it was only late night when thor had touched down in new asgard.Β upon leaving, very early morning.Β for five years, the small village had been accustomed to a set amount of people.Β in a matter of moments, that amount had doubled.Β deciding where to put everyoneβ who is best suited for which homesβ takes time.Β settling disagreements.Β thor must also approach it tenderly; these people are learning they lost time in a mere blink.Β they are learningβ¦ that despite how the devastation never truly left the hearts or minds of who had been left behind, the universe continued on without them all the same.Β just as well, families are reunited.Β friends, lovers.Β it is a bright spot in an otherwise dark and roiling sea of chaos.Β adjusting will take time.
he feels as though he is at the helm of it.
to accommodate the new influx, there must also be an increase in trade.Β they need more clothes, food and drink.Β and their count must be kept track of; he doesnβt intend to disappoint the governance of norway after they graciously allowed the asgardians to settle.Β discussing with brunnhilde the ways in which they can give back to the economy rather than only take.
releasing his hands, one wraps around the bottle deemed his, and he can hardly help the relieved exhale when he lifts it to his mouth.Β itβs more than a sip, gliding bitterly down his throatββ but the simple act of drinking with a friend provides comfort he hadnβt anticipated.Β it meets the table once more with a gentle clank, and thor thinks quietly to himself:Β and to everyone who doesnβt.
that weighs on him, too. so much loss⦠so many things always to attend to.
silence passes between them while he decides how he would like to respond.Β steve is not someone he must hide his trials and struggles from.Β but does he wish to unload those burdens here?Β does he wish to discuss that which may upset him?Β out for a drink with a friend; they ought to enjoy themselves.Β though, if he is to be entirely honest with himself ββ they both know the weight they carry so heavily upon their shoulders will continue to drag.Β it is all too fresh.Β it is only a matter of whether they wish to acknowledge it.
βthere is much to tend to in new asgard.βΒ notably, he doesnβt answer with a yes or no.Β is everything alright?Β he doesnβt know.Β βwe cannot tangibly fathom what it must be like for those who are just returning.Β they sayβ¦ one moment, they were here, disappearing, and in the nextβ¦ we had undone it.Β a breath for them, years for us.Β amongst my people, at least, it should be their king by their side, guiding and assisting wherever i can.βΒ and so long as it is his duty, he will give it the dedication and respect it deserves.Β gods know he had failed at that, when the misery of the blip had reached its peak.Β never again.Β but ββ thor has known for a long time, deep within his heart, he never truly wanted this for himself.Β to have the role thrust upon him, to feel obligated to play the part rather than happily accepting it, is in the way he speaks.Β it isnβt with joy that he recalls stepping back into the boots of a king, nor resentment.Β it simplyβ¦ is.Β flat.
as much as he cares for the asgardians, he never wanted to be the one they all look to.Β he never wanted to be the one making the difficult decisions.
then he hesitates, running the tip of his finger along the small rim of his bottle.Β βbrunnhilde has provided more support than ever should have been asked of her.Β i am eternally grateful to her β for all that she has done.βΒ while it is true, he speaks it as a procrastination.Β he doesnβt want to share whatβs bothering him, and doesnβt want to lay it all before steve (who is in deep mourning of natasha, whether they speak of it or not).
that practiced and forcefully easy neutrality wavers.Β thorβs face falls, but he tries to hide it by drinking more beer.Β βi worry that the strain of all that has happened has irreparably damaged my relationship.Β when next you see me, i just may be a single man.βΒ spoken quickly, before he can think further about it.Β his drink meets his lips againββ in the few minutes it has taken him to sit down, the bottle is emptied.
like so many throughout the last few years.
