*I do not own any of the Marvel characters in this story, yaddayaddayadda*
I'm aliveeeeeee! Sorry for the extensive and agonizing break, but I'm gunna try to start this up again and shoot out as many chapters I can in as short amount of time. I've got some good ideas for future chapters and can't wait to write them. Oh, and for anyone having trouble pronouncing Spira's name, I know it's a little far into the story, but it's "Spear-uh" not "Spy-rah". I've had some people pronounce it some weird ways…whatever. Enjoy you guys!
Chapter 10
"Seriously though, this shit is getting creepy," Stark said, pointing his finger at Spira who was sitting with her hands clasped and her head down, trying not to giggle, "And Loki was like helping her! Loki doesn't help!"
Loki sat beside Spira in Doctor Banner's makeshift office, a smirk spreading across his face as he observed the stifled giggles coming out of Spira's mouth. Stark had called Banner up immediately and had him rushed to the tower within a matter of hours. Thankfully, the doctor was in the city already for a demonstration at the local university of the effects of different types of radiation on a human being.
Stark had found Loki and Spira in the training room downstairs after one of her "episodes" and Stark was beyond weirded out by the whole spectacle. Now Stark had had his fair share of unusual and disturbing instances, but seeing Loki helping someone really confused him. On top of that, he had known Spira for about a year and a half now, and he had never known about her gift until a few days ago. Stark was one of the recruiters for the headquarters in his spare time, and he knew Spira would fit right in as soon as he viewed all her stats. She instantly took a liking to him, and they had the same sort of sarcasm and headstrong but stubborn attitude that set them apart from most of the overly-obedient and robot members of S.H.I.E.L.D's faculty.
"I've got it taken care of," Banner said, raising an eyebrow at Spira as she let out a snort, "Looks like we need to figure out what exactly is triggering these episodes. We don't want this becoming unpredictable and dangerous, so we will have this under control as soon as possible."
"Whatever, just make it so I don't ever have to walk in on a Spira-and-Loki therapy session ever again." Stark replied, waving his hand and shutting the door behind him.
"Spira, we'll be getting started, do you wish to have Loki present?" Banner looked carefully over at Loki who was toying with the end of his scepter and staring off with that cold and intense gaze that set so many people on edge.
She shrugged and looked over at the God who gestured with his scepter to continue.
"Sure." She said, making herself comfortable on the couch and crossing her legs, Indian style.
"Right…" The Doctor said, and continued on speaking, this time directly to Spira, "Now we know that your episodes are triggered primarily by your reaction to something that causes you anger or extreme annoyance, however, we need to know exactly what kind of annoyance." The Doctor shifted his eyes toward Loki for a second, then back to Spira. Spira caught on to the gesture and furrowed her brows slightly. Why was everyone so on to Loki? Sure the God was a complete psycho, but in Spira's presence, there was a better chance of a fly attacking someone in the general vicinity than Loki.
"Now, what exactly happened this last time you had an episode? In the training room?" Banner added.
"Well.."Spira said, trying to recall what had just happened that morning in as much detail as possible, "Loki was teaching me how to outwit any opponent, and how to predict your opponents moves with my mind, even if they are unpredictable. We practiced with some staffs, which I got the hang of quickly, so we decided to move on to another subject." Spira paused for a minute, trying to figure out exactly what happened in her mind during the next second in her story, "Then…I had gone over to the armory to look at the guns in the cabinet…they were so shiny…" Loki rolled his eyes at her comment, but Spira continued on, "Loki had told me before that I need to prepare by not practicing with weapons in case I am found without one, but I wouldn't listen and reached for one of the guns anyways. Loki threw his knives at me, narrowly missing me on purpose" she said, narrowing her eyes at Loki, in which she received another smug smirk from the mischievous Asgardian, "And then…then I…well" Spira was stumbling over her words, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion and frustration, "I don't remember."
She looked to Loki, a small frown on her face, the realization coming to her that she really had become a different person while she was having an episode. The last few times it happened, she vaguely recalled the details of one of her attacks, but she still remembered. Now, the memories were hazy.
"She grew angry at me for teasing her and she threw a fit. Like a spoiled child." Loki said in a monotone voice, "I saw the darkness in her eyes grow, but then behind the shadows, I could tell her will to fight it was showing through. So instructed her to fight it, which she did after a small amount of time."
"I am not spoiled," Spira mumbled, lightly kicking his scepter with her foot.
"I never said you were, merely said that you acted like one."
"Whatever, Asgardian." She said, leaning back on the couch and looking at the ceiling.
"Well, from what Stark told me about the first time he saw this happen, he provoked you and taunted you until you fell into a state of extreme anger, which than triggered an attack. What Loki did was on a lower scale of…provoking than what Stark did, so it seems the attacks are being triggered easier and easier each time. Tell me about the first time this happened." The doctor said, his eyes glued to his clipboard, the pen in his hand making little scratching noise on the paper.
Spira looked down, and felt Loki tense for a quick second beside her, knowing that the memories of that first time will still like a fresh wound. They bled and were more painful each time they were reopened.
"I was taken into the lab," Spira said quietly, "For testing."
Banner's pen stopped scribbling and he looked up at her and rubbed his eyes beneath his glasses. He mumbled something inaudible under his breath, then shook his head.
The doctor looked like he was going to say something, but instead just paused for a moment, staring at his clipboard."…Go on." He said finally, in a soft voice.
"I woke up with needles in my arm, tubes strung everywhere, restraints on my arms and legs, and my head spun like I has just gotten off a possessed carousel. I woke up to find one of the nurses writing something on a clipboard with her back turned to me. I was so fucking pissed that I just gritted my teeth and felt this anger rush through me. The next thing I know, the bitch is on the floor screaming and holding her head. I realized that I was the one making her scream and told her I would stop if she let me go. She was still holding her head, but I could feel some of the anger subside, so I figured I must've let up a bit." Spira was gripping the edge of the couch, her nails digging into the sofa, a gesture she normally subconsciously did while recalling something painful. She noticed her fists growing white, and released the couch and crossed her arms instead.
Banner rubbed the side of his face and took in a breath of air, "Alright, so obviously the first time this was triggered was a very serious matter. You were taken into the labs, unknowingly tested on and restrained, which you woke up to, triggering a violent onset of anger, which led to the attack on the nurse."
" 'Bout sums it up." She replied bitterly, the taste of blood in her mouth at the recollection of her time in the test room.
"Loki, were you present at this time?" the doctor inquired, his gaze shot back in forth between Loki and Spira, watching both of their reactions to her story.
"No, only after the inferior and disgusting Midgardians treated her like a lab rat." The god replied gripping his scepter tightly.
Spira made a small smile at his protectiveness and anger over what happened, she felt like he was her guardian in a way. Not like a parent or a brother, but more like a companion or mysterious figure that watches over you from a distance. She had never had that before and it was a strange yet warming feeling to know that he was looking out for her.
"Not all Midgardians are inferior and disgusting." Banner said, raising an eyebrow once more.
Loki's face twisted into a scowl as he let out a bitter chuckle, turning his gaze towards the wall.
Spira new, even though she was close friends with Loki, he would always feel a strong distaste toward those of Midgard- and to be honest, she didn't blame him. She had always been the cynical type, and could see where Loki was coming from. Granted, she didn't absolutely loathe almost everyone on the Earth, as Loki did, but especially after her time the headquarters, her view towards people had definitely shifted towards the more negative side.
Part of her wanted to be the hero and show Loki that not everyone was all bad in the world, and that he could enjoy life happily and all that cliché mushy stuff, but how would he take her seriously when they were in a realm where grown adults illegally performed cruel and dangerous tests on children. He would undoubtedly laugh in her face and tell her to get her head checked if she wanted him to take her seriously.
"Spira, what happened after you were-erm-released from the testing facility?" Banner asked carefully, voice notably taking on a more cautious tone.
"I wasn't released" she hissed," I escaped. And I fought my way through four body guards and that bitch of a nurse who tried to drug me again. I was hit in the chest, smacked in the head, stabbed in the neck. I don't really remember much except getting angry again, feeling that power rush over me, the security guards and nurse on the floor, and then all of a sudden, I was outside the room. I stumbled down the hallways, smearing blood all over the walls, coughing up blood, it was terrible. I thought for sure I was going to die during those agonizing minutes. Somehow, I managed to steal Loki's scepter from the vaults on the way there, and find his cell. I let him out, and he helped me to the hangar, and we ran into Clint on the way there by the way who helped us escape, and then I blacked out." Spira had spit out her story so fast and so jumbled, that Banners eyes were wide with confusion, trying to follow her through her story. Loki was still twirling his scepter around, but she could tell he was waiting for Banner to respond to her story.
"I-I" Banner began, stutter slightly, "This is not good."
Spira was disappointed by his simply answer, so she quickly piped up, a bit frustrated at his disbelief, "Well duh!" she said, getting up and pacing the room, "I'm telling you doctor, these people are psycho, has Fury filled you in on their more recent test subjects? Little kids, younger than ten years old! It's sick!"
The doctor nodded his head and took his glasses of, chewing on one of the ends, "We need to get your power under control immediately," he said, vigorously scribbling down something on his clipboard, "Your power could quite possibly be our biggest ally. Not just the episodes, but you being able to virtually read their minds, that could help us tremendously. It's no question that the council needs to be replaced, but this mission isn't going to be like New York." Banner shifted his eyes over to Loki and back to Spira. Spira was getting quite tired of all the prejudice towards Loki, but chose to ignore it for the time being, "We have to go about this as quietly and discrete as possible. No explosions or rapid gunfire or epic fights. We need to get a hold of Barton, he would help us greatly in the effort to infiltrate the headquarters."
Spira nodded, but saw inside Banner's head that the Doctor was anxious about Barton being captured, brainwashed, or tested on as punishment for assisting Spira.
Shit, Spira thought, I had completely forgotten about that. I just left him there to fend for himself, who knows what could've happened to him.
"We need to attempt to make contact with Barton as soon as possible," Spira said, getting up and rushing towards the door, "I'll come back after I've reached him. Thanks doc." Spira waved as she rushed out the door, motioning for Loki to follow her.
Banner stopped Loki on the Gods way out, putting a hand on his shoulder, "I assume the others have threatened you about harming Spira," the doctor began, "But I can see she trusts you. She is a strong ally and even stronger friend. I wouldn't want to jeopardize that if I were you."
Loki kept his eyes trained on Banner, but said nothing as the doctor removed his hand from the God's shoulder.
"You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Banner said, as her turned back to his clipboard and began scribbling once more.
Loki was confused at this strange saying, but had the feeling it had something to do with acting less…lethal towards people. The God of mischief shrugged his shoulders and followed after Spira who was already at the end of the hallway, waving towards him to hurry up and follow her out.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar Loki repeated in his head, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous saying, But you can kill more with a flyswatter.