He lifted his head slowly, forcing his blurred vision to clear.
"Yes."
His voice was raspy from crying, but his voice grew louder, as if he was making a declaration to anyone who would listen.
"Yes, it hurts. I'm afraid that I could never measure up to either of you, and that you'll leave because of it."
His voice cracked, but the conviction in his tone grew stronger with every word. "And I feel that fear a lot more than I let on. I won't lie about that."
The Astral Plane trembled faintly.
Thor's jaw clenched, eyes narrowing, his voice hardening.
"But I know you. Both of you. And I know you would never abandon me. You wouldn't abandon me because I'm weak. You leave because you're fighting your own battles, the same as I am. We walk different paths and at different times — but the end is the same. Always the same."
He forced himself to stand, blood dripping onto the glowing stone beneath his feet. His body swayed, but he refused to kneel again.
