Lost in Glorious Mischief

The Compound

As Loki and Thor leave, Natasha approaches behind you.
"Where did they go?" she asked, stopping by your side.
"Thor said their father needed them on Asgard, " you say, turning to Natasha.
"Huh, well do you need help with your training; or do you want to call it a day?" Natasha asked.
"Well, I don't think Wanda returns until tomorrow so there isn't much I can do until then."
"Well, a few of us were gonna cook dinner and have some drinks, you're welcome to join us," Natasha says to you.
You think for a moment,
"You know, that sounds great! I just gotta shower and change, " you say.
"Sounds good, meet in an hour?" she asks, walking away.
"Yeah, wait what should I wear?" you ask.
"Just keep it casual, " Natasha replies, turning back to you.
You start to walk out the door but stop.
"There is a faster way to get to my room, " you say to yourself.
You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let go.
When you open your eyes, you're standing in your room.
You smile, proud of yourself.
You walk over to your dresser and grab a pair of jeans, a shirt, and some undergarments.
You walk into the bathroom and begin to undress.
Taking your jacket off you notice how severe the bruise on your side is. You examine the rest of your body noticing the smaller, less severe bruises scattered around your body.
You stare at yourself for a few minutes before getting into the shower.
After you are finished, you get dressed. You add a touch of mascara and light lipgloss to make yourself look less tired and more human.
Once you have finished getting ready you slide a pair of shoes on. As you bend down to tie them it causes some pain in your side. Enough to make you stop what you are doing.
You get up slowly and walk over to your nightstand. You grab the needle and bottle of medication from earlier. You fill the needle halfway with the medicine. Wanting enough to take the pain away but not to make you drowsy. You place the needle into your arm and injected the medication. Once you are finished and allow the medication to begin working you head out the door.

~

In the kitchen and common room Natasha, Steve, Bucky, Sam, and Peter have all gathered. Natasha is in the kitchen while the four men are standing on the balcony chatting.
Steve takes notice that you are there and excuses himself from the conversation.
"Hey Claire," Steve says approaching you.
"Hey Steve," you say back.
"May I get you a drink?" he asks, flashing a smile at you.
"Not at the moment. I took some pain medication and do not want to mix it," you explain.
"Still in pain from being shocked?" Steve asked.
"That, and Natasha kicked my ass today," you say, looking past Steve over to Natasha.
She hears you and smiles.
"I heard you had a pretty nasty bruise?" Steve asked, curious.
"Yeah it's not very pretty," you say, lifting your shirt slightly showing him your very dark bruise.
"Ouch, yeah that'll take a few days to fade," he says taking a look at your bruise.
You drop your shirt,
"I have had worse but it does not feel great," you say.
Peter walks up behind Steve,
"Hey, I am Peter Parker, I don't think we have met,"
"No, we haven't had the chance," you say, holding your hand out to shake his.
He shakes your hand back,
"So, what power's do you have? I got bit by a radioactive spider and now am like a human spider" Peter says, excitedly.
"Well, " you glance at Steve and give him an unsure smile, "I am a lot like Steve and Bucky. I was injected with the super-soldier serum along with many others. So far we have unlocked a firepower, teleportation, premonitions, and tomorrow we will see if we can't unlock my mind power. I also can feel the energy of the infinity stones," you say.
"Oh, so you're jacked?" Peter says.
You look at Steve,
"What is jacked, " you asked, not sure what Peter means.
"Means your tough, or strong," Steve says, slightly laughing.
"Oh," you say, "yeah you could say I am jacked," looking back at Peter, slightly confused.
"Sweet, well I have these super sweet spider powers. I can shoot webs and I have a spidey sense. It's like a sixth-sense. I can show you if you like," Peter begins to tell you, talking faster than you can comprehend.
"Okay kid, slow down," Steve says patting him on the shoulders.
"My bad, hey have you seen Stark I have this great idea for a new web shooter," he asks Steve, changing the subject,
"I think he is in the lab," Steve says to Peter.
"Awesome, I'll see you guys later," he says, walking out of the room.
Steve laughs as Peter leaves the room,
"Sorry, the kids got enthusiasm," he says, chuckling.
"I can see that," you say, laughing.
"Okay Steve, I am stealing her," Natasha says, walking up and linking your arm with hers.
"Go, play with the boys," she says, waving her hand, shooing Steve away.
"Okay, fine," Steve says backing up. He turns around and joins Sam and Bucky on the balcony.
"Now, we need to chat. Want to help me cook?" Natasha asks, pulling you into the kitchen.
"Uh, I guess," you say, concerned. You begin to wonder what this chat could possibly be about.
Natasha and you begin to make dinner.
"So, Steve seems to have a little crush on you," Natasha says, looking at Steve through the balcony door, grinning.
"Really? I mean, he is sweet but," you trail off.
"He's not tall, mysterious, and extremely handsome?" Natasha jumps in.
You begin to blush. You look at Natasha shocked,
"Why do you say that?" you ask.
"Claire, you think I haven't seen the way Loki looks at you. He watches you like he is afraid you will disappear. Not to mention I saw you two this morning in the training room," she says, smiling while chopping an onion.
"I was afraid of that," you say, not making eye contact.
"So when did it start?" Natasha asked, placing the chopped onion in a pan.
"I'm not certain of when it started exactly. I mean, he has been charming to me since we were in the cell. However, when other people are around he usually gives me a cold shoulder. As though he has to hide who he is," you explain, thinking back to all the little moments you had with Loki.
"Well, I am not going to tell you who to see or what to do. However, be cautious. Loki has done some terrible things and even though it appears he has changed; that darkness is still within him," Natasha says, draining the pasta noodles.
"I believe we all have darkness in us. It just takes something or someone to bring out the good," you say, taking a sip of water.
Natasha looks at you,
"I suppose you are correct. Just promise me one thing?" she asks.
"What's that?" you curiously ask.
"You tell me every juicy detail. God knows I need something to keep me entertained around here," she says, chucking.
"Deal," you say, laughing back.
"May I ask you one last thing?" she asks, stopping what she is doing to look at you.
"Of course," you say turning your head to look at her.
"What do you see in him?" she asks.
You take a moment to think,
"You ever feel as though the weight of the world is sitting on top of you and with every passing second it gets heavier and heavier? To me, it is as though he makes my world just a bit lighter. He has been labeled as a monster, but I see so much more. I see a man who has been hurt. Who has suffered a lifetime's worth of heartache. A man who longs to be understood by somebody. I see the good in him. When he looks at me it is as though his and my soul are connected, as if they were made for each other. When he smiles and I mean when he smiles, he can take away even the slightest bit of worry. When he touches me it feels like electricity. Every time it sends chills throughout my body. As though every nerve is firing in slow motion. His kiss, makes me feel like we are the only two people in the world. As though nobody else exists. It pulls you deeper, wanting you to surrender yourself completely to him. It's like fire, hot and heavy with passion," you explain, getting slightly out of hand.
"Wow, you two must have a connection," Natasha says going back to the cooking, with a big smile.
You blush but don't say a word.