"How can I serve you, Allfather?", Heimdall asked with a lowered gaze.

Odin looked around for a moment.

He frowned. Then he shook his head as if dismissing a thought.

"It came to my attention that you had a falling out with Thor.", Odin said, stepping further into the room to look around. "Again."

Heimdall curled his lips. It was obvious that he wanted to say something, but he did not dare.

At least he didn't dare to say it the way he would have done it in the company of somebody else.

"Thor saw fit to insult me, Allfather.", he tried to explain himself. "And his serpent of a wife-!"

"Sif is a strong ally.", Odin interfered with a raised finger.

"She is not loyal to you, Allfather."

"She is loyal to Thor. And that's good enough for me. As long as she doesn't get in the way of my plans, let her spit all the venom she wants.", Odin walked up to the large windows and crossed his arms behind to back to admire Asgard for a moment.

As he did so, his eyes wandered to the bed.

He frowned.

It was messy. Something incredible unusually for the all so tidy and clean god of foresight.

Displeased, Heimdall growled and bowed his head.

But he did not contradict. Something unusual for him.

"What do you want from me?", he asked instead.

"An apology.", Odin turned around to face his son again.

Even more displeasure appeared on Heimdall's face.

"If you allow me, I also demand an apology.", he said with conviction in his own words.

Odin frowned and looked him up and down.

"What reason do you have?", he shrugged his shoulders uninterestedly.

"Thor insulted me as well."

"You started the fight."

"Because he couldn't behave himself. Once again."

"And so you had to insult his wife as well?"

Heimdall pressed his lips into a thin line and let out a sharp breath.

"Sif can't keep her mouth shut for good.", his voice already showed signs of impatience and frustration. "I had a point. But Thor teamed up with her against me."

"So you kidnapped one of his guests?", there was no understanding visible on Odin's face.

Your heart skipped a beat.

For a moment Heimdall did not dare to answer.

His eyes wandered over the floor. It was written all over his face that he did not know exactly what a good answer to this accusation was.

Odin seemed to notice that something was wrong.

He was by no means a good father. He probably couldn't even guess what his son's fears were. But he knew him well enough to realise that he was not himself.

With his eye suspiciously narrowed, he came closer.

The god of foresight backed away and cleared his throat.

"Thor's guest was nothing but a puny human.", he said, trying to show his usual cunning smile. "What does he care what happened? He can find himself a new guest."

"He's upset.", Odin growled.

"He's always upset about something. Why is he making such a fuss?"

"Apparently he liked that human."

"Let him like as many humans as he wants. Why does this one matter?"

Tired of the discussion, Odin rolled his eyes, shook his head and let out an annoyed groan.

"Since you are not interested anyway and I can understand your point of view, let's leave this subject alone, shall we?", he deviated from his course. "Instead, I come to you with something else."

"I know.", Heimdall bowed his head in a simple bow. "But even I cannot tell when he will arrive."

Dissatisfied, Odin frowned.

"He must come.", he insisted.

"And he will."

"If you know he's coming, why don't you know when?"

Desperately struggling for an answer, Heimdall let his gaze wander across the floor, to his shoulder and finally, for a moment, to the cupboard.

Your eyes met his.

A shiver chased down your spine. But it was warm and not at all unpleasant.

You feared being discovered. But you were confident that Heimdall would not let you walk into the knife after all.

"I can see all possibilities, every future.", he murmured with a furrowed brow as if he himself was not sure what to say. "But some things are shrouded in mist. Some possibilities merge together into one. Nothing is certain."

Quickly he looked again at the Allfather.

But he had already noticed that something was really wrong.

With a raised eyebrow, he turned his head to look where his son's attention had been only moments ago.

His gaze wandered up and down the piece of furniture, looking for something that might have caught Heimdall's interest.

But when he found nothing on the outside, he stepped forward.

Swallowing hard, you retreated from the doors, pressed your back against the wall and held your breath to stifle even the slightest sound.

"Why can't you tell me anything more specific?", there was dissatisfaction in the All-Father's voice.

A lot of discontent. So much that it almost turned into anger.

Heimdall remained frozen.

Almost in horror he watched as his father approached the closet in which he had hidden that one thing that could decide over his existence.

"He's... conflicted.", he managed to press out between clenched teeth. "He wants to come. He wants to get your answers."

Odin shopped in front of the closet.

You could see him through the small gap.

But his eye hadn't spotted you yet.

Perhaps the darkness was your blessing in disguise.

"He can't be conflicted in all of your visions of the future, Heimdall.", Odin's hand was already caressing the wood of the door as Heimdall managed to break free from his frozen state of fear.

"Allfather!", he jumped forward to gain his attention. "You're right. I was careless. How stupid of me. Ha!"

Odin pulled back to lock eyes with his son.

"So?", he asked in an impatient manner.

"He'll arrive soon.", Heimdall visibly swallowed. "I... I should get up to the wall. To greet him. Make sure his intentions are noble."

For a moment, Odin eyed his face with mistrust.

Then he turned away from the closet with a shrug.

"See, my boy, this is why you need to do what I want of you.", he said in such a self-centred kind of way it was nasty to listen to. "Just tell me the truth upright and I don't have to be disappointed with you."

Heimdall let out a deep breath.

"Yes, Allfather.", he said.