The Soldier's Goddess

He didn't seem to mind this stranger talking to him, despite saying he wasn't very good at talking to women. He could be blunt and say things that might have offended someone else, but Kari was just as tactless at times, and it took a lot to offend her.
"My name's Steve. Steve Rogers," he said after a few moments of silence, holding out his hand.
"I'm Kari," she smiled, shaking it.
"That's an interesting accent you have there, ma'am. I'm gonna take a guess and say you're not from around here, right?" he grinned. Kari laughed.
"No, I'm definitely not from around here," she grinned back. He offered her the small paper bag he had in his hand.
"Would you like a candy?" he said. She looked in and saw tiny little packets labelled 'Milky Way' and 'Baby Ruth'.
"Thanks," she smiled, picking up a Milky Way. This was nothing like the chocolate they had back on Asgard, this was something else. It was light and fluffy, and so sweet. "So how come you're all the way over here, on your own?" she asked.
"Well I was on a double date with these two ladies. My friend Bucky was with us. I guess they just both preferred him, as my date has been ignoring me all evening," he sighed, sagging back against the wall.
"It couldn't have been that bad," smiled Kari.
"She kept rolling her eyes when I spoke to her and turned her back on me as much as she could," he said.
"Ah ok, maybe it was that bad. But it can't be all doom and gloom. You met me, didn't you?" she grinned. Steve brightened up.
"Yeah, I did."
For the next hour, the pair stood chatting about almost everything and anything, Kari leaving out the most obvious detail of course. They were having so much fun, they didn't see Sif come running up to them, looking worried.
"Kari, we need to go," she said, wide eyed.
"Damn, hang on." She turned back to Steve. "Steve, I have to go, my sister needs my help, but it has been lovely chatting with you."
"You too ma'am," he smiled. She leaned over and kissed him on his soft, pink lips, just for a moment, before pulling away and leaving Steve slightly bewildered, watching the two women walk away.

Back on Asgard, they crept back to their rooms quietly. It was quite late at night, but Heimdall promised them no-one knew they had gone.
"So, who was that?" grinned Sif, siting down on Kari's bed. Kari blushed.
"His name is Steve."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Come on, I saw the way you were looking at him."
"Ok,"smiled Kari, unconsciously biting her lower lip a little, "he's called Steve, and he is cute, and funny, and shy, and has these gorgeous twinkling eyes. He is from a place called New York, and has a best friend called Bucky."
"Wow, take a breath!" laughed Sif. "You have it bad." Kari looked at her, questioningly. "You like this mortal, I can tell. You've not been like this about anyone for a very long time. It's how you used to talk about Loki when we were kids." She left Kari to settle in for the night, and to wonder if Sif was right.
The next few days, she seemed to be in a trance. All she could think about was the mortal she had met, but she couldn't tell anyone about him. On the upside, she wasn't moping about Loki any longer, but she wondered if she would ever see Steve again. Probably not, she decided. It's not as if she would ever just pop down to Midgard for quick chat again!

Over time, things pretty much got back to normal, except for Loki, he seemed to do his own thing really. She hardly ever saw him these days and if she did, it was just at the post-battle feasts, or passing in the palace corridors.
"I wish to speak with the All Father please."
"Clear the room, please," smiled Odin. "Kari, my dear, what can I do for you?" Odin had always been kind to Kari, and she had served him well as his translator, when dealing with other realms or creatures. Kari hesitated.
"I wish to go to Midgard, I have heard there is a group called S.H.I.E.L.D., Heimdall has been..." she trailed off, and looked at the floor.
"I know about the mortal, Kari," he said, gently. Kari smiled a little and sighed.
"Heimdall has been watching him for me," she said, looking at the floor. She didn't know what had come over her these days. She had never been one of these giggly, doe-eyed school-girls, especially not when it came to men, but when it came to thinking about this mortal, she couldn't help but get that little smile in the corner of her mouth that not even Loki had seen before. By now though, on Midgard, he would either be very elderly, or very dead.
"You have my permission to start a new life down on Midgard," smiled the All Father. Kari was so grateful, she didn't know what to say. She simply hugged him, tears in her eyes, and left the room.
"What do you mean you're leaving?" cried Sif, when Kari told her older sister. Kari explained everything to her and agreed to tell Thor and the Warriors Three before going. Though they were all upset she was leaving, only Fandrall was more upset than her own sister. He took her aside the next morning, to talk.
"Look, are you sure you've thought all of this through?" he asked, the frown on his forehead a clear sign he was worried. She took his hand.
"Fandrall, you've always been a good friend," she said, squeezing it, "but you're a ladies man. You know you could never settle down with just the one woman." He smiled sadly.
"Maybe if I found the right one," he mumbled.
"She's not me," Kari said quietly. "I'll miss you." She kissed him on the cheek, but as she pulled away, she caught his eye and for second they stayed like that, just staring at each other. Then he cupped his hand round her cheek and pulled her in close, pressing his lips against hers.

Notes