Chapter 16: Starlight Siren
Author's Note: Because writing out full-length original songs is extremely difficult, I will often use other songs as the Starlight Siren's songs. As always, I do not own any of it-I am simply doing this in the interest of saving time and headaches later on. The songs belong to their original owners, etc, etc. You get it. On with the fic!
Night fell on New York City. As the sun set and the artificial lights began to flicker on en-masse, Odin and Frigga were awestruck. The King and Queen stood on the top of Stark Tower, joined by Jane and Thor.
"This city's other name is certainly most fitting. Though the sun has set, it is certainly still very much active." Frigga said breathlessly.
"It truly is The City That Never Sleeps." Odin added.
"Yup, and it's honestly a bit crazy for me. I'll live here when S.H.I.E.L.D. needs me to, but Thor and I agreed that New Mexico is much better." Jane said, folding her arms. Odin turned to face his son. Thor just grinned.
"Indeed. I quite like the relaxed, gentle nature there. I know there will be times when I must be a hero, but my Midgardian residence, for the most part, shall be with Jane, there." Thor added. Odin let out a long sigh.
"Truly, she has won your heart. I never thought that any one woman would be enough for you, let alone a Midgardian. But fate is a strange mistress that way, isn't she?" Odin admitted.
"That she is, father. I never would have foreseen it either… but I am most grateful that Jane and I are together." Thor confirmed, pulling Jane close. She responded by leaning against his massive body. His smile only got bigger. It was in this moment of tenderness that Frigga noticed something… or rather, the lack of something.
"Where is Astrid?" She asked.
In the old theater house, there was practically no life. It hadn't been touched in years; having long-since been overshadowed by stages such as Broadway. Not many even remembered it existed. And that's how she liked it.
Because it was still acoustically perfect and its piano was still in place, it was still great for singing in. Even if there wasn't a soul in the audience. If anything, she needed that right now. Even as the Starlight Siren, she was still a living being, but her supposed manager had long-since succumbed to lust and greed. So, she escaped him, knowing he'd get fired for losing her, and fled to the perfect old sanctuary. She didn't see anyone in the dark room as she slipped quietly to the piano, but she wasn't looking either.
She dusted the keys off, coughing a little bit as a pinch hit her nostrils. She placed a desk light onto the old piano, flicking it on. The Siren placed a sheet she'd written onto the sheet holder, and played a few simple chords to get herself up to speed. Once she was ready, she let herself loose.
This life, it's not what it all seems to be
All I want is to be free
But I still have so much I have to do
And so little time left to do it all
You and me, two brothers brought together and torn apart by cruel fate
I don't truly want the throne. All I want is to not be alone.
But you are better, his favorite, and I am alone.
Are you the only one who cares for me,
even though I am a monster?
Please tell me that you care
It might take away some of my despair
You are my brother, no matter what I say
The truth, you know it best. I just want to be loved.
So, please, take me, hold me, night and day
Won't you hold me, always?
You may be an idiot, but you certainly love me
Even though my skin is truly a deep and dark blue
What am I worth to a man as great
and glorious as you?
I don't want to be your shadow, but your equal
You understand, right? You certainly can overlook that?
I know that you have, and you most certainly will, brother.
...Because you like me as me.
Magic and strength, they work. Together, in beautiful harmony.
You know this. So do I, brother.
I'm on the way
The way back home, to you.
Won't you take me back with you?
She finished singing the simple yet mournful melody, ending it with a beautiful minor chord. She had written it not long after the Attack on New York City, having somehow, for a moment, and only a moment, having vivid visions of what what she could only guess was a tormented soul. She couldn't make sense of any of it, but she didn't want to try to.
She pulled out a much more complicated score of music. It was clearly much longer; with many more pages, words, and notes. It was supposed to have other instruments with it as well. She looked at it. She'd written it for the same reason she'd written the previous song, but she hesitated for a moment as she thought back to the Attack.
The man she'd had visions of… he felt so somber, lonely, and regretful. Those feelings in and of themselves were enough to make her remember what she'd seen. But what really set his image into her mind was how familiar his presence felt. It was such a… strange feeling. She couldn't make sense of it. Somehow, she knew him… but at the same time, she couldn't remember his name, and she didn't know his name!
However, soon, she glanced towards her phone, and realized that so much time had already passed. She needed to head back to her apartment and eat. She gathered her music and left the auditorium. As soon as she arrived at her apartment, she saw something left on her floormat. She knelt down, and, upon closer investigation….
She screamed.