Following Our Own Script

Chapter Four

"But Odin set everything in motion. He sent Thor's sons after Kratos, who remind you, had previously been living peacefully in Midgard for years. He then came for a personal visit with Thor, just to invite Atreus to Asgard."

Heimdall spat at her. She was right. All of it. But Heimdall, even after what he saw in his father's mind, refused to listen.

"The mask will bring peace to the realms," he said. "With Ragnarok so close, the All-Father has gotten... desperate."

"You think his obsession came overnight? Heimdall, you're smarter than that."

"Don't try to butter me up, Mistletoe."

Frigg threw her hands in the air, walking away. Freyr looked from her to Heimdall.

"Want me to close him back in?"

"No. Only if he disrupts our planning."

"You think I won't be doing just that?" Heimdall laughed. "Run along, Sizzles. I need your company less than anyone else's."

The two rummaged through the house, pulling maps and journals to the table.

With their backs turned, Heimdall's taunting grin died. He'd never turn his back on his people. Frigg was wasting her time trying. Odin needed him still. He would save Asgard and his father.

- - - - - - -

"Why did you assume I'd be the little spoon? I'm massive as a bear."

Heimdall paused while shaking out his boots and looked up at Loki. "You.... you think I'd let you wrap yourself around me? In any form?"

Point made, Loki thought. Heimdall was more so wondering why he was so obsessed with the topic. Had saving his life gained him feelings of affection that quickly? Pathetic brat.

"How's your girlfriend, anyway? The ball she gave you doing it for you?"

"They're marbles. And she's not my girlfriend."

Heimdall rolled his eyes. "Right. And I can still play the hurdy gurdy."
"You play an instrument?"

"You don't?"

They slept until mid-day. The blistering cold of the storm had passed. Humidity hung in the increasingly warm air. By now, the two were fully clothed. Their tunics from yesterday were ruined. Upon drying, they were smeared with dirt and torn apart that they weren't salvageable. They packed them up to use as bandages for later, changing into the last of their spare tunics.

Hoping to find civilization after finally finding land seemed like too much to ask for. Maybe they'd go back to making clothes out of plants before finding a tailor.

"Do you need two hands to play the hurdy...?"

"Gurdy. I'm sure I'm more than capable of adapting. Haven't exactly had the time to practice."

"What about all the free time we've had while traveling?"

"Right, I forgot about the large instrument I brought with us." Heimdall laced Hǫfuð to his waste. Loki secured his bow. "More importantly, are you trying to compare me relearning a useless party trick to you passing up the opportunity to swim? I don't think so."

Their agenda was clear- travel into the wilderness and make some sort of a home base. They'd camp out until they replenished whatever supplies they could gather here for a day or two before committing to moving forward. Huginn had already taken off to explore the area. He'd circle back to them around nightfall. Until then, they'd stay relatively close to the coast.