A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

TWENTY FOUR

     Thor suddenly lets out a shrilling scream. He looks around the room to see strangely dressed people staring at him. He looks down to see that he is strapped in a chair and as he looks to his right, he spots Astrid standing next to him with handcuffs.

"Thor, you okay?" Astrid places and hand on his shoulder after startling her with his scream. Thor then looks around again confused of his surroundings.

"Yeah, I'm- wait, where's your chair?"

"They didn't give me a chair." To be honest she felt like she could've done with a chair. She was so tired after today.

"They're wonderful." A voice interrupted. They look forward bringing their attention to the grandmaster. "A he and a she?"

"Yes, a he and a she." The scrapper points to either one confirming the genders.

"Yeah. I love when you come to visit 142, you bring me the best stuff." The grandmaster is overly excited at the sight in front of him. It made Astrid's skin crawl. She feels like a new toy of his. The grandmaster gets talking to Topaz and the scrapper pulling his attention away from Thor and Astrid for a minute.

"Do you have any idea on what's going on?" Thor whispers to Astrid also freaked out at the situation.

"Nope not a clue. We got separated when we fell out the Bifrost, and the next thing I knew, you were unconscious and being dragged away. I couldn't just let her take you so I offered to let her take me in too." Besides, she didn't want to stay in a strange place on her own.

"Why would you do that? You could have easily fought her."

"No, I couldn't..." Thor looks up at her confused. "My powers... they aren't working."

"Wha-"

"What have you brought today? Tell me." They draw their attention back to the grandmaster.

"A contender." The scrapper gestures to Thor.

"A what?"

"And what of the she?" The grandmaster then gestures to Astrid interested to know of what good she is to him.

"Well..." the scrapper walks towards Astrid then turns to face the grandmaster with one hand on her shoulder and the other on her stomach. "She's a little fragile at the moment so is in no fit state to fight."

"Astrid, what does she mean fragile?" Thor is confused. The grandmaster however understands what the scrapper is implying.

"That's a shame. Could've been fun watching her fight." The grandmaster is gutted but soon brushes it off excited for his new contender.

"I need to go closer. I want a closer look at this. Can you take us closer?" The Grandmaster advances on Thor, examining him closely. After taking a good look, the scrapper tells him how much she wants for Thor.

"Just wait a damn minute. I'm not for sale!" Using all his might, Thor breaks out of his shackles, but S142 zaps him again.

"Do you have to do that to him?" Astrid hated seeing Thor hurt. The scrapper just smirked at her, amused with the control she had over the two. The grandmaster then tells Topaz to pay her.

"You'll pay for this."

"No, I got paid for this."

"Hang on!" As S142 goes to walk out the door, she is stopped once again by the grandmaster. "Take this fragile girl with you, make her feel at home, treat her like one of us."

"Wait I don't think I should-" before Astrid could finish, she is dragged out by the scrapper and Thor's calls for Astrid become distant.

~

After Astrid was dragged out, her handcuffs were removed and she was given a quick tour. She could tell the scrapper couldn't be bothered with her.

"Well that's it I guess, I've got stuff to do so... have fun." Before Astrid could ask questions she was suddenly alone again. Alone and scared. But the room she was in was bright and full of joy. From across the room, she spots Thor and... Loki.

~

"Loki!" Loki hustles over to Thor, shushing him.

"You're alive?" Loki is shocked to see Thor and has a quick look around for Astrid but currently cannot see her.

"Yes, of course I'm alive."

"What of Astrid? What are you doing here?"

"Astrid is here somewhere. I was with her not long ago. What do you mean, what am I doing? I'm stuck in this stupid chair. Where's your chair?"

"I didn't get a chair."

"Get me out of this one."

"I can't."

"What?"

"I've made friends with this man. He's called the Grandmaster."

"Oh, he's crazy!" Thor's flashback on the grandmaster makes him cringe.

"I've gained his favor.. The Bifrost brought me out here weeks ago."

"Weeks ago? I just got here." Suddenly Grandmaster and Topaz pops up next to them.

"What are you whispering about?" Both Thor and Loki react, startled. "Time works real different around these parts. On any other world, I'd be like, millions of years old. But here on Sakaar..." The Grandmaster beholds himself. Then turns to Loki. A truly uncomfortable silence. "In any case, you know this... You call yourself Lord of Thunder?"

"God of Thunder. Tell him." Thor smiles to Loki, hoping to get out of this situation.

"I've never met this man in my life." Loki couldn't let Thor ruin his plan.

"He's my brother." Thor raises his voice obviously aggravated.

"Adopted."

"Loki!" The four of them look to see Astrid running to Loki. He's relieved to see her and prepares to welcome her into his arms. She jumps up at him and he catches her. The force of the jump causes Loki to stumble back a few steps but he holds her as if he would never let go.

"I've missed you." She whispers into his neck.

"I missed you too, my Princess." He replies pulling her closer.

"Tell you what..." the grandmaster yet again, ruins the moment and butts in on their conversation. "Seeing that you two lovebirds have some catching up to do. Why don't you two go chill out for the afternoon. If you know what I mean." The grandmaster jokingly jabs Thor with his elbow as Thor is apparently grossed out but what he's implying. Astrid hides her face in Loki's chest embarrassed as Loki rolls his eyes.

"Okay no, but in all seriousness. You two go relax before you join us later to watch the battle of the contenders. And you Lord of Thunder come this way."

"It's God!" Thor's chair starts following the grandmaster as Loki and Astrid are left standing there in the middle of the room. "Loki!"

"Will he be okay?" Astrid asks concerned for Thor.

"He'll be fine. Meanwhile, we should get you to lie down. You look tired."

"Yes well there's something I've been meaning to tell you."