“I have a twin. Our parents thought it was funny to name us Summer and Winter. We’re not the look-alike kind of twins, and she’s always been … ” Summer paused, her gaze seeming to turn inward. “Better than me.” She drank some wine, frowning. “She’s with SHIELD now.”
At her tone and her facial expression, the mood sobered some. Fenrir frowned slightly. He set down his own glass and leaned slightly against the table, arms folded before him as he looked her in the eye as candidly as he was able. “Do not sell yourself so short, Summer. I doubt any can be ‘better than you’, as you say. You are intelligent, caring, and brave. As far as I have seen, you are truly one in a million on this planet. The Nine Realms would be a safer place if those in the Realm Eternal were more alike to you.” He leaned back, taking a sip of his own glass.
“I am sorry to have made you uncomfortable with my questions. That was not my intention.”
Now Summer blushed hard. “Flatterer,” she said softly. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. You’ve never even met Winter, so how can you judge, anyway? I’m just … ” another shrug, “me. Not special. SHIELD doesn’t even consider me important enough to keep an eye on.” She blew out a sigh. “Sorry, didn’t mean to get all mopey on you.”
He shook his head. “You needn’t be sorry. It is true that I have never before met your sister, though I must stand by my words. I am no liar, Summer.” He smiled, resting his chin on his entwined fingers. “I like ‘you’. The way you are.” He pursed his lips, again tossing aside the comment with his hands. “SHIELD’s concerns should matter to you not. I am not ‘kept an eye on’ either. Even by those who put me in a cave. I am a great risk to the AEsir and yet I am disregarded. Perhaps SHIELD trusts you enough that they feel they needn’t keep tabs, mm?”
“You are so sweet, Fen.” Summer shoved her chair back and circled the tiny table to hug him from the side.