I am sincerely sorry to those of you who wait for these chapters to come out. I'm sorry that I have such a busy life and that I'm not able to devote as much time as I should to my stories (and that wasn't even sarcastic). Honestly, if I could, I'd just take time to write this every day… But seeing as how I have school… Forgive me! Dx

Nakitakunaruno, Dakishimetainoni

Chapter 2

"Oh Heimdall, don't be silly! Of course you remember me," Skadi smiled, brushing gently past him and setting her things down on a nearby end table. She turned to face him once more, and from the blank but somewhat displeased tone in his burgundy eye, she concluded that he in fact did not remember her at all.

"…You don't? Well, I guess I'm not surprised. The last time we saw each other was in Aegir's Hall, after all." She shrugged. "It's me, Skadi!"

"…Oh."

There was a slight pause as Skadi, knowing nothing else to say at the moment, glanced around the room, taking in her surroundings carefully. She and Heimdall remained in a discomforting silence for a few moments whilst the room was being inspected.

"Yes, this place will do nicely."

"Nicely for what?"

"My home, of course."

"Home?" Heimdall inquired incredulously.

"Yes."

"And who gave you permission to live here?" He was appalled at the lack of reason from his old acquaintance.

"Our Lord Odin," Skadi murmured, closing her eyes in a solemn manner for a few moments. Heimdall grew quiet and there was another reticence, this much more tense than the last, for it was fueled by wordlessness.

"I… don't have any bags to bring inside, so we won't have to worry about that. Where's Freyr?"

"Out."

Skadi gave her uncooperative company a 'well, no shit' look.

"I gathered as much. Are you in a bad mood or something? I seem to remember you being slightly less stubborn."

Heimdall merely frowned and turned his head in a different direction.

"What, your plans failed? Again? Freyr picked up the wrong kind of orange juice? He bought too much orange juice? Not enough money to pay the rent? Oh wait, I know. Loki was picking on you again, wasn't he?" Skadi (and just about anyone else) could tell that he was becoming rapidly more irritated with every question. "Well, don't worry, Heim. I'll be here to protect you from—"

"Would you stop being so childish?!" Heimdall's temper reached the breaking point. "I'm annoyed because you have to stay here and the last thing we need is another person to pay for!"

Silence.

"Oh Heimdall, you're so cold! And even after I risked my life to bring you all this delicious food!"

"I hardly believe you risked your life."

"I did! I had to run all the way across town! Isn't that right, Kogata?" Skadi asked, casting her eyes upon the kitten at her feet. She clearly hoped to be vindicated by the small animal.

"Miaou," it whined, the cat's equivalent of "Feed me, damnit!".

Heimdall looked skeptically at the kitten. "You know, this apartment complex doesn't allow pets."

"Well, what about you, Mr. I-own-a-bird-of-prey-without-a-license-and-therefore-illegally?"

"…Well met."

"Thank you." Skadi smiled.

I know this was hella short, but I like it as it is, and plus I feel like I've got to put SOMETHING up on FF so I'm not slacking off too much… I'll try to have the next chapter up much, much sooner.