Odin stood on the cliff by the sea for a long time.
Only when the wind grew cold did he finally summon the Bifrost and return to Asgard.
Light descended from the heavens.
The Bifrost flared into existence.
At its end stood Heimdall, clad in radiant golden armor, solemn as a saint carved from light.
He held the guardian sword, Hofund, in both hands and bowed deeply as Odin emerged.
"Your Majesty."
Odin nodded.
"Heimdall," He said calmly, "Keep an eye on that orange cat."
"As you command." Heimdall did not ask questions.
Odin mounted his eight-legged steed, Sleipnir, and rode slowly through the city. Along the golden streets of Asgard, citizens knelt and saluted as he passed.
"The Great Odin!"
"The Great Odin!"
"The Great Odin!"
Odin listened, satisfied. At the gates of Asgard, he paused and raised his head.
A subtle fluctuation of divine power rippled through the palace.
Frigga.
Odin focused his sight, and met her gaze across realms.
His shoulders stiffened.
…Why did she notice so quickly?
"How unlucky." Odin muttered. "How am I supposed to explain this?"
He thought for a moment, then nodded to himself. "I'll say Hela's seal loosened and I went to reinforce it. Perfect excuse."
"…" Sleipnir glanced back at him.
With the wisdom of an exceptionally intelligent divine horse, Sleipnir decided that Odin's family drama was none of his business.
The steed quickened its pace, dropped Odin off, and departed immediately.
As for how Odin explained himself to Frigga afterward…
That was entirely Odin's problem.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Although Garfield didn't quite understand why Odin had reminded him, he decided to listen.
If the All-Father suggested supervision, it was probably for a reason.
Eating the Cosmic Cube alone sounded… risky.
He really didn't want to imitate Goose and swallow it whole without preparation. What if he got indigestion?
What if the energy didn't digest properly?
What if, one day, he went to the bathroom and accidentally excreted pure cosmic energy blocks?
That would mean he'd end up in the Transformers universe.
As the God of Transformers.
Specifically… the God of Culinary Transformers.
No. Absolutely unacceptable.
So Garfield opened a portal to Kamar-Taj.
At Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One was calmly flipping through the Book of the Vishanti.
When the familiar, trumpet-shaped portal opened, she didn't even look up.
She already knew who it was.
The moment Garfield stepped through, he rushed forward, hugged her leg, and said sweetly.
"Master! I missed you so much!"
"You caused trouble again." The Ancient One seized the scruff of his neck without ceremony.
Garfield stiffened.
…Did old man Odin sell him out?
Entirely possible. After all, their relationship was strange.
"I went to Northern Europe," Garfield said honestly, "And found the Cosmic Cube old man Odin hid."
"Pfft~" The Ancient One spat out her tea.
"I knew it," She said flatly. "You still went and took the Cube. Are you planning to eat it?"
Garfield blinked. "Master… did you look into the future with the Eye of Agamotto?"
The Ancient One neither confirmed nor denied it.
"There are many futures," She said calmly. "Which one becomes real depends on your choice. Once spoken aloud, a future loses its meaning and is rewritten."
Garfield understood.
I saw it, and I'm not telling you.
He glanced down at the Time Stone hanging around his neck, removed it, and offered it to her.
"Master, I'm about to eat the Cosmic Cube. If I'm about to die, please rewind me as much as you like."
The Ancient One did not take it. Instead, she gently placed the Time Stone back around his neck.
"Fate must remain in your own hands, Garfield."
Seeing the sincerity in her expression, Garfield stopped joking.
He sat down on the floor.
With both front paws, he formed a precise seal, activating the Time Stone's forgiving green glow. Time energy wrapped around his body, forming a stable loop.
An ouroboros biting its own tail appeared faintly on his left wrist.
Then Garfield reached into his pocket space. He pulled out the Cosmic Cube.
It was larger than his own head.
Garfield opened his mouth… and swallowed it whole.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
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