A/N: Hola, all! So I want to give you all a quick warning. I've said it before and I will say it again, this story relies heavily on Norse mythology. There are going to be some chapters that seriously delve into the topic (like this one), however, I am still going to be changing some minor details here and there to try and reflect the Marvel-verse relationships. So, don't attack me if some details are off! I know they are and I did it on purpose.
With that said, I hope you enjoy! And, as always, let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of true importance besides this plot and Ivy.
Chapter 10
Ivy walks around her apartment, cracking her neck and tightening her ponytail as she moves, trying to find more stuff to clean. So far she has attacked the kitchen, the bathroom, living room, and her bedroom. Piles of trash are gathered by her door, ready to be taken out. Clean dishes are piled on the gleaming countertop and she moves to take care of them now that they are dry. Her eyes sweep over her living room as she moves, trying to find a single surface that hasn't been cleaned within an inch of its life. Shutting the cupboards, she sighs. 'Guess I went a little overboard.' She walks over to the trash, picking them all up in order to take them out to the dumpster.
The crisp mid-March wind sweeps across her, pulling on her t-shirt and bandana she has tied around her forehead. She's trying to come up with something else she could possibly do as a form of distraction on her days off work. So far, she has thoroughly scrubbed the bathtub, both sinks, done all the dishes, cleaned all the windows and mirrors, finished the laundry, dusted, vacuumed (twice), cleaned out her bedroom closet, reorganized her living room, and wiped down any and all available surfaces in her kitchen. And it's only noon.
She sighs, throwing the trash over the edge of the dumpster before walking back to the front of her building and running up the stairs to let herself back inside. While Ivy is by no means a messy person, she doesn't usually go on cleaning sprees like her current one. Spring cleaning does not even begin to describe what she is doing. And it's all in a futile attempt to get her mind off of a very large and absent person.
It's been over a month since Ivy was taken to the field in Germany. Almost six weeks to be exact. In fact, it's been six weeks since she has had any godly encounter whatsoever. And she's more than a little worried about the particular absence of one very familiar trickster. She has had nothing but time to wonder about where Loki might be or what he might be doing. And more than enough time to worry about why he's staying away from her. She can't think of anything that she might have done to insult the god. She tries to convince herself that his absence most likely has nothing to do with her—it's just some god thing that has been keeping him busy. However, the small knot that has been in the pit of her stomach isn't convinced.
She sighs, glancing around her apartment once again before deciding there's really nothing more that can be done. Unless she wants to attack her storage closet, which she really doesn't want to do. She'll save that for another time. Pulling off her bandana, she walks into her bathroom, strips her dirty clothes off, and climbs into her now sparkling clean shower to get all of the dirt and grime off her and feel a little bit more refreshed. 'Sucks I'm doing this after I just cleaned it.' She stands in the shower allowing the hot water to beat against her neck and shoulders in a futile attempt to get her to relax. The fact that Loki has been missing has been worrying her relentlessly for weeks, but she doesn't really know what to do about it.
She already eliminated the idea of calling for him, even though he told her to do so whenever she wanted to. She feels if she were to do that, she could be bothering him in the middle of something important and she really doesn't want to do that. 'There must be a logical reason why he's been gone so long. It's not like it's the first time he's been gone for weeks. I mean, he was gone for months when he first decided to start visiting me.' Trying to rationalize it isn't really working out though. She still has this feeling in her gut that he's staying away for a reason. The problem is, is it because of her?
Sighing at the futility of her thoughts, she shuts off the water and steps out of the tub, grabbing her towel and wrapping it around her. She swipes her hand across the mirror to get rid of the fog and stares at her reflection for a moment. 'I honestly can't think of anything I might of said or did that would keep him away. But, it has to have been my fault, right?' She sighs again before shaking her head and leaving her bathroom to take care of her routine, pulling on a pair of jeans and a simple green, long-sleeved shirt. She brushes her long hair out and decides to just let it dry on its own. Dropping the brush back on her dresser, she walks over to her bag and pulls out the book she checked out for that week before making her way back into her living room and flopping down on her couch, hoping the world in her hands will at least distract her for a little while.
She gets ten pages in before there's a knock at her door. Tearing her eyes from the page, she looks over to it, blinking in confusion. Who could possibly be here to see her? She drops the book onto her coffee table before standing up and moving to the door. Lamenting her lack of a peephole, she unlocks the door and opens it only to be met with an unfamiliar face.
There is a young woman standing there. Well, Ivy assumes she's young: she looks no older than herself. Long, wavy, light blonde hair flows down her back and frames her dainty face. Her eyes are bright blue, reminding Ivy of the sky on a bright summer day, her beach tan skin making them even brighter. She's also no taller than Ivy, meaning she was pretty short: about 5'4". A fruit basket is clutched in her hands and she is wearing a summer dress patterned in earthy tones of brown and light green in a swirling mess. Ivy blinks at the woman, trying to figure out if she knows her at all.
A look of surprise crosses the woman's face when she opened the door, but is wiped off nearly a second later. "Are you Ivy?" she asks tentatively in a sweet voice.
"Yeah," Ivy asks, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Who are you?"
The woman grins, her entire face lighting up. "My name is Idunna."
Ivy blinks slowly at the woman before sighing quietly. "The goddess?" she asks, a small note of aggravation entering her tone. 'I'm starting to get really tired of all of these gods popping into my life.'
The woman named Idunna nods. "I'm sorry to just come over like this," she apologizes, looking down at the basket in her hands.
Ivy watches the woman—'goddess,' she corrects in her head—for another moment before shaking her head and standing aside. "Come on in."
Idunna lifts her head, smiling. "Thank you." She takes a step inside and Ivy closes the door behind her. Ivy motions to her living room. "Please, take a seat. Would you like anything to drink?" she offers kindly.
Idunna places the basket on her coffee table before sitting down on the recliner, making sure to sweep the dress under her so it doesn't scrunch up. "No, thank you," she responds, watching as Ivy stands by her kitchen. "I've already come over unexpectedly. I don't want to take up too much of your time."
Ivy blinks again before nodding and joining the goddess in her living room, sitting on the couch. Her eyes fall on the basket in front of her. It's a simple white wicker basket, the handle having a metal plate covering the very peak of the arch with Celtic knots etched into it expertly. It is simply a fruit basket, various fruits poking out of its depths. Well, all different fruits except for one.
"All of them came from my garden," Idunna says, recapturing Ivy's attention. She had been watching Ivy look over her small gift. "I would love it if you would accept this basket as a gift as well as an apology.
"Apology?" asks Ivy, quirking an eyebrow. The last she checked, this is the first time she has met Idunna. Why does the goddess feel the need to apologize to her?
She nods. "For the way the Aesir has been treating you lately. We have been most unkind. I hope you can accept this as my sincere apology for that."
Ivy shakes her head. "You have nothing to apologize for. You haven't done anything to me." She looks back at the basket, so carefully arranged just for her. "Thank you for this, though. It was very kind of you."
Idunna smiles again and Ivy has to admit that she looks so much better when she's smiling. The woman sitting in front of her seems so vibrant and carefree, but she knows that is just a façade. She wouldn't have come all of this way simply to give her a gift as an apology. There was something more to this visit, she was sure of it.
"I hope you don't mind that there are no apples," she continues, reaching forward to pull the basket towards her. She starts to rearrange the various fruit, almost fussing. It strikes Ivy that her motions are almost unconscious like she has arranged many baskets throughout her lifetime and she is still trying to find the perfect way to arrange all of the pieces without any apples. "I'm afraid all of the apples I grow in my garden are strictly for the Aesir and I would rather not anger the Allfather anymore than he already is."
"Right," Ivy mumbles, barely above a whisper. "You're apples are what keep the Aesir youthful."
Ivy grins crookedly. "Well, I wouldn't say youthful. But eternal? Yes, that is what they are for."
Ivy nods, watching Idunna moves the various fruits around into a new arrangement. Seemingly satisfied with this, Idunna pushes the basket aside and folds her hands in her lap once more. Ivy watches her for a moment before breaking the silence again. "Why are you here, Idunna?" she asks.
Idunna stares at her for a moment before sighing and lowering her eyes to her lap. "I suppose I could say that I am here on Loki's behalf."
"Loki?" Ivy's entire being seized slightly at the mention of his name. Shaking her head, she tries to relax again only for it to prove to be very difficult. "Have you seen him?"
"Occasionally," she answers, shrugging. "He always stops by to take an apple, of course, but he hasn't been staying to chat recently."
Ivy blinks before looking at her in confusion. "Then what do you mean you're here on his behalf?"
Idunna blushes slightly. "Well, I suppose that isn't the full truth. He doesn't even know I'm here." Her eyes briefly scan the apartment. "Then again, he might…" She shakes her head as if pulling herself out of her own thoughts. "I'm here to actually say thank you."
'Okay, I'm officially lost.' The emotion is plastered on her face and Idunna grins crookedly. "I want to thank you for becoming his friend."
Ivy looks at Idunna with surprise and mild disbelief. "Why would you thank me for that? I've been under the impression that most of the Aesir hate the fact that I'm his friend."
"I wouldn't say they hate it. They just don't trust Loki's sincerity." She shrugs. "Most of us do not trust Loki, and I have to admit it's for good reason. If anything, they are trying to warn you away from him for your own benefit."
Ivy shakes her head. "I don't see how that's any of their business."
Idunna grins. "I agree. That's why I want to say thank you for your stubbornness. And you do seem to genuinely care about him."
Ivy cocks her head to the side in mild confusion. "I was under the impression that Loki had very few friends anymore. Are you a friend of his then?"
"I would not say that we are friends exactly," she replies, glancing down at her lap as if trying to find a way to word her next sentence. "Loki and I's relationship is more based off of mutual care and understanding than actual friendship. I owe him a debt I am not entirely sure I will be able to repay, even if he believes it has been repayed." She trails off, her eyes shifting to look somewhere over Ivy's shoulder. Ivy waits patiently for the goddess to snap out of her reverie, her curiosity mounting with each passing second. Idunna jerks just slightly, her eyes snapping back to meet Ivy's with a small sheepish smile.
Ivy grins back slightly. "Would it be bad if I asked what he did make you feel like you owe him?"
"No, it's not a bad thing to ask," Idunna chuckles. "I was planning on telling you anyway." She settles deeper into the armchair. "I will warn you, it's a long story."
"It's not like I don't have time," Ivy responds, also settling back into her seat.
Idunna nods, conceding the point. "I am much older than Loki, by a few millennia. I remember well when he was brought to Asgard by his mother, Laufey. Both were met with some level of wariness and caution. Even back then we did not trust the Giants very well. And a consort of a giant and her progeny of that said union joining us in Asgard was enough cause for alarm for many of the Aesir. However, Odin decided it would be unfair to judge the child simply based off his ancestry and agreed for Loki to be raised in Asgard." She grins. "He was an adorable child, really. It was a sad and tragic day when his mother died. Rather than send him off to live with his father in Jotunheim, Odin took him in to be raised with his own sons.
"I wish I could say I had more interactions with him when he was growing, but I didn't. I usually stayed within the confines of my garden because many people, Aesir and Jotun alike, wished to claim me for my ability to grow apples of eternity." She rolls her eyes. "And apparently for my beauty. But that's not important. When Loki was the proper age, he was able to feast on the apples that would grant him eternal life and he was always very gracious when he came to my garden to retrieve his own. But even at that age he was very mischievous. Even in my lonesome garden I heard the stories of all the pranks and trouble he would cause in Fensalir, Frigga's home. But he never caused me any issues so I simply watched him as he came to me and enjoyed his company.
"It was around the time that he passed his first millennium that Loki fell into trouble with the Giants. There was an instance between Odin and Loki here on Midgard that got him captured by the Giant, Thiassi. I won't go into the details of what happened as that would take all afternoon, but Thiassi captured Loki and held him for several days in Jotunheim with no means of escape. Out of desperation for his life, Loki struck a deal: he would help the Giant capture me and my apples in exchange for his freedom."
"I think I'm actually familiar with this story," Ivy mumbles, her eyebrows furrowing. She remembers a lot of the tales her Grandmother would tell her of the gods of her homeland and one of her favorites when she was small was Idunna and her apples. It's been years since she thought about the story, but she remembers some of the details.
Idunna smiles. "You're familiar with the story that has been passed down by man since almost the dawn of civilization. It's a little more fantastic than the actual truth." She sighs. "Your story makes it seem as if Loki just agreed to lead me astray in order for his freedom. What it does not describe is that he was actually being tortured, his magic and essence being drained from him slowly. He was also held there for two weeks, a very long time to go without my apples for one of our kind. He was trying to preserve his life when he made the vow.
"If there is one thing I have to impress upon you, Ivy, it's that when a god makes a vow we cannot go back on it. The consequences are very severe for us. That is where your tradition of exchanging vows on your wedding day comes from. Loki vowed to Thiassi that he would lead me to Midgard where I would be most vulnerable and Thiassi would have me like he wanted. And he did just that."
Her eyes drift to the side once again, clearly recalling the events as if they were playing behind her eyes. "I remember seeing Loki when he stumbled into my garden after he returned. I was immediately shocked to see the state he was in. There were no physical marks on his body, but there didn't need to be. He was stooped, barely able to stand fully. Lines had appeared on his face and grey was streaking through his hair and I knew he had to have endured much. I am ashamed to admit that I did not notice his absence over the course of those couple weeks. Loki often came and grabbed an apple without me noticing, so I never paid any mind when I hadn't seen him. I was immediately concerned, practically forcing him to eat while I tried to get him to tell me what happened. He was silent, though.
"I watched as his previous vitality was restored to his features, but something was still plaguing his mind. He simply wandered around my garden for the rest of the day, not saying much. He stopped to listen to Bragi, my husband, tell his tale with me, watched as I tended to my garden. I thought it was a little odd, but decided to let him be. Before sunset that day, though, he told me that there was trouble on Midgard and that he needed my council to try and help."
Ivy, who had been listening in stunned silence, cocked her head to the side in confusion. "What kind of trouble?"
Idunna sighs before shrugging. "I was not very familiar with Midgard and the world of men. He simply told me that there was trouble between two warring kings and he was convinced my soft voice and council would be enough to stay both of their hands. I will admit, Loki has always had a way of spinning a tale and convincing anyone that his course of action is the best to take and the most reasonable. It never entered my mind by the end of his story that I have never been a part of a conflict like the one he had described to me, but I was convinced I could stop the bloodshed nonetheless.
"I joined him to Midgard, taking one of these small baskets with me as a peace offering. Only, when we arrived, he disappeared, leaving me alone in a field by myself with no way to return or a direction to go. I was, understandably, panicked. I wandered about for only a few moments before the Giant disguised as an eagle picked me up and dragged me to Jotunheim. I was there for three weeks."
"How awful," Ivy mumbles, concern written across her face.
Idunna nods, her face solemn. "It was awful. Thiassi was only gentle of his treatment towards me because he wished for me to grow my apples in his home. However, nothing grows in Jotunheim: it is a very unforgiving place for all life-forms and it was impossible for me to do anything. He didn't believe me, though. He visited me every day demanding the same thing: grow the apples and give them to him and his people. I cried and begged for him to let me go, but he never did. His treatment grew more aggressive as the weeks passed and I started to fear for my own life before I was saved."
"How were you saved?" Ivy asks, completely enthralled with the tale.
She smiles. "By Loki, actually. The other Aesir, after discovering Loki's treachery—that's what they call it anyway—demanded that he find a way to bring me back. As I am the only one who can tend to the apples, all of them began to suffer the effects of aging. Loki was already planning on how to fix his mistake long before the order, however. He asked for his mother, Frigga, to share with him how to change his form and she showed him how to change himself and others into various different shapes and disguises."
"Wait," Ivy says, holding up her hand and forcing the tale to a halt. "I thought Laufey was his mother?"
Idunna nods. "She was, biologically. Laufey died when Loki was still very young and Frigga was the one who raised Loki. He adores her very much and considers her his mother while also acknowledging that he is the son of Laufey. He calls himself Loki Laufeyjarson in honor of his birth mother."
"Laufeyjarson?" Ivy asks, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
Idunna blinks at her for a moment before realization dawns in her sky-blue eyes. "Oh, I forgot. Mortals do not follow our tradition of surnames anymore." She shakes her head before smiling. "Our surnames usually correspond with our parent's names, usually the father. Here's an example: Thor, being the son of Odin, is called Thor Odinson. If Thor was a woman, he would have been called Thor Odisndottir. Our tradition usually claims the father for the name, but Loki decided to honor his birth mother instead, hence Laufeyjarson."
"So, the -jar- in it is what makes it the mother's claim, so to speak?"
Idunna nods. "Exactly."
"Okay." Ivy nods in understanding before waving her hand for Idunna to continue. "Sorry, please go on."
"It is no trouble, Ivy." Idunna smiles gently before shifting her eyes slightly, trying to recall where she stopped. "Right. So after the Aesir's command, Loki was finally able to ask Frigga for her aide in helping him disguise himself. He didn't go to her before simply because he did not wish to be found out. Frigga showed him the way and he hid himself as a falcon and flew into the lands of Jotunheim. That is where he found me.
"He told me later that he was around for a couple days, simply watching and waiting for the right moment to sneak me out. I did not miss the presence of the falcon when I was there and neither did Thiassi. In fact, he tried many times to get the falcon to come down so he could kill it. That, obviously, did not work. After one such occasion where his attempts failed, Thiassi stormed out of his home in a rage, leaving me alone finally. Loki immediately turned back into his true form and unchained me. He didn't say anything to me other than he came to bring me home. He transformed me into a sparrow, him resuming his guise as a falcon, and we both flew back to Asgard.
"It was a dangerous journey. The only reason I made it back alive was because of Loki and I owe him for that. It did not take long for Thiassi to notice I was missing and he somehow put together that Loki was the falcon. He chased after us and I was almost taken again if it weren't for Loki. He was very brave, for one so young." Ivy raises an eyebrow at that but remains silent. 'She thinks a thousand years is young?' Shaking her head, she returns her focus back onto the quiet goddess. "Thiassi was killed during their skirmish, but still managed to harm Loki. I do not know if he still bears the scars of the eagle's claws, but it was a horrible sight to behold.
"Upon my return, I fell back into my garden with childlike relief. I plucked the apples and gave them to the waning gods and watched the joy return to their faces. Loki was forgiven for taking me to Midgard but nobody ever forgot his actions. However, Loki never once told anyone that it was because of a vow made from desperation that he did what he did. He only told me when he came to apologize.
"Ever since then I have felt that I owe him a debt for saving me. If it weren't for him, I would probably still be in Jotunheim. He, however, does not believe I owe him anything. I have taken it upon myself to make sure he eats his apple at least once a week, especially when he was imprisoned." Idunna's eyes widen and she stares at Ivy in shock.
Ivy's eyes narrow. "Imprisoned?"
"Forget I said anything," she mumbles, shaking her head. "That is truly not my story to tell."
Ivy continues to watch her, eyes narrowed. While she is familiar with the stories on Earth about Loki being imprisoned, she always thought that couldn't be true, considering if it were he would still be locked up. But… In this case, if they were true and he was tied up and held in a deep place, then why is he free now? How did he get free? And why was he locked up in the first place? Just because Idunna's tale seems to be true, she also told Ivy many facts that the old stories got wrong.
Ivy's gaze moves to her lap as her mind races with this new information, trying to remember all of the details of the stories her Grandmother told her. It's proving to be difficult because the last time she remembers her Grandma telling her them, she was still only a child. She remembers the reason Loki was bound was because of the death of Baldur, the beloved son of Odin and Frigga. She doesn't remember the details of how he was bound though. The tale of Baldur was never one of her favorites, so she only heard it a couple of times. Her mind jumps to her first meeting with Odin. 'He did say that Loki was never meant to get free. So, he was imprisoned. But then, how did he get free then?'
Ivy looks up at the now slightly fidgeting goddess. "Idunna, how did Loki get free?"
Idunna shakes her head, twisting her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry, Ivy. I can't tell you."
Ivy swallows, looking down at her own lap. "Is that why everyone seems to try to get me away from Loki? Because he's free from his prison?"
Idunna doesn't respond and she looks up to see that she's watching her with a morose look in her eyes. If Ivy didn't know any better, she would have said it was grief.
Before Idunna can respond, a small gust of wind hits them both, pushing Ivy's hair across her eyes. When she finally bats it away, Hel is standing in front of them both. She raises her hand in greeting to Ivy before her almost-black eyes dart to Idunna. "Idunna," she mumbles, her eyes widening in surprise. Her head tilts back slightly as she regards the other goddess. "I'm surprised to see that you are out of your garden."
"And I am surprised to see you out of Helheim," Idunna responds in a small voice. Ivy's eyes dart between the two, noticing Hel's very guarded expression and Idunna's almost nervous one.
She slowly stands up, eyes falling on the tall goddess standing in front of her. "Hello, Hel," she greets, capturing the woman's attention. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Hel grins slightly, her hand coming up to grasp her necklace. "No, thank you, Ivy."
Ivy nods. "Please, have a seat," she offers, motioning towards the other end of the couch. Hel regards her for another moment more before nodding and sitting down. She sits on the edge though, back straight, completely opposite from the last time she visited Ivy in her little apartment.
Ivy sits as well, eyes darting between the two women who are completely avoiding looking at each other. Hel's eyes land on the basket sitting forgotten on the table and she pulls it toward her. "Bringing one of your famous baskets, I see," she mumbles, almost too quiet to hear.
"Ivy deserved something for the trouble we have caused her," Idunna responds, her eyes resting somewhere on the wall opposite of her.
Hel snorts in derision. "She deserves far more than simply fruit."
"It is all I am allowed to offer, Hel. You know that."
Hel's eyes lift to regard Idunna, eyes slightly bright. "Between the Allfather and his blasted son, my father and her both deserve something far more valuable."
Idunna lifts her hands in front of her, trying to placate Hel. "I'm sorry. But this is all I can do."
Ivy moves to place her hand on Hel's arm in a reassuring manner. "Hel, I'm fine. Don't be angry at Idunna for something she didn't do."
Hel regards her for a moment before sighing and leaning back until she is leaning against the back of the couch. "So, why else are you here, Idunna?"
"For the same reason you are, I suspect." Idunna slowly relaxes, her voice becoming more sure of herself now that Hel is relaxed as well. Ivy still sits somewhat tense, not sure if a fight is going to break out between the two in the middle of her apartment.
Hel hums, nodding her head to the side in agreement, her hands lacing across her stomach. Her eyes dart up to look at Ivy. "How are you, Ivy?"
Blinking slightly at the sudden attention, Ivy responds, "I'm fine. How are you?"
Hel smirks. "Annoyed, aggravated, and busy."
"Why?"
Hel shakes her head, waving her hand in dismissal of her question. "It's really not that important. Just the usual business with me. Not everyone can frolic in a garden all day, tending to fruit."
Idunna huffs and Ivy's eyes widen. 'If they start a fight in the middle of my newly clean apartment…' Ivy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before turning to look at Idunna who has her eyes narrowed at Hel. She doesn't give the goddess a response though and Ivy is grateful for that.
They all sit there in an awkward silence. Ivy is unsure of what to do. She gets the feeling the both of them want to tell her something, but now that the other is here, neither one of them wants to share that information. Sighing, Ivy decides to make the decision for them. "Thank you for the basket and your story, Idunna. Was there anything else you wished to tell me?"
Idunna blinks at her. "Other than expressing my apologies about your last few encounters with us, no." She shakes her head. "And for thanking you, of course."
"Thanking her?" Hel asks, her eyes darting to Idunna. "For what?"
"For being a friend to your father. And for remaining that way even when everyone else keeps telling her not to be."
Hel cocks her head to the side in wary confusion. "I can admit that I am also grateful for Ivy's presence in my father's life. But why are you?"
Idunna rolls her eyes, an action that does not seem to fit the woman Ivy has known for the past half hour. "I am also friendly to your father and can appreciate it when someone is willing to care for him openly. I am not granted that ability because of my responsibilities to the rest of the Aesir." She shakes her head. "My relationship with your father goes back a lot farther than you have even been alive, Hel."
"I am aware of that," Hel mutters in aggravation, rolling her eyes in a way that reminds Ivy of a petulant child.
"Your father may be more open with you, but I can guess the reasons for why he is seeing Ivy. All you have to do is look at her to know that he sees S—"
A hand slams over Idunna's mouth and Ivy blinks in confusion before her head swivels from Idunna to the spot that Hel was occupying a moment before. Hel is now standing in front of Idunna, her hand clamped around her mouth keeping her silent. "Neither one of us is allowed to speak to her about that," she mumbles, a dangerous note in her voice. "That is only for my father to tell her if he chooses to." Hel falls silent but their eyes remain connected. Ivy can't see from the angle she is at what looks the two are giving each other, considering Hel is a very tall woman. But her curiosity has shot through the roof and she seriously wants answers.
After another moment, Hel straightens, her hand falling back to her side. "Sorry about that, Ivy," Hel mutters, her voice still lower than its usually pleasant tone. She turns around to sit back down on the couch and Ivy's eyes follow her before shooting back to the now stoic Idunna. Both have a resolve in their eyes and Ivy knows if she were to question what that exchange was about, she would be met with only silence.
"It's fine," she responds slowly.
Idunna sighs, shaking her head before she stands up from the chair. Ivy stands as well. "Thank you for seeing me and being such a gracious hostess, Ivy. I will leave you now so Hel can tell you whatever it is that she wants to."
"Thank you for the basket," Ivy responds, smiling. "And for the story. It's really nice to hear someone tell a good story about Loki for once."
Idunna grins, some of her previous happiness seeping back into her features. "It was my pleasure. Have a good day." With that, the goddess is gone with only a hint of a breeze rolling through the room that smells distinctly of apples.
Hel growls slightly. Ivy turns to look at her and sees that she is very much annoyed now. "I wish I could hate her," she mumbles, her eyes staring at the basket once again.
"Why?" Ivy asks, returning to her seat.
Hel shakes her head. "She is one of the Aesir but she is so different from them all. While she never once has stood up for any of us in front of them, she is still kind to us all, even when we give her no reason to be." She chuckles humorlessly. "Did you know she gives my father an apple for each of us every day so that he can give it to us?"
"No, I didn't know that."
Hell shakes her head again before pushing herself back up into a proper seated position. "I just wish I could figure her out. What she wants, you know?"
"Not everyone wants something from other people, Hel. Some people just genuinely care."
"Not among the Aesir."
Ivy shrugs, dropping the topic. "Why did you want to come see me, Hel?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," she says. "I know Dad's been scarce," she continues, rolling her eyes.
"How did you know that?"
Hel levels her with a deadpan glare. "He's been with me, that's how."
"Oh," Ivy says in a small voice.
Hel rolls her eyes. "He's being an idiot and has been driving me up the wall in the process." She gives Ivy a crooked grin. "I love my Dad and I would follow him to the ends of Ragnarok, but he's driving me nuts. He needs to leave Helheim and the sooner the better."
Ivy cocks her head to the side. "Why don't you just tell him that?"
Hel sighs. "I tried. He's not listening to me. He's too lost in his own head."
Ivy's eyebrows furrow in confusion, a spike of worry going through her. "Why? Did something happen?"
"Yeah, something happened," Hel mutters, her face turning serious as she watches Ivy. "He's fine and the other person that was dragged into it is fine. He's just being a moron, is all."
Ivy blinks. "Oh."
"Why haven't you called for him?" she asks suddenly. "I know he told you that you could do that now."
Ivy shakes her head. "I didn't want to bother him in case he was busy." Her eyes drift down to look at her lap. "And apparently he has been."
"Oh, he hasn't been busy," Hel says, a massive hint of annoyance coating her tone. "In fact, he hasn't done anything in the past six weeks other than wander my palace and not help me a single bit."
Ivy grins at that, turning her head to try and hide it from Hel. She's not laughing at Hel's expense, but she can completely understand what it's like to have someone be around but not help you in the slightest when it comes to work. She has to deal with that almost every day at her own job. 'It's nice to see that some things don't change between the races.'
"You should call for him," Hel announces, tilting her head back to stare at the ceiling.
"But I don't need to see him," Ivy protests. "I mean, I'm glad that he told me I can call for him, but I promised to myself that I would only do so if I needed him."
Hel rolls her eyes. "But you want to see him, right?"
"I-I suppose," Ivy stutters, a blush staining her cheeks. 'Okay, I do want to see him. If only to be sure he's actually okay.'
"Okay. Then you call for him: he leaves me alone in peace for a while, you get to see him, and I know he would just love to see you too. See? It's a win-win situation for all of us!"
Ivy smiles at Hel's hopeful expression. "You just want me to call for him so he will get out of your hair." Hel nods, completely unabashed at admitting it. Ivy laughs. "I'll think about it," she promises.
Hel sighs dramatically. "Okay, fine. I guess I can live with that." She stands up suddenly and Ivy stands with her. "I've got to get back to it. I can only really spare a few moments at a time outside of Helheim. But thank you for seeing me and listening to my plea even if you are being stingy."
Ivy grins. "You're welcome, Hel."
Hel nods, grinning before disappearing. Ivy sighs before picking up the basket and taking it to her kitchen so she can wash off the fruit later. Walking back into her living room, she picks up her forgotten book and settles back down. Any attempt to read is proven to be a failure though. She shuts the book and turns on the TV for some background noise, walking to her bedroom. She grabs the cape off the end of her bed and wraps it around her, walking back to the living room and flopping back down on the couch.
'I've got a lot to think about.'