17 Asgardian Training Prelude!

(A/N - Before you read the chapter, I owe you all an apology...First off, I want to thank everyone who wrote such lovely reviews for my story, it really warms my heart! But talking about reviews, that'd be the reason why I have taken a small break.

You see, I'm not too good with taking criticism. I don't know why, maybe I'm a little b*tch or something, I really don't know. But when I looked at some of the reviews, I just lost my motivation to write. I just didn't see a point. I guess it's true what they say - that you usually listen to the vocal minority rather than the silent majority, huh?

Guess what I'm trying to say is, I was kinda hurt by some of the stuff that was said in certain reviews. Well, one specific review, really. So, I took a break to get my sh*t together.

Anyway, I'm back now! On to the chapter!)

I looked into the blue sky above me. It'd been three weeks since my first day in school and I've got to say, I really have enjoyed it.

Not just the Hero Class but everyone about it. Despite how I thought I'd become bored, the classes, in fact, were the perfect balance I needed when compared to my constant training from before. Nat did say something about balance being needed, huh?

I closed my eyes as I let the sun's rays hit my skin, relaxing as the heat warmed my body.

As my eyes were closed I looked back over what had happened over the past 3 weeks. My friendship with Anna, Gwen, and Miles has only gotten stronger over the past few weeks. I suspected that it was because we all knew each other had powers and because of that we didn't need to do any of that 'hiding my secret powers from my friends' shtick.

But in particular, I had really seen some progress in my friendship with Anna.

At first, the shy girl was, well, shy. She wouldn't fully speak her mind but slowly but surely and because of my wonderful charisma, she opened up and she was quite...blunt, to say the least. Though she still had her personality trait to get incredibly happy over simple things such as me calling her cute or calling her my friend.

Both of which were easy to say as they were true - She was cute and she was indeed my friend.

As proof of our friendship--

"I've got the drinks, Michael," I opened my eyes and looked toward Anna who'd come out of the roof exit to my apartment building.

She was wearing a slightly baggy green hoodie, blue ripped denim jeans and some worn-out black and white Vans. Her auburn hair is picked up by the wind and the fringe of white goes straight up, running the hair-do she had been going for.

She cutely pouts before squashing the fringe back down with her free hand. Seeing her display, I couldn't help but laugh.

Anna could only indignantly look at me, "It's not funny, Michael! We don't all have hair which is seemingly resistant to wind and all the other elements!" she speaks in a mock-grandiose tone, "All hail Michael's wonderful and superior hair!" she did a bow before both she and I break into laughter.

As we continued to laugh, she came over and sat next to me putting the bag full of drinks between us.

For a few more seconds we continued to laugh before we just sat there, enjoying the others company while looking at the surprisingly blue sky. It was nearing the end of September and the weather was getting worse but today as we looked up, it seemed to be Summer.

I was unsure whether it was because it was actually warm or because of something else...

"It's a pretty nice day for the end of September, huh?" Anna absentmindedly spoke as she lazily opened a can of Sprite and took a small sip.

I smirked, taking a can of Sprite for my self, "Took the words right out of my mouth, Anna...You sure you haven't been absorbing some psychic's powers?" my grin took on a teasing look as I looked at Anna from the corner of my eye.

She snorted before seemingly getting nervous about something. Noticing it, I raised an eyebrow.

"What's up, Anna? You suddenly went all, well, I'll say clammy for the lack of a better word," I chuckled a little toward the end of what I said but the worried look didn't leave my face.

I had grown quite...attached to Anna these last few weeks. She was a pretty hurt person, deep down at least, and I wanted to help her move past it and become as strong as I know she could be.

But that only worked if she let me help, I guess. If she didn't want my help, I'd be fine with her decision as well. It's not my decision at the end of the day.

Anyway, back to the pending question.

Anna looked even more nervous after what I asked and her timid and shy demeanor was back.

"W-well, you see, Michael...I never did properly thank you for helping me back then against Jennifer..." her voice faded off as she turned her head away from my direction. But I could tell she was embarrassed by her ears which were slowly turning red.

My worried face melted away, replaced by a gentle smile.

"You don't need to thank me, Anna. You wouldn't have gotten hurt anyway, remember? So, all I did was get in the way for nothing...like an idiot..." I scratched my cheek, which was slowly turning red showing me it was my turn to be embarrassed.

But hearing what I said, Anna quickly turned her head to face me, her adorable red face showing traces of...anger?

"Don't call yourself an idiot for trying to help me when I needed it! And even if it wouldn't have k-killed me, it's the thought that counts. It shows that you care for your friends!" she paused unsure if she should continue but she did anyway, "A-anyway, I'd do the s-same thing for you..."

For some reason unknown to me, I blushed at what Anna just said and felt a warm rush in my chest.

What...what is this feeling? It's like my Holy Fire...

Marveling at the feeling, I didn't notice that Anna was even redder, her green eyes seemingly entranced by my embarrassed face, something she didn't get to see too often.

Anna suddenly coughed, bringing us both out of our stupors.

"W-well, anyway!" she spoke loudly, as if to shake herself out of a stupor, while also shaking her head in an endearing way which made me smile gently at the image in front of me.

Not looking at me, Anna carried on, "What I'm trying to say is...if you, you know, need anything from me, just ask, okay?" her emerald eyes looked into my red ones. Her eyes showed a strange look of vulnerability as she carried on, "We could even go out for a meal...I'll pay, of course! As thanks, yeah, we can go for a meal as my thanks to you!" she seemed incredibly flustered but she didn't break eye contact and neither did I.

I was a bit surprised she'd asked this, to be honest. Mainly because it sounded kind of like she was asking me out on a...date? That couldn't be, right? Maybe I'm just reading too far into things...

Bringing myself out of my thought process, I simply nodded at her, "...Yeah, I'd like that," after I finished speaking, both of us went quiet.

It wasn't an awkward silence, which I was expecting, but more like the silence that was calming. We had each said what we needed to, now we could just relax with each other without worry.

Anna was the first to break eye contact as she hurriedly looked away and started chugging her can of soda.

I smirked at this, feeling that I wanted to tease her, but I kept that tendency suppressed as I drank from my own can, leaning back on to one of my outstretched arms and relaxing while looking at the sky.

As I looked up, I saw something approaching and squinted my eyes. I used my Sage Force to focus my eyes before using my Strength Force to strengthen my eyesight.

What I saw made my curse under my breath...

"...Gee-f*cking-thanks Thor..." knowing what was incoming and how it'd ruin the atmosphere, I looked over at Anna who was looking at me with a tilted head as she'd heard what I said, "Sorry, Anna, but I think us hanging out will have to wait for another day, my...mentor? Yeah, let's go with that, my mentor's about to make an entrance..." my voice was quite grumpy as I glared at the rapidly approaching figure.

Anna had a confused look on her face before she looked up at the sky like me but she couldn't see anything.

I wasn't surprised she couldn't see anything, Thor was moving faster than a normal eye like Anna's could see.

Before we both knew it, a big, blond man was half-kneeling, half-standing in front of us. In majestic armor and adorned with a red cape, oh and his famous hammer held in one of his hands, who else could it be but Thor?

I slowly stood up to greet him, "How ya doing, Thor?" I got out before the massive Nordic man came up and bear hugged the life out of me.

"Hahaha! Michael, my boy, you've grown in height, width, and muscle since I last saw you, wonderful!" Thor boisterously laughed as he nearly broke my back.

What he said was true, I had grown an inch in height and my shoulders got broader with the increase. The 'extra' muscle was just an illusion, my body was just bigger, so the muscles got slightly bigger in proportion. Luckily I still had my perfect muscles that balanced on the line between too lean and too bulky - they were just right.

I didn't to be some kind of grotesque muscle monster, after all, so I was pretty happy I wasn't becoming one.

"Well...yeah...but...I'm about...to be dead...if you don't let me go...you, big oaf...." I got out through strained teeth, I was truly caught off guard by his bear hugs every time he did them.

He quickly released me before slapping my shoulder, "Sorry about that, Michael, I was just happy to see my student after nearly a month of no training! But do not fear, I'm here to resume our training!" he grinned before shaking me back and forth.

With my current strength I could probably stop him from shaking me but knowing his personality it'd just devolve into a contest of strength and I'd really be dying then...plus I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of Anna...

But by how she was stifling her laughter, I could tell I'd already done that. Though I did see the questioning look in her eye.

"Ah, okay...where are we going to do the training? S.H.I.E.L.D HQ?" I asked as the shaking came to an end. I made sure to back away from him and stand next to Anna.

Thor let out a laugh for some reason before crossing his arms triumphantly, "Nay! We'll be training in Asgard! The Valkyries wish to train you as well, especially after I told them who you are and how you use a Spear as a weapon!"

Hearing him, I went solid for a second. Asgard? Valkyries? Training with both Thor and the Valkyries? I can't remember but did I seriously p*ss off some big figures in my past life? Do you wish for me to die in this life as well as the last?

But despite my internal whining, my blood was beginning to boil and a smile had adorned my lips, showing off my battle intent.

"Okay, I'll come with you but first I have to see of my friend, then tell Nat I'm going to Asgard so she can tell the school I won't be in for a while," I met eyes with Thor before he nodded and replied.

"See your friend out, but you need not to tell Agent Romanoff, she's already been informed!" he smiled at me before walking away from the two of us.

I turned to Anna, only to see her look at me with raised eyebrows and a suspicious look, " 'I don't know any Superheroes,' you said, 'Why would I know Superheroes,' you said...still wanna lie, Michael?" Anna's face was smiling but her eyes weren't...they were kinda scary.

"H-hahaha, yeah, sorry about that..." knowing my mistake I apologized but my eyes widened as I realized something, "...Please don't tell Miles and Gwen," I pleadingly looked at Anna who had a rarely seen teasing smile on her face and a smug look that said 'I hold the power now!'.

"Well~ If you promise to hang out with me soon, I might just forget about Thor dropping out of the sky and calling you his student~" she grinned up at me but I was glad she was so straightforward with her 'demand'.

I let out a sigh of relief before nodding at Anna, "Yeah, of course, I'll hang out with you!" I smiled before whispering under my breath, "...thank god it was an easy request..."

"What was that, Michael?" Anna raised an eyebrow at me to which I deadpanned her.

"You're hearing things, I think, Anna," my poker face was built up through games of poker with Cap and Nat, it was unbreakable.

Anna eyed me suspiciously but she let it go in the end, "Okay, I'll be on my way now, and I'm taking the refreshments," she shook the bag she was no holding, "Enjoy your training~!" she teasingly said before walking off to the roof exit. She turned around once more and waved goodbye, I waved back and before I knew it she was gone.

I looked over at Thor before he nodded and grabbed me by the shoulder. He looked up and yelled out with a smile, "Heimdall, bring us to Asgard!" as his yell finished echoing around the neighborhood, a flash of rainbow colors shot down from the sky and sucked us up and into the sky where we shot off to Asgard.