Krishna reached into his pocket — not even looking — and pulled out a few crisp bills, handing them to the landlord with an easy smile. (well, he can do stuff)
The landlord accepted the money, still looking half-bewildered."Uh, thank you," he mumbled before disappearing down the hall as fast as his feet could take him.
Krishna shut the door, leaning against it for a moment, eyes drifting across the tiny apartment.He could hear Dove humming in the kitchen and Thor banging around in the bathroom — a splash of water, a muttered curse.
That's when a thought sparked in Krishna's eyes."You know," he mused aloud as Dove walked in balancing plates of food,"why do you still live here?"
Dove paused, brow furrowed."Uh, it's what I can afford," he replied.He glanced around the crammed apartment — laundry draped over a chair, furniture jostling for elbow room, empty beer cans in the corner.
Krishna just chuckled, sitting back on the couch."You have what? Almost four million left?"
(how the hell does he know that?)
Dove blinked."3.9," he corrected automatically.
Krishna raised an eyebrow."You ever thought of buying a house? A big one."
That stopped Dove in his tracks.He stared at Krishna — then at the peeling walls and the rickety fan overhead.
A slow grin spread across his face."Why the heck not?"
And so, after dinner —plates cleared, Thor clean and grumbling about water pressure —Dove pulled out his laptop and pulled up a real estate website.
Krishna perched comfortably beside him, as Dove scrolled.
"Let's see," Dove muttered, eyes bright as listings loaded."3.9 million… that's not bad at all."
And then he saw it.A house — spacious, airy, with big windows and green grass all around —listed just within his budget.
He paused, heart thumping."Look at this one," he whispered.
Krishna grinned."That's more like it," he agreed, sounding thoroughly pleased.
And for the first time in forever, Dove felt the buzz of something new —the thought of a future that wasn't crammed into four tired walls.
He clicked."Alright," Dove said, a smile tugging at his lips."Let's do this."
The bathroom door swung open with a burst of steam as Thor finally emerged —hair damp and tousled, skin freshly scrubbed, and a satisfied grin plastered across his face.
"Ahh," Thor rumbled, flexing his shoulders."Nothing like a hot bath to soothe a god's soul."
He strode into the living room expecting food and company —only to find empty plates stacked on the counter and Dove and Krishna huddled around the laptop, deep in conversation.
Thor stopped short."You ate without me?"
Dove didn't even look up, too busy clicking through pictures of houses."Oh," he muttered."Figured you'd be in there forever."
Krishna chuckled."You were in there forever," he agreed, chin propped on his palm.
Thor's face twisted into a frown."And what's this?" he asked, pointing at the laptop."You two scheming without me as well?"
Dove finally glanced up."Oh — uh, I'm looking at houses," he explained casually."Figured we need a bigger place."
That caught Thor completely off-guard."Bigger place?" he echoed, stepping closer.
Krishna spun the laptop around to show him the spacious rooms and lush gardens."You'll have room to breathe," he said lightly."Maybe even a beer fridge that isn't Dove's personal stash."
Thor blinked at the screen — and then scowled deeper."You decided all this while I was bathing?!"
Dove shrugged."You took an hour," he replied honestly."Decisions had to be made."
Thor stood there in silence for a moment, then grumbled something under his breath and dropped onto the couch, clearly sulking.
And just as Dove was about to say something to lighten the mood, Thor grabbed the remote and switched on the TV with a huff.
"You mortals and your impatience," he muttered — though his eyes kept drifting back to the screen, obviously curious despite himself.
And Dove?He just smirked, clicking to the next house listing as Krishna chuckled.
The apartment was bathed in the soft glow of the laptop screen as Dove scrolled past another house listing.
Thor, still lounging in his chair like a king who owned the place, took a long sip of his beer and spoke up.
"You know," he began, gesturing at the screen with his empty bottle,"if we're moving, I have a few requirements."
Krishna raised one elegant brow."Oh?"
"First," Thor declared, leaning back like he was about to unveil some grand royal decree,"a proper beer cellar. Big enough to fit my entire stash."
Dove blinked."You mean a fridge?"
Thor scoffed as if Dove had just suggested using a thimble to catch a waterfall."No — I mean a cellar. Underground, cool, with barrels."
Krishna chuckled, clearly entertained."Go on," he said, amused.
"Second," Thor continued, holding up a finger,"a hall for training. Mjolnir practice, wrestling — can't have my glorious physique going to waste."
Dove pinched the bridge of his nose."You lost Mjolnir gambling, remember?"
That earned him a dark look."I'll get it back," Thor muttered — then brightened."Oh! And a big balcony too — gotta have a spot to watch storms roll in."
Krishna listened with a grin tugging at his lips, clearly enjoying this."You've gotten very comfortable," he noted, arms crossed.
Thor waved him off like a roommate who owed him the rent."You're older and wiser," he said cheerfully, "so you appreciate my vision."
That pulled a laugh from Krishna."Oh, believe me," he replied, voice rich with humor,"you'd be surprised what I appreciate."
I really hope 3.9 million is enough.
Dove stared at the listings Thor had gleefully picked — a sprawling hilltop mansion with marble halls, a cellar, a training arena, and balconies looking over an entire forest.
He glanced back at his bank account balance on the screen — 3.9 million — and then at the mansion's price."Ten million," Dove muttered under his breath."More like at least ten million."
Krishna sipped his tea calmly."You look troubled," he observed with a twinkle.
Dove slowly turned his chair to face them."You guys realize your wish list is kinda over my mortal budget, right?"
Thor paused mid-gulp, brow furrowing."How much is this… mortal currency?"
"About six million short," Dove deadpanned.
That earned a loud laugh from Krishna, and Thor just stared at the screen like the numbers had personally offended him.
"Then why not just pay the difference?" Thor said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Dove's mouth twitched."Oh sure," he replied dryly."You two paying rent would help."
He sat back and gestured between them."You know — gods of lightning and mischief must have some currency, right? Gold coins, treasure, something?"
Krishna chuckled at Dove's determined look."Practical," he murmured, clearly impressed.
And Thor?He finally nodded — rubbing his chin like he was deep in thought."A fair request," he boomed."I suppose I could part with some coin — I'll need that training hall after all."
Krishna gave an easy shrug."Why not," he agreed."You've been a fine host so far — I can contribute."
And Dove?He finally let himself smile, leaning back like a businessman who'd just brokered the most unbelievable deal of his life.
"Great," he said, feeling about three times lighter."Looks like we're gonna need a bigger house after all."
And as they all laughed — Dove couldn't help but wonder if this was all some elaborate cosmic joke.
But hey — when gods were paying the rent?He was not complaining.