Chapter 2: Windows + Fire Escapes

Idunn woke the next morning when sunlight came to lay on her face. Her eyes fluttered open, and legs and feet and arms stretched out as far as they could. She sighed quietly at the feeling before sitting and turning to set her feet on the cool wood floors. She wiggled her toes, feeling as if she'd never get used to the floor as it was; Idunn always expected the feeling of the ground in her cottage back home, which was covered completely in the softest moss in Asgard.

At the thought, her heart yearned for the feeling of her home. She ached for the little house with its low thatch roof, and she ached for the sound of the brook and ached, most of all, for the trees and their ever present embrace.

She stood and wandered to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast.

Idunn had never wanted to come to Midgard. Even as a young girl when Thor and Loki rejoiced in the adventures they had in their travels, she had no interest in joining them. She was perfectly content and never believed anyone would call her away from her grove. Then Odin decided she should be useful, and that Midgard needed to be looked after in Thor's absence. By order of the king, she left.

She had stayed with the Avengers for the first few months. They had been very kind to her. Especially Wanda, for whom Idunn had felt a special kinship towards. They welcomed her, but Idunn felt most considered her to be a significant downgrade from Thor. Though everyone agreed in her confusion as to why exactly she'd been sent.

When the Avengers fought their internal battle, she chose the side she believed to be right. She still believed she had chosen the correct moral path, even when they lost. She had helped save an innocent man. That was worth anything after.

She was lucky. In the aftermath of the fight, she hadn't been sent back to Asgard by the United Nations. Instead, Tony Stark, who she had fought against, took her in, and gave her a second chance, a new name. He hid her from the U.N., and he understood why going back to Asgard, though it was what she really wanted, was not an option.

For as long as Idunn could remember, Odin and Thor had underestimated her, and it only got worse after the incident. Part of the reason why she stayed amongst her trees was because they hardly let her leave. Then, when Odin sent her on a quest, albeit a tame one, it seemed like her chance to prove that she was capable of more than growing apples. Tony understood. To return home prematurely would be to admit her own incompetence.

Idunn turned off the stove and slid the egg onto her plate.

Sitting cross-legged on the counter, Idunn surveyed her apartment as she ate. It was nice, she could admit. Only one room, but roomy enough for one person. She had it split into a living area, kitchen, and bedroom. Not unlike her cottage back home if you looked at the floorplan, though it couldn't be more different in actuality. This new apartment was bright, with white walls and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows on one wall. Back home the ceilings were low and just enough light flooded in to bask everything in a hazy warmth. Not here. Here the light was bright and cool, and the tall windows let in every sight and sound of the busy street below. Here she felt exposed. The only reminders of home she had were the plants she had filled the place with. All kinds of plants were scattered around: shrubs, herbs, mosses, and vines. They comforted her a little.

Finished with breakfast, Idunn placed the plate and fork into the sink and ventured to the northern wall. The view from these windows was significantly worse than the tall ones lining the eastern wall. All that could be seen from them was the fire escape and the wall of brick next door.

Stepping onto the grated floor of the fire escape, Idunn took in the sight of her sapling. All she had brought with her to Midgard was a single seed, which she had planted just two months previously. Now, the sapling was just taller than her, and its pot nearly took up the whole fire escape.

Humming softly to herself, Idunn looked over its leaves, finding each to be perfectly formed, and felt the soil, sensing that the roots were healthy. She watered it and went back inside. But finding the breeze too pleasant to keep out, she kept the window open.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker was still fast asleep, his body completely exhausted from the previous night's heroic excursion, not that much happened. But by the time he had crawled into bed it was closer to sunrise than midnight. The morning had come anyway. Soon the sounds of Aunt May pattering about the house and the soft light that seeped through his blinds brought him gently from his sleep.

Groaning pleasantly, Peter buried his head further into his pillow, feeling as if he'd never get up. Of course, this feeling was short lived as his phone, laying somewhere on his desk or in his bed, began ringing.

Groaning again, this time less than pleasantly, Peter searched for where the phone was, tangled up somewhere in his sheets. After finding it, Peter swiped the screen and held it to his ear, face still planted firmly on his pillow.

"Hello?" his sleepy voice crackled.

"Hey there, kid. Did I wake you?"

"Mr. Stark!" Peter sat up in his bed, hitting his head on the bottom of the top bunk as he did. "Hi! Uh, no, you didn't wake me. I was just —"

"Listen, there's a favor I gotta ask you," said Tony bluntly.

Peter shot out of bed and paced the small area of his room. "Yeah! Anything!"

"So on Monday, a new girl is gonna show up at your school ..."

Peter stopped in his tracks, confusion washing over him. School?

"... let's just say I know her parents. Anyway, will you look out for her for me?"

"Yeah! Sure, Mr. Stark! Why is she transferring? Is she the daughter of a superhero?"

"You don't need to know everything about her. Jesus, Parker."

"Sorry, Mr. Stark."

"No biggie, kid. Just look out for her, okay? Make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble."

"You can count on me, Mr. Stark. I won't let you down."

"Okay, see ya, kid."

The call ended and Peter, heart racing, nearly ran from his room to the kitchen, intent on starting his day right away. That is, until the excitement and adrenaline of Tony Stark calling him (not just Happy — Mr. Stark himself) and asking him a favor wore off. Peter realized he had nothing in mind to do that morning. It's not like crime was at a peak on Saturday mornings.

Knowing he'd figure out some way to spend the day, Peter opened the fridge and stared into it, hoping to find something worth eating. He came up short.

Hope you all enjoyed chapter 2! Leave a review to let me know what you think or ask me anything. And don't worry ;) next chapter Idunn will face her new challenge (High School: not just a struggle for aliens in hiding) and we'll meet some new(ish) characters.
Again, let me know what you think! I love to hear from readers and I always get back to you if I can.

Love, moon

03/21/2020