{Chapter: 340 A Proposal in the Skies of Asgard}
Sif's blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, sweat glistening along her brow as she moved with practiced precision across the Asgardian training grounds. Each strike, each parry, each powerful blow was not just discipline—it was personal. She wasn't merely preparing for battle.
She was preparing for him.
William.
The man who, in her eyes, deserved to be struck down not once, but a thousand times over. He had brought ruin to Asgard, humiliated their warriors, and dared to mock their traditions. No punishment would ever be enough.
Her sword slammed into the wooden dummy with a sharp crack, its head flying off and clattering against the stone.
"Something's happened—something big!" a panicked voice called from overhead.
Sif turned swiftly, eyes narrowing as she strapped her sword to her back. Around her, warriors dropped what they were doing, flying toward the wormhole in the distance. Without hesitation, she leapt into the sky, racing through the clouds toward the disturbance. The Aether crackled in the skies. And then she saw him.
Him.
Her heart thundered—not in fear, but in fury. And something else she didn't want to name.
There he stood—William. That abominable bastard, clad in his usual confident grin, arms around a woman—Jane Foster. They looked like they were about to start a picnic. His smirk made her stomach twist in rage. How dare he stand there so casually?
"WILLIAM!" she roared, her voice cutting through the winds like a blade.
His eyes found her immediately, and the smirk only deepened. "Odin," he said lazily, turning to the King of Asgard, "didn't you ask what my purpose was for coming here? Well…"
He extended a hand with exaggerated flair. "I'm here to propose marriage."
Gasps rippled through the crowd of assembled warriors. Thor's jaw clenched in disbelief. Even Odin took a stunned half-step forward, Gungnir tightening in his grip.
"Propose marriage?!" Fandral blinked. "To whom?!"
Jane whipped her head toward him, eyes narrowing as she dug her fingers deep into his waist. "What? I was wondering why you dragged me through a glowing hole in space! You're here to propose to another woman?"
Her eyes flicked to Sif. "To her?! The scary angry one with the sword? She looks like she could punch a hole in a mountain!"
Sif's glare darkened.
"Don't be like that, Jane," William cooed, wincing as she pinched him again. "You're the star in my sky, the one who truly has my heart. You're just... a little too smart to fall for an Asgardian political marriage."
"You absolute jerk." Jane rolled her eyes, though her tone softened with reluctant affection. "Why do I love you?"
"Because I'm devastatingly charming and incredibly loyal... when I want to be." William winked.
Odin's voice boomed like thunder across the heavens. "Who are you proposing to, William?"
With no hesitation, William turned and pointed directly at Sif. "Her."
A collective cry echoed across the plaza.
"Sif?!"
The fierce warrior woman stiffened. Her eyes widened for a single second before she found her voice again—laced with venom.
"Are you out of your mind?!" she snapped.
"I might be," William replied coolly, hands raised in mock surrender. "But I'm sincere. I've come to Asgard to marry you."
"You expect me to believe this is anything but another one of your twisted games?" Sif's voice trembled—rage barely contained.
"It's not a game," William said, taking a step toward her. "I've fought gods, monsters, and worse... but there's something about you, Sif. You're strong, proud, a real woman of fire. I like fire."
Sif's mouth opened to lash out—but something in her chest twisted. He wasn't mocking her. Not entirely.
And that infuriated her even more.
"You betrayed Asgard," she growled. "You left us in ruins and now you waltz in with a smile and a girl in your arms, expecting... what? Forgiveness? Marriage?"
"Forgiveness? No. I never asked for that. But maybe... a second chance?" His eyes met hers, unusually earnest. "Or a challenge worth chasing."
"Challenge?" she scoffed, turning away to hide the spark of heat that flushed her face. "I hate you."
"I know," William said softly. "But even hate burns from the same flame that once sparked something deeper. I saw it, back then. Before the war. You looked at me differently."
"You're imagining things," she said bitterly—but her heart thudded traitorously in her chest.
Thor stepped forward, face like thunder. "This is a joke. Sif will never marry you."
"She wouldn't be the first to say no," William said, grinning. "But I never give up easily."
"We won't allow it," Fandral said firmly.
Volstagg shook his head. "It's madness. You're an enemy to Asgard!"
"I was," William said. "Maybe I still am to some. But I've changed. And if you can't see that, then maybe... she can."
Loki clapped mockingly. "I, for one, think this is brilliant. Sif, you could do worse. And Odin? Think about the drama, the political intrigue! This will be talked about for centuries."
William smirked. "Finally, someone who gets it."
"You're the worst," Jane muttered, eyes still narrowed. "But you're my worst."
He kissed her forehead gently, making her blush in spite of herself.
"William," Odin said sternly, "if you think Asgard will allow this nonsense—"
"I'm not here to ask for permission," William interrupted, voice now steel beneath the charm. "Odin, I have the Tesseract. I can go where I please, take who I please. I'm being polite now. But if you say no... I might just take her and let the realms sort out the consequences."
"You threaten Asgard?" Odin growled.
"I'm offering peace," William said, smile returning. "For now. Who knows what comes next?"
Sif stepped forward, sword drawn, eyes locked on William. "If you ever touch me without consent, I'll cut your hand off."
William chuckled. "Consent is sexy. I wouldn't dream of it. But your passion... breathtaking."
She scowled, but a flicker of emotion flashed behind her eyes.
When the surrounding Asgardian warriors heard William's bold declaration, their faces darkened with fury. Several instinctively reached for their weapons, fists clenched in indignation. Yet beneath their anger was an undeniable truth—William could follow through on his threat. His power was real. They had seen it with their own eyes.
"All-Father!" one brave warrior stepped forward, his armor stained with the marks of past battles. "Let us fight! Even if every drop of blood in Asgard must be spilled, we cannot allow this man to trample upon our pride again!"
But Odin raised a hand, silencing the crowd with a quiet authority that demanded obedience.
"No," he said firmly. "The common folk of Asgard should not be dragged into calamity for the mistakes and grudges of gods and warriors. I will not let war erupt under my reign."
His one eye locked onto William's. "You didn't come here to provoke another war, did you?"
William tilted his head slightly and shrugged with a faint smirk, his hand wrapped around Jane's waist. "I already said—I came here to propose marriage. On Earth, we have a saying: 'It's better to bury the hatchet than sharpen the blade.' Perhaps we've fought. Perhaps we've hated each other. But peace, Odin… peace is something worth considering. Reconciliation might be our best weapon right now."
"Peace?" Thor scoffed bitterly, stepping forward, thunder in his eyes. "You dare speak of peace after what you've done to Asgard? The pain, the lives lost, the chaos you unleashed—"
Several warriors grunted in agreement, their voices rising in protest.
"He must pay!"
"We cannot forgive this!"
Odin's voice cut through the rising storm like a blade. "Enough!"
All turned toward him.
"I know what he's done," Odin said, his voice laced with the weight of ages. "And I also know the cost of letting vengeance rule. Hatred only begets more pain. William," he turned back to him, "if you ever raise your hand against Asgard again… I, Odin Borson, swear to destroy you. Myself."
"Father!" Thor barked in disbelief. "Are you truly going to let him go free?"
The All-Father's expression didn't waver. "It is not weakness to avoid a pointless war. It is wisdom. This is my decree. None shall speak against it."
The warriors looked at one another, begrudgingly lowering their weapons. Memories of the last war still haunted them. The smoke, the screams, the endless night of loss—it was not a memory they wanted to repeat.
William chuckled, brushing a hand through his tousled dark hair. "Now that's the Odin I've heard stories about. A ruler with wisdom. Honestly, if you'd refused, I was ready to level half the palace. It would've been a shame."
His words reignited the warriors' fury, but Odin remained still. Unmoved.
Jane, standing beside William in a simple yet elegant dress that still bore the dust of travel, shot him a warning glare and pinched his waist hard.
"You're pushing it," she hissed quietly. "We came here for peace, not to provoke a riot."
William leaned in and kissed her temple with a rare softness, his fingers interlocking with hers. "For you, my love, I'll behave. Most of the time."
Her expression melted, even as she shook her head. "You're insufferable."
"And yet, hopelessly in love with me," he whispered.
Jane blushed, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe. Just don't ruin it."
Sif watched from the sidelines, her knuckles white around the hilt of her blade. Her eyes were locked on William—burning with hatred, yet trembling with something else. Confusion. Conflict. Pain.
Why did he always do this? Why did he always throw her off balance? His arrogance was infuriating, his attitude insufferable—but when he stood there with his roguish grin and boldness that defied even Odin, a part of her—the part she had long buried—ached with a forgotten yearning.
"Sif!" Odin's voice broke her thoughts. "This concerns you most. He is proposing to you."
Sif's mouth opened slightly. Her pulse pounded. "You're insane," she spat at William, trying to mask the storm inside her. "You humiliate me before the entire realm and now talk about marriage as if it's a jest?"
William's smile didn't falter. "I've never been more serious. Marry me, Sif. We could end this war of emotions between us. You get a powerful ally, I get a wife who can stab me when I deserve it. Win-win."
"Don't mock me!"
"Never. I've admired your strength from the moment we crossed swords. And perhaps—just perhaps—you admired mine too."
Sif's face twisted in fury. "I admired nothing."
But her voice cracked, and everyone noticed it.
Jane stepped forward then, her tone gentle but firm. "Sif… if you really hate him, I understand. But… if any part of you doesn't… you should say it. We all deserve the truth."
Sif turned her head away. "I don't need your pity, mortal."
William chuckled, but this time it was softer. "Let's not make enemies of each other. Jane is my heart, but that doesn't mean I can't form alliances. Powerful ones."
Thor had had enough. "This mockery ends now. His words are poison. He'll break us from the inside."
"Thor," Odin's tone was sharp. "Enough. William, continue."
William turned, finally addressing Odin with more gravity. "The Rainbow Bridge was destroyed. Without it, Asgard is cut off from the other realms. I've decided to use the energy of the Tesseract to rebuild it."
Odin narrowed his eye. "You would do that?"
"I already started. You'll find the foundation glowing again soon. Consider it... a token of goodwill."
Odin's expression softened slightly. "Then this, at least, is a good deed you've done for Asgard."
William tilted his head and raised his brow. "So, does that mean my marriage proposal is on the table again?"
Odin looked toward Sif, his gaze deep and unreadable. "If you marry into Asgard, you forge a bond with this realm. It may indeed be a path to lasting peace. Sif... the choice is yours."
All eyes turned to her. Her breath caught.
In that moment, her heart was torn between fury... and something far more dangerous.
Something like hope.