*Disclaimer: All Marvel characters belong to Marvel*
The aroma of Midnight Jasmine smoked the small room, billowing of sleek essence, smoldering lightly from a small oil heater that sat on a dresser. Fingers typed onto a Braille keyboard, the small limbs just about to give way from entering a long thoughtful sentence. There was a whimper below. At it's sound the girl turned, feeling the nudge of her wet nosed partner prodding her leg for attention. Mya sighed, wringing her fingers from stiffness within a small stretch.
"What's is it boy? Feeling hungry?"
She could hear his tongue out his mouth, whining out of excitement with a swoosh of his tail. Her small smile was kind, inhaling the scent that filled her lungs as she got up from her woodened seat. Walking on the limbered floor she called her companion with a signal of her hand, the dog following right after her in canine delight as they headed for a closet in the short hallway.
"Let's see…ah here…" Mya said, leaning for the hefty bag inside the door with her fingers, pulling it out onto the floor and dragging it behind her into the kitchen. The dog's paws pounded the floor, representing movement in Mya's ears as she scooped some chow into his bowl while a few tidbits dived onto the floor. Mya groaned at her mistake, holding the dish in her hand when done, peering down at the dog she thought he would be.
"Alex Sit." According to her blurred vision he did just so.
She grinned, placing the bowl onto the floor and rising up again, nodding her head at him. "Eat."
Alex's mouth friskily dove into the food, chomping the bits like he was about to die.
Mya exhaled a heavy sigh as she walked towards where the broom would be in the kitchen closet, feeling for the plastic pole with her hands and detaching the small dustpan from its bottom, sweeping up the food that fell on the pristine floor. It was hard for her to see the tiny dots that she hoped she scooped up, for her eyes did not have the best vision, hardly any vision at all. She threw the food away and proceeded into the living room that was only perpendicular to the kitchen. She plummeted onto the small sofa, her body relaxing into the soft cushions as she reached forward to the low table, grabbing a book that read in Braille, all the while listening to the sounds of cars and the wind that brushed her nape lightly from the open windows behind her. Mya could not use her sight for simple task like anyone with perfect sight could. For Mya, it was all about touch and scent, something a blind person like her could use to its full height—but not always the case with Mya years ago. And yes, her vision impairment did wreak havoc on her mind at times, though despite its flaws, Mya could not ask for an even better gift, only if she set it in her mind to view it as such. But was it really?
After thirty minutes of droned reading, there was a loud knock on her door, the walls of her small apartment echoing from its vibration. She looked up in surprise, heaving a sigh as she read the watch on her left wrist with her finger, knowing full well who would pound her door so loudly. The watch read 2:16 P.M. She groaned in exasperation, resting the book on her lap.
"Mya you in there?!"
"Yeah! Just wait a sec!" Mya shouted, vaulting up from the couch, stepping to the right to only partially trip over Alex's body who lied on the floor like a rug. Alex grumbled from her small mishap, shaking his head from drowse and confusion. Mya whispered "Sorry" to him with a sheepish grin, opening the door to visualize the person who she was related to, the person she referred to as her brother. Mya crossed her arms with her hip popped out, feeling a touch of warm air circle around her bare toes and arms.
"You're late, Bryan."
"And you think I didn't already know that?" Her brother retorted in an spiked tone, holding out a white bag in front of Mya's face. "Here take this…"
Mya could hardly see the white bag, her vision capturing a white-greyish blur in front of her eyes, though her nose caught the scent of grilled chicken emitting from the carrier. She reached for it, searching into it as she stepped back into the living room, heading into the kitchen. Her brother closed the door behind himself, leaving his green designer jacket on instead of hanging it up on the wall; he could feel the culpability of misdirected error water up his psyche. He peered over to where Alex was lying, stepping towards him to pet Alex for his own comfort. "At least you're not mad at me…"
Alex looked at him, erring him with his big brown eyes then standing up on all fours, shaking his body to then exit the living room into the kitchen.
Bryan's eyes dilated at Alex behavior, groaning to himself as he rose to straiten his body posture, pushing his big hands into his pockets as he followed his sisters trail.
(********)
"Bryan you know I wanted to go to the park to play. Why were you so late coming over here? We were supposed to have left at 1:30 have I remind you," Mya groused with her mouth partially full, eating the salad Bryan had bought for her.
Bryan stood next to the brown intricate table across from Mya, arms crossed appearing shamefaced with upturned eyebrows, his voice gentle with care.
"Mya there was traffic. You know how far it is from here and work." He paused, leaning forward on the chair with his hands as he observed Mya chew her food, her light russet eyes staring at the white space of the table.
"Besides Johnny… you know Johnny right? Was holding me back and you know how he just goes on and on about stupid things that only happens because of his stupid actions."
Mya swallowed, her eyes narrowing into trying to pin point the big mark that was in front of her, the muscles in her forehead trying to relax as she sought into understanding. "Okay well, you could have at least called so that I would have known you would be late." Her voice wasn't as strained as it was before; just a slight piqued as she licked the ranch dressing she felt was on her lips.
"Mmmm hmmm," Bryan moaned, shrugging to himself as to why he didn't think of that idea. "I guess I was just rushing so that I didn't have to hear your mouth."
Mya grinned with an ironical laugh, shaking her head. "And look at where you are now. Different concept, yet same result." Mya wiped her mouth with a napkin, beaming him a smile of reassurance. "But I forgive you." The tension in Bryan's bones dispersed, making a full smile as he went over to his sis, patting her shoulder. "Ah now those are the words I like to hear."
"Yeah I know how much you hate to upset me," Mya reminisced, the term special evoked in her mind. It was true. Bryan did hate to make Mya upset, but not because he was her sister, but mostly due to her disability. Some form of pity for Mya was implanted in his brain ever since her vision began to fade. But then again, he would enjoy nagging her now and then. Just the relationship between a brother and sister he thought.
"Yeah that's only because I pity you…"
"Ah I don't need your pity," Mya rebuffed with an added simper, smacking his face away from her cheek.
Bryan laughed as he flinched away. "Yeah well, at least you got someone who does show pity then no one at all."
"Oh please I got plenty." Bryan rubbed his nape, his eyes veering towards the floor while his other hand went into his pocket. "So you, uh, you still wanna go?" Mya's head turned towards him, a patent robotic expression on her face. "Yes?"
"Ok then let's go…" Bryan said, a small smile on his lips that was degraded with a voice of stale insincerity.
Listening to the sound of his voice, Mya smiled, nodding her head as she went to throw the container away and dishware into the sink. As she exited the kitchen into the hall she looked over to him, speaking in a soft voice, "Thanks Bryan…" before tiptoeing into the hallway.
Bryan glanced at her retreating form. The way she thanked him played a smile onto his lips, his demeanor just buoyed of taking her to the park. Bryan had other plans he wanted to do that day, but with the simple thanks Mya displayed just inspirited him even more.
(********)
The sun had no desire to hide above the citizens of Manhattan that day. The weather—not too hot or too cold, just the perfect temperature—the perfect day to go out and play some beautiful melodies. That was what Mya thought. The breeze brushed Mya's skin as she set up the area she would be relishing in for a good hour or so. Bryan helped her all the while, setting up the amplifier for the best sound quality and connecting the stringed instrument Mya played into one of its sockets. Alex just lied on the ground by the bench that was behind them, who deemed himself utterly useless unless called upon. Those who were curious viewed them set up, being bystanders before the show even started. When everything was ready Mya grabbed the electronic violin that Bryan handed to her, checking the sound it emitted for play with the stroke of her bow. She smiled, content with the sound it produced. She pushed up the big glasses that were settled on her nose, grinning as she soothed the strings of the instrument with her bow, the sound emitting soft music that attracted the ears and eyes of individuals who strolled along the walking path.
(********)
The crowded streets were similar to cawing, bustling birds in a forest. Some people went into shops and clothing stores, others into restaurants and cafes; those with formal wear entered into small and big businesses with briefcases or backpacks in a hurry. People dawdled along in their stressed business and worldly anxieties, love and pleasure, all of which unbeknownst to them of the bigger picture of what their world was coming to. They were so blind. In Loki's mind they were. Blind and pathetic.
Loki trekked down the streets of New York Manhattan, observing one of the cities he would soon be ruling over, but of course all under an invisible coating of his own power. He observed how the humans communicated with each other and behaved. They all appeared the same as did those in his home adoptive world Asgard—people laughing, smiling, giving and talking, it was all too familiar to him, almost finding himself in a state of wistfulness, something he immediately extinguished from his centerline of emotion. Loki wasn't just in the city to see the state of human activity, but also to admire the perfect location he would conjure his army to commence, arriving via portal right on top of 'Stark Towers'. Standing in the very spot to have Stark Towers tower over him, the colossal structured building gleamed in the massive sunlight, it windows and metallic walls glinting in response. Loki's lips pushed up into a smirk, his eyes lighted up in a lazy state.
Soon enough the Chitauri army will all be summoned under my command. To this city it shall make quite the impression of my glamour… Loki cogitated, simpering to himself over his own thoughts.
Loki then felt a hard push on his shoulder, making him lurch forward that zapped him away from his thoughts to incline a sneer at the person who brushed his body. It was a man, tall and sturdy, who seemed to have failed to notice who he had bumped into as he walked on forward to the left of Loki, clearly oblivious, but of course the man could not see him. With an expression of scorn, Loki straightened himself proper, eyeing the man to only lift a finger out of his pocket. Loki smiled in derision, watching the idiotic man trip on nothing, landing face first onto the concrete ground while people watched in shock and mockery. Hm, poor mortal failed to even ever notice one's own space…and balance… Loki snickered, walking away as his body filled in the pleasure of quiet impishness.
Loki continued to observe the city, taking mental notes of certain buildings and human behavior. He would have gone back to his base by now since he's been sightseeing for a good hour or two. Despite his intentions and motives, he really just preferred taking in the air of the open atmosphere than the aroma that the tunnel offered; it was rather unpleasant to him.
The God of Mischief soon found himself in an area where people were in a form of leisure and enjoyment. Children played on a type of poled structure that was hinged with slides and swings while adults would run on a type of path or sit at a table playing some form of game. Loki's eyebrows rose in constellation.
Hmm…so this is what they do as means of recreation? Very similar in ways it would be in Asgard… Loki thought as he continued to veer onwards through the park, his hands behind his back with nimble steps.
Loki soon discovered what he was walking through was called 'Central Park' and decided to take note of this. After a few minutes of strolling in the park, Loki stopped his steps. He looked at the few people walking passed him, gazed at the breezy trees and blue sky above, even taking in a relaxed breathe of composure with his eyes closed. Loki was satisfied with what he uncovered today— the buildings of the city was rather impressive to Loki, for he was not one to be easily mystified. The way the humans acted was to familiar to him, but he felt they were tolerable to an extent. And the way he observed a teeny weenie child bossing its mother around while he walked in the park only made his stomach turn in disgust. All humans, he felt, needed to learn discipline and subjugation, and when he became king, that would all soon change, for this was what they truly craved. With those gratifying thoughts crisped in his mind, Loki made a turn in the other direction, all of which his feet ceased to advance when a certain play of music filled his ears.