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….
"Uhh…"
"Brother…" Thor started, but I interrupted him, simultaneously casting a distracting illusion mixed with suggestion on the humans so they would think they were persuaded to sit at the table.
"Let me explain a few things before you say anything. First of all, yes, I was in Midgard when you tried to buy a kitten to ride..." Thor's face twisted into genuine horror.
Not because he realized what absolute nonsense he had been spouting, but more likely because he realized exactly how mercilessly I could mock him for it.
"And don't give me that look, I was far more embarrassed at that moment than you are right now!" I protested indignantly.
"Second, you are currently stripped of your powers, which means you require human food, clothing, and shelter. And third, as a healthy, grown man, freeloading off a fragile woman is beneath you, brother."
"What do you..." he looked around frantically, but seeing that the mortals were already taking their seats at the table, bogged down in the illusion, he relaxed a fraction, "...mean?"
"The clothes you are wearing, the food you were just cooking. It didn't just appear out of thin air, did it? You are used to getting everything you need as a Prince of Asgard, never thinking about where those goods actually come from. I doubt you've managed to earn a wage or otherwise acquire the funds to buy these things, which means they were bought for you. Judging by her living conditions, your Lady Jane is not a wealthy woman, and such expenses can take a significant toll on her."
"But... she... she didn't say... anything of the sort," this oversized adolescent replied, utterly dumbfounded.
"And she won't, because it's called 'politeness.' Although I don't really understand why she's helping you in the first place... actually... maybe I do," I smiled.
"You've always been popular with women." Unlike the reaction I expected, Thor didn't vehemently deny it or smirk arrogantly.
He just looked at me as if I were currently revealing the deepest secrets of the universe, existence, and everything in between.
"..."
"Anyway, to you and me, this is just paper and pocket change, but to an ordinary human, it's a serious issue. Those five thousand should last you a couple of months. So stop playing the proud fool and accept the help when it's offered," I finished my speech, and... oh miracle of miracles, Thor actually looked thoughtful.
I'll have to find a way to reward whoever orchestrated his recent ass-kickings.
It seems these Earthling heroes managed to do what Odin couldn't achieve in over a millennium, they forced the Thunderer to actually think and evaluate the consequences of his actions and the motives of those around him.
Yes, they definitely deserve a bonus. I'll have to tinker with their payroll cards or bank accounts.
Thankfully, Earth's digital payment system offered the widest scope for any manipulation of account numbers, not just for someone with Asgard's technomagical base at their fingertips, but for literally anyone who had evolved to the point of interstellar travel.
A feature I, by the way, had been shamelessly exploiting since my very first days in New York, but shh! That's a big secret, especially from the staff of a certain private boarding school.
"Thank you, brother," breaking out of his reverie, the Son of Odin nodded seriously.
"Go sit down at the table, and I'll drop the spell," I nodded toward the empty chair where Thor's illusion was currently situated.
"Ah... right," the big guy sat down, picking up his silverware, and the humans were instantly back "online."
"Pass the salt, please," Darcy immediately asked him, her jaws working actively.
Damn, I can't resist. And why shouldn't I?
"Well, well..." I dropped the remark significantly, drawing their attention to me. "My dear brother screwed up, fled to Earth, managed to get his face bashed in by the local authorities, and is already sitting at a dining table surrounded by two pretty women and one Scandinavian drunkard... some things never change! I hope you at least haven't smashed any dishware in the local taverns?"
"Cough-hack-hck!" A miraculously synchronized coughing fit seized the entire dinner party.
"I seee," I finished them off. "Alright, I've checked up on you, passed along the care package," I pretended to think, "I believe that's everything. Oh, right, almost forgot, you have two freaks from S.H.I.E.L.D. sitting on the neighboring roof, tracking and surveilling everything. I diverted their eyes, but it's best if you don't chatter too much about my visit. Alright, I'm off, try not to miss me!"
And I dropped the illusion under the gaze of four pairs of eyes utterly brimming with feelings and emotions...
...
A couple of days later, Asgard.
The cylindrical device on the test stand drew the neutronium core into its active zone, and I held my breath.
One second, two... A short pulsation emanated from inside the reactor, palpable even to my magical perception, and white light began to seep through the transparent elements of the casing, flaring brighter with every cycle of Tony Stark's invention.
It worked!
I had been able to replicate the Arc Reactor using Asgard's elemental base quite quickly, but palladium as a core didn't suit my needs, so I undertook some experiments and modifications.
Knowing the exact underlying mechanics from Stark's memory, supplementing it with plenty of knowledge from my own head, and utilizing the atomic forge, the whole thing took just over twenty-four hours.
As I suspected, the reactor's architecture could be adapted for Uru metal and neutronium.
And right now, I could feel that the neutronium yielded far superior results, the flow of Living Light energy enveloped the test stand in a thick haze, perceptible even through the protective force fields.
Undoubtedly, this was largely due to Gungnir, which had magnified my sensitivity to magic and my perception of the world several times over, but the result was magnificent regardless.
Exactly what I needed.
Spending another couple of hours running every possible test multiple times, fully satisfying myself that the reactor had stably reached its operational mode and definitely wasn't going to blow up, nor was it emitting any harmful radiation outside its shielded casing, I printed a suitable stand on Asgard's equivalent of a 3D printer.
Grabbing the finished product, I swiftly left the workshop.
Ten minutes of a brisk walk brought me to the residential wing of the palace, and a few minutes later, I was at Odin's chambers.
"Mother," entering the room and finding the woman at her constant post by the head of the bed, I curbed my impulsiveness and respectfully transitioned into a slow, quiet walk.
"Loki, has something happened?" Frigga looked up at me with concern, and I vaguely caught that she was interrupting some kind of magical activity. Communicating with someone via illusion, most likely.
"Yes, I am almost ready to solve the problem with Jotunheim," I walked over to Odin's bed, set Gungnir aside, and unfolded the telescopic legs of the holder, "but I couldn't proceed until I did something first..."
The reactor stand was deployed and took its place directly over the Allfather's chest, after which the reactor was carefully slotted into its center.
"What is this?" the goddess knit her brows in bewilderment, clearly already sensing the energy of the Living Light herself.
….
If you want to read ahead by 20+ chapters from here you can visit my Patre-on.
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