an: this chap ties into the "Epilogue 3" chapter in The Cosmic Disturbance Indication, so these two kooky kids are in an established relationship, to wit i regret nothing. also this is my shot at a Christmas themed story, so have at it if you will C:

Santa's Not the Only Man in Red

Walking about New York's busy streets shouldn't have bothered her much, if at all. She was born and raised on earth, granted not in the named city, she was used to how people behaved in public.

It was the fact that she wasn't alone in her wandering, and that they both were something of celebrities… rather, they had been since a few years ago.

Save the world just once and you'll never get a moment's peace, it seemed.

Rolling her eyes when the newest fans, a trio of college girls, giggled as they took a photo with her companion, the brunette shifted her weight from one boot to the other. Looking up as the cloudy sky threatened another snowfall, something the weatherman had said would be frequenting the east coast this week from what she heard, she reflexively balled her hands into fists before stepping up to break the starstruck moment. "Come on, Casanova." She said cheerily as she took his hand in hers, flashing a smile at his crestfallen fans, before steering him in their original direction.

It would've seemed odd by normal standards to see a woman of her size drag him away, but Thor was accustomed to her abnormal strength, albeit he found it better when she used the mentioned facet on an opponent. He noticed that her grip hadn't lightened an inch, slightly shaking his head. "I did offer the choice of staying home," he reminded if only to ease her mind.

Gods knew she was fidgety when they were in public, but it was by her own stubbornness that they were in New York, during what he believed to be a busy time of year.

"I know, yeah." Evelyn replied rather shortly, his voice seeming to calm her nerves, and she lessened her grip. "Suppose I forgot just how much Midgardians adore you." She mused with some annoyance towards his fan base.

She should be used to it by now, though, shouldn't she? He was much more approachable than the rest of their friends, by both her people and his, and then if one were to throw in the female percentage…

Sensing, with ease at this point in their relationship, the spike in her anger, the god gently pried his hand out of her grip only to take her smaller hands in his. He caught the curiosity in her green eyes that flicked up to his blue as he rubbed her hands with his to share warmth, seeing her ears redden despite the thick brown locks that kept them hidden, and he tilted his head to the side.

The goddess' thin line shifted to a wry smile at his gesture, and she sighed softly. "Did I mention that you can't continue to fool me with those baby blues?"

"Whereas you know at this point that I'm plenty capable of using other methods, sweet." He reminded knowingly, feigning innocence when heat started to spill into her cheeks, cocking a brow.

Evelyn pretended his lowered voice didn't cause warmth to pool in her belly, placing her hand to his chest as she recalled those girls. "Try using that line on those groupies of yours, then." She said coolly, drawing away to start walking again.

Thor rolled his eyes at her otherwise-indifferent response to his euphemism, following her leave. "In another life I would've…" He lamented.

"You're her, aren't you?" A man's voice said then, cutting him off, causing the brunette to stop and see a man in a thick gray coat come up to her, as starstruck as those co-eds it seemed. "Athena, right? You saved my life, when you and the Avengers saved New York!" He said with a smile.

"Right, I remember you… You're welcome!" Evelyn smiled back, finding the man looked more like a pretty boy stock broker than anything, giving a slight squeak when he hugged her. She smiled for the thankful man and patted his back before feeling a familiar and larger pair of hands pull her into the chest of her companion.

"Come along, darling, you wanted to get to that coffee shop before eight, didn't you?" Thor said with some finality just as the other man started to ask something else, jaw tightened as he shot a rather scary look at her fan, ushering her down the street.

Evelyn slightly gulped at feeling his irritation, not to mention possessiveness, feeling him relax once they were across the street and were alone again. "Dare I ask?" She wondered when he declawed his fingers from her shoulders, stopping him infront of an abandoned thrift store, looking up at him.

Thor released a half-stuttered exhale, causing fog to escape his lips, as he brushed a pesky lock from his vision. "Just caught me by surprise is all… sorry." He admitted.

Minding that his eyes, which had darkened only minutes ago with what she believed was possessiveness over her, had cleared to reveal that striking blue color she knew, she allowed a shiver that wasn't because of the cold. She knew he thought of her safety before his own, despite their near-likewise strength, and that he would sooner gut a man who insulted her, but she didn't appreciate him being rude. "He was just thanking me for saving his life." She shrugged.

Thor briefly scowled at the way they had come before remarking, "Seemed a bit too friendly…"

"Says the god who lets girls throw themselves at him to get a photograph?" Evelyn retorted before registering what she'd just done, catching the furrow of his brow, and she slightly leaned back on the balls of her feet to fold her arms and dare scowl back.

At this point in their relationship he knew that he wasn't the only pigheaded one.

Their scowls held for what felt like years as the blonde measured her retort and recognized her discomfort from earlier. She knew he was used to getting fawned over, considering his standing as a prince, and it didn't take a genius to see that she was insecure about them, even if she didn't want to show it. His scowl faltered as it hit him like a punch to the face, and he shut his eyes only to sigh, another burst of fog escaping him. "Does that make us even?" He wondered as he looked at her again, knowing for a fact that she couldn't stay angry forever.

The brunette's scowl had wilted at his question, and she glanced past him at the day that was leaning closer to sunset as a lightbulb came on in her head. "Come on." She took his hand and led him away from the shop front at a run.

Thor smiled at her spontaneous gesture, despite the previous tension, "Where're we going?"

Evelyn looked back at him, "There's something you need to see!" She said with a wink before looking forward.

xxxxx

Cutting through what seemed hundreds of crowds and many crossways, the couple came to a skidding halt before their appointed destination.

The sun had already started to set and made the coldness of the day only drop in temperature, but the oncoming night only made the sight before them look that much more beautiful.

A massive pine, standing about as tall if not taller than the city lampposts, stood smack-dab in the middle of the stone courtyard. Its size made it an eyesore, but the hundreds of lights that hugged its wide frame took one's eyes away from the obvious.

Slightly winded from the run, Evelyn looked at the god at her side and didn't fight the grin at seeing his awestruck face, straightening from having stooped a bit to regain herself to place her hands in her coat pockets. "It doesn't compare to Asgard's star systems, but it's quite a spectacle." She said with a slight shrug as she also looked on the lit-up tree.

Thor nodded in agreement, looking over at her to note the softness in her face that was rather pink from the run and the cold, eyes soft at seeing that she was at peace again. "You are, yeah." He mused, looking up at the lights, hearing her brief chuckle.

"Does that make us even?" Evelyn asked as the quiet around them had started to settle, slightly turning to look at him.

A wry smile had formed on his lips at her question and shifted to a fond sort as Thor heard the hope in her tone, and his arm found her shoulders to pull her to his side, nuzzling her temple as his beard tickled her skin. "No, but that's only because the stars in Asgard or any other realm don't compare to you." He answered knowingly.

Cheeks red again, not because of the cold, Evelyn smiled knowingly and hugged his waist, making him give her shoulders a squeeze. "Overgrown lug." She breathed.

Thor laughed, kissing her temple, "Love you too, sweet."

an: ignore the title, i came up with it on the fly. also i honestly tried to write Thor as a jealous/ protective bf but idk if i actually succeeded? idk you guys let me know, okay?