Synopsis: You are a mortal and show up inside Kratos and Atreus' protection stave one fateful day. Fimbulwinter just started and you have no idea of your past so after much consideration, our two favourite gods decide to take you in. Flash forward to the events of GoW:R and you are now a part of the ever growing family - and in charge of the stupid. Which is why you unceremoniously decide to follow Atreus into Asgard where you meet a certain someone who may just simultaneously destroy you and put you back together again...
a/n: i've got some? fic writing experience but really only dabbled in it so far (never shared any of it either bc i'm super shy lol) so this is definitely my first proper one😶🤞 part of me thinks i should've started smaller ahsjsj but really, where's the fun in that??
⸺ ⟢ A huge thanks to all my lovely readers, your feedback keeps me going! Mwah♡
Summary: Day 1 in Asgard! You get stuck in a god-sandwich and have to bite your way out (literally). Hopefully this will not have any unforeseen consequences…..
Warnings: canon-typical violence ig?
a/n: this got a little long but i just didn’t know where to end ittt lol also, i promise more heimdall interactions in the next part I PROMISE🙇♀️
⸺ ⟢ Chapter 2 - A mortal in frickin' Asgard
"Hurry along now, children. We don't want to keep the All-Father waiting."
The two of you had to pick up the pace to keep up with him. You didn't even have time to look around before Heimdall was already leading you down a flight of stairs, at the bottom of which he spread his arms.
"Gulltoppr! Who loves me the most? Whooo loves me the most??"
While the Aesir gave his mount a few pats, you finally had a chance to look around - but the view from below was as sobering as the one from above. (You would be careful not to say that out loud, however.)
You exchanged a confused look with Atreus. Then you followed the god all the way down and saw that "Gulltoppr" was by no means Heimdall's oddly named lover, but rather an oversized Gradungr with pale fur and clad in golden armor. Funnily enough, it kind of looked like the Gradungr version of its master... You suppressed an amused snort at the thought.
Just as you were warily eyeing a creature on a rooftop that looked suspiciously like a dragon, Heimdall called you both over and ordered you to mount Gulltoppr. A moment later, he was already sitting on the animal's back himself. You glanced at Atreus and nervously signaled for him to help you out here. There was no way in Hel you would make it up there on your own. The young god gave a quick nod and then crouched down next to the Gradungr.
No sooner had you placed your foot on his folded hands than mocking laughter rang out from above. "I would have thought you had taught your pet a few tricks by now, Giant. How did she even survive this long?"
Atreus gave you a push, and soon - accompanied by a soft "Oof!" - you were dangling over the beast's back. You silently cheered. However, just as you were about to reposition yourself, Gulltoppr grew restless, and your eyes widened as you felt yourself slipping. You flailed your legs in the air and tried to cling to the armor plates, but your hands were too sweaty and couldn't get a grip. The only thing left for you to do was watch the ground come closer and closer and let out a panicked "Nonononooo...!" until-
Your face grew hot, but you were determined not to lose your cool. No matter how skilled you might have been, even if you had been a natural at Gradungr riding he probably would have found something to mock you for. That was just the kind of person he seemed to be.
The asshole kind.
You suddenly felt a grip around your arm before you were abruptly pulled up again. It happened so fast you were still half in shock moments later, when you found yourself pressed against Heimdall's back.
"Must I do everything around here", he sighed. "You're welcome, by the way."
You were so close to him that you could practically feel his voice... Nope! Definitely too close for comfort.
"Uh, th-thank you", you stammered against his shoulder before quickly moving to put a little more distance between you.
This proved to be a futile effort, however, as Atreus leaped up right behind you, successfully trapping you in place. Much to your horror. You could barely move! Why the Hel did Heimdall think this was a good idea?? It was hard to imagine that he was okay with a mortal pressing her nose against his shoulder. Or, maybe he was just such a little shit that he could ignore his own discomfort as long as the other person was having an even worse time…
Either way, you were now part of a god-sandwich and prayed to all the others that the ride wouldn't last too long.
Fortunately, the Gradungr started moving soon after (you could imagine it wasn't particularly thrilled about having to carry three passengers at once), and you watched as the city passed by. Atreus said something, but you didn't pay attention. Instead, you made every effort not to slide further into the Aesir each time Gulltoppr took a bigger step. But with no one to lean on but Heimdall himself your struggle was doomed from the start, so you gave up pretty quickly and just kept your head firmly turned to the side.
You passed place after place where people were fighting, and soon you started to wonder if Gladsheim was actually half training ground. Rather funny. No wonder Heimdall loved this place, what with him always being so on edge and ready for a fight.
"...Goodness", you heard him say in mock surprise, "you really don't know anything about our culture, do you?"
"I know your wall was built by a Giant", Atreus replied, a hint of triumph in his voice. Point for Team Good Guys! You couldn't help but grin.
Heimdall laughed incredulously, and you could feel it shaking your own body. So weird...
"A Giant. The wall was built by a Giant to keep out the Giants. Are you even listening to yourself?"
"Hrimthur, son of Thamur. I know the whole story."
"Really? Oh, I truly can not wait for you to tell me more of your little revisionist tales about my own culture. Believe me, I am dying to hear more."
You wondered how he would react if you elbowed him in the back right about now. Arrogant prick.
The next moment, Gulltoppr carried you past a group of Einherjar warriors, including a few dragon tamers. They were all armed to the teeth, and suddenly you were quite happy to be sitting up here, sandwiched between these two gods...
"Hey, is that Odin's palace?", Atreus asked.
"'Palace'? You think the All-Father needs to puff himself up like some mortal chieftain? Oh, no..."
Gulltoppr came to a stop, and you could breathe easier as Heimdall jumped to the ground. Your eyes briefly wandered to the large building in front of you, a kind of... oversized lodge. But soon they were searching for the Aesir again; you didn't trust him one bit.
"True power does not need to flaunt", he continued, looking up at you. "It emerges when the time is right, and not one. second. earlier."
His words hung in the air between you for a moment before he suddenly grabbed your leg and, with the other hand, gave Gulltoppr's back end a firm slap. Immediately, the animal reared up and charged forward, causing you to lose your balance and fall to the ground. The air was knocked out of your lungs, and you saw stars for a moment. From a distance, you heard Atreus yell, and looked up just in time to see him being violently tossed around by the Gradungr before he, too, was unceremoniously thrown off its back.
You had already opened your mouth to give the Aesir a piece of your mind when he shouted: "Hey! Helmet heads! I brought you a new training dummy!"
Horrified, you watched some of the warriors you had passed on the way here climb over the fence and head toward Atreus, who assumed a defensive stance. You were about to do the same, but Heimdall was faster. He grabbed your elbow and yanked you to your feet as if you weighed no more than a feather.
"What are you doing?! I thought you were taking us to Odin!", you heard Atreus shout before the fight began and he was busy keeping the Einherjar at bay.
"You see, the thing is - you obviously have treacherous intent. So I will not bring you anywhere near the All-Father", Heimdall replied, pulling you closer.
You tried to break free, struggling this way and that, even clawing at his hand, but he didn't budge. On the contrary, his grip only tightened. You cried out, and Atreus called your name, but he was too busy to come to your aid. So in the end, you did the only thing you could still think of:
You bit his hand.
Immediately, Heimdall loosened his grip on your arm and let out a pained cry. You didn't hesitate for a second and spun around, but before you could take another step toward Atreus, Gulltoppr blocked your path. Angrily, you changed directions yet again, ready to go to the extreme - however, it was as if the Aesir god suddenly didn't even notice you anymore. No, instead, he was just staring at his hand, as if he couldn't believe that a mortal had dared to hurt him.
And if the situation had been less stressful for you, you might have realized just how unbelievable that actually was...
As things stood, though, you could only wait with a pounding heart for his next move. And you didn't have to wait long before his head snapped back up, expression literally murderous, and your courage vanished in an instant. Your eyes darted around in panic as you desperately scanned your surroundings for a way out. But the longer you searched, the more you felt like a mouse trapped in an underground tunnel with a giant snake blocking the only exit. No chance.
It took the Watchman only three steps to reach you, and you braced yourself for the inevitable pain that was sure to follow... When, all of a sudden, there was a loud bang above your heads. It seemed to shake the whole world, and you quickly covered your ears and crouched down in fear.
You remained in this position for some time, listening only to your wildly beating heart and the blood rushing in your ears. Until Heimdall eventually pulled you to your feet once more and roughly dragged you into the makeshift arena.
Straight toward the big man who had suddenly appeared right next to Atreus: Thor, the God of Thunder.
You had flashbacks of his surprise visit to your cabin a few weeks ago - the moment that set all of this in motion, really - and couldn't help but feel a little panicked at the sight. However, it seemed like your worry about Atreus was misplaced; Thor didn't pay him any attention. Instead, he just watched calmly as Heimdall rushed forward, you in tow. A few feet away, he finally let go of you, and you immediately rubbed your sore arm.
In the blink of an eye, Atreus appeared beside you. "Are you okay?"
You nodded, even though you were still feeling rather shaky. "You?"
He returned the gesture, smiling slightly, before you both turned your attention back to the spectacle unfolding before you.
Heimdall got all up in Thor's face and growled: "What are you doing here."
"They are guests of the All-Father, whether you like it or not. No playthings", the mountain of a man growled back, his voice so deep you could almost feel it in the air. "So knock it off."
You were spellbound. The two Aesir gods didn't seem to get along very well - to say the least. Which, you had to admit, was extremely delightful to watch.
Heimdall bared his golden teeth. "And what if I don't? Hm? What will you do to stop me? Drink yourself into another stupor?"
At that, Thor seemed to grow even larger, his eyes practically shooting thunderbolts at his counterpart. You instinctively swallowed at this display of power, and it wasn't even aimed at you! The God of Thunder was just that terrifying.
"Want to find out?"
The situation was so tense that you half-expected them to actually start fighting. But then there was a loud whooshing sound, and suddenly, the All-Father himself was standing right next to you. You nearly jumped out of your skin and quickly put some distance between you, while all heads immediately turned in his direction.
"Loki!", he exclaimed, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "You made it! I am truly honored."
He nodded at you, and you smiled back shyly.
"I see you had an… interesting reception." He eyed your dirty clothes, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw Heimdall stand a little straighter. "He's one of my best men, you know. Reads minds for me."
As if on cue, Heimdall approached Odin and said with a slight bow: "You have misjudged them, All-Father. They intend to deceive you."
Odin gave him a stern look. "Of course they do, Heimdall, don't be ridiculous. Why else would they be here, hm? Better explain to me why they're covered in mud!"
The younger Aesir repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, making him look like a fish out of water. You couldn't help but grin, but then his purple eyes met yours and you immediately straight-faced. "This isn't over", they seemed to say. You found yourself rubbing your arm again.
"There is something else, All-Father-"
Odin sighed. "What now? Heimdall, will you just relax? Were you intending on killing me first thing, Loki? Hm? No? Well then. They're here because they have questions, Heimdall, and I have plenty of answers to give. No need to be so tense."
The God of Foresight still didn't seem convinced, but now Odin had enough and sent him and Thor away. You let out a relieved sigh. Even if you never had to see Heimdall again, it would still be too soon. What a piece of work…
You caught Odin's eye, and he chuckled softly. "I know. He's something, isn't he? Very useful, but sometimes he just forgets… to think, you know. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you any more while you're here. ...Ah, but I believe it's time for a little change of scenery!"
In an instant, you were surrounded by countless wings, and this time, you couldn't help but hold on to Atreus. You felt like so much had happened in the last few hours that your brain could barely keep up. A few heartbeats later, you were already in another part of the city.
Odin approached you again. "I don't want to presume. I mean, ha! How could I possibly know what it's like for a mortal to stand here in Asgard? But I'd hazard a guess that it's a fair bit overwhelming, so if you could use a break, that would be perfectly understandable."
You quickly shook your head and let go of Atreus' arm. "Uh, no. No need, I'm fine."
He nodded and then took you on a little tour of this part of the city. You mostly just listened while he talked to Atreus, but that was okay and exactly what your head needed right now. A break would have been nice too, actually, but you didn't want to show any weakness in front of Odin. Also for Atreus' sake; he did emphasize that he wasn't mad at you for following him here, but still. You wanted to be as little of a burden as possible.
The three of you passed by a large training ground (because of course), and you immediately suspected that this was no coincidence. Odin wanted you to see this, the many skilled warriors of Asgard. The great army of Asgard. And you had to admit: If that was meant to impress, he had succeeded. At least as far as you were concerned.
What also greatly impressed you were the Einherjar themselves. Once ordinary people like you, they now stood here, having died and reached Valhalla, and were being trained for Odin's army. They scared you, but in a different way than, say, Heimdall did. Every time you looked at them, you couldn't help but search for a remnant of humanity in them… But all you found was emptiness and death.
You were glad when that part of the tour was over. But then you found yourself back in the raven vortex, and this time you felt a little nauseous even. Maybe it was just your mortal stomach acting up...
Luckily, no one seemed to pay you or your wobbly legs any attention after you arrived back at the big lodge. Instead, Odin instructed a servant, who had apparently been waiting for you, to hand Atreus a huge stack of books.
"Oof", he grunted.
"Just a few books from my personal collection. You like to read, no?"
You and Atreus exchanged a glance before hurrying after Odin.
"Uh, sure... I mean, yes, that's right. Thanks", the boy replied, a little taken aback. It was good to know that you weren't the only one having trouble processing what was happening.
You entered the big building, and wow, it really was big. Much bigger than it had looked from the outside. That seemed to be a common theme in Asgard: Nothing was as it appeared at first glance. And of course, Odin was no exception. You looked thoughtfully at his back as he led you through the lodge. Hearing from Freya how captivating and charismatic he could be was one thing. Experiencing it firsthand was quite another. You shot Atreus a quick look. Hopefully, he would remember her words as well...
You arrived at the final stop, Atreus' very own room. And yes, you heard that right, you seemed to have separate accommodations. That wasn't a problem per se; you didn't mind sleeping in different rooms, you had already done so back at Brok and Sindri's. Sure, it had been strange at first, because in Midgard, you, Kratos, and Atreus had shared a single room for many years. Out of necessity, of course. Still, having a little more privacy in the Realm Between Realms had come as a pleasant surprise.
But this was different. You had no idea how the next few days (weeks?) would unfold, but you seriously doubted that you would be able to spend much quality time with the younger god once he started his studies. Because never in a million years would Odin involve you, the silly little mortal guard dog, in his affairs. It was a miracle he had even let you set foot in Asgard! No, it would serve him quite well to keep the two of you apart.
And for that very reason, you had hoped for a shared room at least. And also, because you were still on enemy territory here, surrounded by people who could snap you in half without breaking a sweat. But, you know. No biggie.
Odin, however, wouldn't budge. "Loki, every young man needs his own space, unless he wants to start a family. And think about your studies! It will do you good to have as few distractions as possible, trust me."
You frowned. Odin almost made it sound like you would deliberately try and sabotage his studies. This whole thing made you even more uneasy now, but when Atreus gave you a sheepish look, you knew you had lost.
"All right, fine", you muttered.
Odin nodded, satisfied. "A wise decision. And look, your rooms are even right next to each other", he said, addressing you directly. "I'll ask someone to show you- Ah, speaking of! Sif! Good to see you. I'm just showing our dear guests to their rooms. Would you be so kind-"
"All-Father, forgive the interruption, but there is a matter that requires your attention."
Odin raised his eyebrows, motioned for you to wait, and took the Aesir goddess aside to hear what she had to say. Meanwhile, you admired Sif's elaborate hairstyle and the intricate tattoos on her arm. She was stunning. If someone had told you that she was actually the ruler of Asgard, you would have believed them in a heartbeat. You glanced at Atreus and chuckled to yourself; judging by his awestruck expression, he was having quite similar thoughts.
Odin's sigh caught your attention. "Oh, there's just no end to these problems, is there…" He turned to you with a pensive look. "Would you mind if we rearranged the evening program a bit? I'd like to take Loki on a little trip. In the meantime, feel free to move into your room. Make yourself comfortable!"
You felt the corners of your mouth twitch. Of course they were already trying to separate you right here and now. It was so predictable, so unabashedly-
"No problem. Sounds good."
You stared at Atreus. What? Hadn't you just talked about that, right before coming here, that you would immediately step in if they tried to drive you apart for no good reason? So what was that all about??
The boy felt your eyes on him, but just smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's fine. It'll only be for a short while, you heard him. And, well... I also think a little rest might do you some good- Said with love, of course! I'm just worried."
You bit your lower lip. Well, it was sweet of him to worry about you, but by doing so, he was playing right into Odin's hands. He was right about one thing, though: The longer you stood here, the more tired you felt. Your legs were practically screaming for a break. This day had thoroughly exhausted you.
So in the end, you just nodded hesitantly, while crossing your fingers that he knew what he was doing. And that Odin wouldn't kill him as soon as they were alone...
"Excellent, excellent", Odin said, clapping his hands. "Then please, Loki, put your books down, and let's go visit our good friends, the dwarves! Oh, and Sif-" For the first time, he noticed her tense expression. "Is there something else…?"
"This is Loki?" Her voice sounded strained. "Here. In our home. How nice."
The old man chuckled. "Ah, always the diplomat. Yes, my dear, this is Loki. But don't you worry your pretty little head, I'll keep an eye on him. Now, would you do me a favor and show our other guest to her room? Just like I told you, that one right there. You know the one."
You gulped as you felt her icy gaze on you. "…Of course, All-Father." And with that, she walked away, clearly expecting you to follow right behind her.
You cast one last glance at Atreus, but he merely nodded in the direction Sif had gone and gave you another encouraging smile before joining Odin. Seconds later, the two of them were swallowed up by the raven vortex once more, leaving you all alone.
On enemy territory. Surrounded by powerful gods. A mortal in frickin' Asgard.
Summary: They say: "All beginnings are difficult". But in your opinion that just meant "they" never tried being a mortal in frickin' Asgard...
a/n: i am currently sick and have nothing better to do, so why not write about my latest obsession, the only cat person in all the 9 realms lmao (but also i just like writing sarcastic assholes in general ok ajsksk)
⸺ ⟢ Chapter 1 - So not only a sarcastic asshole, but also a vain one. Great. The whole damn package then...
No sooner had you stumbled out of the raven vortex after Atreus than the rustling of countless wings was replaced by the howling of the icy wind that blew all around you up here.
You looked around, turning this way and that in an attempt to regain your bearings - only to quickly jump back when you realized how close you were to the edge of the giant wall. Wow... If you had left the vortex in the opposite direction, you would be nothing but mush now...
The next moment, you felt a light touch on your arm before looking into Atreus' concerned eyes.
"Everything okay?", he asked.
You nodded and gave him what you hoped was a reassuring smile. "Yes, I... I think so."
That wasn't a lie. Although you were still feeling a little dizzy, your head was already clearing. Nevertheless, you sat down on the nearest rock, just to be on the safe side in case your legs would give out after all. From there, you could finally take in the entire panorama of Asgard. And man, was it spectacular.
You had just finished admiring the vast green plains and were about to take a closer look at the legendary Bifröst Bridge, when you suddenly heard a slow clapping sound behind you. Immediately, you turned around and saw a man approaching.
The first thing you noticed about him were his eyes: bright purple and so piercing that they seemed to look right through you. You shuddered and quickly stood up. With your arms wrapped tightly around your body, you positioned yourself half behind Atreus, who must've felt quite similarly about the stranger, because he had automatically assumed a defensive stance.
Having to be protected by the younger god had always annoyed you, but in this situation you were happy to make an exception. After all, you weren't exactly dealt the best cards here, being a mortal in frickin' Asgard. For what felt like the hundredth time that day, you cursed yourself for just mindlessly following Atreus after he ran away.
"Not bad, not bad at all", the stranger began, lowering his hands. "Not many are able to surprise me. In fact, make that close to none. And yet, here you are... living proof to the contrary."
He stood in front of you, and you couldn't help but swallow when you felt the enormous power emanating from him. Atreus, too, shifted his weight uneasily. His fear made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Who the Hel was this guy…?
Said guy looked at the two of you with a cold smile, before continuing: "Two little rats who somehow wormed their way into the All-Father's good graces. But only in part, it seems, considering where he dropped you off. How curious..."
His words hung in the air between you until Atreus finally found his voice again. "Um. Yeah, I... guess so. No idea why he didn't take us further in."
The man in front of you showed no reaction other than raising his eyebrows.
Atreus cleared his throat. "Uh, us- that is, I, am Atr- I mean Loki. Of the Jötnar. And this is-"
But before he could introduce you as well, he was swiftly interrupted. "Jötnar, you say. The Jötnar. Enemy of my people."
"Wha- No! No- I mean, well, that's half true, I guess... But I'm not your enemy! Really, I'm not, and neither is she. Why else would Odin have brought us here?"
You saw the stranger's eyes narrow. "Yes... That is the big question, now isn't it? Seems increasingly unlikely, actually, the longer I have the great pleasure of standing here with you guys. Are you sure you're not just some dirty little intruders who know a few magic tricks, hm?"
It was a rhetorical question, however, for Atreus didn't even get a chance to speak before the man grimaced and said: "...No. No, you are far too inept for that. And as much as I would love to have you dangling off the edge of the wall right about now - and believe me, I would truly love nothing more." He sighed. "Sadly, that will have to wait until the All-Father realizes his mistake and wants to get rid of you again. But as the saying goes, a pleasure deferred..."
He flashed you a rather evil-looking smirk, then motioned for you to follow him. At first, you and Atreus exchanged uncertain glances, but ultimately, it wasn't as if you had a choice. So in the end, the boy just shrugged and you hurried to catch up with the Aesir stranger.
You took the opportunity to wipe your sweaty palms on your pants. What a welcome... Under different circumstances, you would have been at least a little offended if someone had ignored you like that during a conversation. But in this case, you didn't mind at all. In fact, you were quite happy even not to have been involved. The whole thing was really a bit too big for you. And if there was a chance to get through this without having to feel those creepy, glowing eyes on you even once, you would grab her face and kiss her right on the mouth.
Speaking of creepy, glowing eyes...
"Sorry, but... is that Gjallarhorn on your belt? Are you Heimdall?"
Your charming welcoming committee didn't even turn around. "Obviously. Who else would I be, wise guy?"
At first, you thought you had misheard. Heimdall? The Heimdall?? Huh... You didn't know what to make of that. You had always imagined the "Watchman of the Aesir" to be more... imposing. Older. Sexier...? Similar to the pictures in Sindri's book, basically. But maybe its author just wanted to spare their readers the same disappointment. You definitely couldn't blame them.
"Huh...", you heard Atreus murmur under his breath and had to bite your lip to keep from giggling.
Which may have been one of the smartest decisions of your life, because suddenly Heimdall stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face you again. "What do you mean, 'Huh'?", he repeated, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
For a moment, you wondered how the Aesir could have heard that, then you slowly remembered what you had read about him: heightened senses, mind reading, "future vision"... No wonder he seemed so powerful, he was, even if his appearance suggested otherwise.
"Uh, nothing, sorry! I was just thinking out loud... that's all."
Like that made it any better.
You held your breath, but in the end Heimdall just rolled his eyes and continued walking. Phew... That was close. You sent Atreus a warning look before following the Aesir god. Who obviously left his sense of humor at the other end of the Bifröst Bridge; a detail that definitely deserved a literary mention as well, you thought.
"What he wants from you children is truly beyond me", you heard him say the next moment (further proving your point). "The greatest, the All-Father, King of the Aesir, must have a thousand better things to do than deal with the likes of you. But well... I suppose we will see soon enough."
However, you weren't even listening to him anymore at this point. For by now, you had crossed the entire width of the wall and could look down on the other side, where Gladsheim, Asgard's capital, revealed itself to you in all its glory. Or rather... part of it? Because, like Heimdall, you had definitely imagined this place to be much more impressive. In fact, the city bore a striking resemblance to the dwellings you had already spotted at the foot of the outer wall, as well as some settlements you knew from Midgard. Just another bunch of wooden huts...
Heimdall noticed that you and Atreus had stopped walking. "Ah, of course. Your eyes are accustomed to simpler things, I forgot. Please, go ahead. Feel free to drink in the splendor of Asgard!"
Everything he said sounded sarcastic. And on top of that, he seemed to be an extremely combative guy, which meant you had to be damn careful not to misinterpret him. Still, there was not a single doubt in your mind that he truly meant every word he just said, so you quickly made a mental note to "avoid badmouthing Asgard in presence of sarcastic asshorn - or dead".
You turned away from the supposed "splendor" below...
And promptly found yourself under Heimdall's piercing gaze.
Immediately, your heart dropped.
"Oh, done already? Cornerstone of civilization not really your cup of tea, hm? I see... But, that is fine, I understand. I'm sure the sight must be quite overwhelming for your... limited minds." He finished with a chuckle and turned his back on you again.
Meanwhile, your eyes felt so hot that you wouldn't be surprised if they were shooting sparks. Just as you imagined burning a hole between Heimdall's shoulder blades, you caught Atreus giving you a look, to which you responded with a wry smile. He didn't need to worry, you would behave. After all, you weren't tired of life yet. Even if your recent actions suggested otherwise, but hey! You never claimed to be particularly smart.
You followed Heimdall onto a wooden elevator, which he immediately set in motion. Now that you were standing much closer together, you were able to get a better look at him. Stealthily, of course; you didn't want to ogle. In the end, though, it probably wouldn't have mattered anyway, because he was still strangely fixated on Atreus. The fact that you were a boring mortal probably meant that he didn't give a single damn about you, provided you weren't screaming for attention. So... blessing in disguise?
"Very well then. Ask your questions."
"What questions?"
Heimdall looked annoyed. "You know who I am, yes? So please, don't waste my time."
Atreus seemed unfazed. A quality you had always admired about him and could probably learn a lot from: Keep a cool head and don't let yourself get rattled so easily.
"Okay, um... I take it Odin didn't tell you we were coming...?"
For an alarmingly long moment, the Aesir stared at Atreus as if he wanted to go for his throat - literally. But then he just sighed deeply and rolled his eyes again. That seemed to be a hobby of his.
Maybe that's how he trains his Bifröst eyes, you thought, chuckling to yourself as you imagined him standing on a training ground, still as a tree, simply rolling his eyes over and over and over...
Your own wandered over his face as he continued talking to Atreus. You noticed that his teeth seemed to gleam at certain angles. Maybe it was just the light... Or maybe he really did have golden teeth...? It wasn't that far-fetched, considering some other details about his appearance, such as his many earrings, his neatly braided hair, and the golden ornaments on his clothes.
So not only a sarcastic asshole, but also a vain one. Great. The whole damn package then...
"...is my job."
"Which is?", you heard Atreus ask.
"Protecting Asgard, of course. From any and all danger."
The young god raised his eyebrows. "And you think we're a danger."
"Her?" Heimdall nodded in your direction, and you immediately felt your muscles tense up again. Gods... you really needed to relax. Clearly the guy had no intention of (physically) attacking you anytime soon, otherwise he would have done so already. "Not even worth mentioning."
"Hey!", you instinctively called out, but well... he wasn't wrong.
"You, on the other hand..."
"Me?", Atreus said, surprised. "But you don't even know me."
Heimdall bared his teeth. "Ah, believe me, Loki, I've heard more than enough about you already. I do not need to 'get to know' you, just as I do not need to look inside your head to know that it is full of chaos. It follows you everywhere, sticks to you like fresh ashes. I could smell it from a mile away."
This time, it was Atreus who was tensing up. "You're wrong. You don't know me at all, I help people."
"Ooh", the Aesir scoffed, "you help people! Of course, right. And that's why you came here, yes? Not to... help yourself?"
You had to hand it to the guy, he seemed to know exactly which buttons to push to make you angry as all Hel. Which wasn't surprising, really, considering that he could literally see into people's minds. Not the best conditions for a potential fight with the Aesir god...
"Here, let me help you out", he continued. "You are here because you want to achieve your goal. And to do that, you manipulate and lie wherever you go. You may be young, but my, what a twisted little soul you have! I watch your mouth move, and I see cities burning."
By this point, Atreus was so tense next to you that he was practically vibrating, his hands clenched into tight fists. So much for "keeping a cool head"... Without further ado, you decided to intervene before things got out of control. It was a risky move; you hadn't really thought it through, nor were you aware of the possible consequences. At least not until you had unceremoniously positioned yourself between the two gods and once again locked eyes with the Aesir.
"We may have our own goals, sure, but if working towards them also helps out Odin in some way, doesn't that make us... allies? At least for the moment?"
No sooner had you finished than you realized how naive that must have sounded. Oh joy... You could hardly wait for the sarcastic remark that was sure to follow...
Heimdall's first reaction to your words was a hearty laugh (which didn't particularly surprise you), followed by: "Well, well, well. Would you look at that. A mortal trying to dictate what a god-"
And then he just... stopped.
You frowned when he simply stared at you, mouth half open and head slightly tilted. The sight was so comical that you felt the urge to wave your hand in front of his face to see if he was still mentally present. But again; not suicidal. So you just tried to hold his intense gaze as best you could, getting more and more creeped out by the second...
In the end, it was Atreus who broke the spell. "Uuh, Heimdall...? Everything... okay?"
"...Interesting. Very interesting", the Aesir finally muttered, eyes still boring into yours. "I think I understand now why you are here..."
You had to swallow and suddenly realized that you couldn't turn away either. It was as if those shades of purple held you captive. As if you were in some kind of trance, unable to escape their pull...
Then, a grin stretched across Heimdall's face and he loudly clapped his hands. And you flinched so violently that you thought the elevator was wobbling just because of you. But no, it turned out that this only signaled the end of your journey.
With a final rumble, you arrived at your destination, and Heimdall, still grinning, bowed slightly before saying: "Welcome to Asgard, esteemed guests."
And with that, he simply turned and walked away. As if the strange situation from just a moment ago had never happened...
