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Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead—
“Loki?”
The noise stopped, as he raised his head and his gaze met Odin’s. The All-Father had a soft and honest look as he reached for Atreus’ shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Oh, son. I got to you as soon as the news got to me, obviously I would never keep something like this hidden away from you—”
“Who?” Atreus asked, still frozen in his place and uncaring of any sweet words that Odin might have for him. He didn’t even feel angry yet, he was just… he doesn’t even know. Empty, but also so full of something all consuming.
Something that waited to be let out.
Odin’s hand squeezed his shoulder again “Loki, dear boy how about we sit down for—”
He harshly pulled himself away, mind growing frantic like it did when he turned into a bear “ Who? ”
The All-Father lowered his hand, eyes quickly flickering over him as if assessing something, before he let out a tired sigh “Heimdall. He encountered you father and his companions, acting out against my wishes—”
And there it was again. All the noise and dullness that embraced him like a warmth coming from the fireplace that his father often tended to, keeping the hut warm so that he wouldn’t grow sickly again—
Father .
“— and then Thor will go and—”
“No.” the words left him before he could stop them, his eyes meeting Odin’s again as he repeated “ No. ”
Odin blinked, lips pressed as he asked “Whatever do you mean, son?”
Atreus, simply stared, his mind slowly filling with vivid ways of settling the debt that Heimdall now owed him. He stepped even further away from Odin, repeated again and for the last time.
“ No. ”
Time passes differently in every realm, that is known to all. So for example, time in Asgard passes faster than it does in Vanaheim or Niflheim .
“Kratos, slow down—”
He stopped turning and shouting at Freya “ No ! I will not hesitate this time, I gave him a choice and we have wasted time because of it.”
Freya frowned at him, but waited for the other God to gather himself, before trying again “Rushing, won’t bring us to Atreus any faster. You are right, we have wasted time trying to reason with Heimdall, but we cannot act impulsive. Not with Odin and whatever he has planned.”
“Freya is right, brother. Heimdall could’ve tried and killed us, but he was only playing with trapping us in that maze. Odin has something more planned, we need to be cautious.”
“But Atreus—” Kratos started, worry still thundering inside, but the rage was subdued for now.
Freya cut him off, reaching out and placing her hand on his forearm “Atreus, is a grown man. He will be alright. You have taught him well.”
Kratos nodded silently, knowing that he needed to trust his son to survive in Asgard until he could get there. But it was hard… he couldn’t imagine something happening to his boy. No matter how grown he claims to be.
They reached the gate and as Kratos raised the seed to the door, he frowned “Asgard.”
Freya grabbed Mimir from his bet, raising him to see as well, as she muttered “The rune… it’s burning.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s as if the Realm is about to burn away from the branches of Yggdrasil!” Mimir explained.
“Can we travel there?” Kratos asked right away, already lifting his hand to choose the burning mark.
“You want to go there?!” Mimir sputtered in shock.
“Atreus, is there. We need to.” Freya spoke before Kratos could, making Mimir sigh but don’t protest as she hangs him back on Kratos’ belt.
Moments later, they breach Asgard and Kratos’ heart drops.
“By the Gods…” Mimir whispers, while Freya’s mouth opens in shock.
The gateway took them just before the great wall, whose gates were wide open as Asgardians stumbled through them. The sky was red and the landscapes started turning barren, beyond the wall the whole village as set aflame.
Kratos didn’t hesitate, as he charged through the gates, stepping over dead Valkyries and Einherjar.
“What army could do this?” Freya asked, kneeling by a fallen Valkyrie, touching her back where the wings were ripped out.
“I’ve only known Thor to be capable of such carnage in these lands… and by the burn marks…”
“They were killed by lighting and brute strength.” Freya finished, but Kratos was distracted as he kneeled down and picked up something from the ground.
“Atreus’s arrow…”
“Are you certain, brother?” Mimir asked, while Freya took the arrow from him.
Kratos grunted, pointing towards the mark made in the wood.
“A bear and a wolf…” she whispered, tracking the beautiful marking.
“Ah… yes, the lad was always insistent on marking his arrows.” Mimir confirmed.
Kratos nodded, and looked around the burning village “He is here.”
“He must’ve tried to fight off whoever attacked.” Freya decided, following after Kratos with her sword raised.
They walked further, until Freya stopped by another body “That’s—”
“Váli!” Mimir exclaimed in shock, while Kratos looked at the body with a frown. It was a man nearly matching Thor’s height, with a strong build and a mighty sword pierced through his chest.
“Why is he of importance?” Kratos questioned, wanting to move on and not linger by insignificant fallen warriors.
“He’s Odin’s son, a God of Vengeance, brother. Unmatched by many—”
“Aside from Thor.” Freya finished, raising and walking ahead.
“Aye… he was also a friend of Baldur.” Mimir whispered to Kratos as he followed Freya.
There was no one left to fight and the main house, as ruined as it was, stood left undefended. Kratos pushed the wooden doors open and there they finally saw Thor, but the state that he was in… suggested that he was not the one to attack.
“ You… ” the mighty God of Thunder wheezed out.
Kartos stepped forwards, looking down at the fallen God. His giant legs twisted and crushed, by Mjölnir itself.
“Where is my son?” he asked, simply.
Thor watched him, before barking out an ugly laugh and stating “They call us… destroyers. You and I… but that son of yours—”
Kratos stepped on the twisted leg, making the God cry out in pain “Do not test my patience. Where. Is. My. Son ?!”
The thunder God, hissed and jerked his head to the side “Last he told me. He was going to see the All-Father.”
Nodding, he left Thor and headed for the staircase leading down.
“Brother… what Thor said—”
“Where do we find Odin?” Kratos asked instead, his heart racing and mind growing even more restless than before. He just wanted to find his son.
Mimir sighed and answered, while Freya remained silent throughout it all.
The moment they reached the office and later the staircase leading underground, screams and shouts reached their ears, only making Kratos run faster.
“ — I offered you knowledge, power and home! Was that not enough?! Have I not given you everything?! ”
“ You took everything from me! As you did with Mimir, Freya and all others! ”
“ Loki, son— ”
They reached the bottom of the stairs, halting their movements as even more carnage filled the cave. Twin Valkyries laid scattered along Einherjar, all burned, mauled or shot by arrows. And in the middle of it all, was… what was left of Heimdall. His horn sticking out of his severed head, while his body seemed missing.
“ My name is Atreus. Son of Laufey and Kratos— ”
Kratos turned towards a glowing green rift and beside it was… Atreus who stood over Odin, slowly choking the older God, who was impaled by countless arrows.
“ — not yours. I would never be your son. Your Loki — ”
“ Atreus .” Kratos called out, finally stepping forward with wide eyes. The carnage his son left in Alfheim suddenly came to his mind, along with the image of him killing Modi.
Atreus turned, red lightning suddenly emitting from his body, jerking and jumping around his form, as he glared at Kratos. Instead of surprise or happiness, there was only hatred and pain as he turned back towards Odin, shaking him as lightning burned the All-Father.
“You think an illusion will save you?!” Odin groaned trying to fight against Atreus, but the younger only tightened his grip, red binding runes lighting up against Odin’s skin “I will have my revenge, Odin! As will they, even in death —”
Silence .
“ Atreus… ” Kratos whispered, his hand gently resting on Atreus’ hot shoulder, as the lightning burned his hardened skin. Still, he held on, as his son remained frozen, staring past already dead Odin. Staring past everything .
“ Son .” he tried again, slowly pulling Atreus away form the All-Father as he now laid limp on the ground, without Atreus’ hands holding him up “Look at me, boy.”
Atreus finally reacted, turning and staring at his father’s face as if he was seeing it for the first time.
“You shouldn’t be here… you’re dead .” the younger uttered, lightning slowly easing away from his skin, cooling it significantly as he glanced back at Freya and Mimir who she held. Both were staring at Atreus in horror and pain.
“No. We are not.” Kratos, quietly responded. Not knowing what else to do but to ensure that his son was whole. He traced his gaze down, his own rage nearly reaching the surface, as he noticed bruises, cuts and a halfway healed stab wound.
It would seem that this destruction cost his son something as well.
Atreus shook his head, gaining Kratos’ attention back up, as his son’s eyes travelled to the corpses, finding Heimdall’s head “But he said… he confirmed . He laughed and mocked, he gave me the pouch that you carry! The one where you had mother’s ashes—”
“He took it. We were trapped in Niflheim.” Kratos cut in, his own rage slipping through his tone. He was still furious at having lost the precious object.
“We came to find you… see if you were safe.” Freya added from the back, it was clear that she was still worried for Atreus, but she remained away by the stairs.
“Aye… perhaps we worried for nothing.” Mimir muttered, his glowing gaze tracing the carnage almost in disappointment.
Atreus let out a shaky breath, stumbling back as if the weight of reality finally crashed upon him. He blinked and turned towards his father in desperation.
“They said you were dead. They had proof!” Atreus screamed, lightning emerging from his skin as he took out the pouch along with a bloodied piece of Kratos’ spartan skirt. The young man looked around again, looking as if he were to collapse on himself.
Atreus was never made to carry such burdens. He wasn’t a destroyer. He wasn’t like his father.
And yet. Asgard has fallen at his mourning hands, just as Greece did at Kratos’.
“Close your heart to it… close your heart… close your heart…” Atreus muttered, casting his gaze away, only for Kratos to finally react and touch his son again.
He grabbed his shoulders, although the lightning once burned his skin “Son. We need to go.”
“But it’s all—“
“It does not matter for now. We will deal with it, once we are safe.” Kratos promised, moving his hands to cup his son’s bloodied cheeks “I will help you.”
Atreus sniffed, tears appearing and smearing some of the blood as he whispered again “I thought you were dead.”
Kratos wiped his son’s tears away with his thumbs, nodding solemnly “I know.”
“We need to leave now. With Odin dead, it won't be long before this land falls with him.” Freya stated, finally approaching them and slowly extending her hand to squeeze Atreus’ arm “Come, Atreus. Let’s go home.”
Atreus nodded, letting both his father and Freya lead him through the cave.
Kratos glanced at Freya, thanking her with his gaze only. Atreus needed to be reassured right now, he needed something grounding and stable. Not fear or distrust.
He, himself, should know.
Looking at his son, and his faraway gaze, Kratos worried…
That perhaps , they are not so different after all.