Tally Marks

Chapter 5 - Round One

"When is Steve going to fight?  I'm bored of watching strangers bash their heads in," Tony asked.  Bruce actually kicked him rather hard, earning a chuckle from the Grandmaster, and a stern glance from Odin. 

"Isn't Captain Rogers fighting against your champion next?" Thor queried, glancing at the Grandmaster.

"Indeed he is!  And I can't wait!  He's been tired of hiding," En Dwi Gast answered and Thor's eyebrow went up.  Odin also made a face, but the Avengers focused their attention on the arena as a drum was beaten and the gates were opened.  Captain America appeared, his mighty shield in hand and his mask pulled up.

"Asgardians!  Aliens, guests, foreigners, and all other races; may I present the Captain of America, Steve Rogers of Midgard!" the announcer declared.  There were a few quite cheers, the most notably from Tony and Clint.  "And his opponent, the lone champion for Sakaar; Loptr!"  Odin straightened up at that name and even Thor looked mildly confused.

"What's up?" Natasha asked when she saw the All-Father's and Thor's reactions.  

"Loptr is a Nordic name and how does a being of Sakaar wind up with it?" was all Thor said.  That was when the black, leather clad figure appeared, his mask pulled up over his nose.  They could not see any visible weapons on him and were confused.  Thor looked at Odin and saw that he was glaring at En Dwi Gast, who was simply grinning back. 

"We wait for the All-Father to bless this combat," the announcer said and everyone turned to the royal balcony.  Odin was still staring the Grandmaster in the eye as he lifted his hand, held it there for a few seconds, then dropped it.

Steve was not sure where the Sakaarian's weapon came from, but it lashed out at him, just barely missing his face.  "Ah, a morningstar," Thor said, identifying the type of weapon the champion had.  Everyone in the royal box was enraptured as the stranger yanked the chain back, twirled it around, stepped on the chain, and released the excess, sending the flail back at Steve.  Steve brought his shield up and the loud clang of the metal colliding rung out through the arena.  When he lowered it, the Sakaarian was charging, the handle of the morningstar was gripped in one hand, and middle of the chain in the other.  Steve threw his shield and watched as the man dropped to the ground, sliding underneath it.  When he stood up, he tried to wrap the chain around Steve's neck, but Steve widened his arms, using them to block the attempt.  The Sakaarian changed tactics, immediately twirling the chain around Steve's arms, pinioning them together.  Steve twisted around, which put his arms up over his head, and pulled with all his might.  His opponent was pulled up and over his head, but landed on his feet.  He twisted himself around, facing Steve.  The red eyes concentrated on Steve's blue ones before he cracked his forehead off the captain's.  The super soldier fell back a pace or two and the chain came loose.  

The man stepped away and threw the morningstar so that it looped around Steve's waist.  Before Steve could react, the Sakaarian used his own 'superior' strength to lift Captain America off the ground and throw him several yards.  The Avengers gasped as their captain rolled for a couple of feet before coming to a complete stop.  He landed on his back and to roll away again to avoid getting hit with the flail end of the morningstar.  However, the Sakaarian did a spin-flip that released the flail and chain again and this time, it smacked Steve in the chest sending him flying into the dirt again.  All the Avengers cried out, while Odin glanced at En Dwi Gast and saw the Grandmaster grinning.  

The Sakaarian approached and wrapped the chain around Steve's neck, lifting him off the ground and pinning him against his chest.  Steve sent his elbow flying into his side right between his ribs.  The champion of Sakaar gasped and that was the first sound Steve had heard out of him since their combat started.  Steve brought his head snapping back and he heard a dull crack as the Sakaarian's nose broke.  Steve then smashed his opposing elbow off the Sakaarian's hip.  Another grunt was heard and the fighter stepped back.  Steve turned to continue, but his fist was caught in one hand and stopped.  He could clearly see blood soaking through the mask that concealed the lower half of his face.  It was with a sickening crunch that the stranger put his nose back where it needed to be.  Steve heard the wet sound as the man tried to breathe through the thick, sopping material.  That was when he removed the mask and dropped it to the ground.  Steve's eyes widened as he saw the man for the first time.  Even though blood was still oozing out of his nose, and covered his mouth and chin, and his eyes were red, Steve knew who this was.

"Loki?!" he exclaimed.

"I know not of whom you speak of.  I am Loptr; personal champion of En Dwi Gast, the Grandmaster of Sakaar.  And I will defeat you," the man responded.  That was when a knife suddenly slid out of his sleeve, a few inches from Steve's face.  Captain America tried to step back, but Loptr had a tight grip on his hand, keeping him in place.  Steve still struggled and in the confusion, the knife was buried into his arm and he yanked himself away, falling to his knees.  Loptr kneed him in the head, knocking him all the way down.  

"Can he yield?" Natasha suddenly asked, looking at Odin.  The All-father's mouth opened and closed like a fish and he seemed stunned by her request.  

"Father!" Thor cut in.  "Can Steve Rogers yield?" 

"Yes, but it would be a black mark on his record," the All-father answered.

"As long as he lives to fight another day," was all Natasha responded before she looked to the Grandmaster.  "Captain Steve Rogers of Earth yields to Loptr, champion of Sakaar," she stated.  En Dwi Gast smirked slightly and nodded his head.  He stood up and put a whistle to his lips, blowing lightly.  Loptr had just put the chain around Steve's neck in anticipation of strangling him, but when the whistle call reached his ears, he stopped and dropped Steve to the ground.  He started to wind up the morningstar and hung it from his hip.  

"Captain Steve Rogers of Earth yields to Loptr, champion of Sakaar!" Thor declared in a loud booming voice to the confused onlookers.  Valkyrie, who was standing inside the fighter's entrance, waiting for Loptr, breathed a sigh of relief and waited for him to return.  

"Then Loptr, the champion of Sakaar, has won his first match; a stunning victory against the Captain of America," the announcer continued.  Loptr bowed to the royal balcony and walked away.  

"Well, that was entertaining," En Dwi Gast commented as he stood up, but Odin's hand came out and gripped his wrist.

"You have some explaining to do," he hissed.  The Grandmaster smiled deviously.

"All in good time, your majesty.  All in good time," he rejoined.  He walked away with a dismissive wave of his hand, and Topaz was right behind him.  Thor gave his father a look, but the King of Asgard refused to acknowledge his son.