She had stayed this way for a couple of years now. At least, she thought she had. The little tallies she had marked in her small notebook she had been gifted did little to give an accurate representation of time. The days felt far longer than any earth day, the five suns that graced the sky stayed high in the sky for almost double the time her earth sun did.
Life was menial here on Sakaar. She remained the Grandmaster's treasure, thankfully locked away and safe, tending regularly to the garden, which had grown thrice the size since she had arrived. She was urged to perform her 'magic' to any company the Grandmaster had, and required to dance before the Champions fight. She would twirl and leap gracefully onto the battleground, much like a little wood nymph, earning deafening screams from the crowds before she took her place up in the V.I.P box, on the left of the Grandmaster, to watch countless challengers face the mighty Champion.
She had recognised on her second stay in Sakaar that the Grandmaster's champion was none other than The Hulk himself.
He had stood in the cover of a shadow in the cool evening and watched as she tended to the newly budding garden. She'd felt the heavy stare on her and turned fearfully, backing herself up into a tall apple tree. He had not been the first to investigate the Grandmaster's newest treasure and the hungry, predatory stares she had received all day had made her excessively paranoid.
"H-hello?" She called to the tall figure.
He stepped forward and realisation dawned on her instantly.
The tall green figure looked oddly shy considering his size, as he stepped sheepishly forward looking longingly at the garden she had made.
"Home?" His deep voice rumbled uncertainly.
She smiled softly, stepping away from the apple tree. "It does remind one of Earth, doesn't it?" she said softly, wistfully.
"Earth no like Hulk" He said sadly, stopping in his tracks looking at her apprehensively.
Her brow furrowed delicately.
"Earth loves Hulk. You're our hero." She said softly, smiling at him.
"People scared of Hulk." He said, coming slightly closer to the garden.
She patted the space next to where she was sitting, smiling in encouragement.
"They just don't understand." She said, reaching her hand up toward the tree. A branch with a particularly big red apple twisted down to her hand obediently. She picked the apple holding it out to him.
He shuffled forward before sitting next to her, taking the apple and eating it. He groaned in appreciation.
"Hulk miss Earth, but people here love Hulk." He said, torn.
She lay back on the grass, looking up at the night sky. She understood his inner debate. She missed home too. The people at home were not different from Sakaar; they were backward, violent and selfish. The only difference was that Sakaar celebrated her differences, Earth hated them. But, the nature, that could not be more different between the two realms. Earth, though struggling, was still endlessly beautiful. Sakaar, well Sakaar was a junkyard. The only piece of green in Sakaar was the being sitting next to her and the garden she created.
"Earth was beautiful." She whispered wistfully.
Hulk lay down next to her, looking up at the sky in the same manner she did.
"Sakaar beautiful too. You make it beautiful. Like Earth." She smiled at his compliment.
"Thanks, Big Guy," She said softly.
"It is nice to have a friend from home" She continued, smiling at him.
"Friend?" He questioned carefully.
She held out a wild daisy to him. "Friend."
He smiled softly, twining the flower into the woven necklace he wore.
"Hulk never have friend before."
"Neither have I."
They fell into a comfortable silence, gazing wistfully up at the sky that looked so different from home.
She felt lucky, though it was exhausting and a little degrading performing for the Grandmaster like an obedient pet, she was grateful for the high position she held. Most that came to Sakaar were forced to become slaves or fighters. It was rare to become so favoured, and to be completely fair, she didn't mind what she did. It was refreshing to be able to express her abilities so freely, and the sky scraper was much more homier to live in now; over the two years she had slowly decorated, on the request of the Grandmaster, and it now inhabited plants and flowers of all kinds, filling it with a myriad of colours and a fresh exotic scent. Her own quarters had been transformed into its own plant sanctuary, with her deciding to forego the queen-size bed she had been so generously gifted, for a den of leaves and vines suspended high in some indoor trees.
In absolute reality, it should not be possible for plants to grow this way, nor survive without sun and water. But this was her gift, and so plants lived as long as she did, growing and shaping to her will, thriving off her own life essence. Her only real complaint about Sakaar was the name she was so creatively given. 'Flower' would not have been among her first choices, but she had little complain about, she guessed, considering she had not been given a name before. It was nice being given an identity other than 'Mutant'.
"You've been summoned." One of the slave girls interrupted her thoughts. Hastily stowing away her notebook, she leapt from her 'bed', coming over to the girl fearfully.
"Do you know why? I'm not usually summoned this early." She asked the girl, looking to her whiteless eyes, trying not to shiver at the black abyss that stared so hatefully toward her.
The slave smirked, almost hatefully.
"Word is, the Grandmaster has found a Magician, a real one, that can do more than just grow a few plants." She whispered hatefully.
Fear struck Flower's heart and she stepped back fearfully as though she had been struck.
"Y-You mean..." She whispered.
"You're getting replaced." The slave finished spitefully, taking joy in the smaller woman's fear.
Flower stumbled forward, a deep seated dread in her stomach as she navigated her way to The Grandmaster's chambers.
She couldn't be getting replaced could she? Could there really be another that could do what she did and more? She entered the audience chamber with her head lowered, kneeling in front of the throne respectfully.
"Ahh, my flower! She is of the same kind you tried to conquer, sorcerer!" The Grandmaster's long finger lifted her head by the chin. Her wide violet eyes looked into his eyes fearfully and he laughed jovially.
"Still so skittish! Is all her kind like this?" He asked, looking at her with an endearing smile.
"One could only wish. The humans were vile, outspoken and entitled." The new deep voice, caught her attention and she gasped at the sight of him.
"Y-you?" She asked, scuttling back in fear.
Before her, sitting to the right of the Grandmaster was Loki. The god that had come to Earth in attempts to conquer it. He was dressed in a suit, his dark hair slicked back, slouched in his seat comfortably. His eyes appraised her hungrily.
The Grandmaster laughed at her fear.
"You recognise him?" He questioned excitedly.
She nodded, still slowly backing up. She hit something hard and gasped looking behind her. It was Loki, and she squeaked flinching away.
"Little mortal, why are you so scared of me?" He chuckled stepping forward toward her.
Thorned vines grew around her protectively as she shuffled away from him.
"Exquisite." He said, coming closer to her, looking upon her hungrily, grabbing her ankle, stopping her pursuit.
"What is this ability you have?" He asked in awe.
She didn't answer instead choosing to play with the flowers that entwined the white dress she wore, trying to ignore the fear she felt so deeply.
They were interrupted by loud clapping.
"You like your gift?" Questioned the Grandmaster.
Loki looked upon her again, drinking in her petite form, slightly shaking in fear, wide violet eyes looking up at his own tearfully.
"I love it." He affirmed smirking at the older man.