Avid Readers - Hiatus return.

Thor gripped the wheel as he yawned tiredly. He knew he should have stopped at that station a few hours back, but he had already crossed into the town's border. He kept his eyes on the road, somewhat absentmindedly as he stared at the cedar forest around him. Thor smiled fondly, he'd forgotten how surrounded his old home was. A quaint town, with one road in and out and a population as close minded as the forest that surrounded them. Things had been different back then, of course, when he was younger and the town bigger. He had suspected as soon as the money went that people soon followed.

Thor was one of them. He high tailed out of here the moment it was offered to him and he rarely looked back.

He sighs as he changes the radio channel, bored of the selection. He is fiddling with the volume when he reaches the intersection he can never avoid and slows almost to a stop. Making sure there is no one behind him in his rearview mirror he looks to his left and stares at the small bronze plaque adorned by the side of the road.

Thor finds himself looking away, unable to stare further and pushes on. The pain still lingers, even after all these years. It's quieter on the roads, he notices, while he turns to the convenience store. God's forbid he knows Odin wouldn't have bought necessities for a while. Taking a deep breath he leaves the safety net of his car and crosses the empty lot to the brightly lit store. The soft background music does nothing to soothe him as he takes his basket and wanders the aisles.

There's little on the shelves in terms of variety, but he makes do with his selections and heads to the counter.

"Just these please." He mutters and pushes his basket to the man.

He receives muttered responses back and loads his items lazily in the seat beside him.

Thor sits in his car for a few minutes, letting the heat warm his cold hands. He hadn't seen his father in years, not even when he retired from the force. Willing himself to twist the key he exits the lot and tries to remember the way back to his old home.

Turning down one of the streets after many failed attempts he finds the house he is looking for and parks in the driveway. Leaning back in his seat Thor simply gazes at the state of it and the surrounding area. Things had changed too much. The unkempt state of it all, the overgrown hedges. He couldn't blame Odin, he'd simply given up. It was like everyone in the town had.

Thor leaves the car and heads up the familiar stone steps, bags in tow. He knocks twice and simply waits. The air is beginning to cool now, the frost of an oncoming winter upon them.

Thor knocks again.

"Dad?"

After a while he finds himself moving his legs to keep warm. Odin was most likely elsewhere, anywhere than at their home. Much like him, Thor thought. Odin had always put work ahead of spending real time with him. With them, when their family had been whole.

Putting his bags down carefully he fumbled under the most obvious places for the key. Having success with the third pot plant he gladly let himself in, quickly pushing the bags inside as he blew hot warm air into his hands.

Thor turns to face the lonely hallway. He'd forgotten what it had used to look like when mother had still been alive. Homely, his mind suggested. All he had known now was the bare walls and boxed treasures. Thor knew Odin had simply wanted to remove the painful memories of her.

"Dad?" He called out once but received no answer.

Thor laments at the daunting task of explaining his sudden visit. He groans at the prospect, knowing full well Odin will gloat at his circumstance. If he had just found another job in time, he could have afforded the rent...

Bringing a hand through his hair he traverses the house and decides to wait in the study where the heater worked the best. It doesn't take long for the appliance to work its magic, heating Thor back to his core as he relaxes in his father's chair. He closes his eyes and leans back, calming the loss of his current situation.

Who would have thought that someone his age would have to move back home? Gods, it was why he had wanted to leave so badly.

Time ticks slowly by as Thor browses his phone, bored. Sighing he pushes the item away and leans his head on the desk, tapping his hands his tilts his gaze slightly and stares at his father's collection on the shelves. Thor narrows his eyes in curiosity as a car light from the street illuminates the room. Something on the shelf catches slightly and he cocks his head with curiosity. Pushing himself up with a slight stiffness he walks to the shelf and looks at the book that caught his eye. Strange, he thinks... he never knew he his father kept his year book.

I must have left before it had been published, He supplies lamely and takes it from its place.

Sitting back down Thor opens the cover.

-Beaconsfield High-

He scans over the school photo and turns a few pages. He only stops when he sees a collage of old photos strung together. His eyes soften with fondness as he sees himself, arms clutched over Tony and Steve at their usual spot. They're laughing in the captured moment, and for the longest time, he cannot remember why. Thor leans back in the chair, bringing the book closer towards him. He takes his time with every page, each photo triggering memories he'd thought he'd lost.

He cannot suppress the huff of a laugh at Tony's year end photo. The guy was honestly not a morning man. Still isn't, he thinks merrily. Turning to the last page his small smile fades as his brow lowers. There at the end of the book is a small photo with a set of dates.

Thor creases his brow further and places the book back on the desk as he eyes it closer.

That was impossible... he didn't remember any other deaths besides mom that year. Especially someone from his year. The longer he looks at the photo Thor tries hard to remember him. I don't remember ever seeing him really, he thinks to himself. Just the loner on the grass at lunch.

Loki, Thor reads the name slowly. It remains out of reach, as though he should have known, remembered seeing him... but he could not. Thor backtracks through the year book lazily, searching curiously for another photo of him. Maybe he was from one of the school clubs?. As his small efforts turn fruitless Thor closes the book.

Tapping his fingers on the cover Thor thinks hard. He wonders then if Odin had kept a file on it. Back then he remembered always sneaking in the study to look at his files. He'd been caught only twice, and had received stern warnings. Mother had told him once that there were things in there people his age were not meant to see.

He is about to think further when he hears Odin return.

Taking the book with him without a thought he walks into the hallway and waits for the front door to open. Odin closes the door before looking him straight in the eye. His father sighs deeply.

At least we are on the same page, he thinks.

Thor shrugs. "We need to talk."

They sit in silence across from each other at the dining table, Thor watching the steam of his tea.

"I see you haven't thrown much out yet." He says casually, noting how his father huffs indifferently.

"You're welcome to move a few boxes tomorrow, since you'll be staying here for the foreseeable future I imagine?"

Thor sighs. Louder than his father this time.

It takes a few days for Thor to settle in to his father's routine. While Odin spent most of the day out, Thor took it upon himself to clean the house house. The couch had not been the greatest of places to sleep, but the amount of boxes on the second floor crowded most the space. He could barely see into his old room.

Though the weather was brisk outside, he had pushed his sleeves of his jacket up, relieving himself of the hot sweat he had made. With his favourite track playing in the kitchen, he spent the hours moving the dusty boxes downstairs and inspecting them.

Most of it had been junk, as he sorted through them, and discarded the items in the trash.

Some, Thor slowed, were pictures of Frigga, boxed away and never to see the light of day again. Looking at his wristwatch, Thor decides to make one more trip up the stairs in the day, picking the closest on the landing. Heaving it down he opens it curiously, seeing nothing but his father's old case files.

So that's where he put them.

Frowning he reaches in and pulls one out in no particular order. He flips it through casually before placing the cardboard lid back on.

Thor knew he couldn't simply throw such sensitive things in the trash and heads to the front door with the box in tow. Opening his passenger door to his car he dumps the box on the seat and locks the door. There had been a few smaller items he had kept there, ready to dispose of them properly. Thor stretches tiredly, he'd do that tomorrow. Besides, he thinks, the trash is full, time to call it quits.

He heads back inside to the warmth and sighs in relief as he finally sits to relax. He knows it won't last long, Odin had been breathing down his neck the entire time. When his father finally arrives home late into the night Thor waits for the argument to begin, as it had every night since he'd arrived.

As expected, things don't go down well after that. It only takes ten minutes before they are at each other's throats, a common routine Thor is long used to. Of course his father is disappointed with him, he's a dead beat, he knows it. As his throat burns raw he finds himself being the first to walk away, taking the keys and heading to the exit.

"Where are you going?" Odin yells after him, "It nearly midnight for god's sake!"

"Anywhere but here!" Thor screams back.

"You'll be back, you have nowhere else to go."

He slams the front door for good measure.

Quickly getting back into his car Thor throws his jacket onto the passenger seat and swerves out of the driveway. He slams his hands on the steering wheel in a rage as he heads down the main road. It was like the whole world had it out against him. He takes the back streets to calm himself. He knows the local diner never closed, it was the one thing that had stayed the same.

He parks in the lot of the diner and falls back into his seat, letting his head fall back dejectedly. Mustering himself he moves to exit the car and takes his jacket. He frowns as his lifts the piece of clothing, eyeing the year book near the case files. He must have decided to throw it out with everything else still in his car. In a pause he simply takes it with him and heads inside into the warmth. the small space smells of maple and coffee and Thor relaxes a little. Taking the booth by the corner he zones out until a mug of coffee is placed in front of him. Rubbing his eyes tiredly he apologizes to the waitress.

"Looked like you needed it."

"Tell me about it." He groaned with a smile.

"Visiting?" She pointed to the book with her pen, "or returning home?"

"Bit of both I guess." Thor says casually, wondering why on earth he took this thing.

"Oh," He heard her say softly as she leans in closer to read the cover, "you're from that year?"

Thor cocks his head, confused.

"You don't remember?"

Thor quickly gives his year book a once over before shaking his head. "I, uh, dropped out before graduation."

"You probably missed it then, we attended the same school. I was a few years after you." She said casually, "it was all hush hush then, no one wanted to take about the dead kid."

Like a switch had flicked in his mind Thor turned his book over to the last page and pointed to the picture of the boy.

"Yeah that's him." She nodded but turned when the door opened with what looked like a few truckies on their pit stop. "We'll enjoy your coffee sir, I need to take care of these guys."

"Wait," Thor raised his hand to catch her attention. "How did he die?"

He doesn't know why he asked, but curiosity was a hard thing to shake off.

The waiter simply shrugged as she waved down the new customers.

He rubs his eyes again as the coffee fails to kick in. He sits in his car, eyes trained on the road. He'd taken one of the quieter routes, opting to keep his car noise away from sleeping houses. Forest lines the sides of the wet road he travels down, the only light from an occasional orange glow of a street lamp.

This route was new, Thor had noticed curiously. It cut through the town's once surrounding forest, bypassing all the traffic lights. Blinking the tired away he leans down to adjust the setting on his heater and glances to his right quickly when one of the lamps he passes fizzles out.

Eyeing his review mirror with a frown he takes his eyes off the road. When he looks back to the road that's when he sees it as clear as his headlights make it. A boy runs out from the forest and swivels, frightened at the sudden light. They eyes meet only for a fraction before Thor brakes hard, swerving the wheel with all his might as the kid lifts his bloodied arms to protect him.

He loses control of his car with a intake of sharp realization and careens into the ditch with speed. Thor scrambles for control on the wheel as his car begins to tilt at the sudden drop on his right. His hands float in the air as the car rolls, smashing into the dirt. He cannot stop the blur of the darkened world outside nor as his body is slammed into the side of his car. Glass shatters beside him, as his seatbelt halts him in following the force of gravity. He knows in the back of his mind his car hits a tree when the sound of wood cracking against metal happens so close to him he doesn't register the pain in his chest and the sudden inability to breathe properly.

It's only when he tries to blink does he realize he is upside down, the car finally stopped. A noise of pain escapes him as he sluggishly moves to unbuckle himself. Bloodied hands find the release and with a snap Thor's back falls to the ceiling of his car.

He aims to move, to crawl out of the wreckage when he feels something is wrong.

Warmth is spreading near his chest and pools underneath him as he struggles to breath. Thor's eyes falter, his vision blurring as he moves his arm out slowly, fingers creeping to find purchase.

Help, he tries but coughs weakly.

He looks to his left without purpose, eyeing the year book his hand finally rest upon. Darkness creeps up on him slowly. Thor finds himself wanting to cry.

He'd never wanted to go back so much. He wished so hard he could. His finger twitches as his body shudders, his strength leaving.

Blood drips slowly from his fingers and onto the cover of the book.

If I could just change one thing... I would...

Blackness envelopes him and Thor drifts.

"THOR!"

Thor's eyes snap open and he gasps deeply like he had forgotten to breathe. He blinks frantically at the sudden light around him. Raising his hand to shield himself from most of the light his vision clears.

"W-what..."

"You have fallen asleep in my class for the last time."

Thor lowers his hand and looks around, his breath hitching as many pairs of young eyes gaze at him.

A Classroom?

Thor quickly looks down at his chest, his hands feeling for the wounds he had only just received.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Thor shakes his head momentarily and grabs at his hair. He'd felt it, he'd felt himself die. Looking up at a strangely familiar face Thor takes an almost stupid amount of time before the memory hits him. He suddenly slams his hands down on the small desk he sits upon.

"Mr. Dudley!?" He screams in confused recognition, causing the older man to recoil.

This wasn't, shouldn't be possible...

Thor burst out of his seat, finding his footing quickly.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Dudley yells. "Get back here!"

Thor runs out of the room, and into the hallway. He keeps running, unable to find a way out. He's hyperventilating as he turns a corner and hits something hard... another person. Thor falls backwards, the other falling hard on their side with a grunt.

"S-sorry." He mumbles as he quickly gets up, seeing nothing but black hair and a green shirt bowed over. Thor jumps over the books he'd hit out of their hands and keeps running. Its only after another hallway does he pass a billboard and skids to a halt, his shoes squeaking against the vinyl flooring. Stepping closer with wide eyes Thor looks at the cabinet of notices through the protective glass.

-Beaconsfield High prom, save the date!"

Thor gapes as he stares intensely at the year.

What the hell is going on? His mind whispers to him.

-Brought to you by The Broadcasting Service of Mimbillia-