The hot springs within the palace were far too luxurious.
That was Loki's first thought.
Steam rose gently from the wide bath, curling into the air in soft white trails. The stone around it was smooth and warm, the water perfectly heated, and the entire chamber carried a quiet, almost serene atmosphere.
It should have been relaxing.
It was not.
Loki sat in the center of the bath, shoulders submerged, arms resting along the edge.
Behind him—
Testarossa.
In front of him—
Velzard.
And suddenly, peace had become the most stressful thing in the world.
Testarossa's hands moved slowly across his shoulders, applying just enough pressure to be effective without being rough. Every motion was deliberate. Controlled. Almost reverent.
Velzard, on the other hand, had taken one of his feet and was calmly massaging it with the same composure she might use to discuss world-ending matters.
Loki stared forward.
'…This is bad.'
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
Because any sudden movement felt like it might escalate something.
Testarossa hummed softly.
"Is the pressure alright, little brother?"
"It's fine."
Velzard spoke next.
"You seem tense."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Velzard applied slightly more pressure to his foot.
"You are."
Loki exhaled slowly.
'Why is this happening to me.'
There was a brief silence.
Steam drifted upward.
Water rippled gently.
And Loki decided that if he didn't say something, this would somehow get worse.
So he looked at Velzard.
"…When are you going back?"
Velzard didn't look up.
"Back where?"
"To Guy."
That got her attention.
She lifted her gaze slightly.
"…Never."
Loki blinked.
"Never?"
"Yes."
She said it like it was obvious.
Loki stared at her.
"…What do you mean never?"
Velzard tilted her head just slightly.
"I stayed with Guy because I chose to."
A pause.
"I can choose not to."
That was not reassuring.
Loki leaned back slightly into the water.
"…You're supposed to be with him."
Velzard's eyes narrowed just a little.
"Says who?"
Loki opened his mouth.
Then paused.
Then closed it.
'…That's actually a good question.'
Velzard continued calmly.
"There is no rule."
"I stayed because I felt like it."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Testarossa.
"Now I don't."
Testarossa smiled faintly.
"How interesting."
Velzard's voice remained even.
"I don't see why she is allowed to stay beside you at all times…"
A pause.
"…while I cannot."
The water felt colder somehow.
Loki rubbed his face lightly.
"…You're both overestimating me."
That got both of their attention.
He sighed.
"I'm not that great."
He waved a hand vaguely.
"I don't see why either of you would want to be around me this much."
Testarossa stopped for a moment.
Then gently tapped his shoulder.
"That is incorrect."
Loki immediately regretted speaking.
Testarossa leaned in slightly.
Her voice softened.
"But I understand."
She smiled.
"It's difficult to properly evaluate yourself when you are exceptional."
Loki stared forward.
'…She's not helping.'
At all.
Velzard spoke next.
"You defeated two True Dragons."
"That wasn't even really me."
"You fought me."
"…Again, that wasn't even me."
Velzard's expression didn't change.
"You still fought."
Loki exhaled again.
"…See, this is what I mean."
He gestured vaguely between them.
"This is exactly what I mean."
Testarossa resumed her movements behind him.
"You underestimate your own value."
Velzard nodded slightly.
"You do."
Loki dropped his head back.
"This conversation is going nowhere."
There was another pause.
Then Loki tried again.
"Well, it makes sense for Testarossa."
He gestured behind him.
"She's my subordinate."
Testarossa smiled, pleased.
Velzard, however, said—
"Then I will become one as well."
Loki sat up instantly.
"No."
The answer came too fast.
Too firm.
Velzard blinked once.
"…Why not?"
Loki turned fully toward her.
"Because that's not how that works."
"Why?"
"Because you're Velzard."
"And?"
"And you're not becoming my subordinate."
Velzard looked at him for a long moment.
Then said calmly—
"I see no issue."
Loki pointed at her.
"I do."
Silence.
Then Loki sighed.
"…Fine."
He leaned back again.
"You can stay."
Velzard nodded once.
"Good."
Testarossa's smile remained.
Though something in it sharpened slightly.
For a brief moment—
Peace returned.
Steam rose.
Water settled.
No one spoke.
Then—
Testarossa spoke again.
"Actually…"
Loki closed his eyes.
"…Here we go."
Testarossa continued.
"In regards to subordinates…"
That was already dangerous.
"I was thinking…"
She leaned slightly closer.
"What if you recruited Violet and Jaune as well?"
Loki opened one eye.
"…Why?"
Testarossa smiled.
"They would be useful."
A pause.
"And powerful."
Another pause.
"…And it would be interesting."
Loki stared at the ceiling.
'More subordinates…'
'That sounds like work.'
He wasn't particularly interested in building an army beyond what he already had.
But then—
A thought formed.
A very convenient thought.
'Wait.'
'Underworld.'
'Distance.'
'Escape.'
He slowly sat up.
Testarossa paused.
Velzard looked at him.
Loki stood.
Water rolled off his shoulders.
"…You know what."
He stretched slightly.
"You're right."
Testarossa's eyes lit up.
"I am?"
"Yes."
Loki stepped out of the bath.
"I'll go recruit them."
Now.
Immediately.
Right now.
Testarossa stood as well.
"I will accompany you."
"No."
That came instantly.
Too instantly.
Testarossa blinked.
"…No?"
Loki waved a hand.
"I'll go alone."
He grabbed a towel.
"This is something I should handle personally."
Velzard watched him quietly.
Testarossa studied him for a moment.
Then smiled slowly.
"…Very well."
Loki did not wait for a second offer.
He dried off quickly.
And a moment later—
Space warped.
And he was gone.
---
The Underworld was quiet.
Dark.
Endless.
Loki appeared in the familiar wasteland, the sky above an endless void of shifting shadows and distant light.
He stood still for a moment.
Then exhaled.
"…Peace."
Actual peace.
No tension.
No silent competition.
No overwhelming presence hovering inches away from him at all times.
Just—
Silence.
He rolled his shoulders.
"…That was close."
Then his expression shifted.
Slightly.
Because now—
He had a different problem.
"…Right."
He looked out across the vast domain.
"Recruitment."
The word sounded heavy.
Annoying.
Complicated.
He scratched the back of his head.
"…Troublesome."
Sure, escaping had been easy.
But now he actually had to go through with it.
He looked into the distance.
"…So."
A faint grin formed.
"Who do I start with?"
---
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