Chapter 32
32
Feeling a lot less safe than she acted, Luka softly tiptoed closer to the now sleepy Hulk. She even dared to touch him, stroking a gentle hand from his massive shoulder down one arm. He took a deep sigh and his eyes closed. A snore that rattled the windows and knickknacks on the tables filled the room.
Loki watched, fascinated, as the huge creature shuddered and began to shrink. Moments later, an exhausted, half-dressed Banner sprawled on the carpet beside the goddess. Offering a cold bottle of water that she cracked before his eyes, she smiled, “Thirsty, Doctor?”
Nodding his thanks, Bruce reached a shaky hand out. Luka tsked and crouched down beside him. She held the bottle to his lips, letting him sip slowly. “I never realised the change was such an effort for you. But then, I forget you are only a mortal. Once I learned how, it was easy for me.”
“I wish I could find a way to stop,” the man whispered, shaking his head slowly. “It’s exhausting. And I can’t really control him. He’s not stupid, but the rage blurs his ability to focus. Makes it hard for him to comprehend anything too complicated. That makes him angrier and he just wants to smash.”
“So I discovered,” she chuckled, through a sour face. “It took months for me to heal.”
“Sorry about that,” the doctor winced. “I would have preferred to try and talk you down. Maybe get an explanation for your behaviour. Thor said it was not like you.”
“Perhaps. Although, when he had the opportunity to ask, he didn’t bother. His anger blinds him, too, and then all he wants to do is smash.”
Bruce looked up, realising Luka really was gone, save as a cover. She still appeared female, but that was Loki speaking.
“You remember everything now?” the doc asked. “Do you remember all she knew, too?”
“Of course, I do!” the god snapped. “How could I forget? I will never forgive the Odinson for what he tried to do. No matter his reasons!” The god snorted, more than annoyed at the fool mortal’s questions. “I may be a monster, but I will be the kind of monster I choose. Not some hybrid freak of his making!”
“You are not a freak, Luka. Or should I call you, Loki? And you’re not a monster, either. Merely an individual from a different species than Thor. Apparently, one his people fear and hate. My kind do the same thing to those who are different. Turn them into monsters. Makes it easier for us to hate them, treat them as lesser.”
Both people spun around, having not heard Natasha quietly enter the suite. The spy shrugged, “Look, I know you have issues with me, and larger ones with your brother. But, we can’t stay here. I won’t say anything to my boss until we straighten things out with Thor and Tony. Give you a chance to decide what’s in your future, who you want to be, where you’re going to live, etc.”
Both of the others stared at her, Bruce surprised and Loki shocked silent. The stunned look on his face, open mouthed, made her smile. “Catching flies there, your Highness?” She waved at his face. “I’ve not lived the purest life. But, Clint convinced SHIELD to give me a second chance. I figure you should probably be afforded the same.”
*
Tony watched from the relative safety of the penthouse bar as the big, blond god paced back and forth. He hadn’t been able to stay inside with Stark, instead stalking around the flight deck. The genius engineer couldn’t tell from his distance just what Thor’s mood was, but at least he had relaxed enough to calm the weather; the storm clouds dissipating and the evening sun peeking through in places.
Apparently, Natasha and Bruce had been successful in convincing Luka to come ‘home’ and talk to her brother. Tony hoped it was Luka, anyway. From what the spy had said, she remembered it all now.
Tony tensed up when he saw the big guy suddenly stop his pacing. A hand to his brow, Thor faced one direction now. He jittered in place, obviously seeing something Tony still could not.
Even as the genius guessed, Friday announced the imminent arrival of the quinjet. Would it carry three passengers, or only two? He shuddered to think what Thor’s reaction might be if Luka was not on board. She might have changed her mind; gods only knew, her alter ego was fickle enough. Or maybe, he was simply afraid of his brother’s response.
In the usual small whirlwind caused by its engines, the plane landed dead centre in the circle of the landing pad. Tony could see Nat in the pilot’s chair and he admired again, her precision. He watched her flipping unseen switches as she shut the jet down.
Then the small, side door opened and the spy hopped out. She waved at Thor and held up a hand to keep him from rushing to the jet. Bruce followed, but immediately turned to the interior and held up his hand. The goddess placed hers in his and gracefully exited, long, full skirts and ruby hair swirling in the breeze atop the Tower. She grinned at the doctor, wrapping her hand around his arm as he led her to her brother.
Tony saw her wink at Bruce and murmur something close to his ear. He looked nervous, although he nodded back to her. He headed toward the sliders to the penthouse, bypassing the waiting god. Luka smirked at Thor as they passed, lifting her chin and one eyebrow.
Thor’s face crumpled, he sighed and followed, the skies darkening behind him again. Tony immediately got a couple of beers from the under-bar fridge. He cracked one for himself, put the other on the bar for Thor and found a glass for wine for Luka.
Bruce would probably want tea, so he told Friday to have one of the bots put on the kettle for him. Nat had jumped back in the jet and taken off. Tony was a little annoyed that she had abandoned them. He supposed she had to report back to Patch, she had been upstate training recruits before Luka co-opted her for her trip to India.