Infatuated with a God

Life changed drastically with Loki being brought into the compound. I never saw him, but his magic still called out to me from the cells. For the newer team we kept training and my schedule remained similar in this regard. I extended my personal training hours following my fight with Loki, pushing myself further every day. This hadn't gone unnoticed by Steve who made sure I ate more than I had been to stop me pushing myself to exhaustion. I woke an hour earlier, beginning my training around the same time Steve and Sam started theirs. I sparred more often with anyone who was there, trying to grasp every member's individual fighting styles. My lunch was quicker, normally just grabbing it before team training started. Whenever we split into groups I made a point to be in the team opposite Wanda, who had the closest skill set to Loki. The first week she enjoyed this challenge, but I began to notice her hold back as she worried about me. When the team worked on practising with different weapons I made Natasha spar with my using daggers. Wanda may be the closest I could get to fighting his magic, but Natasha was an assassin through and through. When using daggers, she was the closest I could get to his strength. She did not go easy on me, probably knowing why I needed this so bad. I slowly improved, being able to hold my own for a relatively long time by the end of the second week and winning against her by the third. Wanda stopped sparing with me one on one outside of team exercises by the second week. In my anger I had been actively avoiding her, although deep down I knew she only worried about me. Everyone seemed to worry about me. So, instead, Thor would join me, and I would practice my newfound ability.

I quickly discovered how completely draining it was to look into someone's memories, although Thor's willingness made it exponentially easier. Eventually I began to expand on this power, honing into people's presence thoughts and emotions. As I practiced and it got easier I could feel my power grow within me. I was able to hold stronger shields for longer and practiced expanding it around multiple people. When I found this out I realised my teamwork began improving, as I had to focus harder on their movements to keep them shielded as well. Thor and I would practice my magic until I was either completely exhausted or, as I began to increase my power, until dinner was called. I no longer had time to cook, nor did I expand on my list or read and draw. Following dinner if I had pushed myself to my limit I would pass out in bed until morning. Or if I hadn't gotten there yet I would sneak back into the training room until I was at that point. The schedule kept my emotions completely at bay, I just simply didn't allow myself to feel anything. I was pushing myself physically too hard that I was able to ignore my mental needs entirely. It was probably the unhealthiest thing I did, but as long as his magic was there to remind me I had the power to do it. What I didn't entirely count on was the team's interference in my plans. I grabbed my food and went to head back to my room when Stark's voice stopped me. I whipped around and suddenly noticed everyone sat around the table. Even Barton and Banner was there.

"We are having an entire team meal. You should join us Kaya." I scowled at the use of my actual name from Stark's mouth. Nothing good was happening if Stark dropped his sarcastic nicknames. I sighed and joined the empty seat next to Thor. Silence fell on the group, each of them waiting for the other to speak.

"What is this an intervention?" I joked before tucking into my burritos. When no one talked I laughed slightly, covering my mouth, and forcing my food down before I choked. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"FRIDAY pull up Kaya's schedule." Steve's voice was stern, it was similar to the tone he used during training, and probably when he was commanding others on missions. I looked up at the screen making note of the bars. I shrugged in response, even as Wanda gasped and Natasha sighed. "Kaya this amount of training isn't healthy. You are training from 6 in the morning until 12pm for lunch. This is enough for most people. But then with group training and your practice with Thor you are back at it from 12:30 until 6pm for dinner!" Steve's tone had gone full 'I'm not angry just disappointed' on me and I shrunk into my seat. I looked around at the room for a hint that someone was on my side, but even Natasha frowned. I scowled and went to defend myself with Tony cut in.

"Ah, ah, ah! Before you even think about making a snarky remark we also know this is only the training you schedule. But for more than half the days in the past week and a half FRIDAY has been alerting me of your presence in the training room after dinner. Yesterday you hit 15 hours of training, Kaya."

"Okay! I get it! I-I... I just was shocked by how easily Loki could have killed me, okay?" My burrito was now on my plate uneaten on the table, the stress of the situation curbing my appetite. There was a silence following my words. Everyone knew why it was happening and they understood my motivations. However, I began to realise that they were still right to worry. I was thoroughly exhausted. It was Steve who broke the silence.

"I want to stop you from training entirely, but I know that is a recipe for you pushing yourself further in response. So, we've come up with a solution. You'll stop training after 3pm. Wait!" He warned when I went to protest. "Before dinner you have to be relaxing, and FRIDAY will alert either me or Tony if you don't." I scowled and picked up my food before I could snap back at them. Stark sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Kid, that's still what like 9 hours of training a day? Anyway, after dinner I will need your help with a project I'm working on in the lab." My head snapped up in interest at this. "I'll explain in full tomorrow." He stated and I just nodded in response. Happy that I was no longer kill myself through exercise conversation began to struck up around me. I happily sat to myself, although I noticed Wanda was joining in considerably less than usual and kept glancing my way. I'd need to talk with her properly soon, apologise for my anger.

I had finished my food and was about to leave when a comment Steve made piqued my interest. "We will be assessing his strength fully tomorrow. I don't like it either but it's on Fury's commands." Steve was speaking in the same tone he used to me, but this time directed at Stark.

"It's a stupid command. Those handcuffs should never come off." My breath caught in my throat as I realised who they were talking about.

"You are taking the cuffs off?" I whispered, but every head turned to me.

"Do not fear, Lady Kaya. He will not be near you, and we have emergencies in place if he tries to escape." I sat back down and listened to the conversation more intently. They were arguing about how best to test his strength when an idea crossed my mind.

"I'll spar him." I spoke.

"Um, sorry I think I just hallucinated because it sounded like you just said something really stupid." Tony snapped at me. I kept a calm look on my face and met his eye.

"Think about it like this, Wanda cannot face him because she will get hurt by his strength. Whereas I have been preparing solely to win against him. No one else could do it besides maybe Thor, but you can't use him can you because he is the only thing preventing Loki's escape and so cannot be distracted." Any objections from Steve stopped dead in its tracks as he realised the sense behind my words. Tony, however, still objected.

"May I remind you that he tried to kill you less than a month ago?" I paused to think it over before offering him something that could calm him slightly.

"You let me do this and you can block me from the training room before 9 am."