helpless

1

There was a time, long ago that Ingrid felt fragile and delicate. She couldn't even remember when it was but she knew it was there in her childhood perhaps. Now, at thirty five she was a warrior and feared nothing. Her humanity had all but left her, every year a little less human , it started ten years ago. She wasn't sure why but she knew that she would not be able to stop it. 

As time progressed she realized that with the loss of humanity came the gain of powers. First it was telepathy. It arrived in a scream of thoughts early one crisp fall morning. The mess of jumbled words grew louder and louder. It gave her a migraine for weeks, laying in bed She had found a way to deal with it and train her mind to focus and not let anything in until she alone was in command of who's thoughts she wanted to invade. Then came speed, it happened one night while on a run. She was in the forest in a run and a wolf had spotted her. In her haste to run she flitted away unexpectedly . A year later she managed to control her speed and use it only when she needed it. Finally she started to notice that the weather had no affect in her. Cold, hot, rain, or windy her body would assimilate immediately. This is how she was found by shield. It was the dead of winter and she was seen running through New York at full speed in shorts and a tee shirt. She had flitted to the store to get her dog some dog food and she planned to come right back it was ironic that she would be caught that way. She decided on less clothing so she could speed by unseen to the human eye but she had no idea that she was seen by a very non human eyes She was caught by stark and shield tech and therefore they set out to find her. They found her with facial recognition software with only a 35% match due to the speed she was going. They came to her apartment and she went without a fuss. She knew this day would come. Be it shield or some other government agency she would be caught. Her only request was that she be allowed to bring her dog. She was completely open to director fury about her abilities. He offered her a position within shield and in time she was placed with the avengers. 

She watched the dark sky of New York as the rain fell. She couldn't feel the cold but she still held herself tighter somehow wanting to feel the warmth. She felt an existential loneliness that could not be filled. She had found friends among the avengers. Her and Nat had the most in common. Their childhood being so cold and dark they bonded over their past and worked well together. This made her close friends with Steve, Sam and Bucky. They could always be found enjoying a movie or relaxing together in the shared common area. Ingrid was very different she was cold and almost unfeeling to the outside world but here she had humanity and compassion. She saw the pain each had experienced and turned it into camaraderie. 

Six months ago Thor brought Loki to earth to pay his debt to society for his attack in New York. He would live among the avengers under their careful watchful eye. This put Ingrid at a disadvantage, she was the most likely to capture him should he try and escape and try he did. Twice to be exact. The first time Tony, Steve and Bruce managed to get him but the second time Ingrid did. 

Seconds after Friday announced that Loki had left the premises she was up and out of the building. Using her telepathy she felt for his mind. She heard him two miles down the street she reached him in a dark alley. He saw her and was immediately on his guard. He did not have much interaction with her and was unsure of what powers possessed that brought her to the avengers. As she approached his skin faded from the porcelain color to a blue. Transforming himself into a frost giant. Knowing that this ability would cause her pain at a simple touch, he grabbed her arm to distract her with pain. Unfortunately he was met with a raised eyebrow only "why? Who?" Loki spouted out in confusion. "My body is amendable to any temperature heat or cold. I'm sorry Mr Laufeyson you will have to come back with me." She indeed felt sorry for him. Being unsympathetic to the humans of this planet she could relate to his need to rule them humans were greedy and selfish wasting their humanity of vain attempts at power. He gave her a look like he was going to leave and run again, she panicked and reached for him again, this time there was a touch then darkness then they were back in the tower inside the command center. "Did you bring us here?" She asked confusion apparent in her tone "why would I bring us here, this is place I was trying to escape!" she rolled her eyes in frustration "Oh shit, well seems I have another power again" they all stared at her wide eyed mouths agape. Fury walked in at exactly that moment. Thor following closely behind. "Brother" he said disappointment evident in his tone. Loki put his hands up in defeat. "Did he come back willingly? Fury asked. "Yes director he did." She didn't know why she lied for him but somehow she felt bad for him. Fury accepted her response as truth and turned to the Asgardian prince. "Alright this is your last warning Laufeyson there will not be a third time."

 They dispersed and Ingrid let go of Loki who she didn't know she was still holding on to. He was going to speak but he turned to watch her disappear at that exact moment instead. She didn't want to talk or explain, she needed time to process and think it through. She didn't know if she would ever stop acquiring powers and they thought of continuing to recondition her body each time made her exhausted. She reappeared to the only place she could find comfort and help, Tony's lab. Tony was her favorite avenger as impossible as it seemed they were polar opposites but, he was so intelligent that she always went to him for problems or when her powers went out of control. His thoughts were so jumbled and fast that they seemed like a low hum to her which could get her to refocus herself. "Ah did the escapist make it far?" He said as she appeared next to him completely unfazed. "No about three blocks" her landing was unsteady and it made her nauseated "eh well better luck next time huh?" She smiled at him sitting down on a stool across from him putting her head down on the cold surface. Her dark skin in contrast to her silver. Her eyes a light almost golden brown. Tony was always protective over her. When they brought her in he insisted that her testing be done by Bruce and not some shield newbie. Tony had no siblings but he felt a sibling connection to Ingrid, one that Pepper shared. Ingrid kept Tony sane and kept him healthy when Pepper was not around.

 "So new power huh?" Of course he would know already he always knew. "Yeah" she said into the cold surface of the work station "Teleportation? Should be interesting to see you hone this one" she laughed. "Are you doubting my ability? He scoffed "Never!" he said "Was it because of Loki?" he asked. She wished it was any other explanation other than this was just another acquired power. She shrugged. He stopped what he was working on to look at her non verbal response. "Maybe? I don't know, I just panicked I guess. "he smiled at her and put his hand on hers for comfort. "Well sweetheart, it seems that you have a lot to work to do" he stood and pulled up a computer screen out of thin air and started dictating things to send to her phone. She sat up to pay attention. "I would start at the gym. That is as close to panic your body can get without actually putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Get your heart rate up to about 200 plus beats per min then try it? But simple one side of the room to another just to start. Have Widow help but give her heads up first on what to expect. Keep that up for about a week then try complex wide in a few days, when you start doing longer ones let me know I want to see if you can go cross country" he said with that signature Tony Stark smirk. She smiled and went around the table to kiss his cheek. "I knew I could count on you." he smiled going back to his project "yeah don't spread that around, need to keep my image up" she rolled her eyes and headed up to find Nat.

 Natasha was in the common area as Ingrid stepped off the elevator she sat down with her explained in detail what she needed and they agreed to start the next morning with the assist from Steve Bucky and Sam. She went to bed that night trying to will herself to sleep. She went through her nightly routine to ensure that the OCD in her would comply for sleep, but it failed. Too much has happened and she just couldn't sleep. At about midnight she threw the blankets off in anger and went to the kitchen for some tea. She made her cup and walked to the window watching the city still so full of energy and life. She had not failed to notice the person sitting in the chair covered by darkness. She had just decided not acknowledged him to make him believe she hadn't seen him. It's what he wanted she knew that much from him mind. He was masked from her only bits got out she wondered if she tried harder would she be able to break through and let his thoughts flood her. But the thought was completely pushed from her as his swiftly stood and pinned her against the wall. Her cup now on the floor. She was surprisingly not afraid of him. His hands were on her throat but her hands were on her dagger which was pointed at his throat. He smiled at her action. Smart girl, she didn't trust him. "Do not ever try and invade my mind, mortal" she sneered at him but before she could respond he took his hand off her throat and let her go. She walked away quickly but the fleeting thought that screamed from him almost made her turn around. "It's too dark in there for you" she turned and even in the soft light from the window she could see his face sadness and loneliness. She made her way to the elevator pressing the button but keeping her eyes on the man in front of her. She traveled down in silence lost in thought about her interaction with the God of Mischief, those last words resonating in her mind.