A God and a Goddess – by Darlin
-xox-
The second time Ororo had seen Thor, the X-Men had been notified of a ruckus in the city that involved the Avengers. And Magneto. And, well, since Magneto was essentially the X-Men's villain, Ororo had insisted that they attend to the problem. She'd been excited and nervous all at once, going over and over in her head why her decision was right, justifying every reason she came up with for their quick flight out on the X-Men's jet, the Blackbird. Certainly Magneto had often been their problem when he chose to play the evil mutant. And certainly the X-Men had every right to assist the Avengers who were probably not as familiar with the Master of Magnetism. And indubitably he was such a serious force to be reckoned with that surely the two teams working together could take him down! And yet having come to these conclusions, well, it still did nothing to ease her nerves or stop her quivering stomach.
Those feelings, however, quickly dissipated as she took charge, ordering Wolverine and Colossus to remain behind while having Rogue keep to the skies with Bishop in tow. She took off ahead of them and arrived amidst a lightning barrage that lit up the sky. A smile spread over her face as she saw the god of thunder in the air, wielding Mjolnir, his mystical hammer. And she had greeted Thor with her own lightning display which made him smile in return. She couldn't know that his heart had quickened just as hers had and that he'd made every effort to work with them to subdue Magneto quickly so that he could see her the sooner. But she had known deep within her that to do more than to look upon Thor would be foolish and so, when the situation was under control, she had slipped away.
While Captain America and Cyclops conferred together, for Magneto had fled, leaving his minions to be rounded up speedily, Thor had looked for Storm but his pride would not let him ask of her. He saw that she would not give in to him, to this thing that had overtaken them. It angered and saddened him. But mostly it hurt. It hurt him to the core.
"Well . . . there's still Jane," Iron Man commented as he placed an iron gauntlet on Thor's shoulder.
Thor didn't brush Tony's hand off.
"Although I've been wondering about you and Storm. You obviously liked her, called her beloved which is a really, really good indication that someone likes someone if you ask me although I realize you're not asking. But, tell me, Thor why did you let her win last time? Because I'm pretty sure you weren't using your full power that day."
Thor didn't deign to answer his teammate.
"You want to know what I think?" Tony continued.
Thor's shoulder's heaved and with a sigh he turned his head slightly to look at Tony.
"Well, I've given it considerable thought and concluded that you were quite taken with the lovely lady. Am I right? Is our Asgardian Thunder God smitten with the Goddess of Lightning?"
Thor threw his head back and laughed.
"I knew it! I knew it! Wow. Okay, so maybe you should deal with Jane – have you thought about that? Especially before you show up with flowers, a good few dozen at least if you want to make an impression on a woman like Storm, although a god kinda makes an impression without roses. But fix the Jane thing if you're going to show up at Storm's door, or Xavier's door, or the school's door. I wonder what kind of door you could call it? Maybe Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters door, Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning door?"
This time Thor nodded thoughtfully. "Well spoken, Tony," he said with a smile.
"I always like to think I'm well spoken, and well spoken of, my vices being supreme," Iron Man said with a laugh and the two headed to the Avenger's Quinjet together, one thinking of flowers for his lady love, one lovely Ms. Pepper Potts, the other thinking of showing up at Ororo's door.
-xox-
"So . . . um . . . I should simply ask him, 'Why did you call me beloved?"
"Well, ah guess that is kinda out there," Rogue said although she'd just suggested to Ororo that she should indeed ask the God of Thunder that exact same question. Partly because Rogue herself was curious.
"So . . . then what should I say – I mean if we should run into each other again?"
"An' you don't scramble outta there with your tail between yer legs lickety-split the moment the fire's put out, that what ya mean, sugar?" Rogue said and laughed.
"This is not a laughing matter, Rogue. I came to you for . . . advice at Remy's suggestion! Perhaps he misled me."
"So, ah'm guessin' the Swamp Rat just told ya ta ask too, huh?"
Ororo sighed and nodded.
"Ah don't know what else ta tell ya other than that, sugar. Just plumb ask him why he did what he did!"
"So . . . um . . . why did you do what you did, Thor?" Ororo snorted.
Rogue shrugged. "Just ask what's up, what's going on, what evil machinations were behind his actions. Let's face it, ah love ya ta death, sugar ah really do, but there ain't no way in hell you really coulda beat a god!"
Ororo frowned but it was something she'd been thinking about since the day the X-Men had fought the Avengers.
"He was obviously messin' with ya."
"Toying with me," Ororo murmured thoughtfully.
"Nah, there was more to it than that, what with the way he looked at ya. Man wanted you, we all saw that, just as much as you wanted – well, as you want him."
"I barely think of him!"
Rogue laughed then shook her head. "Yeah, sugar you just keep tellin' yerself that. An' good luck findin' happiness that way if it works for ya – well, fer y'all since apparently he ain't gonna make a move either."
Ororo sighed. She had no answers. She didn't have the nerve to go to Thor, simply didn't have the strength. She sighed again and as she did a storm began to brew.
"Hey, it was supposed ta be sunny t'day – Remy an' me are goin' on a river cruise later! This yer doin', Storm? Ya mad at me?"
Ororo shook her head as she made her way over to a window. She was glad for the diversion. She didn't want to talk about or think about Thor any more. But a glass rattling boom shook the school and her heart quickly leapt within her.
"This is no mere storm," she said, pushing the window up.
"Where're ya goin'?" Rogue asked as Ororo scampered over the windowsill like a little girl then swooped up into the air like the most elegant avian.
She flew into the storm and there he was, grinning at her – Thor. And she fell into his arms as he reached for her. It was as simple as that.
"Well, ah'll be double dog damned," Rogue murmured as she watched from the window.
"We must stop meeting like this," Ororo said as she pulled away.
"I cannot stop wanting you, Ororo," Thor replied, pulling her back to him, holding her firmly against him.
"Oh, Thor," Ororo moaned into his chest, holding him just as tight.
Whistling quietly in amazement, Rogue shut the window then discreetly backed away. Right smack into Logan.
"What the hell's goin' on?" Logan yelled. "Is Storm in trouble?"
"Oh, she's in trouble alright, spelled in all caps, T – H – O – R." She pointed at the window.
Logan's frown deepened as he studied the couple whom seemed utterly oblivious to anyone or anything beside each other as they floated in each others arms. He cursed loudly and turned on his heel and stomped off. And Rogue hurried off too but in the opposite direction of Logan and for a better view.
"So, why did you call me beloved?" Ororo asked when he let her go and took her hand in his and set them down on the front steps of the school.
He looked from her to the sky, letting the rain pelt his face. He seemed to bask in the elements and Ororo too turned her face to the sky enjoying the feel of the wetness on her face. He watched her profile – lovely – her white hair heavy with rain – so natural – her beautiful lips curling into a smile of contentment, the same contentment he felt. She, like him, was in her element.
"We are much alike, Wind-Rider," he whispered though he hadn't meant to whisper.
She smiled. "Is that why we can't seem to keep our hands off each other?" she boldly asked.
He grinned wide. "Indeed, there is that, but there is also something more."
"I rather doubt that," Ororo said, pulling her hand free.
"Ah, beloved, there is no longer a complication in my life."
"You got rid of one then?"
"There never was but one."
"Jane or Lady Sif? Which one did you get rid of and why would you?"
"Jane. But only because we have not been . . . close for many months now. She . . . she seems not to want to be with me any more. In truth I seldom thought of her, perhaps that is why I did not visit, and I suspect she grew tired of me not being on Earth often. I . . . cannot blame her."
"No, no I don't blame her for that either. So then what of Lady Sif?"
He laughed. Then he brushed aside his soaked, blond hair and took hold or Ororo, turning her to him. His lips played over her face lightly as he held her. All she had the power to do was close her eyes and submit.
"Lady Sif and I," he whispered in her ear, his breath light and teasing, "are but friends."
Ororo moaned.
"There is something between us, Ororo and I will see this to the end."
"There is to be an end then," she said, stepping back, her voice sober and resigned.
He saw it was no question but a sad statement and he crushed her to him, held her hard. "I would that there were no end but you and I till eternity fades. And eternity will never fade."
She sighed.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" he asked.
"Love at first fight I think you mean," she said, chuckling.
"Ah, quite true, my beloved. And this . . ." With one hand he gestured upward at the dark sky that was sending sheets of hard rain down upon them. "We summon rain in our joy – we are meant to be together you and I."
She nodded slowly. Then was this to be her fate? For good or ill?
"But I am afraid I am not going to be any different than Jane," she said determinedly. "I want to see you! All the time! I don't want you to leave me."
"Then come with me! You are a goddess! Father and mother will welcome you! Loki too would welcome one such as you, for you should be a queen! You will be a queen, my wife, my queen!"
Ororo was breathless at his statement but still she hesitated.
"We would visit your Earth from time to time, yes. And your friends would visit us. It would be a simple matter. You are not tied to this realm as mere mortals are."
"I . . . I . . . cannot betray myself," she sputtered.
"You betray no one! We . . . we . . ."
"We what?"
Thor paused, looked at this woman, and knew she would be everything that he imagined, not only beautiful but stubborn and proud and strong but gentle, thoughtful, and just – a true mate for the son of Odin.
"We love each other, is that what you were trying to say but couldn't?" Ororo prompted, suddenly angry and yet hoping, hoping!
"I crave you! You are mine!" he told her.
"But you do not love me."
"Why do women on every realm always insist on declarations of love?"
"Who else has wanted you to love them? Hmm, Thor?"
"Too many."
Ororo's stomach turned and she pushed him from her. Jane. Sif. How many others?
"Ororo . . . "
"I can't do this, Thor. I . . . I ache!" she cried.
"Ororo, I understand for I ache too! For you, your heart, your lips, your body, your spirit, your very essence!"
"No," she said, pulling away. "I think I'm in love with you and I shouldn't be. We don't even know each other!"
"What man could not love a woman such as you, Ororo? Are my actions not enough to show you that you have captured my heart entirely from the moment we faced each other, that you are now the caretaker of my heart? I need you, I love you, Ororo and you will be my wife beloved, you will be my queen."
Ororo caught her breath. He didn't emphasize his words with caresses or embraces, he didn't even smile. There was no lovesick look, no besotted pleading look given her. No, his voice was passionate, his look firm and certain. And so she did what she had feared most. She gave herself to this man, this god of thunder. He was her everything, and she his willing subject. She had no control over her emotions. She'd fallen in love with a man who could control her at his every whim and what's more, he knew it. There was no asking her to marry him, it was simply understood that it would be so.
-xox-
Ororo woke with a start and sat bolt upright in her bed. Her sheets were half falling to the floor, her bed clearly disheveled. For days, months, years, the same dream seemed to plague her sleep. But this was no dream she realized just as she did every morning when she woke and saw she was living a dream so completely perfect that each and every day she could barely believe it was real. The man beside her was indeed Thor, yawning and reaching for her. They were in their home in Asgard and never once had she regretted her choice. She settled beside her husband and he wrapped his arms around her. And as always she let him take her where and when he wanted, for she was his queen and he was her beloved.
~Finis~
A/N – And now, although I like the idea of little lightning/thunder kiddies underfoot, this story is finally completed. Thank you to those who encouraged me to write a second chapter. I apologize that it was so long in coming. I was inspired right after I wrote the first chapter but my muse abruptly shorted out. Such is the fate of those of us who attempt to write. Now my muse seems to have regained strength with this story and I genuinely hope to go over ASCW then finish it providing the muse will stay a while. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did writing it!