Intertwine

16 - FOR F*CKS SAKE STARK

ROARA

I knocked tentatively on Natasha's door.

"Come in." She called. She was almost ready to leave. They were starting off in the evening, as they thought it would be less noticeable if they left in the cover of darkness.

"Natasha," I took a deep breathe, "I need you to do me a favour."

She raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Nothing too crazy right?"

"No, I just." I sighed and then explained to her what I needed from her.

Stood in her bathroom I took one last look in the mirror.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked me.

I ran a hand through my hair, finishing near my thighs. I closed my eyes and nodded.

"Alright."

When it was done I said my thanks to Nat, I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt, and then went to see Alina. She'd asked me to help pack her bags for her.

"You're terrible at this." I told her, surveying her room.

"I know. But I've never done anything like this, I don't know what to take." She sat down heavily on her bed.

"I mean, neither have I."

She raised both eyebrows. "You have a lot more life experience than I do."

I chuckled, "I guess I do."

I set around, picking things up that she'd need.

"You've only packed three pairs of socks! It's so basic!" I tried to keep the exasperation out of my voice.

"I know, I said, I'm terrible!"

I shook my head and kept going, feeling the seconds tick down before they'd all be leaving and I'd be on my own with Loki Laufeyson.

"Be safe." I told Ali as I finished packing her bags for her. "If you die I'm coming to the underworld to drag you out."

"I will be. Don't you worry." She smiled. "When I get back we better both be fat or I'm shovelling food down you."

I chuckled, "I can't wait until you look like how you did before you were taken. You were super jacked."

She held up her arm, tensing her bicep. "You saying I'm not jacked?"

I gave her arm a squeeze, "I am so sorry Thor, I thought you were Alina!"

As our laughter faded away a tense silence filled the space it had held. "Ali, I made you something." I coughed awkwardly. "It's not much, and we haven't known each other long, but it's nice to have a friend for the first time in a long time. I mean I know I'm probably going to watch you grow old and die, but still." I produced a small necklace. The strap was a leather cord and threaded through it was the wooden pellet she'd shot a few days before when we'd demonstrated her marksmanship skills to the rest of the group.

She smiled and took it, fastening it around her neck and tucking it into her suit. "Thank you." She said. Something told me she really meant it.

"Apparently it's asgardian wood, so if Thor's to be believed, people won't be able to stab you through it. Obviously guns go through it, and they'd have to be stabbing you in a very specific place for it to help at all, but still. Might be of some use. Even if it means you know you have people to come back for." I shrugged.

"I'll make sure I shoot them first." She winked. "Don't kill Loki before I get back though." She picked up her backpack, making to leave. "I want to be here when you do it!"