stormsinafrica | Entries tagged with friendship

Many years had passed in the realm of Asgard since the passing of Eva, and a beautiful young noblewoman had come to the Palace to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. Of course she had heard of Loki and his propensity for causing chaos everywhere he went, but as he did not live at the Palace full time any longer she had yet to meet him. But that changed one day when she was walking through the halls of the Palace on an errand for the Queen, and she saw Loki laughing with a young girl.

Brynja felt her heart warming as she watched Loki doting on the child so tenderly. She knew of his reputation as a cruel and deceitful trickster, but what she was witnessing was something entirely different. The way he obviously cared for this little girl, made Brynja curious as to who she was.

"Brynja!"

When Loki looked in her direction, Brynja hurried along to meet the one who had called her and to complete he tasks.

The days passed, and Loki stayed on in the Palace with his daughter as Brynja realized, the more she found herself drawn to him. She often sought him out in the gardens or one the training grounds when she was free from her duties, hoping to always catch a glimpse of him. On one of these occasions she watched as he gave his daughter a lesson on wielding his preferred wepaon of choice, the daggers.

Then one day, Brynja decided she would do more than watch. She approached Loki as he watched Sigyn practicing with her bow.

"May I join you both?" she asked in a demure tone.

Loki turned to her, smiling faintly, he said, "Of course, my Lady."

They were silent as they watched Sigyn hit the target with remarkable precision for one so young.

Brynja broke the silence with a quiet compliment, "She's quite good."

Loki gave a nod, his eyes still on his daughter, his voice almost wistful, "Yes, she is. She takes after her mother in many ways."

Brynja was hesitant to voice what she was thinking, since after all she didn't know him personally. At last she spoke with sincerity, "I... I am so sorry for your loss, my Lord."

Loki nodded an acknowledgement of thanks but he did not take his eyes off of his daughter. He did speak, however, not sure why he said what he said to her other than it was grief presenting itself once more, "Thank you, my Lady. Eva... Eva was everything to me."

Brynja nodded, "it is true, I did not know her, but I think she would be proud of the way that you care for your daughter."

Loki smiled softly. "I hope so. I do hope so."

In the coming days, Brynja was less hesitant to make her presence known to Loki or Sigyn, and she began to spend more time with them. Every day they talked more, they even laughed, and Brynja found herself falling in love then even more in love with Loki. But Loki never gave her any signs he returned her feelings, and she knew it was because his thoughts were for his lost wife.

Then one day, Brynja found Loki sitting along on a balcony looking the city below.

"May I speak... openly with you?" she asked softly.

He turned to her, and nodded, "Of course. Please sit down." He made room for her to sit beside him.

"Thank you," she said, sitting down.

"We shall be returning home... Sigyn and I shall be going back to our home the day after tomorrow."

"Oh?" Brynja inquired, feeling her heart race, "But I thought that you both lived here?"

Loki looked at her, "No, we do not. Since Eva and I were wed, we lived outside the Palace in our own cottage. We come to the Palace to visit at certain times of the year, but the Palace has never truly been the home Sigyn has known in her life."

"I see."

The silence fell back over them, and a few minutes passed before he asked, "What did you wish to speak to me about, Lady Brynja?"

Brynja took several deep breaths trying to calm her heart and nerves. Did she really still want to give a voice to what she was feeling? One look at him told her that, yes, she did want to give voice to what she was feeling. She took a deep breath, and started speaking.

"I know that you will perhaps never feel the same way about me as I do about you, but i wanted you to know how much my thoughts and feelings regarding you have changed since I first met you. Watching how you are with Sigyn... and all the time and talks we've shared with one another has made me... come to love you, Loki. I love you not merely as a friend but... in another way as well. A deeper way."

Loki looked at her for a long moment, neither speaking or moving, and she knew she had made a mistake.

"I've made a fool of myself, and ruined what lies between us," Brynja said, standing up, "I am so sorry, my Lord, I never should have—"

He grabbed her hand before she could hurry off in humiliation, "No, please don't." He stood up so their eyes were on equal level. "My dear Brynja, you haven't made a fool of yourself or ruined anything between us. I had suspected it for quite some times, and I am sorry. But hear me out, I am not sorry because you feel the way that you do for your part. Rather, it is on my part. If we had met another time or way, I could perhaps return your love for me in the way you deserve. I am honored that you see me as being worthy of loving, but I am afraid I cannot return that love i the same way. I am still and shall always be in love with my wife, you shall. Eva isn't here any longer, has not been for many years, but I still love her with all of my heart."

Brynja looked deeply into his eyes, and saw the depths of his love for his late wife there. She nodded, and tried to hide her disappointment as she replied, "I understand, Loki. I... I just couldn't hold my feelings inside me any longer."

"And I thank you for sharing them with me. It is as I have said, I feel honored, both how you feel for me and for the courage you had to share your feelings with me. Pray, I hope we will still be able to be friends henceforth?"

"Of course, we will. I would like that very much," she said.

He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a small voice calling for him.

"Father!"

With a smile, Loki turned from her, and Brynja watched him go greet his daughter.

Just as she said, Brynja remained a friend to Loki from that day forward, grateful to be his friend.

Current Music: 1190 words

innitmarvelous_og

When Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Monica moved out of the tower to live in his childhood home, which had once belonged to his parents, Rhodey made a promise to Ethan and Eva. He assured them that they would be able to spend a couple of weeks there during the summer. After a few years, the time finally came for them to fulfill this promise.

As soon as they arrived, Ethan eagerly ventured into the neighborhood with his cousin Colton, leaving Eva with Aunt Monica since there were no other girls her age to play with. While Monica didn't mind having her niece around, Eva often found herself bored with the grown-up activities they engaged in. Recognizing this, they had a conversation with the boys about including Eva more in their adventures.

Although the boys agreed, they seem to do so somewhat reluctantly. Nevertheless, the morning after their discussion, the boys made plans to explore the neighborhood together again and invited Eva to join them.

"Be careful, kids!" Rhodey called out as the three of them embarked on their bikes.

"We will, Dad!" Colton promised, taking the lead.

They rode down the street and turned onto the next one, prompting Eva to inquire, "Where are we going?"

"You'll see!" Ethan replied, his voice carrying back to her.

Eva shrugged and followed her brother and cousin.

After a series of twists and turns, the boys stopped in front of an old, abandoned house.

Eva swallowed nervously and surveyed her surroundings. "I... I don't think we should be here, Ethan!"

But Colton and Ethan had already left their bikes at the curb and were motioning for her to follow them.

"Come on, Evie!" Ethan yelled.

Eva still had a feeling they shouldn't be doing this even as she abandoned her bike too, and hurried to catch up with them.

"You know, they say this place is cursed," Ethan told his sister.

"There's no such thing, Ethan!" she said, bravely.

"Oh, yes there is!" Colton interjected, "A whole family got murdered here, three of them kids! Now their spirits are trapped in the house's walls!"

Eva stopped a few feet in front of the door, "I don't want to go in!"

Her brother shrugged, "Okay, suit yourself but exploring this house is what we were planning to do today. If you don't want to come with us, you don't have to."

"Okay, I won't!" she said, and she start back for her bike.

"Just don't tell my Mom or Dad what we're doing!" Colton called out. "And don't go back home!"

"But I don't want to stay here!" Eva exclaimed.

The boys shrugged, "Again, you wanted to tag along with us!"

"Why are you being so mean, Ethan?" Eva asked, her voice trembling.

Ethan didn't answer her for a moment, then said, "I'm not trying to be mean. I just wanted me and Colton to be able to hang out and do what we want without anyone else."

"Yeah, we really didn't want a little scaredy cat tagging along with us to begin with!" Colton added.

Eva stared at them, tears welled up in her eyes, and overflowed. She turned and bolted back to her bike, riding off on it before they could stop her.

"Great!" Ethan grumbled, turning to Colton, "You know she's going back to tell on us!"

"Yeah, if she doesn't get lost first!"

At hearing that, it only took Ethan a second to go get on his bike, and take off after his sister.

Colton rolled his eyes, and got on his own bike, knowing if he did't catch them, they'd both get lost.

"Eva! Wait!" Ethan yelled.

Eva looked back when she heard him, and started pedaling faster, "Leave me alone!"

"Eva, stop!" he yelled, increasing his speed.

"No! I hate you! Leave me alone!" she yelled.

Colton huffed as he increased his speed to catch up with Ethan, "We've got to stop her! She's come up to the intersection!"

Ethan nodded, and pedaled as fast as he could go.

Eva saw him and went faster.

Colton pumped harder and passed Ethan.

Eva saw him and tried to increase the gap between them.

He came up beside her, "Stop!"

"No!"

"Stop now!" he ordered again.

She shook her head.

Colton reached up and grabbed her handle bars.

A car's horn was heard blowing.

Colton turned them both to the side of the road where the both crashed.

The driver of the car got out and ran over to them, "Are you kids okay?"

Eva was crying her eyes out, and Colton was cringing.

"Stay there, and don't move. I'll call 9-1-1!" the driver said.

Ethan arrived at that second, stopping then dropping his bike, and ran over to his sister and cousin.

He knelt beside her, "Evie, what's wrong?"

"My arm hurts really bad!" Eva whimpered, clutching it against herself.

"Let me see—"

"No, don't touch her! Her arm might be broken," the driver said, "I've called an ambulance. They'll take care of her arm." He looked at Colton, "Are you okay?"

Colton nodded, "I think so."

"They can look you over too just to be safe. Do you have a phone or do I need to call your parents?"

"Yeah I've got a phone. In my backpack."

"I think you should get it out and call them. Let them know what's happened, and that you're little sister have to go to the hospital."

Colton nodded, and took off his backpack.

"We're going to be in such big trouble for this!" Ethan said.

"Yeah, I know. Man, do I know!" the other boy agreed as he dialed his aunt.

Current Music: 940 words

innitmarvelous_og

James Rhodes, highly regarded as War Machine to the world, has been so much throughout his years of service. Years ago, he'd been paralyzed from the waist down at the German airport, and while some would have let that be the end of them, he didn't. He had fought back to return to walking, and thanks to a little help from Tony's special apparatus, he had walked again. Yet, with every battle and every victory, that had followed especially after the loss of Tony, it had all started to feel hollow to him.

Rhodey had been thinking about retiring from not only being War Machine, but also from the military. At his age, the constant battles have taken its toll on his body, and he knew he just couldn't keep fighting forever. Tony's death had rocked him down to his very core, and he been questioning if this life was really worth it anymore.

One day, when he was in his quarters of the rebuilt Avengers Compound packing, he heard a familiar voice behind him ask, "Going somewhere?""

He turned around, and saw the holographic version of his late best friend, and a pang of sadness hit him again, "Yeah, I just retired."

The Tony-hologram chuckled, but it was a chuckle without mirth, "You know, I really thought that the two of us would retire together. That we'd be old men, sitting on a beach somewhere exotic, and we'd be downing Mai Tais while we talked about the days we were out here kicking bad guys butts!"

Rhodey couldn't help but smile as he thought about the absurdness of getting to live a quiet, retired life together with Tony. Then the sadness that would never happen now hit him. He sighed, "Yeah, that would have been nice."

"But of course the universe had other plans," Tony-hologram said, flicking a second, "But I'm glad you're retiring, Rhodey. You've done more than enough for the world. It's time you looked after yourself first!"

Rhodes felt a weight lift off of his shoulders, "Thanks... Tony. I'll miss you." Even if you're not the real deal, you're the closest I've got now.

Tony-hologram gave him a warm smile, one of satisfaction and the knowledge that Thanos had been stopped once and for all time. Then the hologram smirked, "I know. But I'm always going to be with you, in some way or another."

With that, Tony-hologram vanished leaving Rhodey alone to finish packing which he did. Once he was finished, he took one last look around the room, then walked out of the door to get started on whatever the rest of his life would be. This might not be the retirement he'd dreamed of, but whatever came next was a new chapter of his life, and he was eager to get it started.

Current Music: 470 words

innitmarvelous_og

Tony was in his workshop with dozens of holographic displays lit up showing various projects he has been working on when Rhodey entered the room. When he took a quick glance over, he noticed that his BFF had on his War Machine armor.

Rhodey took off his armor, leaving it to be a silent sentry with the rest of its metal brothers, and then he walked over to Tony, "Hey, Tony, I don't know why but I've been thinking about our recent victories a lot. It's unbelievable what we've been able to do together."

When Tony glanced up from his work, Rhodey thought his friend looked wearied, and when Tony actually spoke, he confirmed it.

"Yeah, I know we've have some big successes, but you know what they say, Platypus: Success is not final."

Rhodey gave a nod as he understood the sentiment that went behind Tony's words, "You know, you're right about that, Tony. I mean success is just a passing moment in time, right? It's what we do next that actually matters."

Tony leaned back, and stretched out his legs, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know, we have saved the world so many times, but there will always be a new threat coming down the road in the future. We can't stop to rest on any kind of applause we might have gotten for our heroics. No, we have to keep looking forward, and try to be ready for whatever might come."

Rhodey nodded, and after a few seconds of silence, he motioned for Tony to get up, "Now if we're all done philosophizing, I need you to take a look at my armor. I'm having some issues."

With another stretch, Tony got up, and gestured for him to lead the way, "You started it, you know."

"What? Started what?"" Rhodey said on his way back to his armor.

"The philosophizing!" Tony retorted, making air quotes with his fingers even if Rhodey wasn't looking at him right then.

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

Yes, you—"

Rhodey threw up his hands, "Okay, maybe I did! Can we please just get on with looking at the armor?" 

Tony smirked at him, and said, "So tell me, what seems to be the problem?"

Current Music: 380 words

innitmarvelous_og

When Tony had just snapped his fingers and defeated Thanos once and for all, he knew exactly what the cost to him would be. He knew there was no possibility of surviving the power of the Infinity Stones, and they would leave him fatally wounded. As he began to fade away, he could feel his consciousness drifting until he found himself in a strange and ethereal realm.

He stood on an endless plane that glowed in shades of red and pink. Where was he? Was this Heaven? Or was this Hell? He didn't know, and he had nothing to base any sort of conclusion on. As he looked around, he saw a single stone floating in the distance. When he started to walk towards it, he felt another presence nearby. As he turned, he saw a familiar figure standing before him.

It was Ho Yinsen, the man who had sacrificed his own life to help Tony escape captivity in Afghanistan all those years ago. At seeing the other man, Tony felt a flood of emotions - among them, immense gratitude.

A warm, welcoming smile was on Yinsen's face when he said, "Hello, Stark. It's good to see you again."

Tony was at a loss for words, "Yinsen... you're so how am I seeing you now? How is this possible?"

Yinsen did not speak, waiting patiently while Tony figured things out for himself. 

"I'm dead aren't I?" Tony said suddenly, "I'm dead, and this is some sort of afterlife?"

"No, you are not dead, not yet anyway," Yinsen told him, "Your life is hanging by a thread. What is the last thing you remember before waking up here, and see me?"

"Thanos. I remember he had the Stones, and I fought he for them to keep him from snapping his fingers. He threw me away like I didn't weigh any more than Morgan's favorite toy dog and then I...I remember that I snapped my fingers."
Yinsen nodded, "Yes, you welded the Infinity Stones, and with their the power you saved the universe. And in doing so, you will pay a heavy price. Your physical body is dying, but your spirit as always is still strong and determine. That's why you're here."

Tony looked around where they were, and then he looked to Yinsen, trying to understand. "Where are we? What is this place?"

Yinsen smiled once more and gestured, "This place is the Soul Realm generated by the Soul Stone. It is a place where those who sacrifice themselves or are sacrificed by another in order to obtain the Soul Stone go."

"But I already had the Soul Stone. I wasn't... wait she sacrificed herself to get the Stone. Does that mean this is where Natasha is? Is this where she went after she... she..." He could not finish the question as he remembered Clint's account of what had happened in Vormir. He'd been heartbroken by her death, as had they, and their heartbreak had been the reason they'd gone forward with their plan.

Yinsen gave a solemn nod, "Yes, this is where Natasha Romanoff went when after she made her sacrifice for the Soul Stone. However, this place is not the final destination. She was here for a little while, but her spirit has moved on to a different plane of existence."

Tony was quiet for a moment, thinking about Natasha and all the sacrifices that had been made to bring this moment into being. Finally he asked, "So what now? What happens to me?"

"You have a choice to make, Stark," Yinsen said.

"A choice? What kind of choice?"

"One where you can stay here for a little while then move on as Natasha did when you're ready. Or, you can go back. You can return to the world of the living and finish what you started."

Tony thinks of Pepper and Morgan instantly, and about how he wants to be with them. He also thinks about the kid... Peter, how he had literally just gotten him back, and how he doesn't want to leave him again so soon. Rhodey, they'd been brothers for almost forty years. Did he want to leave him right now? And what about Happy? He is pretty sure Happy would have a hard time dealing with his death if Tony made the choice to move on.

"I have to go back," Tony said finally, "I have to finish what I started."

Yinsen nodded, "I thought you might say that. But remember, Stark, the path ahead is not an easy one. You were gravelly wounded by the Infinity Stones. The road ahead of you is a long and very painful one."

"As long and painful as leaving everyone I love behind?" Tony countered.

"Point well taken. They will give you strength for the road again. Just remember to swallow your pride once in awhile and let them help you when it feels like it is too much to take.

"I will," Tony nodded, feeling a newfound determination. "Thank you, Yinsen. Thank you for everything."

Yinsen smiled again. "Well, this is goodbye for now. Stark. Remember I'll be watching."

"So we'll see each other again?"

"Yes, when the time comes for you to move on."

And with that, Tony felt his consciousness returning to his physical body. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground, surrounded by family and his friends. The road would be hard, of that he could be sure, but he was ready to face it.

Current Music: 921 words

innitmarvelous_og

Bruce Banner had always been different from other people. He had never been interested in either power or dominance, but rather in compassion and empathy. He was a scientist by profession, but it was his kindness and gentleness that truly set him apart.

One day, while on a research trip to a small village in a remote part of South America, Bruce was approached by the father of a little girl who was sick. He explained to him that since their village was so remote, they had no access to a doctor, and his wife was at her wit's end at how to help their little girl. After Bruce agreed to help them, her father told him his daughter's name was Maria as he led Bruce to his family's home. 

Maria was her lying in bed, looking weak and feverish. Sitting down  beside her, Bruce began to talk to her in a gentle and calming voice.

"Hi there, Maria. My name is Bruce. I heard that you're not feeling well. Is that right?"

The little girl nodded, "I don't feel good."

"I think I can help with that but first I need to take your temperature and ask your mother so questions. Okay?"

"Okay," Maria said.

After putting on some gloves, Bruce took out a thermometer from his bag, "Okay, sweetie, I need to stick this under your tongue. It needs to stay there for a few minutes."

Maria opened her mouth, and allowed him to put the thermometer under her tongue.

"Okay, Maria, close your mouth please. I'm going to watch the time, and I'll let you know when it's time to take it out. Okay?"

She nodded again.

While they waited for the right time to take out the thermometer, Bruce turned around and said hello to the little girl's mother. He then asked her a series of questions about how long Maria had been sick, and what her symptoms were. When he finished, it was time to take the thermometer out.

Bruce felt all of their eyes, especially Maria's parents' eyes on him as he read the numbers there. He looked at Maria, "Well, sweetie, you've definitely got a fever, but the good news is, it's not too high and I have some medicine with me that will help bring it down. The only thing is, I have to warn you, the medicine doesn't taste all that great."

Maria made a face at hearing this.

"I know, I know, but I promise you, Maria, it's going to help you feel all better," he said, while taking it out of his bag, and getting the dose ready. "Can you sit up for me, Maria?"

Maria nodded, and tried to sit up, but soon it was obvious the little girl was too weak. Her mother started to come over to help her, and Bruce told her, "I've got this." She stayed back as he helped the girl sit up, and then he picked up the small cup again.

"Ready?" Bruce asked.

"Yes," said the little girl.

"Okay, on the count of three. One... two... three." He put the cup to the girl's lips, and Maria took it into her mouth.

She swallowed it without spitting it out, although she did make a face, "That was yucky!"

"I know, sweetie, and I'm sorry. But like I said, it's going to help you get better soon. Ready to lay back down?"

"Yeah," she said.

After Maria was settled back down, and it was obvious she wasn't going to go to sleep, and her parents approved, Bruce decided to stay with her awhile. Bruce asked her about her favorite things to do and about the games she liked to play. Maria also told him about her dolls and how they went on grand adventures together all over her hometown.

Bruce smiled as he listened to the little gir.l He'd only been in their family's home for about an hour, but he could tell the little girl was already seeing him as a new friend.

After a little while longer, Maria started to yawn, and Bruce insisted she tried to get some rest now. Once she was settled in the bed, Bruce handed the medicine to her mother, and gave her instructions on how to give it to Maria. He looked over to see the child asleep so, he said a quiet goodbye to the parents, and was about to leave when the little girl called out.

"Bruce?"

He stopped at the door, and looked at her, "Yes?"

"Don't go!"

Bruce smiled at her, "But I need to, sweetie. You need your rest, and there are some other little boys and girls who need me to check up on them. But I'll come back in the morning to check up on you, and we'll talk some more, maybe play a game if you're feeling like it. Okay?"

Maria yawned again, and nodded, "Okay." Her eyes closed, and she was asleep.

Current Music: 827 words

innitmarvelous_og

Director Phil Coulson was having a busy week at SHIELD Headquarters, managing multiple operations and fielding countless phone calls from his team. He was grateful for the help of his most trusted agents, Daisy Johnson, who had been working alongside him for years. He never could have dreamed that when they found her in the back of her van tracking to hack her way deeper into SHIELD's mainframe, how much of a part of his life she'd be.

Despite the chaos of their work, Coulson always made sure to take a few moments each day to check in with Daisy and make sure she was doing okay. She'd been through so much in her life, especially with the last few years after learning the truth about her parents and discovering she was Inhuman. He knew how much pressure she was under, with her unique abilities and the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, and he always wanted to be sure she was as okay as she could be.

One day, as they were both taking a breather at the same time in the break room, Coulson noticed that Daisy looked particularly tired. He knows she's been working non-stop on one thing or another for days, and by the weary expression on her face, it was starting to take its toll.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Daisy gave him a look then, shrugged. "Just a very long week, you know? And it's okay like, what, Monday? Or is it Tuesday?"

Coulson nodded, taking a seat beside her, "It's Monday. But yeah, I hear you. But you've been doing great, Daisy. You're making a real difference out there."

Daisy smiled faintly, "Thanks, sir. I appreciate it."

As even more of the week wore on, he continued to check in with Daisy, and they worked together to tackle each challenge every freak, super villain, or HYDRA presented to them. By the end of the week, they had successfully completed several missions, and Coulson knew it was time to give the team a little downtime.

"Hey, how about we grab a drink tonight?" he suggested, grinning at Daisy.

Daisy raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing when she asked, "Are you asking me out on a date, sir?"

Coulson laughed. "No, no, just a friendly drink. I think we've earned it after this week."

Daisy grinned back, "Sounds good to me."

And so, that evening, Coulson and Daisy, along with Mack and Yo-yo headed to a nearby bar to unwind and chat about their week. They laughed and shared stories, forgetting about their crazy world and work for just a little while.

Current Music: 443 words

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Entries tagged with friendship

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Fill 38: Unrequited Love

Fill 33 Card 2: Haunted Place

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