The trio was heading to the hospital, Darcy driving of course, when Selvig had them stop in front of a library.
"I'll be just a minute." He promised as he climbed out. Darcy rhythmically tapped out a beat on the steering wheel as she and Jane waited, when something caught the smaller brunette's eye.
"Is that Thor?" Following Jane's gaze, Darcy watched as Thor- when did they discharge him anyways? - enter a Pet Store? Meredith should've called me, Darcy thought.
"Park closer to that store." Jane ordered as she left the RV, she paused for a moment. "Make sure Erik doesn't take too long." When Darcy nodded, she headed toward the Pet Store.
"HEY!" Jane called out to the handsome man she ran over the day before. Not hearing her, Thor entered the pet store. Jane huffed and ran into the store only to see Thor approach a man, more like a teenaged kid, who was manning the counter.
The kid looked up from his magazine and droned out. "Welcome to Smith's Paws and Claws pet store, how may I help you?"
"I am in need of a horse." Thor regally demanded as he looked around the humble pet shop. The kid swallowed as Thor glared at him.
"S-sorry, we don't sell horses." He then pointed to the caged animals. "Just dogs, cats, and birds."
"Then give me one of those large enough to ride." Thor said happily. He eyed the dog with the golden coat and crouched down to pet it. The clerk looked confused.
"Sorry dude, we don't have any animals that come in that size." The clerk said apologetically. Thor patted the kid in a comfortably manner. The kid winced. Jane, happy that Thor didn't cause any trouble and ignored by both males, exited the store to find Darcy gone from the RV.
"Where did she go?" Jane whispered to herself.
"My thanks," PAT PAT, "I wish you luck in your search for a capable steed." Thor said before he left the store, leaving behind any increasingly confused teenager.
"HEY!" Jane called out again and honked the horn of her RV. Thor turned around to find the source of the horrible sound. Thor found Jane across the street in that strange metal carrier of hers.
"You need a ride?" A car door opened before Thor.
"Thank you, Lady Jane." Thor replied as he got in the car. The two left, conveniently forgetting Dr. Selvig and Darcy.
Minutes pass by and the sky grows progressively darker. Biting her bottom lip, Darcy looks up and sees the skylight up ominously. Storm clouds rolled through the dessert sky.
An uneasy feeling curled in her, goose bumps rose from her flesh. She shivered though she didn't know why. Her instincts as a state were telling her to go go go. Maybe it was because she wasn't in her own territory. Maybe her powers weren't as strong here in New Mexico than back home.
Hearing the loud CRACK of thunder, Darcy made the logical decision, she did not repeat not run out of the RV like Rhode Island, to get Selvig from the library.
The library was small and filled to the brim with children and two weary librarians.
"Can I help you dear?" One kindly asked Darcy, as the other was busy reading to a group of children.
"No, thank you." Darcy said politely as she scanned the room from Selvig. Ah hah! Wait…why was he in the children section? Better yet, why was he sitting in a circle with the children listening half-heartedly to the librarian read a story?
"The Secret History of Giants." The librarian dramatically gasped out. The group of kids giggled at the funny voice. The librarian made goofy expressions at the kids before continuing their reading.
"And though they're large, giants can be quiet. You have to listen carefully for the sound of their footsteps - because they may be closer than you think."
With a borrowed laptop on his lap, Selvig finished up his email to the old colleague of his. Right beside him, a kid flipped through a book with mild interest, not listening to the librarian finish the story.
"The giants are capable-" The librarian stopped as they noticed the kid wasn't paying attention. They called to the kid with a sweet voice.
"Eren, please pay attention." The kid reluctantly put the book down. He scooted closer to the other kids, and clutched the hands of a little blonde boy and a little Asian girl. The librarian nodded with approval. They started up the story once more.
Done with the laptop, Selvig looked down to see the book that the child had placed near him. He glanced at the title of the book, and was immediately interested. "Myths and Legends From Around the World." He picked it up, and flipped through it. He paused as he found a chapter on Scandinavian Mythology. Eager to see, some of his childhood stories, Selvig turned the pages til he found a picture. It had a rainbow bridge coming down from what he knew was suppose to be Asgard. The bridge connected that world to earth. There were 3 figures that were on the bridge. Asgardians, his mind supplied helpfully. One was an elderly man, who had a golden eye patch, Odin Allfather. The other had a helmet that had horns on it, Loki Silvertongue. And lastly, a tall golden haired man who wielded Mjolnir, Thor. Bellow the bridge, a group of Vikings knelt reverently. Others were offering the Asgardings cups, gold, and a maiden.
Selvig eyed the picture, and gears were rapidly turning in his head. Could be it? He stood up, grabbed the book and moved. He noticed Jane's intern staring at him. She had her arms crossed and leaned against the check out counter.
"Darcy!" Selvig called out. He moved rather gracefully for an older man, dodging a wayward child here and there.
"S'up dude." Darcy lazily greeted, throwing up a peace sign just to see Selvig react. Older people tend to bristle when she does that. Like, Virigina hates it. Uptight biddy. She pouted when Selvig didn't do anything but roll his eyes.
"I assume Jane told you to come get me?" Selvig placed the book he held in his hand onto the counter for the librarian to check out. They both wished the librarian a nice and walked out.
"Yup." With the book in hand, the two went outside only to find the RV missing.
"Did you lock the car?" Selvig squinted at Darcy.
"Of course I did." She rolled her eyes. They may have been living in a small town, but even she wasn't that trusting. Besides it's not her car.
"Then why is it gone?" He scowled at her. Darcy's eyebrow twitched.
"Jane must have taken it."
"How if you have the keys?" Okay, the state's patient was starting to wear thin. How the hell was she supposed to know how Jane got the car?
"Jane probably has a copy of her keys." Darcy said with a sharp smile, fighting the urge to bare her teeth at him. Her irritation with the scientist's attitude was starting to grow by the day.
"How are we supposed to get to the lab?"
Not answering him, Darcy pushed past Selvig and reentered the now, almost, vacant library.
"Do you have a phone Miss?" Startled, the librarian looked around before pointing to herself as if to say, 'who me?'
"Oh," The librarian brushed off her knees and picked up the books that had piled on the floor. She gathered them and placed them on a table. Satisfied, she walked to behind a counter and pulled out a wireless phone.
"Press 1 and then enter your phone number."
Grabbing the phone, Darcy wordlessly thanked the woman before dialing a familiar number.
"Get in the car, loser." A busty, dark skinned brunette said to Selvig and Darcy. Confused, Selvig was pushed in the car as Darcy confronted the woman.
"What took you so long?" Darcy whined. She hopped into front seat, and glanced back at Selvig, who looked as lost as a puppy. Sure an old, wrinkly puppy but a puppy nonetheless.
"I had to get off my shift. Besides I'm not the one who lost her phone." New Mexico scowled. Her scowl softened as she turned to Selvig.
"Selvig, this is Meredith. Meredith, this is Dr. Erik Selvig." She pointed to her sister state then to her boss' mentor.
"A pleasure." Selvig offered his hand, which Meredith took. Thankfully, the car was still parked, so it didn't cause any distractions.
The drive was filled with silence between the two states and the scientist. And unfortunately the radio wasn't working which earned Meredith a glare. Selvig broke the silence when he couldn't take the shared speculative looks between the two women.
"Where are we going, if I may ask?" Meredith's dark gaze rested on Darcy before flitting to Selvig's. Her jaw clenched as she looked away from the road to look at Selvig. Hands firmly on the wheel, Meredith ignored Selvig's rapidly paling face to answer him.
"Well, since Darcy filled me in on what is going on and I have some business to attend to, I'm going to take you both to my home." The scientist nodded, satisfied New Mexico directed her eyes back to the road, not that she needed to. Selvig sighed in relief, not that either states noticed or cared.
New Mexico knew Puente Antiguo like the back of her hand. It was one of the many cities that thrummed beneath her skin. She could feel the streets of her state running through her veins. One of the few perks of being a state personification. New Mexico eyed her sister noting that South Dakota was unusually silent.
Are you ok? She mentally asked Darcy as they crept closer to one of the many homes New Mexico had.
I'm fine. Darcy mouthed at her as Meredith parked the car. Meredith tossed Darcy one of the spare keys she always kept on her person. The older state caught the key without sparing a glance at her younger sister.
"Come on, Erik." Darcy said gently. The ride was fine for both the sister states but apparently not for Selvig. The scientist was one shade of green away from vomiting all over the place. He was tightly clenching his seat belt, knuckles white and creaking.
"Sorry." Meredith cringed. Once again, she had forgotten just how delicate humans were. No doubt if one of the older states were here, New Mexico would get a thorough ass chewing. Its not she's aware that she drives faster than the speed of light. Plus, none of her police ever stop her. Oh the perks of being a state.
Selvig grunted but waved away her apology. He grasped Darcy's hand and hauled himself out of the car.
"Next time I drive." Darcy warned as she helped Selvig settle on the front steps of Meredith's cozy little home. Selvig placed his head between his knees and took several deep breaths. Amused, Darcy waved at her sister as Meredith literally burned rubber in an attempt to hurry away. The tires screeched and gravel was tossed as New Mexico sped away.
Darcy sighed and hoped that New Mexico would deal with whoever was in charge of the raiding of Jane's lab. She pulled Selvig up.
"Come on, Erik." Darcy unlocked the door. "Let's go inside." She walked inside. And lemma make a few phone calls, she thought as she entered her sister's house for the first time ever.