Notes: Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all your kind words and PM's. It really inspires me to keep writing (Hopefully I'm getting better! Lol).

Denial

Atreus awoke before the sun. He'd slept in his own bed for the first time since he arrived home, resisting the urge to sneak into his father's arms. He laid out his black tunic and fur vest, stopping when he noticed material peeking out from under his bed, a shimmer of gold catching his eye.

It was the tunic he was wearing when his father found him. Atreus knelt down to get a closer look. The garment was made of silk, a soft blue wrap around with snakes sewn and intertwined on the collar. Each long sleeve was dripped in gold. He held it in his hands, running his thumb over the material.

It was a piece of finery that was for sure, but it held nothing but horrid memories of what Modi had done after the bath, and what had happened when he tried to escape.

The boy ran into the woods, having no idea what direction to go in. But he didn't stop, not even as the jagged stones cut the soles of his feet and his legs began to shake. He could hear his heartbeat and blood swooshing in his ears.

He slid across the dirt, horror stricken when he almost collided into an ogre. The beast was feasting on a deer. The crunch of bones and flesh repulsively loud.

Atreus fell backwards, crying out as pain shot up his backside. The sound got the ogre's attention, and the boy feared for his life all over again.

Frightened, he squeezed his eyes shut, soundlessly begging for a quick and painless death. He knew from seeing it first-hand that ogre's liked playing with their food. At the very least, Atreus was consoled by the thought he'd be reunited with his parents.

He waited for sour breath and sharp teeth to rip into him. But it never came. Instead, he felt the hair on his head beginning to stand on end, as if in an open field during an electrical storm. Then a deafening bang.

The boy's eyes flew open, his ears ringing as Modi came crashing down onto the beast. He scooted backwards as lightning rained down all around him. Modi attacked it with his mace, swift and brutal with his blows. Within moments the beast collapsed with a loud thud and gargled groan, lying dead at his feet.

He stared up at the god wide-eyed. Modi looked at the boy, his expression hard and unforgiving.

"Stupid little shit! You'll be punished for your insolence!"

That night Atreus wished he'd been eaten alive. Gripping the tunic tightly in his shaking hands Atreus attempted to rip it, taking out his knife when he couldn't. "I hate you," he snarled quietly, slashing at the silk until the garment was barely recognizable.

"I hate you," he croaked again, flinging the ruined article of clothing aside as he took a deep breath to calm himself and finish dressing.

Unknowingly, he flung the garment over Mimir's head. "Oh, little brother?" his muffled voice called.

Atreus' muscles tensed, glaring back at the head who was facing the wall. "Don't call me that!" he snapped, softening a moment later. He walked over to the head and removed the torn fabric. "I'm sorry, Mimir," he said quietly, letting the torn cloth fall to the wooden floor.

"Quite alright, lad," Mimir assured as he turned the head back around so they were facing each other now that he was dressed. "I take it blue isn't your favourite color then?" he joked mildly.

Blue was his favourite colour. It was the colour of his mother's eyes and one of the many features she'd passed down to him. Atreus looked away, leaving the question unanswered.

"Listen, my boy," Mimir started, gentle. "I know first hand how sadistic and cruel the fruit of Thor's loins can be. Baldur- and his pig headed nephews tortured me for over a century after all."

Atreus could practically see the gears turning in Mimir's head, and it made him nervous.

"I know what they're capable of, lad," his voice was hushed and sympathetic, "Particularly the youngest…"

His father was outside, preparing for their journey out of earshot.

"Modi is not brave nor fit to wield Mjönir. He's a wretched, pathetic little man," his voice rose, taking on his cheerful sarcastic tone, "With the biggest daddy issue's the likes of the nine realms have ever seen, if I do say so myself."

Atreus remained quiet, but listened to his friend. He knew Modi didn't have the best relationship with his father. Given that his captor would cradle him in his arms whilst drunk, and weep as he spoke of Thor, the obsession overshadowing Magni's own death.

"Come now, my boy. You can confide in me… What happened?"

Atreus did not dare say a word.

"Tis better to get if off your chest than have it fester like an open wound." Mimir stated, pushing the boy a little further, "Did he hurt you?"

He had, that much was certain, but the head wanted the boy to vocalize it. The silence was almost deafening as Mimir waited for the boy to say something.

Atreus fought the urge to run before tears began rolling down his face. He hated it. "He-" The boy tried, suddenly unable to form a sentence. "I don't-"

"It's okay, lad, take your time."

Atreus inhaled, breathing out shakily. "No." He tried again, "He..." It was too difficult to voice. If he spoke it out loud, then it became true. Atreus didn't want it to be. He did not want anyone to know.

It clicked for Mimir though, mindful of his choice of words. "He… took advantage of you?" The boy had not been limping, but perhaps Modi used some kind of magic to heal his injuries.

Feeling as if a powerful force had knock him back at the words, Atreus couldn't help bursting into tears. The shame and humiliation of the painful memories was far worse than he could have imagined, it felt as though it was suffocating him.

Mimir yearned for his arms in that telling moment, wanting nothing more than to comfort the poor boy.

"I think it best your fath-"

"No!" Atreus choked out before Mimir could finish, his breath quickening. "You know nothing!" he shouted, his voice shaking with desperation. "Nothing!" He couldn't bear to the thought of losing what little respect his father had for him.

Mimir's eye softened, staying quiet as Atreus pulled himself together before Kratos returned. They continued the long and treacherous road to Jötunheimr, the boy keeping himself focused, fearing his father would accuse him of being elsewhere and threaten to take him home again.

The head didn't regale them with stories of Tyr and other gods like he usually would, making Atreus anxious. Mimir needed time to contemplate. How could he tell the Ghost of Sparta what had happened to his son without sending him into a blind rage?

He thought long and hard until nightfall.

They took refuge in a cavern, allowing the boy to rest for a while. Kratos started a fire to counteract the cold. He could tell his son had pushed himself to his limits. So it was hardly surprising when Atreus fell asleep, using his father's muscular thigh as a pillow.

The sound of the crackling fire and occasional bird could be heard. Kratos was looking into the flames, as if in an angry trance. He was in his own head as much as the boy.

Mirmir knew he was treading on dangerous grounds.

"Have you heard of the giantess Rindr?" he asked, getting no reply from Kratos.

He took it as a sign to continue, licking his tattooed lip. "Odin took many forms to deceive Rindr, which resulted in her bearing one of his four children."

Mimir looked towards the flames, "Their son, Váli, was conceived by… Force."

"Why tell me this, head?"

"It's not an uncommon practice in the family,"

Atreus stirred, mumbling something deep in his sleep. His little brow knitted.

"Their cruelty knows no bounds, brother." The head told him quietly.

The seed was planted. Mimir saw it in Kratos' eyes as he looked down at his son, touching his forehead to see if he had a temperature.