It was unusually warm in Jotunheim. Many of its people were complaining about the 'heat' (although it wasn't warm enough to melt anything frozen) and requesting for their queen to do something.
And so she did.
Matilda walked out to a crater where a building once stood. She chanted a few words. In a matter of seconds, the crater filled to the edge with water. A couple of the sorcerers formed hard ice around the rim of this new pool. Children in waterproof leather trunks waited for Matilda to say they could go in. She herself was in a two-piece blue and red Midgardian swimsuit.
She turned to the group of children around her. Despite being nothing but children, they were as tall if not taller than her. She looked up at their eager faces.
"Jump on in. The water will not splash out. Now, no running when your feet are wet, and no trying to drown eachother. Otherwise," she stepped aside, "have a blast."
The children cheered. The ones in the front jumped into the pool and started swimming around. Matilda and the other sorcerers started forming ice chairs and tables around the pool. The other children started collecting in groups around the pool, talking much like Midgardian teenagers. Matilda watched them from a distance, satisfied she brought happiness to at least the youngest of her subjects.
Dag's hand to her shoulder snapped her back to reality. Despite her direct orders to dress as though he were to swim, he remained in his typical uniform. Matilda pouted and crossed her arms as she turned to him.
"I gave you orders, Dag. What is the matter?" She examined him slowly, noticing he was more tense than usual.
"The method of which we waterproof our leather...does things to my skin." He walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. Matilda sat next to him. Dag reached out and felt Matilda's swimsuit, making her shiver. If he wasn't her guard, she would've sliced his hand off.
"This material is so soft-"
"You're also petting my breast. I recommend you cease before you go into the water." Dag stopped and set his hand onto his lap. He took a breath and continued,
"Is this a fashion in Midgard? It truly complements your figure. And the colors are lovely." Matilda stared at Dag as he complimented her. She looked down at herself and pulled at her slight belly fat. Dag smiled and rubbed her stomach. He leaned in and whispered into her ear.
"You know, ma'am, a little fluff is alright for when you carry children. It works as an insulator-" Matilda smacked him in the cheek. She stood up, the blush on her cheeks quickly vanishing.
"I will take you to Midgard, then. I will get you some swimsuits. And you will meet my friends. And you will enjoy Midgardian cuisine of pizza and hot dogs." She pulled on Dag's hands and lifted him up. She turned to the palace and slipped on a long cape. She hurried off to change.
Matilda and a shorter Dag hurried along the beaten path towards one of the largest trenches in all of Jotunheim, only made larger when Loki tried to destroy the realm. As they approached, Dag started checking their bags for what they would need. Currency, extra clothing, potions. Matilda waved her hand and ice steps jutted out of the side of the ledge. They hurried down the steps to a large recently created atrium. The walls were carved with intricate carvings and embedded with various types of metal and glasses. In the center was an elevated platform with a column reaching out of the center. Matilda and Dag walked up to the column. Matilda put her hand over the top of the column and pulled out a black cube. This black cube expelled black fog which started to circle around them. Matilda held out her other hand and Dag grabbed it. In an instant, smoke started to erupt from the cube as the smoke swirled around the pair. The room vanished from their view.
Only a minute later, they were standing in Central Park. Dag quickly turned his skin from blue to a more Aesir tone. Matilda looked around and quickly got her bearings.
"Come, this way. You'll need to change." She hid the cube in her bag and hurried down the sidewalk away from people. They arrived at a small metal stall. Matilda opened the door for Dag and closed it. She deposited two quarters into a change slot and clicked a button. She tapped on the metal door.
"Hurry, Dag. You're on a timer." She stood against the stall. She could hear Dag changing and occasionally playing with some of the features in the stall. When the door automatically opened, Dag stepped out. He was dressed in a plain black T-Shirt and black cargo pants. Matilda checked him over and zipped his fly. Dag tried to unzip it again but Matilda stopped him.
"But, ma'am, these pants feel too tight!"
"It's because you're not used to them! You're fine, and when we get to my place I'll get you a pair bigger, alright?" She held his hands until he groaned. They continued down the sidewalk until Matilda spotted a few payphones. She walked over to the payphone and deposited a quarter. She dialed a number and put the phone to her ear.
"Daemond? Hey, it's me. I'm at the Park, come pick me up? Yea, where I left. Yea. I'll talk to ya when you pick me up. No, I have a friend." Matilda glanced at Dag who was pressing the numbers of the phone next to him. She went back to the phone.
"Bring some of Adrian's old pants, will ya? He's bitchin' 'bout how his pants are too tight." A laughter was heard through the earpiece. Matilda couldn't hold back a smile as she hung up. Dag had to be dragged away from the payphones.
"Ma'am, what were those? What was that metal room I was in? Why did it smell like piss? It was also very wet, I did not enjoy that." Matilda sighed at his questions as they continued back where they first were.
"The talking thing was a method of communication. It is instant. You talk and the other person talks. And that 'metal room' was a Midgardian washroom. It is a public one you need to pay to use." The look on Dag's face made her happy that she told him what it was instead of keeping him naive. They reached their destination and sat on a bench. Dag squinted up at the sun.
"It is so bright. And warm. How did you ever stand it?"
"That is our sun. It keeps everything alive. It also gives us nutrients that is good for our bodies. And don't stare at it, or else you will go blind." Matilda pulled his gaze away from the bright ball in the sky.
A red Mercedes drove up. A man with brown scraggly hair and glasses sat in the driver seat. He looked at the pair sitting on the bench and smiled.
"Get in, guys. I said I wasn't going to be long." Matilda stood up and brought Dag over with her. He examined the machine and jumped when the machine made a loud noise. Matilda laughed.
"Dag, get in. I promise you'll be fine." She helped Dag into the back seat and buckled him in. She sat in the front seat and buckled in. The man shifted and they sped off. Dag gripped onto Matilda's seat as they sped down the road.
"So, Matilda, how have you been? Haven't seen you since the Tesseract situation." the car slowed down and stopped at a light. Matilda pulled her hair back and tied it.
"Let's say that things are swell. How've things been here, Daemond?" They turned down a street. A large tower was visible in the horizon. Dag was amazed at how tall the buildings here were. His uncle had never said that humans built tall towers made of metal.
"They've been fine. S.H.I.E.L.D's been trying to figure out if they can replicate the Tesseract, but things have simmered down."
"And them?"
"Oh, they've cemented their bonds. How's Thor and Loki been?"
"I don't know. Their father kicked me out of Asgard and so now I rule their former enemies. In fact, the guy with me is my guard. His name is Dag." Matilda turned to Dag,
"Dag, Daemond. Daemond, Dag. Good? We're friends? Excellent." She turned back around as they pulled up to an apartment complex. Matilda and Daemond jumped out of the car. Dag tried to unbuckle himself but couldn't figure out the mechanism. Matilda had to let him out of the seatbelt and help him out of the car. They enter the apartment complex.
The lobby was decorated with painted bolts of neon color with a black background. The floors were of neon tile and the ceiling glittered like the night sky. Dag was startled but amazed. Daemond tapped Dag's side.
"Matilda, I'm surprised at how lovely he is" Daemond smiled. His glasses shined in a way that only one of his sky blue eyes showed. Matilda growled and pulled Dag away from Daemond.
"He's my suitor, Daemond. He is also my personal guard. The only one I trust out there. He may become my husband. Besides, weren't you seeing someone else?" Daemond looked down. MAtilda hugged him tightly and Daemond returned the gesture.
"He broke up with me. Apparently, he only wanted the money and sex. He didn't want to actually have someone outside of a walking bank" Daemond hissed. He adjusted his sport jacket. Matilda patted his backside and smiled.
"Dawwwww, you'll find someone. Trust me, if Jotun weren't ten feet tall I'd show you some of my suitors. I believe you'd find quite a few of them attractive." Daemond laughed and hugged Matilda again. They neared the elevator and stopped at the doors. Dag took a step back. Daemond looked at him,
"What's wrong, buddy?"
"I will not go in another one of your blasted washrooms again." Matilda snickered and whispered something in Daemond's ear. Daemond laughed and patted Dag's shoulder.
"Oh, no, this isn't one of those. This is an elevator. It replaces stairs and travels faster." Matilda pressed a button and the doors opened. The three of them entered and Matilda pressed a button with the number '23' on it.
"Top floor. Jenkins penthouse. Daemond, you've been keeping up with this place?" Daemond nodded. He removed his sport jacket to a dark blue v-neck t-shirt.
"Why wouldn't I? I also got rid of any photo of Adrian's. Most of his crap is gone. Not sorry for the bastard at all. He hurt you, Matilda. I'm proud you're moving on." Matilda smiled and pushed Daemond.
"Stop it. I'm grateful that my pent' isn't gonna be dusty like all hell." Daemond chuckled and pushed Matilda back.
"I'm good at cleaning and cookin', remember?"
"I remember plenty well. You taught me how to cook outside of a microwave."
Dag felt left out of the conversation. And what was this 'microwave?' Another form of technology? Midgard has advanced more than Jotunheim and Dag felt ashamed that such small beings could have so much. But he felt Matilda was comfortable with this Daemond character because her tone had changed to that strange accent she had. And Daemond shared this accent. They must've been raised together.
The elevator doors opened to a spacious hall. Posters of various movies hung framed on the wall where intimate photos clearly dominated at one point. Matilda looked at all of them with a nod of approval.
"All of these are signed by the actors. You're good, Daemond." Daemond continued to the double red doors and opened them. Matilda and Dag walked into the spacious penthouse. As soon as they walked in, the kitchen was about thirty feet in front of them. To their right was the enclosed library and finally, the bedrooms. Matilda walked over to her kitchen and to her fridge. She opened it and pulled out a couple cans of soda. She opened a can and offered it to Dag. Dag tasted it and looked into the can.
"What is this liquid? It is bubbly."
"It's called soda. I down this as much as..." Matilda pulled out a container of Advil. She popped the top and spilled the cottle on her counter. She picked up three and downed them with the soda. Daemond took out a bottle of wine from the wine cooler and poured himself a glass. Dag took the pill bottle away and threw it out the window. Matilda held out her hand and the bottle floated back through the open window.
"These are somewhat expensive. you will not waste my candy."
"Tis not candy. Tis narcotics!" He took the pills away again. Matilda whined and took out another bottle. Dag yelled and Daemond laughed.
"Enough, you lovebirds." Daemond took away the bottles of pills and locked them in a safe hidden in the kitchen, "There. No more pills. Happy now, you two?" Matilda clinged to Dag's shirt. She shook her head. Dag nodded and held Matilda. Daemond walked over to a black door and slipped into the darker room. A few minutes later he emerged with a bundle. He gave them to Dag.
"Try these on. You look rather uncomfortable." Dag felt the fabric and looked around. He went to the room with the black door. Once the door was closed Daemond groaned.
"You tryin' to torture him, Matilda? Those pants were far too small. His junk-" Daemond pointed down. Matilda smirked.
"I liked the look on him. Trust me, he wears a leather kilt all day. His job is to unclothe me when I pass out and bathe me when I can't bathe myself. I wouldn't mind seeing him like that once in awhile" Matilda giggled. Daemond pulled on his hair.
"Dammit, Matilda! He's not just yours, you don't have him on a leash!"
"Oh, really? Dag!" Dag poked his head out of the room. Matilda smirked and shook her head. Dag pouted and retreated back into the room. Matilda sneered,
"You jealous? He's mine." Daemond shook his head.
"I'm jealous, alright? You caught me." He put his arms up in surrender. Matilda laughed and tackled him into a hug. Daemond hugged her back. They remained as such until dag reemerged from the room. The pants looked more comfortable on him and he changed into a slightly larger shirt. Matilda squinted at Dag.
"Where'd you get the shirt?" She walked over to him and zipped his fly up. Dag rolled his eyes and adjusted his shirt.
"I searched through the room of which you hold your clothes. I also looked through your wardrobes. You must wear more of those undergarments, many are quite attractive."
Daemond's laughter could be heard from across the room. Matilda's face was red and she held her hands up. She tried to strangle him but Dag's arms were a little farther.
"D-don't go through my drawers again! Understand?!" Dag nodded.
"Will you bring them back to Jotunheim? For your husband?"
"I'll be returning for my wedding dress the day before I marry. I don't need them other...wise..." Matilda squinted up at Dag. She shook her head and turned for the door. A knock came from the door. Daemond smiled and walked over to the door and opened it.
"Oh, Tony! You're here!" Tony Stark walked in. He removed his sunglasses and put them in a pocket of his custom-tailored suit. He shook Daemond's hand.
"Look who's come back. Matilda, you remember-"
"Yes, Daemond. I remember the man who threw me into a building. I also remember he likes scotch." Matilda pointed to the small bar area between the kitchen and living room areas. Dag's stance tensed. The mention of the queen being thrown into a building didn't set up a positive image of this man in his mind.
Tony looked at Dag and approached him. When he got close enough, he patted his shoulder.
"Congrats, Loki. You got a haircut and you're starting to blend in." Dag looked at this Tony character. Matilda pulled out a bottle of scotch and offered it to Tony.
"That's not Loki. That's my guard, Dag..." Tony took a step away from Dag and took the scotch. He popped the stopper and downed half the bottle. He stared at Dag for a long minute. Dag cleared his throat and walked over to Matilda.
"You threw the queen out of a building?" He tried to sound intimidating. Matilda smiled nervously and held Dag's arm.
"B-boys, no fighting now. I didn't come here to fight. I came here to get someone a swimsuit, remember?" She patted Dag's chest. Daemond pulled Tony over to a barstool and sat him down. Matilda sat down next to him as Daemond gave her a glass of her signature cranberry-grape sparkling cider.
"So, Matilda, you're here, from Asgard, for swimsuits?"
"Um, Thor's daddy kicked me out of the land of sunshine. I am in the land of snow and they're going through a heatwave out there. And Dag has sensitive skin so I'm getting him something that won't give him a rash." Dag tried to protest but Matilda's glance silenced him. Afterall, she was still the queen and he was her guard. He knew his place. Matilda finished her glass and walked to the door. She went through a small rack full of keys and picked out one with a neon rainbow. She slipped into her library. Dag followed her and was amazed at the amount of books she had. Every shelf of the small room was stuffed with books. From floor to ceiling was nothing but books. But Matilda was under the desk in the center of the room. She unlocked a medium safe and pulled out a few pieces of paper. Dag looked at the papers. Matilda took them from him and walked through another door. She motioned for him to follow, which he did.
Matilda's room was dark. Heavy curtains covered the windows and glass door to her balcony. Her bed was made and looked as though no one had slept in it in years. She walked into her closet, but when Dag tried to follow her, she stopped.
"No. Bad. Wait..." she turned her back to him. Her bodice was tied in the back and under the metal plating which wrapped around her waist. Dag unlocked the plating and finally loosened the laces to her bodice. Matilda held her hand when it was loose enough. She walked into her closet and closed the door.
Dag felt awkward in her room alone. He started going through her drawers and examining various articles of clothing. He spent the most time in her lingerie drawer and examining each article. As he heard Matilda opening the door he fumbled with one of her undergarments. Matilda opened the door and stared at Dag as he held one of her bras.
"D-D-D...Dag..." Dag quickly put the bra back in the proper drawer and closed it. He stated at Matilda in her black oversized hoodie and green and black rave pants. She pushed him away and opened the drawer, organizing its contents to what they were before.
"F-forgive me, m'am, I-"
"No, no. It's alright. It's..." the darkness couldn't hide her blush. Dag couldn't resist petting her cheek. The warmth almost felt like fire to him. Matilda's warm hand went to his own. She closed her eyes and walked into his embrace. She buried her face into his shirt and groaned.
"It's alright. I...I'll bring some of them home with us when we return." She took a step away from him. Her eyes and cheeks were wet with tears. Dag kneeled down and started to wipe away her tears. Matilda whined and looked to an old photo above the wardrobe. It was of her and another man with red hair. Dag tilted the photo over so it was out of her sight. Matilda looked at him and smiled.
"I am willing to help you with your past, ma'am," Dag started, "if you're willing to allow me. If not-" Matilda silenced him with her hand. She wiped her eye.
"Th-thank you, Dag." She smiled, "I would not know what to do if you weren't one of my suitors." She kissed his nose. He returned the kiss with a kiss to her lips. Matilda huffed in embarrassment then turned to the photo. She took it out of its frame and opened one of the curtains to a glass door. She opened it and walked onto a glass balcony with the photo. Dag followed her and stared when she started to rip the photo apart. She looked at Dag and smiled softly as she held her hand over the banister, releasing the shreds of photo. They blew off into the wind and down onto the city below. Dag smiled at Matilda as she started giggling. They embraced again and finally returned to the boys.
Dag stood with Matilda as she looked through the swimsuits in the store. She had gotten herself about three more suits herself and were now looking for some trunks for Dag. She compared some to him and groaned when they didn't look like they'd fit.
"Dag, I swear. I have your measurements but you're just a little...tall." Dag smiled and glanced over to where Daemond was looking at shirts. He looked just as puzzled trying to decide between a blue and white plaid dress shirt or a red and white dress shirt. Matilda patted Dag's chest and compared a pair of blue and white swim bottoms to Dag. She nodded in approval and added it to her collection of swimsuits.
"You can go to Daemond and the manlier part of the store. I'll be done in a few." Matilda continued collecting swimsuits. Dag nodded and went over to Daemond.
Daemond looked up at Dag and smiled. Daemond was intimidated that Dag was almost seven feet tall. The tales MAtilda told of the other Frost Giants, Dag must've been taller than many of them.
"Matilda sent you over here, huh? Well, that's fine." Daemond watched Matilda as she continued looking through the swim suits and slipped himself and Dag over to the jewelry counter. He started looking around at the more luxurious jewelry. Dag glanced at the necklaces and bracelets in the glass, amazed that Midgardians would have such treasures for sale. Daemond looked up at Dag,
"What do you think would look nice on her? She has changed more in the last year than in the years I knew her in school. You know her more than I do anymore." Dag looked at Daemond and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Do not fear. For she has only faced with and accepted her past. She shall continue to change only because of what duty she has now. And I believe the Sapphire and Ruby necklace would look splendid on her in gold." Daemond smiled and looked at it. He called for one of the sales reps to come over and asked if they had it in gold. They did, so Daemond asked the price.
"It is three thousand two hundred dollars, sir. Is it for your wife?"
"Oh, it's for my friend. We've been friends for forever, and I wanted to spoil her as she's still single. I tried to ask her out a couple times and she denied me, but that hasn't spoiled our friendship." He and the sales rep continued their conversation as they went to the cash register to pay for the necklace in cash. Dag contemplated for a minute. So this man was once one of the queen's potential suitors? No wonder he looked at her with such longing eyes.
Daemond poked Dag's lower back, making him jump. He gave Dag the box with the necklace in it. Dag looked down at the box and back up to Daemond.
"You give it to her. I think that's what she needs right now." Dag followed Daemond out to the front of the store where Matilda was waiting with a bag filled with swimsuits.
"Oh, there you two are. I was waiting for you two." They started down the street together. People were looking at Matilda and Daemond and some were finally recognizing them from the attack on the city that happened only months ago. They ignored the people and Dag kept them at bay simply due to his size. Matilda smiled and tapped Dag's chest.
"See, Daemond? Dag's perfect for everything. Other famous people should rent Frost Giants as body guards. They are perfect." Matilda slipped her hand behind Dag's back and kept it there. Dag put his arm behind Matilda's back and kept it there. Daemond smiled at the pair but felt jealousy boiling at his stomach. It hurt him but he felt so much better that she had found someone she would allow to hold her. They turned down where their car was. Matilda pressed a button on the keychain. Neon blue underglow turned on and the doors lifted up. Matilda couldn't hold back her smile.
"Daemond, I can't believe you're letting me have this" Matilda said as she helped Dag into the back with her. Daemond closed the doors and got into the driver's seat. He started the car up and the cabin was alit with different colors. Dag was startled by the amount of light and held Matilda's hand. Matilda smiled and rested her head on the side of his arm, resting her eyes.
"So I guess you guys have to get back soon" Daemond asked. Dag nodded and the car suddenly sped off into the road. Through several sharp turns then suddenly they stopped. Daemond turned to them and smiled like a madman.
"We're home, you two~" Dag was glued to the seat, shaking and staring forward. Matilda giggled and held Dag's hands as she pried them off of the seat.
"Dag, Daggy-dearest, we're home. You can let go now." Dag looked down at Matilda and freed one of his hands from her grasp. He kissed her forehead and pulled her into his lap. Matilda smirked and turned to Daemond,
"Give us a few minutes, Daemond. We'll be in shortly." Daemond nodded and got out of the car. He poked his head in,
"Don't stain anything, gu-" He was chased out of the car by an ice chunk to his face. Matilda turned to Dag and smirked,
"Oh, I know how to clean them. Besides, no harm in a few kisses, is there?"
The children all surrounded Dag as he stood there in a pair of blue and red swim trunks. They felt the fabric and questioned Dag about how the simple little humans have evolved.
"Well, you see, they have these public shacks you can defecate in, but you need to pay or else everyone will see you. they're disgusting and wet and very cramped." Matilda sat five feet behind him and rolled her eyes. The public restrooms weren't that bad. Another curious child tuned in,
"What was the most engrossing thing there, sir?"
"Ahh, they had these tiny little panes of metal and glass that project moving pictures and emit a sound to go with it. I saw a Midgardian woman proclaiming news of famous people being arrested for doing drugs and then a male came onto the screen and proclaimed it would be sunny and hot for a few days!" The children all gasped in amazement. Matilda chuckled and looked up as one of the children turned to her.
"My queen, do they have those in Asgard? Is Midgard really so advanced?" Matilda saw this as a moment to make Asgard look like a bunch of flying monkeys.
"No, they do not. They are only slightly more advanced than our realm, but only because they do not allow us to me their equal. Midgard has been advancing for the last few centuries due to their discovery of metalworking and incorporating pressurized steam or vapors to move mechanics to create mechanical carriages. In the last century they have figured out how to incorporate tiny electrical impulses to send information long distances and even all across the realm." The rest of the children turned to her and sat around her, wanting to hear more of how the little Midgardians could be more advanced than even the mighty Aesir. Dag chuckled and turned back to the pool, jumping in.
"My lady, what do they do in times of war" another child asked. Matilda took a breath.
"They use a special power that we call gunpower. It is very combustible, and so we were capable of making these things of which contains a narrow barrel where we put a rounded piece of metal in front of the gunpowder. An internal spark explodes the gunpowder and the piece of metal, known as a bullet, is projected out of the barrel. This is what we use to fight and kill, and it's called a gun. My ex fiance actually tried to kill me with one, and I still have the bullet in my neck. But, here..." she whipped her hand around, a small .45 caliber pistol appearing in her hand. She removed the magazine and locked the safety on. The children all took turns holding the gun while their queen explained basic safety,
"You never point it at someone in times of peace. You only take it off of the little lever there-called a safety- when you want to use it." She pulled a bullet out of the magazine and held it up for the children to see. She continued,
"The bullets I used are hollow on the inside. That means they can pierce through almost anything. My job back when I was a mortal demanded that I use such things, though they were illegal. But my job was somewhat illegal." She took the gun from one of the children and loaded the bullet back into the magazine and the magazine into the gun. She unlocked the safety and shot into the air. The children all yelled and ducked to the ground, everyone in the vicinity all looking at Matilda. She stood and loaded another bullet into the gun, the jacket of the bullet spent. Some of the braver children looked up at amazement. One of them spoke,
"If we create such machines, we could take over Asgard!" Matilda looked at the child and smiled. She made a note to bring this one along for her next visit to Midgard.
"No, dearest. Unfortunately these bullets cannot puncture the Aesir skin. Midgards are very fragile things. Bullets cannot even puncture your skin, little one. One day I shall develop a bullet that will harm an Aesir." She regretted her statement. The other children started cheering and jumping into the pool, begging Dag to teach them a new game. He looked to Matilda and nodded. She jumped into the water and climbed onto Dag's shoulders, sitting on them. The other children mimicked with eachother and so they went around in the pool, pushing eachother off.