𓌪 ... 𓌱

i. IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD

Somewhere in
SPACE

[ ... ]

        Somewhere in space, far beyond the reach of her home, the daughter of Odin lies in the dust.

        It's humiliating, more than she could feel. Astrid's like a martyr now. Like the stories. Like her fate. It's fulfilling in some sort of prophetic way. To be exactly what her father said she would be. To be exactly what she denounced. A long time ago, she once thought she could run from it. Like every teenager in their angst does. Perhaps this is why she stands so still. That is why she lets the dirt stick to her. Lets the blood run dry across her skin, and she doesn't reach for her weapon or command it by her side. Even in her hand, even sewn into her skin, would it be of any help? Her body is numb, her mind sore. Astrid must be floating, and yet the ground is rigid against her head. It's all she can feel. 

        All she can be. It makes her remember exactly where she is.

        Now a martyr, Astrid becomes a contradiction too. A lie.

        And while it is something she has once said she could never know, it seems to suit her well.

       She would be unrecognizable to whoever she once was. The old her, the battle-hungry, less beaten down, version of her would've stood. Somewhere within herself, Astrid would tear and stretch all her muscles to make herself stand. She would've lifted herself up and allowed the possibility to get knocked down again if it all meant she could stand on her own two feet for a single second. Any stubbornness she had within left would've guided her to her own death if it meant a proper one.

        And everyone would see because what is Astrid if not a spectacle?

        Now, Astrid settles━ has to settle for licking her dry, splint lips and breathing in the dust she shares the ground with.

        The old Astrid would've been so disappointed. She'd spit on the ground and wouldn't understand. Her judgment, her deduction would be so raw and burning; Astrid would know. It's her. She'd conclude that whoever this person was wasn't her. And maybe in a way, she was right.

        How could she explain it though? Everyone's time comes. Blind ignorance can never last. Not with people like her. Even if Astrid believes she can move planets, she cannot move this.

        Astrid will always end up in the same place. She's simple like that. The dirt, the dust, will be waiting for her.

        Sometimes stubbornness does kill.

        Yeah, stubbornness can kill.

        Somewhere near her, waves of power surge. Astrid feels fear in her stomach like she's eaten it for breakfast. It's more humiliating than she can feel, and Astrid feels all of it.

        The ground shakes underneath her, she feels that too. Pebbles tremble under the weight. Crevasses crack even further. And all the things, all the people, whatever force of nature is, it decides to come towards her. 

        She's starting to feel really over it.

        "I've heard of you throughout the galaxy," a voice rumbles, "the esteemed warrior that knows the battle better than herself."

        Whatever rubble that surrounds Astrid comes to life. Whatever shiny covered by dirt, whatever forgeable. It weaves its way through the rest of the wreckage and helps her up. Astrid's hands shake because of it, and she breathes just a little bit heavier, but she thinks it'll do her some good to sit upright. At the very least save her dignity.

        Leaning on the waste, gripping tightly on the alloy, she's finally sitting properly. Her adversary waits simply. It's an embarrassing courtesy she usually gives.

        Sniffling, Astrid shrugs, "That's awkward. I've never heard of you."

        The Mad Titan laughs like he knows she's deflecting. Her lie barely pricks him. It's so small he could flick it off. It leaves Astrid digging her fingertips into the metal beneath her hand.

        "Well, now you know me," he answers merely, "And now I know you."

        An instinctual retort rises in Astrid's throat like bile, and it goes down like it too. There's still a part of Astrid that holds onto the possibility that this isn't really her. She's better than this like she's always known. He doesn't know her like he so smugly thinks. She wouldn't present herself so transparently. A warrior, yes. A fighter, yes. Weak like this? Either he would be too dead to get the chance to see or Astrid would be.

        She pushes that all back. She pushes it back like a sword through her throat.

        At her silence, he continues, "I bet you think what I did was unthinkable. It's difficult to understand."

        "And yet it seems to make perfect sense to you."

        "I think if anyone were to understand, it would be you."

        Her lips curl into something unbecoming. He says it like it is a compliment. A pleasure. And maybe it truly is to him. But his mind is demented. Everything he does just further proves it. To even be barely thought of as one and the same, just kicks her down even further.

        He nods, "I will finally do your world justice. As I have down with many others."

        Astrid knows his plan. Hearing it once was one thing. Hearing it, again and again, is another.

        "It is your world, correct?" He questions. "Asgard destroyed. Earth at my grasp. It's the only place you have left. And you've spent so much wasted energy protecting it and its people. It must've been a terrible burden putting out fire after fire only for them to reject you and kick you out. Do not worry. I will lift some of the weight off."

        Finally, looking up at him, she snarls, "Is this your idea of carrying the burden?"

        "It is," he answers truthfully, "I think you'll see it soon."

        Astrid shakes her head profusely. Not only to him but to herself. "Killing half the population is lazy," she spits.

        "You'll see," is all he speaks, "Soon."

         "Do you think me a mad," Astrid scoffs, "a mad person?"

        "I believe," he replies, "we share something in common, Odinsdottir." Stepping back, Astrid feel her losing him. She's running out of time here. And when time runs out here, wherever they are, they'll suffer the same fate by his hands. "We see what other people don't. What they don't want to."

        "Delusions. All of it."

        "You or me?" He ponders. It's not genuine; it's not a real question. Not for him. 

         Silence on both ends.

        "You'll see."

         Astrid doesn't have it in her to respond.

        And then he's gone. And Astrid is too.

𓌪 ... 𓌱

In the Royal Palace
ASGARD

[ ... ]

        Somewhere in the space, within the reach of her home, Astrid is safe in her bedroom that lies within the maze that is the royal palace. Safe in her being, but not safe in her mind. Not safe where she once was.

        The princess springs up, gasping, begging for her. She's clutching at her heart, urging it to work. Every exhale is rough in her throat, lodged somewhere between her lungs and esophagus. Her own hand clutches her sweat-soaked sheets as if they've drowned her. Her nails are practically clawing through the seams. In her haze, she can still feel the ghostly, aching cuts and slashes she gained from the wreckage that Astrid felt as reality. 

        But this is reality.

        Being in her bedroom, in the palace of Asgard where her family resides. This is real; those are dreams, she tells herself. This is real.

        It's a mantra in her head. An alarm clock that can never go off. It's nothing else but those words in her head as she attempts to convince herself. As she attempts to lure herself back into her universe and away from whatever that identical world was. 

        Even then, Astrid feels the oblivion somehow seep through her home. The dread. The dream is a memory. It never fades; it never goes. She can't move past it because now it's all she is. She can't let go because it is her. 

        That version, that flick of Astrid is her. Maybe not now. But the feeling of inevitability is there all the same.

        This is reality, she tells herself. Even if it's not the truth.

        (In time, you will come to understand.)

        (I will never understand your mind.)

        (It is not only my mind. It is yours.)

        Do you dream of your downfall?

        Yes, yes I do.

𓌪 ... 𓌱

        WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL PROLOGUE OF ANTAGONIZE ME!!!

        I binged watched a bunch of MCU movies and suddenly got inspired!!! The prologue is meant to be a bit confusing, basically dream-like heeheh but I don't think its impossible to decipher. It's probably pretty easy.

        But it's exciting to finally have a chapter out!!! I hope you guys enjoy it!!

         Next chapter will be of young! Thor, Loki, and Astrid!! Fun bonding before all the angst!!