Chapter 10: Exposure
- Jörmungandr? – I wasn’t going to open my eyes, that voice wasn’t real, it was my desperate need for a parental figure messing with my head, or so I thought.
- I-I can’t believe it – I opened my eyes, it was me who couldn’t believe it, I was on the bridge again and in Loki’s arms.
- Dooo I know youuu, siir? – It was more awkward said than written, I swear.
- Ok, if Angerboda didn’t tell you it means that I definitely can’t go back to Earth - I’ll admit it, he made me laugh and cry at the same time. As he put me down I smiled, and standing in front of him, - If she was alive she would crush you – his expression went weirder.
- Well, thank you for saving me, from…uhm, a pretty big fall, I gotta go – I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t move, that near death experience left me with my legs malfunctioning.
- Hey, can I make a confession in the time I have left? – He looked at the ship leaving, - When you hatched I was there, and when I held you and spoke your name out loud, you opened your eyes to me, I’m sorry I wasn’t there – and then the unthinkable.
- Sorry? Sorry!? Are you kidding me? I’m from the future, I had to endure 23 years of my life without my dad, and after losing mom I thought that at least at some point you would come back, but then they crowned me, imprisoned me, raped and tortured me, AND I KEPT PRAYING FOR YOU TO COME BACK. You complained about how bad your life is when you don't have the slightest idea of what it is that they treat you like an animal, do you think you were betrayed? your actions led you to lose everything, you pushed away everyone that ever cared for you! And even though I am extremely angry with you it is not too late!... It's not too late -.
He hugged me, pressing me against his chest, and snuggling his head over my shoulder while petting my head.
- How far in the future? – he asked wiping a lot of tears off my face, - Year 2038 – he looked like he was making a plan, trying to make every piece fall into place, - Relax, we’ll meet again, now you have to get the hell out of here – I opened a portal inside the ship, - Go and never speak of this again, or else you’ll regret it – he passed right in front of me, and I just couldn’t let him go, not like that, so I rushed to him and hugged him from behind.
- You’re…my hero, dad, and I… forgive you – that was the most painful stuff I’ve ever said, but it made him happy, very happy. – I’ve loved you since the moment you opened your eyes - I let him go through the portal, maybe regretting not telling him how his story was going to end.
For the record that’s how I want to remember it, and thank to a very serious agreement, Morgan and I decided to keep it that way, and every time I tell it, even Thunder affirms that it was true.
But just for your understatement, what actually happened was that I opened a portal under me and kicked my cousin’s ass as soon as I landed back on the bridge, Loki escaped a long while ago when that happened.
- Are you ok? – We were back to 2038, to the same second we left, - No, not at all – I hanged my jacket on the coat rack near the door. – I have a phycologist’s number, if you want to talk this out with a professional – I let myself fall on the sofa and Morgan sat next to me, right in the free spot between my torso and the edge of the cushion.
- Can I say something? – I nodded, then she took my hand between hers, which caught me off guard, - For whatever you need, I’ll be there, we are like sisters now – If I had anything like a so called “lady boner” it was long gone, so my head turn to denial as a safety mechanism, - Sisters? When did that happened? – her expression fell into the edge of “annoyed” and “You what?”, it creeped the crap out of me.
- We had a bonding moment, in the room back in Sakaar, when we talked each other pains out? – I simply couldn’t empathize with her statement, it wasn’t a bonding moment, she was just being a pain while sticking her nose in my business.
- Nope, I don’t see your point, good day – I stood off the couch and directed myself to the door, - Thank you for the hospitality and taking me out of my cell, it has been quite an experience, but I’m afraid I have stuff to do, people to see, and shit to sort out – and I closed the door behind me without giving her any time to either process or complain.
- First stop, fucking London – I opened a portal, picturing the Thames River, the place where I got arrested, - Now to find the king – more specific the statue of James II, placed in Trafalgar square, I couldn’t portal myself there because I was unconscious by the time I got there, I only could get a glimpse of the statue and the code…well 30055 different combinations of the same four letters, but I got the right answer after three hours of failed attempts.
- There, result? None other than I made a fool of myself for three hours, the stuff I do for those idiots, they better buy the pizza – I muttered for myself getting inside the hidden elevator that the statue revealed.
The inside was covered in mirrors, lucky for me the floor wasn’t, so I kept staring at my boots until the door opened.
When I looked up I saw one of my favorite faces behind the counter, funny how before the ugly prison there was a lovely reception, it made you feel like you were about to talk with the principal after destroying the classroom with a lighter and a spray deodorant.
- Hello Berney, I’m here to retrieve Anthony Gareth and Roper Vossler– I leaned on the hard wood with a sly smile on my face.
- Name? – he spoke rather tiredly, almost as if his life was being sucked out of his body, just how a high school senior looks like before the finals.
- Dude, it’s me, Tessa Jörmungandr – his brown eyes lighten up when he saw me, slowly he smiled and grabbed my hand softly.
- Yeah I know, but I didn’t slept alright, I’m at two percent of energy – I noticed that by how his hair was wildly pressed to his head, looked wet and greasy, and I guessed he tried to make it look decent by applying gel to it.
- Same, I need a vacation – I let go of his hand, I was so tired due to the recent amount of exercise I had to suffer earlier.
- You can enter, but leave before you-know-who appears – he referred about the captain of the “torture squad”, Jhonathan Hill, an ex-military cadet, disguised as an agent, probably working for Hydra or any other terrorist that wants the best material for their weapons.
- Aww, you care about me – I rounded the counter and hugged his shoulders, - Of course I do, what kind of shit question is that? – he opened the door, it made a sound of air pressure being released, it startled me a bit.
- Hehe, thanks man, I better make haste – my laugh turned out a bit hesitant and weird, I was really nervous about meeting my friends for the first time, but that didn’t kept me from moving inside the corridor.
Both of the cells opened at my sides, my nervousness fade away and turned into excitement and happiness, it felt odd and unexpected, more like intoxicating.
- I know you two probably have your own shit to do, but I need your assistance on a mission – On my right there was a tall man, with a brown long mane coming down his shoulders, clay-colored eyes, and a very muscular body.
- Lassie! – he shouted in amazement, by his Scottish accent I knew he was Roper.
- Tess! – On my left there was Anthony. By his voice I thought he would be blonde and slim, but he turned out the opposite. Redheaded, freckles, brown eyes, and a big body, I mean he looked like a D.I.L.F, especially with the beard.
- What do you say? Mes amies? – I asked rather mischievously, as both men came closer to hug me tight, - Count with me for anything – Anthony pet my head softly, – Whatever you want, I’m at your disposition princess – and Roper ever so charming.
- But, but, I believe Roper and I still have something we must do – both men shared a look, I didn’t knew how to decipher it, - Aye – both sounded serious.
- What thing? Can I go? – I tried to act innocent, just like they remembered me, because I wasn’t anymore. - Just stay next to the elevator, we won’t be away for long – I saw them both getting far from me, something inside me told me go, but I only could shout a short breathed - Wait- –, only getting very concerned stares, - Promise me you’ll come back – I didn’t, I couldn’t think of anything else.
- I promise that we’ll be back in less than 10 minutes – Anthony caressed my cheek, it felt warm and safe, so I nodded, - Ok –, Roper took his arm and they ran down a dark corridor - Let’s go, now! –.
After 7 minutes I saw them again, both of them with blood on their hands and faces. - That better not be your blood, or so help me, I´ll kick your ass Anthony – my hands were shaking, seeing so much blood and thinking he could be hurt, broke me, - It’s not – I passed my hand on the air taking away all signs of scratches or blood away.
- We got rid of your monsters – Roper’s words ran like goosebumps on my skin, - You mean –, Anthony cut me mid phrased, - We told you, every time those arseholes came to your cell, that we would kill them as soon as we got out – I opened my eyes, I was scared, mortified, for a moment I thought my friends killed for me.
- Rest assure love, they’re not dead, but severely injured – and I could breathe again, barely, - Is he alive? – Anthony tried to stop me, his hand on mine, - Tessa you don’t have to – I cut Roper, - Yes I have, two minutes – and I went down the corridor, until the end.
I took a moment and then pushed the half-opened metal door, the lights were red, bodies spread all over the room, all of them grunting and moaning in pain, laying on the right corner was him, Jhonathan.
- Hello, remember me? – I had nice face, smiling like always, a face he hasn’t seen, - My goddess, you become so beautiful, please have mercy on me – he was breathing so loudly, his chest went up and down slowly, then I saw both his legs, that was Anthony’s style.
– Jhon, of course I’ll have mercy on you – I bent my knees enough to level with him and get a good look at his face, al scratched up and bruised, almost unrecognizable.
- Thank you my queen – He was shaking up, from my face his gaze went down and back to my eyes, I smiled innocently, and fear filled his eyes as fast as a thunderstruck. - Wait, w-what are you gonna do? TESSERACT!! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?! – he yelled; the rest of the squad was shaking as much as he was.
- I’m going to let you live, it’s not what you wanted? – I tried to touch his face with my fingers but he moved his face away from me, - No, I know that face, I know you! – I scoffed, almost it sounded like a laugh, a part of me thought it was funny…the rest was afraid.
- So you prefer that I kill you instead of sparing your life? I don't understand, I feel that every time I get more lost in human actions – my cold touch froze his knees, - Yes – he quivered.
- And why is that? – I whispered near his ear, keeping my malice away from the moment, - Because after all I did to you, I’ll never know if you will ever come for me…unless, that’s exactly what you want, you want to torture me – after that desperate set of words, I knew what I had to do.
- If you don’t want me to take actions, then tell me two things. Who do you work for, and if you regret it - as I thought he was not going to answer me, I sighed and thought about leaving, but then he pulled my arm and whispered the truth that left me feeling lonely.
- It was anonymous, but paid a lot of money, and yes, you were a kid, I didn't wanted to hurt you and yet I did, I’m sorry – I kissed his cheek and smile, - I’m sorry, It’s all I can say, I’m sorry -, I hugged the one that made me feel like an animal, but in those three minutes I decided to be better, - Good to know, thank you – he mouthed something, a street and a number, confused I got up and leaved the room.
- You let him live? What the fuck? – Anthony was waiting for me, his shoulder leaning against the wall, his strong arms crossed over his chest, he looked confused and annoyed, I just shrugged and ignored him, walking calmly towards the elevator, where Roper was waiting for us with the door open.
- You tore his legs well enough to paralyze him for life, I think he got more than he deserved – I waved at Berney before pressing the button to go up, - You know damn well that Tess ain’t violent, mate, don’t push her, don’t worry lassie, I’m on your side – I wasn’t afraid of Roper touching me, his natural temperature is considerably higher than any human, so he melts my cold easily, that’s why I let him pull me into his embrace.
- Whatever, what’s the plan now? – the elevator opened to the outside world and we stepped out, - First, welcome to London, and the plan is that you two need a bath, eat something, and accompany me to shut a place down – both nodded while trying to re adjust to the UV rays that occasionally found a way through the cloudy London sky.
- So you need muscle – with that attitude and the biceps bragging I kind of sketched Anthony’s personality bit by bit. - I could use the good company right now – my heart weighted a ton, but I couldn’t just take it all on them, so I just swallowed the death of my sister, how my father disappointed me again, and my desperate need to see Morgan again.
- Like I said lassie, I’m here for whatever you need – Roper’s dark hands caressed my face, - Thank you Ignis – he smiled; unlike Pyro, Roper had a unique quality to his anatomy, in his veins fiery lava flowed, which made him immune to my piercing cold, he was hot enough to allow me the pleasure of safe warmth, that only made me miss Morgan again.
- What are you gonna do in the meantime? – a drop of rain fell on my nose, I felt it slide down my cheek and freeze when it fell off my chin, I caught it with my hand, and it surprised me that it melted. My cellphone ringed when I was about to answer, - Oh my…what? – Anthony peeked over my shoulder and wolf-whistled at the very seductive image of non-other than Morgan in black lingerie and holding a half empty bottle of wine.
- Woah, who’s that foxy? – I quickly made my phone disappear, - Hey! Don’t talk about her like that! She must be drunk that’s all, rest tonight, I’ll go back to the US to help her – both idiots started to sing the “The K-i-s-s-i-n-g Song” as I walked through a portal that led me to the door of Morgan's mansion.
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