𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣- completed but editing

Chapter 20

When my eyes sprang open, I was barraged with swirling thoughts.

Where am I?

Loki is dead.

Are Thor and Jane safe?

My father must be terrified.

"Li Anne?" Erik Selvig stood over me. I was lying on a couch. I was in an apartment. I was on earth again.

I rolled over to my side. "Where is Thor?"

"I'm here, Lady Lavender. Are you alright?"

I sat up, I was wearing a big t-shirt and some baggy boxer shorts. "Yes," my voice was back, though it sounded surprisingly small, like the day Danny told me that he was taking me away to somewhere safe.

"We need you to stay here," a woman with black hair said. "You need to guard this place."

"Stay here when?" I asked.

She stepped closer to me. She was pretty. "When we defeat Malekith. I'm Darcy, by the way."

"No!" I stood up on my shaky legs. "I'm going with you!"

"But-" Darcy started.

Thor swooped in. "Are you up for it?"

I nodded. "I just need to grab something first. I'm gonna need to make a call."

The call was to the hotel where I was staying. I snuck in and out quickly, grabbing my bracelet containing Evelyn's computer.

"Miss Banner! You're back!" Evelyn cried. "Dr. Banner has been worried sick!"

"Ev, call him," I took a deep breath as the dial tone buzzed in my ear.

"Li Anne!" My dad's voice sounded panicked.

I inhaled. "Dad!"

"Are you alright?"

Why was everyone asking me that?

"Dad, I'm fine. I had to go to Asgard and fight."

My father spoke quickly. "Was that the mission?"

"No, the mission was short. Thor came to me and told me that he needed my help. There's going to be a fight here in England too."

A pause.

"Do you want to?"

Another pause.

"Yes."

My dad inhaled. "Please be safe, Li Anne."

"I promise, Dad."

Dad hung up before he could start crying but that didn't stop my own tears. I could never tell him about Loki.

"Miss Banner," Evelyn said into my ear as Darcy handed me some coffee. "You have an incoming call from Tony Stark."

"Take the call." I took a sip of coffee. There was some brandy in it. "Hey, Tony."

"Li Anne, where are you? Are you safe?"

I sat back down on the couch. "It's ok, I was in Asgard but now I'm in London with Thor."

"Thor's there?"

"Yeah, there's going to be a fight."

Tony tapped his finger on the phone. "Evelyn will be ready. Remember, you can't reveal your identity til you're 18. Be careful. The press will hound you, especially when they learn I'm not there."

"I know, Tony." I sighed. "If anyone reveals my identity, it won't be me."

The plan was simple, hopefully simpler than our escape from Asgard. Thor would take the brunt of Malekith's fire. Jane would do her science with Darcy, Erik, and her intern. I would protect the citizens.

I had to get inside a government building and set off alarms unnoticed. Then I would get citizens to safety.

I walked into city hall donning coral jeans, a white shirt, a coral and purple scarf, and a green blazer. My hair was in a messy bun and thankfully, no one noticed me walk into the office and make the announcement. The pandemonium that followed protected me from being seen on the way out. Cloud swarming, I stood in an alleyway. The clothes I chose to fight in here were more comfortable than the ones in the Dark World. Silver sports leggings, my beloved purple sneakers, and a purple, coral, and green lightweight, zip up hoodie over a white tank top. I wished I wore a mask like Tony to protect my identity easier.

I flew over the houses in Greenwich, headed for the suburbs. I stopped at a row of townhomes.

A small green cottage sat to the side of the row. There was an Indian peace symbol on the front door, just like at Asana and Omala's house. It couldn't be. Lots of families from India used that symbol but curiosity filled me to the core.

I knocked on the yellow door. Nerves flooded me.

Even if it isn't them, you can still get people to safety.

Besides, Asana and Omala's father worked for a British company. There's a chance.

The door swung open. Omala and I just stood there, staring at each other.

"Li Anne?" She whispered before she ran into my arms.

I wrapped my arms around her. "Hello there, smart one." Hindi rolled off my tongue for the first time in a year.

We broke apart and she led me inside. "Mama!" I looked around the small kitchen as Omala called her mother. I knew Varsha, she knew about me and my secret job but I wasn't prepared for her to burst into happy tears when she saw me.

The Hindi rushing to my ears was fast as she told me how they had moved here from Calcutta because Hiiraan, her husband, had gotten transferred. The girls were at an English school and were far ahead because of my teaching in both academics and English.

I heard a screech and Asana burst into the room and straight to my arms. Tears flowed as we spoke quickly.

They had seen me on TV. They knew I was safe. Doyel had told them about me, my exit, and my powers. Red Death had gotten worse since we left.

"Banner." Thor's voice crackled in my ear, drawing me back to my mission. "Civilian status?"

I stood up from the soggy hug. "I'm working on it, Thor. They'll be all clear in half an hour."

Asana, Omala, and Varsha stood up next to me. "Are we in danger, Lady Lavender?"

Hearing Omala say my alias made me tear up. "There's a chance. I'm going to get you all out safe. Come outside with me. Hurry."

It suddenly occurred to me that my identity was revealed, even if it was just a few old friends.

We all stepped out the door and my cloud swarmed, picking all four of us up. Asana squeaked as her feet were lifted off the ground. Purple cloud held all three down as we flew over house after house. My cloud floated in windows, pulling people out. I brought them to Aberdeen, Scotland at a high speed. Purple splotches covered my arms as I flew back to England.

By the time I got back, my arms were fully purple and my ankles were beginning to turn a lavender shade. "Banner," Thor's voice came through to my ear. "He's here."