The Broken Bridge – Asgard
The roar of the Bifrost was gone. The screaming of the dragons had faded. All that remained was the sound of the cosmic ocean churning beneath the jagged, broken edge of the Rainbow Bridge.
Arthur walked slowly along the shattered bridge, heading back toward the palace, his hands in his pockets. The nanite suit had retracted into his bracelet, leaving him in his intact clothes beneath.
He wasn't looking at the golden spires ahead. He was looking inward, replaying the fight in his mind.
On paper, it looked like an easy battle. He had dismantled the King of the Frost Giants, a being who had waged war against Prime Odin, in less than twenty minutes. He had stripped Laufey of his limbs, humiliated him, and erased him from existence with almost casual efficiency.
But Arthur felt no satisfaction. No arrogance.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the diminished reserves of magic in his core. The battle had cost far more than appearances suggested.
The Fiendfyre. The Fiendthunder. Merging them into that combined dragon, then pushing it further into that final supernova, each technique had carved deep gouges into his reserves. Nearly a half of his power, gone.
And he hadn't even fought Laufey at full strength.
Gungnir's blast from Loki had weakened the Frost Giant before the battle even began. Then Arthur himself had exploited the Bifrost distraction for a sneak attack, severing Laufey's arm. Those two moments had tilted the scales decisively in his favor.
Without them? His trump cards would have been forced into play. Techniques he preferred to keep hidden for truly dangerous opponents, not someone like Laufey.
So no, there was no room for arrogance.
The outcome, however, had never truly been in doubt. Like all his battles, Arthur held one factor that made him nearly untouchable.
Space.
His spatial abilities, the portals and the Apparition, had rendered him invincible in that fight. Every time Laufey pressed an advantage, Arthur simply... wasn't there anymore. Every time the Frost Giant launched a devastating attack, Arthur redirected it through a portal or teleported to safety.
He had been able to test his abilities calmly, fight at his own pace and on his own terms, only because escape was always an option.
If the Frost Giant King could have restricted his movement, sealed the space around them, prevented Apparition, disrupted his portals, the fight would have been very different. Arthur would have been forced to tank those devastating blows. Would have been forced to match Laufey's raw power head-on.
And in a straight contest of physical strength against a nine-foot Frost Giant with three thousand years of combat experience?
Arthur would have lost.
Spatial abilities were his greatest advantage. And while beings capable of restricting space were rare, they existed. Odin had methods to lock down dimensions. Other gods and cosmic entities would possess their own countermeasures.
Arthur exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his shoulders.
He still had cards he hadn't played. The Infinity Stones remained largely untapped—he'd barely scratched the surface of their potential. And beyond even those...
He had his trump card.
So perhaps he was being too harsh with himself. But it was always good to understand one's strengths and weaknesses with perfect clarity. Overconfidence killed more warriors than any enemy ever had.
"Arthur Hayes."
Arthur turned.
Odin Allfather stood behind him, Gungnir restored to his grip. The King of Asgard looked... old. Tired. The Odinsleep had restored some of his strength, but Arthur could see the weight of ages pressing down upon those shoulders.
Or perhaps it was Loki's betrayal that bowed him. Some wounds couldn't be healed by sleep.
Thor walked beside his father. The God of Thunder looked hollowed out, his eyes red-rimmed and fixed on the abyss where the bridge used to be.
"Allfather," Arthur inclined his head respectfully. "Thor."
"You left without a word," Thor said, his voice thick with emotion. He didn't sound angry, just weary.
"I thought you needed a moment," Arthur said gently. "After everything these past days. I didn't want to intrude."
Thor looked down at the gold beneath his boots. "Loki…"
"Why so gloomy?" Arthur asked. "Do you truly believe your brother is gone?"
Thor looked up, confusion flickering across his features.
"Thor," Arthur said, stepping closer. "Your brother is a master of magic, illusion, and survival. The God of Mischief doesn't die from a fall. And that void down there?" He gestured to the swirling nebula beneath the broken bridge. "It isn't a grave. There are pathways between realms, wormholes connecting distant corners of the universe."
He placed a hand on Thor's shoulder.
"Don't write his obituary just yet. He's likely just lost somewhere in the cosmos. It might take him a while, but he'll find a way to land on his feet." Arthur continued.
A flicker of hope sparked in Thor's chest. It was a small thing, but it was enough to straighten his spine.
"You believe he lives?"
"I believe Loki is far too spiteful to die," Arthur said with a slight smirk. "He wouldn't give you the satisfaction of mourning him properly."
Thor exhaled, a long, shuddering breath. "Thank you, my friend. For the hope. And for the aid you rendered this day. You fought magnificently."
"I had a worthy opponent," Arthur said simply. "Laufey was strong."
Thor shook his head slowly. "You say that as if it were nothing. As if defeating the King of Jotunheim, a being who challenged my father for millennia, was a simple task."
"It wasn't simple. But he had no counters against my particular abilities."
"You sell yourself short."
The voice was Odin's.
Arthur turned to find the Allfather watching him with his single eye - piercing, evaluating, seeing far more than any mortal gaze should.
"Even with counters," Odin continued, his voice carrying the weight of hard-won wisdom, "Laufey would have fallen. I observed your battle, Arthur Hayes. Your mastery of the spatial arts provided an advantage, yes, but that was not the sole reason for your victory."
He stepped closer, Gungnir tapping against the golden bridge.
"You are too versatile. Fire, lightning, physical combat, dimensional manipulation, strategic thinking. You attacked from every angle, adapted to every situation. Laufey could not have prepared for an enemy who fights as you do. Few could."
Arthur blinked, genuinely surprised by the assessment. "I'm honored by the praise, Allfather."
"It is not flattery. It is observation." Odin began walking along the broken bridge, gesturing for Arthur and Thor to follow. "I have lived for thousands of years. I have watched warriors rise and fall, have seen legends born and forgotten. I know skill when I see it."
He paused, turning to regard Arthur fully.
"To reach such heights at your age... you are truly extraordinary, Arthur Hayes."
The Allfather inclined his head, a gesture of respect that Arthur suspected was rarely given.
"You have done Asgard a great service this day. You defended my realm when you owed us nothing. For that, you have the gratitude of the House of Odin."
"It was nothing," Arthur said, waving a hand dismissively. "Loki would have killed Laufey eventually, that was his plan all along. And Thor would have handled everything else regardless of my involvement. I just... helped speed things along."
"Helped?" Thor frowned. "Arthur, we only reached Asgard because of you. Without your portal, I would still be stranded on Midgard while my father died and my brother destroyed a realm."
"Who knows?" Arthur shrugged. "Maybe Heimdall would have found a way. He seemed resourceful."
"Heimdall was fighting for his life when we arrived," Thor pointed out flatly. "He could barely draw breath, let alone operate the Bifrost."
"Well—"
"Do not diminish your accomplishments."
Odin's voice carried a hint of reproach that silenced Arthur mid-sentence.
"False modesty is as distasteful as arrogance. You saved my life. You defeated an ancient enemy of Asgard. You enabled my son to return home when all seemed lost." His single eye bore into Arthur with uncomfortable intensity. "Asgard owes you a debt. Name your reward."
"I don't need a reward," Arthur said carefully. "The opportunity to battle someone like Laufey and test my abilities was reward enough. And seeing Asgard, widening my understanding of the cosmos..." He gestured at the golden spires rising in the distance, the cosmic sky swirling overhead with colors that had no names in any Earth language. "This place is incredible. Simply being here is a gift."
"The House of Odin always pays its debts." The Allfather's voice was iron. "We do not leave obligations unfulfilled. It invites weakness. Name your reward, Arthur Hayes. Something worthy of the service you have rendered."
Arthur studied Odin's face. The old king meant it.
'He wants me to ask for something so he can wipe the slate clean. Fair enough.'
"I've always been fascinated by magic," Arthur said slowly, choosing his words with care. "Earth has its traditions, but they're limited by our relatively short history. Asgard, on the other hand, has accumulated magical knowledge across tens of thousands of years. Techniques, theories, histories that don't exist anywhere else in the Nine Realms."
He met Odin's eye directly.
"If it's not too presumptuous... I would request access to Asgard's magical archives. The opportunity to study your realm's sorcery."
"A dangerous request," Odin mused, stroking his beard
"But a worthy one. Very well. You shall be granted access to Asgard's general archives. A scholar will be assigned to guide you through our collection and answer your questions." He paused. "The forbidden sections will remain sealed, there are secrets that must never leave these halls. But there is much to learn even in the open stacks. Centuries of study, if you are thorough."
"Thank you, Allfather." Arthur inclined his head respectfully. "I won't abuse the privilege."
"See that you don't."
Thor clapped Arthur on the back with enough force to stagger him. "You are full of surprises, my friend! Tell me. I must ask. You possess power that rivals the gods themselves. Why do you train so relentlessly? Why do you seek ever greater strength?"
Arthur smiled slightly. "There's no end to learning, Thor. And there's always a bigger fish."
"A bigger fish?"
"An expression from my world. It means no matter how powerful you become, there's always someone or something more powerful out there." Arthur's expression grew serious. "I want to be stronger than them. Strong enough that my destiny remains under my own control."
Thor frowned, processing this. "Who are these enemies you fear? What threatens you so?"
"It's not about specific enemies." Arthur turned to look out at the cosmos. "I simply want to live on my own terms. Make my own choices. Protect what matters to me."
He paused, his voice dropping.
"I've heard of beings in this universe who consume entire planets. Entities that exist on scales we can barely comprehend. Beings who judge civilizations and snuff them out without any consideration for the billions of lives on those worlds."
"You know of them?" Odin's voice was low, sharp with sudden interest.
"Yes." Arthur met the Allfather's gaze. "I know why you created the Destroyer. I know the threats you've spent millennia preparing for. And I know that someday, I might cross paths with those same forces." His jaw tightened. "When that day comes, I refuse to be at their mercy."
He turned to face both Thor and Odin fully.
"I have a family. A wife. Children. People I love more than anything. When something threatens them, I need to be strong enough to stop it. Not 'probably strong enough.' Not 'hopefully strong enough.' Actually strong enough. With absolute certainty."
Thor was silent for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"I understand," he said quietly. "When I was banished to Midgard, I learned many things. I learned humility. I learned that true strength is not measured by the battles you win, but by what you choose to protect. By what you are willing to sacrifice."
He met Arthur's eyes.
"You have taught me another lesson today. To never stop growing. Never stop becoming stronger. To protect my family, my realm, I must continue to improve." A smile crossed his face. "Thank you, my friend."
Odin watched the exchange in silence, something unreadable passing behind his single eye. Pride, perhaps. Or simply the recognition that his son had grown more in these past few days than he had in centuries.
They walked together for a moment, approaching the jagged end of the broken bridge. The remnants of the Bifrost's energy still crackled and sparked in the void below, rainbow light fragmenting into dying embers.
Thor's gaze drifted outward, toward the stars. Toward the distant point where Earth would be, invisible among the billions of lights.
Arthur noticed.
"Who are you looking for?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Thor startled slightly. "What? No one. Nothing."
"Really?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Not a certain astrophysicist who might be waiting for you back on Midgard?"
"I... that is not..." Thor's face reddened beneath his beard. "It is not important now. The Bifrost is destroyed. I am needed here in Asgard."
"I'll be making frequent trips between Midgard and Asgard now that your father has granted me access to the archives. I'll be spending considerable time here studying." Arthur shrugged casually. "You could simply accompany me on my return journeys. Visit when your duties permit."
Thor looked torn. His eyes flickered to his father, seeking... what? Permission? Approval?
Odin's expression revealed nothing. The Allfather watched the exchange with his single eye, his thoughts completely unreadable. Did he approve of Thor's attachment to a mortal woman? Disapprove? Consider it irrelevant?
Arthur couldn't tell.
After a long moment of silence, Odin simply turned and began walking back toward the palace. Gungnir tapped against the golden bridge with each step, the sound echoing across the broken span.
He said nothing.
Thor's face split into a grin. His father hadn't said no. In Asgardian terms, that was practically enthusiastic encouragement.
"Thank you, my friend."
"Don't mention it." Arthur was already forming a portal in his mind. "I'm heading home now. Do you want to come?"
Thor hesitated. "But... we should celebrate. After a victory such as this, there is always a feast. It is tradition."
"I disappeared from Earth pretty suddenly," Arthur said. "My family will be worried. I need to let them know I'm safe and tell them what happened. After that, I'll return quickly to get started with the archives."
"Ah." Thor nodded in understanding. "Family comes first."
"So? Do you want to come? See Jane? Explain things to her in person?"
Thor's grin returned, even wider than before. "Yes. Yes, I would like that very much. The feast can wait."
Arthur raised his hand. Golden sparks began to swirl, forming into the familiar ring of a portal. Through the opening, the New Mexico desert was visible.
"Allfather," Arthur called out. Odin had stopped several yards away, his back still turned. "Thank you for your hospitality. I'll return soon to begin my studies."
Odin turned his head slightly, just enough for his single eye to catch Arthur's gaze.
"See that you do, Arthur Hayes. The archives await."
Then he continued walking, disappearing into the golden halls of the palace.
Arthur and Thor exchanged a glance.
"Your father is an interesting man," Arthur said.
"He is many things," Thor replied. "Interesting is certainly one of them."
They stepped through the portal together, leaving Asgard behind.
The golden realm faded, replaced by the warm night air of Earth.
Somewhere out there, Loki drifted through the void between worlds.
Lost, angry, and very much alive.
Somewhere out there, a purple titan sat on a throne of floating stone, waiting.
But those were problems for another day.