He'd gone too far this time and he knew it. The evidence was everywhere. Broken furniture, picture frames. Hell, there were even a few holes in the walls, plaster falling and collecting in small piles beneath them.
Then, there was the smell of blood and sweat. Stained linoleum in the kitchen, drag marks from broken fingernails. She'd made him so fucking angry, though. She knew how he got.
She'd been planning to leave for the night, stay at a "friend's". He knew the signs of cheating, afterall he did it himself. But a man has needs, and his woman had no right to do that to him!
He looked around, disgusted. He'd have to leave, her father would not overlook this.
Glancing at the prone, beaten, bloodied form of his girlfriend one last time, he grabbed his things and nearly left right then. But, he had one more idea.
*Vibrations*
Steve kept telling Tony not to worry, Winnie had taken time away from her superhero family more than once. But Tony felt in his gut that things were different this time. And, without telling anyone but Vision, Tony had suited up and flown to her Brooklyn apartment.
It was a Sunday evening around 8 o'clock. Winnie always took Sundays off to relax at home. Saturdays were for friends, Fridays for homework.
The lights were off in her condo, but her car was outside. Was she sick? More worried now, Tony pushed the doorbell button.
No answer. He waited for a few minutes more, pushed it again, and then turned the knob. It wasn't even locked!
Inside, his worst fears were realised. He didn't know or care exactly what happened yet, Tony was more focused on his unconscious and beaten daughter.
Without hesitation he ordered Friday to run an assessment. Winnie had a broken cheekbone, several cracked ribs, sprains in both wrists and was missing 3 fingernails.
Friday recommended that he look around for her assailant. Further investigation of her home only found her missing fingernails, however, stuck in the woodgrain of her living room floor.
He felt ready to explode with rage. Carefully, he lifted his little girl, who cared that she was 25?, and flew to the nearest hospital.
*Vibrations*
Winnie had never felt more pain in her life. Every breathe hurt, every readjustment in her hospital bed was agony. The doctor, through a certified interpreter, explained that most of the pain was coming from her ribs.
She was also feeling afraid, and even heartbroken. While Winnie couldn't remember precisely what happened, she knew that it was over between her and Adrian.
They had gotten in a fight, he was being controlling and accusatory again, and she had had enough. Told him to pack his shit. It had hurt. She loved him, but she always had this niggling feeling that he was using her to get to Tony Stark, her father.
A lot of men were like that towards her.
But, she realised, perhaps it was better her dad had never met him. Afterall, she could just say that they had broken up and… well, someone had broken in and beaten her up. No connection at all.
She couldn't tell him. He'd think it had happened before and ask more questions. It hadn't ever been this bad before. Usually the bruises weren't even visible, Adrian was a rough kind of person. It was just… hard to leave him.
Before she could try to process what had happened any more, though, her family arrived. She hadn't been able to peer into a mirror yet, but from their shocked, angry, and sad expressions, it was probably pretty bad.
Steve and Natasha had come, Bruce was missing although that wasn't surprising. He didn't need the stress. Then there was her father, and most surprising, Thor.
She waved them inside. The nurse looked unhappy, but the Stark family was the main benefactor of the hospital and could hardly complain.
The interpreter, no longer needed at the moment, left the family alone.
"What happened, Winnie?" Steve signed haltingly. He could follow along sign language well enough, but his own hand movements were never confident.
Winnie was able to speak, although it was rather toneless. She preferred sign language but with her hands in bad condition, she resorted to audible speech.
"I think someone broke in. It's all rather fuzzy."
"Where was Adrian?" This question was signed by Natasha. Her expression was rather dark and Winnie felt the urge to confess all right then. Instead, she stuck with the story.
"We broke up last night and he left."
"What was his name again?" Her father's tone was forbidding and she hesitated before spelling it.
"Interesting. Because some blood we found in your apartment was a match for someone named Adrian Bustemonte."
Winnie felt all blood drain from her face and she looked out the window, trying to breathe evenly. It wasn't working. And especially because of the next thing Tony Stark said.
Natasha stepped beside her and turned Winnie's head back to the group. Tony wasted no time.
"There was another DNA match. In the semen found… on you."
He was being kind. She could tell. Natasha touched her shoulder and stood by Steve's side once more.
Winnie said, finally. "I… Daddy… I don't even remember."
Crying hurt. It was agony, but that made it even harder to stop. Tony caged his anger momentarily and held his daughter until she fell asleep.
"I'll kill him." Tony said to his fellow Avengers. "I'll kill him stone cold dead."
Steve's face was a hard mask, the redness the only sign of his own struggle at tethering his rage. Thor had watched everything in silence, understanding the reason Tony contacted him slowly but surely.
"You want her to come to Asgard." Thor guessed.
Tony blinked, seemingly remembering the god's presence. "Yeah. Yes. I don't think she should go back to school. I'd keep her at the tower, but she'd resent it." Tony paused, mulling it over. "If we play it like a vacation, I think she'd be okay with it. She's been wanting to go for a long time, study your animals a bit."
Thor frowned. "I'm afraid mortals are very rarely invited to Asgard as leisure. But perhaps we can convince my father that it is for her protection. He is likely to grant asylum."
Steve opened his mouth, angry, but promptly shut it again from a jab of Natasha's elbow.
Tony decided to take what he could get. "I'd appreciate it more than you know, Thor."
Rarely through the years had Tony referred to the god of thunder by his birth name, and it seemed to impress upon him the importance of this task. Thor left promptly, using the Bifrost from the hospital's helicopter landing pad.
Tony looked over at his daughter. Her face was scrunched up, probably in pain from the crying. Her cheek had been broken in four places, likely from a punch. The plastic surgeon said she was lucky. The force should have shattered that entire side of her face and likely killed her.
Someone was going to die, and it wasn't Winona Stark.
He glanced at Nat. "Get all the information you can on Bustemonte. I'm gonna make the sick fuck regret he was born."
*Vibrations*
Thor sought an audience with his father upon his arrival. Despite his future as crowned prince, the eldest Odinson was still nervous speaking to his father as King of the Nine Realms. He thought about seeking out Loki, Thor always felt like a stronger speaker around his brother, but dismissed the idea in the interest of time.
As it turned out, Loki was talking to their mother when Thor entered the throne room.
Odin greeted him right away, before he could even bow.
"My son, how was your visit to Midgard?"
"While I always enjoy the company of my mortal friends, it wasn't the leisurely visit I had hoped for."
"What troubles the Realm this time?" Frigga spoke up, sounding exasperated.
"Not the entire Realm, this time, Mother." Thor said, smiling slightly. "It's more of a personal matter this time. Tony Stark's daughter is in danger, and he has asked us to provide asylum for her."
"What kind of danger?" Loki asked.
Thor glanced at him, shocked by his participation, before saying, "A former lover nearly killed her."
"Barbarians." Loki muttered, directed towards Frigga.
"A man layed hands on her?" Frigga clarified.
"Yes."
She pressed her lips together until they were nearly white. His mother had always made an effort to help Aesir women in crisis. Her formidable gaze turned to her husband.
Odin frowned, feeling the weight of his wife's unhappiness.
"Very well, son. We grant the daughter of Stark sanctuary here until the Midgardians solve this problem. She will have the full protection of the royal family whilst here, because of your friend's continued efforts to bring justice to the Nine Realms."
Thor bowed deeply. "Thank you, father."
Odin granted him a small smile before waving him away. "I assume you will make sure her journey here as comfortable and seemless as possible, Thor."
Hearing a dismissal, Thor departed once more, stopping only to send a messenger to Jane about the situation. He was sure his wife would love the company of another Midgardian woman.
*Vibrations*
The worst of it, Winnie thought, was that her mother wasn't there. She wanted her mom so badly, but the wife of Tony Stark had been caught in the crossfire some 10 years ago, and had not survived the trip to the hospital.
Natasha was there, though, holding her hand and signing rapidly with the other, distracting the younger girl during the dreaded, but necessary, pelvic examination.
She hadn't wanted an interpreter there for obvious reasons, and Natasha had volunteered without hesitation.
Natasha explained that pregnancy was possible, but since it had happened just the day before, she could take a "morning-after" pill, which Winnie agreed too, despite the fact that it would cause more pain and nausea.
The thought of carrying Adrian's child was more sickening, however, making the decision… not easier maybe, but logically simpler.
The exam was over. The doctor recommended lots of rest and a referral to a psychiatrist for trauma. Winnie left without making an appointment with said psychiatrist. Natasha said nothing of it.
The drive to her father's tower was blessedly short, and she made it to her own level just as she started to feel sick. Natasha stayed with her until Winnie fell into a fitful sleep.
*Vibrations*
"Thor's back."
The Avengers were on the level that Tony referred to as "the Loft". Bruce had joined them, but refused to be present for any discussion of revenge. He was so very angry and one more word…. Well, he was feeling a little *green*.
"Already?" Steve asked.
Vision nodded. "He just arrived, actually." He pointed to the ceiling.
"I'll retrieve him." Steve said, before walking towards the elevator. He returned with the god moments later.
"Point Break!" Tony toasted him, swaying slightly with his alcohol consumption. "Good news from daddy, I hope."
"Indeed, man of Iron." Thor was quietly relieved at the return of the nickname. "She can come to Asgard whenever she is ready, and will remain there until the problem is solved."
They collectively looked at Natasha, who was looking rather worn. She raised her eyebrows. "She's rather ill at the moment. It should at least wait until morning." She looked pointedly at Tony. "Have you even talked to her about her little 'vacation'?"
He shrugged. "She'll be thrilled, Nat. You worry too much."
Bruce sighed loudly. "I'm going to check on her."
As the doctor left, Steve asked, "Did it take much convincing?"
Thor shook his head. "Domestic violence is heavily dealt with in Asgard, my own mother, the queen, is actively involved in the rare cases there are. I gave them just basic information and the decision was made almost instantly to assist her."
Steve smiled slightly at this.
They all retired to their own respective floors after that, mulling over Winnie's unfortunate situation.
*Vibrations*
"Asgard?" Winnie was excited, but knew her voice was as flat as ever. "Of course, I'd love to go."
Her father looked immensly relieved, and she realised it was probably less for her enjoyment and more for his peace of mind. This did not bother her, though. The opposite, really. She grabbed his calloused hand and squeezed, giving him a brittle smile.
"I'm feeling much better today. Not nauseous anymore." She continued quickly on, neither individual wanting to dwell on the "why" of her sickness. "I'll start packing right away."
She swung her legs off the bed, wincing only slightly at the movement, and Tony helped her retrieve her suitcase from the closet. It only took her about 15 minutes to pack, as Thor had explained that clothes and toiletries would be provided for her. Still, she took some of her favorite books, her softest sweater, as well as her small harp.
Her father tapped her on the shoulder. He signed, "Where is your large harp? We couldn't find it in your apartment?"
She tensed. "It... Was broken."
He looked deathly angry, before turning away abruptly. She resumed packing, trying not to dwell on the loss of her prized possession. That had happened weeks ago, Adrian, of course. As silly as it was, that was the loss Winnie felt most acutely.
Her mother had bought her that harp. Despite her deafness, Winnie was quite the talented musician. She loved the way it felt when she played, the small vibrations seemed to reach her very soul.
Well, her small harp would have to be good enough, for the time being. Her father had recovered while she was pondering the tiny thing, and helped her carry the luggage to the roof where Thor was waiting.
She smiled at him, knowing she looked a fright, but he seemed to look past her injuries and gently gripped her shoulder.
"We are delighted to have you, Winnie."
Thor had not signed, but Winnie could read lips just fine. She nodded her response.
She gave a quick hug to everyone before she left, sad that Bruce was missing, before Thor slung her luggage over his massive shoulder. He gripped her arm again and looked to the sky. Within moments, they were flying through the cosmos.
Winnie watched as they flew past planets, galaxies, black holes, and nebulae. She was stunned when they passed an exploding star. It was only later that she realised such a sight should have blinded her. But it was too beautiful to be distracted by logic.
They landed in a circular room, rather softly. Thor held on to her until he was sure that she was steady before greeting a dark-skinned man dressed in golden armor.
"Heimdall. Thank you."
The man seemed to be twice Winnie's height, but he inclined his head towards her in a friendly manner.
His lips shaped his greeting. "Welcome to Asgard, Miss Stark."
They crossed the rainbow bridge. Even though it seemed to stretch on for miles, the trip to the palace gates only took moments. Winnie was glad to be off of the bridge however. While she wasn't afraid of heights, the abyss below the city seemed ominous.
Thor had already told her of the formalities. The King would welcome her to Asgard. She did not need to bow like Thor did, as she was not technically Odin Allfather's subject, but she could bow her head and thank him for the hospitality.
What she wasn't prepared for, and neither, it seemed was Thor, was the rush of the queen immediately to Winnie's side.
Frigga was speaking too fast for Winnie to read her lips, but she understood by Thor's chagrined look that he was being chastined.
Winnie would have found it funny, but she knew it probably had to do with the state of herself. She caught the eye of another man, standing beside the throne with Frigga before she had darted over. His expression was mostly blank, aside from his firmly pressed together lips.
Suddenly, she found herself ushered away, not even able to greet the king as she was supposed to, and found herself in a wing of the castle that seemed to be a clinic.
Again, Winnie felt that perhaps she should be embarrassed. Natasha had combed her hair before they had departed, because she still avoided mirrors. But Winnie wasn't one to be dragged around, and she dug her heels in, despite the pain.