Her hands are cold and still as he holds them desperately, his thumbs tracing every knuckle, every crease. The fluorescent lights above them illuminate her pale skin and Kratos can see every vein and bruise with clarity. She leans into him, her thinning copper hair nudging into a bearded cheek. She whispers into his neck through wet lips and stifled sobs and Kratos listens as best as he can. His arms wrap around her body as delicately as his huge mass allows. He holds her steadily. The familiar beeping next to them fills the room.
"I will try," Is his response, the words escaping his throat through a low, wobbly rumble.
"No," Faye uses the last of her strength to take her husband's head in her hands, cords and tubes hanging from her frail arms. She careses his cheekbones and meets his eyes. She watches as the tears Kratos had been holding back begin trickle down his face. "You must do more than try." Her words are raspy and desperate. She wipes a tear from her husband's cheek tenderly with a cold thumb.
"I do not know how," Kratos chokes, for he does not. "I do not know how to do this without you."
"You are a strong man, my love, in many ways. Believe in yourself." Faye's last words are a plea, and Kratos rocks her gently as she closes her eyes for the last time.
A few floors beneath them, a small bundle lays on his side with knees to his chest. He holds the rails of his bed in one hand, a small wooden horse in the other. He weeps.
—
"Ah, welcome back Faye!" A chorus of warm smiles and greetings welcome her as she walks through the lobby, black pointed boots clicking confidently on the smooth, grey tiles beneath her. Olive culottes swish around her tattooed calves.
"Oh, Sindri, it's great to be home!" She coos, approaching a small, bearded man donning a pale blue suit, his dark hair pulled away from his face in a short ponytail. She holds her arms out invitingly and the man laughs sheepishly, darting out of her way. Faye chuckes.
"You enjoyed your time away I trust?" The pair walk side by side towards the elevator and Faye presses the up button.
"Oh it was wonderful, Sydney was everything I had dreamed of and I truly believe that Melbourne was made for me. So much art! So much furniture! So many ideas!" She does a twirl and her thick red ponytail swishes against her lower back. Sindri beams. "I have brought back so much inspiration and have started on so many new designs already! You'll be so impressed." The elevator dings and they step in. Inside is a blue man in dusty black overalls and muddy yellow construction boots. He's a bit smaller than Sindri in height but a little more broad. His beard isn't quite as well kept as Sindri's. His face lights up as they step in.
"You fuckin' cow! You've fuckin' returned!"
"It appears I have!" Faye laughs and leans an elbow into the blue man's shoulder. She pats him on his bald head with her other hand. "It is good to see you Brok."
They reach the top floor and Sindri gasps, pointing at Brok's feet. "You are not wearing those awful things inside again!" His face is white with disbelief and Brok groans as they step out of the elevator.
To their left is a spacious lounge with massive glass windows in place of walls, overlooking the city below them. A polished, geometric sculpture hangs from the high ceiling and modern furnishings accent the space. Ahead of them is a hall that is lined with glistening glass offices. To their right are two more similar offices and a reception. Big letters on the front of the counter read "Huldra Incorporated".
"I would wear fuckin' chicken carcasses on my hoofs if it so fuckin' pleases me! So don't go givin' me any ideas!" Brok grumbles, throwing his arms up as he takes off into the lounge, making a point to scuff his grubby shoes against the tiles. Faye smirks behind an embellished hand and Sindri gags.
"He'll clean up, I'll make him," Faye soothes. Sindri escorts her down the hall and they stop when they reach her office.
"It is good to have you back, I've missed you dearly." Sindri confesses. Faye would have pecked him oh the forehead if he hadn't been such a germaphobe. "Meeting is at 11 in confrence room 31, we're looking forward to seeing some of your ideas."
Faye sighs happily as she pushes her door open with a hip and gestures goodbye to her friend. She walks around to the front of her desk and slumps into her white leather armchair. She gently swings her tote bag onto the floor besides her and happily notes that someone has been watering her plants for her. She had only been in Australia for a few short months but it had felt like a life time. It was good to be back.
—
Atreus' eyes drowsily flutter open. His whole body aches and he is covered in a sticky layer of cold sweat. He gathers his senses and feels a wet rag wiping at his neck and face, and is suddenly is overcome by the strong smell of vomit. He must've fallen asleep in is own sick again, he realises, but is in too much pain to care.
His small hands feel around for the remote, letting out a soft cry as as the bed sits him up. He rubs at his tender chest and wheezes, groggily looking around the room. A nurse finishes cleaning him up and takes his temperature before leaving.
His father sits on a chair next to him, face buried in his large hands.
Atreus has to gather his strength before quietly asking,
"Is she...?"
Kratos looks up. Face sunken, eyes red, hands shaking. He manages to make eye contact for a moment before his face finds his hands once more.
Atreus begins to vomit again, on the floor this time, and Kratos leaves the room.