"You've gotten better," Sif's voice startled Spencer.
Spencer paused her brushstroke, glanced over at her mentor, and smiled, "How you move so silently with all that armor is beyond me," Spencer teased with a small smile.
The comment made Sif roll her dark eyes, "You always say that."
It was late in the afternoon when Sif came to visit Spencer. It had been two months since Spencer woke up in Asgard. A lot had changed in these short eight weeks; Thor had left to search for the whereabouts of the other Infinity Stones, Spencer had learned she no longer just controlled electricity, and Spencer had her own little cabin on that island that Odin and Thor picked for her to train on; away from Asgard.
Thor thought it would be better if Spencer had her own solitude away from the hustle and bustle that was Asgard. Thor was always looking out for her best interest and that warmed Spencer's heart so much. The God of Thunder knew how overwhelming Asgard was, how anxious it made Spencer, and Thor wanted the young woman to be at ease in his home while he was away.
The Allfather was more than eager to comply, but kept his distance from Spencer. She worried that perhaps somehow Spencer offended the King? She couldn't think of anything that would have potentially offended Odin.
Besides Thor, Spencer's training had helped build her body back to its former prime. Spencer had never felt this powerful and strong in her own body. It was thanks to Sif that Spencer's body had become what it was always meant to be-a lethal weapon. Nat would like Sif a lot and Spencer would sometimes daydream how a battle between the Black Widow and Lady Sif would be. It wouldn't be anything less than epic.
"What brings you here?" Spencer asked her friend and mentor kindly. Spencer set down her brush and turned her body towards Sif.
"I wanted to visit," Sif walked up the porch steps and plopped down on the swinging hammock that Thor loved using (Thor also only hung it up for himself). "And I bring some interesting news."
Spencer cocked an eyebrow, "What sort of interesting news?" Spencer wondered.
"The Allfather is putting up a golden statue of Loki," Sif told her with a scowl. Sif definitely wasn't fond of Loki in any way, "And I heard whisperings that the Allfather is also conjuring up a play dedicated to Loki." Okay, that was weird.
"Perhaps he mourns for his son more than we think?" Spencer wondered out loud; she was in no position to be questioning the Allfather; he saved her life after all. It would be in bad taste if Spencer was talking badly of him.
Sif shrugged lightly, "I just thought it was odd," She says and makes herself comfortable in the hammock, "I see why Thor was so insistent on hanging this," Sif muses with a chuckle.
Spencer smiled fondly, "I miss him,"
Sif hummed as she closed her eyes, "He'll come home soon enough," Sif reassured Spencer calmly, "He always does."
"I don't want to leave without seeing him again," Spencer admitted with a soft sigh as she turned back to her painting, "I worry for him, Sif, Thor has been through so much recently that I want to make sure he's doing okay before I go." Spencer picked up her paintbrush and continued where she left off.
"He'll be back soon," Sif reassured her gently, "For now, rejoice all that you have accomplished in your short time here," Sif stared up at the starry, cloudless night sky, "You truly are an impressive woman," There was warmth and respect in Sif's voice and it made Spencer's heart swell with love, "I will miss your friendship dearly when you leave."
"I'll definitely miss you," Spencer spoke softly as she had her eyes intently focused on her artwork, "I will miss Asgard too," Spencer momentarily closed her eyes pausing her brushstroke as she felt the life-force of Asgard tug at her fingertips gently. Spencer's new abilities gave her access to the planet's life-force though, it hadn't been easy gaining Asgard's trust.
The life-force of this planet was stubborn and wary of her at first, but after weeks of Spencer persisting, the life-force of Asgard gave in and relented. Spencer found it was easier to control the elements with the life-force of Asgard at her fingertips.
It had been new to her; all this new power. It was scary because for the longest Spencer had been content with the limitations that her former ability had given her, but now, after such a traumatic experience, her body had been reinforced to protect her the best of its ability.
Atmokinesis was the ability of controlling the weather at one's whim; Spencer had grasped that ability fairly well, despite this ability being temperamental and stubborn. Spencer still had a lot to learn, but for the most part Spencer had soothed a lot of her former worries the longer Spencer practiced with her new abilities.
Stemming from Atmokinesis was the other ability that Spencer was having more difficulty but fun practicing; elemental manipulation.
It happened when Thor and Sif were tag-teaming Spencer in a sparring match; they thought it would test her emotions and her Atmokinesis, but instead it had activated another new ability. In the midst of being brutalized by her two friends, the ground rumbled dangerously halting Thor's and Sif's onslaught of attacks on Spencer, and when Spencer buckled from exhaustion, a tree swayed to her defense, wrapping a branch around Spencer's limp form, and another two trees attacking Thor and Sif.
At that point, Spencer thought they were being attacked!
Spencer remembered crying out in horror and suddenly, the trees halted their attack. She felt their worry-actually felt their concern for her in her soul. They were conveying to her their emotions; it had left her stunned.
They thought she was in danger and sprung into action to protect her.
It was after that, that it was decided to let Spencer have her own home on the island to leave her where she would be most comfortable; among the trees on this little island and surrounded by water. At all times, Spencer felt the hum of the elements around her, it gave her great comfort, and reminded her that she was never truly alone.
Spencer opened her eyes and resumed her brushstrokes, "Perhaps you could visit," Spencer teased.
Sif made a disgruntled sound, "No offense, Spencer, but I'll stay here on Asgard," Spencer laughed, "Earth was so...primitive! I do not know how Thor loves it there so much!" Sif wasn't a fan of Earth either.
It made Spencer giggle.
"It grows on you," Spencer muses with a chuckle.
Eventually, Sif fell asleep listening to Spencer hum and paint. Spencer was lost in her own thoughts concerning her painting before she felt a disturbance in the water surrounding her little island. Spencer's brush paused mid-stroke as the woman felt the wind whispering in her ears; someone was here and the wind was unsure who they were to Spencer.
Spencer set her brush down and got up from her seat, careful not to wake Sif. Poor thing worked her ass off and hardly slept, Sif deserved some well-earned rest. Down below towards the little sandy beach where Sif had her skiff parked was another parked beside it.
Spencer recognized the man almost instantly.
It was Heimdall!
Spencer had yet to personally meet the Gatekeeper of Asgard, another manficient man who had a hand in saving her life. Heimdall was gigantic! His skin looked smooth against the darkness of the night and his eyes resembled molten gold. He was beautiful in a way that took Spencer's breath away instantly.
"Heimdall," Spencer spoke his name with awe and wonder.
His gaze was gentle as he approached her, "It is an honor to finally meet you, Spencer," Heimdall inclined his head towards her, but there was a sense of urgency that came from him. His voice was deep and sounded heavenly to her ears; he could have been a killer singer back home.
Spencer furrowed her eyes, "I don't mean to be rude, Heimdall, but aren't you meant to be guarding the Bifrost?" Spencer murmured worriedly; had something happened to Thor?
Heimdall gently placed his hand on her shoulder, "Peace," Heimdall rumbled to her, "Where is Lady Sif?" Heimdall questioned her, "Does she still sleep?"
Spencer cocked an eyebrow, "I forgot about your omnisenses," Spencer muttered to herself, "Yes, she's still asleep, I did want to wake her, what's going on?" Spencer asked, keeping her voice low and quiet.
They weren't that far from her cabin, a good walk away, but voices traveled. Heimdall wasn't looking at her anymore, he was absorbed in something else, his eyes gleaming brightly. "The Allfather has committed me of treason," Heimdall informed her.
Spencer stared dumbly at the handsome man, "And you came here?" Spencer frowned, "To tell me?" Spencer eyed Heimdall who had a small smirk on his face, "I feel like you want to tell me more than that."
Heimdall tilted his head to the side, "I am fleeing,"
Spencer gave him a deadpan stare, "That much is obvious,"
Heimdall smirked, "I see why Thor likes you so much,"
Spencer felt her cheeks flush, "Where will you go now?" She asked Heimdall.
Heimdall shrugged, "I have a few places in mind, but I have a reason for coming to you," Heimdall lowered his voice beckoning Spencer to step closer to him. Spencer did so, "I trust you with this information, please do not tell anyone else, not even Sif, do you understand?" Heimdall murmured to her.
Spencer nodded solemnly, "Of course, Heimdall," Spencer promised.
"Loki is not dead," Heimdall tells her seriously, "I am not sure how he managed to slip past my vision, but he somehow managed to impersonate his father,"
Spencer's face went blank as the information processed in her head; Loki wasn't dead, but apparently the Allfather who had been so kind to her and more importantly saved her fucking life wasn't the actual Allfather, but actually fucking Loki?
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Spencer muttered out loud with annoyance.
Heimdall looked amused by her reaction, "I had the same reaction, too," Heimdall mused, "I believe Loki knows that I know and it is why he committed me of treason," Heimdall rolled his golden eyes.
"But why tell me?" Spencer asked with confusion.
Heimdall smirked, "Because you're the only one strong enough to keep Loki at bay."
Spencer sputtered, "Me?!"
Heimdall bobs his head up and down, "You came out stronger than any of us imagined, it has him scared of you. Your powers are stronger beyond what we could comprehend, I feel your strength even from across the Bifrost," Heimdall tells her patiently, "I know you are connected to the life-force of Asgard, and that makes you incredibly dangerous to Loki. He would not risk your wrath," Heimdall pulled something out of his pocket, "Keep this on your person," Heimdall instructed her, "I find it harder to reach for you," Heimdall cocked his head to the side with a curious look, "I am not sure if it is your abilities, but it will be easier for the both of us to communicate when needed if you keep this on you," Heimdall held out a small bead to her.
It was just a normal bead carved from wood; engraved were words from a language that Spencer wasn't familiar with. Spencer delicately took it and marveled at how cute it looked, "What about Thor?" Spencer breathed, tucking the bead into her pocket.
Heimdall gave Spencer a grave look, "He will return home soon," Heimdall rumbled, "I must leave before Loki senses my presence here," Heimdall reached out to grasp one of Spencer's hands, "Believe in yourself," Heimdall murmurs encouragingly, "You hold so much power in you now, but do not forget who you are and why you are here."
Before Spencer could open her mouth, Heimdall was walking away from her and towards his skiff. Spencer felt conflicted and overwhelmed now, but she was grateful to have at least met Heimdall.
Oh!
"Heimdall!" Spencer whispered his name; knowing he could hear her clearly now.
Heimdall paused and glanced at her from his skiff.
Spencer smiled brilliantly at Heimdall, "Thank you," Spencer murmured, placing her hand over her heart, "Thank you for your part in saving me."
Heimdall dipped his head towards her before pulling his skiff from the little dock and beginning to drift away into the darkness of the night. Spencer reached out her arm towards Heimdall's skif, "Protect him," Spencer whispered as the life-force of Asgard pooled at the tips of her fingers, "Help him, please."
In response, a gentle and warm breeze brushed against Spencer's cheek and drifted towards Heimdall's retreating skiff. Spencer's heart felt heavy now; Heimdall was on the run now, Loki was ruling Asgard, and Thor was out in the realms trying to find the Infinity Stones.
"What a selfish asshole," Spencer muttered staring out into the darkness of the night, "I'm totally going to punch him in the face," Spencer spun on her heel and returned to her little cabin. Thor had mourned Loki and all of this time, Loki was impersonating their father! The nerve of that jerk! To top it all off, Loki had been the one to save her life, not the actual Allfather! Oooh! Spencer was furious as hell. Spencer returned to find Sif still sleeping in the hammock. Spencer couldn't even tell Sif.
It was something Spencer would have to bear for now until Thor returned to Asgard.
A soft sigh escaped Spencer's lips as Spencer crept quietly by Sif and into the small one bedroom cabin; there was a small living area, a small Asgardian kitchen, a decent sized bathroom with a bathtub, and of course the bedroom. Spencer went to the closet by her bedroom to pull out a fluffy blanket to throw over Sif to keep her warm.
Nights in Asgard could get pretty chilly.
Spencer walked back outside and gently draped the blanket over Sif's sleeping form; the woman shifted momentarily before huddling into the blanket and back to sleep. Spencer smiled fondly at the woman before returning to her easel. Spencer had finally met Heimdall, Thor's best friend, she would paint him tomorrow. A beauty like Heimdall couldn't not be drawn or painted by any artist.
Spencer lost herself as she painted late into the night; Sif eventually waking when the moon was high above their heads; Spencer's mentor decided to wake up and retreated into Spencer's home. Sif took over the small couch that Spencer crafted from the earth as practice and Sif tugged off most of her armor to help her get more comfortable. An hour later, Spencer decided that the cold was bothering her too much and called it a night.
Spencer went to bed with a heavy heart for the first time since she's been at Asgard; an ominous feeling sweeping over her as she curled into her fluffy blankets and pillows.