V I G I L A N C E ~ (MCU) ~

C H A P T E R 6_

My eyes are immediately downcast. I go to say something, but I don't. How could I have not known? His eyes had changed colors after I hit him just like Loki's had when I searched his thoughts. Thor may be right. I may have broken his chains and returned him to his old self like Natasha has said. "Wait, you said Loki was controlling him with the scepter?"

She almost furrows her brows a little. "Yes Fury saw him take control of Barton by placing the end of the scepter on his heart. He became Loki's drone. The Asgardian sent him around the world picking up groceries for his little portal project."

The last part of her comment makes me stiffen a little. That's what they wanted when they ransacked my lab. I relax and nod my head. "That explains the change in the eye color."

"What do you mean?"

"Before I fought Barton, his eyes were a bright blue. After out little duel, they were a duller blue with gray like the ocean. They weren't turquoise anymore. It's the same thing with Loki. The first time I saw him, his eyes were the same bright blue as Barton's were. Then after I searched his thoughts, they were green."

"But if Loki's changed then what does that have to do with the scepter?"

I think for a moment, recalling the discussion Thor and I had. "Maybe there is something controlling Loki and the scepter is a way to get people under the same control Loki is under.

She frowns at me for a long moment... "Well then there's only one question left, isn't there? Who's really pulling the strings?"

I stare at her for a long moment in thought of how to answer.

But we are interrupted by Captain Rogers who approaches us. "Stark knows where the Tesseract is," he says.

"We'll come with you. Clint knows how to pilot one of the smaller ships," Natasha tells him.

He nods and leaves.

Natasha looks at me. "You comin' new blood?"

I nod my head and smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

She smirks. "Then suit up," she quotes Cap almost in a mocking way and then leaves me to gather her things.

I exit left and head down to where the undesignated armory is. On the way down the hall I pass rooms but they are all empty... except one. I glance into the window on the door to see Agent Barton sitting on the metal bed with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. From here I can tell he's breathing heavily as if trying to get a grip... He's miserable for all of the suffering and death he's caused as Loki's little goon. I can tell... I remember him leaving the way he did when Romanoff told him what he did to my family. I lean by the wall, out of the way from him to see me but I can still hear him... I shut my eyes.

Someday I may be able to forgive him... But not right now. At least not out loud... The pain is still too near.

But I can't hate him. I don't. It wasn't his fault... Just like—no I still hate Loki and I'll get him if it's the last thing I do.

I take a deep breath before I continue down the hall. Once I reach the armory, I grab a suit that was similar to what I wore yesterday, and I quickly change into it. I collect a few knives and I put two in both boots, and one in my left arm sleeve. Then I take two guns, check that the magazine is full, and then I stick them in my hip holsters. I quickly pull my hair into a ponytail and then I head out of the room.