Worthy

Part 7 - What Was That Supposed To Be?

*FLASHBACK - 5 years ago*

It had been a few weeks since Thor had first arrived on Earth. The hammer was still planted in the New Mexico desert, nothing and no one able to move it. Thor had grown accustomed to his time in this realm, not quite fitting into a 'normal' life, but adjusting well nonetheless. After rigorous questioning by Fury, you had managed to convince him that Thor was not a threat; if anything he was an ally. His knowledge of the nine realms had given Fury food for thought, which was enough to convince him to let you go back to New York: Thor coming along too.

Not wanting to abandon him to the chaos that was New York, you had allowed Thor to temporarily move into your apartment; until such time as they could find somewhere more suitable for him. The god of thunder didn't mind crashing on your couch, even it was two sizes too small for him. You had jumped straight back into work; currently working from Stark Tower, coordinating a small team of SHIELD agents as they merged with Stark Industries.

After a particularly long day, you arrive back to your building to be met with a strange smell; as you get closer to your front door, the smoke alarm in your apartment goes off. Bursting through the door, the smell hits you in the face as you make your way back to the kitchen; barely able to see Thor's giant frame as its engulfed in smoke. You rush over and open a window, wafting the smoke out with a towel, whilst covering your mouth. "Kate, I'm sorry," Thor coughs beside you as the smoke eventually clears.

You walk over to the cooker, turning it off and grabbing the now blackened pot from the hob; looking in and seeing the charred mess that's inside. "What was that supposed to be?"

Thor looks embarrassed, as he meets your eye. "Well, it was supposed to be your favourite, erm...the eggs." He closes his eyes, trying to remember the word. "Scramby eggs!" He clicks his fingers and points at you, smiling proudly.

"Scramby eggs?" You question, biting your lip to stop yourself from laughing.

"Yes?" He mimics whisking, making it harder to keep the laughter in. "Your friend Stark said they were a favourite of yours and even my limited Midgard cooking skills should suffice." He then points to the pot in your hands. "Well should have sufficed." He gives a nervous chuckle. You can't meet his eye as you throw the pot in the sink; struggling to keep your laughter in. "Stark got me again, didn't he?"

You couldn't hold the laughter in anymore as you remember all the times Tony had wound him up about Earth customs. The best one had been when you were trying to explain Christmas to him; Tony had skipped the traditional stories, telling Thor that Santa Claus was a predator that liked to break into people's houses, watching them sleep and stealing their food. Thor had been enamoured by the story; albeit he was slightly drunk at the time. "With or without my mighty Mjolnir, no man nor beast shall enter your chambers while I'm around Kate!" He had reassured you with a straight face; which of course only encouraged Tony.

"I did warn you about believing every word he said," you chuckle. "But I appreciate the gesture." You pat his arm. He smiles before helping you clean up the rest of the kitchen. The smell of burnt eggs was still lingering. "How about I go get us some pizza?"

Thor looks over to the window; realising it was now dark outside, he didn't want you going out alone. The sounds that accompanied the city at night bothered him. "I shall accompany you."

"Good idea," you smile. As you walk through the city to the closest, and best pizza parlour, you can't help but notice that Thor is too busy looking up at the night sky. He had told you all about his friend Heimdall, the watchman of the Bifrost. The thought of him still searching for what he had lost pulled at your heart; it was a familiar feeling. "Hoping your friend is looking out for you?"

He looks at you with a small smirk. "I know he will be. But I was noticing how different the stars look here compared to New Mexico."

"I know. It's probably the air pollution," You take a look up. "But they're still there, and they're beautiful."

"Yes, they are." He replies. You look over to catch him looking at you rather than the night sky. He quickly averts his gaze back up, blushing as he does. You look down at the ground, unable to control the smile etched onto your face. "I hope someday I am able to repay your kindness Kate. I would love to show you Asgard. The view of the stars from there are beyond compare."

"I'd like that."

***

Back at your apartment the smell of burnt eggs hasn't completely disappeared, but is bearable now. The two of you sit, just talking and eating; completely at ease with one another. Helping himself to some beer, Thor accidentally knocks over a photo frame that was sitting on the coffee table.

"I must apologise again Kate," he rushes to lift the frame, looking with kind eyes at the photo before placing it back. It was a photo of you as a kid, cuddled into your mum. Both of you pulling a silly face. It was one of your favourite photos. "Is that your mother?" he asks. You nod before taking a sip. "You've never mentioned her."

You shrug. "She died when I was young." You look down at the bottle, fiddling with the label. "That was taken shortly before she passed away." Thor leans over and rubs your arm. The subject of your mother was a difficult one for you; but you were comforted by Thor; a gentle giant.

"I'm sorry for your loss." he continues, looking over at the photograph again. "And the boy?"

"My brother. We lost him shortly after my mum." A small tear escapes your eye.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up such a difficult subject." He reaches over and wipes the tear from your face. The gesture just brings more tears; remembering what you could from that fateful day, and all the trauma you had faced since. Thor pulls you closer to him, taking the bottle from you and wrapping his giant arm around you, as you let the tears fall, soaking his shirt.

You stay wrapped in his arms, feeling the warmth and protection you needed as you grieved what you had lost. For the first time, in a long time, you felt secure enough to open up about the past; everything that had happened since the day your mother died; what you had to go through; how you ended up where you were now. Thor doesn't judge, doesn't look at you with sympathetic eyes. He just listens. You finally felt that someone believed you.

You both talk well into the night. Never letting you go, Thor tells you about his family too, and more about his life on Asgard. To any 'normal' person his stories would sound outlandish, like a fairy tale, but not to you. You are completely and utterly enthralled at this wonderful man who talks about other worlds as though it's something you've known your whole life. Eventually you start to feel your eyes going, the long day catching up with you. You barely register Thor carrying you to your bedroom. As he gently places you in bed, pulling the covers over you, he leans over and lightly kisses your forehead. You drift off, just faintly making out the words he says; not comprehending the power and the love that are behind them.

"Whatever power I can muster, I swear to you Kate, I will find out the truth for you."