Chapter 17 – You need to fight for her

Numbly, Anna dragged her feet into Elsa's bedroom. Only a few days ago she had laid here beside her lover. There had been such hope and warmth. Now all Anna could see was pain, regret and coldness. Everything from the feel of the sheets to Elsa's scent was like a knife through her heart.

She couldn't stay here. Turning back to the door, she forced herself to stop. Olaf brought you here because you damn well demanded it. Pull yourself together! She chastised herself. Olaf took the couch. You can't make him take you somewhere else. You're stuck in Elsa's room for now. And where would you even run to instead? You have nothing else. The truth behind it hit her hard.

She squeezed her eyes shut and punched the wall. She didn't care for the pain. It was nothing compared to the torrent of emotions drowning her.

Picking up her phone, she hastily dialled Kristoff's number. He picked up after only two rings.

"Anna? What's wrong?"

She closed her eyes in pure elation at hearing a friendly voice. No complaints. Just concern.

"You're crying. Is it Elsa? Where are you?"

"I'm..." She hesitated. She wasn't ok and she couldn't bring herself to lie. But she couldn't exactly tell him what had happened over the phone. Especially since Hans somehow had that clip of Elsa talking to Olaf. "Can you come over?"

"Grabbing the keys as we speak."

Anna choked back a sob as she smiled. He really was a too good a friend to have.

"Where are you now?" Kristoff asked and in the distance Anna could hear the car engine. He really hadn't hung about, even if it'd take him hours to drive here.

"I'm at Elsa's."

"Is she with you?"

"No."

"Is anyone with you?"

"Yeah. A friend, Olaf. He's sleeping on the couch. Don't worry."

"Anna. You're in tears and asking me to come visit. Right now. We both know I'm going to be worried," He deadpanned.

Anna let out a noise which was a cross between a laugh and a whimper. "Sorry. I'll text you the address. I don't want to tell you over the phone but well... Things are pretty crazy. But I'll be ok until you get here," She promised. His sigh told her he was anything but convinced.

"Just call me back if it gets worse. I'll be there as soon as I can. Catch you later Feisty-Pants."

The call disconnected. Anna sent over the address and leaned against the door. Dragging Kristoff into this mess was probably the most stupid thing she could have done. As if they needed more people to know about Elsa's powers but he was the only one she could talk to. Olaf didn't count. He wasn't objective enough. He had known more about Elsa's secrets for a far longer time. He'd had time to get his head around things. Kristoff would be able to tell her whether she was handling this right. How was one even supposed to handle finding out this sort of shit?

Anna bit her lip as she picked up the snow globe from the bedside table and shook it. The blizzard inside the small ornament felt much like the blizzard that was her life. Everything was being washed away in white and Anna had no power, money or bravery to do anything about it.

"Goddammit Elsa why didn't you just talk to me!?" The snow globe smashed against the wall. Anna wasn't even aware she was yelling until she heard Olaf's muffled call from the living room. "Yeah, I'm fine!" She called back, hoping the lie was enough to appease him. He knew as well as she did everything was the farthest from ok that was possible.

The more she thought on Elsa the more enraged she became. Back at the park she hadn't had the time to really think about it but now alone in her room, surrounded by Elsa's belongings, the smell of her perfume still triggering a heady sense of desire within her, she really could sit back and reflect on it all. Did she still love Elsa? She didn't think she'd ever stop loving her. But was she still furious and betrayed? Absolutely. Anna could accept both of those things. She swung like a pendulum between blaming Elsa and understanding her. The argument was on a loop: Elsa couldn't control it. She had a crazy and unbelievable magic. She should have damn well talked to Anna about it instead of running away and shutting everyone out.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks was a losing battle. More replaced them as water flooded her eyes in an endless stream.

She pulled her panda backpack onto the bed and emptied the contents that was her life. There wasn't much to show for 19 years: A few odd pieces of clothing, an old pair of headphones, her purse, her phone. She'd been borrowing Elsa's clothes since bunking here. In fact she'd been borrowing Elsa's everything: hairbrush, towels, food, shoes. Anna slapped a hand to her head. She didn't even complain once to you and you basically raided her whole wardrobe-no her whole apartment.

Anna's hand dug into the bottom of the bag and pulled out her photo frame. It was worse for the wear after all of the travelling it had endured but the picture inside remained intact.

"So Mum, Dad... What do you think?" Salty tears dripped onto the glass. Anna smudged them as she wiped it with her sleeve. "I lost you because Elsa-" her voice hitched. "-Elsa couldn't control her super powers. How can I still love her after that?" The words came out in shallow gasps.

Anna didn't need her parents to answer her to know what they'd say. Just seeing their faces again was enough. Memories of the camping trip filled her with both elation and devastation. They had both been so supportive of her pursuing Elsa, even encouraged it. They had listened to her with patience as she had rambled on about the blonde, about all of their adventures, about how well they got along, about how Anna didn't feel proper enough for her.

You're a good girl, Anna. She is the one who'd be lucky to have you. Don't ever forget that. Her mother's words echoed.

"I know, Mum," She murmured, leaning back into the sheets of the bed. "But what am I supposed to do? I don't even know where she is? How will I find her to even speak to her? And even if I speak to her, how do we get past this?"

Back when Anna used to imagine a relationship with Elsa she knew things wouldn't be straightforward, but she could never have anticipated this. She had mentally prepped herself for everything; the talk with Elsa's parents, the support she'd need to give Elsa. What if they cut her off from her inheritance? Just her and Elsa against the world, Anna would have been there with her through everything. But she never believed Elsa would hurt her, and certainly not like this.

It's pretty simple. Do you love her?

Anna looked up at the ceiling as she considered her father's words. Was it really that simple?

"Of course I love her," she whispered.

You need to fight for her. You can work out the details later.

Anna froze at that memory. She stiffly sat up. The whirlwind of emotions in her mind stood still as a sudden clarity washed over her. Her father had said those words when she had been ready to give up so long ago. And she was almost giving up now. Just like every other time something threatened to go wrong in her life, she sat back and let it happen, or relied on someone else to save her from it.

The fiery resolve that flowed through her was a new feeling. It didn't replace the pain or sorrow but it filled her with the motivation to do something about this mess.

"Fuck my complicated life. What else is there to lose?" Anna was on her feet and storming out of the bedroom before she even finished speaking. She marched straight up to Olaf and slammed the laptop lid down.

"Hans will be at work tomorrow. I'm going to talk to him." It wasn't up for discussion.

Olaf looked Anna over in concern. Slowly he scooted along the sofa so Anna had space to sit. Not that she took him up on his offer.

"It's too risky. He is dangerous-"

"He is careless," Anna argued, her resolve and confidence growing the more she thought through her impulsive and quite possibly insane plan.

"He manipulated you."

"So I'll let him think he can do it again. He wants to put on a show. He wouldn't have told me so dramatically in the park if he wasn't in it for the drama. I'm sure he could have lured Elsa anywhere and gotten away with her much sooner. If he thinks he has won he will tell me where she is."

Olaf didn't respond right away. His eyes were distant and lost in thought as he worked his way through the mechanics of her plan. She watched as he pieced everything together slowly and with care.

"Damn. That might actually work. I just wish it didn't have to be you. Elsa is going to kill me." He brushed back his black hair. Anna recognised the signs of worry. Just mentioning her name was taking its toll on them both.

"Right. Good." Anna nodded. She stood rigid. The fire of determination was there but now she had to wait. What in hells name would she do for the rest of the day?

"I'll keep researching Hans in the meantime. Get some rest," Olaf said gently.

Anna made an audible sigh before marching back into Elsa's bedroom. Once alone she pulled her phone up again. Talking to her foster mother was the last thing she wanted to do right now but there would be no avoiding it. She should have rung her the moment the shit hit the fan.

Anna looked down at Iduna's contact page on her phone. There was no doubt in Anna's mind that the woman would have seen the headlines about that sex tape. She'd be furious at her for leading Elsa astray. Just how much damage had it done to their family's shining reputation? Then again, Iduna had never told Anna about her daughter's magic ice powers so maybe this made them even.

"Anna," she picked up immediately. Anna blinked, surprised it was even quicker than when she had called Kristoff. "Is Elsa with you?"

She made an audible sigh. It was no surprise that the woman was solely concerned about her real daughter, but Anna did wish for once she'd actually ask how she was. It only served to remind her she really was alone.

"I know," Anna said in a low tone, her fury and hurt oozing with each syllable.

A brief pause.

"You know...?" Iduna asked tentatively.

Screw it. Who really cared if there was a chance the call was bugged? Hans already knew and who knew who else he had told.

"The storm in the park. When my parents died," it took all of Anna's courage to say it aloud. She held onto the bedpost to keep herself steady. The silence that followed could have suffocated her.

"...Where is Elsa?" Iduna asked with more urgency.

Anna closed her eyes. You think I wouldn't be with her if I knew?

"We can talk about this face to face, Anna. But right now I need to know where my daughter is."

"She was taken by Hans. I don't know what happened. I left her for 10 minutes and when I went back they were gone," Anna sighed.

"Hans? Westergard's son?" The alarm was clear as day.

"That's the one."

"...You should come home. We need to talk about this properly."

"I'm handling things."

"You're handling things?" Iduna said sceptically. Anna could just feel her raising an eyebrow in judgement.

"Yes. I'm fine. I'll call you if I have anymore details-"

"Anna-"

"Goodbye," Anna hung up and took a breath. When her phone rang again she cancelled the call. At the third call she turned her phone off completely.

Anna ran her fingers through her braids, letting her red hair fall loosely down her back as she laid back on the bed.

Was hiding everything what you wanted, Elsa? Or was it your parents?

Anna was numbly aware she was dreaming. Thoughts of Elsa's fate haunted her. As she laid wrapped up in Elsa's sheets, inhaling the remnants of her perfume, she dreamt the woman was trapped in some sort of basement. It was cold, and while Anna now knew Elsa had an affinity for the cold she couldn't help but fear it was too cold, even for her.

Anna found herself walking forward into the darkness. There was no concern for her own safety as she powered onward.

The distant drip of leaking pipes rung through the silence. Through the flickering light she caught a glimpse of her love: empty eyes, matted hair and sickly pale skin. Anna's heart broke. She had never seen Elsa look so devoid of life.

"Elsa," Anna breathed but the woman looked right through her.

"Well done," a painfully familiar voice congratulated Anna, accompanied by a round of applause. "You found her."

Anna turned to come face to face with Hans.

"But can you forgive her?"

"I can!" Anna growled at him, quickly, desperately. She gritted her teeth as she faced those emerald eyes. The fond affection he once held for her was lost beneath twisted bitterness. Now Anna had seen it she couldn't erase it. How had she been so blind for so long?

"And do you think she can forgive herself?" He whispered ever so delicately in her ear.

Anna turned and came face to face with Elsa. There was no light in the blue eyes that gazed back at her.

Anna shivered from the chill. The punishment Elsa was inflicting upon herself would eclipse everything.

Anna reached out to touch her love. As she did her eyes shot open. She sat bolt upright arm outstretched, grasping thin air.

"Elsa," she whispered, pushing the covers off. The more she thought on everything the more she realised she just wanted her home and safe. Everything else could wait.

The knock on the door tore her from her morbid thoughts.

"There's a guy at the door asking for you," Olaf called in.

"Shit, Kristoff is here already," Anna murmured as she checked the digital display beside the bed. He had made good time.

Anna rushed to her feet and threw on one of Elsa's long and luxurious dressing gowns. She relaxed into the silk. Even being away from home for four years Elsa hadn't changed that much. She might have earnt her own money now but she still bought the nicest clothes.

Exiting the bedroom, Anna headed into the living room.

"Feisty-Pants," Kristoff already had Anna in a hug before he'd even finished speaking. And gods did Anna need it.

"Thank you so much for coming," she whispered to him.

That slither of comfort was enough for Anna to let go of her strength.

"Seen as you've got company, and we only have one couch, I'm going to head home," Olaf said, bag already in hand.

Anna snapped up in disbelief.

"You don't need to leave-"

"I do, Anna. I need some space," he replied, fingers tapping on his laptop in worry. "I'll see you tomorrow. And if you need me, just call. I'll be around."

It was selfish but Anna didn't want him to go. He had needed as much support as she had and she had gone and done an 'Elsa' again by locking herself in the bedroom. How could I have been so stupid? Why do I keep being so stupid?

Anna didn't stop Olaf as he headed out of the door.

"Your friend ok?" Kristoff asked in concern.

"No. No, he's not," Anna sighed as she filled two glasses of tap water. She placed them on the coffee table before plopping herself down on the couch. Kristoff took the armchair.

"I would offer you a real drink but Elsa doesn't drink and I haven't made a hidden stash yet," she sighed, wrapping herself up in the blankets.

"So... where is she? What did she do?" He asked curiously before sipping his water.

Anna didn't even know where to begin. Wherever she did decide to start her story though she resolved to tell Kristoff everything. It was probably reckless to trust someone else again so quickly after what Hans had done but looking into her friend's pale blue eyes she felt sure he wouldn't betray her too. She had to believe in their friendship. Hans wouldn't ruin this for her too.

Kristoff whistled as Anna finished explaining everything. And she really hadn't held back. As soon as she opened her mouth the words came tumbling out like a waterfall. Kristoff couldn't even get a word in. Anna made the poor boy relive not just everything that had happened since she arrived here, but also her time meeting Elsa through to the loss of her parents.

"So let me get this straight. Your girlfriend has magic?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You realise how ridiculous that sounds, right?"

"I know," Anna's head was in her hands.

"And you haven't been drinking? You haven't smoked anything-"

"Kristoff I am not drunk or high," Anna snapped.

"Ok, ok, I believe you. As insane as it is, I believe you." He held his hands up in defeat. "...Able to freeze a whole park in a heartbeat," he murmured in awe. "That's the stuff of science-fiction. What happened to her? Did she get lost in the arctic one day and get adopted by a reindeer?"

"I'm being serious," Anna groaned.

"So am I. The only people I know with powers like you're describing are superheroes. Peter Parker was bitten by a spider after all and look at what he can do."

"Elsa isn't Spiderman," Anna mumbled exasperated. "...She's totally Batman," she added more quietly, memories of the Batman t-shirt present flooding back to her. Gods, she had always considered Elsa her superhero and now she really was.

"Batman doesn't even have superpowers," he pointed out. "Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is Elsa didn't just get these powers out of thin air. I'm really curious to know how it happened," he shrugged.

"Can we save her first?" Anna slumped back into the sofa. "Once she's safe you can personally ask her all of the questions you want," she didn't even care anymore. Stressing over Elsa's safety was enough to give her a headache and drain her of everything. Once she was safe Kristoff could have a field day... right after Anna had rinsed the woman for all of her secrets. If Elsa had managed to hide something this big for their entire friendship just what else could she have hidden?

"Yeah. We'll save her first," he promised. "You look exhausted. Head to sleep. We'll blitz Hans in the morning," he promised.

"Thank you. And thanks for dropping everything to see me. I know you have your internship," Anna said gratefully. Dragging him away from his work, especially when it was such a competitive position only filled her with even more guilt.

"They'll be ok without me for a few days." He winked.

Anna wearily got to her feet and dragged herself into the bedroom. She really was so lucky to have such a good friend. Despite the shit with Hans she wouldn't let her friendship with anyone else be tainted, especially not with Kristoff.

The sound of a chair scraping across the floor alerted Elsa to her visitor. Not that it mattered. Just like all of the others before, she had no interest in talking to them.

Keeping her head steady, she faced forward into the darkness of her blindfold.

"I've been cross referencing all weather anomalies in the past 21 years against your presence. There is a remarkable correlation. Especially close to your home," the male voice explained.

Elsa listened but said nothing. The only sound in the room was of papers being rustled, the scribbles on clipboards and occasional footsteps.

It was like every other time before.

"Magic is simply science we don't yet understand. It looks incredible and unbelievable but there is a mechanism behind it. A mechanism which we need to learn. You understand the importance of that right?"

Silence.

"You can freeze quite a wide area. Imagine if that could be amplified? Imagine on a global scale, refreezing the polar ice caps. Or bringing snow to an area suffering from a drought? With the right amount of control the snow would melt and become water. These are just the obvious applications. There must be so many other ways to utilise a power like yours." A pause. "Your friend was admitted with no injuries from the lake."

Anna.

"What did you do to her? Tell us how you saved her."

I will never tell you anything.

"Show us your power."

Elsa did not even grace him with a response.

Their words meant nothing.

Their pain meant nothing.

A slap to the face stung. She spat blood but sat straight and unyielding.

"You're as goddamn stubborn as your mother," he said exasperated. The chair scraped. Footsteps paced.

Mother? Elsa wanted to ask but she couldn't show an interest. She wouldn't let them use that against her. She wouldn't let them use anything against her.

"I thought you said she couldn't control it," the man growled to another in the room.

"She couldn't," the reply was little more than a murmur.

"I want everything. Bloods, specimens, even her goddamn hair. Analyse it all. Do everything you can to make her give us a demonstration. Just make sure whatever drugs you use you write them down. I need to know the trigger."

Elsa's jaw clenched. How would she keep herself together if she was so full of drugs that she didn't even know who she was? The thought of having such a loss of control chilled her.

A sharp prick on her arm tore an involuntary yelp from her lips. She tensed and tried to pull away but her wrists didn't budge.

A hand took her roughly by the chin. "If you cooperated this wouldn't be necessary."

The words faded with all feeling. Elsa clung to the rational part of her mind as it slowly melted away like snow in summer.

Anna. Could these people isolate my power and use it to help the world? Is that how I repent? Should I ever have been free in the first place? Is this the future I deserve? ...Does any of this even matter if it's not a future with you?

In her intense boredom and worry, Anna couldn't sleep. She got to work doing the only thing she could think of: cleaning up and disposing of the shattered snow globe. I wish I hadn't broken that. She really cared about it. The regret only added to the mountain of what she was already carrying.

As she opened the wardrobe in the hunt for something suitable to wear to her showdown with Hans tomorrow a sparkle of glitter caught her eye. Unable to hold herself back, Anna reached down and pulled out a wrapped parcel.

She flipped the tag over.

You're my Supergirl

Merry Christmas

Love Batman

It took Anna all of about 10 seconds to compute the message before she ripped the present open.

Anna's heart stopped.

She held up a navy Supergirl t-shirt. Clinging to the shirt in despair, she choked out a sob. "I'm coming for you Elsa. Just hold on."

A/N: Don't worry Elsa. Your Supergirl is coming for you!