"Tch."
At the sound of his adoptive father's voice, Lothar finally loosened his arm, giving the nearly suffocated Ebony Maw room to breathe.
"Lothar! Are you insane?!"
Coughing violently, Ebony Maw looked at Lothar in utter disbelief.
All he did was mock that lowly Chitauri—someone who had no standing among them—and Lothar attacked him over that???
Was this really the Lothar he knew??
"Shut up."
In a foul mood, Lothar shot Ebony Maw a chilling glare. The icy sharpness in his eyes made Ebony Maw instinctively clench his fists.
Since rising to the position of Black Order under Thanos, no one, save perhaps for Corvus Glaive, had dared to give him such attitude—let alone Lothar, and all for a nobody Chitauri...
"Ebony Maw, change course. Set a heading for Titan," Thanos commanded.
Suppressing his anger, Ebony Maw rose stiffly and nodded in silent compliance.
Lothar leaned silently against a pillar, idly toying with the energy orb in his hand, allowing the small orange cat on his shoulder to bat at it playfully.
Watching them both in silence, Thanos altered the ship's course. The massive starship veered toward what was once his home—Titan.
The journey passed in utter, almost eerie silence.
...
Titan — once the cradle of the Eternal Titans.
The planet that had once flourished with unimaginable beauty was now nothing but desolation. The great catastrophe that swept across its surface had obliterated this advanced civilization in an instant.
Lothar disembarked from the warship, following silently behind his adoptive father, Thanos, as they wandered across the barren landscape. The fiery sunset cast a deep crimson glow across Lothar's face.
"Lothar, did you know... once, I had friends too?"
"Right here, on this very planet."
They walked for an indeterminate time, until the towering shadow of the starship had long since vanished from sight. Only then did Thanos stop, removing his helmet and holding it casually in one hand as he sat down upon a crumbling hillock.
"Father?"
Perched on Lothar's shoulder, the orange cat twitched its ears as Lothar blinked in confusion.
How could he possibly know anything about such distant times?
Thanos chuckled softly, patting the ground beside him in invitation.
"Titan was once a magnificent world. But those who lived here... they were not so beautiful.
"Quite the opposite—most were hideous inside.
"When I was born, they deemed me a monster.
"They never said it aloud... but I knew.
"In their hearts, they cursed me, feared me.
"They were terrified that a mutation like me would bring ruin to our people.
"And yet, even then, there were a few who chose to believe in me. To support me.
"In time, I became one of the most learned—and one of the most powerful—among the Titans."
"And then... they died?"
Lothar, already guessing where the story was going, asked quietly.
"Yes. They died."
Thanos gazed into the blazing horizon, his eyes reflecting memories of a much younger self.
"Because of me."
What exactly happened, Thanos didn't say, and Lothar didn't press him. He simply sat quietly by his father's side, watching the sun sink into the ruins of Titan.
The orange cat, having finished nibbling the energy orb, licked its lips and scrambled up to Lothar's head, kneading his hair into a comfy nest. Mimicking Lothar, it stared solemnly into the distance, bathed in the crimson light.
"There was a time," Thanos said after a long silence, "when I, too, was consumed by rage."
Lothar remained silent, listening.
"Anger grants you tremendous strength. But believe me—anger can just as easily strip you of reason."
"I took many wrong paths, Lothar. And for each mistake, I paid a price steep enough to scar my soul."
"I don't want you to repeat my mistakes—drifting further and further under the sway of rage until only pain and regret remain."
"You know... very little surprises me anymore.
"But today, you did."
"And I hope this surprise isn't fleeting.
"Do you understand?"
Under the fading sun, Lothar nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"You have a major flaw," Thanos said, finally tearing his gaze from Lothar and staring off into the endless skyline.
"You are too ruled by emotion."
"You lose your temper over trifling things during missions, let petty insults shatter your ability to think calmly."
"Until now, your sheer strength has masked this weakness."
"But today, I want you to learn a lesson."
"I'm not asking you to abandon emotion—
"I'm asking you to master it."
"Let your emotions drive your power's growth, Lothar.
"Don't become a puppet to them."
"I understand," Lothar echoed, nodding again like a machine.
Thanos smiled faintly and rose to his feet, cradling his helmet under one arm as he gazed across the ruined plains of Titan.
"Woz's backup data is still stored in the Black Quadrant.
"When we return, build him a new body."
At those words, Lothar bolted upright, a rare gleam of astonished joy flashing across his face. "Father?!"
"Think carefully on what I've told you, Lothar.
"I look forward to the day you surprise me again."
Turning, Thanos placed a heavy, reassuring hand on Lothar's shoulder—just like he had when Lothar was a boy.
"Father... what about The Other's core data?"
"My son," Thanos said, voice low but firm,
"In this universe, not every wish can be granted."
"...I see. I understand."
Returning from Titan to the flagship, Lothar masked his emotions once more, reverting to the cold, stoic figure he always had been.
As Lothar walked past, Ebony Maw—occupied with operational tasks—didn't even glance at him. Instead, he approached Thanos directly.
"Lord Thanos, we have news of Corvus Glaive."
...
Asgard — Royal Palace.
Soaking in a warm pool to wash away her inner fatigue, Hela twirled a vial of glowing green nutrient fluid between her fingers, her eyes closed.
In her mind replayed the vivid memory of Lothar, golden hair blazing, beating Malekith senseless in the skies above Svartalfheim.
"You can't beat me. You don't understand."
"I am a Saiyan—a Super Saiyan beyond Saiyans!"
The image of his wild golden hair filled Hela with such fury that she crushed the vial in her hand.
An Asgardian woman never admits defeat.
She would have her revenge.
She would slam that arrogant bastard against a palace pillar and choke him out—and reclaim her dignity!
It would take time. But it would happen.
SPLASH!
Bathed in a swirl of milky-white mist, Hela emerged from the pool, her bare body radiating fierce energy.
A sleek black battle suit, woven from dark magic, clung automatically to her form, masking her alabaster skin.
Yet, the tear in the suit at her thigh—ripped during her humiliating defeat—remained unrepaired.
Because that wound was a mark of shame she would never erase... not until she either ripped Lothar's clothing in victory herself—or grew powerful enough to tear it from him.
Only then would she mend her own armor.
"Princess Hela, His Majesty requests your presence," a waiting handmaiden bowed respectfully.
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