I had no idea where I was going.

I had no idea who needed my help, if anyone even did. For all I knew, the fighting stopped already. Whoever came after Loki could be in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands right now and I wouldn't know it. But surely Fury would say something through the earpiece if that were true.

I let myself get lost in the injured Helicarrier until something looked familiar. I knocked out a few opponents during my exploration. They were merely humans, whether they were controlled by Loki or not. I didn't kill anyone, I merely rendered them unconscious. Unlike Loki, I didn't kill for fun. I didn't even kill; I didn't have the heart for it.

I eventually found myself wandering towards the detention level. He could be out right now and nobody would know. Feeling the urgency rise inside of me, I sprinted down the semi-familiar path. I nearly bowled over an agent in my haste that looked to be going the same way as me. I backtracked to see that Coulson and I had crossed paths.

"Detention level?" I asked.

"Yes. You're heading there as well?"

"Do you want an extra body?"

"It wouldn't hurt."

"Lead the way; I'll be right behind you."

As we started for Loki's prison, a curious question came to mind. "Coulson, should I even begin to ask what you have in your arms?"

"I don't even know what to call it, it's only a prototype."

"Lovely. Will it work?"

"Let's hope it does."

"If it doesn't, I'll be the backup weapon." I had a grim teasing tone to my voice.

Instead of finding the normal way in, I ended up at the other entrance, the one that didn't bring me directly in front of Loki's glass cage. The door looked to be open. Coulson and I occupied either side, I peeked in.

How could Thor have gotten here before me? Had I wandered around that long? How did he manage to take care of the Hulk? He couldn't have killed Banner. My theories on where the doctor was could be addressed later. The whereabouts of Banner wasn't what frightened me; it was what I saw before me.

Loki wasn't in his cage, Thor was. Loki was out, and he had a guard with him. My eyes narrowed, seeing that Thor had attempted to shatter the glass—there was a good sized crack. I could see Loki hovering near the control panel that would allow the cell to drop out of the Helicarrier. My jaw tensed.

"What does it look like in there?" Coulson whispered, shifting the heavy weapon in his arms.

"Loki has a guard with him. I'll take him out, you flank me."

With a go-ahead nod from Coulson, I stepped onto the scene lithely. I crept behind the guard, ready to knock him out. Coulson got to him first, conking him on the back of the head. The guard groaned before he hit the floor. So much for me dealing with him.

"Move away please," Coulson demanded.

I ignited my palms, ready for battle. Loki hesitated at the panel; his hand was close to sending Thor skydiving. Thor watched from the cage intently.

"You like this? We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does." The weapon purred as it powered up. "Do you want to find out?"

I didn't give Coulson another moment, I stalked towards Loki. I was halfway to him when a startled cry came from behind me. I spun around only to have my mouth drop in horror.

I watched helplessly as Coulson had the tip of Loki's scepter piercing through his chest. The blood greatly contrasted his white shirt, making the sight all more appalling. I couldn't even scream—the surprise took it right out of me.

"No!" Thor roared, hitting the glass.

I twitched, watching Coulson slump against a wall in slow motion. No...not Coulson. Not him. Oh Gods no.

I didn't even acknowledge Loki purposely knocking into my shoulder. I forgot about him and the fact that he was free and about to cause more mayhem. I ran to Coulson, knelt beside him, fretting, mumbling incoherent things under my breath.

My breath left me as the air picked up in the room. I trembled as I watched Thor and the glass cage disappear. Just as quickly as the air came, it stilled.

I took Coulson's face in my hands; his eyes already began to have a glazed look.

"No, no," I panicked. "Come on, come on. Focus on me, Coulson."

He only looked at me for a second before his gaze shifted elsewhere, towards Loki. If only I had healing powers. Why did I get fire and telepathy?

"You're going to lose," Coulson rasped.

"Am I?" Loki asked.

"It's in your nature."

"Hmm. Your heroes are scattered. Your floating fortress falls from the sky. Where is my disadvantage?"

"You lack conviction."

"I don't think I'm—"

I fell back as Coulson's weapon exploded into fiery light, blasting Loki off his feet, forcing him to crash through another wall.

"So that's what it does."

My scrambled brain finally managed to sew itself back together. Now, I could see clearly—for the most part. I screamed internally, knowing that there was nothing I could do for Coulson. I didn't want to leave him in his last moments, but I couldn't let Loki walk off and disappear again.

"Go."

"What?" I whispered, looking at Coulson.

"Leave me. I'll be...fine."

"No, stop—"

"Kiara. If you don't go after him now, he'll get away. Right now, you have the best shot of pursuing him. Don't let me hold you back."

"But—"

"Please."

I nodded. "Alright." I kissed his forehead. "May you find peace, Phil Coulson." I forced back any other tears that threatened to come down my cheeks.

I stood erect, feeling the adrenaline kick in. With a huge exhale, I left Agent Phil Coulson bleeding, living his last moments in pain.

I found the hole Loki made after being blasted by Coulson's heavy weapon. I searched ravenously until I found the back of a tunic. Refueled, I charged after Loki. He wasn't exactly running, so if he wasn't, I wasn't. I wanted him to think he was safe until the very last second.

I followed Loki silently until we were out in the open again. The wind whipped. The sky made it seem as though it was a perfect day, when in reality, things were going straight to hell. My eyes narrowed, wishing I could set Loki on fire with a stare. I called the fire to my hands, letting the rage fuel it. Maybe I'd see blue flame today. It would be a first.

I launched a ball of fire, making it land just before Loki.

The God of Mischief stopped in his tracks after my fireball challenge. He was tensed, ready for battle. Slowly—it looked almost painful for him—he turned to face me. His scepter was at his side. Though Loki had magic, I had rage.

"You're leaving so soon?" I challenged.

"You finally came to your senses," Loki realized.

"Not in the way you think," I retorted. "I'm here to put an end to all this."

"By putting an end to me?" He chuckled. "You don't have the heart to do it. Oh, you have rage on your side, sure. Your mind may be set on murder, but when the time comes, you'll back out."

"You underestimate me. When people tend to do that to others, the underdog always wins."

Loki's eyes were alight with mischief, making him live up to his name. "It kills you to know that you're on the losing side in this war. That all along, I was right."

He's goading you, don't give in. But it seemed my outrage overrode my conscience. I knew what I wanted: I wanted Coulson avenged. I wanted Loki to pay. This man before me was not the one who I'd wanted to marry.

This man was completely unrecognizable, corrupted by jealousy and the quest for power.

"Go right ahead," Loki goaded me. "Let your anger take over. You won't be hard to subdue."

With a battle yell, I catapulted myself into the air, landing just in front of him. I swung at Loki, my hands alight with fire. He swiftly dodged my blows, parried some with the scepter. I raged like a rabid animal, hoping that I would wear him down. Coulson had just blasted Loki with some type of weapon, so he had to be weary on some level.

I wanted no backup for this, this was my battle. I wanted to finish what Coulson tried to start.

In my frenzy, my brain was trying to think up defensive moves. My body worked faster, allowing Loki to sneak in a few hits of his own. He mainly blocked my attacks, wearing me down with patience.

"Any other time you would fight!" I roared, stumbling back. "Come on, coward! See if you can kill me as well." I dove in again.

My charge was called to an abrupt halt when I was surrounded by the same person. Instead of one Loki, there were about a dozen or even more. They were products of magic, yes, but it was hard to pick out the one who would feel something if I hit him.

The one thing I failed to realize was that, during my enraged state, I forgot to be organized. My slipups happened more and more, and soon I had no method. I was doing whatever came to mind. I had the element of unpredictability on my side, but it didn't help like it should have.

Loki had waited patiently for his turn; I didn't realize it until he had me by the throat and slammed me down onto the ground. He let me wear myself down by attacking his illusions. I'd done his job for him, making his victory over me ten times easier.

Air left my lungs. I screeched, pounding on the floor with my feet.

"I warned you," Loki crooned, his face hovering over mine. I tried to head butt him, but I couldn't reach. "I could let this go on, but I'm afraid I'm on a tight schedule. You give me no choice, Kiara."

I yelled as a cold sensation tried to slither through my veins. I sputtered, resisting the mind control that threatened to win over me.

Loki laughed. "You aren't as weak as I thought. No matter, you will give in. You did half of the work for me. Thank you for that." His lips twisted into a sneer. "It will take a little more time. If I have to cut into your skin to take control, so be it."

I growled, trying to keep a level head. Focus. Loki can't win. Coulson is dying. Fight for him, fight for whoever is left.

What's the point? I don't have anything left in me. I should submit...

Quitting is not an option! S.H.I.E.L.D. needs whoever is left.

S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to use you. Loki is right. With him, you'll be under his protection. He is the better option.

Shut up! Get out of my head.

You've had your time. It's my turn now.

I slowly began to stop resisting. Though the old me was trying desperately to stay afloat, the new me was at the same time trying to drown her.