questions as he skims over the report.

"Suspect was in her mid-20's, British." May tells him.

"Did you get her name?" Skye questions, joining the group. "Where was this."

The three look at her, "You can go." Fitz dismisses her. Asta watches as she leaves as Fitz continued to read it over before giving his orders. "I want any and all assets in the area in on this." He instructs, before handing May back the tablet before she leaves them.

"S.H.I.E.L.D., haven't heard that in a while." Asta says as she moves to wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him in close to her.

"I know. That's what worries me." he admits to her in a quiet mutter.

She gives him a reasureing smile, "It's only one, you have nothing to worry about." Asta whispers to him, before placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I think you missed." he teases her with a smirk.

"Did I?" she teases him back, before the two kiss for real.

_______________

"One Agent was killed. The others lost the vehicle in Bethesda. We're canvasing the area." May reports to the two.

"It was only one girl... How does a team lose one target?" Asta asks, annoyed with the agents, as she places her hands on the chair.

"One girl, with help, who knew our tactics." May explains, "Maybe whoever helped her, also made this." May suggests placing an I.D. on the table. "It's not a forgery."

Fitz who was sat in his chair grabs the card, "A mole? Well, thats a serious charge." Fitz says as he loks it over.

"Someone is betraying us." May agrees, as he hands the card to Asta.

"You know my father always said, you have to have trust, to be betrayed. Treat this mole like a cancer." Fitz instructs.

"I'll cut it out myself." May says as Asta throws the card on the desk.

"Well, you've failed before. Don't fail us again." Asta tells her seriously before moving around to leave.

"Never forget how it felt at Cambridge." Fitz reminds May as he goes to follow Asta, pausing only a few feet from where she stood, waiting in the doorframe. "Did the drawf's record any of these people?"

May slowly turns to face the two, "Footage was sent straight to the Director. By request."

___________

Asta and Fitz make their way up to meet with the Director, "Good evening Madam." Fitz greets as they enter the room.

"Leopold. Asta. Come in." Ophelia/Aida says to them.

The two walk further into her office area, "These Subversives need to be taken seriously. Apparently, they've got a mole inside Hydra. A traitor." Fitz explains to the Director.

"I know." she replies as she walks over to her desk, "I've tighten security. Eliminated a loophole for their escape. Next, we tighten the noose."

"Could always send me in, you know I'm affective at elliminating threats." Asta offers with a knowing smile.

"When the time is right." she replies dismissively, causing the blondes smiles to drop.

"So, you have survallience on..." Fitz leads, hoping for a response.

"On one of them yes." Ophelia replies.

"We'd like to see it." Asta requests.

"No." she denies. "You're work is too important to be distracted by all these criminals. And Asta dear, this isn't something to waste your time on them."

"I won't stand by as they try to destroy everything that we have built." Fitz says angrily, walking over to Ophelia, "I have to protect that. I have to protect Asta. And I have to protect you. I have..." Fitz was ranting until Ophelia grabs his arm, pulling him closer to her.

"Your anger won't solve this. It's your creativity that we need." Ophelia tells him calmly before giving him a soft kiss. Slowly Asta snakes her arms around Fitz as she leans her head on his shoulder from behind.

"We have to trust her word. We can find something else to do, while others deal with this threat. Remember, its only one girl. We have nothing to worry about. Our world will be here tomorrow." Asta whispers before kissing his cheek. Both girls affectivly calming him down.

___________

"So who is she?" Fitz questions later on in the day.

"No one it doesn't matter." Ophelia says as she blocks Fitz from looking at her computer screen.

"Then why wont you tell us?" Asta asks as she enters the room gaining their attention. "If she's a no one then why won't you let us help?" she challenges as she stands by Fitz.

Ophelia sighs before grabbing her tablet, and slowly turning it around to show them the photo that the dwarf drone took of her. "She's plotting against me." Ophelia tells the two as Fitz grabs the tablet. "I need to find her and expose anyone helping her."

Asta looks at her photo, "She must be stupid to go after you."

"I'll send my team." Fitz says unbothered, "Consider the threat eliminated." he says before turning to leave the two.

"You'd really do anything for us, wouldn't you?" Ophellia asks, causing him to stop.

Fitz turns around to face the two girls, "I'd cross the universe for you both."

_________

Jemma and Daisy were trying to get caught up and figure out this new framework world they were in with the help of the Ward of this world. "Fitz is to far gone. He's untouchable Jemma." Daisy explains to her.

"Well what about Asta? She's on earth right? I saw a photo of her at the school." Simmons questions.

"She's just as untouchable." Daisy says shaking her head. She hesitates for a moment, "Jemma, theres something you need to know about them."

"What is it?" Simmons asks, a small gleam of hope in her eyes.

"Fitz and Asta... are together." Daisy says a bit unsure.

Jemma raises her eyebrow at her tone, "Together how?"

"I saw them being really close. Like touching each other close." Diasy tells her softly.

"I knew that Fitz liked her at one point but... for Fitz to be with Asta. I'm not mad, I'm more so surprised." Simmons admits, causing Diasy to sigh in relief that her friend wasn't crying.

"The Princess isn't the only person Fitz is with." Ward chimes in, gaining their attention.

"What do you mean?" Daisy questions.

"Fitz and Asta are together but the Director is who has them wrapped around her finger. The three of them are unstoppable." Ward reveals.

The girls eyes widen as they silently realize who the director is. "Getting them back just became much more complicated." Jemma whispers.

_________

"The field trips are always my favorite part of a mission." Asta tells Fitz as they look over a digital map.

"Thats why I suggested it for us my dear." Ophelia says as the plane begins its decent.

The three turn to the exit as the troops around them were already in formation. As the door began to lower the troops before them parted to let them through. Asta stood in the middle with her dress billowing as they began to walk over to a man who stood with his arms crossed waiting for them.

"Search the island. Find them." Ophelia instructs.

"Yes Ma'am." a solider responds.

"You two with me." Fitz instructs as he begins to walk in a direction.

"Play nice dear." Asta teases before walking away, to follow some soliders in another direction.

____________

Asta rejoins the group seeing as Fitz was holding a gun towards a woman and facing the man who had been waiting for them when they arrived. "I see you're having fun without me." she says as she joins them.

"The subversives are here. I-I-I-I see now I should have been more forthcoming. Please, put the gun down. I'll take you too them." Radcliffe begs as the girl was sobbing in fear staring at the gun.

"Tell us the truth. You act like you know me... Why?" Fitz questions, his movement unswayed.

"The soldiers can find the subversives. We should be going." Ophelia tries to dismiss.

"No. I'd like to hear what he has to say." Asta says, standing her ground as she moves to stand next to Fitz.

Radcliffe glances at the two, "You were like a son to me. And the three of us, we worked side by side in the lab." he tells them, pointing at him, Fitz, and Asta. "And on occasion we'd raise a pint... or six, watching football, real football." he continues.

"Thats absurd." Fitz replies. Asta tilts her head at his words, a faint memory of them around a table going through her mind. With a blink it was gone, and she stares at him, her face expressionless.

"Its the truth, my boy. You both even helped me build Aida." he tells them, pointing to Ophelia.

"Enough!" Ophelia demands. "We're done here."

"Then how come, we don't remember you?" Asta questions, crossing her arms, her tone unnerving him.

"Because, it all happened in the other world." Radcliffe tells them.

"It wasn't you. It was their worlds version of you two." Ophelia tried to tell him.

Fitz glances at Asta before looking to Radcliffe, "And the woman? Jemma Simmons?" Fitz questions.

"Simmons? You and her were in love. Unbreakable. A force to be reckoned with. The Fitz I knew nearly drowned for her... The Asta I knew took a bullet for both you and her. He crossed the bloody universe to rescue her! She signed an accord, limiting her magic just to be able to see them again!" Radcliffe despretly tries to tells them.

"Where do I even fit in this story? You bring me up, but I don't see how I'm relevant?" Asta questions, feeling a bit hurt that he would say Fitz loved this other woman and not her despite knowing her.

"Because you are their best friend. You heard me, you-you took a bullet for them. You protected them the best you could. You're an Avenger, thats why knowledge of you is scarce, but I taught you Asta... You wanted to learn science to understand and help them..." he explains to hopefully find some connection with her.

"Why would I want to know science, when I have magic." she replies, before grabbing Fitz's hand for comfort, not liking the words she heard.

"You see what we're up against? They mean to destroy us." Ophelia tells the two.

"She lies because I'm right. She's trying to decive you two." Radcliffe tries to tell them.

"I love you." Ophelia says gaining their attention. "They're trying to take you two away from me."

"The world has changed. But you are not this man. And you are not this melevalent god. You two are one of the good guys. You help people. Look inside." Radcliffe pleas with them. "This isn't you."

"You say that I'm not myself." Fitz says, glancing at the gun that was still pointed at the woman. "I don't know who I am."

"It isn't your fault, any of it." Radcliffe tells him.

"But, you're wrong. I know exactly who I am." Fitz says before shooting the woman.

"Fitz!" someone shouts from behind them. "No!"

Asta and Fitz turn to see it was Jemma Simmons who shouted with tears running down her face. An image of her goes through Asta's mind, the two of them laughing before it goes away just as fast, with an urge to protect her. "Lets go." the blonde suggest, shaking off the feeling and looking away from Simmons, seeing as the soldiers were engaging in a shoot out now. Fitz nods and the two make their way back to the plane. Their mission was a somewhat success.

Chapter Text

"Thank you, gentlemen." Fitz says, as him and Asta enter the interrigation room where a tossed aside 'Skye', or as she prefers to be called, Daisy, layed on the floor.

"Why are you doing this, Fitz?" Daisy questions, breathing heavily.

"It's Dr. Fitz." he corrects as he fixes his hair and coat, "And unlike the men who just left, we know the truth about you, and your world." he tells her as he pushes a loose strand of hair behind Asta's ear.

"You mean our world." Daisy corrects him.

"I wouldn't try that with us. We know that you replaced the real Skye." Asta tells her as Fitz paces the room, circling the girl on the ground.

"Replaced?" she questions, "It that what she told you?"

"Somehow you conquered Hydra in your world, and now you want to conquer ours." Fitz says as he grabs a chair and gestures for Asta to take a seat as he leans on the chair.

"All I want, is to get out of here." Daisy tells them.

"Tell me where the patriot is." Fitz says, unfazed by her words.

"I don't know." she replies.

"Tell me, did he come from your world?" Asta questions, leaning forward towards the girl on the ground.

"We all did, you two included." Daisy tells them, as Asta leans back and crosses her arms.

"And the other subversive, Jemma Simmons?" Fitz questions.

"She's not a subversive." Daisy was quick to snap back.

"Where is she?" Fitz asks, seeing that he was pushing a button.

"If I knew, I would tell you, because anyone could get you to wake up and realize that this nightmare isn't real, it would be her or Asta. But Asta is here too, brainwashed, so she has to get both of you to wake. up... She loves you, and you love her. She's your best friend Asta, and she's a real person, not a Hydra murderbot who's got your brain-" Daisy was quickly shut up'd by Fitz who smacks her across the face sending her to the ground with a groan.

"The carrot or the stick? When neither motivates the truth, we face unspeakable choices." Fitz lectures as he cleans his hand before pacing around the room again.

"What happened to you Fitz?" Daisy questions softly, avoiding looking at either of them.

Asta sighs, "This is our home." she reminds her as she stands from her seat, towering over the girl. "We're not going to let you destroy it."

"We'll get to yours first. And when we do, the Patriot, and all of his kind will pay for ever setting foot here." Fitz tells her threateningly, before grabbing Asta's hand and leading her out of the room.

_______

"Hello Agent May." Asta greets as she enters the plane, the woman gives her a nod as a greeting as she takes in deep breathes having taken the medication.

"Now, you have an hour of augmented strength, don't waste it." Fitz tells the Agent before exiting the plane, him and Asta sharing a glance as they part.

"Now Agent May, lets go catch ourselves a Patriot." she tells her with a wicked smile as the plane takes off to the location they believe the inhuman to be.

May was quick to action rushing out of the plane once they landed, to not waste time, Asta follows with stride, only really here to watch over May as instructed due to the expirmental medications. She watches as May rushes and attacks the Patriot without hesitance.

The two properly begin to fight as someone runs away from them. Asta floats up to watch the fight, not wishing to be caught from behind, or to get in the way of them. She was only suppose to engage if May were to Die, or someone else attacks her first. Ophelia wouldn't let her hear the end of it, if she were to fight.But Asta was itching for a battle. It wasn't until May's strength began to fade that Asta came down. "To bad. You are quite the warrior to watch in battle." she praises the Agent.

May sighs, "I'm sorry to fail you."

Asta smiles, "Oh, I don't think you've failed me... I believe that you have him right were we want him." she tells her. "Q-5, he's entered the Quarentine building. Fire when in position." she instructs in her coms.

"Copy that."

The quinjet was quick to fly overhead, and send a missle at the building, causing an explosion. Two soliders join them as they began to approach the building. "The building is unstable Your Grace. You and Agent May can't go in." one of them reports.

"We need verification that the Patriot is dead." May tells him before taking his gun. "If he's not, then he will be... Activating body cam, going in."

"Let's fetch us an Inhuman." Asta says as she follows the Agent.

The two go through a staircase, May taking lead before stopping as she rounds a corner. "Don't shoot! They need help up there!" Someone requests before him and others cough from the smoke, making there way down and past the two in fear.

"This is Agent May... There are kids in here... Why the hell are there kids in here?" she asks through the coms.

"Lets continue May, they are leaving don't get distracted." Asta instructs, unbothered by the teens who just pass them.

The two were quick to follow to the room where the kids were coming from, "Wheres the Patriot?" May demands the four adults that were in the room.

"Put that gun down. We need help here." a man in glasses, Coulson, demands right back at her.

"And who are you to give orders to us?" Asta questions, giving him a glare from where she stood behind May. Jemma's eyes widening when she sees Asta so much closer to her then before.

Coulson glances at her, a bit of fear and recognition floods him, before he looks back at May as she turns off her light, seeing the look of concern in her eyes, "Theres a kid buried under that pile of rocks." he informs them, ignoring the blondes question.

The room shakes a bit, startling them all. "It's coming down!" The other man, Trip, warns them.

"No, it's coming up." Jemma tells them as she looks at the rock pile.

A groan could be heard as the Patriot, Mace, stands as he lifts up a beam and many rocks as he tries to save the teen who was stuck. "Get him out." Mace instructs.

May glances back at Asta, only to see her glare at the patriot, "Nobody move!" May demands as she holds her gun up at them.

"Are you insane? Hey's trying to save a kid!" Coulson questions.

"So was I." May tells him.

"Agent May. He's the only thing keeping this building from falling down on all of us." Ward tells her, glancing at Asta only to see her cross her arms but make not advancment towards them. "You shoot him, we all die." he informs them.

"We don't have time for this. We got to save that kid." Coulson, says before looking to the others, "Form a chain. Find something to prop that beam up." he instructs, before turning to May and Asta again, "Either shoot us, or help us. But don't just stand there. Snap out of it May." he demands.

"Oh for Odins sake." Asta groans, before walking past May. Ward and Trip tense as the Princess walks past, and begins to float as she made her way to the hurt teen, "Come on, lets get you out of here." she mumbles as she helps him up and has him grab onto Coulson.

"Why are you helping us?" Ward questions the blonde.

"Just because you think me a malevolent god, does not mean I'm not a merciful one." she replies to him with a tilt of her head.

"I got you Chris." Coulson reasures the teen as they move out of the way of the rubble. Jemma and May moving to help get him and Coulson out of danger.

"Thank you!" Chris says as he rushes out of the room.

Asta moves back to safety, staring at Jemma, as she recognizes her from the island. Blurred memories try to surface for a moment, but she just stares at her with confusion. "This cabinet should hold!" Ward shouts as him and Trip move a big metal cabinet, gaining her attention.

"It won't work. Get out." Mace demands with a groan.

"No! We're not going to leave you! Asta, please do something." Jemma pleas, but Asta doesn't move, she just stares at the Patriot as he struggles.

The room shakes some more and Mace shouts at them, "Go!"

Asta watches at the Patriot struggles, falling on his knees at the weight. "Lets go Agent May." she says before turning and walking out. May hesitant, but follows after her. Everyone, but the Patriot made it out. Asta was able to celebrate this victory for Hydra with Ophelia, Fitz, and his father with a glass of champagne. Drowning out the intruding thoughts of the feeling of familiarity that came everytime she saw Jemma Simmons and the need to protect her.

Chapter Text

An attack on Ophelia was the last thing either Asta or Fitz wanted to hear. "We're confident she'll regain conciousness. There is concern however, for her spine." A doctor informs the group as they look over her, as she lay in her bed covered in bruises.

"Will she walk?" Fitz's father, Alistair questions.

"The trauma shattered her T4 and T5 vertebrae. And we're still determaining the extant of the nerve damage, but, uh, there is ex-" The doctor was cut short.

"Leave." Fitz says simply. "Now."

The doctors listen, and all file out of the room. Asta slowly makes her way and takes a seat at the edge of the bed next to Ophelia, looking at her with concern. "We'll find a way to help her. There's no doubt. But for now your focus should be on the traitors who did this. They've made us look weak." Alistair tells his son.

Fitz clenches and unclenches his fists, "We can't have that." he replies, not having it in him to look at the two girls.

"No. So, what are you going to do about it?" Alistair questions.

Fitz turns his head to look at his father, "Send a message to the people."

Alistair nods, "Exactly."

"Betryal will not be tolerated." Fitz tells him.

"Thats my son." he replies. "We're all hoping for Ophelia's recovery, but, in the meantime, you two have an obligation to lead. You're the new head of Hydra.

Asta stands, and makes her way to Fitz's side, "Then lets waste no time." she replies, fire in her eyes.

____________

"Asta!" Fitz shouts as he makes his way to her from down a hall.

"Yes? What is it? Is it Ophelia?" she questions, worried something had gone wrong.

"Yes, but its fine. She woke up for a moment." Fitz tells her as he pulls her into his office.

"Oh thats wonderful!" Asta says in relief, pulling Fitz into a hug.

"She wants me to focus on the Machine." Fitz tells her before pulling away slowly.

Asta looks in his eyes and sees his confliction, "Focus on her request. I can focus on the traitors until you're done." she reausres him.

Fitz sighs, "Are you sure?"

She places her hands on him neck and steps closer to him, "Hey, don't worry about me. Just this once, I can protect myself. Trust me." she whispers.

"I don't want to lose you too." Fitz whispers back.

"You can never lose me Leopold." she tells him softly before he kisses her.

_____________

"Your father is a very stubborn man." Asta says as she enter the lab where Fitz stood, working in.

Fitz looked over his shoulder at her for a moment before continuing his work, "What'd he say to you?" he asks.

"He insists on taking charge of finding the traitors and told me to 'Wait until I'm needed' as he put it." she informs him.

Fitz sighs, "I'm sorry he did that. He cares for your safey."

Asta laughs at his words, "He only cares about being incharge of something. Having power over others." she tells him as she wanders to stand on the other side of his desk, looking at him through the hologram.

"If he fails us, then we won't tolerate it." Fitz reasures her.

"He lost 7 agents and the traitors once today." Asta informs him.

"I've heard. I warned him once. He'll do best to listen." Fitz says before taking a step back.

Before the two of them was the Looking Glass Machine, finished in hologram form. "Well, would you look at that. The genius finished." Asta says as she also takes a step back to admire his work.

Fitz smiles, "Lets tell Ophelia, shall we?"

__________________________

The two enter her room, and make their way to her side as Ophelia looks at the two with a weak smile, "It's done, Ophelia." Fitz tells her as he takes her hand. "I've completed the design." he tells her as they sit in open seat next to her bed.

"You won't have to live like this for much longer. No more suffering." Asta tells her with a soft smile.

"I had my doubts about the project, but I finally see it. You're new body will be stronger. That's who you were meant to be." Fitz tells her, both recieving another silent smile from her.

"I just have one request." he says, looking down at their hands, before grabing Asta's too. "Take us with you."

"I hoped you'd say that." Ophelia says softly, causing the two to give her a big smile.

________________________________

The body cam footage was out. "Just because you think me a malevolent god, does not mean I'm not a merciful one." those words repeated in her mind as she stares at the tv.

"You helped them?" Alistair questions her as they stood in Fitz's lab.

"I helped a child." she corrects him.

"You helped the enemy!" he accuses through gritted teeth.

"Enough!" Fitz shouts, standing between the two.

"The Patriot fell either way, why are you accusing me of- of such horrible things?" Asta questions the man.

"Maybe you've begun to sympathize with them." Alistair says going to take a step closer to her but Fitz stops him.

"I said, enough." Fitz tells him coldly.

His father glares at her, before look at his son, "Deal with this then." he tells him before exiting the lab.

Fitz sighs, before turning to face Asta, "Please don't think I've betrayed you too." she requests softly, her tough facade fading as she stares into his eyes.

"You were only helping the child?" he asks, wanting to see her eyes.

"Only the child." she confirms, keeping eye contact.

He nods, before pulling her into a hug, "We'll figure this out." he whispers to her. "I trust you."

Chapter Text

Entering an interigation cell for the second time this week was something Asta couldn't wait to do, especially when it could lead them to the traitor Daisy. Her, Fitz, and a guard entered the room that held Radcliffe.

"I'm not talking to you, either of you." Radcliffe tells them.

"I believe, you don't really have a choice in that matter." Asta replies, in no mood for games. "Tell us what you and Skye were discussing yesterday."

"Uh, we spoke of many things. Our favorite breads, hers brioche, mine a homemade pumpernickle." Radcliffe replies earning a glare from the blonde.

Fitz steps closer to the man sat on the floor. "Where's she headed?"

Radcliffe looks up at his towering figure, "Huh, you're afraid. You may not be the Fitz who was my good friend. The man I would step infront of train for... but you wear your fear the same way." he taunts before chuckling. Fitz gives the gaurd a look before turning to Asta as he takes of his jacket. The gaurd hits Radcliffe, causing him to yell and groan, before laughing and wincing in pain. "They're fighting back huh? Soon, Daisy and the rest of them will escape this wretched reality." he says through clentched teeth.

"But if thats true then they'll destroy this world. Taking you with it, right." Asta speculates as Fitz sits on a chair and she leans on the table.

"Better dead then alive in this miserable place." Radcliffe replies with an eye roll.

"And the other place?" Asta questions, crossing her arms. "Your world."

"Far to late for that. I'm already dead over there, thanks to your psychotic brunette girlfriend murdering me in cold blood." Radcliffe tells her with pitiful laugh.

"What if I told you there was a way to be reborn?" Fitz brings up.

"Take your pamphlet and go knock on someone else's door." Radcliffe dismisses.

"This isn't about faith. This is about science." Fitz tells him, leaning forward. "We've built a machine in the other world, which can transfer human conciousness into an organic body."

"How is that even possible?" Radcliffe pauses, before looking over at the two of them, Fitz giving him a wide smile, and Asta a look of amusment.

"Oh, come on. I think you know." Fitz taunts.

"The Darkhold." Radcliffe whispers before scoffing, "Aida's ingenuity in circumventing her protocols are extroridinary. She'd have been quite the terrible teenage daughter."

"I think you're missing the grander picture." Asta tells him, earning a look of confusion.

"This machine can build you a body in the other world. You can have a second life, or a third, or however many you want. That's up to you." Fitz suggests to the man.

"Immortality." Radcliffe whispers in realization.

"If that sort of thing appeals to you... yeah." Fitz replies with a shrug.

Radcliffe sighs, "Daisy's looking for a way out."

________________

Seated in a plane, heading to the location that Radcliffe had revealed to them when Fitz got a phone call. "Yes, Father?" Fitz answers.

There was a moment before Fitz unhooked from the seat to continue talking away from the soldiers. "Yeah of course." Fitz replies confused bfore getting out of ear shot of the others, that was until Fitz began to talk louder and in more of panic, "Dad? Are you still there? Dad?" he question over and over.

On the other end of the phonecall Alistair was in a fight with Jemma, who was holding a gun but nearlly getting choked by the older man while Fitz's voice comes through the phone.

Everything was quiet, then a gunshot could be heard, "Dad?!" Fitz shouts this time, concern clear in his voice. "Are you ok?! Dad, answer me!!"

______________

The group on the plane took an immediate detour to Alistairs home. Soldiers scouting ahead of Fitz and Asta out of protection. "Clear! One down." A soldier shouts, allowing them and their assistant for the time being, Radcliffe, to enter the home.

"Sir! Princess!" another soldier says from the dinning room, the two calmly walk through the home to see Alistair on the ground, a gun shot wound on his side.

Fitz nods, before turning away from the body pacing to the window, Asta follows to comfort him. "Round up the men. Start canvasing the area." the soldier orders.

"That won't be necessary." Fitz tells them.

"Fitz?" Asta questions quietly.

"Excuse me, sir?" the Soldier asks confused.

"I'm sure the fugitive's gone by now, but it doesn't matter. We know where she's going. Get the men back on the Zephyr." Fitz instructs.

Radcliffe moves to follow but Asta grabs his arm, stopping him from going any further. "You say this woman loves me..." Fitz starts, slowly turning to the man.

"Uh, yes, well. Clearly this was an accident. Heartbreaking accident, but I don't believe her intent was-" Radcliffe tries to explain, but Fitz grabs him from Asta's grasp and pulls him over to the body in anger.

"Look at him." Fitz instructs, as Asta stays in the living room, watching the two.

"Fitz..." Radcliffe tries to talk.

"Look! At! Him!" Fitz shouts, pushing him down. "That's my father, laying there, murdered in the home that I bought for him." Fitz points, before pushing the man back up, "You are gonig to lead us to Jemma Simmons, where it is my intent to put a bullet through her skull." Fitz tells him.

"Enough wasting time, lets go." Asta tells them before leading them back to the Zephyr.

____________

"We've just recieved word from Madam Hydra to terrminate the Mission." a solider informs Fitz and Asta.

"Message recieved." Fitz replies.

"Instruct Jennings to reroute the plane-" The soldier begins to sinstruct but is cut short.

"Do no such thing. We will return once my fathers murderer has been found." Fitz explains.

"Is that understood?" Asta asks the soldier, after seeing his hesitence to agree.

"Yes Your Grace." he nods before leaving them.

"The back doors exit point's programmed to be in a city park, not some steel mill. What's going on here?" Radcliffe questions, confused as they look over the map.

"Seems Madam Hydra is a step ahead of you again. She's made a few modifications." Fitz tells him as he grabs Asta, moving to get ready.

________________

They were here, the gun fire was enough proof for them to enter and look for Jemma Simmons. Fitz took the lead for the group, only having one solider with them, Holding a gun up once they found her. "Hello Jemma Simmons. Seems you finally found me." Fitz says once she turns to face them.

"Fitz... Asta..." Jemma says, taking steps towards them seeming relieved to see them.

"You don't get to say our names. Not after all that you've done." Asta tells her, stepping up to Fitz's side, anger like Jemma had never seen before burning in her eyes.

"It wasn't suppose to be like this. Aida... she took you from me, took both of you from me. And I came here to rescue you two." Jemma tries to explain.

"So you killed my father?" Fitz questions, "Right after he tells me that he loves me, you murder him in cold blood... as I listen."

Tear comes to Jemmas eyes as he spoke, feeling guilty over all of it, "I am so sorry." she says after taking a shakey breathe. "It was an acciedent."

"Nothing that you have done has been an acciedent!" Fitz shouts, "You want to destroy this world. You want to destroy me! You want to destroy the women I love!" he accuses.

"That woman is lying to you! None of this is real! She's not real! Aida's just a robot that you, Asta, and Radcliffe created!" Jemma shouts back, clearly frustrated.

"Her name, is Ophelia." Asta snaps back.

"Its name, is Aida." Jemma replies to her as a tear runs down her face, "Artificially Intellegent Digital Assistant. And stop making excuses for it! Radcliffe and Daisy told you the truth!" she shouts at them, causing Fitz to take a step closer to her with the gun.

Jemma takes a breath as another tear rolls down her face, "Please. Fitz, you and Asta have to wake up." she begs calmly.

"Get on your knees." Fitz instructs.

"No." Jemma replies, earning her a shot in the thigh as she cries out in pain as she falls to the floor, making Asta flinch. "Please... You don't have to do this." she tries to reason with them. "I love you." she says to Fitz. "And you're my best friend, please." she says to Asta.

The two stare at her for a moment, "And you mean nothing to us." Asta replies with a tilt of her head, causing Jemma to let more tears fall.

Fitz walks closer to Jemma, now having the gun right to her head, "I want to hear you say it. 'I am nothing to you'." he demands. Jemma sighs, "Say it." he demands again.

"Say it." Asta demands this time, but Jemma keeps her eyes closed.

A gun shot goes off, causing them all to duck down, only to turn and see Radcliffe now pointing a gun at Asta's head. "Ah ah ah." he says to Fitz, who glares at the man. Radcliffe reaches over and takes his gun now having one to point at each person, before hitting Fitz in the nose.

"Fitz!" Asta shouts in concern, only recieving a groan in response.

Radcliffe pushes both Asta and Fitz forward, holding a gun to both their heads, "This was never my intention. The Darkhold, it currupted my mind. Please, don't blame yourself, either of you." he tells them as they make their way to a platform where a vat of molten steel was, causing fear to show in their eyes.

Daisy uses her opens on the molten steel to reveal the programming back door, causing the two's eyes to widen "It's all my fault." Radcliffe tells them before pushing in Fitz casuing him to disappear right before Asta's eyes.

"No!" she shouts, before turning and finally using her magic to push Radcliffe away from her, before falling to her knees in tears.

Jemma makes her way to Asta, falling to her knees and pulls her into a hug much to Daisy and Mack's concern. Asta cried, though confused on why she was being hugged by the woman she was ready to let die not even 30 seconds ago. "Why would you take him from me... Why? Why do you want to send me to a world where he doesn't love me?" she asks in sobs.

Jemma pulled away from the hug slowly, "Oh, Asta." she says softly, never having seen her friend so frigile, not even when she was shot or they were at the bottom of the ocean, "He loves you so much... He'll probably never know how to say it... Much like how you could never admit it either. But trust me, his love will still be their." she tells the blonde, causing her to calm down.

Asta stares at her, recognizing her a little more now, her hug feeling familiar. Her eyes held so much truth, causing her to nod, "You never would lie to me would you? Be-because your Jemma, and you're a terrible liar." Asta whisper, causing Jemma's eyes to light up.

"Never in a million years." she whispers leaning her forehead on hers, "You should go through, help Fitz." Jemma suggests.

"Yeah." she agrees before standing, her hands still holding on to Jemma's, "See you soon." she tells her new/old friend before releasing their hands, turning to Daisy with a nod.

Daisy returns the nod, and opens the back door allowing her to jump through and disappear from the Framework.

Chapter Text

Reality -

Gasping awake with a fright, Asta looks around confused and disoriented. She removes herself from the leaning bed she was in, pulling out needles that were in her arms and a 'magic scanner' from her head, before dropping to the floor seeing Fitz and Coulson talking a few feet from her.

"Don't blame yourself. The framework messes with everybody's head." Couslon tells the scientist.

She was confused until it all came flooding back to her. Her fake reality memories. All she did to 'help' humanity. Her life with... Fitz. Looking back over at him, she can see how frightened he is. "Hey, hey, you're okay now." May tells her, rubbing her arms, pulling her over to take a seat with her.

Asta was taking deep breaths as she was still processing everything, "No, but I-I-I-I, I killed people." Fitz stutters as he backs away from Coulson.

"No they weren't real." Coulson tries to reasure.

"Agnes was real... And Mace." Fitz tells him.

"Oh... no, Mace." Asta realises she had a hand in letting Mace die in front of her. She looks over to see the empty space, "I ordered the Air Strike. I could of saved him but didn't." she says, guilt flooding her as she covers her mouth in shock.

Fitz and Asta shared the same look of guilt and fear, while the other two just looked at them in pity, not blaming them for what happened in the Framework. Doors could be heard opening and closing near by gaining May's and Coulson's attention, "Somethings out there." May says with concern.

Coulson looks between the two people, seemingly having an anxiety or panic attack of some sort, both breathing heavy. "Listen to me, both of you. None of this is your fault."

"I wanted to do those things, it felt natural." Fitz tells him honestly as he takes in shakey breaths, tears pooling in his eyes, "I think that I'm a bad person."

"No.. No yo-" Coulson stops talking as he stares at someone over Fitz's shoulder.

Fitz's breathing hitches causing Asta to look up and see Aida, or Ophelia, or whoever, standing before them... A human version, causing Asta to stand in shock. "Leopold. Asta." she says seeing the two, grinning at them.

"Ophelia?" Fitz asks confused.

"I am so happy to see you two." she says as Asta walks over to stand by Fitz, confused. "This is what happiness feels like?"

"She's not a robot anymore." Coulson says in realization, as Fitz and Asta approach her. "She can bleed just like us." he says as he goes back over to May, who had found a gun.

"Finally, you can touch the real me." Ophelia tells the two, before grabbing each of their hands, "Feel my heart beating." she says, pulling their hands to her chest.

"Careful Fitz, Asta." Coulson says but, it falls on deaf ears.

"Touch my skin." Ophelia says in soft excitment, placing one of her hands on Asta's cheek.

"May..." Coulson says.

"Asta, Fitz, Move!" May instructs, but they don't listen.

"We can make this world whatever we want." Ophelia whispers to them.

"Take the shot May!" Coulson instructs.

"Get out of the way Asta, Fitz!" May shouts.

When neither of them say anything, Ophelia grabs them both and teleports away, leaving the other two stunned. "Did she just..." Coulson tries to form into words.

"Pull an Asta on us but with all three of them... yeah." May replies with a sigh.

"But Asta's uses a portal." Coulson still tries to understand.

"All the more concerning." was Mays response.

__________________

The three now stood on a beach, two of which who were more confused and morally questioning then the other. Ophelia stood on the shore, allowing the water to cover her feet as it rised. Asta was very shaken up, with everything that was going through her mind with false memories of a life that wasn't real; to her magic making her feel a bit ill in her stomach due to teleporting with others, something she wasn't use to and being trapped in a Darkhold created simulation for who knows how long.

Asta had her hand holding on to Fitz's to keep her steady as she felt her hands shake. His grip just as tight, needing something to ground himself as well. "I had no idea. I've only emulated human reaction, but to actually feel..." She pasues as the water rushes up again, barely touching the others feet as they stare at the back of her head, "The warm sand, the water rushing over me..." Ophelia tells the two in awe.

"I feel like I'm going to be sick." Asta says, placing a hand to her stomach as she faces the ground, doubling over slightly.

Fitz helps her by leading her to the ground, keeping a hold on her as they kneel in the sand, "I'm sorry. You two must be overwhelmed." Ophelia says as she faces them, causing them to look at her again. "Two lives worth of memories."

"Only one type of person could do those things." Fitz says, the guilt in his eyes.

Ophelia approaches the two, "You did what you had to do in order to survive the framework... Both of you." she tells them as she kneels infront of them. "But it was a simulation." she says before placing her hands on both their cheeks. "An illusion created by Radcliffe."

"But you were there." Asta says as she removes her hand from touching her, Fitz doing the same.

"Along side us the whole time." Fitz adds on, as he moves to stand, helping Asta as well. "Allowing horrific acts of violence to be carried out in your name."

She follows the two, "You're implying I had a choice." Ophelia says, "I was a slave. Programmed to make the adjustments Radcliffe required. The world changed from there. I... All I did was try to fit into it." she explains to them.

"No, you lied about everything." Fitz accuses.

"I told you the truth about this world." she countered.

"But you Manipulated us." Asta tells her, glaring at her.

"Every decision you made was your own." Ophelia replies causing Asta's stomach to sink. "All I did was have you go with your brothers to stop the Frost Giants. And for Fitz was restoring his relationship with his father." She explains to the two.

Fitz and Asta begin to back away from her, "The only other change that I made in either of your life was introducing myself." Ophelia tries to explain herself, causing the two to stop.

"First day of class at the Academy..." Fitz says, remember his false life.

"First day I arrived on Earth..." Asta also says as the two turn to her again.

"Befriended you both. Trying to understand what it felt like to connect with someone. But I wasn't able to actually feel anything. Until today." she explains as she approaches them again. "I'm feeling, love, wonder, joy... for the very first time, and I think my heart might burst from it." she tells them with a excited smile. "At last, I get to make my own choices, and..." she pauses before grabbing their already conjoined hands, "The first thing I choose, Asta, Leopold.... is you two." she whispers.

They stare at her a bit stunned, but before either of them could reply they teleport away once again. Leaving behind only footprints in the sand.

____________________

The three were in the real version of Ophelia's home from the Framework. Asta stood alone in the restroom, trying to catch her breath while she stares at herself in the mirror. She was given clothes to change into but she felt like screaming. Why were they here? Why is she still here? 'For Fitz'. She had to remind herself that she couldn't leave Fitz alone with her. With a deep breath, she straighten out her clothes before exiting and headed for the living room.

Fitz was stood, already changed previoulsly looking out the window, but now looking at Ophelia who was sitting on the couch. "Its to much. I know. It was a silly idea." Ophelia tells him, as Asta enters, taking a seat on the other end of the couch, having missed the begging of the conversation. "Sentimental attatchment to objects was hard for me to understand. Until now. Now taste, touch, every sense gives me a rush." she explaisnas she stands and slowly makes her way towards them.

Ophelia holds her hands out to Asta, who was hesitant but places her hand in hers, standing to follow as they approach Fitz. "I've felt both your touch before." she reminds them as the continue to step to him, "But now I get to experience the ecstasy you felt each time." she says as she goes and lightly places her other hand on his shoulder.

Fitz moves away a bit and turns to face the two, "Do you... do you have empathy?" he asks her, as he moves to the other side of Asta, "Can you imagine how somebody else might feel?" he continues walking back.

"I can. Especially you two." she replies before looking out at the view, "How confusing this all must be."

Asta lightly removes her hand from Ophelia's, "So then, you can imagine how your actions might be viewed by to others..." she tells her softly as she follows Fitz, but keeping her eyes on Ophelia.

"You were ruthless." Fitz reminds her as they see the confusion in her eyes.

"I was ruthless to win the hearts of the people I love. The people you became." she replies sincerely.

"My father's son." Fitz replies, his tone almost questioning.

"A battle Princess." Asta adds, her tone that of discomfort.

Ophelia looks down in thought, "I thought his presence was what you'd have wish for." she replies to Fitz first unsure, before looking between the two, "I'm sorry. I was just programmed to make you happy. To make all of you happy." she explains.

"Who?" Fitz questions, take a step towards her. "Radcliffe, our team, yeah." he says taking another step, past Asta. "Who else is on that list?" he questions.

Ophelia looks at them in realization, "Oh no."

"What did you promise the Russian?" Fitz asks in a concerned whisper.

When Ophelia didn't reply Asta took a step, "What is waiting back there for our friends?" she asks in worry now.

Chapter Text

"They could be fighting for their lives." Fitz says, now stressed as Ophelia revealed she promised the Russian revenge on Coulson. "You need to go back and get them out of there." he reasons with her.

Ophelia was pacing, "I'm- I'm sorry. I'm having trouble thinking clearly, and analyzing the situation."

Asta quickly goes to her side, "Hey, okay. Don't think about it. Don't think." she tells her calmly earning a nod, "Yeah, okay now, what do you feel like you should do?" she asks her.

"I don't know..." Ophelia whispers in a panic tone as tears gather in her eyes. "I'm scared."

"Hey, its okay to be scared. I'm always scared before I go on missions. It's normal." Asta tries to reason with her.

Ophelia shakes her head, "Agent May had a gun ready to kill me." she reminds the blonde, before she stops shaking, "I don't want to die." she says in realization, the tears gather some more as she turns away from Asta and Fitz as he joins them. "I'm afraid to die." she says as she lets out a sob.

Asta looks to Fitz, unsure of what to do now. "But you feel compasion, yeah?" Fitz brings up, "Because if, if you really believe that you are capable of love.." he tells her, causing her to look back to them.

"And being loved." Ophelia whispers.

"If you really believe that, th-tha-that all the hurtful things you did were not your choice, make your own choices now. Do the right thing." Fitz explains to her.

"Focus on empathy." Ophelia replies with a small nod, "Not fear."

"Yes. Exactly. Think about what the others are feeling." Asta tells her with a nod.

"The people you put in a life or death situation." Fitz adds on as she wasn't looking at them, "Ophelia." he says to gain her attention. "They don't want to die either."

"You have the power to save them. Not me. You. So please, save them." Asta pleas with her.

_____________________

Ophelia teleported away to save the Agents, Asta and Fitz were left to pace, worry, and wait. When she reapeared with no one they were surprised, "Ophelia whats wrong?" Asta questions, but she received no answer as Ophelia grabs her and Fitz and teleports away.

Teleporting into a submerging building was surprising but Asta was fast to realize the plan. Mack was the only one still in the room, hooked into the framework. Asta puts up a forecfield around the four of them to keep the water from rising anymore as Fitz goes and grabs Mack and Ophelia does the same. "Come on." she shouts to the princess as the water now floods around them, cracking through the shield.

"Go. I can get out myself." Asta tells them as she focus' on holding the water preasure.

"Asta!" Fitz shouts before he teleports away as Ophelia listens.

"Stuck underwater twice. Good one Asta. At least I can get out this time." Asta mumble to herself before opening a portal and going through as the water hits her.

___________________

Asta falls on her knees as she portals onto the quinjet that she hoped someone would be on. Soaking wet, she moves her hair and looks up to see Jemma and Piper looking at her shocked. "Oh I'm so happy to see you." she tells them with a breathy laugh as she stands. As she goes to take a step towards them she sees Ophelia and Fitz unconcious on the ground next to Mack. "What?"

Looking back to the other girls, she sees them both holding ICERS up towards her, "Woah! Woah!" Asta says holding her hands up, but not putting a shield up, feeling a bit to drained to do so just yet. "There is no need for that!"

"Asta..." Jemma says, seeming unsure.

"Jemma, you saved me, I remembered you... Why would I attack you?" Asta tells her slowly, a bit out of breath, now really feeling the affects of her day as her legs shake.

"How can I trust anything you say?" Jemma questions, her aim unwavering.

Asta sighs, "Because I'm going to pass out regardless, at any second, and I would rather you know I won't hurt you then use the ICER and be unsure." she explains to her friend.

Jemma looks at her, now concerned, "Why are you going to pass out?" lower her gun slightly.

"My magic... Her power..." she explains poorly, pointing to Ophelia,"The framework with the Darkhold? I don't know. I've just been, feeling... off." she tells her before falling to her knees unable to stay up.

"Asta!" Jemma shouts in concern, rushing over to her side, not slipping dispite the large amount of water everywhere, "Asta, hey." she says as she grabs her arms to keep her up right.

"You and Fitz know my DNA best. Aida only knew the little I shared. She messed with something, I don't know. Maybe... Maybe it's the Darkhold messing with me... But, I trust you two. Okay, I trust you." Asta tells her softly, breathlessly before falling into Jemma in a weak hug.

"Asta! Asta?" Jemma questions in concern, moving the blonde to see her passed out. She looks back at Piper to see the Agent give her a worried look. "Oh dear, this can't be good."

__________________

The team decided what was best was to place the three into the power dampaing cell at the secret base while they refuel and think of bigger plan. Asta's powers would also be damped using a braclet built by Fitz-Simmons as requested by Shield for emergencies. It was the best solution for now, as Simmons could also monitor her vitals through it. If the Magic was the issue, removing it from use should get rid of the issue, at least for the time being. Asta was laying in the bed as Ophelia and Fitz were lowered in via the containment pod.

When Fitz woke up a bit dazed, Ophelia was standing in the larger room, staring at the virtual window when he approached her, glancing at the still unconcious Asta with concern. "Aida would of catergorized this as irony. But I see it as poetic." Ophelia says as she hears Fitz enter the room fully. "A simulated view. My punishment, now that I can tell the difference."

"You did a good thing back there. Saving Mack. Thank you." Fitz tells her before approaching the bed, sitting next to Asta.

"It was the best moment of my life." she says before turning to look at the two taking a shakey breath. "Do you think they'll be able to forgive me?" she asks, continuing before she could get an answer, "Perhaps they, they need me to feel pain to understand theirs."

"They maybe able to forgive you." Fitz reasures her as Asta began to wince at the bright lights, opening her eyes. "Its me they won't forgive."

"Don't say that. You're Fitz." Asta tells him softly, slight teasing tone, hoping to cheer him up, only recieving him grabbing her hand in return, no smile.

"They shouldn't." he says with a small shake of his head.

"We all did things we regret." Ophelia say as she approaches the two, sitting on the otherside of Asta. "I know you're struggling with who you were in there..." she tries to comfort.

"No, I'm not. I'm not struggling with who I am. I did those things, not some other man, or a decoy." he tells her without not looking up at either of them before pointing to himself, and looking up, "Me."

"It was learnt behavior, programmed into you by an overbearing father figure." Opheliea explains to him.

"Just like Ward." Fitz says in realization.

"Hey, you are not Ward." Asta tells him, slowly sitting up.

Fitz scoffs, "I'm just, like, Ward." he says looking away from them. "How can she even look me in the eye? Or even stand the sight of me at all" he questions looking down at his feet as he lets go of Asta. He takes in a shakey breath, "How can she stomach it. The memory of seeing me, shooting that woman."

"She watched me as I left Mace for dead... So many times I almost went after her... Who knows what I would have done." Asta says with a tear running down her face.

"Um, you know the reason I... wanted to get closer to you two in the first place... was to try and understand how the three of you... felt, for each other. You two, and Jemma. And now I finally do." Ophelia admits, causing the blonde to look at her. Asta glances over at Fitz to gauge his reaction, only to see him look at her and not the brunnete.

After another second he looks to Ophelia, "Yeah." he says then scoffs, "What we felt. Past Tense. 'Cause my future with Jemma is dead. And I never had, or will have a chance with Asta. Killed that, too." he tells her.

Asta lets out a shakey breath as she looks away from him. Whatever happened between them in the framework, was hard to explain and was hard to push away. Guilt and saddness is what Asta felt whenever she thought she felt happy in that world with Fitz. Guilty, because she thought she was betraying Jemma, and saddness knowing it may never be a real thing she could properly have. Asta moves to stand, not being able to be so close to either of them, feeling overwhelmed as tears fall down some more.

"It's okay... Its okay." Ophelia tries to comfort him, scooting closer to him.

"There isn't room in my heart for three people. You were everything to me." Fitz admits, not looking up at either of them.

"I know." Ophelia tells him, as Asta silently cried, staring at fake window. "But as devoted as I was to you in the Framework, I understand you better now. I understand you both, better now. How deeply you both love, and care." she tells the two, causing them both to look at her.

"You do understand me, don't you." Fitz says as he stares at her. Asta looks away before either of them could see her tears.

"Yes, Leopold. It's sad... but beautiful. Like a, a pain that- that feels good, if that makes sense." Ophelia explains with sad laughs.

Fitz nods, "You understand that my love will never fade." he whispers just loud enough that Asta could still hear them.

"No, I know." Ophelia replies with a nod. "Poor thing. You're a romantic. And their is only room in you heart..."

"For them." he says surprising everyone that was listening to him.

"What?" Ophelia questions rather harshly.

"What?" Asta whispers to herself quietly, not expecting to hear him say that. She was expecting just Jemma, now she was confused, and a small bit happy.

"What?" Fitz question back, confused on why the brunette was questioning him.

"What do you mean 'them'?" Ophelia continued her questions.

"Listen..." Fitz was about to explain.

"What about me?" she continued to question as Asta looks over at them, concerned by her harsh tone and their close proximity.

"Yeah, no, I... I- I mean, in the framework, you were my whole world, but..." Fitz tries to explain.

"But?" Ophelia asks, not understanding, "But what, Leopold?" she questions, causing Asta to take a few steps towards them slowly.

"I just... I only mean that... Asta and Jemma-" he was cut short.

"No!" Ophelia screeches in horror, causing the blonde to go to Fitz's side to protect him from the brunette if needed.

"Okay. Alright. Look, calm down, calm down. We're just talking." Fitz tries to tell her, slowly standing to be next to Asta, keeping eye level with Ophelia, "This is... This is a new emotion for you."

"No!" she shouts again, standing across from the two with a look of, despair on her face. "I clawed my way through that world, worked myself to the bone to have a choice! To have bone, and blood, and freedom and love! And... No!" Ophelia shouts at them as they we backing away from her before she grabs both of their arms tightly to keep them still.

"Okay... Okay, just calm down, breath. Just please-" Asta tries to reason with her, seeing the anger in her eyes. "Just, uh remember the feeling you had when you were helping people earlier remember."

"Yeah-yeah, lets go back to that emotion." Fitz stutters out, clearly shaken up by her exploding at him.

"I choose you! I choose, both of you!" Ophelia cried out, "Now you choose me!" she demands of them.

"Thats not how this works!" Asta snaps back at her. "You can't control everything anymore." she tells her honestly.

"Watch, we will build a life together, whether you two want to or not." Ophelia tells them before teleporting them, only for them crash into the wall of the room. She looks around confused while Asta sighs in relief. "We're stuck in here?"

Asta moves Fitz behind her as they back away from Ophelia as she looks at them angrily. "What did you do?!" she shouts, before pushing Asta to run into the pod that Fitz had already run into. Asta was quick to push a button, having the door close behind her and Ophelia hit the window, "No!"

The two back away from the door a bit panic'd by her freaking out on them. She continued to bang on the door shouting at them when the door behind them, leading to the base opens, "Fitz. Asta. I got you, go, go go." Davis says, entering the room having a gun trained on the door that Ophelia was shouting at.

They exit the pod with Davis shutting the door to block off Ophelia as other Agents move the two away from the door. "You're lucky she didn't kill you two." Piper scolds them. "At least the machinery in there will keep her powers contained."

"No." Fitz disagrees as he takes in deep breathes, "Thats not her only power." he tells them.

___________________

The agents began to lead the two through the rumble that's left of the base to put distance between them and that cell. "Wait... Wait everybody should get out." Fitz tries to reason with them. "Leave me here alone."

"Yeah, not a chance." Piper tells him as they keep going.

"She can't be stopped." Fitz continues, as Davis leads them all befor they turn a corner and 3 army men see them.

"Freeze! Right there!" one shouts, causing them to stop.

The army and the agents each holding guns at one another while Asta worriedly glances at Fitz as he was a few steps behind her. "Come on guys, it's never to late to start a conversation." Piper tells the army men before Ophelia appears behind one of them and grabs a gun and shoots him before teleporting away.

"No, no, no! Don't shoot! That was not us! That thing is not a friendly!" Piper shouts quickly to not start a fight.

"We gotta get you two out of here." And agent that was by Fitz and Asta told them as he grabs Fitz as the blonde turns around.

"No. Wait, wait!" Fitz tries to argue, but the agent wasn't listening.

Chapter Text

Asta follows the Agent as he drags Fitz with him away from the others to find another way out and away from Ophelia, where ever she may be. "We should be good here." the agent says as they stop in a differnt hall.

"No, I don't think we are." Asta says as she looks around the hall on alert. She didn't have her powers, so lets hope all of Natasha's training was worth it.

"She'll find us!" Fitz tells him as they look back the way they came.

The two hear a familiar sound and turn to see her behind the Agent. Before anything could be said she snaps his neck, "No!" Asta shouts in shock.

Ophelia begins to make her way towards them, but Piper turns the corner and shoots, hitting her target in the stomach, causing the brunette to gasp. Before anyone else could move, Davis turns the corner and shoots her a lot more.

Piper moved quick, grabbing Fitz and Asta and pulling them back into the transport pod, "No! No, no. Leave me here!" Fitz protests.

"Davis becareful!" Asta shouts as the doors close behind them and Piper puts in a code and the pod begins to lift up, into the main hual.

In the main haul through the window we see the team, Talbot, and his army behind him. "May! We have to move! If she can find us, she'll kill us all!" Fitz shouts through the window.

"Davis had her down for the ocunt." Piper tells Fitz.

Fitz snaps, "They won't listen to me!" he shouts at the wall before looking back out the window, "She can't be stopped." he warns them.

"I can't stop her!" Asta adds to his warning.

Fitz hits on the window, "May! May!" he gets her attention, "You're the only other person that knows about the Inhumans we tested." he warns her, causing her to look at everyone in concern before running off.

"Hey!" Talbot tries to stop her but Daisy steps in the way.

"Try it." she warns him, as they all had their guns trained on her now, "Lets see what happens."

"Davis..." Piper says in realization.

"We already left him." Fitz tells her, "I'm sorry, but he's as good as dead."

"Theres a chance he got away before she healed." Asta says, trying to give her hope.

The sound of the ship getting ready to take off fills the air, "If you put down your guns you can come with us." Daisy tells the General and his men.

"I don't suggest staying, but the zaphyr is leaving with or without you." Coulson warns them.

"Fall back." the general orders, holding his gun up to show them he's no threat. The men listen and they all exit the Zephyr with no arguments.

As the Zephyr goes up, Piper opens the door and leave the two as they take a seat on the bed. Fitz looking down at his feet and Asta leaning back on the wall, looking up. The other past the door, glancing in but Jemma pauses as she looks at them.

Slowly, Jemma enters the pod going to them, "I can leave if you-" Asta stands, whispering her offering for Jemma to have time with Fitz, but is stopped.

"No, its okay." Jemma tells her as she sits next to Fitz, softly pulling Asta to sit beside her.

Fitz was looking away from them as tears gather in his eyes. Slowly Jemma places her hand on his back and slowly to his shoulder as she pulls him into a hug of sorts causing him to start crying. Jemma had tears gathering in her eyes causing Asta to hug her as well as they all sort of just sat their and cried, leaning on one another. Crying over all that happened in and out of the Framework.

_____________

Since the team was able to avoid Ophelia, a new issue has arise, Yo-yo went into the framwork to find Mack, but a past android is now slowly shutting it down, meaning who knows what for them inside.

After Jemma had a quick talk with Fitz, Asta decided to enter the lab where he sat. "Hey." she greets him a tad bit awkwardly. Getting some memories from the Framework from when she would greet him very differently there.

Fitz looks at her, a confliction in his eyes. "Hey." he says just as softly, his eyes staying on her as she looked around the room.

"Need to redecorate." she jokes, still not looking at him.

"Asta..." Fitz starts earning a 'hmm' from her but she refused to look at him. "You aren't looking at me." he comments.

The blonde sighs, "What do you expect, after everything we..." she stops to collect herself, slowly looking over at him. "We're different now." she tells him.

"We-we are different." he agrees, slowly moving to stand across from her. "I never intended for you to find out that way... well to ever find out really. It was a silly feeling I kept buried, but... it was never fake, Asta." he tells her honestly.

"But Jemma-" Asta tries to rationalize.

"She knew. And she would tease me about it, alot." he reveals, before slowly grabbing one of her hands, "I think everyone but you knew. And I honestly thought, I might never see you again, but when Agent Hill came to talk with Mace and Jemma, a small part of me hoped you would have came too. And the next day..."

"The next day, I came to your lab. Simmons new responability and you... I'm pretty sure you smiled for a week straight." she jokes, causing him to let out a small chuckle.

"I don't think I ever thanked you, for taking that bullet for us." he says, looking at his feet for a moment, before meeting her eyes.

"You don't need to thank me. I'll take another bullet for you if it ment you got to live." she tells him honestly.

Fitz sighs, "How did you ever fall in love with that monster?" he mutters, refering to the Doctor that he was in the Framework. He closes his eyes, not being able to accept this other part of himself.

"Maybe, because deep down I knew the real you." she answers him causing him to look at her again. "I love you because you are kind to me. And patient. And brilliant. And just, so much more that I'm sure if I list off we'd be here forever." she jokes, laughing a bit, before sighing. "The way you treated me here or there was only a little different." she tells him, placing her other hand on his cheek. "You are Doctor Agent Fitz." she teases.

Fitz lets out a shakey breath, "Love. Present tense?" he asks, he eyes not leaving hers.

Asta nods, "I buried my feeling because of how much I knew you love Jemma, and I couldn't stand to get in the way of that." she tells him.

Fitz opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead he leaned forward and kissed her. Asta didn't hesitate to kiss back. No thoughts entered her mind, only focusing on him. The real him, not the Framework version. The real, nerdy awakard genius that was here, being confident for once and taking charge by kissing her.

After everything that they had went through, the only good thing that came out of this was their emotions. Whether whatever they had would last, who knows. Jemma was aware, but she still loves Fitz, and Asta was her best friend. She knows what happened in the framework so there is bound to be lingering side effects.

Chapter Text

"For now, if we get in contact with her, don't let her teleport you. I theorize that's what messing with you the most. But we'll need you on the field with the others to get her to that Robbie can finish her for good. I hope that since we have the Darkhold, we'll have the advantage so she shouldn't be able to hurt you anymore. But If you feel woozy again," Jemma rambles as she takes of the magic dampener from Asta's wrist.

"Tell Daisy, Coulson, or find you. Got it." Asta replies, not looking at her friend.

As Jemma was putting her stuff away she noticed, "Hey, are you alright? You're avoiding eye contact, whats wrong?" she asks in concern, thinking she wasn't feeling well.

Asta sighs, "Jemma, you told me in the Framework that- that Fitz loves me. Why would you tell me that if you love him?" she questions her friend, still not finding it in her to look at her.

"Because since the day you arrived for that mission, I've seen the way he talks to you, and the way he looks at you. It was obvious he fancied you." she tells her truthfully. Asta doesn't reply, taking in this information, "And... and I've seen the way you look at him." she admits.

At this the blonde looks up, "What?"

Jemma laughs lightly befor leaning on the table across from her, "I didn't notice properly until I saw you staring at him when he wasn't looking. You two are a bit oblivious when it comes to this. But I only noticed after me and Fitz got together." she tells her, looking down a bit. "I didn't feel jealous, just a little sad. I love Fitz, I really do. He would be over to moon to know the two girls he'd fancied love him... But he's..." she wasn't sure how to word it.

"He's Fitz." Asta puts it simply, understanding what she meant.

Jemma sighs, "He's Fitz... But after the Framework, with what Daisy and Ward told me. And when I saw you two together... A small part of me thought, 'They found each other again' and I was happy that neither of you were alone through out that hell." she admits.

"Fitz told me, uh, he told me that he wasn't originally going to tell me, but the Framework... he didn't want me to know. But I told him that I was doing the same thing. Burying it away, how I felt... For you two." Asta says, looking away again.

"Asta..." Jemma tries to say.

"I know. I-I just, I want you to know I do love Fitz. And, and I do love you. But you two; wow, you two are just perfect together." Asta tells her, with light tears in her eyes but a smile on her face.

"I don't want you to stop loving him." Jemma tells her, feeling a little sad seeing the tears in her best friends eyes.

Asta lets out a small laugh as she looks up to keep her tears from falling, "Gods, I don't know if I'll ever stop. But, I couldn't stay here if it meant tearing you two apart. I don't want to be that reason."

"Nothing you do or say will do that. We both care about you to much." Jemma reasures her.

A guilty look comes across Asta's face, "Jemma... I- he and I kissed. Here, not just in the framework. I-I'm sorry. But, with everything, we were talking and..." she covers her mouth as a tear falls not wanting to start crying again. She feels like thats all she's been doing lately, crying.

Jemma looks at her with a sad smile, "I rather he kiss you then Aida. But it's fine, he still feels horrible about the Framework... Once you two are able to process all of this properly and we finish this mission, then we can talk about whatever it is that we have to figure out." Jemma reasures her again, before pulling her into a hug.

Asta sniffle a little as she hugs back, "I've missed you're hugs." she whispers, so relieved with this conversation.

"I've missed you." Jemma replies with a smile. She knows that while Fitz-Simmons would go across the universe for one another, Asta with be right by their side to protect them; all they have to do is ask.

__________________

"Did you bolt the door?" Fitz asks Jemma as the three were in the server room setting things up.

"Of course, what do you think I am?" Jemma replies as she plugs something in.

Asta goes to say something but the familiar sound of teleporting gains her attention. "I think you're dead." Ophelia replies, standing directly infront of Jemma.

Asta was behind Jemma, and Fitz was behind Ophelia, making this a bit confusing on how she could protect them both with her in the way. "Okay, remember what we talked about before?" Fitz questions her, gaining her attention away from Jemma.

"How there isn't room in your heart for me?" Ophelia questions, as she approaches him, giving Asta the advatage to move her way to Jemma.

"No, that being humans sometimes means-" Fitz tries to explain but is cut off.

"That there's pain, and tears, and suffering? Yeah, I'm catching on to that pretty quickly. Now I understand why humans have written so many sad songs." Ophelia says getting right in front of him, putting Asta on edge.

"Yeah, hey thats a great example." Fitz agrees, not showing his fear as he stands infront of her, "There are lots of ways to express saddness and pain. Theres music and art-"

"And smashing heads on the floor. Thats the one I like the best so far." She tells him, before turning to face the other two, and make her way to them causing Asta to move Jemma behind her. "Did you know that blood has a copper smell?" she asks as she approaches them, her eyes set on Jemma.

"Okay, Ophelia. I'll go with you. Please don't hurt anyone?" Fitz says as she stops infront of the girls.

Asta stands her ground, positioning her hands to conjour magic. "Its Aida." Jemma says, "The 'A' stands for Artificial remem-"

Ophelia goes to take a step around Asta but stops when Fitz starts talking, "Ophelia you're upset, because... because this is all new!" he tries to reason with her. "Ther-There's lots of feelings. That must be overwhelming." he says causing her to turn back to him.

"It is overwhelming." she agrees, "There are to many feelings." she says as she begins to approach him again, "Which is why I've decided to only feel one of them... vengence." she tells him as Jemma silently grabs a screw driver for a weapon just in case. "It's hot and clean and sharp like a knife. And my vengence... Is going to make you suffer." she tells him, as Jemma walks past Asta, much to her silent protest and she approaches Ophelia. "The way that I have suffered."

Jemma goes to stab her, but Ophelia was fast, grabing her arm and now holding the weapon to her neck instead. "Hey. Hey. Take me. You want to make them suffer? Take me, not Jemma." Asta bargins.

Ophelia looks at her and stabs Jemma causing her and Fitz to scream out, "No!!" as Jemma gasps for air.

"Beg me to let her live." Ophelia tells the two, as they stare in shock, and she holds the screw driver in her chest.

"I'll do whatever you want." Fitz please, holding his hands together, "We can go away, start again."

Ophelia looks over at the blonde, wanting to hear her beg, "We can leave and be happy together." Asta adds on, fear clear in her eyes.

"To late." Ophelia tells the two, before looking to Jemma, "This is making me feel better. Fitz, why do we feel better when we make someone else suffer?"

"Because there's something wrong with you, you psycho!" Jemma tells her only to shout in pain as the pushes the thing further in her chest.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop." Fitz tells her, "Please, please, spare Jemma." he begs.

"So, it's Jemma now. Trying to humanize her? I'm afraid you're going to do better then that." Ophelia taunts as she twists the screwdriver.

"Fitz... please, please. I'm scared... Asta, make... her stop." Jemma begs them.

"The Darkhold!" Asta shouts, gaining their attention, "That's the only way we can beat you. And I'm sure you'd want it back. So, let Jemma go, and I'll take you to it." she bargins, clenching her fist to keep from shaking.

Ophelia thinks, taking her hand off the screw driver and on to Jemma's neck. "You did this... You both did this..." Jemma sobs in fear.

"I'm so sorry Jemma." Fitz apoligizes to her.

Asta bits her tongue to keep from crying when Ophelia doesn't move, "Coulson was reading the book. He wants to open a gateway." she tells her, trying to make it sound more enticing.

"Come on, please, let me take you to it." Fitz offers instead.

Ophelia slowly lets go of her neck, only to then electrocute her with her powers, "Jemma! No!" Fitz screams in horror.

"No!" Asta screams, moving to hit Ophelia with magic only for it deflect and hit the wall as her electicity continues.

When she stops, Jemma falls to the floor and Fitz goes to help but is grabbed and pushed up against the servers, facing Asta. Ophelia leans in to his ear, "I'm going to kill everyone you love right infront of you." She tells him before looking over to Asta, "and theres nothing you can do." she says before sending electricity at Asta, sending her flying into a wall. Ophelia stops when she teleports away, letting Asta fall with a groan.

Fitz takes a deep breath before going over to Asta, "You alright?" he asks as he helps her up.

"Yeah, the wall hurt more but the shield took most of the electricity." she says with a small groan as the make their way out of the room, passing the LMD Jemma they made to trick Ophelia.

The two were quick to meet up with the real Jemma and rush to were they heard screaming, turning a corner they saw Ophelia and Ghost Rider. She was screaming to get away but he had her in his grip burning her with the hell fire to end her, and he did just that.

"Is she really..?" Jemma asks as she approaches the no longer ghost rider, Coulson looking at the ash pieces remains of Ophelia.

"Yeah." Coulson reasures her as they look on in relief.

_______________

Back in the room in the portal, the team were going to send of Robbie, the actual Ghost Rider, as he takes their copy of the Darkhold so others can't use it. "You really have to leave right away?" Daisy asks, seeing as she was closes with him.

"Yeah, I have to get this book someplace safe. Even if it's only a copy." He glances at Asta, silently telling her that she was right about the book. "Keep an eye on my brother?" Robbie requests to the Inhuman, who gives him a nod.

"The gateway is almost ready." Jemma tells him.

"Don't need it. I've learned a few things since you saw me last." Robbie tells them before going to a part of the room with a bit more space, and using his chain to open a portal. Coulson holds out the book to him, "I don't envy you." he tells him as he takes it.

"I was going to say the same to you." Coulson replies.

Robbie and Daisy share a nod before he walks into the portal and it closes. "What did he mean by that?" May questions.

Before Coulson could reply, Mack and Yo-yo enter the room "We picked up radio chatter on the Zephyr. The good news is, is that Talbot is alive. He's in a coma, but alive." Mack tells them.

"The bad news is, that they know we're here. And they're on their way." Yo-yo tells the team.

Fitz sighs, "Yeah, you should go while you can." he tells them earning a confused look from Asta.

Coulson also gives him a look, "Yeah, we're all going." he tells him.

"No, I'm gonna stay." Fitz replies, "This is my fault. Aida, the LMDs, all the deaths. Those aren't on S.H.I.E.L.D, they're on me." he explains, avoiding looking at Jemma or Asta. "I, uh, I can explain that I built the LMD that shot Talbot. That way-"

"Fitz." Daisy cuts in, causing him to stop and look at her, "We were all in the Framework together. We understand how confusing and screwed up that world is. And trust me, it's going to take me years to process everything that's happened in there. But the one thing I don't need time to understand is that we are all in this together." Daisy tells him. "I tried to take the blame for everything not to long ago. I dyed my hair, I ran away. I thought that separating myself from the team would help me protect it. But in truth, I kind of just lost myself. And you, you were the one who pulled me back in. This is not on you, okay? We all lost ourselves in there. And yeah it may take you a long time to forgive yourself. But, speaking on behalf of the team, you have nothing to apoligize for."

Fit looks around at everyone, seeing that no one held any ill will for him, "If theres a price to pay, we pay it together." May tells him.

"Amen." Jemma finishes, as Fitz now just had tears building in his eyes.

As Fitz dries his eyes Coulson chimes in, "Anyone else hungry? I'm not saying we're definantly going to get locked up, but if we are... Wouldn't mind grabbing a bit to eat first."

___________

"Theres no way you haven't been to a diner." Jemma teases as they team all sat on bar stools eating food.

"Its true. No one has taken me to one before." Asta replies with a laugh as she drank her lemonade.

"Yeah I don't think Black Widow is taking her to diners." Daisy jumps in. The blonde sat between the two.

"I guess your right, but Captain America must have suggested it." Jemma insisted.

Asta just shakes her head with a laugh. "Nope."

"Anyone have any room for some Pie?" A waitress asks as she refills Coulson's coffee. Everyone murmered 'yes's all around. "Okay, so we have apple, strawberry, rhubarb, and choclate banana cream." she lists off before the power shuts off.

Lights from outside flood in, illuminating the room. "Here we go." May says with a sigh.

Soldiers with guns burst through the door, everyone slowly put there hands up as there time was up. "Philip J. Coulson?" a man asks.

"Yep. That's me." Couslon replies. "You got us, nice job. And hey, congrats on the whole power outage thing. It was very ominous."

The man, activates a device, casuing everyone to freeze. "The window closes in less then two minutes. Take them." he instructs the 'soldiers' before leaving the diner.

Chapter Text

Season 5: Space and Time
----------------------

Gasping to regain breath was all that could be heard. "Is everyone alright?" Coulson asks the team as they all breathe. Asta stood a bit behind him and May as they all look around the room confused.

"Yeah I think so." Mack replies as he sees the team not harmed.

Jemma stares at something familier to her. While the rests were looking around and regaining their balance or breath. The air was caught in her throat as she stares at one of the monaliths. And before anyone could question why, it consuemed them.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

While the teams teleport was a bit scattered, Coulson, Mack, Yo-yo, and Simmons were all able to find one another. Daisy, May and Asta were a bit seperated from the rest. When Asta finally teleported in, she was a bit disoriented, getting teleported around with not her own powers is a bit weird to her.

A half yell-groan caught her attention, turning a corner she sees a familliar agent. "Oh, May!" Asta says rushing to her side once she sees the Agent trying to free her leg, seems that teleportation for May got her leg phased into a pipe of some sort.

"Help me." May tells her through gritted teeth.

Asta nods and grips the pipe, pausing for a moment seeing the power dampener bracelet back on her wrist. She ignores it for now and tries to pull it from the sink, doing so earned a painful noise from the Agent. "Sorry sorry." she tells her before trying again. Before she could, the door near them begins to rattle, loudly. "What was that?" Asta whispers in concern.

"I don't want to find out, now pull." May replies looking at the door for a moment before gripping the belt she had been using to try and get her leg out. The two begin to pull and were succesful in freeing the pipe thus freeing May, well partially.

Before Asta could say anything for a plan, May twists the pipe them pulls her leg forward freeing her from the other end that it was connected into the wall. Asta catches her before she coulds fall as she rips the pipe from her leg. The banging at the door became more frequent, causing the two to look at each other and make their way away from the door as fast as they could with an injured May.

As the two hid around a corner out of sight, the door finally opened to reveal a person in a full face mask with glowing eyes. They were dragging in another body and laying it down near the ones May was near before. The two watched him with caution as he removed his mask.

The man seemed to just be taking stuff off the bodies. At one point he took out a knife and began to pry something off of the skin. Once he got whatever was on the dead guys arm, he wiped his knife and hands on the guys clothes before standing and leaving the room.

Slowly the two leave the little hiding spot and look around, fully seeming just how many dead bodies were in the room. Unfortunatly for them, they didn't see or hear the door opening again and the unmasked man reenter. Asta gasps when turning around as she was face to face with him, causing May to turn to face him aswell. He was quick and held the knife up to Asta's throat before pushing the two up against the wall.

"I've been looking for you." he says to the two of them as May groans in more pain.

Asta was griping onto his arm, trying to push him away from them but the two just struggled. She glances at her power dampening bracelet, silently wishing she didn't have it on. With a deep breath she stomps on his foot causing him to take a step back giving May enough time to lift up the pipe she still had a grip on going to hit him, but he blocks her.

He punches her and kicks at her already damaged leg causing her to go down. Asta was quick to step in and punch him. The two struggle for a bit as he tried to swipe his knife at her but she holds his wrist before he could stab her in the shoulder. "You know I don't wanna hurt you two." he tells them sounding a bit frustrated as he sees May stand up again. "But the idea is starting to grow on me." he says before moving his hand that held the knife away from Asta causing her to stumble before punching her hard, into the floor near a wall.

He goes to attack May but she was fast and swung the pipe at him, hitting him in the face. "I deserve better then this." he mutters as he wipe his mouth.

"Tell that to the corpses." May argues back. She goes to swing but misses as he ducks down. The two continue to swing and dodge before he had enough and took off part of his belt and stuck it on May's stomach twisting the knob and she began to float. As if there was no gravity. He twists the knob again and it sent her flying back into the wall where she was stuck above Asta.

"Damn." the man says as he catches his breath from the fighting. "I was not prepared for that, I got to admit. You pack a bit punch for such a small package. I gotta read the fine print next time." he says breathing a bit more, "I hate wasting the charge on that thing." he says pointing to the gravity belt that was on May.

Asta groans as she looks above her to see May stuck to the wall but the man not attacking either of them. "No, honestly, I wasn't trying to hurt either of you, but you had a lead pipe at the ready and I can't-" before he could continue to explain May kicks him in the face as he approached them.

The man groans before looking back at May, "Ok. I guess we'll stick with the first impression." he says as he takes out his knife again as a precaution.

"I don't know what you did to these people, or why we're dragged here bu-" May tries to talk to him, but he wasted no time putting a rag in her mouth.

"Save it." he says before looking down at Asta who was a bit frightened to be fair, "The less I know the better."

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

He wasted no time tying the two up, although May gave more of a fight, Asta was panicing over why there were here, and where 'here' was. She was still getting over everything with the framework so being thrusted into this with no powers was overwhelming to say the least. The unmasked man also covered Asta's mouth as he did May. Didn't explain why, seeing as she wasn't exactly talking to him, he just did it.

Lighting a flare, he throws it out the door before closing it, "There that should keep the roaches away for a while." he says before walking ove to the two, "Smell drives them nuts, I think. But you kick me again, and I'm gonna take her and leave you to be their dessert." he tells May as he approaches the two.

He pulls out his knife again flipping it open. "Now, this is going to hurt like hell, but it's better then the other way we can do it." he warns them before kneeling down to May first. He grabs her wrists as she stuggles against her restraints. "I don't know where you two flushes out of, but in this sector, you can't go 10 feet without a Metric." he 'explains' before May begins to stuggle again. "Hey. Don't move. One inch the wrong way, and your a vacancy." he warns, causing May to stop. Holding her wrist steady, he stabs straight down causing May to scream in pain, but it was muffled as he then inserted the 'Metric'.

Once he was done with May and her Metric he shifts to Asta who stares at him with wide eyes. "Don't move okay." he tells her, seeing the fear in her eyes. She nods, bitting down on the cloth. He holds her writs to keep her steading before dowing the same thing he did with May. Squeezing her eyes shut, she screams.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The two women were following the man, both keeping quiet as he talks to a Kree about the 'scam' that their team was stuck in. The Kree didn't say a word as he lead them to a holding cell before opening it to reveal Coulson, Jemma, and Daisy. "May." Coulson says in relief to see her.

"Buddy!" the man says as he enters to greet their 'friend'. "Just go with it." he whispers quickly to the group so the Kree couldn't hear. "I've been looking everywhere for you guys." he says in a normal voice again. "Man, what a mess back there, huh?"

Asta helps May into the cell to the be with the team as the guy turns to the Kree. "These poor suckers. Virgil, you know, from R&R? He's trying to scam these guys out of some tokens." he explains before gesturing to May and Asta, "These two, came running to me, begging for help. The poor things." he says before turning to the team, "When I get my hands on that no good louse, he's gonna have some explaining to do. So, where is Virgil, anyway?"

"He's dead." Coulson replies.

The man pauses before nodding, "Good. Good. Got what he deserved then, didn't he? Trying to drag these poor transfers up from processing into the wet works just to steal their Metrics." he says, lifting up Coulson's hand that he smeared blood on it for emphesis. "So, he's just Roach food then, huh?"

"Oh, yeah." Coulson confirms.

"One more vancany right?" the guy says with a nod.

"Thats what I was gonna say." Coulson replies with his own nod casually.

The guy nods before looking to the girls, "Guys, what did I say about trusting Virgil, huh? We went over this. What did I say?"

"Don't trust him." Jemma replies.

"Not to trust him." Daisy says.

"God, you repeated back to me, we said it back- it was like a pass and catch thing." he says before walking abck over to the Kree who stood by the door. "Look, I really appreciate your help with these guys, but I can take them off your hands now, and I can slip you a few extra tokens for your trouble." he tries to talk his way with the Kree, "Listen, I'll be- I'll be honest with you, man to... more than a man. If I don't get these guys back processing at warp speed I am going to be in some pretty hot water. So, I know it's not ideal, but... Look if you- if you come by the gallery for an hour or two, I'll make it worth your while, all right."

The Kree looks around at everyone before giving the man a nod and stepping aside. "All good gang, so, single file." he tells them before exiting the room. Daisy follows, then Jemma and Asta, ending with May then Coulson.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

As the group made there way down an empty corridor, it was clear for them to talk. "Where are we?" Asta softly quiestions Jemma.

"Space." she reples with a sigh.

"Is Fitz with us?" she asks.

"No, he wasn't with us when we got transported." Jemma confirms.

"Well, I'm glad hes not in this mess with us." the blonde told the scientist.

"Me too." she replies before the group stops.

"What the hell happened to Virgil?" the guy questions once he made sure the cost was clear. "The roaches get him?"

"Sorry to say. Was he a friend?" Coulson confirms.

"Aquantance. He owed me a ton of tokens for this job." he replies.

"Job?" Jemma questions.

"All he said was that he wanted to hide some people. That's not unheard of. So I was hired to supply the Metrics and swap them out, but you guys don't even have Metrics, which means that you don't have the tokens to cover Virgils end, so have fun." he explains before going to walk away.

"Hey, wait wait. We need your help. We need to find our friends." Daisy tells him.

He steps up to her confused, "Your friends? Your friends attacked a kreeper. They'er as good as gone. Those blues are bred to kill, so you just- you make your peace with it." he tells her.

"We'll take our chances." Coulson says causing the guy to turn around. "Listen, if you could just help us find them and then get to the spacecraft-"

"You mean the trawler?" he cuts him off, "To do what? The only pilot I knew was Virgil, may he rest in peace, apparently. So, best of luck to all you guys, but mines running out."

"You got a name?" Coulson asks.

He sighs, "Deke."

"Well, Deke, we just wanted pie. And now we don't know where we are or whats going on, and we finally found someone who does, so, you're not walking away." Coulson tells him.

From down the hall the group all heard the shouts of Yo-yo, with the distraction, May was able to grab Deke's gravity belt and place it on his stomach and then send Deke flying at the wall like he had with her. "Where's the trawler?" Jemma questions him.

Deke rolls his eyes, "Take the lift down to level nine. You can't miss it."

"May, take Simmons. Get that spacecraft in the air. Send out the signal." Coulson instructs, before turning to Asta, "You, I'm powering you back up. We need all hands on deck." he tells her as he uses his fingerprint to remove the power dampening bracelet.

"Are you sure?" Asta questions.

"It's an emergency. And humanity needs our help. You can do this." he gives her a quick pep-talk, earning a nod from her, "Good. Go with them." he tells her gesturing to the two who had just entered the lift.

As the three women make their way down they notice just how big the space station was with the window on the back of the lift. "Whoa. How many Kree live here?" May questions.

"Too many." Jemma and Asta reply as they look on.

"Think about it. The Kree have been studying humans for years, moving here in large numbers." Jemma explains.

"Kree who are bred to kill." May says with concern.

"Bred to kill and living withing striking distance of Earth. This isn't an outpost." Jemma says looking over at the two.

"It's a staging ground. They're planing an invasion." May says in realization.

"They're studying humans close up to better understand how to take over." Asta says as she stares on at the facility.

The lift stops and opens. The three pause as a Kree walks past before making there way out and see a sign that shows an arrow and the word 'TRAWLERS' on it. The three all go to the left, following the arrow.

The three enter a Trawler with ease. "Can you start her up?" Jemma asks as May takes a seat on one of the chairs.

"That's the ignition port, I think, but, uh, we obviously don't have the key." May replies with a sigh. Jemma takes a seat in the other chair while Asta stands seeing as it was only a two seat aircraft.

"What are the chances of one of us finding that key?" Asta questions the two ask she looks around.

"Wait." Jemma says as she remembers something. Reaching into her pocket she pulls out something that looks like a weird key. Holding it up to the ignition port the key and the port light up and she was able to slid it in ans twist it, starting the engine.

The screens all turned on and they all look at each other relieved. "Well, that worked out." May says before strapping herself to the seat, Jemma doing the same. Asta sighs before holding on to both their seats.

"Have you ever flown a spaceship before?" Jemma questions.

"You know the answer to that question." May replies. She looks around before finding what she assumes the disattachment was, and pulls it. Thankfully she was right and they were properly airborn.

May was able to smoothly fly them out, and the three look out the window in awe. "I... have no words." Jemma says.

"Don't need them." May replies.

"Well I can tell Natasha I've been in space now." Asta says looking just as amazed.

They continue to fly away from the station and closer to the debris as Jemma was starting to press buttons to see what one would help with sending out a signal. "We need to get up off this debris field if we want a clear signal." May says as she looks around.

"Yeah if I can figure out how to send one. I mean the good news is, I- I recognise some of the constellations, so we're- we're at least in our own galaxy." Jemma says earning a sigh from May.

"Yeah I'm recognizing most of the stars, but somethings off." Asta says as she looks around.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" May questions them as her eyes widen.

"I know May. I recognizing all of these constellations." Jemma replies not looking in the same direction as the other two.

"I think she ment that." Asta says looking at a very destroyed Earth.

As Jemma looked in shock she took in a shakey breath, "No reason to send a message back to Earth. We're already here."

Chapter Text

"Its gone. Every... Every..." Jemma tried to say but couldn't as they all looked out at the destroyed earth.

"One." May finished as the three continue to stare.

A crash breaks them all out of their trace, and debry floats pass them after crashing into the side of them. "What was that?" Jemma questions now on alert.

"Lets hope this ship is designed to take a few hits." May says right before a larger piece of rock debris hits the ship causing it to tip over, sending Asta flying to the side with a yelp of surprise. "Hold on!" May instructs to them.

"To what?!" Asta replies as the slowly makes her way back over to them.

"Find something." May tells her as she tries to steer them back to being leveled out before an alarm started to go off. "Thrusters are misfiring." May tells the two as the ship leveled but was shaking. "Talk to me what do we do?" May says looking over to Jemma with worry.

"You're the pilot!" Jemma replies before looking around, "It knocked something out of alignment. Nothings working properly."

"Simmons... we don't want to hit that." May tells her as they slowly are heading towards a giant rock field.

Asta looks around and turns off the engine while taking out the key. "Are you trying to kill us?" May questions as everything shuts off.

"First rule of I.T. Turn it off and back on again." the blonde replies with a shrug before putting the key in and twisting, only for nothing to happen. "That shouldn't happen." Asta says now more panic'd then before.

"No, this should be working." Jemma says starting to look around.

"No!" May says with way more panic then before.

"Come on." Jemma shouts, hitting the top of the dash and all the lights turn on, staring everything back on.

"Hang on!" May tells them, giving them no time to be relieved. Asta was quick to grab onto the back of Jemma's seat, while May navigates them under the giant rock and between two others, getting them out safely.

May was quick to navigate them back to the space station where they met back up with Coulson and Deke. "This is earth." May tells him.

"This is the future." he tells them in return.

"It's all destroyed. Coulson please, tell me its impossible." Jemma begs as the three get off the platform and into the hall.

"I thing at this point we can all agree that anything is possible." Coulson argues with a sigh, "Glad you're alright." he tells them honestly. He then turns to Deke, "You're guy, Virgil, he didn't tell you anything else about his plan to bring us back from the past?"

"I'm still just trying to fit all these ideas inside my skull." Deke replies.

"And you haven't heard anything about a gateway? A rock that transports people?" Coulson questions.

"If I had, you think I'd still be here?" Deke counters.

"There was no second Monolith whe I landed on Maveth." Jemma reminds them.

"So, we'll have to find our own way back." May realizes.

"No chance you're portals also go through time?" Coulson questions the princess.

"I'm afraid not." Asta replies. The three then look to Jemma.

"Well, I'm a biologist, but sure I can invent time travel. Just give me a minute." she tells them a bit sarcastically.

"Well, without some miracle, then we're stuck here, and we need to stay alive." Coulson says causing them all to now look to Deke.

"Oh and you... you... you all want me to help with that, yeah. Well thats a big surprise." he says with a sigh before looking in his satchel. "Well, all I can offer you is these." he says holding out the Metrics, "So, who's first?"

"You think I'm going to let you do that to anyone else?" May steps up with anger, while Asta grabs onto her wrist in fear, remembering the pain.

"You are lucky that I am even offering. The only way to not die, is to blend in, and work hard, and you can't do either of those things without these." Deke whisper shouts at them as he explains. Coulson looks at his team unsure, but takes the Metrics out of Deke's hand. "Come on. Keep moving." he says, leading them down the hall.

"What do they do? Track us?" Coulson questions as they make their way down the hall. "I don't think we want that."

"I don't think you have a choice." Deke tells Coulson.

"Deke!" A voice calls out from behind them causing them to all turn and see a woman turning a corner.

"Tess, yeah, sure, join the fray." Deke says a bit annoyed.

"You took out the damn Trawler? Where's Virgil? If you lifted off in that thing without..." Tess makes her way to be infront of him and pauses seeing his face, "What? What's wrong with your face?" she questions.

"I'm sorry." Coulson speaks up for him, "Virgil's gone."

She looks shocked before slowly looking to Deke, "Deke... this true?"

"Roaches got him on three." Deke confirms.

Tess shoves him a little, "What was he doing on three, Deke? That's a sealed-off level."

"This isn't my-" he tried to explain but Tess cut him short.

"What did you get him into..." She says getting emotional.

"I-He hired me." He again tries to explain.

"... you piece of waste..." she continues.

"Listen!" he cuts her short. "He hired me to hide these people." he finally explains.

Tess looks arounnd at the group, "From where?" she asks.

"Well, thats the thing. Remember all that deranged garbage that Virgil was always spouting about people arriving from the past? I think you're looking at 'em." he tell her.

She scoffs, "That's insane."

"Doesn't mean it's not true." May chimes in.

"We came though a gateway, some sort of temporal shift." Jemma helps explain.

"I don't want to believe it, either, but look at their clothes. They got matching buttons. Not exactly locals." Deke continues to explain.

"How can we prove it to you?" Coulson says before getting an idea, reaching into his pocket and grabbing a coin. "Here. It's from last year." he says showing them the quarter. "Still Shiny."

Tess grabs his wrist, "You don't have a Metric. Never did." she says looking confused. "That's... too weird." she looks at Deke then back to Coulson, "Virgil said you'd be Agents of-"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. Pleased to meet you." Coulson finshes for her.

She looks around at everyone, "Then there should be more of you."

"There's one girl that went to go pry the others away from the Kree guards." Deke tells her.

"You let them go face the Blues?" Tess asks, her voice raising.

"I didn't let them d-" he stops himself, "They do whatever they want! It's like hearding rats." Deke explains, looking ar the group annoyed.

"Well then get them." she demands.

"Me?" he questions, let out a laugh of disbelief, "No! No. Think again." he refuses. "They are radioactive. Virgil already got himself wasted. I intend to learn something from his vancancy." he tells her before walking away from the group.

"I'll double his price!" Tess offers, causing him to stop.

Deke turns around, "You don't even know the number that you just agreed to." he warns her but she doesn't say anything. "All right, fine." he says walking back over to them. "You stash these people, you make them blend in. I'll see if I can... talk the others out of certain death." he says before walking back the way the group came.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The group followed Tess back to the lift while Deke was getting the others. "What happened to the Earth?" Coulson asks, breaking the silence that had consumed the group.

"Good question." Tess says looking over to him, "Ask anyone, they'll give a different story."

"What's yours?" Asta finally speaks up, curious on what she has to say.

"All you really know is the planet was torn apart. Some cataclysmic event. And the Blues showed up, restored order but destroyed all historical data... files, books. Said it would keep us focused on the future. Now they oversee everything that's left." Tess explains.

"What is left? What do people do here?" Jemma asks right before the doors open.

"We survive." she says before leading them into the crowded corridor.

The group make there way over to what seemed like a main hall that was a bigger then the previous corridors, full of people and Kree. "Welcome to the end of the world." May comments as they all look around.

"It's called the Lighthouse. Back when Earth was round, this was an underground survival bunker." Tess explains to the group. "This is the Exchange. Need anything, this is where you get it." she says before leading the group into the crowd.

"Virgil mentioned stories, about us." Coulson brings up.

"Stories from when we were kids. Some of the elders swore that a group called S.H.I.E.L.D. would come from the past to help us." Tess further explains.

"Can we talk to these elders?" Coulson requests.

Tess stops, "That would be nice, but the Blues got rid of anyone who believed in the movement. Fed them to the Roaches." she tells him.

"To kill the belief." Coulson finishes.

"And it worked. Only Virgil held out a hope, and everybody thought that he was crackpot." Tess tells him honeslty.

"I'd like to see where he lived, see if we can find any clues as to what his plan for us was." Coulson preplans.

"I can take one of you there. Sure." Tess agrees with a nod before leading the group.

Tess stops them when a Kree was causing a scene with a human. She leads them down another hall instead. "Hey. Why don't you fight them?" May questions.

"We depend on them to survive." Tess tells her.

"That can't be true." May denies.

"It's not right, but it's true." Tess says.

"It's a lot of pressure to carry the fate of humanity on your shoulders." Coulson counters.

"It's taught us the value of a life. A life was given for us to survive. Now, everyone has a role to play to keep the Lighthouse from falling apart." Tess explains.

"A life? Like a sacrafice?" Asta questions.

"A sacrafice. An offering. Everyones story changes. Some say it was a god. Others say it was our only hope, a miracle." Tess shrugs.

"What do you think?" Asta asks her again.

Tess looks around for a moment, "I think the blues took away our future for their own gain. A sacrifice was made, but I don't think it was a good one."

"What's her role?" Jemma chimes in, looking off into the crowd. A girl in white was walking through everyone with Kree following.

"Sometimes the Kree take humans to their levels to serve. Call it an honor. But when they visit, they don't talk much." Tess explains as they watch her walk.

"I don't see many gaurds. We've got the numbers." Coulson theorizes.

"And they've got the weapons. We're not exactly military-trained." Tess argues, going to lead them again.

"We are." May stops her. "Maybe thats how Virgil thought we could help, to fight."

Tess turns to the group again, "Deke was right. You have to blend in. Hear me?" she tells them. "Coulson right?" she says looking to the man.

"Yeah." he confirms.

"I'll take you to Virgils room. You three gonna be good?" Tess asks them.

May nods, "We'll get the lay of the land." she reasures her.

"Keep your head down, do what the others do, you'll be fine." Tess explains, before gesturing to Coulson to follow her.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The three kept to themselves as they wandered around the floor. No conversations with others as they looked around. "That's the first piece of tech I've seen on this floor." May says, after seeing a Kree with a tablet of some sort.

Jemma nods, while Asta looks around having missed it. "They're keeping people in the dark ages here. No progress, no innovation. Meanwhile, the aliens are so advanced." Jemma says with a sigh.

"Fitz would hate it." Asta comments earning a sad look from the scientist.

"Time is strange. Somewhere out there, he's still fighting. But from our refrence point, he's lived his life. Or not." Jemma says, causing Asta's shoulders to slump down a bit. May gives the two a sad look before the murmers around them got louder.

"They're coming. Shh!"

People seem to be buzzing around quicker grabbing things as they go, "Something's going down." May tells them, getting them on alert.

Rounding a corner, A female Kree entered the room followed by two guards and a male human dressed in white with golden paint on his forehead. The man in white stopped in the middle, "Today, Kasius has seen fit to feed the most vulnerable amongst us." he addresses the room.

"We've hit the North-Korean-dictator level of creepy." Jemma comments to the two quietly as they watch.

A buzzer goes off and 'food' falls to the floor. The people arund them all began to go for it. All of them scrambling as they scoop them into containers. It didn't take long for a fight to break out. A man punches a guy causing the guy to pull out a makeshift knife and go to stab him only for the man to dodge and the man in white to get stabbed instead. The other man tosses the guy with the knife to a wall causing him to fall to the ground. The guy with the knife then looked at the Kree in fear and ran for it only for the female Kree to use her powers to kill him with two metal orbs.

The man in white falls to the ground with a groan. Before anyone could move Jemma rushed over to his side. Asta goes to help her but May stops her seeing as she couldn't stop the scientist. The princess looks to the Agent confused, only to recieve a head shake in reply.

The crowd behind the two begins to back away as they watch her. "I need to cauterize his wound." Jemma says looking over to the other two. Nobody around them moves, May and Asta look around before actually looking for something to help. May was able to find something and rushes over to hand them over to Jemma. Asta slowly grabs May and pulls her back to the crowd as Jemma works. The man in white shouts in pain and the three Kree slowly make their way over to them to see what she was doing.

"No, no, no. You can't move him." Jemma tries to tell one of the Kree gaurds who grabs the man in white. "You can't-" she tries but stops seeing the gaurd fully pulled him up. Slowly she turns around and sees the other two Kree staring at her. The female gestures to her, and he goes over and grabs her.

Asta tries to go and stop them but May stops her again. Jemma and Asta eyes lock. The scientist shakes her head, tell her it wasn't a good idea. Asta gives her a conflicted look but stays next to May as they lead her away. The female staring at them as she follows.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Asta felt anxious for Jemma. May and Coulson told her that there was nothing she could of done without exposing herself. She was just worried over what Jemma could possibly be enduring. A hand was placed on her arm, gaining her attention to Daisy. "How are you handling it?" she asks the blonde.

"I feel like there was more I could of done." Asta replies with a sigh.

"We have to get Simmons." Daisy says turning to the group, "Hit them hard and fast and get up to the surface."

"There's barely any surface left, Daisy." May informs her. "The planet's been blown apart."

"And what's there is uninhabitable. So out, not an option. As far as in here." Coulson starts to explain.

"We get Simmons. I'll do it. They won't know what hit them." Yo-yo cuts in.

"Hey, hold up. No one knows you three have abilities, so let's keep it that way. For the moment. But right now... at this moment, we don't know jack squat about anything." Mack argues.

"Including where Simmons is being held." Coulson agrees.

"What about Deke? He seems to know this place the best. He might know." Asta chimes in, looking over at where Deke was talking with Tess.

"He's too afraid of making noises." Yo-yo tells her.

"Yeah, but that's 'cause he's protecting himself. He's a scam up and running." Daisy argues.

"He's afraid we're gonna blow it for him. I agree." Coulson tells them.

"We can tail him." Asta says, looking to Daisy who nods at her, "Dig up some dirt. Try and encourage him to help us."

"Those tablets could have intel." May brings up.

"Hello? Yo-yo, master thief." she reminds them earning a few chuckles from the group.

Daisy looks back to Asta and nods to where Deke was walking away. "Thats our ride. We'll meet back here, yeah?" Daisy tells them before the two make their way down the hall pass Tess and begin to follow Deke.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The girls were tailing Deke for awhile. They reached corridors where the crowds thinned and there were barely anyone around. They round a corner only to see a dead-end, but they were certain they saw him go this way. The two look around, before Daisy softly uses her quake powers and reveals a secret door. Another look, Daisy takes lead and the two enter with Asta closing the door behind them. They follow the only path before them which lead to stairs. Reaching the bottom the only thing to indicate that it continued was a red sheet. Hesitantly the two walk through it.

People were laying around in makeshift beds, seeming asleep with a thing hanging from the cieling releasing a vapor into the air. Diasy motioned to Asta and moved one other sheets revealing Deke laying down, faced away from them allowing the two to enter his little section. "So, all this talk about protceting people, and you're worried about your speakeasy." Daisy says, trying to gain his attention.

But then a weird feeling over came Daisy, whatever vapors were in the air got to her, causing her to fall on the ground, unconcious. Asta was caught off gaurd that she didn't have enough time to catch her. Kneeling down to her side she tried to shake her awake. "Daisy." she whispers as to not alert anyone else who may be lerking around. "Daisy?" then it finally hit her aswell. Feeling dizzy, Asta looked around the room confused before she too fell to the ground, taking the red sheet down with her.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Groaning awake, Asta was blinded by sunlight. Squinting she sits up and looks around confused. She was on Earth. But, something was off. A movement was rushing over to her gaining her attention, realising it was Diasy she quickly stands and the two hug each other in relief. "Where are we?" Asta questions before they let go of each other.

"We're in another framework." Daisy tells her with a sigh.

"Not again." Asta says looking around with a bit more concern.

"I know just who to question, come on." Daisy tells her, leading her towards a building.

The two enter a building and it seemed like a normal bar that could be found on earth. Inside they could hear Deke talking to the bartender. "... You're always cleaning." Deke complains as he reads a newspaper.

"Yeah, you programmed me to." the bartender replies.

Deke sets down his paper, "Really? Becasue I don't remember programming you to talk back to me." he says earning a look from the AI, "It was a joke, becasue I-I did program you to talk... Just will you find the papers, please?" he sighs.

"Yeah." the AI bartender nods, walking away.

With a sigh, Deke lifts back up his paper, "You two might as well pull up a stool and have a beer." he says not looking at the girls standing in the doorway.

Daisy scoffs, "Clearly, you're a talented pusher, but I will pass, thanks." she says as they walk further into the room. Asta and Daisy stand next to him on his left.

"It's probably for the best, because I have no idea what actual beer tasted like." Deke replies, turning the page.

"Want to tell us where we are exactly?" Asta request, shifting in her seat to face him.

"You two passed out at my place of business. You got too close to my transmitters when you two were stalking me." Deke says looking to the blonde slightly amused before looking back to the paper.

"So this is your racket? You're- you're pimping out the Framework?" Daisy asks, causing him to look at her a bit confused and surprised.

"I never called it that, but yeah. That's the technology the hardware interface is based on." he explains then closes his paper with a sigh. "I-I had to rebuild the software from scratch because Kasius had the historical archives erased." he then faces the two, "But I was able to get my hands on the servers. I gathered bits of data here and there, and..." he pauses looking around the room, "The rest is guesswork."

"Brilliant." Asta comments as she also looks around, causing him to smile.

"But your customers don't know the difference. You've got'em addicted to Earth-as-it-was scenarios." Daisy argues.

Deke's smile turned into a smirk, "Among other simulations, yes."

"So this is the business that you're protecting? Your creepy opium den of fantasy?" Daisy questions.

"Well, I can't get real opium, so... I'm selling escape." Deke says, standing from his seat. "The other way out of here is the final exit." he says as he gathers his papers together.

"They're trading one prison for another." Daisy argues, gaining Deke's attention.

Deke stops, and walks over to the girls, "You think the Lighthouse is a prison?" he asks, looking to Daisy, as Asta steps behind Daisy seeing as this was her arguement. "Sweetheart... prison would be nice." he tells her honestly.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

"The Kree have her. You can't help her. To try is too dangerous." Deke argues with the two.

"You said the same thing about Mack and Yo-yo. How'd that turn out?" Daisy argues just as loud as he was.

"A catastrophe! This entire place is a very delicate ecosystem, and you all just keep taking a leak in the water left and right!" he tells them.

Asta scoffed at his words. "What, are you worried we'll mess this up, or we'll mess this up for you?" she retorts, clearly not seeing 'not saving Jemma' as an option.

"Yeah, do the Kree even know about this operation? Becasue-" Daisy tries to bring up but is cut off.

"Of course they know about it. They're crazy about it, because I'm- I'm improving people's lives." he tells the two more calmly. "I'm giving them something other than just hour after hour of endless grind."

"They condone it 'cause it keeps them placid." Diasy says earning an annoyed look from Deke. "We have seen the Framework in action before. Pretend that wishes are coming true so the real hope dies." Diays argues, causing Asta to look away from them, discomfort clearly in her face not wishing to think about what happened to her in the Framework.

Deke sighs, "Hope is what gets people killed, believe me." he tries to reason but Daisy keeps getting louder.

"Make them forget reality, so they don't try..." she continues making Deke worked up again.

"No, I'm making reality livable." he tries to explain over her.

"You two need to stop arguing for a moment." Asta tries to cut in but is ignored by Daisy. Deke glances her way but focus's back on the Agent shouting.

But Daisy just continues, "... to make a move to fix it! Don't make any waves, because-"

"No, you don't want to make waves, 'casue if you start a fire, you want to know what's combustible in there. We're mixing metaphors all over the place." he tries to make sense.

"Telling them to just chill so they don't rock the boat is so wrong!" Daisy says finally ticking Deke off.

"No the boat sank!" he shouts louder then before. "Do you understand that? Do either of you understand?" he questions, finally looking between the two as Asta just looks between them with wide eyes. "We are a breath away from extinction. We make one wrong move, and in a blink, mankind is gone for good." he explains, calming down a bit.

Before either of them could reply, Deke's attention went to the tv that was in the corner of the bar. "Wait. That's it!" he says, reaching over the bar and grabbing the remote to pause the screen. "That's what I'm looking for. That!" he say, making the two look to the tv.

On the tv was a news headline, 'S.H..I.E.L.D. AGENT DAISY JOHNSON' and shows a picture of Daisy's face. The sub-headline reads, 'Agent Johnson AKA Quake saves lives in Los Angeles'. Deke looks at the Agent with wide eyes of realization. "Daisy Johnson." Daisy looks at him with an annoyed smile, "And you say you're not dangerous." he scoffs.

"So you know who I am." Daisy retorts, not seeing why he's reacting this way. But Asta can see that something wasn't right, like a missing puzzle piece.

"Quake. You see, I'm the one person that's pieced the history together, who has an idea of what happened." Deke says, taking a step towards the two. "You want to know what kind of force can tear a planet apart?" he questions before answering for them. "It was you." he says looking directly at Daisy.

Daisy's face drops at his words. "You think if you work hard enough, if you inspire them, that... you can put the pieces back together? You think you can save mankind? Give them back a world with justice and freedom and all that other pledge-of-allegiance garbage? I'm telling you to make piece with it. Surrender to it and make this your home, just the way it is. Because S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to save the world. And you want to see the consequences? Take a look." Deke tells her before pushing a button on the remote. The bar around them changes and outer space fills the walls. A destroyed Earth can be seen. "You see an Earth that can be saved? It's too late. It's already been quaked apart."

Chapter Text

Something was wrong. Coulson, May, Yo-yo, and Mack were not where they told the girls to meet back up at. "Somethings wrong." Daisy says when she meets back up with Deke and Asta.

"Or maybe they finally took my advice to encoporate into this place." Deke considers as the three make their way down a corridor.

"They said they were going to figure out a plan to find Simmons. What if they're where ever she is?" Asta suggests with concern.

"I got to track them down." Daisy says with a sigh about to turn a corner before Deke stops her.

"So you said. Don't you think you're kind of deflecting from what I told you about..." he pasues before making an explosion sound.

Daisy stares at him hard, "I'm not deflecting 'casue I didn't do it." she tells him, before making her way down the way she was turning.

The two quickly follow her, "Yeah, that's what deflecting is." Deke argues.

"I think she's just avoiding it." Asta chimes in earning a look of confusion from Deke.

"Also, what deflecting means." he tells her before looking back at Daisy who was leading them.

Daisy sighs at their words, "How could I split the world apart? My powers aren't that strong. I am not that strong." she argues.

"Maybe not yet, but you will be." Deke suggests as they tunr another cornor.

"And how do you know that?" Daisy questions, not believing a word he was about to suggest.

"Because planet Earth went from smooth to chunky, and Quake is the one who did it." Deke tells her.

"And you don't think I'd remember that?" Diasy retorts.

"Well, actually, not according to the multiverse theory." Deke suggests with a shrug, gaining a look from both the girls as they stop for him to explain. He sighs, "You probably never heard of it, but in quantum physics, there's a theory that, for-" Deke starts to explain.

"For every universe, there are infinite parallel universes." Asta finishes, causing the two to look at her confused and surprised. "What?"

"How do you know this already?" Daisy questions.

"You act like you don't know who my best friends are." she answers, which makes Daisy nod in understanding.

Deke shakes his head before continuing his explanation for the Agent, "So in my universe, you destroyed the planet. Maybe that just hasn't happened in-" he was cut off by Daisy slapping him.

"So what universe did that just happen in?" she asks, not finding his example useful. "Mine or yours?"

Deke looks at her unamused, then looks past the two seeing something and saying "Oh no." before going past them. He goes and talks to a guy who seemed hurt. Daisy and Asta look at each other confused before Deke makes his way back over to them.

"What happened?" Asta asks seeing him more tense then before as he gets to them.

"There's been a Renewal." he tells them.

"A what?" Daisy asks for the both of them not knowing what that means.

"Three people are dead." he tells them with a sigh. Both of them go to say something but he continues, "Just hold your freak out. It was't your friends, okay? They're probably hiding, which is what I advised them to do from the get-go." Deke tells them, earning a sigh of relief from the bonde.

"Okay. Okay. So where would they be hiding?" Daisy asks trying to stay calm.

"I don't know. They're your friends." Deke replies with a shrug.

"And this is your home. Where you know everyone and everything that's in here." Daisy retorts.

Deke looks around taking in a breath as he thinks, "One of the vacancies came from Grill's salvage. That means there's an opening. He might take in strays. I'd start there." he explains.

"You got all that from the shoe guy?" Daisy questions.

"Well, shoe guy knows all." Deke shrugs.

"Guess I should have asked him in the first place" Daisy says before walking off.

Asta looks at Deke and he looks at her with slight concern, "Don't do anything dumb, please." he says a bit softly looking between the two.

She looks at Daisy then him, "We'll try." she promises before rushing to catch up with Daisy.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Daisy was able to have a brief talk with Yo-Yo, and all they have to do is wait for her to do whatever she had planned and get Daisy the Kree tablet with her powers. The two waited in empty hall with a hole in the wall to where she was working for 5 minutes before Daisy suddenly had the tablet in her hands. "Lets go." she tells Asta as she messes with the tablet to see waht she could find.

After many twist and turns they finally made it to corridors that had some people in it, making Asta think they were heading in the righ direction until they turned a corner and Deke was standing there. "Do I need to ask what the hell you two are doing with that?" he asks them calmly.

Daisy rolls her eyes before continuing on her way past him with Asta and Deke following. "So now you're tailing me?" she asks.

"No, I was tailing Asta." Deke retorts earning a look from the blonde, "You're easier to spot." he quickly tells her.

"Shot in the dark, you won't get it." Daisy argues as she continues speed walking.

"Oh, 'casue you're too noble for me to understand?" Deke says with his own eye roll as they turn another corner.

"Where I come from, we protect each other" Daisy tells him.

"You are storming the castle." Deke argues, stopping them from walking.

Asta looks between the two, "Where I come from, storming the castle is not the best plan." she brings up, thinking back to all of Thor's 'battle plans'.

"Thank you." Deke says, looking at Daisy with a 'told you so' look. "How are you gonna do that alive?" he asks the agent causing her to look away from teh two. "Thats what I thought."

"This is what I do." Daisy reminds the two, "My friend's life is on the line, so I'll figure something out." she says giving Asta a look, casusing the blonde to sigh.

"Oh, just all in, totally blind, huh? Well, it's a stupid way to play, even if you have a good hand. You should be playing the long game." Deke tells her.

"The long game?" Daisy questions annoyed.

"Yes. I can make it so that you could waltz down there with an invitation from the big man, but that takes serious time. It takes finesse." Deke explains.

Daisy tilts her head, "Or it takes the scroll that I have now. So thank you for your endless advice, Deke." she says, walking past him.

Asta hesitates but goes to follow Daisy, "You two are about to walk into a buzzsaw." he warns them.

"Daisy, maybe we should listen to him." the blonde tries to tell her friend, who just looks at the man annoyed.

"You're just worried it's gonna blow back on you." Daisy shoves in his face.

"This has nothing to do with me! If you pick a fight with the Blues, they are gonna take it out on all of us. Today's Renewal was for three people. Tomorrow could be for 30. Death comes easy here." Deke explains through gritted teeth to Daisy.

"Which is why we need to get Simmons now." She fires back, "So if I were you, I'd get out of my way." she says trying to go to a door, but Deke grabs her arm.

"You already destroyed the world once. I am not gonna let you do it again." he tells her causing her to quake him into a wall. "Whoa." Deke says out of breath as he stares at her for a moment, "So there she is, Quake. The destroyer of worlds."

Daisy walks into the lift and looks at him, "Don't ever call me that again." she says before looking at to the princess, "Asta come on."

"I-" she pauses looking at Deke who just shooking his head, silently pleading with her, "I have a bad feeling about this." she says looking back at her friend.

Daisy sighs, "Fine, I'll do this on my own." she tells them, right as the lift closes.

Chapter Text

"What happened?" Asta questions once Deke arrived back in the room that he told her to wait for him at.

"I got Daisy to your friend." he tells her as he leads her out of the room.

"Okay, so where are they?" she asks, confused now.

"Alive. That's the best I can do for now." Deke tells her stopping in front of a lift. "I have somewhat of a plan. For now, you're just going to have to trust me, and keep this between us."

Asta looks at him, a bit skeptically. Something strung around his neck caught her eye making her look up at him again with somewhat understanding who he is, at least she assumes. "Okay, I trust you."

"So, I get who Quake is in all of this. But, who are you? You don't seem like the other agents." Deke says, giving her an apple.

Asta stared at the apple confused on how he got it. "I'm Asta. I still don't know where I fit into all this." she tells him before taking a bite of the fruit.

"Asta... Asta, that name sounds familiar." Deke says as he tosses his own apple up in the air as they waited for a lift.

"Do you get many people named Asta in this future, Deke?" she questions, a bit joking while emphasizes his name, earning an eye roll from him.

"No, I mean I heard that name in a story somwhere before. Are you a legend in Shield or something? Maybe Virgil rambled about you?" he tried to guess as the lift doors open and the two enter and the door closes.

"I'm not technically an agent. I was an avenger, then I went to Shield. I'm technically not from Earth either." Asta tells him.

"What do you mean? Aren't you... human?" Deke hesitates to ask.

Asta shakes her head, "No. I'm Asgardian." she says taking abother bite for the fruit.

Deke stares at her with wide eyes, "Asgardian? Asta... As in the Goddess Asta?" he questions.

"Yup." she replies with a shrug.

"Thats... You-You can't tell anyone that." Deke rushes out quickly before the doors open.

"Why not?" she questions him, seeing his wide eyes.

"I was told stories of an Asta growing up... And if that's connected to you. Kasius can't know you're here, or that you have powers." he whispers to her a bit more freaked out as if realizing things in his head.

Before she could ask another question the two were pulled out of the hall they were walking down by Coulson and May. The four of them make their into a secluded corner. "Hey. Come on." Deke says as Coulson shoves him.

"Sorry. We need to talk." Coulson says, unbothered that Deke was annoyed.

"'Say, Deke. How you doing? You look really good. Can we have a word?' See? It's not that hard. We were coming to find you guys, anyway, 'cause I haven't seen you in a while." Deke rambles.

"I was hoping that Daisy and Asta were with you. Last we heard, they were looking for you. I see Asta, but no Daisy." Coulson brings up.

"Yeah. They found me. We were with Daisy a couple hours ago. And it's... it's all good. I-I helped her onto a lower medical floor. It's where we think your friend is." Deke lies.

"She never came back or checked in." May brings up.

"She said something about no further contact... spy stuff." Deke explains before looking to Asta, "How'd she put it? 'Silent mode'?"

"Going dark." Asta says looking at her friends, feeling a bit bad about lying but she trusted Deke's plan, whatever it may be.

"Right. That." Deke confirms. "And I told her that you'd wonder, and she said, quote, 'Get out of my way. This is what I do. My friend's life is on the line. I'll figure something out.'" he explains to them.

"Yeah. That sounds like Daisy." Coulson says before looking to Asta, "Why didn't you go with her? I figured you'd want to protect Jemma the most."

"I left it to Daisy. She's better at the whole stealth thing then I am." Asta made up, earning a nod from him.

"Sorry I don't have her. I wish I did." Deke apoligizes, getting the attention back on him, not knowing is Asta will crack or not.

"It's all right. We came for you. What do you know about Level 35?" Coulson questions, his attention back on Deke.

"Every few floors, there's a secure Kree level. Level 4 is holding that's where I found you fine folks. And then Level 17 is engernering. But I've never seen 25. Why?" Deke asks.

"We're hoping to find some Kree technology. Anything that'll help us. We need to investigate the surface." Coulson explains causing Deke to chuckle.

Deke stops when May gave him a nod showing they were being serious, "The surface. Yeah, why not? No, yeah, it'll take too long to get to the center of the sun." he says a bit sarcastically.

"I know it's an unconventional plan." Coulson tells him.

"What is actually wrong with you people taht you keep going places you are not supposed to be going? Are you all very suicidal?" Deke questions them with a sigh.

"We have reasons." May says.

"Not good ones." Deke replies.

"We do now. Virgil's time in the Trawler? He was communicating with the surface." Coulson explains, pulling out a recorder pressing play.

'Virgil. Come in. Do you read? We haven't heard from you in three days. Please respond, Virgil. Have you secured the delegation?' a mans voice comes through the static before Coulson presses stop.

"Those people are all dead. Kasius thinks they're all dead." Deke says with disblief and wide eyes.

"I know." Coulson says as Deke looks away, seeming lost in thought for a moment before looking around at the three before him.

"I-I need to go get a few things." he tells them.

"Oh, so now you're interested?" May questions.

"Those people up there... If we can find them, that's in everyone's best interest." he tells her before walking away, the three following behind.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The four were now all in a lift going to floor 35 as requested making Coulson a bit skepitcal. "I imagine it's not as simple as taking the elevator down to 35." he brings up.

"No. We can't access it. But I can get us in below it, find my way in." Deke says as he puts his gloves on. "I'll call the elevator from Level 35 itself." The lift dings in denial as it passes floor 35 before giving a normal chime when it goes to floor 36 and stopping. "You guys hang tight." he tells them before activating his belt and starting to float as if he had no gravity.

Deke opens the door at the top and floats through it out of sight. "You trust him?" Coulson asks the two as they all watch.

"Yeah." Asta replies honestly.

"You know me better then that." May replies.

It didn't take long before the lift moved again, and stopped. The doors open to reveal Deke. "Welcome to Level 35." he greets. Coulson and May give him a blank stare while Asta just gives him a small smile, feeling the tension coming from the two agents. "Yeah, well, hold the applause." he tells them sarcastically before leading them into the floor.

The trio follow behind as Deke leads them into a room, all of them being quiet incase Kree were around. "What is this place?" Coulson asks.

"Lab. Maybe R&D." May suggests looking around the room.

Coulson walks around a bit further in, "R&D. That works." he replies as Deke looks around a corner before pulling Coulson back having spot a Kree.

Asta tenses up at the sudden movement, before being pulled by May to go by the wall to not get spotted. They wait before hearing footsteps fade away and a door open then close then silence. Coulson takes the risk and walks around the corner then further into the room once it was clear.

"If this place is all science then there's got to be something here we can use. We just need to find it." Coulson tells them as they all follow him.

A noise from another room gains all their attention. It sounded almost like a screetching noise. "Roaches?" Coulson questions.

"No." Deke replies almost breathlessly, but gives no explanation before walking across the room to where the noise came from.

Going around a corner the three follow him quickly, "Wait. What is that?" May questions seeing a different light then the rest of the room in one spot.

The four of them stop infront of where an almost new born baby was laying down. "It's the package meant for Gunner, isn't it?" Coulson questions, no one's eyes leaving the baby.

"Probably. There's been a lot of vacancies lately. Must be time to start filling them." Deke tells them as the baby coos.

"They're using newborns as a commodity?" Coulson asks confused over the concept.

"How do you think things are done around here? It's the only way anyone can have kids." Deke tells them, earning a look of confusion from the others.

"I'm sorry... 'The only way?'" Coulson brings up.

Deke looks at them, "People don't get pregnant any more." he explains.

"Super. And the vibe goes full-dystopian. What did they do, sterilize the whole population?" Coulson theorizes.

"We think they do it through the food so they can decide who has children." Deke says looking back to the baby.

"For how long?" Asta asks this time, finding all a bit weird.

"They've always tried to control it. I was one of the last ones that was born the old-fashioned way, until Kasius decided that it was easiest to just..." Deke begins to explain.

"Create the children themselves. But why?" Coulson finishes. "Are they trying to diversify the human population?"

"Kasius doesn't care about humans. He just wants to increase the genetic chances they turn." Deke says but sees the confused look on both their faces, "To inhumans. They're much more valuable that way." he explains.

"Valuable? Valuable to whom? Deke, what is he auctioning of down there?" Coulson questions.

"You think he's selling rocks? The whole process is pretty upsetting, so we try not to think about the details." Deke says to them.

"Phil." May grabs there attention as she walks over to them from the computer she was at. "I found something."

"What is it?" Coulson asks as they all meet her half way.

"Him." May says with anger looking to Deke before punching him in the face.

"Ok. Ow." Deke says covering his nose in pain and May walks away.

"May?" Coulson questions as he follows her. Asta grabs Deke's hand to move it to see if his nose was bleeding or broken.

"The lab got a new sample they're supposed to use..." she says as they go over to a computer to show Coulson. She hits a button to change the screen to show a picture of Daisy with some Alien language of to the side but her name was clear to read. "for inhuman genes."

"Oh my..." Asta whispers as she joins them before looking back over at Deke with wide eyes.

"Daisy." Coulson says with worry before looking at the others, "And they've been holding her since yesterday..." he says as Deke makes his way over to them.

"Is that what that thing says? Because if you-" Deke tries to explain but is intterupted.

"Even though you said you were helping her this morning. Why would lie about Daisy unless you sold her out? Both of you." Coulson says looking at Asta now.

"Um- I..." Asta didn't know what to say, the guilt was crawling back up her... she didn't know the plan, what was she suppose to tell them?

"Okay, well, this is probably the part where I should explain." Deke says seeing Asta panic.

"No." Coulson stops him. "This is the part where May breaks your face. You explaining... kind of secondary." he tells him before looking to Asta, "And you, snap out of it. This isn't the framework anymore. You protect your team. You should of backed up Daisy, not him." he tells her causing her to look down ashamed, thinking he was right.

"Okay. You're mad. I get that" Deke speaks up, leaning away from May slightly as she crackes her knuckles.

"Are they using her for breeding?" May questions.

"It seems that way, but that's not why Kasius wanted her." Deke tries to explain.

"So you did sell her." Coulson says.

"Yes, but it's more-" Deke is cut short by a door opening gaining all their attention as Kree's walk in.

"Hey, fellas, we actually, we were, just got a little bit turned around. Uh, is this level 35? We were actually looking..." Deke tries to talk his way out of this but Coulson had picked up a chair and hit a Kree with it, doing no damage. "Oh, okay, we're fighting." Deke says surprised, backing up behind Asta and May.

One Kree goes for May with a weapon but the two girls move out of the way while the other goes for Coulson. Asta pulls May over to her so now a table stood between the Kree and them. The Kree tries to swing at them but only knock everything off the table. He swings again, but before he could lift hte weapon May slides over the table and kicks him back. The other Kree was attempting to choke Couslon who was trying to stop him with his robot hand before Deke rushes in with a chair and smack the Kree in the head. Asta grabs the weapon and tosses it over to May once she was standing who then uses it against the Kree it origianlly belonged to who dropped to the ground. The Kree who had been smacked in the head pulled something out of his pocket before quickly turning around and stabbing Deke in the side causing him to shout in pain and fall to the ground. The Kree stands with a knife in hand as he tries to go for Coulson but has the knife knocked out of his grip by May. Coulson then punches the Kree and May then kickes him into a glass door that shatters and he drops after hitting his head on a shelf.

Asta was already at Deke's side holding his wound when the others finally turned to help. Coulson helps him up and get him to walk to an exit. Asta in front with her hands ready to use magic seeing as they now had a life on the line before they heard a lift open in the distance. "More Kreepers." Deke says holding back a groan.

May drops her hold on Deke and makes Asta take her place, "Phil, you take Deke upstairs. Make him talk. Asta, you protect them, got it. I'll hold them off." May instructs.

Coulson stops her, "I'm not leaving you here alone." he tells her.

"Go." she tells him.

"May your leg." Coulson tries to argue. "You're still not 100%"

"I got this. Go." she argues back.

Reluctantly Coulson listens and the three of them exit the room before they could be seen.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

"Okay... Looks like the bleeding stopped. Didn't hit anything to concerning. How do you feel?" Asta says looking over Deke's wound once the three of them got to Deke's own room.

"I'm fine." Deke says with a sigh.

"Good? Not too tight?" Coulson questions walking over to the two.

"No. Snug. Not too tight." Deke tells him.

Coulson nods, "Good... In that case..." he then punches Deke across the face.

Deke groans, "I really need you people to stop doing that." he says getting up from his bed.

Coulson grabs Deke and makes him face him as Asta stays on the bed, knowing better then to get in the way as she was still in hot water with him. "Where's Daisy?"

"Look, I had to do that." Deke argues.

"Oh, you had to?" Coulson fights back.

"Yeah, I had to. People had died, and Kasius wouldn't have hesitated to kill hundreds more, and Daisy didn't even seem to care at all. So, trust me... It's safer with her out of the mix." Deke admits.

"I don't trust you." Coulson tells him.

"Well, I did what needed to be done." Deke tells him.

"Oh please. That wasn't the first time you went for a payday. You weren't out to save lives. You made a profit." Coulson argues.

"The two aren't mutually explusive." Deke retorts.

"So don't pretent your motives were pure." Coulson fire backs.

"Oh, please. There's so much you don't even know that..." Deke says with an eye roll turning away only to be pulled back by Coulson.

"And now you're doing it again, aren't you? You don't want to help those people on the surface. You want to turn them over to Kasius-" Coulson theorizes.

"You don't know me man!" Deke shouts cutting him off. "I was nine, okay? When my mother got dragged away and murdered. Kasius got rid of all the elders, all the smart people, and she was one of them. And after she was gone, my dad took up the cause. He carried the torch for her. And as I got older, I begged him not to. I said that they were gonna get him, too, and I was right. He got sent to the roaches, just like the rest of them." Deke tells them, pausing to take a breath. "That's why it was pretty strange to hear his voice." he brings up.

"That was your father?" Coulson questions calmly as Asta stands slowly making her way to their side as they were no longer as angry before.

"If he's alive up there, I don't just want you to succeed... I need to be there when you do." Deke tells him.

"Oh. That's a good story. But stories are what you do, so excuse me if I don't buy it just yet. You wanna help us, you're gonna need to prove it." Coulson tells him.

"How?" Deke questions.

"Let's start with the payment you got for Daisy. Someone else needs that more than you do." Coulson says.

Deke stares for a moment before walking over to his jacket and pulling out a coin of some sort. Deke sighs before handing it to Coulson. "That's more painful than getting stabbed." he says as Coulson grabs it, "That buy me some trust?"

"It buys you some time. But for now... I think we're safer with you out of the mix." Coulson tells him before walking over to Asta, "You, are going to keep your eye on him for us. But no more plans without telling us. " he says before pulling out her bracelet from his inner jacket pocket. "This is your punishment for now." he says before locking it on her wrist causing her to sigh with a wince, "I'll take that off soon enough." he tells her before opening the door to leave.

"Hey, wait, wait, wait!" Deke calls out going to follow him only for the door to close in his face. "Wait!" but he was ignored. A light was flashing through the windows, as the door was being welded shut. "Hey! Hey! Come on! Hey!" Deke shouted as he banged on the door. But they were all ignored. As they were left, locked in a room for betraying the team.

Chapter Text

"Asta"

The princess's eyes snap open hearing a whisper of Fitz's voice. She looks arund the room confused only to see a sleeping Deke leaning against the bed on the floor. "Fitz?" she whispers unsure of what was happening.

"Asta..." The voice repeats in her mind. She looks down at her bracelet to see it still on her wrist with the small normally red light was now a shade of blue.

She was even more confused, the bracelet would normally block her ability to be summoned. She concentrated on the voice with her eyes closed, "Asta, focus on me. Only me. We have a plan, just hurry." She listening to her instructions. Slowly getting up she focus's on Fitz, seeing him again, hugging him. A portal opens. And without hesitation she enters.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Looking around she was on a completely diffeent ship as she stumbled to stand, having not used her power in so long. "I got you" Fitz says as he holds her to keep her steady.

Asta stares at him with wide eyes, "You're here... You're real and you're here." she whispers before hugging him tightly. He returns her hug just as tightly.

"Yes. And we're docking so you need to get changed so that we may go through with our plan." A man says as he makes his way to them.

The two pull apart and look at him. "Uh, right. Asta this is Enoch. He helped me get to this time point. Enoch, Asta; I told you about her." Fitz introduces the two.

"Hello." Asta greets still abit confused with all that was happening.

"Hello. Please follow me, so that you may get ready while we prepare to board." Enoch greets before turning and walking down a small hall and into a room.

Asta was quick to follow, seeing that it was just a somewhat storage room with a set of clothing folded on a box. "I'm still a bit confused." she admits to the man as she looks over the clothes.

"You may ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them." Enoch tells her as he walk over to the doorway and stands in it facing away from her.

"I have a power dampening bracelet on. How come I was able to use my powers?" She questions as she quicklt changes into the new clothes.

"Simple. We changed the setting on your bracelet to allow you to get to us once we got within proximity. I will remove the inhibitor before we board, worry not." he explains.

"Okay, so then whats the plan then?" she asks as she fixes her hair to be out of her face.

"We are going to infiltrate Kasius's dinner auction to understand him, and this station to then see how we can help you and your friends." he explains before turning to face as she was done.

Asta nods in understanding, "Okay, but how are we going to cover this up?" she asks as she holds up her hand to show the Metric in her wrist.

Enoch tilts his head as he thinks about it, "I shall remove it and cover the wound as to not elicit suspicion."

Before Asta could question how, he takes to steps then grabs her wrist and puls the Metric out from both ends earning a shout of pain and surprise from her. "What the Hel!" she groans, griping her wrists as she backs away from him.

Fitz was quick to rush to the room they were in, "What happened?" he asks the two, looking between them.

"Your friend needs to learn how to do a count down warning before just ripping things out of peoples arms." Asta says as she shakes her wrist in pain.

"I told you what I would do. I do not understand what was so surprising." Enoch says as he places the metric on the box with her other clothes were sat.

"Enoch." Fitz sighs, "We'll deal with that later. Are you okay?" he turns his attention to the princess.

"I'll live." she tells him with a nod.

"I'm glad you are alright. Last thing we need is to give you finishing touches to reflect your new persona." Enoch says before exiting the room. The two look at one another before following him to the main part of the ship. "I beileve for you, intimidating eye wear would be beneficial." he says as he hands Asta a small jar with dark blue substance in it, she was quick to apply it as she would with others she had on Asgard. "Gaunlets to cover the wound on your wrist from recognition." placing them on her himself before removing the bracelet to give her free range of her powers "Lastly, a mask to match with Fitz."

"Why would our masks need to match?" Asta questions as she grabs the mask, that would cover only the lower half of her face.

"You two are known, as the saying goes, Partners in Crime." Enoch tells them. The two look at one another then each others masks, then at him.

Slowly Fitz nods, "Alright sounds... We've done it before, surely we can fake doing it this time." he says looking to the blonde.

Asta thinks back to the framework, when they were ruthless, but were always by each others side. She looks at him, "Lets go save our friends then Doctor." she says before putting on the mask, making her much more intimidating with the eye makeup.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

The room they were guided two was filled with different people annd Kree. The Kree man making a speech in the front seemed to be the one in charge, making him Kasius. Fitz walks through the room with Asta in tow as they stop before the blue alien who was stood infront of Daisy showing her off.

"She's the destroyer of worlds." Fitz says, the voice modulagor on his mask making him sound much more terriying. He wastes no time taking off mask, "She should fight to the death." he suggests, earning a look of interest from many people in the room.

Daisy looks at Asta with a look of confusion, before she too takes of her masks, making the inhuman's eyes go wide for a second time. "I think a good fight is just what we need." she says, giving the Kree a smirk.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Fitz, Enoch and Asta were stood around a snack table as is seemed they were the first of the guests to arrive. "That is Lady Karaba." Enoch tells the two as a very tall Alien huminoid woman entered the room. 'She is a demented brute. Her affection a curse to anyone who recieces it." he explains, before a loud laugh comes from another entrence. "And there is Senator Gaius Ponarian. I am... repulsed by the sight. Even the man's closest friends find his temperament to be that of a diseased child monster." he continues as a man in gold and black robes pass them.

"So Kasius has assembled the worst of the worst" Fitz says as he walks to another part of the room.

"How delightful." Asta comments sarcastically as she follows with Enoch trailing behind.

"Do not fear. You teo are far more reprehensible than any other creature in this room." Enoch tries to cheer them up.

"Thanks for that Enoch." Fitz tells him while Asta sighs.

"You're quite welcome. It was a rather fun pursuit, constructing your alias. No longer are you Leopold Fitz and Asta Odindottir, but instead, Boshtok and Shellree. Vile space Marauders of unlimited wealth." he explains to them.

"Were the brooch's really a necessity?" Asta questions when she sees Fitz adjusting his after removing his gloves.

"Those medals signifies the number of enemy lives you two have taken." Enoch whispers as a server offers them food. Fitz nods him away so that they may continue to talk.

"Just... seems a little odd wearing a medal with little rhinestones on it." Fitz comments.

"That is quite amusing. You no doubt realize those are Geg-ku larvae." Enoch informs them causing Fitz to deeply inhale as he wipes his hand.

"Now I really don't want to be wearing them." Asta says with a annoyed smile to the man who does not reply.

"Okay, you know what. Let's drop the charade, find the others, and we'll shoot our way out." Fitz suggests.

Asta sighs, "Oh and I thought Daisy had bad plans." she mumbles as Enoch hmms in thought.

"The chances of survival would me less than 2%, for each individual." Enoch goes to explain but the Fitz and Asta's attention were drawn away by a servent girl who walked past.

It was Jemma. She was alive, and in the same room as them, and she had no clue. The two stared at her stunned, "That is Jemma Simmons. Would you like me to broker an introduction?" Enoch offers.

Slowly Fitz turns to Enoch, "Why would we need you to introduce us to Jemma Simmons?" he questions in a whisper as Asta's eyes never leave her friend that had disapeared only days prior.

"It's Marauder protocol." Enoch whispers back.

Asta sighs "Come. We must me sociable." she tells them as she holds Fitz's arm and moves him so they could walk around to mingle.

She's been to enough parties and galas to know that if you don't mingle, you will gain attention. "Ah, Marauders." an Alien greets as Enoch begins to introduce them.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

After some mingling, Fitz kept glancing at Jemma who was of to the side by herself. "You go talk to Jemma and I'll scope out... Quake." Asta whispers to him. He looks at her with worry, but she placed a hand on his arm and gave him a reasuring look. "I can take care of myself. Go to her."

Fitz looks at Jemma then Asta and nods and makes his way over to her. Asta stands tall and makes her way over to where the inhumans were made to stand. "Well aren't you an interesting bunch." she says looking them over to keep in character before stopping at Daisy who was looking at her, seemingly biting her tongue. "You though, have our attention... Quake. I do hope you put on a fantastic show." she tries to hit to her friend without being suspicous.

Daisy narrows her eyes at her, "Why would I put on a show for people like you?" she questions, keeping up with the charade.

Asta smiles, "Fiesty." she says with a small laugh, "You're of use to us and our... ways. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about."

"I see your exploring the Gallery before our meal." the voice of Kasius gains Daisy's attention but Asta dosen't move.

"Yes. You have quite the collection here." she says before turning her head to look at the Kree. "I do hope to get our hands on the destroyer of worlds." she tells him.

He gives her a tight smile, "Well she's our biggest prize. Travelling through time with her friend, wonderfully ending up in our little home. Quite lucky for us." he tells her.

Asta gives him a smirk, "Yes quite lucky indeed." she says before looking back to Daisy, "What friend did she travel with? Another Prize?" she asks, playing dumb.

"She came with one of my flawless servants, Jemma. If you are able to bid enough for the destroyer here, you get her as a bonus companion. She helps keep the Destroyer motivated for what ever you need." he explains.

"Hmm. Well its good thing I love to motivate others. I wonder Destroyer, what would you friend prefer a blade or the need for air?" she questions rather darkly causing Daisy's eyes to go wide.

Kasius smiles at the inhumans reaction, "Wonderful sentiment. Though I don't expect anything less from a woman with a brooch like that." he compliments making the blonde look his way. "I know you and your partner have expensive taste, but I do hope you'll stick around for the new batch of inhumans I have coming up."

She smiles, "We'll just have to see who impresses us then, because I do so have my heart set on the Destroyer here." she tells him witha tilt of her head making him feel uneasy seeing how lifeless her eyes seemed.

"Yes well, I do hope you have enough resources then." he tells her with a small chuckle before sauntering away.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Kasius sat at the ent of the table chatting with the senator as another round of food was being served. The woman brute sat on the Kree's other side next to Fitz and then Asta. The rest of the guest were mingling amongst themselves or laughing along to the stories being told by the man in gold.

"So, how are you faring with that Vrellnexian litter I sold you?" Senator Gaius asks the Kree as he licks his fingers.

Jemma goes between Asta and Fitz to serve him causing them to glance at one another but not dare look at her. "It has been tryng. The savage beasts have proven quite difficult to wrangle." Kasius replies with an amused smile.

Gaius chuckles, "Well, they're certainly not bred to cuddle." he jokes, "They're creatures of war, not the shaggy dog of men. But I had hoped that the Vrells would provide you a small triumph." He tells his blue friend a bit more seriously. "Last time we spoke, the strain of you ecile seemed to... wear heavy on your soul." he adds.

Kasius sets down his cutler to exagerate with his hand, "I was never exiled." he reminds, earning a hum from the senator. "My father simply wanted me to oversee his Earth Project personally."

"While your brother oversees the family empire." Gaius brings up with a light chuckle.

All this passing silly conversation was interesting to the two people who weren't suppose to be at the table. After some back an forther jokes between the two, Gaius clears his thraot and stand from his seat. "Dear friends, in honr of Kasius presenting the Destroyer of Worlds, I, too, have brought a rare delicacy for everyone's enjoyment. Fresh Xandarian snail!" he presents as a server comes to the table with the big alien snail.

"Oh!" and "Mmm" came from many of the patrons at the table as the Snial was shown off.

"You are far to generous, Ponarian." Kasius says with an amazed laugh.

"Please keep that in mind when the bidding begins." The Senator jokes causing them to laugh as he sits back down.

"How do you keep your human population so well under heel?" Lady Karaba questions as the snail was being past out.

"He has them kill each other." Fitz speaks up gaining everyones attention but Asta as the two continue eating. The two look around once everyone stopped moving. "Well, that's what I would do?" Fitz continues with a shrug.

"Human clearly have the numbers so fear is essential to keep them in check. And getting them to do it themselves..." Asta pauses to chuckle, "That's the trick. Normally its ritualization that helps, makes it seem more like a game." she explains unbothered while gauging everyones reactions.

"Its all very efficient, really..." Fitz chimes in as they both look over to Kasius, "at least in our experience." he says to the Lady before giving them a emotionless smile.

"Seems we have similar minds" Kasius says gaining the twos attention again, "It has done wonders tamping down the humans' more rebellious impulses." he tells them with a chuckle as teh table goes back to eating and talking.

Another Kree walks to the table and whisper something to Kasius before walking away. "Well, I hope everyone's meal has been to their liking. As for your more primal appetites, a fight tot the death is moments away. So take a final look. One of these Inhumans will soon be withdrawn from the marketplace." he tells the table as the Inhumans that were lined up in teh room were slowly taken out. Asta and Fitz follow Daisy with their eyes, silently telling her not to worry.

"Marauders!" The senator gains their attentions, "You two have yet to taste your snail." he says making the two look down at their meals, "Perhaps unrefined people don't have the stomach for such indulgences."

Asta stares the man in gold as she stabs her fork into a part of the snail with a glare. All the man did was look at her amused. Fitz on the other hand grabs his plate, "I find moist creatures..." he starts, lifting up the snail with his hand, "distateful..." he tells the man before setting down the plate and leaning back in his seat. "much like the fat mouths slurping them down." he says chuckling at the insult making the senators smused look vanish.

The room was silent as many at the table looked between the marauders and the senator before Kasius broke it by laughing, causing the others to laugh as well forcing Gaius to laugh along with them. "This Boshtok and Shellree make for a lively dinner companions." he says continuing to laugh.

"Let us leave these snails to shrivel, huh?" Kasius tells his guests before standing. "Much greater persuits awaits out attention." he says before walking away. Gaius glares at Fitz, but the scottsman just smiles in return.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Fitz, Asta, and Enoch make their way to the viewing deck where they are greeted by Kasius who extends his arm to Fitz and they both grasp each otheres forearm. "It is refreshing to have a man," he pauses to look at Asta, "and woman, of your calliber join our ranks. Would you two care to join me for the upcoming display?" he offers the two, releasing his grip on Fitz's arm.

"We are eager to see just what everyone has to offer." Asta tells the Kree with a sinister smile.

"Then I shall make every effort not to disapoint." Kasius tells them. Asta takes a seat, then Fitz, and then Gaius.

Kasius stood at the railing to Asta's left ready to announce. "Our first contestant posesses ectraordinary skill. A telepath, able to read his opponents plan of attack before it is carried out." he tells the group as a boy stood in the room below. A Kree stood a good ways behind him before throwing a knife at him only for him to dosge and catch the knife. "Normally I'd pit Ben against another Inhuman. Yet for this select crowd, I've decided for a more unique opponent. One not of this time." he tells the group.

"This deadly assassin was trained by one of the galazy's most despised orginizations. But most intriguing, she is also a friend to the Destroyer of Worlds." he announces, causing Asta to sit up a bit, "Dear guests... may I present to you... Melinda May." he says as the door opens and May is pulled into the room by a Kree in shackles, "Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Everyone leans forward to get a look at her. Asta looks at May with dead eyes while internally freaking out that May was in fact alive after fighting to get her and others a means of escape. May though stares at them, shocked becasue last time she saw Asta was when she betrayed the team and Fitz cause well, they're in the future and Fitz still looked the same.

The Kree undid the shackles that held her captive before leaving the arena. May was fast to graba a bow staff where as Ben grabbed knives. The two were ready to fight, but Asta wasn't sure if she was ready to watch. Kasius sits down next to Asta clearly ready for this fight as everyone leans back.

May goes for it swinging at Ben only for him to dodge or block every move she made. It didn't take long for Ben to get a hit on May's arm. "How many traveled in time with the Destroyer?" Fitz questions the Kree.

"My servant adn Melinda May are the only ones I've discovered, though Sinara remains convinved there are more." Kasius tells him as they all continue to watch the fight.

"The mind reader is a skilled fighter. Speaks well of his training." Asta praises as she watches the fight.

"Ben is quie talented for an Inhuman. But he wouldn't last a day in my fathers army." Kasius tells her as they watch May get punched.

"You speak highly of your father." Fitz comments.

"He's the greatest warrior I know." the Kree says in a rather bored tone.

"Ponarian made it seem as if you'd been banished from your home world." Fitz says, looking over at the Kree for the first time since the fight started.

"Ponarian knows not of what he speaks." Kasius whispers in an agitated tone.

"My father was disapproving. Things I did to earn his respect... they left scars." Fitz tells Kasius. Asta clenches one of her fists at her side next to Fitz but doesn't react otherwise.

"My own situation. It is a tragic misunderstanding." Kasius admits looking over at Fitz as Fitz looks at him before they both focus back on the fighting.

Asta flinches when May gets kicked in the stomach and falls to the ground groaning in pain. She doesn't think she's ever seen May loose a fight, it was concerning. "My guess is you're selling the Destroyer as a way to redeem yourself." Fitz says to chat up the Kree.

"I belive a great fortune can smooth over any transgression." Kasius tells him, causing the blonde to look at him.

"I do belive we are prepared to help you with that." she tells him with a serious look.

There attention was grabbed when May finally landed a hit on Ben. The two continue the back and forth with Ben landing hit after hit until finally disarming her. May didn't back down, doing to fist fight but Ben still had a hold of his knives, being able to slash at her side. He goes to stab her, but she was fast to block and twist making him hold his own knife against his neck. The two struggle before Ben moves the knife to be against her neck. May after a moment shoves him away from her but he goes to slash at her again, getting a sucessful kick in. Slowly Ben advances on May.

"This fight bores me." Fitz says standing from his seat to lean on the railing, stopping everything.

"Oh, thank you for saying something. It was becoming rather dull." Asta adds on leaning back in her seat.

Kasius stands and goes to Fitz, "I assure you it will end in a most thrilling fashion." he tells him before turning back, "Sinara, have the guards throw in more weapons." he demands.

"Lack of weapons is not the problem." Asta chimes in, standing to go on the other side of Kasius. "We came here to see the Destroyer fight. Not some ancient human has-been." she tells him through gritted teeth.

Kasius looks to her, "I'm afraid a life is owed." he informs her.

Asta looks down at May then back to Kasius with a bored expression, "Send the agent of Shield to the surface. The Vrellnexians will have much more use for her than your weary audience." Fitz suggests to the Kree.

"Gaurds! Escort the human woman to the surface lift." Kasius demands. May looks up at the two confused before being escorted away from the arena.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

The guests were escorted back to the common area where they started for the bidding on Ben. "Ten thousand for the telepath." Gaius offered as Ben and Kasius stood before the group with the other inhumans off to the side.

"Kasius doesn't need money, he wants weapons. Five Culverian Blasters." Lady Karaba offers.

"This is an auction, Lady Krabab, not a flea market." the senator tells the tall woman. "Take your useless toys back to the mudpits you crawled out of."

"My apologies to you both, but I cannot in good faith sell this Inhuman." Kasius tells the group.

"What dense thought rattles in your brain, Kasius? If I wanted a tease I would've visited the brothels of Kitson." Gaius tells the Kree annoyed.

"Your pent-up desires do not concern me." he tells him before getting off the platform him and Ben were stood on. "As to my reasoning... " he starts, walking to stand next to Fitz. He lifts up a remote and turns of the power dampener on Ben. "Perhaps you would care to illuminate our guests." he says staring Ben down.

"No. Please." Ben pleads holding back tears. "It won't happen again, I was wrong. Please." he tells the Kree.

"You see, Ben was present when I asked the Destroyer of others had traveled though time with her. She insisted that my servant was the only one, which turned out to be untrue." Kasius explains to the guests.

"Kasius. th-it's not his fault. Kasius!" Daisy tries to explain by is held back by a Kree gaurd.

"He lied." Kasius says as Daisy struggles against the gaurd and her chains. "Normally, that would not preclude him from being sold. Only in this instance, that lie was told to me." he says walking towards Ben with an anger in his eyes.

Fitz walks up to Kasius, "Is this really necessary? Make one of the buyers discipline him." he tries to rationalize.

"You of all people must understand. No man of honor can allow the tongues of his slaves to lie so boldly." Kasius says coldly.

"I'm the one... I am the one to blame! Not Ben!" Daisy tries to argue still struggling against the gaurd.

"Perhaps. But he's far less valuable." Kasius says.

From the corner of her eye, Asta could see Sinara use her powers to levitate her spheres, and launch them at Ben, having them go into his chest. Ben doesn't flinch as he dies, slowly falling to the ground with a thud. "No... Ben.." Daisy tries to reach out but just falls as she was still being restrained. "No! No. No."

"Hopefully, you and your partner founs this display more to your liking." Kasius tells Fitz, turning to look at Asta who was staring at Ben, void of emotion. She looks to the Kree and gives him a small nod. She just has to not break character.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

There was a break while the Kree prepared for the next battle. Fitz and Asta were wandering around when they turned a corner and saw Jemma at the other end of the corridor. The three of them stop, just staring at one another. They go to walk towards each other to have a reunion that they've been waiting to have since learning that they all were in the same room as one another. But were interrupted by another servant girl entering the hall. "You must hurry. There's a situation." she tells Jemma. She nods and follows as the two watch her leave sadly.

Fitz sighs once she was out of sight. Asta looks down, wondering just how many more times was Jemma gonna be seperated from all of them. "We have a problem." Enoch says coming up behind them.

The two jump and turn to face him, "What is it now?" Fitz asks witha nother sigh, this time both sad and annoyed.

"Someone new has arrived to acuire the Destroyer of Worlds from Kasius." Enoch informs them.

"Someone more wealth then us?" Asta questions, worry starting to build up in her.

"And more feared. His brother." he tells them.

Fitz wastes no time making his way back to the common room with the others following, "Kasius."

The Kree turns. "Hmm."

"What is this about your brother coming for the Destroyer?" Fitz questions annoyed.

Kasius excuses himself with whomst he was talking with to properly address the Marauder. "Isn't it wonderful?" he tells Fitz as he leads him and Asta to walk. "The journey from my home world is significant, so Father msut be quite serious if he sent Faulnak in person." he tells the two with a smiel on his face.

"We're also serious, and I gurantee you I have traveled a much longer journey." Fitz tells him starting to get fed up.

"And it has been a privledge having you both." the Kree tells them getting them both more and more angry.

"No. Not if we don't get the Destroyer." Asta threatens.

Fitz points at his as he takes in a shakey breath, " You promised me a chance to make an offer."

"Which I look forward to entertaining. Though I would encourage you both to consider one of my other Inhumans." Kasius tells them before walking away.

Fitz and Asta look at each other now a bit lost on what to do. "That did not appear to go well." Enoch says as he approaches the two. Slowly Enoch removes a package from his jacket, "Let's hope the rest does." he says handing it to Fitz, who puts it in his jacket.

"Okay then. There's one last thinf I need you to do." Fitz then whispers to Enoch.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Sitting back in the observation deck, the duo were no longer closes to where Kasius sits as they weren't first in like before. Gaius beat them two it, looking smug, while Fitz and Asta held no emotion. The plan to reuite with everyone was slowly crumbling and they needed to find a way to fix it.

"Now, our main event. One of the galaxy's deadliest forces. Yet tonight, she fights for your enjoyment. Dear friends, may I present to you..." Kasius begins the event, gesturing over to one of the doors as it opens, "Quake, the Destroyer of Worlds." he announces as Daisy walks into the arena, across the room from Sinara.

The room of guests clap at the sight of the Inhuman, Fitz and Asta doing the same with less enthusiasm. "This puny girl is your Destroyer?" Kasius's brother, Faulnak questions once his brother sits down.

"Your rush to judgment has alwasy been a shortcoming, brother. Allow me to switch off the Destroyer's inhibitor. Then you shall see her true nature. Of course, before I unleash her, we much take precaution." he says before a pole with a button rises from the ground. Kasius activates it, making a gold see-through shield go up to block the guests from the arena.

As the shield forms Asta looks to Fitz then to Daisy who was looking at her silently asking her what was she suppose to do. Looking back to Fitz, she grabs his hand to witch he grips just as tight as they were both tense, this was getting more complicated now. Her idea was that Diasy blasts the guests while Asta shields them, Jemma, and Daisy from anything that may harm them. But this shield... well, then needed a plan C.

"Would you care to give the opening commencement?" Kasius asks his brother before Daisy dodges getting hit with the metal spheres that Sinara shot towards her making sparks fly as they hit the wall.

"Seems your stray is done taking orders." Faulnak says as they look at the arena.

Daisy stands up, then raises her hand up into the air and quakes Sinara into the wall before running at her. Sinara stands just to get punched in the face, then the arm, then the gut. Sinara goes to grab Daisy but is flipped onto the ground, making her roll away avoifing getting hit. The two continue to swing and dodge at one another. Seemingly hitting and dodging just as many hits as one another. Daisy swiftly kicks her sending the blue Kree to the ground. She raises her hand to quake her again before she gets hit in the shoulder by a sphere sending her flying. to the ground.

Fitz leans forward, clearly worried. Asta sits back though and tries to focus on Daisy to but a shield on her but to no avail. Another Sphere goes for Daisy, but she uses her powers to slow it down and stop before it can hit her then sending it back at Sinara. The Kree dodges and jumps, powerfully punching Daisy in the face. The agent was fast, not letting the hit affect her to much, swiping her leg to make the other fall kicking her while Sinara grips her and flips her back onto the ground. The two struggle, blocking hits. Daisy gets her legs around the alien, going to choke her by Sinara stands and slams Daisy into the ground hard.

The two get up agian and kick and dodge and punch and dodge some more until Daisy finally lands another kick makign the Kree take a few steps back. Sinara then runs at her, as Daisy lets her until she got close adn uses her powers sending her to the ground.

Daisy looks up at the crowd before backing away from Sinara. Fitz stands and pulls whatever he had in his jacket out and hits Gaius across the face with it. Jemma rushes over and slashes at Kasius's throat. Asta rushes for the button deactivating the shield. Daisy uses her powers to get up to the platform level, but Faulnak was quick to grab the remote and deactivate her powers, making her fall.

A Kree guard goes Fitz, but he shoots him and Lady Kabara who was about to through a knife. Asta conjurs her swoard and begins to take down gaurds that were coming for them as Jemma jumps down from the platform onto boxes to get into the arena. "Go." Asta tells Fitz while she blocks and kills Kree.

Fitz listens and follows Jemma with a jump over the bars. Asta wastes no time follwoing them, turning back and using her magic to push the button activating the shield to block the others from following them. Jemma and Fitz steadings her as she nearly fell off the boxes. The three of them were breathing hard as they got off the boxes.

"I'm never leaving you again." Fitz says looking at Jemma before pulling her into a kiss.

Sinara slowly stood up but Asta wasted no time grabbing the gun from Fitz and shooting her with it. The couple look at her with relief as she turns back to them. "Then Wed her." she tells him, looking to Jemma with a smile.

"Absoulutely." Fitz says looking to Jemma, who smiles at him.

"Okay, come on.": Asta tells them hopping down, going over to Daisy who was sitting up. Her and Jemma help her up. Asta hand Fitz back the gun to have a better hold on Daisy who groans.

"Also, um, just to say, I did propose earlier. When Kasius had you your hearing turned off." Fitz says as they all walk over to the door.

"Oh, of course you did." Jemma says as a Kree gaurd goes towards them.

Fitz doesn't hesitate to shoot him dead and they continue walking, "No I- Seriously, I did." he says, as Asta just smiles, glad that they were back together.

Chapter Text

Fitz leads the girls with his gun raised seeing as Daisy was still injured they needed to tend to her, get resources, then find a way out. The four make there way into an empty room with a place for Daisy to take a seat and rest for a moment. "Find me some clothes." Jemma tells the two as they set her down.

The three spread around the room to look. "Whats the plan Fitz?" Daisy asks as she hold her shoulder.

"Uh, I have a ship. We get there, then comes the plan." Fitz says as he looks through one of the bins.

"He means we have no plan. And we are winging it until we have time to think." Asta corrects as she grabs clothes and goes to give it to Jemma and help her get the paint off.

Fitz goes to Daisy, "Hey, hoe's your head?" he asks her looking over her wound.

"I'll tell you wehn the ringing stops." she tells him with a sigh, "By the way, 'fight to the death'? Really?" she questions.

"Yeah, well, we had to make a splashy entrance." he tells her while helping with her wrists.

"Well, you could have jumped in the octagon yourself, then." Daisy tells him a bit sarcastically.

"No, wouldn't be fair. I do push-ups now. Double-digits, so..." he jokes before heling her up.

The two girls were done getting the paint off and go back to the others, "You have no idea how good it is to see you." Jemma says with a sigh of relief. "You're here, with Asta and a spaceship. Seems impossible." she says as she puts on her jacket.

"Nothings impossible anymore." Fitz tells them.

"That I can believe." Asta says as she tosses the wet rag with paint on it to the side.

"Full story later." Jemma tells them.

"Yeah, there will be pints." Fitz says walking over to them.

"There will be gin." JEmma says before doubling over with a shout of pain. Fitz and Asta were quick to grab her from falling completely over.

"Woah!" Fitz says kneeling down to hold her.

"Jemma what is it?" Asta asks as the scientist clutches her head in pain.

"Oh my god." was all she says while breathing heavily.

"Her implant. They must be messing with it." Daisy tells them while the two lead her over to where Daisy had been sitting.

"Well, what- what- what do we do?" Fitz questions confused.

"Just get it out." Daisy tells them with a shrug as Jemma lays back in pain.

"I got this, I got this." Asta says when Fitz goes to look for a tool, making him stop. The blonde was quick to hover over her friend on the small bed with a reasureing look. "Jemma, this might hurt. I'm sorry." she tells her before lifting up her hand to replace Jemma's that was covering her left ear. Asta focus's on whatever was in her ear that wasn't actually a part of Jemma. Her magic enters Jemma's head when fighting could be heard. "Hold her hand." she tells Fitz while seeing that pain on the scientists face. He listens as Jemma groans in pain, while Asta continues to try and grip onto the thing in her ear. "I think I got it." she says when she feels her magic completely incase something.

Moving her hand away from Jemma's ear the magic follows before finally pulling out a silver like object from her ear as Jemma shouts in relief while breathing heavily. "We got to go." Daisy tells the trio as the Kree she was choking out falls to the ground. "Come on."

Asta moves and Fitz helps Jemma sit up. The princess puts the thing on a table and they follow Daisy out of the room. They make their way down a few halls before Fitz leads them into another room with a proper door. The coast seemed to be clear and they make their way towards a window. "There's the ship. Just got to get past-" Fitz goes to explain but they all stop when teh shi[p outside explodes.

"Don't tell me that was-" Daisy starts to question.

"Our way out." Fitz finishes as they all look out the window in shock.

"We need a plan D." Asta says before walking down a hall with the others in tow, stressed out. They continued down many halls until they finally found a lift. Daisy takes out the tablet key she took off the Kree she was fighting earlier allowing them in. After hitting a few buttons they were on their way up.

The four of them finally just took a moment to breath once the doors closed. "All right. So, the last time I saw Yo-yo and the others, they were at a salvage yard on one of the upper floors. When'd you see them last?" Daisy says before looking to Asta.

Asta sighs, "They were locking me in a room with Deke because they think I betrayed them when he lied to them. Honestly Daisy I didn't know what they were doing to you. He just told me that he got you closer to Jemma and was going through a plan to keep you alive." she tells her wlaking to her friend with a sorry expression. "I'm sorry I didn't go with you."

Daisy shakes her head and places a hand on Asta's arm, "Don't be. You were trusting your gut. We'll clear everything with the others when we find them." she reasures the blonde.

Fitz goes to Jemma as she was still catching her breath, "How you feeling, Jemma?"

"Oh, somewhere between motion-sick and-" Before she could finish the lights in the lift cut out and the whole soom shakes before it stops. "That's not helping." Jemma says with a sigh.

Everything seems to have shut down with the lift including the key pad to get us moving. "Damn it." Daisy says when she couldn't get it to turn on. She looks around, "Wait." she says going to the center of the room. "Asta give me a boost." she says as she jumps up and opens an emergency door in the cieling.

Asta conjurs and platform for Daisy to step on filling the room with a dim blue light. "I'm just happy not to be standing still." Jemma comments as they wastch Daisy steps up on the platform. "Feels good to be on the run." she admits.

"Together." Fitz adds as Daisy grabs the sides on the frame and climbs up and out of sight.

"Come on, lets go." Asta tells the two nodding to her platform. Jemma was next to climb up, then Fitz and lastly Asta.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

"Ah. Theses pipes are hot." Daisy tells them as the four of them navigate through an unfamiliar floor. "Wonder if that means this is the spa floor." she jokes as they continue to look around.

"Ah, a spa sounds great. I's kill for a hot shower and a comfy bed." Jemma says with a sigh.

"When we get out of all this we should take a trip to Asgard. Good get away. No running, No being hunted." Asta chimes in with a teasing smile.

"Sounds like a dream." Jemma says with a smile. before touching another pipe. "This one's cold." she tells the others.

Daisy goes over to a screen in the wall, "There's a lot of power running into here." she comments as she follows the pipes that were near the screen.

"Tracking signs of airborn contaminants, mold, harmful chemicals, cardon monoxide." Fits says as he looks over a machine.

"An air-filtration system." Jemma says joining his side.

"This much be the hub for life support systems." he tells them as he looks around once more.

"Well, of course there'd be one. this station is essentially a giant vivarium for humans." she says as she looks over the machine.

Asta walks over to what seemed like a partial door, gripping the handle and pulling it open. "Uh, Fitz, you might wanna look at this." she says with wide eyes as he joind her side.

"Well, I think I know how they're creating the artificial gravity for the station." Fitz says as he looks with wide eyes.

Jemma takes a few steps to get a better view before her eyes go wide as well, "It can't be."

"What is it?" Daisy questions before making her way over from across the room.

"Unless I'm mistaken, and I hope I am, that's..." Jemma says getting closer to look at it better.

"Gravitonium." Fitz confirms.

The four didn't have time to speckilate any further as shots were suddenly fired at them. Daisy pulls Jemma back as Asta gets hit in the arm and the shoulder while Fitz gets hit at his side. The two duck down clutching their wounds to avoid getting hit again.

"Submit willingily or entertain me." a kree tells them holding up a big gun. "These are your options."

Fitz groans in pain while Asta looks at the kree with a glare. The other two didn't have much of a choice and lift up their hands in surrender. The Kree began to make his way over to the stairs to get down to them. Once he was at a bad angle Diays pulls Jemma back, "Get back." she says going over to where Fitz and Asta were leaning on a work bench, giving them some cover as the Kree began to fire at them again.

Asta focused on the humans giving enough of a shield around them as the bullets rang out as Jemma looked over Fitz and her wounds. The bullets stop but the sound of grunts and punches could be heard telling the others that Daisy had went to fight the Kree to give them time and cover. "Go." Asta tells them through gritted teeth.

"But Asta-" Jemma tries to argue.

"No, go. I'll cover you." Asta cuts her short. With a sigh, Jemma helps Fitz stand and Asta stayed there but kept a shield on them as they went for a door getting out of danger. She sighs and drops the shirld when she could no longer seem then and groans at the pain in her arm. Slowly standing, Asta looks over at Daisy and the Kree, she kicks him into the steam. Taking that to her advantage, Asta grabs Diays and has them follow the others out a door before the Kree could see them.

The two were quick to catch up with the others closing doors in their paths as Jemma sets Fitz down as he groans. Asta stops moving when she seems the familiar glowing eyes of a mask walk over to them. Diasy wastes no time grabbing him and pinning him against a shelf.

"Daisy wait!" Asta says clutching her shoulder.

"Good thing I'm wearing a helmet." Deke's slightly muffled voice says before Daisy rips of his helmet annoyed.

"You." she says to him clearly unpleased. "You come to collect the bounty?"

"No, I came to save your ass." he says going to move from his stop only to get shoved back.

"I should kill you right now." Diays shouts at him.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Fitz questions, looking at the girls as Jemma tends to his wound first.

"He works for Kasius." Daisy tells him letting him go.

"I don't work for h- I mean," he pauses to look at the others in the room, "sometines I do, technically, but right now, I'm team S.H.I.E.L.D., all right?" he tells them.

"Well, its convenient, you showing up right now." Diays says, clearly not believing a word he says.

"Convenient? No, it's mind-blowing that I managed to escape my room after Coulson welded the door shut. Which by the way, thanks for leaving me in Asta." Deke says, glancing at the blonde for a moment.

"Sorry." she says feeling a tiny bit bad for not warning him.

Deke sighs, "I had to crack a window. A lot of my personal valuables are now floating around space, thanks very much, everybody." he says clearly annoyed.

"So what? This story's supposed to make me feel better, that Coulson locked you up?" Daisy questions.

"We were working out our differences, all right? I don't have time to get into this." Deke argues, before Fitz cuts in.

"Can we discuss this after we're out of the line of fire?" Fitz tells the two.

"Yes, thank you... this guy. No please follow me. We go up the service shafts, it'll lead us right onto the trawler." Deke says going to lead them

"No, no, no, no." Daisy stops him. "This is the guy that sold me to Kasius and tricked Asta." Daisy says to fill in the other two.

"Oh, Kill him. He's a snake." "I'm gonna cut his throat open." Jemma and Fitz say at the same time, going to stand but Fitz groans and sits back down.

"Hey, no. No killing him, alright. He's on... thin ice, but no killing." she tells the two, crossing her arms.

"I'm a pragmatist, all right? Just lis- Just listen." Deke tells them looking back to Daisy who looked at him unimpressed by his excuse, "I told you that I would lead you to your friend. There she is. And I stopped you from doing soemthing drastic that would have gotten poeple killed in the process. I didn't tell Asta the whole truth, but she knew you two were together, okay?" he explains before looking over at Fitz then at Asta. "Though you two don't look great."

"Thank you." they both say unamused.

"And now you just happen to stumble upon us?" Jemma says, rightfully skeptical.

"All the channels are buzzing with the news of your escape. I just had to follow the dead bodies. It led me right to you." Deke explains before a loud banging came from the door. "We are out of time!" he tells them as the banging continues.

Asta with her uninjured arm helped Jemma lift up Fitz so that they could follow Deke, "How do we know you're not gonna lead us into another trap?" Daisy questions.

"You don't." Deke tells her before turning a corner.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Following Deke was worth it, as the group made it back to the level where the others were. Daisy knocked on the door only to get no response. "I thought they'd be here." she says with a sigh as she looks through the small window.

"Diasy?" they hear Coulson on the other side before the door opens. "How did you escape?"

"Coulson. Hey." she says before hugging him. The other three slowly follow her in as they still had two injured.

"Fitz!" Coulson greets in surprise as Diasy goes to hug the others.

"Turbo!" Mack says with a big smile, "Man it's good to see you!" he says as they enter the room. "How the hell you get in the future?" he questions.

"Uh, the long way." Fitz says vaguely as the two girls get him to take a seat.

"Him and Asta need medical attention. Story time can wait." Jemma tells them, as the three sit down on some steps.

"Wll, not when those stories include time travel." Mack says with a sigh before they hear the door close. Coulson was fast to hold up a weapon only to see Deke. "This guy? The hell you doing here? And how'd you get out of your cage? Wait, how'd blondie get out?" Mack questions, very confused now.

"Well, Asta here disappeared after a little nap. I let myself out, but thanks very much for your concern." Deke tells him, still clearly annoyed.

"Well, the gang's all here except May." Yo-yo brings up.

"She was taken to the surface?" Coulson asks, looking at Fitz.

"Yeah." he confirms.

"That's a good thing." Coulson tells them.

"Is it?" Daisy questions.

"We need alcohol for the wounds." Jemma brings up.

"I'll see if Flint can find something." Mack says shocing Deke out of his way as he makes his way across the room.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

Flint, a young boy who had recently became an Inhuman, had left the team. They were worried becasue he was just a kid and knowing what the Kree do with the Inhumans, Daisy, Coulson, and Mack left to go find him.

Shots could be heard faintly at one point but the trio plus Flint got back to them in record time. "Everyone here?" Mack questions as he closes the door.

"Yeah. We're all accounted for." Coulson confirms.

"Well, most of me, anyway." Fitz jokes as Jemma tightens a cloth on Asta's arm to have it into a sling.

"Mr. and Mrs. Boba Fett will be here any minutes." Daisy reminds them.

"So, what do we do now?" Jemma questions.

"We escape via the trawler." Coulson tells them.

"Escape to where?" Deke questions.

"The surface." Coulson answers as if it was obvious. "All signs have been pointing us there. The Kree won't follow us there, and you don't have to follow us there, either." he explains.

"Hey, man, I already told you that I'm in, to go out with you." Deke reminds them.

"No one's getting out of here if they catch us first." Yo-yo argues before a rock flies across the room and lands at the door.

"Less arguing, more figuring out what the hell we're gonna do." Flint tells the team as he goes to place more rocks to barricade the door. It didn't take long for banging to come from the other side of the door.

"That ought to by us some time." Coulson says as the door doen't even budge. After a few moments a whole is blasted in through one of the walls. "Or not."

Another hole is shot, "I though I told you not to go out there." Mack scolds Flint as they all back away from the wall.

"You told me to use my powers to protect people." Flint argues back.

"This isn't your problem to fix." Mack tells him.

"It is my problem! They're after me!" Flint retorts.

"And me." Daisy and Jemma both tell him.

"I don't think they're gonna be picky about who they kill." yo-yo tells them as another hole is made.

"Well, we can't leave with this place surrounded." Daisy says.

"Come on." Coulson tells them, "A room full of secret agenst, scientists, and superheroes. Someone give me something." he reminds them.

"We stand our ground and fight." Yo-yo says.

"Yea, with what? Rocks adn rubbish?" Fitz questions as he stands leaning on a wall, as another hole is blasted.

"I can fight with rocks." Flint brings up.

"How else do you propose to get out of here?" yo-yo questions.

"We don't go out. We go up." Deke says earning a look of confusion from Coulson.

"There's no elevators here." he reminds him.

Deke grabs his gravity belt buckle, "Then we makes our own elevator with this." he says showing it to Coulson.

"A belt buckle?" Fitz questions.

"It's an anti-gravity belt buckle." Asta says as she stands to join the rest of them.

"This chute leads directly to the drop bay under the trawler. We can get to the airlock from there." Deke says leading the team across the room.

"We use the device to create a gravity well." Jemma says in realization.

"Will it work?" Mack questions as the hole balsting get quicker.

"Yeah, it'll work." Deke replies with a nod.

"It's our best option at this point." Coulson concluded.

"I'll go first. I'll showyou how it works. And then I'll drop the puck down, the next person can come up." Deke says ready to enter the chute before Coulson stops him.

"No. No, no, no, no." Almost every one says as they move him away from the chute.

"No. Not a chance." Daisy tells him, "I'm not gonna let you use us as bait while you make your grand escape." she says taking the belt buckle from his hand. "Fit-Simmons, you're up." she says placing the device in Jemma's hands before turning to Deke, "You're last."

Another blast comes from the wall, a chunk flying through the group nearly hitting them. "Once more unti the breach." Fitz says to Jemma.

"Allons-y." Jemma tells him as the two enter the chute, holding on to each other tightly before activating the device. The two float up and make it to the exit before dropping the device where Coulson caught it.

"Alright Yo-yo, you're up next. Let's keep it moving." Coulson says handing her the device as she enters the chute.

They continue to go up one by one until they all were on the next level and heard a loud thud from where they just left. "I'm the last one, you satisfied." Deke says as he enters the hall.

"Are you sure they can't follow us?" Jemma questions with worry.

"No, they can definitely follow us. It's gonna take them a while." Deke tells her honestly.

"Alright. So you ready to take this thing out?" Coulson questions making the group of them all look to Deke.

"What, me? I'm not a pilot." he argues pointing to himself confused.

"What? You don't know how to fly this thing?" Daisy asks confused herself.

Deke scoffs, "I never siad I did." he says going to Coulson to climb down the ladder that leads into the trawler.

"Okay, what about you Fllint? Wasn't Virgil giving you flying lessons?" Coulson asks.

"Well, yeah. And I'm not bad, but, uh... I'm not leaving with you guys." Flint admits.

Mack turns to him, "What do you mean you're not leaving with us? You have to. This whole station will kill you on sight." he warns the kid.

"Look, you told me to use my powers to protect people, right? They're in this mess becasue of me. I can't just abandon them. I'm gonna figure out a way to get them out of it." Flint tells them, earnign a small nod from Mack.

"Okay. Well, I guess we're gonna have to come up with a plan, then, don't we?" Mack says to the kid earning a look of confusion from everyone.

"'We'?" Flint questions.

"Yeah, we. Remeber what I told you? I'm here if you need me. I got you." Mack tells him.

"Me too." Yo-yo says giving the kid a smile.

"Wait, Mack. What about never spliting up?" Coulson asks walking over to him.

"Yeah, I know, sir, but I'm not leaving him behind. Look. We'll handle things here. You get to the surface and figure out what the hell all this is about." Mack tells him.

"Be safe." Coulson agrees before heading to the trawler ladder.

"I'll see you soon." Mack tells them as the team goes to follow.

Daisy hugs the two before joinging the others at the ladder. "Oh, Wait!" Fitz calls out to the three as they were walking away. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait." he says as they turn back to him. "Ok, if you guys really are gonna fight a bunch of alien warriors, then you might be intersted to know that, in the past, I hid a crate of S.H.I.E.L.D. tech in a wall on the base." he tells them.

"Oh, that's what I'm talking about. Thanks, Turbo." Mack says to him with a nod.

"Where?" Yo-yo questions.

"Level three." he says before turning to go to the ladder.

"Oh, you got to be kidding me." "Level three?" "Really?" the three of them complain.

"You mean the level infested with aliens that suck your blood?" Yo-yo questions making Fitz's eyes go wide.

"Well, how was I-" Fitz stops himself to sigh, "I feel like I'm not getting enough credit here. I have traveled through time and space to find you. I think we're moving past that bit a little too quickly." he tells them a bit aggitated. But in his defense he has a point and a gun shot wound to prove it.

"T-turbo, Turbo..." Mack says walking up to him, and places a hand on his shoulder, "We wouldn't ecpect anything less. Thank you." he tells him.

The two high five, "Good luck." Fitz tells him before joining the others in the trawler.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

"So, taking off is easy enough, docking is the hard part, and landing, that's imposisble on account of these ships weren't built with landing gear." Coulson informs the team as him and Daisy strap into the two seats.

"So, you have no idea what you're doing." Daisy says looking over at him.

I got a flying car. How different can it be?" Coulson says as he flicks a couple of switches.

"Great." Daisy says a bit sarcastically as the others in teh back look at each other with less confidence then before.

The ship shakes causing Fitz, Deke, Asta, and Jemma to all stumble a bit. "Hold on." Coulson tells them as he begins to move the ship.

____ ___ ____ ___ ____

The flying aspect of the trip was smooth. No one had tried to stop them yet so there was nothing making the others who were walking around stumble again. Deke showed them the extra pull out seats on the ship which made Asta sigh, she would of loved to have known about these the other day when they were flying with May. Jemma and Fitz opt'd for the two near the ladder and Deke and Asta got the ones across from them.

It was going smooth, until it wasn't. "Okay so not exactly like a flying car." Coulson says as turbulence was hitting them hard.

"We are so stupid!" Deke shouts in slight distress.

"So much for smooth sailing." Daisy says to Coulson.

"Hang On!" Coulson shouts to them as they continue towards the surface.

Chapter Text

~ Sometime in this reality's past ~

"Three more cities just went dark." Jemma informs the team as they all rushed around the Zephyr. "It's spreading to fast."

"Stark's lines are down. I can't get a hold of anyone." Asta chimes worry on her face.

"The lighthouse is still 200 miles out!" May says as she flys.

"Hey! You're not supposed to be here. Where the hell is this girl's mother?" an Agent questions as he spots a young girl, Robin, hiding behind a chair.

Jemma steps up to him, "Polly didn't make it this far." she tells him getting him to leave her alone as they go back to scouting for more information.

Robin makes her way past them and over to May. The storm was getting worse, but she navigated through it as she spots the young girl. "Robin, go back downstairs with the others. It's not safe up here." she tells her.

"It's okay. We survive the crash." Robin tells her.

"What cra-" before May could finish her question, the Zephyr shakes and alarms begin to blare.

"There's a gravity storm heading right for us!" Jemma shouts to the others as she buckles herself in.

"Sit down! Buckle up!" may instructs ot the young girl who listens.

"I'm going to try and shield the ship." Asta says as she buckles in.

"What? No! Asta a shield that size and dense will harm you from the presure of the crash alone." Jemma argues.

"I have to try." Asta argues back before lifting her hands up.

_-_-_-_-_-_

~Present Future~

Asta groans before she lowers her hands, the shield she put up fading away as her head falls back on the seat. "Asta?" she hears someone say but her eyes wouldn't open. "Hey somethings wrong!" Deke, says as he unbuckles her from the seat.

"Asta, why did you do that?" Simmons asks with a sigh as she kneels besides her friend brushing back her hair to look her over for injures.

"What did she do?" Deke asks standing as he's never seen her use her powers before; as Fitz sits down next to the blonde in worry.

"She casted a shield around us so the crash wouldn't hurt us. But whatever hits her shield, she feels the force of preasure. Meaning-" Fitz rambles in explanation, his eyes not leaving the princess.

"She took the full force of plane crash for us..." Coulson says as him and Daisy join them.

"Why would she do that if she knew she couldn't handle it?" Deke asks frustration and worry clear on his face.

"She can't help it. She's the Goddess for Protection for a reason." Fitz tells him making Deke's eyes go wide as he stares at the unconcious princess.

____ ____ ____ ____

The team with the help of the survivors on the surface were able to get to the crashed Zephyr, even with a passed out blonde princess in Deke's arms. They lead them to an empty bed and had her lay there for rest in medical.

The team were getting caught up with the surface people and with May. Fitz and Jemma were going between checking on Asta and chatting with Robin, not that any of the time travel made sense. "Well, the decades haven't made her any easier to understand." Fitz says to Coulson and May.

"It's like she's still a little girl." Jemma says as Fitz look back at the now old Robin, "Best not to crowd her." she says nudging Fitz.

"Yeah." Fitz agrees.

"Any news on Asta?" May asks with concern after Coulson told her what she did for them when they crashed.

"Nothing's broken, and no nose bleed. Safest guess is that she's regaining her energy." Jemma explains with a sigh. They all nod as Fitz and Jemma walk away.

_-_-_-_-_

~Sometime in this reality's Past~

"The population is barely holding on. And the water filtration system?" May questions as they go over everything.

"Could go at any minute, just like the solar-poer arrays." Fitz tells ehr with a sigh.

"And if we lose supplemental power, we lose climate control, kicking off a series of cascading failures. We're hanging bby a thread." Simmons brings up.

"Somethings severed my connection with the Bifrost, my portals aren't working so I can't ever begin to go get help for Earth." Asta says with a sigh of defeat as she leans on the wall.

May leans on the table, "Then we hang on for as long as we can, try to minimize the damage. But Robin said there's another way." she tells them making Fitz but his face in his hand.

"Oh, not the girl's bloody time machine again. It's impossible. You cannot change time. It's fixed." Fitz tells her.

"What if it's not? She's been right about everything else, and for us to even have a chance, you and Simmons have to design the machine." May argues.

"Okay. So, we spend decades on the schematics. What happens when we don't finish the job?" Fitz questions leaning on the table.

"Then we trust that someone else will carry on after us." Simmons tells him.

"It won't be hard to find others to trust. If we're giving them hope with a chance of survival, people will be on board no matter how far in the future." Asta brings up as Robin walks over to them.

"We have to give ourselves the chance." May tells Fitz as Robin lifts up a drawing to May.

"This is to remind you." she says as May grabs it.

"Not today Robin." May tells her softly as Fitz leans his head down on the table in frustration.

"You gave them everything you could." Robin says looking at Fitz, making him look at her with worry and confusion.

____ ____ ____

~Present Future~

Waking up in the Zephyr was confusing for Asta. Last thing she remember was the Trawler going to crash land. Sitting up she doesn't recognize any of the stuff around her, makeshift curtains and drawings was scattered around the place. Her arm still in a sling but with a proper badage, she figures that she should go find someone she would recognize.

Leaving the med-bay slowly, no one seemed to really pay her any mind, glancing at her but let her wander around a bit confused by how familiar but different the Zephur was now. Then she paused as she was going to head down one of the halls. They were watching her. She could feel their stares now, they didn't want her to notice before but now... now she could feel it, making a pit form in her stomach. Something was wrong.

_-_-_-_-_-_

~Sometime in this reality's Past~

"Its to late to stop it. There's to much blood." Robin cried out as she hugged Asta. The blonde was concerned while holding on to the girl to comfort her. Asta knew it was in her head but she didn't know how to help, her powers could only do so much.

Robin had ran to Asta and was refusing to let go when Fitz found them in the hall. "Shh. It's okay, you're here with us." She tries to tell her but Robin just continued to mutter about the blood.

Fitz was holding on to Asta's hand as she carried the girl, leading them to where May was working. "May. I've had it. I'm done." he says gainging the womans attention as they stop at her table. "She can't control herself. she dan't stop seeing how people die, keeps muttering about it..." Fitz says annoyed taking Robin from Asta, setting her down, and going to leave.

"Hold on!" May demands, walking around the table.

Fitz turned around sharply pointing a finger at May, "She just described Jemma's death. Then Asta's." he tells her breathing heavily with anger as Asta looks down at the young girl who was watching them with wide eyes full of fear. "Why don't you tell me how I'm supposed to live with that?" Fitz asks, his voice wavering when he pointed to himself.

"I thought I already told you." Robin speaks up looking over at him while Asta just pulls her into a side hug, feeling bad for her.

"You know she can't help it. She sees death like her father, but she also sees a way out. That's why you designed the machine." May argues with him.

"Oh, you don't get it." Fitz says before clasping his hands together and sighing, He walks over tot eh wall that held all the blueprints and began to tear them down, "Nothing... we do... matters." he says making May lean on the table as he goes over to them holding the papers. "Because we can't change time."

"Fitz!" Asta snaps at him as she stares at all the progress he's now torn.

"You don't know that!" May shouts, facing him.

"Of course I do! Becasue we've tried!" He shouts making them all flinch. He never gets this anger, they weren't use to this. "For all I know, we've tried a thousand times! Always ends the same." he tells them as Robing leaves Asta's side to go to May. "It's like a recond that keeps on skipping, and we are repeating this loop again and again and again!" Fitz argues before punching plastic containers that were sat on shelves.

"Fitz, take a breath!" May shouts at him as Asta goes over to him. He listens breathing in to calm down when Asta places he hand on his arm.

He looks over at May and Robin, "And every time, Jemma dies. Or Asta. Or both." He tells May taking in shaky breaths. "They all die. Robin can't change it. Voss couldn't change it." he says before walking out of Asta's grip and going to stand right infront of May. "Even Daisy couldn't change it. She saw the aftermath, and she still destroyed the world." he tells her turning away from the to go back to Asta who just looked over at May sadly.

____ ____ ____

~Present Future~

Asta was never approached and was able to get out of the prying eyes of everyone for awhile. She was mainly trying to reoriente herself when she found Deke rubbing his head in pain inside of one of the storage cages. "Deke?" she asks softly as she approaches him.

He groans, "Hey. Glad your awake." he says as he leans his head back with a sigh.

She wastes no time opening the cage with her magic, "You're bleeding, are you alright?" she asks as she swings the door open.

"I'll be fine. Voss hit me good." he says with a sigh before looking at her, "What about you? You took a whole crash impact for us." he says as he looks her over.

Asta cracks a smile, "Glad to know you care." she jokes making him crack a smile, "I'm fine, a little confused, but fine... What's happening? 'Cause you being in here and the sound of fighting earlier means something's going on." she questions.

Deke sighs, "Voss had his on agenda. I think he had something to do with why my dad isn't on board. Only reason I'm not dead is 'cause I don't think he wanted anymore of my family's blood on his hands." he tells her.

Her eyes widen, "Oh my... Deke, I'm so sorry." she tells him softly.

He nods before looking past her as footsteps approach them. Asta turns to see Daisy who had an apolicetic look on her face showing she heard their conversation, "I just hope Robin can help you guys find your answers." Deke tells them looking between the two.

"I think we're... on our own." Daisy tells them a bit reluctantly. The two knew what she ment, but didn't say a word. Silently the trio made their way back to where the rest of the team was waiting.

Asta takes a seat next to Jemma as her and Fitz send her a tired smile, glad to see her awake. "So, what now?" Daisy asks the team, gaining the princess's attention again with a sigh.

"We live on this crashed airplane until the Kree or-or the roaches or the gravity storms finish us off." Deke says a bit bitterly.

"I think we can do better then that." Coulson replies before looking at the others.

"Yeah, but at least that way, I don't go back in time and quake the world apart." Daisy tells them with her arms crossed.

"We do go back." May says joining the rest of the team. "Robin told me how. We can save everyone. Just one question, though. Who's Flint?" she reveals.

_-_-_-_-_-_

~Sometime in this reality's Past~

"Asta you can't do this." Fitz argues holding on to her arm as she stands in front of him, Jemma, and May.

"I have to. Sacrificing myself to give Humanity a better chance at survival, there is no question there. I have to do this." she tells him, her eyes showing him just how serious she was.

"There has to be another way..." Jemma says as tears begin to gether in her eyes.

Asta shakes her head, "You need to survive. Make the plans, give people hope, and save your planet." she tells them but Jemma just grabs her hands tightly as tears fall. "Hey, you need to do this." she tells her softly as tears gather in her eyes now. "You all need to do this. It'll work, okay, it has to work." she says looking at all of them. Only May nods in understanding as she holds a brave face, but saddness was in her eyes.

"We can figure out a different deal to give them. We-we'll figure something out." Fitz begins to stutter before he places a hand on her cheek. "We can't lose you." he begs her silently to stay.

Asta gives him and Jemma a sad smile. "You won't lose me, not really." she tells them, moving one of her hands to be over his that was on her cheek. Looking between the two for a moment as a tear falls, "You two better wed. Make happy memories." she tells them with a soft chuckle. Moving her hands she pulls off a ring from her finger, "Here." she says flipping it onto Jemma's, "Now I'll be with you and you can never forget." she tells them.

Jemma looks at her finger in shock, "But-" she tries to argue.

"No. Keep it." The princess instructs, making Jemma close her fingers as to not take it off.

Fitz sighs as he finally lets go of Asta, "Fine. If-if you're going to do this, then tell us your favorite star before you go." he requests making her look at him slightly confused but she didn't question it.

"The star Alya. It was always my favorite to spot on earth." she tells them with a smile at the memory.

"Princess." a voice calls to her from a little ways away.

Turning to see a Kree stood there, waiting. She gives him a nod before looking back to her friends. She pulls the three of them into a hug. "You mustn't give up hope." she whispers to them before pulling away.

Jemma pulls her into another hug before kissing her cheek. "Kiss him before you leave. He won't cry if you kiss him." she whispers to her friend before pulling away and kissing her other cheek.

Asta looks to Fitz and pulls him into his own hug, before he could wrap her in his arms she kisses him. It took Fitz a moment for his brain to catch up before kissing her back. They pull away, Asta placing a hand on his cheek, "You were brilliant. Thank you." she whispers before pulling away completely and turning away from them.

Fitz let out a shakey breath as he watches her with wide eyes going to the Kree who guides her to the lift. Jemma grabs his hand as they continue to watch the doors close. That was the last they saw of Asta.

The Kree in charge felt threaten by the prospect of an Asgardian with powers on the Lighthouse, so they came up with a deal. They will help the humans survive, for the Princess of Asgard. Asta didn't fight it, accepting that this could be how she died. But if it ment protecting her friends and all of humanity... she didn't hesitate to accept it.

Chapter Text

"How does your arm feel?" Jemma asks as she removes the sling from around Asta's arm.

"It hurts but I can handle it." Asta says honestly as she slowly moves her arm, wincing a bit. "We need my magic for defense. If May can fight Kree with a hurt leg, I think a few spells with my arm will survive." she half jokes as Jemma helps her up from the makeshift bed.

"Yeah but you also could have a concussion so take it easy, please. You scared us before." she tells the princess.

Asta sighs but doesn't argue, "I'll try not to over do it, I promise."

"Good. Now lets go see if we can fix this Zephyr." Jemma says with a smile as they rejoin the others to start working on ship.

The team were working for a few hours each on their own thing. Daisy worked on comms, Fitz with the engine, May with the cockpit, Deke was off doing... something, and Asta was 'helping' Jemma with the avionics. "Whatever you're doing, do it faster." Coulson instructs as he enters the room with Enoch after going to look for some supplies. "How we lookin'?"

"Terrible." Fitz was the first to reply as he stood up, "Zephyr One's been a crash site for going on 80 years, so it's a mess." he says as he walks around the room.

"It's gonna be a whiile till comms are up and running. 'Cause I'm pretty sure generations of space rats have lived and died in here." Daisy complains as she fiddles with a device.

"Not to ruin the mood, but..." Jemma spoke up as Asta removes the sheet that was covering the station they were working on, "avionics are online." she announces to them.

"Agent Coulson, we are evacuating to the caves for shelter, are we not?" Enoch questions.

"Zephyr flies again, metal man." May replies as she removes some sheets around her work space.

"I am mostly plastic alloy. And Chronicoms do not have gender." he corrects her.

"We dont have weeks. We're gonna outrun the storm. Pull the ground anchors, fly past as many roaches as we can, and lad at the Lighthouse." Coulson explains to Enoch as the team continues to work.

"You are confident, despite knowing this will surely end in your deaths." Enoch says curiously.

"We're not going to bury our heads in the sand while our friends are in danger." Daisy says as she walks arcoss th room.

Just then sparks go off at the station Fitz was trying to now fix making him move away before the table that Jemma and Asta were setting up shut down making the two girls sigh. "We'll so much for avionics." he says as he closes the panel.

"Rerouting must have overloaded the MPDU" Jemma says before walking away to where she thinks she could fix it.

"Need to try and bypass the subsystems." Fitz says as he goes to follow her.

"I'm...hopeless with this technology so..." Asta says before slowly following the scientists.

______________

In the server room of the ship, Asta was a least somewhat familiar with it. Fitz and Jemma were quick with rambling what they were looking for and what to fix if needed and they were off, at least until Fitz messed with some wires and sparks flew in his face again. "Gah... Damn it." he says as he rubs his eyes.

"Oh, Fitz, please be careful." Jemma tells him as she continues to work.

"We don't need you loosing an eye." Asta jokes.

Fitz looked at the back of Jemma's head with arms ready to shrug causing Asta to crack a smile as she noticed from the corner of her eye. "Well..." he pauses take a breathe, "I'm not trying to electrocute myself. But everything has been reconfigured, so..." he says, annoyed but trying to be calm. He looks back at what he was working on, "I don't even knwo what I'm looking at."

"Wait. I think I do." Jemma says gaining their attention. The three huddle together to look at Jemma's tablet.

"That's my design..." Fitz says confused as he looks over the scimatics.

"Yeah, for the next-gen Zephyr. I remember."Jemma says as he begins to push buttons.

"Complete with RCS thrusters." Fitz mumbles., "But that was purely theoretical. It's useless without..." he stops in thought before looking up, "Artificial gravity." he says as he hands Jemma back her tablet.

"I'm lost, should I be following?" Asta says as she looks over at Jemma as Fitz looks around the small room for something. Removing a panel he shows them what they had found at the Lighthouse. "Oh... More gravitonium." she mumbles.

"Had to be Gravitonium." Fitz mutters as they just stare at the containers.

"Fitz, it's on the base. It's here on the plane. It's everywhere." Jemma says her eyes not leaving the substance.

Fitz pinches the bridge of his nose in thought, "Flying in with Enoch, I was trying to figure out how it was all possible... a planet this shape with atmosphere." he says before looking at the two who looked back at him for some answer, "Gravitonium would explain why it held together." he explains.

"And maybe why it was cracked apart." Jemma suggests staring back at pannel.

"But it being here also means that... it's true. Robin, May... it's all true." he says causing Jemma to get a light headache and Asta to look at him with more worry then before. "This is the same design from the lighthouse, so unless someone else just happened to come up with the exact same idea... We did this... in the past... after we've lived this moment." he slowly pieces together.

"Is this a bootstrap paradox? Are we a paradox?" Asta questions begining to feel overwhelmed.

"Yeah... a causal looping paradox." Jemma corrects with a sigh, "We'd only know how to design it because we'd already seen it." she explains making the blonde put her face in her hands.

"Well, we're done for. This is proof." Fitz says leaning on the wall.

Jemma scoffs, "I don't know if that's true." she tries to tell him.

"Yes, it is." Fitz was quick to shut down. "Think about it. There is nothing that we do that matters. This is a bloody time loop. We're doomed to fail." he says rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"If we did this, do you know what I see?" Jemma says walking to be in front of him, making him look at her. She places a hand on his chest, "Proof we make it back." she comforts him making him sigh and look back at the gavitonium.

________________

Indications that the storm was nearing the ship was when the whole Zephyr started to shake out of nowhere. The group met back together where they had been working on getting stuff up and running earlier and see that things were turning back on again.

"Are the engines good to go?" Coulson asks ones the three were back in the room.

"In theory, but, sir, we found something." Jemma says a bit out of breath.

""Zephyr One's been upgraded significantly." Fitz starts to explain before they ship was rocked again backing everyone brace on something to not fall.

"Will those upgrades help us take off?" Coulson questions.

"Uh, well, no-" Fitz says.

"'cause it's time to fly. May!" Coulson cuts in, calling over to the pilot.

"Okay. Once we have ignition, be ready to lift the ground anchors." May instructs as Coulson gets ready. "Here we go." she warns before starting the engines.

The engines begin to start up, before sparks going flying in the rookm above everyone's head. "Oh, come on." Fitz groans.

"Talk to me Fitz." Coulson says rejoining the group.

"Well, tthe engines just blew out, so we can't take off." Fitz explains with a sigh.

"As we previously advised, we should now evacuate to the caves." Enoch tells them as the ship creaks from the storm. "I'll go first." but before he could stand the Zephyr moves again.

__________

After getting all the survivors supplies and belongings, the team helped them to the caves for protection. The storm was getting stronger by the second and more and more debris was crashing into it making it unstable to stand. "Z-One can't take much more of this!" Daisy calls out as she tries to stand.

""Let's just hope it's here at all after the storm." Jemma replies, packing a bag before the two crash into the wall as the ship shifts.

"The sensation of death is one that I have yet to experience." Enoch says as he was still on the ship.

"Maybe I can help you with that!" May syas to him as she packs her own bag.

"Almost everyone else is gone." Coulson tells them as he and Deke return. "Let's move." he instructs as the wind picks up.

May grabs something but it begins to float from her hand for a moment before suddenly dropping. "We might be to late." Asta says staring at the bird on the floor.

"Cut the anchors!" Jemma tells them.

Everyone looks at her confused, "Did she hit her head?" Deke questions.

"Cut the ground anchors! Let a gravity wave take us. That's how we get in the air." Jemma explains to the team.

"We can't fly without engines!" May tells her.

"Maybe we don't have to." Jemma retorts.

"Simmons..." Coulson says gaining her attention.

"The upgrades." Jemma says backing her way to him, "Zephyr One has reaction Control System thrusters, meaning capable of maneuvering in space." she explains making Fitz realise what she was getting at.

"If we could get high enough, we could break through Earth's diminshed gravity. We could fly in space straight to the Lighthouse." Fitz helps explain.

"Yeah." Jemma says with a smile.

"No, right?" Deke questions. "That's a bad idea, right? Could that actually work?"

"Assuming we don't get crushed by debris..." Fitz starts to list, looking to Jemma.

"Slammed back to the ground..." Asta brings up, making Jemma look to her with a smile of excitment.

"Or our thrusters don't run out of power..." Fitz says with a nod.

"Fall into the void." Jemma also lists before looking back to Coulson, "We're in!"

"Same." Daisy agrees.

"I used to be really good at self-preservation!" Deke complains.

"May, can you pilot us through a gravity storm?" Coulson asks, earning a look from her.

"Another mom face." Daisy tries to be light about it.

"You can do this." Coulson encourages her before looking at the team, "We can do this." The others nod and go to get ready for the shakey lift off.

___________________

The team were getting everything strapped down before they get ready when the ship shakes again and Coulson gets hit in the head by fallen metal. "Coulson." Daisy was quick to get to his side as he holds his head that was now bleeding.

"Woah. Yikes. That is definitely gonna get infected." Deke says as he joins them, making Daisy give him a look.

"Are you okay?" she asks Coulson, ignoring Deke.

"I've been worse, but I've been better, two." Coulson replies as they help guide him away from the metal, he applied preasure to the wound.

"As the gravitational forces accelerate, our chances of implosion are rapidly increased." Enoch tells the group as Coulson takes a seat next to him.

"Tell me your primiary function again." May asks the alien as she looks over Coulson to make sure he's fine.

"To observe and record the evolution of your species." He tells her.

"More observing, less sharing." she tells him before walking away.

"Thrusters adn artificial gravity are ready!" Fitz calls out as him and Jemma find two seats to strap into. "We'll have about 10 minutes of power to both!"

"Don't fire the thrusters until we're at the very edge of the atmosphere or we will certainly die!" Jemma instructs as Asta, Deke, and Daisy find three more seats to get strapped into.

May sighs, "Great! Everybody buckle in!" she tells them getting back tp the cockpit for lift off. Everyone got ready until May shouts again, "No! The anchors won't release."

"What?" Coulson questions, not thinking he heard her right.

May came back out, "The anchors are stuck. We can't lift off." she tells them.

"I'm on it!" Daisy shouts, unbuckling herself and leave the other two in their seats.

Deke and Asta share a look before Deke unbuckles and follows her. Asta sighs, "Nothing can just be easy." she complains to herself before unbuckling and just teleporting to where you can manually lift and release the anchors. Daisy runs in right as Asta began to pull at one of them, she doesn't question it as she begin to try and pull another. "Turn, damn it." Daisy groans as they continue until finally they both move.

Asta turns but is suddenly punched across the face making her fall to the ground. As she looks up she sees Sinara doing the same to Daisy. The two girls still on the ground back away from the Kree who had her eyes focused on Daisy with a set glare.

Feeling a bit dizzy, Asta still stood up and took to a fighting stance. Sinara glances her over, not seeing her as a threat as she looks back at Daisy who stands, "Kasius misses you." she tells the inhuman.

The ship shakes a bit and the three of them focus on staying standing before suddenly the three of them are flung up into the air. The zephyr was airborn. And they had no gravity. Daisy pushes of the wall and hits the Kree across the face. The two begin to fight while Asta was trying to minuvor through zero gravity as she didn't have a wall to just kick off to guide her in the direction of the fighting.

The lack of gravity suddenly went away, Daisy and Sinara landed on the upper walkway while Asta fell all the way back down to where the breaks were on the first floor with a thud and a groan. Her head was worse then before, the room was spinning for the princess as she stayed laying there trying to catch her breath. "Maybe I don have a concusion." she says to herself before slowly sitting up.

As she did so, Daisy and Sinara flew through the upper railing back down next to where she was. The Kree goes to kick the blonde but she blocks it with magic and sends her a few feet away enough for Daisy to take her off gaurd with a punch. The two continue to exchange kicks and punches until Sinara got the upper hand and started to punch Daisy back to back against crates.

With a groan, Asta stood up to help, leaning on other crates as she felt nauseous from the turbulence and possible concusion. With one more groan, she grabs the Kree and punches her in the face and kicks her in the stomach making her grip on the inhuman go making Daisy grop to the ground in pain.

The Kree glares at the princess before begining to fight her. Asta's blocks were sloppy due to her injured arm but she help her own sending a few hits every not and again to make the Kree get annoyed. Sinara was able to punch Asta in the face before kicking her in her injured arm; the pain was enough to make the blonde fall to her knees as she cries in pain.

Sinara sent another kick at her making her fall back before changing her target back to the inhuman. Daisy was still weak but blocked the few hits before being grabbed and slammed into the wall, then grabbed again and pushed into the stairs. Daisy was fast and climbed up just enough to kick the Kree in the face multiple times, and then kick her away from her.

She got up, getting out a knife before following her back up to the second story. "I'm not suppose to kill you." Sinara says as she grabs Daisy again to face her, "But oh, well."

Before she could stab her, her arm is stopped. Looking back she sees Deke right before he yanks her away from Daisy. Sinara gets up and pulls her arm out of the grabber and looks at him. "I knew I was going to regret this." he says right before getting punched in the face.

Deke sends his own punch back, hitting her before shaking his hand in pain. "Ok, ok. That is quite the jaw you got there. Consider me impressed." he comments before she kicks him away from her making him land near a shallowed breathing Asta.

Before he could say anything to her the gravity shuts off again allowing Sinara to jump up towards Daisy fast. But Daisy was faster, holding out a broken pipe at the perfect time, making the Kree stab herself onto it, ending her.

Deke grabs Asta when she barely opens her eyes, "Hey. It's over. She's done for, we're fine." he reasures her making her nod.

"Good. Cause Jemma was right, I had a concusion." she says before he helps her stand up slowly. "And I think I'm bleeding again." she says looking back at her arm.

"Lets get back to the others." Daisy says as she rejoins them, both of them helping Asta back.

________________

"Mack, Yo-yo, do you copy?" Daisy says into the comms she finally got working. Static. "Mack, Yo-yo, do you copy?"

Off to the side, Jemma had just finished touching up Asta's wounds as she and Fitz told Deke what they needed him to do with the piece of the monolith. "Really? It's like a family heirloom." he questions as he holds and chisel and hammer.

"That we need in two places at once." Jemma reminds him, helping to hold down the stone seeing as he was very anxious.

"Alphonso Mackenzie, do you copy?" Daisy says louder into the comms. More static. "Mack, can you hear me? Mack?"

"Tremors, thank god." comes through the comms, "You all in one piece?" Mack asks, making everyone relax a little.

"More or less." Daisy tells him. "It's good to hear your voice."

Passing the comms to Coulson with a sigh of relief, "Mack, we're on our way to you. Do you have Flint?" he asks.

"Yes we do. You got a plan?" Mack replies.

Chapter Text

The Zephyr was able to enter the Lighthouse docking with ease. Lucky for the team who wasn't on board anymore. They were all in a contianment pod that they were able to navigate to dock with the Lighthouse. Getting back there was eerie. The lights were now red, and the halls empty.

"All clear." Daisy sasya s she looks down one of the corridors.

"Hopefully, we can say the same for Enoch." Fitz says as she holds a flashlight to look around.

As if he knew they were talking about him "The diversion, seems to have worked. They're still searching the ship." Enoch says through the walkie-talkie that Coulson had.

"Good. You're secure?" Coulson questions.

"Yes. The machine will be online by the time Flint builds the Monolith." Enoch chimes back.

Coulson sighs, "Easier said then done." he says to the team before lift back his gun and him, Fitz, and Daisy take lead continuing down the hall.

Taking another cautions turn they are met with anpother empty hall. "So, one more time, that machine... uses the little piece to triger the bigger piece through space?" Deke questions the team as he helps with guiding Asta incase she colapses from pain that she stubbornly won't admit to feeling.

"Yeah, or time." Fitz says unbothered with explaining.

Jemma jumped to explain instead, "It mirrors the harmonic resonant frequency of photons, which can exsit out of space-time." she says.

"Yeah, I-I hear you saying words, -but what-what do they-" Deke tries to form a question but is cut short.

"If Flint can't construct the Monolith, none of this matters." Daisy brings up.

"Robin says he can, so, I believe it." May chimes in.

"We'll talk him though it once we meet them." Jemma reasures them.

"You two get that thing to Flint. We'll worry about survivors..." Coulson instructs to the scientists.

"And kill Kasius." Deke mutters.

"...get them to safety." Coulson continues.

"And then we kill Kasius?" Deke asks gaining his attenion. "When does that happen? Because some of us aren't getting out of here on a magic rock." he reminds them.

"We won't leave until humanity's in control of its future. But in the meantime, everyone do your job, meet at the rendezvous point." he instructs before looking to the injured blonde, "Asta, you should stick with Simmons incase you need medical attention."

She shakes her head lightly, "No, I'm fine." she denies.

Coulson looks at her, "Did you make yourself dizzy doing that?" he asks, not believing her.

Asta sighs, "I'll stick with Jemma." she says, moving herself away from Deke and two Fitz and Jemma who nod at the others before they seperate making the blonde walk in the middle.

_______________

"Still don't know how I'm suppose to build a time machine." the three of them hear Flint say as they approach the room they agreed to meet up at.

"It's a portal, not a time machine." Fitz says, making Flint and Mack look over at them as they enter the room.

"And you'll build it with this." Jemma says holding up a piece of the monolith.

Flint was staring at the piece of stone for sometime, "I'm not sure I'm ready for this." he admits to them.

"Okay." Jemma says, taking the piece out of his hands, " Close your eyes and concentrate on the stone." Jemma instructs as Mack and Asta watch. "Can you feel it?" she asks after a moment.

"Yes. And I can move it." Flint says with his eyes still closed.

"Not yet." she tells him, "So, every part of the universe, from the stars to this stone, are basically made from the same things. And you're in touch with its mineral composition. You can manipulate it, yeah?"

"Mhm." Flint understands, his eyes now open as she explains.

"So, no, I want you to feel how this stone is different from others you've felt before, its internal structure. Can you?" she asks.

Flint takes a moment, closing his eyes again before letting out a sigh, "I-I know it's a stone." he tells ehr.

"But inside, it's intricate, complex. You know, parts harden by pressure, holloed by loss." she tells him.

Flint takes another deep breath as he concentrates. "I feel... gaps." he says, opening his eyes. "Like, uh... Like someone caraved patterns at a micro level." he chuckles a bit, "It's beautiful."

"Yeah. That's right." she tells him before looking to Mack and Asta, "He's good at this."

"Yeah. So are you." Mack tells her.

"Well, she is a really good teacher." Asta teases.

Jemma laughs before handing Flint the piece again, "It's a composite, we think. Mostly limestone." she tells him.

"I can't generate rock." Flint tells her seeming sad.

"Oh, no, that's okay. We know where to find plenty of limestone." Jemma reasures him.

"Okay. But if it's a composite, what about the rest?" Mack asks.

"We have a plan for that." Jemma says before they hear clanging and shouts come from behind one of the doors makeing everyone turn.

"They're coming." Fitz says, as he moves around the room faster to finish whatever he was setting up and grab his bag.

"We got to move. Let's go!" Mack instructs.

"Hey, how are you with confined spaces?" Fitz asks Flint.

"I gre up in a tin can." Flint replies as Fitz gives him a helmet.

"Okay, good. What abobut vast one's?" he asks the kid as the door gets kicked open making everyone stop and turn.

Mack lifts his gun but Fitz stops him. "Sumbit and avoid pain!" a kree demands as a group of them enter the room.

Fitz raises a device in his hand and flips a switch. A device he had set up around the room while the group were talking went off, pulling a cord tightly slicing right through the flesh of the Kree. They drop dead.

"We gotta run now." Fitz tells them.

They make there way out but Jemma lingered behind staring at what just happened in shock. "This was your way out?" she asks Fitz.

"Can't fight them all." Fitz tells her honestly.

"It saves us time." Asta tells her.

Fitz nods, "The rest need to be afraid to follow us." he says before exiting the room with Asta in tow. Jemma takes a breath before following.

__________________

The next phase of the plan was to get Flint into space with Deke's gear so that he can get the materials to rebuild the monolith from the floating debris. Getting him out there was easy, waiting was the hard part. The group made their way down to the Kree floor, sneaking their way past guards and silently telling the human servants they were going to help them.

They waited, Flint had to do his part before they could continue. A crash could be heard in the room where the gaurds were talking and the air around them was leaving the room. When the air stopped it signalled to them that the airlock was activated, meaning they were safe.

Entering the room they saw Flint and a pile of rocks. "We... that worked." Flint tells them as he removes the helmet.

Jemma handed Flint the monolith piece and next part of the plan was a go. "Relax. Just concentrate." Mack encouraged Flint before leaving him to his own devices.

Jemma was helping the servant get the thing removed from her ear. Asta offered to help but the scietist just told her to save her energy. "He's a bright kid. Sorry, I killed the gaurds in front of him." Fitz says as Mack joins him and Asta off to the side.

"Yeah..." Mack says softly as he watches. "It's good to see him building something. There's too much death in this place. And asking him to blow out that window and the Krees didn't help." he tells his friend.

"Oh, that wasn't me. That was the fiancee." Fitz says looking over to Jemma.

"Ah." Mack says before realizing what he said, "Fiancee?" he questions looking over at Jemma who was able to remove the device from the others ear.

"Yeah. Fiancee." Asta confirms with a nod and smile.

"What happened?" Jemma questions as she sees Coulson enter the room carrying an unconcious Daisy into the room with May following.

"He ICE'd her. She didn't want to come." May explains.

"I'm not leaving anyone behind." Coulson says before slowly setting Daiys down.

"Where's yo-yo? She didn't find you?" Mack questions as Asta and Jemma make their way to Daisy's side.

"She's not with you?" Coulson asks looking over at the taller man.

"No, she was picking up some survivors. She should be back by now." Mack says sounding a bit worried.

"She'll make it back. She's strong." Coulson reasures him. Mack nods, but grabs his shotgun-ax regardless. "Hurry. Who knows when that portal's gonna open." he says as Mack rushes out of the room.

May walks across the room over to the boy, "You're Flint?" she asks making him tunr around.

"Yes." he replies.

"You're gonna get us home." she says giving him a small smile, making him smile at her confidence in him.

"Yes." he says again with a nod. "I am."

"Good... What are you waiting for?" she tells him before walking away.

Flint takes a dee[ breath and concentrates, making the monolith piece float, slowly spreading his arms apart and moving the rocks from the pile and the limestone in the walls to connect together.

_______________

"Deke, come in..." Coulson says through the walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, we're here." Deke replies as the group look at the rebuilt monolith with wide eyes.

"We got the Monolith built. I think it might work. How's the machine coming?" Coulson asks.

There was a pause, "It's great. We found a fix for the machine." Deke tells them.

"Good. You were right about taking the Zephyr." Coulson tells him.

"Just make sure everyone's in place the second we get it powered on, all right? We're only gonna get one shot at this." Deke warns them.

"Right. You know, you parents would be proud of you." Coulson tells him.

Another pause. "Well, we're about to give them a hell of a show." Deke jokes.

"Thanks. We'll have everyone in place." he tells him before lowering the walkie. "That machine's gonna explode. It's not safe down here." he tells Flint and the girl.

"What?" Flint questions as he looks around at everyone.

"You're welcome to come back with us, but if not, you got to leave now. Meet Tess at the Trawler." Coulson offers to him.

"Where? Which one?" The girl asks in worry.

"But Mack, Yo-yo. they're not back yet. I..." Flint stops himself before letting out a sigh, "Tell them I had more work to do." he says before looking tot he girl, "Come on. I know the way." he says grabbing her hand to lead.

The girl looks to Jemma, "Thank you." she says before the two leave the room.

"Coulson, what's happening?" Jemma asks him.

"Where are they?" Coulson asks, sounding just as concerned as they all felt.

____________

Jemma left to go find Mack and Yo-yo. Taking the metal ear silencer with her. The team were getting anxious now, hoping they get back soon. "Guys we got a problem." Deke's voice saying that was the last thing any of them wanted to hear right now.

"What's wrong?" Coulson asks causing Asta to start to pace.

"I'm using Enoch to power the machine, but I'm losing him. You got to launch now." Deke explains frantically.

Fitz grabs the walkie from Coulson, "No, Deke, it's too early. The team isn't back yet." Fitz tells him stubornly as he paces as well. "Enoch. Enoch, buddy, hang on. I know that you've done so much already, but, please, please, just hang on."

"Guys, I'm buying as much time as I can here!" Deke tells them as running could be heard from down one of the the hall on this floor.

"The rocks gonna open, get here, now!" May instructs the other with another walkie.

"I always knew that working with you guys was gonna blow up in my face! But it's about to get literal!!" Deke shouts.

Asta grabs the walkie from Fitz with anxiety building as the others still weren't back. "Deke." she say calmly into the walkie, making him pause in his moment of panic, "Deke. I'm sorry, but thank you for helping us." she tells him. He sighs and leans on the walkie in defeat. "Deke?"

"Yeah... Yeah. It's fine. Just... Hurry, I can't stall anymore." he says as he looks between the machine and Enoch.

Coulson grabs Daisy and stands before the monolith with May. As Fitz and Asta stay near the entrence waiting for the others. "I'm losing him, we're out of time!" Deke suddenly shouts.

Fitz grabs Asta and drags her over to the others. "No. No, Fitz. Wait." she starts to panic, looking over to the door as he holds her in place. A bright light blinds them for a moment before the monolith activates and consumes them all.

Chapter Text

Apearing back in their present day was a lot smoother then when they had landed in the future. Asta and the other were taking in their surroundings with Jemma, Mack, and Yo-yo appeared making them all sigh in relief. They made it into the room on time.

"Well that was a hell of a thing." Fitz says after he hugs Jemma in relief, the blonde doing the same to her friend as Coulson sets Daisy down again.

"I'm so glad you guys made it." Coulson tells the three.

"Why are we still in the Lighthouse?" Yo-yo questions as she looks around the dark room they were in.

"Maybe Flint's Monolith didn't work." Mack suggests.

"So we find them, try again." May says as everyone looks around confused.

"No, it worked" Asta speaks up, looking at her hands. "I can feel it. We're back." she explains without explaining.

"Yeah." Fitz backs her up as he looks around the room, "It takes you through time, but to the same place. I've been here before with Enoch." he tells them looking at everyone. "We made it."

"We're home?" Jemma asks.

"Yeah." Fitz confirms making the rest of them sigh in relief. "I'm gonna try and find some light." Fitz says as he goes over to the wall and flicks a bunch of switches.

Slowly the lights in the room start to switch on, "It's hard to believe we're back." May says with a small smile.

"Find me a double cheesburger, I'll believe it." Mack tells them as a projector turns on eluminating an old S.H.I.E.L.D. badge on one of the walls.

Coulson walks over to it as a video starts playing. "Welcome to the Lighthouse, the worlds last bastion against the encroaching darkness. If you're here, you understand the gravity of the situation. The world as we know it has come to an end. My name is General Rick Stoner." The man on the projection says.

"Rick Stoner? I've heard of him." Coulson says as they all watch.

"As you know, certain world events, should they occur, trigger what we here in S.H.I.E.L.D., call Project Reclemation. This protocol was designed as a black-ops action known to the highest-ranked shield operatives." General Stoner continues before his images goes away and reapears on another wall.

"Once initiated," he starts up again, making everyone turn around to follow his projection, "Project Reclamation is conducted through secure communications known as electronic mail. Our Agents were instructed to gether you, the selected elite, from a host of nations and bring you here..." He explains.

"Must have never been initiated." Coulson tells them "The 1972 Hydrogen Wave Crisis was averted."

"And, what, people just forgot about this place?" Fitz questions.

"There's nothing in Fury's toolbox about it." Coulson tells him before looking over at the others, "Mack, those injuries need to be treated." he says when he sees Mack touch his head a bit.

"I'm fine." Mack brushes off.

"I'll decide that." Jemma tells him.

"So will I." Yo-yo backs her up. "Well, I'll be there while she decides."

"Let's find a medical station." Jemma says, making her way to the door.

"Maybe have Simmons look at you, too, Coulson. That's a bad cut." Yo-yo tells him.

"We can worry about it later." he tells her before looking at the princess who was avoiding eye contact. "Asta, go with them. Properly check out your head for a concusion." he tells her.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind checking everyone out." Jemma tells the group. "We did just experience an unexplored phenomenon."

"Worry about it later. You look after Mack and Asta." Coulson dismisses, "I'll stay here with Daisy. When she wakes up, she'll have questions."

"When she wakes up, she's gonna want to kill you." May jokes before Mack, Yo-yo, and Asta follow Jemma out of the room.

__________________

The check over was short as they were all fine, aside from Asta who was stitched up rather quickly, and they were guided to a survalence room where they met another alien chronicom, Noah, friend of Enoch. "A light from the sky..." Coulson says as they all look over the security feed that May had found.

"Figured you'd be interested." May tells him as they all look over the feed.

"This is what Voss warned me about. If he's right, then this is where it all starts... Hell on earth." Coulson tells them.

"And we're back." Mack says with a sigh.

"How long since it first appeared?" Coulson asks.

"It showed up a few weeks ago, Then appeared intermittenly for some time after." Noah informs them as he looks over his tablet notes.

"You think it's alien?" Yo-yo questions.

"The wavelength is unusual." Noah admits.

"Showed up where? Where was this?" Jemma asks.

"St. Louis, Missouri." Noah informs them.

"Well, guess we're going to St. Louis, Missouri." Coulson tells them.

"Hunter and I left the Zephyr cloaked just outside of town. I'll show you where it is." Fitz tells him, grabbing his bag.

"Great. But I'm not going." Daisy tells them.

"What?" Jemma and Asta question confused.

"If I'm responsible for ending the world, I'd rather not get near one of the first omens. Hard pass." she explains to the team.

"We could use you out there." Coulson tells her.

"I'll be more useful in here." Daisy counters, "I'll run back end on the mission with all of Noah's dope-ass equipment" she says look back at the chronicom who was looking at her confused, "Dope-ass is a... it's a good thing." she explains.

"So, what do we do? Just walk out the front door into town?" May questions.

"Well, we are wanted. After what Fitz said about General Hale's task force, we need to be covert." Mack tells them.

"You will be." Noah says as he pushes some buttons showing them some skimatics of the Lighthouse they were in. "The Lighthouse has a few covert entrences."

"This place has secret tunnels, like an Agatha Christie novel." Jemma says in amazment.

"More like C.H.U.D." Mack mutters looking displeased.

"There are a few tunnels. but this one takes you underground to the charming, little town of River's End. From there, it is up to you." Noah explains.

"No time like the present. Let's go." Coulson tells them, leading them out of the room. Leaving Daisy there.

________________

Making there way down the tunnel and to River's End was a lot quickier then they realized. Opening a door to sunlight, fresh air, and normal roads was like another relief on them. The team all take a moment to relax and breath in. "We really are home." Fitz says as they all look around.

The moment of taking it all in was broken when a police car drove past, reminding them that they were on a mission and need to not get caught. "We gotta get moving." Coulson say before looking across the street. "How about that one, Mack?" he points out a old school van.

Mack shrugs, "Sure."

"Here comes the catch." Yo-yo says.

"But here's the catch." Mack tells them.

"Come on. We're damn spies." May argues.

"I think it's admirable of him." Jemma backs him up.

"We'll return the van when we're done. No stealing, I promise." Coulson tells him.

Mack nods, "Okay." he says before they all make their way to the van.

_________________

Mack was quick to get the van going. Mack was driving with Coulson in the front. Jemma, May, and Yo-yo behind them. And Fitz and Asta where sat on the floor. "You know these things look rommier from the outside." Coulson comments.

"It'll get us where we need to go." Mack tells him.

"Hey, could be worse." May brings up.

"True." Jemma agrees. "We could be enslaved by an alien sociopath in a dystopian future."

"Or we could be trapped inside a virtual-reality fascist state." Mack brings up.

"Or stuck at the bottom of the ocean." Fitz chimes in.

"Or stopping a crazy robot lady." Yo-yo says.

"Or being shot by rude Hydra-drones." Asta decides to join in.

"Or falling out of a plane." Jemma says.

"Fighting Daisy's mom." Mack says.

"Or fighting Daisy's dad." Coulson counters.

"Or dancing." May says with a look of disgust, making Asta crack and start laughing a bit.

___________________

The van turns a cornor and stops at a stops sign. Across the street was a police car, who drives forward only to turn on it's sirens at their van. The team all get a bit tense at this. Fitz pulls out a weapon just incase. "Everyone just stay calm." Coulson tells them.

The police stops right next to the van before rolling down their window. "Hi, officer. Is there a problem?" Mack says to the cop.

"Hey, you tell me." he replies just staring at Mack.

Mack takes a second before realizing that they were talking about his wounds. "Oh, this right here. Um, I was sparring." he lies.

"No, I mean the van. This is John Nickel's van." The cop tells them.

"Yeah, yeah..." Mack says, unsure of where this was going.

The cop looks over the van, then gives Mack an amused look, "I mean, is it a clunker or what? 'Cause he's been trying to sell it for months. Hey, be honest... how badly did he fleece you on this?" the cop casually asks.

"Oh." Mack starts with a chuckle, "Are you kidding me? You know how long I've been looking for a 1975 T2 1600 engine with shag carpeting?" he says laughing a bit, "John's price was more than fair. It was a steal." he says with another chuckle.

"First time for everything, I guess." the cop says to them.

"Yeah." Mack replies with a nod.

"You guys have a great day." The cop says before starting his engine again.

"You too." Coulson tells him.

"Thank you." Mack says before the cop pulls away from them. "That's closer than I would've liked." he tells the others before continuing on the drive.

"We're lucky this is a quiet, simple town. If we don't make any noise, we can keep it that way." Coulson says as they continue their way out of town.

___________________________

The team follow Fitz to where he had left the Zephyr in an empty field. Entering was easy as they didn't have anyone around to spot them for miles. Lift off was smooth and the team was quick to get to their stations like any other mission. Asta took a moment to look around at the not broken down Zephyr.

The team wasted no time to get back into the swing of things, while Asta took a moment to herself. She's still a bit beat up, and now being back in the present she was getting a headache again. "Not now..." she whispers to herself with her eyes closed.

"Hey" Jemma says making Asta jump and turn to her. "We're almost to the location. Just wanted to double check if you were alright. I know badages and antibiotics could only do so much." she says as she joins her side.

"I'll be fine. Just a bit of an headache but, nothing I can't handle." Asta brushes it off, giving her a smile.

"You sure? You didn't seem to have a concusion, but I could be wrong." Jemma says a bit concerned.

"No, no. It's not that. Just getting use to being back, again... Haven't had a lot of time to process everything with the whole fake reality, then weird future jump. I'm just," she pauses to sigh, "I'm trying to get over it all." Asta admits.

Jemma looks at here for a moment, not fully believing her words, "Is this about the whole Fitz and the Framework thing?" she questions.

The princess avoids her gaze, "Yes and no. The framework is still weird. We had a whole other life. I will always have those memories in my head now. And- And I've accepted that... that's a burden I have to have now." Asta starts, leaning her head back on the wall. "I also have to try and move on from Fitz."

"You don't-" Jemma tries to help but is cut short.

"Yes I do Jemma. You two are engaged, you were made to be with one another. Not me." Asta argues.

"Don't say that. You mean so much to us, so don't think that you don't. Asta, you don't have to force your feelings away. We all process things differently." she tries to reason with the princess.

Asta looks at her friend, but before she could reply the team enters where they were. "We're here. Lets move in." Coulson tells them leading the others.

"You two alright?" Fitz asks the two girls.

"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?" Asta replies before, leaving to follow the others. Fitz looks to Jemma with a raised eyebrow.

"We'll talk about it later." Jemma tells him with a sigh. He nods and the follow the others.

___________

Fitz was quick to blow open a door to allow the team into another part of the building. Coulson takes lead with a gun and flashlight. The rest follow ending with Asta to cover them. "Still not a soul." May comments as the continue down a corridor.

"Facing no opposition is usually a good thing, but this?" Fitz comments unsettled as they look around.

"Yeah, it's giving me the creeps." Mack says.

"Agreed." Asta adds on, as she turns to face the team again.

"It's a firewall... an actual firewall. It's a safety protocol." Simmons says as she looks at the computer that was on the wall.

"Fitz, signs of life?" May questions the scientist.

Fitz got to work with his tablet to see try and see through into the next froom for any activity. "Wait, hang on. There's someone in there, and they're alone." he tells the team.

The team get their weapons at the ready as they stand infront of the door. "Now." Coulson whispers to Jemma, who opens the door by hitting the button.

The team were fast to enter the room and sweepy the area. "Not another step or I'll..." Piper shouts at them with her weapon raised before they all realize who each others were.

"Piper?" Coulson questions, confused. They all lower their weapons as they enter the room much calmer now.

"Hey, guys." she greets them, earning a hug from Jemma. "I don't know how the exact people I needed to show up just showed up, but... thank you, universe." Piper tells them.

"Feelings mutual, trust me." Coulson tells her with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" May asks the agent.

"Same thing as you, probably. That thing's about to fire up again. I don't know how to stop it." Piper says as she turns to a window. The others look as well.

The room shows a machine that seems to be the source of the lights in the sky. The team wasted no time getting into the room and scientist got to work to understand the machine.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am to see you all in one piece." Piper tells them as they wait of Fitz and Simmons.

"So, what happened? How'd you end up here?"Coulson asks the agent.

"Yeah, last we saw you, you HALO'd out the Zephyr." May comments.

"With instructions... if the fight didn't go your way, I tell your story. Make sure Aida and The Russian didn't get away with it." Piper explains to them.

"Ivanov." Coulson remembers.

"Yeah, but I never heard which way it went. No news, no confirmation if..." Piper trails off.

"If we were dead?" Coulson finishes.

"Yeah, that. So, I looked for you everywhere, safe houses, any S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts I could find." I even had eyes on your families." Piper continues to explain.

"Oh great. One more thing for my mother to be paranoid about." May says annoyed.

"I was stealth. Hey, lets not forget I'm most wanted, too, you know. So, where on Earth were you hiding?" Piper asks the team.

"Well, technically, it was Earth." Mack says cryptically.

"Story for another time. Go on." Coulson tells her.

"I had my eye on every news outlet, anything that looked like you guys getting into trouble or out of it. Saw a report about a light coming from the sky." Piper explains.

"You recognized the beacon? Mm. Even took Fitz-Simmons a few hours." Mack says.

"Yeah, well, lets not forget, that was my first mission to Union City with you all. Called up from the minors. It was a big day for me. Plus, aliens; you know, they leave an impression." Piper tells them, glancing at Asta with a knowing look and smile.

"You have no idea." Yo-yo says with a look.

"So, you came here to warn the staff." May figured out.

"Yeah, and to kick the blue ass of anything that showed up. I was trained well." Piper tells May with a compliment. "They had the beacon here on government contract. Just examining it, and it turned on. Totally random." she explains.

"Did they try to shut it down?" Coulson questions as they watch the scientists work around the beacon.

"No. They couldn't. And I don'r so science, so I sent everyone away." Piper says with a light shrug.

"Well, Fitz-Simmons will figure it out... eventually." Mack comments.

"Yeah, questions is, how long is 'eventually'?" Piper preposes the question.

"Yeah. Could be too late." Coulson whispers. A moment later the beacon becan to turn on and send out the light signal.

Asta was the first to head into the room where the scientist were with the beacon followed by Coulson and Piper. Fitz wasted no time to try an open one of the panels once they realize that no actual harm would happen from being around it. "I think I've got it." he calls out once one of the panels moves.

"Makes me look like an idiot." Piper comments to Coulson as Asta makes her way over to the two with worry. Fitz wasted no time pulling out a part of the machine and the beacon shut off.

The all let out a sigh of relief once the spinning stopped, "The power source was being set off by this." Fitz says showing it to Coulson as he walks over to them. "It's a bimetallic thermal expansion trigger." Fitz says but gets a look from Coulson.

"It's a timer." Asta explains easily earning an eyebrow raise from everyone. "What? I pay attention." she says with a shrug.

Jemma looks it over as the others nod, "It looks man-made." she comments.

"Yeah, it is. Everything else in here is new to me." Fitz says as he continues to look into the machine. "This was installed by hand. A little sloppily, if you ask me."

"I told you, I don't do science." Piper says gaining their attention once they hear the cock of a gun. Asta was fast to put a forcefield between them and Piper, who has her gun raised at them. "Relax. No one needs to get hurt."

"You say that but are holding up a gun, sorry if I'm a bit hesitant to believe you." Asta argues, keeping her arms raised and shield up.

From the other room gaurds began to flood in, surrounding the other three with their own guns raised. "I'm sorry. Hey, I'm most wanted, too." Piper tells them.

"You cut a deal?" Coulson questions in disbelief.

"You're saying the beacon..." Jemma tries to understand.

"The beacon wasn't meant to call aliens. It was meant to call you." Piper tells them the truth. "But the guns are just so nobody does anything stupid."

"Too late for that." Fitz mumbles.

"Piper, why?" Coulson questions the agent.

"I followed your orders. Truthfully, I thought you were dead. When they nabbed me, I told your story." Piper explains.

"To General Hale." Coulson realizes the issue.

"Everything... Ivanov, Radcliffe, LMDs, Framework. Look, Hale knows you're not guilty. She guaranted your safety. She just... She wanted to bring you in. Ok? You don't have to run anymore." Piper explains as the soliders in the other room look to the masked figure in the center.

It wasn't until the soliders suddenly had no guns did they see May start attacking and everyone in the room was attacking one another. "Gaurentee our safety?" Coulson questions as Piper was looking out into the other room confused.

"I-it's do not engage. Its capture, not kill." Piper says looking on with a lost expression.

"Looks a lot like kill." Jemma buts in.

"There not human! Go for the face!" they heard Mack shout.

"You were trained better than this." Coulson tells the agent as the other watch from the window.

"No. Hale is an ally." Piper tries to argue. "Talbot's in a coma. She's general in command. I thought... No, she's U.S. military. Look. I just wanted to help."

"And you got played." Coulson tells her. He looks back to Asta and gestures for her to lower the shield, reluctantly she listens. "We have to take this thing and get out of here before we're all killed. Are you gonna help?" Coulson asks as the other three work to pack everything they can. "Piper, pick a side, but we're going." he tells her.

Piper nods, "I'll cover you." she says before exiting the room with Coulson following. Lots of shouting could be heard by the time the three made it to the door wheeling the beacon out. Asta was covering the scientists as they exit with her own shield until they got to the hall. Jemma was quick to make her way over to Mack who was holding an injured Yo-yo; Asta taking over to help with the beacon movement as they shut the door seperating them from the danger.

"It's all coming true." Yo-yo says as they make there way to the exit.

__________________

Asta and Fitz were with Noah as they checked over for any potential spy wear whilst Jemma was upstairs operating on Yo-yo. More so they were waiting on Noah who was scaning it with his other, possibly alien, equipment for anything they may have missed with the human tech or magical check.

Footsteps gained their attention as Daisy entered the archieve room they were in where they kept all the alien stuff they find like the monoliths and now, the beacon. "Fitz. Asta. I just wanted to make sure tha-" she starts to explain as she approaches the two.

"Yeah, we scanned for signals before we landed. We're not being tracked." Fitz explains.

"I also checked for any magical traces just in case. And nothing thankfully." Asta brings up as she leans on one of the shelves.

"Okay, good." Daisy says with a sigh.

"We're just waiting now for the internal circuitry to cool down. It takes a lot to power this thing." Fitz explains.

"But it is not cooling down." Noah chimes in as he stares at his scanner.

"How is she?" Fitz questions as the three of them walk a little ways from Noah as to not bother him.

"Still no word. Jemma's in with her now." Daisy tells them making Asta sigh with worry.

"In fact, it is heating up." Noah says before looking at the trio. "Run."

"What?" Daisy questions.

"Run. Go! Go! Now!" Noah shouts, shoving all three of them towards the exit. They listen and begin to run out of the room before suddenly, an explosion.

Chapter Text

Suddenly, an explosion.

At first everything seemed normal from the outside of the room. The explosion seemed to be contained in the basement, not having any damages to the rooms surrounding it.

But there is always more then meets the eye.

More then was realized, as time went on.

More damage was done, and the team is about to find out what that damage will do to them.

_____________

Fitz was on Asta duty. She was acting off, but all she would say is that she was fine. And all Jemma was able to tell him was to keep an eye on her until they were able to have a proper talk. So here he was doing equations on a board while Asta was sat watching per his request.

Asta was confused as to why he asked her to work with him despite having not spoken a word to her since he started his work, but she was greatful for the company. Her headaches were consistant but her bruises and cuts were healing nicely. Her larger wounds were healing aswell, Jemma chalked it up to the blondes Asgardian DNA for the faster then normal healing rate. Even after the explosion fiasco, still no concusion.

"Simmons give you two the all clear?" May's voice made the two jump as she enters the room they were in. "You guys got banged up pretty good." shes says with concern as she stops at the desk they were sat at.

"Yeah, no. I'm fine." Fitz replies with a nod.

"Surpisingly still fine." Asta jokes making the agent shake her head as Coulson joins them.

Fitz sighs, "I just... I feel foolish. I was so intent on turning the beacon off, I didn't even consider that it might be wired to overheat and explode." he explains in frustration.

"You can't blame yourself, Fitz. General Hale's declared war on us. " Coulson tries to confort the scientist.

"I'm afraid she's done something a whole lot worse than that." Fitz tells them before standing and grabbing the tablet to explain better. "The basement's sealed off, but I sent the Dwarfs down to analyze the area after the explosion." he says as the three follow him to the big screen, "This one was on it's way down when the elevator stopped and opened on Level 27." he plays the footage and shows the doors opening to a grassy outdoors area with trees.

"Looks like your drone took a wrong turn adn went outside." May says confused.

"Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunatley, this immense forest now exists approximately 150 feet below us." Fitz explains as the footage continues into the forest.

"But there are clouds and- and sky." May says still confused.

"I don't fell the magic that could be causing this..." Asta says as she looks at the footage in concern.

"Meaning?" May asks.

"It's underground existence should be very alarming." Fitz says for the princess to the agent.

"I'd say that's impossible but after our round trip to Tomorrowland, my threshold for preposterous is way out of whack. Theories?" Coulson questions as Fitz pulls up another thing on the screen.

"This is the only transmission recieved back from the basement so far. I think we're looking at whats happens when three monoliths are blown up together. They somehow blew a hole in space-time, and that thing... that thing right there is another dimension bleeding back into our world." Fitz explains as they watch a glitchy video of a tear in reality on screen.

"So, the good news is Daisy might not be the one responsible for tearing the Earth apart." Coulson says looking at the trio.

"Bad news is... end of the world may have already begun." Fitz continues.

________________________

It didn't take long for Daisy and Deke to come upstairs to thell the others about the spooky encounter they had with a Kree who then turned into smoke when he was shot by Daisy while they were looking for supplies to bring up.

"It's our worst fears come to life." Fitz tells them making them all give him a questioning look.

"What the hell are you talking about Fitz?" May questions. "What fear?"

"I'm still trying to piece it all together. But here. Watch this." Fitz says as he pushes a couple buttons on his computer adn the others turn to the screen. "Its low-res, 'cause it's all I could salvage from one of the Dwarfs."

"This can't be." May says as she walks up to the screen.

"Fitz?" Coulson questions before looking back to the scientist.

"I think that when the monoliths exploded, they tore open something that I can only describe as a fear dimension. And it's leaking out." Fitz tries to explain before changing the image back to the tear in space and time. "See these emisions here?" he starts pointing to part of the image.

"What do you think that is?" Coulson asks as the rest look on in confusion.

"I don't know- uh, alien energy. The Dwarf went offline before I could analyze it. But whatever it is it seems that it can reach inside out minds." Fitz explains.

"Yeah, well, it can do more than that. That Kree almost killed Deke." Daisy explains.

"Yeah and I don't understand how, but it seems that this dimension can take our deepest fears and it can amnifest them... physically." Fitz explains.

"Sort of like Enchantments..." Asta brings up, earning everyones attention and looks of confusion.

"What are enchanments?" Daisy questions.

"Well, this is like a specific type of enchament magic. I'm not great at them, I can only do low level stuff. Multiply myself, flowers, fireworks. But my brother knew this stuff better then I did. Though his illusions could never properly interact with others. If this stuff was interacting then this is far more powerful then anything I've ever seen. This form of Magic is the best explination but, I've never seen this before." Asta says with a sigh on concern as she stares at the screen. "Maybe because it's coming from a demension made of that sort of power it can become physical to us..."

Daisy nods slowly, "So, Kree warrior... Check." she says with concern in her eyes .

"And if that's Lash, double check." May says giving a look to Daisy.

"What about that forest on Level 27?" Coulson questions.

"You mean an overwhelming collection of branchy things with birds and bugs and the floor all covered in worms? Are you kidding? That's... That's a horror show." Deke says.

"Okay, triple check." Daisy comments as they stare at him for a moment.

"I'm gonna seal off the lower 2/3 of the Lighthouse. That's were the bulk of the phemonenon is occuring but it's flaring out. The fact that it's reached Level 27 as well as the supply pantry tells me it's getting worse." Fitz rambles.

"So, how do we stop it?" May questions.

Fitz sighs, covering his face for a second as he paces. '"Okay. I have a potential fix, but... I don't know how to do it without one of us possibly sacrificing ourselves." he tells them making them all realize just how bad this could be. "Okay. Deke." Fitz says after a moment.

"Oh, no. Me? No, no. Hell, no. No, I just got here. I just got to a world that's got ice cream and the sun and orange-scented stuff. So, no. No, no, no. and in case any of you forgot, I already did the heroic sacrifice thing to get you all here. So, I-I'm- I'm done." Deke rambles out in defense.

Fitz just holds out his hands to calm Deke down, "I'm not asking you to sacrifice yourself. I just want to borrow your belt buckle." he tells him.

Deke looks down them back at Fitz, "Oh."

"It creates an applied gravity field. And I was hoping there was enough Gravitonium- with some modifications... to create a perpetual force that can stitch together the tear in space-time. Before it spreads. Can I?" Fitz explains before asking for the belt.

"Yeah." Deke mumbles before handing it to the scientist. "Well, anything to save the world, right?"

"Sure." Fitz nods. "As I said, there is a catch." he starts as he looks back to the other four. "One of us is gonna have to carry this device down and activate it. And that person may get sucked into another dimension or killed by a manifestation of fear." Fitz warns.

"That's a risk I'll have to take." Coulson says making everyone look as him surprised as he walks out of the room.

"Sorry sir, but no. There's no way." Fitz tries to argue as they all follow Coulson.

"If that rift could spread, then someone's got to do it." Coulson argues.

"Not you. I'm sorry, but there's only one candidite." May fires back.

"Piper?" Fitz suddenly blurts out, "She said a thousand times she'll do anything for our forgiveness." he argues.

"Fitz. Cool it." Coulson tells the scientist. "We keep her in holding for now."

"Ok,ok. Wll, then, if not her, who?" Fitz questions.

"I could do it?" Asta offers, making everyone look her way.

Fitz shakes his head, "No. Absolutley not."

The princess sighs and crosses her arms, "I can do-" but she was cut short.

"No. Not with whatever is going on in you." Asta's eyes widen at his words, "You act like we don't notice when something is bothering you. You're having these... headache yet there is nothing medically wrong. So until your magical, medical, spiruatual thing that is wrong with you... is fixed... no, you aren't doing anything life threatening." Fitz argues, making her look at him in shock while he stares back in almost desperation telling her not to argue.

So she doesn't.

"Okay, if not Asta. Then we need engineering, and we need medical. Yo-yo needs Mack. And without you, we're flying blind." May says frustrated.

"So that leaves me." Daisy brings up.

"No, that's not who I meant." May argues, looking at the young agent.

"We need you both. Stop it." Coulson tells them.

But they don't listen to him, "I'll go. I'm the specialist." May tries to tell Daisy but she just talks over her.

"You're forgetting that I'm not suppose to be in this timeline." she tries to argue while Fitz and Asta stand between them looking overwhelmed by the arguing.

"Okay. I can rework the problem!" Fitz tries to shout to get their attention but the arguing just continues.

"None of you are expendable! I go in alone." Coulson says making them all stop. "End of discussion." he says before trying to walk away but Daisy stops him.

"Wait. That's stupid, and you know it. Military tactics 101. You never jeopardize a general when a solider can do the job-" Daisy tries to logically argue.

"You're not just a solider. Not anymore. Like it or not. You can't throw yourself on a grenade." Coulson fires back at her.

"You're doing that right now." Daisy counters.

"You have to weigh consequences." Coulson argues before going around her.

"Wait. No, hold on. That's ex- You're doing exactly waht you're telling me not to do right now. You're putting yourself at risk, when my very existence here is dangerous." Daisy argues making him stop again.

"I'm looking at the big picture. You're needed for the future, Daisy." Coulson says a bit more calmly then before.

"The future? T-to lead? That's what you said to me when you ICE'd me, right? 'To Lead'?" Daisy questions.

"And to inspire." Coulson adds.

"To lead what? To inspire who?" Daisy continues to question.

"S.H.I.E.L.D." Coulson says simply.

"There is no S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson, there's no shield! Look around!" Daisy fires back.

"Why don't we-" Asta tries to help difuse the situation but Daisy shakes her head.

"No. No, no, no. May is never gonna be full strength, whether you'll admit it or not. Asta has some magic headache going on, and who knows when that'll get cured or backfire on us. Mack is seconds away from quitting again becasue the love of his life, our only other strong fighter, was literally cut to pieces." Daisy begins her tangent as Fitz pulls Asta back lightly as to not get in the crossfire any more then they were and back away from the groups heated argument.

Coulson shakes his head, "Nobody quits."

"Daisy." May says in a warning tone.

"Piper stabbed us in the frickin' backs. And Fitz-Simmons-- My god, you really want to risk their lives again? They've been through enough! And guess waht, Coulson- that's it! That's everybody!" Daisy continues making Asta look down, realizing just how bad she was at faking that she was fine.

"No, that's not it! There's an idea, a symbol that must continue, no matter what. A S.H.I.E.L.D. And I-I need you to..." Coulson pauses, breathing heavily, "I need you to..." he says before leaning on a pillar and falling to the ground making everyone rush to his side in surprise and concern.

"Phil!" May shouts.

"Coulson!" Everyone else shouts.

"Wait, wait. What happened?" Fitz questions.

"Get Simmons. Now!"

______________

The news about Coulson shook the team. It was unbelievable at first. Phil Coulson was dying. "The MRI shows necrotic tissue branching out from the scarred areas surrounding Coulson's life threatening... life ending injury to his heart and left lung. Which is why you lost your breath, sir." Jemma explains to everyone while showing the scans on the screens.

Asta couldn't even look at the screen or at Coulson. She just stares at the table. The injury he gained from Loki. The one she couldn't stop. "So, it's, uh- an infection?" Fitz questions.

"No, it isn't caused by infection. It isn't caused by nothing I've ever seen. It's tissue that appears to have been dead for several years." Jemma tries to explain.

"What can we do? Can we cure this?" Mack asks.

"The tissue is already dead. There is no cure for that. At least, not anymore. I can only surmise that it's progressing at a rapid rate." Jemma tells them.

"So, waht does that- what- what are you-" Fitz tries to ask but was confused on where to start.

"He's dying." May says, making some of them look at their leader while others look away. "You've known since Ghost Rider, haven't you?"

"I didn't know how to tell you... and I didn't think I should." Coulson tells them, finally gaining everyone's attention.

"That's the deal you made?" May questions, moving to no longer lean on the table that Asta and herslef were wating at.

"Whatever alien voodoo was holding me together, Ghost Rider burned through it.That was the price." he tells the team.

"So, what- he gets to burn longer?" Mack asks clearly agitated.

"I don't know, but my clock ticks faster, and we get to fight another day." Coulson explains.

"How could you...keep this from us?" Daisy asks, hurt in her voice.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you trying to find a solution when we had bigger problem-" Coulson tries to rationalize.

"We had a solution. Tess was brought back from the dead. We had a solution right there." Daisy says her voice cracking at the end.

"I dind't want to go through all that...again." Coulson says as he walks over to her.

"So you just give up? You fon't get to do that. You make life and death decisions for us all the time, and we're not allowed the same courtesy?" Diasy says as tears begin to gather in most of the teams eyes, whether from saddness or frustration of the situation. "After everything?" her voice cracks again, "We deserve to-... We deserve to know." she tells him before leaving the room.

"How much more time does he have on his clock?" Mack asks Jemma.

"Um, I won't be able to tell until I can chart it's progression, but even now, he's at risk of various..." Jemma stops to take a breath as Coulson turns to them again. "At some point, sir, your heart will just stop beating." Jemma tells him as tears fall.

Coulson nods, taking in a breath. "I'm going to go check on Daisy." he tells them softly.

"You did this wrong, Phil." May tells him before he could leave. "You put too much on her today. You should have told us." she tells him before he leaves the room.

_____________

Rushing into a room after hearing Mack shouts. The last thing Asta expected to see was Jemma shoot a LMD Jemma who then turned to smoke. "What the hell?" Mack shouts from Yo-yo's side while Asta and Fitz look on with fear in their eyes.

"The rift is expeanding." Jemma says as she goes to check over Yo-yo.

"You okay?" Mack questions as Yo-yo has calmed down now.

"We can't wait any longer." Fitz says in realization. "We have to try and seal it now. It's getting way to fangerous in here." he says before leaving the room, a concerned Asta in tow.

_____________

"Okay, Coulson, we have visual contact. Can you hear me?" Daisy says once they got vison in Coulsons cam. The team, minus yo-yo and Deke were all in the room, waiting, watching.

"Five by five." Coulson replies.

"Same here. Loud and clear. How you feeling?" Daisy asks.

"Well, you know, what are the odds theres a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man down there?" Coulson jokes as the elevator goes down.

"Shoot first, ask questions later." May replies.

"Copy that." Coulson says before the doors open. "I'm at the basement. Here we go."

Coulson enters the basement, then the feed glitches out. "Coulson?" Daisy says and the team all moves forward in concern, as the feed doesn't return, and he doesn't reply. "Coulson!"

"Now waht?" Mack asks when the feed stays down.

"Now we wait." Fitz replies.

But the more they waited the more tense the room became. "We can't just wait around." Daisy says.

"He wanted us to do just that. We hang tight." May tells her.

"No one else can go down there." Fitz informs them.

"That would make it even more dangerous." Jemma brings up.

"He wouldn't know what's real. It would be a friendly fire nightmare." Fitz tells them.

"We can't just let him die! How do you not have a better plan?" Daisy argues walking up to the two scientist and Asta.

"One life's better than two. That's simple mathematics, Daisy." Fitz calmly argues back.

"There are no acceptable losses. This isn't Hydra, Leopold." Diasy fires at him making Jemma and Asta stand at his defense.

"Okay calm down. This is the plan we're doing." Asta tries to cut in to difuse the arguement.

But Daisy glares at her, "Of course you'd agree to this sort of plan Princess." she says, pushing her buttons.

"All right, calm down. That's enought." Jemma says to her.

"He'll make." May shouts annoyed with the agent, making the arguing cease.

As they continue to wait and alarm began to blare in the base and red lights begin to spin, signalling something was coming. "Aircraft. Incoming." May announces as they all gatehr at the monitors again.

"They found us." Mack says.

"Did Deke get caught?" Jemma questions as they get the radar up.

"It's a Quinjet." Daisy realizes before a voice comes into the coms.

"Repeat- S.H.I.E.L.D. 313 requesting permission to land. Do you read?" Deke's voice comes through, making May and Daisy rush out of the room.

Back up had arrived.

Meaning, good bye fear dimension.

___________

"Do we really have to talk about this?" Asta questions as her, Jemma, and Fitz all sat in a room.

"Yes. It's been long over due since we went to the future." Jemma explains as she takes a seat next to Asta.

"I still don't know what we're talking about technically." Fitz brings up as he takes a seat across from the two.

"We are going to talk about our feelings." Jemma says making Fitz raise an eyebrow. "I mean with everything that went on in the Framework with you two and then the whole future space adventure we had... we barely talked about us... the three of us." she clarifies making Fitz nod in understanding.

"Right." he says before clearing his throat. "Well, Jemma. Asta. Uh, I... Uh." Fitz began to stutter.

"You two met first. Fell in love first. Ran to save each other more times then I was ever in your life. I don't see it fair that... that our fake life got in the way of your amazing life together." Asta blurts out, not looking at either of them.

"Asta..." Jemma sighs.

"No, it's true. I'm just a girl from another world, who tripped into your lives. You both have taught me so much about this world. And I will always be grateful for that. But you both made me learn about love, and that was not intentional. I love you both, and despite everything, your lives have no room for me in it... and-and I realize that now." Asta rambles on.

"Asta, we love you. Really, we do." Jemma says making the blonde look at her. "Our relationship," she gestures to her and Fitz, "Is just further along then what woul- could be with you. I may only be speaking for myself, but I agree with you but I still want you in our lives. You're my best friend Asta."

"I love you both." Fitz blurts out making the two look at him. "I do. A part of me loves Jemma and a part of me loves Asta. And you both are right. The mix of memories, the bond we share. That may never go away. But don't throw out your feelings. I tried to do that, and the framework shoved it back in me. Stay in our lives and we can figure this out, slowly, and together." Fitz rationalizes as he moves to sit on the other side of Asta.

Asta nods in understanding, "You two are going to be married. And I was concerned that I would ruin that. I never wanted to ruin that..." she takes a breath. "I was told for a long time, that if I were to marry it would be for honor of my lineage. I didn't understand love until my brothers explained it to me. And when I took that bullet; we were trapped at the bottom of the ocean, I knew then. I would be happy dying with people I love. I think... I won't throw away my feelings, but I will take time to just, understand them better." Asta tells them and they give her a smile.

"Thats a great way to think about it." Jemma says while giving her a side hug.

"But, I won't always be here. I think that's the most complicated thing. I love you but I can't promise to stay. I have these powers that allow me to go to those who need my help... And, I can't deny them protection. My feelings may stay but I might not." Asta explains.

Fitz sighs, "I think, we're always going to have each others in our hearts. Whether we're here or not." he says and Jemma nods.

"One last thing. An early wedding present." Asta says with a small smile.

"What is it?" Jemma questions. The princess answers by giving her a kiss. It was a small, simple kiss that held all her emotion in it.

As she pulled away Jemma sat their dazed while Fitz was wide eyed. The princess turns and does the same to Fitz, who was less surprised and kissed her back.

Backing away slowly they stare at one another with look of understanding. Maybe in another time all of this could of worked out, but not this timeline. Now, they were just right people, wrong time.

Chapter Text

Planning a fast wedding after closing the rift to the fear dimension was sort of fun. Asta and Daisy helped get Jemma all pretty for her wedding. They were all genuinly happy for the first time in a while. The girls arrived first to the forrest that now resided on the 27th floor of the lighthouse, the guest soon after. May joined the three, handing each of them a small thing of flowers to hold while they covered the bride before Coulson, Deke, and Fitz could arrive.

Asta looked over her shoulder as she hears the elevator open and sees Fitz making his way over to them. "It's time." she whispers to the girls and they all step away allowing Fitz to see Jemma in her wedding dress.

"Wow. You look stunning." Fitz compliments as he stops before Jemma.

Jemma lets out a laugh, "I'm pinned into this thing in 30 different places. It was the, um, only wedding dress at the secondhand shop, apparently." she rambles. "They couldn't find you a kilt?"

"Uh... no." Fitz replies making them both smile.

Coulson makes his way to stand before the two, to start the wedding. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for a moment we all knew was coming, some of us even before these two did, and I think we can all agree that to wait even one second to do this is playing with fire... All in favor?"

"Aye." everyone says with a smile or laugh.

"The ayes have it. So, all right. Time for the exchanging of the vows, I guess." Coulson says.

Jemma nods and grabs a piece of paper that Asta was holding on for her. "I had to write it down... Fitz, I knew from the moment I saw you, from our first conversation about dielectric polarization, that you'd be in my life for a long time. But I didn't know, you would be my life. My heart. My home. We joined this team for adventures and got more than we had hoped..." Jemma pauses to sniffle to keep herself from crying. "but I can't wait for our next adventure... building a family together. My love for you grows deeper and always will, no matter where the universe takes us next." she tells him with so much emotion in her voice.

Jemma hands Asta back the paper as she lets out a chuckle to keep herself from crying. "Agent Fitz?" Coulson says, moving the vows along.

"Um..." Fitz starts, clearing his throught and anxiously rubbing his hands, "Okay, um... I have been thinking about what to say. Uh. Just... Words don't really seem enough." he says pausing to take her hands in his. "I think that you are perfect. And, um... I don't deserve you, Jemma. I don't. I don't deserve you. And I'm well-aware that I'm the luckiest man on any planet." he tells her with so much emotion in his eyes.

Jemma smiles and sniffles again as happy tears gather in her eyes. "Okay. Let's have the rings. Quickly please before this forest collapses around us.." Coulson says.

Asta moves and hands them both their rings to give to each other. For Jemma, she was giving her one of her own rings from Asgard, that Deke said would be best and for Fitz it was a simple one that Deke could afford while at the second hand store.

"Okay, Fitz, repeat after me." Coulson says as Fitz holds Jemma's hand. "With this Ring."

"With this ring." Fitz repeats.

"I thee wed."

"I thee wed." Fitz continues, sliding the ring on.

Jemma repeats the process, sliding the ring onto Fitz finger.

"Now, by the powers vested in me by, well, by the two of you, I am so happy to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Coulson tells them. The two kiss and everyone applauses and cheers for them. What a wonderful wedding.

____________

Asta was having a bad feeling. Different then her normal headaches. More like something was trying to warn her of danger that was near. Similar to the feeling she got when the frost giants were trying to invade the castle, but more faint. Like the danger was not something she was familiar with to conprehend and it distracted her while the team was having a discussion about Gravitonium.

"Who's Ian Quinn?" Deke's question made her snap out of her thoughts spiral as he gathered everyone's attention.

"Rich guy. Bad guy... What are you doing here?" Fitz asks confused.

"Oh, I'm not part of the club? I'm sorry. I'll just got get my things, and I'll go grab a cheeseburger." Deke says sarcastically as he joins the team.

"Have a seat, Deke. I invited him. He's seen more Gravitonium than any of us. He may have some insight that we don't." Coulson explains as Deke sits down next to Asta.

"Okay. So this is Quinn's Gravitonium guy, Dr. Joseph Getty." Daisy continues her explination that Asta had not been paying attention to.

"Also dead. We chased that lead." Coulson comments.

"Right, but here's where it gets interesting. All of Cybertek's scientists are now dead, within the past two years, and all their death certificatees were dighned by one man... Murray Jacobson." Dais says pulling up another photo.

"What? So, you think it's a cover-up? They're still alive?' Fitz questions.

"Yeah, smells like it, but this photo's all I could find on him." She confirms.

"You ran a facial recognition?" May asks.

"I did, and I found his mug associated with mulitple aliases. The most recent being Lewis Casalino, a real-estate agent in Baton Rouge." Daisy explains.

"We need to talk to him." Coulson cofirms.

"So we're going outside?" May questions.

"Yeah, they're kind of sparing no expense looking for you guys." Deke warns them.

"We'll leave under cover of night. It's a risk we have to take. If he can help us find Dr. Getty, we may get a lead on Gravitonium." Coulson tells the team.

"Yeah. I'm going with you." Daisy says.

"I thought you grounded yourself." May comments.

"Yeah, I can't really destroy the world without my powers, so..." Daisy explains.

"I can take care of myself." Coulson tells the young agent.

"I know. I just want some fresh air." Daisy says with a shrug.

"Right. Well, fresh air for all of us." Deke says standing up.

"Have a seat Deke." Coulson instructs.

"Okay." Deke listens.

"I need you to stay here. See if you can help Fitz." Coulson says gaining Fitz's attention.

"What? N-no. Come on." the scientist tries to argue. "I'm- I'm not a babysitter."

"No, Asta will babysit." Coulson comments making the girl sit up.

"What?" she tries to question, while Fitz gave Coulson a wide eyed 'come on' look.

"Do you have any idea how high my IQ is? Actually, neither do I. Nobody actually cares about that in the future. Intelligence was measured by how long you could survive." Deke rambles while everyone but Asta and Fitz leave the room.

"Then be smart, and stay here." Daisy tells himas she passes by, making Fitz sigh.

____________________

"Look what I found in storage." Deke says to Fitz as him and Asta enter the room.

"It seemed harmless, so I let him grab it." Asta says as she sees the scientist sigh.

"It's baseball, right?" Deke asks, holding up the ball and glove. "Everybody have really big hands? 'Cause this is crazy. There's another one if you want to play." Deke says as the stop near Fitz.

"I'm monitoring a highly volatile situation." Fitz informs Deke as he moves from one desk to another.

"Well, yeah, I'm trying to help. You don't have to be such a cranky, old man about it. If you're stuck on a problem, you should take a break. My mom used to tell me about this guy named albert Einstein. He says that play is the highest form or research." Deke tells the scientist.

"I'm not gonna play catch with you. I've got stuff to...Ok?" Fitz says, keeping calm despite the frustration in his eyes.

"Well, why don't I stay here and stare at the numbers for a little while? You can go visit Mrs. Fitz. You guys just got married. All the grown-ups are gone. I bet she's just dying for a little post-wedding yee-haw." Deke says with a cheeky smile while Asta just looks at him confused.

Fitz stands up clearly over this, "Okay, do you know what, Einstien? You're right. I need a break, so let's play ball. Lets play ball come on." Fitz says moving them away from the monitors while Asta stands back, more confused by Fitz's attitude change. "Okay. Toss me the ball. We'll play fetch." he says once they were a good distance away from each other. "Ready?"

But an alarm starts to go off making them all stop and look towards the monitor. The monitor was blinking red around the rift orb. "That can't be good." Asta says as she goes over to the monitor.

"Damn. It's happening again." Fitz says as he joins her.

"We are experiencing another anomaly flare. If you see something that doesn't belong here, it's not real." Asta warns into the coms of the lighthouse while Fitz types away at the monitor. "Kill it by any means necessary." she says before setting down the mic.

_________________

The team were able to find the last known location of gravitonium. And it wasn't in the ocean but in the sky. "May, Fitz, you reading this?" Daisy says through coms as the begin the journey into the ship with the monitors showing the lighthouse team what was going on.

"Copy that. Crystal clear." May confirms.

"Yep, copy that. Looking good." Fitz also confirms.

"Got to admit- it's kind of cool walking around on a ship 25,000 feet up in the sky." Coulson comments.

"Fitz, how is this even possible?" Daisy asks.

"When the Gravitonium was supercharged, most likely by a lightning strike, it created an applied gravity field on the ship." Fitz explains.

"Same way the Gravity Puck works. That means there's got to be Gravitonium there somewhere." Deke informs.

"Well, Deck one is clear." Coulson says before they continue to move. "I think we found the crew." he says as they turn a corner to see dead bodies.

"That looks like severe hypoxia." Jemma comments as she looks at the screens.

"Lets keep moving." Coulson says and the team enters another part of the ship. "We're in the engine room. Looks like some's been here before us." he tells them team.

"Coulson?" Daisy says as she looks at an empty containment.

"Where's the gravitonium?" May questions.

"Whoever they were, they didn't go home empyy-handed." Coulson says as they look at the empty clear box.

"What's keeping the ship in the air if there's no Gravitonium?" Asta questions with concern.

"It's not possible." Deke replies.

"Guys, get down here!" Mack says.

"What is it?" Fitz asks as Mack enters another room, showing the camera the gravitonium.

"Gravitonium. Not all of it though. It's about the size of a softball. Must have got seperated from the rest." Coulson says as the three camera's show the team the floating material.

"Ok, well, there might be enough there, but there's a problem." Fitz tells them.

"Theres always a problem." Mack says with a sigh.

"You can't touch it or move it. It's generating the gravity field that's keeping you in the air." Fitz warns them.

"We're not gonna leave it here." Daisy retorts.

"Is there a plastic box anywhere?" Deke asks the team making them look around.

"Yeah, we got something. Why?" Mack replies.

"Ok, listen to me. If you can box it up without touching it, you might be able to get it off the ship." Deke explains.

"Might?" Daisy questions.

"You got about 90 seconds before the gravity field dissipates. After that, real gravity is gonna take over, and the ship's gonna fall out of the sky." Deke tells them.

"That should be enough time." Coulson says after a moment.

"All right." Mack says moving some stuff and getting the box.

"Hey, Mack Hammer. Can't touch this." Coulson says.

"Now is not the time." Mack replies with a sigh.

"Sorry. Couldn't resist." Coulson says as Mack slowly lift up the box and closing it around the Gravitonium.

"Clock's ticking." Diasy says as the begin to exit the room they were in. "Lets go before this floating ship drops miles into the ocean."

A timer comes up for the lighthouse team so that they can warn them if it came down to the wire as they watch them make their way through the ship again.

"I'm on a mission with the two things I fear most, drowing and hieghts." Mack mumbles as he goes up a later before stopping. "Ah, make that three things."

"What are those things?" Daisy questions as a robot solider makes its way down the stairs towards them.

"One of Hale's flying monkeys." Coulson says as he lifts his gun.

"Theres another one." Mack says as they shoot at the robot soliders coming from mulitple entrences. The gun shots come through the coms making them all anxious. "They've got us flanked!"

"Mack!" Diasy warns as she kicks a solider who them gets shot and hit.

"They need to get off that ship. They don't have much time." Jemma tells the others as they watch the timer tick down.

"You've got less then a minute." May warns as they trio continue to fight. "Get the hell out of that ship."

"Working on it." Coulson replies. "Mack run for it!"

"Go to the module. I'll take care of these guys!" Mack replies as he hits another solider with his shotgun-axe.

"We got to get out!" Coulson shouts.

"We don't have time for this." Daisy says out of breath.

"Go! I know what I'm doing!" Mack shouts and they listen. Mack mumbles something before shooting the soliders that were surroundsing him. Punching the ones he couldn't shoot. And use the axe on the last one making it go down. "I'm on my way, and I'm bringin a couple of guests." Mack warns before he gets out of the ship right on time.

______________

Fitz and Asta made their way to meet with the others once they got word that they fianlly returned back, only to see Deke staring at them with a look. "What?" Fitz questions, noticing it.

"Nothing." Deke says as he just stares at Fitz. "Is that a new sweater?"

Fitz looks down at his sweater confused before the elevator doors open showing the rest of the team. "Yo-yo!" Daisy greets, happy to see her up and about.

"Hey, you're up." May says with a pleased look.

"One ball of Gravitonium." Coulson says holding the case out.

"Thank you." Fitz says, taking the case before him and Asta make their way back to the lab.

"Deke are you coming?" Asta call over her shoulder.

"Or is this another play day?" Fitz taunts as they continue. Deke slowly follows behind as the look never leaves his face.

Chapter Text

A.N.- Gonna be real, this is where things get... complicated to put it lightly.

_______________

"The Gravitonium from Deke's gravity gizmo was intensely compressed, refines in a way that I cannot duplicate with the raw element we got from the Principia." Fitz informs the team of their progress after another Anomoly fear flare.

"Let alone inserting it into this new device." Jemma brings up.

"So I was hoping that- that Deke might be able to ahve some more insight into exactly how it works. Deke?" Fitz says, but all he does is stare at them with this look again. Fitz slams the table gaining Deke's attention properly with a gasp. "Deke!"

"Okay. Well, I don't know much about the stuff inside. I just know that it's saved- saved my ass, like, a thousand times." he explains before staring again, this time at Jemma.

"Okay well, the short amount of time that we bought ourselves is up, so whats the plan?" Daisy asks.

"Well, I've temporarily plugges the damn, but it could burst at any minute, releasing more of these... anomalies into the base." Fitz says as he begins to pace.

"Or worse, out into the world." Jemma adds on.

"Are you okay, by the way? That could not have been easy." Daisy asks, making Asta stare at the medic with wide eyes.

"You were attacked? Why didn't you tell me?" Asta questions looking to her friend.

Jemma sighs, "I didn't want to worry you. I'm fine. The astronaut isn't even my greates fear. Goodness knows what else could come crawling out of there."

"Just... Trut me. I can figure this out. I just- I need..." Fitz tries to tell them before sighing and leaning on the desk shaking his head. "I'll experiment all night if I have to."

"Ok. So, what do we do?" Daisy asks.

Fitz stands again, "Maybe I can find some of Dr. Franklin Hall's original notes." he suggests.

"Yeah, that could give us some insight into the nature of the element." Jemma theorizes.

"I'll see what I can find on the datebase." Daisy offers, gaining a nod from the two as they head in different directions of the room exits.

"And please be careful!" Deke says making them stop as Asta looks at him confused, much like the others. "Just because we keep putting ourselves in increasingly perilous situations, which is worrisome, and I just don't want anything to happen to you- your- to your brains. 'Cause they're so smart that, if- we- we need those to survive." he rambles making them all increasingly confused.

"Okay... for the sake of your worrying, why don't I just, go with them... Strength in numbers." Asta says walking past him slowly, and giving them a look to go with it.

"Thanks Deke." Jemma replies simply, while Fitz bites his tongue and follows the two girls out of the room.

_________________

'Asta!' Fitz calls for her making her teleport into the lab.

"What? What is it?" Asta questions not seeing the imediate threat as he looks at her panic'd.

"Oh no." Fitz whispers as he stares past Asta, and up over her sholder. He grips her wrist in fear. She looks around to see nothing before looking back at Fitz to see the fear remaining on his face. He was seeing something she couldn't. Focusing on her magic, she uses it to help her see whatever it was that Fitz was seeing. Taking a deep breath she then slowly turns, Fitz's grip on her dropping as she looks up to the second floors landing to see... Fitz? But his posture was different, and he wore different clothings and the look in his eyes was similar to that of the one in the Framework.

"Hello love. There's work that needs to be finished." he says as he fix his sleeve.

"Leopold?" Asta whispers as she stares at him in confusion.

"What- What work?" Fitz questions from beside Asta, hands in his hair from confusion and panic as he stares at his other self. Hydra Fitz looks at the two of them with calculating eyes. "What are you- What are you doing here?"

"What you are unwilling to do." Hydra Fitz tells him before looking to Asta.

"This can't be real." Fitz denies.

"Like the astronaut wasn't real? Like the world... my world... that you destroyed... wasn't real?" Hydra Fitz questions as he begins to walk down the stairs to them. "Come on. We both know better than that. I've very real. And I am gonna finish... what you started." he says stepping up the platform they were on.

Fitz backs away as Asta doesn't move. She felt no fear for this man. Overall she felt no threat at all in this room. No, she just felt confused, "I didn't- I didn't start anything. That was all you. Not me. That's not me." he says backing away as the Hydra Fitz walks near Asta who stares after him.

"But you and I are the same." Hydra Fitz says as he stops near Asta while Fitz bumps into a desk near the monitors. "Aren't we... Fitz? That's what they call you here, isn't it? Asta could probably atest to that." he says looking back at the blonde before slowly grabing her hand. She looks at their joined hands in almost awe, he was in some way, real. Leopold wasn't an illusion like the others. Slowly he guides her to walk to Fitz who looks down as he coldn't back away. "So familiar." he says reaching for Fitz's jacket.

But Fitz smacks his hand away and moves around the table to back away again. Looking hurt that Asta wasn't doing anything. "No." he says hands shaking now. "No, 'cause-... No, whatever it is that you're plotting, I'll stop you." Fitz says, his voice waivering.

"Come on." Hydra Fitz says not bothering to look at him as he pulls out a scalpal from his inside pocket making Asta's fake memories come to surface. Memories she thought she had pushed away. "You couldn't stop me if you wanted to." he says before pointing the scalpal at Fitz when he looks at him. "Plans are already in motion." he tells him before a gunshot goes off making Fitz flinch.

"No!" Jemma shouts off in the distance, while they all look towards the corridor that echo'd from. "Fitz!"

"You can't escape me, Fitz." Hydra Fitz tells him as he lets go of Asta's hand to watch the other Fitz go around the two going towards the corridor. "We're not finished yet!"

Asta looks to the other Fitz confused, "How are you here?" she questions.

"Come on Asta, you're smart you can figure it out." he tells her, pointing his finger to her forehead but not touching her.

It was then she realised she didn't have a headache anymore. And an idea comes to her mind, "You're not really here... are you?"

He look at her with a feign hurt expression, "I'm pained love. I'm as real as you think I am. And I have a plan to protect everyone here." at his words, he fully gained her attention making him smirk, "There you are. Here's what you're going to do."

_________________

"Gunshot wound to the leg. No major arteries hit." Jemma says as Fitz enters the medbay looking stressed as one of the robot soliders lay on the ground.

"I'm fine." Mack says as he leans on the wall as they all sat on the ground.

"I thought you deactivated those things before bringing them back." Yo-yo says to Mack.

"It's not an anomly?" Fitz questions.

"No, it would have disappeared. That thing is real." Jemma explains as she goes to treat Mack's wound.

"How the hell could that have happened? How'd he get put back together?" Mack questions.

"It was him." Fitz mumbles as he looks lost in thought.

"Him who?" Yo-yo questions.

Fitz looks at them, eyes full of fear. "The other." he takes in a shakey breath as he covers his mouth a million thoughts racing through his head. "The- The Doc- The Doctor from- from the Framework." Fitz tells them stuttering in fear. "Leopold. He's here." he reveals making Jemma have a sliver of fear course through her.

"Wh-what about Asta. We have to warn her." Jemma tells him, making him sigh and cover his face for a moment.

"She know. She's with him. She-She was... It was like she was under his spell. She won't even look at me. When- When you shouted she didn't even flinch." Fitz's voice fades into a sad whisper.

Jemma thinks for a moment. "He's the version of you that chose her..." she mutters to herself.

"What?" Fitz questions as he looks back out the corridor then to her.

"He's the version of you that chose her. That loves her without question. Of course she's under his spell. She loves him." Jemma explains.

"How-how can she love him?" Fitz asks, his face scrunching in frustration.

"Love can make you blind. He makes her feel happy and-and safe. She probably hasn't felt like that in a long time. The Framework, applified her desires. She had love she thought she couldn't get, and-" Jemma pauses in realization on why Asta wasn't as happy like when they first met them. "And, her family was whole. She was happy."

Fitz realizes why Asta was distant since the Framework, now noticing how her smile was different, and how serious she had become. "She wants to be happy again."

"So what? She's going to side with a murderous version of Fitz and and what? Try to kill us?" Mack questions looking between the two.

Jemma shakes her head, "No, she wouldn't kill us."

"That- Thats the thing Jemma. For him, she just might." Fitz warns them, looking more stressed then when he entered.

__________

Asta walks down the corridor that Daisy was working on on of the cameras on. "Hows it going?" she questions her friend casuing her to jump in surprise.

"Jesus Asta." she says taking in a breath. "Its fine. Theres nothing wrong with the camera so I'm confused on what the hell happened?"

"Maybe it was an anomaly or something?" Asta says as Daisy comes down from the ladder.

"Yeah." the inhuman says with a sigh. "Did Fitz figure out something?" she questions the blonde, confused on why she came to check on her.

"No, but I did want to practice something with you, if thats okay?" Asta brings up.

Daisy raises an eyebrow, "Sure, whats up?"

Asta conjurs magic in one of her hands, "I haven't used much magic since we've returned and wanted to use it, have some fun." she says, showing an illusion of small fireworks. "Small stuff seems easy on me. It's some bigger magic that I'm hesitant on."

"Bigger magic? Like what?" Daisy questions as she watches the blue magic swirl around the girls fingers.

"Like earth magic. Wanda was teaching me quite a bit." Asta says vaugely.

"Wanda? She's the witch with the red magic right?" The inhuman asks to clarify.

"Yeah, she taught me lots of useful magic. Like how to get into someone's head." Asta says before moving her magic towards Daisy making her fall unconcious and the blonde catch her. "Sorry Daisy, but this is for the best."

__________

"I'm sorry. This is my fault. This is my fault If I'd just- If I could have just worked out how to s-shut the rift sooner, then-then my greatest fear wouldn't be-" Fitz rambles out while pacing.

"Who says it's your greatest fear?" Jemma says shutting him up.

"Who cares whose fear it is? What matters is stopping him." Yo-yo cuts in.

Mack grunts while Jemma deals with his wound. "What does he want?" he asks.

"I don't- I don't know." Fitz says.

Jemma sighs, "But you do, Fitz. He is you, so just think." she says to him, making him stop his pacing.

"No, I- No. I-I don't know." Fitz says as tears gather in his eyes.

Jemma has Mack appliy preasure to wound before standing and making her way to Fitz. "You have to try. This is out only lead to gain some insight into- into what he might be after." she tells him.

"He said that he wanted to do what I was unable to do." Fitz tells her with a shrug. "To finish what was started." he says, pacing again.

"What does that mean? What- Is he trying to bring back Aida, make her another body?" Mack questions.

"After Ghost Rider? I don't think there's any coming back from that." Yo-yo comments.

"That wasn't his only operation in the Framework. He was also in charge of Inhuman experimentation." Jemma tells them.

"That's why he sent that Terminator after Yo-yo." Mack realizes.

"And that means he's also after..." Yo-yo says as it dawns on her.

"Daisy." Fitz finishes with a new fear flashing on his face.

"Where is she?" Yo-yo questions.

"There was a surveilance outage on one of the other levels. She went to check it out." Fitz tells them.

"Okay, we have to- We have to lock down the base, close the Doctor in. Find- Find the dampener bracelet for Asta- for Asta incase she becomes a bigger issue." Jemma says stressed.

"I'll find her then the things for Asta." Fitz says before leaving the room.

____________

Daisy woke up with a groan as she looks around confused, seeing a blurry 'Fitz' and Asta. "Fitz?" she says as he shines a light in her eyes, making her quint and move away.

"Oh, come on Agent Johnson. That's not how you address a Hydra superior." He tells her as her vision clears, making her even more confused.

"What-What- What's going on?" she questions, wincing in pain.

"Escape is unlikely." he tells her as Asta moves closer to Daisy.

"What? Asta what did y-" Diasy tries to question through her haze.

"Between the restraints, the magic, and the carisoprodol, your energy would be better spent making yourself as comfortable as possible. I'm afraid I didn't have too many painkillers." Hydra Fitz tells her as her breathing gets heavy as she realises how she is being held down.

"You're not Fitz." she says as he walks past before looking to the blonde. "Asta, this isn't the Framework, he's not real." she says trying to get her friend to help her. "He's another anomaly." But Asta doesn't look at her, just stays focusing on her magic as she was keeping Daisy in place as a tear goes down Daisy's face when she gets no response. "Where is Fitz? Where is Asta?" she demands, "Where are the real them!?" she says trying to struggle against the magic bonds.

"Oh, believe me, you're looking at them." Hydra Fitz says as he puts on gloves. "I have found my Asta with that pitiful version of me and reminded her of my brilliance." he tells the inhuman, making her realize that Asta wasn't an anomaly.

"Ok, so what is this? Huh, is it payback, for the Framework? I know you like your Inhumans alive when you turn them inside out." Daisy asks calmly despite the tears falling.

"My Inhuman work not only took threats off the streets... it deepened their understanding of their powers." Hydra Fitz explains as he got his materials ready.

"That's a Nobel Prize speech." Daisy taunts, holding in her fear.

"His work is going to help people." Asta spoke for the first time, kneeling to look at her. Another tear fell down the Inhumans face as she looks at her friend. But all she saw was a blank look in her eyes, like she was purposly hiding her feelings from being seen, or she truly didn't care. Daisy remember this look when she was at the Inhuman auction. "He's going to help people, starting with you." she whispers, wiping away the tear making Daisy flinch. "He's going to give you your powers back." she tells her, sounding so calm and sincere as to not scare her friend anymore then she was.

"What?" Daisy says, opening her eyes looking at the blonde, "No. No! No, no." she says trying to stuggle again.

"Asta." Hydra Fitz says, and the princess stands, waving her hands to form more holds to stop Daisy from struggling to much. "Shh. Shh." he tells the Inhuman. "I told you. I told you. Try and make yourself as comfortable as possible." he tells her.

"No. No, you can't- No, no, no!" she says before screaming as he makes the insition of where her flesh met with the Kree power dampener. Daisy then began to cry at the pain, "Please. Please, don't do this. You know what restoring my powers could do. You- No." she began as she then groans in pain.

"Conversley, this rift could be what destroys the world. Your powers could be what save it." Hydra Fitz explains as he continues to work.

"No. This is the path to destruction. Asta you're ment to protect people, not- not help destroy." Daisy whispers.

"You..." he starts as she groans in pain, attempting to struggle but can't against Asta's strength. "are what's needed to compress the Gravitonium and insert it into the device to shut the rift for good." he explains.

"Thus protecting the world." Asta adds.

"My hypothesis has science to back it up." he says getting up and moving to kneel infront of Daisy. "What does yours have?" he questions.

"Stop!" Fitz shouts, entering the little makeshift medical room they were in.

"Fitz?" Daisy says looking between him and the princess through tears.

"What are you doing to her?" Fitz questions the other him.

"How many times do I have to say it?" Hydra Fitz says before turning to look at him, "What needs to be done."

"E-Everything- Everything's gonna be fine, Daisy, okay?" Fitz reasures his friend who has more tears falling now.

"It will be if you let me finish." Hydra Fitz says nonchalantly.

"You are a monster." Fitz tells his evil double before looking to the Princess, "How are you helping him?"

She looks at him over her shoulder, "He has a plan to protect everyone." she says simply.

"And she trust me more then you. So leave us be." Hydra Fitz taunts with a glare, making Asta look away from them.

"You programmed those robots to attack Yo-yo, and now you've got Daisy lying on an operating table, with Asta holding her down." Fitz says, his hands shaking with fear and anger.

"If the robot attacked, it must be because it was provoked. I simply programmed it to keep Mack and the others at bay while I set to work removing Daisy's inhibitor." Hydra Fitz explains while moving back to where he was sitting behind Daisy.

"What?" Fitz questions.

"Well, her powers are the missing key to manipulating the Gravitonium." Hydra Fitz informs making Fitz shake his head in disbelief as he process all the information.

"What's going on?" Daisy asks.

"They're- They're- wait. Stop. Just stop, stop, stop, stop." Fitz says pacing as he thinks.

"You know that I'm right." Hydra Fitz says moving to stand again.

"No. No." Fitz says, his breathing becoming quick. "Becasue-Because-"

"Because- Becasue I'll-" Hydra Fitz mocks, "You'll what? Look at you. You are weak!" he shouts. "But together, we can fix it." he tries to convince.

"This will work Fitz." Asta adds on.

"Who are you talking to?" Daisy asks, crying more.

"No. No." Fitz tries to deny.

"Finish what we started." Hydra Fitz tries to convince again.

"No!" Fitz shouts.

"Fitz!" Jemma says entering the room where only Fitz, Asta, and Daisy were in.

"Simmons... help me..." Daisy says in a whisper as she sees her friend.

Asta let go of Daisy with a sigh, and looks at the couple. "Put the scalpel down." Jemma request who watches her for a moment before shaking his head, "Fitz?"

Fitz looks around for a moment, "What? It's not me. It's not me. It's him..." his voice fades at the end when he seems no other Fitz in the room. "He w-He was- He was right here. He was right- Asta saw him. Right?" he tries to convince but stops when he sees the scalpel in his hand as he pointed it at the blonde, looking at it with wide eyes.

"What is happening?" Daisy questions as she cries confused.

"Fitz... it wasn't an anomaly. It was you. Programming the robots... keeping everone else occupied... Convincing Asta to help you." Jemma lists off.

"To isolate Daisy." Fitz whispers in realization. "All part of his... plan. Of my plan."

"I'm sorry... I thought it was the best plan to protect everyone, so I helped him... you. I- I'm sorry." Asta whispers, avoiding looking at anyone.

"Hey..." Jemma says, taking a step to Fitz seeing his look of distraught. "Look at me." she whispers to him. "We can work all this out. You just need to let Daisy go."

"No." Fitz replies, "There's no turning back."

"Of course there is." Jemma tries to reasure him.

"He planned for that, too." Fitz tells her right before a robot soldier enters with a hold on Deke and gun pointed at Jemma.

"You would point a gun at me?" Jemma questions as Fitz walks back over to Daisy.

"The Doctor would. He programmed it to make sure I would go though with it." Fitz informs as it lets go of Deke.

Asta hold back tears as she turns away and holds on to Daisy, who tries to struggle again. "He didn't want to hurt you, just like he didn't want to hurt Mack. It's just..." Fitz says before pointing to Daisy, "I wouldn't have done any of this if I didn't believe it was going to work."

"You don't know it's going to work." Jemma tries to argue.

"The science is sound Jemma. It's going to work. It has to work." Asta tells her, a tear rolling down her face.

Jemma looks to Asta then Fitz, "Everything you told us about Asta when we were with Mack..." she tries to question, unsure of how to word it.

"Was to keep you from looking for us. We know she's powerful, so the hesitence to look for her was all I needed you all to have." Fitz tells her. "And besides, she's right. The science is sound. There are always risks involved. You know that Jemma."

"You're right, but..." Jemma says sniffling back tears, "potentially paralyzing Daisy or destroying the world, are two massive risks, Fitz."

"Lets hope that that doesn't happen." Fitz says before making his way behind Daisy's head.

"No. No, no, no, no, no. Fitz, Fitz, Fitz! No, Please. Asta, come on, please." Daisy cries out in desperation. But Asta just closes her eyes and keeps her still. "Please, Fitz, Fitz. I am begging you. Please, you do not want to do this."

Fitz sighs, "No... I don't. But I have to." he says before going back to work.

"No, no, no, no." Daisy begs before screaming again as he pulls out the inhibitor bit by bit. The room around them begining to shake as he removes it more and more before it was finally out. Daisy was breathing heavily as Asta let her go. "I will... I will never forgive you." Daisy whispers.

"I suspected you won't be the only one." he says as he walks around to grab a needle from a case, removing one of the plastic walls and then plunging the needle into Daisy's thigh, making her quake the room. "The adrenaline will help jump-start your powers." he says before removing the needle, and Asta begins to remove the part that was holding her head still. "Here's what you need to do. You need to compress the Gravitonium down as much as possible. Then carefully guide it over and insert it in to the sphere." he instructs as she stands. And reluctantly, she does so.

Once she finished, Fitz wasted no time surrendering. He goes down on his knees and places his hands behind his head. Asta reaches into her pockets and pulls out the dampening braclets, only for Jemma to see that they were broken. "He broken them before giving them to me. He said I'm more usefully for everyone with powers then without." Asta says before handing them to her friend. "I'm sorry."

___________

"How long have you been seeing him?" Jemma asks as Fitz and Asta sat in a cell.

"My minds been through a lot." Fitz tells her before sighing. "Been hearing him for a while now. Since we left the Framework. Only just started seeing him." he tells them.

"I hear her too. When I get sad or- or angry. It's like she whispers things I should do." Asta says not having the heart to look at either of them. "But I saw The Doctor, my magic... I don't know exactly what I did but I was able to connect with Fitz's mind to show me him. I can guess maybe it has something to do with his idea to help with the world ending solution... or maybe it was just a fluke." she tries to figure out, shaking her head unsure.

"It's your injury acting up. And possibly your headaches." Jemma theorizes. "You used to see us, too, when we weren't there." she reminds Fitz, making the princess look at him out of the corner of her eye.

"You were my conscience. And Asta was my curiosity." Fitz corrects her.

"Then what was he?" Jemma questions. But she got only a sigh as a response. "You had a psychic split, but that dark persona, that's not you." she tries to reasure him.

"It is me." Fitz says before finally turning to look at the two. Asta was leaning on the wall near the door while Jemma stood on the other side of the window. "It's not an apparition." he says before standing, "It's not some evil doppelganger. It. Was. Me." He says, stopping next to Asta, looking at Jemma.

Asta finally looks up, tears in her eyes. The bad feeling from earlier has gone away now but, the guilt she felt wasn't helping her feel any better. "How are Daisy and Mack?" she asks, looking to Jemma as she wipes her face of tears.

"You two have to talk to them. They can come to forgive you if you two just explain-" Jemma tries to tell them.

"I don't deserve forgiveness, Jemma. I talked Asta into this, she deserves forgiveness, but not me." Fitz tells his wife.

"Just like you don't deserve me?" Jemma questions.

"Mack's injured. Daisy's traumatized. Do you know what the worst part about all this is? I still believe that it was the right thing to do." Fitz says with a shrug.

"Then you're right." Jemma says making them both look at her, "It's such a... confusing gray area. But if we are going to change the timeline, we have to do things differently, make harder choices." she tells them.

"What does that make us?" Fitz asks her.

"I don't know." Jemma says honestly.

Fitz looks a bit broken at that but walks up to the window infront of her. "I really don't know where we go from here." he tells her before walking back over to the bed to sit.

Asta keeps her eyes on Jemma. "You two will figure it out." she says softly, making the two look at one another through the glass. "You two are, unstopable." she whispers, with a sad smile before Jemma walks away as to not have tears fall from her eyes.

Chapter Text

"We have nothing." Daisy argues.

May looks at her with an idea, "We have an Avenger, and a Super villian."

___________________

May enter the cell the two were in much to their surprise. Fitz sighs, having expecting this while Asta looks worried. Not having heard much news on the others since they were put in here.

"Go on. Lets get it over with." Fitz says to May. "Tell me that I can't be trusted anymore." he says not moving from the bed he sat on, while Asta sat on a chair.

"You forget that I was Hydra in the Framework, too. I know how this works. I made decisioins I regret." May says in understanding.

"This isn't the Framework. And, truthfully... I don't regret it." he tells the agent unbothered. "But, Asta should be let out, I convinced her to work with me. She only agreed to protect everyone from the rift." Fitz argues, gesturing to the blonde who looked defeated. "It's just how it had to be done."

"Well... I'm not asking you to apologize for it. I'm asking you both to embrace it." May says letting a big file land of the table infront of Asta.

The two look over the file, curiously and confused as to why they needed them for this. "What's your conclusion?" May asks after some time.

"Well, we know that Hale went after Gravitonium, so unless she's experimenting with artificial gravity, I think she's trying to build a weapon." Fitz tells her leaning abck on the chair next to Asta as she continues to look over all the information.

"But why does Hale want Coulson?" May questions.

"I don't know. But if we can figure out Hale's target then we can understand Coulson's role in this." Asta replies, looking up at the Agent as Fitz stand up.

"We have a lot of intel on file." Fitz starts looking to May, "I just need a few hours access to the computers and labs. I can figure it out." he tells her, only to get a hesitant look. Fitz sighs looking out the window, "We can't help when we're locked in a cell."

"Not a chance." Daisy says entering the room, making Asta look away from her, the guilt crawling back along with a headache.

"I suspected you were listening in." Fitz says before turning to face her.

"Yeah, and, of course, your solution involves letting you two out." Diasy retorts annoyed.

"I'm only trying to help, Daisy." Fitz replies calmly.

"He's still on our side." May tries to help.

"Don't defend him, not to me. I'd rather let Asta out then him." Daisy tells May, but not once looking to the blonde since she entered.

"There's not a lot of team left here, so lets hold it together." May reminds them.

"We had to seal the rift shut." Fitz argues calmly.

"By any means, no matter how sadistic." Daisy argues back.

"I'm sorry, but it was the best solution to protect everyone." Asta speaks up, looking to the Inhuman with sadness.

"You held me down Asta, with magic." she argues back, hurt clear in her eyes.

"Ok. Well, would you have agreed to do it?" Fitz jumps in, taking the attention.

"Never." Daisy was fast to reply.

"Well, then, I didn't have a choice." Fitz tells her making her lift up her arm and quake him to hit the corner hard.

"Fitz!" Asta quickly puts up a shield to deflect Daisy's power, before going to his side, being very caught off guard by Daisy's hotility.

Fitz groans in pain as Asta keeps him from falling over, "You didn't have a choice? You drugged me, restrained me, made Asta help you, and then you cut into me." Daisy tells him as they look up at her.

"I don't feel good about it either, but in a few hours, the town up there would've been affected as well, so... I'm sorry. I don't need your forgiveness. I just need you to trust me." Fitz tells her, holding his hands up in surrender.

"You are not leaving this room. You are Hydra. You both are." Daisy tells them, making Asta sigh.

"Well, that's an advatage. I saluted the same flag as those people." Fitz reminded her.

"Yeah, but we don't turn on our own here." Diasy says.

"Do you want me to recount all the times that you did?" Fitz argues back, making her falter a bit.

"We'll figure out another way to track Hale down. We've done it before." Daisy says making her way to the door.

"And it was a trap." May argues.

"It'll be different this time." Daisy fires back.

"Yeah, 'cause you've got your powers back, and they've got the Gravitonium. We already sealed one crack in the earth." Fitz says, as Asta helps him up. "Doesn't take a fortuneteller to see how easy it would be to make another one. Are you listening to me?" he says before Daisy rushes out of the room, May following behind.

"She had an idea." Asta says to Fitz making him look at the door exasperated.

_____________

"Again, I can't do anything while I'm locked away in this dungeon." Fitz says once he hears the door open and close again, softly. Asta was asleep, and he didn't want to wake her. "Like a... hideous, freckled stepchild."

"Please." Jemma says, "You're not in the least bit hidious." she says making him turn around seeing her pour tea from a thermos. "Take it you and Daisy had a productive chat."

"She quaked me against the wall and then stormed out, so yeah, it was quite productive." he replies as she hands him a mug.

"And Asta?" she queestions, seeing the sleeping blonde.

"Exhausted from worrying I'd say. She hadn't been sleeping well since, well, the Framework. But she looks calm now, so I hope she just rests." he says looking at the blonde in guilt, rubbing his face for a moment before looking at Jemma. "You've got that look."

"I've been thinking about you and me, about us." she starts making him look sad.

"Jemma..."

"Relax. I know we get through this." she tells him before setting down her mug. She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a multipurpose tool. "Do you recognize this?"

"Yeah. It's mine. After my injury, I got the number engraved 'cause I couldn't remember the name." Fitz says as he looks at the number 17.

"See that's the thing. This one's yours." she says pulling out another one from her other pocket, one that was in better condition. Fitz grabs it confused and looks between the two. "That other tool belongs to Deke... who got it from his grandfather."

"He's my..." Fitz says in realization, looking to Jemma, "Our... grandson?" he whispers staring at the wall in shock.

"Yeah." Jemma says, letting him process.

"But... he's the worst." Fitz whispers making Jemma laugh.

"I think he's perfect. Plus, his very existence proves that you and I make it to the Lighthouse... and live long enough to raise a daughter." she says to him as he looks over the two tools. "Do you see what this means?"

"Yeah, I do. It means that our daughter's obviously gonna marry some belligeresnt space goon if she's gonna give birth to a Deke." he says with a look on his face.

"No, Fitz. It means you and I are invincible." she tells him making him look at her in complete understanding.

________________

"So, Deke is your grandson?" Asta questions.

"Yup." Fitz confirms.

"I knew it." Asta says with a smile.

"You- How... What do you mean?" Fit asks, more confused then before when Jemma told him.

"When we were in the future. Deke had one of my rings around his neck. Told me his mom got it from her mom. Meaning his grandparents were people I knew and trust. Not many people fit that discription." she jokes. "Just didn't want to bring it up incase I was horrible wrong."

"So, in some point you give Jemma your ring? Which ring was it?" Fitz questions as they wait for Jemma and Yo-yo to return with whatever plan they have to get them out of this cell.

"This one." she shows him a band with star engravings and viking runes. "Loki gave this to me for luck. I guess I gave it to her for the same reason." she explains with a shrug while staring at the ring with a bittersweet expression.

"Do you miss him?" Fitz asks making her look back at him.

"Yes... Despite everything, he's my brother." Asta says, stopping herself from continuing as to not get emotional.

From the hall outside of the cell the two began to hear a cart approaching. "What the hell is this?" They hear Mack before seeing Jemma and Yo-yo standing by a cart and Mack across from them.

"An Experiment," Jemma replies as she removes gloves. "the test of a hypothesis." she begins to explain making Fitz and Asta approach the window confused. "If that hypothesis is true, you'll see that you should let Fitz and Asta out."

"I already gave you my answer on that." Mack tells them.

"Yeah, but we want you to reconsider with all the facts, so I'm going to prove that I can't be killed." Jemma tells him.

"What, you, too, Simmons? Do you know how all of this sounds?" Mack questions.

"Like Science." Jemma answers.

"No, sounds like you're detached from reality." Mack tells her, before looking at the two in the cell.

"Don't look at us. We don't know what she's doing." Fitz tells him looking a bit worried towards his wife.

Jemma sighs, "Well, what's an experiment without a little skepticism? So, each of these beakers contain a liquid. Three of them contian water, the fourth holds phosphoric-acid compound used in the hydraulics of Yo-yo's arms, highly toxic. One sip will make you sick. I mean, this much will surely kill you." she explains casually.

"What the hell? Jemma..." Fitz starts looking more concerned then before.

"Jemma, I don't think..." Asta also starts the same before she looks over at the two.

"No." they both tell her with wide eyes.

"Yes, Fitz; Asta. I wouldn't be doing this if the science wasn't sound. So, without knowing which is which, I will drink three of them, and, since I can't be killed, I will happen to consume the three that just hold water." she says seemingly unbothered.

Mack scoffs, "This is insane." he says.

Jemma looks to Yo-yo and turns her back allowing the other to mix up the drinks on the cart. "No looking." Yo-yo says.

"I'm not looking." Jemma reasures.

"Are you kidding- Simmons. Are you serious?" Mack tries to questions.

"Ready." Yo-yo says stepping away from the cart.

Jemma turns around and steps back to the cart looking at the cups. "Don't do it." Mack tries to persuade, but she doesn't even glance at him.

She grabs a glass and lifts it up making everyone panic now. "He's right. Jemma, J-" Fitz tries to stop her.

"Don't. Don't. Simm-" Mack tries.

"Jemma. Please, don-" Asta tries.

But she downs the glass. Everyone sighs after a moment when nothing happens. "Simmons- Simmons, I need you to stop right now!" Mack demands when she grabs another glass, taking a step towards them only for Yo-yo to step up as well. And Jemma downs another glass.

"No! Oh jeez." Fitz panics for a moment, covering his eyes in horror. But nothing happens again.

"Jemma please, stop this." Asta tries to beg, but she doesn't even look at the two in the cell.

"I will now drink the last one. And it will be water." Jemma tells the group.

"No." Fitz says, tears in his eyes now from worry and stress.

"No, please." Asta says, panic clear in her eyes.

"No." Mack tells her. Before pulling out a gun as she grabs another glass.

"You would shoot me just to keep me from dying?" Jemma questions.

"No, I'll wound you to stop this madness." Mack threatens.

"No. I don't think you will." she tells him.

"Simmons please." Mack tries again. "Simmons please, please don't"

"Jemma!"

"Stop!"

She downs the glass. But she looks unsure as she sets it down. "Fitz" she whispers looking over at him before she began to cough.

"Jemma? Jemma!" Fitz begins to panic as she coughs and falls to the floor. "Jemma!" she shouts.

Out of the sheer panic Asta teleports out of the room and into the hall. "Jemma, hey hey." she holds onto her friend.

"Simmons! Fitz! Fitz, what do we do?" Mack questions in his own panic shouts.

"She needs some alkaloid phosphate to counteract the toxicity!" Fitz replies.

"Ok, well, where do I find that?" Mack shouts back.

"There's no time!" Asta says, moving Jemma to sit up and grabbing her arms before focusing all her magic on what was Poisoning Jemma and transfered it into her body.

"Asta?" Fitz questions after a moment as it went silent. Jemma had stopped coughing and the glow from the magic went away. "Asta what did you do?"

Slowly she let go of Jemma and opens her eyes, "I transfered the poison to me." she tells them.

"What!?"

"Why would you do that?"

"Are you crazy?"

Everyone talked over one another as a weak Jemma looks at her with concern. "She was already to weak. I had to do something. I can hold on longer." Asta argues with them, looking more towards Fitz and Mack.

"Hold on, you said 'hold on longer', that means-" Mack slowly realizes her words.

"You still need the phosphate." Jemma tells them from where she was on the floor.

"Fitz, where is it?" Mack goes back to questioning him, going back to panicing a bit as Asta began to cough a bit leaning on the wall to not fall over.

"Let me out. I know where it is." Fitz says panicing again.

"Let him out. Please, let him out." Yo-yo says to Mack as Asta slides down the wall with a groan before coughing again. Mack listens and quickly enters the key pad, letting Fitz run out.

"Hold on!" Fitz shouts as he rushes down the hall.

Mack makes his way to Asta's side as Yo-yo stays by Jemma. "Hey, Hey. You better stay with us." he says to try and keep Asta attention. "How long could you get out of the cell?" he questions to keep her eyes on him.

"The whole time." she pauses to cough, "I just stayed to keep everyone at ease." she admits.

In a blink, Yo-yo pushes Mack into the cell and closes the door. "Elena, open the door! Now! Open the door!" Mack shouts as they all look at him as he hits on the door. Fitz re-enters the hall, and Mack stops shouting as Jemma and Asta stand up, unbothered.

"A heads-up would've been nice." Fitz tells them.

"Yeah, honestly. I thought you were actually dying." Asta says looking to Jemma with a wide eye'd look.

"Well, you're very good at improve." Jemma tells the princess with a tired smile.

Fitz sighs, rubbing his face before walking over to Jemma and hugging her. "Compliments on the performance, Dame Judi Dench." Fitz says before letting her go. "That's the longest you ever kept a lie going."

"It wasn't all a lie." Jemma tells him before walking over to the cart and grabbing the last glass and pouring it on the cart. The liquid begins to bubble showing them that it was infact not water. "I might have chosen that one. I didn't. Becasue we are invincible."

"And crazy... apparently." Fitz mumbles as he stares at the liquid in disbelief.

"And stress inducing. You two might be the first humans to kill a god you know." Asta half jokes as she leans on the wall to take a proper breath of relief.

"Let me out of here." Mack tells them.

"I'm sorry Mack." Yo-yo tells him as she walks up to the glass. "I know you don't understand. But I'm doing this to keep you safe."

"You're right. I don't understand." Mack replies.

"If, for some reason, I don't come back, it means-" Yo-yo tries to explain.

"We've broken the time loop." Jemma fills in.

"You know my feelings on that it can't be broken." Fitz tells her.

"Is that what you'd tell out daughter, that her world can't be changed?" Jemma questions him.

"Maybe. Don't know. Haven't met her yet..." Fitz shrugs as he argues with Jemma.

"Oh, for goodness sake."

"Guys!" Yo-yo stops them from arguing making them all look at her. "You argue on the way." she tells them with a sigh. "But, if you really believe that, Fitz, then it means we're in no danger-" she says as she moves to grab the gun off the cart, accidently firing it making everyone jump.

Everyone check themselves only to see that no one was hit. "Becareful, please." Asta says with a look of stress.

"Lo siento... I'm getting, used to my fingers." Yo-yo says as she looks at her robot arms with a sigh.

"I'll get that." Fitz says, bending down to grab the fallen weapon.

"That was close." Yo-yo says with an apoligetic look.

"Lets go." Jemma tells them as she leads the way down the hall, the others following.

Chapter Text

Jumping out of a plane was not in Asta's list of things she thought she would of had to do. Portaling was a riskier option but she felt better about that then jumping out of a plane.

"No, I'm portalling to the bottom, I'll meet you there. I can't jump." Asta tells them after looking out the window for 5 minutes after they've packed their equipment.

"What? Thats to risky." Simmons tried to argue.

"Are you afraid of heights?" Yo-yo questions seeing how nervous the blonde was.

"I wouldn't say that I'm afraid, just that I don't like them." she corrects her inhuman friend.

"You're afraid of heights!" Fitz looks at her amused like the others.

"You know what, doesn't matter I'll meet you at the bottom." Asta tells them before looking at the map and teleporting out of the plane.

______________

The four of them wasted no time once they reach the sight to look around, weapons at the ready. This was an old Hydra base, can never be to sure if Hydra was still occupying the place.

"Looks like there may be a way in up here." Simmons says as she leads them through the overgrown bushes towards the facility.

Warning signs for Radioactivity littered the fences and poles as they continued forward. "Radiation poisoning would be a horrible way to find out we can still die." Yo-yo comments as they make their way up a small hill.

"Agreed." Asta says as she looks at the signs with concern. "Should be turn back?"

"No need. Primula vulgaris. Primrose. I used to pick these as a girl. I mean, it's a hardy species, but even it couldn't survive in irradiated soil." Jemma tells them as Fitz pulls out a tablet.

Showing the team the levels of radiation around them, "You'll find more radiation in a dentists office." he says showing that they were completely fine.

The group continues forward, staying low to not draw attention. "Talbot probably just posted these signs to keep out interlopers." Jemma guesses.

"They won't scare off Hydra." Yo-yo says with a sigh.

Rushing along the fence to entry point they stop to see it chained closed. "Let me." Yo-yo says grabbing the lock and pulling it off.

"Well, looks like getting your arms chopped off isn't all bad." Fitz says, refering to the robot arms but earns a look from everyone and hit in the arm from Asta, "The-Well- Yeah- It is-- Obviously, it's bad. It's really bad getting your arms chopped off, but maybe theres a silver lining..." Fitz rambles.

Jemma cuts him off, "Well, as much as I'm enjoying this day in the country, we have a job to do." Yo-yo and Asta enter followed by the other two.

Yo-yo takes the lead this time, followed by the Scientists then Asta as cover. They make it to the building and stop for recon via Fitz hacking tablet. "Power's being diverted to a space on the second floor, but according to this plan, there's nothing there."

"Bad guys rarely mark their evil lairs on blueprints. We'll find a way to locate it once we get inside." Jemma tells him.

"We may have to improves that bit." Fitz comments.

"We're improvising all the bits. Any idea what the weapon in there is?" Yo-yo asks them.

"I think we're just going to blow it up regardless." Asta comments with a shrug.

"Hold on." Fitz says gaining their attention again. "I'm reading an encrypted radio signal."

"Coming from where?" Jemma asks.

Fitz looks up and puts his tablet away, "Coming here. Move." he tells them quietly, and they all go around a corner as they hear trucks approaching before finally seeing a truck with people in masks and runs hop of the back of it, before driving away to reveal Ivanov, or his LMD at least.

"Anton Ivanov is providing security. Means we're in the right place." Jemma tells them as they all watch.

"And now we've lost our advantage." Fitz tells them with a sigh.

"A man who can't die, huh? Maravilloso." Yo-yo says annoyed as she looks at the Russian LMD.

___________

Sneaking in was simple enough, finding wahtever is was that they had to find was proving dificult especially with killer gaurds everywhere. "The Mechs are still sending signals back and forth. We should keep following it." Fitz advices as they walk.

"And then sneak past them?" Jemma questions.

"Yeah, call that plan A." Fitz says placing his pack back on.

"Plan A seems ambitious." Yo-yo says as they begin to go up a flight of stairs.

"Well, that's why we have a plan B." Fitz reasures them.

Opening the door to the next level silently as they then hid behind a cornor only to see Ivanov in the hall they needed to go down talking on the phone. "Yes, General, we have found the chamber. We are looking it over as we speak.... That will not be a problem so long as you keep your word.... Another step towards beconing the superior man. I hope it is as powerful as you promised."

Simmons looks back to Fitz and Asta before nodding as Fitz presses a button, setting off an explosion outside. Ivanov and the two gaurds in the hall walk away towards the explosion, giving the team time.

"What were those mechs gaurding?" Yo-yo qesutions as the approach a seemingly blank wall.

They look around as Jemma opens the emergency water hose, "This isn't connected to a water main." she tells them making them all the more confused before she found something hidden in the wall of the hose. Turning it, the 'wall' makes a noise and goes up revealing a room.

The four enter slowly seeming eqiupment covered in sheets, abandonded for who knows how long before the door behind them goes back down. Yo-yo goes over and breaks the handle as the others look around. "Just destroy all of it."

"We should of brought more explosives." Fitz comments as he looks around at the amount of stuff in the room. "Won't be long before they realized we snuck through their defenses."

Asta stares at alarge object covered by a sheet before ripping it off to reveal of chamber of some sort. "Guys?" she gains their attention.

"We can cut out it's heart once we work out what this thing does, and to whom." Jemma tells them as they all stare at it.

They all waste no time to start destroying things. "Well that didn't take long." Jemma comments as Fitz pulls out a piece and hammers at a big part.

"The machine won't work without this component." Fitz says hammering away.

"And the machine does waht, exactly?" Yo-yo asks as she moves stuff to block the door.

"An Adaptive Particle Processor. Scans an element at the atomic level, and then this component converts it to be merged with the recipients DNA." Jemma explains as she looks at the destroyed part.

"We think it's the smae technology that game Carl Creel his powers, only his abilities are temporary and require physical touch." Fitz adds on as Asta helps Yo-yo place another object infront of the door.

"Yeah, but the machine's been upgraded, so if Hale were to use Gravitonium-" Jemma starts.

Yo-yo cuts the scientist short, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. No Gizmo, no apocalypse." she says as the two join the other two at the table.

"But there is always a chance that we've tried this before." Jemma brings up.

"More then a chance. Previous selves probably came here, amde all the same decidions, still failed to change the timeline." Fitz says with a sigh as he paces a bit.

"You spoke to your older self in the future." Jemma says looking to Yo-yo, "Did she give you any clues, any specific ways to stop this all from happening again?"

"We didn't have much time." she says before sighing, "I haven't told anyone this, not even Mack. I didn't want to put this on the team." she tells them making them all look at each other nervous.

"What?" Fitz questions.

"We have to let Coulson die." she reveals.

"What? That-That doesn't make any sense." Jemma says confused.

"The other me, she said... trying to save him is what led to the end." Yo-yo tells them.

"How? That-" Asta tries to understand but her thoughts were swirling.

But their attention was taken by a bang on the door. Then another. "Time to improvise an exit strategy." Jemma says as they go to the back of the room.

"You guys open one of the doors, whoosh, whoosh, I take their guns, we shoot the robots, we go home." Yo-yo plans out.

"Sounds brilliant to me." Fitz says as Asta moves a container blocking a door and Jemma gets ready to open it.

"Mack is going to be sad to miss this." she Yo-yo says before the door opens a fraction and she runs out then back. Jemma closes the door quickly as Yo-yo groans in pain.

"Yo-yo. Yo-yo, whats going on?" Jemma rushes to her side as Asta moves to block the door again.

Yo-yo falls to her knees in pain. "Ahh." she shouts as the banging on the doors continue.

"We need a new plan." Fitz says as he looks around. He points at the shelves and Asta understand the two going to opposite shelves and pushing them on top of the contianer to further enclose the door.

"What happened out their?" Jemma asks as she tries to sooth Yo-yo.

"I don't know. I was using my speed, and it felt like my arms were being ripped off." Yo-yo explains.

"The mech arms aren't built to go that fast." Fitz says in realization.

"The interface is transmitting every elecrtical signal simultaneously. It's overloading your nervous system." Jemma explains.

"I don't need an explanation! I need a solution!" Yo-yo shouts in pain.

Fitz clears a table before facing her, "I can't recalibrate them, not here, not before that door gives in." he tells ehr as Jemma and Asta flip a table before Fitz does the same.

"Take cover there. Fitz, Asta, and I will draw them away from the exits, keep them occupied. You find a way out, make it to the Quinjet, call for backup." Jemma explains to her.

"I can fight. I think one of you should-" Yo-yo tries to argue.

"No. We have a rule." Fitz tells her.

"We never leave each others side anymore." Jemma explains.

"Are you sure we should-" Asta tries to question.

"Yes." the two scientist answer before she could finish.

"Okay." she sighs but listens, facing the back door holding a gun like the other two as Yo-yo takes cover as the door was slowly forced opened.

As the soliders entered, they fired at the mech soldiers before taking cover as they returned fire. As the mechs were distracted Yo-yo was able to escape as the trio fire back. It didn't take long for the main door to open as well and more mechs enter the room. Asta turns as starts to fire at them before they all duck down to reload.

"I'm sorry you never got the honeymoon you dreamed of." Fitz says to Jemma.

"Nonsense. I'm protecting England from evil robots with the man I love and my best friend." Jemma tells him making him lean over and kiss her.

"You two are cute and all but, we're under fire." Asta reminds them.

They nod before all of them stand and fire at the mechs. The step out once they seem to get an advantage, Jemma turning to help Asta but she stops firing. "Oh its jammed!" Jemma says in a panic.

"Go back." Asta tells her but she doesn't move.

"Go Back!" Fitz shouts also panic'd seeing this and she listens and goes back to cover. The two follow as the Mech's take advantage of their moment of panic. "Running low."

"I don't know what we were thinking." Jemma says as she tries to unjam her gun.

"I don't think we were." Asta says, as the firing continues. Fitz and Asta peakying out to return fire before ducking down again.

"Oh! Please tell me you still believe time can't be changed." Jemma says as she struggles with the jam.

"You want to debate that now!? Isn't-" Fitz pauses to return fire, "Isn't that why we're here?" he argues.

"No, Fitz, just tell me it's against the law of physics. I need that right now." Jemma tells him.

"The perception of time is an illusion." Fitz complies.

"Last Mag." Asta says as she hands Fitz one and puts on in her own gun.

"According to Hermann Minkowski, space-time-" Fitz begins to lecture.

"No, you know, I was wrong. It's not helping." Jemma stops him.

They continue to fire until they were out of bullets. "Alright. Plan C." Asta mutters placing a shield over the two scientists.

"Asta?" the two question, but she doesn't look at them as she drops the gun and conjurs her sword. "No, Asta there are to many." Jemma tries to stop her.

"It's better then nothing." Asta tells her before standing, and as she does all the mechs in the room fall to the ground. "Well that was easy." she says confused before lowering the shield and magically putting away her sword.

The other two stand slowly looking around confused. All the Mechs suddenly twitch making them all duck down again. When they heard nothing they all stood and walked out. Fitz wasted no time to check a Mech to see what had happened to them.

"They're not damaged. They just went offline." he tells the two confused.

"Pherhaps something Yo-yo did?" Jemma guesses.

"Yeah Whatever it is, we're safe... for now." Fitz says looking over at the two.

"Still can't believe we survived." Jemma says a bit relieved.

"Me neither." Fitz sighs.

"But you were so certain we'd be fine. 'Time is fixed' and all that." Jemma says as he stands.

"I started having my doubts. Maybe your hopeful nature's rubbing off on me." Fitz says making Jemma smile.

The two humans flinch at the sudden sound of a weapon making inpact with a person, they both look at each other with worry only to see it hit neither of them. Slowly they look to the blonde that stood between them, seeing a circular blade sticking out of her abdomin, blood slowly soaking her clothes as she gasps in pain. The scientist look to the doorway where the weapon came from to see a blonde girl who was bruised and beat up a bit.

"Aww, how cute." She says as she walks into the room with a young man who was holding up a gun at them. "Well, looks like you three have made quite the mess."

"It's not the first time." The man says, looking at the two scientists, "They were there when Shield tortured me." he says slowly walking closer as he walks around them to the machine. He lowers the gun and look at the part that sat on a table that Fitz had hammered earlier "No." he mutters as he looks it over. "They destroyed a component for the infuser. It's useless." he tells the blonde, Ruby, as she walks over to the machine. "We can't transfer the Gravitonium until it's repaired."

Stucker points his gun back at the three as Ruby walks over to Asta, looking her dead in the eye before pulling out her weapon from her. Asta, gasps in pain again, unable to not cover her discomfort from her injury, making Ruby smirk before turning to look at Simmons before holding up her circular blades to Asta's neck. "Fix it. Or your friend bleeds out." she threatens them.

Fitz takes a step forward but Strucker was faster and lift the gun up to point it to Simmon's temple as a silent threat, making him stop. "Fitz, we can't let it happen again." Jemma tells him, refusing to let her eyes drift to the asgardian; knowing she'd break if she did.

Fitz looks between the two girls stressed, "We don't have a choice. We never did." he says with a sigh as Ruby gives him a sinister smile.

Chapter Text

Ruby practices her aim with Asta, who now had poorly placed duct tape over her bleeding abdoman, as she sat in a chair with no energy to fight back. Strucker had Simmons tied to another chair while a tense Fitz was working on repairing the machines parts, flinching everytime he heard the inpact of Ruby's blades.

"Stop!" Fitz says throwing down a tool as he flinches more and more at the noise.

"Aww. But I'm enjoying myself." Ruby replies, "I don't really get out much and it does seem to keep you motivated." she says before throwing once again.

"Practice with me then, she's already injured leave her be." Simmons says, gaining the blondes attention.

"Hmm, thats temping. But threatening an avenger, hurting a goddess... is so much more entertaining" she taunts with a laugh, "I'll stick to my current fun." she says throwing it again, "But I like the offer."

Fitz sighs, "Okay. Let her go." he says pointing to his wife, "You want this machine fixed, I need her help. Please. I'm engineering. She's biotech. We're a team." he explains.

Ruby pulls out a normal knife before cutting the ties that held Jemma to the chair. Slowly Jemma stands and makes her way over to Fitz who hugs her. Ruby watches as Fitz whispers to her asking if she's alright. "Aww. You two are adorable. I ship it. I really do." she tells them with a bored tone.

"Do you have any idea of the consequences of what you're trying to do?" Jemma questions the girl. "We've seen where this leads."

Ruby looks at the group amused, "Your little trip to the future? Coulson filled me in."

"Then you'll know that you destroy everything, the entire planet." Jemma warns her.

"See, I thought your pal Daisy did all of that. You people really need to get your stories straight." Ruby taunts.

"Everyone that you care about will die." Asta tries to help with the soft warning, only to recieve a shrug.

"Not a long list." she tells her.

"And it's getting shorter." Strucker says as he walks over to her. "Found Anton, what's left of him." he tells her. Ruby places her hand on his cheek and he places his on her upper arm, they both look like this is the first time they've done this. "He took a header out a window."

"Then someone else must be here." Ruby says.

"Not for long." Strucker replies. "I activated our copter's signal jammer and set the fallen mechs to seek and destroy."

"You know how to reprogram them?" Ruby questions him as Jemma slightly looks over her shoulder to look at Asta who gives a slight nod to tell her she's okay, biting the inside of her cheek from the pain.

"I took one apart once. It's a basic protocol but effective. They'll hunt down and kill anyone they find." Strucker explains as some people wheel in some materials.

"Show me." Ruby requests. The two walking over to what was being wheeled in lifting up the lid to show the gravitonium.

The two scientists continue to work as Asta watches everyone closely with tired eyes. Not trusting the blonde the most. "Hey!" Ruby shouts getting their attention. "Pick up the pace, or I start removing body parts. Starting with miss avenger over there. Just like I did to your other friend." she threatens with an malicious smile.

___________

As the two scientists were seting the part into the machine, Strucker made his way over to Asta and Ruby grabs Jemma the second they were done making everyone a good spaced apart.

"You two are taking a while. Is this above your grade level?" Ruby questions as she holds Jemma's jaw.

"No, no, no. They're Shields best and brightest. There's nothing they can't do... if motivated." Strucker says pushing Asta's head with his gun.

"Torturing us isn't going to make us work any faster." Jemma tells them.

"Well, you didn't seem to mind torture the last time we met. Electrocuting me. You two didn't have wedding rings then, either." Strucker says walking over to them, holding the gun up to Fitz.

"Please. They did what you asked. Let them go." Asta pleads tiredly, but neither of them looked over at her.

"Move. Move." Strucker says shoving Fitz out of the way. Strucker looks at the part before standing again. "The infuser's reversed. They're gonna have to start over."

"You know, I only really need one of you. Two is starting to feel redundant." Ruby says with frustration, tightening her grip on Simmons jaw, causing the scientist to grunt in pain.

"Hey, we're working with very limited resources on a very old machine." Fitz explains walking up to Ruby and Simmons, ignoring Strucker who still had his gun trained on him.

Ruby turns, swinging and hits Fitz across the face. "Fitz!" Simmon shouts with concern, and is quickly grabbed by Strucker to not interfer. Asta moves to stand to help but groans and falls back in her seat. "No!"

"No!" Fitz shouts at he sees what's happening to Simmons as he falls to the ground from the impact as Ruby stands over him and punches him again, and procedes to punch and kick him over and over again.

"Stop it! Leave him alone! We'll fix it!" Simmons pleas, and Ruby punches him one more time, "We'll fix it!" she shouts and the blonde stops, stepping away from him.

Fitz groans and Simmons was able to go over to him as the others watch on. "Hey." Ruby says, pulling out her blade. "Eyes up." she commands, and slowly Simmons listens. "Look at me." she says looking at Fitz and he complies. "Next time... its her. And I won't use my fists." she threatens, vague on which 'her' as she sees his eyes widen before walking away from the two.

_________

All Asta could do was watch as her friends worked once more on the machine, blood now seeping through her poor excuse of bandages from her unfortunate seat to this hellish show.

Ruby stood near them, blade in hand just waiting for them to mess up or to be done. Her patience running thin. "A plane just landed." Strucker says gaining their attention as he reenters the room.

"My Mother?" Ruby questions, agitation in her face.

"Shield." Strucker corrects as he pulls out his gun. "I sent the mechs to engage. That'll buy us a little time." he tells her before looking at the scientist work.

"All right, where should I start? An arm? Maybe a leg?" Ruby asks, stalking towards the two, wanting them to hurry up.

"No, done, done." Fitz was quick to tell her as the stand up, "We're finished, okay." he says with a sigh as they walk away from the machine and over to their pale blonde friend.

Simmons checks her pulse, looking a little concerned as the other two look watch Strucker look over the machine before seemingly turning it on as lights turn on. "It's ready." he says looking over at Ruby with a smile.

"Yes." Ruby says as more lights and machines activate and the pod opens. Strucker works on connecting the gravitonium when the blonde looks over at the others seeing the scientists mummble something to one another. "What?"

"Hey, we did as you asked." Fitz says, holding his hands up as she slowly turns to them. "We fixed the chamber."

"But?" Ruby questions.

"In our experience, Gravitonium is not east to manipulate. And... we can't move it into the machine." Simmons tells her honestly.

Ruby has a look in her eyes at what was being told to her, "Wait. H-Hold on. That's- That's out of our control." Fitz says with a sigh.

"Yeah, Gravitonium is unpredictable. There's still so much that we don't know." Simmons tries to explain but Ruby began to walk towards them, causing the two to back away.

"Hey, please. Please, you can't do this." Fitz tries to reason with her.

"I'm done having people tell me what I can do." Ruby tells them getting closer to them before they hear a noise and look to see that the Gravitonium was infact moving over to the chamber. "You were saying?" she says before moving back to the machine.

"Jemma did you see that?" Fitz says in disbelief.

"Thats... different." Jemma replies looking at the machine before looking to her husband.

Asta stares on, unsure of how to feel about this as she feels her eyes grow tired and blur. She could feel her magic slowly trying to heal herself, but she knew she couldn't rest to heal while her friends were at risk.

_________

"You did it." Sturcker says as Ruby now stood in the chamber, ready for the gravitonium.

Ruby leans forward, placing a hand on his cheek. "We did it." she tells him before kissing him. The two smile at one another before she hand him her blade before he steps away from her.

Strucker goes over and pushes a button. The chamber closes around Ruby and begins to work. They were smiling until Ruby frowns, "Get me out of here!" she screams out before screaming in pain.

"No! Ruby!" Strucker shouts before pulling out his gun and pointing it at the two scientists. "What did you do? You're killing her!" he accuses.

"No this isn't us! We tried to warn her!" Simmons tells him.

"You sabotaged the chamber!" Strucker shouts at them as they flinch away from him.

"No, its not the machine!" General Hale shouts as she rushes into the room followed by Shield agents. Daisy was quick to make her way to Asta's side seeing the blood puddle around her chair. The Asgardian gives her a small smile, glad to see her despite everything.

Ruby's screams echos throughout the room. "Shut it down!" Hale demands, and they listen. The machine having only gone to 8%. "Are we to late?" Hale questions as the lights in the chamber shut off and Ruby stops her crys.

"I don't know." Fitz answers honestly. "She only took in eight percent of Gravitonium."

The chamber then begins to open freeing Ruby. Slowly the blonde opens her eyes, the group watches tensely before she suddenly begins to float out of the chamber causing everyone's to look at Ruby in shock before she suddenly fell to the ground. "Ruby!" Hale shouts in concern for her daughter.

Ruby groans as she leans on her sides, Hale attempts to go to her side but Strucker moves her out of the way to help Ruby his self. "It's okay. Hey. Hey." Strucker says trying to help her up.

"Oh, they're screaming!" Ruby says gripping her head as she leans on the floor. "They're fighting." she says making everyone confused now.

She looks up as Strucker caresses her face, "I've got you."

"Help me." She pleas, looking only at him.

"I'm not going anywhere." He reasures her before having a look of pain when Ruby lifts her hand to touch him. Slowly his face begins to crush inwards before he collapses on the floor, dead.

Ruby looks at her hands in distraught as everyone watches on with different expressions. Asta looks to her friends who only look concerned and confused with a hint of fear. Ruby stands looking towards her mother and the other agents, "I didn't mean to." she tells them crying before gripping her head again, "Oh, god. No! No! Get out of me!" she crys out in pain. "Please make them stop!" she says looking towards Fitz and Simmons.

"Make-Make- Make who stop?" Fitz questions tense.

"All of them! Just please, please put me back in the machine! Get it out of me!" Ruby begs, crying out more.

'We can't. It only works one way." Simmons tells the blonde.

"You lie!" Ruby shouts at her. "You always do this!" she holds out her hand, send the two scientists up in the air, pinning them to the wall.

Ignoring her pain, Asta stands. Fearing for her friends life as the hung in the air. May grabs her to hold her back from hurting herself more, not knowing what Ruby would do to the already injured Asgardian. "Ruby put them down!" Hale tells her daughter who had lowered her hands but the two remained up on the wall.

"Experimentation without thought and consequence." Ruby says as she just stares at the two.

"It's Mom. Look at me!" Hale says, trying to gain her daughters attention.

And it works, Ruby looks at Hale and the two scientists fall with thuds and shouts of pain. "Mom" Ruby crys, "Theres something really wrong."

Asta moves as quickly as she could force herself over to them, dropping down next to Simmons as she was closes to her, in pain from her movements. "I know. We're trying to figure it out. Just ... stay strong, sweetie." Hale tells her as Fitz rushes over to Jemma and Asta who was leaning on one another. Asta taking in a shaky breath. "Don't panic, just try not to panic, okay?"

May silently motions for the three to make their way over to them. Simmons helps Asta as Fitz leads them quietly over to May and Daisy. "They can't be here. Not with Asta this injured. I'll get them past any mechs." May says as she ushers the three past them towards the door.

"Come back. I'll need you." Daisy tells May before the four leave the room quickly.

__________

The four of them make there way through the compound quickly. Avoiding the mechs easily as they got to a hall. Turning a corner, Yo-yo also enters the hall. "Melinda." Yo-yo says a bit out of breath clutching her arm.

"Your arm." Simmons says in concern.

"It's fine." Yo-yo brushes it off as they stop to breath. "What happened? Asta are you okay? Did someone go in?" she quickly lists off questions looking at everyone.

"I'll live." Asta says with a sigh as she leans on the wall next to Simmons.

"It's being handled. We need to get to the Zephr." May says, going forward again.

"Handled by whom?" Yo-yo questions, making them all stop and look back at her. But no one answers her. "Daisy." she realizes before storming off, back to where they had just escaped from.

It wasn't much later before a wave of energy like explodes through out the compound. The four look at one another with concern before turning back around and heading back to the room they left the others. "Simmons!" May says seeing Yo-yo on the ground and Daisy slowly standing up. Asta leans on the door frame, letting Simmons check over the others.

In the middle of the room was now laying a dead Ruby. "Where's Hale?" Fitz questions as they look around. May, across the room at the other entrence finds a bloody hand print. "How did she get away?" May questions looking back to the others.

"And what happened to Ruby?" Simmons asks looking at the young girls body laying in a pool of blood, a slash on her throat.

"I had it under control. She was coming around, and then Yo-yo killed her." Daisy says agitated.

Yo-yo stands, and looks at her friend, "No." She denies. "I just saved the world." she tells the others.

Chapter Text

Asta was laying in medbay. She had surgery done to her, but with her blood lose and Simmons' hesitance to give her human blood, she was on bed rest until she got her strength back. And honestly, she needed it. She hasn't properly rested since the Framework and it was hitting her all at once.

All was fine, until the emergency red lights began to go off in the Lighthouse. "You may have notice the Lighthouse going into lockdown mode. This is not a dril. The Lighthouse is keeping us safe. All exits, including the hangar, have been sealed to protect us from any outside intrusion. Which is good, 'cause there is currently a sizeable alien spaceship overhead. Oh, and due to a technical malfuncition, the Lighthouse thinks we're under nuclear attack, so we may be trapped inside for 15 years... ish. I'm sure theres a way around that. So in the meantime, there's no reason to panic. The Lighthouse survives the Earth cracking apart, so one flying saucer, probably no big deal." Coulson's voice rings through the P.A. System.

"Of course there's more aliens." Asta mutters under her breath and she slowly sits up, groaning at the pain in her stitches. Then suddenly all the power goes out. "Oh for the love of Allfather." she slowly moves of the bed, holding her self up to not fall over. Taking in a breath, she removes her IV letting out another groan as she does.

As she takes a moment to breath the red emergency lights turn back on right before the lights flicker on in her room. "Thats not ominous at all." she says to herself before lifting her top a little to check her bandage over the stitches to see no blood. "Good. Good." she whispers, lowering her top and moving towards the door as the lights flicker off again.

She makes her way down the hall, not seeing much in front of her before the lights turn on again. She sighs, continuing on making her way to the lab, hoping someone will let her know whats going on with the Alien invasion currently going on above them.

Everyone seems to be busy becasue every hall she went down, she saw no one. It didn't take long for the lights to begin to flicker again. Asta begins to push herself to walk faster and make it to the main control hub seeing everyone but Jemma, Fitz, Daisy and Deke. "Could mean they're already inside." Coulson says to them as she enters the room.

"Whats going on?" the Asgardian questions as she leans on the railing.

"Asta you should be resting." May scolds.

Before the blonde can respond a crash happened behind her, causing them all to turn and see Deke falling out of a vent in the wall. "They're already inside!" he tells everyone as he gets up.

"We don't even know who 'they' are." Mack points out.

Deke pants to catch his breath, "I do." he reveals.

_____________

They call the scientists who were in another part of the lighthouse despite the glitching software so the whole team, minus Daisy, can get the whole story on the aliens they were facing off against. "The Remorath are marauders. They're intergalactic scavengers with no planet of their own, so they just take from others, and-and wherever they go, darkness follows." Deke explains.

"Darkness?" May questions. "That's a little vague."

"Well, it's not the concept of darkness, it's literal darkness. It follows them because they're magic and they can see in the dark, and we can't, so it makes them kill us better with-with their claws." Deke rambles.

"Sorry, did you say magic, and... Claws?" Asta questions, focusing on the claws part.

"Yeah. Did I not mention the footlong razor claws? Because, yeah." Deke reconfirms.

"Well, people in the future survive. There must be a way to stop them." Mack reasons out.

"No, we didn't stop them. We just- We just gave them whatever they wanted, and then, said thank you and... cleaned up the bodies after they left." Deke informs somberly.

"All right, this is no longer a siege, this is an evacuation." Coulson informs turning to the screen, "Fitz-Simmons, see if you can find a way to override the whole nuclear-contamination protocol. We need to get the Zephyr airborne and out of here, preferably with the Gravitonium and our people on board." he instructs them as they get their stuff ready, getting right to work. Coulson looks to the less injured of the two powered people they had on their team. "How are your arms feeling?"

"Fitz recalibrated them, so I'm like new." Yo-yo tells him.

"Good, because we also need to get Talbot out of lockup, and we have no idea what kind of influence he's under." Coulson informs.

"Well, if he makes a move, I'll make a faster one." Yo-yo tells him, grabbing a walkie to keep in contact.

"Great. Thank you." Coulson says before she leaves.

"Coulson, I think we may have something." Fitz says gaining their attention. "There's a- There's an analogue override on floor 17. It's the system I check after the beacon explodes, so I can rig up a bypass." he explains.

"All right, if we can get the hangar doors open and Deke and I can get the engines going, we're in business." Mack tells them.

"I'll ready the Gravitonium, for travel. We've got Piper and Davis here to help, and uh, Fitz can take Agent Wahl for backup." Jemma plans out.

"No, Simmons, you- you and Asta are the backup. You guys made a pledge not to leave each other's side, so I feel like-" Deke tries to argue but is cut short.

"Well, we don't really have much of choice. And Asta needs to rest, she shouldn't be straining her strength for her magic." Fitz tells him.

"You-you can get Daisy to give you backup. She's strong, and she's protective, and she-" Deke tries to argue but Fitz was getting fed up and the two exit from the camera. "Wait..." but they didn't listen. He turns to Coulson, "Wait. Can't Daisy just quake us out of here? Or-Or Asta teleport us out??" Deke tries to come up with a solution. "Why isn't Daisy back yet?" He realizes.

"I can't teleport others. Don't even think I have the strength to teleport myself at the moment." Asta tells Deke with a shake of her head.

"Ask May." Coulson says, ignoring his complaints.

_______________

Despite the pain, sitting still was making Asta reckless. May and Coulson made her sit in the office next to the main hub to rest while all the other agents went through with Fitz and Macks plan. Asta watches from the window, seeing how things seem to slow down as Deke had dispeared and Mack, she can assume, was told to not go through with the plan.

She wasn't given a walkie, so she had no idea what was being said between Coulson and one of the others. The lights flickered at some points, she was worried once many agents began to rush out of the room. By the time she went to the door she saw Deke return with Fitz and Mack. Coulson and May wasted no time shuting down the doors to the halls.

"Okay I've rested, please tell me I can help now." Asta says as she joins them once more.

Fitz noded for her to join him and she listens. He holds up a glass jar with liquid in it. "A light cocktail of potassium, glycerin and a dash of sugar." he explains before throwing it down in an empty barrel causing a flame to errupt inside. "Consider this your chemestry lesson."

"And you say Midgard doesn't have magic." she says with a smile before grabbing two jars and going over to the other Empty barrels that the others had placed in the room earlier.

As the others help light up flames and get guns ready, the computers slowly began to shut off. "Sir?" Fitz questions.

"I don't think the ammo's gonna get here on time." Mack says right before a thud could be heard from one of the doors making everyone, lift a gun up in defense.

"Ok, people, this is it." Coulson says and everyone took a stance as more pounding was heard at the door. Then the others door.

"Here we go." Mack says on edge.

Then the other door, making them all turn around at the clanging. This door was the weaker of them all, only a metal bar placed between the handles was keeping it shut.

They all kept switching targets whenever something would hit one of the other doors, even when the lights finally shut off. "They're everywhere, just like I said!" Deke says in fear.

"Just hold steady!" Coulson instructs, as they only had the fires they made as light sources.

Suddenly, all the pounding stopped. The silence was tense. No one moved, until scrapping of metal above them was suddenly heard. They all looked up at the noise, following it with their eyes at it moved. Until suddenly the small, emergency door on the catwalk opened, and in came the Remorath aliens.

The team wasted no time firing shots at the two as they entered, but the aliens were skilled, jumping from the top, avoiding the shots and landing on their feet. May was quick to get her shots in to stop them. But the door held closed by the bar was finally opened and in came more.

The team were fast to change focus on the new aliens that entered, "We don't have enough ammo to hold them off!" May shouts in concern.

Despite this they all continued until, "I'm out!" May announces as the aliens backed them all to a wall.

"Me two." Asta says in frustration.

"So am I." Coulson says adn they all toss the guns aside.

"Bullets didn't seem to do much to them anyways." Mack comments as they all back up.

Then the aliens ludged forward, Coulson tried to fight but was quickly thrown down hard. Asta, ignoring her warnings earlier, conjured at least her daggers, knowing they take the least of her energy and blocked those trying to go after Deke, who held on to the Gravitonium.

She was successful until one of the doors open making everyone stop, including the aliens, to look over and see Talbot entering the room. Barely lifting a hand, Talbot caused the aliens to float in the air, making everyone's eyes widen in shock before he crushes the aliens.

They all look at the General in shock at what he had just done. It was similar to what Ruby had done but on a much more powerful and controled scale. Talbot walks over to Coulson, and looks at him. "I told you I could fix this." he says before lifting a hand slightly and the ground began to shake.

The floor beneth Talbot and Coulson lifted up in to the air as the ceiling above them seemingly moved out of their way as they floated up and out of the Lighthouse, leaving the team in shock at what they just watched.

"Citizens of the Lighthouse, I bring you excellent news." The voice of the General Stoner projection plays as the power turns on once more. "The outer atmosphere shows no signs of contamination. Congratulations. You have survived the nuclear apocalypse. The planet is safe again."

Chapter Text

No more living aliens could be found in the Lighthouse. The team was still baffled from Talbot having taking in the Gravitonium and having better control of it compared to Ruby. Along with taking Coulson with him into the sky, they needed to figure a plan of some sort.

"Okay, so, how much Gravitonium did Talbot use?" Fitz questions as he looks up at the hole.

"All of it." Jemma informs as she enters the room.

"Maybe it's not so bad. I mean, he did just annihilate a bunch of Remorath warlords." Deke chimes in.

"But the side effects of Gravitonium are catastrophic. Ruby absorbed just a fraction..." Jemma starts to explain.

"And it drove her completely insane." Fitz finishes.

"Yeah, well, she wasn't all that stable before." Yo-yo comments.

"Niether was Talbot." May brings up.

"With his previous brain injury, I fear that Talbot will almost certainly suffer a major psychotic break." Jemma explains with a sigh.

This causes May to sigh, "We need to find them."

"The Lighthouse only just came back online. It could be hours before all systems are fully functional." Fitz tells them as he checks over the still rebooting computers.

"Where's Mack?" Yo-yo questions, looking around the room.

"Went to make sure the threat's been neautralized." Piper tells her.

______________

The team needed to figure out a plan to help Coulson, and maybe stop Talbot. Mack did find one alien still alive but that interagation did not last long before it died.

Asta stayed with Fitz and Deke to help get the Lighthouse back online. "This is an outright disaster." Fitz says as he walks around the room a bit frustrated. "Could take hours to rewire this antiquated system, and by then, who knows what cosmos the Remorath will escape to." he rambles

"Fitz look." Asta tells him, making him turn as the computers screens came back online without issue.

Out from behind, walked out Deke. Fitz looked confused and Asta impressed that he had done this so quickly. "Yeah. Fixing old electronics was kind of my thing back in the day... in the future." he explains to the two with a shrug.

"Deke you continue to surprise me." Asta says with a smile while Fitz lifts his hand to give him a high five.

Deke grabs his wrists and lowers it confused, "What? What are you doing?" he asks, looking around to make sure they weren't seen.

"What? It's a thing. It's a thing that people do to celebrate." Fitz tries to explain with the motion.

Deke shakes his head, "Not cool people. Come on, man. You're better than that." he says letting go of his wrist.

The whole interaction was highly amusing to the Asgardian, causing her to get a look from Fitz before he step around to the desk to get to work. "Just took Talbot flying out of here like some sort of a wizard in order to breathe fresh air again." Deke comments as he looks up at the hole.

"Well, being a SHIELD Agent has it's risks." Fitz replies as he begins to work on the computer.

"Being a hero in general has it's risk. You get use to it." Asta adds on as she sits on the table next to where Fitz was working.

Deke turns around to face the two, "Yeah, but that's just it. I'm not a SHIELD Agent. Or hero. But for some reason, I'm still hanging around this rusty drainpipe." he tells them with a sigh.

"Well, you do have family here." Fitz reminds him.

"And friends." Asta says, now looking over to Deke who was again, looking up at the hole.

Deke chuckles, "Yeah, I don't think it's that." he says before looking over at the two, seeing a sort of hurt expression from Fitz and a raised eyebrow from Asta. "Oh, well, don't get me wrong. You guys are great, totally not disapointments at all." he starts causing Fitz to scoff and turn back to work on the computer.

"Lighthouse, is anyone there? Over." Daisy's voice comes through the computer's radio connection. "Repeat, Lighthouse, this is Daisy Johnson. Does anyone copy?"

"Yeah-" Fitz goes to reply but is cut short.

"Yeah, uh, we're here, Daisy. Sorry. We just had some technical difficulties." Deke tells the inhuman as he stands between Fitz and Asta.

"Deke, thank god you're there. I've been trying to ger though for 30 minutes. I'm flying in. What's wrong?" Daisy questions.

"We were under attack." He replies her the truth.

_____________

"You're healing quite well all things considered." Jemma says as she checks over Asta's stitches and every other bruise and injury she had gotten over the last few missons.

"Well I feel better. Probably thanks to my amazing doctor." Asta tells her friend with a smile.

Jemma laughs, "No, I think it has something more to do with your DNA or magic." she says causing Asta to give her a look, "And maybe becasue I'm an amazing doctor." she caves to the compliment.

Asta smiles widely, "Good. Glad you recognize your brilliants Jemma. Now, I feel ready to fight some aliens." she jokes, glad that either the medicine or her magic helped her heal from all that had happened to her.

"I'm just glad that Coulson and May made you rest when we were dealing with most of the alien invasion." Jemma teases her friend, earning an eye roll.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just glad you and Fitz weren't hurt. But now we have to try and get Coulson back." she says with a sigh.

"Yeah, but we'll figure out an plan. We always do." Jemma reasures her.

_________

"You're grounded." Mack says, crossing his arms.

"What? But I'm fine. Healing stitches. No pain. I'm good to fight." Asta argues with him.

"I don't care Asta. You're staying here. Daisy will go with May and the others." he tells her before making his way down the hall.

"What do you expect me to do? Nothing?" she calls out to him, frustrated with his order.

"No, I expect you to stay with Fitz-Simmons in the lab. No fighting Asta, not after that stunt with Simmons before." Mack says walking back to her, annoyance in his eyes.

"That's why you're grounding me? You're sending some of your best agents to a hostile alien ship; Mack, if you have forgotten, I am an Alien. I can help negotiate if things go poorly up there. They need me." Asta tries to argue with him.

But Mack's face remains unwaved. "You stick with Fitz-Simmons. That an order." he says firmly before turning and walking away.

____________

Sitting in the lab, watching Simmons work and Fitz paced, honestly has had her the least excited since she's been with SHIELD. Fitz was staring at his tablet while he walked around the small room before he stopped and looked back towards the two, "Looks like the Zephyr's in space." he tells them, gaining their attention.

Jemma smiles, "Because of your design." she praises, as he looks back at the tablet watching the ship fly, "I know you'd rather be up in Control right now." she says softly.

Fitz shakes his head, "No, it's probably best that I'm not." he says a bit dejected befoe looking away from the to.

"You still did amazing work on the ship Fitz." Asta reminds him, giving him a soft smile, knowing he probably had a similar talk with Mack like she did earlier, landing them both here. Stuck.

Fitz gave her a nod before going back over to watch Jemma work, "So, the Centipede Formula is functioning as what? Some sort of catalyst to unleash Jiaying's regenerative properties?" he questions is wife.

"That's the hope." Jemma confirms as she types away.

Fitz sighs, "You really think this is a good idea?" he asks as he looks down at the duffle bag that Daisy brought in that help her mom.

This time Jemma sighs, "What I think is, the less we talk about it, the better." she tells him honestly, before grabbing a tool from the shelf above. "Now, unzip that duffel and get me a viable sample." she says handing the tool to Fitz

He grabs it, looking at the tool for a moment before looking at the duffel bag. "Have fun with that." Asta says before leaving him to it.

Chapter Text

"Fitz, its done." Jemma calls out from across the lab, causing him and Asta to go over to her. "This could change everything." she says showing them the DNA sequence on screen.

"Changing everything about what?" Mack asks as he walks over to the three of them.

"Uh... Daisy asked us to run some tests." Jemma tells him, the three of them surprised he was down there.

"Looking for a way to revive Coulson's necrotic tissue." Fitz explains, not looking at the other agents.

"Jemma thinks this could work." Asta chimes in, looking between the three.

"Oh, okay, that's... that's good to know. That's really good." he says, processing this good news.

"What do you need, Mack?" Fitz questions.

"It's Talbot. The Gravitonium is becoming a problem. He's racking up a body count." Mack tells them.

Jemma looks shocked "No." she says softly.

"Yeah. There must be something you can do to reverse the machine." Mack suggests.

"Something else that needs fixing?" Fitz mumbles, but only the girls properly hear him as he turns to face Mack.

"Right now, Talbot's out there. He's dangerous. If there's a solution, we need it fast, okay? Or none of this matters." Mack reminds them.

"Okay, we're on it." Jemma tells him.

"Thank you." Mack replies before exiting the lab.

As he leaves, Jemma looks over at Fitz who was much more obvious about his tension with Mack then Asta was. "He and I will work it out." Fitz says once he noticed the look he was recieving.

_____________

"I don't see a way to reverse the effect of the Gravitonium on his system, or even neutralize it" Fitz says as he rubs his hand on his head in frustration.

"Nothing in my books about Gravitonium. So far magic can't do much." Asta says as she walks over to them, waving her book in the air before using her magic to make it disapear.

Fitz sighs at that, "How are you doing? Give us some good news." he says looking over at Jemma who was working on the centipedi project for Coulson.

"Uh, I finnaly got the compound right. Should only take a few days to synthesize." she says as she retrieves the serum into a syring. "It's funny, isn't it? The Centipede serum was part of our first mission, and now it's the key to curing Coulson." she says, more towards Fitz. "We've come full circle."

"Just in time for the end of days." Fitz replies. "You ever think it would be Talbot?" he asks.

Jemma sighs, "I don't want to think about it." she says before placing the small serum vial into a machine. "He was one of the good guys."

Fitz nods, "Yeah, I know. I don't know hwat he is anymore, but he needs to be stopped, even if that means-"

Jemma cuts in, "Even if it means finding a terminal solution." she finishes, taking off her goggles.

"It's what would be best for the world." Asta says, agreeing with their thoughts.

"I mean, if there are no other options, we- we could try the Odium." Jemma suggests.

"How do we get him to take it?" Fitz questions.

"Drinking it might not even be strong enough." Jemma sighs, "We... could use the Centipede serum to deliever it straight into his cells." she suggests looking down at her current work.

______________

Coulson returning in critical condition was not waht anyone on the team wanted to hear. He had collapsed on their way back and was now in the medbay. But it was a scary sight to see. He always seem so fine that seeing him like this was, heartaching.

"He's not going to die, not yet, at least... But his condition is worsening and accelerating." Jemma tells the team.

"What about the treatment we talked about?" Daisy questions.

We have something we think will work. It will just take some time to combine it with the Centipede serum." the scietist admits.

"Time we don't have." Daisy sighs.

"We're doing everything we can." Jemma tells her honestly.

"What about Talbot?" Mack questions, "You find a way to stop him? He's worse, too."

"Yeah, we think so. Unfortunatley, it's not a cure. It's more..." Fitz sighs, "It's more terminal. If we can combine the Odium with another dose of the Centipede serum, it should be able to penetrate his cells." he explains.

"That's not possible." Daisy denies, earning a look of confusion from the scientists.

"Well, yeah, it's entirely possible. We ran a simulation-" Fitz goes to explain but is cut short.

"No, it's not possible. There is no more Centipede serum. What I bought back, that's the last of it." Daisy reveals.

"So we either save Coulson..." May starts to say, in disbelief at their options.

"Or we save the world." Asta finishes for her, looking just as sad as everyone else felt.

_______________

The team had to decide what to do... and sadly no one was making an easy decision. "I know it's terrible. I can't bear to see him like that. But this? This is the moment." Yo-yo tries to argue.

"This is the exact circumstance that she warned herself about." Fitz points out.

"We're all aware." May replies.

"We can change it right now." Yo-yo tells them.

"The Odium mixture won't work if it can't penetrate Talbot's skin." Daisy brings up.

"Bullets can't get close to him. No one can touch him, not even you, Yo-yo." Jemma explains.

"There's no way to get the serum in his body." Daisy says.

"What if he absorbed someone?" Fitz suggests earning a look from Mack, "Oh, don't look at me like that. I-It's a hypothetical."

"Exactly. All we have to do is have it in the right hands, and that maniac will take the bait." Yo-yo agrees.

"Well, so who'd you have in mind, you?" Mack questions the inhuman.

"I don't know, maybe." Yo-yo replies.

"Now you want to sacrifice yourself, too?" he asks her.

"No, but I'm willing to. We all should be." Yo-yo argues.

"We know Coulson would." Jemma brings up.

"And if it doesn't work?" May questions them. "He would've died for nothing."

"If we save the world, he won't die for nothing." Asta argues.

"Beter than leaving this world in pieces." Yo-yo agrees.

"Robin said Coulson could put the pieces together. She thinks that he's the key to solving all of this." Daisy fights back.

"She speaks in broken riddles. You're hearing what you want to hear." Yo-yo argues with her.

"What could Coulson do?" Fitz questions.

"He would never give up on Talbot, and he wouldn't see him as a maniac. He would see him as a man, as a broken man. Coulson's the only one that can talk him though this. That's what he does." Daisy explains.

"Put him back together." May says.

"I'm sorry. We save lives. I have to make this call." Daisy says, walking over to the table that had the Cetipede serum on it. "Fitz-Simmons, get ready to-" but before she could grab it, it was gone. Daisy look up, "Yo-yo..."

Yo-yo holds the Cetipede in her grasp, "You're making me do this. I-I can't let you use it for that."

"Put it down." Mack tells her.

"Okay, Let's stay calm." Fitz tries to tell everyone.

"Stop making me tha bad guy. I'm not. You just don't want him to die." Yo-yo tries to argue.

"Put it down." Daisy calmly demands.

"I don't want him to die, either, but... he's just one man." Yo-yo tries to rationalize it.

Daisy begins to step forward, "No, no. None of that." Mack stops her. "Think about what you're doing here." he tries to say to the other inhuman.

"You won't listen. I'm in a nightmare, and I'm screaming at the top of my lungs, and none of you can hear me!" Yo-yo explains, tears gathering in her eyes.

"We hear you." Jemma tries to console.

"But you won't listen! You all saw waht happened, and none of you will help me stop this!" Yo-yo argues, "I'm alone, and even you- even you won't help me." she says to Mack.

"No, you're not alone. We're in this with you, but we need to hold it together." Mack tries to tell her.

"There's nothing holding us together." she argues.

"Yes there is." Mack fires back, "Hope. We never give up. We're always held together by hope. So we cling to it... and we vote." Mack tells the team. "We vote."

Glass shattering gains everyone's attention. In the back of the room, May had just thrown to the floor the Odium they needed to stop Talbot. "No. Why? No." Yo-yo asks, falling to her knees at the odium, and she crys.

May takes the Centipede from Yo-yo, who puts up no fight as the rest look on in shock. "I'm sorry." she says to her crying friend.

Asta sits down in shock and just holds her head from the headach she recieved. All this in fighting, for no option. "Simmons and I will prepare the remedy." Fitz says holding his hand out to May, who hands him the serum. "Everyone else should prepare for the end of the world."

Chapter Text

Heading to Chicago on the Zephyr was anxious for Asta. If they failed, this would be the end of the world, and yet if they succed, who knows what madness will follow once they break the loop.

"We're 10 minutes out!" Davis calls out to everyone.

"The buildings are holding for now." Mack updates, "And the tracker we placed on Robin is back online and it places her inside that ship. So taking out Talbot is one thing, but we got to clear the civilians and rescue Robin, too."

"Before the ship and the buildings collapse." May brings up as they look over the map.

"I can help with civillians. Give them cover from debris and direction to safety once we land." Asta says, earning a nod of approval from Mack.

"I-I'd like to get close and test the buildings' structural integrity." Fitz requests as he points to the building the ship was stuck in.

Daisy clears her throat after her and Yo-yo exchange some words, gaining everyone's attention. "I'm aware that we rolled the dice with Coulson, and I still believe that we need him for this, but I will admit taht I let my emotions get the best of me. I thought that Coulson was the only one who could keep us all on the same page. You would say that's proof that I can't do the job, that I shouldn't lead." She says before looking to the other inhuman, "Well, I agree. The truth is, I can't hold the team together. But he can." she reveals looking to Mack.

Mack uncrossed his arm slowly, not believing her words, "Coulson wants me to call the shots in his absence. Well, that's my decision. Mack should call the shots. He has the biggest heart. I mean, physically, but also, you know... You are out moral center. And, look, I never want to stop... being a soldier. He's a general we can all rally behind. Anyone who thinks I'm 100% right abobut this, raise your hand?" Daisy requests as she raises hers.

With no hesitance everyone else raises theirs as well, agreeing with her as Mack looks at all of them in disbelief. "Couldn't have said it better myself" Coulson says as he enters the room.

"Oh, thank god." Simmons says we she sees him standing.

"Sir, good to see you." Fit says in relief.

"Hold the applause. She didn't go through that for nothing." Coulson tells them as he walks over to Daisy's side so he was facing everyone. "Time to suit up." he says handing Daisy her gauntlets and chest plate.

Daisy smiles lightly and takes the items from him. "So, what do we do?" Coulson asks, now looking at Mack.

Mack looks at everyone once again, determination in his eyes, "We save lives."

______________

"Officers on the ground, fire responders, this is SHIELD. We're here to help." Mack starts to broadcasting to every phone within the desctruction zone, "We have an aircraft to evacuate any civilians trapped near the center of the city. You'll know it when you see it. Get them there. We have someone to help protect them from any additional debris that may come their way as they approach safety. We will clear the high floors of the impacted buildings before they collapse. And most importantly, do not engage the enemy. I repeat, do not engage the enemy. We will handle it." He announces before they land.

As the hanger opens many people could be seen running towards them. Asta wasted know time using her magic to float in the air down the street and focusing on creating her shield above them.

Yo-yo helped by rushing people who were injured into the ship to be helped as Simmons tended to those with deep wounds. May, Mack, and Fitz made their way towards the building that Robin's signal was coming from.

Some more debris fell from either Talbots carelessness gravity tossing as he searched for gravitonium or from the broken buildings that surrounded them. Asta stayed floating in the air, as if sitting on nothing with her eyes closed as she focused on the shield, extending it over the Zephyr once Davis left on the smaller ship with Daisy and Coulson to get closer to Talbot.

Everything was good, until they could hear the impacts being made between Talbot and Daisy from the distance. It was normal Quake sounds as Davis arrived again, until one blow shook everything around them so hard it made everyone stop and look around in fear. Asta looked out into the distance with fear. Were they to late?

A faint whisper that she barely heard made her turn her head towards a building. 'Asta'. It was the building the rest of the team had entered. Closing her eyes, she mutters a spell... A spell she knew was proabably a bad idea but it was an innocent spell she had read in the Darkhold before teleporting to the team. Her shield still in the sky protecting those running.

__________________

Teleporting at the debris filled room she spot May and Mack pulling at the rocks and metal that was a debris pile. It wasn't until she saw a hand reaching out of the debris that she realized that Fitz wasn't in the room. "What happened?" She questions as she rushes over to them helping them pull off more debris showing Fitz.

"When the building shook it all fell on him." May replies quickly as they continue.

"Hang on, buddy. You had me worried. We got you. Just hang in there." Mack reasures the scientist as they continue to move fast to free him. "I got you buddy."

"Hope you saved some energy, 'cause my leg's pinned. I think it's broke." Fitz tells them, his voice waviering as his hands shake from the pain and adrenalin. He chuckles lightly, "You're gonna have to carry me out."

They remove a large chunk of debris that was ontop of him. "I'll lift you with magic if we have to Fitz." the princess says with a sigh before looking to him. But the sight made Asta freeze as Fitz closes his eyes in pain.

"Got you, Turbo." Mack says before turning to his friend his face dropping lightly as the sight. May's doing the same.

"I think it's a bad break, 'cause I can't feel it." Fitz says as he places his hands on his eyes, still shaking, groaning.

The three were stuck looking at the large chuck of metal that was stuck in his abdomin, blood already spilling out. They look at one another, unsure of what to do. He already had broken bones, adding a large open wound like that, they were lost.

Putting on a brave face, Asta kneeled down on his right and Mack followed her lead on his left. "Hey, just relax. We're right here okay." she tells him softly, as he looks at her as if just realizing she was here.

"You came..." he whispers, letting out another airy chuckle.

"You called." she jokes, making him crack a smile before letting out a groan of pain.

"Hey, buddy. You just breathe." Mack says causing Fitz to look to him.

"Huh? Yeah." he replies, Mack quickly grasping one of his hands.

Fitz reaches over and does the same with Asta, looking around, his arms still shaking. "We're gonna stay with you." Asta tells her friend, earning a nod.

"Yeah." Fitz replies looking between the three.

"We're gonna find a way out of this." Mack reasures him.

"Yeah, okay, okay." Fitz replies quickly leaning his head back on the rock with a sigh, before looking back up at them again. "Right. We should hurry up and... get Polly out, 'cause she's in danger." he tells them.

"She's safe now." May tells him softly.

"Hey, you got her out. You did good, Turbo." Mack tells him.

"Okay." Fitz says in relief, his breath still shaky.

"Fitz, you wanna see a magic trick." she whispers, gaining his attention. He only nods. Slowly her hand grasping his glows.

"O-oh wow." he whispers. "That, that feels better." he tells her, his eyes staying on the glowing magic.

"Does it?" She asks, holding back tears, as her hand she hid behind her back begins to shake from his pain.

He lets out a shaky sigh, "Yeah." he says softly, leaning back on the rock again, closing his eyes. His breathing stops for a moment, making her slowly stop her magic as she stares at him, holding her own breath.

Then Fitz gasps awake again, and looks to Mack. "Hey, Mack... I think my legs are broken." he whispers.

"You've been- You've been through worse." Mack whispers back. Fitz barely nods before leaning back on the rock, closing his eyes before letting out another shaky breath before his grip on both their arms go limp.

Asta just stares at him in disbelief. Fitz is dead. He died infront of her, and she couldn't protect him.

_________________

They save the world.

But at the cost of someone she holds dear.

First it was her Mother.

Then it was Loki.

And now, it was Fitz.

And once more, with Coulson.

Asta was sat staring at the walls of the lighthouse. She had cried all the tears she possibly could. All they could do now, was celebrate life in the present.

"Come on." Coulson broke the silence that filled the room. No one had said a word as they were waiting for Jemma. "This is a celebration, not a funeral." he reminds the silent team.

Walking down the steps was Jemma, silently she joins them as May finishes passing around the drinks, the final one being given to the scientist herself. "Remember how good it felt to walk in here when we first got back?" Mack brings up as he looks around the Zephyr. "The Zephyr has... been the one place we've been able to call home these last few years."

"I'll always miss the Bus." Daisy says.

"Me, too." May agrees.

"I wish I would've known you guys back then." Yo-yo tells them.

"We were diffrent people back then." Jemma tells her.

Coulson takes a breath, "I spent a lot of years..." he pauses as he gets choked up, "Sorry... I've lived a life surrounded by heros." he says looking at Asta, "None bigger than all of you." he jokes, making some of them crack a smile. "Since the day you've joined, same as anyone in the line of duty. Heroes... because you- because we sign up to lose each other." he says, making many of them shed a tear.

"To get close to good people and have them taken away. We've all sufferend losses. Never lose sight of that." he tells them.

"I never forget those we've lost." Daisy says.

"That's right." May agrees.

Mack nods, "Yeah. That's why we're putting that badge up in the cockpit. To never forget."

"You don't have to forget. But you have to move on." Coulson says.

"No." Jemma says, shaking her head. "With respect, sir, you're wrong. We don't move on. We hold that place in out heart, we close it off, we lock the door, we visit from time to time, but we don't move on. Even after we say goodbye."

"I'm just sad I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Fitz." Coulson tells her with a solemn expression. "But you'll tell him for me."

"Of course." Jemma replies as more tears fall, "He'll be sad he missed this little memorial." she says as she wipes her face.

"Hey. I'm not dead yet." Coulson reminds her.

"Sorry. Retirement party." Jemma correct herself.

"I'm not sure this even qualifies as a party. Nobody's drinking yet." Coulson jokes.

Jemma pulls something out of her pocket, "I want you to have this." she says handing him a post card. "A picture of our new home away from home. And to remind you that... your team will always work the problem not matter what the odds." she tells him.

Coulson looks at the postcard that has the lighthouse on it, on the back were the words, 'Working on it -Fitz' written on it. "And now he's frozen out in deep space somewhere, no idea he's already solved it." he says as he looks amused.

"He'll be a little disoriented. But he'll be so happy to know that time is not fixed. It's a fluid, ever-changing, beautiful thing. And he didn't miss much, did he?" Jemma says.

"I have not a single doubt you will find him." Coulson reasures her.

"None of us do." Jemma says as she looks back at the others, evryone but Asta was looking at her in agreement. Asta just wipes her tears as she stares at her drink. Jemma sighs before turning back to Coulson and giving him a hug.

"All right, " Coulson starts after they've seperated, "Here's to us..." he raises his glass, everyone looks at him and follows. "who's like us... damn few." he toasts before drinking the alcohol. Everyones does the same.

________________

Sitting outside looking up at the stars alone once they returned to the lighthouse was how the Asgardian princess was spending her night, Asta was surprised when Jemma took a seat next to her.

"You're allowed to cry you know?" Jemma whispers as she looks up at the sky.

Asta sighs, "I feel like I have nothing left to cry." she says, looking to her friend.

"Asta, he died in your arms. I know that you're hurting. Please, don't act like this didn't affect you." Jemma tells her softly, looking back at her.

Tears gather in the blonde's eyes, "I've had so many people die in my arms Jemma..." she admits taking in a shaky breath. "And I can never help them. I- I tried with Fitz but-" she chokes up, a sob getting caught in her throat as tears begin to fall.

"Oh Asta." Jemma whispers, pulling in the princess for a hug. "There was nothing you could have done. This isn't your fault." she reasures her. But tears continued to fall. "Hey... shh... Hey." she says softly, making the princess pull away, sniffling. "Tell me about your favorite star." she says, wanting to cheer up her friend.

"My favorite star?" she questions, and Jemma just nods. Asta wipes her eyes, looking back up at the sky again. "That one there." she says, pointing to the sky. To anyone else, they probably wouldn't know what star or even constilation she was talking about.

But this was the brilliant Jemma Simmons we're talking about. "Oh the Alya." the scientists sighs with delight. "It shines brilliantly."

"That's my favorite star to see when I'm here on Earth." Asta says, her tears no longer falling as she sniffles again.

"What about when your home? On Asgard?" Jemma asks, curious on her answer as she looks at her again.

Asta sighs, a small smile on her face. "I don't know... We never named them. It was just the cosmos with swirls of colors to look at. But here, you've named everything despite not being able to reach them yet."

"When I get Fitz, we will reach them." Jemma tells her, making her smile.

"That sounds lovely."

"Are you sure you don't wish to join us to get him back? I know he would be delighted to see you, seeing as for him, we wouldn't have had all this understanding between us three." The scientist tries to convince.

Asta gives her a smile, "I don't think I can bare going through all that again. I've accepted and honestly," she pauses to sigh, " just want to move forward. You and him will always be in my heart but as my best friends. Besides, he has you there to help him, he doesn't need me." she tells her, lightly nudging her friend.

Jemma goes to reply but something else has taken her attention. 'Asta!' A voice booms for only her to hear. It was Thor. And he didn't sound pleased. The princess looks to her friend eyes a bit wide, "I'm sorry, but I have to leave." she says standing up quickly.

Her friend quick to follow. "Why? Whats wrong?"

"Thor's calling for me. And he doesn't sound all to happy." Asta sighs. "Tell the others why I've gone. I'm sorry, I won't be here when you get Fitz back it seems." she hugs Jemma, who holds her back just as tightly. "Be safe."

"You aswell. See you soon." Jemma replies with a smile once they let go.

Asta nods with a sad smile, before disapearing into a portal.

Chapter Text

"Where's Odin?" Thor questions Loki, anger clear on his face.

"You just couldn't stay away, could you? Everything was fine without you. Asgard was prospering. You've ruined everyrthing. Ask them." Loki replies, gesturing to the Asgardians around them.

Thor walks closer to Loki, making his brother back up quickly, trapping himself on the large chair. The blonde prince was very angry with his brothers answer, just wanting a straight answer from his supposed 'dead' brother. "If you won't answer me. Then you will answer her." he threatens making Loki pale, and before he could protest, "Asta!" Thor shouts as he glares.

Loki looked around in somewhat of a panic, he never intended for Asta to find out like this. Eventually yes, it was impossible to keep this lie up especially when she would be the future for Asgard, but THIS! He had to prepare for whatever look of saddness or anger he was about to receive from his sister.

A portal appeared infront of the abandonded stage infront of the brothers and out stepped a tired, sad, and a bit bruised looking Asta. "Thor, whats the matter? You sounded a bit crossed and a-" she stops mid setence and step as she stares at the two with wide eyes. "What socerery is this?" she questions her eyes darting between the two, before settling on Thor.

"No socerery. I assure you, he is very real. Now, tell our sister what you've done with our father?" Thor demands, his eyes never leaving his brothers figure while Loki looks at his sister with guilt.

"What do you mean wheres our father? Is he not on Asgard?" The princess questions as she hestiantly walks over to the two.

"Loki here, has been impersonaiting Odin. Rulling over Asgard in our sted." Thor informs his younger sister, finally looking at her, taken in how sad she looked.

Asta looks at Loki in almost disbelief at what she was hearing. "Where is our father Loki?" she questions, he hesitates to answer. "And don't you dare lie to me." she snaps at him.

Loki sighs, "Okay. Okay. I know exactly where he is."

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

The three now stood on Midgard, dressed in midgardian fashion looking over a building that is currently being demolished. Thor and Asta look to their left to stare at Loki. "I swear, I left him right here." he tells the two as he glances at them then the rubble.

"Right here on the sidewalk? Or right there, where the building is being demolished? Great planning." Thor tells his brother.

"You left him in a nursing home? Really?" Asta questions, unimpressed by his plan.

"How was I suppose to know?" Loki says gesturing to the rubble. "Can't see into the future. I'm not a witch." he defends himself.

"Then why do you dress like one?" Thor asks.

"Hey." Loki says annoyed looking down at his black on black suit.

"I can't believe your alive." Thor starts turning to face Loki. "We saw you die. I mourned you. I cried for you."

Loki looks at him, "I'm honored." he replies, seeming unsure how to reply to that.

It was then that a couple girls approched Thor. "Hi. Would you mind taking a picture with us?" one of the two girls asks.

"Sure." he replies to them, before looking over at Loki. "Start figuring out where he is." he says before smiling for the picture.

Asta rolls her eyes before looking at Loki, "Do you have any idea of where he might have gone?"

"He's been around midgard longer then we have. He could be anywhere." he replies, as they watch the girls walk away from their brother.

Thor looks at the ground confused, "What's this, what are you doing?!"

The two look down and see magic sparks cirlcing around Loki's feet. "This isn't me." Loki says before a portal opens and he falls through and it disapears. Only a small card in it's place. "Loki?" Thor questions, poking the card.

Asta sighs, "It's just a card." she tells him before picking it up and seeing an address.

"Let me see." Thor goes to grab it, leaning forward, "An Address?"

"Lets go find him." she tells her brother, leading the way to 177A Bleecker Street.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

As the two walk up the door, Thor knocks and suddenly the two are transported inside all of a sudden. "Thor Odinson. Asta Odindottir." A voice says making the two look around confused and on defense. "God of Thunder. Goddess of Protection and Growth." Thor holds up his umbrella unsure as they still have yet to see the person speaking. Asta holds her hands up with magic around them ready to fight. "You can put down the umbrella and the magic." a man says floats up to them

"So earth has wizards now?" Thor questions.

"They've always had magic users, you just don't study." Asta tells her brother.

Strange nods, "The preferred term is 'Master of the Mystic Arts.'" he informs them.

"Alright wizard, who are you? Why should we care?" Thor asks, still confused.

"My name is Doctor Stephen Strange and I have some questions for you two. Take a seat." he says, suddenly making the three of them sitting in chairs, suddenly in a different room. "Tea?" he offers them.

"Yes please." Asta replies, suddenly intrigued by this new magic user.

"I don't drink tea." Thor says.

A cup of tea appears in Asta's hands, "What do you drink?" he asks the god of thunder.

"Not tea." Thor says. Strange thinks for a moment before having a large thing of beer appear in Thor's hand. Thor begins to drink it, and it refills magically.

"So I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from the other realms that may be a threat to this world. Your adopted brother Loki is one of these beings." Strange explains to them.

Thor shrugs, "He's a worthy inclusion."

"Then why bring him here?" Strange questions.

"We're looking for our father." Asta explains.

"So, if I were to tell you where Odin was, all parties concerned would promptly return to Asgard?" The wizard asks the two, leaning forward slightly.

"Exactly." Asta agrees.

"Promptly." Thor repeats.

"Great. Then I'll help you two." Strange says leaning back in his seat.

Thor stares at the man, "If you knew where he was, why didn't you call me?" he says with wide eyes.

"I have to tell you, he was adamant that he not be disturbed. Your father said he had chosen to remain in exile." he explains before shrugging, "And you don't have a phone."

"No, I don't have a phone, but you could have sent an electronic letter. It's called an email." Thor argues.

Strange raises an eyebrow, "Yeah, do you have a computer?"

"No. What for?" THor questions, making his sister sigh.

"Anyway," Asta starts, looking back to the wizard, "our father is no longer in exile. So if you could tell me where he is, we can take him home." she says,

He nods, "Gladly. He's in Norway." Strange stands, and the two follow him as he goes over two a bookcase and he begins to flip thorugh an ancient looking book. "I'm just seeing whether this incantation requires any Asgardian modifications." Thor leans on the book case causing it to shake a bit, "Nope."

Strange uses magic and moves them back to the front of the building they entered. He pauses before looking towards the blonde girl, eyes narrowing on her hands. "Now that's odd." he says before approaching her and grabbing one of her hands, seeing her nails a dark shade in color, currupted by magic. "You are messing with some dangerous magic." he whispers to her.

Asta's eyes widen slightly, "I'm handling it." she tells him just as quietly.

"Good, wouldn't want to put you on my list as well." he tells her with a nod before backing away from her.

Strange does a few things with his magic making Thor a bit annoyed until finally a portal opens showing them a meadow on the other side. "We could have just walked." Thor says with arms crossed.

"He's waiting for you." Strange tells him, ignoring his complaints.

Thor nods, "All right." making his way to the portal.

"Don't forget your umbrella." Strange reminds him, making Thor sigh and grab his umbrella.

"Yes."

"I think we'd like our brother back as well." Asta tells the doctor as she hasn't moved towards the portal.

"Yeah, right." Strange says, moving his hand and another portal opens from above.

Soon after Loki falls out of the portal and lands on the floor, hard. "I have been falling.... FOR THIRTY MINUTES!" he shouts in anger and annoyance before standing.

"You two can handle him from here." Strange tells the blondes.

"Yes of course." Thor nods before shaking the wizards hand, "Thank you very much for your help."

"Good luck." he tells them, as he eyes an angry Loki.

Loki glares at the man, "Handle me? Who are you?"

Asta sighs, "Loki." she says as he has his daggers appear.

"You think you're some kind of sorcerer? Don't think for one minute, you second- rate-" Loki's rambles were cut short.

"Bye-bye." Strange says, moving his hand and the portal to the meadow towards the trio, transporting them to a landscape near the ocean, in Norway.

Chapter Text

"Father?" Thor says as he sees a figure sat by the cliff side overlooking the water.

Asta wastes no time rushing over to her father and hugging him, earning a chuckle from the older god. "I've missed you too sweet girl."

"If I had known-" she tries to speak but he shakes his head as she sits next to him, the other two walking up to them Thor stood on Odins other side and Loki on Asta's side.

"It's alright." Odin says before looking back at the ocean. "Look at this place. It's beautiful."

Thor swallows a lump in his throat, "Father... it's us."

Odin smiles, "My sons and daughter. I've been waiting for you."

"I know. We've come to take you home." Thor tells him.

"Home, yes." Odin nods, "Your mother, she calls me. Do you hear it?"

Thor looks at Loki making Loki raise his hands in defense, "Loki lift your magic." he tells his brother.

"Took me quite a while to break free from your spell. Frigga would have been proud." Odin says before gesturing for the two boys to join him and his daughter, "Come and sit with me. I don't have much time."

The two listen, as Asta grabs his hand, her magic having her feel just how weak has become. "I know that we failed you, but we can make this right." Thor tells him.

Odin shakes his head, "I failed you... It is upon us... Ragnarok." he warns them.

Thor shakes his head, "No, I've stopped Ragnarok. I put an end to Surtur."

"No. It has already begun. She's coming. My life was all that held her back, but my time has come. I cannot keep her away any longer." Odin tells them ominously.

"Father, who are you talking about?" Thor questions.

"The Goddess of Death. Hela. My first born... Your sister." Odin admits, making everyones eyes go wide. He looks to his other daughter, "I'm sorry, I spent so much time preparing to send you away, I didn't prepare you for this. She's coming for you, my sweet girl."

"W-what are you talking about father?" Asta asks, a shiver going down her spine.

He cups her cheek, "She will see you as a threat. You are strong, Asta. She has a violent appetite. It grew beyond my contol. I couldn't stop her, so I imprisoned her. Locked her away. She draws her strength from Asgard. But you don't Asta, your magic is from the universe itself. She'll sense that, and once she gets to Asgard, her powers will be limitless. She will want more, and she will try to take it from you. You are her blood, and she will want your magic as her own." he warns her, saddness in his eyes as he looks over his youngest.

"Whatever she is, we can stop her. We will protect Asta, and we can face her together." Thor tells him with a look of determinations.

Odin looks to his son, grabbing his hand, "No we won't. I'm on a different path now. This you must face alone." he tells him. He looks back as Asta who now has tears in her eyes, "I love you, my daughter." Odin then takes in a shakey breath, "I love you my sons."

Odin looks out at the horizon, a small smile of peace on his face, "Look at that. Remember this place. Home." he tells them before a warm glow over takes his body and he begins to fade into stardust as he dies, floating away.

Loki pulls Asta to his side as she covers her mouth to prevent a sob from coming out. But the moment to grieve was short lived as the sky began to darken and the wind picked up. "Brother." Loki says as he looks at the sky.

Thor glares at Loki, "This was your doing."

Asta wipes the tears from her face, "Now is not the time, magic is fading. She's coming." she tells them and they stand.

"You stay behind us." Loki tells her, and reluctantly she nods.

Thor slams the umbrella down, changing into his asgardian armor, now holding Mjolnir. Loki and Asta follow, using their magic to change. Loki with his daggers and Asta wielding her sword.

A scream pierces through the air as a portal appears and a figure walks out. A tall woman stands across from the trio, looking around as the portal fades away. "So he's gone? That's a shame. I would've liked to have seen that." Hela says unbothered as she looks at them.

"You must be Hela. I'm Thor, son of Odin." he starts, making no move towards her.

She stares at him, "Really, you don't look like him." Hela tells him.

"Perhaps we can reach an arrangment." Loki tries to negotiate.

"You sound like him." Hela tells Loki boredly.

Hela then locks eyes on the blonde girl, "You, you glare like him." she glowers at the younger goddess, making the two brothers block her sight of the girl. "Kneel." she demands of them.

Loki raises an eyebrow, "Beg your pardon?"

"Kneel... before your Queen." Hela tells them.

"I don't think so." Asta finally speaks up before Thor throws Mjolnir at her.

As the hammer makes impact, nothing happens as she catches the hammer. Mjolnir tremples within Hela's grasp as Thor tries to recall it. "It's not possible." Thor says in shock as he tries to get his hammer back.

Hela smirks, "Darling, you have no idea what's possible." she says before crushing the hammer, shattering Mjolnir into pieces. A blast came from the distruction causing the three to brace before being knocked down.

Asta watches in shock as Hela uses her magic to make her head piece appear, making her truly look like the goddess of death. Loki was quick to get up, "Bring us back!" Loki shouts in a panic.

"No!!" Thor shouts at his brother getting up quickly as Hela begins to charge at the three.

Suddenly the Bi-frost opens, taking them of them in it. Asta was still on the ground when they were all zapped up, "Portal there, warn them!" Loki shouts to the girl.

With a nod, she does just that. Stumbling as she enters the castle courtyard. "Guards!" she shouts getting everyone's attention. "Danger is coming prepare to fight or flee! We do not have time!" she instructs and everyone wastes no time to listen to her.

"Princess, what shall we do?" Fandral asks and he rushes to her.

"You and Volstagg go to the Bi-frost controls, remove Skurge, take over. If Thor or Loki are not the ones who return, fight." she tells him.

Fandral nods, "On it." he replies before shouting for his fellow warrior to follow.

The guards prepare by the gates as the bi-frost closes. "Hogun, you lead them. I'm going to look for spells to hold her off." Asta instruct the last Warrior three.

"Right away princess." he nods before they split up.

Asta rushes to her fathers study. "Oh please tell you kept the spell." she says as she begins to look through papers and books.

"I am Hela, Odin's fisrt born, Commander of the legions of Asgard, the rightful heir to the throne and the Goddess of Death." Hela's voice booms through the courtyard making Asta pause. She quickly goes to the window, careful to not be seen as she spots Hela at the gate with Skurge behind her. "My father is dead. As are the princes. You're welcome."

"If they are gone, then Asta is Queen! Not you!" a guard from the crowd shouts, causing many to shout in agreement.

Hela glares, "We were once the seat of absolute power in the Cosmos. Our supremact was unchallenged, yet Odin stopped at Nine Realms. Our destiny is to rule over all others. And I am here to restore that power. Kneel before me and rise into the ranks of my great conquest." she offers them.

The guards shift into attack formation, "Whoever you are, whatever you've done, surrender now in the name of Queen Asta! Or we will show you no mercy." Hogun shouts.

"Whoever I am? Did you not listen to a word I said?" Hela questions, offended.

"This is your last warning!" Hogun tells her.

"I thought you'd be happy to see me." Hela says to them.

Asta shakes her head before turning back to the study. "Use magic to find magic." she whisper to herself, quick sitting on the ground and focusing on what she was looking for. She levitates as she blocks out the sounds of battle as books and papers around her also begin to float.

Her blue magic swirls through the air, dropping spells that were not what she was looking for. She needed to find the imprisoning spell Odin had used on Hela all those years ago.

"Where are you princess?" the vemonous voice of Hela hisses causing Asta's eyes to open and look towards the door. "I can sense your magic, little sister."

Asta stands and drops everything. Panic in her eyes as she thinks of a way out of this, a place to go. She didn't have much time to think as the doors slam open.

Hela looks around the empty room, an amused glint in her eyes. "I know you're here." she taunts as she enters, Skurge standing gaurd at the door. To anyone else, it just looked like a messy study, books and scrolls scattered about. But Hela could feel the magic in the room.

The blonde goddess was holding her breath as she held up the illusion in front of her, making it seem like she was not here as she stood in the furthest corner, watches as Hela slinked around the office.

"You think you can hide from me, but there's no point. Our brothers are dead. I am the eldest, I am now Queen. Anyone who was on your side has betrayed you or died. What fate do you wish to have, sister?" Hela tells the girl, looking around before her eyes stop in the place Asta was hiding, "Very good, but you need more practice." she says before using her own magic to break the illusion revealing Asta.

Before Asta can open a portal, she was in a magic choke hold getting dragged over to Hela. "Shall I show you what daddy was hiding?" she says to the younger goddess, releasing her from the magic before grabbing her upper arm and forcing her to follow down to the throne room, a stunned Skurge in tow.

"Does no one remember me?" Hela says as they enter the room, looking up an the painted ceilings glaring at the different scene painted upon it. "Has no one been taught our history? Look at these lies. Goblets and garden parties? Peace treaties?" she scoffs before looking at Asta, "Odin... proud to have it... ashamed of how he got it." he tells her as she uses her magic to create green chains around the blondes wrists preventing her from using her own magic to escpae and being tossed to Skurge who holds her still.

Hela looks back up and sends spikes into the ceiling, cracking and breaking it causing pieces to fall revealing what was hidden behind it. Paintings of battles and bloodshed, Odin and Hela in the middle as slaves seem to be building the very palace they were stood in. "No." Asta whispers in shock and horror.

The Goddess of Death gives her a sinister smile, "We were unstoppable. I was his weapon in the conquest that built Asgard's empire. One by one, the realms became ours. But then, simply because my ambition outgrew his... he banished me, caged me, locked me away like an animal. Before that, Asgard's warriors were honored, their bodies buried as heroes beneath this very place."

They make their way past the throne towards the vault causing Skurge to look around amazed as he and Asta follow Hela. "Odin's treasures." he says in awe.

"Most of the stuff in here is fake, or weak." Hela informs him as they pass by many things, she looks at the most recent thing in the collection, Surtur's skull, "Smaller than I thought it would be." she comments as they get closer to the end, pausing at the tesseract making the blonde tense. "That's not bad." she says almost impressed, "But this..." he eyes shift to the next item, "The eternal flame."

The flame sat in it's chalice, burning and flickering. Hela wastes no time sticking a hand into it and pulling out a green fire, before making her way to the end of the hall where a circular rune was etched into the foor. She breaks the floor with ease, "Want to see what true power looks like?"

Chapter Text

Asta watches as Hela jumps into the hole that she made with the green flame in hand. She thinks back to when she was young and asked her father what the runes where for, and he only ever would respond with, 'For your protection'. Now, she understood how true his words were as she watches Hela return with a giant wolf and undead army following behind her.

"Now," Hela says, grabbing her away from Skurge, "we need to figure out what to do with you, sister."

They return to the throne room, Hela forcing Asta to kneel as she takes a seat on the throne. "I get my power from Asgard, a gift from our father that can not be altered, but you... your gift is different, I can sense the cosmos flowing through your veins." she says making the blonde look as her confused. Hela scowls, "You don't even know. She doesn't even know!" she shouts in anger, leaning forward in the seat getting right in her face, "You don't even understand the amount of power you can channel. The universes you can conquer!"

"I don't want to conquer anything!" Asta shouts back.

Hela tilts her head, "That... That is your mother speaking. You can rule by my side if you want. I am after all, the only family you have left." she offers.

"You will never share the crown, you are to selfish for that." the blonde response.

Hela leans back, "That's to bad. This could of been so much easier." she says a bit disapointed before flicking her fingers up causing the blonde scream in surprise as she now is sent into the air, floating up before Hela; her hands now spread apart and her head looking up at the painting of death on the cieling. "Guess I'll just gave to take your magic." she says standing. She was about to start another spell but pauses, hearing something. "What is that noise?"

Skurge looks away from the blonde princess to look at the other goddess, "The common folk aren't exactly falling in line. There's a resistance trying to knock down the front gates." he explains.

Hela sighs, puting her spell on pause as she sends her troops to deal with the issue, thinking about her plans knowing killing her sister can wait, "Tell me about yourself, Skurge."

"Well, me dad was a stonemason, me mum was-" Skurge was cut short of his explanation.

"I'll just stop you there. What I meant was what is your ambition?" Hela clarifies.

"I just want a chance to prove myself." Skurge says simply.

"Recognition." Hela muses, "When I was young every great King had an executioner. Not just to execute people, but also to execute their vision. But mainly to execute people. Still a great honor." she explains, "I was Odin's executioner." Hela stands walking to Skurge, creating a double-sided obsidian axe and offering it to the man. " And you will be my executioner. Let's begin our conquest."

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Asta couldn't move from where she was stuck, floating in the throne room. She knew what would happen when Hela felt like it, she was going to be sacrificed and her power will be take. It was an ancient ritual, one she knew very little of but, that did not change the fear she felt. "I'm sorry." she whisper, "I failed. I'm sorry." she cries softly, imagining her mother and father. "I'm sorry."

"Princess" a faint whisper causes her eyes to snap open, but she was no longer in the throne room, no she was outside in the woods on the outskirts of Asgard. "Princess." a voice says making her turn around to face Heimdall.

"You're alive." she says relieved.

"I cannot help you." he tells her softly, getting to the point.

"I understand. Help who you can." Asta replies, unbothered.

Heimdall wipes away her tear, "It is not your time to die. Your brothers will save you."

"She killed them, she's killed everyone." the blonde replies sadly.

"No, they're far but alive. I'm going to try and contact Thor, but you must try and fight." he advices her.

"But I am trapped." she tries to argue.

Heimdall shakes his head, "You are only trapped if you believe you are. The realm see's you as their Queen. Not Hela. Fight Asta. You must Fight!"

Asta's eyes snap open, seeing she is back in the throne room, alone. "I must fight." she tells herself, forcing herslef to counter the spell placed on her, groaning as she moves her arms before finally the pell snaps and she falls landing on the floor, bracing herself. "Fight till they get here." she whispers to herself, conjuring her sword again and begins to rush through the palace.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

She changed course, if her father didn't keep the spell, then her mother surely did. Hesitantly, she enters her mothers room. She looks around sadly, having not been here since she passed. Taking a deep breath, she gets to work. Charming the door, before closing her eyes and using her magic to shift through the spells and prophecies.

She blocks out the sound of fighting from the outskirts of the palace, she needs to find the spell to trap Hela, or a prophecy telling her how to defeat her. Her eyes snap open, "Ragnarok." she whispers, remembering her fathers words. "She draws her power from Asgard."

"Asta?" a faint whisper gains her attention.

"Thor." she says in relief before portalling to where he was in the throne room. The second she arrives she hugs him. "Don't ever do that again." she tells him.

"Me? You never do that again." her replies just as relieved that she was fine. "Are you okay?

"Aside from nearly being sacrificed but escaping, never better." she tells him.

"How did you get out." he asks her confused.

"Heimdall has a way with words." she explains vaguely.

Thor nods in understanding, "That he does. Now, we need to bring Hela here so that our people can escape." he tells her.

Asta looks around before getting an idea, "I know what you need." she portals away quickly and reappears with Gungnir in hand. "She wants to be Queen, what better way to get her attention then someone else on the throne."

Thor nods before gesturing to the throne, "Have at it."

"What? No, you're the eldest." Asta argues.

"But you're to sucessed, rememeber I gave this up." Thor tells her.

Asta sighs, looking at the staff. "Together." she tells him and he smiles.

"Together." he nods.

They both make their way to the throne, Thor sitting and Asta on one of the arms, both having a hold on Gungnir and they slam it on the ground. A loud gong noise echos through out Asgard. They do it again, and the doors open revealing Hela. "Sister." they both greet.

Hela gives the two a sinister smile. "You're still alive." she says to Thor, "And you got out." glaring at Asta.

"I love what you've done with the place. Redecorating I see." Thor converses.

"It seems our father's solution to every problem was to cover it up." Hela taunts.

"Or to cast it out." Thor counters, "He told you you were worthy. He said the same thing to me." he tells the older goddess.

"You see, you two never knew him, not at his best." Hela starts with a sigh, "Odin and I drowned entire civilizations in blood and tears. Where do you think all this gold came from? And then one day he decided to become a benevolent king." she explains anger in her eyes, "To foster peace, to prtoect life. To have you two."

"I understand why you're angry. And you are our sister, and technically have a claim to the throne. But the sucession has been decided. And it can't be you. You're just... the worst. Asta is to rule." Thor tells her.

Hela places her headdress back on, annoyance in her eyes. "Okay, get up. You're on my seat."

Thor stands and Asta follows, "Father would always tell us that a wise ruler never seeks out war." Asta tells her.

"But must always be ready for it." Hela finishes it before charging at the two.

Chapter Text

Thor blocks Hela's first attack with Gungnir and Asta blocks her next attack with her sword. Hela's eyes enrage, "They gave you the Dragonfang Sword!" she says with anger before they seperate, using her blades to slash at the princess but Thor blocks the attack again causing her to glare at him. "To be honest, I expected more." she taunts him as she quickly disarms him before sending him flying into a wall.

"Thor!" she shouts in concern.

"Asta, No!" Thor shouts and before she could react Hela had already sent one of her blades into the girls right leg causing her to scream in pain as she falls on her knees, dropping her sword.

Hela kicks the sword away from her, "I still need you, unfortunatly." she tells the wounded girl before taking her blade out of her thigh, causing the blonde to scream again. Hela makes her way to Thor, pinning him to the wall, "Here's the difference between us. I'm Odin's first born, the rightful heir, the savior of Asgard. And you're nothing." she tells him, "She is my pawn, for my victory." she taunts.

She goes to get him with a slash, but he was fast to move out of the way. He goes to headbutt her, but nothing happened. She does the same to him and it makes him groan. "So simple. Even a blind man could see it." she tells him before clawing out one of his eyes. "Now you remind me of Dad." she tells him.

Hela grabs Thor and Asta and drags them to the balcony. "You see? No one's going anywhere. I'll get that sword even if I have to kill every single one of them to do it." she tells them as they watch the battle.

But in the fog of battle, another ship appears, and on that ship was Loki with back up. Thor and Asta smile at this. "That little shit." Hela swears before letting go of Asta gripping at Thor to address him better. "A valiant effort, but you never stood a chance. You see? I'm not a queen, or a monster. I'm the Goddess of Death. What are you the God of again?" she questions before stabbing him with two blades in his chest causing him to yell out.

Asta looks at her brother in shock as he rolls his head to look at the sky, his hand twitches and she notices the sparks of electricity and her eyes widen before she places a shield around herself as his fist closes and more electricity forms.

Suddenly thunder and lighting strike Thor and Hela in a big blast. The power was strong, sending Hela unconscious to the streets of Asgard. While Thor, unscathed, holding an untouched by his power yet injured Asta, lands on the rainbow bridge. Electricity pulsing through his body and illuminating his one eye. "Woah." she whispers causing him to give her a smile.

"You need to get to that ship. I'll hold them off for you." he tells her, slowly letting her get back to her feet.

"But my leg, I won't be fast." she warns him.

"Little sister, you've been through worse. I doubt this battle will affect you, fast or slow." he tells her.

She nods, "You come back to me brother." she tells him seriously.

"I always do, don't I?" he teases before turning for her to go.

With a limp she begins her slow run towards the ship and the other Asgardians. Loki spots her and rushes over to her quick to pull her into a hug. "What the bloody hell are you doing?" he questions looking her over in concern seeing the bruises on her neck, wrists and the bleeding wound on her thigh.

"You came with a rescue ship, what do you think I'm doing." she counters as she blasts a troop away from them as they chat.

Loki sighs, "No, I mean what are you doing fighting, alone. You're injured." he says to her.

"Really? I haven't noticed?" she tells him.

"Midgards made you sarcastic." he comments.

"And the throne's made you lazy." she argues, blasting a warrior coming at Loki from behind, giving him a look.

"Thank you." he tells her, earning a smile from her despite her pain.

"Anytime, now help me to the ship." she requests and he nods, escorting and defending her as they get to the ship. Loki helps her up while Asgardians help pull her up. "You and the others better get on!" she shouts to him as he walks away.

"And leave you alone? Wouldn't dream of it!" he shouts back before going back to fighting.

"Your majesty, you're injured." An Asgardian woman says with worry.

"Do we have any healers?" someone else calls out.

"Yes! Two." someone else replies.

The healers make their way to the princess, "Sit princess. We will do our best." one of them says.

"Thank you." she tells them before looking out and seeing those still fighting.

In the distance she sees Hela, slowly making her way to her brothers. "I didn't tell them." she mutters to herself before turning to the healers. "Can you bandage it best you can. I need to get back out there."

"But princess-" one of them tries to argue.

"Please." Asta says in desperation.

The two healers look at each other for a moment before nodding and bandaging the wound. "Be careful your majesty."

Asta nods, and stands. The people get out of her way as she uses her magic to float over to them, though a bit tired she makes it back on the rainbow bridge. "I know how to stop her." she says making Thor, Loki, and Valkyrie turn around to look at her.

"What are you doing here? I told you to get on the ship." Thor scolds her.

"I put you on the ship, what are you thinking?" Loki adds on.

"Are you two done? I know how to stop her." Asta tells them.

"What do you have, cause we have nothing." Valkyrie says, willing to listen to her.

"Asgard is the place she draws her power. Father told us how to stop her, we just weren't listening. Ragnarok!" she tells them making Thor realise something.

"Asgard's not a place, it's a people. He wasn't telling us to stop Ragnarok, he was telling us to cause it!" Thor says understading now. He looks to Loki, "Go to the vault. Surtur's crown. It's the only way."

"Bold move, sister. Even for me." Loki tells them impressed. "You, back to the ship." he tells his sister before rushing off to enact the plan.

"Go Asta, if this doesn't go to plan, they will still need a leader." Thor tells her.

"But-" she gets cut off by Thor kissing her forehead.

"Go." he tells her and reluctantly she listens and goes back to the ship.

Chapter Text

Asta watches as Thor, and Valkyrie continue to fight as the last of the civilians get on the ship. Thor looks back as Heimdall gets on before nodding to him and Asta, "Go! GO NOW!" he shouts to them.

Heimdall listens as Asta watches as Hela throw a spear at Thor, hitting him. Hela looks to the ship and uses her magic to stop it from going anywhere, allowing her troops to begin to make their way towards it.

Asta leans on the opening, using her magic to blast the troops that were getting close to getting on, but they were still stuck, Heimdall couldn't get them free. There were to many of them, and Asta was already pushing her limit.

A few get on, but gunfire causes them to drop dead. Skurge is wielding two M-16's and is ready to fight. "For Asgard." he says before rushing forward, firing his guns at the trops as he jumps off the ship to fight.

At this action allows the ship to get free and lift off, flying away from the danger. Asta sighs, sliding to sit on the floor in exhaustion as she watches as Surtur explodes through the palace, causing it to crumble around him. She shifts her attention to Hela right in time to see Valkyrie, welding her sword and drives it right through Hela's chest pinning the goddess to the bridge.

Thor was quick to direct his lighting at the sword and injuring Hela and causing the ground beneath her to break and for her to fall to the unders of Asgard.

Leaning back, Asta closes her eyes in relief and sadness. Her home is gone, but everyone is safe from Hela's wrath. The ship shakes for a moment causing her to open her eyes to see the Hulk, Thor, and Valkyrie.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

With her wound now properly cleaned and dressed, Asta makes her way to meet with her brothers who were also assessing their own injuries. "Do we have to hug now?" she hears Loki say before she enters the room.

"I vote yes, but then again, I'm the one who enjoys hugs." she comments making them look at her.

"Should you be walking?" Loki asks in concern.

"Healers said I was fine as long as I am careful." she tells him with a nod.

"Then I think that means we get to hug." Thor tells them before grabbing the two of them in a group hug.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Standing in the main deck, Asta was overlooking the stars remembering the last time she was this close to space she wasn't as calm as she was now. The thought of the last mission caused a lump to form in her throat, 'Did Jemma find Fitz?' 'Are they okay?' 'Should she see them after this?' Her thoughts were cut short as the noise of people chatting went quiet.

Turning around she watches her brother enter the room, looking around the crowd. He nods to his sister who returns the nod as he walks through the crowd that parts for him. Some peole bowing, others giving him grateful nods. They decided that Thor was ready, at least for now, to rule. He wanted to give Asta more time to explore before she took over. It was a short arguement.

Asta watches as he approaches her, Loki, Hulk, Heimdall, and Valkyrie as they stood around the Captains Chair. "Your throne." Valkyrie presents.

Thor looks for a moment before sitting down. The four turn to face the crowd, the siblings on one side, the other three on the other. "So, King of Asgard." Heimdall starts, making the blonde man look at him, "Where to?"

"I'm not sure. Any suggestions?" Thor looks around, "Miek, what's your home planet?"

Korg stood a little ways away, holding Miek. "Oh, Miek's dead. I accidentally stepped on him on the bridge, I've just felt so guilty I've been caryying him around all day..." Korg stops explaining as Miek wiggles in his grasp, "Miek, you're alive! He's alive everyone!" he says in relief, "What was your question?"

Thor thinks for a moment, "Earth it is." he decides.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Do you really think it's a good idea to go back to Earth?" Loki questions his siblings after the ceramony ended, the three of them were over looking the window.

"Sure! They love me there." Thor replies, not thinking much of it.

Loki gives his sister a look. "Let me rephrase: Do you really think it's a good idea to bring me back to earth?" he asks.

Thor smiles, "Probably not. But don't worry, brother...I've got a feeling that everything's going to work out."

"Besides, I know people. And enough people know me. I'll make sure they don't lock you away." Asta jokes.

"That's reasuring." Loki replies with a joking eye roll.

"I'm serious though. I won't let them take you away from me. We've been a part for to long." Asta tells Loki a bit more seriously.

Loki wraps his arm over her shoulder, "To true sister. Together we shall work together, as an apology for lying to you."

"Oh, you have a lot to do to earn my forgivness brother." she jokes, sticking her tounge out at him.

"And I plan to do all I can." he replies, seriously.

"Loki, I'm not mad." she says earning a look from him. "Okay, I was slightly mad, but I'm over it. Just, just don't fake your death again... okay?"

"I swear I wont do it again."