Chapter 20: David vs Goliath

Fandral grunted as his back slammed against the wall, Kelsey's forearm pressed against his neck. He tapped her elbow, silently commanding her to step back so he could have some air.

"Not bad," Fandral complimented her with a smile as he panted for breath. "Remember, don't be afraid to come closer when you are shifting them against the wall," he pulled her forward, lifting the arm back against his neck. Their sides nearly touched, too close for the girl's comfort. "They expect you to create the distance, not the other way around."

Kelsey nodded, releasing a shaky breath, "Okay." She resumed her back against the wall, "Let's go again."

"Perhaps, she should take a break, Fandral," Sif suggested. "Her burns might have healed, but Eir advised not to overdo it."

"I'm fine, really," Kelsey protested. "Can I try one more time? Just one more? I really want to get this right." There was a moment of reluctant silence to consider her request. "Please?"

"Sure," Fandral was the first to cave. "Another blow to the back will not kill me..." The man trailed off, realizing the poor choice of words.

"Fandral," Hogun scolded quietly, even though Fandral knew his mistake.

The charming warrior facepalmed, "Damn. Um - I - Forgive me, Kelsey."

The girl waved it off as if it didn't bother her, "No. No. No, you're fine. It's okay."

"No, it is not. What happened to you last night was traumatic, to put it lightly. That monster nearly killed you and..." Fandral refused to shift the blame on anyone or anything; this was his fault, and he must own up to his words. "I was being insensitive."

"No. Really, it's okay," Kelsey smiled to ease the man's guilty conscience. Honestly, the attack was nothing compared to what happened later that night. Kelsey begged Eir to clear her, for she did want to go home, where it was safe. However, the burns extended her recovery time, much to Kelsey's frustration. Until then, Kelsey must keep her distance and learn how to defend herself if a frost giant or friend repeatedly corners her with no chance of escaping. While Fandral taught her to wrap the man's leg and reverse the position by a single turn, Sif suggested screaming and kicking to keep the perpetrator from coming closer.

"I would like to apologize as well, Kelsey," Sif offered, her eyes slanted to the ground. No doubt, the wheels in her head were spinning, conjuring up a possible explanation. "I don't understand how I could have fallen asleep on duty. That has never happened before."

"It seems we all are having a tough week," Volstagg declared, patting the goddess's shoulder sympathetically. "First, the giants broke Asgard's barrier right under your brother's nose - not once, but twice."

"Don't even shed light on the subject," Sif commanded. No doubt, the gatekeeper was listening to the conversation in dread. He would've if he could step out of his post for one minute to defend himself. Keeping Asgard safe was crucial for a difficult time such as this. "Heimdall swore that none had passed him. He still couldn't figure out how they managed to perform such a feat - undetected." Sif sighed sadly after Hogun asked if she was alright. She reluctantly explained, "There is talk of him stepping down as Asgard's gatekeeper until the mystery is solved."

"Odin cannot be serious?!" Fandral exasperated. "Heimdall has nothing to do with this. He is not a traitor."

"You heard what Laufey said. Someone here is aiding the giants. Of course, it is obvious we know who!"

Kelsey knew who Sif was referring to, "How do you know it's him, Sif?" All eyes were on her. The girl should've kept her mouth shut but couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. "How do you know?"

Sif scoffed, "As I said, it is obvious."

"Okay..." the mortal drawled, "do you have any proof?"

"I don't need proof to know, without a doubt, it is Loki Odinson who has betrayed us - his own family - his own brother. Based on what you confided earlier, Loki lied about seeing his mother. He was there in the vault for a reason - something far more sinister beyond his occasional mischief."

"That's all hearsay," Kelsey pointed out. "I wasn't actually in the vault to see what Loki was doing there or who he was meeting with. You can't testify what Loki said to me in the room; you were asleep!" Sif pinched her brows and tightened her grip around the sword handle in her holster. Kelsey noticed where Sif's hand lay, taking a cautious step back. She should've kept her mouth shut.

Hogun touched Sif's shoulder, telling her to settle down, for Kelsey was right. Loki was the king's son - a prince. Accusing him without proof was an act of treason. The last thing the group needed was to lose another friend in this neverending battle.

"My apologies, Kelsey," Sif softened.

"It's okay. I get it. You're trying to help your brother-"

"Not just that. If only you could see how vile of a snake Loki truly-"

"Listen," Kelsey assured her hastily. "Believe me when I tell you that I know." Sif softened, though her scowl remained as she listened intently. "I know Loki has the motive and magic to pull it off; it's just... I was also accused of being a liar when I was actually telling the truth. It's the worst feeling to be on the other side of that, and - and..." she huffed in frustration, rubbing her slightly puffy eyes from all the crying she did last night.

"Say no more, Kelsey," Volstagg raised an assuring hand. "We understand."

"Thank you," Kelsey breathed out, relieved she no longer had to explain herself.

"If Thor was here-" Sif began.

"Do not forget, Sif," Fandral argued. "The Giants did show up for Thor's coronation. He wouldn't have mattered to Laufey anyway, god of thunder or not."

"If Laufey is smart," Volstagg suggested, "he will stop before he signs a death warrant for his army."

"Perhaps they are well aware of the risks," Hogun interjected, "and don't mind dying as long as they believe in their cause."

"That's barbaric!" Fandral exclaimed in disgust.

"Do not forget, my friends, we are at war," Hogun squeezed the man's shoulder. "Diplomacy can't protect us anymore."

"We don't need it. They had already lost. What they wish to achieve is impossible. The Norns are against them from the very start."

Nothing is impossible. Kelsey pouted at the dreadful truth. She hugged herself and breathed heavily through the gruesome images of her blood splattering on the stone walls and those red eyes staring right at hers - possibly the last thing she'll see before death. How did Wendy and the children feel when they found themselves in a battle with the pirates and must fight to survive? With its mysticism and youth, residency in Neverland came with a price.

"I shall be back," Sif marched away from the group.

"Where are you going, Sif?" Volstagg demanded.

"I cannot stand here and do nothing!" she declared. "I must go to the Allfather myself and convince him to bring back Thor. If he doesn't listen, then I shall make him listen!" Her words were final as she continued to her destination. The words dreaded the men; they all feared the worse if Odin denied the goddess's request. It wasn't debatable whether or not it would end well in Sif's favor; Kelsey and the men knew as much.

Nonetheless, each one volunteered to accompany her - one by one. Kelsey followed them in the caboose like a loyal lost boy. She didn't want to be a witness to the possible drama in the throne room, but what choice did she have? She was terrible with directions and didn't want to be alone, refusing to risk running into her friend without protection.

~000~000~000~

Thor sat on a bench and stared at the empty playground, keeping his eyes peeled for AJ and Lenny to ensure he won't cause any trouble for the lad.

The janitor questioned him. A childless grown man should never go near a playground. Thor did respond that he was there for Andrew Jackson. The janitor pressed for details. Was Thor a babysitter or a relative? The pick-up time wasn't until later.

"Absolutely not," Thor questioned the janitor's words with a Stinky Pete face. "Do Midguardians really substitute cushions for infants?" Unbeknownst to him, Thor scared the woman back inside the school.

"Hey, Mew-Mew."

Thor looked over both shoulders to see Darcy sitting on the bench beside him while Garrett kept his distance, standing on the opposing side.

"Sir Garrett, Darcy," Thor greeted heartedly. "What do I owe this pleasure?"

"You," Darcy replied directly, resting a hand underneath her chin and admiring him. "Brad and I saw you passing by at the bar, so we-"

"And by we, Darcy means she dragged me all the way over here to satisfy her curiosity," Garrett grumbled, putting his hands on his hips. "Didn't even let me finish my sandwich."

"Oh, please! Don't say this is your first rodeo stalking Hunk-a-Roni over here, and it probably won't be the last."

"Hunk-a-what?" Thor questioned, turning to Garrett for an answer only to notice the bothered look on his face. Garrett must've taken what happened last night to heart. "How are you feeling, Sir Garrett?" Thor asked with concern.

Garrett scoffed, "You care?" Meanwhile, he was keeping his distance in case Thor decided to beat him up on the spot.

Thor was taken aback by his comment, "Of course, I care. How can I not?"

"I lied to you, man," Garrett pointed out. "Jane did call, but I didn't do what she wanted, which was you. She wanted you."

Thor nodded; his expression was neutral, "I see."

"I expect you to beat my ass right about now."

Thor pinched his brows questionably, "Why would I do that?"

"Dude, I lied to you, and to be honest, I'm not going to apologize for trying to protect Jane," Garrett acted courageously, but his twitching lips broke the facade. He was terrified of the pain but was ready for it.

"Nor do I expect it," Thor stared straight ahead at the playground, not bothering to look at Garrett's surprised expression. "I understand, Sir Garrett. Taking drastic measures for the people you care about. It's admirable. I could never hold a grudge for doing what you think is best for the group."

"Not everyone in the group," Darcy mumbled. Meanwhile, Garrett briefly gazed at Thor in narrow suspicion.

"Yeah," he agreed cautiously, averting his eyes to the ground. "How is she doing?"

"I don't know," Thor admitted. "She hasn't spoken a word about last night. Dr. Selvig keeps her busy with projects, pretending the argument didn't happen."

Darcy wasn't satisfied with that response; she pressed for answers. "C'mon. It's obvious that Jane trusts you enough to be her confidant about stuff."

"Like what?"

"Like..." Darcy pretended to think of an example, "Like whether or not she's going to fire me, for example?"

Thor looked at her, horrified, "You believe she would set you on fire?!"

Darcy laughed, shaking her head, almost astonished, "Wow, you take shit seriously in your world, don't you? Sucks to be you."

Thor's frown deepened, offended by that remark, "See, that is where you're wrong, Darcy. I, too, can jest from time to time."

"But not all the time," Darcy retorted.

Before Thor could spare a possible Dad joke, Garrett interjected, "She's asking about her job."

Darcy snorted, "I wouldn't exactly call it that since I'm not getting paid."

"Oh..." Thor furrowed his brows in deep thought, "As I said, she has not spoken about last night. I dare not say a word, for I fear it might upset her."

"Could you, like, maybe, talk to her?" Darcy asked. "Put in a good word for me?"

"What about me?" Garrett waved his arms, only to be ignored.

"I can try, but I doubt it would work," Thor's lips curled upright at the thought of Jane's spirit. "She's far too stubborn for her own good."

Garrett humphed, agreeing, "Yeah, she is."

"One thing we have in common," Thor's face tensed at the next set of the truth. "Listen well, Sir Garrett, it was never my intention to come between you and her. Forgive me-"

Darcy snorted into a hearty cackle, ceasing Thor's sentence. Garrett and Thor looked at Darcy questionably, silently asking what amused her.

"Do you seriously think... that she and Brad are... together?!" Darcy asked in between laughter. Garrett rolled his eyes.

"They are not courting?" Thor asked.

"Hell no!"

"I wish," Garrett grumbled. "I'm legal and everything, but she's too busy looking at you to notice. Not your fault you can't afford scissors and have the metabolism for those washboard abs..." He tilted at the mane, "Or maybe it is."

"Oh, trust me, Brad, she noticed," Darcy informed, "you reeked of desperation, but it doesn't matter. You are mistaking love for a crush - a brief infatuation for a woman who is typically not your type just for kicks."

The teen snapped in her direction, "Whatcha mean, my type? Maybe I'm just attracted to women who are born fierce and SAT-smart. Huh? You ever think of that?"

"Still gross to drink something ten years out of date."

"Oh, so a younger woman can gush over a thousand-something-year-old man but not the other way around?" Garrett challenged.

Darcy slapped her thighs in annoyance, "That's different."

"You're right. If this guy, right here," Garrett pointed at Thor, "is really that old - if that's true, then don't you think it's disgusting to drink something that has been sitting out of date that long, even if it's just plain water?"

One look at Thor's youth, Darcy shrugged in dismissal, "If it looks right, it'll taste right. Tarzan and Jane are compatible. It sounds better than Brad and Jane." She stuck her tongue out to express her disgust.

"It's Thor," the former god corrected.

Garrett scoffed at Darcy's ridiculous logic, "You are such a hypocrite."

"And you are an asshole!" Darcy retorted.

"How am I an asshole?" he demanded, dropping the sass. "Am I an asshole just for speaking the truth?"

"The truth?!" Darcy was caught between laughing and wringing the boy's neck, "Don't preach to me about the truth, Brad? Jane trusted you, and you blew it with your so-called truth. You think calling yourself a Christian automatically puts you on a pedestal! The right to be above all the other sinners and be so righteous-"

"I never said that!"

"You're no better than me - not even your stuck-up mother. Your dad can't wash his hands, but I'm willing to bet my last pudding cup that you got your mom's asshole since it's full of-!

"Hey!" Garrett snapped defensively, his turn to jab a finger in her direction. "That's a low blow, Lewis!"

"Darcy," Thor shook his head, silently warning Darcy not to go too far.

The intern knew the last comment crossed a line, but she was on fire, "Can't fault me for speaking my truth."

"Bitch, you don't know anything!"

Unfazed by Garrett's name-calling, Darcy continued, "And I don't need to! This arrangement is temporary, which means when Kelsey comes home, I'll be flying out of this hell hole very soon! Me, Kelsey, the boys, and Jane!" Garrett's frown deepened as she emphasized the last name - a guaranteed stab in the heart. "Far-far away from you, your dad's filthy hands, and your mom's killer cookies! I'm sure Hunk-a-roni feels the same way?! Right, Thor?" The god opened his mouth, but fortunately, Garrett didn't allow him to speak his mind.

"You think I care what this Viking thinks about me?" Garrett challenged. "I doubt his dad treats his people fairly - if he is really king. Awesome title and privilege reserved for his golden child and his golden child only!"

"Lest not forget, Sir Garrett," Thor retorted softly, "my father banished me into your realm, stripping my crown and title in the first place."

"For real?" the teen raised a questionable brow. Thor confirmed it with a single word and nod. "Damn," Garrett didn't know what to say about that. He took that back. He knew exactly what to say, but it wouldn't be pleasant. "Um... I'm - I'm sorry, man."

"You should be!" Darcy snapped. Thor silently motioned Darcy to calm down before he accepted the boy's apology, assuring it was for the best. Odin was teaching his son a lesson. Whatever that lesson was, Thor must figure it out himself.

Little did he know that Garrett understood the position more than anyone should know. Even though he was out of the gutter long ago, it didn't erase his father's disappointment or undo the smear on the family's reputation. Paster Bradley would forever be known to have a convicted sinner for a son. What a tragedy. Meanwhile, the wife was scrambling for entitlement. No amount of time and effort could bring back that basketball scholarship nor ignite the desire to follow in his father's footsteps. Nothing else would please the parents, so why bother trying? Garrett could've told Thor as much, but that would spoil the surprise.

"Hey, best of luck to you, man," Garrett offered a hand not to shake. Learning the basic low-five from AJ, Thor gently followed through the simple step, only to lean back in shock and raise his arm defensively when Garrett made a fist.

"No, no, no!" Garrett waved assuringly, shaking his sore limb, "I wasn't gonna hit you. This is a fist pump."

"What does that mean?" Thor wondered.

"Oh my God," Garrett blinked in astonishment. This former god had a lot to learn in this world. The teen patiently instructed the clueless Viking to make a fist and tap it against his. "Don't leave me hangin', man." However, the former god's tap felt like a punch instead, knocking Garrett's flexed arm back against the bench, which caused radiating nerve pain up his neck. Darcy cringed at the painful sound, betting it would leave a mark.

"I said gently!" Garrett winced, cradling his arm.

"I'm truly sorry, my friend," Thor reached out to examine the appendage for any swelling or bruises. "Forgive me."

"Aww," Darcy wrapped her arm around Thor's neck, leaning her hand against his shoulder. "Come on, Brad. You can't deny that sweet face." Darcy grasped the bearded jaw with her thumb and forefinger, puckering his pink lips. Garrett ignored the pretty face, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, there's AJ!" Darcy pointed. The men deserted their dilemma to watch the children run out of the building for recess.

"Wait a minute, doesn't school end at 12:00?" Garrett looked at his watch to see the time, "It's only ten."

"Why exactly are we here?" Darcy asked Thor curiously.

"To help AJ end this," Thor stood up from the bench and called out to the boy, leaving Garrett and Darcy confused. AJ widened his eyes in surprise and quickly hurried toward his best friend.

"What are you doing here?" AJ asked with a grin, hoping for an early dismissal.

"Fear not, AJ," Thor kneeled. "I'm here to help."

"Help?" Darcy wondered. "With math homework? The kid is better off on his own."

"Today, you shall take down Lenny, the bully," Thor announced. AJ's jaw dropped as he stepped back, shaking his head in refusal.

"Who the hell is Lenny?" Garrett demanded.

"Lenny is a coward who harrassed AJ daily," Thor explained, cupping the boy's shoulder cap to stop him from moving further.

"Ah," Darcy nodded in understanding. "AJ is suffering a bad case of the bullies - been there, done that."

"Someone picked on you, too?" AJ pointed at Darcy. "No way!"

"Who hasn't been a victim?" Darcy rhetorically asked. "Mine was Megan McGee. She's a bee! The Queen of Mean. She even lowers her parents' self-esteem."

"Wow, someone should write a rap about that," Garrett commented on Darcy's impressive rhyming.

"N-No," AJ refused. "I can't do it!"

"AJ, you can," Thor encouraged him. "You must march to the enemy and show him that you are a coward no more. He may have started the battle, but only you," he poked the boy's chest, "can finish it."

"B-But..." AJ paused to find an excuse. "he's not here. I can't fight him if he's not here."

"Fight?!" Garrett cried in shock. "Thor, what the hell are you telling him?!"

"Is that Lenny?" Darcy pointed at the overweight kid, who pushed another boy out of the way so that he could have a turn on the slide.

AJ offered the intern an appreciative glare, "Thanks a lot, Darcy."

Darcy smiled, "You're welcome. I admit; it's been a while since I've seen kids fight. They are entertaining to watch until a teacher gets involved."

"But I don't know how!" AJ cried out, helplessly waving his hands in the air.

"You know," Thor promised. "The element of surprise, remember? Just as we discussed. You can do this. Come here," Thor turned AJ's body around to face the big kid. "Go straight up to him, look him in the eye, and tell him that if he dares push you around again, he shall feel your wrath."

"Thor, I don't think that's a wise move," Garrett reasoned. "Maybe we should go find a teacher."

"No way!" AJ rejected the idea instantly. "Lenny threatens the teachers too! Saying that his dad is a lawyer, and he can accuse them of child abuse!"

"Damn! Not a lawyer!"

"Yeah!"

"Who cares if his father lawyers for a living?" Thor barked. "It is evident that he cannot parent his child. AJ must personally teach that oaf some manners!"

"You didn't learn anything from S.H.I.E.L.D., did ya?" Garrett shook his head in dismay.

Thor ignored him, motivating the child, "AJ, I believe in you. You are a boy about to become a man."

"Really?"

"You have my word," Thor grasped the boy's shoulders again. "Now, take a deep breath." AJ inhaled but held it in. His eyes pleaded with Thor to let him exhale. Thor laughed and commanded him to let it out; AJ blew the air out intensely.

"Now, lift your chin." AJ obeyed. "Good. Now march over there and repeat what I told you."

AJ didn't want to do this. He forgot the script already. Regardless, he pleased Thor by saying the opposite of his internal thoughts, "Okay."

"Okay," Thor ignored the timidness in AJ's tone. He approved the word alone with a smile. "Okay!" he patted the boy's shoulder, giving him a slight push toward the playground. AJ looked over his shoulder at Thor, who motioned him to keep going. AJ slowly and reluctantly continued the march.

"I really think we should go find an adult," Garrett insisted. "Someone with a law degree."

"Don't be a nark, Brad," Darcy whined. "You're ruining my chance to see a good fight."

"A good fight? Are you blind? Look at that kid. He's huge! His dad is a freakin' lawyer! He'll sue our ass!"

"Nah, AJacks will be fine. Thor wouldn't have sent him over there if he didn't have faith..." Darcy looked up at Thor questionably, "Would you?"

AJ made it to the slides where Lenny and his buddies were mocking a little girl's voice and taking her doll from her crying self. This was just like the story of David and Goliath. All it took was one smooth stone to defeat the beast. AJ must be David. The shepherd boy lacked physicality but had strength from his heart. His faith alone was the reason God appointed him to be a king. Thor was right; it was time for AJ to stand up for himself. The boy puffed up with pride as he marched after the big kid.

"Lenny!" AJ called for him.

The laughter stopped. The posse looked around, confused until the boys spotted the golden child.

Lenny's laughter continued, realizing who was calling him, "Well, lookie here. Come here for another reading lesson, loser?" He sighed heavily as if it took everything out of him to do this boy a simple favor, "Fine!" He leveled with AJ's height, pitching his voice higher - the same tone a parent would use for a toddler. "Repeat after me. A is for Ass that I can kick. A-S-S - Ass. B is for Best, which I am B-E-S-T. And C is for Catastrophe, a word you can't spell."

"Shut up!" AJ snapped.

Lenny blinked in confusion before he narrowed his eyes and hovered at the boy threateningly, "What did you just say, loser?"

"Did you just tell him to shut up?" one of Lenny's minions challenged.

Fear crept up to AJ, only to push it aside, "I-I'm sick of you, Lenny! I'm sick of you pushing m-me around!"

Despite the stammer, AJ's yelling captured the kids' attention. Thor, Garrett, and Darcy had difficulty seeing the action, for the slide was blocking their way. Two teachers were chatting by the doorway, one having a smoke break. Neither one had a clue as to what was going on.

"From-from now on, you-you do your own work!" AJ uttered his demands with growing confidence. "Bring your own lunch! And-And stop threatening the teachers! I'm not going to be your body bag anymore! I don't care if your dad went to law school! It doesn't give you a free pass to be a jerk to everyone! From now on, just leave us alone! Got it?!"

AJ could've sworn he saw Lenny flinch, but the bully quickly returned to his ugly façade.

"Aww, look at that, boys," Lenny cooed. "Dumber is standing up for the dummies. How cute."

"Yeah, that's what friends do. You should try it sometime."

Lenny's smirk faltered. The kids oohed and whispered to each other. They couldn't believe this small kid was talking back to an enormous kid like Lenny. The bully was getting angry, requiring a good comeback.

"Oh yeah?!" Lenny began hastily. "Well... um..."

"You're going to let him talk to you like that, Len?" his friend asked.

"Shut up!" Lenny snapped, causing his friend's jaw to snap shut.

"Well?" AJ challenged, putting his hands on his hips. "Nothing to say, punk?"

Lenny and AJ stared at one another intently. Before AJ knew it, Lenny's fist flew against AJ's jaw. The more petite boy tumbled onto the ground, grasping his jaw and crying in pain. He wanted to shed a tear but spat out the fresh taste of blood on the ground instead. Lenny might've knocked a tooth loose, hopefully not a permeant one.

"AJ!" Garrett, Thor, and Darcy hurried to him before the confrontation escalated.

"Uh, hello?!" Garrett yelled at the teachers for their attention. Both were young enough to have finished college recently and lacked the experience to handle Class A delinquents like Lenny. "Fight alert! Aren't you guys gonna do something?"

"You're kidding, right?" one teacher asked, puffing her cigarette. "Do you know what that kid's dad does for a living?"

Garrett slumped his shoulders and jaw dropped in disbelief, "Are you serious? Did you guys graduate in Clown U or something?! Go get somebody! And put that light out! No dude wants to kiss a chimney; I sure don't!" With a heavy sigh, the two teachers sulked back inside, taking their sweet time to find an adult.

"Why don't you go home and cry to your mommy?" Lenny scoffed before a thought entered in mind. "Oh, wait. I forgot. You don't have a mommy!" He crossed the line the second he began mimicking car engine noises and explosions, along with a wimpy girly cry for help. It was becoming too much. Even his buddies weren't laughing, clearly uncomfortable by it but not enough to say anything. AJ had enough. Nobody should make fun of his mother, especially when she's not around to defend herself.

Before Lenny knew it, he was on the ground with AJ on top of him, repeatedly punching his face.

"F is for face that I can hit! F-A-C-E! G is for Garbage like your deodorant! G-A-R-A-G-E!" AJ didn't care about the misspelling. Giving this bully a taste of his medicine was AJ's top priority.

"Stop! Stop!" Lenny pleaded, feeling his nose drip in blood. The kids around him were cheering AJ on, chanting his name.

"H is for-"

"AJ!" the boy stopped punching Lenny and looked up at Thor, who broke the circle.

Lenny looked up at Thor with hope, reaching his arm and whimpering his plea for assistance, "H-Help me." H-E-L-P.

Much to Lenny's dismay, Thor laughed as he lifted AJ off and patted his shoulder with approval, "Well done, lad." AJ grinned while Lenny's mouth parted in shock. That tall man was an adult; he shouldn't condone this behavior. His expression changed 180 when Thor narrowed his eyes at him. "Now you know how the children felt when you had beaten them down with your words and fists. I hope you take this as a lesson."

"Are you crazy? H-He tried to kill me!" Lenny pleaded.

"That's right. He tried," Thor grasped the collar of the boy's T-Shirt, lifting him to his height. Lenny grasped Thor's wrist, swinging his feet around while pleading with Thor to put him down. The blood slowly dripped from his nose, chin, and clothes - the kids and young adults were trying not to hurl at the gory sight.

"The next time you consider pushing a child off a swing set, you won't be so lucky. Never forget there are a lot of them and only one of you." Thor growled his warning, unintentionally spraying his words at the chubby boy's face. The children listened, taking an adult's wisdom to heart. "If we were in my world, I would personally take you away from your home and have you suffer the wrath of Hel!"

"No! Please!" Lenny squealed, kicking his legs harder.

"Thor," Garrett took a cautious step towards angry Thor and the wounded bully, "in our world, that's called kidnapping."

"You heard him, right?" Darcy challenged the kids. "Many of you," she gestured before pointing at the bully, "but only one twerp. You don't need to be scared of insecure pricks like him. You can all join together to stomp out the bullying now!" Darcy realized the last bit sounded familiar.

"That's right!" Garrett agreed, sounding like motivational speakers in the past. "Bullies don't own this house! You and the teachers do! This is a place to learn and grow, not run and hide. This isn't the game; we play in the playground every day. Smart and dumb, big and small, black and white - we should treat each other with R-E-S-P-E-C-T!"

One child raised his hand to ask, "What does that mean?"

Garrett bit his bottom lip to hold back a reaction. The education in this school had gone downhill. What have the teachers been teaching these kids all summer? The four-foot kid looked old enough to know the meaning and spelling. Then again, this was summer school. No one should judge a book by its cover.

"It means, take care, TCB!" Darcy finished, shocking Garrett. "Who's with me?!" she challenged, pumping a fist. All the children, former posses, and adults cheered on cue. Some struggled to spell the word out loud, but the young adults helped them with a song. Thor followed along while keeping his grip on Lenny's shirt. The boy pleaded and kicked his feet, but the god wouldn't show him mercy.

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Find out what it means to me! R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Take care, TCB!"

Before the kids could perfectly sing the chorus, one of the teachers finally returned to the crime scene with a conservatively dressed adult. The woman blew out a whistle, silencing the crowd immediately.

"Uh-oh. Trouble at nine o'clock," Darcy mumbled.

Garrett and AJ followed Darcy's gaze to see the angry woman coming their way, immediately ducking their heads down after recognizing her. She hadn't been head of the school long but had a reputation. Unlike the previous teachers, this one was a woman of action - her impressive fast pace in heels and her stone-cold face were evident.

"Sir, what do you think you're doing?!" the woman demanded, jabbing her red-polished fingernail in Thor's direction. "Put down that boy this instant!"

"Stay out of this, woman," Thor replied, not taking his eyes off the boy. "I have everything under control."

The woman blinked in disbelief, folding her arms, "Excuse me? Are you a parent?"

"No, I am not. I am a friend of Andrew Jackson," Thor replied proudly, "the brave lad standing behind me."

The woman peered around Thor to catch AJ hiding behind Darcy. The boy, no doubt, tried to avoid the woman's fury at all costs. She turned to Thor, whose grip was still on Lenny's collar shirt.

"Sir, I demand you put the boy down this instant," she commanded.

"Or what?" Thor laughed, "Tell me, woman, who are you to order me around?"

"Marie Tourminet, the school principal."

Thor scoffed, "Principal? Never heard of your kind."

"Uh, Thor," Garrett went to Thor and hastily whispered, "you don't get it. Miss Tourminet is the queen of this place."

Thor raised a brow at Garrett, "Is she now?"

"Oh, yeah, her bite is much worse than her bark. Trust me."

"Sir," Miss Tourminet's voice deepened, "put the boy down, now."

Thor softened his features at the principal and immediately released the boy, who yelped and tumbled onto the ground. Thor reached his hand out to Miss Tourminet for a handshake or a possible kiss on the palm.

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance, your highness," Thor finished with a bow.

Miss Tourminet didn't shake his hand. She turned around to address the students, "Children, back to class. Now." They all didn't hesitate to run back inside the school. AJ and Garrett attempted to avoid punishment by blending in with the crowd. Garrett had to hunch his back to level the kids' height.

"Not you, Andrew, and that includes you, too, Mr. Bradley," the principal commanded the boys without looking at them.

AJ and Garrett stopped in their tracks, feeling the dread wash over them. Even if they ran for it and succeeded, there was no escaping the hot water at home. Garrett knew his parents would hear about this. One simple phone call could motivate Garrett's mother to whip her son with a belt, possibly slapping a patch of color off his skin.

"Leonard, go find a nurse to attend your nose," Miss Tourminet commanded.

Lenny tilted his head back, and his bloody nose pinched, sending a death glare in AJ's direction with a few parting words - a nasal threat, "Wait till Dad hears about this."

"What did you say?" Thor was ready to charge at the boy who hurried inside the school, only for the principal to block the man's path.

Darcy snorted at the familiar line, "Did Draco Malfoy spawn this brat?"

Miss Tourminet addressed the gang sternly, "As for the rest of you... my office." She pointed at the building, indicating for everyone to go inside. AJ obeyed, holding Thor's hand while lowering his head in shame.

"The way she's talking to us, it almost sounds like we are in trouble," Thor whispered to AJ, oblivious to the new situation.

"That's because we are in trouble," AJ pointed out.

"What? Why?" Thor demanded in outrage. "We have done nothing wrong. This was self-defense!"

"I knew we should've called a lawyer first," Darcy huffed, not understanding why she was getting punished. She was only a bystander minding her business, except for the harmless musical number. The principal could be soulless for all Darcy knew.

Garrett scoffed at the intern's jumbled chain of events, "You serious? That was my idea."

"Shut up, Brad!" Darcy snapped. "No one cares."

To make matters worse, Sheriff Herandez and his deputy arrived, explaining to Miss Tourminet that they had received a call about some pervert lurking in the area, matching Thor's description. It didn't help that the janitor was around to make a positive ID.

Miss Tourminet refused to say a word as she indicated the direction to the school's entrance. The gang knew that Jane, Erik, and Garrett's parents wouldn't be too happy when they received the dreaded phone call. AJ hoped his testimony could prevent Thor from going to prison, but he wasn't sure if he could convince Jane and Erik to let Thor stay another day.

A/N 7/2023: Another change in the story is the principal's name. I know what you're thinking. No, Marie Tourminet isn't Ravonna Renslayer from the Loki series, just an Easter egg I put on there in relation to Ravonna's variant self - Rebecca Tourminet. I saw the show and her origin story; it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.