"And that said," Professor Cody tapped his glasses up his nose gently, he dismissed the lecture hall with a nod. "I do expect this 3000-word assignment on the Realms of Yggdrasil by Monday morning; if you are sick, you can email it."
Professor Cody could be accused of being ninety years of age; he had greying brown hair and a receding hairline. Laugh lines and wrinkles etched into his face like words from a book, showing his life story on his body.
"Professor?" a tentative voice snapped him from gathering up his notes and papers.
"Aye," he looked up and was surprised with the young woman before him.
Miss Melody Milan, stood dutifully at his desk. Her long dark blonde hair was drawn back into a ponytail that hung down to the middle of her back, he surmised the updo was to hide the dirty and unkempt nest under the elastic. Her sharp grey eyes looked bright in the dark, bagged sockets they hung in. Her cheeks and body were full, like a well-fed young lass that put on the Freshman fifteen. Her arms bore a bit of a red burn from the weekend sun, and it made her freckles and beauty mark above her upper lip jut out more in contrast.
She young lass was surprised at his eye height. The professor stood at a five seven. He cleared his throat upon realizing he was in thought, and she was awaiting permission for his time.
"Yes," he closed his bag. "What is it Milan?"
"I wanted to ask about the assignment-" she started, her voice firm, but the visible rubbing of her fingers together in a slow snapping motion without sound proved nervousness beneath her demeanor.
"I'm sorry, Melody," he rubbed his temples. "I expected that paper on Asgard weeks ago. And all I have is your excuses."
"Can I provide an oral reading Professor?" she blurted and then hung her head. "It's all I have..."
He drummed the desk with his fingers. Melody was an incredibly bright student and seemed to have an affinity for the Norse Mythos. She just seemed distant in studies.
"Fine, on Asgard then" he sat and pulled out his old flip phone to record the session to voice memo. He sat down and crossed his legs.
She took a steadying breath and scratched the back of her head with her free hand. She used the other to rest her book bag on the floor next to his desk.
"Asgard, the Realm Eternal, adorns the top of Yggradsil, the World Tree," she said as if she was reading from a book, but she had no queue notes or even her phone out. "The shining city is the crown jewel of the nine realms. A haven for Asgardian and visitors alike, it draws all kinds to pay respects to the current ruler of the nine kingdoms; Odin Allfather.
"Odin Allfather has a beautiful queen, Frigga, and several illegitimate sons. The two sons currently positioned as Princes of Asgard are the God of Thunder; Thor and the God of Mischief; Loki. However it is not just the royal family that unites the galaxies, but the Bifrost. The Bifrost is a gorgeous rainbow bridge that connects all the realms, from Jouttenheim to Vannahiem, to Midgard itself, where we reside."
The professor was oddly entranced by the young girl's enraptured explanation of Asgard. Her eyes seemed to light up as she spoke of the city, but she never met his eyes. Melody looked off into the distance as if she remembered the place itself, and not the illustrations from books he had recommended.
"The breathtaking bridge leads you right to the heart of the guided city, and if you are lucky, to the Palace steps. Adorned with gold and marble befitting the King of the Gods. The palace housing the throne of Asgard towers over the city, protectively to its people and menacingly to their enemies. When you stand at the Palace steps and look out to the horizon, you can see where Heimdal resides, awaiting the King's command, seeing all. If you look out and absorb the great vastness past the floating ethereal city; you can look at the stars no matter if it's day or night, and the branches of Yggradsil glimmer like the most enchanting constellations from far off clusters.
"As the suns sets and rises on the Realm eternal, you can almost hear the prayers from Vallhala, and see the glow of the great beyond in the glimmering streets. When the day is done and the realm asleep, you can feel the mischief from the God of Lies seeping from the palace, and hear the calm peace from the grateful Asgardians below."
The woman fell silent, her gaze returning to the room before bowing her head.
"Melody," Cody found his voice, he was soft and careful with the next words he chooses. "I would give you one-hundred percent, but the assignment was late."
She nodded.
"You remember the doctor I mentioned once to you," he ran a hand through his short hair. "Selvig?"
"Ah," she nodded.
"A lot of what you said reminded me of something...he alluded to," he ran a nervous hand over the back of his neck to grip it. "I'm going to send you his email and him yours."
She blinked in surprise before looking slightly offended.
"Is he going to scoff my passion off-"
"Actually," Cody slid his glasses into his pocket. "Quite the contrary, Mademoiselle."
He then nodded to her to let her know he was done with his conversation before he texted the Doctor furiously with the young woman's details.
The girl was so young; however, she was able to describe Asgard perfectly. From what Selvig had said about a 'Norse' friend of his who knew the realm inside and out, she was spot on. Either she had been to the fictional place, or she knew the notes the 'Norse' friend had borrowed.
Melody's heart was thudding in her chest viciously, but she jammed her headphones into her ears for her walk home. She wasn't interested in waiting around for her 'so-called' friends; they were probably going to smoke on campus before planning jello-shots or whatever. She was intensely uninterested.
She walked a few blocks before she noticed the sky darkening, and her heart clenched in her chest in concern. Rain never spelt good news for her at home; even it was just herself and her cat in her apartment.
She picked up her pace, which was tight with the steadily crammed sidewalks, people heading from work or out to eat.
She started as lightning struck the sky. She swallowed hard before booking it up her block and wrestling her keys from her bag. She sighed in relief as she entered the hallway leading up to her place, happily free from the downpour behind her. She shook off the rain from her drenched hair and tip-toed up the steps so as not to slip in her jogging shoes. She jammed her keys into the lock and shooed her ginger cat, Yasmin, from the door.
She unceremoniously kicked her wet shoes off and threw her drenched jacket on its hook before she shimmied her wet socks off. She was about to tug her top from her when someone cleared their throat.
She screamed in shock and grabbed her pepper-spray from her pocket.
"GET OUT!" she turned the corner to the person in question, and she almost dropped the bottle.
Stood in the middle of her living room was a blonde Adonis, his hair matted down but flowing down his back. His face was stubbled and his eyes alight with a bright probing blue. The man in question had made his way into her room by way of the fire escape, which she used as a terrace, the sliding doors open and letting in the rain.
She then took in the man, having figured how he broke in. He was beautiful, his muscular arms shown by a leather vest and armour chest piece made of intricate Norse weavings and cuts, she blinked in surprise at that detail. His pants were basic black and looked military in the way they folded. And his boots were knee-high and equally Norse looking. He had a batton hanging off his holster on his hip.
"Thor," she quirked a brow to the man, "Son of Odin and Prince of the Nine Realms, in my house?"
The man broke into a beautiful grin, which strummed her heartstrings.
"The young lady Hlín!" he bellowed and pounded her on the back with a booming laugh. "We have searched for you so! Your mother and father worry-"
"They shouldn't," she crossed her arms defiantly. "And I no longer answer to that name, Thor Odinson!"
He looked dejected but nodded his head respectfully, "Of course, my young lady," he mumbled. "Is it Melody now?"
"Yes," she grumbled crossly. "Let me be with my Midgardian trappings, I won't return to Asgard even if I wanted, so let me be."
"The fairest sorceress?" he snorted. "In face and skill won't return home?"
"This is home," she sat down on her couch, regretting it the moment she did, seeing as she was soaked. Her cat jumped dutifully into her lap. "I don't need to return where nothing remains for me."
"Please," Thor bowed his head and took a knee, much to the woman's surprise, he croaked out. "My mother needs you more than ever...Loki's is...dead."
She quirked a brow in surprise, though the woman had never met in person either Prince, she had forever been blessed as the hand-maiden to queen Frigga. It was only around several thousand years ago that she left Asgard to travel the realms, and settled around Victorian times on Midgard.
"The God of Lies dead," she snorted. "I doubt it."
"Search the realms if you must," he bowed his head. "We haven't found a trace."
"That which wishes not to be seen, is not easily found," she snapped at the daft man. She was possibly around his age in years but dim. Melody had refused to live with the men dominating the castle at a young age. She reminisced quietly about it. She had felt a little angry when she heard Odin and Frigga speaking of Loki's birth and the subsequent treatment of any kids he would bear; she was only a teenager in Asgardian years at the time, and it enraged her.
Now she was an adult, One Thousand and Three years old to be precise, the only thing that could bring her to Asgard again would be a man or birth a child. She wanted neither in her life again, however. Both were needy, and she already had her needy cat to worry over.
"I will search Hel for him," she rolled her eyes. "Odin would be able to sense him in Vallhala."
"Take me with you," Thor demanded.
"This is a one-person trip," she crossed her legs up onto her couch. "My body goes nowhere, Odinson."
He nodded and sat down on her chair, sinking into it from his bulky body. She held back a snort and pretended to use her magic to reach out. If she even had found any trace of Loki, he would erase her mind of it before she returned to her body. So she opted to search for the Selvig man her professor had mentioned.
It took no time to search North America and find the man in a secret base. She located the man thousands of miles underground, in a type of bedroom set up for him to rest. The blonde had a fading hairline and distinguished wrinkles, surprisingly he had a strong jawline and handsome face, diminished by bags under the scientist's eyes. His face was aglow by his computer screen, with his email open to sending something, to her email.
She materialized herself in front of the scientist, checking his name tag before doing so.
"Doctor Selvig?" she asked.
The man lept up and almost dropped his laptop to the ground in his surprise.
"Huh?" he then took her in getting over his initial surprise, he investigated her casual appearance quickly. "You're not SHEILD..."
He went to grab his phone, but she used her magic to hold the outstretched hand in place. It had been a while since she used her magic, but it was still as natural as breathing to her.
"A-an another Asgardian?" he looked her up and down. "Are you a friend of Thor?"
She quirked a brow. "You know Thor, son of Odin?
He nodded then swallowed, "He visited Earth several months back," he straightened up slightly. "It was an honor."
"I show no loyalty to the realm eternal, Eric Selvig..." she sighed. "I separated the name 'home' from Asgard while I was still a child in the eyes of Odin..."
She relaxed her magic on him, and he eased into a seated position on his bed, there were no other chairs in the room. But she was comfortable stood so didn't protest.
"Then why are you here?" he rose a brow questioningly. "I don't mean on Earth, I mean here, here..."
"Does a Professor David Cody ring a bell?" she quirked a brow and leaned against the wall.
His jaw dropped in surprise.
"Y-you're Melody!?" he gasped, and then he laughed triumphantly. "Of course! The woman most well versed in Norse Mythos would be one who has lived it! Tell me; how beautiful is Elfhiem, and cold Jouttenhiem!?"
She snorted, she surmised that if Thor had visited Midgard recently, he probably couldn't keep his trap shut regarding Asgard. The poor scientist probably was sick of the place already.
"That not why I'm here," she ran her hand over her sore neck. "Thor wanted me to look for Loki when I came across you."
"Loki?" the man tilted his head curiously, his brows knit in confusion. "Why is Thor's brother on Midgard?"
"He's not," Melody sighed. "Thor claims him dead..."
Selvig gasped, "The poor royal family..." he sighed. "No wonder Thor didn't return..."
"They are mourning him," she snorted. "I doubt he's truly dead...regardless, the queen beckons me back."
"Frigga calls you?" he curiously leaned in. "May I ask your true name, Goddess?"
She swallowed and hesitated a moment before she spoke, "Hlin daughter of Aegir..." she glared at the man, expecting scoffs or shrugs. Surprisingly his eyes lit up.
"Hlin?" his jaw slackened in awe, taking in her appearance once more. "Protector and maiden to Frigga?"
"You know of me?" she quirked her brow curiously.
He nodded vigorously and wet his chapped lips with a quick dart of his tongue.
"You're daughter of Ran..." his eyes seemed to widen. "My grandad would pray to you every night."
"And I heard," she sighed bitterly. "I heard them all..."
"You did?" his eyes continued to widen, but his expression softened more, his eyes slowly glossing with unwept tears.
"Dear Ran," Melody sat down next to the physicist. "Please protect my boat on these waters tomorrow so that we can eat. Dear Ran thank you for blessing us. I beg of you Hlin, to save my parents. Save my brothers."
She could see the man's eyes start to leak.
"Dear Hlin," she felt her throat constrict. "If you are among men, please forgive us, but also if you can bless my grandchildren and children so they might reach Vallhala, while I rot in Hel for my sins..."
The man sniffled, having never heard these words in English she surmised.
"Thank you Hlin," she sighed. "For saving my dog, for saving my friend. Thank you for protecting me from the Destroyer..."
His eyes widened at that last, "You h-heard that?"
"I no longer answer to Hlin in person," she sighed. "Because the prayers were too strong during the toughest times in the world, where I couldn't be all over at once...and then I faded to myth, and my family among them."
"Your earth family?" he asked.
She felt her body tense, and she glared at him.
"My child saw the worst of the world before death," she glared. "And she never knew the Realm eternal...my late husband..." she felt her throat constrict. "He never knew my burdens...I will never make that mistake again."
His eyes widened, and he bowed his head, "I'm truly sorry. I-"
"Don't be..." she sighed sadly. "The Plague was unavoidable as it was inevitable. I should have saved them from Midgard while it was still fresh..."
He didn't press her any further and instead cleared his throat.
"So," he smiled. "I guess that means you have nothing to lose."
She snapped her head to him in surprise and saw something in his eyes, a glossy distant look. The effect of magic.
"One who has nothing to lose has everything to gain," she treaded carefully not knowing who was speaking to her.
"And one who has a snake in their robes, is still a human first, huh?" Selvig titled his head cockily.
She smirked, she had a tingling feeling in her fingers.
"Whoever you are," she searched his eyes. "Meet me at my apartment in New York in thirty minutes."
The man nodded, and she nodded back.
"I should go.." she hesitantly explained.
He looked slightly dejected. "Alright," he cleared his throat. "I will email you, then?"
"Of course," she smiled faintly and headed back to her body.
It took her a moment to gather her bearings when she returned, it always felt like she was dragged through an undertow of vast water on her way back, no matter how far.
"Did you find anything?" Thor tentatively asked from her kitchen area, he had set his batton down and changed into something more casual and human. He had a glass of water in his hand.
She rose a brow at his attire, casual black pants and a red muscle shirt. It oddly fit the god of thunder.
"No," she sighed. "But I don't doubt Loki's hiding. Are you planning on staying on Earth?"
"No," he sighed in return and set his empty glass on the counter, to her relief. "I must return and report, but I will come to visit when able. Please report if you see anything, milady."
She nodded, "Thor...I-"
"Speak nothing of what burdens you now," he smiled and strode over to clap her on the shoulder. "My mother spoke so highly of you as Loki, and I grew. She watched you out on Earth as she stayed in Asgard. She said she loves you as a daughter and would share stories of your childhood to us."
She blushed darkly, that meant both him and Loki knew well of her. This could complicate things, especially if Loki was who she spoke with in Selvig's body.
"Oh," he seemed to notice her discomfort. "Don't worry; it was all flattering. Loki though, he blushed about it and would ask to hear about what you were up to so often. Until his magic got stronger, then Loki stopped."
She tensed more but hid it better. Loki could have been spying on her in turn.
"Farewell, Lady Melody," he bowed. "Until I return, please keep Midgard safe. And consider returning for my mother's sake."
"I will," she nodded.
The man exited out the window again, into the stormy sky and disappeared. She let out a long sigh and closed the window before heading to her messy bedroom to disrobe.
She quickly stripped and jumped into her shower, sighing at the hot water against her skin. She felt a burn of shame from the idea, but she slowly turned the water ice-cold. Her skin was slowly raising in some places and turning blue. There it showed, her father's frost giant side within her. Although her dad and Odin were the best of friends, it worried her to see the skin again that she hid.
She turned the water hot again and finished cleaning up. After she did, she exited and grabbed a pair of shorts and a loose top. She changed before returning to the living room, ordering a pizza over the phone quickly as she settled into her couch, opening her books to read.
It took very little time for the pizza to come, she had to bat her cat, Yasmin, away to pay the man. She turned to sit down and saw Yasmin run off to her spot on the edge of the couch. The cat was looking into the living room. She felt the same feeling of foreboding from earlier when she returned home.
She turned the corner and was stunned even more by the man before her that she was the earlier sight.
His piercing sea-green eyes raked her being to the soul. His cheekbones were sharp as his gaze. His face pale, and looking even whiter on the black hair that swept around his face, his cheeks looked slightly flushed at the sight of her. His hair looked wind-tossed.
"And to whom," she smiled as she set her pizza down. "Do I have the pleasure of having for dinner?"
His eyes lit up at her words, and he shot her a confident, cocky grin.
"Loki of Asgard," he looked into her eyes, not moving. "And you would be Melody, formerly Hlin of Asgard."
"I am," she sat down. "Would you like some mortal food, Loki?"
"I am not here for a casual visit," he snapped slightly.
"Ah," she tilted her head. "But you are here, and I intend a casual chat, my Prince."
He rolled his eyes, "I don't chat. Consider yourself special, I don't visit lords or ladies often."
"Considering the Nine Realms think you dead," she bit into her slice. "I find it very special you revealed yourself to me of all beings."
"I have Selvig to work with-"
"And that's fine," she shrugged. "Just don't come crying when the Allfather comes to kick your ass."
"I don't intend to die," he sneered. "I intend to rule Earth myself."
She rose a brow curiously.
"Earth," she scowled. "Because humans are what, disposable?"
He looked at her intensely, "Because they need protecting from themselves."
She was taken aback.
"Well," she smiled. "I know all about you my Prince, about Laufey, about the death of Sigyn, everything." the man sneered. "So why don't you tell me all you know of me-"
"I know about Agair," he glared, as if testing her in turn. "About how you knew my true father's name and fled Asgard out of fear of Odin-"
"I was a child!" she snapped. "Barely able to fight! My fear for the All-father outweighed my respect; he is not as Frigga is!"
"Colour me shocked," he grumbled. "But at least you understand my plight, our skin..."
She nodded, not wanting to speak of it.
"What else do you know?" she grumbled.
"I know about," he hesitated and pressed on. "About your late husband, John, and your children." she felt rage bite her tongue, but she held it. "About your wish for death...and your wait on Earth for it..."
She rose her gaze to meet his.
"But," he smirked. "Now that introductions have been made, you have a task, get close to Selvig for me."
"Excuse me-"
"Just help him with the teseract," he smirked. "Be a guard to him please, he is fond of Asgardians so being a personal guard-"
"I have class-"
"I don't care," he snapped. "Your prince commands you to guard the teseract!"
She rose a brow and felt a laugh escape her lips.
"Why do you need it protected?" she snorted. "Can't you come to Midgard as you please?"
He snorted and give her a sneer.
"That doesn't matter," he grinned. "If you play my puppet for long enough I will tell you all."
She sunk back on the couch, tearing into a slice of pizza. Thinking about what he said. If Loki's telling the truth about wanting to protect Selvig and the tesseract; then she has nothing to lose. She was using the classes as a way to pass her time anyway. However; if he's lying, there are a billion ways for this to go wrong.
She hummed, her initial introduction to Selvig meant good things for their relationship, he already respected her, and she respected him for his selflessness. He was worthy of her help, too bad she didn't remember what the tesseract was.
"Fine," she sighed in defeat. "My curiosity is going to kill me."
She looked at her cat and drummed her armchair. Who to go leave Yasmin with? She couldn't leave her with her college friends; they were all reckless. She needed to find a dependable human to leave her with.
"Good," he smirked. "I expect you can find Selvig no problem..."
"None at all," she mused and got up.
"Good," he smirked wickedly. "See you tomorrow."
She sighed as he faded into smoke with a wave of his hand.
What type of mess was she in now?
The next morning her bags were packed tightly and her food in a bag. She didn't dare leave food behind. She locked her valuables up in a pocket dimension before grabbing her wallet and crating Yasmin.
Her cat yowled in protest but she didn't listen to her as she closed the door.
She headed down the street to the bus stop and boarded the first one out to Queen's. She wanted to visit her favorite coffee shop and restaurant before heading off, and all the packing had left her tired and hungry.
Several stops and she was finally at the stop she needed. She checked the crate to find Yasmin snoozing soundly, thank Odin.
She checked her watch, it was October 14th, a Friday, and an early six in the morning. As she rounded to the diner, she saw the lady in yellow waitress outfit out front unlocking it with the chef close behind her waiting and a young boy.
"May!" she smiled as she bounded forward closer to the restaurant. "And Danny!"
The two in question wiped around to her. Danny was a huge, stereotypical young Italian chef, thin and with the smell of smoke off of him.
May, however, was a lean woman with laugh lines and warm brown eyes, old enough to be a mother if she and her husband ever got to it.
"Melody!" May grinned from ear to ear as Danny gave her a silent nod as he headed in to the kitchen. "We just opened so nothing warm yet."
"I'm here for your warm smile, May." Melody laughed and hugged the woman as the young boy entered ahead, his backpack swaying comically as he found a seat at the bar.
"Who's the kid?" she asked quietly as she and May hung up their jackets out on the front rack.
"My nephew," May smiled sadly, flicking on the lights to the place, not flipping the sign yet. "His parents are away right now and he's off to school after some breakfast."
"Nephew by marriage?" Melody asked as she set her crate down on the floor as she sat near the boy, leaving a stool between them.
"Yes," she chuckled and did up her apron. "My husband's brothers. Peter?" she smiled to the boy. "This is Melody; she's a friend and frequent customer."
"Hello, Peter Parker." she smiled at the young boy.
"Hi," he smiled softly, not tilting his head up.
"So," May smiled to Melody. "The usual?"
"Please," she sighed. "With a tea instead of juice please, black."
She nodded and rang then poked her head into the kitchen.
"The usual for both," she said to Danny.
"Aye!" he shouted from somewhere in the back.
"What's the crate for?" Peter asked quietly.
"Hmm?" she turned to the boy before seeing his fingers poking through the bars. "Oh! Don't do that!"
He jumped and pulled his fingers back, shocked by her shout.
"She's a little jumpy," she sighed. "That's my cat Yasmin; I need to find her a home for a while, so she's a bit cross she has to be caged."
"Did you get..." May asked as she turned on the hot water.
"Oh no," Melody shook her head. "I still have the apartment, I just..." she bit her lip, darting her eyes to Peter. "A family friend asked for a favour, way out of New York. I expect to be away a while, and I can't care for her."
"Just like that," she snapped her fingers to make her point as she set Peter down a glass of Orange juice. "Don't you still have college classes?"
"I don't need them," she sighed. "I took the wrong course; I might as well be teaching the professor, not the other way around. I thought he'd be teaching about artifacts, not myths."
"Shame," May sighed and poured Melody her tea, putting the milk and sugar on the counter for her. "It seemed like you were enjoying them."
"For a bit..." Melody sighed. "It's just the one class..."
May nodded with a hum before turning to Peter, trying to teach him a lesson. "Don't you dare go and drop out young boy. This girl is a smarter cookie than me, but just because you're bright doesn't mean you stop learning okay?"
"What she means to say-" Melody interjected turning to the boy. "Is don't follow my lead. I've had enough lifetimes to learn and mature. I might come back to brush up on some science, but I haven't given up on learning and neither should you."
"I won't," Peter sighed a little at the lecture.
"How old are you Peter?" Melody tilted her head curiously. He sounded surprisingly mature.
"Ten," he smiled at her and took a sip of his juice. "How old are you?"
"One thousand and three," she replied honestly earning a laugh from the boy. "It roughly translates to about twenty-two."
"Can..." he smiled sheepishly. "Can we take your cat for you?"
"If your Aunt doesn't mind," she turned to May. "I can pay for her food and litter and whatever she destroys."
The woman tilted her brow curiously as she set down both a heaping pile of flapjacks, topped with melting butter.
"Are you sure, Pete?" she turned to the boy as she served him his syrup, pouring it for the kid. "A pet is a huge responsibility."
"I'm sure!" he boomed excitedly.
"Then hurry your breakfast so that you can take the kitty home." May smiled warmly.
Peter whopped with a mouthful of pancakes.
"Mouth closed while you chew young man," she set the napkin dispenser by him and gave Melody a warm chuckle. "Do you have her papers?"
"Taped to the crate," Melody had already finished her meal, to the young kid's surprise and May's humor. She was a fast eater, blame her Asgardian metabolism. She wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I'll send a care package when I get going, just text me the address."
"Oh it's—"
"I insist, May," she shot the woman a smile. "Or let me leave you guys the cash for her for the next six or so months..."
"C-cash?" the woman's eyes widened. Melody folded the bills intended for Yasmin into the woman's hand before heading to the door.
"Melody!?" May gasped, counting the bills of hundreds. "This is too much for just the cat! I-"
"Consider it a gift," she smiled as she grabbed her coat. "In case I can't come back to visit her..."
"Melody I-"
But the woman in question had disappeared, even Peter didn't know where too.
"That crazy-"
"She was magical..." Peter breathed softly, petting the head of his new cat gingerly.
"That she is..." May said, breathless over the money she pocketed into her bra. Still stunned.