Hello again! ^.^ My my, progress has been slow. However, I'm back with a glorious new chapter. I was at a loss for some of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Btw, the next chapters are going to be dark, and there is a trigger warning. Take heed! But however, this chapter is fine. Trigger-free :) This chapter's actually pretty crap when I think about it, but please motivate yourself to read it, it gets darker. I'm a sucker for dark romance :)

Btw I'm starting to ship Sigyn/Bruce, help me omfg XD Don't worry, the story won't turn into anything like that, but honestly they're so fluffy and Bruce is handsome okay

Song: All that remains- The waiting one

Haunt Me

Chapter 17

Bruce had always been kind to me- I had never really thanked him for his continuing kindness. He was so kind, in fact, that he made sure to keep his distance for fear he becomes… the Other Guy. I admired him- he claimed to always be angry, and yet he remained so composed. The Other Guy works mentally too- his mind was barricaded from me. I was surprised when I first tried to intrude on his thoughts. He winced in pain and rubbed his head. I realised I was inflicting this pain on him and immediately withdrew my telepathic claws from his mind. I could never stand an innocent in pain. I asked him what the problem was: "I don't know- my head just hurts." I pondered his words, before explaining what I was trying to do. I realised the normal reaction to my admitting the intrusion would be anger, perhaps even betrayal. I'd attempted to trespass in his most sacred place. However, he merely peered at me with interest.

"Perhaps the Other Guy doesn't like you reading my mind." He shrugged. I agreed silently. I hated when my magic was refused, but it was wrong to read minds without their consent. Loki would've found a way around it. Loki. What was I to do with him? He had betrayed me by allowing Fury to tag me. But he'd always supported me, loved me. Treated me like an equal. Never had I felt like I was beneath him- ever.

"Sigyn." My name being called snapped me from my reverie. I turned to look at Bruce; we were still in the car, and he was still driving. He looked concerned, his eyebrows furrowed together. I smiled reassuringly at him.

"Are you okay? I thought you were gonna have a meltdown for a minute there." He asked. I nodded, words forming in my head but never leaving my mouth. Back on Asgard, I lied constantly. My biggest lie, the one I told the most, the one that was most untrue- "I'm fine." There comes a time in everybody's lives when they get fed up of a routine or pattern. My pattern was those two words- the lies that blackened my tongue.

"I'm fine." I choked out once again. I thought I'd left behind the lies with my treacherous father- what a fool I was. A naïve, pitiful fool.

"Are you sure?" He peered.

"Mmhmm." I hummed in response, turning to look out the window.

"You're acting like we've been in the car hours." He muttered.

"How long have we been in this creature?" I asked curiously.

"Fifteen minutes. It's a twenty minute drive." He sounded confused.

"Oh. I thought we had been here far longer." I admitted.

"I'm not sure whether or not to take that as an insult." He joked. I chuckled and watched the scenery of the tall towers and the Midgardians that flew past us.

"My place is fairly modest… you'll obviously have your own bedroom but it'll be nothing like the rooms you have back at home." He warned.

"Oh please- my home is tiny. Loki and I still managed in it- despite the magic barriers Fury put in place." I waved his comment off. His eyebrows furrowed again and he turned to look me in the eye.

"No- I meant Asgard." My lips formed a silent "O" as I considered his words. All this time, I had forgotten my true home was Asgard. The truth was, I perceived wherever Loki was to be my home. I found it strange, echoing that theory in my mind.

"You don't consider Asgard your home anymore?" He asked, pity in his voice. I shook my head softly.

"No. I have nothing there for me but misery and an incredibly angry father." I muttered darkly. He turned back to the road, his expression remaining sympathetic. Would Loki pursue me? Thinking of his opinion on the character I elected to seek refuge with, I guessed he would not. I would have to make the effort this time. A mischievous grin played about my lips when I thought of the mischief I could get up to in Loki's absence. However, my glee was short-lived, as I remembered that there was Loki's absence in the first place. I realised I was moping again, and decided I should consider it a holiday- a little 'vacation' as Stark fondly put it. Bruce cleared his throat and spoke again.

"I need to warn you that judging by your tantrum today…" He paused to jokingly glare at me- "I will probably have to report to SHIELD tomorrow to inform them you're safe."

"Couldn't you do that using technology? You must be wealthy enough to own that… video system that Stark takes pride in abusing." I struggled to recollect the name he called it… sky? Skape? Skepe? I couldn't remember.

"You mean a system like Skype? I could, but I think Fury would be more comfortable talking to me in person. Besides, Loki may want reassurance. He seems like the kind of guy to be a total worrier."

"I concede that he is most anxious at times. It can be quite igniting of one's own anxieties." He nodded absent-mindedly. I resisted the temptation to peek into his mind. I noticed the dimples in his cheeks, and the errant curls on his head. There is an adjective that Midgardians used to describe the sight before me. I thought hard to try and find it. Cute! That's it, I remember now! His appearance is quite cute. Those dimples and those curls make him look adorable! I gushed in my head. I wondered also in that moment how far Loki's telepathic capabilities stretched. I silently hoped not as far as we were- I had not mentally barred myself. I watched as the scenery slowed, and we approached a rather large building with many levels. He's wealthier than I thought he'd be. The door was metallic, and reminded me coldly of a prison.

"Since I figured I could trust the Other Guy enough, I got myself a residence here." He admitted, as he pulled in to a smaller house, clearly designed for the car.

"The car has a house for itself?" I asked in disbelief. He laughed heartily as he pulled the key from its slot beside the wheel.

"It's called a garage. Wealthy or not, most people have them." He got out of the car swiftly. I had only been in a car twice, including that time, so I was a little bit daunted by the prospect of removing myself from the beast. He came to my door, opened it and showed me how to unclick the seat belt. I giggled at how easy it actually was to get out. He led the way to his house, his strides long despite his rather small height. Wearing high heels, I towered over him. However, those shoes were left behind back at the safe house- I wore flat shoes. They were comfortable.

"I apologise for all the science equipment. Let me show you your room for your stay." He said as he unlocked the metal door.

"Why is the door so… sinister?" I gulped.

"Because I don't trust myself enough to not have a metal door."

"That would do little to prevent the Other Guy from breaking free." I commented.

"I know." He sighed. "It's just for my peace of mind." He closed the door, it creaking as it did so. The creaking made my teeth set on edge with cold. He gestured up the stairs directly in front of me. The house interior was surprisingly bright. The flooring was not soft and carpeted- it was cold, harsh wood. We clonked in unison up the stairs. The stairs were brief, and soon we were in the hallway. He showed me his bedroom, which was adjacent to my own. The bedroom I was given was impressive- it was spacious and a bathroom was provided within it- that would ensure there would be no awkward encounters.

"Do you have any luggage? I don't know if my clothes will fit…" He worried. I waved him off with a smile. I pictured a collection of my necessities- clothes, toiletries, footwear- and clicked my fingers. I felt a rush of adrenaline surge through me and they appeared instantly at my feet.

"I need to work on that…" I murmured as I grabbed everything and placed them upon my bed. I conjured another charm and watched, pleased with my handiwork, as the clothes folded themselves and were placed in the shelves. Bruce looked impressed, but not surprised. I never seemed to surprise him- I admired him for that.

"I'm off to SHIELD HQ. I'll be back soon." He called up to me. I was sat fiddling on his bed with an intricate device. It was Chinese apparently- a "novelty he'd found in an authentic market in Beijing."

"Okay! I shall see you upon your return!" I replied loudly. However, I would be seeing him far sooner than that. I still felt royally upset by Fury and Loki and the team who helped tag me, but I thought this would serve as some fun. I practised my invisibility spell in front of the mirror. I put up a mental barrier on myself, one I had been perfecting since before my dismissal on Asgard, and finally put my transporting spell to use. I landed in SHIELD headquarters many minutes before Bruce, and so I walked around the room, familiarising myself with everything. I had only been gone a day, but I sorely missed it. Although I would never admit that to anyone, considering the current situation. I found Tony and Steve, talking rather quietly to one another. Both were frowning- I wondered what they were talking about. I remembered I was still invisible, so I stood beside Steve and listened.

"I think we should do what Fury suggested." Steve offered.

"Do you think? I hate co-operating. I fly solo." A humourless snort left me- I froze but relaxed when no one heard.

"Do you think Sigyn is ok?" Tony asked. I stifled a small laugh for two reasons. The first: Tony actually had feelings. The second: I just so happened to walk in on their conversation when it was about me.

"Yeah- she must have gone home with Banner."

"Wouldn't he have texted me? He always texts me about everything!" Tony exclaimed. I stifled another laugh at the hint of jealousy I could detect in his tone.

"Relax. If there was a problem Fury would know. Bruce will contact us soon." I would never have admitted it aloud, but I almost wished they would have been more concerned. For all they knew, I could be dead, violated on the cold, harsh streets of Midgard. Bruce's uneven footsteps (he had injured himself prior to his arrival apparently) alerted me to his presence. I turned as the door opened and I saw him walk in. His hair was windswept from the summer breeze, and his bag hung loosely by his side. Fury turned the corner and into my sight. He was frowning- not that it was unusual.

"Hi Fury." Bruce mumbled, whilst he fiddled with his mobile.

"Is she okay?" Fury asked. Bruce nodded.

"I kinda wanted to tell Loki too- admittedly not face to face, but someone could pass it along…" He trailed off. Fury nodded in understanding, but gestured to two SHIELD agents.

"You two- fetch Loki from the house and tell him I demand his presence. If he is defiant, but only if he is defiant, tell him I have news about Sigyn." The two guards exchanged nervous glances, checked their weapons and left. Fury then sent various guards to collect the rest of the team, and within ten minutes everyone, save Loki, were in a meeting room, dissimilar from the glass room that had become so familiar to me. It was a pale blue with no windows. There was one door, a pristine white. I was shocked but went along with it. The table was made of glass too, and there were plenty of seats to seat the Avengers. The room was larger than the glass room, as was the table. Clint was sat beside Natasha again (although he sported a large and dangerous-looking bruise on his face) and Natasha sat farther away from him than usual. Tony was grinning arrogantly as usual, Steve sat on one side of him and Bruce on the other. I stood in the far corner by the door, able to observe the entire table at once. I was shocked to see Thor was sat at the table. I was desperate to give him a large hug, but I resisted the urge. I was still very agitated, and one word could set me off again.

Finally, Loki stepped through the door, two agents in tow. I had heard of the rather cliché moment observed in Midgardian movies. Natasha had always been showing me, desperate to see me flail and swoon like all the teenage women in this realm. When a man deemed attractive and handsome walks in, the technology slows down the "footage" and the man is captured in all his glory in slower motion. For whatever reason, him working through the door was slowed down in my mind- and my being invisible gave me the pleasing motion of being able to watch him without him being aware. His emerald eyes were wide, alert- they flitted around the room anxiously. His black hair was slicked back but clean. On occasion it became slightly oily, although even then it was quite attractive. He wore his armour- a discouraging sign. He was uncomfortable and felt threatened. His lips were mashed in a tight line.

He nodded uneasily at Fury before being seated on the only chair available- beside Thor and Clint.

"Okay… Bruce has some news about Sigyn." Bruce cleared his throat and leant forward in his chair.

"She's sleeping at my place for a while." If I didn't no Bruce better, I would have conceded that the tone of his voice was laced with smugness- but I knew him better than that. He was merely "edgy" as it is called. I didn't miss Loki tense at the sentence- or how he clenched his fists under the table as an act of self restraint. His green eyes glared at Bruce. Thor noticed it too- how could I tell? Thor cleared his throat.

"Is she alright?" Thor asked. Bruce nodded stiffly.

"She was crying in her sleep last night- I didn't know she did that." I blushed furiously- I didn't dream last night! How was I crying? Loki's glare turned to the floor and softened to become a look of contempt. One that was most likely aimed for himself. I smiled vindictively- he deserved a bit of self-hatred. He betrayed me. I couldn't bear it any longer- I made myself visible.

There we go! I made some last minute edits prior to publication, hope it turned out alright!

See you next time!

-Charis