lightsiided

[lightsiided]

     curiosity EATS at her while they walk, but thor maintains his pretense and so she does, too. they don't make small talk as they settle in -- she only nods, turning away from him to set their protective charms in place. carefully, rey seals the doorway with mountain ash, so no one will be able to enter the room while they are inside. then, a thin trail of salt falls from her fist as she makes a lap around the space. now, no one will be able to hear them, either. from her bag, she pulls several stones of protection, setting them carefully in each corner of the room. finally, she stops beside their bed, placing her palm against the wall. rey shuts her eyes to feel for the wards, which respond right away. beneath her hand, she feels them lock into place. there.

"it's done," she says. with the curtains closed, they might as well not even be here. rey turns around to face thor, surprised to find him so close. "oh--!" her brow furrows with concern. thor has been acting strangely. something is wrong, yes, but now rey starts to worry it is something BIG. but she waits without asking, watching thor try to decide where to begin. once he does, she can feel her heart sink.

privately, she's had her own suspicions. it has all seemed a little too CONVENIENT -- odin's continued ordering of thor into battle as of late. details from the private conversations they've had in the palace suddenly known by enemies. the repeated attempts on thor's life...

but rey had hoped she was wrong. the betrayal is too great, and thor deserves so much better. she can only imagine how this must feel. she sighs, lifting her hands to rest them on thor's arms where he holds her still. "are you sure?" she asks quietly. obviously he's uncovered something that's made him think this -- or perhaps he's come to the same conclusion she has. there are simply too many coincidences to ignore. "has something happened? or do you think... i mean, you don't think that he..."

it is TROUBLING, to be sure. but the facts are clear: someone wants thor dead. it's why she has been tripping over herself to keep his protection charms current. danger seems to find him often, lately, and he's had more close calls in the last few weeks than she can ever recall hearing of. the fights have been brutal. she is constantly worried for him, growing more and more paranoid -- as if someone has been watching their every move. the mood in the palace has become tense. her lips pull down into a frown. "we're safe here," she reminds him. "no one needs to know a word of what we discuss."

with concern, her eyes sweep his face. "i'm so sorry this is happening, thor. but please know that whatever happens now... you aren't alone. i'm beside you completely." she leans closer, tilting her chin up to be near to him. it's good they're being CAREFUL -- good that thor hasn't allowed himself to let his upset take over. they need to be smart about this, so that they can keep him safe. they need a plan.

but first, they need to know exactly what's going on. it's too horrible a thought to believe -- that thor's father is behind the misfortune he's faced. the injuries, the worry, the fear... how can odin be its cause? she shakes her head. "part of me had suspected... but it always seemed too TERRIBLE to believe. let's walk through this from the beginning. when did you first notice he wasn't being himself? what did he say to you that made you suspicious?"

another smile pulls at his lips as her touch recedes.  it doesn’t quite meet his eyes.  as she begins to tidy up, it falls slowly, and that consistent sense of dread leaves his fingers fidgeting at his sides, rocking back onto the heels of his feet.  since the moment it had hit him —— putting together every oddity of the last few months he couldn’t quite place his finger on, the frequent fights he’s been sent off to —— thor hasn’t stopped moving.  as if the swirl of pain simply won’t allow him to remain still.

but when rey turns again, meets him where he’s remained in the doorway, a sense of relief removes some of the weight he still isn’t certain he can carry (at least not alone).  thor has seen many of her smiles; they’re radiant and warm.  this one is stiff.  she sees him better than anyone ever has.  if nothing more, it is a comfort to know that.

one hand closes around the strap of her bag once she’s near enough, the other cupping the back of her neck.  he ignores how out of place it feels —— only putting on an act.  gently, he pulls her in again for another kiss.  humming, he pulls away only enough to say, “the feeling is mutual, my love.  i’ve thought of you all day.”

thor leads her away from the castle, straying farther and farther from the dim lighting around the courtyard until the glow just barely spills beyond the line of trees.  the forest isn’t so thick that the light of the moon barely breaks through the treetops; it helps guide them on the short path their special spot.  a small hut, built by thor himself, a perfect, little place for them to get away from their troubles together.  here, nothing can disturb them —— he doesn’t allow it.  but tonight, he must bring their troubles along to intrude upon their carefully crafted peace.

with each step he takes, he is starkly aware of the bird silently flying above them, tracking them.

carefully, with one of her hands in his, he pulls her along up to the door, where he pauses to carefully push it open.  inside are lamps, candles, a fireplace; a chair by a window where rey can read and watch as nature thrives around her; a small workbench for thor, where he can craft her likeness into wood while her nose is in a book.  a bed, with silver moonlight spilling over it and casting a dull glow around the otherwise dark space.

“i’ll get the windows,” he says as he looks to her again, flashing another forced smile.  so the raven can't see them inside.  “and start a fire.  you,” leaning forward, he stops only when the tip of his nose touches hers, “need only meet me in the bed.”

the kiss that follows is sweeter, lacking the tension and desire he tries to convey.  as he pulls away, he releases her entirely, and within the near-safety of their hut (where the bird can’t see him), his face falls, and the breath he quietly releases deflates him.  it doesn’t matter that he faces away from rey, now; he already knows how well she sees him.

here, he doesn’t need to pretend.  the pretense is gone as he moves about, pulling the cover down over each window, kneeling before the fireplace to create a spark that will warm them.  he glances to her every few moments, but says nothing.  he watches for the very second she’s finished putting protections in place. only then can he speak.

when she has finished, he rises quicker than he intends to, and crosses the space until he can grip her upper arms.  his mouth opens, but at first, nothing comes out.  pausing, sighing, he tries to collect his thoughts as much he can.  

“i apologize for the sneaking and….”  the pretending, misleading her.  “it’s my father.  he’s gone completely out of his mind, and — i can’t risk letting him know that i know.”

[lightsiided]

Random Rey Skywalker moments: 163/?

[lightsiided]

     thor's voice grows distant again, swirling away into the wind. rey's only barely aware of how her body lifts higher into the sky -- it's hard to focus on ANYTHING other than the searing pain that floods her, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. the inside of her body feels boiling hot; a mounting pressure in her temples threatens to explode. rey cries out again, then gasps for breath. her lungs fill once, twice... and then it's easier to feel him.

she grasps for the shape of thor's mind frantically, but it's more difficult than usual. gone is the ease she once used to feel him across galaxies. now her eyes stare unseeingly into the sky, her body writhing as if restrained with invisible ropes. stop this, insists the voice. think of what you could do with my help.

HELP. that's right -- thor needs her help. he's on the ground undefended. rey grits her teeth, drawing a few more quick breaths. she needs to get down there. she flexes her feet, wiggling her toes -- imagining they are weighted down, that there are rocks in her shoes. when she forces clarity back into her gaze, after a few blinks, she can see that it is working. rey concentrates as hard as she can on the lessons she has been taught: by luke, by leia, by LIFE ITSELF.

i am one with the force. the force is with me.

she hits the ground hard, tumbling to her knees. groaning, rey pushes herself up slowly, taking stock of her surroundings. the voice that was so loud in her mind only moments ago is quiet, now -- so it's easy to sense the others. what thor says is true: there are MORE of them coming. many more. she shudders, trying to slam the door of her mind shut and lock it tightly, the way she once had mastered. but ben was less persistent than these spirits. she can feel them fighting her as she struggles to stand.

"it's alright," she says, stepping forward cautiously. "you're doing great." through the force, she nudges their minds together, pleased to find it's just thor and just rey in there... for now. "i'm sorry i scared you. i think -- i'm not sure where he went. he must be tied to this gravesite." which means they should hurry.

the temple feels far away, still obscured by fog. rey looks up at it warily, then reaches for thor's hand. being able to touch him is grounding. a hush seems to settle, momentarily, over the valley. it is somehow EERIER than the noise. "it's good you were able to sense the others... and fight them. have you had any visible hallucinations?" surely that's what awaits them next, further down the path.

she isn’t the only one with such power.  thor watches the electricity that dances between her fingers expressionlessly.  another thing they have spoken about ——— rather, that rey has insisted.  don’t just stand there and let me hurt you.  when he feels an invisible wall hit him and push him back, he wonders, for a moment, how much of his own strength he’ll need to use here.  it’s the absolute last thing he wants to do.  could he?  could he fight against her if it came down to it?

gritting his teeth, lifting the axe… he pauses.  it all happens so quickly; the clench of her fist, the receeding of the yellow in her eyes and the return, the sound of what can only be pain.  it isn’t a decision he makes to dart forward, his legs simply move of their own volition.  “rey!”  

but before he can fully make it to her, in all but the blink of an eye, she leaves the ground —— instead, hovering above him.  it’s a sight that sends a jump to his heart, certainly, but… rey can hear him.  she is fighting whatever is trying to take its hold.  to see no struggle at all would be far worse.

“that’s right,” he continues, grasping again at his determination.  she needs only to fight, to push a few more moments longer.  there is no need for him to be afraid… at least, he mustn’t sound like it.  “you will beat this.  you remember all the times we have discussed this very moment.  all the times i told you you are so much stronger than they are.  you have endured and overcome more than what their — their pathetic tricks of the mind are capable of.”

as he stands beneath her, watching her, something begins to poke and prod at the very back of his mind.  in the distance, he hears what sounds like laughter.  more taunts and illusions of the dead sith making their approach, doubtlessly.  it would be hard for thor to help rey if he himself is distracted with their games, but his attention won’t be pulled so easily.

but his body tenses in preparation.  he steels himself against a mental intrusion, should it come, just as they’ve practiced.  his free hand clenches into a fist.  “come on, rey.  make your way back.  i need you out here, with me.  i need—“ it closes in on him, now.  an oppressive presence, the feeling that he isn’t alone (and it refuses to be shaken off).  thor looks around and behind him, and though he sees nothing, the sound of laughter is clearer.  and it’s a familiar voice.

if they force their way into his mind, who will encourage him to fight?

“rey, more of the dead sith are upon us.  i don’t know how much longer i can keep them out of my head.”  it never was his strongest skill.

[lightsiided]

@thorodinsun sent:

she is in her tower. each time he makes his way toward it, he imagines her leaning over her cauldron, mouth set in a line and brows knitting with focus. he imagines her content as she pulls ingredients and recites a spell. every step is an excited beat in his heart. but not today, not now. thor's heart pounds with fear, panic. he sees only the many ways his life had nearly ended in recent months, and he sees his father's face orchestrating each almost-incident. the king intends to kill his own son, and rey is the only one he can tell about it. thor's head has been spinning since he'd realized — but it doesn't show. he doesn't allow it to. when his knuckles rasp against the door beneath the fall of night, he looks much as he does for any other visit. though his hands lack any gift, and anyone with a finely tuned eye could see the hollowness of his smile. silently, he begs that rey will see him. when the door opens, and he sees her, dread drops like a stone to the pit of his stomach. yet he steps forward, takes her face in his hands without hesitation, and kisses her as if nothing has ever been wrong in their lives. he tries to convey passion when all he is is consumed with betrayal. it is a long few moments that he stays as is, one hand wandering to grip at her waist and hips, there in the doorway; thor knows a raven silently follows, eyes trained on his every move, to report back everything he says and does to odin. when at last he pauses, he releases a breath, and his eyes meet hers. please, see it, he thinks. see beneath this mask. "i missed you," he says, his voice low, deceptively full of intent. "shall we… go somewhere more romantic? our favorite spot in the forest, perhaps?"

     rey is behind on her work. things have been busy, lately -- thor has been in battle more often than not. finding ways to keep him SAFE has become something of an effort on its own, and as a result, her other charms have taken a hit. fortunately, they are largely simple and easy to do. she's able to make dreamless sleep potions in large batches, and her last few trips to forage for flowers have been especially fruitful.

so she's caught up enough to take a breath when the knock at her door comes. she'd been tidying up, anyway -- sweeping the floor while her cauldron bubbles. rey rubs at her eyes on the way to answer it, surprised to find how late it's gotten. the sky is dark beyond her open window, the stars sparkling. a smile spreads across her face at the sight of thor. it is so NICE to see him, especially after the hours she's spent bent over her workbench.

it's even nicer to be kissed, which she is -- passionately, excitedly. she makes a small noise of surprise against his lips but melts against him all the same. however...

she can tell INSTANTLY by the look in his eyes that something is wrong when thor pulls away. there is pain, there, and another oddness still alongside it. for some reason, he doesn't say what troubles him -- but she can tell. slowly, rey nods, squeezing his arm where she holds onto him. "that sounds lovely. i missed you, too. let me just finish this."

a gentle arch of an eyebrow indicates she's noticed whatever is amiss. her fingertips trail over his open palm as she steps back to the workbench to shut and shelve her books. in moments, the flame beneath her cauldron is extinguished, the potion left to be dealt with in the morning. into her bag, she sweeps a few important charms -- ones that will make it POSSIBLE for them to speak freely.

when she faces him again, it's with a false brightness -- a smile that's too-wide. "all done. let's hurry, i can't wait to get you out of those clothes."

[lightsiided]

     "The REASON is to keep you alive," she returned snidely. Her voice held just as much fire as Seth's. The furrow of her brow illustrated her annoyance clearly, her frustration front and center in every bit-out word. As he stepped closer, she folded her arms across her chest, tipping her chin up resolutely to met his gaze. "Maybe you think Ben doesn't want to kill you, but I don't think we should take that chance."

She had once thought he didn't truly want to hurt her, either. And she had been wrong. Regardless, Snoke is someone she wouldn't let Seth face alone. It's insanity to infiltrate a star destroyer with no backup or plan -- REY SHOULD KNOW. "I know him better than you think. But even without him... doing this alone is too dangerous."

Rey huffed an exasperated breath, rolling her eyes. "My arm is fine," she insisted, "And we don't have to time to wait. We'll be there long before it's healed. Look --" She rotated it around, swinging it randomly to demonstrate freedom of movement. "It still works. Waiting on the ship totally defeats the purpose of me being here. I'll head in with you and cover you, and we'll both get back in ONE PIECE. And if you really want to do it my way, we should make a plan before we land."

"THEN THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO FOLLOW ME." As much as he butt heads with Rey, he secretly genuinely liked her. She was annoying and got under his skin, but unlike others - she hadn't lied to him or painted herself out to be the victim. It was admirable and a trait he would like for himself. If anything he was still learning what it meant to be on the light side and in the fight with the Resistance.

He let go of her arm as she moved away from him. Seth put his hands down and pushed off his knee to stand over her. Knowing why his mother paired them, he hadn't tried to fight too much with Leia on it. In fact, she tore him a new one and told him to be nice.

"I'm aware she knows." She could sense him halfway across the galaxy and dying. It was only time until she sent Rey after him... before he did something stupid. He was her son and Han's. It was more like a matter of time until he did something rash. "Ben wouldn't kill me. Snoke would." Well, he thought he was certain of it. It was their bond he was betting on. "You don't know him like I do." Maybe it was him being stubborn, but he had faith in his brother. Did he love him as Kylo? He didn't know. "Fine, let's do it your way and think then. Until your arm heals, combat is out of the question."

[lightsiided]

     rey's eyes widen, another noise of protest escaping as she, too, moves to block his path. it's clear he isn't thinking, and she's sure she knows what his misguided opinion is: that he OWES this to the universe, somehow. that it is his fault this has happened, so he should be the one to fix the problem.

"we don't know that," she snaps. thor's right; he's not thanos. there's no telling what will happen to HIM once he's in contact with the stones. she should know -- rey can recall the immense pain she'd felt as thor endured the brunt of the power stone as clear as day. that was just one, and it'd knocked him unconscious. is it so wrong to think that six times that power could KILL HIM? "we do know the power stone alone hurt you badly."

now her brow furrows, pinching together. she can feel her level of anger rise. is this where she falls, in the balance of thor's RESPONSIBILITIES? doesn't he care at all about what might happen? about what will become of her, then? of course he doesn't. she should know that, by now, but the thought is bitter nonetheless.

frustration bites at her from the inside out. he is always so stubborn, so absurd in how he shoulders life's burdens. she had thought they were past this point -- that he would give her more than the brush off he's trying to accomplish in front of everyone. it stings, perhaps almost as badly as the idea that this may be the last time she sees him standing before her. that they might never see the chance to repair their relationship, to be happy together AGAIN.

"how can you say that to me?" pressure builds behind her eyes. yes, she has been plenty afraid, these last five years -- and the five years before them, and the five years before that -- but she hasn't ONCE been held back by it. rey has shouldered on, time and time again. even when she didn't want to. even when it felt impossible. "you're not being rational. you need to stop for a minute and listen."

quickly, she looks to steve, imploring him to back her up, to jump in. something. ANYTHING. just when it looks like he might, there is a soft clearing of a throat from behind her. rey whirls around to see bruce take a step forward, then another.

"it's gotta be me," he says -- with the grace to at least appear APOLOGETIC about it, unlike rey, who can't even bring herself to feel guilty about the relief that sweeps through her.

he understands her upset, her fear.  thor remembers well how they’d found thanos; weakened, a far cry from the titan they’d all so valiantly fought.  burn marks stretched up his arm, dancing across the flesh of his face and neck.  even before then —— thor remembers that moment in wakanda.  the smoke, the smell of burnt skin and metal.  how a second use didn’t kill him, he isn’t sure, but…

“i am not thanos.  what more is there to discuss?”

eyeing the glove, he takes another step forward, another.  all their arms outstretch to block his path.  hey, stop, wait.  sighing, he does just that; stops in his tracks, takes a step backward.  the choice seems so obvious to him.  why should it be any one of them and not the one who stands as a god among them?  isn’t it he who has the best chance of survival?

“we haven’t decided who’s gonna put it on yet,” says steve, and the look on his face isn’t lost on thor.  he watches as his eyes flit from himself to rey.

what goes unsaid between all of them is hardly fair.  they’ve all got something to lose.  this is what being a hero means —— having to make a sacrifice.  but they assume the sacrifice is an inevitably.  he could be fine.  he could get to see everyone come back.  he could fare much better than thanos had.

“staring at it is not going to bring everybody back.”  looking between all the faces surrounding him, silence envelopes them again.  slowly, though he speaks to all of them, he turns to focus mostly on rey.  “it is not a guaranteed death sentence.  i can withstand more than you think.  i’m the strongest avenger.”  and is this not the duty of the gods?  to bear the brunt of the pain so that their people may live?  “the responsibility falls upon me.  i won’t let any one of you take the risk when your odds are far less favorable than mine.”

scott has fallen quiet; clint stares steadily at the floor; steve’s pity has been palpable since the very second thor stepped forward.  he watches the two of them intently as thor focuses solely on rey, now.  “i will be fine.”  that he doesn’t promise it is clear, but he tries his best to be reassuring.  despite the knot that begins to form in his throat.  “it is not going to kill me.  we can’t let fear guide our decisions now, not when we are so close to finishing this.”

[lightsiided]

     everyone remains focused on their singular goal. they work to prepare together, hard at work on their own tasks. each is needed for the mission's success. while she tinkers with the windows, the machinery, the controls for the doors... her mind WANDERS. rey hasn't allowed herself to imagine a future where everything is back the way it was in years. as time passed, it seemed less and less realistic -- foolish to hope for. everything only ever got worse. staying positive for thor often took almost all of her energy. she couldn't bear to bring herself to dream of what she might want to say to leia if she ever got the chance to talk to her again.

now that reality is within their reach. and this day has been... DIFFERENT. thor has been different. their relationship has felt different, closer to what it was when they were so, so happy. a budding sense of joy starts to take root in her chest. when all of this is over, perhaps they'll talk about what's happened -- really talk. things won't be the same, but maybe they'll be great in their own, new way. she bites her lip to tamp down a smile.

in minutes, everything is done. they are all READY. she finds herself standing anxiously beside thor, hardly daring to breathe. they don't touch, but when she feels his eyes on her, she turns her head to meet his gaze. he seems so worried. the line of his body is visibly tense, his stress clear. she can only imagine how he must feel. everything hangs in the balance of this moment.

in the silence, she tilts her head to the side, studying him. his caress is brief -- and she has a fleeting moment of HEAVY DREAD.

she opens her mouth to stop him, but thor speaks before she can.

i'll do it.

it feels as if no one in the room even blinks. rey stares at him in shock, momentarily wondering if she's heard him correctly. knocking her to the floor might have been kinder, she thinks, as she processes what he's VOLUNTEERED himself for.

it's very likely whatever happens once the glove is on will kill thor.

the air leaves the room; her throat starts to close. all the hopefulness she'd been feeling moments ago is gone in an instant. no one else seems to know what to say, either -- but she can feel the eyes of the others on her, the way the mood in the room has turned.

"we should at least discuss it," scott says uncomfortably. rey's eyes flit from him to steve and then quickly around the room. isn't anyone going to STOP HIM?

she will. she clears her throat to dispel the lump that's forming inside it. "you can't," rey says. some of her sadness, her fear, starts to replace itself with anger. what is he THINKING? how can he be so willing to give up now? "you saw what the stones did to thanos." bluntly, she reminds, "they almost killed him." doesn't he know that's what will happen? doesn't he know all of this will end, just like that?

of course it is.  everyone everywhere is worse now than they had been five years ago.  but the way rey says it —— does she believe they will be disappointed?  how could they?  she has tried her best… none of what has happened is her fault.  thor only regards her with sadness in his eyes, pressing his lips together.  she doesn’t want to seem to talk further about it.  so, for now, he won’t press it.

inside, all the collected infinity stones are passed off to tony and bruce.  as ordered, everyone has made it back before the given time expired, and all are ready to get to work.  clint enlists rey’s help with fortifying the windows, checking the blast door controls, passively ensuring everyone’s suits are functioning as necessary.  once thor has relinquished the reality stone, he hovers, idly watching as the team brings them all closer to the finish line.

in a separate room, tony and bruce and rocket work meticulously to place all the stones into a new gauntlet.  it begins to dawn on thor with a sense of dread; in a few moments, one of them will need to put it on.  one of them will snap their fingers, thus returning all the lives needlessly lost.  one of them, in only a few minutes, may succumb to the power of the stones.

no more losses.  they can never truly make that promise.

if it is inevitable… why should it be any one of them?  you go and be the man you’re meant to be.  deeper and deeper does the feeling in the pit of his stomach sink.  as the seconds tick by, bringing them closer to the completion of the glove, he knows.  he knows what needs to be done.

perhaps he will be fine.  he is, after all, the god of thunder.  right?

bruce and tony are sure to announce it when their work is finished.  thor waits, separate from the rest of them as they gather, slowly (and with the utmost caution) bringing the glove out so that they may discuss what happens next.  rocket is examining it one last time —— there are no flaws.  it’s ready.

thor’s eyes are trained on rey.  guilt has been climbing steadily, but ——— now it peaks.  she won’t understand.  none of them will.  it isn’t for them to understand.

“glove’s ready,” rocket says, and thor stands straighter, pushing away from the table he’d been leaning against.  “question is, who’s gonna snap their freakin’ fingers?”

exhaling, a hand reaches out to rey, knuckles gliding along her arm.  every inch of him turns apologetic for a few beats in time; mostly his eyes.  but he has decided.  it’s in the square of his shoulders, the lift of his head when he turns away from her and walks forward.

“i’ll do it.”

[lightsiided]

AFTER THE STORM, THERE IS CALM.  AFTER THE DARKNESS COMES DAWN ———— AND AFTER LIGHTNING, THERE IS THUNDER.

⚡️ independent, highly selective, plot driven portrayal of  thor odinson  of the marvel cinematic universe. 21+ only. read guidelines before following. written by bri. ⚡️

[lightsiided]

     she matches thor's smile, gently touching her fingertips to his cheek. the affection is clear on her face, her expression open and sweet. it is so lovely -- just to lay here with him. the air in the room is so PEACEFUL it almost makes her forget how the universe moves on without them outside.

"well, when i would get your updates, i would share them. of course they knew of the importance of your mission." the others had grown to be as USED TO thor's presence at her side as rey was. he had helped them so much, when the news of him leaving spread her friends were understandably upset. "when i took off to find you i was upset, though. it's hard to explain how i know something is wrong. but finn mostly understands, so he handled things for me."

she wonders what it will be like when she returns. will they be triumphant, like thor says? if all of this is reversed, and she can return to base to see leia and rose and the others again...

rey sighs. she tucks herself in beneath his chin at his direction and curls up against his chest, making herself comfortable. it's likely she'll fall asleep JUST LIKE THIS. she's certainly had worse, and there's a bone-deep exhaustion settled over her. she hums. "when you first met your friends? the people downstairs? no, i don't think so. though now that i know the story of your recent capture, i'm starting to wonder if maybe you have an issue with new people."

“i would say that’s extremely likely,” he answers in an exhale.  “if we both thought of one another constantly… it is bound that our,” here, the corner of his mouth curls upward, “times of yearning overlapped.  that is a nice thought.  that, while we were apart—“  so, so far apart, each lonely day and night, “i was missing you just as you were missing me.”

something settles in the air around them.  it isn’t just that they are relaxed after their travels, after their enegry well-spent.  thor dares to let himself be happy in this moment, in the midst of so much unfathomable tragedy.  a bit of joy when surrounded by misery.  no one else could do for him what rey has.  the appreciation lights his eyes as they study hers.

“what did you tell them?”  there isn’t much she could have said, he thinks, after a point.  losing the ship meant losing communication; that was the hardest part of leaving.  having his only means of being able to reach her gone.  lifting a hand, his finger presses to her cheek, and glides along until he’s tracing along the length of her neck.  “well… mind control isn’t how i would have chosen to introduce myself, but i am sure all will be forgotten in no time.”

thor’s face, of course, betrays his words.  exaggerated and insincere, his eyes suggest she has left quite the unsavory taste in the mouths of the avengers.  but his faux judgment is short-lived; soon enough, he laughs, pulling her in to tuck her head beneath his chin.  “i assure you, you were fine.  i was much worse when first we meet.  did i ever tell you that story?”

[lightsiided]

     "oh, PLEASE!" she exclaims, face flushed with pleasure despite her protest. how nice it feels to be noticed by him in this way. "i didn't say that. it's just that... it's my training course. i need to be able to cross it!"

there's laughter as she steps up beside him, playfully shoving her shoulder into the solid wall of thor's side. the jungle is alive around them as they walk. rey can sense a number of creatures going about their business on either side of her -- and then, distantly, back at base, the others. as if sensing the topic of their discussion, the force feels particularly loud and VIBRANT, humming in her ears with each footfall.

a warmth finds rey, then, crawling quickly down her neck. his compliment makes her pulse quicken. she dips her head, her smile softening. "you don't have to apologize. or try to impress me. i already think you're very SPECIAL." she curls her fingernails into her palm -- seeking reassurance she isn't dreaming. for once, in as long as she can remember, everything feels utterly perfect.

a presence makes itself known to the both of them before rey can think of what she should say next. she bites the inside of her cheek, trying not to grin too widely at the sight of thor kneeling to the grass. the image of him, hand extended, is impossibly SWEET. "that's a convor," she explains, "they are friendly. some people keep them as pets in certain parts of the galaxy. this one is small -- maybe a baby."

the bird is very round, and waddles a bit on its way up to thor. there is a soft trill as it rubs its face against his outstretched pointer finger. after a moment, rey kneels beside him. "convorees are something of a... symbol," she continues quietly. "superstitious people believe them to be messengers of some kind. i guess i hope they're TRYING to tell us something good is coming."

they could certainly use a break. the baby blinks up at the both of them with wide eyes, its gold and brown feathers glinting slightly in the sun. "i usually don't see them down here. they tend to be up in the treetops, especially with all the noise we've been making. it must be strange -- to live on an uninhabited planet and then have it invaded by... all of this. i hope we haven't been too DISRUPTIVE."

rey glances quickly over at thor, then away again. "the lake is just ahead. then i can show you the way back, though we will have to cross the canyon again."

thor stands alert on the other side, mjolnir idly waiting in his grip.  though he doesn’t doubt her focus or her skill, there is still that small part of him that is ready to leap into action, if he must.  it passes —— rey makes her way across the precariously placed rope and joins him once more on solid ground.  he tries to hide his relief beneath a smile.

“and you think you aren’t a show off?”

something in his smile turns from pleased to teasing.  perhaps just a little smug.  when he laughs, it’s almost under his breath, and as he begins to continue the trek forward, he half - turns so as to watch her as they move along.

“i’m rey,” he says, furrowing his brows, steeling his jaw.  it is a terrible impression; he makes no effort to lift his voice.  it only deepens.  “a very powerful jedi.  i need no such thing as trivial as sight to make my way across a hazardously strung rope that could easily plunge me to my death.  the force,” lifting the hammer, admiring it as if it is the unseen force they talk about, “guides me.  much more impressive than measly godhood.”

it’s hard to get through it without laughing again, but he manages.  and his grin stretches ear to ear when he drops the act, continuing on at his relaxed pace.  deeper and deeper into the forest they go, and he has yet to see any sign of the water.  rey did say it wasn’t a quick, easy stroll.  not that he minds —— there are far worse things he can imagine than spending his time exploring the forest with her.

“and i must say,” he speaks up again, casting his gaze around them, “i make no apologies for trying to impress a beautiful woman.”

he isn’t looking at her as he says it, but the thick of the trees that tower over & surround them, now.  bits of sun and sky are visible through the breaks, but he finds himself in the center of growing grass, bushes, fallen branches.  above, a strip of golden light shines through the treetops, through the grey of the clouds, casting its glow over the grass they stand in, and the tops of their heads.  it illuminates the already blonde strands falling around his face and shoulders.

all around them, he hears scurrying, gentle clicking and chirping.  animals and insects alike going about their lives, avoiding his intrusion into their home.  but something not so wary descends from the bark of a tree and approaches, weaving through the grass to slowly get to him.  it isn’t so small as to be missed, but not so big as to potentially be a threat.  looking down —— and this small creature makes no move to retreat —— thor just as slowly kneels and extends a hand.  it’s alright.  i mean no harm.

“this one seems friendly,” he says, softly, so as not to spook the little thing.  “what do you call this?”

[lightsiided]

nothing exciting has happened today.  nothing exciting has happened in a while ——— their wish to be undisturbed so they may enjoy their time being married, trying to build a life together, has thus far been respected.  calls for assistance here and there are inevitable; having everything they’ve fought so hard to keep dangled precariously in the unknown begins to feel like a distant memory.  it’s been mundane, delightfully boring, peaceful.  only… nothing about his time spent at her side is boring.  thor cherishes every day.  in all its silence and routine.

light sparkles against the water, thor listening to the very gentle lapping of the barely - present lake waves.  it stretches for quite a bit, just behind their new home.  their children will enjoy swimming in it, some day, just as he and loki did with their mother so many centuries ago.  they enjoy it, now ——— their hair has at last begun to dry from the splashing and laughing that had occupied their time earlier.  it’s since grown quiet, but it’s comfortable.  it’s home.

rey is sitting beside him.  he glances over, and the seconds tick by slowly.  he doesn’t know how long he watches her; long enough for him to note the almost imperceptible furrow in her brows above closed eyes.  over the soft whisper of wind, he hears a hum.  its content.  she is just as at peace as he is.  as her eyes open, light and welcoming, like flower buds adrift in the lake by which they sit, he persists.  thor couldn’t help the smile that grows even if he wanted to.

she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.  though she doesn’t believe him when he says it, it’s true.  and he understands her doubts, to a point.  he, who has lived so long and seen so many faces.  surely she can’t be the most beautiful among them.  at least, that is what he imagines she thinks of it.  and she would be wrong.  and he would happily argue with her about it for the next three centuries, if he must.

they have the time.

her brows smooth as she returns to watching the water, and he could very easily get lost in those eyes he adores, but he continues on.  down the slope of her perfect button nose, atop soft, full lips.  they are ever so slightly upturned, now —— he loves them even when they are downturned, or pressed flat with concentration.  all of it surrounded by cheekbones and a jaw that couldn’t come together to paint a better picture if carefully crafted over a millennia by a god themselves.  he wonders if she can feel him admiring her, because (though she doesn’t look over) a smile slowly unfurls to reveal the dimples that make his heart feel too heavy for his chest.  strands of hair blow freely in the wind, and he aches to tuck them behind her ear, stroke her skin until he’s at her chin.  so he does.

it’s unclear who starts, but before he knows it, laughter is breaking their silence.  hers is more musical than bells, chimes; thor’s favorite melody in all the universe.  it makes him laugh joyfully, and leaves his already heavy heart leaping in his chest.  rey is more than just the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.  she’s classical —— timeless.  the kind of beautiful worth going to war for.  the kind of beautiful worth laying down his life for.

it extends far beyond how wonderfully her physical features compliment one another.

after the many moments he’s spent staring at her, caressing her skin, she finally meets his eyes.  they are both smiling, though they don’t speak.  there is no need to.  it’s all said in the affectionate touches, the happiness worn so plainly on their faces, the serenity they've found in each other.  after all this time, he is still so smitten.  so taken by her, and he knows she feels the same.  it’s you.  it has always been you, and always will be you.  even before i knew it was you, i loved you.

tenderly, his hand drops to the back of her neck so he may pull her into his arms.  he sighs, pleased, and tucks her head beneath his chin.  if he had known sooner stepping back from the fight could make him as happy as he is now, he would have done so long ago.  nothing exciting has happened today.  all he must do is love his wife.  he could spend forever just staring at her ——— he may do just that.

oh nothing, just thor being so hopelessly in love with his wife — @lightsiided.

[lightsiided]

     "Thank you." Jasmine. It's not anything she's familiar with, but Rey's always loved tea. And if it will help her sleep... of course she'll TRY IT.

Instinctively, though, she finds herself leaning back in her seat. "Oh." She hadn't made the connection -- that that would be what Mantis would need to do. It isn't something she's EAGER to experience, given her history with the unpleasant sensation of having someone else inside her mind. "I appreciate the offer, but... I don't think so."

Her mouth lifts in a small smile. "Maybe the tea will work. Like I said, sometimes I do manage to sleep without dreaming at all." As she sips her drink, her curiosity builds. "Does it work for YOU? I mean, can you do it... to yourself? So that you can have pleasant dreams. Or do your abilities not work that way?"

"This kind of tea is jasmine," she answers with a smile, one that is soft and warm. Mantis loves getting to know other curious souls. She takes her seat near Rey, holding her own cup with both hands. "I would need to... use my powers in order to help you – through emotion manipulation. I can induce slumber or wake someone, decide what their dreams will look like... or if they dream at all."

She pauses, sipping the tea – the flavor is floral, with a sweet aftertaste. When Mantis speaks again, hesitation colors her voice.

"It would bring me great joy to be able to help you sleep, but I wish to have your permission. Not everyone is comfortable being touched by an empath – and that's okay."

[lightsiided]

"It was interesting because I actually remember turning up and being surprised that the zombies were as present as they were. Tonally, for me, the film is such a combination of different things. I look at this film as a woman seeking answers and a woman seeking some reconcile between mistakes she's made, trying to find her husband, trying to figure out what their life is going to look like if what she finds is that he's alive and available—not zombified. So it's interesting, I actually remember being surprised the zombies were as apparent as they were because I can't remember reading that much— of course you're drawn to the things you're drawn to. For me, that was the story of Ava. And, of course, along the way she meets the zombies. But I really felt like this story is exploring grief and the notion of the in-between, which is where they are. They're neither here nor there; it's where Ava is, really, for a lot of the story. She's trying to get to somewhere else and she's sort of stuck in a place of not knowing."

—Daisy Ridley about We Bury the Dead for Deadline at SXSW 2025

[lightsiided]

     rey looks down at their joined hands, trying not to let her steps slow. the shrug of her shoulders betrays how UNCERTAIN she feels. what will she say? it's not as though she hasn't had time to think about it. the idea of meeting her parents again -- someway, somehow -- has crossed her mind many times. she has felt anger, sadness. even now she isn't sure she has fully made her peace with what she knows to be true. each step feels heavier as they march on towards their destination, trudging through the sand.

"i'm not sure," she says, after a moment. they are here for CLOSURE, or so she's thought throughout the process of planning this trip. one last visit to say goodbye. what will that feel like? she left jakku so abruptly, there wasn't any time to process that she would never again sleep in the goazon badlands. "i guess i will introduce you to them. and tell them... i forgive them for their decisions."

rey can't help but to think of the moments after snoke was killed. she hadn't wanted to think about this, then. the knowledge of her parents' death had been buried in the back of her mind while other problems took precedence. perhaps it is a PRIVILEGE she is now free to be here. do they know all that has happened since they left? wherever they are, have they heard the tales of her victories and losses? if they were here, would they be proud?

she clears her throat to dispel a sudden lump forming within it. "and then i will say goodbye."

“oh, please.”  affectionately, thor’s hands squeeze where he holds rey by the legs.  when his eyes roll and his tongue disapprovingly clicks against his teeth, it is purely playful.  “i am always nice to you.  if loki could see us now, i assure you, my love —— they would agree your treatment is vastly different from theirs.  you may not have noticed, but i see you as my moon and all the stars.”

when she speaks again, her voice quieter and more weighted, thor’s steps begin to slow.  with a gentle nod, he halts, and helps her back down to her feet.  only when she’s fully detached (apart from the hand that swings out to intertwine with hers) does he resume his walking.  a thickness finds the air around them, it seems.  nothing due to the weather or the desert around them.

anticipation.

looking over, his eyes fix to her face.  as always when he looks at her, he hones in on the details.  the slope of her nose, the focus in her eyes, the way her mouth curves.  without breaking his gaze, their joined hands lift so he can kiss her knuckles.  “do you…”  he begins in a breath, treading cautiously, “know what it is you’ll say to them?”

[lightsiided]

AFTER THE STORM, THERE IS CALM.  AFTER THE DARKNESS COMES DAWN ———— AND AFTER LIGHTNING, THERE IS THUNDER.

⚡️ independent, highly selective, plot driven portrayal of  thor odinson  of the marvel cinematic universe. 21+ only. read guidelines before following. written by bri. ⚡️

[lightsiided]

rey didn’t allow herself a breather until she was sweating freely and her arms and shoulders ached. leaning on the staff, ignoring the curious porgs circling overhead, she spotted luke’s lightsaber peeking out of her bag.

SHOULD SHE? OF COURSE SHE SHOULD.

[lightsiided]

     "you're never uncool to me," she promises. in fact, carol is quite the OPPOSITE -- one of thor's friends that so easily became her friend. rey knows she could spend hours with her easily. carol is someone she admires, who takes care to give fantastic advice that usually considers a perspective rey has shoved aside. friends like that are rare. "i value your thoughts. i guess i do know that, deep down... but it's hard to remember, sometimes, when there's so much going on."

and they have been BUSY. almost too busy to keep rey from wondering if she's doing the right thing. if she will make those who came before her proud. almost. a smile spreads across her face, then rey nods. "i do. don't forget about us out here, alright? you're welcome to visit anytime. with whatever guests you might have with you." here, her smile sharpens into a grin.

thor has always been a wonderful cook. his talents are part of what make this planet their home. he so effortlessly fills in the gaps where she is lacking. "he knows how to make all sorts of things, i'm sure he could manage that. honestly, everything always tastes amazing to me -- i guess he probably has an easy time of it. i have no frame of COMPARISON." the few meals she'd had on asgard were among the best things she'd ever eaten. now, whatever they eat feels just as good, much better than the rations she'd become accustomed to.

"really, though," she says, as they turn from the site of the school to walk back towards the house. "are you sure you don't need us for anything? just because we've taken a break doesn't mean you can't ask if you want HELP." the universe is never short of tragedies. they knew that when they settled here. it would only ever be a matter of time before someone called them to battle again. "i hope you know that if something's going on... you can always count on us."

sometimes she wonders if she's even qualified to offer advice. she, who more often than not, makes more mistakes than she'd like to admit. at least she can admit when she's fucked up, & constantly tries to better herself. ❛   i know it's very cliché, & i won't be surprised if i seem more uncool to you afterward, but sometimes all we can do is listen to our heart.   ❜ she offers a quick shrug. ❛   & trust that we're doing the RIGHT thing. it will all work out in the end.   ❜

Carol laughs. there's one perk to her nomadic lifestyle. depending on where she goes in the galaxy, some people love or hate her. it's all a matter of perspective. still, if she can help find others a real home . . . she will. community is often taken for granted, but so important. ❛   i'll be sure to give YOU all the credit as well. can't let it all go to Thor's head, or he won't fit through the doors.   ❜

it would be nice to actually visit some planets rather than doing a flyby while she deals with some threat or another. plus, she could spend time with Kamala for a bit, & catch up on some sleep. ❛   i hope you know i value YOUR friendship just as much.   ❜ they've both been fortunate to have each other during a very difficult time, & she was grateful for having Rey to rely on, & for the time they spent together keeping each other distracted.

the space adventurer laughs, throwing her head back. ❛   yanno, i get that a lot.   ❜ she simply makes a lot of sacrifices for convenience. ❛   as long as i have coffee, i'm pretty FLEXIBLE when it comes to sustenance.   ❜ her favorite beverage first, anything else is second. ❛   i'm still trying to wrap my mind around him cooking. finally, there's something he actually bests me at. does he specialize in Asgardian cuisine ? otherwise, he can make me an ol' fashioned burger with fries.   ❜