Chapter 13
13
That’s when the trouble began. Unbeknownst to Thor, the books he had borrowed from Banner started a cascade of events. Luka decided since he would not help her, she would find someone on her own. She trolled psychotherapists online. Picked out several and started internet conversations with those who were willing. She started a journal, in which she wrote down every flash of memory, trying to connect them.
She tried hypnotism, CBT, (cognitive behavioural therapy), yoga to assist with meditation, and she found the Tower’s gym. Every day, she spent an hour in the morning and another in the afternoon on the treadmill, in the endless pool and using some of the equipment. Occasionally, one of the Avengers joined her, but each continued with their own program after polite hellos.
Then came the day Natasha walked in while Luka was mindlessly working on the exercise mat. She had earphones on, listening to several bands that played renditions of ancient viking music. Not exactly a dance, her movements reminded the Widow of the exercises done by practitioners of certain forms of hand-to-hand combat. Natasha would call them katas as she noticed each movement was performed in the same sequence and repeated over and over.
“You’re pretty good at that,” she mentioned, once she’d caught the goddess’ attention. “Ever do it with weapons?”
Luka looked blank for a moment, then smiled. “You know, I believe I have.” She frowned, curious. “Why do you ask?”
Natasha grinned. “I need someone to work out with, and all the boys are busy elsewhere. If you’d like to come with me, I’ll show you the weapons training room. Maybe we can learn from each other.”
“That sounds like fun. I will join you, Lady Natasha.” Luka grinned right back. “This first time, we should be careful with each other, though. We need to discover each other’s strengths and weaknesses, the forms we are used to, and the like. Also, I wish to learn your mortal limitations. I do not wish to injure you by accident.”
Natasha laughed. “You really think you could hurt me?” It was friendly, but still a challenge.
She was surprised by Luka’s answer. “I could crush you with one hand if I applied too much pressure at the wrong moment, or in the wrong place, Lady Natasha. It’s not your fault. You are mortal,” Luka added when the spy looked annoyed.
“Oh, I see,” she responded. “You’d have to catch me first. You can call me Nat if you like. Lady Natasha sounds so formal.”
“Thank you. I am Luka to my friends. Will we be friends, do you think?” Natasha smiled, a bit startled by the plaintive note in Luka’s voice.
“Don’t see why not. Like Pepper said the other night, we’re outnumbered here. We gotta stick together.” She winked.
Luka laughed along with her. “Somehow, I do not believe you have any difficulty handling any of your companions, L... Nat.”
“I think you might want to change your outfit first. We’ll probably do a lot of tossing each other around, rolling on the mat, and so on. That long skirt is gonna get tangled.” Nat suggested.
“Ah, something more like your dress?” Luka questioned. Nat nodded and then her eyes widened. The goddess had simply looked blank for a second and a wave of golden sparkles passed over her. When it dissipated, Luka wore stretchy pants and a long sleeved top, just like Nat’s. Except Luka wore forest green instead of Widow’s black. Her long tresses were braided back and wrapped around her head and as she preferred, she was barefoot.
“That is so awesome! Being able to do that could make my life so much easier at times,” Natasha sighed.
The women spent an enjoyable, if sweaty, afternoon. After feeling each other out, they shared different techniques for taking down an opponent. Luka found out just how accomplished Nat was, and the mortal learned to keep the goddess at arm’s length. Once Luka got a grip on her, it was over, no matter Nat’s abilities. She just wasn’t strong enough to break the goddess’ hold.
It did become apparent that Luka preferred to stay out of a clench, also. Nat asked if she usually used a hand weapon or one that could be thrown. Without thinking about her answer, the goddess said, “oh, knives! Knives were always my favourite, though I am adequate with both a sword and a bow. I had a beautiful pair, gifted to me by the Queen one year for Jul.”
“Okay, let’s see how good you are,” Nat tipped her head to the side. She led Luka to the far side of the room where a special wall was built. There were targets painted on its soft wooden surface so any sharp object thrown at it would stick. Off to one side, a rack held various arms, knives, staffs, a couple of swords and several types of bow with arrows.
Luka ran her hand over the array, humming quietly. When she reached the compound bow, she stopped, her hand caressing it. She looked over at Nat, serious and quiet. “None of these belong to your archer, do they?” She sounded certain, just checking with the human for confirmation.
“No, Clint keeps his in his apartment. I think he sleeps with the damn thing sometimes!” Nat smiled. “He never lets his bow out of his sight.”
“I understand. Thor is the same with Mjolnir. As was I with my knives.” Luka suddenly frowned, a hand to her forehead. “My knives. I lost them,” she sounded devastated to Nat.
“Do you remember where? What happened?” Nat put an arm around the shaken goddess. The spy had no idea what she had just done.
Luka stared at her, such pain in her eyes, Nat had seen loss, but not like this.
“Svartalfar. Thor and I were fighting. I was surrounded, he fought a... a monster, a Kurse. I killed the dark elves to save him and lost my knives. The Kurse...” Luka gasped and grabbed her chest. “He stabbed me... I... agony... I can’t remember anything more... except... except... he left me.”
“Who, the Kurse?” Natasha asked. She was shocked to think Thor would allow this beautiful creature to fight anyone, let alone several people at once. He was so protective now. Guilt?
“No!” Luka’s voice, no more than a hiss, rasped out of her mouth. “My loving, perfect, beautiful Asgardian warrior of a brother! He left me for that mortal! Left me for dead!” She laughed hysterically. “But I didn’t die. Odin’s soldiers found me and... they took me back to Asgard, to the Hall of Healing. To Eir.” She rubbed her head.
“I do not feel well, Nat.” She swayed, dizzy. “Would you kindly escort me back to Thor’s chambers?”
“Of course! What’s wrong, Luka?” Widow didn’t immediately wonder about Luka’s outburst, more concerned over her physical condition. Every time a memory returned, it seemed to make her ill.
“My head... hurts. I need to lie down. Rest. I’m supposed to rest...” She really seemed like she was losing touch with reality, face blank, eyes focussed on nothing, staggering as she walked.
Widow got her back without crossing paths with anyone, and glad of it. After she settled Luka, covering her with a light quilt and giving her a glass of water, she went looking for the burly blond. She had several questions, some to ask and some she wanted more information on before confronting him. She had some research to do, and with Friday’s help, hopefully some answers.