Jewel Thief ◇ L. Laufeyson

4 ◇ falling

IT HAD BEEN a while since Loki's last visit. A few months, actually. It almost hurt my feelings, him not visiting me - was I not important to him anymore?

My visits to Odin were becoming sloppy. I would visit one week, then not visit the next. Sometimes I would visit twice a week. Sometimes I wouldn't go for a couple weeks.

In my head I knew I didn't like going because Odin talked constantly about Loki and Thor, and mostly about Loki and I, speaking of a fantasy life Odin had unintentionally made up for us. We owned a cute house in the suburbs. We had a black Doberman Pincher dog named Petra. We had weekly date nights. Loki wanted a kid.

Odin told me all about this fantasy life, and I gave up trying to tell him it was false. I went along with it, or didn't say anything at all as the King rambled on.

It was perhaps...a month since my last visit to Odin. I felt bad, but I was busy with a project Tony had me working on. I was going back and forth between the new Avenger's facility and the tower, and most of my time was spent searching for Steve and the others - the ones that Tony had fought in the small, civil war that had occurred. I was skimping a bit on details - as much as I wanted to see Steve, Sam, Clint, and Wanda, I didn't want them found. They were still fugitives in SHIELD's eyes. Tony was busy looking for Bruce. He was worried about his science buddy. Between that and watching out for Peter Parker, we barely saw each other. I was also busy helping Tony design the new renovations for the tower - updated systems, a better lab, comfier living quarters, things like that. I was stressed out to the max - and Tony, bless his heart, noticed. He demanded I take a vacation, just me, no attention from press or any help for Tony.

"Greece! Our beach house in Greece. Go sing some ABBA songs and relax, alright?" Tony had said. I complied, going on vacation for two and half weeks. The town was small and no one knew of my superhero status - the perfect getaway.

Greece was lovely, a wonderful place to clear my mind. But after the getaway I missed the tower, and I kind of missed Odin.

I was alone in the tower, FRIDAY keeping me company as I attempted to make macadamia cookies - my mother's recipe.

I had made them a few times before, but never got it perfect. This time, though, I was sure it would be perfection...

Until the whole building shook as I took the pan out of the oven, startling me and making me jump - my hands hitting the inside of the oven.

I shrieked, dropping the cookie sheet and spilling the treats onto the floor. My hands stung and I hissed at the pain. I shot towards the sink and ran chilled water over my hands, but to no avail - my skin was red and rough, a sizzling pain ripping through my hands.

I gritted my teeth as the sounds of heavy footsteps approached from the balcony. "Lady Y/N! Are you alright?"

Thor?

His voice was clear. I turned and saw both he and Loki were inside the tower, a symbol burned onto the balcony outside. They must have come from Asgard. Thor was in simple street clothes - a hoodie and jeans, while Loki was dressed sharply in a black tux. He looked good.

"Thor!" I said happily, the pain going away momentarily. He ran up to me and we hugged, his muscular arms squeezing me. "Its so good to see you, Y/N."

"You too, Thor. Where have you been?"

"Looking over the nine realms. I recently went back to Asgard and found my brother masquerading as Father." I raised my eyebrows at Loki; finally understanding why Odin was put on earth.

Thor looked at Loki, then at me. "Um...he- he's not dead, by the way. As you can see. He's also changed since New York, so try to not kill him- I know it's surprising, but-"