Two minutes
It had been two minutes since he had woken up. How long he slept? He did not know.
But what he did know, was that those blood-curdling shrieks were starting to irritate him.
When he had woken, he examined where he rested upon and concluded that his body had been moved. But the sea of trash wasn't the glaring evidence of how he came to this conclusion—no—he knew because his clothes were missing. Some fool had stolen it whilst he was unconscious.
Standing, he walked towards the shrieks, deciding to investigate the source of it. He waded through the dump as naked as the day he was born; trash crunched beneath his feet, he had half-a-mind to stop and examine the strange objects around him, but those screams wouldn't let him think. He needed to silence whoever it is that dared disturb him before rummaging through the piles. Though, it is not befitting for a god to scour landfills for trinkets, his curious nature nagged for him to do so.
He wonders however, is how he was relocated in the sea of garbage. Last he remembered he was fighting the berser—no, the demigod near the coastline and him… losing. His fury flared at that thought, balling his fists, he raked trenches in the palm of his hand and gnashed his teeth so hard he spat out several. He failed the test the Allfather had given him, which means no more jotün and that means the Allfather's promise of the knowledge of breaking his curse is gone… the hope he held of feeling after a century… gone… all gone. And it was all because of that jotün.
He couldn't even have the satisfaction of killing the fool himself as his father would have sent Thor and his nephews after it. But no, hope is not truly lost, he had another plan in mind. This time, he'll return to Asgard and look for that witch, and when he does… He grinned savagely. He's learned some new tricks, he can't wait to show mother all of them.
Fury still sweltered in his mind, the demigod that incapacitated him was a curious case. A half-breed whelp, part-Aesir and… part-jotün. Blond of hair, big and strong, thunder and lightning. Magnison. It was so obvious, but during their battle he had been too preoccupied to realize who he was fighting
He had never heard of the bastard before, but with the amount of women Thorson had bed, he isn't surprised. The Magnison was a fierce warrior, he had to admit. He enjoyed fighting the demigod when it went berserk, but he is disappointed with how easily he broke it, if it wasn't for the Allfather mocking him and stacking the cards against him, he would've killed the fool. He'd be labeled kinslayer but Magni wouldn't care, as long as his balls still spit sap, a lost bastard is of no consequence.
The bastard wasn't as strong as his father without the berserker state, the way it controlled the weather, however. He could've sworn he was fighting his brother as thunder and lightning crackled and illuminated the darkened sky, even its mood affected the storm: winds whipped and cut his flesh, massive hails of ice rained on him and pelted his body, lightning charred his skin and cooked him through, kilometer wide cyclones dragged him from the ground and ragdolled him through the air. And those were only its elemental control, the berserker state boosted its weak and pathetic baseline strength ten-fold, not enough to overpower Baldur, but enough to be consequential to turn the tide of their battle. Though strong, Baldur lacked ranged weaponry, his light, rendered a cheap parlor trick in the air.
With his invulnerability he didn't need any weapons, he admit, his martial prowess had diminished over the last century. His brother was always better and stronger at fighting. But that does not mean he wasn't a renowned fighter, be-it: sword, spear, and bow he excelled in them all. But he grew complacent with his immortality and charged recklessly into battle, not thinking like a warrior, no strategy or tactics, fighting like a drunken brawler. If only he had a weapon when he faced that jotün or the demigod he would've easily won.
He clicked his tongue, that is what he lacked, a weapon. Despite being the strongest of all the gods even his brother needed Mjölnir and the Megingjörð. He needed something like that, and it had to be unique. He browsed his inner mindscape and thought of his weapon, hundreds of feasible designs and fighting styles, so many to choose. Chopping, he liked chopping. Yes. That would fit his fighting style, therefore an axe. He saw the way the jotün fought with it and he knew its versatility as a weapon. He didn't need it to be crafted by those dwarves, he already knew how to obtain one. With three Aesirs hunting that jotün he could ask Thor for the axe. It might take a little… convincing but he'd get it in the end, and after he does, he'd rename it and rechristen it as Stormbreaker.
And the first thing he'd do with the axe is bury it deep in the head of that demigod. That is if it had returned to Asgard, if it's still in this rubbish place he'd tear this entire realm apart looking for it.
The shrieks increased in volume and intensity with every step, he was close. Stopping, he craned his head left, then right, hearing out the sound. His eyes fixated on a small mound of trash, the wails were louder behind it.
Climbing the small hill he stood and watched a brace of men with their breeches in their ankles, proudly showing erect cocks. They were a quaint bunch, their pale ashen skin reminded him of that jotün. One was tall and brawny, sporting a thick, rope-like scar on his back which ran from his tailbone to his shoulder blades. Brown, crusted streak of shit clung on his ragged, discolored drawers. The other, was missing fingers and half his nose, fibrous burn marks painted him from his arms and torso, He stood short and stocky, his legs, hideous and mis-shapened. Their eyes glazed, mouth hung open, dirt-caked faces bore lusted expressions. Their skin shimmered a slimy glint, flies buzzed and orbited them.
Baldur knew why they had crowded together, the one who screamed—a woman, lied on her back, through her ripped, yellow and orange dress he could see pale untouched flesh and small, well-shaped breasts. Fat globs of tears gleamed and cascaded down her face, leaving crusted salts as it dried in the sun. Through shaded eyes, he could see twin orbs of cerulean hue, big and wide, filled with fear. She writhed on the damp ground and raked her nails on garbage, desperately trying to crawl away, her muscles tensed, face turned red, limbs quaked as she attempted to break free of the binds that held her arms and legs together.
"Help me!" she shrieked.
"No one's helping you," the scarred one said, his slobber dribbling to the ground as he licked his lips.
The one with missing fingers bent down and ripped his breeches, he hobbled towards the woman. Grunting, he shoved the dirty article of clothing in her mouth.
He grinned, exposing crooked black teeth, "We can't have you hollering, some might come and join the fun, I ain't sharing."
"Not sharing?" the scarred man asked, "I thought we were?"
The lame out shrugged, "Must've forgot."
The scarred man slit his eyes and gave his companion a sullen look.
What a disgusting site, Baldur thought. Like any god he disapproved of rape, he isn't a brute. His father couldn't care less, however, as long as they did it in his name and prayed to him The Allfather would forgive them: rape, stealing, pillaging. All forgiven when you call out "For the Allfather!"
Leaving his perch, trash dislodged and rolled on the ground, alerting the mortals of his presence. They both turned and studied Baldur's naked form. He can't blame them, he was meticulously carved to perfection in the womb, not a single flaw appeared on him when he was born. So perfect was he, that he glowed like a newborn star.
The lame one glowered at his presence, "See?" he addressed the woman, "What I tell you about screaming?"
"We ain't sharing," the scarred one said.
Baldur smirked, "I'm not here for mortal flesh—"
"But I guess…" the lame one interrupted, he stared at the scarred one and nodded and went back to eye Baldur, "I guess you can stick it for a minute, not a second more. Just tell me where your stuff are."
Baldur shook his head, "No."
"Are you sure—"
"No,"
Like a belligerent child the man asked again, "How about—"
Baldur had enough of the man's stubbornness and kicked the ground, hurling a piece of metal at the man, "I. Said. No."
Crack!
The man fell to the ground, blood and brain matter seeped from the cracks of his skull. Rats squeaked and gnashed their teeth and charged the dead man in droves. Pearl white teeth tore into ashen flesh, a dozen entered through the gaping mouth and two worked to free the lodged metal from his skull.
"You killed Eddi!" The scarred one shrieked.
"And you're next," Baldur dashed towards the man, clamping his hand on his mouth he silenced screams. The pungent smell of rot and body odor emanated like a plague from the man. "Mortal, I have questions, and you will answer them. I will not take no for an answer."
The man nodded and Baldur smirked, "Good—"
"Help me!" the woman shrieked, having removed the dirty gag from her mouth.
Baldur turned to glance at her and saw that the rats have finished their feast, now they flanked the woman. With her arms and legs bound she would be easy prey for them.
She looked at him, big watery eyes pleaded him to take action. "P-please."
"—as I was saying," he turned his attention back to the man, "First, tell me how long has it been since the rains?"
"F-Four days!" the woman hastily answered his question.
"Four…" he muttered under his breath. His hands trembled with rage, bones creaked and the man in his grasps flailed, he reached for Baldur's eye and jabbed his finger in it.
Grasping the offending limb, Baldur wrenched it from his face, his eyebrows furrowed and lips curled to a snarl, "You shouldn't have done that." With a swift jerk he tore the limb from its socket.
The man howled. Blood gushed from the wound and rats ran towards the deluge of liquid bathing themselves crimson. The man writhed in pain, his ashen face lost color, his eyes glazed and fluttered. Dropping the limb, Baldur grasped the man's shoulder and cranked, head and spine separated with ease.
He only glowered. Killing these creatures weren't even fun. Proving no challenge to the God of Light.
"Please help me!"
Turning away from the body he made his way towards the woman and stepped into the sea of rats, those crushed beneath his feet were cannibalized in seconds.
The woman sobbed and rolled, sharp claws dug trenches in her skin, "P-please, help." she weakly said.
Gathering his power, azure tattoos pulsed and thrummed, "You might want to look away girl, lest you go blind."
She stared at him with childlike wonder, he couldn't blame her, most mortals have never seen a god in the flesh. "O-okay." she closed her eyes and buried her face in her elbow.
Baldur stood for a good thirty seconds and watched the rats. He didn't think his actions through, he forgot that this trick is quite harmless (with the exception of blindness) so now rats scampered around him, running like headless chickens, unable to perceive the world. They all crawled around him and the woman, those adventurous climbed his leg, he simply swatted them away.
It took a full minute for all the rats to disperse. When his light died out the woman bled from countless scratches and bites, the dazed and blinded rodents trampled her in their hysteria.
"T-thank you, for saving me," she said, her voice hoarse and raw.
Baldur gave a hearty laugh. "I am a generous god."
"Y-you're Asgardian?"
"So you know who I am, good." Baldur smirked, "Now that I have saved you I have questions, answer them—"
"P-please," she said, "you have to help—no, save my brother. I-I know your strength, Asgardian, you have to help me find him."
Baldur stopped and pondered the woman's words. The plights of mortals are of no concern to him, thousands have prayed and sacrificed to him and he didn't answer their pleas. But he needed knowledge, he could use a thrall to point him in the right direction.
"For me to help you find your brother, you're going to have to offer me a sacrifice."
The woman shrank, her brows furrowed, she chewed her lips and stared at the ground. "A s-sacrifice?" her breath hitches, "D-Do you want me to offer you an arm or a leg? Is that what you meant? You're m-mad, Asgardian—"
"You stuttering fool," Baldur snapped, "I do not want your meat, and frankly, I don't know who ever will. No, I want your knowledge, I want to know of this place and its history. I ask questions and you answer them. It is that simple."
She looked relieved at his tirade, but her relief vanished and her features turned hard, "W-Why didn't you say that in the first place?" she shouted hoarsely, "I-I'll answer your questions. B-But in return, you have to help me find my brother."
"You're a insolent one, aren't you?" Baldur chuckled, this woman was already making demands. "Well, that is the first and only time I would allow you to raise your voice to a god, the next time you do. I'll rip out your tongue."
She was silent, lips turned to a fine line and looked at him with a level stare.
"Good," Baldur clapped his hands together, he went to unbind the woman. Grabbing her arm he craned it and examined the scratches out of curiosity, it had clotted crimson, they were innumerable, from her fingers to her shoulders.
It would definitely leave fine scars, he mused.
He could heal her, he knew enough Seidr to do so, but why should he. Though he isn't the best at them unlike his… he did try to heal his horse when it had stumbled and broke a leg, Thor suggested to kill it and eat the meat but he ignored the big idiot and tried to save it. The charm didn't work so he had to go and beg the Allfather to heal it: "Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain, so joint-sprain. Bone to bone, blood to blood, joints to joint, so may they be mended." His father chanted, bones snapped back together and his horse gave a joyous neigh.
Thor still killed and ate it several days later.
She pulled her arm from his grasps. "W-What are you doing?" she asked, distressed by his actions.
He examined her face, split lip and a big purple bruise on her right cheek, but she is definitely a pretty one. But her features were interesting, as were all the other mortals he had met. Aside from the Magnison they looked nothing like the norsemen that plagued midgard. Their clothing as well, finely woven and brightly colored, made of materials he had never seen before. He tugged on the woman's torn clothing which elicited a shocked gasp, she shoved her hands in his face and worked to slither away.
"Get away from me!"
Grabbing her, he pins her to the ground, clamping a hand over her mouth. "Shut your mouth woman, I won't deal with any more screeching."
Ignoring her writhing he continued to examine the fabric. Thin, light and durable he deduced, he wished he could feel what it felt like on his fingers. He imagined them to be smooth and soft, like silk.
"Now a vow," he said, "Will you stop moving! Good." He grabbed her fabric bindings, the flimsy material ripped with ease. He shook his head, mortals are weak and tiny pathetic little creatures. To struggle breaking such simple shackles, it is disgusting.
Her wrists and ankles were a painful shade of red, flakes of torn skin hung and fluttered in the wind, he thought about reaching for one and peeling it but he held his impulse.
Rubbing her wrists she eyed him carefully, still suspicious of his intent. "I thought… with you grabbing me…"
He caught on what she had intended to say, "I am not some depraved animal, mortal." Due to his curse he could never feel pleasure, thus never needing to relieve such urges. He tried once, with a peasant girl. Her poor father woke to see the mortal torn asunder.
"O-Okay… b-but w-why are you naked—"
"Now, where were we." he interrupted, "Oh yes, the vow. Tell me, girl. What is your name."
"H-Hana," she said. "But why are you naked—"
"My, what a heathen name." he smirked, "Well then, Hana. I, Baldur son of Odin, hereby vow to help you find your brother, and in return you will be under my service, you will answer my questions, never keep information from me and point me to the right direction. So what say you, mortal." He stood to his full height, showing all his runic glory to the mortal.
She nodded listlessly, "Uh… okay… I guess." she said, looking him up and down.
"You're a shameless whore," he said, seeing her eyes linger a second too long on his perfect cock and balls.
She gave him an insolent look, "Your tattoos are disgusting, what are they even supposed to mean?"
He guffawed at her brazen statement. She is definitely a lively one.
Thwack!
He sent her to the ground with a swift backhand, "I will not have your tongue mortal, but keep this up and I will soon enough."
Her glare was full of passion. Hints of regret showed on her face. He could see her mind formulating a response, he has to silence this impudent child. His hands balled into fists, arm cocked back. Standing over her, he casted a shadow on her lithe frame, muscles quivered and begged to be unleashed… yet… the way she looked before him, on her knees with tear-stained eyes… mother.
He hesitated, bringing his hands back down to rest beside him he looked at her with a predatory gaze, "I am a generous god." he repeated, a pathetic lie to cover his cowardice.
She averted her gaze, "W-Whatever you say, but you still need clothes."
There were still hints of defiance in her shadowed eyes. He couldn't understand her, this mortal. Why is she still belligerent, she knows what would happen if she brought the ire of a god. He un-clenched his fists and gave a tired sigh, mortals are difficult creatures to understand.
Clearing her throat she spoke, "W-We should return to my home for now."
"Then let us go, mortal."
The walk to her home was a somber and silent affair. The woman only brooded and puttered. He walked a few paces ahead of her, instincts honed from several lifetimes longer than mortals told him that she had brought her brooding gaze upon the back of his head. In short, she stared so hard that he felt it.
They both stopped in their tracks.
"Stop it."
"It looks like you have a rat hanging on the back of your head."
Oh. "Does my hair disturb you."
"No, it disgusts me."
Wheeling himself around he debated killing her right then and there. A thousand more mortals could replace her and be a hundred-fold more obedient, but he couldn't be bothered to find another, more submissive thrall. He will begrudgingly settle with her for now and work on re-educating her, if she proves to be too stubborn he'll kill her.
Walking towards her he plucked a hand.
Crack!
She fell to her knees clutching a finger.
"You're fearless," his voice was a malicious whisper, grabbed her chin and stared her in the eyes, "But I will give you something to fear."
This mortal needed to learn that his patience and kindness has limits. That those who dares invoke the wrath of a god would be brought unimaginable horrors: mind, body, soul. Each are simple playthings to gods.
A whirring noise sounded in the air. Baldur glowered, another one of the peculiar boats those mortals use have dared to challenge him. It does not matter, he'll deal with it.
"A scrapper," the woman said, having already finished licking her wounds, "we should move, back to my slums. They can't touch us there." She moved to grab his arm and he swatted it back. "What are you doing? We have to move."
"Then run, like a craven. But I, will deal with these gnats."
"Are you insane?" she said impatiently, "I know you Asgardians are durable but once those scrappers get you tangled in their nets you're either food or to be sold as a champion, with your origin I'm more inclined to think they'll choose to sell you."
He stood unperturbed by her statements, three dozen mortals lay rotting in a sea of garbage, their boats rendered slags.
A pair flew towards them, their contraptions that shoot light pointed at him. Tattoos flickered to life and he lunged towards the nearest boat, the collision with his body set it ablaze. Landing with a crash he dashed towards a hunk of metal, hefting it he hurled the massive slag straight at the second boat. It twisted in the air, avoiding to suffer the same fate the first one had, seeing him too costly to capture it turned back and retreated to live another day.
That is if Baldur was feeling merciful, but today he wasn't.
He crouched low, digging his feet into soil his muscles coiled like springs and begged to be released. Launching himself to pursue the vessel, the earth behind him sheared and cratered, creating massive hills of dirt and flung trash meters back. With pinpoint accuracy he struck it straight through, the hulking vessel bursts into flames, acrid fumes seared his lungs and cooked his eyes.
In the air he twists and twirled, angling himself, he landed to the ground with his knees and a hand.
"Pathetic," he said, disgusted by how easily their metal crumbled before his mighty fists.
The vessels the mortals have in this realm is quite peculiar, to be able to fly without wings. He isn't surprised, his brother flew a goat driven chariot, but what intrigued him was how they were able to fly. One drunken night he heard Mimir tell a story long ago about a place far away, with plains and highlands that stretches from end to end, being too drunk to listen he paid no heed to the fool's blabbering, but through the wine and mead he recalled something about a creature with elf-like ears that can imbue beings with flight and steal children from their homes. Maybe those creatures live in this realm.
Hearing footsteps behind him he twirled and took a fighting stance. Finding disappointment when the woman's ragged figure emerged. "How did you get here?"
"I ran."
He grits his teeth, "You're trying my patience girl."
Killing her or any more mortals would undoubtedly bring attention to himself, that is if his battle with the demigod hadn't already. If he truly is in another realm, far from the nine realms that would mean another pantheon owns this land. Divine Politics, he hated it. Unlike his brother, Tyr, he had never travelled outside the nine realms and had little knowledge about all the other pantheons. Thor—the big idiot—had wanted to join Tyr and travel to Greece, blabbering something about slaying the giants—or was it titans—that lived there. He supposed that his brother would have succeeded on doing so, as a renowned giant slayer Thor wouldn't have had too much trouble.
Baldur didn't see the appeal of traveling to other realms, but since he had apparently landed on a foreign land he should take advantage of this situation. He'd follow what Tyr had done and be diplomatic if he ever meets the gods that lives here, he would ask for help and guidance back to the nine realms. If they decide to rid off him using violence… well… A savage grin twisted on his face, the heathens would learn to pray to a new god.
***
AN: No updates on Saturday and next Wednesday. I'm putting aside writing for a time to focus on my studies.