Page 34 of Thor

“Public library?”

“A place where you can borrow books for free and when you are done reading them you return them.”

Elle’s eyes widened so far he thought they might pop out. “Is... is anyone allowed to borrow the books?” she whispered.

“As long as you have a library card, yeah.”

Elle stared at him as if trying to comprehend the idea.

“Can we go there next?”

“Sadly, they’re closing soon. We need your ID as well. Loki gave you papers, I assume.”

She nodded.

“Well, we’ll need those. Then you go in, fill out a piece of paper, and they give you a library card and you’re all set.”

Elle continued to sit there, unblinkingly, as if envisioning all the books.

“For free,” she mused.

Thor chuckled. “Okay, okay, don’t hurt your brain. Why don’t you pick out a few books to tide you over until we can go on your next day off.”

Elle nodded and thumbed through the stacks of books. She separated them into three piles and picked up the biggest pile of about fifteen books. “I’m ready.”

“Is your next day off in six months?” he chided.

“No, it’s whenever I want. I haven’t taken a day off since I got here. I’m not sure how often I get them.”

“Once or twice a week.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Two days a week? To... do what I want?”

“You could work even less if you wanted.”

She shook her head. “No, I need to be of service. I need to repay Lady Frigg.”

“You realize Frigg doesn’t expect repayment, right?”

“I want to make sure I do my part. That I work hard, and she is pleased with my work.”

Thor reached out and took Elle’s hand. “Elle, you know Frigg won’t send you away, right?”

Elle wouldn’t meet his eye.

“Elle, look at me.”

She lifted her gaze.

“Elle, no one is going to send you back where you came from. No one is going to get mad at you and tell whomever you are hiding from where you are.”

She didn’t speak for a moment. “I... I just...”

Thor squeezed her hand. “Elle, I understand you are scared of something, someone, but my family adores you. Frigg and Loki wouldn’t have helped you, only to sell you out. You are one of us now. We will protect you like we would each other.”

Her chin quavered and she nodded vigorously.

Thor touched her cheek and she smiled at him. Every particle of his body meant what he’d said. Though he’d not known her long, Thor was certain of one thing. He would never let anyone hurt Elle again. No matter what he had to do to protect her.

---