Midgard.Not the grand halls of Valhalla.Not the shining summit of Olympus.
No — Midgard.And not just anywhere on Midgard — this dingy apartment building in the middle of some forgettable city.
Loki appeared in an empty back alley with a faint green shimmer, tugging his cloak into place as he followed the subtle trail of divine energy through the neighborhood.
He could feel it.That stupid brother of his had been here — and recently.
A smashed roof.Splinters and thunderclaps.The scent of mortal beer and panic.
"Charming," Loki murmured, lips quirking as he followed the trail up a cracked staircase until he stood before a plain, battered door.
He didn't even need magic to know who was inside.
And inside that apartment?
Pure, unfiltered chaos.
Dove was pacing, rubbing his face like a man who'd just been told that bills were going up forever.
Thor was lounging comfortably on the couch as if he hadn't just shattered this guy's life.
And then —
BZZZT. BZZZZZT. BZZZZZZT.The doorbell rang, loud and long, like someone leaning on it.
Both Dove and Thor groaned at the same time.
"Oh, for crying out loud," Dove snapped. "That's gotta be the landlord again — can this day get any worse?"
And Thor — already on his feet — grumbled, "Bah, the mortal is persistent."
He marched to the door without another thought and yanked it open.
And there stood Loki.Tall, lean, and dressed in green and gold — one brow arched like he'd just caught a thief red-handed.
"Brother," Loki greeted with a wicked grin.
Thor blinked.Loki smirked.
And Dove?He just stared past Thor's shoulder like this was some sort of nightmare that kept upgrading.
"You," Thor finally rumbled, eyes narrowing."You followed me."
Loki laughed — light and sharp as broken glass."You say that like it was difficult," he replied breezily, then leaned past Thor to peer into the apartment.
And Loki's gaze immediately locked onto Dove — poor, tired Dove — who was still trying to figure out if he should scream or faint.
"Ah," Loki purred. "And who might this delightful mortal be?"
That was it for Dove.
He held up his hands like someone about to forfeit a fight."You know what? Never mind," he muttered to himself, voice hollow."Of course. Of fucking course there's another one."
And as Loki sauntered in like he owned the place, stepping daintily over a chunk of debris, Dove couldn't help but glance upward at the gaping hole in the ceiling.
His security deposit was so dead.