[ Rain soaks the ground where he walks. Thor remains on Midgard only long enough to present a united front to her people. He speaks to them not as their defender, but an Avenger. They could not save the world, this time — there is only one choice left to them. He speaks the words as if he has never known them before, ringing strange to his ears, but truth in each one. ]
[ Midgard is strong. She will survive. ]
[ Asgard needs her king. ]
[ It is a silent one who finds her, tucked away on a carefully hidden rock. They count their remaining people. He is a beaten warrior, returning here without Loki, Hulk, or Heimdall, but not defeated. ]
Valkyrie.
[ It is soft, purposeful. He has no illusions about what they must do or what it could cost them. (When he was a boy, he thought death in battle to be the noblest, most glorious end, but did not wish for it. And now — he yearns to have followed Loki). ]
We must send them to Earth. They will be cared for.
[ they count their remaining people, a few hundred faces staring back at them instead of a few thousand and in some ways, it almost feels surreal. it hasn't been very long since they last watched surtur set asgard alight; she watched them weep then, children clinging to their parents, friends and lovers holding each other tight while haloed in the light of the aftermath. now, she closes her eyes and sees the lifeless bodies of children that she could not save, bodies with outstretched hands and fingers grasping for loved ones that are either dead or part of the few she'd managed to push into the pods as they slipped beneath the cover of battle.
(she told herself it was the right choice, told herself that it's what he would have told her to do anyway, because asgard is nothing without its people and they've already lost too much. half of asgard is still something. half of asgard, even just one asgardian, is still worth protecting.
they will lose even more.)
but asgard needs her king. the war must continue. who's left to care for them? she thinks, but doesn't ask. ]
[ Half of Asgard is still something. One remaining subject is still something. But it is a poor show for a new king, to not only have lost the golden city but to hold court here, with tired faces, a few iron-willed, but little hope to be had among them. Had the universe not drunk its fill of Asgard's grief? It has cut them too swiftly, it asks for too much blood. ]
[ Where on Earth. He would have chosen a place, if they'd had time. A place with green fields and an open sky, where their people would be few but could stand with their pride, reach out to their neighbours. ]
Wherever will have us.
[ He will not beg, but Wakanda needs no more mouths to feed, no more chaos to deal with. They will go where they can, ease what pain they must. Sorrow shared is sorrow divided. ]
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IW spoilers.
[ Midgard is strong. She will survive. ]
[ Asgard needs her king. ]
[ It is a silent one who finds her, tucked away on a carefully hidden rock. They count their remaining people. He is a beaten warrior, returning here without Loki, Hulk, or Heimdall, but not defeated. ]
Valkyrie.
[ It is soft, purposeful. He has no illusions about what they must do or what it could cost them. (When he was a boy, he thought death in battle to be the noblest, most glorious end, but did not wish for it. And now — he yearns to have followed Loki). ]
We must send them to Earth. They will be cared for.
no subject
(she told herself it was the right choice, told herself that it's what he would have told her to do anyway, because asgard is nothing without its people and they've already lost too much. half of asgard is still something. half of asgard, even just one asgardian, is still worth protecting.
they will lose even more.)
but asgard needs her king. the war must continue. who's left to care for them? she thinks, but doesn't ask. ]
Where on Earth?
no subject
[ Where on Earth. He would have chosen a place, if they'd had time. A place with green fields and an open sky, where their people would be few but could stand with their pride, reach out to their neighbours. ]
Wherever will have us.
[ He will not beg, but Wakanda needs no more mouths to feed, no more chaos to deal with. They will go where they can, ease what pain they must. Sorrow shared is sorrow divided. ]