New York, Manhattan
Avengers Tower
February 17th
Spinning around her bedroom to get a good look at every corner, Kora let out a soft sigh, a wave of sadness washing over her. It wasn't so much as sadness, but a feeling of bittersweetness at her upcoming move. Even though she had been the one to volunteer to move from New York to California to join up with the West Coast Avengers who were lacking in man power, being nearly completely packed and so close to her moving date made her realize how many good memories she had created here and how difficult it would be to leave it all behind.
“Are you planning on taking the furniture with you?”
Kora turns to look at Jennifer Walters who had posed the question. The green beauty was effortlessly lifting a heavy duty plastic moving box onto another similar box. Stacking them off to the side, so it wouldn’t become a hazard to anyone walking around.
“Tony says he would have all the furniture shipped out to me. I don't think I want the night stands, so I’ll tell him to throw those out.”
“Does that mean we’re done for the day?”
“I think so.”
In the last six and a half hours the two had packed up everything in Kora’s room that she wouldn’t be using for her last week at the East Coast Tower; her television, her radios, her lights, her room decorations, her personal work out equipment, her summer clothing, shoes, and most of her towels, sheets and blankets.
Her life in New York had fit perfectly into four extra-large moving boxes and two large suitcases weighing well above 150 pounds each.
“Then I think we should celebrate a job well done with take out,” Jennifer suggests. The two walk out of the room and take an elevator down to the common area of the tower. “Uncle Paul’s?”
“We had pizza two days ago.”
“Yes, but in a week you’ll be gone and won’t be able to get decent pizza anywhere in California.”
“That can’t be true.”
“I lived there for seven years, trust me. But you’ll have more sushi, taco, and smoothie places than you’ll know what to do with.”
“I hate sushi and smoothies.”
“Just tacos then.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Peter Parker can overhear some of the conversation Jennifer and Kora are having before they even walked into the living room, but it’s the tacos that really get his attention. Electro had managed to interrupt his and Sam’s lunch plans, plus he can’t remember the last time he had gotten Mexican food.
“How Kora won’t be having anymore awesome pizza nights when she moves to California.”
“I didn’t even think about that. No New York style pizzas, no train stations, no Central Park, no night life. Living in California’s going to suck.”
Kora instantly becomes dejected at Peter’s words. Like him she has been a lifelong New Yorker, but she's always secretly desired a change in scenery. Now at his thoughtless words she was feeling unsure. What if she didn't enjoy living in California? She loved all the times she's visited there, but visiting somewhere for a few weeks and living there permanently were two very different things.
“Geez, thanks Peter. I don’t feel bad at all about having to move now.”
“Sorry. I’m sure California isn’t that bad. It has sand doesn’t it?”
Sam Wilson who’s sitting on the sofa next to Peter rolls his eyes at his poor attempt at back tracking. “Don’t listen to them Koko. You’re going to love Cali. The beach, the weather, the sexy people. Clint’s been there for three years now and he does. Plus you’re getting an awesome going away party out of it!”
“I thought you guys canceled the party?”
“We postponed it so it could be closer to your move out date.”
“I really wish you guys weren’t throwing this party.”
“Why? You love parties.”
“Fun parties. This parties going to be sad.” Kora had been absolutely on board with Sam when he had mentioned throwing a going away party. Good music, food, and getting a chance to see a couple of faces and masks that she wouldn’t get a chance to see before going off. But the more she thought of it, the sadder the idea had made her. She hated saying goodbye and this party's sole purpose was for that.
“This party is going to be fun! So much fun that I bet you people are going to start asking to move to different teams across the country just so they can get one.” Sam spoke with absolute confidence, and Kora knows there will be no point in arguing with him about it. There was going to be a party wether she wanted one or not.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Three and a half hours later, along with three boxes of Pizza and a dozen garlic breadstick, as well as a visit from Nova and Ms. Marvel who helped themselves to the food and drinks and interjected into the lively debate of celebrity crushes, the group had disbanded and went their separate ways for the rest of the late evening.
Knowing that Tony was most alive after the hours of 9:00 PM, and having the free time Kora decided to go up to his office with a list of all the furniture she wanted to be shipped out, questions about the shipping company he was using, and a last review over her flight itinerary. She wasn’t usually so organized, but this was a big move, and she didn’t want anything to go wrong.
Two knocks on the door and Tony was answering affirmatively to let her in, but the instant Kora had stepped through the doors of the minimistically decorated office she was expectedly meet by the casually dressed genius known as Tony Stark, but also by the last person she had expected to see at the tower.
“Lady Kora.”
“Thor I- I’m sorry I mean Odinson. Hi!”
“Hello.” Odinson, who was standing in front of Tony’s desk, approaches her in all his seven feet muscular glory. He looks a lot like he did when she had last seen him seven months ago except his golden hair was now past his shoulders, and his beard looked fuller. He reached down and pulled Kora into a tight hug nearly lifting her off her feet. Naturally she wrapped her arms around him, letting herself be engulfed by his familiar warmth and smell. When they’d finally pulled away his left hand made of metal lingered at her sides for a moment and she had to look down at the space between them so as not to stare.
She saw him so infrequently these days that whenever she did see him, all she could do was stare at him. Commit him to memory and mentally comment if he was well and in all the ways he had changed. The biggest change and hardest adjustment for her had been when he’d shown up without his left arm. Odinson had explained the battle that had led to the loss of his arm, and how it had been replaced with a black prosthesis made of guru metal. She had cried her heart out into his chest nine months ago when she had first seen it. He was so careless with himself these days.
“You look beautiful”
“Oh. I- I look….” Kora’s face turns red in embarrassment and the feeling only intensified when she remembered how she was looking. The old pair of joggers she wore was too large for her and drowned any curve or shape she had and the band t-shirt that she’d owned since she was fifteen was stained more than usual due to the fact that Sam had accidentally spilled some marinara sauce on her earlier. She wishes she was wearing something nicer or had done something with her face and hair, or at least taken a shower this morning.
‘I look horrible.’ Kora thinks but doesn’t say so out loud. Instead she decides to shift the conversation away from her looks. “It’s really good seeing you.”
“You as well.”
“So uh…what brings you back to New York? Is it something bad?” Sadly whenever they saw Thor these days it wasn’t because he was bringing good news.
“No. I heard news of your departure to a new world, and the celebration being thrown to send you off. I wished to be a part of the celebration to send you off as I do not know when we shall be crossing paths again.”
“Odinson, I'm going to California, not Mars. I’m sure we’ll still be seeing each other.”
“Less frequently than we already do. And we already see each other so infrequently.”
There was a hint of sadness in Odinson’s voice that resonated with Kora. But at the same time his words caused a twinge of anger to flare somewhere deep in her. 'Who's fault was it that they saw eachother so infrequently?'
“We do.”
Whatever moment the two were having was interrupted by an exaggerated over the top cough. Kora and Thor glances behind them to be reminded that Tony had been in the room with them the entire time.
“Should I leave my own office to give the two of you some privacy? Because you two are more cringe than a telenovela...”
Kora covers her face with her hand as if to physically hide herself from the embarrassment creeping on her face, and Odinson sends the brunette man who is laughing at his own words an annoyed glare.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kora tries to start an idle conversation when the two leave Tony’s office. Odinson was following behind her, although neither of them had any destination in mind as to where they were going nor did they care.
It had been almost two and a half years since he’d become unworthy of lifting Mjolnir and Jane Foster had taken the mantle of ‘Thor’. In that time the real Thor had forsaken his birth name, and taken up the name of Odinson. He had become depressed and withdrawn leaving behind the team and Asgard in order to ‘find’ himself. He would stop by every few months but was less than forthcoming about what he did when he was away which worried Kora greatly.
On one hand she understood he was having a crisis of identity and being unable to wield Mjolnir or his full powers must be difficult for him. But on the other hand it made Kora feel depressed that every time she saw him she felt as if they were growing further apart. She felt as if he was changing and becoming more of a stranger to her.
“It’s been a while. Anything new going on?”
“I have gone on many great travels, some with Beta Ray Bill and recently visited Lady Jane.”
“Jane. How is she?”
“She’s well. She’s starting new chemo treatment and has been doing much as Thor. Better than myself some say.”
“No one will ever be a better Thor than you.”
“If that were the case then I would still be worthy of Mjolnir. Then Gorr would not have been right in his perceptions of gods. I was a selfish god.”
“You’re not selfish. You’re the least selfish person I know. And even if you had moments of selflessness those moments don’t define you. You’ve done too much good, and you have too big of a heart for anyone to ever remember you as anything but a good person. As some who deeply loves his family and his people and protects those who can not protect themselves.”
“Thank you for your kind words Kora. But you could not possibly begin to understand the pressures and responsibilities of being a god. Of all I had to sacrifice and all who I’ve let down and allowed to suffer by not taking my duties seriously enough.”
“Maybe the reason I don’t understand isn’t because I’m not a god but because you never talk to me about anything anymore. You keep everything bottled in and everyone at arms length.”
“I am trying to find who I am meant to be. What I am meant to do in this world. It has not been an easy journey for me and I do not want to burden anyone.”
“You're not a burden. At least not to me, I care and I worry about you. I want to know you’re okay when you disappear for months at a time.”
“You shouldn’t worry it is not your responsibility to concern yourself about my affairs.”
Kora stops running her hand through her hair, and huffs in frustration. Frustrated that their conversations always go in a circle, and at the fact that he can never read between the lines of what she is saying. “What sort of friend would I be if I didn’t?”
“You're a good friend. No one can ever doubt that you are, but I-“
“You what?”
Thor looks away equally as frustrated that Kora can not understand what he is trying to say without words. “I think I’ll retire back to my room. It has been many days since I’ve last rested. Good evening lady Kora.”
Kora wants to say something, but chooses to bite back her words and her hurt at watching Odinson turn his back to her and walk away. The unfinished conversation hanging in the air.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New York, Manhattan
Avengers Tower
February 18th
When Kora gets out of bed the next day it's only due to a text from Jennifer stating that she needs to get dressed and got her behind down to the living room in twenty minutes or she’ll come smashing through her bedroom doors. Kora has been around enough Hulks to know that when one makes a threat of smashing that it was a threat to be taken seriously. So within fifteen minutes she was fully dressed and walking into the living room where Jennifer was along with Jessica Drew, and Daisy Johnson.
“You weren’t at dinner last night.”
“Or breakfast this morning.”
Kora ignores the accusatory comments and plops down on one of the love seats, throwing her feet onto the coffee table in front of her and giving a casual shrug when Jessica and Daisy keep looking at her expectedly. “I was really tired last night from packing and I overslept this morning.”
“So its not connected to Thor's appearance?”
An annoyed glance is shot towards Jennifer from Kora. Of course she would be the one to bring him up. “No. And it's Thor.”
Jessica rolls her eyes. "Does anyone find the name change to be stupid and over dramatic? I mean seriously he lost his magic hammer and had to get a whole new identity."
"I agree, but she's trying to change the subject." Daisy states, and returns the conversation back to the line of questioning Jeniffer had started. “But you did see him last night?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“I don’t know what you guys want me to say. We saw each other, talked some, and then he went to bed.”
All three of the other woman sighed in exasperation at Kora’s comment.
“Aren’t you two tired of dancing around each other and your feelings? Because I know I am, and I’m here less than Thor sometimes.”
“We’re not dancing around our feelings Daisy, we’re……”
“Hopeless. You two are just hopeless at this point.”
Kora groans in irritation and stands up. “You know I wanted to spend some quality time with some of my best friends. But since you guys would rather gossip and make fun of me I’ll b-“
Jessica grabs Kora’s arm as she passes by, and holds it tightly. Not tightly enough to bruise, but tightly enough that the shorter woman would need to put up a fight if she wanted to be let go.
“Don’t go!”
“Too late.”
“Let’s all go get lunch and we promise we won’t say anything else about Odinson.”
“.....And the sad state of your love life...”
“You’re lucky you’re my best friend or you’d be really getting it.”
Kora squares her shoulders and harden’s her face into a very serious expression as a way to try to be intimidating which causes Jennifer and the other girls to burst out into laughter. While Kora was a formidable opponent under the right circumstances she stood at around five feet five inches, and had a very soft face that never looked right when she tried to look mean or angry.
“Stop trying to look intimidating. That’s my thing.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New York, Manhattan
Avengers Tower
February 19th
“So is this party awesome or is it awesome!?”
Sam Wilson shows up behind Kora where she’s leaning against the bar ordering herself a drink. At the sound of his voice she turns her back to the bar and smiles up at him brightly. “Sam, this party is amazing. Thank you so much!” Kora hugs Sam and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
“Whoa- I’m gonna need to back off. I know I’m irresistible but I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”
Sam makes the comment in jest, playfully pushing Kora away from him and looking around in the crowded room, to see if anyone had caught her hugging him.
“Trust me, anyone who knows me knows that I…….”
“That Odinson’s the only man who’s got your heart.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“But you didn’t deny it, so that must mean it’s true.”
“You’re so immature.”
“I know I am but what are you?”
“I- am about to be a very drunk girl.” Kora glances behind her to see that the bartender had placed her drink down on the counter for her; an Aperol Spritz. She picks up the orangish-red drink and lifts it up in a cheers motion, before taking a few sips.
“Have fun with that, enjoy yourself, and I’ll catch you later Koko okay!”
“Kay.”
Kora watches Sam disappear back into the crowd. It wasn’t a huge party, but it was one that consisted of more than the active duty Avenger’s currently living in the tower. The large room was filled with reserve Avengers, X-men, street heroes, and close friends and family of the hero community. All in all there were just over fifty people who had attended, and from the looks of it everyone was having a good time.
Kora walked around the room sipping on her Bittersweet and citrusy drink. Every so often she stops and talks to a group of familiar faces catching up, telling stories and jokes. At one point Misty Knight had pulled her onto the dance floor and the two had a good time twirling each other around and shaking their behinds, until Danny Rand had come cutting in.
Misty joked about Danny’s jealousy while switching partners and Kora laughed at that saying she had no plans of stealing Misty and running off to California with her, even though Misty stated that she wouldn't mind all that much. Kora walks around the room some more and talking to some more teammates and friends. Two more drinks later Kora finds herself taking a seat at a table where Mary Jane was to eat some eggplant rollatini and talk with the red-haired woman about her new career in marketing and how her and Peter were planning on moving to a bigger apartment soon, and what were Kora's plans for the first month in California.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I’ve never known you to be one to leave a party early.”
Kora jumped up, and spun around to see that Odinson was standing behind her, an amused expression playing on his face that had to be in response to the surprise on her face.
“How are your footsteps so quiet?”
“I did not mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me. You- surprised me.”
“Well I am sorry for surprising you.”
"And I am just drunk enough to forgive you for what is usually such an unforgivable act.”
“Thank you sincerly my lady." Thor smiles harder than he has in a long time, and lets out a deep chuckle. "Are you not enjoying your celebration?”
“No I love it. The food, the music, and I’m so happy to see everyone, and it’s been so fun. I'm looking for Jen.” Kora states honestly. She had stepped out of the main party room and into the hallway for two reasons. One she wanted to be able to kick off her heels for a few seconds and give her feet a break. She had bought them the day before and the soles of her feet were starting to feel the fact that they hadn’t been properly broken in yet. And two she was looking for Jennifer realizing that she hadn’t seen the green beauty for at least two hours at that point.
“Lady Jennifer. She and some of the others have gone to the game room for a round of cards.”
“Poker?”
“Rummy I believe.”
“Is Logan down there too?”
“Yes.”
Kora makes a face knowing that Logan sucked at Rummy, and Jennifer wasn’t a graceful winner. Furniture was going to be broken that night, and a screaming match would follow, there was no doubt about that.
“How much damage do you believe they will cause?”
“A lot. Like always.” Kora picks up her heels off the floor, and looks up at Odinson. “I’m going to go to my room to get a change of shoes. I don’t think my feet can handle these anymore.”
“Would you mind if I accompanied you?”
“..........No.”
After Kora’s response, silence falls between them and they make their way up the elevator and to Kora’s room. The silence wasn’t all the way awkward but it wasn’t too comfortable either. This wasn’t the first time the two had seen each other since the first night on Thor’s arrival. But it was their first time being alone together and talking since then.
“Sorry about the mess.” Kora apologizes out of instinct when she opens the door and lets Odinson in.
His blue eyes watch as Kora makes her way to her closet and then takes a moment to take in her room. A room he had become familiar with during his time as an Avenger, as the two would often spend hours speaking into the late night here. Kora would share some of her favorite television shows and music with him, and he would tell her stories of his adventures before coming to earth.
It was nothing like he last remembered him. Four very large boxes were stacked near the entry door of her bedroom, and while most of the furniture was still intact, none of the decorations or personal mementos that made this room her’s was there.
“You’re truly taking everything with you?”
“Tony offered to let me keep this room for whenever I decided to visit but I don’t think I would be able to settle in California knowing I still have a place ready and waiting for me in New York.”
Kora steps out of the closet, a pair of black shoes with shorter squarer heels in her hands. She takes a seat at the edge of the bed and slips the shoes on, buckling the straps.
“All right I’m ready to go back.” Kora is on her feet again, and enjoying the fact that they are no longer in pain. She starts walking past Odinson, but when she is within arms length he reaches out stopping her by her wrist.
“Yes?”
“When I returned to New York it was in hopes that I would get a chance to spend some personal time with you. But you appear to want the opposite of that.”
“I’ve been busy packing and sorting out my affairs. And you’ve made it clear that you wanted your personal space which I’ve been respecting.”
A frown forms on Odinson’s beautiful tan face and his golden eyebrows meet together as they scrunch in worry. “You're upset with me.”
“I’m not upset with you.” Kora reaches up to remove Odinson’s hand from her wrist. As much as he does not want to let go of her, he does. “But I am tired of you pushing me away. I’m tired of feeling like I’m the only one who cares about our friendship. I'm tired of…....”
“Of what?”
“I- I……”
Kora’s brown eyes jump away from Odinson’s hopeful blue ones. She isn’t sure what he is hopeful about, but she does know that Daisy was right. Right about the fact that her and Odinson had been dancing around one another and the feelings they had for years. She loved him and she was sure that he had more feelings for her than friendship. They’ve spent enough time in each other's arms for her to know that at least.
But the timing had never been right.
It had always been about timing.
“Do you ever think about us? Do you think about us being Together?” Odinson finally questions after the silence starts spanning for too long. He’s almost nervous waiting for her answer. She consumes nearly all of his dreams and fantasies, and he thinks there might be nothing left of him if she confesses that he never crosses her mind.
Kora’s lips twitch and she wants to laugh. It wasn’t a question that she was expecting him to ask, because it was such a silly question. A question that he should know the answer to, because everyone else around them knows it. Yeah she thinks about him. Some days he’s all she thinks about. Lovingly and obsessively he’s made a home in her mind (just as she had done in his heart). One that regardless of anything would always belong to him and only him. But she couldn’t say all that in fear that he would shut down on her.
So she keeps to a simple, more digestible version of the truth.
“Of course I do. I worry about you a lot whenever you’re away, but mostly I think about how timing is really everything. We had the chemistry, we had the love. We had the whole universe. Except for that one little detail; we weren’t ready for each other.”
Odinson reaches out with his right hand caressing the side of Kora’s face and lifting it up so she was actually looking at him. And when their eyes connect he knows the validity of her words. There was so much love in her eyes. There’s so much love in his eyes.
‘Maybe this is it. Maybe this is the timing we’ve been waiting for…..’ Kora takes a hesitant step towards Odinson. Then another, and another, until her hands were laid flatly on top of the simple fighting black shirt he was wearing. His hand slipped from the side of her face to her neck and he’s looking at her with as much want as she’s looking at him so she tugs on his shirt until he leans down and their lips connect.
The kisses tempo quickly switched from soft and tentative to quick with a hint of desperation. His teeth are tugging at the bottom of her lips, and her hands are tugging at his blonde strands, sloppily licking into his mouth. His right hand moves back up to cup her face holding it in place, and his other hand rests on the small of her back, pushing her flush against his body.
The heat and tension was radiating between them and shooting straight into the sexual organs, but just as quickly as Odinson had pulled her to him, he was pushing her away again and Kora was left feeling breathless and dazed. Despite her state she could feel something else had shifted between them.
“Oh shit I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Do not apologize.”
“I just thought….”
“There are no words in any known language for me to describe to you how much I want you, Kora. How much I have always wanted you. And as much as it pains me to hurt you in such a way I can not be with you.”
“Because you’re still trying to find yourself?”
“I am no more worthy of your love than I am of Mjolnir. I fear that I will only disappoint you.”
“Fuck that! Fuck you!” Kora shouts burying her reddening and angry face into her hands, and Thor jumps in genuine surprise by how loud and angry she was. She could be a loud and vulger person at times, but never in anger. “I don’t care! Why can’t you understand that I don’t care about any of that. I don’t care if you're Thor or Odinson. I don’t care if you have Mjolnir. I don’t care if you're a god, or if you have powers or about anything else going on. I don’t even care about the shitty timing or the fact that you're going to be gone for how many more months. I love you! I fucking love you. Why can’t you understand that? Why is me loving you not enough!?”
“Kora….”
Odinson tried to reach out to her and pull her into a hug, because at this point she was full on sobbing and he felt like the biggest fool in the world, but she was truly fed up with him, because she yelled and thrashed in his arms until he finally released her, and she stormed out of her own room still blinded by her tears and heartbreak.
‘Why can't we just get it right?’ Kora thinks sadly through her alcohol ridden mind as she stumbles out of her own room and looking for a place where she can find solace.
She loves him. She wants to be with him. And she knows he feels the same way. Deep down she knows that. But he’s not there yet. And she wonders if he ever will be or if she is wasting her time.
‘It seems this is how it will always be for the two of us- just like thunder and lightning - our timing will always be a little off.’
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
California, Palos Verdes
Avengers Compound
February 20th
Like most people Kora had arrived in California a bit hungover and with a large whole in her heart.
After her blow up at Odinson, she had ended up curled up in Jennifer’s bed and fallen into restless sleep for several hours. By the time she had woken up she had found Jennifer on one side of her, and Jessica on the other. The party had ended hours prior and a majority of the guests had left to go home.
Despite still being upset she had wanted to at least attempt to talk to Odinson before she left, hating the thought of them leaving on bad terms more than anything else. But Tony had informed them that he had left some time in the middle of the night shortly after the party had ended. And unsurprisingly left no way for anyone to get in contact with him. As much as she had tried to get over it by telling herself it meant nothing. That him leaving without saying anything gave her all the answers she needed, and that she should move on, the heartbreak still sat heavily on her chest during her last few hours in New York and during her six hour flight. Her mood was only slightly elevated at the sight of Clint Barton who had come to pick her up and at the sight of the Avengers Compound.
She had only been there maybe twice around four years ago when it had first started being built, and the finished product was much more spectacular than what she had seen in photos and videos. The compound sat on fifteen very green acres of land with lots of outdoor activities, and only a few short miles away from the ocean. The architecture was simplistic and modern made of some sort of white stone material and glass.
Her room was even bigger than the one she had back at the tower and it had an amazing south facing view. She knew she would need to get more furniture so as not to make the space feel too empty. The furniture she had, had already arrived but it hadn’t been set up yet, not that she minded sleeping on the twin bed that Clint and the other’s had set up for her for a few days.
“You done yet? I’ve held them off as long as I can.”
“Give me a second, I'm still changing.”
Kora shouts back at Clint through the closed door. She was still digging through one of her suitcases for a pair of shorts. When she had left New York she had left dressed for the cold, snowy, February weather, which was completely unfit for the sunny and warm California weather.
“Hurry up! I’m hungry and America isn’t letting anyone eat until you come down.”
“I hurrying!” Kora squeezed herself into her shorts, having already removed her long sleeve shirt and large sweater in favor of a loose casual t-shirt.
The West Coast Team had planned a welcome to the team barbeque for her which was unexpected but sweet of them. And as hurt and jet lag as she was, she didn’t want her feelings about things they know nothing about to get in the way of her bonding with them and making a good impression.
Slipping on a pair of sandals, Kora then lifts her backpack onto the twin bed and ruffles through it looking for her portable charger in order to bring it along with her as her cell-phone was barely holding ten percent charge. Just as she pulled out her portable charger an unfamiliar white envelope flew out of the backpack and onto her feet.
She raised a curious eyebrow, reaching to pick it up, and open it. As she does she thinks that maybe one of the girls may have slipped it into her bag but as her eyes skim over the writing she feels something tug some at her heart, and she has to take a seat on the floor half way through and start reading it again because the emotions that were being evoked were getting far too strong.
My Dear Kora,
I hope my letter finds you well, whether before or long after your journey. After tonight I can only imagine what you may think about me, and I believe whatever that thought may be it must be made worse by the fact that like I coward I choose to leave instead of face you. And for that I am sorry.
I am sorry that I did not stay. I am sorry for ruining your last night in New York. I am sorry for both my emotional and physical distance. I am sorry for breaking your heart. There are so many things I feel I must apologize to you for, but I do not believe that this book I am writing in has enough paper for all of my sorry and sorrow when it comes to you.
Though what I am most sorry for is the fact that I have proclaimed my love to you, yet my actions have never matched my words. That I have continued allowing life and all of its regrettable events to interfere and keep us separated. Which is why I am beseeching you for one more chance which I know that I am undeserving of. I know not how long I will be gone, but I swear if you choose to wait for me once more that upon my return I will return the man you have deserved all these years. And I will rain upon you all the love which I have locked away in my heart for you. I will give to you all that you deserve.
Just please my Kora wait some more for me.
Have faith in me.
Love,
Thor
Kora sniffles and has to put the letter down in fear that her tears would cause the words written to smudge. How much nicer would things have been if he could have said all this the night before, if he would have stayed to tell her. She doesn’t think he is a coward for leaving, but she has always preferred words spoken to those written, not that Thor’s words weren’t touching.
“Kora! If I have to break the doors and drag you out just so I can have a fucking cheeseburger I will!”
“I said I’m coming!” Kora shouted, choking back a sob, remembering where she was now. She quickly rubs away all her tears and folds the letter back u with care, placing it under her pillow for safe keeping.
She would wait.
She’s waited all this time already, and it made no difference to her if she had to wait longer to be in the arms of the man she loved.
But waiting didn’t mean sitting on her hands, crying all day, and being overall some helpless damsel. She’ll go on with her life as she always has. She’ll have her adventures, she’ll save the world, she’ll make new friends, and she’ll be happy, but she’ll always leave a door open and a place in her heart for him.
Until the day lightning and thunder finally meet and the timing is finally right.
Kora opened the door.
“Okay. I’m ready.”