Runaway
I was listenin' to the ocean
No one disturbs me for the rest of the afternoon. No visiting nobility, wise elders, or gods stop to give me words of half spoken truths. Only a small servant girl appears, just as the sky begins to fade into pinks and oranges. Only making the garden below more stunning.
I saw a face in the sand
If Saint didn't sit at attention when she came to the door, I wouldn't have heard her, as the music grew.
But when I picked it up
Drowning and smothering everything else in my splintered thoughts.
Then it vanished away from my hands, down
“My lady…” I can feel her hesitation growing when I remain still. Just starting out into the garden in the early evening light, with Saint looking at her intently. The steady fall of his ribs against my side only affirms my feelings for the girl.
I had a dream I was seven
“I was instructed to bring you a meal.” Her soft steps move about behind me, the plates faintly clinking as she sets the tray down. It's not till she squeaks in surprise do I realize Saint has moved.
Climbing my way in a tree
Glancing over my shoulder, I find my white boy sniffing her gently, while she's frozen in place. Her short stature was not surprising given her light steps and her olive complexion is warm against her pale robe.
I saw a piece of heaven
“You brought him dinner too.” It’s no more than a whisper but immediately her eyes stop looking over the room, as if trying to catch one more glimpse of his shadow.
Waiting impatient for me, down
I’d done the exact same thing for hours as I wandered the room, letting my fingers trace over each surface and fabric within reach. Anything to feel close to him for more time.
And I was runnin' far away
Here I was thinking that killing the devil would finally set me free… an end to the pain. She wrings her hands, a nervous tick, “Y-yes, my lady. He was…” She swallows thickly before glancing up at me, “Kind.”
Would I run off the world someday?
Slowly I nod, but internally my indecision settles and the screams climb and climb. Bring them home! If she notices the slight flinch that jerks through me she keeps to herself, still fidgeting with her hands.
Nobody knows
“D-did you know him well?” She hedges, nervousness rolls from her mind and her frame, prepared for a nasty reaction of asking questions.
No more.
Nobody knows, and
I didn't come all this way to hide. To play a puppet, to play a perfect skater… those roles are long dead. Decaying beside the devil’s decomposing corpse.
I was dancing in the rain
With slow movements I got to my feet, and finally noticed the dinner she brought. Some sort of roast meat and I'd guess vegetables. “It's the closest we could prepare to food you would be familiar with.”
I felt alive and I can't complain
“I think I knew him more than he realized…” The stone floor makes no sound as I move towards the table, my fingers dance along the edge. The memories flow yet in jagged shards. Mingled between lyrics and screams.
But no, take me home
“Hello Darling, come to capture me again?” That grin stretches across his face as he leans in over the table.
Take me home where I belong
“Little star, do you plan to shoot me?” Where my glock sits just beside my plate of scrambled eggs and his green eyes dance in amusement.
I can't take it anymore
“My lady?” Subtly the jagged bits fade, leaving the lyrics to continue over the humming screams. The girl came closer, concern flared in her eyes, “I'm alright, tell me did L-he have a favorite dessert?”
I was painting a picture
With her nose scrunched and a crease forming between her brows as she processes my request, her face relaxes again to be graced with a small smile, yet still tinged with a sadness that is all too familiar.
The picture was a painting of you and
“He did… I can bring some to you if you wish?” Gently I nod, behind her Saint hops up onto the green duvet, before settling, making her turn at the sound of the bed creaking.
For a moment I thought you were here
With her back turned, her simple braid swung over her shoulder, tied with a bright yellow ribbon. The food was all but forgotten, slipping my hands into my pockets, letting me rock back on my heels, all in an effort to appear unthreatening.
If Loki was kind to her, I should afford her the same.
But then again, it wasn't true, down
“What's your name?” Quickly she faces me again, a light blush painting her cheeks, she doesn't quite make eye contact with me.
And all this time I have been lyin'
“Ivanna,” it's all but a whisper.
“Thank you, now go, I'm sure I've kept you far too long.” A polite smile tugs at her features, making her look far older than she probably is. Though, who knows how Asgardians age?
Oh, lyin' in secret to myself
“I'll be right back with the dessert,” she promises as she turns from me. With light steps she crossed the room, under the watchful gaze of canine eyes. The door clicked softly behind her, the black wood only reminding me of the darkness inside of my own mind.
I've been putting sorrow on the farthest place on my shelf
Rubbing at my sore throat, I can't help but think of my own echoing sobs at the not too long ago battleground, my thumb snags around the chain of my Shuris gift….
La-di-da
Did she…..
And I was runnin' far away
It doesn't matter, I'll bring them all home. First, start with the man with the green warmth. All revenge arcs have to start somewhere don't-
Would I run off the world someday?
A cold-wet nudge against my palm jerks my thoughts loose, looking down I find my only boy left staring at me. If only he knew.
Nobody knows
Spinning in a circle, he then places his front paws on the table’s edge, to nudge the forgotten pate with his cold nose. “Alright, boy,” I chuckle.
Nobody knows, and
Taking the plate in my hands, full of cold food, I simply place it on the floor. Cocking his head, he hesitates, unsure since I have yet to eat. Oh such a smart boy, patting his head, I leave him to the plate.
I was dancing in the rain
Before I make it to the alcove, there is a soft knock, “My lady?” Comes Ivannan’s soft and timid voice. The door creaks open and her round face pops in, now graced with a true smile.
I felt alive and I can't complain
“I have something for you.” Letting herself into the room, one hand balances a white bowl with something oddly cannoli shaped and her free arm holds a dark cloth bundle
But no, take me home
This time she approaches me with little hesitation, still smiling warmly as she presents the plate to me, “It's a pastry, a favorite of both the Queen and Loki.” Taking the plate from her, but I barely glance at it
Take me home where I belong
The dark green bundle has my full attention, even from here I can smell him. I'd know the vanilla cinnamon, yet woodsy scent anywhere. “What is that?”
I got no other place to go
“Thor suggested you'd be pleased with this..” She unfolds the fabric revealing its golden interior, “.. it was his cape, worn in his final battle…” She trails off, her voice growing to a whisper.
No, take me home
Biting my tongue to keep the shaking and tears at bay, I reach for the fabric. The soft material easily glides through my fingers, yet it's strong, far stronger than most materials… something familiar about the fabric…
Take me home where I belong
“What happened to it?” Along the bottom, the green outer lining is frayed… as if cut, but why cut a strip off the-
I got no other place to go
Her small hand slowly reaches towards my shoulder to tug my braid, but especially the interwoven green ribbon, “I believe that's your answer,” She lapses into a heavy silence, letting her hand fall back to her side, “You must have meant very much to him.”
Now take me home
Letting go of the cape completely, she steps back and gestures to the nameless pastry, “Please enjoy, I must be going for my evening duties.” She spins away, moving quickly towards the door, but it's not enough to hide her sniffling as the door shuts.
Take me home where I belong
Instinctively, my fingers tighten around the fabric, as the loneliness threatens to swallow my whole. Fuck, I miss them. The sob tears from my chest and I bury my face into the comforting scent coating the cape.
I can't take it anymore
With a shuddering breath, I drag myself out of the fabric. Get a hold of yourself… I’m the deadliest assassin earth has ever seen, I can do this. I will bring them all home.
But I kept runnin'
Saint sits in front of me, his blue eyes watching me. Stroking his ear, allowing my breathing to return to normal, I do my best to give him a brave face, “We're going to bring them home boy, I swear.”
For a soft place to fall
Now evening has nearly fully taken over the sky, now a deep orange, boarding onto the darkness of night, it's nearly time to follow Astera’s words.
And I kept runnin'
Time to start running again…. Almost
For a soft place to fall
The pastry is nearly identical to cannoli back home, except the filling is tinged pink. Taking a bite, the crust is crunchy and flakey but the filling explodes in flavor. A berry of some kind, not quite a strawberry or raspberry taste… something in between.
And I kept runnin'
Of course his favorite dessert is fucking delicious.
For a soft place to fall
Once the rest is gone, and my hands wiped clean on my pants, Saint impatiently waits beside the door as I swing the cape around my shoulders.
And I kept runnin'
Its frayed edges just come to the floor, clearly meant for his lean frame, easily my fingers button it and tug the hood over my head. His scent wraps around me like a ghost of a hug, tugging at my heart and head painfully.
For a soft place to fall
Fighting back the sobs threatening to spill and the tears gathering, I sign to Saint my fingers well accustomed to the letters ‘ABT.’
And I was runnin' far away
Once the door is open, he disappears down the hall. Moving in the shadows with light steps, I followed him, both of us having memorized the path to the front doors for the moment we walked it.
Would I run off the world someday?
Door after door we pass, not one person appears in the dark halls, sparsely lit with some torches.
But no, take me home
Saint circles back as the large double doors come into view at the end of the long hall. This part is well lit compared to the others, yet still they are empty. I can't even hear a heartbeat outside of Saints.
Take me home where I belong
I think Astera is more than just a woman of wise words, but I've come this far and I have nothing to lose.
I got no other place to go
Easily the right door swings open, revealing the wide stairs that descend to the rainbow bridge.
No, take me home
“Hey!” The word echoes and bounces down the hall behind me, without sparing a glance, and tapping my thigh three times, we fly down the stairs. Footsteps thundering against the stone.
Take me home where I belong
Jumping over the last three stairs, sparing a quick glance, a guard appears, but just faintly I hear another shout.... A woman… and he turns away. Grumbling about this palace being a mess.
I got no other place to go
A smirk pulls at my lips before I snap and break out into a sprint down the multi-colored bridge. Our steps now have a hollow sound to them as the golden sphere comes closer and closer.
No, take me home
Saint pants beside me, his own four-legged stride keeping up with ease, there's maybe another 10 yards between us and the dome's entrance when the tall-dark skinned man himself steps into view.
Home where I belong
“Ah, my invisible friends, I've been waiting.” His deep voice carries well across the space. Though all I can really hear is Saint’s heavy breathing…
Oh, no, no
Our pace slows as the rainbow path becomes shorter and shorter, we finally come to a stop just outside the entrance that he still occupies. “Astera, sent us.”
No, take me home
He gives no answer, but steps to the side, gesturing for us to enter. The expansive dome is the same as it was when we arrived earlier today. “You have quite the task ahead of you.”
Home where I belong
“Niflheim, what is it?” With a sigh, I hear his footsteps and he steps up onto the circular pedestal
Ho, ho, ho
“It is a desert unlike any other, it's meant to protect wanderers from finding Hel.” His hands trace over the golden stand that holds the controls, essentially a key from what Thor explained.
No, take me home
“Are you trying to scare me away?” Still dazzled by the crisp golden walls, I'm still very aware of the apprehension Heimdall holds for my journey. His mind is practically shouting them.
Home where I belong
“Once you begin a journey of this size, it cannot be undone.” This time, I'll face him, observing his stiff stance as he watches me too, “You’ll need to find the river..I'm afraid I cannot offer much more.”
Oh, no, no
“I don't intend to start anything…” I close the distance between us, stepping onto his pedestal, “... I plan to end this war.”
No, take me home
Golden brown eyes, of unknowable wisdom hold my deadly green stare. One that makes ruthless men shiver in place, yet he holds it without the slightest tremor or rise in a heartbeat. Instead he smirks.
Home where I belong
With his hands grasped around the key, the one that will make the gates open, he holds my gaze still, “Shall I offer one last piece of wisdom?”
I can't take it anymore
Letting my silence speak for me, he begins to turn the key, “Time will be your greatest advantage, yet don't forget that the power that started this war will be the key to ending it.” He’s barely finished the last syllable when my vision is overcome by the blinding white light, and nearly drowned out by the roar and clinking of the gate opening.