Only when the light of the sun kissed your (S/C) skin did you dare to lift the hood of your coat and take a deep breath.

Damp morning air rose to your nose.

But there was also something else.

It smelled different from the ground, not quite as dry and thinner.

Wind danced around your face, took a few strands of your (H/C) hair and played with them.

Suddenly, the chirping of birds sounded.

Your gaze wandered upwards.

A brilliant blue sky hung over your head.

As if someone had taken a brush and painted a flawless blue on a canvas. Only a few small clouds were visible, like tiny shreds of cotton wool.

Curious, you looked around.

"Where are we?", you asked, kicking a stone that lay on the dusty ground in front of you.

It rolled a few jumps, over a larger stone and finally over a ledge into the unknown. It did not sound like stone hitting stone, but like a stone jumping over the flag surface of calm water.

Heimdall stopped at the edge of a precipice.

You tilted your head to look at him.

His face was blank.

But there was something deep in his eyes. Something thoughtful.

It was as if he was waiting for something. And at the same time he didn't want to welcome it.

"Hei-!", you stopped yourself before his name could leave your lips again without thinking. "My lord."

You stepped closer so that he could see exactly what was happening.

His eyes did not leave the sky.

As you stood next to him, a chill almost ran down your spine. A harsh wind chased through your clothes and made the cloak blow like the leaves of a blossoming flower.

You stood at the edge of the great wall of Asgard.

Below your feet, thousands of meters below, stretched a rolling land of lush green grass. In the distance you could make out small black specks, animals and people moving and going about their daily lives.

The sounds of their lives reached high into the air, through the clouds and to you.

"There is... life outside Asgard?", you asked in wonder.

Heimdall's gaze lowered.

"He will come from down there.", he said, and lowered himself to dangle his legs over the edge.

A cold shiver crawled down your spine as the thought crossed your mind that only one wrong move was necessary to make him slip and fall into deadly depths.

"Who will come from down there?", you asked to distract your thoughts.

A flinch chased through his face.

His lips curled and one corner rose to show a hint of bright golden teeth.

"Feline gold.", he growled with narrowed eyebrows. "A liar who will present himself as a saviour."

Doubting, you frowned.

"That sounds like an unwanted guest. A threat."

"It is. He will try to glamour the All-Father. He will fulfil his duties and win his trust."

Interested in his stories, you squatted down next to him.

But you did not dare to let your legs hang over the edge.

You were human. You were afraid of the depths.

If Heimdall fell, he would survive, some divine power would save his life.

You, on the other hand, would be torn into a thousand pieces like a ship smashed against the cliffs by the raging sea.

"If he is such a danger, why will he be treated like a guest of Odin?", you asked.

"Because the All-Father wants something from him.", Heimdall fished a small stone from the ground, raised it before his eyes for inspection and finally threw it into the depths.

You followed the tiny dot with your eyes until it was so small that the green of the landscape swallowed it up.

"What would the Allfather want from a stranger?", you asked, tilting your head like a child who had seen a butterfly for the first time.

A discontented sound escaped from his throat. Then it grew into a growl and he almost had to cry out in frustration.

"I don't know!", he jumped to his feet in one swift movement.

Just like that, he balanced on the edge of the precipice with the balls of his feet.

Frightened, you fell back on your buttocks and grabbed his tunic.

Surprised, he staggered, not expecting you to touch him just like that.

With a strong jerk you dragged him back onto the wall.

Dust swirled up as you two fell to the ground together.

"What in the Allfather?!", grimly he sat up to give you an angry look.

Grey dust stuck to his cheek.

Worried, you sat up straight to grab his face with both hands and examine him for injuries.

"Don't be reckless like that!", you gasped. "You could have fallen."

His mouth was already open, ready to complain about your impudence in daring to touch him.

But astonishment prevented him from uttering a word of anger.

His bright eyes roamed over your face.

"I always do that.", he finally said.

"It's dangerous.", you squeezed his face in a gentle manner.

He blinked.

There was so much confusion on his face it could have been amusing. If only it wouldn't have been so sincere. He truly did not know why you were so upset.

Even worse, he had never seen someone be upset about him playing around with his own safety.

No one had ever care enough for him to do that.

"You...", he frowned but managed to smile in a way that was both awkward yet annoyed. "Don't touch me."

A little roughly, but not as harshly as usual, he withdrew from your grip to get rid of the feeling your skin was causing on his.

Reflexively you raised your hand to hold his chin one last time.

"Hold on. There's some dirt.", with the back of your hand you wipe the grey traces from his face. "There you go... all gone."

With a smile you let him go.

He couldn't help but frown in confusion and wipe his own hand over the spot.

He wanted to get rid of the burning sensation of your warmth.