Giftless

Chapter 7

You woke curled around Loki's book when your alarm went off the next morning for school. You contemplated being lazy for another day. You certainly could have gotten away with it, but you also couldn't just sit in the tower all day with the supers feeling sorry for you.

So you climbed stiffly out of bed and shrugged into your uniform, grateful for once about not having to choose an outfit to wear. It took longer than usual to get dressed with how sore you were and by the time you made it downstairs, Helene already had breakfast ready for you. You didn't see any of the supers around except for Loki, who was reading on your usual couch. Apparently, he had decided to claim the other half of the couch for himself. You didn't mind. "Morning, Loki!" you called and waved as you passed the common room on your way to the kitchen and your breakfast

You ate your breakfast as fast as you could. You knew you'd need the extra time to get to class if you had to walk it. And today you definitely weren't waking Tony to drive you. You contemplated taking his car and driving yourself to school. You had your license after all. And Tony deserved it, but that didn't change the fact that he'd kill you for it that afternoon.

You slung your bag over your shoulder as soon as you dropped your dishes off with Helene with a thanks. You waved to Loki again as you headed toward the exit. "I'll see you after school," you promised. You practically saw his hackles rise as he jolted to his feet and rushed over to you, concern etched in his expression.

"You are returning to school today?" he asked. You could hear the worry in his tone.

"It's kind of an every Monday through Friday thing," you replied dryly with a perfectly perfected eye roll. You were a 17 year old girl after all. You had the eyeroll down to a science.

"You are still injured," he argued. He looked ready to toss you over his shoulder and carry you back to bed.

You grumbled at his overprotectiveness. He really was just like all the other supers. "I can't just sit around here having all of the supers pitying me because I don't have super fast healing like all of them and I'm not as sturdy and unbreakable as they all are," you replied hotly, your sentence running on as you tried to convince him. "If I'm not here, they can't pity me." That part seemed perfectly logical to you.

Even Loki seemed to agree that that part at least was logical. You practically saw the gears turn in his mind while he looked for another argument. "Your uncle is not escorting you?" he tried that angle.

"He's still asleep and I'm not waking him. I can walk to school by myself," you protested. You were 17. You could walk.

"Is there not anyone who can escort you?" he tried again, worried and overprotective. You sighed heavily. You were wasting time arguing with him. Why couldn't they understand that you could walk to school by myself? It wasn't that far. Loki lifted his hands to indicate the shackles. "I cannot escort you, but I dislike you going out without some form of protection."

You smiled at that; that you had an argument for. You reached into your bag and pulled out your can of mace and the taser Tony insisted you needed to carry. "I have human protections," you explained to him, knowing that he might not know what either item was. He nodded, accepting your words and explanation. You tucked the mace in your pocket for easy access with a promise that you would use it if you were threatened.

Loki walked you to the main entrance to the compound. He stopped you again at the door and reached a hand toward your injured cheek. "Allow me to do this for you at least?" he asked gently. You didn't know what he planned, but he was asking you to trust him, which you did. You nodded, knowing he wouldn't hurt you. He placed his cool glowing hand against your skin for a moment. "There, the mortals will not see the bruise. There is no reason to draw their attention to your vulnerability," he pause, letting that information sink in. "Do not forget that illusions cannot be touched," he reminded you.