Tense, Heimdall remained rooted to his seat, still holding the bitten apple in his hand and listening.

The groaning came closer. Someone was definitely climbing the wall.

He frowned in annoyance at the thought.

How stupid did one have to be to climb a wall of stone that size?

And who had the stamina to do it anyway?

Of course, he himself had the privilege of not always having to climb up to Asgard, but even if he had had the opportunity, he would not have done it.

Why should he?

A wall was not an invitation. It was a warning. A request to stay away.

Only if one really wanted something and were almost desperate would risk ones life to get to the top.

Heimdall found this absurd. Almost foolish.

And yet.

The uninvited visitor was about to cross the edge and meet him face to face.

All of the hairs stood up in the back of his neck.

In his mind's eye he could already imagine what someone looked like who climbed the great wall of Asgard with his bare hands.

But at that very moment, his gift kicked in.

His eyebrows rose in surprise and a soft breath left his lips. Then he had to chuckle mockingly.

"How stupid.", he growled. "A child... How stupid of me to worry...."

Panting and groaning, the uninvited guest made his way up to the edge of the wall. One of his hands shot out, trying to grab hold.

Heimdall hesitated.

With distaste in his eyes, he waited to see if the grip would slip.

He would just let him fall.

Yes, that would be easiest.

But then he would also lose his chance for a better fate.

He knew that this boy brought Ragnarok with him.

But he also knew that the end of the world was brought by his own death. Or rather by Gjallarhorn being blown. And he certainly wouldn't do it. So someone would have to kill him to get the instrument.

If the boy fell, he wouldn't have to worry about it any more. But if he fell then a future with you would also fall with him.

The hand slipped.

It took Heimdall just two steps to grab it.

"Hello.", he grinned demonstratively.

Surprised, a pair of bright blue eyes looked at him. Then confusion appeared.

"Uh... hi.", the boy with the hazelnut-coloured hair returned an uncertain smile.

"So...", Heimdall gestured and tilted his head sarcastically. "What part of that enormous wall let you think, oh visitors must be welcome?"

Too surprised by the sudden appearance, the boy slipped further away.

He struggled, legs dangling free in the air.

Heimdall could feel his fear of falling. Yet he could also feel how hostile he was towards him already.

He wanted, no, basically demanded of him to pull him out of the danger he had put himself into.

Maybe it would have been better to drop him.

"I was sent for, actually.", the boy replied. "By Odin."

It took the good of foresight a moment to not burst out in rage and smash the apple between his fingers.

"The Allfather sent for you?", one eyebrow raised. "Ha! Great."

He took another bite to calm his nerves with the sweet nectar and the thought that this was a gesture of love from you.

The boy watched. He just hung there, not making any attempt to get his feet on solid ground. All he did was put all his trust in Heimdall's grip.

"Then why are you out there and not in here?", Heimdall's gaze returned to meet the eyes of the stranger.

"Why don't we ask him together?"

That question almost made him laugh.

But only almost.

Instead, he raised his gaze up to the sky, thought for a moment and simply let the apple slide from the palm of his hand.

Struck by surprise, the unwanted visitor dodged the fruit as it fell to the ground. As he did so, he lost grip with his other hand as well.

Now he truly relied on the gods mercy.

Perhaps, it was a better idea to let go.

Heimdall had seen what he needed to see. There was nothing there. He wouldn't be able to make use of it.

"Are you finished?", the god of foresight asked with a bored shrug of his shoulders. "Now. What could Odin, All-Father, king of the Aesir, possibly want with the likes of you?"

"That's between me and Odin.", the boy replied in a cocky manner.

Bright pink eyes examined him. A smirk of mockery appeared on thin, pale lips.

"You don't even know, do you?", he chuckled.

"Think you could pull me up, or..?"

"No. I don't think I will.", Heimdall eyed his nails. "I think maybe I'll drop you."

"No! No, no, no, no. Stop, stop."

The god sighed.

This would be the best thing to do.

"Yes, I'm going to drop you.", his grip opened. "Goodbye."

Immediately, the body hands jumped up to wrap around his forearm to keep himself from falling into his safe end.

"Wait, wait!", he begged. "Think how mad the Allfather's gonna be when he finds out you killed his guest! Loki of the Jötnar."

"Heh.", Heimdall could barely hide his disgust and mockery. "The Jötnar? Enemy of my people?"

Now it would have been the right time to drop that child.
Even before, there had been doubts that it was a good idea to ally with him. But now it was a done deal. He could not accept help from a giant.

Unthinkable.

The boy shook his head. How young he was. So childish yet with the will to be a man of his own.

"I am not your enemy.", he insisted.

With his eyebrows drawn together and doubt in his heart, Heimdall tilted his head to inspect the visitor.

His thoughts were clear as the sea on a still summer day.

The god knew what he was about to do.

And he could sense that there were doubts. Not only about the All-Father but also about himself.

He did not know why he had come.

And Heimdall wanted to find out just as much as the stranger. An annoyed sigh rolled from his lips.

"I will be the judge of that.", he said, and dragged the boy carelessly over the edge onto the wall. "This way, Loki of the Jötnar."