ϟ SON OF THOR ϟ

                thor could only assume that the boy meant the tiny dolls that midgardian children played with. stark had, briefly, mentioned them after another failed attempt to retrieve his brothers sceptor that the people of earth had ‘coined’ the avengers and made toys and other material items for the public consumption. the only ones of these ‘action figures’ that the child spoke of he recognized were his friends, the captain and man of iron.

                the silence that followed could have been classified as awkward. hands clasping in front of him, the god tried to make sense of this turn of events. he hadn’t been made aware of a child living in the same dwellings as jane, nor had he known that she would be away. though, in hindsight, he probably should have checked before hand. he still thought to call someone, be it jane or darcy or erik, but he didn’t have his cellphone on him and he didn’t want to bother the boy. he didn’t get much of a chance to think over what to do next, however, when the child spoke up again.  ❝ greetings, nathaniel. i am thor, son of odin. you may just call me thor, though. ❞

                a breath of relief escaped him when nathan opened the door in invitation, a bit surprised that he would trust him enough to let him in. avenger or not, the god had been under the assumption that midgardian children were more wary towards strangers. he had just been about to graciously accept the invite in and step past the threshold when he stopped, his frown returning deeply and confusion shinging in bright blue hues. mother? jane had a son? since when? in the time they had spent together, thor couldn’t recall ever hearing about her having a son. granted, he hadn’t been around as much as he wanted. trying to recover from that shock, he smiled in interest as he finally walked in with a nod of thanks.  ❝ what is this ‘mac and cheese’ that you speak of? ❞

   socks slid across the floor as Nathan darted forward to look out into the hallway, checking to make sure no other avengers were hiding out there too, but he saw no one else. nathan leaned back inside and closed the door with a quiet click behind them. “you’ve never had mac and cheese?” blue eyes met with blue and the boy frowned. he had read more books than he could count about asgard and had always wished to go there one day like his mother had. if they didn’t have mac and cheese though... maybe it wasn’t worth it.

   “it’s just macaroni. macaroni pasta with cheese. it’s really good.” the tv flashing behind them distracted nathan, drawing him further into the apartment to find the remote. he turned the show off and tossed the remote back on the couch. it was only then that it really sunk in for nathan that he was standing there in his pjs, all alone, in his pjs, with an avenger. in his pjs. blue eyes lowered to the flannel pants and blue soccer tee. at least he wasn’t wearing his iron man slippers. that would have been awkward.

                the naivety of the boy was almost endearing, even if loki had no idea what he was talking about. though his explanation did shed some like on this photoshop, the god still hadn’t the faintest clue as to what it had to do with what he said. nathan was young, so perhaps it didn’t matter all that much.  ❝ well, i guess you could say humanity has used this… photoshop to take my past actions and fit me in a light that  they  think to be how i am. those past actions, however, no longer hold any truth about my character. ❞  he hoped he was using the term correctly. accepting the glass handed to him, the god finally started on his sandwich. it was an odd texture and taste combination, but not displeasing. the bread was soft under his fingers, the peanut butter smooth and the jelly not too thick. emerald hues glanced down at his plate, before looking to the boy as he swallowed.  ❝ yes, i am. from the realm known as asgard. i am a prince there. ❞  though how true that statement remained was yet unclear.  ❝ the constellations on asgard are much different then the ones here on asgard. ❞  he said, before frowning.  ❝ we do know of midgard, everyone does. the other realms are not shielded from each other as this one is from the rest. as for being afraid… i think not. ❞

   tony’s face mask retracted to reveal a bit of a grin as he dipped down to help pick the child back up to his feet. he took a look at him, a soft laugh slipping through his lips as he looked down at the boy. he was still trying to get used to the fact that there were those who saw him as a hero, those who had his action figure. just the thought of that was overwhelming. “my action figure, huh? looks like i’m gonna have to be getting yours soon.” a shake of his head and armored arms cross over his chest. “not tonight, kid. just needed to get some pictures taken.” he looks around, trying to figure out where the kids parents were. “what are you doing out here so late?”

❛ It certainly sounds important enough, ❜ The god concluded toward himself, though it came out aloud. Electric eyes gaze downward at the other for a moment, feeling the familiarity that he couldn’t put his finger on though it dissipates moments later. ❛ That shouldn’t be too long, correct? I suppose waiting wouldn’t hurt anything. ❜ Despite normally heading out to do said hero work or something along the lines, it’d all been fairly quiet as of recent. ❛ Very well, why don’t we cook all of it? Especially coffee, it’s been many years since I’ve had such a delectable drink. ❜ Though the memory is crystal clear, it recedes some backlash at his first taste coffee when he unknowingly threw the cup onto the floor and shattered it. One of his best memories of when he first met Jane. ❛ I don’t have a cellular phone, perhaps a raven would work? ❜ The judgement of Midgardian devices is something Thor still had to get used to, especially phones. They seemed too unimportant to him. ❛ Warrior stuff? Sounds like a great idea, what is it you’d like me to teach you? Smighting the enemy through the heart? Perhaps smashing their skull with a hammer? Or is that too graphic? ❜

Sympathy was always one of the god’s weaknesses. He never found the will to leave anyone upset, let alone a child that belonged to one of the only women he ever LOVED. There was an upheld responsibility Thor felt he had to this child —— an unknown paternal instinct to give him something that he felt he deserved. The justification Thor believed he could bring was simply just a good deed. Nothing could possibly go wrong with finding the child’s father, right? Even if Thor found him and the man wasn’t worthy of the child’s affections, he’d fulfilled his promise to him. That’s all that mattered. The hug was taken with just as much ANTICIPATION as Thor willingly hugged the child back. ❛ You have the will of a thousand soldiers, Nathan. ❜ He smiled once they pulled away, and he couldn’t help the slight wrench in his gut that told him not to do it. Not to help the child. That something was lingering that he wasn’t quite ready for. Yet it was ignored. ❛ All of Asgard will know your strength one day, I can feel it. Can you do me a favor and tell me where your mother is? I’m certain she’ll be able to aid me in the search for your father. ❜

❛ I’m afraid … ❜ Thor starts, knowing fully well the next PAIN that fell into his chest, ❛ Your mother is one of the brightest here on Earth, taking her away from here would be like me taking a baby bird from it’s nest. ❜ His analogy was well-intended, just as he’d planned to be the entire time, yet he felt like he was doing nothing more than disappointing him. And for an odd reason, it TORE him apart inside. Though he’d never been the best with younger people, especially children, he was going to change that in this moment. He made it an oath. ❛ Nathan, right? ❜ He double checked before continuing. However, his breath caught in his throat when he heard the news of his father. Something Thor knew nothing of and it pained him in a way to know Jane kept that from the boy. His own life he was lucky enough to know his own father, even if he wasn’t the BEST. ❛ Wherever your father may be, I swear to you now I will help you find him. ❜ He spoke, crossing an arm over his chest, ❛ I will personally aid you in this quest, and I might have to get your mother’s permission first, but I swear to you I will find out. ❜ The god offered the slightest of smiles, ❛ Yes, you can be the greatest warrior Midgard has ever known. ❜ He spoke, voice carrying confidence, ❛ If you train your entire life, you’ll surely exceed expectation. You have the will and the bravery for it, I can feel it. ❜

THE SLIGHT HUM OF ENERGY along the blade, for a moment, catches proxima’s attention. though she is quick to dismiss it. the knife turns again, and she keeps it there for a moment longer before lifting it away from the boy’s cheek. 

         “ you have a point. ” dark lips curl into a small, sinister smile. “ and do you think you can escape me? ”

   The boy visibly relaxed when the blade was removed. Nathan didn’t know what game they were playing, or if it was a game at all, but he was pretty sure he had just won the first round. “Uh... probably not. But that depends.” Nathan nudged a stone with his sneaker.

               ❝ ah. ❞  Humming with interest as he followed the boy into the house, loki glanced curiously around the room. he hadn’t expected to be able to get this far, or that he would be talking about midgardian foods with the child of the woman he sought, but fate did work in mysterious ways.  ❝ so, you essentially made a paste out of these substances that still provides nourishment? ❞  he had never heard of this pb&j before, but he faintly recalled eating something similar to this  ‘ jelly ’  as a child. the cooks would often take fruit from the gardens and make tarts or other spreads with it. was this similar to that? taking a seat in the offered chair, the god watched in silence as nathaniel prepared the sandwiches. when the plate was slid towards him, loki pulled it closer and poked uncertainly at it, before mimicking how nathan had handled it and picked it up.  ❝ i am also unfamiliar with these  ‘ scrambled eggs ’, but i’m sure this will suffice. ❞  raising the sandwich up to his mouth, loki paused just before taking his first bite, a soft frown forming on pursed lips.  ❝ … you will learn this for yourself in time, but not everything is always as it seems. ❞

A subtle pang went through his chest, a familiar feeling the god knew all too well. Disappointment. Not at the child, but for the child. He knew all-too-well his request would go unrequited. Thor couldn’t say no but it was impossible to do so, even if he WANTED to secretly. ❛ If only the answer were that simple, ❜ a sigh parted from his lips, kneeling down to be eye level with the other. ❛ I deeply care about your mother, I would slay thousands for her. But in the end, sometimes people … others, can’t be together. ❜ Blue hues dart down, phrases crossing his mind without anything but sadness present. ❛ Your mother is a remarkable woman, but after what has transcended between her and I … it’s for the best we’re apart. Even if I were to be wedded to her, the bad guys wouldn’t stay away. They’d only COME BACK. I’m doing this to keep her and people like the both of you safe. ❜ Thor’s eyes met the boy’s once again, a faint but sorrowful smile reaching his lips, ❛ My father once told me life is full of sacrifices. Some in which you don’t have a choice but to make. Your mother and I had to sacrifice our love for her safety. And now yours as well. I’m sure your father must understand that. ❜

THE NEWS CAME WITH MORE guilt, unlike what he’d pictured. jane’s reasons weren’t out spite, but out of a heartbreak that he caused. a heavy sigh fell, shoulders relaxing back with his newfound realization. ❛ well, it didn’t work for either of us, it seems. ❜ a phrase devoted more for his own well-being, though he could sense the discomfort at his pries from the younger. just another thing he had to feel guilty of. ❛ seems she doesn’t need a man present. any woman with a young man of your MAGNITUDE is surely cared for. ❜ thor remarked, a hint of a smile regarding the boy, ❛ why half the legions of asgard would tremble before your might. that’s what makes the best warriors. ❜

❛ I WANT YOU TO BE HONEST —— ❜ even with the recent knowledge that jane had birthed a child in their time together, thor knew nothing of his existence. questions raised, one of who sired the child, but none that involved himself. ❛ was it really a mutual dumping? i know your mother must’ve been reluctant to break up with me. was she … with another ? ❜ in his home, such questions weren’t an embarrassment to speak with about to a child, yet he’d learnt in midgard it was a different story. ❛ you can be most sincere, i really don’t care. ❜ 

@sonofthcr· / starter call