Force Of Gravity

Prologue

There was a dark cloud looming over the city of Bucharest, that hid the bright and warm sun from the busy streets, as if it wanted to play hide and seek with the masses below. Here and there you would find old newspapers being carried by the wind. They seemed to be floating effortlessly. 

And eventhough there was rustling and conversations being heard from every side, there stood a silent and still figure hidden in the shadow of a large oak tree. His appearance was masked by the darkness the shadow casted onto him. Only his tall, slim figure was a contrast to the grey wall behind him. His eyes followed a particular man wearing a black cap that was talking to a vendor on the street.  

As the conversation between the two people neared its end, the tall figure silently and slowly made his way towards them. His features now plainly visable as the sun took the secrets the shadow bore. His long, black and greasy hair was tucked behind his ears and the black suit that he wore looked flawless, which was quite odd considering the state of his hair.
Not even coming to a halt, he watched a plum, that might had lost it's way, roll off of the wooden table and onto the sidewalk. 

Carefully, he picked it up and examined the fresh fruit. Looking back at the man with the black hat, he cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the man before him. 

"I apologize," he said with an outstreched arm that held the plum as if it was a temptation right as the man had turned around, "but I think you might have lost this."

His voice was calm and deep. Easy to get lost in, one might think.
The man had turned around, looking at the fruit in the stranger's hand. He hesitated a little bit before gently grabbing it. His gloved hand, the stranger noticed, seemed hard as steel as he accidentally made contact with his own. The man with the hat smiled a soft but unsure thank you before starting to head off.

"It is a nice day today." the black haired man said. The other stopped but remained silent, not bothering to turn around. "So why the gloves?" he asked.

The man grabbed the paper bag, that held his plums, tighter. Even from behind him you could see his Adam's apple move as he swallowed with fear. His shoulders were tense and his breaths were coming quicker and quicker.

"It's a skin condition." he explained rather dully. He turned his face a little to the left so that in the corner of his eye, he could see the tall man in the corner of his eye. He knit his eyebrows in confusion as he made out the black suit the slim man wore. Not the usual attire people wore around this part of town. 

"I think I might have heard of your condition, sergeant Barnes." there seemed to not be a single second left between his last word and the collision of his back and the dirty wall of the building they had stood next to. A loud grunt came from his lips as the strong gloved hand squeezed around his slender throat.

"Who the hell are you?" Barnes barked. Emotions raw as the anger and fear in his eyes mixed with his panicked breathing. 

"That should not be any of your concern. All I ask is for a favour." he gasped as he started to push the heavy arm away from his throat. His eyebrows shot up in confusion as the grip on his throat only got tighter and tighter. 

"I don't do favours anymore." Barnes hissed at the taller man again. "Go back to whatever scumbag sent you and tell them-" he stopped and gripped the throat tighter as the taller man's head started to look to the left, completely unbothered. The black haired man's head was forcefully pulled in his direction again.

"Look at me- you go back and tell them that if I find them, they are dead." his threats were coming out in low, deep hushed but the anger they held was intimidating. His nose almost touching the nose of the strange man. But once he made sure the other man understood, he let go.

The strange man straightened his suit, brushing off the dusty particles that were painfully visible on his all black outfit. But despite being practically thrown at a nearby wall, he seemed to be rather unbothered.

"Whoever you seem to take me for, I can assure you, I mean no harm." He stretched out his hand again, letting it hang low for Barnes to take it. As the man explected, he refused. So the stranger took it back and straightened his back.

"I am Loki of Asgard. And I have come to you in need of protection."

...

TBC