Imitations Carved Deep: Chapter 3
Hey oh! I'm back! Good to see you ;) I hope you have enjoyed the two chapters I left you with. Now, prepared to be amazed by a third!
PS I don't abandon stories. This will get finished! Me going to school just means the updates won't be as regular as you or I would like.
Not a Tony/Loki story. Just friendship.
Be forewarned, I have named female Loki, 'Kira', and that is what she will be referred to for a good chunk of the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own them...so sad.
Warnings: Severe angst. Stupid/Bad Thor (temporarily). Torture (in the past). Implied rape (in past). Don't read if any of these trigger.
Tell vs. Don't, Wheelchair vs. Crutches
Dr. Banner had to order Kira to rest for a few hours, and though she initially fought him on the point, one glance at Steve reminded her of her promise. Kira then begrudgingly stayed put and ended up falling asleep half an hour later. She curled up in the fetal position as much as she was able with the cast on her leg and an IV in her arm. Her black hair blanketed the pillow and her neck, a few strands falling in front of her face.
Tony could admit that he thought she was beautiful, but his playboy days were over. He was a committed man! Also, there was no way he would take advantage of Kira like that. Talk about consent issues. He had gotten lectured on that a few times growing up, and not all of them were because the other person involved was in dubious condition to give consent.
Anyway, Tony's thoughts went dark places when he let them wander too far. Instead, he shook his head and got back into focus in the conversation around him.
"…So I want to try and get her on a nutritional diet while she's here, to hopefully get her up to a healthy weight. She could use a lot of vitamin C, what with her not even getting out into the sun much at all," Bruce said as he wrote some things down.
"I'd be happy to have Jarvis add anything you need to the grocery list." Tony shot Pepper an indignant look.
"Hey! That's my AI." After a few beats, "Jarvis, add anything Bruce deems necessary to the grocery list." A number of the others rolled their eyes.
"Yes, Sir." Tony glared at the ceiling for its tolerant tone.
"I'd be happy to help cook some things," Steve called from the kitchen. He really was the only person besides Bruce that cooked in the tower. Everyone else would have been content with take-out every dinner and sandwiches and cereal for the other meals, but Steve insisted on cooking most mornings and every few evenings. Sometimes Bruce pitched in when he missed a certain foreign dish.
"Hey, Cap? Didn't you threaten to like, kill Kira if she stepped out of line?" Steve shrugged at Clint's inquiry.
"Well so far, she hasn't done anything to harm the team. So I'll treat her like anyone else in need. Innocent until proven guilty and all that." Sometimes the things Steve Rogers said really destroyed the Boy Scout image Tony grew up with.
"Guys, you do realize that she's going to be in the tower all by herself when we get called out on missions, right? Unless, one of us is going to stay behind…" Tony scoffed.
"She won't be alone. Jarvis will keep an eye on her." A few months ago, none of the others would have been convinced that Jarvis was enough to keep someone safe or stop an intruder. After multiple incidences where the AI has done just that, the Avengers were believers.
"Oh, Jarvis, can you set up a room for Kira near the kitchen and living area. That way she won't have to walk so far," Pepper smiled up at the ceiling.
"Certainly, Miss Potts." Tony threw his arm over Pepper's shoulders and smiled at her.
"You think of everything, don't you?" Pepper patted his chest.
"Why do you think you've managed to stay alive this long?" Clint didn't even pretend he didn't laugh at that. Tony didn't argue with her, because…well, it was basically true. If any of them had been in his life before he had hired the strawberry blond on a whim, they would be bowing down to her at the moment. Tony did (in his head) on a regular basis.
They all heard the door to the oven shut, and Steve came around into the living space to sit with them.
"What is it this time, oh Captain, my Captain? Brownies? Sugar cookies? Good ol' chocolate chip?" Steve tinged slightly pink at Tony's teasing but happily said,
"Snickerdoodles, actually." Clint 'oooooo'd at the announcement and called first dibs. Natasha scoffed.
"You can back off of my cookies, thank you very much. You get second dibs." It surprised Tony how immature that two assassins could be. Clint was immature about sixty percent of the time, while Natasha had a few moments here and there. Maybe it had to do with their lack of a normal childhood, or maybe they just fed off of each other. Tony wasn't a psychologist, so he really needed to stop trying to psychoanalyze his teammates.
"Sir, Miss Kira is attempting to leave the medical room." Dr. Banner and Tony were on their feet in a flash, quickly followed by everyone but Pepper.
"Okay, calm down. I don't think she needs all of you running down the hall at her. Tony and Bruce can go. The rest of us can sit here and wait. Jarvis will let us know if they need help restraining a ninety pound young woman in a cast." Steve and Clint sat back down chastised, while Natasha leaned against the arm of Clint's chair.
Tony and Bruce meanwhile rolled their eyes and got going. Sure enough, when they got the medical room, Kira was standing at the end of the bed. She was hoping on one foot and using the metal bed frame for support. A sheet obviously stolen from the bed was wrapped around her lower half to keep herself covered. She looked at them with wide eyes, as both men rushed forward. Tony and Bruce each took an arm.
"Whoa there, Kira. You're supposed to be chilling in the bed. What're you doing?" Dr. Banner wasn't all that surprised when after a slight blush tinted Kira's cheeks she said,
"I needed to use the restroom." Dr. Banner nodded.
"Ah. Well, how about, first, we settle you on the edge of the bed, and Tony should ask Pepper and Natasha if they have any sweatpants or pajama pants that you can borrow." Bruce sent a pointed enough look Tony's way, that he knew the leave the room rather than just repeating what Dr. Banner said to Jarvis. After making sure Kira was secure in Dr. Banner's grip, Tony let her go and left the room.
Left alone with Bruce, Kira allowed him to assist her to the bed. She sat down with a sigh of defeat.
"I…apologize for being an inconvenience, Doctor. I did not think it would be this difficult to simply walk down the halls." If Bruce couldn't tell before, it was obvious now how much of an independent woman Kira was. She didn't want pity of any kind and despised needing any help.
"You aren't an inconvenience, Kira. If you were, you wouldn't be here. And yes, it will be difficult for you to walk for a while, partly because of the cast and pain, and partly because of how exhausted you are right now. No need to worry though, we have a wheelchair and crutches available." Dr. Banner was surprised at the very physical reaction Kira had to the mention of a wheelchair.
"I would take the crutches you mentioned over the wheelchair, Doctor. Please." Bruce didn't want to push her right then with questions so he just nodded.
"That's fine. I'll adjust them to your height. But if you ever need it, the wheelchair is here." Kira nodded, but didn't seem too thrilled with the idea.
"May I…may I ask you something?" Kira seemed uncharacteristically hesitant in her speech. Dr. Banner was curious as to what her question would be.
"Of course." Kira took a couple moments to get everything straight in her head before questioning the doctor.
"You, you seem unfazed as to my living situation. Most people treat me differently once they find out I do not live in an apartment or house. Why do you not?" Bruce could only shrug.
"I was on the run from my country's military for years and lived in some poverty stricken places. To me it's not that unusual. There were plenty of times where I was in the same boat as you. Sometimes it is all you can do just to find food and shelter day after day. This is the longest I've stayed anywhere since after the accident, and I still feel overwhelmed at times." Kira relaxed after the explanation, as if she had been waiting for some vitriol or sickly sympathetic platitudes. Then her head cocked to the side and her brow furrowed.
"Accident?" Kira's eyes traveled over his body, searching for scars or signs of harm that would not be there. Bruce's own eyes widened.
"You- you don't know?" Maybe it was stupid of him to assume everyone knew that he was the Hulk at this point. However, he didn't know if he should tell Kira or just keep it on the down low so to speak until absolutely necessary. He needed to be able to treat Kira down the line, but if he told her and she got scared of him, he wouldn't be able to. But-
"I cannot say that I do, Dr. Banner." Kira was quite confused by the doctor's words and actions. The man seemed surprised and afraid at the same time at the prospect of Kira not knowing about his 'accident'. Perhaps it was just too painful for him and he hated talking about it. And what was that he had said about his own country's military chasing him around the planet? Before she could get anything more from the doctor, however, Tony and Pepper entered the room.
Pepper was holding a pair of dark grey sweatpants and had a pleasant smile on her face.
"Hi, Kira. Heard you needed something to wear. Since you'll be staying here for a while, I'll have Jarvis scan your measurements and order some items for you. If you are comfortable with that, that is…" Pepper trailed off. In all honesty, if Kira refused, Pepper would order her new clothing anyway and just keep it stored until Kira caved. However, Kira seemed to understand that clothing was a necessity and someone with great means was offering her that necessity as a gift. The black-haired woman bowed her head.
"You are too generous." Tony snorted.
"Giving you medical attention, a place to stay and clothing is not generosity. It's human decency." Kira's eyes shone with something none of them could quite place, though there was one thing they could make out. Human decency was not something Kira was accustomed to.
Pepper looked at the two men in the room.
"Well, Boys, I think Kira and I have it from here. You two go talk shop in the hallway, and I'll let you know when it's safe to come back in." Tony opened his mouth to argue, but Bruce nodded and dragged Tony out the door. As soon as they were gone, Pepper smiled back at Kira and stepped forward. The woman on the bed eyed her warily.
"I- I am certain that I can do this on my own, Miss Pepper." Pepper lifted an incredulous brow at her.
"You can't put any weight on one leg. You are in pain. You are exhausted. I'm helping you put these pants on. Then I'm helping you get to the bathroom and bedroom so you can rest somewhere away from sterile white walls. Then I will, probably with Tony coming along, get you for dinner." Pepper's assertiveness sparked a fire of defiance in Kira, and the strawberry blonde was pleased to see it. Kira wasn't cowed and would not allow anyone to bully her into anything.
"I thank you for your assistance with the clothing. I am amenable to rest and food, however I can walk on my own. I do not need assistance in that area, as Dr. Banner has offered me crutches. I will also eat in my room so as not to disturb the other occupants of the Tower-" Here Pepper stopped her.
"No. You will eat with the team at every meal. Besides the fact that Dr. Banner has a meal plan laid out for you and he needs to make sure you eat everything; you need to learn to interact with the team. The safest place for you to do that is meal times. They all tend to behave themselves when there is food in front of them…for the most part." Kira thought over the new demands and found them… satisfactory but not pleasant.
She did not want to form attachments with the people on this tower. Though they seemed genuine and sincere in their concern and generosity, as soon as she is healed and gone, they will forget all about her. Kira will be back on the streets, in hiding, trying to survive by way she can scavenge day in and day out. However, she had not eat in a day or so (she couldn't quite remember) and hadn't eaten with such a large group since…well, best not think about that. Needless to say, a banquet table of rowdy warriors would be nothing new to her.
Finally Kira nodded.
"Very well. I accept these conditions." Pepper smiled again.
"Good, now let's get you out of that bed sheet and into these pants." Kira suddenly remembered what she was wearing and slowly unclenched her fingers from the fabric. She could have easily made a toga out of the sheet; she had done so before. However, she shivered in the air conditioned room and was looking forward to more substantial coverings.
Kira took off the sheet with some maneuvering and set it aside on the bed. Then Pepper kneeled by her feet.
"Miss Pepper what-" Pepper giggled.
"Oh, please just Pepper, Sweetie. And calm down. I'm not going to bite your leg off. I'm just going to slip the sweatpants over your feet and pull them to your knees." Kira felt a bit foolish for overreacting and only nodded in response.
Pepper did just as she said she would and soon she was helping Kira balance on one foot and pull the pants up the rest of the way. Kira couldn't stop the sigh of relief and satisfaction that came from wearing such comfortable and warm clothing. Tears, unbidden, pricked in the corners of her eyes. She bit her lip fiercely and tried to conceal her reaction. Pepper wrapped an arm around Kira's shoulder and pulled her into a side hug.
"Oh, Kira. It's alright. What…what are you crying about?" Pepper had a good idea, but she didn't want to assume anything. Kira cleared her throat a few times to dislodge the lump in it.
"It has been…a very long time since I had something so nice to wear. I am a bit overwhelmed by the generosity today. Do not be surprised if this happens at the dinner table as well." Pepper held her tighter for a moment, before letting go and smiling at her.
She surreptitiously wiped some tears from her own eyes before they left the room.
I don't want Loki/Kira to be super emotional in this fic. I just let the characters be free, and this happened. It shouldn't happen too often though, I don't think.
Well? What did you think? Let me know!
Please review:)