"The only thing that's permanent in life is impermanence."
Thor Odinson arrives back to New Asgard after decapitating Thanos in the privacy of his own home. He finds himself spiraling down a landslide of depression due to his younger brother's grues...
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TWENTY SIX: BIG-BONED
Thor stared in the bathroom mirror, watching his wife plug hair clippers into the outlet and press the power button. He gulped, breathing through his nose and leaning away as she brought the clippers closer to his face.
"God, no."
"Thor—"
"How short are we cutting?" he asked, pushing her hands away.
"Short enough to where Maggie won't treat it like a jungle gym," Sòl replied in amusement, "I know that hurts."
"Alright, just do it," he put his hands in his lap and squinted at himself in the mirror, "I'm good."
"Are you sure—"
"Hi!" Magnolia sat in the bathtub, watching and wondering why the king and queen were not pay attention to her. She only knew a few words, and depending on the context, they all meant just about the same thing. 'Hi' was to get attention, 'Bye' was when she was being dramatic and wanted to be left alone, and 'no' meant all of that stuff and then some. Maggie hated hearing no but she loved saying it.
"Okay, just before she throws a tantrum—"
"No!" she was drooling all over her mouth and chin, her little brown face was scrunched in annoyance, and her nose and cheeks were inflamed with rage.
"I'm right here, Noli," Thor turned to her, which made her immediately smile, "you are a remarkable actress," he picked her up and sat her in his lap, "there, you can see what hell your mother is doing to me."
"You asked me," Sòl retorted, turning the clippers on again. Maggie stared while her mother made the first cut, an inch or two from his chin and jaw. "How's that?"
"That's fine," he nodded, biting his lip as Sòl kept cutting and Maggie began playing with all the fallen hair. Sòl was very meticulous as she groomed, her eyes trained on his beard as she slowly moved the clippers along his face.
"Ooh," Maggie cooed, patting his face and smiling, "ooh."
"Thank you, dear," he smiled right when Sòl pulled away, staring at his new look, "thank you, honey."
"You're welcome," she threw all of his hair in the trash and unplugged the clippers, "so much better."
"Will you kiss me now?" he begged.
"No," she joked, kissing him anyway, then walking out.
"Will you come with Noli and I outside?" he called out, leaving the bathroom with his baby on his hip and following the queen to the kitchen.
"No," she repeated, washing her hands in the sink, "you wanna know why?"
"Oh, do tell," Thor prompted as he sat Maggie on the counter and held her close. She was sucking her thumb and staring aimlessly at herself in the mirror on the wall.
