The Daughter

 Loki watched from the shadows as she paused, looking around, then she stiffened. He had being following Caia for a while now. She had saved Kysa, and the least he could do was ensure that she lived to see another day. She was looking across the deserted road and down an alley. From the angle he was at, he couldn’t see what she was looking at. Caia let out a snarl which wasn’t too far from that of a wolf, before she moved forward suddenly. If Loki had blinked, he would have missed it but, as it was, he saw the transformation. She shrunk and shifted almost seamlessly, her face elongating out from the scarf, and her clothes all falling away from her, leaving a three tailed fox to land easily on the road, before it bounded forward, teeth bared. She had kept herself covered because she was a Kitsune and most probably had trouble hiding her ears. She ran towards the alley, and he took off behind her, following her.

 Caia ran into the alley and he saw two men and a young girl. When they saw Caia, they bared their teeth, revealing fangs, but the distraction was enough, and the girl ran off, screaming, while Caia jumped on one of the men, knocking him to the ground. The second one descended on her and sunk his fangs deep into her neck and she let out a howl of pain, before Loki plunged a knife into the vampire’s heart. The man fell off her, and fell still. Caia’s claws and teeth had already made quick work of the other vampire’s chest.

 “The Dark Lord… will return…” The vampire croaked, before the light left his eyes, and he lay still. Caia climbed off the vampire, stumbled and leant against the alley wall before transforming. Loki conjured a blanket to cover her and then began examining the wound.

 “It is deep.”

 “D-did you… follow me?” She half coughed, half gasped.  

 “I was trying to make sure you would be safe for tonight at least- do not try to talk, I am sure that I can heal your wound.” He held his hand over her neck and they started to glow with a green light. The deep wounds in her neck began to knit together until it was closed, leaving nothing but a scar which would fade in time. Loki picked her up and headed back to the street. Magic saw to it that her clothes were sent to the penthouse suite. She could have his room while she recovered. A couple of night’s sleep on the sofa wouldn’t hurt him.

 The other’s just gaped as he came back to the hotel, Caia had fallen unconscious by the time he had crossed the road away from the alley. “What happened?” Steve asked.

 “She attacked two vampires and one managed to bite her. I have healed her, but she needs rest. And, she is a Kitsune, not a vampire, Tony. I saw her transform.” He placed her in his room, under the sheets, and looked to the dresser, nodding to himself when he saw that Caia’s clothes were there, folded neatly, the head scarf on top.

 “Aww man, you mean we don’t know a vampire? That sucks.” Tony said. “But how do you explain the fact that she was dead, and that the coroner was drained completely dry of blood?”

 “Maybe the vampire Lewis held prisoner got her out of the autopsy lab.” Banner said. “You know, came back for her.”

 “And that she was dead? Could she be both? It might have been why he was successful with his little experiment.” Tony pointed out.

 “That is a point.” Loki said. “But we will have to wait and see.”

 “Where are you going to sleep tonight? You’ve given foxy your room.” Tony pointed out.

 Loki did not succeed in stopping himself from rolling his eyes. “On the sofa.” He answered, sitting down.

 The next morning, Kysa woke up quite quickly but lay still in bed for a while. She was pretty sure she could find her way to Caia’s flat again. Now all she would have to do was manage to slip out of the apartment, and make sure her dad could follow her there, but not so soon that he would find her before she reached Caia’s flat. She would get into so much trouble in the end, but it would get them together, wouldn’t it?

 She got up and began getting ready for the day, before heading out into the living room. She stopped short when she saw her dad sleeping on the sofa. Brow furrowed in curiosity, she walked over to the sofa and stared at him for a moment, before looking to the door that led to his room. She quietly moved towards it, and opened the door, peeking into the room. She saw a single figure lying under the covers so she slipped inside the room to see who it was. Why weren’t they on the sofa? It was her dad’s bed after all.

 Her jaw dropped when she saw Caia, ears and all. Kysa shook herself out of her stupor, and quickly left the room. She grinned. This meant that she wouldn’t need to get in trouble! But what had happened last night? She walked over to her dad and shook his shoulder.

 “Dad, dad, wake up. Dad!”

 “What?” He asked groggily, slowly opening his eyes to squint at her, before he reached up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “What is it Kysa?”

 “Why is Caia sleeping in your bed?”

 “She went after two vampires last night and got hurt. I healed her and brought her back here- you didn’t wake her did you?” He sat up.

 “Of course not. You do know she’s a Kitsune, right?”

 “I did notice. Go get yourself some breakfast.”

 Kysa scampered over to the long table that was attached to one of the walls, which had cupboards under it and a mini fridge. She grabbed the cereal and the milk and by the time she was eating, Aaric and Amdis were awake too, and heading to get their own cereal. Though, all three of them would probably be able to eat a full cooked breakfast later when the whole group went downstairs for the buffet breakfast the hotel put on. This was just to keep them going- especially if something were to happen and they needed to leave in a hurry. Being with the Avengers meant that could sometimes happen. And then at least they would be able to go for a few hours without starving.

 Kysa quickly filled her cousins in on what had happened and what she had been told and they were both excited that Caia might be staying with them longer too. Both had grown to really like Caia yesterday as well as Kysa.

 Two hours later, and everyone bar Caia were up. “I’ll go make sure she hasn’t died in her sleep.” Natasha said, before heading into the bedroom.

 As she approached the bed, Caia’s eyes shot open, and she saw her eyes now had slit pupils. Caia sat up suddenly, blinked, and then her eyes returned to normal. Or they appeared to.

 “Natasha?”

 “Morning. Loki brought you back unconscious last night. Said you attacked two vampires.”

 “They were going to kill a girl. I’ll get dressed and get out of your way.” She saw her clothes on the dressing table.

 “Stay a little while longer!” Natasha turned to see that Kysa had entered the room not far behind her.

 “Ah, I’m not sure kid. Hanging around with people more than a day isn’t really my thing. I’m not a people person.”

 “Neither am I, yet I still got roped into the team.” Natasha said. “A partner is one thing, a team is completely different. But she’s right. You should stay a little while. Especially since you were hurt.”

 “I don’t think that’s a good idea- for that very reason. I really do need to leave soon. I lost a lot of blood last night.”

 “And why does that mean you can’t stay?”

 “Did Tony really not look into me the first chance he got?” At Natasha’s surprised look, Caia continued. “Coupled with my story, I’m sure he figured it out and told you all. It was my way of trying to make sure you stayed away.” 

 “Why would you want to do that? You’re a Kitsune! That doesn’t matter at all!”

 “If only it was just that, Kysa. I guess they haven’t told you then.”

 “Told me what?”

 “Tony’s going to be happy. He got a kick out of the idea of knowing an actual vampire.” Natasha said. “Look, we don’t care. You did a good thing. And you’re in everyone’s good books.”

 “And if I undo that good thing by draining one of you dry? No. Best you all just forget you ever met me. I can do what I do best, and not end up killing any of you. Now, I had better get dressed.”

 Kysa and Natasha left the room. Kysa was frowning. She had to find a way to get Caia to stay! There had to be something!

 “You were right Tony.” Natasha said.

 “YES!” He pumped his fist in the air. “We know a vampire!”

 “I’d calm down if I were you Tony, she’s getting dressed and leaving.”

 “Why? I want to ask her questions about vampires!”

 “Because right now, everyone with a pulse is starting to largely resemble dinner on legs.” Caia said, emerging, head scarf in her hand. She quickly and deftly put it around her head. “My Kitsune side can keep it at bay better than if I had been human, but I lost a lot of blood last night. Thank you for helping me last night, Loki. I guess that makes us even.”

 He just shook his head. “Hardly.”

 “Caia, can’t you go get something to eat and then come back? I’m sure Tony could somehow get something set up with the blood bank to get you what you’d need afterwards.” Kysa said, looking up at her.

 “Sure.” Tony nodded enthusiastically.

 Kysa and Amdis stood holding hands, looking up at her with big, pleading, puppy dog eyes. She felt her resolve waver. “Ahhh, you’re twisting my arm.” Her eye twitched as the two girls made their eyes bigger and rounder. “Oh fine. I’ll come back.” She suddenly found herself knocked to the ground as all three children in the room tackled her in a hug. “Guys, I’m not kidding. I really do need to go right now. Guys- right I can automatically hear your blood running through your veins- that’s a very bad sign.”

 The three kids let her up, and she stood, before heading for the window. “It’d be best if I avoided as many people as possible.”

 “Wait, how are you going to get, err, food?” Steve asked.

 “I usually brake into blood banks, and stock up. I’ve got some blood bags in the back of my fridge at home, in a secret compartment. What’s left will probably sort out my problem right now, but then I’ll be out.”

 “I’ll get on acquiring more for you then.” Tony said, pulling out his laptop.

 Caia nodded, and slid out onto the fire escape, before disappearing. Kysa went and sat down by Loki.

 “I really like her dad.” She said quietly to him, before opening her book and beginning to read.