Chapter 7

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Luke once again was up early, but this time he'd been urged awake by the unmistakable sensation that Thor was in trouble. It was though he could feel his love's heart pounding, causing him to look around desperately for the larger man. Only then to remember that he wasn't here. It was so overwhelming, in fact that he nearly shook Steve awake to tell him, as though they could do something despite Thor being hundreds of miles away

But as he looked around the still dark room, the more he convinced himself that it must've just been a dream. One he couldn't quite remember, but still felt the edges of. Even that fading away now as though it had never been there. Quietly he slipped out of bed and headed to the shower to wash the remaining traces of his uneasiness away.

But as stood afterwards, wrapped only in a bath towel around his waist and swiped away the steam gathered on the mirror, he looked upon the face that was his and yet not his. His mind reeling as a snowball of doubt took hold, pushed by Not Luke's voice sounding far too logical in his already emotional state.. Why did Thor have to leave? Everything was going so well. Was he really going home or was he visiting Sif perhaps? Why did Nat have to leave as well? Was she only here to really deliver the folder? Was she just using him? Was Thor? Why did everyone always leave?

He could feel the rage building but felt helpless to stop it. Pushed by his thoughts, he was so furious and wanted to yell out, he grabbed the edges of the sink so hard his knuckles paled as he looked upon his own reflection in such anger. Suddenly, the mirror shattered, causing Luke to jump back with a start. Staring at it in disbelief, his spiraling thoughts forgotten in an instant. Then Steve was suddenly barging in, Luke was looking at him in the same surprise.

"I never touched it, I swear," he breathed desperately. "It just…broke."

"All on it's own," Steve asked in slight disbelief, going over to hold Luke far too gently by the shoulders as he checked him over.

"Yes, I swear it Steve, look," He said holding out his hands to show that there was no blood or scratches on the knuckles. Though he knew it wasn't true. He may not have physically touched the mirror, but he felt his powers flex at the same time it broke. Not that he'd ever tell his friend that.

Steve looked around the bathroom curiously and sighed in relief when he looked up. "Look there, the air conditioning vent blows right on it. The heat from the shower must of warmed it up and when the AC kicked on, it cracked. " He supplied smiling as he looked back upon his friend. Relieved to find a plausible answer that didn't involve Luke flipping out and breaking mirrors again.

"Go on, go get dressed, I'll clean this up," He said in his usual friendly manner.

Luke couldn't believe it, how Steve could remain so…well Steve. He was truly a gift of a friend. Luke felt a little bad for not telling him the truth, but how could he? Doing so would only lead to more questions that he really didn't want to answer right now, or even began to know how to answer.

When Steve emerged, the leaner man was now dressed and bent over the bar where he sat, coloring away with his new colored pencils.

"You sure you're okay," he asked the leaner man in concern as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Luke just hummed and nodded in response, not looking up.

"Not as good as Nat's I'm afraid," Luke commented dryly. " She's got a gift with coffee."

"That she does," Steve replied and set about making omelets with the leftover steak from last night.

"I don't think I'm ready to face food yet," Luke stated closing his journal gently. "I think I'll go out and get a bit of fresh air actually." he said, the apartment felt far too empty without Thor's hulking form to help warm it. He was missing his love fiercely today and needed to get out a bit. His skin was beginning to crawl, and he felt fidgety, and cooped up.

"You want some company," Steve asked, pausing as he looked at Luke in concern. He wasn't sure how he felt about Luke wandering about on his own, especially after that morning's events, but reminded himself that the lean man was never on his own. SHIELD always had someone watching their 'asset'. Natasha had even helped him install the new tracker on his phone yesterday while at the museum. So he could watch wherever Luke went as well, thanks to Thor's little gift. The mineral in his ring was definitely nothing found here on Earth and made it easy to follow. Though he didn't really feel comfortable using it. It felt like an invasion on Luke's trust somehow.

"No, I'll just be gone a bit," Luke replied getting to his feet and holding his journal and pencils tightly by his side. "It'll be fine, look, it's not even raining." he said gesturing towards the window and using the excuse that he still didn't believe in himself. Despite the many, many ironic times that it was raining when he was feeling down.

Steve glanced at the could laden sky and frowned at his friend. "Well, just call me if you need some company." he said as he watched the other man slip out. He didn't really want to make him feel uncomfortable by trying to keep him here. Knowing he must just be missing Thor. But he had been sleeping, so hopefully this time around would be different and not have his friend spiraling into depression over his partner's absence.

Luke just passed him a wave of his hand as he closed the door. Making his way along the gray streets, watching his own feet as he wandered aimlessly. Unsure what he was looking for, if anything. Just wanting to get out. He eventually came upon a small park and sat on a bench, once again digging out his journal to lose himself in sketching in its pages with scenes from his dreams. Now being able to add color to them as well.

Luke was lost in his drawing and only looked up several hours later when the sharp stiffness developing in his back demanded it. He blinked and looked around, trying to judge the time, but the sun was still obscured by the blanket of clouds. Still, he figured it was later than he meant to be out. And his rumbling stomach was protesting it's current empty state quite loudly.

He gathered his things and stopped by a sandwich shop, grabbing what appeared to be a sub and a bottle of water. Glancing up at the clock on the store's wall only reaffirmed his fear that it was later than he thought. After lunchtime in fact. Steve would likely be in a self induced tizzy worrying about him by now. He was honestly surprised the other man wasn't out searching the streets for him yet.

He smiled as he thought about his friend. Dear sweet Steve, he adored him, despite his constant fussing over him. Though he did tend to relax when Thor was here, thank goodness. But Luke admitted, that he had brought alot of that worrying on himself over his own previous actions. So no fault there but his own. Still, he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it just a little. To have someone who cared enough about him to worry. It was nice. He quickly added a pack of Walker's cookies that Steve had expressed liking and took his sandwich, scarfing it down quickly as he made his way back home.

He was just crossing the street when a chunk of asphalt right beside him exploded, causing him to drop his food and jump back in surprise. Clutching his journal before his chest like a shield as he watched in shock as the gold and red robot looking man descended before him.

"Not so fast reindeer games," Tony announced, his face shield flipped up to view the trim man before him. He was dressed in normal clothes and his hair was different, but that was definitely Loki.

"I'm sorry," Luke stuttered, backing away in fear at this sudden attack. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"Nice try," Tony snapped holding out one hand and firing a blast at Luke's other foot, causing the lean man to pull it up quickly and try to shield himself further from the attack. "But I never forget a face and neither does Jarvis. Do ya Jarvis?"

"99.9% Recognition match," Jarvis supplied smoothly.

"See, 99.9%" Tony echoed and fired another blast, halting the man who had been trying inching away again. But something was off. Loki looked actually…. frightened. That was odd, perhaps it was a trick. "What, did you think you could hide forever? I've had Jarvis running facial searches since you supposedly left. See I knew you just wouldn't stay away. And oh look, I was right." He said firing another blast directly in front of him, causing the taller man to actually fall back this time.

Luke gasped in fright, looking up to face this mad man in a suit who had obviously mistaken him for someone else. Oh why did things like this always happen to him? He suddenly desperately wished he had let Steve come along this day. But he hadn't and now he searched his mind frantically for anything that would help him out of this. His usual instincts unfortunately not helping him see any way out of this. Not without trying out his newly discovered powers and he absolutely wasn't going to do that. No matter what. That was a door that once opened, he'd never be able to shut again. He quickly scrambled back to his feet, searching for something, anything that he could use to help defend himself.

"What? Not going to fight back today," Tony asked raising his hand to fire another blast. "Or maybe just throwing people out of windows is more your style."

Luke had to make a break for it, he knew it was his only chance. But he also knew it was near hopeless even as he chose his escape path and set it into motion. Turning to run, his long legs taking giant strides as the pavement exploded all around his feet as blast after blast chased him down. Missing his heels by mere inches.

Chips of broken concrete flew up with each impact, peppering him with debris and leaving trails of blood in their wake on is face and arms as he held his hands up to futilely try to shield himself . The whole world seeming to explode and disintegrate around him, his ears filled with the thunder of the blasts. Not even hearing his own yell that tore his throat through the lethal barrage.

He heard the whistle over the din though, dismissing it at first for his own ears started low at first, but quickly gained in pitch and his mind finally clicked and latched on what it was, a missile. The robot man had fired a missile at him, but not a large one from the sound of it. Guess he didn't want to blow up the whole block, just Luke.

Like a switch had been flipped, Luke let his instinct take over, turning smoothly to catch the small projectile and flipping it deftly in his hand. Much in the same way he'd wielded the throwing knives, before hurtling it back swiftly at the robot man. Smiling in satisfaction as his opponent put up his hands to shield himself from the blast.

He couldn't linger in the satisfaction, however as he was jerked suddenly into an alley by a shorter stout man wielding a rather sophisticated looking bow and arrow.

"Go on, run, "the shorter man barked firmly as he stepped out to confront the robot man. "I'll hold him off. Get back to Steve."

That was all Luke needed to hear, Steve's name being voiced instantly breaking the paralysis he'd felt at being unexpectedly placed in this ordeal. He turned down the alley and quickly ran off. Legs and arms pumping as he pushed his own limits, his chest and throat screaming at him as he still held his journal clutched tightly in one hand.

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