The Light that Shines Within

Games, Coffee, and Morning Angst

I woke up the next morning. It was nearly already eight at night and the sun was just setting. Thankfully, my laptop was in here. So I could work on my paper without having to leave the sanctuary that was my room. I flipped it open and belted out a two thousand word essay on ancient measuring units within two hours, so it was like ten when I finally emerged from my bedroom and dressed in a dark purple dress shirt, back leggings and a black leather jacket from the movie Grease that my uncle had bought me a long time ago for Christmas. I put on some purple tennis shoes and called it good. Or in the case, we had a mission and I needed to change fast. My cloak was always nearby, that was its magical ability as well as making my identity a secret. It followed me like Dr. Strange's cloak of Levitation. Complete with her own personality to boot. We got along better than the guy equivalent too. 

I doubted it because of last night's arrival.

Thinking about Loki getting here made me think of what people's faces must have looked like when the Bifrost dropped him off! I bet my poor uncle had a heart attack...or is it an Arc attack? Well,  I thought to myself, let's go survey the damage and see if you're the new, unwilling CEO of Stark Industries.

My library was still blessedly silent and I made it to the living room without seeing anybody at all. It was just Jane and Thor on a couch, Steve and Sam on the other couch and Pepper talking to Bruce about some blueprints at the bar in the living room. "Hey guys, you see my uncle? On a mission I guess? Cause I can't find Clint or Nat either." 

Pepper turned to me, nodding once and going back to her blueprints with Bruce. "Yes, he's gone until tomorrow afternoon. Sorry, Cass." I shrugged, throwing my hands into my pockets. I walked over to Sam and Steve, who were both bent over a tablet screen for some reason. "So, what are you gentlemen doing on this fine Summer night?" I asked, sitting on the arm next to Steve. I felt bad about last night, but it was the past and there was only forward, right? Sam smiled and held up the tablet. "I'm trying to show Steve some of these new and huge tablet games." He showed me the screen. "But I stink at this one." I grinned from ear to ea,r seeing the game on the screen right now. "Is that?.... Five Nights at Candies?! I LOVE this game! I've played it like, 6 times already!" I fangirled hard. I knew it was embarrassing and not very ladylike, but when it's your fandom, do you care who sees you fangirling?

Sam looked surprised at me. "Really? Because I can't even get through the second night!" I handed the tablet back to him and looked at Steve nervously. And got the same look back at me. He smiled nervously at me. "Yeah. I don't think Sam is the most qualified to show me video games. I think I need a new teacher for that." I smiled and shrugged, getting off the arm of the couch. "Sure. I have all those games on my PC in my library, the computer on the desk. Drop by later and I'll help you any way I can." He nodded and I went to the kitchen for food. I poured myself a huge mug of coffee and grabbed a donut out of the box on the counter. I went to leave and nearly rammed right into Thor. 

"Sorry, Thor. Didn't see you there." He looked concerned."Lady Cassandra, have you seen my brother? He arrived late last night and I showed him to his room and bade him good morning. He hasn't emerged since." I shook my head and looked at the god, somewhat confused as to his concern. "I haven't seen him, but I can check on him if you want." I went to walk past him and stopped. " But has it ever crossed your mind that he might not want to see you? Since you're the one who caused him so much misery?" I made my voice serious and angry. I didn't mean for it to, but it did. It was Thor who had all that attention growing up. 

Something I could relate to.

He looked hurt and right now I didn't care. "What do you mean by that, Casandra?" he said, getting angry. Great, I thought to myself. Way to start off the morning right by pissing off the one Avenger who could strike me dead with lightning! Great job, Cass!

I just lowered my voice until it was nearly unintelligible. "Oh, I don't know..." I looked at the floor, but as my anger built I looked up at him with an icy glare I didn't know I had. "Because, all those years growing up, you got all the praise, all the love. All the glory of your parents. And you likely just looked up.at them with a stupid, spoiled grin and just basked in all that wonderful sunshine, didn't you?" I intensified my glare. "Probably never once thinking about the other kid waiting for his turn in the sunlight but never got it. Because the one person who could have brought attention to that one in the shadows was too busy soaking up all that sunshine for himself." 

I pushed past him with an angry growl.

"Lady, I didn't mean to offend-" I scoffed, cutting him off. "Save it, Thor. I just know what it's like, that's all." I tried calming down but it wasn't working for shit. "Not like you even care right? 'Cause 'he's adopted'."  I made finger quotes and glared at him again, my anger burning inside. 

"Yeah, well, so was I." Then I left. I found everyone in the living room staring at me with a range of emotions. Surprise and hurt.  I just rose my cup up in the air and pointed towards the hall where our rooms were. 

"I'll... uh... be in my room." 

Well, good morning to ME......