WHO: Thor and Maria WHAT: Thor goes to roust his friend out for some fresh air and company WHEN: Recentlike. WHERE: Maria's place WARNINGS: brief allusions to the events of the Barbarian!Methos Crisis STATUS: Closed and Complete
Thor arrived at Maria’s door with a growl of thunder and a brief lightning flash, and he smiled as he knocked, thinking of older times, of odder times, the week that was and was not, when he and Maria had been together. While he did not dwell on it, he was now very fond of her, and she was someone he cared about in many ways.
He hoped she was getting better, and that was part of why he was checking on her now. Knocking, and waiting, he was hopeful.
***
Maria answered the door dressed for sparring, but it was obvious from the tired frown on her face that she wasn’t in any condition to fight a novice, let alone the thunder god. In this condition she was liable to get hurt.
“Hey,” she said in a voice that echoed her expression. “Come on in. I just need to grab a few things.”
Even her new house was looking a bit rough around the edges. There was a slight layer of dust on everything. Dishes were in the sink unwashed, and things were out of place. To anyone else, this might seem like a normal house, but it definitely lacked Maria’s normal OCD touch.
***
Thor stepped in, closing the door behind him, concern clouding his face immediately. He followed her, glancing around, then shook his head. This was bad.
“Maria? When was the last time you got a full night’s sleep?”
His voice was gentle, and hesitant, but clear as he wandered after her, concern growing with every step.
***
“Uh…” she had to stop and think when the last time Methos insisted on that. Meanwhile she was shoving water bottles into a duffle bag. “A few days ago,” she finally said then turned a suspicious frown on Thor. “I’m fine. Don’t start.” Ha ha wishful thinking.
***
Thor closed with her and reached to put one hand gently on her shoulder.
“Maria.” He sighed, closed his eyes, and then shook his head. “I won’t push you, but you know I would not mention it if I did not care.” He tapped her lightly, and smiled faintly. “You look like I did after far too many days without sleep and far too many days worrying.”
***
He was right and she knew it. He was also being nice, which made it impossible to tell him to fuck off. Maria sighed as she stopped puttering, grimaced for a moment then gave him a wry smirk. “My life was so much easier without people. Less nagging.” But she’d learned the benefit to having friends.
“Fine,” she said then pushed the duffle away. “We can eat but out because I haven’t gone grocery shopping.”
***
Thor smiled, and nodded. “Likely. Less healthy, even so.” Glad she was not fighting, he smiled a little more.
“I do know a place or two. Your car or mine?” Well, her car or his truck. “I have missed you, my friend.”
***
“Yours,” Maria said as she finally swatted Thor’s hand away. It wasn’t a hostile gesture. She was just frustrated with her situation. “Let me change clothes then you can tell me all about how you miss me so much you get yourself a psychic girlfriend.”
Hey, she’d been overworking herself, but part of when she was in this much work mode was keeping track of information.
***
He winced at her words, and nodded, turning away to take a breath and nod. She was hurting and he knew it, so he shoved aside any retort he might have made. “I’ll get the car ready, and then we can go when you are.”
He managed to fire a smile at her, despite himself.
***
She hadn’t meant to upset him. Maria had been trying for a joke. She had never been very good at that. Honestly, she was happy for Thor. Since Jane turned him down that seemed to be happening to him a lot. Herself included. Maria was glad he found someone who wasn’t as stupid as she’d been.
It didn’t take her long to change into a pair of jeans and a tshirt, so she was back out in moments. She slid into the passenger side of Thor’s truck with more of a smile. “Y’know, it’s really no surprise you’re with a psychic considering what the stories say about their importance with the norse.”
***
“She caught my eyes briefly before, and I did not think to pursue her, then caught my mind one day in conversation. The rest of me followed. Her senses, her powers, are fantastical, even to me, but I am glad I know her.”
He nodded, then poked her. “And you, as well, Maria. You are part of my life, and for that, I am very grateful.”
***
“Good,” Maria said with a bit more of a smile. “I’m happy for you. She seems like someone who doesn’t settle for one person easily.” Not judging by the blatant comments this Pamela made on the net. The woman really got around.
Then she smirked for the poke. “Because you’re a glutton for punishment.” She poked him back.
***
Thor nodded. “Aye. She does not. It is a mystery to me why she would choose to do so with me, but I am glad of it, nonetheless.” He nodded.
He smiled to her. “No doubt. Punishment that means spending time with a beautiful woman who makes me be better.”
***
Maria snorted but knew better than to argue with him about how good a person she was. In her memory, real or not, there were literal screaming matches that had sprung up between them because she’d accused him of exaggerating what kind of a woman she was. They hadn’t been fun.
So she decided to move the conversation to something else. “Barnes is going in the hole,” she said in a dead tone. “Same amount of time Methos was in there.” But not with the same experiences. No one would let anyone do to Barnes what he had done to Methos. It wouldn’t be a fair time served, in her opinion, but no one would want to hear that.
***
He remembered those, too, and winced, belatedly, not sure if he should have bit his tongue, then nodding as she moved on past it. He rubbed his face, and nodded as she spoke again.
“Ah. An olive branch?”
He was not sure how to feel about it, all things considered. It would change nothing, in Thor’s mind. The man had committed an act far beyond the sentence he was serving. But there was no justice in this town and no way to make it.
***
Maria was of the same opinion. She couldn’t get anyone else to understand because they were too blinded by the rationale of If it were my kid…. She needed to move past it, let it go, for her own sake as well as the sake of peace. It was just all bottled up inside. She thought maybe if she let it out to a trusted friend it would help.
“Hell if I know,” she said. “I’m not even sure I care. I mean, I do. I’m still fucking pissed, and it’s sitting on a low boil because most everyone doesn’t think he did anything wrong. How am I supposed to talk to these people now?” And as much as she’d like to go back to being Agent Hill the Hermit she’d left that behind.
***
“Then we spar, carefully. And you yell at me. Not because you are angry at me, but because I can take it, and i know you.“ He spoke the words softly as he drove. He would take it, and he would help her, somehow. He would not let her face this alone.
“We’ll find a way. You do not have to do this alone. Ever.” He would not let his friend face this weight without help.
***
Maria scowled at the dash of his truck for a moment then shook her head. “I don’t want to fight,” she said quietly. “I’m tired of being angry. Of fighting. I had just gotten used to this civilian life thing then everything went to hell.”
She gave a sarcastic huff of a laugh. “All we need is Tony showing up.”
***
He had begun to answer until she said that and his words turned into an abrupt snort. “Please no. That would be…” He shook his head. No.
He glanced at her and nodded.
“OKay. Then I will do my damnedest to help you every way I can.”
***
Tony showing up with be explosive. There weren’t nearly enough people who thought he had earned even an ounce of redemption. It could even go worse than it had with Methos. No, it was a very good thing Tony wasn’t here.
A small but grateful smile came to Maria’s face as she reached out to place her hand on Thor’s shoulder. “Thanks,” she said. “It...helps. To know that.”
***
“Anytime, Maria. You are my friend. Always. No matter what else happens.” he grinned at her. “And anytime you brood too much, I will remind you that i know every single spot that you are ticklish on.”
He smiled softly, belying his words.
***
Maria swatted his shoulder knowing he wouldn’t really feel it, and gave him a good natured grimace. “I know yours, too, you lug. And if you tickle me I’ll tell your psychic each and every one of them.” It wasn’t an idle threat, but it was in good humor.
***
Thor laughed and nodded. “Maria. It is good to see you smile.” He leaned over at a red light and kissed her cheek. Then sat back up to drive again.
“I hope you’re ready to eat, because I found the best place to eat lots of food.” He smirked.
***
“Yeah,” Maria answered with more of a smile. “I could eat.” And for once she meant it instead of just saying it to get Methos and others to stop nagging her.