Who: Thor and Sif When: Fuzzily after this and this Where: Asgard What: One of Asgard’s warriors comes home. Warnings: None really, a little bit of violence at the end
It was with nervous feet that Sif made it to Asgard. For all her worry, she certainly didn’t look it. Sif seemed as steady as ever, boots echoing on the floor of the halls as she made her way to the throne room. Anticipation twisted her stomach as to what she would find there.
When she found herself saddled with a mere mortal (not the other way around, never) she had been content to stay away. She had no word from anyone she had known and adventurous she might be, there wasn’t any reason to go charging into battles blindly. Alice didn’t want to go through the door and Sif was fine not venturing through it just yet. But Thor has finally returned and the last time she had spoken to anyone about Asgard – about home – it had been with Loki after he had tried to seize the land for himself once again.
As she walked she found no indication he was still there but still the sense of things changing prickled at her skin and kept her alert. Clad in armor, hair pulled back, sword in hand, she was hoping for the best, but anticipating the worst. When the double doors opened she took a breath, finding her center, a small calm before a storm could hit, and strode forward, eyes ahead for any enemy she might find.
True to his word, after he’d come through and reclaimed the guards, Thor had returned as soon as he could to see if his brother had returned. It only took one such visit before Loki’s presence had been confirmed, but there had been worry in the guard’s eyes. As soon as he had reached Loki’s quarters, he understood why. He had been the one to close the door behind him, sealing himself inside the room alone. Thor walked over every inch, cataloguing the damage. Even if they might be salvageable, there was no one that he would want taking them.
Emerging an hour later, he ordered the room to be cleaned as best it could and then sealed. If Loki ever returned to Asgard, he could have them back if he wanted them. Otherwise they would be little more than a mausoleum, a crypt to childhood memories of his brother.
Nose still tingling with scent of something burning, he turned his attention to Asgard itself. The braziers were lit, the fires stoked, but there was still a sense of mourning about the place. Too many were missing: Odin, Frigga, Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral. Even Loki, as he could be depended upon to keep Thor in a good mood and though he knew where Sif was, more or less, she wasn’t here. That did not keep Thor from the throne though and he’d spent nearly all day meeting with the commanders of the guard and the warriors that served under his father, reawakening those old ties. Before he left, he would have to see to the families that had lost someone in either coup.
He heard the doors of the throne room open again and glanced up, wondering which commander or warrior it might be. As soon as he saw her, he stood up, smiling so wide his cheeks nearly hurt. One of his dearest friends, newly returned, and looking well if prepared for battle. "Sif!"
"Thor!" Relief bloomed in her chest almost immediately at the sight of him. It was a ridiculous sensation, she knew. She had seen him before there in those strange streets of New York, fighting at his side like she had always done. But this was Asgard, home, and here was the breathing embodiment of that sentiment standing before her.
With quick and long strides she made her way to him, sheathing her sword before giving him a quick embrace. As she pulled away her arms stayed on his hands, searching his face for a moment to confirm all that was true. "I had worried I’d find everything…" She trailed off with a shake of her head. He was here before her and he had surely seen Loki’s aftermath, all that she had feared looking upon herself. Instead her smile faltered, turning into a thin line before nodding slowly, head bowed in quiet apology. "I should have come sooner. But I am here now, for what ever may need me."
"No, No, Sif," he murmured, his arms turning so they clasped each other forearm to forearm. If she had shown up before when Loki was in control, Thor honestly wasn’t sure what his brother would have done. The Loki of old would have teased her, perhaps performed less-than-friendly jokes on the Goddess, but this new Loki? Thor was no longer sure.
"Better that you are here now," he said warmly, glad that she was safe. "We didn’t have time to talk before -- have you seen any sign of the Warriors Three? Odin? My mother?" For the moment, the throne room was empty save for them, and two of the guards that stood at the bottom of the dais. Soon enough, there would be another set of warriors coming in, Thor was sure of it. "Do you have time to stay? I’m bringing in the warriors, my father’s warriors, his generals. They’ll need to keep Asgard safe while I’m not here, but I’d have you here if you are able."
"I will stay as long as I am able," she promised with wtih a fond smile. "I’m still understanding how... this," she made a slight dismissive gesture, words failing her as they sometimes did though she knew he understood what she was referring to, "but the girl and I have an agreement. I’ll remain as long as I can. As for the others..." She shook her head, a small shadow of regret flickering across her face as she slid away to look properly around the room, as if they would somehow appear to let her change her answer. "I’ve heard no word from anyone. Just one day Loki was speaking, talking about how Asgard’s halls were empty of all everyone we knew. But then you showed. May the others come too."
But that was somewhat wishful thinking and pinning hopes on people elsewhere, for times other than the present, was not something Sif was best suited for. Instead she squared her shoulders back, arms crossing her chest as the fingertips of one hand skimmed across the hilt of the sword swinging at her hip. Her features sharpened slightly now that their quiet greeting was over, and she felt an old familiar smirk tug at her mouth. "So you’re preparing an army?" Most would not be so pleased and eager to discuss matters of battle but Sif wasn’t like most. "What shape are they in? How much was lost when Loki was here?"
Thor nodded in understanding. He and Benji had the same type of arrangement and even now, he could feel the other man’s presence in the back of his mind. "Then I will keep both eyes and ears out for them." If they had all come so recently, Thor hopes that the rest would follow and soon.
The switch from conversation between friends to talk of battle came swiftly, but he knew it as soon as her hand went to her sword. "Asgard needs to be protected. Even though I am here now, I cannot be here all the time. Until the others are located --" hopefully his father amongst them, "I have to move forward with what I have. If the Jotuns were to learn of our diminished strength, it would only be a matter of time before they are here. We have to be prepared for that." And for his brother, if he should return. Loki may not have ever been a warrior in the typical Asgardian sense, but Thor knew of few that could match him.
"Most of them are well, a little wary, eager for battle," he said with a wry smile. "There were not many losses between Loki and Soren," Thor started. There had been some though. "I’ll be meeting with the families that lost someone later this evening before we return to the other side."
Well, wary, eager for battle. Sif certainly knew of such things. "Such is the heart of Asgard," she murmured quietly, a fond grin tugging at her mouth as she turned over his words in her head. The thought of another invasion made her face darken, lips turn into a thin line and she shook her head slightly. "Our borders won’t ever be breached. Not while you’re here, or I. A little reinforcement and training wouldn’t hurt." A thought wormed its way through her resolve and she looked to him for a moment, earlier steel aside.
"Do you find it… strange? Being home?" She was, still, glad to be in Asgard, but now that the initial alarm was quieting, wonder and a small amount of worry settled. "We’re not the same. We’re not… alone," she said for lack of a better word, her arms uncrossing to gesture feebly to her temple. Alice scoffed silently.
The words were scarcely out of her mouth before Thor was shaking his head. "No," he said quietly, head shaking again, firmly, at her mention of how they were no longer alone. "He’s -- Ben -- he worked hard for the both of us," Thor said quietly, keeping his words between them. Anyone else in Asgard might not understand, might be concerned that two of their strongest warriors had someone else in their head, but Thor knew that if anyone could understand, it would be Sif.
With her own person in her head -- Alice, Ben supplied -- and Ben in his, it was different yes, but not strange. Asgard had always been home and Thor said as much. "I owe him no less than what he has given me."
In the beginning, if Ben hadn’t bowed to his will, Thor had had every intention of taking over. The other man was not quite so easy to bend as he had thought and out of it had come a begrudging respect and then an open affection for the man he shared a mind with. They were both strong willed, yet it was Ben that had showed him how they could work together without either of them being sacrificed. Even Thor could admit when he was wrong and a better solution had been found.
"What of you and yours? Are things well between you?"
Alice was the one to immediately reassure that everything was well, no matter how false it would be. Sif wasn’t one for lying, no matter what the reason, no matter how big or small, and she stilled at her old friend’s question.
"Most days, yes, though we are finding ourselves at odds more often than not." There was the slightest lift to her lips, a fondness even if there was fighting with her hostess. "She is often busy with her affairs in her world so it’s difficult to return here. And when I do, I rarely return to her unscathed." Her free hand moved to the base of her throat for a moment, an unconscious gesture as she remembered her and Alice’s most recent battles.
"But she is learning. Or she would if she’d pay attention when I am in control. Perhaps then her enemies wouldn’t catch her off guard so." She paused for a moment, as Alice quietly voiced more thoughts and Sif’s quick laugh echoed through the halls. "She seems to think I’m only benefiting from that group of would be heroes, and that’s why I’m victorious. What do you they call themselves. Avengers?" She stole a sidelong glance at him; she had often wondered his opinion of those people.
Thor wanted to be able to help her, only he and Benji had never been truly at odds with one another. The closest they had come was when Ben had admitted himself thinking that he was mad, but it had been a relatively short period of time.
"Now you should be able to return to Asgard to heal before you can return to her." As advanced as human medicine was becoming, there was still far more they could do for Sif, for any of them, here than back on Midgard. And if it meant increasing the peace between Sif and her mortal, Thor would do whatever he could.
"Yes, I believe that’s what they’re calling themselves." He hadn’t spent a lot of time with any of them, but they seemed to be interested in protecting Midgard, for all the petty fighting they seemed to have. Thor tried to stay out of that -- it was their home after all, not his. However, he was sworn to protect the realms and he would. Earth would not be abandoned to Loki.
Loki.
His smile turned slightly pensive, but he forced it widen as he clasped her on the shoulder. "Obviously she’s never been on the wrong side of your staff if she thinks that’s the only reason you are victorious, Sif!"
She caught that change; she had known him too long to not see his thoughts turn. While she didn’t know exactly what they were, she could wager a guess and her return smile was one slanted with sympathy. Loki wasn’t her brother but he was, once, a friend.
"She only knows what I tell her, and what she has seen when I’ve come through the gates between our worlds. If only I could separate us. Then perhaps I could show her a thing or two. That there is more to a life than men and ridiculous finery." It was a tired old argument, one that showed in her voice. She had had similar ones many a time in Asgard for anyone who tried to tell her what a woman should occupy herself with. But times had changed, she had shown many of the naysayers, and here she was with one of the few who had never thought to change her mind.
"And you are right. Now that I can come back to the healing chambers she will be as good as new. Then perhaps I can come back through this door before I miss all the good battles you keep having without me." She clapped her hand good-naturedly on the one atop her shoulder before cocking her head down to the corridors. "Come. We have guards to check and I want to see if I can put them, or someone," she tossed him a pointed glance, a challenge out of the corner of her eye, "through the paces. It has been too long and I fear so much time away will start to make me soft. We can’t have that."
Thor laughed outright at the mention of men and ridiculous finery. When all of Asgard had looked forward to turning Sif into more of a lady, he had been the one to support her desire to become a warrior instead. It had been up to her to prove herself, and she had done so many times over, proving herself not on a capable warrior, but one of Asgard’s staunchest defenders. Thor was lucky to count her as both friend and comrade in arms.
"It is hardly my fault that your other is keeping you back so you can do your hair and nails," he teased, good naturedly. If he could get her riled up, she’d be truly fierce to spar with and he was quite in the mood to settle into a physical activity that didn’t require him to be a statesman. "Perhaps we should take it easy on you instead!" His laughter drew the attention of the two far guards, who gave each other looks before glancing at the two.
"After all, we wouldn’t want you harmed..." His grin was full blown now, making his eyes crinkle as dimples set into his cheeks, "My lady."
A most unladylike sound erupted from her - a squawk, a laugh, a roar all rolled into one. Oh she knew his tactic well and if it was a tussle he wanted, she would be more than willing to oblige him. Her free hand swung at him, no care to slow or hold back her strength. Only a fool would think she rise to the challenge and Thor was no such fool in that regard. And if he was, well, she would quickly show him his folly.
"Harmed," she spat with a smile, a chuckle overtaking her scoff at the end of her breath. "As if you would get close enough to try."
Laughing, Thor sidestepped her hand before it connected with him. He knew she would not withhold an ounce of her strength; it was what made her such a formidable warrior amongst men. That didn’t stop him from smiling widely at her. "Oh, I would never harm such a paragon of feminine virtue such as yourself," he boldly teased. If there was ever anyone who would make him pay for such statements, it would be her.
He had to admit, he was rather looking forward to sparring with her. It had been far too long. "I’d hate for you to break a nail!" Some of the other, more feminine ladies that visited the court had pouted about such things, but he’d never even heard those words slip from Sif’s lips as a complaint.
"Keep smiling," she warned, her own lips lifting into a smirk, a hint of bared teeth. She moved to strike, a laugh bubbling from her throat, her fist moving quickly toward him. How she missed this, the simple pleasures of life like good friend and testing their wills against each other and the ground. For a few precious moments, it was like nothing had changed at all.
Her feet squared easily, preparing for a good spar even if it might be a quick one. The army had been waiting, they could stand to wait longer while she took care their fearless leader. "I’d be more worried about that pretty face of yours breaking than my nails."
A weaker man should have been afraid of that smile, but Thor only blew her a teasing kiss. The banter was as much a part of their sparring as actual strikes and all the more enjoyable for it. "Perhaps there is a maiden underneath all that armor if you think me pretty, Sif!" He laughed, the smile firmly in place even as she managed to catch his chin with the next blow. The guards that day would have quite the show of them sparring, as Thor would not dishonor her by holding back and he knew it was not within her to give less than her all.