‧. .ˋˏʚ♡ɞˎˊ. .‧

Maya played with a coil of her voluptuous black hair, contemplating on what to do now. She had tugged the stranger into another duvet who kept squirming like a baby in her sleep.

That woman was special, that much Maya knew. It wasn’t every day someone stumbled on a person from a myth. What options did she have? 

Call the government? Get some professional help from the hospital? Call a psychiatrist to schedule an emergency appointment because she believed she had found a real-life Valkyrie? 

“Nah, I’m mentally fine…. Maybe I should work on my paper and wait till she wakes up.” 

Maya sat back down at her desk and turned on her laptop. She was a university student and didn’t tend to go out much. Socialising was overrated, anyway.

Maya was already chubby since she was a child, but staying at home all the time had caused her to gain weight. She tried not to think about it too much, but it was a lot of effort to work out—or cut back on snacking. 

University is stressful, Maya mumbled under her breath, wishing to enjoy life a bit more. Not alone but with someone. Typing fiercely on her keyboard, Maya tried to ignore those intrusive thoughts. “Can’t concentrate. Need some caffeine.” 

Leaving for the kitchen, Maya didn’t notice the Valkyrie was awake and waiting until Maya was out of sight. Propping herself up, she inspected her wounds and ripped off the bandage from her forehead. 

The cuts weren’t deep. Muscles and skin tissue were already knitting themselves back together. Soon, there would be no trace of damage left. Only her heavier wounds would need more time and care, leaving behind faint white scars that added to the rest.

Hearing approaching footsteps, the Valkyrie reclined in her bed. She observed how Maya sat back down to work again, unaware of the awake Valkyrie. 

Maya was humming and sipping on her coffee.

Carefully, the Valkyrie removed the duvet and stealthily approached Maya from behind. She curiously peered over her shoulder. The Valkyrie did not understand anything she was seeing. Instead, she concentrated on Maya’s focused face with the laptop’s light reflecting on her.

She felt the urge to keep looking at her for a bit more and leaned closer. Lost in her thoughts, she flinched like a cat when she noticed Maya stirring. 

“My head’s not in the game today.” Maya stuck out her chest and popped her back from sitting too much. The Valkyrie’s caught her breath. “I need a break. I worked too much— holy!” 

When Maya saw how the Valkyrie gazed at her from above, she immediately shot up from her seat and turned around. 

“You’re awake!” Maya exclaimed with surprise. “And pretty silent, I didn’t hear you,” laughed Maya, earning a confused look from the Valkyrie. “Right, ehm, let’s start with… Who are you? What’s your name?” 

“Name?” The Valkyrie repeated with a dry northern voice, a starry look in her amber eyes as if she wasn’t entirely there. “Not. Remember. Who. I?”

Oh dear, did she hit her head too hard? Maya worried, furrowing her brow and biting her lower lip. What should I do now—

“More. Important.” The Valkyrie leaned closer, putting a hand on the shelf beside them. “Who. You?” 

Maya practically sat on the edge of the table. 

This is close, very close!

 Leaning further back, Maya had barely any space left to move as the Valkyrie came even closer. She was practically pinning Maya against the table. Maya brushed her hand over the table and toppled the cup, scalding her hand. 

“YOUCH!” she cried out. “Oww, oww, oww, that hurt.” 

Blowing on her reddening hand, Maya felt tears coming from her eyes. “Aloe Vera. Gotta put some on before—” 

Holding Maya’s hand, the Valkyrie observed the speckles of red forming on Maya’s rich and deep, chocolate-coloured skin. Taking in a breath, the Valkyrie blew softly against the forming blisters. 

Maya’s face was reddening like her skin. “I-I appreciate the gesture, but—”

The pain subsided.

Maya saw how her skin healed with each blow. She rubbed the back of her hand. It was smooth to the touch. More so than usual, considering how often she forgot to put on hand cream. 

“That’s a pleasant surprise. Tell me, do you really not know your name?” 

The Valkyrie shook her head, making her platinum blond hair dance and settle back perfectly to frame her golden-brown skin. 

“No. Not. Remember. Name,” she said. “Who. You?” 

“Me? I’m Maya.” Maya put a hand on her chest. “Nice to meet you.”

“Maya. Sounds. Sweet.” 

“Thanks,” Maya laughed with a red face, “but what should I call you? You’re a Valkyrie, right?” 

The Valkyrie nodded. “Yes. Think. So.”

“That’s good, but I can’t just call you ‘Valkyrie’ all the time, can I?” Then an idea struck Maya. “Since we don’t know your name yet. Why not call you, Val? Short for Valkyrie. What do you think?” 

“Val? Sounds. Good. Like. It.” Val smiled at Maya brightly and took her hand. “Maya.”