The Hermit Herbalist

Chapter 37 - What Loki Hides

Pepper confided in Tony when her and Loki returned from their day out.  Loki had enthusiastically taken Darian from Thor and told him all she did that day.  Her son listened with his fist in his mouth and his eyes wide.  Thor chatted with Loki about what he, Bruce and Tony did with his nephew and Loki laughed when she learned that Darian had decided to throw up in Tony's mouth.  "I think I'm scarred for life," the still pale millionaire said as he and Pepper walked back towards their floor.  Pepper smiled at his discomfort before her expression became serious.  "What's wrong?  You guys had fun, right?" Tony asked when he saw the stormy visage of his girlfriend.

"What?  Oh, yes!  We did have fun!  It's just that..." Pepper said, her voice trailing off.  Tony took her hand as Jarvis opened the door to their room.  "We ran into some society ladies I know from all the charity parties we've gone to."

"Ugh!  I think I already have an idea where this is going.  They annoyed Loki and she humiliated them, didn't she?" Tony guessed.

"They did.  Loki was so calm and polite and made good points.  However, when they left, she said something that reminded me of how she must have been in her previous life during the invasion," Pepper said and Tony raised his eyebrow.  "She commented that if she ever met someone like Kael again, she would not kill them, but slowly torture them, never granting them the sweet release of death."

"Yeah... that sounds like something she would say," Tony responded as he took his shoes and shirt off and laid on their bed.  Pepper removed her heels and laid down beside him and they laced their fingers together. 

"I think she should talk to someone about what happened on Nornheim.  We don't know the extent of everything that happened outside of what Clint and her have said.  I know they've concealed some things, but it's eating away at her.  She appears fine, even happy; but I'm afraid that if it lingers too long beneath the surface, it'll explode one day.  And not in a pleasant way," Pepper warned.  Tony agreed.  He still suffered from some PTSD from his time spent as a prisoner of the Ten Rings.  While his torture was for a couple of months, Loki's abuse at the hands of cruel men had been over a span of years.  Her trauma was deeper than his.  

"You want to discuss it with her?  It would be better coming from either you or Barton," Tony suggested.

"Yes, I think that would be for the best.  When do they get back from their mission?  I want to discuss it with him before we broach the subject with Loki," Pepper said.

"SHIELD missions take as long as SHIELD missions take.  Unfortunately there was no return timeframe for them," Tony answered and Pepper sighed.

"I hope it's soon," she whispered as she and Tony closed their eyes.

Clint burst through the doors to his and Loki's floor, dropping his bag to the ground.  "Loki!  Darian!" he called.  Loki came from hers and Clint's bedroom with Darian in her arms.  Her eyes lit up and Darian waved his hands at his father.  Clint smiled as he wrapped them in his arms, kissing both of them several times.  "I'm so happy to see you!" he said as they walked back into their bedroom.

"Glad you came back safe.  Are both Natasha and Steve well?" Loki asked as she handed Darian to his father.  

"They're both fine.  No injuries for us," Clint said.  That was when he noticed that Loki's nails were painted a lovely metallic green.  His eyebrow went up and he took her hand in his, studying it.  "You got your nails done?"

"Yes, and my toenails as well.  Pepper and I had a girl's day about a week ago.  We went shopping, had lunch at an extravagant restaurant, then went to a spa, where we had our nails done, massages and facials.  I've never experienced luxury quite like that," Loki admitted, smiling as she remembered the outing.  Clint's face softened as he observed Loki.  She certainly recalled the day with fondness, and Clint would have to thank Pepper for being her friend.  

"Glad you had a good time," he said, kissing her cheek.  "Who watched this little monstrosity while you were away?" Clint asked as he raised Darion in the air and blew bubbles at him.

"Thor, Bruce and Tony all watched him while we were out.  Although, I must warn you, Darian permanently marked Tony when he decided to do exactly what you're doing and threw up on his face and mouth," Loki warned and Clint immediately lowered Darian and pressed him close to his chest.  The baby was still laughing from being jounced in the air, but Clint clearly was not interested in taking chances.

"Thanks!  Duly noted!  I can tease Tony about it later!" Clint said as Loki laughed at his discomfort.  Loki went to his bag, brought it into their bedroom and proceeded to unpack it for him, sorting through his dirty clothes and putting aside weapons for him to clean later.  Clint sat in an armchair by the window with Darian on his lap, and watched her.  "Anything else happen while I was gone?" he asked.  Loki paused as she studied a small speck of blood on one of his undershirts before glancing his way.

"Nothing that I can think of.  I canned herbs and remedies, took care of Darian, and spent some time with the people who stayed here.  Nothing exciting happened," she said.  Clint maintained a neutral expression, but he was no dummy.  He was a spy after all, and he could tell that his wife was hiding something.  

"Glad it was relatively uneventful," he answered her.

Clint was not surprised when he was asked to a private discussion with Pepper, Tony and Nat.  He was a little surprised when Bruce did not show up, but Pepper said that she was trying to keep it as private as possible.  "Thanks for coming, Clint.  I know you must be tired from the mission and the flight back," Pepper said.

"I'm not too tired to hear about my family.  What happened?" Clint asked.  Pepper explained everything, including Tony's accidental trigger phrase and Loki's reaction to the women at the restaurant.  She informed him the chilling statement she had made and Clint heaved a sigh, leaning back in his chair.  

"I don't know to what extent Kael tormented her, but I imagine it was extensive over a long period of time," Pepper said and Clint could only nod to that.  

"According to Ogen, the old magistrate, he accidentally introduced Loki to Kael, and when she didn't fall head over heels for him, he started to target her," Clint explained.  "He wasn't the only man who tried to win Loki.  She told me that when her previous adopted father passed away, one of her suitors attempted to kidnap her.  Wrapped her in a blanket and tried to spirit her away.  Thankfully, she fought and screamed and was saved, but she has a thing against being wrapped too tightly in blankets.  I accidentally did that and she freaked out."  Pepper's lips crimped up and Natasha very calmly continued polishing a knife.  "However, what Kael did to her went above and beyond what the others did."

"Well, no shit!  Attempting to rape her twice and almost forcing her to miscarry!  Asshole," Tony stated and Clint nodded.

"I think you should recommend therapy to her, Clint," Pepper said and Clint nodded.

"Yeah, she'll listen to you if you bring it to her attention.  She comes from a culture where people don't talk about their problems, otherwise they'll be considered weak.  If you broach the subject with her, she'll be less likely to ignore it," Natasha said and Clint hummed in agreement.  He sighed and looked at his friends.

"I'll talk to her.  She needs to heal."