Chapter 2
A/N: Well dang. I was definitely not expecting to get the response that I did from posting this story.
To Feyen, wolflover72335, RAINRAIN9, AngelVamp6688, supernaturalxfan172, LoveLive218, Wolflihood, and Soulfulness: Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews! They made me want to write all day!
So . . . I saw Avengers for the 4th time today (I know, I'm just a little bit of a fan), and I couldn't take it anymore, so I wrote more. So here you go! Sorry, not much Steve in this chapter, but I'll fix that soon enough ;D
Thanks for reading!
They walked through the metallic grey hallways side by side, a comfortable silence having rested between them. As they neared the bridge, two more sets of footsteps could be heard echoing in the corridor, and soon enough they came up on Natasha and Dr. Banner walking toward them.
"We were just coming to get you," explained the Black Widow, her hard features softening at the sight of her friend. "Director Fury has instructed me to bring you two boys to the bridge," she looked pointedly at Steve and Bruce, "and to show you to Medical, so you can set things up however you like." Aglaia's amber eyes brightened with excitement and her lips spread into a smile. A new, state of the art Medical Bay- and it's all hers. It was almost like Christmas.
The three of them- Aglaia, Steve, and Bruce- followed Natasha through more twists and turns in the ship and finally through a set of double glass doors and onto the bridge. Computers lined the walls of the room and both men and women sat typing or searching the database for- something. Aglaia couldn't see what. They walked into the center of the raised platform where a large table stood, and also where stood Director Fury. The Director had always intimidated Aglaia, as he did many people, and his unpatched eye seemed to analyze her as she walked into the room.
Many people turned from their screens to see who had entered and she could feel all of their eyes upon her- sizing her up and gauging her worth. She slowly stood a little taller and her chin came up slightly. Even to these people, she didn't want to show weakness, because she was the one people were to look to when they were weakest. To seem unfit for duty or scared could psychologically lower other peoples' views of her, and as a doctor, she needed to be given high regard. If she lost their respect now, she may not be able to save them later.
"Nice to see you, Dr. Lark," said Fury, "I hope I didn't startle you too much with my call." His mouth curved slightly and Aglaia mockingly glared at him.
"Next time you wish to ask a favor, you may want to check the time. 3 a.m. isn't normally a time when I take calls."
Out of the corner of her eye, Aglaia could see Natasha smile. She personally knew how much Aglaia loved her sleep. Steve and Bruce both walked past her, Dr. Banner seemingly looking for the nearest unguarded exit and Steve merely looking around him in awe. As he approached Fury, his hand delved into his pocket and he retrieved a ten-dollar bill, which he promptly gave to the Director. Agent Coulson, on seeing Aglaia, walked over to her and embraced her. After a moment, he took a step back from her, smiles on both their faces.
"You seem to be keeping yourself well, Muse," he joked lightly, "I'm sorry I haven't been around for the holidays, I've missed you terribly."
"I've missed you too, Uncle Phil," she replied; genuinely glad to see the man who had basically raised her. She saw Natasha crouch to look at a screen on the level below them.
"Nat, where's Clint?" she asked quietly. Coulson, Fury, and Natasha all went quiet and still. Natasha's face was downcast.
"He's been taken," Natasha said in a voice barely above a whisper. Aglaia stood straighter and exhaled. Truthfully, she had noticed the archer's absence since she was onboard; they were good friends, so in all rights he should have been out to greet her when she arrived.
Aglaia's attention turned back to the Director as he spoke again.
"Agent Romanoff, please show Dr. Lark to her new facilities, along with Dr. Banner."
Natasha nodded and began to stride out of the room, Aglaia and Bruce following.
"You two are going to love it, we've got all the toys," she said confidently, and Bruce followed quietly. As Aglaia was closing the glass door on her way off the bridge, she looked back at Steve, whose eyes were following her. She gave a small smile, and he nodded politely before she turned away to catch up with her fellow doctor and her friend.
The medical facility was right next to Dr. Banner's lab and they even had a glass wall conjoining the two rooms, which was a welcome sight to Aglaia- she never really liked being alone. There were eight beds, four on the left and right walls, and they were all lines with crisp white sheets. In the rear of the facility was a curtained-off room full of the latest surgical equipment. As she continued exploring, Aglaia found a door in the far corner of the room. There was nothing special about it, simply white like the rest of the room with a silver handle. She turned the knob and pushed the door open, revealing a simple room. A lone table sat in the middle with a desk light perched upon it. The thing that surprised Aglaia was that the room was full of shelves. Bowls of all sizes lined the walls and bottles and vials stood wherever there was room. In the back corner, potted plants were tied down like everything else. The shock of green in the white room brought a smile to Aglaia's face.
She walked over to the plants and upon inspecting them, they seemed to be every-day plants, but she knew better. Aloe, chamomile, mint, rosemary, thyme, and witch hazel all grew splendidly in the dark soil. Aglaia ran her fingers over the dark green of the mint leaves, savoring the feel of the seemingly foreign earthen treasures in the stark, white room. A knock on the door brought her out of her reverie and she turned to find Natasha standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"I figured you'd like this," she said simply. She strode into the center of the room and picked up the leather-bound book from off the table. Aglaia had failed to notice it was there.
"I figured you would want to still use your own balms and treatments," she walked the last few steps to Aglaia, "Hope you don't mind, I raided your office." She smiled and Aglaia mirrored her.
"Thanks, Nat. It really means a lot," replied Aglaia as she took the book from Natasha's outstretched hand. The cool leather felt good on her palm, and the weight felt solid in her hand.
"Here," said Natasha, holding out a closed fist to Aglaia, "You'll be needing this." Aglaia placed an open palm below Natasha's and a small earwig dropped into it. Aglaia looked up to her friend, confused.
"You always like to be in control," explained Natasha, "this way, I can keep you informed." Aglaia nodded and Natasha continued, "Besides," her eyes glinted mischievously, "I saw how you looked at Captain Rogers today." Aglaia laughed nervously in response.
"No. No, no, no. It's nothing like that-" her face turned redder by the second and she couldn't make eye contact with Natasha. Natasha threw her head back and laughed. Aglaia's eyes shot to her friend and glared at her.
"It's not a bad thing!" exclaimed Natasha, still giggling, "but anyway," she sobered, "this earpiece will let you hear and talk to me, and visa versa," she suddenly put her hand to her right ear and stood silently. After a moment, she looked back at Aglaia.
"Fury's calling. They've found a face match to Loki in Stuttgart, and they're sending in your Captain. I'm supposed to follow in a jet," she turned and walked out of the room but halted in the doorway and looked back at her friend.
"Try not to get into too much trouble without me," she winked and left Aglaia alone with her plants and book.
It had been an hour since Natasha and Steve had left, and most of that time Aglaia spent familiarizing herself with the different plants and extracts that lined the walls of her, as she dubbed it, "Herb Room", and now she was bored. There had been nothing interesting from Natasha, and so she decided to try to find her Uncle. She wandered through the bland grey halls of the hellicarrier, her strides long and slow.
"I wonder, I wonder
I wonder why each
Little bird has someone
To sing to sweet things to
A gay little love melody?
I wonder, I wonder
If my heart keeps singing
Will my song go winging
To someone who'll find me
And bring back a love song to me?"
She sang softly, the song a distant memory from her childhood. She never knew why she sang children's songs such as this, but whenever she wished to sing, they were the first to her mind. The notes were sweet and loving, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice as she sang the last few lines.
"Still singing the same tunes, I see," said her Uncle as he walked around the corner in front of her, coming into her line of sight. Her smile broadened.
"They never lose their magic, Uncle Phil," she replied, stepping closer to him and weaving her elbow through his, "besides," she countered, "would you rather me sing some of the things one hears on the radio today?" He shook his head and a small smile lit up his worn features.
"I would sit this one out, Cap, these guys come straight from legend, they're basically Gods," Natasha's voice rang in Aglaia's ear. Her head snapped up and her body stiffened. Coulson turned to her and asked what troubled her.
"Nat gave me an earwig," she answered, "and it sounds like they have company aboard the flight home." She heard a muffled reply through the earpiece, one of Natasha's frustrated huffs, and then all seemed quiet. She and Coulson stood together in the middle of the empty hallway, him patiently waiting for her. She put her hand to her ear and touched the device.
"Natasha? What's going on?" she asked timidly, not wanting to push the Black Widow when she was stressed.
"From the looks of it, you're going to have some bruises to heal when we get back on board," Natasha said flatly, and Aglaia looked up at her uncle, her hand falling from her ear.
"Looks like I better suit up."