[OP Marvel] Ch: 5 [The Warrior Who Forgot to Rest] (Patreon)

[3rd person POV]

It was nighttime. The silver hue swept across the palace and turning the city's golden towers into quiet silhouettes. Up in the mountains arena, the builders and guards were still working to clean up the mess Thor had made. And earlier that day, Thor got grounded by Frigga. She wanted to go to Jason and give him an earful for summoning a dragon, but Thor took all the blame, knowing very well that it was Loki who ratted them out.

High above it all, Odin and Frigga stood on the balcony of the Allfather's private hall. The balcony was spacious, bordered by sculpted columns and illuminated by floating lanterns that drifted gently like wandering stars. Beneath them, the city shone with lights. Everything was peaceful.

Odin rested both hands on the railing and looked at the horizon. Frigga stood nearby, face serene, her eyes not on Asgard but somewhere far away.

After a moment, Odin broke the silence.

"What do you think about Thor's new guest?"

Frigga didn't respond immediately. Her gaze dropped, reflective as if she was still processing the impressions she had gathered. When she finally spoke, her tone was composed.

"He is not from this universe."

Odin turned toward her. That alone was enough to concern him.

She continued. "His power does not follow the laws of our cosmos. When I extended my senses, I discovered a force beyond anything I've encountered in a human. His magic is ancient and intricate, as though forged by worlds intertwined."

Odin frowned. "What kind of magic?"

Frigga looked out over the city again. "He holds the power to command the dead. Yet he also carries the healing magic of nature, something that should not coexist with such darkness. And we've already witnessed his strength during the battle. Beyond those, I couldn't see. When I tried to look deeper, all I found was endless darkness and bloodlust."

The breeze tugged lightly at her cloak. Odin looked at her face. Saw the slight bend of her lips.

"You are smiling," he said. "Does that mean you witnessed a glimpse of what's to come?"

She turned toward him slowly. "Yes. Not clear, but enough."

Odin straightened, his grip tightening on the railing. He knew her visions were rare and never meaningless. 

"What did you see?"

Frigga took a small breath. "Jason is the key to reunite all our children."

Odin stared at her, confused at first. Then the meaning struck him like a blow.

"All our children," he repeated. "You mean even Hela?"

Frigga gave a nod.

Silence returned to the balcony. Odin looked away, the weight of that revelation pressing heavily on him. "And will she ever let go of her rage and hate?" he asked, though his tone carried both hope and dread.

Frigga stepped closer, resting her hand lightly over his. Her expression was calm but serious.

"That is up to fate," she said, "and up to our new guest."

The lanterns drifted quietly around them as they stood there in silence, looking over Asgard.

...

[Jason's first-person POV]

I got a new house now. It was big and on the outskirts of Asgard, just as I wanted. The place is surrounded by a garden and trees. And there are these weird little birds and tiny animals like squirrels that swarm around the noon near the door for food. They are like gimme food, or we'll chirp your noon nap to hell. It's kinda fun and... let's just say when I feed them and pet them, I feel calm.

It helps me forget some of my traumas.

Oh, yeah, I have a couple of them. Most of them are from the first few months when I nearly died, god knows how many times.

Coming to the present... 

The sky above me shifted with soft light. There was no moon or sun, here in this realm. Yet, has the cycle of day and night. The nights here are especially beautiful. I like it here.

I lay on the grass in my backyard and stared at the endless glow above Asgard. My new bed inside felt too soft. The ground was better. It reminded me of the nights I slept under broken roofs while monsters circled the camp. Funny how comfort becomes uncomfortable after a while.

I had a nice dinner and drank enough wine to make a mortal pass out. I had laughed with the warriors until my throat hurt. It felt good... Now, time to take a shut eye. I deployed a barrier around my body. I can't let that pest Loki sneak in and stab me in my sleep. 

And before I knew, I fell asleep...

It was morning. 

Fresh air... Chirping birds... warm glow... And...

...Someone was calling me and knocking on the door. I stretched my senses a bit. Ah! That's Sif. She's wearing her armor and carrying her sword and shield. 'Shit! What do you want so early? Go away, I don't want to spar right now.'

Right now, I want to be lazy. Gonna sleep till noon, then feed the little critters, eat, and sleep some more.

"Jason, you up? It's morning," Sif yelled again. "C'mon, let's spar a bit."

If I don't answer, she'll go away and probably bug Valkyrie. Hehe. Can't wait to see her face after Sif drags her around the whole morning.

Then, I heard a light stomp and footsteps. Don't tell me, she jumped over the wall. Whatever, I didn't move. She'll probably see that I'm sleeping like a stone and go away after trying to wake me up. 

I won't move a muscle.

10 minutes later... 

Why the hell is she staring at me? I'm not wearing my shirt, so I get it; she wants to enjoy the view. But, 10 whole minutes? And now, she's leaning closer to my face. I can smell her scent. She had berries and fruits for breakfast. 

I mumbled without opening my eyes. "You do know privacy is a thing, right?"

I had to say it.

..

[Let's go back 10 minutes] [3rd person POV]

Sif landed lightly in Jason’s backyard. He wasn't answering, so she decided to check if everything was alright. She straightened up and looked around. The quiet space felt peaceful, but she was focused on one thing only.

Jason.

He lay on the ground, fast asleep. He wasn't wearing his shirt, and his arms were resting at his sides. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. A morning light gave his skin a soft light, enough to reveal every scar and every line of muscle.

Sif froze in place. 

She had expected to shake him awake, maybe pull him to the training yard. She had not expected this view. Her breath caught in her throat before she could help it.

'Allfather, give me strength.'

She stepped closer.

Her eyes scanned his arms and shoulders. The scars resembled years of battle and made him look even hotter than before. She had never seen him this close and shirtless.

A small flutter moved in her stomach. She ignored it. Or tried to.

She bent down to get a better look at his face. He looked calm and relaxed, which was rare for him. His hair was a bit messy, with a few strands falling over his forehead. She reached out to brush them aside but pulled her hand back at the last second.

'Is there something on his lips? Nope. Yep, there is... No, there isn't. Stop it, Sif.' She was having an argument with herself in her head.

She leaned in a little more.

Then a little more.

His breathing was steady. He did not stir. She looked closely at the shape of his jaw, his nose, and the way his mouth was relaxed in sleep. Her chest tightened a bit. 

'Is this what it feels like to fall in love?' She wondered while watching his face. 'But it's been only a week. Is it just lust? Or, love at first sight?'

She did not move. She simply watched.

A whole minute passed. Then another. And another after that.

She did not even notice how long she had been staring.

Then Jason spoke.

"You do know privacy is a thing, right?"

Sif jerked back so fast she almost fell over. She cleared her throat and straightened her back, trying very hard to look like she had not just spent several minutes admiring him.

"I was only checking if you were awake," she said quickly, her cheeks a little warm. "You were not answering the door."

She tried to stand tall and serious, but her voice gave away her embarrassment just a bit.

Jason opened one eye, then the other, and finally pushed himself up onto his elbows. His expression was relaxed, almost lazy, but there was a hint of amusement flickering beneath it.

“Thanks for checking on me,” he said, stretching his arms above his head before settling back on the grass again. “But I don’t want to spar at this moment, thank you. See ya. Bye-bye.”

Sif’s eye twitched.

She stood there in her armor, sword on her back, shield strapped to her arm, ready for a morning of clashing steel. And he had just dismissed her like a sleepy cat, telling someone to stop shaking the food bowl.

Her shoulders stiffened. She wondered why he was behaving like this. He had been friendly last night. They had talked before leaving the arena. Was he angry because she had not taken his offer for a drink? Or had she somehow offended him? She replayed every conversation the two of them had over the last week and her chest grew tight with worry.

This wasn’t like Sif. She had faced giants and monsters and ancient horrors without flinching. She did not second guess herself or worry about how a man thought of her. And yet here she was, wondering if she did something wrong.

She took a small step forward.

“Did something happen?” she asked. Her voice was softer than usual.

Jason finally sat up. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at her from head to toe, almost like a teacher observing a stubborn student.

“One needs to rest their body and calm their mind if they are to excel on the battlefield,” he said. “All you do is fight and fight and fight, Sif. When was the last time you sat down and meditated?”

Sif blinked. Then looked away for a moment as if trying to remember.

“Twenty years ago,” she said. "When I broke my arm in a fight with a giant."

Jason stared at her for a heartbeat before letting out a short laugh.

“Exactly,” he said as he patted the ground beside him. “Lie down and just sleep. Or sit, close your eyes, and meditate. I’ll spar with you at noon for ten minutes if you do that.”

Sif hesitated. She looked at the grass. Then at Jason’s hand, resting on the ground. Then back at his face.

“Promise?” she asked.

Her voice carried a mix of hope and embarrassment, as if she realized only after speaking how desperate she sounded.

Jason nodded. “Promise.”

Sif let out a small breath she didn’t know she was holding. Very slowly, as if unsure whether this was entirely appropriate, she lowered herself to the grass beside him.

Not too close.

Not too far.

She folded her legs and rested her hands on her knees. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe the way healers had once taught her many years ago.

Jason lay back down with an amused grin, staring at the sky. 

'Haaa... Good night... Oh! I should say, good morning.'