#shiclded

It had been right here: neatly stacked against the hall table next to the closet, right where it always was, ready for an emergency. He’d taken it with him for a run that morning, and he was sure he’d put it out when he’d gone out to get a coffee. But it wasn’t there now. It wasn’t anywhere. Steve inhaled deeply, clenched his jaw, then sighed. “Thor, buddy, have you seen my shield?”

“should i be surprised by this visit?” natasha asked, not looking up as she smiled to herself knowing entirely too well on who it was that had entered. as she organized her remaining paperwork for the day, she finally stopped and looked up to meet her friend. “peggy, please tell me you’re not here to drag me out to do something other than raise a resistance and coordinate fights...? clint hasn’t gotten ahold of you and complained about me, right?” she teased, mockingly groaning in protest and only secretly hoping that peggy would drag her out of there. “but also i actually hope this visit is in good spirits?”

she had been ruminating on the fact that gorm was gone - she could have prevented it. seen the signs, fought the fight - but she didn’t and hindsight was a raging bitch. still, she sought comfort from the one who understood most about their way of life - the former king himself. she’d entered frigga’s thinking she was alone and sighed at not spotting thor. so val did what she was good at. moving behind the bar she opened a cask of what she assumed was mead but not caring very much if it really was or not - and took a large swig. she’d pay the god of thunder back, anyhow. “you’re late,” she remarked once she spotted him enter, her voice clear of jovial humor as she leaned against the bar top. “i want to talk with you.”

for  now,  he  has  this  to  attend  to.  weirdly,  it  seems  like  it  should  be  harder  as  he’s  stepping  into  the  bar.  tony  doesn’t  want  things  to  be  difficult  for  himself,  but  he’s  always  struggled  with  accepting  when  they  come  easy.  there’s  no  more  searching,  thor  is  there  and  familiar  as  ever  behind  the  bar  in  this  little  place  that  seems  to  be  his.  ❛   hey-a  buddy,   ❜  tony  calls  across  the  room,  grin  set  as  he  makes  his  way  over  and  slides  onto  a  stool.  ❛   boy,  am  i  glad  to  see  you.   ❜

“Hey!” He rapped on the glass and waved. “Hey, Thor!” he called, sliding the window further open, but not yet letting himself in (he didn’t want a face full of fancy space god magic hammer, thanks). “Thor, we’re friends, right?”