lake of shadows

03- it's time to go

Steve Rogers and Maria Hill headed straight towards the coast of Fiji. Natasha thought about going, but she didn't want to be the one to keep Banner refusing to come back. She knew the risks of him coming back and not remembering her, or worse, not caring. So she found it easier to just slip out to her car with an overnight bag. She had to get away, mentally prepare herself before she saw him. The seasoned assassin also didn't want to deal with Stark after their interaction the night before. Talking about Bruce just made her stomach turn, she'd had too long to think about it. So, she just drove.

***

"I see the ship," Steve Rogers exclaimed as they spotted the still smoking quinjet on the beach, even in the dark of night. He heard Maria mumble something under her breath as she took in the damage. It would be lucky if they had made it out alive. They landed their ship without a hitch and ran towards the ship. They scavenged the jet for anything of the doctor's presence. A body, body parts, ashes.

"Rogers over here,' Maria shouted at the captain from the beach, shining her flashlight on the sand. "There's blood here." She pointed at the trail leading east.

"Let's follow it." The two trailed the path in ten minutes, praying they wouldn't find a body on the way. The trail led them right up to the small house. The lights were still on in the night and laughter poured from inside. Maria stepped in front of Steve and knocked on the door.

"Hi," a young woman said as Thor ran up close behind her. What was Thor doing here?

"Captain Rogers! Agent Hill! Nice to see you," Thor exclaimed as he hugged his startled star-spangled friend. "Let me introduce you to this rather interesting girl, Lady Ally!" She looked between the threesome and wondered how she'd ended up seeing three Avengers and another demigod in her home within the span of 48 hours.

"Captain America, I'm a big fan." Her hand was warm and welcoming as his calloused hand shool hers. "Come in, make yourselves comfortable. I'm sure you all have a lot of talking to do." She led the newcomers into the living area where they had all been talking over a bottle of wine. They all came to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and settled into the various seats. Ally returned from the kitchen with another bottle and two more glasses. "Would you two like a glass? Or anything else at all?"

"Got any beer," Agent Hill questioned with rising suspicion at the young girl's hospitality and casual attitude towards alcohol. Steve wanted to ask her age, but for reasons unknown to him, he didn't ask.

"Of course, I also have Vodka if you would prefer something stronger. And you, Captain?" His brows raised at the question. Kids these days.

"You've had beer this whole time while we've been sipping this dainty wine," Thor exclaimed. Ally shot him a glare.

"Beer's fine," Hill responded.

"Just some water, please," Steve returned. She only returned with one beer, to Thor's demise. Once everyone settled, Steve finally spoke up, returning everyone to the intended focus of the conversation.

"So, the other night, Dr. Banner came back onto Tony's radar. I don't know what you are aware of," he gestured to Thor, "But he's been off our radar since Ultron. We followed it here, and the blood trail to this house. So, is it safe to assume he's somewhere around here?"

"Yes, my friend, he is okay! However, he took a pretty good knock to the head and is resting," Thor returned. "He also had a fatal gash down his middle, but Lady Ally took care of that for us." He gestured towards her.

"Are you a doctor," the captain asked.

"Something like that."

Her voice rang in Steve's head. It sounded so familiar, come to think of it, she looked familiar too. He was about to ask when a scream resounded from the back room. Steve and Ally were the first to dash down the hall. Loki just kept his spot on the couch as he began to drink the wine straight out of the bottle while nobody was looking. Ally didn't take the care to use the doorknob as she used her power to whip it open from halfway down the hall. They slowly entered the room to see Bruce standing on his bed. Steve's eyes widened at the strength of her power. It was like Wanda's but... different somehow. It felt different.

"Snake! Snake," he yelled, pointing to the exotic-colored snake slithering on the bedpost. He recognized it as venomous. Ally flipped on the light switch and picked the thing up with her bare hands.

"Sorry about that Dr. Banner. Phillipe gets out sometimes."

"That's your pet! That thing can kill you in one bite!" Ally was already out of the room, locking the snake in its terrarium.

Who was this girl?

"Dr. Banner, nice to see you in one piece," Steve said.

"Nice to see you too, Rogers. In one piece and all." Steve shot him a look filled with questions he didn't want to answer. "I'll explain, I promise." He sprung up off the bed and crowded everyone back into the living room. He told them all about Ragnarok and Asgard, and now the lack of Asgard. He told them about how he had been trapped in hulk for 2 years on Sakaar and about their crash. His head was pounding as the sudden rush of excitement. Maria drew in a deep breath.

"Wow," she exhaled. "So I assume you know why we're here then?"

"To take me back to my home," he said, hopeful. She just nodded in response.

Author's Note :)

how's everyone liking it?