Chapter 24
24
“Okay! Sorry!” Stark was surprised by Banner’s apparent easy acceptance of the change in their former adversary. “You’re really okay with this? The big guy, too?” He scrunched up his face, flinging both hands out toward Thor and Luka.
“She is a different person, Tony. Not only physically, her personality, too. More what I imagine Loki might have been like before all the, uh, problems. And ‘the big guy’ actually likes her.”
Bruce shrugged. “I think, as long as we don’t trigger her, she’ll be alright. She may eventually remember, but with enough time, I believe she can process those memories safely without them causing too much distress. Or changing her back into that scared, desperate, angry individual we met earlier.”
Thor sighed, relieved. It seemed his mortal shield brothers would accept Luka for who she was now, not who she had been. “Luka is very much like my brother when we were young.”
He sketched a sad smile as he glanced at her. “Before we grew apart. Mostly, my fault. I was too full of myself. I could not see that Loki’s needs, desires were not the same as mine. I was cruel to him and allowed my friends to torment him for his choices, also. I am sorry, Bro... Luka.”
She just shook her head. “I don’t remember much of that. At least, I now understand why your love is that of a sibling, nothing more.” She smiled, a bit sadly.
Thor looked back at his friends. “Is it possible that we keep this amongst ourselves? If the others discover the truth, I fear they will feel obligated to inform their superiors. Then we will be forced to flee. The entire reason for my bringing Luka here was to keep her from confinement.”
Banner nodded, thinking, then he sighed. “It’s fine with me. Tony? Can you? He cost you more than me, but she’s really not at fault.” He stared hard into the other genius’ eyes. “Try to think of it as though Luka has had a transplant. Whole body instead of a single organ. You wouldn’t blame the person receiving the transplant for something the former owner did.”
Tony’s eyes narrowed for a minute. “Interesting concept. Not a bad analogy, I suppose. I guess I can try. Just ‘cause I like ya, Sparky.” He glanced at Thor and turned to Luka. “But you better not get into any trouble, young Lady!” He wagged a finger at the reclining goddess.
*
After assuring her host that she would behave, Luka spent the next two days hiding in Thor’s apartment. She had a lot of research to do, preparing for her upcoming ‘debut’ as a model. And packing for Mumbai, for which she spent hours discussing her trip with Natasha. What to expect, where to go and what to see, proper clothing and footwear, etc. They even went shopping a few times.
Even though the goddess was now aware, intellectually, that she was really not a woman, she still felt more comfortable in her acquired persona. That other being, the man in her dreams and visions, he was someone else. Someone from a no longer remembered and troubled past that was a danger to her; not just her sanity, if Thor was correct, she could be in physical jeopardy, too.
And she knew her adopted brother had gone to such extremes to keep some part of the brother he loved so dearly alive. She felt she would never jeopardise all his efforts and heartache by changing herself. She loved him deeply, too. As she always had, even before she knew the truth.
One of the last things Luka packed was her ‘diary,’ the notebook in which she recorded visions, dreams and memories. She felt safe in taking it as she wrote everything in runes. As far as she was aware, mortals no longer recognised the alphabet she used. One day soon, she would sit down somewhere quiet and alone. Read through it and try to make some sense of it, put a timeline to it if she could.
But for now, she was going to the other side of this round world. Luka planned on having some fun, learning new things and perhaps even making a name for herself. She understood if she did well in Mumbai, there would be other offers and she had been careful to make sure her contract with Dior was only for this show.
Finally, Chiuri called, saying the opening was in three days. She wanted Luka in India ASAP. It would take even one of Tony’s top of the line jets about sixteen hours to make it there. The goddess told the designer not to worry; she’d be there in time. Then she called the spy and told her to prepare for a quick, if uncomfortable trip.
“Bring what luggage and other accoutrements you deem necessary, Natasha. I will stash everything in a pocket and we will worldwalk to India. It will only take moments, rather than most of a day. You will have plenty of time to rest and freshen up before we go to meet Madam Chiuri.”
She laughed when Natasha questioned the need for ‘rest.’ “It is no reflection on you nor your stamina, my friend. Simply put, mortals do not fare well when travelling as I do. Even Thor does not like it.” She told the other redhead she would understand what one of Luka’s pockets was when she saw it happen.
Having spoken to Pepper earlier, Luka already had reservations for her hotel. Rather than joining the Dior head as requested, she had chosen a different Taj Mahal property across the peninsula from the venue of the fashion show. Luka had always valued peace and quiet. She did remember that from her past. The distance was a little over a kilometre to the Gate of India, she and Tasha could walk it in minutes, if they so chose.