Chapter Text
The raindrops falls heavy, hitting mercilessly Lu Bu's face, pricking his skin like needles. The young boy did not so much as flinch, swinging the wooden stick in his hands, quietly counting each swing. Every time he added more force to his movements. He has reached the count to 50 when lightnings flashes in the sky above him, breaking his concentration. He glanced up just as a lightning strikes the nearest tree, splitting it in half. Lu Bu watched mesmerized as he never has witnessed a sight so magnificent. He did not flinch even when blazing flames of ember engulfed the tree. He just stood there, his mouth stretching into a smile.
Just as quick as it appeared his smile disappeared when he saw something moving inside the core of the split tree. There was a figure, the broad musclar silhouette of a warrior, clad in golden armor. He almost looked like a god. The warrior stepped out the flames and just now Lu Bu could see him clearer. He did not look like any warrior Lu Bu came across. But what caught Lu Bu's eyes is the huge hammer, laying against the man's shoulder.
The warrior does not seem to have acknowledged him, taking a few steps forward, before he suddenly collapsed on his knees. He clutched the handle of his hammer for support with his left hand, holding with his side with his right. Lu Bu haven't noticed it at first, too stunned by the man divine appearance, until blood sipped between the gloved fingers, dripping on the wet grass. He glanced up at the boy through blurred vision. His lips parted, yet no sound came out, one breath later he falls unconscious on the ground.
Lu Bu rushed towards the motionless body. He grabs on one of the arms, swinging it over his shoulder. For a human his age he was significantly strong physically. he managed to lift the warrior half way up and dragged him to a small hut in the woods, which was abandoned long before he found it a few months ago, during a blizzard storm.
He layedthe man on the bamboo mat near the fireplace, soft golden flames already dancing inside, before he searched for something to bandage the wound. He rarely got injured, so he found no need of supplying himself with bandages, the only thing he could find useful is a half-ripped silk scarf and box of ointment, hidden under a loose plank on the floor. He gathered them in his arms and carry them to the bamboo mat, where he left them, before he rushes outside. There was a small well build behind the house. Despite the harsh rainstorm he grabs on the rope and pulls with all his might until the small bucked attached to the other end came into view. He untied it quickly and carry it inside, sitting it with the other items he found, before he sat down. Carefully he removed the armor pieces, holding the chest plate for a moment too long, staring at the craftsmanship curiously. It was different from the armor the Chinese soldiers wore, which could only mean the man is a foreigner. Don't mind that he appeared inside a lightning. No, Lu Bu did not question that detail.
Snapping out of his daze he lays the chest plate on the ground, reaching for the blood-soaked shirt, ripping it open to have better access to the bleeding wound. A hand grabbed on his wrist, stopping him. The boy gasped in surprise, looking at the warrior's face. His eyes were closed, but by the change in his breathing it seems he has regained consciousness. His eyelids slowly move, revealing a pair of golden irises. He looked up at Lu Bu, then turns his head to scan his surroundings.
"Where am I?" His voice was rasped, but it felt like a thunder crack resonated throughout the interior of the house.
"My home!" Lu Bu replied simply, staring calmly at the man. The warrior turns his gaze towards him once again, giving him a quizzical look. He pushed himself upwards, ignoring the sharp pain from his injury. "You should not move!"
"I will be fine. I am not fragile as you humans." The man replies, attempting to stand up, but Lu Bu grabbed on his arm, stopping him. The man narrowed his eyes at the human annoyed. "Let go of me boy!"
"You are seriously injured." Lu Bu countered, glaring back at him. For a little kid he looked intimidating. The warrior sighs, laying back down on the mat, his gaze remaining locked on the boy. He watched him roll up the fabric of the ripped shirt, exposing the rough glaring gash underneath. Lu Bu is a fighter and doing something so delicate as cleaning a wound was a struggle for him. He dumped the only clean cloth he managed to find in the cool water, pulls it out, squeezed over the bucket, before he finally pressed it to the still bleeding gash. He looked up the warrior, smiling wide at him when he noticed he is watching him. A roll of razor teeth revealing themselves, looking sharp like the tips of knives. The man scoffed looking the other way.
After Lu Bu repeated the same action a couple more times he applied the oinment while being mindful not to press too hard against the agravated skin. He tapped the warrior, motioning for him to sit up, so he can wraps the scarf around his torso. The man sat upright, refusing the boy's help to do so. Lu Bu carefully wrapped the scarf, securing it tightly around the wound. He spared a glance at the man's face, his curiousity eating him inside. He was too curious to wait until later to question him, so he cut to the chase.
"Are you a god?" His question was met by a harsh glare. The boy calmly looked at him, waiting for his answer.
"If you figured it out already, why do you bother to ask?" He did not get those humans. The boy's lips streched into a smile again. Why is he smiling? Was this child broken or something?
"My name is Lu Bu. what do they call you?" Oh right, he was in foreign land, where no one heard of him. Logically whoever comes across him won't recognize him.
"I am Thor the Norse God of Thunder!" He replied, watching LuBu's eyes gleem with excitment. Guess the brat never met a real God before. The boy crawled closer, reaching his hand to touch the markings on Thor's face.
"Does all Gods have those?" Lu Bu asked as he keeps pocking them.
"Will you stop that!?" Thor grabbed his wrist annoyed. Lu Bu smiled again at him. This child has to be seriously damaged in the head. He should be scared of him and yet he acts with such familiarity like they are already friends.
Lu Bu patted the mat, the smile still plastered across his face. "You need to rest." Thor sighed knowing the kid has a point. With injury that serious he could not make it back to Asgard, not without making it worse. He lays down, rolling away from Lu Bu. Hopefully the brat will leave him alone. He heard rustling, followed by soft footsteps. He glanced over his shoulder, spotting the boy across the room, snuggled on a pile of hay. This boy was definatelly living in a questionable way, judging by how dusty and unkept the hut is. Well that was not the Norse God's problem. It was just another human. Why would he care what happens to him? Still the boy saved his life, so at least he should make certain the boy has future ahead of him. He owns him that much.
***
The morning arrived with the first rays of sun, breaking throgh the only window of the building, landing on Thor's face. He furrowed his brows irritated, before forcing his eyes to open. First sound he is aware of are shouts from outside. He lifts his head up, looking around the hut for Lu Bu. The boy was nowhere to be found. Thor pushed himself up with a groan, glancing at the blood stained scarf. He has to change that makeshift bandage later. With some extra effort he managed to stand up, stumbling on his way towards the door. Outside The boy is swinging around a wooden stick, shouting something that as he listened closer sounded like counting. So the brat is training. Guess he is not wasting his time. However, his movements were too erratic and uncoordinated.
"You are too chaotic boy. Against a strong opponent you won't last much long." Thor called out to him. Lu Bu paused, his face brightning when he saw the God. He runs up to him with that wierd smile of his.
"Are you feeling better?"He asks innocently, his eyes containing that same glim in them as yesterday. Thor returned the smile with one of his own.
"I am a God, I recover faster than a human." He said a matter of factly, his eyes landing on the stick in the boy's hand. "Want me to give you a real fighting lesson?" Lu Bu's face lit up with excitement at the offer and he nods eagerly. Thor rolled his eyes, taking a quick glance around for something he could use as a weapon. His eyes stopped on a broom, lying next to the door. He picks it up, examining it carefully, before motioning to Lu Bu to go on ahead. The boy leads him to the clearing he found him at yesterday. Mjölnir was lying where he drops it. He mentally cursed himself for forgetting about the mighty hammer. Across the clearing he saw the split tree, looking like a dark shadow in the bright sunlight.
Lu Bu stopped in front of the tree, gripping the stick tightly with both hands. Thor stood a few feet from where his hammer pulses like a steady beating of a heart. The Norse God focused his attention on the boy, motioning for him attack first. Lu Bu rushed head-on at him, swinging the stick. Thor stepped out the way, tripping him with the broom's handle. Lu Bu falls on his face, the stick flying out of his grasp. Thor wasn't planning to use his actual strength, if he does not want to kill the boy on the spot.
"You are too aggressive in your attacks. That is one of the biggest mistakes." Thor grabbed the back of his hanfu, lifting him up in the air. Lu Bu struggled in attempt to get out of the man's grasp, looking like a helpless kitten. It was kind of amusing and Thor could not help, but to chuckle. He put the boy down on his feet and motioned to the stick. "Pick up your weapon!"
Lu Bu obliged retrieving his stick, gripping it too tight yet again. He charged at Thor again, only for the stick to fly out of his hands and land a few meters from where he is standing. The boy blinked stunned as his brain tried to comprehend what just happened. He never saw it coming, the swift movement of Thor's hand, the handle of the broom easily beats the stick out of Lu Bu's grasp.
"You are holding it too tight." Thor scolded him, holding the broom out to him. "Here I will show you how to hold your weapon." Lu Bu grips the handle as Thor grip on the opposite end looses. He walks up to the boy, stepping closer to him, his large hands fixed Lu Bu hold of the broom. "There, now try again!" Lu Bu did not wait to be told twice, attacking him with a battle cry only to be thrown on his back. He looks up at Thor frowning, the broom still secure in his grasp. He attempted to trip him, however, Thor is too fast and dodged quickly, stepping a safe distance away from him. Lu Bu stood up, charging at him again, but Thor kept dodging his attacks.
For the next three hours Lu Bu continued attacking the Norse God, missing every time. Yet Thor did not attack him even once. Finally, Lu Bu collapsed on the ground, panting. He was exhausted and thirsty and the hot blazing sun did not help the matter. A strong hand grabbed the collar of his hanfu and before he could protest, he was carried like a sack of potatoes back to the hut. He noticed the hammer is still lying in the middle of the clearing untouched.
"What about your hammer?" Lu Bu asks, glancing over his shoulder the best he could at the back of the man's head.
"No one beside me could lift it, so I am not bothered someone will steal it." Thor reply, without looking at him. Lu Bu glanced back at the hammer and he could swear he heard a heartbeat coming from it.
***
"Lu Bu!" No answer "Lu Bu!" The valkyrie called him louder. The large man snapped out of his thoughts, looking at the woman standing on the doorway! "It is time my dear!"
"Are you positive he is my opponent?" The Asian asks, to which the Valkyrie lips pulled in a wide smile.
"I would never lie to you, little Bu!" She replies sweetly. Even now when he was towering over her like a skyscraper, she still called him little Bu. Lu Bu own lips streched into a smirk.
"Then I look forward to the fight" He walks to the door only stopping to meet Randgriz gaze. They exchanged conspiratorial glance, before they head to the arena.