Heart Of Stone

Chapter 9

Everyone took full advantage of the free time and enjoyed themselves, hosting splash fights and breath-holding contests, tossing a beach ball around (contribution of Tony, of course) and leaping off the diving board.

I was apparently the favourite where diving was concerned as everyone kept insisting I had another go. I did so, each time doing different tricks as I flew through the air, but always positioning myself for an elegant entrance to the water when I was about to make a splash.

Loki contacted me about halfway into our fun, asking what was going on. I explained that the others had decided that I had to go swimming with them and showed him what was going on for good measure.

So nobody is in the tower? He questions. Oh yeah, the place we were in was some kind of tower. I've seen better. Stark said something about guards or people like that, I reply. He did not want you to escape.

Can you get me out?

I would if I could, but I have done all I can, I tell him. You will be out soon, I expect that much.

He goes silent after that, but at the same time Tony is about to jump off the diving board again, so I quickly start showing him what I'm seeing. This will be good, I add for his benefit.

Tony runs off the diving board, but Wanda uses her powers to trip him up and he face plants the board before falling off, causing everyone to erupt into laughter.

That was good, Loki remarked. I can tell he was laughing along with us. I receive images of him suddenly bursting into laughter and the guards near him looking at him like he's crazy, causing me to laugh harder.

"Wasn't that funny," Tony said to me grouchily. "Just got a little treat to look at up here," I tell him, tapping my temple while still giggling like an idiot.

After a while all the others decide to just hang out at the side of the pool, drying off, but I don't want to get out until I have to, so I enjoy having the pool to myself for a while. "You getting out at any point?" Steve questions after around ten extra minutes. "We're about to leave."

"If I must," I fight back a disappointed sigh as I wade out of the pool, feeling the water level lowering until I can only feel it under my bare feet where we splashed the floor earlier. He passes me a towel and I carefully take it from him, thanking him as I wrap it around myself.

Steve says that he'll wait outside with the others, so I have the room to myself for a moment. I rub the towel vigorously against my skin until it's dry, then wrap my hair into a neat bun.

After tossing my clothes on over my bikini, I head outside to meet the others. "Took you long enough," Stark commented. "At least unlike you I do not stay behind to preen," I retort, causing chuckles. "Just get in the car," Stark huffs.

I'm still not comfortable with the contraption that brought us here, but I get in anyway, sliding in next to Vision. I keep as far away from him as the moving heap of scrap metal will allow. "Would this be better?" He asks me, slowly becoming less visible.

I've been informed that he can change his density. He must be doing that now. I cautiously reach my hand out and touch his side, but my fingers simply glide right through his fleeting form. I smile slightly. "Thank you."

The car is carrying Tony, Steve, Vision, Wanda and me while Natasha, Bruce, Clint and Sam are following behind in another. Our time is spent chatting away about... well, I honestly don't know what because I haven't been participating or even listening, just staring blandly out the window.

"Something wrong?" Steve asks me from the passenger seat. "Not at all," I lie smoothly. "Then why didn't you answer me the first time?" He questions. "Sorry, I never heard," I apologise.

"I was just asking if you had any family," he repeated himself. "They died years ago," I answer. "I never really knew them. I only saw them frozen in time, never to move again. I only know where they are now, but that is all."

The car is silent for a moment at my words. "I'm sorry to hear that," Steve says. "It is fine," I reply, offering a small smile, which he returns.

The rest of the drive is silent. When we finally get back to the tower, I get out and start walking off. "Where are you going?" Steve asks. "I am going home," I reply. "It will be dark soon. If I hurry, I will get back home before dark."

"You can always stay the night," Clint offers, coming out of the car he was in. "I know for a fact that there are spare rooms here."

"If I stay, the bears will raid my house and eat my food," I call over my shoulder. "She's not kidding," Natasha adds. "We'll get you some food, then," Steve offers, walking over, but I start running, desperate to get away.

He starts running, too, but the chase is cut short when Vision speeds ahead of me and reverts his density to normal. I skid to a halt, cornered.

"Boys, you're just scaring her," Natasha said. "Just let her go."

"Lexis, I can't let you go live all alone in a forest filled with bears," Steve tells me. "That would just be wrong." "And it is not wrong to force me with you like a kidnapper's bounty?" I point out. He falters for a moment at my analogy.

"Lexis, you go," Wanda tells me, Natasha, Bruce and Clint backing her up. "We'll hold them off if they decide to follow you."

"Thank you," I say to them, turning again. Vision stares me down for a moment, then moves aside to let me pass. "Be safe, Miss Grey."

I mouth my thanks to him before heading off, thankfully not hearing anyone follow.