Loves snakes (the_mighty) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-05-22 04:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, freya mikaelson, thor odinson |
Who: Thor and Freya
What: Random encounters of old friends
When: 5/22
Where: only the best burger in California
Status: complete
Rating: PG-13
Thor hadn’t been back in the US in well over a year. Too many things going on, and if he was honest with himself he felt better being out there helping people than shaking his fist impotently at the resident in the White House.
His time with Doctors Without Borders had left him less cocksure than he had been before, but he hadn’t quite lost his swagger and it was virtually impossible to kill his smile, which beamed out at everyone as he walked to one of his favorite places in Orange County.
It didn’t seem like much, but they served the best hamburgers he’d ever had, and after sixteen months away, it was the first thing he wanted to eat.
After being back in the states for about nine months, Freya had managed to adjust for the most part. Though she also still travelled for work and was never able to just sit still and do nothing. It had never been her way. Now she had magic and could use that to help others as well, which meant Freya was probably doing more than she usually did. Because being able to help others was important to Freya. It always had been.
For now though, Freya actually had a break where she could go out and get some lunch. It was rare, so the blonde was going to take advantage of it. And the restaurant was close to her work so if an emergency came up, she could get back easily enough.
What Freya wasn’t expecting was to see Thor.
“Thor?” Because really. Talk about a surprise.
His burger was halfway to his mouth when he heard his name, and looked up, mouth still open on preparation for delicious delicious cow. He put the burger down and got up, grinning, “Freya!”
What kind of coincidence was this? It didn’t matter, back breaking hug it was.
It wouldn’t be Thor if she didn’t get a back breaking hug. Returning the hug, she smiled and then stepped back some.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal. I just didn’t expect to see you here of all places.”
Their paths always seemed to cross elsewhere which...okay. Freya had spent fourteen years overseas, that was to be expected. But Orange County of all places?
He set her down, running a hand through his hair but still smiled. “Nor I. I just got back into the country, and they serve the best burger. I haven’t had a good hamburger in months.”
“Fair enough. I’ve been back...nine months I think?” It was hard to say really. Time had a complicated meaning once one added in dreams of another life and all the insanity that happened on top of Freya’s normal schedule. “Where were you last stationed?”
“Syria,” He replied, the strain in his voice barely noticeable. It had probably been the worse place to be, but he’d sought it out. If Thor had regrets, he wouldn’t admit it. But it was hard to see the things he’d seen, to feel how powerless he’d felt at times and not come back changed. He’d saved lives, though, and even one life saved was reward enough. Somehow, he managed to convey all of that in the one word.
Freya gave a small nod. It was a small wonder she hadn’t run into him when she was literally popping over to Syria via magic to do her war crime investigation stuff while she’d been at the Zaatari camp. Though she had been focused on that and wasn’t visiting where Doctors Without Borders would be.
“Definitely not an easy place to be. I was just in Jordan for a couple of weeks for work.”
“That’s not much easier.” Thor shook his head, “Would that we were out of a job and not needed. “ But there were always natural disasters too.
He gestured at his booth. “Join me for lunch? You have got to try this burger.” He furrowed his brow, “Unless you were a vegetarian.”
“No, it really isn’t. But the work needs to be done.” And that was all there was to it, really. At least in Freya’s opinion. If she could bring help to those in need, if she could bring justice? Then she was going to do just that. Even if it meant basically 24 hours of travel each way and getting buried in work as she needed to catch up.
“Well when you put it like that.” Grinning some, Freya took a seat in the offered booth, “And I did hear that they have good burgers here. I just hadn’t gotten around to eating here yet.”
Too bad they couldn’t teleport, or travel really fast. Perhaps via hammer, or rainbow bridge. Thor nodded at her, then flagged down the waiter, “Get this woman a burger and add it to my bill.”
He grinned at her as he picked up his drink. “How are you adjusting to life back here?”
Transportation spells were wonderful but it was true that she couldn’t always use them. Or she could but it may raise suspicions. So things dealing with work? She let the UN handle that and she did her side travelling on her magic. Smiling in thanks to the waitress, Freya then turned her attention back to Thor.
“It’s been...interesting. My siblings are here though, so it’s nice being able to see them regularly.” If there was one thing that had always been hard for Freya in the past fourteen years, it was being separated from her siblings. “A lot has changed from when I was here back in high school though, so that’s been an adjustment but I seem to be doing okay all things considered.”
“Ah yes, siblings,” Thor replied, irony in his voice. “I haven’t seen mine yet.” Thor’s family was interesting. His father had had a lot of, uh, affairs. He'd grown up with his adopted brother Loki, and his two older sisters, Angela and Hela. He was also aware of at least four half-brothers, two via his father and two via his birth-mother. One of the former he'd actually met once. Balder was good people.
Honestly both his parents were sluts. And then there were the multiple step-mothers.
Freya had been one of the few people he'd talked to about his unusually large family. "I am sure they were happy to see you. I've yet to talk to any of mine."
Freya had understood the large family thing. After all, she was the eldest of 7 and while some were closer than others, it had been a lot. And they were all close in their own ways. Some more so than others, let alone the bond that came from the Dreams when the others didn’t dream.
“Well how long have you been back? I know it took me a few days to even have the energy to see people after flying in from Kiev.” Long flights, time zones…. She’d seen Elijah because she’d sent her itinerary for her to stay with him but she hadn’t known Klaus and Finn would be showing up and she had needed to rest before saying anything to the others because of that adjustment.
“And yeah. I think they were. But I’m sure your siblings will be happy to see you as well once you do see them.”
“Two days,” Thor replied, finally, finally taking a bite of his burger. If a man could be sunlight, that’s what he was right now, pure, burger eating sunlight.
After he’d savored his bite,he continued, “Some more so than others. I haven’t seen Hela or Angela in five years, and neither of them are on good terms with Father. Loki though, I can’t wait to see.”
Nodding in thanks as the waitress brought her own burger, Freya turned her attention back to Thor.
“So enough time to adjust to the time zone change.” Goodness knew that had been an issue for Freya. Then again, after showing up in the middle of an invasion, she hadn’t had time to sleep until it was over and that more or less covered the getting back on California time. But it had taken a few days to adjust after Kiev.
“Well if we’re being honest, there will always be bonds that are stronger between some siblings than others. Especially when there’s a lot of them.”
He grinned at her, “That’s pretty true. Even if sometimes those siblings drop snakes into your bed.”
Luckily, he loved snakes. Except when he had a girlfriend in that bed with him. And they were both in their 20s and still playing pranks. Oops.
A snake. All Freya could do was shake her head some at that.
“Let me guess, Loki.”
Because really, some things were just very obvious and from what Freya knew about Thor’s siblings? Loki would be the one who would drop a snake into his bed. Why? Who knew but that probably summed up Loki in general.
“Loki,” Thor confirmed, his grin widening. “So if you’ve been back longer, I’m going to have to rely on you to show me around a bit. And introduce me to any friends you’ve made.”
He raised his eyebrows, ”And friends?”
“I think that can be arranged.” Along with everything else that Freya had to do. But showing a friend around town, especially someone who well knew what it was like to be out of the country for so long. She did laugh at the raised eyebrow and emphasise on the word friend.
“Yes, there is a friend as well. Her name is Evie and I think you two might get along actually.”
Thor leaned his elbows on the table, leaning forward in interest. “Tell me about this Evie so that I might give her the shovel talk.”
“Oh god, not you as well. You are aware that despite me being the oldest, I have some very protective brothers?” And she was pretty sure that Klaus had threatened her girlfriend. Which….awesome. Really.
“But let’s see. She’s military, has spent time in the Middle East fighting. Has a brother in London.”
Even if she wasn’t going into too many details, Freya was smiling. Yes she was still concerned for Evie after her Dreams had finished and she was now either in London checking on Jacob or on a mission, but it was hard to deny that she was happy.
“Are your brothers doctors and thus know the most painful areas to break?” He was joking, of course. Hippocratic oath and a general mindset of not hurting someone unless they actually deserved it.
“You’re very fond of her. I’ve never seen you smile like that.”
No, her brother was just a hybrid who had no qualms hurting people and had snapped the neck of someone her mother set her up with. But no need to go into that. So she shrugged.
“Perhaps not.” Luckily she knew Thor and knew it wasn’t an actual threat.
The comment on him never seeing her smile like she was caused the witch to flush some then nodded.
“I am.”
“Good.” Thor nodded, like that was that, and gestured to her. “Now enjoy your meal and I’ll tell you the happier stories I have since we last spoke.”