Heimdall wouldn't meet Thor's eye.
Heimdall had never not told him something before. They'd always been honest with each other.
"Where are they staying?"
Heimdall rotated his stein. "I believe they are staying here."
"Here?"
"In the apartments upstairs."
"Hello, Odinson." Frigg set a beer in front of Thor.
He scanned for Elle and found her serving another table.
"Hello, mother." Thor picked up the beer and swigged it. Though she wasn't biologically his mother, Frigg had taken him in as a baby, treating him like one of her own, and had always raised him as such. Just like all the other children of Odin that hadn’t been hers by birth.
She ran her fingers through his hair. "You're letting it grow again?"
He shrugged. "Not as long as it used to be."
She smiled. "I liked it long."
"Are you giving shelter to Elle and her friend Val?"
She planted a smile on her face and blinked innocently. "If you are asking if they are renting rooms from me and working for me, then yes."
Thor growled. "That's not what I mean."
Frigg patted him on the head. "Well, that's what I mean, son."
It was common knowledge within their family that Frigg had an open-door policy for helping those who wanted to relocate to Midgard or to their area of Helheim. It was how they'd all gotten there in the first place. Frigg had helped relocate hundreds of people over the years. But somehow this time it felt different.
Thor’s gaze followed Elle from table to table.
"If you don't stop eyeing my help, I won't be able to find anyone to work here," Frigg teased.
"What can you tell me about her?"
Frigg chuckled. "Oh no. I'm done playing matchmaker for my children."
"Wasn't it you who made a point of nagging me to go to the masquerade last night? You know the party you throw every month, specifically to help people find love."
Frigg’s mouth fell open in mock outrage. "Nag? I never nag, Thor. I simply suggest things. Multiple times if necessary."
Thor cocked an eyebrow at her.
"If you want to understand Elle, talk to her," said Frigg. “Maybe not while she is working, though. You make her unable to concentrate, and I don’t want all of my mugs broken by the end of the day.”
"I want to talk to her, but her friend doesn’t seem to like me too much."
Heimdall chuckled. “That must be new for you. A woman not liking you.”
Thor flipped off Heimdall, who laughed harder.
Frigg sighed. "Elle... has been through a lot. She's had a hard life. Val is just protective of her. If what you are looking for is some fun, please, Thor, for her sake, pick someone else. Anyone else."
Frigg’s words stung more than he wanted to admit. "How long has it been since you've seen me want to have fun with a woman?"
