I loved dreaming. If I was honest with myself, – which I usually tried hard not to be – I liked it better than real life. For in my dreams I was running again, while the wind tousled my hair, and I squinted against the bright sun.
Waking up never got easier. I felt my heart sink every time I opened my eyes, and my word stayed black. And because of that feeling I hated myself even more; I didn't have it that bad. How many people would have survived such an accident? And how many could live with the Avengers after that?
Still, mornings were bad.
'Good morning, Nyree,' I heard Tony's voice.
'Morning,' I grumbled back. 'Did you get some sleep tonight?'
'Not really, but don't worry about me, can I do anything for you?'
'Nah, I don't feel like eating yet.'
'You sure? If you need anything, just ask.'
'Yes, yes,' I muttered back. I felt my way to the living room, and found the couch.
'Nobody's sitting on the couch?' I asked.
'Nope,' I heard Tony call from the kitchen. Good, I thought, and dropped myself on it.
After laying there for a while, I heard footsteps coming closer.
'You sure you don't need anything?'
'Hundred percent Tony.'
'You do have to eat.'
'Yeah, yeah, later.'
I heard some noise, and an opening door. Suddenly an icy tension filled the room.
'Okay, what just happened?' I asked.
'We've got a guest,' Tony answered. I felt him step closer to me, protectively.
'And who is this guest?' I sighed, not entirely interested.
'I had expected a bigger welcoming comity, honestly.' I recognised that voice – only from video, but still, I knew it.
'Okay, what the hell is he doing here?'
'I wonder that too.' The low, dangerous rumble was Clint.
'You know why, Barton,' I heard Thor say, 'it is part of the agreement.'
'Agreement?' No one had told me about an agreement.
'Loki can get reduction of sentence, if he manages to behave, here.' That was Natasha. She, too, didn't sound overly enthusiastic.
'We went over that before,' the boredom dripped of Loki's voice, 'may I come in?' No one answered, though I could hear leathery, confident footsteps coming nearer.
'Not there,' I heard Clint say. The footsteps stopped.
'I see,' Loki mused. 'She is the lamb of the group, why- o, never mind. She can't see. Well, I won't hurt her, do not worry, you don't need to stand by her like that. 'I clenched my teeth, and gripped the nearest object I could find; it felt like a remote of some kind. With all force I threw it towards his voice. It clattered to the ground.
'I don't need protection.'
'That was way off.'
'Nyree.'
'Loki. It is an honour, Lady Nyree.'
'Next time it won't miss.'
'I will try to remember,' he sounded amused. 'Now we have all gotten to know each other, I would like to retreat to my chambers.'