Heyo. Sorry this has taken so long to update. I've had writers block, which I don't usually get.
Brunnhilde yawned. Men were so dull. Even after decided where Asgard would go—which was the point of the meeting to begin with—Thor kept the assembly fro another hour. He was trying to unkink every little problem with the new plan. Thor and Heimdall were pacing. Korg and Mick had gotten bored and left. Bruce Banner was fast asleep on the floor. Brunnhilde and Loki had resorted to sitting on the floor, listening.
Brunnhilde wished she could leave as easily as Korg had. But the knew it would be inappropriate. She must stay. Loki caught her eye. He winked. Brunnhilde rolled her eyes. The god seemed as disinterested in the conversation as she was. That made her feel slightly better.
"Very well, then,'' Thor finally said. "We will announce it to the people. We will split into pairs. Once a few people know, everyone will. These things spread like eternal flame.'' Thor adjusted his eye patch. "Korg, you and Mick go together. Tell the first people you see the plan. I'll go with Banner. Heimdall can do as he pleases.''
Loki smirked at Brunnhilde. "That leaves just us.''
"Gods help me,'' she muttered.
"I am a god—''
"Shut up!''
"This will be interesting,'' Thor mused half to himself.
Brunnhilde shot him a glare. Why Loki? Why couldn't she go with someone else. Anyone else. She thought Thor did it on purpose. He found it amusing.
Loki rose gracefully to his feet. Brunnhilde wished she could say the same. However the alcohol was still taking its toll. She stumbled again. Loki caught her again.
"You alright?'' Thor asked.
"Quite.'' The Valkyrie's cheeks burned. How many humiliations could she take in one day?
Thor grunted. "I better wake Banner.'' He started towards his sleeping friend.
Loki gestured in front of him. "Ladies first.''
"I hate you.''
By the time Brunnhilde and Loki stopped bickering and actually did what they were told, half of Asgard already knew the plan. Most of the people explained to the duo Korg had told them. He and Mick were very convincing. Brunnhilde and Loki were not. Not a single person who had not yet heard believed them. "And why would we trust you?'' they kept saying. Brunnhilde got their point. She had abandoned Asgard. Although she had recently helped save it from Surter, it would take more time for the people to trust her completely. Loki was a a whole other matter. Loki had flatly betrayed their beloved king. . . like, multiple times. Brunnhilde couldn't help feeling sorry for him. He wasn't truly "of Asgard" but he had been raised there. It was the closest thing to home for him. And he had repented.
"Give them some more time,'' Brunnhilde told him gently.
Loki shrugged. "What for?''
"They will trust you again someday.''
"They won't.''
"Maybe—''
"Please stop,'' said Loki. "They will never trust me again. And why should they? I wouldn't trust me either.''
"You saved them,'' Brunnhilde pointed out.
"What choice did I have?''
"You could have left them all to die.''
Loki seemed to consider this as if he had never thought of it. He never thought to abandon Asgard to die. Maybe Loki isn't so bad after all.
"I don't think I did have a choice,'' the god after several minutes of silence. "I couldn't have possibly left thousands to die. I may be a bad person. I may have been a selfish traitor. But I'm no —-."
The Valkyrie realized something. "You're not a . . . bad person. You've just done bad things. I think you could be a very good person.''
Loki smiled. This time it was an actual smile. "Maybe.''
A warm feeling bloomed in Brunnhilde's chest. It felt like a cold day on Sakaar when she just chugged an entire keg of whiskey. But she had had no whiskey that day. And this feeling was much more pleasant. Almost like. . . Agh. She didn't know. But Brunnhilde liked it.
"We've only been friends a couple hours and you're already pouring out your heart to me,'' Loki joked, ruining the moment.
"I really do hate you.''
"You barely know me.''
"Yes, well, as you just said we've only been friends for a couple of hours. It takes longer than that to 'know' someone.''
"Feisty,'' said Loki. "You remind me of a female guard I once flirted with.''
Brunnhilde raised a brow. "Female guard?''
"Yes. I grew up in the Asgard palace, you know. There were some rather attractive girls there. Fighters, too.''
"Lucky bastard.''
"Bruno whore.''
Brunnhilde groaned. She forgot she had called Loki "lucky'' earlier. He wasn't called the god of mischief for nothing. "First, all Valkyrie are virgins. Second, you really are impossible.''
"I know.'' Loki sounded far too happy about it.
Brunnhilde rolled her eyes. "I've had enough of you for one day.'' She started walking away from him.
"See you tomorrow Bruno the Virgin!'' Loki called behind her.
She didn't answer. Brunnhilde hurried back to her quarters. She stared at the broken glass bottle on the floor. She wanted to drink. She knew she shouldn't. Brunnhilde picked up the biggest shard of glass. She traced the sharp edge down the vein on her wrist, not hard enough to draw blood. What good is life anyway? she wondered. I have no friends. No one cares about me. Drink, drink, drink. That's all I do. I could just end it all right now. She pressed harder. No one would care. No one would even notice. I'm Brunnhilde the Valkyrie. All my friends are gone. Blood slowly trickled down her arm. A tear slid down Brunnhilde's face. When had she cried last? It had been centuries. It felt good. . .
No!
She dropped the glass. It shattered into a thousand pieces. Brunnhilde wiped the blood away. The cut was not deep. It would heal. She would live. Brunnhilde had friends. Thor and Banner. Korg and Mick could be friends. They would be. Loki. Loki was her friend.
The Valkyrie dried her eyes and smiled.
Loki was her friend.
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