‧. .ˋˏʚ♡ɞˎˊ. .‧

Val leaned against the metal doorframe, clutching her arm and breathing laboriously. She frowned at Maya’s bleeding foot and silently sat down before her, taking the tweezers and Maya’s foot in hand. 

“Hold. Still. I’ll do. It.” 

“It will hurt, won’t it?” 

“A lot.” Val breathed into the tweezers, bringing the metal to shine. “Think of something. Happy.” 

Maya couldn’t suppress a smirk, though it was mixed with pain. “Then I’ll think of you.” 

Val grinned. “That works.” 

The Valkyrie went to work, deftly plucking out the smaller shards from Maya’s skin.  Each removal was so careful that Maya barely felt more than a faint prick. It wasn’t until Val moved on to the larger shards that the pain surged. Maya bit down on her lip, suppressing a whimper as her free hand pressed firmly against her mouth.

She averted her gaze, searching for anything to focus on to endure the discomfort. Her eyes landed on Val, whose top revealed a low neckline today—a detail that might have been purely coincidental but served as an oddly effective distraction for Maya.

“This one. Will hurt.”

Yeah, I can take it, thought Maya, grossly underestimating the pain.

The sharp sting hit, and Maya yelped, quickly muffling her scream into her hand. Her entire body jerked in response, and if Val hadn’t held her foot firmly in her hand, Maya would have kicked the Valkyrie square in the face to make it stop.

Maya let out a cry of relief as the shard was finally removed. It was almost over.

Val drenched a clean towel in warm water and dabbed it gently against the wounds. Maya whimpered at the tender touch, but didn’t pull away. Then, Val leaned closer and blew against Maya’s foot. 

A soothing warmth spread through the skin, and as if by magic, the wounds began to close. Within seconds, there were no traces left—not even a scar.

“How do you. Feel?” asked Val, brushing her thumb over the heel. 

A little whine escaped Maya. “Still hurts a bit.”

Val suddenly kissed the base of her foot and met her eyes. “Better?”

Maya bit her lower lip and nodded with a blush. “Better, thanks to you. Won’t even need to worry about walking,” she laughed. 

Val smiled. “That’s good.” She gently kissed the top of Maya’s foot and looked down. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” 

“Yours!?” Maya exclaimed. “How? No, it’s mine! I went up against those undead things because I thought I could take them,” exclaimed Maya with tears streaming down her face. “I was stupid and reckless. By saving me, you exerted yourself.”

Val shook her head. “I. Bring Danger,” she said, breathlessly leaning against the wall. “They even. Attacked you.” 

“Stop, it’s not your fault,” Maya said firmly as she knelt before Val, her hands gently gripping the Valkyrie’s slumped shoulders. “Sure, I got chased through my apartment, had my doors smashed, roped down my balcony in my gown—which, by the way, I really hope to change out of soon—and stepped on glass. Sounds like a typical Tuesday.” 

Val didn’t appreciate Maya’s humour. With shaking hands, she held Maya’s and sighed deeply. “I shouldn’t,” murmured Val. “I’m can’t drag you. Into more. Danger. I should. Leave.”

“Please don’t.” Maya’s voice was barely a whisper. Her resolve faltered. “I… I don’t want you to leave. I know it probably sounds strange, but I’ve grown to like you. A lot.” She squeezed Val’s hands, her own trembling slightly. “Let me help you, please. I want to help you.”

Val squeezed Maya’s hands, unable to let go of Maya’s soft touch. “I shouldn’t, but…” Dipping her head, Val glanced through her blond strands at Maya. “Are you. Sure? Can I. Stay?” 

Maya cracked a smile. “Totally. I grew addicted to your food and I can’t cook to save my life. Undead Vikings be damned. They’ll have to go through me.”

“Scary,” Val laughed, getting a chuckle out of Maya. “Thank you. Again. For your help.” 

“Don’t worry about it. I mean it.” Maya stood up and tugged on her dirty gown. She shuddered at her state. “I need a shower, or better, a bath. I feel dirty, but ergh, I don’t have the energy to scrub the tub.” 

“Let me do—” 

“NO!” Maya protested, keeping Val away from the cleaning equipment. “You did enough. Don’t pretend you can tough it out. Your breathing hasn't fully recovered. I can hear it. Go take a break.” 

Val squirmed in place. With furrowed brows, she stapled her hands. “At least. A little. Please?” 

Maya narrowed her eyes at Val, who looked back at her with the expression of a scolded kitten, with her shoulders slumped and her lips pressed together. Letting out a long, defeated sigh, Maya grumbled, “Fine. But I’ll be watching you—got it?” She emphasised her point by gesturing two fingers from her eyes to Val’s. “I mean it. Don’t overdo it.”

As she turned to leave, Maya added over her shoulder, “I’ve got to make a call. Don’t make me regret this.” Her voice carried a mix of exasperation and lingering concern.

“Yes, ma’am,” Val saluted jokingly, cracking a smile after her hand went down.

Maya left the bathroom but glimpsed right back in. Val waved at her until Maya slowly disappeared to use the landline—since the Draugr destroyed her phone.

Dialling a number, Maya waited for the other end to pick up. She blew a breath in the meantime and was glad they were back home.

She felt terrible for how she forced Val to help her, but apparently Val was also feeling remorseful for putting Maya in danger. I’m glad she’s staying.

Maya put a hand on her heated cheek. Yes, she would have hated it if Val left. 

“Who's calling?” came from the other end. Maya let out a relaxed sigh that Austin picked up despite the unknown number. 

“Am I talking to the Ghostbusters?” she replied jokingly and waited for an answer. It beeped to keep the connection.

“Maya?” Austin exclaimed into the phone, flabbergasted. “Where are you calling from? What number is this?”

“Phone broke,” grumbled Maya. “Stepped on by a monster, but don’t worry, I’m fine. Val found me. We’re back home. Nothing should happen anymore… I hope.” 

“Phew,” said Austin in relief. “Guess I don’t have to take the bus anymore. Would have taken ages anyway.” 

“You’re so unreliable, you know?” Maya joked. 

“Har Har, you know me,” Austin mocked. “You know how much I hate buses.” 

“You and me both, but thanks for picking up. I needed that.” 

“Sure, always here to help.” It beeped on the other site again. “You know that.” 

“I do,” she giggled.

“Maya. Bath is ready.” 

“Coming!” 

“What was that?” asked Austin. “Are you taking a bath together?” 

“—Austin, no! We just…” Maya fumbled for words. “I don’t think I am ready for that yet.” 

“Damn girl, have fun!” The phone beeped again to keep the connection. “Listen, I gotta go now. I’ve something to take care of, and apparently, you too.” Austin let the phone run a bit more, listening to Maya fumbling desperately for explanations. 

He ended the call and took a step forward. The branches snapped underneath his boot as he crouched down to the Draugr he just destroyed. The tallest one still struggled underneath the tree Austin had uprooted to save Maya. 

“Tell me. Who sent you?” Austin snatched the Draugr’s face with his tawny hand. “Who are you working for? Loki? Utgard-Loki? Mimir? Thrym? Hm? Answer me.” 

The Draugr gargled. Its bones cracked and an eyeball popped out of its cranium. Ooze dripped out of its holes as Austin crushed its skill, turning it into mush.

“Pleasant trip back to Helheim.” Austin turned to the rest of the Draugr approaching him. At least a dozen surrounded him, clanging with their arms. “The cavalry, I presume? Do your worst.”

Austin closed his fist and the bones cracked. His arm enlarged and loomed over the army of Draugr, blocking out the sun like an eclipse. Coming down at them like a tsunami, swallowing their remains back into the underworld.