Chapter 30
30
Luka decided she’d had enough partying after fending off several drunken suitors. Apparently, these mortal males did not believe she was truly a goddess. They thought they could treat her as disrespectfully as they did the other newer or prettier models. Rather than cause another incident, and bring unwanted attention to herself, Luka found Maria, told her they would speak soon, and promptly took herself back to the hotel.
There, she ran a hot bath and while the tub filled, she stood on the balcony, enjoying the sea breeze. She missed the sea from home. Well, Asgard. Had Thor’s hall ever really been her home? She also remembered a balcony that looked out over gardens, both flower and herb. The goddess was sure that was an older memory, one attached to other pleasant times.
Mother’s garden, she thought. I was always happiest there by her side. Luka sighed. Though happy, the memories evoked were of her alter ego. What happened to change him? More tired than she realised, she slipped into the warm water and promptly fell asleep.
As the goddess dozed, she changed, the primary personality coming to the surface once more. I must fix this. First, I need a safe haven, warded against Heimdall. Where would they never suspect? I’ll have to make a clone to fool Thor, too.
The water grew cold as he brooded, so he stepped out. Think I’ll sleep on this for today. Loki negligently waved a hand, locking the door and strengthening the room’s wards. He crawled naked into bed, rolled onto his stomach, and went to sleep.
*
The human Avengers had all they could do to keep their godly member from simply taking off for India the moment he understood where his beloved was. “Whoa! Think about this for a second!” Bruce tried to reason with Thor.
The big god just growled at him, shaking the doctor’s hand off his arm. “She does not know what she is doing!” he cried. “And she may be in danger. Not only from those people, my father will send his einherjar after her if Heimdall has seen what she has done!”
“She’ll only run again if you go barging in there after her,” Natasha commented. “She already thinks you try to control her too much, Thor.” When he turned his scowl on her, she shook her head.
“I don’t mean to hurt you, big guy, but she’s really pissed at you. She called you her ‘overprotective not-brother.’ She doesn’t believe you could do what you have to someone you really love. She actually said ‘he has destroyed me!’ I’m not even sure if that was Luka talking and not Loki. Right after that was when she disappeared.”
“No!” The god cried. “She must hate me now. I have to find her, tell her why I had her changed. Explain the danger she is in.” He fell back into the sofa he had leapt off.
“I think you need to calm down before you cause more misunderstanding, buddy.” Tony was the voice of reason as he stood in front of Thor. Not as calm as he appeared, he felt a lot less brave than he acted.
“I know you’re worried, but you need to give her a little time to think things through. You know she’s careful. She’s probably already done whatever voodoo she does to hide herself. We should make a plan before we approach her. Or we’ll just spook her and then, who knows where she’ll go.”
The genius scrubbed a hand through his already messy hair. “Is there any way you can question your Guardian without him immediately telling your dad? Will he give you a chance to find her and bring her back first?”
“I don’t know,” Thor sighed. “Truthfully, I am afraid to even ask.”
Friday chimed in then, quietly notifying the group that Luka had not checked out of her suite in the hotel. “As far as their staff is aware, she remains inside. She ordered breakfast and then asked that she not be disturbed for the day.”
“See? We have a little time to think about this. Plan how, and who will be the first to approach her,” Bruce reminded the blond.
“I don’t believe it should be Thor, or me,” Natasha considered. “I know she’s angry with both of us. Maybe, you, Bruce? You did give her those books on psychology to help her. You’re the one most likely to stay calm. That’s what she needs right now, someone reasonable.”
After some discussion, more of an argument and protest, Natasha flew Bruce in the quinjet to Mumbai. He finally conceded she was right. He was more likely to say the right things and worse come to worst, Hulk could probably scare Loki into fleeing back to the safety of his brother’s care. Thor had explained to the doctor what he needed to tell the younger god of what would happen if the Allfather knew he had remembered everything.
4.5 hours later, they landed on the helipad atop the hotel itself. Natasha spent the flight giving Bruce all the information she had on Luka. Everything they had done together, all the things they had talked about, whatever she knew were Luka’s likes and dislikes, her history that Nat had managed to get from Thor, any little fact she could recall.
“I can’t stay here, but I will get you inside,” she muttered into his ear as they dashed across the landing. “You’ve an earbud, so we can keep in contact. I’ll stay close; there’s a park not far from here where I can hide the quinjet until you call. If you can’t get her to come back with you, I guess we’ll have to let Thor know and he can try.”
Natasha jimmied the locked door open and they snuck inside. She told Banner Luka’s floor and suite number, then impulsively, she kissed his cheek. “Good luck, Doc!” she wished him and quickly slipped away. Bruce sighed, a hand touching his cheek. It took him a few seconds to realise the spy had abandoned him.