Emily was walking home from her job at a small diner. On the outside, she appeared as a typical 19-year-old in your average small American town; she was enrolled at a community college in a neighboring town, worked at the diner most of her peers started their working lives at, and had an idyllic relationship. Behind closed doors, however, the relationship was anything but. Michael, or Mike as most people knew him, was your classic abuser. He always put on a front whenever he was in public with her and appeared to be the perfect boyfriend, showering her with expensive gifts, but when they were alone, he was violent, verbally abusive, and constantly belittled her and crushed her already fragile self-esteem.
In a way, it was really no surprise. Her mother had been in the exact same kind relationship since she was Emily's age, and since she had never known anything but that kind of treatment, how could she expect anything else? She missed her mother more every day, and wore an aged locket with a picture of the two of them.
She unlocked the apartment door, silently hoping that Mike wouldn't be drunk. He was always meaner when he had been drinking.
"Where have you been, you whore?! Sleeping with that boss of yours?" His words were slurred. The large man's gait was staggered and his breath stank of beer. He'd obviously been drinking, and heavily, worse than she'd seen before.
"N-No, Mike, I was working…" Emily attempted to sound firm, so he'd know she was telling the truth, but she knew he was too drunk and stubborn to listen. As soon as she had a chance to set her purse down, Mike grabbed her upper arm and pulled her into a sloppy kiss. She squirmed and struggled against his strong grip on her, but to no avail. Minutes later, she was being forced on to their queen-sized bed and his hands were slipping up her shirt.
"M-Mike, no… Please stop…" she whimpered.
"Why, you slut? You've already slept with that boss of yours, but you won't give it to your boyfriend?"
"Mike, p-please, you know I would never lie to you…" She tried to reason with him, even though she was scared to death. Mike tore her shirt off and she fought even harder against him.
"Mike, please… Don't do this…" tears started to fall from her eyes as his grip got tighter around Emily's arms to keep her still while he had his way with her.
Emily woke up the next morning with an uncomfortable feeling between her legs, bruises on her arms and saw a bit of blood on the sheets and was reminded of what had occurred the night before. Mike had taken the only thing that Emily had left, and she was ashamed. Mercifully, he was still asleep. She slipped out of bed and got ready for her day as quietly as she could, leaving before he woke up.
That day, a group of four walked in to the diner. Emily was good friends with Jane, Darcy and Dr. Selvig, but someone joined them that she didn't recognize: a very well-toned man around 6'4", with shaggy, shoulder-length blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. It was a strange group, but no one else in the restaurant seemed to mind. She came over and took the group's order. She brought over the tray of coffee and set it down wordlessly, hoping none of them would notice her blush due to the tall blonde or the bruises Mike had left on her from the night before. Unfortunately, Dr. Selvig noticed the bruises on her arms. He was originally quiet about it, but something about the bruises and the hollow look in her eyes wasn't normal. The sadness in her eyes was blatantly clear to the two women who sat at the table as well; however, the enormous blonde man remained oblivious, drinking out of the mug that was absolutely miniscule in his hands.
Emily walked over to the table. "Good morning, my name is Emily and I'll be taking care of y'all today. Can I start you out with some coffee?"
"This drink, I like it!" his deep voice boomed in the small diner not five minutes later.
"I know; it's great, right?" Darcy attempted to flirt with the muscular man. He threw the coffee mug against the ground.
"Another!" Thor demanded, and Emily jumped and let out a squeak of surprise. Jane looked at her and apologized.
"Sorry, it was a little accident…" she couldn't help but notice the fear in the young girl's eyes.
"What was that?" Jane asked Thor, scolding him with her tone of voice.
"It was delicious! I want another!" Thor explained.
"You could have just said so!"
"I just did!" Thor was clearly frustrated now.
"I meant ask nicely!" Jane felt like a mother. This man clearly had no manners.
"I meant no disrespect," Thor said, his voice losing hostility.
"Alright, no more smashing, deal?" Jane sighed, exasperated.
Thor flashed his dazzling smile. "You have my word."
Jane looked at the frightened blonde. "Can we get another cup of coffee, please?" Jane asked gently, attempting to smooth things over as if nothing had happened.
"O-Of course, coming right up!" Emily rushed to get the next cup ready. When she put the cup of coffee in front of Thor, something caught his eye. He noticed the bruises on her arms and quickly took hold of her wrist so he could have a better look.
"Serving girl, how is it that you received these wounds?" Emily's eyes widened with tears. She couldn't tell him about what Mike had done the night before.
"I-I fell…" It was the classic excuse for women in her position. Thor looked at her apprehensively, not believing her story. Emily's eyes begged him not to push the subject further. He looked genuinely concerned. In Asgard, women were treated with the utmost respect and chivalry. Could someone have hurt her?
"Thor, don't ask questions you won't want to know the answer to," Dr. Selvig warned. Little did they know Loki's Destroyer would be coming after them in a matter of minutes.
In the chaos of the Destroyer's attack, Darcy, Jane, and Dr. Selvig had made sure that Emily got away with them. Jane knew about Mike and offered her a place to stay so she could get away from him, but Emily was too afraid that he would come looking for her. She knew he would go after anyone who helped her, and that was not something she was willing to risk. However, this attack provided her the perfect escape, and she was truly thankful for that.
While Thor was looking for Mjölnir, Jane took the opportunity to ask Emily what had caused the bruises. She'd never seen Emily so beaten before, and she feared the worst.
"Emily, what happened with Mike last night?"
"The usual… he was just drinking too much…" Emily whispered, holding back tears.
"He's never left bruises and marks this bad before, Emily… What happened?" Jane hated grilling her friend, but Emily had to tell someone.
"H-He went too far…" was all Emily could manage to say in response to her friend's questions. Jane understood exactly what she meant, and her worst fears were confirmed.
"Oh, Emily…" Jane put her arms around her friend's shoulders and hugged her.
"I… I want to leave Mike…" she said, barely above a whisper.
"Then come with us while we figure out where Thor came from. You never have to see him again."
Thor walked up behind them. "Why do you cry, maiden?" he asked Emily softly, with genuine concern in his bright blue eyes that made her heart race.
"T-Thor?" Emily didn't want him to see her crying.
"I-It's nothing…" she tried to wipe away her tears and regain her composure.
"I am a Prince of Asgard, serving girl. You will have to learn to hide your tears better if you wish to keep me from finding out."
His voice was tender, attempting to convey that she could trust him with anything if she wished. She debated whether it would be wise to open up to this man. What would he think of her once he found out about her childhood? The memories of her father sneaking into her room under the darkness of night?