Month One (January)

Turned out that the room they put me in wasn't my permanent room. It was just for holding. I was moved to a different facility after a week. The room that I would be in permanently was nicer. It wasn't much, but I had an actual bed and shower, so I was happy enough.

Despite telling the guards and employees at HYDRA that my necklace did not come off, they still tried just about everything to get it off. It took a while for them to realize that it was impossible. Once they confirmed that it wasn't a tracker or anything like that, they tried to see if it could be used as a power source. It took them a full week, and a lot of testing, to give up.

When I got to the new facility, I jumped straight into training. Everything hurt... all the time. I would often get back to my room and just sit on the floor of my shower to cry. I had tons of bruises covering every inch of my body. They focused on stealth combat first since it would pair well with my teleportation. The problem with stealth combat was that I needed to predict the movement of my opponent and react accordingly, without a weapon. It was a lot of hand-to-hand training and a lot of me failing.

I noticed quickly how easy I had it with Natasha. She never hit me so hard I passed out, or cracked a rib.

It was hard to keep the Aether's power under control, but I couldn't let HYDRA know I had it. I needed to keep it hidden. It was especially difficult to control when I was getting beat unconscious, but I would rather die then let them have it.

Month Two (February)

The second month was a little better than the first, but not by much. I was getting the hang of hand-to-hand, but not the stealth part.

My instructor showed no mercy and that didn't let up when we started drills. I had to go through these mock scenarios. I was given a target and told to 'take them down'. I needed to get to the target and render them unconscious before they made a sound. If they made a sound and alerted others, guards came into the room and I had to fight my way out, without teleporting. If I teleported, I was severely punished.

I teleported once when I thought they were going to kill me, I wished they would've after my instructor got to me. I was unconscious for two days after that.

The first time I completed my mission without alerting the guards, I nearly cried. I was overwhelmingly proud of myself for doing it right and not getting my ass handed to me.

I still hadn't met the Winter Soldier. I didn't even think he was at the base I was being trained at. I asked someone once, but didn't get a response. I also asked to speak with Pierce, but was told he would only speak to me after my training was over.

Month Three (March)

By the third month I had stealth combat down. I could feel how strong I had gotten in the last few months and I felt good. After I completed stealth combat, I moved on to weapons and incorporating weapons into my combat training. We worked on guns first since my knife skills were so far advanced.

The first time I fired a pump action rifle the kickback bruised the hell out of my shoulder. The first time I shot a bolt action rifle I completely missed the target. This pattern continued for the three other types of rifles. Every time I thought I was getting better I would do something else wrong. One step forward, two steps back type of thing.

I was getting really good with handguns, great even. My favorite was a Beretta 92 9mm. It was smooth and easy. I also liked the Heckler and Koch p30L. It had a hell of a kickback, but it left one hell of an exit wound.

I could shoot pretty accurately without aiming, I was only ever a few centimeters off if that. The biggest challenge with handguns was learning to use them with night vision. Learning to do anything with night vision was tricky, but I eventually got the hang of it.

At the end of the third month, I got a visit from someone. I could immediately tell who it was. I could feel him through the ring and even though his outside appearance changed, his eyes stayed the same green I always loved.

"How are you?" Loki asked when we were finally alone together. He had pulled me into a broom closet.

"Alive." I smiled sadly before giving in and wrapping my arms around him. I sighed into him as his arms pulled me closer. "I miss you." I whispered.

"And I you, Kitten." Loki told me. His illusion completely changed his features. His hair was brown and short, his jaw wider and covered in stubble, his skin was tan, and his cheekbones softer. His voice was also a bit different, but I could still tell it was Loki. I could always tell.

"Why are you here, Loki? Did something go wrong?" I asked a bit panicked and pulled back to look at him.

"No, no, everything's fine. I was able to secure a place at the base Strucker is starting his experiments." Loki assured me and rubbed my arms comfortingly.

"Then... why are you here?" I asked confused.

"Two reasons. First, Stark finished the device to extract the Aether."

I perked up at that. I wouldn't have to try so hard at keeping the Aether contained anymore. I wouldn't panic every time I got hurt, or started to lose my cool.

"And the other reason?" I asked.

"Secondly, I missed you and needed to see you." Loki told me and placed a hand to my cheek. "You don't know how difficult it is to stay away from you. Especially when I can feel how hurt you are, how scared you are. I hate it." Loki's tone became serious.

"If it's too much," I started, "you can always take the necklace off." I offered. "I know it can't be easy and it's only going to get worse before-"

"No," Loki cut me off. "I will not cut off my only connection to you. I'll deal with it and continue with Strucker until you call for me." He told me. I smiled sadly before kissing him. His lips were fuller than they usually were, but the taste and temperature of his lips were the same.

When I pulled away, I had an actual smile on my face. I was happy for the first time in months. My smile fell when I realized we were running out of time together.

"You said Tony made the device?" I asked. Loki nodded and held his hand out. In a flash of green the device appeared in his hand. "Perfect." I sighed and held my arm out. Loki looked at me for a moment before taking my arm. "How'd you get it from him?" I asked as Loki pressed the device into my skin. Four needles came out from the device and into my skin, one main needle and three supporting. Slowly, the vial began to fill with the red mist of the reality stone.

"I reminded him...nicely." Loki told me. At my look of disapproval Loki chuckled. "Don't worry, he knew it was important and I actually had Fury get it from him. I never even spoke with Stark." He explained.

"Ok, ok good." I nodded and looked back down at the extractor. When it was done, the needles pulled back and released me. I hissed at the pain and rubbed the blood from my arm. "Make sure you give the Aether to Thor. He needs to take it to the Collector." I explained. "I need to get back." I said sadly and looked into Loki's eyes.

"I know." He nodded just as unhappy and pulled me in to kiss me again. "Stay alive." He demanded. I kissed him one last time in response.

"You too." I mumbled before he was gone. It was a good end to my birthday.