A/N: Thanks for reading that last chapter! Thank you all so much from this story alone I have gotten 65 emails from people favorite, review, etc. Thanks a lot! I love you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters!
Ashley's POV- Therapy
For the next week, I was on bed-arrest. Since my ACL was torn, Bruce was not permitting me to get out of bed until my recovery started. He told everyone too, everyone in the hospital floor of Stark Tower were monitoring me, making sure I would never leave the bed unless to use the bathroom.
After the week ended, my recovery started and basically I had to retrain myself how to walk on my right leg while it seared in pain.
"Here," Bruce said on Tuesday afternoon, "put this on around your leg." He handed me a huge black knee brace.
I glared at him, "This is really what I have to wear?"
"Yes," He took it back from me seeing I wasn't going to put it on; he slid it onto my leg.
The brace was huge; it went from the top of my thigh to the middle of my calf. It was black with four large Velcro adjustable straps. The brace completely covered my skin until it ended, only the top of my knee-cap showed under it. It was elastic but it also was very tight around my high. I adjusted the straps to make it more comfortable.
"There, it looks good and it will help you." Bruce nodded after I adjusted it.
"I suppose so, but I look like I have a terrible injury." I replied.
"You do," Bruce rolled his eyes but then held out his hands, "Come on." He grabbed my hands and pulled me up.
At first, the pain was unbearable; tears came to my eyes and my legs started to wobble, I almost had to sit back down. Although, after a minute, I pushed through the pain and I stood fully on my legs; with some help from Bruce.
"Are you okay?" Bruce asked noticing my tears.
I nodded, "It hurt at first."
"I'm sorry, I should have warned you." He apologized.
"That's alright, I am better now." I smiled.
"Hey! Look who is finally alive!" I saw Hawkeye, Tony, and Nick enter the room.
Tony walked forward, "It is almost good to have you back." He clamped me on the back and I fell back on the bed. Bruce glared at him. "Oh, sorry."
"So, Bruce is she ready to get back to work?" Nick asked as Bruce grabbed my hands again and helped me stand up, "Because I really need her back in the skies helping to find Loki.
"Absolutely not! No she is not ready!" Bruce yelled at him, angrily.
Immediately, Nick had a gun out and was pointing it at Bruce's chest.
Bruce rolled his eyes at the gun, "Look at her, she can't even stand without my help!" He motioned to me.
Aside from him trying to help me, I was a little offended by what Bruce said. It made me feel weak. Vulnerable. As if I could not help myself. However, I said nothing.
"Alright, fine, I will keep her in here until she is fully healed." Nick dropped the gun.
For the next few days, my physical therapist, Kurt Hunt worked my leg to train it to be better.
"Your muscles are still there, we just have to get your knee to work." He would say. To which I would roll my eyes but nod.
During the two days, I was bored as I could get trying anyway I could to get out of the room. Even resorting to pulling out my wand and rolling down the hallway on my bed; my wand was put under a lock and key after that.
On Thursday the second day I was practically bored to death, Thor, Hawkeye, Bruce, Tony, and Coulson all ran into my room in swimsuits and wet hair.
"Come swim with us!" Thor begged, almost picking me up off the bed.
"Ashley can't swim, but she can come up with us." Tony replied, placing me back on the bed.
"Would you like to?" Hawkeye asked hopefully.
"Please, I would love to get out of this room for awhile." I begged nodding.
They all nodded back as Coulson rolled in a wheelchair from outside of the room, "Here, get her in this." Coulson told them.
Bruce picked me up, before Thor could, and placed me gently in the wheelchair. Then, Coulson had no mercy as he tore through the four floors to get to the pool. When we reached the indoor pool, I realized I was holding onto the handles for dear life, and I also realized that Bucky and Steve were up there as well; swimming.
Coulson helped me into beach chair and then jumped in the pool. For a few hours, I honestly felt like a family again; even if I was ignoring Steve every time he glanced at me. The boys included me as much as they could, but mostly I simply levitated a beach ball while they all scurried to get it.
After they had all ran into the compounded boys and girls dressing room, I climbed into my wheel chair and rolled myself over to the diving board. Climbing onto it, I simply wanted to dip my toes into the sparkling blue water.
"Would you like me to help you in?" A voice asked from behind me, since I was not on dry ground the black room did not help me to see who it was. So I looked over, and saw none other than Steve standing in jeans in a t-shirt beside the pool looking at me hesitantly.
"No, that's alright," I realized I was replying, "I just wanted to feel the water." I shrugged, looking back down to the blue water.
I heard Steve sigh; probably happy I had talked to him without yelling at him or accusing him to be a cheater. "Okay, well just tell me if you would like for me to help you."
I nodded, not responding with words.
Silence. We sat there awkwardly not wanting to yell at each other or fight anymore, but I still did not trust him. I could feel Steve's gaze on me, probably a soft smile on his face, but I did not return it. I simply did not want to lead him on, because I did not want to get back together with him. No matter how good he looked in just his swim trunks.
The next day, Kurt and I had started walking.
"One step at a time, its okay," He encouraged me one arm linked with mine while my other arm grasped the railing on the side of the wall, "take your time."
Hesitantly, I took a step forward with my left leg. Kurt sighed.
"Ashley, I am right here if you need me, try to take a step… with your right leg." Kurt smiled at me.
"What if I fall?" I asked genuinely scared as I remembered the pain that shot through my leg when I stood up for the first time.
"I won't let you fall, I will catch you." Kurt promised. I nodded, trusting him.
Then, as slow as a turtle my right leg came up and was placed on the ground in front of me; about an inch in front of me, but it was still a step. During that step, there was some pain but oddly not as much as I thought.
"Great job, Ashley! How was that? Was there any pain?" Kurt asked excitedly, squeezing my hand.
"I didn't hurt as much as I thought," I told him, "It was just an inch, Kurt."
Kurt shrugged, "An inch is better than nothing, would you like to take another step; maybe a little longer of a step?"
I nodded, "I guess I can try." I replied, looking down at my feet again.
First, I took another step with my left leg then a larger step, probably about five inches, with my right leg. I gasped as a sharp pain rain up my body.
"Okay, that's alright. Are you okay?" Kurt noticed my gasp. "Small steps, baby steps, that's okay." He nodded; taking a mental note of that.
"Ouch," I rubbed my knee, "Yes, I am okay. It just took me by surprise."
Kurt nodded thoughtfully, "Alright. Let's just take small steps."
Together, we made it down the hallway with baby steps, inch by inch. Then, we walked back down the hallway to my room; where I was shocked to see that I was sweating and out of breath.
"You did great, Ashley!" Kurt complemented me while I sat down on the bed.
"Gosh, I need to get back in the gym." I whispered ignoring him, wiping the sweat off my face.
Kurt laughed grabbing my feet and placing them on the bed, "No you don't. You just have been lying down for all this time and you haven't been walking at all." Kurt shrugged.
"That is why I need to get back in the gym." I replied, confused by his answer.
"No you don't," He repeated looking up at me while adjusting my bed so that I was sitting up, "you will get back to how you were, I promise."
"I'm not sure if I will ever be the same." I responded sadly, looking at my legs.
"No you won't," He paused and I looked up at him, "You will be better; better than ever before." Kurt kissed my cheek. "Don't leave the bed and don't you –"He started to go over my rules.
I interrupted him, "I know the drill." I muttered rolling my eyes.
Kurt chuckled, winking at me before he left the room. I smiled at his back; Kurt was a great physical therapist so I was sure I could trust him to get my legs better.
A few more days went by at the same schedule, now I had been in the hospital for the last two weeks, Kurt would come walk me and every day I would increase my step by an inch, and I would be yelled at every time I tried to get out.
I actually missed risking my life to save the world, because every time a missile came speeding towards Stark Tower and I saw Tony stop it, he would smirk at me before throwing it back into the ocean.
Then, Hawk and Hulk would come running by the room in their uniforms to go help Tony if he needed it both kissing my cheeks before running out of the tower. Seconds later, I would hear Hulk's growl and see arrows being shot outside the window.
Finally, I would sigh deeply before Kurt walked through the door and asked me if I wanted to try walking again. I would always agree simply because I wanted something to do.
On the second Tuesday, I had successfully moved two steps on my own without the help of the railing or Kurt; who was ecstatic.
"That was incredible! Great job!" Kurt kept complementing me while we made it back to my hospital room. "I am so happy that I witnessed that!"
"Kurt!" I finally yelled when I was back in bed. "It was just two steps!"
"But that was the first two steps you have taken, right, left, right, left!" He announced happily. "Also, it was without my help or the railing! Excellent!"
"Alright, thanks I guess." I whispered, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly.
"You are welcome! Oh, I have to go tell Nick, Tony, Hawk, Steve, and Bruce! Oh, Bruce will be so excited! I must go tell them!" Kurt ran down the hallway before I could stop him.
For the next hour, I was explaining over and over how I had taken two steps with both legs. They were all thrilled, but not one person was as thrilled as Kurt and Bruce.
The next day, I was officially tired of lying in bed all day so I got out of bed, into
my wheelchair and down the hallway to the elevator, simply amazed that I did not get caught. I pushed the button to go upstairs to the conference room and rolled myself in.
The table, which was full of superheroes and a shocked Nick Fury, looked at me in surprise.
"Ashley, what are you doing in here?" Nick asked as I made my way to a chair, pulling another so that I could prop my leg up on one.
"Well, I am still on this team so I am attending a meeting." I shrugged looking over at him. "Besides, not only seeing Kurt and Bruce, no offense Bruce, all day might do me some good."
Bruce laughed, "None taken. I think it is good that you are out of that bed for awhile as well."
"Thank you." I replied thankfully. "You seem to be the only person who thinks that!"
Nick laughed awkwardly, "Well, great to have you back Ashley, kind of."
I nodded moving around so I was more comfortable and then sighed when I became completely comfortable.
"Yes, we are all happy to see you." Hawk told me, moving to the seat beside me.
"I am actually happy you are here, we were just about to talk about the whole muggle born, half blood, and pure blood and we had a few questions." Nick started.
Instantly, I looked over at him feeling oddly protective over my kind. "What questions?"
"How are you a half-blood?" Nick asked, watching me carefully.
I shrugged, "My father was a pure-blood and my mother was a muggle-born since my mother didn't have any wizards related to her, I am a half-blood."
Nick nodded thoughtfully, "So a pure blood and pure blood make a pure blood. A half-blood and a pure blood make a half-blood and so do a muggle born and a pure blood?"
"That's right." I nodded.
"Okay… that makes since." Nick replied slowly, "Listen, Ashley, I am happy you are here also because you need to do another interview."
"What?" Bruce asked, outraged. "She just took her first steps yesterday and you expect her to be in an interview?"
"This one will not have an audience it will just be Ashley, the interviewer, and a camera." Nick shrugged easily.
"Still, one of us will still have to be there to walk Ashley out!" Steve yelled protectively. This wasn't shocking, but just confusing for my heart.
"I know that, perhaps the interviewer will, but I sure the interviewer does not know about her injury." Nick replied.
"How would they know? She has been stuck in the hospital bed for two weeks." Steve muttered looking angry.
Nick looked at me for help, but I honestly was speechless. I didn't know what to say or do because I couldn't simply pull Steve away that would led him on, but I also couldn't just let him yell at Nick so much. I felt like I needed to do this interview.
"I think I should do this interview." I announced to everyone.
"Why?" Steve asked.
I shrugged, "I just think I need to."
"Well…" Steve stared at me for a long time, "I suppose if you too I will let it happen."
The next day, I was waiting backstage while the interviewer was getting ready. Nick wanted me to wear something that would be 'easy to see that I had an injury.' So, I was wearing a navy blue dress with a black thin belt around the middle, the dress flared out and stopped at about my knees.
"Now, the beautifully mysterious; Ashley!" The interviewer, Bill Nike, announced.
Slowly, grabbing everything I could for balance, I made my way to the chair across from him. The Bill's face was etched in confusion, shock, and sadness as he saw me finally get to the seat and sit down with a relieve sigh.
"What? What happened?" He asked, looking devastated.
"I tore my ACL on a mission two weeks ago." I shrugged.
"How did that happen?" Bill asked.
I paused, "I can't tell you what I was doing, but it happen because I kicked someone in the stomach and then in the head."
"So it is classified?" He asked smiling.
"That's right." I nodded smiling back.
Bill laughed, "Well I am so sorry that happened to you. We all give you our thoughts and prayers."
"Thank you." I nodded again.
Bill smiled, "Okay, so Miss Ashley, I know you cannot give us a last name but can we hear about your family? Where are you from?"
I paused again, "My family… my parents were both killed when I was a year old and I was found in my crib with this." I pointed to my scar.
Bill looked sad again, "I am so sorry to hear that. So, who did you live with? Were you set up for adoption?"
"No," I replied, "My aunt and uncle, my only living relatives left took care of me."
"Did you like them? You act like there was something wrong with them."
"Well, just basically I was their slave. I did the washing, cooking, cleaning, etc. Then, they made me eat crackers every night and sleep in the cupboard under the stairs." I shrugged.
Bill looked shocked and outraged, "They did what? So you were being abused? Why didn't you tell someone?"
"There was no one to tell." I shook my head. "My story gets better however, when I was eleven I went to a boarding school that was fantastic, I loved it so much, it was almost magical." I smiled, knowing Nick and the others would be laughing in the back.
"So people loved you there?" Bill asked hopefully.
"Well yes, they knew more about me than I knew about myself, because my aunt and uncle told me that I got this scar from a car crash and then my headmaster explained that my parents were murdered." I replied sadly.
"They told you that your parents died in a car crash?" Bill was steaming now.
"Yes, and at the time I believed it because all I remember from the night they were killed is a green light and a scream." I replied, staring into space. "So, I figured they just got hit by another car or something."
Bill paused, "Did they ever hit you?" He asked quietly.
"My uncle did a few times, sometimes it got bad, he would grab my hair and throw me against the wall, one time he came into my room and beat me with a rolling pin because I didn't finish cleaning up dinner." I replied.
He looked speechless, "So you were scared of them? Did you ever try to get away?"
"I was scared, but I was also not scared because," I paused thinking, "I don't know how to word this but I simply was not scared of them. I know I should have been terrified, I guess I simply hated them too much to be scared." I shrugged. "Yes, I did try to get away a few times."
"What happened did they catch you?" Bill asked.
"No, actually in my third year at my school, a car with a friend in it saw me on the side of the road and picked me up." I replied.
"Wait third year?" Bill looked confused.
"Yes, I'm sorry; my school went from 1st year to 7th year, eleven to eighteen." I shrugged. "I hated that you had to come home in the summers I always wanted to stay, but during Christmas I would stay at the school or at my friends' house."
"Well that is good," Bill nodded, "Interesting. I have never heard of a school doing that. Is that how it is in England?"
I paused, "I… guess…so." I didn't want to tell him wrong and someone find out about Hogwarts.
"Well, I find it amazing that you did not have any other relatives living." Bill stated.
"I had a godfather, but he was in jail for life." I replied, begging the tears not to come.
"Was? Why was he put in jail?" Bill asked.
"He was falsely convicted of being the one to tell my parents murder where they were hiding." I replied wiping a tear away before I could fall. "He broke out of jail when I was in my third year and I got in contact with him, so I trusted him. Then, in my fifth year he was killed in front of me by his crazy deranged cousin." I told him.
Bill touched my hand, "I am so sorry. I can't imagine being there with someone I loved being killed in front of me."
"Thank you," I replied Bill removed his hand, "I looked at him like he was my father, I loved him like he was my father."
"That is so terrible, I am sorry. You, Ashley, are so strong; so courageous and brave. We can't find that in a lot of people these days." Bill complemented me softly.
"Thanks." I replied wiping another tear away, "I'm sorry about this." I laughed motioning to my tears.
"That's alright." Bill nodded.
"It is just hard to talk about." I replied, thinking of happy things to get me to stop crying; like my parents smiling faces, and Sirius alive.
"I understand. I am sorry to ask this, but did you lose anyone else?" Bill asked.
I looked at him as if he were crazy, "Did I lose anyone else? I lost so many people; all because of one person, the one who killed my parents and so many other poor people." I replied getting mad.
Bill raised his eyebrows, "So you lost more people? This person, he better be dead."
I smiled at the thought of muggle Bill trying to fight Voldemort, "I lose many more people. My friends, my owl, the people I have come to know as family. The murder would try anything to break me. The good news is; he is dead. I had a chance to talk to him several times, because he would always try to come and kill me, but finally he was put to death." By me I added in my head.
"He would try to kill you?" Bill asked shocked.
I discovered that it was getting increasingly difficult not to just say, yes I am a witch the murder is Voldemort, my parents died to protect me from him and I had this prophecy throughout my whole life that said neither shall live while the other survives. Oh, and also a piece of Voldemort was inside of me so I could look into his mind and talk to snakes. Yes, it was hard just not to say that.
"Yes, he would. I mean he killed my family when he was just after me, my mother and father died to protect me." I shrugged. "Why not kill the rest of the Po—family?" I almost just said my last name.
That was another thing, why did I have to keep my name hidden? It is not like a muggle devise could actually figure out that I was a witch. There would be no reports on me or anything, so why was it so secretive?
Bill smiled, "Were you just about to say your last name?"
I paused, placing me left foot down on the ground and going into the dark room. Just to see what Nick was saying about this, I concentrated trying to find him.
"… Can't just tell him that she is a witch, Cap!" Nick was yelling.
"Then, let her just say her last name. Let her say 'Potter'." Steve begged.
"I agree, I think if she does say 'Potter' is her last name, no reports would be found. They cannot link her back to being a witch." Bruce agreed. I saw Hawkeye nod.
"Do you want to know my last name?" I asked Bill coming out of the dark room.
"Yes! I think the whole world wants to know!" Bill replied eagerly.
I paused thinking, "Okay, my name is Ashley Potter." And that was it. That was all I had to say. Now the whole world knew and would stop trying to figure out.
"Potter? Ashley Potter?" Bill muttered. "Great! Thank you Ashley Potter!" He turned to the camera, "You heard it here first folks the mysterious Ashley does have a last name; Potter!" He turned back to me, "Thank you so much for this interview." Bill shook my hand. "Ashley Potter everyone!" He pointed to me before the camera switched off.
From there, Hawkeye silently came up beside me and picked me up, leading me back outside to our black large car. He slid me into the backseat, sitting me straight up so that my legs were on the two seats in front of me with my back against the door. I looked around the car; everyone was in there.
"We have to get you out of here." Nick muttered from the front passenger seat.
"Yes, before people can try and take pictures of you." Coulson added from the driver seat.
Hawkeye then opened the back door, sitting in the backseat with me and placing my legs onto his lap. "Let's go." He shut the door and the car sped off.
After that, I was carried back into my hospital for another few days; Bruce had promised, then I was okay to walk around normally. The rest of the day I was counting down the minutes to that day.
Loki's POV
Walking out upon the stage, I looked out at my army; who was cheering for me and praising me raising their weapons in victory.
"Quiet!" I called out over them.
Instantly, at my command the crowd silenced.
"In a week's time, we will be the new rulers of Earth." I started. "In week's time, all of the Earth will be our slaves. In a week's time, the humans will work for us. In a week's time, the superheroes that fight for them will be dead. In a week's time, we will be victorious!" I ended my short speech.
The crowd took this opportunity to yell again; agreeing with me.
"Silence!" I grew tired of their yelling after a few seconds, "With our new… friends, we can destroy the world and all who inhabited it." I motioned over to the other side of the stage.
At my point, Lucius Malfoy walked out proudly, arrogantly, while Draco Malfoy looked scared to death. I rolled my eyes at the younger one; he was going to be the one who would kill the witch in disguise.
Lucius spoke first, "Loki, if I may?" He asked.
"Of course." I nodded.
Lucius turned to the crowd, "I have waited years for this moment; ever since Ashley Potter killed the dark lord I have waited for this moment. In a week, Ashley along with the others will be begging for mercy, which we of course will not give. In a week, Loki and I will be the rulers of the Earth, working side by side; you all will fight with us. You all, soldiers, will win because we will win. You all will win because we are going to lead you to victory!" Lucius raised up his wand, sending up a spell on its way, which put a skull with a snake running out of its mouth in the sky.
Momentarily, I stared at the green object that now cascaded down on us from the night sky. Then, I looked over at Lucius, walking over to him.
"Look at us! We are the new rulers of you and of Earth! Join us and be winners!" I finished our speeches.
As the crowd cheered, I looked all around my army; knowing that when a week came I would win. Lucius along with his sorry excuse for a son would be dead, and I will be the ruler of the Earth and of Asgard. I could not wait for this next week to come.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be a huge battle scene, so please give me some time to write it, because I want it to be perfect for everyone who loves this story! I love you all, please be patient! Thanks! (:
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed favorite, etc. Thank you so much! You guys all inspire me to keep writing!