For once, fanfiction is unblocked on my school computer. It sure helps a lot because it's hard to update my stories on my phone and I don't have the patience right now to use my old dinosaur home laptop. This quarantine thing is not super horrible since I usually don't do much socializing outside of school but I miss my friends and I don't like doing online learning. It feels weird just doing homework all the time instead of me sitting in class not saying a word and kind of zoning out a lot. On the plus side, Algebra 2 is easier because it's just the website that we use for homework assignments which give you an example so that you have a reference for your own problem. And quizzes are supposed to be on the same website so I should be able to use whatever I need to complete them. Still, I wish that math didn't exist and that I could back to school so that I could be with my friends again. I hope everyone is doing well. Hopefully, this chapter will help with quarantine. :)

Just a fair warning, there is some usage of stronger language in this chapter.

Chapter Five: Heartbreaker

"Sakaar. What a stupid name," Jormungandr muttered. "It's fitting at least. A stupid name for a stupid place ruled by a stupid person."

Sleipnir rubbed his temples. His head still hurt and Jormungandr's complaining only made matters worse.

Holding up a hand half in question and half as a way to slow things down, Sleipnir asked, "What did the Grandmaster mean when he said that we 'looked like fighters?'"

"Oh, Sakaar is a place where two things happen: parties and gladiator fights," Korg replied.

"Parties?" Sleipnir asked.

Korg opened his mouth to say something but then paused. Looking at the two, Korg's facial expression switched from mild happiness to confusion.

"How old did you say you were?" Korg finally asked.

"He's thirteen. I'm fourteen," Sleipnir said, pointing to Jormungandr first and then to himself.

Korg's eyes widened. "Oh, dear. Oh, dear. I am certainly not going to explain what goes on at the Grandmaster's parties to such young ones as yourselves. The gladiator fights, however, are easier to explain. Although I wonder why he sent rather young fighters down here instead of letting you go."

"He sure didn't look like he wanted to let anyone go," Jormungandr stated, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against a wall.

"Well, usually the fighters are a lot older…" Korg's voice trailed off and he looked down at Miek who nodded in agreement.

"Anyways," Korg piped up. "The fighters go out into the ring and battle until only one stands. If the Grandmaster feels like the winner is worthy enough, he will have them face his champion. And nobody has won - or lived - after fighting the Grandmaster's champion."

"You've lived," Jormungandr pointed out.

"Oh I just do the earlier fights to hype up the crowd and whatnot. I've never actually faced the champion," Korg said.

Korg continued to explain how the fights worked in a happier voice than one would expect for something so gruesome.

"Great. This is fan-freaking-tastic," Jormungandr complained when Korg was done. Korg's explanation of how Sakaar worked did not suit Jormungandr's liking one bit. Yes, he may enjoy the occasional fight but a full-blown battle to the death in front of thousands of strange people cheering on the death and blood was something that he usually refrained from unless he was provoked. Even then, his fights were easily one-sided as he used to tower over his prey.

Jormungandr grabbed Sleipnir's arm and pulled him away from Korg and Miek to talk alone. He had grown angry at the horse-boy's mistake and his temper had finally reached its breaking point.

"This is all your fault," Jormungandr said, jabbing a finger into Sleipnir's chest. "If it wasn't for you, we would be on Asgard instead of this dump."

"I told you that I am severely out of practice," Sleipnir responded. He understood that Jormungandr had a right to be upset but he didn't like being accused of sending them here when he had no idea how his abilities worked. "I thought that I had it under control... and then something happened. I lost focus and… we ended up here. If it helps, I am truly sorry for this set back."

"Set back? This is more than a set back! We are stuck here, being forced to fight for that pajama man's entertainment. If there's anything that I don't like, its being forced to do something for someone's entertainment. I'm not a show!"

Sleipnir sighed. "I understand, I really do and I am just as concerned as you are but you need to realize that my intentions were not to bring us here. Maybe if we work together, then we can find a way out."

Jormungandr scoffed and rolled his eyes. "A way out? Didn't you hear that rock guy? There's no way out. We're stuck here to do the Grandmaster's bidding."

"Would you stop being so pessimistic?" Sleipnir asked. "Negativity usually does not help when thinking of a solution."

"Then what do you have planned, oh intelligent one?" Jormungandr asked sarcastically.

Sleipnir paused, thinking. Finally, he spoke up in a quiet voice, "I don't know."

That had done it.

The last string had snapped inside Jormungandr and he threw his hands up in frustration as he glared at Sleipnir.

"When you first showed up, I thought that maybe I could hitch a ride with you to somewhere different. You were my ticket out of that damn swamp and you failed. Failed! I could have killed the man who left me there by now if it wasn't for you," Jormungandr hissed.

"I-"

"No," Jormungandr interrupted, his voice just barely under a yell. "No apologies because nothing that you say will ever help fix what a disappointment you are to me. First, I get abandoned by a father that you want to go find. Then, you just came waltzing in, claiming that we were 'brothers "and whatnot and just started to boss me around. And now we're stuck here, waiting for a bloody end to a pathetic life that I've lived."

"You're not pathetic and I'm sure that our father will want us back," Sleipnir muttered, shocked almost into silence by Jormungandr's rage. "It was our grandfather who left us, not our father. Our father tried to get us back, I've told this already."

"No, just no! Stop with the 'ours' and the 'us.' There is no 'we.' You and I are not a team. Father, grandfather. What's the difference? If either of them truly cared, then they'd be out here saving out asses from your miserable mistake. You might as well give up because your pathetic fantasy of a 'perfect family life' is never gonna FREAKING HAPPEN!"

The circular dungeon was big enough for Jormungandr's voice to bounce off the walls and ring out in the silent air. Korg, followed closely by Miek, rounded the bend and glanced at the two in shock. His rocky mouth had dropped open and he looked rather confused by the tension. Jormungandr gave the rock creature a sidelong glance before turning back towards Sleipnir.

"You know what, we may or may not be related by blood, but you are not my brother. When we go out there, to die, just expect one thing from me: I am not on your side and I don't care whether or not you survive. And if it comes down to us battling against each other, I'm not holding back. Because you are dead to me."

Stay safe, review, favorite, and wash your hands! More is coming soon! :)