Song: Kiss Me, Son of God (by They Might Be Giants)

A/n- Throughout this whole book, any sign language will be enclosed in Brackets [ ] instead of quotation marks. It will also be written as how you would say it in a normal sentence, even though sentences in ASL are formed slightly differently and will usually not use as many words (it will just make it easier to understand).

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Present day

(January 7th, 2016)

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

It has been exactly 868 years, 3 months, and 11 days since I was banished. I tried to push that date from my mind, but my brain loves to torment me by not allowing me to ever forget dates, no matter how painful they may be.

When I first fell out of the Bifrost here on Midgard I wandered around aimlessly for a while as if trying to escape the past that still followed me. I was always fascinated with Midgard when I was younger, so on the bright side, I was at least glad that I would now be able to finally see it. However, one thing that the books forgot to mention, was that Midgardians were extremely stupid.

Firstly, most of them are apparently egotistical enough to think that they are the only people in the entire universe and that it basically revolves around them. No, you are not that special. But then there were some that believed that there were others, some even knew about the Norse gods and the nine realms, but that was rare, and I mostly tried to avoid them since it only reminded me of what I lost.

In the year 1149, only about a year after I fell here, I found the first place in which I settled down for a while. It was a small village in Norway and I was surprisingly welcomed with open arms. They thought that I was some kind of gift from their gods. If only they knew; it could be nothing further from the truth. Although, I did let it feed my ego a little bit if we are being honest.

I stayed there for a while and became known by many others even outside of the village. People would come to me from miles and miles away seeking help or praying and begging me to heal them or sometimes just looking for the occasional simple spell. Most of which I gladly did to the best of my ability, I had the ability and knowledge to help people so I obviously did so.

However, no matter how many people I helped, I never felt like it could ever truly make up for my past.

I was known as Raven 'the fallen angel' by people from all around the world. It was something that the people started calling me when I first got here, which I am guessing is based on the deep black wings I am cursed with. But I didn't mind it too much, in fact, I think it sounded pretty badass, so I kept coming back to it still to this day.

For so long I lived peacefully among the people. For over 500 years I was actually praised by them, they loved me, but they were not the people I actually craved to love me. The only people I actually wanted to be accepted by scorned me.

Nevertheless, slowly over time, people began to change. Especially with the growth of Christianity, my presence became less and less welcomed. When they finally snapped I was in Salem at the time. It started when an outbreak broke out in the town. I obviously healed as many people as I could and put a stop to it, but apparently, that was a mistake.

The people that once welcomed me turned to scorn me, just like in my past life. Maybe this was just my fate, to be scorned wherever I find peace. The people feared me, especially the Puritans. So when I only tried to help, they tried to accuse me of working with the devil, who, if he was anything like Hela, I did not like.

They tried to burn me at the stake, and they almost did too; I still have the scars to prove it.

Ever since that day, I vowed to never use my magic or show my true self in public again. I only ever brought trouble wherever I went, so I hid away from everyone.

Since then I have been moving from place to place every few years, constantly having to move so that people don't start to notice that I am aging much slower than them, that would definitely seem a little suspicious.

However, for the last 13 years, I have been living in New York. It is the longest that I have stayed in one place, but I discovered that in New York if you don't bother anyone, they will not give a shit about you. I stay out of peoples' way and in return, they don't acknowledge my existence. It works great.

It had been going amazingly, I have a small and very overpriced but cozy apartment, a job at a cafe, I am studying to get my second degree in engineering (my first in psychology- I know, not two very similar degrees, but I enjoyed both) and even a friend; I have not had one of those in decades. At least it was amazing until about a year ago when a certain blond oaf moved in with his new boy band group only a couple of blocks away like a ghost come to haunt me from my past.

As soon as I saw that Thor was here, I was immediately ready to pack my bags. But I realized that I could not let him drive me out. I had built my own life here and was finally somewhat happy for the first time in centuries. I would not let my past ruin me even more than it already has. I would avoid and most certainly stay very much out of his way, but I would not let my past dictate me any longer.

Plus, I was finally getting close to finding the location of some of the infinity stones. Over the past 800 years I kept my promise of doing everything that I could to stop Thanos, so with all the information that I knew and all that I learned over the years, I started to track down the stones, hopefully before Thanos did.

I would just have to figure out what I would have to do when I actually found out where they were, even if I have to do it alone with nothing but my dagger, I would find a way. I promised I would find a way.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

I groaned as my alarm blasted in my ear and aimlessly slammed my hand down on the snooze forgetting my own strength for a second as the entire clock crumpled below my hand. That happened more often than I would like to admit.

I reluctantly got out of bed, dragging my feet as I wobbled towards the shower. After a cold shower with absolutely horrible water pressure that the apartment owner refused to improve, I finished getting ready and put on one of my favorite sweaters, my black jeans, and Doc Martens in an effort to improve the day that I was already so done with.

I then left my apartment and started walking to the Cafe just a few blocks away where I have been working for the past 4 years. It is honestly a miracle that they have not noticed that there is something up with me, I mean within 4 years it appears that I have only aged a month or two at most, but that's just New York for you.

It was a cold morning and the sun was still yet to rise when I finally got to the cafe and fumbled with the keys trying to unlock the door as my hands were shivering with the dry winter air. I was the assistant manager and was therefore usually the first one to get there and would start to set up for the day, then soon after Laura would show up.

Laura was my best friend and I adored them. We met when she started working here and I had to train her, but that started very badly at first. I was always very quiet (even quieter than a mute person could normally be), avoiding people as much as possible, which usually made me come across as cold. (Also people usually didn't want to talk to someone that could not talk back) But Laura would not stop talking. At first, I was very annoyed with them, especially when they kept insisting on talking to me day after day, but eventually, I started to warm up to them and would look forward to her constant rambles. She even surprised me by learning ASL so that we could communicate without me having to write everything down. Within a few weeks, we became inseparable.

For so long I refused to get close to anyone, fearing that they would get dragged into my wake just like everyone I ever got close to before; and maybe it was for the fact that Laura refused to leave me alone, or maybe it was that I realized that I desperately needed and missed having someone to share my life with instead of keeping it all to myself, but either way I was so glad that I broke that promise to myself.

Obviously, there are still many things that I have never told Laura, like my past, that I am a valkyrie, or that I am literally over a millennium old, which caused some pretty hilarious instances at times since they are pagan and will start ranting about Norse Mythology and I have to sit there and try not to cringe at all the things that are very much wrong. For example, apparently, the mortals think that Prince Loki had a child with a horse???? I can tell you that is definitely VERY much not true... However, there are some myths that they got right. For instance, the myth of Prince Thor disguising himself as a bride to get his hammer back is indeed true, and very entertaining. During that whole escapade, I went along disguised as a servant just so I could get a front-row seat to the chaos, and let me tell you, it was so worth it.

Sometimes I feel bad for not being honest with her, but I know that I can not make the mistake of coming out to the public again. Most definitely with how mutants are being treated and feared now, it would be suicide to out myself. Additionally, with Thor here now, my past would no doubt catch up with me and I could not afford that, especially with how close I am to finding the infinity stones.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

"RAVEEEENNNNNNNNN get me the broom there is a creep outside that I need to take care of!!" Laura sang as they burst in, almost kicking the door off its hinges.

I come out of the back room where I was baking some pastries for the day smiling and grabbing the broom on the way and chucking it across the room to her. [If you need help I can grab the mop] I sign already starting to reach for it.

"Nah, it's fine, it's just that weird 16-year-old kid that thinks he is all the shit again. I will just threaten to call his mom and he'll be running," they said as they signed along with their words. They always signed even though I wasn't deaf, it was more of just a courtesy thing.

[This is why I love you, Laura. Have fun!] I respond and chuckle out my nose slightly as she struts out of the cafe already twisting the broom in her hand preparing to whack the douchebag.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

It was just me and Laura on the morning shift today. David was supposed to be here, but he called in sick at the last minute, but we were not mad about that in the slightest, neither of us liked David at all. It was already an extremely long morning, we were only 2 hours in and there have already been 7 Karens, one of which literally slapped me because she said I was being rude for not responding (even though I literally have a nametag explaining that I can't talk, but whatever), 4 screaming kids, 1 group of rude teens and, and countless orders of frappuccinos. In other words, I was begging for the earth to open up and swallow me whole.

The morning rush had finally slowed down a bit so I was now sitting at the counter with my head in my hands and debating my entire life. I heard the sound alert saying that an online delivery order was placed go off and brought up my head silently pleading that Laura would take it, but then I noticed the time, 8:08. To put it simply, Laura has an absolutely massive crush on this one girl that always comes in here at exactly 8:15 pretty much every day, she has been trying to work up the courage to say something to her but always chickens out, I would not let her miss seeing her if it is the last thing I do. Therefore, I reluctantly get up and start to make the drinks for the order.

"It's fine Raven, I got it, I know how much you hate doing deliveries." Laura tried to reason.

[Nope, I got it. And YOU] I sign pointing my pointer finger at her aggressively [are going to finally grow some balls and talk to her.] They signed when I gave them a pointed glare.

Just as I finished making the drinks I heard the bell ring as the door opened and saw the girl walk in. I looked over to Laura with narrowed eyes and I could almost physically see the anxiety radiating off of them so I gave them an encouraging look and quickly signed for them to talk to her.

I pack the drinks into a carrier and then check where the delivery is. As soon as I find it, my face drops. It is at Stark freaking tower.

I'm sure it will be fine! I try to tell myself. It's probably just for some workers, I won't even see any of them or Thor... oh gods... Thor is there.

Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit

In a panic, I look up to see Laura actually talking with the girl. Of course, this is the one time she actually talks to her. Of fucking course.

I can't interrupt them or get Laura to do it, especially when she finally grew some balls.

Just suck it up Raven, it will be fine! Just stop in, drop it off quickly, and then sprint out of there as fast as humanly possible. All good, nothing could go wrong...

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

I stand outside the tower trying to stop my shaking so that I don't drop the drinks. This is stupid, it's a massive building, and it's not like I am going to just run into Thor, he might not even be here right now! I try to reason with myself. With that, I exhale a deep breath and walk into the lobby.

I force a determined stride into my step and hold my head high as I walk up to the desk. The lady behind the desk offers me a well-practiced but clearly fake smile and I offer a similar one in return. "Hi, what can I help you with?" She asks, clearly already having a long morning as well.

I hold up my finger indicating that I need a second as I pull out my phone and open my text-to-speech app since most people are not bothered to learn ASL.

"I have a coffee order for floor 87?" the robotic voice from my phone says.

She looks at me confused until her eyes light up "Oh, I actually know ASL! My brother is deaf." she says and signs along.

A wide smile spreads on my face. [Thank gods, it's so refreshing when people do, it's exhausting having to type everything out.]

"I am sure, anyways, here is a badge that will temporarily allow you up to that floor to drop the coffee off. Just come to return it after and let me know if you need anything, my name is Evelien." she warmly says and signs this time with a real smile.

[Thank you Evelien, have a great day!] I sign as I leave and head over to the elevators, temporarily forgetting all my worries.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

When I finally reach floor 87 after about a 3-minute elevator ride I step out and then slightly shuffle feeling awkward in the completely empty hall. This whole floor seemed abandoned, I expected to at least see several workers running around, hopefully allowing me to easily find whoever ordered the coffee. However, there was no one and it was eerily quiet.

I debated just leaving the coffee there and leaving, but decided against it and started slowly walking down the hall trying to find whoever ordered the coffee that was getting cold at this point since I can't call out at all to find where they are.

I silently searched through the halls for a few minutes, trying to keep track of where I was but it became increasingly difficult with how extensive and massive even just this one floor was.

I have been wandering around, completely lost at this point for about 6 minutes now. That is until suddenly I hear a sound behind me but before I am able to react I am put into a strong headlock with a blade held over my throat, which honestly caught me off guard, especially because of how they were able to actually sneak up on me.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" they harshly spat.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•