Chapter 13: Regaling Tales

    Thor exited the cargo hold quietly, eyes roving around the room one last time before he allowed the door to slide shut behind him. Korg had guided them off of Midgard over an hour ago, and the quiet humming of support systems was finally starting to not make him feel edgy. Space travel had never been something he particularly enjoyed, as he could be an impatient man, but without the bifrost, this was the best he could hope for.

    Not to mention the risk of being intercepted by Thanos loomed in the back of his mind. The narrow escape they had made only days earlier still plagued his thoughts. That was too close of a call, and the fact they all could've been slaughtered haunted him. And he was sure he wasn't the only one thinking about it.

    Shaking his head, the god began his trek back up towards the pilot's deck but slowed as he noticed shuffling coming from within the galley. Lady Layla and Brunnhilde were supposed to stock the kitchens and medical bay, but he had thought that they would have been done already. Peering around the doorway, he noticed Layla leaning against the counter with a mug between her hands. Steam was rising from the cup and wafting across her face, her eyes were closed and a content smile stretched across her face.

    "Lady Layla?" Thor rumbled lowly, gaining the blonde's attention. Layla glanced up in surprise and straightened up, cup still clasped between her fingers. "Are you and Lady Brunnhilde not finished?"

    "Oh! No, we are. I just wanted something to drink and I pilfered some of Bruce's tea," she explained, beaming at the blond. "Brunnhilde was telling me about how the ship can use hydrogen and oxygen collected in space to make water if our reserves get low."

    "The ship has the technology, however I'm not very sure of the particulars," Thor replied with a grin, coming to lean on the counter as well, facing Layla. "This conversation led you to wanting tea?"

    "Well, no. I wanted tea to start with, but it's nice knowing we won't run out of water," Layla laughed, shrugging. "I also happened to notice a particularly large case of ale." She smirked at the god as she took a sip of her tea, making Thor laugh.

    "Ale is very needed, milady. What would we drink should we have cause to celebrate?" Thor watched the woman wrinkle her nose and couldn't stop the feeling of contentment and amusement it resulted in.

    Puffing out her cheeks, Layla rolled her eyes and shrugged. "You can have my ale. It's not my... well, not my cup of tea."

    "I'll be sure to drink your portion of the ale then," Brunnhilde replied, and Thor noted the awkward tone in her voice before she took her mug and left the room.

    Thor snorted and shook his head, lips twitching into a smile just as Layla spoke again. "I was going to hang out in the lounge, but your brother is having a pity party, err... don't tell him I said that, and yeah. I think I'll just go hang out in my room instead."

    "Loki has many, uh," Thor started, scratching the back of his head. "Well, he has moments where he is particularly troubled. I've found that it's best to usually leave him be, lest one be on the dangerous end of his daggers. He generally isn't one to discuss his feelings."

    Layla blinked at him for a few, long seconds before shaking her head. "He and Anja are going to get on so well and that thought terrifies me."

    Thor shrugged and started back towards the door, listening as Layla followed him. "Best not tempt the fates, Lady Layla. You, however, are welcome to join me in my room if you would rather be with company. I can regale you with tales of the nine realms."

    "Are you good at that, then? Regaling tales?" Layla was smirking at him and Thor was surprised by the wave of happiness, as well as sorrow, that swept through his body. This easy camaraderie reminded him of his friends that had perished on Asgard. Ones he hadn't had time to properly mourn.

    "Of a sort. Loki is an expert storyteller, but I would like to believe I can hold my own," Thor replied, shaking off the pessimistic thoughts as he came to a stop in the corridor outside of their rooms.

    "Well, I would definitely love to hear these stories. I'm sure you have many," Layla remarked, eyes bright with genuine excitement. "I'm going to grab a blanket, though. I'm a bit chilled."

    "What sort of barbarian do you take me to be, Lady Layla?" Thor laughed, gently wrapping an arm around the woman's shoulder and leading her towards his room. "I have blankets. And pillows. And clothing. Well... mostly armor."

    "Don't think I'm gonna fit into your armor, Thor. You're like... three of me," Layla snorted, lifting up one arm and moving it next to his. Her bicep was, indeed, quite small in comparison to his and he couldn't help but break into laughter.

    "On the contrary, I would really love to see how you look in my armor now. You would surely look like a child trying to wear their parent's clothing." Thor was grinning widely as he entered his room, taking in the few things of his that were in place already in his room. Moving towards his bed, he grabbed a thick maroon blanket that Jane Foster had given him a few years ago. Despite the breaking of their relationship, he found that it was hard to part from the gift when it had been a symbol of love before. Plus, it was a really nice blanket.

    "A blanket for the lady," Thor murmured, wrapping the plush fabric around the blonde. "Please, make yourself comfortable on the bed or the chair, whichever pleases you."

    Layla glanced around and moved to sit at the end of his bed, kicking her boots off as she got comfortable. Thor, too, kicked his own boots off and moved towards the bed, sitting so that he was propped up against the headboard area. Thankfully, he was clad only in his leather pants and a novelty shirt Tony had gifted him, with the image of Mjölnir printed on the front. Much more comfortable than his armor.

    "So, tell me a story, God of Thunder," Layla demanded, smiling and taking a sip of tea.

    "And what would you like to hear about?" Thor asked, lifting his arms and crossing them behind his head. "Great tales of battle? Or perhaps about the different realms?"

    "Yeah, that!" Layla chimed excitedly, turning so she was facing the man. "Tell me about the nine realms, please!"

    Thor smiled and nodded, humming as he pondered where to start. "Well, Yggdrasil is the great tree that connects the nine realms together- Asgard, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Midgard, Jotunheim, Svartalfheim, Muspelheim, Nilfheim, and Nidavellir. As you know, Asgard is - er, was, the home of my people, the Aesir. Alfheim is the home of the light elves, Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir, Midgard- the realm of humans, Jotunheim- the home of the giants, Svartalfheim- the home of the dark elves, Muspelheim is the realm of fire, Nilfheim is the realm of ice and fog- this is where Hel is located, the home to those who died outside of battle, and Nidavellir is the home of the dwarves."

    Thor paused briefly to look at his friend. Layla sat quietly watching him with bright eyes, trying her hardest to absorb all the information Thor was telling her. He was sure she was going to miss something, and would likely need further explanation later. It was a lot to process; Thor knew he certainly needed to be taught all of this more than once to retain it during his youth. After a few moments, he continued.

    "We head to Jotunheim, the realm of frost giants. It is a cold place, made of ice and snow, and its people are as blue as the glaciers that jut from the landscape. They are a monstrous sort of folk and make up many of the bedtime stories my people tell their children at night." Thor stopped speaking and sighed, frowning slightly. "My apologies. I came to realize that just because a few apples are spoiled does not mean the whole basket is. I do not see them as the monsters many made them out to be."

    "Every race has their own monsters," Layla sighed, wrinkling her nose. "I don't think it's ever a race as a whole. All of our kinds have terrible beings among them; humans, Asgardians, frost giants, whatever the hell Korg and Miek are... all of them have bad apples."

    "Korg is a Kronan, and Miek is Sakaaran," Thor elaborated.

    "Well... whatever. You know what I'm trying to say," Layla answered with a laugh. "Anyone can be shit, and anyone can be good. Doesn't matter what they are."

    "Right. Had that mentality been more common on Asgard, perhaps Loki would not have felt as betrayed once he learned of his true heritage." Thor swallowed and brought his arms down, placing them in his lap. "I fear I have done a great injustice to him. I have not fought for him or defended him in the ways he needed me to, and the loneliness he must have felt growing up..."

    "I cannot say with certainty what the future may bring, Thor, but maybe one day you two can be on better terms," the blonde gently murmured, staring down at her hands. "Do not lose hope and show him through your actions that you are there for him now."

    Thor stared at the young woman, face pensive. "Wise words, Lady Layla. I shall endeavor to do so."

    Layla smiled and shifted around, attempting to get comfortable. Thor, noticing this, gestured for her to come sit next to him at the head of the bed. Once situated, Layla leaned back and attempted to ignore the heat rolling off the god. It reminded him much of the first night he had stayed with them at the tower.

    "So do you think Jotunheim will welcome your people as an ally?" Layla pondered, turning to look at Thor. His head was tipped back with his eyes closed, looking for all the world like he was ready to sleep.

    "I'm not sure," he slowly replied, blinking his eyes open. "Loki and I have caused them much grief in our stupidity. Well, more grief than they were already experiencing anyway. My only offer to them is to give them a chance in the war against Thanos. The Mad Titan will destroy all and any realm, Jotunheim included. They deserve a chance and a choice."

    "I agree completely," she replied.

    "Do not take my words as a... as some kind of exploitation, I do not mean them as such. I say this because I am hopeful that with a group of Migardians the talks on Jotunheim will go more smoothly. Jotunheim may have a rocky history with Asgard, but perhaps they will be more sympathetic to your planet."

    Layla thought on his words and sighed, bringing a hand up to push through her hair. "Perhaps, perhaps not. Did they not try to invade Earth?"

    "They did, but that was long ago." Thor rubbed his palm across his face and frowned down at his bedspread. "Groups of people change, yes? What some may have done a thousand years ago may not hold influence over now."

    "I guess I see your point," Layla agreed. "Not going to lie, this whole thing scares me, but I'm willing to put that aside to make sure my planet, and our people, live to see another thousand years."

    "Spoken like a true warrior," Thor grinned, knocking his shoulder gently against the blonde's. "I'm honored to fight alongside you. I only hope your friends share that same mentality."

    "Spencer certainly does, and I am sure Anja is willing to fight anyone who looks the wrong way at your brother- let alone poses a real threat to him, so no worries," she assured.

    Thor laughed. "I think she will find he can hold his own, although I am sure he will be flattered."

    Layla smiled and shook her head in amusement, moving to stand up. "I think stories of the other realms can wait. Now that my body is no longer in motion, I'm feeling exhaustion creep in."

    "It has been a long day, Lady Layla. Get some rest, and I will see you in the morn... well, whatever constitutes as morning in space," Thor laughed, standing up as well. Stretching his arms above his head and groaning in relief at the stretch, he missed the girl's eyes widening and taking in the bunching of his muscles in his arms.

    "Right. Night, Thor," she murmured, quickly picking up her boots and moving out the door. Thor watched bemused at her retreating form, shaking his head.

    She must be really tired, he thought to himself as he prepared for bed. Shrugging, he tossed his leather gear in a corner and flopped into bed. It wasn't long before he was out like a light.

*****

Hey everyone! Thought I would post this a little early so I wouldn't have to worry about it over the next few days! Busy Christmas Eve and Christmas ahead of me, and all. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

I'm still working on the next chapter (as it's the fun bonus chapter!) so I may be a bit delayed in posting it. Hopefully I won't be, though!

~arty_writes

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