I am so sorry that this is late, Izzy's still sick and she couldn't post today, but I didn't get that memo until I was already in class. So, to prevent this stuff from happening, I'm going to be updating until Izzy is feeling better.


Six Months without the Avengers

Raina and Rachel- New York

"That was so much fun! I should sign up for another dance class!" Raina squealed as her and Rachel walked out of the building where Raina took belly dancing classes.

"That was some sexy dancing in there," Rachel laughed at her younger friend, "Loki would be proud." At the mention of Loki's name Raina suddenly stopped walking. Rachel mentally slapped herself; Raina had taken the class to take her mind of off him. Rachel turned to her friend, "Kid...How about we go to that one taco joint you like, get you a couple tacos okay?" Raina raised her head and looked at Rachel.

"Yeah, I'd really like some tacos right about now." Raina spoke softly as she managed a smile. Once Raina had started to eat her tacos she was much happier; Rachel always swore that there was something in the meat or cheese that acted like drugs for her. Raina was almost skipping beside Rachel as they made their way back home. "Dude!" Raina shouted suddenly as she grabbed onto Rachel's arm.

"Rain! The hell is up now?" Rachel asked as she was forced to stop walking.

"I want one Rae!" Raina stated as she pointed at the window of the shop they had stopped in front of. Rachel followed Raina's gaze and frowned.

"A tattoo? Seriously Rain?"

"Come on!" Rachel was forcibly pulled into the store by Raina; she knew better than to fight against it.

"Sup ladies, how can I help you?" The man behind the counter asked. He was young, probably in his late twenties.

"I want a tattoo." Raina stated. "On my lower back."

"Now wait a minute Rain, think about it. This isn't one of those things you should just do on a whim." Rachel tried to talk her out of it, but, knowing Raina like she did; Rachel knew it was a done deal.

"Here's some tattoos you can choose from," the man said as he handed Raina a notebook.

"Actually," She started as she handed it right back, "I already know what I want. Got a piece of paper?"

"Yeah sure." The guy went behind the counter and pulled out a blank sheet of notebook paper and a pen, then handed it to Raina. Quickly scribbling down some runic letters, Raina handed the paper back.

"I want this on my lower back if you please." Raina gave him one of her creepy 'I'll fuck your shit up if you don't' smiles, as Rachel calls them. The guy gave her an odd look in return, muttering something along the lines of 'yeah, sure'; Rachel placed her hand onto her face at the scene. Raina situated herself on the chair, lying on her stomach.

"Want my hand?" Rachel asked placing her hand in front of Raina's face.

"Nah, I'll just scream bloody murder till someone calls the cops." Raina waved off the offered hand. Not two minutes later the tattoo guy had one of the runic figures done and was working on the second when Raina found she couldn't hold it in much longer.

"SON OF A FROST GIANT BITCH!" Raina screamed out as she nearly punched holes into the leather chair with her nails. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU LET ME DO THIS RAE!"

"I tried to tell you kid." Rachel replied calmly.

"FUCK! I SHOULD'VE SMOKED SOMETHING BEFORE I DID THIS!"

"I'll tell you this from experience," the tattoo guy began, "that is not a good idea."

"I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMNED ADVICE! OW FUCK!" Raina bit down on the chair. A few minutes, and some ear bleed inducing screaming, later, Raina stood from the chair.

"You doing okay kid?" Rachel asked as she helped Raina off of the chair.

"I regret nothing, never do." Raina winced as she stood up, half bent over in pain. Her shirt was lifted slightly at the bottom, allowing Rachel a view of the tattoo; it was Loki's name in runic. Rachel felt a tug at her heart. Raina was like a little kid; when someone she loves leaves her life it leaves her devastated.

"Here," the man handed Raina a piece of paper, "this will tell you how to take care of your tattoo for the next few weeks so it won't get infected or messed up." Rachel reached over Raina and took it; Raina was too busy doubled over in pain to get it. Rachel opened the door for Raina, who was trying to stand up straight.

"Need help kid?" Rachel asked as soon as they were outside.

"A lil, yeah." Raina admitted. Rachel placed a hand on Raina's shoulder and the two started homeward.

"Why his name?" Rachel finally asked after several moments of silence.

"Some say everything is in a name, that a name could tell you anything and everything about a person. As Shakespeare wrote: What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would be just as sweet. Because sometimes, when we are at our end, when we have lost everything, we still have our names to us."


Thank you for reading this chapter!

But, I have a surprise for you all. Izzy and I were talking and we feel as though it's just a waste of a posting day to do one chapter a day because one chapter is only around one thousand words at the most. So we have decided that we're doing three chapters a day, which means that next Sunday will be the start of the sequel.

Whoo!

Anyway, go to the next two chapters and be happy!

Then review.