till the end of the line

49 A Family

I shared a look with Thor as we both turned back to the man.

"I preside over a little harlequinade called the Contest of Champions. People come from far and wide to unwillingly participate in it. And you, my friends, might just be part of the new cast. What do you say to that."

Thor shook his head, "We're not friends, and we don't give a shit about your games! We're going back to Asgard."

Amused, the Grandmaster chuckled, "Ass-gard?"

He chuckled and started playing more music as I groaned and leaned against Thor again. I looked around the room and then I saw Loki.

Elbowing Thor, he followed my gaze and smiled, "Loki? Loki! Over here!"

Loki noticed us and shifted a bit before excusing himself from his group. He walked over slowly and faced us as Thor smiled, "Loki!"

"Shh! What? You're alive?"

Loki's voice was hushed to a whisper as Thor nodded, "Yes, we're alive."

"What are you doing here?"

"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."

I rolled my eyes and groaned, "Can I get my own chair?"

Thor nodded and turned back to Loki, "Get us out."

"I can't."

"What?"

Loki peered around the room, still whispering as he spoke, "I've made friends with this man. He's called the Grandmaster."

I shook my head, "Nope, that man is a psycho."

"I've gained his favor... The Bi-Frost brought us out here weeks ago."

"Weeks ago?" "You and who?"

Thor shook his head again, "But we just got here."

I rolled my eyes again and elbowed Thor, shutting him up as I turned to Loki, "You and who?"

"Me and Lina, of course. She's quite sweet actually."

"What are you whispering about?"

We all turned, startled as the Grandmaster stood behind us, "Time works real different around these parts. On any other world, I'd be like, millions of years old. But here on Sakaar..."

He motioned to himself and sighed of satisfaction before turning to Loki, "In any case, you know these... you call yourself the Lord of Thunder and Kitty?"

"God of Thunder." "Katerina."

Thor then turned to Loki, "Tell him."

"I've never met this man in my life."

"He's my brother."

Loki held an embarrassed face before shaking his head, "Adopted."

"And her?"

"She's-"

"Father! There you are!"

I turned my head to see Lina walking up to Loki. I furrowed my brows at the name she used before she turned to me, "Mom!"

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I smiled, "Lina! Love, hi!"

"She's your daughter?"

I nodded towards the Grandmaster who then turned to Loki, "So she's your wife then?"

"What?"

The Grandmaster turned to me and then smiled, "When Loki turned up, he came with his daughter. And if you're her mother, you're his wife. Am I correct?"