CHAPTER 10 - KRISTOFF BJORGMAN
We are here to talk about Ahtohallan.
It took a while for Anna to assimilate what was said. The strange men in front of her didn't resemble Ahtohallan employees at all. Quite the opposite, for they lacked poise and finesse while excelling in bruteness, carrying an eerie and dangerous aura. Anna was modest enough to recognize no co-worker would go through the hurdle of visiting her personally, especially to merely talk. Even so, she found two scary guests at her door.
These men knew she worked at Ahtohallan.
They knew where she lived.
Something was definitely not alright.
"I'm pretty certain you got the incorrect address, sir. If you'll excuse me, I need to get ready for work." Anna said, about to slam the door shut.
Reacting swiftly, the blonde man placed his foot in the door frame, forcibly blocking its closure. Anna gasped in surprise when oak collided with ragged sneakers, but before she could think about escaping, the man shoved a badge in her frightened face.
Anna's eyelids flickered in confusion, examining the man's identification with suspicion.
"Are you... you guys are— "
"FBI! It's a nice badge isn't it?" The blonde man's gruff voice cut her off mid-sentence. "Now, would you be so kind and let us in?"
It wasn't a request. More like a command, though delivered with a mocking tone as if Anna was a puppy.
She decided to avoid challenging the two juggernauts at her doorstep, opening the door slowly. The reasoning behind the visit was still a mystery, but Anna's brain wasn't that sluggish to realize those two weren't cops. No FBI agent in Arendelle would behave and dress that way, not even in disguise. Her assumption confirmed itself when both stormed into her living room with haste, quickly making themselves comfortable. Sven paced around the kitchen, having the audacity to snatch a beer from Anna's freezer, uncapping it with a vicious bite.
"Hey! That's mine!" Anna tried to yank the beer out of his grasp, but the bearded monster just snarled back at her.
Kristoff flopped down on the sofa, dwarfing the thing with his bulk. The fair-haired man lighted a cigarette and dragged deep, not even bothering to look at Anna. His bloodshot eyes were staring at the TV, fixed on the Snow Queen feebly waving to the masses, and Anna could see the exasperation of his gaze, a rage that dug deep in his heart.
He certainly didn't like the Snow Queen.
"What the fuck do you people want with me?" Anna asked, irritated by how nosy the men were being. "And don't think I believe for a second that you guys are FBI."
"We just want to chat, that's all," Kristoff said, surprisingly calm. "I just had to make sure the Snow Queen wasn't here."
The blonde man spoke while facing Anna, but the corner of his eye was attentively watching the TV. The words churned her stomach, and suddenly, their presence in her apartment didn't feel right, nor safe. The redhead's new iPhone was resting atop the kitchen counter, so she began shuffling her way towards it, furtively.
Kristoff caught her intentions, raising a reassuring hand. "You're not in danger. No need to call the Snow Queen here."
"Who said I was going to call anyone?"
Kristoff snickered. "I can see you're shitting yourself, Anna. Calm down."
"How do you know my name? And I'll ask again, who are you really? And what do you want with me?"
It was really hard to hide the nervousness in the presence of two cop wannabes.
"Jeez, so many questions." Kristoff waved off her concern. "I told you the truth. I'm Kristoff, and this is Sven."
At the mention of his name, the man known as Sven neighed affirmatively. Such was the oddity of his person that Anna deemed him hairy gorilla.
"I find it hard to believe that this guy," Anna pointed to Sven. "is an FBI agent. And you don't look like one either."
"We're part of... a special unit."
"And you want to talk... about Ahtohallan?"
"Just hear me out. Could you do that?" Kristoff said, taking a deep drag on the cigarette dangling on his lips and puffing the smoke back at Anna.
"Fine." Anna drew back, coughing a bit.
"Before we begin, I've two questions. First, how did you manage this?" The blonde man shifted in his seat, gesturing towards the TV screen, which was still being dominated by images of the Snow Queen. "I've never seen her go out on public this way."
"Why do you think I've anything to do with her?" Anna deadpanned.
"If you don't have anything to do with her, who hired you then?"
"What?" Anna answered, mingling surprise and embarrassment in her voice. From the looks of it, Kristoff figured out her hiring process.
"You don't need to answer. It all makes sense now." Kristoff chuckled. "Who'd've thought? Secretary position, huh? So, the rumors are true. The Snow Queen is kinky!"
"What?" Anna's cheeks flushed, annoyed by the probing questions. "Look, I don't know what you want, but can we go straight to the point? You just broke into my house and— "
"I want you to leak information about Ahtohallan to us."
Anna stilled at his bluntness. She didn't believe he would take her request that seriously. Until now, it felt like they were merely teasing each other, trying to extract information here and there. Kristoff certainly knew a great deal about her.
"And why would I agree with that? If you're really FBI, why don't you knock on their door and ask your questions? You're supposed to be the law as far as I know." Anna said, stepping away from the blonde brute.
"I can't do that." Kristoff closed his eyes and sighed. "We need your help."
If they couldn't conduct their investigation the legitimate way, then they weren't cops. If they weren't cops, then they weren't working with the limits of the law...
I need to call Elsa.
Anna dashed forward and snatched her phone, causing Sven to spill his beer with a snarl. Kristoff immediately stood, placing himself between the hairy gorilla and the terrified redhead.
"Please leave my apartment! Or I'm calling the Snow Queen to kick you out of here." Anna extended her arm upwards, phone in hand as if she wielded a threatening weapon. Her intimidation lacked confidence, however, evident by her sweaty grip and trembling fingers. "You know what she can do! Please, whoever you are, just leave, and I promise I won't call her."
"We're not lying to you," Kristoff said, voice like silk and cream, soothing as a prince, but his eyes betrayed him; there was a baleful gleam in them. "And if you believe you know anything about Ahtohallan, you're mistaken."
"Why should I trust you? You just came here unannounced!" Anna's gaze alternated between Kristoff and Sven, thumbs itching to dial Elsa's number.
"I don't care about the Snow Queen's reasons, but somehow, she placed you in a very valuable position for us. We've been investigating Ahtohallan for quite some time now, and you're one of the best opportunities we've gotten in years."
"Me?" The redhead tilted her head, narrow-eyed. "...Valuable?"
"Yes."
Anna lowered her arm, placing the iPhone on top of the kitchen table. As her adrenaline wore off, she could consider the situation more clearly. A very receptive part of her felt Kristoff was genuine, despite being scary and unreliable.
"What do you think you know about Ahtohallan?" The blonde man continued. "Do you believe you know everything about the Snow Queen? Your employer?"
Anna thought the question seemed pointless. "They're a superhero company! They've been managing heroes and working alongside our government for years! The Snow Queen is their new leader now, and heir of the whole thing."
Kristoff scowled, clenching his jaw in a tight grind, for Anna's answer apparently made him upset. "You know nothing about Ahtohallan." He hissed.
"Enlighten me then." Anna sneered.
"Do you know how many people the Snow Queen has killed? I bet she doesn't tell you these stories while drinking and chatting at Oaken's."
"Killed? Wait, how do you know about—"
"More than two hundred people died in Syria when she was sent to end the conflict there. And that's just one fucking place!" Kristoff snapped, rising up and pointing an accusing finger at the TV.
Two hundred? Impossible. Anna opened her mouth to retort, but she went speechless. There was no way Elsa would commit such atrocity. She is an iconic hero loved by many, with countless fans all around the globe, praised by the police and the army. Even though the Snow Queen likely had the power to cause such destruction, why would she even do it? Kristoff spoke like she was the one held responsible.
"General Destin Mattias, now known as the Secretary of Defense, thought it was a good idea to send the Snow Queen to intervene in the Middle East's conflicts." Kristoff spat, tramping around the living room. "She was supposed to replace the army! Those snow monstrosities that she creates were going to substitute human soldiers! Do you know what happened?"
"No..." But Anna already imagined what Kristoff was going to say next. She winced when the cursed memories of the robbery returned to her mind, images of those beautiful ice-blue eyes consumed by hatred and anger.
"Her snow golems killed everyone. Not only the enemy but the innocent as well. Men, women, children, fathers, mothers, pregnant— "
"Stop!" Anna screamed. "Why are you telling me this?"
Kristoff took a large pull on his cigarette and exhaled. "Because you don't know a god damn thing about Ahtohallan. And you're going out in bars with the most dangerous person you could imagine!"
"She is a superhero!" Anna rebutted, frustrated fingers running through her bangs. "El — The Snow Queen would never do something like this! She wants to do her best for the people, she —"
"She is a murderer!" Kristoff threw his hands up and fumed, shaking his head with a dry laugh. "Do you know that she is considered a weapon of mass destruction? What if she loses control and buries the whole city under snow? These superheroes only bring chaos and destruction!"
It's chaos and destruction wherever you guys go!
Anna recognized those words, that obstinate line of thinking, garbled by resentment. She shared that same mindset once, in a not so distant past. There was a time the redhead felt nothing but envy about superheroes, a bitter jealously of their renown. Though back then, she had no idea accusations like the ones Kristoff mentioned could be possible, especially in a world obsessed with superheroes.
"And this is only the tip of the iceberg!" Kristoff said, tossing his cigar away and slumping back on the sofa, fidgetting with a box of tobacco. "Ahtohallan has been covering up their superhero crimes for years. They're involved with schemes to silence witnesses, control the armed forces, and we even believe there are higher-ups in the government supporting their illegal activities."
"Stop, I don't want to hear any more of this," Anna responded, massaging her temples. "You're telling me one of the biggest corporations in the world is evil? Superheroes are now mass murderers? I find it hard to believe."
"All those toys, commercials, movies, charity acts, it's all fake! Saving people? Busting criminals? All a front! This is what they want you to see and think. This is the garbage you see on the news!" Kristoff said sternly, light brown eyes fixed on the TV, watching the Snow Queen take another selfie with a fan.
"Yeah, right," Anna said wryly. "Tell that to the thousands of people they save daily."
"We need to expose the truth! Superheroes need to be judged for their crimes as well!"
"Good luck with that."
"You delusional fucking kid!" Kristoff strode Anna's way, stopping a few inches from her face. "They want the masses to love their heroes! Those Ahtohallan execs are master manipulators—"
"And what proof do you have?" Anna yelled back. "Why have I never heard anything similar to this? You're just a guy that hates the Snow Queen—"
"The Snow Queen is the worst of them all!" He roared.
"Stop!" Anna shrieked, eyes watering. "I said I don't want to hear this. The Snow Queen is good. Ahtohallan is good. People love them, and they're making Arendelle a better place!"
Kristoff shook his head. "I can prove it to you, Anna, if you would just—"
"Shut up!" Anna cried, and even Sven was startled by her outburst. "My life has been perfect these past few days. I got a decent job. I made a new friend. I've never been this optimistic about it in years! I don't know how I could help you, and I don't want to help you. So please, leave my apartment!
Anna realized she held her breath the entire time, and tears leaked out the crease of her eyes, running along her rosy cheeks. She wanted to speak, but only gurgling breaths came out. Kristoff appeared out of nowhere, crushing her perfect world with a few words. One moment, she was living the dream; friends with a superheroine, with a steady job, and a promising prospect of a future. A few days later, and it all came crashing down back at her.
Was she living a lie? Was Elsa really that bad? The mere thought made her nauseous.
"I'd never put you in danger, Anna. Ahtohallan would never suspect you." Kristoff said, voice unwavering, but his eyes were begging for her cooperation. "You've bypassed their selection process! You could be an easy way for us to get some insight about what they're doing!"
"Kristoff, please." Anna interrupted. She was tired, exhausted, weak, empty inside. "If you're really a cop, am I under arrest? Am I obliged to participate in all of this?"
Fury overcame Kristoff's features, a sullen scowl that he couldn't conceal. He knew Anna wasn't going to side with him, not like this. "No, you're not."
"In that case, leave now!" Anna ordered. She was using all her willpower to not cower before the blonde behemoth.
Kristoff snorted, haughty eyes looking down. Anna could smell the booze on his breath, see the nicotine stimulating his poisoned system, and maybe even more psychedelic drugs. He was a broken man, facing an unbeatable enemy, the Snow Queen. Sven huffed and hustled him towards the door, but the blonde man still turned around to take one last glance at Anna.
"This is your chance to make a difference, Anna. To do something that matters in your life." Kristoff said, igniting another cigar. "You strike me as a person that would want to know the truth, just like me. Superheroes aren't gods, Anna. We can't live under the Snow Queen's boot."
Sven placed a contact card on top of her kitchen table.
"I believe we'll see each other again, Anna Jensen. I'll keep an eye on you."
And then he slammed the door shut with a terrific bang.
Anna slumped against the sofa cushions, mind shaken. If what Kristoff told her was true, then the whole world was being deceived, scammed by their idols. Even though his defamatory words were shocking, he presented no tangible proof, just mindless chatter, baseless accusations, nothing concrete. Many people conspired against Ahtohallan, forging several incriminating stories to throw against the grand enterprise. Kristoff could very well be just one of those.
But why does she feel it could be all true?
Ahtohallan had so much influence, so much power, that veiling nefarious activities would be in their reach. And who in their right mind would suspect superheroes? What about Elsa? Was she involved or aware of this? Did she really slaughter all those people? Questions on top of questions, but no answers. Anna couldn't dwell on those uncertainties. She decided to keep the contact card in her closet and avoid jumping to rash conclusions.
She would talk with Elsa, eventually. But right now, she was late for work.
"Oh, for Christ's sake Earth Spirit!" Elsa facepalmed.
The Five Spirits had assembled in their conference room. As always, the Snow Queen occupied the middle seat, while the others sat by her opposing sides, positioned along the massive u-shaped table. In today's meeting, the hero's task was to evaluate video footage, usually filmed by civilians and uploaded online. The recorded clips were pre-selected to be exclusively incriminating ones, containing images that could potentially damage Ahtohallan's public reputation.
This time, the monitors scattered around the room flashed with gruesome pictures of a robber, right before being crushed by a giant boulder. A rock summoned by the Earth Spirit, squashing the poor man's body with a sickening squelch. If Nokk and Bruni were disgusted, they didn't show it. Gale, however, watched the scene with wide eyes, slurping eagerly from a coke can.
"Was that really necessary?" Elsa asked, curling her lips in disgust.
The Earth Spirit fingers glowed with a greenish glow, and the boulder levitated upwards, exposing the mangled body. People around him screamed hysterically at the sight of bone bulging out from the flayed flesh, flattened organs and guts exposed to air.
"I'm sorry, Snow Queen. It was a slip on my part. The cleanup team also didn't arrive on time." The Earth Spirit said in embarrassment, cringing at the desperate cries coming from the video.
"This one must go out of the web." Elsa frowned. "Next video."
The computers shimmered, and the subsequent clip started to roll out. Judging by the awful quality, the video seemed to have been filmed indoors, probably in a bar or a restaurant, with a cheap mobile phone. A group of drunks surrounded a table, and after some considerable yelling, two girls stood from their seats. Even though it was hard to discern what was happening, everybody noticed when one of the guys punched the taller blonde woman, fist going straight to her nose. Surprisingly, she remained unharmed while the individual screamed in evident pain...
"What the fuck!" The Snow Queen screeched, raising from her seat.
Gale spilled soda out of his nose from the sudden outburst, while the other Spirits just stared at Elsa, looking shocked and bewildered.
Somehow, a customer attending Oaken's that night recorded Elsa and Anna's scuffle with the drunken jerks. Luckily, the video quality was so bad Elsa wasn't instantly recognizable, likely thanks to her disguise and absence of the iconic braid.
"Is that you?" Gale choked out. "If it's not you, that's definitely a superhero."
"It certainly looks like her," Bruni said, almost simultaneously.
"It doesn't matter who it is. That video must go out of circulation as soon as possible." The Snow Queen stated, fighting against the urge to let her powers run free and possibly freeze the entire room. She ended up grasping the table with such force that her fingers even dented its surface. "Next video."
"That was the last one, Snow Queen." The Earth Spirit said, feeling relieved.
"Good. Do we have any progress about the whereabouts of the supervillain?" The Snow Queen asked the whole group.
"He appears to have vanished completely." The Nokk responded. "However, the henchmen that helped him in the warehouse robbery seem to come from various gangs around the city, not one in particular."
"Do you think he hired them? Maybe mercenaries?" Gale questioned, taking a big sip from his coke can.
"Possibly. It seems the masked man only needed a distraction to keep the Snow Queen occupied. I'm worried about the several weapons and explosives he stole. He certainly has plans for more attacks."
"Keep me posted, Nokk," Elsa replied, sensing that their meeting would be interrupted shortly; she could hear a few footsteps coming from the halls outside.
The noise increased with each step until the double doors opened, and to Elsa's relief, it was Anna and Gerda. Both girls walked into the room carrying a fair number of documents in their hands, giving a polite nod to the Spirits before handing them over. It took only a simple gaze for the Snow Queen to notice Anna's discomfort; the redhead's eyes seemed distant, overly pensive, and she was practically trudging around the chamber.
"Good afternoon. I brought the reports." Anna said with an uncharacteristic, dull monotone. She plopped a stack of papers in front of Elsa. "These are the superhero teams you've selected according to the class system."
"Thank you, Anna," Elsa said as gently as she could, attempting a benevolent smile. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, just a bit tired, I guess..." Anna spun on her heels to face Bruni, giving him a smaller pile of documents. "This is your schedule for the next week."
"Hmpf, you finally delivered them on time!" The boy scoffed, but the disdainful remark made Elsa upset instead of Anna.
"Do you have a problem you'd like to share with me, Fire Spirit?" The Snow Queen's voice harshened like the crack of a whip.
"Nope. Everything is outstanding, boss." He rolled his eyes and glared at Anna, who didn't seem to care in the slightest.
While the redhead delivered the remaining reports to the other Spirits, Elsa gestured for Gerda to come closer.
"Gerda, I need you to tell security to track a license plate. The number is UBL 2305. I want to know the whereabouts of this car at all times. It's a black sedan."
"All right." The elderly lady took note of the request, raising a curious eyebrow. "Is there a specific reason for it?"
"This car has been following me, and they might have been watching Anna as well."
At the mention of Anna, Gerda blinked a few times, trying to understand why a car would be following the heroine and her secretary. "Snow Queen, if I may ask why— "
"You may not, Gerda. Let me know if you find them, and I'll deal with the matter personally."
Anna was eavesdropping on the whole conversation, shuddering when hearing about the black sedan. Now it made perfect sense as to why Elsa approached that car, though she would've never guessed they were being tailed at that moment. Her stomach flopped even more at the thought of it being Kristoff. The blonde man knew they were at Oaken's that night, so he's a likely candidate to be the stalker.
"Anna? Are you there?"
Anna snapped out of her trance, feeling a foreign touch on her shoulder. Elsa had tentatively laid her hand on her arm, dainty fingers gently brushing her freckled skin.
"Anna? Are you ok? You look pale."
"Yes... Yeah!" Anna blurted, "Sorry, I was a little bit distracted."
"Are you sure?"
"One hundred percent."
Elsa pressed her lips, still a bit unsure. "I want you to schedule a meeting with Hiro, our tech supervisor. Some videos need to be taken out of the web as soon as possible." Elsa then leaned forward, whispering in her ear, "They filmed us in Oaken's," Her murmur almost inaudible, as to avoid other heroes listening to the information.
Anna's eyes widened, part because Elsa was blushing, but also with curiosity. "They... filmed us?" Take videos out of the web? What does she even mean by that?
"Don't worry. I'll deal with it," Elsa mumbled and then raised her voice, "Well, I think we're done here. Everyone is dismissed."
Anna still had many things to reveal, but her brain was having a hard time coming up with an appropriate way to say it. All the Spirits had already vacated the room at Elsa's command, giving her a bit of privacy at least. The words just couldn't get out, not in an unharmful way. With a sigh, Anna decided to withhold the information for now; Gerda was going to interrupt them anyway.
"Snow Queen, just a moment please," The plump woman sidled around the girls, expecting the redhead to leave their side, which didn't happen.
She still hates me...
"You have a meeting with Agnarr and General Mattias in thirty minutes, Snow Queen. I assumed your schedule had been updated accordingly to your daily activities." Gerda said, giving Anna an accusing look.
"Thank you for letting me know, Gerda. I assure you my schedule is absolutely fine," Elsa blatantly winked at Anna, not even bothering that the elder lady was standing next to them. "But if you're so concerned with my agenda, I believe you should carry out the assignment I conveyed to you today as soon as possible."
"Y-Yes... as one would expect." Gerda's eyes glared daggers at Anna's. "Excuse me." And then the woman skedaddled into the halls, not looking behind.
When she was out of earshot, Anna grinned.
"Gosh, you guys always speak so regally. It's like we're in an eighteen-fifties castle." Anna fought to hold back an amused laugh.
"Talking like that is a pretty efficient way to convey authority, Anna," Elsa smirked. "And it also fits with my superhero name. I'm a queen, after all."
"Yeah, yeah..." Anna chuckled. "You know, you don't need to have my back all the time. Sometimes they're right. I have my lapses here and there." It was an honor to have Elsa's full support, but the blonde tended to exaggerate in her protectiveness. "Kai and Gerda will probably think you're being mean on purpose."
"Who said I don't like being mean?" Elsa laughed wryly, playfully tousling Anna's auburn hair. "It's always fun to play with you cute little weaklings."
The heroine gently pinched Anna's earlobe and left the room, still giggling. The redhead just stood there, like a statue at the center of the barren room, mouth slightly ajar. If Kristoff hadn't talked with her today, she would've been astonished at Elsa's jovial mood. Unfortunately, the banter just served to rattle her mind even more.
What if she wasn't joking?
Mattias claimed a seat at an ornate table, placed in the center of Agnarr's private office. The General always thought the cavernous room resembled a diamond cupola, not suited for work affairs, but the visuals were undeniably stunning. Both were talking avidly, fueled by the best brands of premium coffee there was. Without any announcement, Elsa opened the double doors, prompting both men to rise from the gilded chairs.
"Good afternoon, Snow Queen. A pleasure to see you again." Mattias flashed a broad grin, extending his hand for a handshake, one which the Snow Queen meekly accepted.
"General." Elsa greeted both gentlemen back. "Father."
"Not General anymore! Secretary of Defense now." The man chuckled. "But I do like that term more. Please, join us." He indicated a reserved spot next to them.
"Mattias and I were discussing the field trials that will happen in Corona these next few days," Agnarr addressed Elsa, taking an elegant sip from his coffee mug. "We were extremely satisfied with the heroes you selected."
"I tried to pair the weaker, C-class heroes with sturdier ones, A-class heroes. I'm confident they will be enough for your tests." Elsa said.
"Absolutely. However, we were thinking about bringing some S-class heroes for the field trials as well."
The Snow Queen lowered her brows, trying to not make her frown look so obvious. S-class heroes were extremely rare, and there wasn't a single one active outside the Five Spirits lineup today. In fact, she hadn't seen one being found in years.
"I asked Agnarr for the Four Spirits to join the field trials as well," Mattias explained. "A countermeasure to capacitate our army to fight against other powerful individuals, such as the one you fought recently."
"You'll stay here, daughter, to protect Arendelle while the other Spirits are absent," Agnarr said proudly. "I'm sure you'll be enough."
"I'll also stay here at the tower for a few more days. Your father and I have a lot to discuss." Mattias added.
Several days alone at the tower? Without Bruni to disturb her? Without special meetings and piles of additional paperwork? Elsa welcomed such news wholeheartedly. Usually, field trials would take at least a week to complete, so that guaranteed a few peaceful days for the blonde.
That also meant more alone time with Anna.
"That's excellent news, General. I'll make sure to guarantee your safety during your stay."
Nothing bad could happen during those days, right?
"So, you managed to plant the bug?" Flynn asked.
"Yes. Sven planted a bug on her couch." Kristoff said, setting up gadgets and wiretapping equipment. "But the radio transmitter is weak, so I don't believe we'll be capable of eavesdropping on conversations outside of the living room."
"I still think you are putting way too much hope into that girl, Kristoff," Merida said, fiddling with a karambit knife. "She is an idiot. She'll never be able to provide us the information we need."
"I can feel that she wants to know the truth, Merida. She'll help us eventually." The blonde man said, fishing a cigar from his pocket. "Now we just wait and listen."
"You look fucking miserable, Kristoff." The Scottish girl muttered. "What about the Snow Queen?"
"We can only hope she visits Anna Jensen, again." Flynn swiftly typed in his computer, face lit by its gleaming phosphorescence. "But I highly doubt we'll get anything useful from that."
"I'm more worried about this guy," Kristoff stated, tossing some photographs on top of his battered desk.
The pictures showed the stolen truck, engulfed by dark shadows conjured by the mysterious masked man. The group exchanged some thoughtful looks, puzzled by the new threat.
"I have got a suspicion about who that guy is."
It's been a while since you got hurt. Right, Elsa?
The cryptic words echoed in Elsa's subconscious, tormenting her sleep. Not only does she have to deal with her childhood nightmares, but also with a supervillain, who somehow knew her true identity. Nervously twisting and turning into bed, she had given up on sleep a few hours ago, opting to lounge in the living room. Thinking about Anna helped her relax recently, but the redhead also seemed troubled today. She was way too quiet, too thoughtful, bearing some kind of personal discomfort.
What if she called her?
It would be something a decent friend would do. An affectionate call would demonstrate interest, genuine care for her well being. Elsa didn't want to disturb Anna's sleep this late into the night, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. The blonde stared at her window, thoughtfully observing the brilliant constellations of stars dotting the sky, raking a slender finger along her ice robe.
Just a simple call... it wouldn't be weird, would it?
After some internal debating, Elsa found her resolve. She fumbled with her phone and dialed the redhead's number.
"Hello?"
She sounded tired. But still angelic.
"H-Hey, Anna... It's E-Elsa."
"Oh, Elsa. It's great that you called because I can't sleep at all." Anna said, injecting a bit of energy in her tone. "Is everything alright?"
"I should be the one asking you!" Elsa chuckled awkwardly. "I know it's pretty late, but I feel like something was bothering you today. Did... did I say anything? You're usually so lively."
Only silence followed. Elsa frowned, thinking that maybe the call had disconnected, but she eventually heard a weary sigh.
"I'm ok, Elsa. I'm just... overthinking about some stuff."
Elsa expected Anna to elaborate, but she didn't.
"I understand if you don't want to talk about personal matters, Anna. Just let me know if you need anything, ok? I don't want you to have only Olaf to rely on. You can count on me as well." Elsa smiled at the thought of having a friendship similar to what Anna had with Olaf. "I'm still sorry about calling that late, I— "
Suddenly, anxiety took over Elsa. She could swear she caught a small sob coming from the other end of the line. Her attuned ears recognized that sound. "Anna, are you crying?"
"I'm sorry, Elsa. I... heard your conversation with Gerda today. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have but..." Anna hiccupped. "There are people following us, Elsa. People with bad intentions! I'm scared."
"Oh, Anna, you shouldn't worry. I would never let anything bad happen to you."
Nobody would hurt Anna, ever again.
"Would you... would you tell me if something was wrong, Elsa? If we ever did something bad, or... got ourselves into trouble? Would you tell me the truth?"
"Y-Yes, of course, I would..." Elsa said, fidgetting with the hem of her robe. "Anna, where is this all coming from? Did something happen?"
"...We are the good guys, right Elsa?"
The Snow Queen swallowed. "I'm a superhero, Anna. Of course, we're the good guys. Hey, I know what might cheer you up! The Four Spirits are traveling in the next few days for a mission. Meaning we'll have the whole Ahtohallan tower to ourselves! No Bruni, no Nokk to bother us. That's cool, right?"
"Yeah, that's actually really nice." Anna perked up, and Elsa exhaled in relief.
"And there is also... Olaf's birthday." Elsa cringed at remembering it. She didn't want to bring it up, but anything to cheer Anna would count. "For that, I'm not as thrilled as you, but... we might have a great time if he doesn't faint."
"Oh, shit! I almost forgot!" Anna beamed, tone and spirit returning to the usual, energetic vibe that Elsa loved so much. "He still doesn't know you're coming! It's going to be awesome!"
Anna proceeded to dominate the phone call, eagerly talking about her friend's surprise birthday party. She talked about pizza, videogames, but she only gained Elsa's attention at the mention of having no other guests involved, which was a profound relief for the superhero. The heroine felt like she was learning to be a person again, distancing herself from the goddess and coming closer to her humane side.
She couldn't be happier to have Anna by her side.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Please review! Let me know how I'm doing.