Ice Princess

12

Two weeks until Christmas. While Melinoe was becoming friendlier at the lab and definitely was more social, some people didn't like the announcement that Bruce had made over the subject of her working formally for a Hydra shell company. Sometimes she would find a note on her desk or a snide remark was overheard in the break room, but she tried to not let it affect her. Melinoe didn't have any family for celebrations but she really wanted to get Love a gift. The problem was what? Everyday after work, she'd brave the stores in search of something, anything. But with each store, she was met with more disappointment. While she didn't promise the tot anything, she did feel like she was disappointing herself more than anyone.

As she was walking, two men started following her. Melinoe noticed them, but when they started to following her in and out of the shops, it was time to put an end to it. She entered an ally and hid in the shadows in wait. When they entered, they tried to lunge at her. Instead, they weren't expecting her to fight back her zip stick and quick moves took care of both of them. Both men ended up sitting in the alley nursing various wounded parts of their bodies. And Melinoe left the alley unfazed not bothered, she just kept walking like nothing happened.

"That's my girl." Matt said as he listened from above. The information Melinoe had given him had checked out. Matt had shown Foggy the picture that was from the news articles and Foggy said it was either her or a sister or mother. But the dates were wrong for it to be a mother, which made him a little sad, he was hoping that she would have someone in the world.

While looking for Love's gift, she did find something for someone. While she hadn't heard from him and didn't know how he felt about her wanting to be friends, she did find a gift for him. It was an ornament that had Greensleeves on it in braille. She purchased it immediately, the shop wrapping it for her, they were even able to do a braille tag for her. Having a photographic memory was a blessing and a curse. In this case, a blessing. His building didn't have any security and she made her way up to his apartment leaving the gift at his door, silently leaving. She knew it would probably be tomorrow morning or late tonight when he'd find it. Matt might even break it when he did, either bay accident or on purpose. She pushed the notion that he would on purpose out of her head. Christmas was the time for forgiveness, perhaps he could forgive her for how she acted even if she couldn't forgive herself.

Walking home, she did find Love a gift. It was a music box that was completely made out of wood, even the parts that made music. It had several songs it could play as well and two dancers that danced to the different songs in different ways. Melinoe would wrap it tomorrow and put it under the great tree in the common hall. She heard a thump on the ceiling above her. That was one large rat, she thought to herself. But then there was a series of them. There were grunts and the rasping of the fire escape against the building. While she was curious about the noise, she had a bad feeling that she shouldn't check it out. Especially after those two men were following her. What surprised her was a call she got about a half hour later.

"Mina?" It was Matt.

"Are you alright, you don't sound so good."

"I know I have no right to ask you this....But could you come over? I need your help with something."

"I don't know, Matt."

"Please, I'm hurt."

"I'm on my way, leave your door unlocked." Melinoe grabbed a few things, while she didn't know why he didn't call an ambulance, there had to be a reason he called her. When she arrived she picked up her gift, he was home but didn't bump into it. She opened the door and sat it out he counter for him. "Matt?!" She called for him.

"Here." He was sitting on the floor in front of the couch.

"What are you dressed in?" Then it dawned on her, the red armored suit. "You've been watching me haven't you?"

"I wish I was, all things considering."

"Shut up, stop joking. God, there's so much blood. We need to get you to the hospital."

"No, hospitals. I promise not the sue for malpractice if you stitch me up."

"Stitch you up. Matt, your shoulder's dislocated, you probably have a concussions but I can't tell without tests. And..."

"Mina, just help me. Please."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." She started slapping his face. "Stay with me. We got to get you out of this first before I can treat all your wounds." It was a struggle to get his undressed without hurting him more. Quickly, she put gloves on and disinfected the worst of the wounds, stitching them up. "You have so much scar tissue, I'm trying to be as gentle as possible."

"It doesn't have to be pretty, it just needs to get done." He was tragically beautiful.

"Who did this to you?"

"Well, it's hard to say. It's not like I got a good look at him." He could feel her hands shaking.

"How can you joke about this?"

"Because I'm trying to make you feel better about doing it."

"Keep talking. It will take my mind off things. Tell me...tell me how this all started." As she patched him up, reset his shoulder, cleaned and bandaged him, she listed to his story. "And, is there anything you can tell me about how this happened?"

"It was a man, trained for combat, quiet but I heard him approach when it was too late." He laughed, "It was on the roof of your building."

"That's what the noise was."

"Yeah. During the entire thing I kept trying to get him to talk, but he wouldn't. I was afraid he was going to hurt you, especially after those two men were following you. You did good in the alley." She helped him up and helped him limp over to the bed baring most of his weight. Helping him ease into bed. "I drew him away from your apartment, it's not safe for you there. I don't know if he'd come back."

"How about this, I go to the pharmacy on the corner and pick you up some antibiotics and some painkillers."

"No, painkillers."

"Ok, some antibiotics. Is there anything else you may need or want?"

"No, just get back here quickly."

"Try not to fall asleep ok. If you do, I'll have to take you to the hospital. Understand."

"I get it."

She had just made it before the pharmacy closed and was able to get the antibiotics easily.