You hated what your life had become for a time, trying to relearn the most basic of life skills, in a completely different manner. Everything you knew how to do, tying laces, putting on your clothes, even sitting on the toilet seat, had all depended on your sight as an aid, but with it gone, you were utterly helpless, you felt like a newborn kitten, and you loathed it.

Stark had always had a soft spot for you, you were hard working and intelligent, but not from a wealthy background. When he had seen you at a SHIELD that first time, barking orders at the agents that surrounded you, though you seemed to be at least fifteen years younger than the next oldest one he was intrigued, and on learning that you were the scientist that had generated a potent enough tranquiliser to quell Banners other side, he became more intrigued in your intelligence and how you used it. So when you were left in such a terrible position, he insisted you reside in Stark Tower, so that you could adapt to the immense alterations to your life.

Since your arrival, your rooms were set up in a particular manner, so that you could learn around them. Stark also organised the AI system to assist you if you were at risk of colliding with objects or if you were in search of something. Overall, it made life liveable, but sadly, it also meant living in the unbearable constant overprotection of the Avengers, who all seemed to think you were incapable of the most menial of tasks. If you made your way slowly to the kitchen in search of a beverage, you were admonished for not informing whoever was in the room at the time of what you wished for. You felt as though you were being impeded from learning to live life again.

As you sat on the sofa, trying to remember the different indentations that created the Braille language, you cursed, forgetting the configuration for 'e'.

"Because getting frustrated is going to help." You heard Barton state from somewhere on the far side of the room. Having realised that with some concentration, you could figure out where in the room others were, you raised a hand and gave him the finger. "Only about three feet to the right, but you're getting there." Barton scoffed as he continued through the room.

Frustrated, you got to your feet and cautiously made your way from the room. You kept one hand on the wall as you walked towards the elevator. All along the wall, Tony had put markers to inform you what each room was for and how far you were from different things, when you reached the final marker before the elevator, you reached your other hand out and carefully felt for the elevator button. When you found it, you pressed on it and waited for the ring and the sound of the door opening.

"Which floor Ma'am?" The bodiless voice of the computer system Stark had installed after JARVIS enquired. This was one of the upgrades you were actually grateful for, knowing you would never figure out a button floor system.

"My own one please."

"Right away Ma'am." You heard it close again, and waited as it went downward.

All too soon, the door pinged and you carefully walked outside and felt for the wall again to give you a sense of where you were going, you began to walk down the hallway. Expecting the hall to go to the left, you were somewhat lost when you could not find the usual turn. You should have come to it by now. Stressed, you felt the wall again, but only then did you realise there were no markings at all. You became so frantic in your worry; you were caught unaware when you collided with something. A panicked shriek escaped you as you were grabbed by a pair of large and strong hands.

"Watch where you are going." A deep voice you did not recognise growled. "What is it with mortals and thinking they do not need to pay any attention to anything around them as though all others should make way for them?" The hands let go of you again now that you were steadied.

Tears came to your eyes at the words. "I wish I could. Actually; I need to get back to the elevator, could you assist me?"

The voice was silent for a moment before answering you again. "You are aware the elevator is just there."

You bit your lips together, knowing that he, whoever he was, was in some way indicating to the elevator in a manner than required vision. His lack of knowledge of you and your predicament told you that the stranger was not close to the Avengers in some way. "I…I cannot see, could you please turn me the right way and tell me roughly how far I need to go." Your voice was small and shame filled.

The voice did not answer again for another moment, but you could sense him staring at you. "Do you think this amusing?" He growled in irritation. "Do you think I have nothing better to do all day than to play games with idiot mortals? Is it that you think I will do nothing to harm you now that I am being impeded from being as powerful as I was?" He snarled.

Tears fill your eyes. You wanted to flee, but you had no idea where to go, so you could only stay there and take the strangers ridicule. You bowed your head towards the ground as shame filled you.

"What is going on here?" A deep voice like thunder filled the hallway.

"Thor, thank God, please help me, I'm really lost, I just want to go to my room." You pleaded; your head rising immediately and your voice cracked with relief and embarrassment after the other man's words.

"You are simply on the wrong floor." Thor explained calmly, taking your arm and gently turning you around. "The elevator is back here." He walked you back to it. "You have a few more to go, we pressed for the elevator to come here, however I forgot something and went to retrieve it, but it seems you were already in the elevator, so it stopped your journey here. I think it best if we get Stark to tinker the system so to not allow it to open until it brings you to where you need to be first."

"Yeah." Your earlier frustration worsened at having to be babied even more. "I…Thank you Thor." You gave a small pathetic smile as the door pinged open, sensing the other being, the rude one that had scoffed at your inability was close by also, you hoped you were looking at him; and took a deep breath before speaking again. "Thanks for nothing." You turned and went into the elevator, and gave the instruction for it to bring you to your room. This time, when you went to exit, you did not leave it until you felt the Braille on the wall that stated that it was indeed your floor. When you got to your bedroom door, you pushed in and walked inside. Making your way to the bed, you felt around for the stuffed toy you had had since your childhood. Pulling your tattered Velveteen Rabbit to your chest, you lay on the bed, and began to cry, something you did not allow anyone see you do. Since the diagnosis and tests revealed the permanency of your condition, in public, you maintained a façade of strength, but in the privacy of your rooms, you allowed it to crumble, and like so often before, you broke down, crying until you finally fell asleep.

X

"What was that charade about?" Loki growled angrily. Thor looked at him, his brow furrowed. "That human, asking to be shown where the elevator was and getting weepy when I pointed it out to her, whatever game she was playing."

Thor's eyes widened slightly. "Loki, that human, she cannot see." Loki's brow rose sceptically. "Six months ago, there was a situation, and she was blinded, she can no longer see anything. When she asked for you to assist her, it was because she genuinely did not know where she was." He explained. Loki looked at Thor for another moment to see if he was jesting, but apparently not. "Loki, what did you say to upset her so?"

"I thought her ridiculing me, why was I not informed that there would be some human without sight randomly sauntering around the building." Loki argued.

"Because it was never thought that she would come here, or indeed that anyone would be so cruel as to not even assist her with something so simple as directing her to where she could need to go." Thor growled.

Loki said no more as they got into the elevator to bring them to the common area that was positioned on the top floor of the tower. He loathed having to go there, but with his mind preoccupied, he made little comment on it. After near a half an hour, he finally spoke again. "If she had sight before, how long before it returns to her?"

"The damage done to her eyes is permanent sadly, she was very accomplished in her field of study, she was not too far from helping placate the Green One safely, but now she has to learn everything again. Think of it Loki, father lost one eye, and I always wondered how he managed with that, but she has lost the use both, when you think of how difficult everything would be in that position." Thor shook his head as he thought of such an existence.

In the privacy of the rooms allocated to him that evening. Loki found himself once again thinking of the woman that had asked for his help. He wondered was she really as lost as she had made herself out to be? So with no one around, he closed his eyes, and tried to do the most basic of things, such as walk to the doorway, and try and prepare some food. Grasping the complexity of how her life was, he thought again of the disheartened and ashamed face of the mortal girl whose tears filled her eyes, and he felt himself become ashamed of his behaviour towards her.