One Year After the Soul Devourer Incident...
The evening streets of New York were alive once again.
People laughed.
Children played outside.
The nightmare of the Chimera Virus had become another story in history.
Inside Happy Café...
Warm lights illuminated the familiar wooden interior.
The rich aroma of coffee filled the room as soft flute music echoed gently through the café.
Behind the counter...
KB quietly prepared another cup of coffee.
Across the room...
Benjamin served desserts while chatting with regular customers.
It felt...
Peaceful.
Exactly as KB had always wanted.
The small bell above the café door rang softly.
A tall man stepped inside.
Golden hair.
A crimson cloak.
A familiar hammer resting beside his chair.
Thor Odinson.
Several customers smiled in recognition.
Thor had become a familiar face over the years.
He simply nodded politely before taking his usual seat near the window.
KB looked toward him.
Thor returned the look.
No words were exchanged.
Only quiet understanding.
Benjamin noticed.
Thor wasn't smiling today.
His eyes rested upon the rain slowly falling outside the window.
He looked...
Reflective.
Benjamin walked toward the counter.
He leaned beside KB.
"...You've always understood Thor."
KB continued pouring coffee.
Benjamin smiled.
"What happened between you two?"
For several seconds...
Only the sound of the kettle could be heard.
KB smiled faintly.
"It wasn't me."
Benjamin looked confused.
"...What?"
KB placed the cup onto a tray.
"It was one of my clones."
Benjamin blinked.
"...When?"
KB quietly looked toward Thor.
"During the Dark Elf invasion."
His fingers gently rested upon the counter.
"...After Queen Frigga passed away."
Benjamin's expression softened.
"So..."
"That's when they met."
KB nodded.
His eyes slowly drifted toward the rain outside.
The café disappeared.
The melody of the flute faded.
And memory carried him back.
.....
The fires of Queen Frigga's funeral still burned beneath the Asgardian sky.
Silence filled the palace.
Thor stood alone upon one of the great balconies.
His hands rested against the golden railing.
For the first time in many years...
The God of Thunder looked powerless.
Behind him...
Golden particles quietly gathered.
A familiar figure appeared.
Simple white robes.
Calm eyes.
The same gentle smile.
Thor turned.
His tired eyes widened slightly.
"...KB."
KB smiled warmly.
"I thought you might need a friend."
Thor gave a weary laugh.
"You always know where people need you."
KB shook his head with a small smile.
"Not always."
"Only when my heart tells me."
Thor looked at him for a long moment.
"Thank you for coming."
...
"So... that was your clone?"
KB nodded.
"It was."
Benjamin smiled.
"Thor never told Loki the truth."
KB looked out the café window.
"It wasn't my secret to reveal."
.....
Then, in the present at Happy Café:
Thor quietly finished his coffee.
He walked to the counter.
He looked directly at KB.
Then, with a faint grin, he said,
"I still owe Aureon for that conversation."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow.
"So... you always knew?"
Thor laughed.
"I recognized him the moment he walked into Asgard."
He looked at KB.
"I've seen that smile before."
"Whether he wears an apron..."
"...or a golden crown."
KB smiled back.
"The apron is far more comfortable."
Thor laughed loudly.
"So I've been told."
The three shared a quiet laugh before Thor picked up Mjolnir and walked toward the door.
....
The rain continued to fall outside Happy Café.
Benjamin leaned forward.
"So what happened after Thor left?"
KB smiled as he slowly stirred another cup of coffee.
"My clone didn't leave Asgard."
Benjamin looked surprised.
"No?"
KB gently shook his head.
"There was still one prince who needed someone."
The melody of the café faded.
Memory returned.
...
Thor stood silently in the palace gardens.
"Thank you..."
he said quietly.
KB's clone smiled.
"You don't need me anymore."
Golden light surrounded him.
The simple white robes disappeared.
Radiant golden armor formed across his body.
A flowing yellow dhoti shimmered beneath celestial plates engraved with lotus patterns.
A magnificent crown adorned with a glowing peacock feather rested upon his brow.
The divine aura gently spread across the palace.
Thor smiled.
"It has been too long..."
"...Aureon."
Aureon nodded.
"Take care of your brother."
Thor sighed.
"That's easier said than done."
"It always is."
With that, Thor departed.
Deep beneath the palace...
The prison remained silent.
Loki sat alone.
Magic flickered idly between his fingers.
Without looking up, he spoke.
"I wondered how long it would take before Midgard's favorite guardian came to lecture me."
Golden footsteps echoed through the chamber.
Aureon entered.
The prison guards instinctively stepped aside.
Even they felt an inexplicable peace in his presence.
Loki slowly looked up.
"So..."
"The famous Aureon."
"I've heard Odin speaks highly of you."
Aureon smiled.
"Odin speaks highly of many people."
Loki smirked.
"Not me."
"No."
"You never allowed him to."
Loki laughed.
"You came to judge me?"
Aureon calmly shook his head.
"If I wished to judge you..."
"...I wouldn't have come."
Silence followed.
Loki leaned back against the wall.
"Then why are you here?"
Aureon answered simply.
"To understand."
Loki laughed louder.
"Understand?"
"Do you know how many people have claimed that?"
"They all reached the same conclusion."
"I'm the villain."
Aureon looked at him quietly.
"I haven't reached one."
Loki narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me..."
"What do you see when you look at me?"
Without hesitation...
Aureon answered.
"A lonely child."
The smile disappeared from Loki's face.
He quickly recovered.
"Careful."
"I'm very good at pretending."
"I know."
Aureon replied.
"That's why I answered the child."
Loki slowly stood.
His illusion magic filled the room.
Dozens of Lokis appeared.
Each laughed.
Each spoke.
Each mocked.
"Which one will you redeem?"
"This one?"
"Or perhaps this one?"
The illusions surrounded Aureon completely.
Yet...
Aureon never moved.
He simply smiled.
"Interesting."
Loki frowned.
"Interesting?"
"You made many copies."
"But none of them are you."
The illusions disappeared.
Loki circled Aureon.
"You think you've figured me out."
"You think kindness changes people."
"It doesn't."
"The universe rewards power."
Aureon asked calmly,
"Does it?"
Loki smirked.
"I ruled Earth."
"For nearly three days."
"And how did that end?"
Loki remained silent.
Aureon continued.
"You won through fear."
"But did anyone follow you willingly?"
Loki said nothing.
He changed tactics.
"You know..."
"Thor is the favorite."
"He'll always be."
"You understand that, don't you?"
Aureon nodded.
"Yes."
Loki smiled.
"So you agree."
"I understand how it feels..."
"...to think love must be earned."
Loki blinked.
Aureon continued.
"But your mother never loved you because you were worthy."
"She loved you because you were her son."
Loki's voice became quieter.
"Then why did I never feel enough?"
Aureon gently smiled.
"Because you spent your whole life asking the wrong person."
Loki frowned.
"What?"
"You kept asking Odin whether you were enough."
"You never asked yourself."
Silence filled the prison.
After several moments...
Loki whispered,
"What if I really am broken?"
Aureon slowly walked closer.
He placed one hand over Loki's chest.
Golden light gently spread.
"I don't mend broken people."
"I remind them..."
"...they were never broken."
"They were wounded."
"There is a difference."
Loki looked away.
"What if I betray everyone again?"
Aureon smiled.
"Then stand up again."
"And if I fail?"
"Learn."
"And if I fall?"
"I'll expect you to rise."
Loki laughed softly.
"You have impossible faith."
Aureon shook his head.
"No."
"I simply know something you don't."
Loki looked up.
"What?"
Aureon's eyes reflected the light of Yggdrasil.
"Your greatest act..."
"...hasn't happened yet."
Loki stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
Aureon smiled knowingly.
"If I told you..."
"...it would no longer be your choice."
The prison became quiet once again.
Loki suddenly asked,
"Why help me?"
"I attacked your world."
"I killed innocent people."
"I tried to conquer Earth."
Aureon answered without hesitation.
"Because if goodness only helped those who deserved it..."
"...it wouldn't be goodness."
"It would be a transaction."
For the first time...
Loki lowered his head.
Not in defeat.
In thought.
As Aureon turned to leave...
Loki spoke one final time.
"If I change..."
"Will the universe forgive me?"
Aureon stopped at the doorway.
Without turning around...
He answered softly.
"The universe forgives much more easily..."
"...than people forgive themselves."
Golden light filled the corridor.
Then Aureon disappeared.
......
Present Day – Happy Café
The memory faded.
Benjamin sat in silence.
"So..."
"You never defeated Loki."
KB smiled as he placed a fresh cup of coffee on the counter.
"No."
Benjamin looked puzzled.
"Then what did you do?"
KB picked up the flute resting beside the register.
He smiled gently.
"I gave him a reason to believe..."
"...that becoming a better man was possible."
At the nearby window outside the caffe, Thor quietly smiled
He had heard every word.
And in his heart, he knew they were true.