A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Second Strongest Woman

—-Sam—-

With the fight over we rejoin Tom and the others helping them to the Quinjet it isn't long before all of the hostages are safely in our respective aircraft. Everything is well until soon after we're in the air when Amy wakes up. Something about her panicking because she doesn't know where she is just seems to hit me. Her cries just sound like that place... I'm flooded with memories.

I begin to shake slightly and I know I'm seconds away from loosing my voice. I quickly find my husband who's talking to his brother. Lo' was obviously worried about him though he'll never admit it. I take his arm subtly getting his attention. I don't want to become a mess in front of everyone... there's really no where for me to go though. The jet is one of the smaller models.

"Lo'..."

His attention turns to me, at first he looks laid back but as he takes in my expression his own becomes full of concern. I try my best to convey what's wrong.

"It's Amy... I just can't..."

I can still hear Amy from here and it's not exactly helping me to form coherent sentences. I start to cry though I'm furiously wiping the tears away trying desperately to somehow still appear as the calm and collected superhero I'm supposed to be.

He looks confused as to what's got me all worked up of course he's noticed Amy is upset but she's currently being reassured by her friends. He may not understand why I'm suddenly being brought to tears but he doesn't miss a beat realizing that for whatever reason I'm on the cusp of a panic attack.

"Shh hey it's alright darling."

He takes my hands gently in his.

"Let's go sit down."

Thor looks concerned about me as we go to sit down but Loki must give him some sort of reassuring look because he doesn't follow. Loki guides us to a seat where he sits down with me. I want to calm down and stop making a scene but I can't help it and the fact that I can't is only making my anxiety worse...

I feel like there's a blockage in my throat though it's obvious I can still breathe, the air having no problem getting to my lungs, nevertheless I breathe a bit heavier feeling like I'm choking... I start to feel lightheaded, great I'm hyperventilating. Loki also notices the pace of my breathing.

"Love focus, breathe slowly. In and out long slow breaths, that's all you need to worry about right now, alright? Nothing else needs your attention not me, not the mission, not the others, nothing."

I try my best to block everything else out I think I've hit a full on panic attack. Normally I probably would be able to keep myself somewhat together but hormones have never helped matters when it comes to my anxiety they only seem to heighten the emotions that trigger it so here I am in a full blown panic.

Despite all this, after a while, I do somehow manage to get my breathing under control. Loki just holds me while I continue to ride the rest of it out. He's not demanding any answers as to what caused the attack, he knows I'm not really ready to talk quite yet. I'm going to need a while...

—-Loki—-

I'm really a bit worried about Sam now, what was it that set off her anxiety? She said it was Amy, Amy is crying and scared at the moment but why does this seem to scare Sam? Maybe that's simply what tipped things over the edge. Perhaps we went back on missions too soon.

Then again until I get a full explanation from Sam about just what made her panic it's best I don't jump to any conclusions as not to get my heart set on any particular course of action. I'm so focused on Sam that I manage to get snuck up on.

"Is... is she okay?"

I quickly look up at the direction of the timid voice to see Hiddleston nervously standing a few feet from me. I'm a bit surprised by him talking to me. Though he pretended he was alright with me I could still tell he was afraid of me and I expected him to keep his distance from me now that he doesn't have to rely on Sam and I to ensure his safety.

I note that I can no longer hear Amy and deduce that he noticed Sam was upset after he and his friends got Amy to calm down. I'm a bit unsure of what to say so I just state the facts while also attempting to reassure him. I can tell that as usual Sam has endeared herself to yet another person.

"She will be alright eventually, she has PTSD and panic attacks... she was in a really bad situation for a really long time before our paths crossed."

He looks quite surprised by this. This information isn't really that easily accessible for civilians. It's by no means classified that she was kidnapped for five years of her life but seeing as either she wouldn't do interviews with the news stations that were willing to run such a story or news stations were simply unwilling to run a story about a mutant being at the receiving end of such atrocities because it went against their anti mutant narrative it's just not a well circulated fact. Tom moves a little bit closer to me. Seeming to look at me a little differently now knowing this new information.

"I wouldn't have ever guessed. The way she carries herself she seems so unfettered, especially with you."

When he says 'especially with you' I get the sense that this puzzles him though he hides it well. All the same I smile a little bit at the statement still moving my hand through Sam's hair to comfort her.

"After everything she had to work really hard at that... she's the second strongest woman I've ever met."

He looks slightly confused.

"Who's the first?"

I answer him not even thinking about my reputation or trying not to show weakness.

"My mother."

I don't know why I'm opening up like this Tom is just really easy to talk to I'm also willing to blame it on being exhausted from the mission. He smiles taking a seat a cross from me.

"Ah, good man."

He seems to reach a conclusion about something.

"Forgive me for the rude timing but I'm worried I might not have time to ask you later. If Sam and you would like to, I want to invite you both to the premiere of Lobster Man as a thank you."

I know if Sam weren't calming down from a panic attack she'd be overwhelmed with excitement at the prospect. While I abhor making public appearances there's no way I could say no. I can't wait to see Sam's adorable smile over it once she's calmed down.

"We'd be honored."

He smiles looking relieved as if he thought I'd turn my nose up at him for offering. I guess in the past I would have... He goes on sounding excited.

"Great! I'll just send the invites to your Avengers P.O. Box within the week then?"

'My P.O. Box' I laugh internally I'd forgotten such a thing existed. While other Avengers received fan mail I'd mainly received death threats so I simply stopped checking it. Somewhere along the line it completely vanished from my memory.

"That'll work."

Tom stands up.

"Awesome! I had better get back to Shawn and Amy. If we don't get a chance to say goodbye uh, goodbye I'll see you at the premiere!"

I smile a bit seeing his fear of me is gone.

"Looking forward to it."

Tom happily walks back to his friends.