Siren's Song

I woke up the next morning with a stiff neck and a sore back. When I realized how I was laying I wasn’t as surprised. My head was under the coffee table and my legs were up on the back of my couch. I hadn’t even been drinking last night.
Phineas and Ferb was still playing on the TV, I got myself right way up and looked around the room. Pietro and Wanda had fallen asleep side by side, Pietro snored softly. I groaned and walked to the kitchen, I needed coffee. As the coffee brewed I heard a knock at the door.
“Hold your horses,” I yelled. I opened the door and saw Thor’s huge grin.
“Good morning to you, Lady Lily!” He boomed.
“Shhh!” I shushed him. “They’re still sleeping.”
“Oh,” he said confused. “Who is still sleeping?”
“The twins,” I replied. “We had a sleepover.”
“What is this sleepover?” Thor asked.
“It’s when friends get together and do fun stuff at another’s house.” I explained. “We had snacks, cookies, ice cream, soda and chocolate milk. Stayed up watching cartoons together. Not real sure when we fell asleep.”
“Steve asked me to come get you,” Thor boomed again.
“Thor, do you have a volume control?” I asked.
“No, he doesn’t.” Clint said from behind Thor. “You left the door open. Either of you see the twins?”
“Lady Lily says that they had what is called a sleepover,” Thor supplied.
“Seriously?” Clint looked at me.
“What? I’m allowed.” I said defensive.
“You didn’t invite me,” Clint pouted. “What did you watch?”
“Phineas and Ferb,” Pietro said after a yawn. “Hey, do we have coffee?”
“And breakfast,” Wanda called from the bathroom doorway.
“Honestly it’s too early for normal people,” Clint replied.
“I was thinking about going for a run,” I admitted. Clint stared at me, making me a little uncomfortable.
“And if you happened by your Uncle’s diner?” Clint asked.
“It would be rude not to stop and say hi,” I smiled innocently.
“Who’s in?” Clint raised his hand as he asked, everyone raised their hand. “We better wake Tasha, she loves their breakfasts.”
“Behind you Hawk,” Natasha spoke up.
“Can I come too?” Cap asked.
“Okay, if the whole team is going we better call first.” I said. “They would love to see us but they need to know how many to get ready for. Who isn’t going?”
“Tony is still passed out,” Rhodey could be heard in the hall.
“I believe Loki is staying in his room,” Thor said hesitantly.
“Is he awake?” I asked. Thor nodded. “I’m going to invite him.”
“Why?” Clint asked.
I turned and everyone was looking at me like I had grown an extra head. I pat my shoulders to make sure there was still only one.
“Well, if he’s a part of the team,” I looked to Thor who nodded. “Then isn’t it a little inconsiderate to exclude him?”
“We aren’t really comfortable with him being on the same planet as us, not to mention the same building.” Clint clenched his jaw.
“I understand,” I said. “But he’s here to make amends, right? How can he do that if we don’t give him a chance?”
“You keep an eye on him then,” Tasha said.
“Agreed,” I took the offer. “I’ll meet you down in the lobby. Thor, tag along?”
“Sure,” he offered his arm again.
“Is this a thing for Asgardians?” I teased.
“It is,” he blushed. “Our women are treated with the utmost respect. It is a man’s duty to escort a Lady wherever she may wish to go and to protect her with his life.”
We went in one elevator, while the rest of the team went in the second. Thor led me to Loki’s door and knocked loudly.
“Brother!” Thor bellowed.
“Go away,” came through the door.
“But Loki,” Thor began.
“I died Thor, go away!”
“I’m sorry my Lady,” Thor turned to leave. “He will not come to the door. We should go.”
“Thor, you go ahead down.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “I want to try!”
“This is not a good idea Lady,” he tried to argue.
“It’s Lily, now scoot.”
“Very well,” he gave in. “I shall scoot.”
I waited until the elevator was on the next floor before knocking.
“I said no,” I heard.
“Scared?” I asked.
The door sprang open. “I beg your pardon?”
“I asked if you were scared,” I said sweetly.
“You are an annoying mortal,” Loki snapped.
“I get that from a lot of people,” I admitted. “Most of the team is going for a run. I wanted to invite you along.”
“Why?” He asked suspiciously.
“Usually, people run to stay in good physical condition.” I replied.
“No,” Loki sighed. “Why are you inviting me?”
“Everyone deserves a second chance,” I replied honestly. “And we might take a route that goes by my Uncle’s diner.”
“Breakfast?” Loki perked up.
“If you can handle what we poor Midgardians are forced to eat, your Highness.” I teased.
“Minx,” he shut his door and offered me his arm.
I smiled and took it. Then I explained to him about diners and how amazing my Uncle’s place was. We were at the 8th floor when I cut myself off and looked at his clothes.
“No offense, Highness.” I began. “But do you always run in your pjs?”
“No need to worry,” he replied. A green light went over him and his clothes were changed. “Magic comes in handy at times.”
“Amazing,” I breathed.
“Really?’ He looked skeptical.
“Loki, we don’t see much real magic.” I was fascinated. “Would you mind showing me some?”
“Maybe later,” he said as the doors opened.
“How?” Thor’s mouth fell open.
I pushed his jaw back into place and winked at him. “You catch more flies with honey.”
“I would offer you honey if I knew that would work!” Thor followed Loki.
“Thor,” I pinched him. “I bribed him!”
“I’ve tried that,” he said it like he had been betrayed.
“Yes,” Loki agreed. “But she offered food. You never share your food.”
“With Volstagg around I needed to eat as much as I could,” Thor explained to me. “He can eat more than any man I know.”
I took my phone out and began to text my aunt and uncle. I told them how many would be coming, that two were Asgardian Gods and made sure they were okay with Loki. My uncle’s reply warmed my heart and I showed it to Loki.
“Loki,” I jogged up to him. “I want you to read something.” I handed my phone to him.
“What is this?” He asked.
“I told my uncle you would be coming along,” I told him and pointed at the reply.
“What does he say brother?” Thor asked quietly.
“He,” Loki swallowed. “He says that I am welcome and everyone deserves a second chance.” He handed my phone back to me and inclined his head in thanks.
We ran a few miles and then headed to the diner. That should have given them enough time to get everything prepped and set up. When we got there I couldn’t believe my eyes, the place was almost empty. I went through the door first and called out to my family.
“Sarah? Jack?”
“In the back Water Lily,” Jack answered.
“Give me a sec,” I told the team. “Sit where you like and start thinking food.”
I went to the back and saw Sarah crying, Jack waved at me to come forward. I gathered my aunt in my arms and kissed her forehead.
“What’s wrong?” I asked worried.
“We told some of our regulars that you were coming with the team,” Jack admitted. “We may have mentioned Loki.”
“A few said some terrible things,” Sarah hiccupped. “I told them they could take their business elsewhere.”
“What?” I turned and saw Loki’s face. “Why? Why would you put your business at risk? Especially for me.”
“Lily,” Jack answered simply.
Loki looked at me and cocked his head, asking without saying anything.
“How about you dry those tears Sarah, and I will get cooking for our guests.” Jack hugged me and went to the stove to get back to work.
Sarah smiled and walked us into the diner proper. She nodded to a table and went to get everyone’s orders.
“Will you explain?” Loki asked quietly.
“I was adopted by Sarah’s older brother,” I sighed. “They always knew something was different about me.”
“I beg your pardon Lady,” Thor interrupted. “Is this something the whole team should hear?”
“More than likely,” I smiled at him and stood up. “Alright team. Come on up to the counter so you can all hear a sob story.”
“Now Lily,” Sarah scolded. “This one time, I’m going to ask that you be a bit more serious.”
“Sorry,” I apologized. “I hate telling this.”
“I know love,” Sarah placed a pitcher of water on the counter. “You know what to do. I’ll help Jack in the back. Your usual?”
I nodded and took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. ”Here goes. I was found at a hospital in a small town in Vermont, the hospital is still there if you want to verify this. I was brought into the NICU and cared for by one of the nurses. Reports were filed and time went by. After a week without answers, the state was called in to take custody. They asked the hospital staff if any of them would be interested in adopting the baby before they took it away. The head nurse that had been caring for me said that she and her husband had discussed it, and they would like to take me in. They weren’t able to have children of their own and this seemed like an answer to their prayers. Again, reports were filed and papers signed. I was legally a McMillan after that. I had a pretty normal childhood, hit all the milestones, and was generally an easy-going kid. When I was around six we vacationed in Maine, right on the coast. That was when things got weird.”
“What happened?” Tony asked as he walked into the diner.
I gave him a nod of acknowledgement and continued. “I saw the ocean for the first time. I remember it so clearly, like it happened an hour ago and not fifteen years in the past.” I laughed. “I ran into the waves, just up to my ankles. I loved the way it felt. The cool water licking my toes, the rough sand under my feet. I went back every day, the last day we went was different. Luckily we were the only ones on the beach at the time, the waves brought an injured seal onto the beach. I ran to her and put my hand on her side. The air around her almost shimmered and then there was a woman with a seal skin lying next to her.”

“A Selkie!” Thor said in awe.
“Yeah, she had felt my bonding with the ocean and made straight for me, she was injured along the way. She said she was dying and wanted to see her daughter one last time. Me. I hadn’t been born like the rest of her people. There was no skin for me to change into so that I could join my family in the sea. They asked a shifter to take me away from the sea, to a place where I would be safe from drowning should I be called by the water. I held her as she breathed her last. The sea came in and pulled us both back, like it was claiming both of us as its own. As she had died a child of the sea and I was born to her, the waters awakened my latent powers. Then it sent me back to the shore with my adoptive parents. I have spent the last fifteen years trying to learn how to use it and keep it from the world at large. Until Tasha found me.” I nodded at her and smiled, letting her know that I wasn’t upset and didn’t hold a grudge.
“All we know is that you can stay underwater for a heck of a long time,” Tony added. “Can you do more than that?”
“Show them Lily,” Sarah said as she handed out plates.
Jack locked the doors and then nodded to me. The pitcher was still beside me. I looked at it and held out my hand. The water began to rise and flow towards me. I let it dance around me and then formed it into a beautiful woman.