ᵀᴴᴱ 𝓥𝕬𝐋𝐊𝓨𝐑𝐈𝕰

“you’ve been here all day, and…”  looking around absently, this time, thor nods.  “i don’t see a kitchen here.  i would imagine you are quite hungry.  are these books coming with us?  i’ll carry them for you.”

though he’s been seated only a moment, thor rises again, pushing the chair in carefully and rounding the table to her side.  a hand is held out —— for her to take, to help her up.

SITTING  FOR  TOO  LONG.  she's  always  had  a  slightly  weak  constitution  but  this  was  a  little  ridiculous.  who  elses  legs  gave  out  when  they  sat  for  hours?  no  one  she  knew.  ❝  thanks,  hon.  ❞  she  schools  the  annoyance  she  feels,  shaking  her  left  leg  once,  twice,  before  she  does  the  same  to  the  other. 

❝  are  you  sure?  i  mean  the  books  are  heavy---  actually,  yeah.  i  would  appreciate  it.  ❞  the  books  were  heavy  but  thor  was  strong.  stronger  than  strong.  cheeks  flush  slightly.  she'd  seen  him  shirtless  a  few  times  and  the  first  thought  that  came  up  was  exactly  that.

❝  still,  i  think  that  it's  really  sweet  you  came  here  to  do  that.  not  even  my  best  friend  does  that  anymore.  you're  like  the  only  one  who  ever  really  comes  to  find  me  anymore.  ❞  and  there  is  a  sadness  in  her  voice,  it  trembles  only  a  little  —  quickly  masked  by  another  laugh  and  her  smile  that  doesn't  quite  reach  her  eyes  this  time.  ❝  loki?  yeah,  loki  scared  the  hell  out  of  me  earlier  today!  i  almost  forgot.  ❞

thor isn’t used to this.  this doesn’t happen to him.  what is it about this one, human girl…?

head held high, his strides quick, he does just as what was suggested: he marches into the local library, casts his gaze around… and, surely enough, he spots her.  at a table, eyes glued to a book.  he can only imagine how long she has sat there.

in but a moment, he deflates.  his steps slow, his shoulders slump.  once determined and confident, he now appears almost sheepish.  equally as absurd for someone his age, with his power.  approaching quietly, he swiftly seats himself across from her and drums his fingers against the table once, twice.

then he reaches forward, carefully plucking the book and pulling it away to catch her attention.  “hi,” he greets, the smile on his face quaint.  “sorry to surprise you.  i’d texted you, but —— have you been here long?”

the  library  was  more  of  a  home  to  her  than  her  own,  she  found  comfort  in  being  surrounded  by  aged  books  and  soft  chatter.  all  she  really  needed  was  a  couple  cups  of  coffee,  a  snack  and  the  piling  stack  of  books  beside  her  and  she  was  good  to  go.

which  she  had  been,  for  hours  now.  she  half  remembers  picking  up  her  phone  to  tell  thor  that  she  was  reading  something  and  then  set  it  down.  only  now,  when  the  book  between  her  hands  is  taken  from  her  does  she  blink  a  few  times  and  look  up.

it's  thor.  she  almost  wants  to  look  confused.  however,  one  glance  around  the  library  and  towards  the  windows  gives  her  all  the  information  she  needed.  she'd  been  there  since  early  in  the  morning  and  it  was  already  getting  dark.  when  was  the  last  time  she  ate  again?

she  frowns,  tilting  her  head.  ❝  oh  um..  hey,  thor.  i  didn't  realize  you  texted  me,  i'm  sorry.  ❞  reaching  for  her  phone,  she  quickly  checks  her  messages.  the  ones  from  thor  and  a  few  from  darcy.  sheepishly,  bottom  lip  is  bitten  and  she  shrugs.  ❝  i've  uh..  been  here  since  the  library  opened…  sorry,  i  really  didn't  mean  to  ignore  you  at  all.  ❞