Baldur Odinson:The light of Asgard

Chapter 11: The Worthless God

Baldur's POV –

Baldur woke up to sunlight filtering through the crappy motel blinds and the distinct sound of Darcy groaning into her pillow.

"Ugh," she mumbled, voice still thick with sleep. "Tell me I don't have to get up yet."

Baldur smirked, stretching lazily beside her, feeling completely at ease in a way he hadn't expected. "Depends. What's on your schedule today?"

Darcy rolled over, one eye cracking open to glare at him. "Ugh. Science. Also, probably trying to keep Thor from breaking more stuff."

Baldur chuckled, running a hand through his short blond hair. "Yeah, good luck with that."

She huffed. "You're not helping."

He grinned, pressing a quick kiss to her shoulder before rolling out of bed. He grabbed his tunic, slipping it on with practiced ease, already feeling the weight of the day ahead.

Thor had gone after Mjolnir last night. Baldur hadn't followed, but he didn't need to.

He already knew what had happened.

Thor had stormed into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s containment site like a reckless warrior, fought his way through human agents, reached for his hammer…

And failed.

Baldur exhaled. The reality of his brother's exile had finally sunk in.

He glanced at Darcy, who was still sprawled out across the bed, looking way too comfortable for how early it was.

"You coming?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "To watch your brother mope in the rain?"

Baldur smirked. "Basically."

Darcy groaned, throwing the sheets over her head. "Fine, but you owe me coffee."

By the time Baldur and Darcy arrived at Jane's lab, it was already chaos.

Jane was pacing, looking like she was debating whether or not to commit a felony. Erik was rubbing his temples, muttering something about the government. And Thor—

Thor looked broken.

He sat outside, staring at the ground, soaked from last night's storm. His posture was hunched, his usually proud shoulders slumped, his hands hanging loosely between his knees.

Mjolnir's rejection had hit him harder than any battle ever had.

Baldur felt it too.

For the first time in his life, Thor had truly lost something.

Darcy muttered, "Okay, wow. That's depressing."

Baldur exhaled, stepping forward. "I'll talk to him."

Jane hesitated but nodded. "Just… go easy on him."

Baldur walked toward his brother, boots crunching against the gravel. He stopped a few feet away, crossing his arms.

Thor didn't look up.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," Thor muttered, his voice hollow.

Baldur tilted his head. "Figured I'd let you have your moment of self-loathing first."

Thor let out a humorless laugh. "How considerate of you."

Baldur sighed, sitting down next to him. They sat in silence for a long moment, the desert wind brushing over them.

Finally, Baldur spoke.

"So. That bad, huh?"

Thor closed his eyes. "I am nothing without Mjolnir."

Baldur's jaw clenched. He knew this had to happen, but damn was it hard to watch.

"You really believe that?" he asked, voice quieter than before.

Thor didn't answer.

Baldur glanced at the sky, exhaling slowly. "You ever wonder why you weren't able to lift it?"

Thor clenched his fists. "It is enchanted. It is not for me to decide."

Baldur hummed. "Or maybe… you were never supposed to be worthy in the first place."

Thor turned toward him, brow furrowing. "What?"

Baldur met his gaze, voice steady. "Maybe you weren't cast down to be humbled. Maybe you were cast down to change."

Thor's frown deepened. He looked away, silent.

Baldur's POV –

The air shifted.

A presence materialized, silent as a whisper.

Baldur knew who it was before he even turned his head.

Loki stepped out of the shadows, his Asgardian robes a stark contrast to the dusty desert around them. The cool indifference in his expression was almost convincing. Almost.

But Baldur saw the truth. Loki was here to break Thor.

And Thor, completely unaware, looked up—hope flashing in his eyes.

"Loki?"

Loki smiled, his voice soft and sorrowful. "Hello, brother."

Thor immediately stood, shoulders straightening, chest rising. "You've come to bring me home?"

Loki hesitated, just enough to sell the performance. "No," he said, his voice quiet. "I'm afraid I bring only news."

Thor frowned. "News?"

Loki exhaled, casting his gaze downward. And then he lied.

"Father is dead."

Baldur almost scoffed.

The weight of those words slammed into Thor like a war hammer. His breath hitched, his jaw clenched, and for a moment—he forgot how to stand.

"…What?" Thor whispered.

Loki sighed heavily, his voice laced with grief. "The strain of casting you out… it was too much. His last act was to ensure you were sent here."

Thor staggered back a step, his mind barely processing the words.

Baldur said nothing.

Because this was meant to happen.

Even if it was a lie.

Even if it meant watching his brother break apart.

Loki continued, pressing the dagger deeper. "Mother fears for his life. She refuses to leave his side. The throne now falls to me."

Thor dropped to his knees.

"…I did this," he whispered. His hands clenched into fists against the dirt.

Loki watched, his face unreadable. "I'm sorry."

And for a moment—a single moment—Baldur actually thought Loki meant it.

Then Loki turned to him.

"And you?" His eyes were sharp, calculating. "What are you doing here, Baldur?"

Baldur leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Smirking.

Loki didn't like that.

"Just sightseeing," Baldur answered.

Loki's gaze darkened. "You let him come here, knowing this would happen?"

Baldur shrugged. "You let him go to Jotunheim, knowing this would happen. We all make choices."

Loki stiffened, but his face remained calm.

Thor looked up at them both. His blue eyes were clouded with grief. "Is there nothing I can do?"

Loki smiled—gentle, almost kind. "You cannot return, Thor."

Thor's throat tightened. "But—"

"The Allfather is gone," Loki interrupted smoothly. "His last act was to exile you. He left the throne in my care."

And there it was.

The real reason he was here.

Baldur watched as Thor swallowed hard, trying to process it all.

Loki had told him everything he needed to hear—that Asgard had moved on. That he was no longer part of it.

That he was truly alone.

Baldur exhaled, looking at his broken brother and wondering, just for a second, if he should say something.

If he should tell Thor the truth.

But he didn't.

Because if he did, then everything would change.

So instead, he just smirked at Loki and said, "Enjoy the throne while it lasts."

Loki's expression flickered.

And then, with a shimmer of magic, he was gone.

Thor sat in silence, staring at the ground, lost.

And Baldur, for the first time since coming here, felt a little lost too.

Thor didn't speak for a while.

Baldur sat next to him, waiting.

"You knew," Thor finally said, his voice rough.

Baldur didn't look at him. "Knew what?"

"That this would happen," Thor murmured. He turned his head, meeting Baldur's golden gaze. "Didn't you?"

Baldur held his stare.

And then he sighed. "I had a feeling."

Thor exhaled sharply, dragging a hand over his face.

The silence stretched between them, long and heavy.

Finally, Baldur stood. "Come on. You can grieve inside."

Thor hesitated but still followed.