[IC, open to all] Thor Fight Club

[pirateangelbaby]

It's a beautiful spring day in the Nexus, rolling green hills boasting bright splashes of color where flowers have blossomed in all their glory, birds singing in trees sheltered with new green growth, and the sun is shining merrily through puffy white clouds, the breeze only a little on the cool side.

In one of the flatter fields out towards the Wilds, however, things are not quite so peaceful at the moment.

There's an enormous rough ring marked out with scorch marks in the grass, large enough to rival the gladiator arena on Sakaar, and on the edge of the ring there's a cloth laid out with a small variety of weapons that look... well, very second-hand, to put it mildly. But enough to give a good selection of swords or axes or hammers, with a shield or two for protective options.

Thor stands to one side, checking his armor to make sure it's securely fitted before battle, training session or not, and can't quite chase away the grin on his face in favor of a more serious, kingly expression that he probably should be wearing. Learning to compensate for his missing eye is a matter of life and death, probably, whether his or someone else's, but he can't help but feel excited to face something other than a half-assed training dummy shoved into the corner of the cargo hold.

Right, then, who's up for a little sparring with the god of thunder?

Comments

[pirateangelbaby]

What is...? Oh. Oh. He knows what this is. It's been two years since Sokovia, but Thor remembers well the speedster that fought against the Avengers under Ultron's command, at least at first. Ultimately it had been Wanda that had taken the team out with her mind magic, but her brother had proven an annoying distraction all on his own, and one that Thor only scored a hit against because he'd been foolish enough to try to grab Mjolnir in flight.

He doesn't have the hammer now, obviously.

Thor narrows his eye at this second speedster, considering. Just how durable is this child, anyway? "If you can use your talents, may I?"

Though the sky is clear of any threatening dark clouds, a lightning bolt leaps down to strike the other side of the field, leaving a charred splash of grass nearly ten feet wide where it hits.

[iwillcatchup]

When the lightning bolt strikes the other side of the field, Peter smiles. Oh. He has trained with Storm. And this is similar to her abilities.

"Makes it fair." He agrees to the terms.

"Ready?" Because he is.

[pirateangelbaby]

Fair indeed. Thor has no idea how fast this youngster is, but there's little in his arsenal faster than lightning itself. Actually managing to hit his target, well, there's a reason he's taken the day to work on his aim, isn't there?

Thor smiles, his good eye lighting up an electric, glowing blue. Above him, the skies darken and a cooler breeze flattens the grass of the field, stormy clouds coalescing out of nothing. "I am. Better get moving." And without further ado, he brings down a bolt of lightning just to the right of where Peter is standing, the heavy feeling of static in the air the only momentary warning sign before the flash.

[iwillcatchup]

Peter watches as the skies darken and storm clouds appear. He zips over to behind Thor, missing the sensation of the heavy feeling of static by mere seconds. He taps on Thor's shoulder, before aiming a sonic speed punch to the man's jawline, aiming to send the man soaring to the other side of the ring.

Where he can zip over, and meet the flying opponent with another punch.

[pirateangelbaby]

Oh yes, this is definitely familiar.

The Sokovian speedster hadn't managed to do much to Thor, his sister doing the worst of the damage with her magic, but this one seems to hit far harder. More than Thor was expecting him to, though it might not send him quite as far as Peter thought it would, if he'd anticipated striking someone more human in mass.

Surprised, Thor releases a burst of lightning that radiates out from his entire body, much as it had when he'd been fighting against Hulk on Sakaar. Peter will find himself having to move quick to dodge multiple forks of lightning, especially if he's gotten close enough to hit Thor with another punch.

[iwillcatchup]

Peter has to quickly dodge out of the way to avoid those multiple forks of lightning, forgoing the follow up hit to Thor. He runs around Thor, keeping close to the other man, as the lightning rains down. He figures that Thor himself -- much like Storm -- can't be hurt by his own powers.

Just when Peter thinks he might be making the other man dizzy, trying to keep watch of him. The speedster runs to the other side of the track. And then braces himself, and moves in quickly to aim a body slam to Thor's side. Yes, he will have to get caught by the lightning to make this attack work.

But Peter is willing to endure the attack.

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor knows he won't be able to track this boy by eye, so he doesn't try, focusing instead on the sound and in the feel of the wind as it whips around him, faster than any tornado his power has ever called forth but much more isolated, like a dust mote in a storm.

The speedster's diversion won't last forever, though, and Thor intensifies his power, glowing brighter as the leaders hungrily crackle from his skin, his single eye flaring brilliant blue-white as he wraps himself in it like a cloak. The strike, when it comes, connects solidly with Thor's armored ribs and shoves him backward, but the lightning lashes out in turn, striking the youngster and blasting him with the power of the god of thunder.

Thor skids across the dirt and grass, digging in his feet, and thrusts out a hand in the direction from which he came, sending a bolt of lightning searing its way across the grass.

[iwillcatchup]

The lightning strike that hits Peter gives him a great shock. There is so much power. So much intensity. And for a brief second, Peter sees only the bright light of the flash of lightning.

He is caught by that second bolt of lightning, since he was still making sense of the first strike. And he falls to his knees for a second. He can feel the electricity run through his body. It is only because of his metabolism.... that he is able to shake off the sensation and get back up.

"Fuck..." Yah. He needs to figure out how to deal with that lightning to beat this man. A little smoke is radiating off his body, from being hit by the electricity.

There is a part of him that needs to prove to himself he can handle this. That he can challenge a stronger opponent and figure out a way to win.

He has his speed. And he rushes forward again, using the momentum to run up Thor's body, and attempt to deliver a mighty slam on the other man's head.

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor is used to wielding his power in lethal combat, even before the destruction of Mjolnir unchained his full potential. He hasn't had much practice at regulating his output since then, and when the youngster falls to his knees looking well-roasted, Thor falters in mild alarm, afraid that he might've struck him too hard.

Even when the speedster seemingly recovers, Thor doesn't quite relax, because even though he survived one direct strike doesn't mean he can cope with a second. But then the boy launches another attack, and Thor raises his arms defensively in front of himself, shielding himself from impact as his power flares again on reflex.

[iwillcatchup]

Peter is not sure he could use his power in lethal combat. Maybe he needs to take time to learn. It would be useful... especially considering his life right now.

He gets an idea when Thor raises his arms defensively. And pulls out a roll of duct tape. And then blurs around Thor, taping him up, as quickly as he can. Duct tape can maybe protect him from electricity? Maybe? Dammit wish he paid more attention to Hank.

[pirateangelbaby]

What... the Hel? Thor has just enough time to recognize the sticky fabric that's suddenly layered itself around his entire torso and upraised arms before it bursts into flame. He jerks his arms apart easily, freeing himself, but the blazing, melting material clings to him regardless, doing little to his armor but blistering the exposed skin of his arms.

Sorry, Peter. Duct tape, as it turns out, is extremely flammable.

Thor can easily withstand much higher temperatures than that - his lightning is hotter than most stars, after all - but electricity and actual fire are two very different flavors of heat, and it sure doesn't tickle. Quite abruptly, the dark clouds overhead suddenly unleash a torrential downpour on the entire field, quickly soaking into the thirsty earth and sending it well on its way to becoming slick, thick mud.

Gritting his teeth against the sting of the burns, superficial though they are, Thor raises an arm and calls the storm, peppering the field with lightning bolts.

[iwillcatchup]

The rain is unexpected. Peter suddenly finds himself having to deal with a very slick battlefield. He can outrun an explosion. And he can run on water. But running on a muddy field is a much different experience.

Include that with the fact that he has to dodge the many lightning strikes... and Peter finds himself slipping and sliding into the mud. And hit by another bolt.

"Okay! You got me! Twice!" He holds out his hands. Covered in mud.

[pirateangelbaby]

The lightning cuts off just as abruptly, though the rain continues, lighter than before. Mildly embarrassed at his momentary lack of control, Thor's first priority is making sure his opponent is unharmed - the boy is only human, no matter how fast he is.

So he approaches and offers the youngster a hand up, ignoring the way it pulls at the burns on his arms. "You fought bravely. Are you all right?"

[iwillcatchup]

Peter is covered in mud. And the rain is helping to keep any further smoke from rising from his clothing and body.

He winces a little, as he takes the hand up to get back to his feet.

"I will be. In a few seconds." He closes his eyes, his head pounding a little. His metabolism is faster than normal, due to the sonic speed of his mutant gene. And he knows it won't be long before he feels fine. But right now... yah, he definitely feels the effects of being hit by lightning. Twice.

"You should meet Storm. You might be able to show her a few new tricks."

[pirateangelbaby]

With the youngster on his feet and steady enough, Thor lets go and holds out his arms to the storm, letting the rainwater cool his burns. Asgardians heal fast, too, and the blisters are relatively minor, but the water still feels good as it washes away the stinging heat.

"A friend of yours? Teammate?" Thor guesses, looking over at the boy again.

[iwillcatchup]

"New teammate. But then again... being part of a team is new to me too."

"Peter Maximoff." He introduces himself. "X-Men. Also known as Quicksilver."

[pirateangelbaby]

"I am Thor, son of Odin." Most of the youngster's name doesn't sound terribly familiar to him, but Maximoff does. Isn't that the Sokovian girl's name? He can't quite recall; it's been a few years since he's been on Earth, and he'd only met her the once.

Still, a familiar-ish last name and the ability to run far faster than Thor can see... "You aren't Sokovian, are you?"

[iwillcatchup]

"No."

"Steve Rogers told me about them. The other not-quite-Me and his Twin Sister. And from what he explained... it doesn't even sound like we got our powers the same way."

"I'm a Mutant. I have the X-Gene."

"I'm the son of Magneto."

[pirateangelbaby]

If nothing else, firsthand experience with a multitude of distinctly different Lokis lets Thor easily get his mind around the idea of this young man being an alternate of someone else he knew.

Not that the rest of what he's said makes much sense, but never mind that.

"Well, you use it well," he says, finally letting up on the storm, the rain ceasing as abruptly as it began. Thor's arms are still reddened and aching, but they're well on their way to healing. His armor, on the other hand, has a thick band of lumpy, badly melted duct tape stuck on it still, and Thor makes a face when he realizes it's still there.

[iwillcatchup]

Peter removes his googles. The rain has washed away most of the mud. But he will still want a hot shower later.

He notes the face that Thor makes. "I can get that cleaned up... properly for you... in a matter of a few seconds."

[pirateangelbaby]

"Can you." It's not really a question, and Thor arches an eyebrow in challenge to the youngster. It's only fair that he should clean up his own mess, after all. "It was a good effort, by the way. Maybe next time use something a little less, ah, flammable."

[iwillcatchup]

"Hey... I hope you don't expect me to strip it off you. I am sort of already seeing someone." Peter chuckles.

"I always carry Duct Tape with me. What else would you suggest?"

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor outright chuckles at that. "No, just this... mess... will be fine."

"Chains fit to hold a god are hard to come by, I suppose, but that might be what you'd have to resort to."

[iwillcatchup]

"It is better to clean armor when it is off the person wearing it. So if you have to change... I can wait." Peter can be patient when needed.

"A god? Apocalypse told others he was a god. But to some he was just a very powerful mutant. What makes a god, a god?

[pirateangelbaby]

"That won't be necessary." Thor is already unbuckling his cuirass, divesting himself of the upper half of his armor in a practiced motion. Beneath he wears a padded undershirt, which has obviously escaped the duct tape inferno that's marred his outer layer. After a moment's hesitation, he also unstraps his vambraces. He always feels a little more naked without them, in a way that going shirtless doesn't, but they're just as covered in melted goo so it can't be helped.

He rubs at the scar around his right wrist absently, paying far more attention to the youngster's question than his old habit. "Depends on who you ask. Power alone isn't enough, neither is being worshiped. There's something about it you have to be born with, I think, or bestowed on you by the Norns. You can't just say you are one and have it be true."