𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐘 ☼ 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑

ONE

ONE: THOR COMES HOME

New Asgard was a vast landscape filled with many hills and enough room to fit all of who was left of the realm of eternals. In the few short months of development, civilization was building yet again, this time in Norway. Those who escaped for a second chance to live on Earth with their new king were able to create a tiny village by the water, one with docks and abandoned houses that were once home to people long ago.

Thor, son of Odin, walked into New Asgard, his long red cape flowing in the wind behind him and his gait completely guarded and full of anger. The townspeople moved out of his way because his rhythm didn't stop for anyone at this point. His thick brown eyebrows were furrowed and mouth set in an angry frown. His eyes were dark, and all he had them on was his home, not bothering to greet anyone or care about anything.

He slammed the door to his home shut, dropping Stormbreaker on the ground and taking off his armour. Since landing on Earth, Asgardians had become open to new technologies, so he had a TV, a game system, even a refrigerator. It was all so very new to them.

Thor sat down on the brown couch and stared at nothing in particular, just the blank tan wall ahead of him.

He recalled the previous events of ambushing Thanos, feeling a rush of adrenaline soaring through his veins as he chopped his stupid, purple head off—as promised. Although he finally killed him after ruining his life, he still felt incomplete.

Loki was dead, for real this time. His younger brother was a pain in the ass, the worst trickster, a great sorcerer, and sometimes loyal companion when they hated each other, Thor loved him still. Before his untimely demise, Thor felt like Loki was finally coming around. He knew Loki still had good in him, maybe he was still blindly supporting him from afar, but Loki had been changing for the better. It felt good fighting alongside his brother rather than on opposing sides.

Loki was all Thor had left in the universe, and now that he was gone, he truly felt alone. Everyone in his family was dead, and died in front of him. He didn't know it yet, but he was about to fall apart before Asgard's eyes.

A knock sounded on his wooden door and he deliberately ignored it, continuing to stare at the wall. The knock had gotten louder and Thor was agitated, getting up and swinging the door open.

Korg and Miek stood on the other side, looking at the God of Thunder in concern.

"What do you two want?"

"Hey, man. We've just come to say hello, bro," Korg said in his bubbly accent, "also, we kinda camped out at your place while you were gone, so we live here now, if that's alright with you."

Thor stepped aside and let them in, closing the door after.

"So how'd it go?"

"How'd what go? I killed Thanos correctly, like he requested. My brother is still dead, Asgard is in ruins, we're in Norway, whoever that is, half my people are gone...and I'm miserable."

It was silent as Korg and Miek looked at Thor, whose hands were on each side of his face while he stared at the ground. "You haven't lost us."

Thor stared at them for a few seconds but he didn't reply, walking into his bedroom and closing the door. He took the rest of his armour off, and tried to start the shower. His confusion grew the longer he tried turning the water on, and he was quickly getting even more frustrated because it seemed as if nothing in his life was going right.

"Pull the lever in the center," he looked up and noticed the Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, standing at the door. Her lips were spread in a tight-lipped smile, but other than that her expression was blank. "Here."

Thor adjusted the towel around his waist and watched her pull the center lever, the water flowing from the shower head above. "Thank you."

"No problem," she stood up straighter and turned towards him, "I could hear you storming in—literally—and I figured nothing went right."

"Did more people die?" he asked. Their numbers were already dwindling, he didn't need anyone else dying either.

"Fewer than I thought. Maybe a good sixty Asgardians," she replied solemnly, "we still have about two hundred or so people alive."

That really wasn't bad to Thor, knowing the most of the deaths were on the ship from Thanos and his crew. Including his brother and his best friend, Heimdall.

"Hey," Brunnhilde poked his chin to make him look at her, "keep your head up, my Lord."

He nodded, biting his lip and taking a deep breath. She left the bathroom and Thor went about his business, taking a much needed shower after a very long venture into space.

He stayed in his room all day that day. He heard Korg playing videogames and running a muck, but he didn't leave at all. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, going over what went wrong and why it went wrong. He finally got to kill Thanos, but at what cost? Everyone he loved was already gone, and he couldn't do anything to get them back.

Later that night, Thor was still awake, staring outside his open window at the full moon, bright and high in the sky, and the stars glistening around it. He needed this fresh air, but he didn't dare go outside, because he didn't want to.

He was sitting in his robe, staring out the window and watching younger Asgardian children play outside on the hills. It was very beautiful scenery, he just wished he could really enjoy it.

"Can't sleep?" Brunnhilde popped up beside his window, smiling at him.

"I wish. I haven't gotten sleep in..." he shook his head, "in months. It's become the norm for me."

"Yeah, the people have been uneasy since the attack. Well, this one. They've been restless for years."

"And it's mostly because of me," Thor muttered sadly, "my father wouldn't do this to these people."

The Valkyrie twisted her lips to the side and looked up in thought. "Have you ever spoken truthfully to someone about this?"

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Like a guide. Counsel. Some things feel better when you say it out loud. The goddesses near the east side of the village offer counsel if you want it."

"I don't think I need that—"

"I'm not asking you," she interrupted quietly, kicking a ball that rolled their way so the kids could run after it, "it's more of a suggestion, Thor. But if you don't do something soon...I'll drag you there myself."

:)