Who: Haymitch and baby!Thor When: Tuesday during plot Where: Home then the park What: Dad and son time Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Completed gdoc
Thor smiled as he approached Haymitch, and Thor felt a surge of joy. His family, who had taken him in, was a happy one, and he was very proud of it. While he still loved and remembered his family back on Asgard, he had taken to and come to care for the family he had here, too. They were Midgardian and mortal and messy, and he loved them very much. His dad, here, was an amazing man, and he felt sure that Odin would not be worried or bothered by Thor’s adoption of this man.
“Dad! How’s Steph? Is she out today?” Time off from work and school meant a family day, and with mom off doing something for a few hours(probably seeing some of her friends), and since it also looked like Steph was out and about, too, that meant Thor got to hang out with his dad. It felt odd, knowing he had a sister in this world. But he liked it and doted on his older sister with all of his might.
***
Having been here among the longest Haymitch and Darcy were well versed in adjusting to things and having a tiny Thor around was definitely one of the easier adjustments. Especially since he seemed to think it was normal for them to be taking care of him. To the extent that he even called them mom and dad. It kind of helped them out since they also had an aged up Steph to worry about right now.
“Hey buddy” he said, “Steph is good, she’s out and about somewhere. You know your sister. So since it’s just the two of us how about we go to the park? It’s a nice day and I know you love running around” Working off excess energy was a great thing, especially when your adoptive son was a god.
***
“Sure! That sounds great!” Thor loved to be able to exercise, and stretch, and he loved being around his family, so both at the same time was really a win. Thor smiled at his dad to make sure all was well. He loved how amazing this man was.
“Has the current weirdness been affecting you and mom?” He knew something odd was going on, even though it didn’t seem to be affecting him.
***
“I think we’ve been lucky this time around” Haymitch told him, ruffling his hair with a smile, “How about you? Anybody said anything to you about it?”
Haymitch wasn’t going to lie and say nothing was wrong but he wasn’t about to say that Thor wasn’t their adoptive son or that he was usually older. Or that Thor’s ‘sister’ Steph was usually a toddler. Both he and Darcy were just hoping this wouldn’t last too long. So far nothing in Madison ever had.
***
“Nope! Not a one. So far it seems like even the displaced people are nice. I even met a nice person when I ran the errand yesterday and ran into that older Mercy kid. She was really cool!” She was like 18! It was amazing to Thor to run into new people still, and find people he liked around.
This place was so cool!
***
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it. You let me or your mom know if anybody says anything okay?” Haymitch said before smiling, “Come on then, let’s get to the park. Maybe you’ll make another new friend there today”
One thing that hadn’t changed when Thor had de-aged was his friendliness and Haymitch could see that as a child he enjoyed meeting people even more.
***
“Sure! I will.” He bounced and followed Haymitch, smiling as he listened. With Haymitch around, he found himself being the best version of himself he could be. Somehow this Midgardian family had given him hope, and he had no idea how to really deal with it, but he loved it, and them.
“How has work been, father?” He wanted to know everything. His family here had given him so much and he wanted to give back.
***
“Work is good, everybody is doing really well. Lots of positive thoughts have been coming.” Haymitch said, from what he had been able to work out it sounded like Thor knew Haymitch worked to help people get better. Addiction wasn’t the kind of thing to talk about with very young children after all. His first essay wasn’t due until the middle of next month so he hoped this would be over before then.
***
Thor nodded, listening. His dad was awesome. “Good. You do good work. And I’m glad people have you. Even if I have to share you, it’s good, because people need someone like you.”
Thor nodded, glancing up at his dad. He admired what Haymitch did, even if he was vague on the details. Thor knew it was because his dad was trying to protect him. And while he might have objected before, these days… he was glad someone felt that way about him, at all. He sighed at a sad thought that entered his head.
“I wish Loki was here. And could get someone like you to raise him. Maybe he would be happier. Maybe he wouldn’t grow up to be the god of Mischief.’
***
Haymitch put a hand on Thor’s shoulder as he looked down at him, “If Loki ever arrives he’ll have a place with us” he promised, “He’s your brother and we would welcome him” A grown up Loki might be a whole different thing but if a young version turned up nobody would hold the actions his older self did against him. That much Haymitch could promise.
***
Thor smiled and jumped to hug Haymitch, snuggling against the man for a long moment, then nodding as he pulled back. He beamed brightly. He knew, somehow, that he had ended up in the right place.
“You make me happy, dad. I don’t know how I ended up so lucky, so honored, but I am glad.”
Then he took his father’s hand and moved forward again. This day was going well.
“Is it okay to climb a tree at the park some?”
***
Haymitch hugged young Thor, patting his back and giving him a smile.
“I’m glad to hear it” Haymitch said, “I think your mom and I got pretty lucky too” Thor was a very sweet kid and as strange as the situation was Haymitch would be a little sad when everything went back to normal again.
“Oh I don’t see a problem with that, as long as you’re careful. Your mom would tell me off if you got hurt”
***
“Of course! I just am not so great at playing on the things other kids use. They aren’t built for Asgardians and they break. A tree is a little more sturdy, most of the time. “ Thor grinned at his dad and nodded.
“I wouldn’t want you to get yelled at. Not for something i did. I’ll be careful, I promise.” This was turning out to be a weird life. But maybe when Thor grew up he could establish a place for kids like him,who didn’t fit in with other kids.
Maybe someday. He grinned as he walked.
“Can I visit Ella tomorrow? If she’s not too tired?” Ella was a very nice person and almost a mom herself! She reminded him a lot of Darcy.
***
Thor was a good kid, that kindness he expressed as an adult was still there as a child and it was nice to see. For someone like Haymitch who had grown up with the games it was nice to see that kind of natural friendliness.
“I am sure you can. I bet your mom will even give you something from the bakery to take for her if you ask her”
***
Thor grinned wider. “Yeah? That would be awesome. I wish I was a better cook. I want to be able to make things for people.”
He wanted to make all kinds of things. He had already started studying how to craft things and had started trying all of them, from whittling. to carving stone, to learning the melting and tempering points of metals.
And baking and other kinds of cooking, too. Hanging around his family, and around Ella, helped. He had a chance to observe it front and center, and he learned fast. When he wanted to.
***
“You’ll learn if you want to, I have no doubt about that” Haymitch said, neither he nor Darcy were amazing cooks but they got by. “Once Ella has her baby I’m sure she’ll teach you, she’s the best cook I’ve ever met”
Reaching the park Haymitch was surprised to find it relatively quiet, though he was sure it wouldn’t stay that way. At least Thor would get a chance to climb all he wanted before more kids arrived and he got distracted by chatting to them.
***
“Thanks, dad! I’m going to climb now, okay?” Another hug, and then Thor grinned and started off. He paused as he did and turned back. “And dad? No kid, not Midgardian nor Asgardian, ever had better parents.”
With that, he loped toward the two trees in the middle of the park.