Chapter 10: Heed My Warning
Thor woke up with a groan and fluttered his eyes open, hoping to see his golden ceiling. To his disappointment, it was basic white, amateur paint strokes overlapping the crack between the ceiling and the wall. The prince slowly recalled the events before Darcy wielded her Midguardian weapon again. He remembered lifting a puny man with dark eyewear over his eyes, gripping him tightly by his collar shirt, ready to strike him. What stopped him was the familiar spark down his spine, paralyzing his limbs and knocking him unconscious.
His thoughts were interrupted by voices. He turned his head to the side and winced at the sunlight blinding his eyes, which he shielded with his forearm.
"Oh good, you're awake!" a childish voice cried joyfully. Thor uncovered his face to see his mini-self sitting criss-cross and facing what looked like a magic box. "For a split second, I thought I hurt you really bad, but Darcy said you would wake up fine and dandy."
"What is that?" Thor questioned curiously, pointing at the screen showing images of an animated man dressed as a bat fighting with some court jester.
"Huh?" AJ followed Thor's direct line, then realized what he meant, "Oh, that's Batman. My favorite show."
"The magic box is a Batman?" Thor pinched his brows at the ludicrous name. He watched the clown squirting acid from his posy, damaging the bat's cape. Thor blinked and parted his mouth at the devilish sorcery. It didn't take long for him to differentiate between the opposing teams. He almost felt guilty for initially believing that the dark knight was the villain. "Where does this take place?" he demanded, bolting up on his feet. "That man requires assistance."
"What?" AJ was astonished that the man didn't understand the entertaining concept of this visual invention. "No. No. No. No, that's a TV. We're watching a show called Batman. A show. This isn't like The Dark Knight movie. This is a cartoon created by talented drawers. It's not happening now... Don't tell me you've never seen a TV before?!"
Thor's face softened in consideration, "I do not have one in my realm."
"You don't have a TV?!"
Thor shook his head.
"Wow, you are missing out!" AJ yanked Thor's arm back, setting him back on the couch, earning a surprise 'oof' in response. "Lucky for you, I know how to fix that," the boy increased the volume. The blondes watched Batman defeat the laughing lunatic and then escort him to an official. Speaking of which, Thor needed to speak with Jane about the trespassers earlier. Their barbaric actions reminded him of the frost giants, how they sneaked into the vault under the Gatekeeper's nose and attempted to steal what was not theirs. However, these people stole Jane's belongings right in front of her. Thor's muscles tensed while his fists clenched in rage at that thought. These Midguardians in black must pay.
"My friend," he addressed his mini-self, rising from the cushion, "as much as I love to stay and watch this magic box with you, I must speak with Lady Jane at once."
"She's up there," AJ pointed at the ceiling, "on the rooftop. Uncle Erik, and Darcy, and Garrett are with her."
Thor bowed his head, "Thank you, Andrew Jackson."
AJ frowned, "Don't call me that. I'm just AJ."
"AJ," Thor tested the name, then nodded after consideration. "I shall try to remember that, my friend." The boy smiled in satisfaction, returning his attention to the cartoon.
Thor found a ladder leading up to a small trap door to the roof. He lifted it open and climbed up to see all four adults sitting outside with their backs facing Thor, their legs hanging off the edge.
He first heard Jane speaking - more like demanding answers.
"Who are these people?" she asked.
"Whoever they are, they're badass in black," Garrett commented. "They got a warrant and everything... at least, the paper looks legit. Should we call a lawyer?"
"I knew this scientist," Erik began his narration. "The pioneer in gamma radiation. S.H.I.E.L.D. showed up and - umm..."
Thor approached the group quietly, listening to the story without being noticed.
"What happened?" Jane asked curiously. "Did they take his life's work, too?"
"Not just that," Erik reluctantly finished his tale. "Nobody has heard from him again." There was a pause. Darcy's jaw dropped while Garrett cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Damn. I stand corrected," Garrett mumbled. "They're shady."
"Which is why we must approach this carefully," Erik warned. "If not, we could be next."
The neighbor tensed at a horrible idea in mind, "You're not going to disappear like that, are you, Jane?"
Jane scoffed, "Of course not."
Garrett sighed with relief, "Good. Because I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you. With you gone, my summer vacation would be a shitty one." He reached back to pat the woman's hand. Jane slanted at the link between them, debating whether to pull away or allow him to comfort her.
"That's... very sweet, Garrett," Jane responded carefully, allowing him to hold her hand for a minute longer. Despite the cheesy niceties and colorful vocabulary, the teen almost sounded more like a lover than a kind neighbor. The fact that Garrett was not much older than her niece made it even more awkward. Little did she know, the eavesdropper watched the physical interaction between the pair intently, creating his own hypothesis.
"They can't do this to us," Jane addressed the group, interlacing her hands between her knees. "We have to do something."
"And we shall!" The four whirled around when Thor finally announced his presence.
"How long have you been standing there?" Erik asked curiously.
"Long enough to know who we are up against," Thor marched his way to the group, acting as their leader. "Trust me. I have fought many battles to understand their kind."
"And what kind of people are they? Pray tell."
Thor let out a laugh, which earned a questionable common reaction.
"What?" Darcy demanded, just as lost as the rest of the group.
"What's so funny?" Jane pressed.
"My friends, can't you see?" Thor continued, still amused. "You have been deceived! These pathetic mortals blinded you from seeing the truth before your very eyes."
"You mean, the check's a fake?" Garrett unfolded the essential paper. "We've been robbed?!"
"No," Erik raised a hand to softly argue his case, only to be interrupted by the outspoken man.
"Afraid so. They call themselves S.H.I.E.L.D.," Thor spat the name as if it tasted bitter in his mouth, "yet none have carried protection to uphold their title. All bark and no bite."
"Uh, dude, did you miss the guns pointing at you?" Darcy reminded him. "I say they're protecting themselves just fine."
Thor snorted, "If that's the case, they should have referred to themselves as G.U.N. instead."
"You mean G.U.N as in The Guardian Units of Nation?" Garrett shook his head, "Nah, man, that's taken."
"No, Sir Garrett," Thor hovered over the teen, narrowing his eyes and speaking lowly in gritted teeth, "G.U.N. as in Give Up Now."
Garrett jerked back from the scary man, tempted to jump off and pray he won't break a leg from trying to escape. Jane's protective arm in front of him prevented the fall from happening.
"T-That's good - very - very original - not taken," Garrett stammered. Thor straightened his posture and stepped back from the boy, who exhaled with relief and embraced Jane's comforting touch on his back.
"Must not blame yourselves, my friends," he addressed the entire group. "This happens more often than you think. Many scared rats scramble for power. Prey on the defenseless by creating illusions of grandeur. It is honestly quite pathetic, really."
"Okay..." Jane nodded as she listened intently, "Let's say you're right." She was oblivious to Erik's contorted stare from the other side. "What can we do about it?"
"As you said, Lady Jane. We must take a stand," Thor raised a fist. "We must take charge!" The group scrunched their brows together, not clearly understanding the man's words.
"Charge what? My iPod?" Darcy wondered. "I don't have it anymore."
"Forget your iPod. I have a plan that will guarantee victory over S.H.I.E.L.D."
The intern scoffed, clearly offended by his dismissively rude remark, "I just downloaded, like, thirty songs onto there."
"It's very simple. Once we locate their land - fifty miles west from here - we tear down their forces and reclaim Jane's items as her own again, as well as my Mjolnir!" Thor experienced deja vu. Instead of expressing enthusiasm, the gang stared at him as if he was insane - just like his friends at home.
"That's your plan?!" Garrett asked in disbelief. "Dear God! Please tell me that you're joking!"
"I'm not a jester, Sir Garrett, nor that clown on Tee-Vee." Some tilted their heads or furrowed their brows at Thor's emphasis on the word as if it was his first time saying it. "I am not only the future King of Asgard but a god of war," Thor said gravely with a stern look. "And when we're done, they'll know better than to cross paths with Lady Jane again."
"What you're speaking, i-it's madness!" Erik cried, triggering a recent memory from Thor.
"Thor, it's madness!" Loki uttered before the battle.
The blonde man shook his head, shoving that horrible flashback from his mind, "It's not mad! It's war!"
"Maybe I can buy another iPod at Radioshack," Darcy grumbled.
"Could you please stop with your iPod?" Jane begged, feeling another migraine flare-up kick in.
Darcy raised her hands defensively, "I'm just saying. They did take Kelsey's phone; you were pretty pissed about that." Judging Jane's creases and narrowed eyes, the intern wasn't wrong.
"It's the only way," Thor insisted, gazing at the leading lady intently for her approval.
"Let me get this straight..." Jane began calmly, standing up to make proper eye contact with Thor. "You think we can just storm inside that camp, have a shooting match with them, and - what? - then we leave with my stuff just like that?! You seriously think it could work?"
Thor didn't pick up the unsupportive edge to her tone, "I do not think. I know."
"I can't use a gun, Thor!" It had been a while since Jane had picked up the weapon. The last time she had target practice was at her father's farm, before he... Jane closed her eyes, forcing the image out of her mind. A hand closed around her shoulder, welcoming her back to reality with opened eyes.
"And you don't need to," Thor assured her. "Trust me. The only way to defeat them is to retrieve my hammer. Their weapons are no match against it."
"Ah, so that's what a mew-mew is!" Darcy declared while mispronouncing the name again.
"What say you, Lady Jane? Are you with me?" Thor dared her once more.
"Thor..." Jane paused to choose her words carefully. She wanted to scream that it was reckless, dangerous, and just plain dumb. How could she tell him without hurting his feelings?
Fortunately, Erik ripped the bandaid for her. He got up from his spot and stomped past him, deflating the hopeful look in the man's eye.
"Erik, where are you going?" Jane asked.
"For a walk!" Erik explained with irritation. "And when I get back, I expect you-" He pointed at Thor, "-gone! You're talking nonsense! Your plan isn't going to work! You want to know why?! It's irrational, suicidal, and-and-and just plain stupid!"
"It's not stupid!" Thor insisted, holding back the pout. "You want your items back, and I need my Mjolner. We must work together to conquer S.H.I.E.L.D!"
"Look," Erik extended a hand, "I'm sorry if they've stolen your little hammer - truly. However, I refuse to participate in a plan that could ruin my reputation or, worse, get us all killed!"
"This is war!"
"No, it's not!" Erik yelled out, causing everyone to jump except for Thor. His face mirrored Erik's, but his glistening eyes showed evidence of hurt. This conversation reminded Thor of his talk with Father; only Odin stated that he wasn't king yet. It may be accurate, but the truth still hurts. Thor could never forget his father's painful words after the battle.
"You're unworthy!" That bold statement was equivalent to a Frost Giant's fist. The heated tension fumed between Thor and Erik. The rest of the group remained silent, watching the two stare intently.
Erik sighed heavily, speaking softly, "This was unfortunate. These people - S.H.I.E.L.D. - they're agents who do what they think is right, even if it seems wrong from our perceptive."
"So you refuse to take action, is that it? Shall you grovel like the coward you are?" Thor pressed in a calm yet malice tone.
"Of course not. My plan is more rational than yours. I have a friend who dealt with these people before. I'm going to email for his help."
"You can't do that," Darcy finally gathered the courage to speak up.
"And why not?!" Erik demanded. "You think his plan is better than mine?!"
"They took your laptop," she explained. There was another long eerie silence. No doubt, Erik was speechless and upset by this revelation.
He shook his head, refusing to let this mishap bring him down, "No matter. I'm going to the library. They have computers that I can use." With that being said, he abandoned the group to do just that. Everyone was quiet, waiting for someone to break the silence.
"Well, that went well," Darcy drawled to lighten the mood.
"Very well. We don't need him!" Thor barked. "We can take down the organization ourselves."
"Pass," Garrett turned his sights back on the town, watching Erik walk across the street.
"Pass?" Thor questioned him. "You are a coward too, Sir Garrett? I thought you had a tall army capable of shooting."
"Baskets!" Garrett added, standing up. "Shooting baskets. I was on a basketball team! Semi-finalists three years in a row."
"Wow. You guys must really stink," Darcy grumbled, earning a glare of Garrett's 'appreciation.' "Then again, you were on the team."
"Sorry, man," Garrett shook his head, ignoring Darcy's insult, "while I don't care what my parents think, especially about Jane." The woman perked a brow at the mention of her. She believed Mrs. Bradley was friendly when she brought peanut butter cookies as a welcome gift to the neighborhood. What exactly did the mother say behind closed doors? "I believe they would kick me out if I got arrested for stealing some stupid hammer... No offense! Sir!" Garrett remembered who he was speaking to, backing away from the roof's edge only to be stopped by Thor's grasp on his shoulder. His muscles tensed, mentally preparing for Thor's brute strength. He winced and squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the weighed pat only for it to disappear.
"I will try not to take it personally, good sir."
Garrett blinked at the brief contact in confusion. The muscular man frowned at the boy's blunt honesty, but his expression toned down to a surprising minimum. He walked away, allowing the teen to relax and breathe again, not realizing he'd been holding it for so long.
"I'm out too," Darcy declared, raising a pinky. "I'm only here for the credits. Once I have those, I'm out of this stupid internship," she smiled innocently at her boss. "No offense, Jane."
Now it was Jane's turn to frown at her intern, "Some taken."
"Lady Jane?" Thor asked with a hint of unease, fearing she'd scold him like the others. "Would you accompany me on this quest?" He couldn't take any more people tearing down his confidence. If she said no, then he must prove them wrong - prove his father wrong. Alone.
Jane was debating whether to do this or not. She wanted her equipment back, but at what cost? She agreed with Erik that Thor's plan was dangerous and illegal. She could get arrested if she dared step inside S.H.I.E.L.D's territory. Even though she wanted revenge on the people who stole from her, she's got a nephew to worry about.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't be involved in that."
Thor sighed heavily but nodded in understanding. At least she had a good excuse, unlike the others. Jane, a godmother, swore to protect the children while the parents were away.
"Very well," he concluded. "I shall gather my belongings and be on my way." For that, he headed for the trapdoor.
"Wait!"
He whirled around, gazing up at Jane with a hopeful look in his eye. Did she change her mind?
The woman opened her mouth, hesitating until she found the words, "I said that I couldn't help you fight S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Aye."
"But... I never said that I wouldn't help you at all," Jane could see his eyes light up like Christmas, making her smile a bit.
"Really?" he asked.
She nodded, "Yeah."
"What?" Garrett stepped in between them, facing Jane as if she were crazy.
Jane ignored Garrett and continued, "You offered me a deal that if I drive you to their location, you'll tell me everything I want to know?"
Thor's lips curled upwards, "Yes, I shall honor my promise to you."
"Fine. I'll drive you there as long as you tell me what really happened to you. Deal?" Jane reached her hand out to Thor, waiting for him to seal the agreement.
Garrett opened his mouth to protest, "Now wait a minute-"
"I shall honor the agreement," Thor reached past Garrett to take the woman's hand. Before he could kiss it again, Jane shook his hand instead.
"Good," she nodded in satisfaction. "First, let's gather some supplies, and then we'll be off."
"Yes, my lady," Thor opened the trapdoor and climbed the ladder back downstairs. Darcy volunteered to help him, climbing back to her feet.
Darcy!" Jane called.
"Sup?" Darcy stopped, much to her dismay. All she needed was a handsome distraction from mourning her iPod.
"I need you to stay and watch AJ for a bit."
Darcy frowned, "Great. First, my van buddy disappears. Next, my iPod gets taken away. Now, I have to babysit again."
"Darcy," Jane pressed.
"Don't worry, Jane. I got you," the intern gave her boss the thumbs-up, accepting the challenge as she joined the golden boys downstairs.
Before Jane could also step towards the ladder, someone pulled her arm back and forced her to face his worry. She commanded Garrett to let go as she yanked her arm back.
"Jane, you can't do this!" he begged.
Jane ignored his protest, "Listen, I know I'm asking a lot, but I need your help."
"My help?" Garrett always followed Jane's orders. Whatever she asked, he would do it in a heartbeat. In this case, after what happened last night and today, he wasn't sure whether or not to oblige. What could be worse than driving toward a twister?
"Yes, I want you to go to the library and keep Erik busy. Try to buy some time for us to leave."
"Us?"
"Yes, me and Thor. Weren't you listening?"
"Oh." First, she made him drive near a twister, then had him pick up a crazy man and give away his pants to him. Now she was about to do something stupid and illegal with the same wild man who deluded himself as a god. Garrett couldn't find a reason not to hesitate.
"Jane, are you out of your freakin' mind?" Garrett demanded.
"Garrett, I already got the speech from Erik. I don't need it from you. It's not like I'm asking you to break into a government facility."
"I rather you didn't go at all!"
"Why are you trying to keep me from finding Kelsey?"
"Hey. Don't think that you're the only one who cares for her. Okay?" Garrett snapped. "That badass agent in black promised us that he would find her-"
"That's not good enough for me! I'm her aunt!"
"Right. If she is found, how do you think Kelsey will react when she finds you behind bars?"
Jane hesitated to reply at first.
"She'll be pissed!" Garrett answered for her.
"I let her down, Garrett! I let her and everybody else down. I can't just sit around and wait for the worst-case scenario to come true. Not again... Not..." Jane sniffled as a teardrop dragged down her cheek.
"Hey," Garrett pulled Jane into his arms, letting her cry on his shoulder. He shushed her and took the opportunity to pet her hair. He was right; her hair was light and soft as a feather. "It's alright, Jane. It's alright. We'll find her. Don't be upset..." He paused, realizing the stupidity of the last bit of his statement, "Who am I kidding? I would be balling my eyes out if my cousin was MIA. Cry - scream - punch me in the face if you need it."
Jane slowed down her breathing and accepted this comfort from Garrett, no matter how awkward it was. Garrett secretly grinned at their embrace - one step closer to a kiss on the cheek.
Thor returned to the roof to check on Jane when he noticed she hadn't followed down with him.
"Is everything alright..." Thor trailed off to catch Jane hugging Garrett. Jane instantly pulled away and faced Thor with a sheepish smile. "...up here?" Thor finished awkwardly, clearing his throat and averting his gaze. "Um, Forgive me, I-"
"Yes," Jane quickly wiped the tears and nodded. "Um... Y-Yeah. Yeah," she tried to sound more confident. "Everything is fine..." she paused to consider the situation. "Well, it will be."
"AJ and Darcy have my supplies ready. Shall we be on our way?" The one-time question determined whether the woman was up to the challenge. Once they drive out of the garage, there's no going back.
Jane nodded, "We shall. I'll be right there."
Thor squinted his eyelids and stared suspiciously at Garrett, who cowered behind Jane, before shifting his gaze back at her. "Very well," he accepted her word with a nod. "It's best we leave now and mustn't waste more time." He returned downstairs, shutting the door above him.
"Right," Jane turned to Garrett, resuming her plea for him to help her. "Please, Garrett. If not for me, do it for Kelsey. Stall Erik for her, please!" She gripped both of Garrett's hands as she begged for his help.
Garrett stared down at her hands over his and couldn't help but shiver at that immediate contact. He wanted to pull her in for a kiss, but his mind told him not to because a lot was at stake with little time to spare. Jane needed help and would do this with or without Garrett's participation. It was a relief to hear that she was only driving Thor to the location, nothing volatile. Whether the Viking was crazy or not, Thor might be telling the truth about having the answers Jane needed. Alien abduction and memory wipe came to mind. All it took was a ride and stalled time.
Garrett eventually huffed in dismay, "Okay. Fine."
Jane grinned excitedly, "Thank you. Thank you, Garrett!" She took Garrett's face in her hands, only to give him a peck on the forehead. "If Kelsey were here, she would probably hug you right now!" Garrett tried to conceal the blush across his cheeks.
"I'm sure she would," his voice cracked, clearing his throat back to normal. "Now I-I need to go."
"Oh!" Jane shook her head and closed her eyes briefly. "Yes! Absolutely!" she motioned him toward the trapdoor. "Please, go! Oh!" She grabbed his arm, realizing one essential detail to address, "one more thing!"
"Yeah?" he wondered.
"If Erik asks, tell him I am handing out missing posters."
"Missing posters. Got it," Garrett pulled the door open, allowing her to go in first to warm up the van.
~000~000~000~
Kelsey felt like she was walking for eternity. She asked many maids where the library was, and they politely told her the way instead of showing her. Kelsey didn't want to intervene with their work, so she tried to find it independently. The downside of that plan was that Kelsey was terrible at directions, and her head injury didn't help the situation. She debated whether the last maid had told her to go left or right. Kelsey was so confused her mind started to spin. Kelsey placed her hands against her head and leaned against the wall, sliding to the ground. She closed her eyes and rested a bit before resuming her mission.
"Are you alright, Madame?"
She opened her eyes and looked up to see a black-haired woman dressed in silver upper body armor, a red skirt that was a little too short for Kelsey's liking, but thankfully, she had black leggings underneath, along with a pair of black boots. Kelsey also noticed the woman had a sword attached to her waist and carried a silver shield. This woman was a soldier.
"Miss?" the woman pressed.
Kelsey's brain clicked, realizing that the woman was speaking to her, "I'm sorry?"
"I was asking if you were alright?"
"Well... for someone who magically appeared in this kingdom," Kelsey began honestly, "and woke up with a scar on her head and no memory of what happened... I'm feeling..." she pursed her lips, struggling to find the proper word, "...decent."
The woman soldier widened her eyes and pointed at her, "You. You must be the mortal. The Midguardian."
Kelsey nodded, "Yes, ma'am, and you must be a goddess." Her eyes wandered back to the sword, "and a soldier, right?"
The goddess nodded, "Indeed, I am. Oh!" She placed her shield on the ground and stepped toward Kelsey. "Forgive me. I did not give you a proper welcome," she extended her arm for Kelsey's. "Welcome to Asgard. I am Sif, goddess of war and protector of this realm."
Kelsey accepted Sif's hand, only to be pulled back to her feet, surprised by the goddess's firm grip.
"I'm Kelsey, just a girl from Earth. And you said your name is..." her eyes squinted in concentration, "Sif?"
Sif nodded, "Yes."
Kelsey paused for a moment to think. Sif? Wasn't her hair supposed to be blonde? And wasn't she supposed to be Thor's wife? Kelsey mentally shook the thoughts away.
'No, Kelsey! Don't mention it. You already know that this mythology is screwed up. Stay quiet and learn... at least try to.'
"My apologies, Miss," Sif uttered sympathetically. "You don't deserve what happened to you that night."
"The truth is I don't remember anything from that night. I just remember going to sleep, and then I woke up here," Kelsey gestured to the halls.
"Perhaps this is a mercy," Sif offered. "I was in the healing room, where you have been kept..." she grimaced at the images in her head, almost reluctant to spare the gruesome details. "You spilled an awful lot of blood."
"Ugh. Don't remind me," Kelsey shivered in disgust, picturing her stained clothes. At least the blood was hers and not someone else's. She inhaled sharply, covering her eyes to prevent intrusive thoughts from reoccurring.
"Forgive me."
"No. No, you're fine," the teen dismissed, lowering her arms. "I'm alive; that's all it matters."
Sif smiled in agreement, "Yes, that is a miraculous thing. I have been told that we ought to keep you here until Eir medically clears you for travel. I do hope your stay in Asgard shall be tolerable - perhaps, enjoyable."
"It was a rough start, I admit," Kelsey ran her fingers through her hair, specifically the scar on her temple, "but I'm sure it'll turn out alright."
"Indeed..." Sif narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she addressed her concern, "What were you doing leaning against the wall like that? Do you require Eir?"
Kelsey shook her head, "No, ma'am. Not really. I'm just lost, that's all."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, you see, I'm looking for someone, and I've been told he would be in the - in the library."
Sif raised a brow at her, "I see. Perhaps, I can escort you there if you like."
Kelsey's eyes brightened with hope. Finally, some real help. "Do you mind?"
Sif shook her head, "Not at all, my lady. Follow me." For that, she took the lead. Kelsey tried to keep up. Not only was Sif strong, but she proved to be a fast walker. Kelsey may have included walking in her workout routine but kept it at a steady pace. Running bases and swimming laps in the pool were two very different things. Gravity increased the difficulty of gaining endurance. Kelsey made a mental note to prioritize more cardio workouts and water intake should she ever return home.
"Um... C-Could you..." Kelsey paused to catch her breath, having trouble keeping up with Sif, "Could you slow down, please?"
Sif didn't oblige to her simple request. Either Sif didn't know how to slow down, or she didn't hear Kelsey. The teen hoped Sif wasn't ignoring her on purpose. She didn't take the news of the king not liking her well. Despite her mortal status, she wanted the whole kingdom of Asgard to like her.
~000~000~000~
Garrett made it to the library and found Erik on his computer. Operation: Stall Erik had begun. Garrett needed to keep Erik from the lab for about fifteen to twenty minutes. The teen had his back turned and covered the side of his face to avoid being seen. Sometimes, he side-glanced at Erik to ensure he was distracted by the computer.
"Can I help you, Sir?" the librarian asked quietly.
Garrett jumped when facing the librarian but quickly recovered. He rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head with a nervous smile, "No, Ma'am. Just looking."
"Well, let me know if you need help."
"I will. Thank you." Once she left, Garrett returned to game-face mode. He removed The Cat in the Hat book from the shelf, using it to shield his identity. He quietly tiptoed his way past Erik but stopped, noticing the outlet for the computers. If the network was down, that should give Jane time to leave with Thor.
For that, he crouched down and set the book down, acting as if he was tying his shoe while subtly reaching for the plug.
Erik had finished a long message to his friend. He was about to click send until the screen turned black. Erik's jaw dropped, stunned by the surprise glitch. He jiggled the switch to turn the screen back on, but it didn't work. He typed random keys on the keyboard, but nothing happened.
"Damn it!" he cursed, receiving shushes from the readers nearby, including the librarian.
~000~000~000~
Darcy settled on the couch, eating a pudding cup, and noticed a kiddie cartoon playing on TV. She assumed this was one of AJ's favorite channels.
"Lame," she muttered, switching channels to Lifetime. Darcy leaned back on the armrest, about to prop her legs across the couch, but suppressed the selfish urge when she pictured Kelsey sitting on the other side with her legs resting on the coffee table and offering a bite out of their shared ice cream carton.
Darcy worked as Jane's intern for a couple of months, then became Kelsey's acquaintance a few days after the kids' arrival. There wasn't much interaction between the girls initially. Darcy worked closely with Jane, while Kelsey alienated herself from the group by computer or the daily walk outside the lab. It wasn't like Kelsey was being rude. She did offer Darcy a choice of which side of the bed she wanted to sleep on. Kelsey was adjusting to the changes and was known to be quiet, especially with strangers.
One day, Darcy was off the clock, watching TV. She wasn't surprised that Kelsey joined her on the couch - free country. What Kelsey set on the coffee table sealed the deal: a carton of chocolate ice cream with two spoons inside and two Coca-cola cans. Chocolate was the best way to win Darcy's heart. It turned out they both had the same mindset on specific things: Nancy Drew was better off with Frank Hardy instead of Ned Nickerson, the predictable outcome in every Lifetime movie, and lastly, the agreement that cheesecake and plain cake were two very different cakes. After that night, they got along just fine, despite their age and personality differences.
Darcy recalled that happy time, almost shedding a tear. She must be tough and optimistic. It's what Kelsey would've wanted, but this was a nightmare.
Darcy shifted upright and reclined her feet on the coffee table instead, only to feel a painful poke against her elbow. She jolted and stuffed her hand around the cushion to investigate the source of her discomfort - AJ's red Nintendo DS. Even when the boy wasn't present, he knew how to make the girl tick.
"AJ!" she stuffed the last bits of pudding in her mouth before abandoning the couch entirely to return the DS and offer the spoiled brat a piece of her mind. "You left your stupid Gameboy here!" She barged inside the RV without knocking, expecting him to lie on the master bed trying to read a comic book instead of finishing his homework, only he wasn't doing either. He wasn't there at all. Darcy suspiciously narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows, furthering her investigation by banging on the bathroom door. No response, not even when Darcy threatened to break down the door herself. She could've sworn the boy was in here.
"AJ?" Darcy felt a panic sweep into her when she couldn't find AJ anywhere. She called his name and searched every inch of the lab to find no one in the garage but her. AJ didn't go to the library with Garrett because Darcy watched Garrett leave alone, and there was no way Jane would allow the kid to tag along with her and Thor.
Unless...
"Shit!" Darcy dreaded the potential loss of her six college credits.
~000~000~000~
"I've never done anything like this before," Jane admitted with a nervous smile while driving. "Have you ever done anything like this before?" she implored him.
"Many times," Thor responded with a sly smirk, "but you are brave to join me, Lady Jane."
"Well, as long as you keep your end of the bargain and I don't go to jail, I'm happy to do it."
"You're clever," Thor complimented her.
"Thank you." His words made Jane's heart swell, gaining color in her cheeks.
"Far more clever than anyone else in this realm," Thor added. The woman's bashfulness quickly disappeared as she questioned the last word from Thor's tongue. A word that no modern being would ever say unless they attended a Renaissance Fair.
"Realm? Realm?" she asked in a disbelief laugh.
"You think me strange?" Thor asked curiously with a small smile.
"Yeah, I do," Jane admitted.
"Good strange or bad strange?" he pressed.
"Good strange!" a childish voice piped behind them. Jane gasped with fright as she and Thor looked over their shoulders to find an adorable blonde, blue-eyed boy in the backseat with a blanket over his head.
"Hi," the stowaway greeted sweetly.
Jane was so shocked; her focus wasn't on the road anymore. The van hit a bump on the street, shaking the vehicle slightly. On his hands and knees, AJ stumbled and held onto a car seat for dear life.
Jane pulled the van over, allowing her primary attention back on her sneaky nephew.
"Andrew Jackson, what the hell are you doing here?!" she demanded. AJ jumped from Jane's stern tone, almost scared to point out that Jane had said the h-word.
"I-I wanna help," AJ pulled himself up on his feet while showing off the innocent puppy pout.
"How did you get in here? Darcy was supposed to be watching you!"
"I heard what you guys were up to, so I sneaked in while Darcy looked for pudding."
Thor laughed heartedly, opposing Jane's scold, "How clever of you!" The boy grinned at Thor's approval, relaxing too soon. "I now see this trait runs in your bloodline, Lady Jane."
"You can't encourage this!" Jane argued. "This is dangerous to involve a little boy."
"It's dangerous and full of risks, yes. I have done worse as a child. With bravery and brains, this boy has the potential to be a soldier one day."
"Really?! Thanks, Thor," AJ reached for a high-five. Thor stared at it blankly, not entirely sure what AJ was doing. AJ lowered his hand and gave him a questionable look, "You don't know how to give a high five?"
"Is that what it is?"
"Duh!" the boy offered his hand again, waiting.
Thor continued to stare at it blankly, "Nothing is happening."
"You have to slap your hand against mine."
"Oh," Thor gave AJ's hand a hard slap. The boy winced, sparks of pain shooting through his arm, shaking it rapidly while making faces. Inspecting his limb for possible injury, his skin was flushed pink.
"I need to turn around," Jane stated. Thor and AJ shouted their protest in unison. "I'm sorry, but this is too dangerous!" Jane explained. "We don't know what's going to happen, and I can't risk you getting hurt, AJ."
"I'll stay out of the way!" AJ promised. "I swear!"
"I can't risk it, AJ. What you did was dangerous! If you tag along and if we all get caught, you will become another sentiment S.H.I.E.L.D. won't mind taking from me. I don't want that to happen. Do you want to be taken away by strangers, do you?!" The boy pouted, averting his eyes briefly on the ground.
"Lady Jane, it is far too late to turn back," Thor pointed out. "If we go back now, your friend Erik will be waiting for us, and we will never have another chance to do this."
Jane sighed, knowing that Thor was right.
"I'll stay out of the way," AJ repeated softly with ambition. "I won't get into trouble. I swear. Please don't go back."
Jane ignited the engine, "AJ, get in your seat."
AJ's face fell in fear, worried that Jane would turn the van around, "Jane?"
"Get in your seat, Andrew Jackson," she pressed with gritted teeth.
AJ obliged. Once he buckled up, he apologized.
"You should be," Jane snapped, putting the vehicle in drive. The man and boy thought Jane was returning the van to the lab. After a momentary delay, she resumed the drive to their destination instead of turning around, surprising the males.
"Yay!" AJ cheered. "Thank you, Jane! Thank you!"
"Enjoy this while you can, Andrew Jackson, because if - when," Jane corrected firmly, "we return to the lab, you're grounded."
AJ hummed in sad acknowledgment, expecting that punishable remark. Then again, Jane forgot to stick his mouth with soap due to the excitement. Maybe this time, she'll forget to take away some privileges.
"While doing my due diligence," Jane addressed the elephant in the van, "how about you keep your end of the bargain and tell who you are? Really? How did you get inside the cloud?"
The formal demi-god smiled, "What you and AJ witnessed that night was not a cloud."
"I figured."
"So, what is it?" AJ asked.
Thor smirked purposely, allowing a pause for suspense, "You'll see soon enough."
AJ frowned. He hated the vague statement. At least Thor didn't reply to the words that AJ loathed to hear - 'You'll understand when you're older.'
Jane was also annoyed by Thor's reply and furiously told him, "You promised me answers!"
Thor glanced at Jane, slightly rattled by her identical expression to his mother's wrath. He scarcely faced the road and hesitantly replied, "What you seek... it's a bridge."
"Like an Einstein-Rosen Bridge?" Jane pressed curiously.
"More like a Rainbow Bridge," Thor corrected.
Jane wasn't sure how to respond to that except to shake her hand and mumble, "God, I hope you're not crazy." It was more to herself than him.
"So you and my sister were on a Rainbow Bridge?" The boy was giddy and didn't hide the excitement in his voice. "Are there any leprechauns and a pot of gold on the other side? Are we gonna be rich?"
Thor's face fell, looking over his shoulder to seek the boy, "Sister?"
AJ nodded, "Yeah. My sister. Kelsey. She got sucked in that cloud when it appeared." He whooshed and waved his arms to reenact the dramatics. "Anyway, she's up there on the bridge, helping herself with that gold, and you're down here with us. I thought you were her..." he added quietly, almost disappointed that the storm didn't switch his sister's gender or he wasn't up there with Kelsey to help count all those coins. "I always wanted a brother."
"Your sister," Thor pressed. "She was inside the Bifrost too?"
"Bifrost? I thought it was a rainbow bridge."
"Yes! That's why we need your help," Jane explained to Thor. "I want to know every detail about it. What happened when you were in there? I know it can't kill you because you're still alive..." She briefly offered a frightened look at another possibility in mind, "Can it?"
Thor debated whether to tell them or not. Kelsey was in the Bifrost when his father banished him. Could it be possible that AJ's sister traveled to Asgard while Thor was stuck here? It's a possibility. Once he wields the hammer, Thor will return to Asgard, bringing Kelsey back to reunite with her family. Knowing Father, he doesn't take kindly to mortals and wouldn't mind kicking her out of the palace. Why didn't the Bi-Frost ignite the second time if that was the case?
~000~000~000~
"Here you are," Sif said, stopping before two large double doors. "The library."
Kelsey was right behind Sif, finally stopping to catch her breath, "Th-Thank you." She hunched over and rested her elbows on her bent knees. Who knew following a goddess could be exhausting? She had little time to embrace the beauty of Asgard's tree. Behind a set of double doors, they were walking through an indoor forest. This place was full of surprises.
"Are you alright, Lady Kelsey?" Sif asked with concern.
"Oh," Kelsey panted, dismissing Sif's question with a wave, "I'm fine. Just... Just catching my breath."
"Maybe you should sit down as you wait for your assignation."
"I should. Do you happen to know where you keep your water supply? I need a drink."
Sif nodded, "Certainly. I shall inform a servant to provide a goblet for you."
Kelsey exhaled breathlessly, "Thank you." Just a little further, then she'll rest. Kelsey straightened her back and stepped towards another set of double doors.
"Hope you do not mind my curiosity, Lady Kelsey, but who is this friend you seek?"
"Well," Kelsey tugged one handle; the door was either stuck or locked. "He's technically not a friend. I never met Loki, officially, but I will once I thank him for saving my life."
Sif widened her eyes, and her mouth became agape, "Loki?"
"Yeah," she pressed her back against the door to face Sif's horrified expression, "Something wrong with that?"
"Lady Kelsey, allow me to be frank. The best thing you could do while you are here is to stay away from Loki."
Kelsey was taken aback by her comment, "Pardon me?"
"Stay away from him," Sif firmly commanded, jabbing a finger in the girl's direction, "Do not trust him. He is a liar and a trickster. He will harm you."
"Okay..." Kelsey drawled in unease. Sif was starting to scare her. "Harm me how? Will he kill me or something? Wouldn't he be in prison or executed if that - that was the case?"
"It is not the physical harm I fear... though I must advise keeping your head covered at all times during your visit." Kelsey couldn't help but protectively place her hands on her scalp as if Loki could sneak up and snip her hair from behind.
"Did he cut your hair?" she wondered.
"I don't wish to speak of it."
"Okay," Kelsey accepted the answer. "Um... While I appreciate your concern, and I will most definitely keep that in mind. I just... I was told he'd saved my life. I just want to thank him, that's all."
"The healers saved you," Sif corrected.
"Yeah, but he was the one who brought me to the healers. I would've lost a lot of blood if it weren't for him. There is nothing wrong with thanking him for it, right?"
Sif hesitated, yet her hatred for the trickster still remained, "Just say your peace and avoid him to the best of your ability. It would be a shame to hear that you have become Loki's latest victim." She cleared her throat and turned away from Kelsey's gaze, "I offer you my apologies, my lady, but I am in a rush. I have training practice in the courtyard with the Warriors Three."
"Warriors Three?" Kelsey asked curiously.
"Yes," Sif confirmed. "Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun. If you want, you are more than welcome to come and watch them submit under my blade."
Kelsey giggled at the idea of a woman knocking down all three men at once, "I would pay to see that."
"Well, you don't need to," Sif assured.
"And it's outside in the courtyard?"
"Yes. Now, I must leave you, Lady Kelsey, as much as I wish to stick around. I shall not forget your request for water."
"Okay. Thank you," Kelsey grasped the handle from the door and pulled it with no budge. She grunted again, having trouble opening the door. Hauling a heavy handle was a difficult task to achieve.
Sif smiled with amusement, "Here. Allow me." The warrior grabbed the handle from the other door and opened it without trouble.
Kelsey rolled her eyes, envious of Sif's strength, 'Show off.' She faked a smile and said out of politeness, "Thank you. It was nice to meet you, Sif."
"The pleasure is mutual, Lady Kelsey. I hope to see you in the courtyard. If you like, I could teach you how to handle a sword."
Kelsey smiled at the generous offer. Self-defense was the most helpful skill to have in any woman's belt. A taser or pepper spray could only do so little. It would stun the attacker, granting a moment for the victim to either fight or flee. Wendy advised her daughter that when it comes to it if Kelsey didn't have a choice...
Kelsey didn't think she could do the unthinkable, no matter how wicked the attacker could be. She prayed not to be in that position. Hopefully, it wouldn't come down to that. A simple kick in the groin or chock til they pass out would do just fine.
"I might just take you up on that offer."
"Excellent," Sif didn't leave quite yet without sparing a few parting words to ensure that Kelsey would understand the situation. "Please, do heed my warning, my lady. Trust me. Loki is... not the right person to associate with."
"I'll keep that in mind," Kelsey promised. Sif frowned, not happy with that reply.
"Lykke til, Kelsey." Before Kelsey could blink, the door shut with a bang.
Kelsey stared ahead where she last saw Sif in deep thought. The warrior's words shook Kelsey up a bit. In the stories, Loki is portrayed as a cunning trickster. However, being clever was different from being evil. Peter Pan was a trickster, yet everyone perpetrated him as the hero. Maybe there was an agenda behind saving her life, but what? Kelsey was just a mortal. There was no selfish gain other than moral points and gratitude. Kelsey shook her head, pushing the thought away. She knew not to judge a book by its cover, including written pages by authors who weren't present at the time.
When examining the royal library, Kelsey had won the bet when she claimed the library was like the one from Beauty and the Beast movie. The room was vast and vintage, just like the rest of the castle and outside. So many books and high shelves. She noticed a fireplace and a couch across the room. She still couldn't get over the enchanted Yggdrasil tree behind the exit door.
"Hello?! Loki?!" Kelsey repeated and explained that she wanted to thank him for his help; no response. She searched the entire library; nobody was around except her. Maybe Loki wasn't here. Maybe Loki was on his way or had left minutes before her arrival. Who knew tracking a person to thank him was difficult? She wasn't at fault for it. The gods were keeping her from seeing him. Was it their plan all along? Frigga would never do that to her son, would she? Kelsey could understand Sif's perspective regarding the haircut prank, agreeing that it was wrong of Loki to do that. Hair takes forever to grow back to a woman's desired length. Sif could only cover the damage with wigs, extensions, or hats. AJ had threatened Kelsey with scissors a couple of times. He told her he could do it when she was sleeping. As far as she was concerned, after weeks of suffering insomnia, it was an empty threat.
Nonetheless, Kelsey stuck around and waited. She didn't know how long she drifted until she looked at the clock - one hour - approximately fifty-two minutes. Kelsey didn't intend to fall asleep but had grown bored from waiting. Loki wasn't coming. Maybe he did arrive but caught her asleep. She didn't know. It didn't matter now. All she could do now was leave and accept Sif's offer to watch her train with the Warrior's Three if she could find the courtyard. First, she must find a bathroom.
She pried a blanket off her and hurried to the door, grunting her attempts to pull the door open but to no avail. She required Hercules's strength. Sadly, Kelsey was trapped here until someone came looking. Hopefully, someone would come before her bladder leaks. Someone was bound to keep the books tidy, for there wasn't a speck of dust on the shelves.
Her train of thought stopped when a chuckle echoed in the room. It caused a sudden chill down her spine, increasing her heart rate. Her body froze in dread, nearly pissed herself. Was this going to be like a reincarnation of Alice meeting the Cheshire Cat? Kelsey didn't want to turn around to see a glowing pair of eyes staring straight at her from the shadows.
Kelsey shivered as the mysterious stranger spoke with an eloquent accent.
"We meet at last..."