WHO: Thor and Valkyrie WHEN: Around the time Valkyrie got out of quarantine WHERE: The Waterin' Hole WHAT: The two get as wasted as two Asgardians can in this town, and talk about current events. WARNINGS: alcohol use, spoilers for Ragnarok STATUS: gdoc, complete!
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Being out of quarantine was far preferable than remaining in it for a day longer. While she genuinely appreciated all the alcohol provided to her (not a drop of it was left either), it hadn’t whiled away the hours as quickly as she’d have liked. When Thor turned up on her last day, that had been nice. Bruce had stopped by, too, but neither of them had remembered Valkyrie. She was too proud to admit that stung a little bit.
She didn’t hold it against them, though she would hold it over all their heads.
Thankfully, now that Thor did remember her, he knew exactly what she needed: a round at the bar. It wasn’t as noisy as the bars in Sakaar, let alone Asgard, but it had liquor in all kinds of wonders, so that was all she cared about.
With a bottle of the cheapest whiskey in hand, she plopped back down in the seat in front of Thor and slid a mug of beer over to him.
“That fool over there paid for it,” she nodded at the whiskey. “Think he thought I was going to share. Joke’s on him.”
Thor didn’t like not remembering someone. It made him feel as if maybe Loki had done something to his mind, and his trust in his brother was once again foolish. But then the memories came back to him and sadness filled him. Sadness for Asgard, sadness his sister was a crazy murdering bitch, and well…. That was the only sadness. The rest of it felt good. He had a new friend, helped Banner get off of Sakaar, and Loki came over to his side. Things were pretty good.
Thor rubbed his head, still not sure why he cut his hair off. He felt like it needed to be done because of the memories. Superstition, really. That and Bruce said it looked good when he first saw him.
When Valkyrie sat down across from him with a drink, he smiled wide and took a long swig before responding to her. “Ah. You do seem to attract the eyes of both men and women, Valkyrie, I would not call them foolish for seeing you that way. They have good eyes.” Was he flirting? No. Thor was just being nice. He thought everyone deserved to be told they were beautiful every day.
As always, any praise from him was in swift receipt of an eye roll. Well aware of her own looks (she had used them to her advantage on more than one occasion on Sakaar), she didn’t need the praise. Never mind that Valkyrie grudgingly accepted it with a very faint grin in appreciation. Thor’s attitude toward life wasn’t infectious, but it was… endearing enough.
“His credits that he’s not getting anything out of,” shrugged Valkyrie, taking a swig. Intent on trying all the world’s liquors while she was stuck on Midgard seemed like an ideal game plan, but she suspected his majesty might have other thoughts on what to do while grounded.
“Going to keep that look, then?” She asked, nodding at his hair. “Not the same without the eyepatch.” It wasn’t an insult -- Valkyrie saw it as a badge of honor for Thor, a memento for having saved Asgard at all cost.
He held the bottle between his hands, feeling how fragile it was, how easily it would break. Midgard was full of things such as this. That’s why it needed protecting. He felt sorrow for not being with his people, however, knowing not where they were if their heroes were all here.
“Bruce said it looked good.” He shrugged. Thor’s first two fingers came up to touch his right eyelid, remembering the pain he felt when his eye was wrenched from the socket by sword. “It would worry the others. Best they don’t know any of what happened.”
He stretched his feet out and accidentally met hers. “Oh, sorry there.”
Such a stubborn god. Her grin widened behind the brim of the mug. She liked the bigger cups, though they were just as easily downed. After this round, she’d work on another Midgardian male who had a fair amount of coin to spend on her. They would get nothing in return out of Valkyrie that night, she would remain at her king’s side.
Although Bruce didn’t remember her, a notion that did rattle her still, she had enough alcohol coursing through her system now that it didn’t cause Valkyrie to falter. If he didn’t want others to know, then she would remain mum on further details.
“There’s some good to be had here,” she started. “You’ve gotten Mjolnir back.”
Arching a brow at the sudden contact, he was met in kind with a gentle (enough) kick against his shin. “I’ve not had enough of this piss they call ale here to be taken in by that nice haircut, majesty.”
Thor put his hands up in defense, releasing his bottle of beer. “I meant no harm, Valkyrie. These Midgardian accommodations are smaller than what we need.” Though, he did grin when he went in to take another drink. “I might get a big mug like you, these bottles are made for children.” He thought back to Dr. Strange and his never-emptying mug of beer. He could go for one of those. Maybe Strange could magick him up a mug to do that all the time.
“It never went anywhere, it stayed by my side. I woke up with the memories, sheared my hair, and went about my business. Still have my eye, still have Mjolnir. All the good stuff along with the other good stuff.” Thor chuckled. He didn’t think of himself as a king, especially not here. Not in Tumbleweed. Not to Valkyrie or Loki. Banner hadn’t spoken to him the entire time he had been here, so he had no idea how that man was faring.
If she knew about a never-ending mug of ale, she’d be out befriending Doctor Strange the following day. After a hangover, of course. At least being Asgardian meant she could bounce back faster than the average bear off their alcohol, but it would be a slight hindrance to something so horribly appealing.
His chuckle was met with a smirk. Thor was large (and very much in charge these days), so she didn’t actually fault him for the brush. Valkyrie just as well assumed them to be equals, his royal blood aside, and with it figured any fanboying he might still possess over her, or attraction, had ceased.
“Almost the best of both worlds,” she responded, a twinge of lamentation for the circumstances they’d been forced to vacate twice over now. No matter the universe or his own personal reservations, he was the king of Asgard and she would treat him that way.
Most of the time.
“Not had nearly enough for bordering on heavy talk though,” Valkyrie said and slid him her mug. “Here. Finish mine off, I can get another off a different bloke.” She was determined to make it through the entire selection of beer on tap before the night was over.
Thor was daydreaming about the never ending mug of beer when she spoke again. He snapped out of it and nodded, “Almost.” She handed over her drink and he took it, downed in it one, and sat it down between them.
He still fanboyed her hard, and maybe there was a little bit of attraction there (though he was still broken up about Jane dumping him-- mutual dumping, mutual) but he respected her, as he did all of his friends, warriors, and general folk. Thor was a man of the people now, so unlike what he was before. The prince who wanted all the glory, women, and stories about himself. Now he held a certain regard for Asgardians and Midgardians alike, finding that each and every one of them was fighting a battle he could not see. Even though he gave up on Loki while on Sakaar, Loki came back and proved him wrong-- which would forever stick in Thor’s brain. He’d never give up on his brother again.
“Thank you, Valkyrie. For everything.” He reached out and tried to cover her hand with his.
Regardless of appearances, loyalties, or whatever else — he had wormed his way under her skin and there Thor would stay. It was for that reason she didn’t treat him as abrasively as she had when their paths had first crossed. Valkyrie would be loathe to admit that she valued his efforts to bring her back to Asgard. His efforts had brought back a piece of herself that she had sworn would never be fixed. He didn’t have to push her, but he had and now there they were drinking together on Midgard a universe or two away from an unknown destination.
Letting him have the gesture, she leveled him with her gaze rather than show any outward sign of being affected by his touch. Whatever level of affection she did have for him remained quelled in favor of committing to her old place as a weapon of Asgard.
“If we are going to have a moment, majesty,” she paused to lean over the table with a sly grin, “we’ll be needing more drink.”
This time the tap she gave against his leg was kinder, almost playful. Immediately contravening the action, her slyness dipped into a soft, appreciative smile.
“I’ll only say this once: I got more out of this deal than you did by a long shot. I can never repay you for that, but…” she slid her hand out from under his to flag down a server. “We can drink ourselves stupid to the glory of Asgard and… this. Deal?”
He held his hand there for a moment until she gazed into his eyes and it could have brought him to his knees. Warrior women, gah. Thor quickly pulled his hand back and let out a laugh, trying to hide his sudden shyness. Thor was not shy! Thor did not swoon! But … he did want to be a Valkyrie like her when he was young. To be an elite force, to be the ones who guided souls to Valhalla… it was top tier stuff, folks.
Thor shook his head, shaking the cobwebby thoughts from it. “It takes a lot to drink me stupid, dear Valkyrie.” He then put his hand out to wave to the server. The girl saw him and let out a heavy sigh. She recognized him from his first few nights in this town. He drank a lot.
A few pitchers of beer were delivered, along with tall glasses to pour them into. Thor held his glass high to clink against hers, “To Asgard!”
He looked over his glass and strained his eyes to watch her drink. It was very likely he was coming into a bit of a crush on her. He only hoped she didn’t have a thing for Banner. Wait, why was he thinking such things? Thor was a king now, he should think of his kingdom, not himself. On the other hand, he was stuck in Texas. Upon draining his glass and setting it down with a thud, Thor felt a little uncomfortable. Between Valkyrie and Loki, he was having a hard time keeping things straight. The two of them put him through the wringer. One was a friend who tugged at his heart, the other was his brother-- trying to convince him that he was still an deceitful being.
Glad to be rid of the heaviness, though she’d gladly begrudge him some sentimentality, she raised the delivered pitcher and returned the cheers. “To Asgard,” she affirmed, but paused before taking a sip. “And to our king, hmm? Drink to that any day.” With a wink, Valkyrie mirrored him in all but inhaling her drink and slammed it down on the table. The bartenders would grow accustomed to that sound as a sign to return to pour another round soon enough.
“You’re right,” added Valkyrie with a cheeky tone in her voice. “Can’t drink someone stupid that’s already there.” With a bold laugh, she reached over to sock him on the shoulder. They’d had how many rounds by now? She hadn’t been counting, but it was far more preferable to be receiving them in the tall glasses. The bottles were child’s play. To go from a stranger in his eyes to perhaps something more akin to an apple, he had run her emotions around the planet several times over now. It had bothered her more than Thor didn’t remember her, less so that Banner held no recognition. She had, after all, been much closer to the Hulk despite the fact that she was the one to capture him. He didn’t seem to begrudge her for it.
Thor was her first connection to Asgard in such a long, long time.
“How’ve they not banned you from this place now?” She asked with a hearty laugh, drink coursing through her.
Thor shook his head gently, puckering his lips and tasting the beer against his gums. “I am no King here, Valkyrie. I hold no power over you or any of the other Asgardians. My sister would probably not have it, and you know how Loki is-- well the other doesn’t believe himself to be Asgardian, so…” He shrugged his broad shoulders and crossed his arms. He was dressed in Midgardian garb, a simple t-shirt and jean jacket. He still had his cape and armor, but just like Mjolnir, they were not needed here.
He just sat and smiled stupidly at her, before realizing what she said. His smile faded, and he uttered, “Hey, wait a second now, don’t you hold me in high regard, like maybe a king?” The smile reappeared and he slapped the table, “Another round over here, this pitcher is empty again!”
Thor realized then he could get used to this. It was nice to be with another Asgardian-- he hadn’t seen the Warriors Three or Sif for some time. The Warriors Three were probably dead, he suddenly thought. He knew Sif wasn’t on Asgard. At least she was safe.
It was good to see him relaxing. They’d been through a hell of a battle. He could deny his kingship while they were there all he liked, but there was some tradition Valkyrie would uphold while they were together. It wasn’t drinking excessively or being larger than life compared to Midgardians, but rather that she would be his loyal retainer. She supposed, however, being a friend to him might be more suitable.
Or maybe that was the booze talking now.
“You’re not a king to the Midgardians, but I am of Asgard and you are my king, your majesty,” she finished with a liquor-laced lilt and smirk. Asgard wasn’t a place, and so she would follow her king--not blindly, of course. She was not nearly as trusting of Loki as he was attempting to be now, no matter that she couldn’t entirely fault him for his precious optimism.
With drinks refilled and a tab rising, Valkyrie abruptly rose and perched herself atop the table. “May the drink flow freely and the reign of his majesty be much the same,” she toasted to the air and drank her fill again. With a loud smack against the wood, her mug wobbled and nearly turned over. “Look at that now, I’m higher up than you,” she snickered and reached over to prod a finger against his chest. Unlike him, she had retained her armor. It was all she had once released from quarantine, and the strange looks she’d initially gotten had waned along with sobriety. “Not so bad up here is it, eh? Might carve my name on the table somewhere…” And there went her inebriated attention span as she leaned over to discern a worthy spot of being marked.
Thor shook his head while smiling, maybe a little strained, maybe a little embarrassed. He felt like he was ready to take over for his father but wished that he or his mother still existed in some plane of existence to guide him. With Valkyrie and Loki at his side, however, maybe he would find some guidance.
The alcohol was starting to affect his Asgardian body. There was enough of it, and he would hope that he had a job with this Jessica Jones, lest he never repay the bar. Thinking of that instead of watching Valkyrie climb up on the table meant he was caught off guard when she poked him. “Come now, get off the table,” he said through a goofy smile. “Do I have to take you back to the Avengers house over my shoulder?” As if he could possibly get her into such a position. She’d sooner punch his lights out. God of thunder or not, she was faster and likely stronger than him. But it wouldn’t hurt to goad her a bit.
They would be the loudest pair in the bar by the end of the night. She had no concept of time anymore, but that was good. That meant the drink was doing its job, and few things on any planet were more pleasing to her than a solid breach of a buzz. This was something of a celebration for them, she realized through the haze. They had stopped Hela, saved their people, and were now reunited once more.
Not bad for being only a couple of days shy off her own redemption.
“I like it up here,” she sassed back stubbornly, tongue clicking at him and paired with a wagging finger. Despite the exasperated looks from the staff, Valkyrie remained firmly rooted in her place. His empty but bold threat had her immediately scoffing and then laughing, that same finger suddenly pointed mere inches from his nose.
“You may be the God of Thunder, but I’ll rumble my own way back to that place. If anyone’s getting carried out of here…” Hiccup. She was doing well. “It’s you.”
Thor watched her with a somewhat bemused look on his face. What was confusion soon turned to a smile that cracked his face, “You like being on a throne, milady?” He had no idea there were fedora wearing freaks that sullied that word, forgive him. He reached out and tried to grab her wagging finger near his face.
If caught, he’d just hold it still.
“I am quite large, are you sure you could pick me up?” Maybe it was a dare, maybe it was one sure way to get kicked out of the bar. She hiccuped and he let out a guffaw, “I’m holding my alcohol you than better!” Then he stopped and thought about that sentence. Okay, maybe he wasn’t.
Not getting the euphemism either, Valkyrie quirked a grin at him. “So what if I do?” It had been a long time since she’d even considered herself remotely worthy of a royal court. She had a lot to reclaim for having fearfully abandoning her post. With Hela out of the way, that was something she’d silently sworn to herself, and to Thor, that she would do from that point on.
Finger caught in his grasp, she didn’t seem to notice--at first. When she did, she polished off her mug with her free hand, dropped the mug carelessly onto the table, then attempted to grasp his hand with the intent of pulling him closer.
“That a challenge?” She levied with a grin still firmly in place until his ensuing laughter and pause combined sent her into stitches as well. “Perhaps it’s time we both took our leave of this place, your majesty.”
Thor was pulled forward and was quite alarmed at that fact. Nose to nose with her, his smile was wide and toothy. “It may or may not be a challenge, yes.”
Suggesting that they leave the place was a loaded gun. “Where ever shall we go?” Thor wasn’t sure if she was trying to get him to go back with her or to go back with her. Normally, he had a way with women, but this one wasn’t one he was used to. Not to say she was any better or different than other women, just that he couldn’t figure her out.
That was the point when the bartender pulled out his baseball bat and set it on the counter, glaring at the two Asgardians.
Now this was closer than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but she felt a strange sort of flutter course through her system. Later, she would wholeheartedly blame it on the booze and think nothing of it. Given that he was her king, Valkyrie suspected she should have been behaving better, but… when in Midgard? Do as the Midgardians.
“I’ve got no idea where that compound is you spoke of,” she responded. “But, I imagine there’s a b--” Cut off by the bartender’s intrusion, she turned her head to scowl at the man. Immediately withdrawing from Thor, she slid off the table and gave the man a not-so gentle shove with her fingers. “That supposed to intimidate me? Wrong move.”
Thor jumped up and quickly stuck his arms in front of Valkyrie. “No no no no,” and as the bartender started to respond-- in the form of picking up the bat and coming around the bar, Thor made a decision. He reached down and slung Valkyrie over his shoulder in a fireman carry, holding tight so she wouldn’t wiggle away-- of fall down, since he was a little buzzed himself.
“Thanks for the ale, tender of bar! We will be on our way” He patted her back and walked out the front door. Once in the cool air, Thor’s eyes went wide. “Sorry.” He was still carrying her but he’d keep his hands to himself.