A Second Chance

Panic and Bonding

   The day was bright and sunny.  Soft clouds swayed in the light blue sky, and New York was bustling with activity. People ran to catch the subway to work and street vendors were around every bend beckoning people over to sell the hotdogs and more.
   Mica sat on the couch in the front room waiting for pepper Potts herself.  Today the pair would be going shopping. Not one of Mica's favorite activities,  but she needed new cloths.
   The elevator opened revealing,  not only Pepper, but Thor and Loki.  Mica stood and met them halfway.  "Mica, I hope you don't if they come with us. " Pepper apologized.  Mica shrugged "not at all"  Thor wrapped an arm around her shoulders.  "Thank you Lady Mica.  It is very kind of you to let us,  as you would say,  crash the party. " He said beginning to walk back towards the elevator,  everyone soon following.
   Mica was glued to Pepper's side. Her eyes scanning the crowd of New Yorker's.  Her instincts telling her to pick out potential threats. Pepper was completely oblivious to Mica's discomfort.  She was rambling about which stores they were going to hit.  Mica would give her a short 'uh-huh' before glancing around again.
   Loki was between Pepper and Thor with his head cast down. He had been dragged along by Thor.  He had blocked out the strawberry blonde's ramblings and was focusing on the sidewalk in front of him.  He didn't understand why he had to come on this stupid shopping trip anyway.  What would be for him in this world?
   Thor stood in the back with a giant grin on his face.  He loved looking around at all of the shops.  He kept his head held high as his gaze flickered around. Though, he wondered why Loki didn't like this. He had to literally shove Loki into midgardian clothing and yank him out of his room.
   "How about the Columbus Circle Mall?" Pepper squealed taking a hold of Mica's arm. Mica flinched,  but she didn't seem to notice. Loki did though. He reached out and grabbed Pepper's arm that was holding onto Mica.  He pulled it to him successfully detaching it from Mica. "That sounds exquisite.  Shall we get going?" he lied.  Pepper nodded,  not at all deterred.  Mica sent him an appreciative glance and began to follow Pepper again.
   It was official. Mica hated the mall. It was busy and loud,  and Mica thought she was going to have a heart attack. It's giant, sleek, iron structure didn't help any more. It was causing Mica to feel like she was trapped. Inside was huge. Escalators led upstairs and down. Shops lined the walls, beckoning people in with different signs. They were in the fourth store that day and she hadn't found anything.  Her anxiety was  going wild.
   "How about this,  Mica?" Pepper asked holding up a creme colored top with a peace sign on it. Mica shook her head "I... I don't like white" She whispered looking around anxiously.  Pepper's face fell "oh." It soon turned back up again when she saw some ripped jeans. "Those would look so cute on you hun" she told Mica holding them up to her.  Mica nodded but didn't look over to her.  "Yeah,  those'll work." she agreed.
   A crash sounded throughout the store and Mica's initial reaction was to reach for her thigh.  She froze as she realized there was no gun on it.  She felt bare without a weapon and so she went to reach for her dagger. Before she could pull it out a slender hand took a hold of hers and pulled her into their side. "You will get nowhere with that" Loki's voice cut through her panic. Mica looked up to him and then over at the crash.  A shelf near the back had tipped over,  it's stuff falling all over the floor.
   Without another thought Loki pulled Mica through the large glass double doors and into the hall. He quickly directed her beside the vending machine and sat her down on the black metal bench. Mica's eyes were flying around the building in a complete panic. Her hands were shaking as she pulled them into her lap.
   "W..what's happening to me" she cried looking to Loki, who was kneeled down in front of her. His brows pulled together in concentration before he settled on an answer. "You're having a panic attack Mica." he explained bluntly, but not harshly. His voice held a sort of understanding. "No, no that's not possible. I..I don't have panic attacks" Mica said to herself. Her breathing had become quite harsh, and her head began to spin.
   "Mica listen." Loki commanded taking her hands and squeezing them. "Look at me, just me love." Mica's green found Loki's. The pine and emerald clashing. "Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise you are safe. Hydra isnt going to get you back." he assured nodding slowly. Mica followed suit. Her heart slowing down slightly. "How do you know that" she asked fearfully. "Because you are with two gods Mica. We won't let anything happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you"
    Loki grinned happily, a mischievous glint lighting in his eyes. "Now, come on. Let us have some real fun" he said standing up and holding out his hand. Mica swallowed her nervousness and took it. She let him pull her up and sneak away from the store. The pair walked across the tiled floors of the mall and out the front doors.
   New York was just as busy as this morning. People bustled about lost in their own little world. Loki quickly slipped through crowd with Mica on his heels. He picked his way through different streets before finally coming up to his destination. Central Park.
    Loki walked up to the closest bench and sat down. He turned to watch Mica make her way over before looking around at all of the people. "What are doing here?" Mica asked confused. "I want you to pick out one person to prank. Any one you want." Loki said gesturing to everyone.
   Mica's eyes scanned everyone in the area. She watched as a tall blonde woman made her way over to the pond near them. Her face pulled into a frown. Her hair was pulled back, but a few strands managed to escape there bonds. If you,looked close enough you could also see the exhaustion in her brown eyes. The dark circles under her eyes confirmed it. The lady took off her work vest and shoes, and sat down with her feet in the water.
    The next person Mica zeroed in on was a male in his mid-thirties. His dark skin was slick with sweat as he jogged passed. With one look Mica could see the struggle. Nightmares. His amber colored eyes held a pain many have had. She saw the same look in Tony, Steve, and Nat's eyes.
    The person she picked though, was a man in his forties or fifties. His black/grey hair was unkempt and his blue eyes held a certain damger within them. He was leaning against a lamppost a few feet away from them, searching the crowd. When his eyes landed on a lone teenage boy he straightened up and went to follow him.
   "That guy" Mica said pointing him out. Loki grinned. With a wave of his hand the man's tenis shoes were tied together. He went to take another step and crashed to the cement with a thud. A few of his belongings falling from the hoodie he wore. One being a switchblade. The man struggled to get up and round up all his belongings. He didnt even notice that his blade had disappeared. For it now rested in Loki's hand. Mica laughed loudly at his shaken state. Her lips pulling into a smile that almost reached her eyes.
    "Mica! There you are. We have been looking everywhere!" Pepper exclaimed running up to them. Her face lit up with worry. She ran up to the two and yanked Mica out of her seat. Mica flinched, but let Pepper hug her tightly. "Brother! What was the meaning of your escapade?" Thor asked walking up to them. "We merely took a stroll to the park. I do not see what is wrong brother" Loki replied pretending to be oblivious to Thor's harsh glare. "We thought Lady Mica was hurt." Thor growled "you should know not to just disappear."
   Loki looked to Mica, giving her a smirk. Mica smirked back. "I'm sorry brother. It wont happen again" Loki apologized crossing his fingers behind his back.