Page 25 of Thor

Odin nodded and smiled. “Yes. Frigg likes to take people in and make sure they get situated.”

Something about the way Odin kept looking at Elle set Thor on edge. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he didn’t like it.

“Did you need something, Father?”

“I actually came because I wanted to tell you that your brothers are back. We are going to be having a family dinner at my place Friday night.”

Thor nodded. “Did they finish their mission successfully?”

“They did.”

“Any casualties?”

“None I am aware of.”

Thor nodded. He hated it when there were casualties. The cleanup costs were always expensive.

“Anyway, I let you two do whatever you were doing.”

“I’m teaching her how to defend herself.”

A soft look came over Odin’s face, and he smiled at Thor. “A person should never have to be subject to the abuse of others. Especially a beautiful young woman.” Odin bowed to Elle. “I hope you will join us for dinner on Friday.”

“Th... Thank you, Lord Odin.” She curtsied so fluidly Thor almost imagined seeing her in a royal court. “I am not sure if I am available but I sincerely appreciate the invitation.”

Odin left without another word and a tense silence fell between Thor and Elle.

She turned back to him and smiled. “What’s next?”

He studied her for a moment. The way she stood at the ready. Her stance strong and balanced. “You’ve been taught to fight, haven’t you?”

Elle swallowed and her smile fell a bit. “Some.”

“More than some, I think.”

She shrugged.

“If you’ve been taught to fight, why didn’t you fight back when the man grabbed you?”

Elle rubbed her fingers together and looked at him again. “There is a real difference between fighting off an attacker, and defending yourself from someone you think means you no harm to begin with.”

Thor nodded. “True.”

“If you came at me intent on punching me in the face, or stabbing me with a sword, or trying to kill me, it would be different. Those are attacks I am used to fighting off. But... it’s like you said before. You said you wanted me to keep my shoes on because it helps me feel comfortable like the way I will when things can happen to me. I was taught to fight but only wearing fighting clothes. Only in one room. Only with one person. So, it didn’t feel the same. When he put his arms around me, I wasn’t trained for that, so I froze. Plus...”

“Plus, what?”

“He’s mortal. Things are different on Midgard. I can’t grab a sword and defend myself without causing a lot of people, including Frigg who has done so much to help me, a lot of problems.”

She wasn’t wrong. Thor had learned that the hard way. His record with the Midgard police would be at least a dozen pages long— if Loki hadn’t done his magic with a computer.

“Show me,” he said.

“Show you what?”

“What you’ve learned.”

“You want me to fight you?”

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