Protecting You

Chapter 17

I stay knelt on the courtyard for hours, crying until all that's left is dry tears and coughs, while screaming at anyone who tries to move me. Steve stays sat by my side, his hand permanently on the small of my back. He whispers stories to me, some of me and others of him and the Avengers on their great adventures.

The same stories Steve would tell when I had nightmares when I was little, and I snuck into his bedroom because he was always awake and I didn't want to disturb my Uncle. He would wrap his arms around me, whispering, while curling a strand of my hair around his finger. I memorised those stories so when he got too old to remember, I would repay him for telling them to me.

"Hatz, you need a drink." Steve says.

I raise my head slowly, he holds a glass of water up in front of me. I sit down from kneeling and take it from him. Stood in front of me is Volstagg, wearing his armour and clutching his sword, his eyes full of sympathy.

"Drink? Odin gave me a drink and then I lost my powers. I'm not drinking anything here." I argue.

"Odin gave you a drink that took your powers?" Volstagg questions.

"Yes."

"You must tell your Uncle, Hattie." Volstagg points out.

"Can you tell him for me please? I can't tell him, it will destroy him."

"I will go now."

"Thank you."

Volstagg walks away, until I can't hear his armour crunching and his boots on the marble floors. I stare down at the sandy ground, trailing my fingers until I draw the blue electrical sparks that used to run through my veins.

"Hatz, your Father is worrying about you." Steve announces.

"I don't want to see him. I'll be a disappointment to him now." I whisper, wiping my hands over my face and my skin sticks with dry tears.

"He's your father and if he truly loves you then he won't care wether you have powers or not."

Looking at Steve for the first time in hours, he realises my pain and his eyes swim with tears.

"But I care. I'm normal now, I have nothing to show who my parents are."

"Your father needs to know you're okay. The last he heard, he saved you from falling off the broken balcony."

"Fine." I grumble.

Steve stands up, offering both his hands to me. Clasping my hands with his, he pulls me onto my feet. I stumble slightly from not feeling my legs, but Steve holds me up by slipping an arm around my waist.

We walk down hallways and around corners, we pass a few Asgardians that are too scared to even look at me. Reaching the door to the cells, the guard pushes it open without asking questions. Making my way slowly down the concrete stairs, the book Odin gave me is still lying on the ground.

Father stands up as I walk to stand in front of him, his eyes run over me with concern and they spark with anger.

"How did it happen, Hattie? Tell me the truth." Loki asks, his voice laced with rage and seriousness.

"Odin gave me a drink, he said it took the pain away." I mumble.

"What colour was the drink?" He quizzes.

"What does that matter, Loki?" Steve questions.

"It matters a great deal, Soldier. Hattie?"

"It was a yellowish colour, it smelt of herbs and spices." I explain.