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"Good evening, Lord Thor. Welcome," Haruven spoke with a deep bow, receiving a small nod in return, before Thor looked at the other three and nodded at them in greeting, Dean, Sam and Castiel feeling as though they were quickly evaluated by those sky blue eyes.
'Stay calm, Ven.' Urd whispered to her charge and Ven nodded minutely, the small exchange passing unnoticed by the other occupants of the room.
"Ven, is everything alright?" Dean asked and took a step closer to him.
Ven looked at Dean in slight surprise. "Of course it is, Dean." The man looked at him suspiciously, but Ven failed to see that because he turned to Thor again. "Please, take a seat."
Thor gifted Haruven with a small smile and took a small step forward. "Don't mind if I do," he said and passed beside Haruven on his way to the bar, making the bartender catch a whiff of Thor's scent, something undefined and borderline electric.
"Ven." Sam breathed out and grabbed Ven's forearm when the wizard turned after Thor as though he were in a daze, and Ven looked at Sam in confusion, blinking rapidly. "Is that really…"
"Yes," Ven interrupted Sam, covering the hunter's hand with his own, and looked in Sam's eyes with a pleading gaze. "Please, Sam," Haruven spoke quietly, "everything is alright."
"Ven, if that's…"
"Don't do anything," Ven cut Sam off, shooting a pointed glance at Dean and Castiel. "He's not like those gods you've met before." Sam frowned but nodded in reluctant agreement and Haruven gifted him with a smile full of gratefulness before walking away from Sam and rounding the bar, raising his head to look at Thor who offered a small expectant glance with slightly raised eyebrows. "What can I offer to you?" Ven asked and Thor hummed.
"Why don't you surprise me?" Thor said and Ven tensed up a little.
Dean, Sam and Castiel took their seats again, but kept their friend under close watch. Ven seemed slightly out of it. He was jumpy and seemingly nervous; something they have never seen before. They were used to him being calm and collected; completely in control of the situation. This was not the Ven they were used to seeing.
Ven took a deep breath and looked closely at Thor, tilting his head to the side before nodding minutely as though he came to a quick conclusion. He turned around and crouched pulling out a bottle from the bar fridge.
Thor hummed in interest as he watched the bartender at work. When he entered the Café he thought that the man seemed confused and slightly frightened. He could feel Ven's magic shift and twist; almost as though it was begging to be let out.
Thor had to admit that he was slightly worried until his eyes met Ven's. He was worried that the waiter Bruce trusted so much would turn out to be another Loki, but it seemed his fears were unfounded.
That didn't mean he was completely at ease, though; not until he saw the man work.
The initial tenseness eased away and Thor found himself watching a master at work. Ven moved as though he was dancing. His hands stopped shaking and his shoulders relaxed.
Thor couldn't stop himself from taking Ven in. He couldn't help but notice the subtle flexing of muscles under the tight soft material of the black turtleneck and pants. His fingers twitched with the need to touch those long black tresses to see if they were as soft as they seemed at sight.
He was honestly confused with his thoughts, but he couldn't find it in himself to stop them. Haruven Sigurdsson was a beautiful man; there was no sense in denying it.
"I hope you find this to your liking."
Thor looked at the tall glass Ven placed in front of him. The drink was unearthly. It looked like a space nebula trapped within the glass. Thor took it in his hand and took a sniff. His eyebrow twitched at the interesting scent; a heady combination of different plants, alcohol and some sort of fruit. Unable to define it, Thor simply licked his lips and took a sip.
Ven barely stopped himself from biting into his bottom lip and shifting his weight nervously. His heart was beating quickly in his chest, almost as though it wanted to fly out of it. He held his breath as Thor took a sip of the drink and halted, and Haruven thought - for the first time in a long, long while - that he would faint.
Thor's eyes widened when the rich aroma of the drink prepared especially for him filled his mouth and enchanted his senses. It burned down his throat making him aware of every single shift in the air, as though he was quite suddenly awakened on an entirely different level existence. His heartbeat quickened and warmth spread through his body, settling deep in his stomach and sending steady waves of heat through every atom of his being.
"This is excellent!" Thor murmured, looking at the strange drink filling his glass, and Ven sighed in relief, unable to conceal it in time.
"I'm glad you like it," he said, taking a firm hold of the edge of the bar in a weak attempt to stop his hands from trembling.
"I can't describe it," Thor murmured as he licked his lips and circled the glass, watching the liquid swirl around slowly. "I can only say that I might have found my new favorite drink."
Ven's lips tilted up into a smile and his shoulders sagged a bit, his heartbeat finally slowing down as calmness settled over his mind.
Dean, Sam and Castiel exchanged relieved glances, completely unnoticed by Ven and Thor. It seemed everything would be alright.
"Ven, we're gonna go now," Dean called out, the three standing up, and Ven walked around the bar to see them out, doing his best as not to appear as though he was running away.
"We'll come again tomorrow," Sam whispered when he wrapped his arms around the bartender in a hug to conceal the words he spoke to Ven.
"Everything's alright, Sam," Haruven murmured and let go of the younger man before turning to Dean who approached Ven, not even trying to conceal the distrusting glance he threw in Thor's direction before addressing Haruven.
"You have my number if you need us," Dean spoke lowly and Ven smiled at him calmly although his eyes were glowing with gratefulness.
"Don't worry," he assured the hunter. "Keep me informed of the success of your new hunt. Good luck," he said and the three nodded.
Thor observed the whole exchange through the mirror behind the bar. He took in everything, from the way Ven relaxed among them to the way the three were observing the bartender, trying to find any possible trace of Haruven's earlier discomfort.
Once they were gone Ven took a deep breath, quickly gathered the dirty cups and glasses and carried them to the sink in the bar. Thor took another sip of his drink while Ven washed the glasses and cups, almost pointedly trying not to meet Thor's interested gaze.
"What is the name of this drink?" Thor asked making Ven hop in his place, raising his head and looking at Thor as though he had forgotten the Norse God was there.
"I'm sorry, what?" he blushed furiously and Thor raised an eyebrow shooting a pointed glance at his glass.
"What is the name of this drink?" he repeated the question.
"Oh!" Haruven's blush grew brighter before he cleared his throat and went back to the dishes, grabbing a dry towel to polish them. "In all honesty I don't know. I have yet to name it." Thor raised an eyebrow at that. "This is the first time I made that drink."
Thor looked at the amazing liquid he had tasted for the first time. If there was any truth in legends of heavenly ambrosia Thor believed that he had found it in this small Café made out of wood and magic. "Really now," he muttered in a low, raspy voice and Haruven shivered, something in his guts clenching.
'Easy, my sweet. He isn't here to hurt you. He was merely curious.' Urd comforted him and Haruven took a deep breath, placing one of the glasses in its proper place.
'I know, Urd. That doesn't make it any easier to be this close to him.' He answered, not seeing that Thor had noticed the moment Ven's eyes dulled as his attention focused on his conversation with Urd.
"Is everything alright?" he asked and Ven's eyes cleared quickly as he turned to face Thor.
"Yes, of course!" he said and offered a smile to the God of Thunder.
"Why don't you make yourself a drink and join me. You have no other guests and my comrades speak highly of you. I would like to get to know you better." Thor asked and Haruven froze in his place, lips parted and eyes wide, drawing a smirk on Thor's lips. "Well?"
Haruven snapped out of the shocked state, struggling to stop the blood from rushing to his face yet again. "Gladly, my Lord."
"Please…" Ven looked up in surprise and a shiver passed down his spine when the God of Thunder smiled at him lightly. "There is no need for formalities. You may call me Thor."
"Then please call me Ven, my L - Thor." He quickly corrected himself and Thor chuckled.
In a wane attempt to distract himself and give himself some time to calm down, Ven started preparing his tea, doing his best to steady his breathing and heartbeat.
Thor raised an eyebrow in interest when a small bottle all but slipped from Ven's sleeve. It was a small crystal bottle and Ven added only two drops of a mercury-like liquid in his tea before the bottle disappeared again, and Haruven added a teaspoon of sugar into the tea, stirring it slowly.
"May I inquire as to what that is?" Thor asked as Ven took a seat beside him at the bar.
"This?" Ven asked and raised his hand holding the small bottle with his index finger and thumb. "This is willingly given Unicorn blood." The bottle vanished again and Thor frowned.
"Unicorn blood? Do you desire immortality?"
"It was willingly given, my Lord." Thor shot him a small glare and Ven blushed. "Forgive me, Thor." The God of Thunder nodded for Ven to continue and the Wizard breathed a bit lighter. "Do you think the Unicorn would have given me his blood willingly had I needed it for such a cause?"
"Is it rude of me to ask what you need it for then?" Ven shook his head.
"No," he said. "I need it because of my… condition," he admitted reluctantly, and Thor leaned a bit closer.
"Condition?" he inquired and Ven nodded, licking dry lips.
"Yes. It helps me build up shields to keep my magic at bay."
Thor frowned in confusion. "Why would you need to confine your magic? Do you not wish to use it? Are you not happy you were gifted with it?" He asked. Thor remembered how happy Loki was when he realized he was able to use magic in a way Thor couldn't. 'It seems Haruven is very, very different in comparison to my brother.'
"Don't misunderstand me..." Ven hesitated, weighing his words. "I am happy I was gifted with magic. I only wish I was gifted with less magic."
The Norse God frowned as he took Haruven in. He could feel the magic coursing under Ven's skin. He never felt anything like that before. His Father and Mother were both powerful, but he dared say that Ven could take them both on. "You are a peculiar being, Ven," he said after a few long moments and Haruven looked at him with a confused countenance.
"How do you mean that?"
"Instead of using your magic for your own desires as most would do, you confine it even though it obviously brings you harm and spend your days taking care of various guests. I have read your files; you are considered a hero and yet no one knows about you. Do you not wish fame and glory? Do you not wish to protect this world?"
Ven bowed his head, biting into his bottom lip as he searched for the right words to say. "You say that you have read my file," he started and looked at Thor, gazing deep into those sky blue eyes. "I fought since I was a child. I was thrown into countless battles. I did horrible, horrible things with my magic, all for the sake of this world and protecting those I cherished. I lost many whom I considered family. I wish nothing less than to stay like this, but if something happens I will stand and fight, although I hope such a need never arises." He spoke honestly and Thor nodded in understanding.
"So you consider this…"
"Redemption." Ven interrupted Thor and looked in the man's stormy blue eyes. "I took many lives. Ever since I opened this Café I believe I helped a lot of people find peace and comfort; or at least I tried. I am happy like this."
Thor hummed. "Happy or just content?" he questioned and Haruven recoiled slightly.
'How did he…'
'He is a God, my sweet. Did you forget that we can see the hearts of humans? You are not a normal human anymore, but you are human never the less.' Urd explained, although it didn't exactly help.
"Haruven?"
"I-I don't know," Ven stuttered out and Thor nodded minutely.
"You are an interesting man, Haruven. I must say that I understand what attracted my comrades to this Café." He said and looked around. Ven's heart skipped a beat when Thor looked up and frowned.
'Urd, can he…-'
"You have interesting enchantments on this Café." Thor spoke before Ven could finish his question and looked at Ven with a small smirk.
The bartender cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "You can see it," he concluded and Thor laughed quietly before he stood, walking over to the middle of the Café standing directly under the mirror on the ceiling. He turned around in his place, reading the runes around it, and Haruven stood up as well, watching the God of Thunder taking everything in.
"I studied magic with my brother even though I couldn't use it." Thor spoke up while Ven crossed his arms over his chest. "I have never seen anything like this though."
The bartender nodded slowly and shifted his weight. "That is because I created this spell."
"Ah..." Thor nodded in understanding. "I assume that the runic lines spreading towards East, West, North and South are summoning spells, am I correct?"
"Yes and no." Ven said and looked up. "In a way they do summon people here, but they also serve as repelling spells. I didn't want trouble. The only people who are summoned to find this Café are those looking for something, be it peace and quiet, council, a shelter or a hide out. I've had many guests. These walls have heard a lot of stories."
Thor hummed and watched as Ven's eyes filled with memories. "These walls; or you?"
Ven looked at Thor and tilted his head to the side, and Thor felt something play in his chest. Something he hadn't felt since his time with Jane.
"I heard a lot of stories," Ven admitted. "And I kept each story in my heart."
Thor nodded and unconsciously took a step closer to Ven. Ven had to tilt his head back to be able to keep eye-contact with the taller, physically stronger man, and both shivered when a warm wind danced around them, although neither noticed too taken by one another to actually think.
"You have a good heart then, Haruven." Thor spoke. "I was wrong to doubt you, but-…"
"Your brother…" Haruven nodded in understanding. "I am sorry about how things transpired between you two."
Thor hummed and swallowed, feeling something undefined come over him. His hand moved on impulse and Ven's breath hitched in his throat when Thor took a strand of hair between his fingers that escaped Haruven's ponytail.
"It is softer than I thought it would be," Thor murmured and Ven shivered when he realized that they were standing hardly a breath away from each other.
Thor looked in Ven's enchanting emerald eyes and a wave of warmth passed down his spine. "You are an interesting man, Haruven Sigurdsson There is something in you; something strange and yet very, very familiar." Thor spoke in a low, reverberating voice and Haruven's mouth dried as he stared into those sky blue eyes quickly darkening into a stormy silver.
Their lips were about to touch when the moment was broken by a loud beeping sound. The two all but jumped away from each other, and while Thor took the cell phone Bruce gave him out of his back pocket and answered the call Ven turned his back on Thor, eyes wide and full of horror as he covered his lips with his right hand, left arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
'What was going on?' He thought in wonder and shock. His heart was beating loudly in his ears and his magic was bursting at the seams almost angrily.
'Breathe, Ven!' Urd shouted in his mind when Ven almost started to hyperventilate. 'Calm down! Your magic will burst again!'
"Is something wrong?"
The frenzy of his shields collapsing again suddenly vanished and Ven concentrated on Thor's voice, turning around to look at the Thunder God, doing his best to appear calm.
"Agent Fury has arrived," Thor spoke into the speaker, "very well. I shall return immediately." Thor said and ended the conversation. He looked at Ven and silence settled between the two of them. "I must go," Thor said although his eyes and his stance told Ven that he was aware of what almost happened.
"I hope everything's alright," Ven spoke in a raspy voice. He wrapped his arms around his stomach and Thor's eyebrows narrowed. He barely stopped himself from reaching out for the slightly smaller man, shaking his head to relieve himself off those strange feelings, but failed in doing so.
"What attracts me so to you?" he wondered aloud, and Ven's eyes widened making Thor realize that he had actually voiced his thoughts.
"I don't know," Ven spoke and winced at the blatant lie.
"I shall return as soon as possible," Thor said, leaving no room for arguments. "We must discuss this."
Ven took a small step back but nodded minutely. "As you wish."
Thor found it difficult to move towards the door. He turned and looked at Ven when he took a hold of the doorknob, taking in the lithe, black dressed form, a small smile tugging on his lips. "It was a pleasure to meet you," he said, and Ven's eyes widened in surprise for a second before a small smile tilted his lips.
"The pleasure was mine."
Thor nodded, opened the door and stepped out. "Fare well," he said and the door closed.
The moment he was alone Ven sagged to the floor. His breathing was quick and shallow, and he fisted his right hand over his heart, crumpling his shirt in his fist. He shivered when warm hands cupped his cheeks pushing his head up, but the force of his magic slamming against the shields around his mind made it almost impossible for him to move.
'Ven, look at me.' Urd ordered. Her voice was full of worry, but Ven couldn't calm down. His magic was running rampant and Urd's eyes widened when she saw the fire, in the fireplaces burning harder and the glasses on the shelves starting to vibrate. 'Ven, please. You must calm down!'
"I can't!" He gasped breathlessly. He felt Urd wrap her arms around his shoulders, and rest her forehead against the crown of his head. Her transparent form materialized as she chanted something in the Ancient language. Ven's eyes started to close as he felt the magic that was escaping his shield slowly trail out of him. "Urd, don't…"
"Hush, my sweet. Allow me to help you." She whispered, her voice echoing through the empty room. Ven opened his eyes and looked at Urd's lap. Her form was becoming increasingly solid.
"Someone could…"
"I don't care, my sweet. Please, you never allowed me to help you ease your pain. Just once allow me to help you" she whispered imploringly. Ven sighed and closed his eyes, before moving forward and resting his forehead on Urd's left shoulders, slowly raising his hands and placing them on her thin waist, fingers tangling in the long strands of her misty hair.
"Thank you, my lovely Urd," he whispered and felt her hug him tightly. "Thank you."
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Poor Haruven. What is going on with his magic? Why is it so volatile? Could Thor have something to do with it? Or is the fact that Haruven has spent too much time hiding who he really is to blame?
Maybe you'll find out in the next chapter called: 'Quiet Suffering'