lake of shadows

02- exile

Bruce Banner saw his life flash before his eyes as his quinjet spiraled down out of control. One minute, he was on Sakaar, making his way back to Earth with Thor and Loki, the next, he was plummeting through the Earth's atmosphere. After finally transforming out of his monstrous form, he was able to repair his broken ship and escape the wretched planet. He'd recognized her. The only one who could break his two-year hulk streak was her. Her voice on the recording struck him like a bag of bricks, it was the only motivation he needed to haul it back to Earth. However, it now appeared that his repairs were not as thorough as he originally thought.

"Is this a good time to mention those pants do not do your rear justice," Loki Laufeyson yelled over the fiery quinjet.

"What" Bruce Banner screamed in response, concerned those would be the last words he heard.

"They really do not. If we make it out of this, you have got to try some khakis with an elastic waistband," Thor Odinson yelled back.

"I really miss Heimdall now," the physicist murmured. The flames spread around them rapidly.

"You know Mjolnir would be really useful right now," Loki screamed over the roar of the flames. Thor simply glared at him. They were getting unholy close to the ground right now. Even Bruce couldn't quite tell where they were, except it was on a desolate coast. The flaming jet rammed into the ocean and skidded onto the nearby beach. Thor jumped out of the jet just before it hit the ground, grabbing a recently unconscious Banner and rolled onto the muddy beach. When Thor's breathing slowed to a reasonable pace, he turned his attention to the doctor. His breathing was shallow and he had a sizable bloody streak appearing through his shirt. He eased up, resting his body weight on his elbows, and tore his cape off. He grabbed the unconscious man and tied it tightly around his abdomen.

"Thor!" He shifted his head to see Loki limping towards him. "Thor, are you alright?"

"Yes, brother. And you?"

"I am clearly injured." He chuckled at his response and took a labored breath.

"We have to get him some medical attention immediately. Do we have any idea where we are?"

"I saw a village over that way," the demigod pointed to the east.

"Well," he heaved himself upright. "We best get going," he said as he carefully threw the man over his shoulder.

***

With bloody faces and heavy hearts, they entered the coastal town of Navala, Fiji. It had taken them 45 to hike a 15-minute walk because the injured men tossed the still unconscious doctor between them. And oh gosh Loki had to stop every 10 minutes to either throw up or pee. They spotted a small house and gathered their confidence.

"Knock Knock," Thor narrated as he completed the motion. A young woman answered the door. Her long, black hair spilled down her back, her tan skin reflecting the sun. Her eyes widened as she took the men.

"Hi," the girl breathed.

"Hello. I am Thor Odinson and this is my brother, Loki Laufeyson," he said with a hesitant smile as he gestured towards him.

"Yeah, I-uh. I know who you are." Her eyes shifted to the blood trickling down Thor's chest from the man slung over his shoulder. "Is he okay?"

"Probably not! Do you know where we can get him medical attention immediately?'

"Oh yes, yes. Bring him inside." Thor and Loki made questionable eye contact. She opened the door to reveal a quaint house. It was not grotesquely overdone, but tasteful. The house opened into the kitchen which was only separated from the living space by a partial wall. A long hallway spilled out of the living room. The house had green, light pink, and gold colors throughout. It was cute, and not cheap. She gestured for them to bring the man to her long kitchen table. Thor gently laid him down as she slipped a pillow under his head.

"Uh, Loki right," the woman questioned.

"Yes," he said, his attention turning to her. He took her beauty in, heavens she was gorgeous. She couldn't have been older than 19.

"Can you go get me some towels? All of them? The bathroom's down the hall." Loki rushed off to get them and returned. Between the three, they managed to cover the table quickly and wipe up the blood that had already spilled.

She untied the red cape, which she could only assume belonged to the man with the short brown hair. She lifted his shirt, revealing a long deep gash that went diagonal from his upper left pectoral to his v-line.

"Whoever tied this, you saved his life." She spoke confidently as she began to heal the man's gash. A dazzling purple orb with yellow snaking through it sparked out of her hand. She eyed the demi-gods, who had wide eyes and had gone pale. She snaked her fingers on his open skin as it appeared to heal itself. It bonded together as if the action was being reversed. Her swagger indicated she had done this before. Several times. When she finished not twenty minutes later, she took two fingers to his pulse to check his breathing. She watched his hairy chest rise and fall and knew he would be alright, although it left a thin, pale scar.

"How did you... What did you... Who are you..." the brother with the long black hair spat.

"Are you two ok," she asked as she washed her hands and looked the two up and down. The brothers were awestruck at the stranger.

"Well, I do have a limp."

***

After much protest, the girl convinced the two to shower and change. She served them a meal, which Loki claimed was his new favorite, next to broiled pheasant. It was roman noodles, that was all it had taken to get the demigods to adore her. She insisted they borrow some clothes. Who knows why she had a whole closet full of men's clothes. She hadn't used her power to heal Loki's leg, she'd just put it back in its socket. The doctor was still unconscious, breathing, but still unconscious.

"I don't know how to thank you for your help... I just realized we never got your name," Thor exclaimed.

"It's Ally," she said somewhat hesitantly. "Now I don't know what your plans are of course, but you all are welcome to stay here for the night. I have a guest room, and the other can stay on the couch. What was the doctor's name again?"

"Dr. Banner."

"Right, Dr. Banner, we can put him on a couch as well."

"Thank you. You have been very generous."

"How do you do that...thing?" Loki wiggled his fingers above his noodles. She laughed at his interpretation.

"I know I wasn't born with it, but I've had it since I was very young. That's really all I can offer you."

"Once the doctor wakes up, I'm sure he could help you figure it out," Thor offered.

"I might take him up on that offer." She reached to take their empty bowls and began washing them. She noticed the unconscious man stirring on the table in her peripheral vision when Thor entered the room. Thor scooped him up and dumped him on the couch, knowing there was no risk of sutures breaking.

Soon enough, the threesome bid each other 'good night.'