"Guys I am fine! Trust me!"

I am not fine.

"I promise I am ok, I just fell. Now can we please stop talking about it, it's kind of embarrassing."

I am not ok.

"Finnley, you don't get that from falling. You can talk to us."

No, I really can't.

I look around the room, desperately trying to think of something to say, maybe a half-truth, just something that will get them off my back but not lead them to the orphanage. I can't leave those kids.

I start to grow more anxious as I look around. Tony, Clint, Sam, Steve, Bucky, Wanda, Pietro, Thor, Bruce, and surprisingly even Loki are all staring at me, well Loki isn't, he is still simply reading his book, but he seems to be occasionally looking at me out of the corner of his eye, maybe not as absorbed into his book as he is trying to appear.

My palms sweat and my throat runs dry.

"It-it's just this kid at school. It's really no big deal." I purposely make my voice shaky and small as I look down trying to sell my half-truth.

It's not a lie, Flash did do some of this, barely any in comparison to Ms. Santina, but it is not a lie.

I glance towards Peter, silently praying that he would not blow my cover. But of course, my prayers are not answered.

"Finnley, you were clearly in pain before school as well though."

Screw you, Peter. (not actually though, Peter is amazing and could do no wrong)

Quickly coming up with something I continue. "I may have seen him yesterday as well. When I was leaving the grocery store he stopped me outside and tossed me around a bit in the alleyway." I try to say as convincingly as possible as I do my best to look sheepish.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as both Loki's nose scrunches up and Natasha narrows her brows further.

There is a slight pause of silence before Steve buts in. "Now it is never good to fight, you need to be the bigger person, but, you should know how to defend yourself if you ever need to. Have you ever learned any self-defense?"

Oh, I can defend myself alright, I may even take you down in a fight, old man.

But for the benefit of my lie, I swallow my self-pride and shake my head no.

I once again watch as Loki's nose scrunches up and an unpleasant look comes over his face like he just smelled some rotten food.

"Look, I will do something about it next time, but can we please just drop this? I don't even understand why you care! I just want to get to work as that is what I am here and get paid to do and you all can get back to minding your own business!" I say with a more bitter and harsh tone than I intended and then walk out of the room and towards the lab.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It is about 10 minutes later when Tony and Peter finally come into the lab as well. I don't look up from the project that I am working on and they do not say anything, and that is now it remains for the next few hours.

Eventually, much later, Tony pauses his music and turns towards us.

"I'm hungry, would you guys like something to eat? We can get some food delivered up here?" He says in a cheery voice seeming to be trying to lighten the tense mood that I know is my fault.

Partly because I am still feeling bad for earlier, and also because I am really not in the mood for fast food I reply with an offer.

"I can just go grab some food from upstairs for us if you would like?"

"Sure, I think there is some leftover lasagna in the fridge that you can just heat up. Thanks, Finnley!"

I hum in response and put down my tools then make my way to the elevator.

When I get to the kitchen, I am relieved to find no one else there. I open the fridge and find the lasagna that Tony mentioned and carefully cut 3 pieces; one normal-sized one for Tony, one especially large one for Peter since I know he does not ever properly account for his increased metabolism, and a very small piece for me since I don't think my stomach can handle much with how much much bruising it has suffered within the last day.

I then place the lasagna slices in the oven and start to stand up to lean against the counter, but before I can a hand lands on my shoulder. I involuntary and harshly flinch when I swear that for half a moment I was back in that basement and that was Ms. Santina's harsh hand gripping my shoulder.

I hastily spin around, debating the consequences of flipping this person over my shoulder and making them regret ever landing a hand on me. But when I turn I am met with Loki, and I watch as his usually so well-practiced blank face changes into something hurt and worried.

I quickly take a few steps back so that I am out of his gentle grip and give him a hard glare.

"What do you want?"

"I... I just hoped to speak to you." the god responds.

I give him an odd and questioning look, prompting him to continue.

Suddenly with more confidence, he does. "I don't believe I ever got your name."

"It's Finnley." I sigh and lean back against the counter, not really seeing how I can get out of this impromptu conversation, especially since I have to wait for the lasagna anyways.

"And I already know that you apparently know my name very well," he says humorously with a slightly smug smirk, clearly happy with himself.

"Oh shut up."

He releases a quiet chuckle, but then within a moment, his expression slowly changes to something somber and his face seems to grow more serious.

"So, Finnley, I couldn't help but hear your conversation earlier."

"Oh that's just great. And it really wasn't a conversation, it was more of an aggressive intervention."

"That may be true. However, I also couldn't help but notice that you are a very good liar."

I snap my head toward Loki. "What? What do you mean?" I say trying to hide my slight panic.

The greasy god subtly lifts an eyebrow and looks down at me with an almost disappointed look.

"You are aware that I am the god of lies? I could smell them like they were burning in my nose." he sighs. "You may be able to hide them from others, but I can see behind them, Finnley."

I try to collect the breath that is caught in my throat. I decide to try and play it off. "Ok, so? I was lying, so what?"

"Finnley, I know you didn't get those wounds from falling down the stairs or from the boy at your school, or at least that's not the full truth, so tell me where you got them from." He asks softly but with a tone that demands the truth.

"No."

"What?"

"I said no. I am obviously not going to try to lie to you, so I am not going to tell you. It is none of your business. I don't even understand why you would care anyways?"

"I... do care."

"WHY?!" I say with frustration rolling off my tone.

Why would anyone care?

"Do you want the truth?"

I scoff, "Sure, why not."

"I don't know," he says quickly.

"What?"

"I don't know! I... I think it is because you remind me of someone. Someone that I wronged a long, long time ago. I can't make it up to them, but maybe I can do for you what I was never able to do for them, be there for them." Loki gives a tight pained smile and I watch as tears brim in his eyes yet he holds them back, refusing to let them escape.

I stand there in shock for a moment, refusing to show my own tears that were threatening to pool.

Someone genuinely cares?

"I-"

The oven beeps, signaling that the lasagna is done. I quickly turn around and with a speed I didn't think was possible, I take out the three pieces and turn to walk out of the kitchen as fast as possible.

Just as I am walking out of the kitchen, without looking back, I quietly call out to Loki.

"See you around Mr. Laufeyson."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───