[ WP ] A small child prays for someone to protect them from the scary new people the kid lives with . Odin answers by sending a mighty warrior from Valhalla to keep the child safe .

**Possible Trigger Warning** 
 
 -- -- - 
 
 I'd been laying on the floor for some time, my face damp from pressing into the wet carpet where my tears had pooled. I pushed myself up and knelt by my bed as my uncle walked in, near-empty bottle of booze dangling from his fingers. It dropped with a *thud* at his feet as he staggered over to me. Another weekly beating, or worse. When he was drunk, Uncle Lee would sometimes get real touch-y with Aunt Sarah. When she left for work, that left only one target in the house. 
 
 I panicked, crawling under the bed and my uncle dropped to the floor and grabbed my ankle, trying to pull me back out. `` Geddout here, Anthony!'' He slurred. `` Dontchya fuckin' think'a runnin' from me, ya little shit!'' He dragged me out and started clawing at my pants, almost ripping them off when the doorbell sounded. He froze and turned to the door, then back to me. One swift fist to my forehead and I was curled up on the floor, cradling my head while he stumbled to the door, his belt buckle hanging loose from his pants. 
 
 Pulling myself up to kneel by the bed was agony, my head throbbing painfully as I clasped my hands. I did n't bother to try pulling my pants up, knowing my uncle would be back soon to finish what he started. In a frenzy of blurry thoughts, I begged for help. Anyone. I just needed help from anyone. My face was soaked in tears and I was sobbing quietly. I tried not to cry too loudly since it upset my uncle when he was attacking me. I just shook a little until I noticed something. 
 
 I looked up, eyes wide as I realized the walls were shaking. The toys on my dresser were shaking, some falling to the floor. I surveyed the room, the entire house rattling, a spiderweb of cracks spreading on my bedroom window, dust tumbling in thin pillars from the roof. I screamed out in shock when the roof exploded inwards as something blasted inside. How nothing hit me as I lay there I did n't have time to investigate. 
 
 Standing in my room was a giant, blond hair pouring from beneath a winged helmet, gracing his shoulders like a golden hood. His blue eyes glittered with arrogance and his armor seemed to reflect that in every way, shining bright and reflecting the light as if he were the sun. Broad shoulders, rippling muscles barely contained by silver-and-leather armor, a tight fist curled around the handle of a fat, square-shaped hammer sparking rabidly with a blue electric current. 
 
 The man turned and saw me there, his eyes wild like lightning. `` You there, boy. Stand before Thor.'' He commanded. I sniffed and wiped my leaking nose, struggling to stand and pull my pants up at the same time. `` Boy, why do you snivel and cower? Stand tall and proud like a warrior.'' He looked at me confused. `` Why are you so exposed?'' 
 
 His question remained unanswered as my uncle walked in, pants undone, staring at the ceiling in horror. `` WHAT THE FUCK?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CEILING, ASSHOLE?!'' Thor turned, surprised at someone daring to speak to him that way. He opened his mouth to speak when he observed my uncle's state of dress. His head swung back to me like a pendulum of stone, examining me as I covered myself. There was something new in his eyes, then. Something that the Viking did n't seem entirely comfortable to ever have to face in his life. 
 
 His head swung back to face my uncle, an expression of fury and disgust plastered over his features like a dark stain, electricity arcing around the room as he squeezed his fists even tighter, knuckles white with rage. `` You, putrid quim.'' My uncle's face twisted with rage and he reared back and threw a punch, which Thor caught easily in his free hand. I watched the muscles in his arm flex, followed by a sickening *crunch* and my uncle fell to the floor screaming and holding his hand which was folded in on itself. 
 
 Thor's arm whipped out, fast as the wind, and his hammer struck my uncle in the chest, sending him flying down the hall. I heard a crash and a yelp of pain followed by silence. Thor turned to me, the fury bending to an unmistakable warmth for a moment. `` Wait for me, brave boy. I must tend to evil.'' He opened his hand and his hammer dropped, embedding itself in the floor as the fury returned to Thor's eyes. His boots cracked the tile floor in the hall as he stalked after my uncle. 
 
 I pulled my pants to my waist, unable to secure them since the button had been ripped off by my uncle. I tried to cover my ears to block out the sounds of a god's fist hammering flesh. I could n't imagine what he needed his actual hammer for. The lights in the house kept flickering and dimming, either in time with Thor's individual beatings or his breathing as he writhed with anger. I looked up as he entered the doorway, his hammer in his hand although I had n't noticed him bend down to pick it up. He hooked the handle on his belt and walked over to me, suddenly looking very tired; no sense of pride or arrogance as he knelt down before me. His cheeks were slick, but there was n't any sweat on the rest of his body. Rather, they were tears. 
 
 His eyes were overcast skies, the storm having passed now leaving devastation in its wake. He tousled my hair and studied my face, searching for something I could n't begin to understand. `` Stand, boy. Stand before me.'' I struggled to my feet and he smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. `` That man. He is your kin?'' I nodded. This seemed to hurt Thor, and he tried and failed to hide this. `` Where I'm from, you protect your blood at all costs... Those who forsake or harm their kin are the worst kind of betrayer. To do to your own blood what that... what that scum in there has...'' He paused, thinking better of his words as he looked into my eyes again. 
 
 `` What is your name, boy?'' Thor asked. 
 
 `` Anthony,'' I answered. 
 
 `` Anthony. You are the bravest warrior I've ever known. Any weakling can hurt children, and any weakling can punish those that hurt children. It takes true strength to survive cruelty like you've done.'' Thor wiped his cheeks and then mine, squeezing my shoulder and standing straight, looking down at me with a warmth and respect I'd never known. `` I hope I never have to witness the horrors you've seen in your days, my boy. As long as you continue to be strong, you will never succumb to cruelty and you will never be overcome by evil.'' 
 
 Thor took a step back and pulled his hammer free, the skies above the hole in the roof filled with menacing storm clouds. `` If your uncle ever tries to harm you again, I will be there. That is, if he ever sees the light of day again. Your aunt is currently filing a report with the police. You have a hard road ahead of you, but a warrior like you, Anthony. You wo n't falter.'' Thor began to lift into the air, thunder crackling in the sky as lightning rippled around Thor's physique. 
 
 Before he left, his eyes locked with mine again. `` When I saw your uncle, I was almost overcome by grief at how such evil could thrive in this world. However, when I saw you, I was filled with hope. For you are proof that evil can always be vanquished. Today, Anthony, you are *my* hero.'' And with that, Thor launched into the air, his hammer held out before him like a guiding light as he vanished in the clouds. Another few moments and they were gone, and when I blinked, my ceiling was whole, no longer missing a chunk where Thor had plowed it in. 
 
 I heard the front door open and I walked into the living room to see no sign that Thor had ever been here. Except my uncle lying on the floor, albeit with no injuries, everything was as it was before the god had arrived. My uncle was still groaning in pain however and two officers were in the room, one lifting my uncle to his knees, the other spying me with my torn pants. After my uncle was carried out in cuffs, the officers wrapped a blanket around me and carried me to my aunt who pulled me in tight, tears in her eyes. `` I'm so sorry,'' she kept saying as she hugged me tightly. I just stayed quiet, watching the skies and mouthing a silent'thank you' to the gods above. 
 
 -- - 
 
 I obviously have no real knowledge of sexual abuse, nor do I have experience with victims of sexual violence so if this comes off as misinformed or if I offend anyone with how this story portrays a crime of that nature, I sincerely apologize. 
 
 Just figured I'd throw in this little addendum in case anyone sees this. 
 
 Edit: I typed this all on my phone so I just went back and fixed a ton of typos.
