Hockey Pucks & Pixie Dust

3 - Did You Want To Be a Shield Maiden When You Grew Up?

Was it possible to kill a god? Though to be fair, Loki was technically a demigod, but Sindri could settle for it. If he hadn't gotten himself in trouble for slaying Baldr and found himself bound until the arrival of Ragnarök, Sindri might have sought him out to do just that. Unfortunately, she couldn't murder the poor humans when he decided to briefly take control of their minds.

Storm probably had no idea what had happened. Even if he did, that poor guy would probably admit himself to a psych ward before believing in something dubbed as a fairy tale.

How little these mortals knew.

"Miss, can you hold still so we can check your injury?" a medic asked while holding her eye open with two fingers and shining a light into it.

The tool promptly shut off and the man released her to shake the flashlight. Sindri pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh. Sometimes, when stressed, electronics suddenly died around her, and no amount of jostling that piece of equipment or changing the batteries would work. She must have accidentally shorted it while trying to avoid medical attention.

"I'm fine," she insisted, pronouncing her N as a D. With so many people around, Sindri didn't want to risk using her magic to heal her nose. Sure, it hurt; the puck had been traveling faster than a bullet, but in two hours, she'd be right as rain.

The medics disagreed, stitching the skin between her nose and cheek as a new flashlight appeared. The young man finished his assessment of her other eye and smiled once the second medic snipped the surgical thread. "You took that hit like a boss, but we still have a responsibility to ensure your well-being."

Aw, that was nice. Hard work on the farm while she'd been human had toned her body in ways modern day workouts in a gym couldn't. Sun, rain, ice, or snow; there had always been work needing her attention. Sindri had to be strong like everyone else if she wanted to survive an age with no modern medicine or centralized heating.

She offered the medic a smile and relaxed now that the most intrusive part of her physical was complete. "Guess I'll have to find a way to make this sexy."

"Oh, you're already sexy," he blurted before blushing and ducking his head.

Sindri grinned. He was cute — maybe in his late twenties with wavy chestnut hair, hazel eyes with more green than brown, and a sharp jawline. His manners were also pleasant, but there was no spark, just like with everyone else she'd ever met.

Too bad. She might have enjoyed a date with him. But that's all it would be; one date, and she didn't want to lead him on. Unlike when Storm had misfired that puck, her forearm didn't itch or glow around this guy. Since her little tumble into the seats, her rune faded to black ink again as quickly as it had flashed.

Taking the offered ice pack and holding it to her face, she said, "You're sweet. Next time, I'll be sure to wear a helmet."

He laughed at her joke before helping her up, averting his gaze every time they made eye contact. His cheeks and ears blazed pink, making Sindri wish for a stronger connection. He seemed shy, and he wasn't built like a warrior, but she admired his warm personality and dedication to his work.

The man cleared his throat and dropped his arm to his side as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "You sure you're alright?" When she nodded, he added, "Okay. Just... see your doctor or go to the emergency room if you feel dizzy or experience nausea and vomiting."

The words 'sure thing' were on the tip of her tongue, but like every time she attempted to lie, her tongue glued itself to the roof of her mouth. Instead, she uttered a polite thanks before returning to her seat next to Paloma.