Gill peered over the edge of the roof, shaking slightly. She wasn't afraid of death- she never had been- but she felt an overwhelming amount of guilt. She knew this would hurt all of the Avengers. They wouldn't know why she did this.

It's better for them this way, Gill thought. They just don't know it, and they mustn't ever find out what I am. Her mind made up, Gill took a step toward the edge of the roof.

"Gill?"

She swore mentally as she heard Loki's panicked voice behind her, cursing herself for waiting too long. If she jumped now, he would forever blame himself for her death. She stood still, desperately weighing the consequences of jumping over those of staying.

Loki took half a step forward. "Gill, please, please don't do this, we all love you so much. Talk to me, what's going on? We're all here for you, Gill."

A tear trickled down her cheek. That was the one thing she couldn't do- talk to them. She took another step forward.

Loki's voice took on an edge of panic as he desperately begged her to stay. "We need you. Please, please don't leave us," he ended in a whisper. She heard more footsteps behind her, and then Steve's voice saying "Oh god."

She didn't respond, squeezing her eyes shut with her back toward them. Her mind vaguely registered Steve pleading with her, but she couldn't focus on the words.

Gill hesitantly sat down on the edge to think. Loki and Steve waiting with bated breath, not daring to approach for fear it would prompt her to jump. Finally, she decided to explain as vaguely as she could, just so that they would understand why she needed to leave. Turning halfway to them, she said quietly, "I have a secret that none of you must ever know. I cannot live with it any longer; that's why I have to go. I'm sorry to hurt you but it's better this way."

"Why?" Steve broke the silence. "Why can't you tell us?"

Gill couldn't speak for a moment, holding back tears as she stared down at the cold concrete of the roof. "Because...because I couldn't bear to see the look in your eyes when you realise you don't love me anymore."

Loki spoke up this time, his voice breaking. "We'll always love you no matter what, Gill."

"No one loves a monster."

Another long silence before Loki said, "I do not believe you are a monster, but even if you were, we're your family. We're here for you no matter how you see yourself. There's nothing you could ever do that would stop us from loving you."

Gill tried unsuccessfully to stop the flow of tears. After what felt like an eternity to the two men, she stepped off the ledge toward them. "I will stay for now." Loki nearly sobbed in relief as he hugged her tightly.

Four weeks later, Gill sat in the living room with Loki, Steve, Tony, Bruce, and Natasha. She had finally worked up the courage to talk to them- with a backup plan: if they took it badly, she had pills hidden in her room that she could overdose on. She would rather jump off the roof again, but didn't want to risk Loki or Steve predicting that.

She felt bad for asking them here and then sitting in silence, unable to find the right words. Natasha was the first to speak. "What's going on, kid?" she asked, sympathetically.

Gill swallowed. "I, I just wan- wanted t-to say that uh..."

Loki, seated beside her, squeezed her hand in support and leaned over to whisper, "It's okay. Take it in your own time." She made eye contact with him and nodded. Taking a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the floor, she began again.

"I'm gay."

Silence fell over the room, and Gill visibly curled in on herself.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-" she began to hastily make her way out of the room.

"Gill, wait-" Steve reached out to stop her, and she flinched at his touch. He jerked his hand back, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine, I-" Fear was written all over her face.

Loki took a step towards her, and she shrank back slightly. "Gill, do you think we're mad at you?" he asked softly. Her silence was all the answer they needed.

Bruce took a deep breath. "Oh, Gill, why would we be mad at you? There's absolutely nothing wrong with being gay." The others all murmured their assent.

"But- it's wrong, I'm broken. They need to fix me," she whispered.

Tony sat up straight. "Who told you that?" he asked sharply. "I'm not mad at you," he added, anticipating her response. "I'm angry at whatever jackass told you that you were broken for something as beautiful and normal as being gay."

Gill looked at him in vague confusion. "My- my father." She shuddered involuntarily, a haunted look in her eyes. Loki put an arm around her shoulder and led her back to the couch.

Natasha registered her expression with a mixture of concern and apprehension. It was a look she well knew. "Gill, what happened? What did he do to you?"

Gill turned to look at her. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't force the words out as her face crumpled into a sob.

Loki pulled her into a tight hug, and Natasha silently walked over and rubbed her back. "I'm so, so sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

After a few minutes of silence, Loki gently released her. Steve cupped her cheek. "You are perfect just the way you are, and we love you so, so much."

Gill smiled through her tears. She had finally found a family.