Merciful
Chapter Seven: Wit Beyond Measure
Jaida
"Thor, that's mean!" Jane said, shoving her boyfriend playfully. I rolled my eyes. Thor looked completely and utterly confused.
"I'm just a bit tired, Thor," I chuckled slightly. Thor had recently returned, slightly tipsy, and asked me if I would like to spar. I was still sore from my little fight with Loki, though, and Jane knew it.
"Ah, I understand, Lady Jaida," Thor rumbled. "Perhaps tomorrow then?"
"Perhaps."
Anyone who thinks cunning and wit will always prevail over brute strength should go a round with Thor. The guy is practically the definition of brute strength!
Luckily, Thor decided he wouldn't use Mjolnir and yet would allow me use of my own weapons for the sake of balancing mortal and god, something I was extremely grateful for. Of course, it wasn't complete balance, but I would deal with it.
"Ready when you are, Thor," I said, lightly stepping around the god. He nodded shortly before charging recklessly. At first I was surprised, thinking this would be done easily, and I leapt out of Thor's way. He reached a hand out and stopped himself against the electric barrier - which sparked and fizzed, but didn't affect him.
"Crud," I muttered. "Hey Loki? I don't think that's fair!"
"God power; sorry, all's fair in war!" Loki said with a mischievous grin. Double crud; can't use the barrier. Need to avoid the barrier. Guess I'll be relying on my weak little knife.
As I was cursing my idiocy in agreeing to this, Thor grabbed me from behind. Immediately, I slipped out of his grip as a bird and kicked his chest, sending him back - two steps. The dude was like a brick! We would be ducking and charging all day! Unless….
Thor watched me confidently, and I remembered what he had been like when he had first come to Earth, or Midgard; cocky, overconfident, and overall the spoiled prince. From his stance right now, that hadn't all entirely left him. Alright; weakness number one.
I dodged a blow and deflected another, not showing how much it hurt; that would bruise in the morning.
Thor wasn't magical by Asgardian standards from what I had heard. He didn't have any magic. He was a typical Viking, fighting with fists and hammers. The closest he could get to magic was his berserker rage, and he shouldn't get that worked up in a friendly spar. I, however, was genetically engineered to turn into a bird.
I utilized this skill as Thor attempted to swipe my legs from under me, and I leapt into the air. I then dove downwards, turning human at the last minute and landing with my hands on Thor's shoulder in a handstand before pushing off hard enough to make the god stumble. Abandoning my flighty style, I sunk into a low crouch and immediately dove down, pulling Thor's feet from beneath him. He landed with a thud, but easily picked himself back up. I sighed and flew to the limits on the barrier. I had to think of something, because I was not surrendering and I was not going down without a fight. What other weaknesses?
Mjolnir was his main power source. Even without it, this guy was an insane muscle machine. Then again, even with the hammer, the Hulk had easily taken him out. So brute strength could overcome the definition of brute strength. However, I wasn't brute strength, and I never had been. I was the martial artist and archer; I relied on physics and transformations into a bird to take down my opponents. So why should this be any harder? Yes, Thor was pure muscle, but that would just mean a little more beating around. Right now, he was no different than a few alley-way thugs. Well, slightly stronger and, you know, godlier, but it was the same principle; outsmart and out-maneuver him.
Correct conclusion, however, I have one bit of advice; be careful if you begin to overpower him. He will realize that it is possible for you to win and will begin using his powers. Just because he doesn't have Mjolnir, that doesn't mean that he has no power over the air and lightning.
I jumped; what the heck was Loki's voice doing in my head?!
Loki
I watched the fight with glee; it was a pleasant change, seeing Thor try to beat up someone other than myself. It was also quite amusing to watch Jaida's face grow more and more frustrated; I could practically see her mind in overdrive, trying to figure out how to use her wit to overcome a giant. I had complete faith that she would come at least near to winning. After all, she had fared pretty well against me a few days ago.
You must gain her trust.
That voice from my dream; the fact that he could get into my head while I was resting was worrying enough, but now I was awake and my barriers were stronger than ever. Who was this man? And why should I make her trust me?
It's all part of a plan.
A/N: Happy holidays! This is just a mini chapter, as I wanted to have something up for the holidays. Now I have to go write an R5 fiction for MuchoMangoz17354! I was so close to Ratliff today, he was in the airport not half an hour away! And yet, Christmas dinner :( See y'all later!
Question of the Day: What was your favorite Christmas gift? Mine was a Loki keychain!