Ave Maria

Three

Chapter 3

When Thor thudded on Maria's door the next morning, sunshine riding high in the sky after his weather alteration the night before, he expected to see her glowing and rested.

He was wrong.

Shockingly wrong.

The shadows under her eyes were darker and bigger, collecting mostly over her left cheek – too dark and vast to be tiredness. Bruises. His eyes scanned down over the rest of her and located more marks, staining her upper arms and left forearm.

For a moment, his heart skipped a beat. Was he too late? Had the enemy attacked already?

No, he reminded himself. If they had come she would not be stood here. She'd be dead.

"W-what happened?" he forced out, eyes sharp beneath his frown. His fist tightened around Mjolnir out of instinct.

Maria's eyes darted to Thor's boots. "It's nothing." She mumbled. "I fell in the dark, that's all."

Thor's eyes washed over her again and found more bruises, hidden slightly beneath the pale colour of her tights on her legs. Had they been there last night, and he simply hadn't noticed? No, he dismissed. He'd seen her face clearly – her eyes had been dark but her cheek had been unblemished. These were fresh.

"You are hurt." he insisted, stepping himself into the house, and closing the door of his own accord. He couldn't take his eyes off the bruises.

"No," Maria said quickly, glancing up at Thor's taunt face. "It's nothing. Really. Just me being clumsy is all." She gulped and backed away a few steps, all too aware of Thor's gaze. "I didn't think I'd see you again."

Thor strode forward and placed Mjolnir on the table, his armour peeling away from his body. With Maria now loosely trapped between him and the kitchen counter, he could see just how nasty the bruises were. Nothing, she'd said. Thor bet they hurt like hell.

"My mission has changed." He informed her steadily. "I am to protect you in the absence of your father."

Maria's arms folded protectively around her middle. Thor couldn't help but wonder if there bruises there too. "Me? I… I don't understand. What's so important about me?"

"Loki may seek your father out, and if he does he will find you. You are in danger. It is my responsibility that you come to no harm." Which will be tricky if bruises continue to appear overnight with no admittable cause, he added in his head, eyes still suspicious.

He watched as Maria turned her back to him and her hands gripped the kitchen surface. His eyes washed over her bare back over the top of her sleeveless dress. No bruises.

"So what happens now?" she asked the wall. Why did her voice sound so lifeless? So dull.