Hel had always lived the life of a princess. She never had to worry about anything, except the way that her fellow Asgardians looked at her.
She never had to deal with poverty or homelessness.
The first time she saw bruises on her Mother, she dropped her doll, the sound echoing through the room. Her Mummy was one of the most powerful beings on Asgard, who could harm him like this?
The last time she'd seen bruises like that, they were on her Father after a sparring session.
But Mummy was never hit during sparring, not with his magic tricks.
She saw, for the first time, what her family might be hiding…. She would pay to have those visions taken away from her.
…..
Sleipnir spotted the bruises as he and his Mother prepared for a royal banquet.
The bruises on his Mother's arms were dark against the pale skin. Finger marks, each one distinct. He was old enough to know that that was a sign of someone grabbing him and shaking him.
Briefly they met each other's gaze, before turning away… but not before Sleipnir saw the ashamed look in his Mothers' eyes.
It wasn't until later on that night, when he was lying on top of his sheets, that he realised that his Grandfather's hands matched the size of those bruises perfectly. A sob jerked from his throat and he buried his face in his pillows.
He wished he could forget everything.
…..
Jor had never been close to Odin… possibly some deep-seated snake instinct that told him to stay away from a larger predator.
He'd mouthed off more than once, usually resulting in a cane to the back of his legs.
He should have just let it go… but every time he saw that scared look on his Mothers' face, the anger bubbled up again.
…..
Fenrir didn't like his Grandfather.
Maybe this was because he idolised his older siblings, and whoever they didn't like, he didn't like either.
Or maybe it was because, as he was lying in bed, he could hear the yelling from his parents' room, followed by the sound of fist hitting flesh and then someone hitting a wall.
His Papa was on a mission.
Only a few people could enter that room, his Grandfather being one of them.
"- Better not be any monsters this time!" Were the only clear words that he heard, before the doors slammed shut again.
The next morning, his Mama was taken to the healers.
There was never another baby.