The Life I'm Running From

30\ Mischief Isn't My Best Friend

A ripple of energy passed through my skin, washing my head with dizziness and knocking me off my feet. I groaned. After fifteen times, the pain hadn't gotten any better.

Loki smirked. "That looked painful." He was still on his feet, the only sign he had been affected showing up as a first-degree burn.

With a scowl, I pushed myself off of the floor. "It is so not fair that you barely feel anything."

"That's the beauty of being a god. Now, come on, one more time." He held out his arm.

The training room was empty, so thankfully no one was witnessing my repeated pain. I glared at Loki. "No way. You said it would only take five times for you to figure out where these power surges came from. I'm not doing it again."

"Would you rather be clueless?" Loki raised his eyebrows. "And be injured every time we touched?"

"I don't plan on touching you, so I don't really care."

Loki's green eyes bore into mine, subtly threatening me. "Touch my arm."

I grudgingly placed my hand on his forearm. Immediately power burst from the touch, this time sending electric shocks up my arm and into my chest. I managed to stay on my feet. Loki however, stumbled backwards, blinking rapidly.

"Did it work?" I asked.

He steadied himself, his cape swishing beside his feet. "Yes. I should've known."

"What?"

"I am a Norse God," he said, "and you are a Greek. That is why when we touch we feel pain. It is a safety guard, so that Norse and Greek might stay away from each other."

I folded my arms, and moved to lean against the wall several feet behind me. "And why do we need that?"

"It's a universal relation. Greek and Norse have a natural hatred towards each other." Loki examined his forearm, where a red mark was starting to form.

"I wouldn't say it's a natural hatred. I didn't start to hate you until after the third power surge."

Loki ignored my comment and massaged his temples. "You should be thanking me. Discovering the ties between us that caused the power surge took a high mental capacity. My mind may be damaged."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, and my butt is damaged from falling so many times. Suck it up, buttercup."

"You mortals are so rude and disrespectful."

"Well then it's a good thing I'm not mortal."

★彡 ★彡 ★彡 ★彡

Thor and Loki left later that day. They had only stopped by to say hello, and to check that earth was in good shape. Steve and Tony both seemed upset to see Thor go, though neither of them showed it on their faces. No one seemed disappointed to see Loki leave. I felt bad for him until I remembered how many times I had to go through that power surge.

After they left, everyone dispersed into their own rooms. Steve and Sam went to go train while Tony disappeared to his labs upstairs. I went to my room.

It was still weird to call this bedroom my room. It had been almost three weeks, yet I still wasn't used to staying in the Avengers compound. It felt temporary. I wasn't a superhero, so why should I be in the same building as other superheroes?

I flopped down on my bed. My phone buzzed with a text from Peter. Sorry I had to go. I wish I could've stayed.

Peter had left this morning by request from Aunt May. He had spent almost the entire break at the Avengers Compound, so it was fair that she wanted him home. The next time I would see him would be at school.