Unexpected

Calls From Home

Once the excitement died down, I took stock of the damage caused by the beast and our battle with it with my agents. Considering everything, it wasn't' too bad. There were huge cracks in the worn concrete ground and some places where it was little more than dust. One warehouse had a huge dent in its metal plated walls, and then there was the warehouse that had been reduced to rubble, the one that had tried to fall on me. I strolled over to the ruined building's side as the agents made calls to S.H.I.E.L.D. and calling for medical help for Agents Jones and Fellings, scanning the ground until I found my silver device. Seriously, I needed a name for this thing. I sighed happily as I hooked it back where it belonged on my belt along with Grumps' pistol.

I looked over towards a semi-truck that had been tipped on its side. For some reason, I couldn't seem to remember it getting tipped over during the fight, but I guess it must've been hit by either the beast or by Thor if it had gotten tipped onto its side. I tapped my fist on its metal siding, listening to its reverberations. Sounded empty to me. I crouched down beside it, getting a good handle on it before I lifted with my knees instead of my back, pushing it back on its wheels with a stifled groan and a heaving shove.

Once it upright again I strode around it checking it for damage and trying to ignore Thor's look of astonishment at my feat. He'd fought with Captain America before, but that doesn't mean that he was used to seeing Midgardians with strength like I possessed with my mutated ability. I could still feel the extra energy flowing through my body, sending tingles like sparking electricity up and down my spine and infusing my muscles and nerves with the adrenaline rush of a thousand energy drinks. I wondered how long this extra 'battery life' would last. There didn't seem to be any denting or other damage to the semi-truck, but I figured that it should be included in the damage report anyways

As I was doing this I was in a phone conversation with Agent Rumlow, offering him an oral report of the mission's proceedings. I had to focus on how tightly my fingers held my cellphone. With my enhanced strength I knew that it would be far too easy for me to break it on accident and I had no intentions of dropping a couple hundred dollars on a new phone due to carelessness. Rumlow seemed content with my report and how I'd run the mission, though I had to try to explain the workings of Moljnir and the Bifrost, which was difficult since I only understood what I did from vague old stories and from seeing the legendary things in action.

Once that business was over, the agents and Thor and I parted ways. It almost made me laugh to see these trained agents almost falling over themselves around Thor. Especially Agent Lee, who'd seemed to have a rather sour personality, was staring up at Thor almost as if he truly was a god, her eyes bright, her mouth gawking.

Much to my embarrassment, Thor wrapped me in his arms, pulling me to his side again before swinging his hammer and sending us flying. My golden braid, all messed up from battling and the wind, flapped behind me as I squinted into the wind trying to ignore the heat of Thor's arms, the scent of sweat, and the strange feeling of bubbling guilt welling between my chest and my stomach. It felt weird and, well, wrong to be held so close to another man... These were the wrong arms. I tried to shake the thought away. We were simply traveling, that was all. There was no need for me to be embarrassed or guilty.

A small smile broached my lips when a thought of Loki being jealous to know that I was being held this close to Thor. I remembered how he'd acted so long ago on our day trip around New York during his plot to invade the world. I remembered how he'd glared threateningly at the one guy, who'd been talking with me while in the line for ice cream, his emerald eyes plainly saying 'back off' as he loomed so close by me. I'd teased him then, joking, not knowing that what jumbled emotions had formed within the raven haired man's heart.