Chapter 1
SUPERMODEL
Burdened with glorious... fashion?
Glossary of Norse words at the end.
1
Tony stood just inside the wide, glass doors to the flight deck with Thor. They were waiting for the roar and blaze of light signalling the appearance of the Bifrost. Thor had semi-explained he was expecting a visitor. One who would likely stay for quite a while. Since Tony would be hosting her, (wow - a goddess!), it was his obligation to greet this Luka person and offer hospitality.
When the fury of the Rainbow Bridge died away, the human sucked in a shocked breath. He’d seen pictures of Thor’s mother and met his shield sister, Sif, goddesses both, and beautiful. This woman made them seem quite plain. Breathtaking didn’t come close to describing her.
Exquisite, elegant, ethereal, striking, matchless, perfect, angelic... he was running out of adjectives and none of them were good enough. She was gorgeous, almost too beautiful to look at. She certainly didn’t look like someone who was ill, even if Thor had said she was here to recover from some sickness.
She was tall, almost as tall as Thor. But very different; slender with pale, porcelain skin that glowed as if lit from within. Her hair was a dark auburn, almost black until the light hit it, when it shone with purple and blue highlights.
The Lady wore an apparently typical Asgardian lady’s attire. A long, full-skirted gown, bare shouldered, long sleeved and what looked like a bustier, but was actually armour. She also wore light leather gauntlets that covered her forearms to the backs of her wrists over the long sleeves, and a gold torc around a graceful, slender throat. The wind atop the tower whipped her long hair around and momentarily lifted her skirts, showing off delicate ankles, shapely calves and surprisingly, bare feet.
She had a long, chiselled face, straight nose, and those cheekbones! He knew several models who’d kill for them. Deeply set, expressive eyes that were light grey or green, and pale pink lips. Not overly full, but mobile and at the moment, stretched prettily in a joyous smile.
“Thor!” She cried happily, reaching out both hands to grasp the god’s. He strode quickly to her and took her hands. Tony had rarely seen him so excited.
“It has been too long since we have been together without some strife, my Lady. May I welcome you here to Midgard in the hope that we may rekindle our friendship?” She smiled and nodded, so he turned toward Tony.
“This is my friend and mortal shield brother, Tony Stark. He is kind enough to allow me to maintain chambers here for whenever I visit. And he has agreed to my sharing them with you.”
“Let’s get out of this breeze, Thor. Do introductions inside.” Tony turned to the Lady, now sheltering against the big god’s lee side. “Nice to meet you by the way. Welcome to my home!”
Leading the pair of gods inside, Tony waltzed across the marble floor to the bar. Sliding around the end, he grinned at Thor. “Can I offer you both a drink?” He remembered from his recent studying of ancient Norse customs, it was important to the Aesir, from whom the humans had taken much.
Seeing the surprised, but pleased expression on the lady’s face gave the inventor a slight shiver. She nodded graciously as she accepted the glass, her fingers brushing his. Stunning him momentarily, Tony realised his heart was racing. To relax, he busied himself fixing a drink for himself and Thor.
Meanwhile, the Thunderer took his Lady’s unoccupied hand. “Tony, I have the honour of introducing to you my good friend and lifelong companion, Lady Luka, Goddess of Air and Fire.”
While welcoming, Tony was curious... “Are you guys related? Please, tell me you are. Please?”
“I fear I must disappoint you then, Jarl Tony Stark, as we are not. We have known each other all our lives, but we share no blood.” She smiled gently, gazing into his eyes, keeping his attention on her so he would not notice Thor’s sad frown. “I admit to curiosity about your question. Why would you prefer us to be kin?”
“‘Cause then I could dream about you and not worry,” Tony sighed, shrugging and shaking his head. “I’d know to keep my hands to myself.” He glanced at the Lord of Thunder, whose expression matched his title. “I like my head where it is... on my shoulders!”
The goddess smiled with a quiet chuckle. “Oh, Thor! This one is a charmer!”
“And what of Lady Pepper?” Thor growled at his friend, while Luka smiled again and giggled.
Tony shrugged again and sighed, sadly. “She tossed me out. We’re still friends, and she runs Stark International, but that’s all.”
“Oh, I am so sorry!” Luka remarked, sounding sincere. She softly lay her hand on Tony’s arm. Her voice sounded like liquid velvet in Tony’s ears. Bemused, he smiled up at her.
“I also have felt the pain of such rejection. It wounds one’s soul.” She ignored the flinch her comment caused in her companion.
Tony, however, did not miss it. “Are you two more than just friends? You know, involved?” Sighing at the matching looks of incomprehension, he added, “romantically involved, I mean?”
“Of course not!” Luka chuckled, tucking her hand into the crook of Thor’s elbow. “Whatever made you think so?” The big blond scowled again and huffed unhappily. Luka subtly pinched him, making him twitch.
“Um, probably the way he looks at you?” Tony offered. “Watches you like a hawk.”
“Does he now?” she murmured. “I think we need to have a conversation, Thor. A serious one.”
Luka stared into summer sky blue eyes. Rather worried seeming and unhappy eyes.
“Luka...” Thor started but she immediately stopped him, a long, shapely finger pressed to his lips. “Not now, kaereste. Perhaps, in your chambers, which you have yet to show me?” She leaned into him, smiling up mischievously. “Do we need a chaperone, Thunderer? Or can I trust you to behave?” The redhead laughed aloud at his glare of affront. She backed away before he could embrace her, half raised arms making his intent plain.
“You are a cruel woman, elskan minn,” Thor moaned, frowning at her. Luka only laughed again.
“Oh, Thor! You are so amusing to tease!” Taking a hand, she pulled him toward the elevator. “Come, Storm King! I want to see how you live here amongst the mortals. With your permission, Jarl Tony Stark? We shall return later.”
Poor Tony was confused. The goddess claimed she and Loreal were just friends. But Friday translated their pet names as ‘dearest’ and ‘my love’, not the sort of thing just friends would say. Or would they? He really didn’t know that much about the big blond’s culture. There were some obvious differences, but just as many similarities.
She was pretty handsy with him, too. That could simply be her personality; she’d touched Tony, too. Somehow, he had a feeling it was more, though. Especially seeing Thor’s reaction to her.
She was deliberately provoking the blond. Looking for a specific reaction? Trying to embarrass him? Tony had no clue, but that had never stopped him from finding out the truth in the past. He decided it wasn’t going to stop him now, either.