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[COLOR=GOLDENROD][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]M A R V I L L E,   O K L A H O M A:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][COLOR=LIGHTSLATEGRAY][B]T U E S D A Y,   J U L Y   3 1[SUP]S T[/SUP],   2 0 1 8 - 1 1 : 4 2 a m   |   O U T S K I R T S   O F   T O W N[/B][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]The transport made good time as it flew from Washington back to Oklahoma. Dropped in a cornfield outside of the small town, Thor watched as the S.H.I.E.L.D. transport disappeared over the horizon as his armor faded away, the Son of Odin returning to the Son of Erik. Turning towards Marville, Blake parting the stalks of corn in front of him as he began to walk back towards town, allowing his mind to wander as he walked.

Using the time at hand, Blake began to think about everything that had happened in the last couple of days. Between fighting the Enchantress, his encounter with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the rematch with Creel, he was beginning to realize that there was a world outside of Marville that could use Thor’s help. 

As he continued to walk, Agent Perry’s words echoed in his head as he thought back to their conversation on the helicarrier about the Central City Incident. Thor was the first and only line of defense if the West was attacked. But so far Blake had been holding Thor back, he was too far in denial about who he was and there was only one to finally accept what he had realized. 

He was Thor, and he had always been Thor.

But he couldn’t accept it until he finally revealed the truth to the one person he cared about more than anyone else in this world. 

Barbara. 

Whether he had admitted it to himself before now or not, Blake knew that keeping his identity of Thor secret from Barbara was holding him back. He could never be truly honest with himself until he first was honest with Barbara.

Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, Blake pulled out his cell phone as he dialed Barbara’s number. The line rang as he held the phone up to ear, continuing his walk into town as Marville appeared in the distance.

[color=#4682b4]“Blake!”[/color] Barbara’s voice suddenly filled his ears as the call was picked up. [color=#4682b4]“Where are you right now?”[/color] She asked as Blake smiled at the concern in her voice. It was warranted, considering to her knowledge had snuck out in the middle of the night on Sunday and ran off to Star City. Blake wouldn’t be surprised if Barbara had a connection in Star City who had found his motorcycle and let her know it was there. She was a very resourceful officer, a part of him was slightly surprised she hadn’t already cornered him about his recent actions.

[color=#daa520]“I’m just on my way back into town. I was wondering if you’d like to get lunch?”[/color] Blake asked as Barbara paused on the other end of the line. There was an unusually long moment of silence as Blake waited for her answer. After what felt like forever, she finally answered.

[color=#4682b4]“Y’know what?”[/color] She answered, [color=#4682b4]“That’s exactly what I need, where did you want to go?”[/color] 

[color=#daa520]“Why not your favourite place? That Big Belly Burger down on Jarlson?”[/color] Blake asked as Barbara chuckled on the other end of the line. 

[color=#4682b4]“I can always go for a good burger.”[/color] She laughed. [color=#4682b4]“See you in ten?”[/color]

[color=#daa520]“I can do ten,”[/color] Blake replied, [color=#daa520]“See you there!”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Don’t keep me waiting.”[/color] Barbara replied as she hung up. Smiling ear to ear, Blake looked up just in time to realize he was passing the ‘Welcome to Marville’ sign as he entered the town. Beneath the large faded, white letters was the town slogan which never failed to put a smile on his face.

[i]A Journey into Mystery [/i]

Blake had no idea what they were thinking when they put it on the sign. Maybe it was a self-aware joke relating to how far in the middle of nowhere the town actually was, maybe it was some sort of scheme to get the town on the map. Either way, it was one of Blake’s favourite quirks about the small town.

Walking down the main street, Blake made his way onto Jarlson, pausing to look up at the large yellow and red sign before entering Big Belly Burger. Barbara was already waiting for him as she looked towards him, her soft brown eyes lighting up as her smile broadened at the sight of Blake. 

Reaching down, Blake kissed Barbara as she lifted her lips to meet his. Taking a seat across from her, Blake looked over at her and smiled as she met his gaze.

[color=#daa520]“So, how have you been?”[/color] He asked as she shook her head holding up her hand.

[color=#4682b4]“Food first.”[/color] 

Softly chuckling, Blake stood as he went to the counter, returning a few minutes later with a tray loaded with food, Blake placed it down as Barbara began to pick away at her waffle fries. Taking a long sip of her Coke, Barbara looked up at Blake.

[color=#4682b4]“I’ve been worried.”[/color] She started saying, answering his previous question as Blake paused, lowering his burger.

[color=#4682b4]“I don’t know what’s been going on with you, covering for you to your receptionist wasn’t exactly something I ever considered having to do when you opened your own practice and a lesser woman might be worried about you sneaking out in the middle of the night.”[/color] Barbara paused before continuing as she leaned over the table towards Blake. [color=#4682b4]“Especially after I rocked your world, just sayin’.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“I just feel like you’ve been hiding something from me, Blake.”[/color] Barbara said, [color=#4682b4]“I don’t know what it is, but I’m confident enough to believe that you’re not cheating me, but I need you to fill in some blanks here.”[/color] She lied as Blake decided it was his turn to finally answer. Taking a look around the restaurant, the pair had sat in a back corner booth and Blake was happy to find there were no other diners within earshot. 

[color=#daa520]“I’ve been going through some…”[/color] Blake paused as he searched for the right words. [color=#daa520]“Personal growth in a manner of speaking.”[/color] He explained as Barbara raised an eyebrow in his direction. [color=#daa520]“Ever since Creel tried to rob the bank downtown, I’ve been different. A whole new side of myself was shown to me. Something that has been repressed for most of my life”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“What exactly are you saying, Blake?”[/color] Barbara asked as she leaned back, crossing her arms.

[color=#daa520]“I am-”[/color] Blake paused taking one last look around the restaurant before he finished his sentence. [color=#daa520]“I am Thor.”[/color] The words hung between them for a few moments as Barbara stared at him, her expression stoic and gaze unblinking before she suddenly spoke.

[color=#4682b4]“I know.”[/color] Barbara said, her stern expression dropping as a small smirk appeared in the corner of her mouth.[color=#4682b4] “I’ve known for a few days, you weren’t exactly doing a great job at hiding it.”[/color] She added with a small sigh of relief. 

[color=#daa520]“I think a part of me always wanted you to know.”[/color] Blake admitted as Barbara resumed eating with a smile. 

[color=#4682b4]“I’m just glad you finally told me,”[/color] Barbara smiled as she unwrapped her burger. [color=#4682b4]“I mean, I’m hurt it took you this long to trust me.”[/color]

[color=#daa520]“It’s not that I didn’t trust you, Barbie.”[/color] Blake reassured, [color=#daa520]“It’s that, I don’t think I believed it myself. It didn’t feel real to me.”[/color] 

[color=#4682b4]“Certainly felt real to the rest of the world.”[/color] Barbara said with a smile. [color=#4682b4]“But to make this more awkward, I’ve got to know, did ‘Odin’ [i]Zeus [/i]your Mom? Or were you some sort of immaculate conception?”[/color]  

Blake chuckled as he leaned back in his chair.

[color=#daa520]“I’m adopted, Barbara.”[/color]

Giving her head a shake, Barbara sat up in her chair as she stared at Blake in disbelief. 

[color=#4682b4]“Wait, in all the years we’ve been together, you never once thought to mention this?”[/color] 

[color=#daa520]“I think we’ve already covered that I suck at communicating the big things.”[/color] Blake chuckled. [color=#daa520]“I don’t know how you never noticed, I’m basically the only redhead in Marville, let alone the only one in my family.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Well, that’s a bomb.”[/color] Barbara said dumbfounded. [color=#4682b4]“So you’re the real deal then? You’re not a metahuman who’s delusional because that was my next guess.”[/color]  

[color=#daa520]“I have memories of past lives, so as far as I can tell, yeah I’m the real deal.”[/color] Blake replied as Barbara grabbed his hand. 

[color=#4682b4]“Want to get out of here?”[/color] She smiled as Blake nodded before pausing.

[color=#daa520]“Wait, what about work?[/color]”

[color=#4682b4]“You’re playing hooky, why can’t I?”[/color] Barbara retorted as Blake laughed.

[color=#daa520]“I’m my own boss,”[/color] He countered as Barbara rolled her eyes. 

[color=#4682b4]“I’m going to go on ‘patrol’”[/color] She shrugged,[color=#4682b4] “And besides if by the very slim chance anything happens in the sleepy town of Marville, I have a feeling a certain God of Thunder will take care of it.”[/color]

[color=#daa520]“Lot of faith in a pagan god for a member of the local Baptist Church there, Miss Norris.”[/color] Blake teased as Barbara pulled him to his feet. 

[color=#4682b4]“I know him personally, makes it a bit easier to be a believer.”[/color] She countered as the pair rushed out the door.[/INDENT][/INDENT]   
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[INDENT][INDENT]Fresh sweat glistened on the couple’s skin as they laid back panting heavily. The light of the midday sun illuminated the bedroom as their pillows and sheets were scattered across the floor surrounding the king size bed. Propping herself up, Barbara placed her cheek to Blake’s chest as she listened to his heartbeat. It was steady as ever, no sign of exertion or exhaustion present as he smiled at her, gently tucking a long golden strand of hair behind her ear.

[color=#4682b4]“I could stay like this forever.”[/color] She said as moved his hand to her shoulder, giving her a squeeze as he looked out their bedroom window. 

[color=#daa520]“Me too,” [/color]He said longingly. Barbara could sense the hesitation in his voice as she looked up at him as Blake turned his head back towards her.

[color=#4682b4]“What is it?”[/color] 

[color=#daa520]“Odin,”[/color] Blake said, [color=#daa520]“My true father, or at least a father in another life, charged Thor with the task of protecting Earth and eight other realms.”[/color] He continued. [color=#daa520]“That’s my burden to bear now, a job that’s been thrust upon me. I never trained for it.”[/color] 

[color=#4682b4]“But from the sounds of it you have,”[/color] Barbara replied as she traced his chest with her index finger. [color=#4682b4]“You said you have the memories, you just have to remember now.”[/color]

[color=#daa520]“I suppose you’re right.”[/color] Blake sighed, [color=#daa520]“It’s just after the last little bit, I’ve begun to realize how much the world is changing and you’re the one constant I have in my life.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“I love you.”[/color] Barbara replied as Blake leaned his head down, pressing his lips to her.

[color=#daa520]“I love you too.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Blake?”[/color] Barbara asked as he looked at her questioningly. 

[color=#4682b4]“Never change.”[/color]

Squeezing Barbara tightly, the pair kissed again as Blake pulled her closer as he whispered softly into her ear.

[color=#daa520]“I promise.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT]