Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first time it happened, you wept. Screamed. 

The confines of your room had shaken from the ships falling from the sky. You knew he had sacrificed them. You felt it in you that your mother and brother had died in this war. But not him. 

The aether was taken, far away from this place. 

The Aether. 

It was what had started all this. Your imprisonment. 

Malekith had destined you to wield it. And you did for a time, you were after all, bestowed the name of the Aether Wielder. But then, it had shown you something; a force in the cosmos that was far greater than the Asgardians. Something much more threatening, not just to your people but to everything in the universe. 

Blinded by rage, he refused to believe you. You stood your ground and attempted to take the aether for yourself. He hurt you. You were imprisoned for treason. 

But of course, you had to be imprisoned in your own bed chambers. The most impenetrable structure of your home; When everything crumbled around homeworld, you were still safe. Still locked up. 

You knew the systems, the power, would fail someday. But until then, all you could do was wait. Wait for whatever plan your father has. 

Through the millennia, you could only think. Alone in your prison, reading and rereading the same five logs of he history of the universe you kept by your bedside. There was nothing here. No weapons, no food, nothing to help you escape or make this wait a little more bearable. 

You decided to keep track of time by the growth of your hair. Braided, unbraided, and braided again. For centuries. Millennia. 

Eventually, time stopped having meaning too. 

Such years are usually nothing to a dark elf, but alone, imprisoned... you could only keep the thoughts of ending your own life at bay. 

Until. 

The second time it happened, you were... relieved. 

The convergence. The aether had called you. But then, in a matter of moments, it was taken away again. 

And then you felt it. 

Everything you knew was well and truly gone. 

Something had wiped away every last one of your race. Well— Except for you. 

It doesn't matter. You've died a long time ago. Whats another millennia rotting in this place? The longevity of your people was once a point of pride, but now, it was a curse. 

Having survived on nothing this entire time made you want death just to end it all. For good. 

And then, as if the universe wanted to play a joke, the door cracked open. 

You thought your mind was playing tricks on you. Not surprising, considering how long you've spent staring at nothing. But as it was— as the last ship had been destroyed, the last power source had gone along with it. 

You slid the door open, your legs felt weak after not being used for a long, long time. 

You walked out of the rubble to the sight of Harudheen, your home, with bodies and ships littered everywhere. Their flesh were dry and you knew this was from the first war. 

You fell to your knees. 

What was left to live for? You wept again. For the first time in a long, long time. Tears fell to the ash and sand of your homeworld below. Your hands gripped the ashes as you fell forward. 

You wept there for cosmos knows how long. You didn't care. Time is meaningless. 

That's it. You'll bury the dead and set about one last, final journey. Through the nine realms your father had sought to bend to his will. 

One last voyage before your demise.

Chapter Text

There were many, many bodies to bury. Some of them were beyond recognition— not that anyone was left here to recognize them anyway. 

You didn't put them in a mass grave. You buried each one, separately. You adorned your armor, your mask, and paid your respects to each person. 

Each person your father had sacrificed for his cause. One that ended in his own demise.

May Sleep protect them in their eternal slumbers. 

You saw his body beneath that ship. He was burnt and mangled just like everyone else he sacrificed. A fitting end, you supposed. 

The scars on your chest ached at the sight of him. 

Against your own hesitance, you lifted his body from the ashes.

“Father,” you muttered. 

Half of his face was marred. There wasn’t an ounce of the man you once respected before. Just one who chased the old glory, never looking any other way. Not even at his family. 

You set him in a grave beside your mother and brother. 

Despite your hatred of him, you wept in front of their graves. 

.

.

Then, something appeared out of the corner of your eye.

A rift. 

A glimpse of Muspelheim. Light and fire in all its glory. 

Perhaps Sleep has destined for you to end your journey and return to her sooner rather than later. 

You sighed and shook your head. It doesn’t matter either way. There was nothing left. 

You took one last look at Harudheen and burnt its memory into your soul. 

One step into the rift and it enveloped you. 

Most of the nine realms were of little consequence to you. Muspelheim, Jotunheim, and Vanaheim, were brief. The rift had called you just before you perished in one way or another in foreign territories. A few beings saw you. Bewildered by your existence, but you never stayed long to become more than just a memory. 

Midgard was interesting. You saw a glimpse of what last happened to Malekith. Scars of battle on the earth and destruction. A young female midgardian saw you before the rift took you.

Alfheim was a joke to your entire existence. They proved that elves could exist with light and darkness. Perhaps it’s entirely different as you were built from the darkness, but you saw what societies could be if your father had changed his ways. 

Nidavellir was surprisingly empty. 

There was a sense of dread that you only felt when the Aether gave you that vision all those millennia ago. 

A titan wielding seven stones on his hand. Perishing half the world. 

Only, no one was left in Nidavellir. 

Before you could venture and dwell further, the rift took you once more. 

Niflheim was bare. Vast amounts of nothingness much like your homeworld. It was cold, but only so much for a realm with light. 

You wandered across the ice sheets and craters. 

Nothing. 

You don't sense the rift calling for you here. Perhaps you'll die wandering the realm of mist, never to reach Asgard as you so hoped. 

It doesn't matter. 

You were ready to give up when out of the mist before you appeared a structure that wasn't visible before. Hidden in the shroud, no doubt by some enchantment. 

By the style of it, you recognised it as Asgardian— But what is an Asgardian structure doing here in Nilfheim? 

Curiosity got the better of you and you stepped inside. The wards barely put up a fight. Odd. 

You were greeted by a soft gasp. Scanning the surprisingly dark room, you saw a woman in the center, her arms chained to the far wall. 

"A Dark Elf? Has my mind finally broken after all these years?" she said, an incredulous tone. She didn't seem to be talking to you, more so herself. She looked up at the tall ceiling, where a crack of light came through the gaps in the structure. “And to think you’re almost dead…” 

Allspeak. Her mouth moved a different way than what you heard. An asgardian. 

You took a step back. You didn't know what to expect from this woman. Was she a powerful deity imprisoned for her prowess or... Was she like you? 

"Hvem er du?" Who are you? you asked in Asgardian. 

She cocked her head. 

"So you are real." She suddenly grinned a menacing grin. 

Something about her bared teeth gave you a chill down your spine. Perhaps she was a powerful being contained in this chamber. 

You stepped back. Maybe it’s best not to mess with forces beyond your knowledge—

"Tjäsh!" she screamed, it came out hoarse, desperate. The grin on her face was replaced by panic. "...ljääl."

No, please. She spoke in Shiväisith. Interesting. 

“Don’t leave,” she said weakly, as if it gave her a great deal of pain to ask you to stay.

You stopped in your tracks and truly looked at her. You notice her hair a mess and her clothes torn in several places. How long has she been imprisoned?

You knew the feeling all too well, you were also desperate for someone— anyone, to talk to. Someone to appease your sanity and break the endless silence. 

"Hvem er du?" Who are you? you asked again. 

You stepped forward— descending the steps onto the sunken space that held her in chains, and sat down in front of her.

She grunted, struggled against her chains as if she could muster the strength to break free somehow. 

"My name is Hela..." she hesitated, "...Odinsdottir."

"Hm." You mused. Odin was but a young man last you saw the Asgardians– but then again it was... too long ago. You put two and two together easily enough. 

This is, or was, the princess of Asgard. 

Perhaps she was both, then.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right here and now, Asgardian," you said. 

You never intended to kill her. What use would it be? You only wanted to know what she had to say, and perhaps to intimidate her a little bit. 

And then, she laughed. A chilling laugh that only a crazed yet powerful woman would have. 

"You can't kill me," she taunted, "even when I am... In this state." 

"You don't know what I'm capable of," you said. 

"I know the light in these worlds poison you, Svartalfar," she said, "Weakened as I am, I know you can't overpower me." 

"Perhaps so," you said, "but I am capable of committing the cruelest act to you right now; leaving." Despite your words, you leaned back and lifted your leg, lounging on the steps in front of her. Hela growled and pulled at her chains. You waited for her to take a calming breath before speaking again. "And why are you here, then?"

Hela seemed to wince at that question. 

"I was... banished." You could tell she was thinking of the careful words to say to you.

You only nodded in response.

"Man of few words aren't you?" She taunted, she shimmied her shoulders smugly. The chains holding her rattled. 

"I am not a man," you stated simply. You supposed your full armor does disguise your more feminine features. 

She actually seemed… all too pleased at that statement. You made a confused expression but Hela couldn’t see it behind your mask. 

"Well you've yet to introduce yourself— barging into my humble abode so crudely," she smirked. Such a strange shift in behavior. One moment she was hostile and now she was jesting.

You leaned forward, inspecting her intently.

"My name is Aerith. Daughter of Malekith," you said.

Hela furrowed her brows, trying to knit together the information you just gave her.

"Malekith?" she asked, her tone unbelieving, "the leader of the dark elves?"

You nodded. It was no surprise she knew your father. As he has remained the unchanged ruler of your kind. Well, that is until…

Hela laughed. She laughed hard and threw her head back and sighed.

"What a funny pair we are." She smiled menacingly. 

You couldn't help but agree. 

"I was imprisoned, too," you muttered.

Hela laughs again. 

"Then I must ask you: why are you here?" 

"My kind is no more, only I remain. I am on my last voyage of the nine realms." You said somberly, "this is my last stop before Asgard, and whatever fate may await me there." 

A silence as Hela stares at you.

"Death, I hope," you muttered. Hela let out a huff.

"Well, you have somehow stumbled upon... The Asgardian Goddess of Death." 

It was your turn to laugh. 

"I shall be on my way then—" 

"Wait!" Hela begged, for the second time since you met her. She tried to compose herself and cleared her throat. "Could you stay, at least for a little while?" 

You remained silent. 

"I feel this power over me weakening. It will be only a few years left until he passes." she sighed and looked you in the eyes— or at least the eyes of the mask you wear. "When I am free, I will help avenge you.” The desperation in her voice returned. “Just… keep me company for a little while… I… It's been so dull here for millennia— I don't care if you turn out to be the most unpleasant person to talk to. I just need something. Anything."

As you suspected. You didn’t think she was desperate enough to admit it out loud. You sat back down. 

"There's nothing left to avenge, Hela," you leaned back and stared at the light from the ceiling. Her face fell. "But alas. What is a few more years compared to the millennia?"

Chapter Text

Hela had asked about what you knew of the world. How far in time your knowledge reached. As you recited the history logs you've read a million, billion times, you actually saw a hint of softness in her face. She pities you no doubt. 

She then tells you what she knows of the world. Though she admits that her knowledge halted about two millennia ago. When her father, Odin, stopped visiting her. 

“I think he remarried, and had a son,” Hela stated, “at least, that’s when we last spoke.”

“Would you mourn him when he passes? You said it would be soon,” you asked. 

“No,” Hela replied, “I mourned him a long time ago.” She spat her words with venom. 

“I didn’t think I would,” you stared off into the distance, “but I did anyway. Against my better judgement.” 

“I think you’ve lost more than just your father to mourn, Aerith,” Hela was surprisingly understanding. “I have everything to take back… and my only obstacle is him. When it happens, well, good riddance.”

“Hm,” you mused. 

Suddenly, a wave of tiredness came over you. You realized you haven’t rested throughout your journey at all. Leaning back against the steps, you sighed. 

“Tired of me already?” Hela jested. 

“Just from the journey,” you replied. 

“How were the nine realms? Peaceful like he envisioned?” 

“Not quite. Some of them were at war. Others were not.” you fully laid down on the ground now. It was a little uncomfortable. You didn’t know how Hela bore this for more than a few millennia. “Something wiped out Nidavellir.” 

“See? Peace in the nine realms, he said…” Hela rolled her eyes, “The nine realms rely on Asgard, and thus with us weakened under his foolish rule…”

“You seek to subjugate the nine realms?” 

“And more! There are more worlds out there to rule,” Hela hissed. 

“Why do you want to rule over the realms?” 

“It is my birthright!” Hela spat. Ah, Asgardians and their entitlement. “It is what I was created for.” The statement came surprisingly hesitant.

“And then when you rule over all of them, what is next?” You asked. You didn’t mean to actually question her ambitions, you were just plainly asking her plans. But it seems, stewing in her wrath and imprisonment, she never thought beyond. 

“I…” Hela seemed at a loss for words. 

She reminded you of a younger version of yourself. Created for one purpose, never knowing another. Betrayed by the one that raised you to be that way. 

You let go of all of that long ago. 

“That is what I asked my father when he wanted to return the worlds to darkness,” you said. Hela shifted in her place. “The worlds are going to end sooner than you think, Hela,” you muttered. 

“How depressing,” Hela frowned. 

“I saw it in the Aether. A mad titan wielding seven stones in his hand,” you reached out and looked at your hand, “I think he was what wiped out Nidavellir.” 

“Then… we take the realms to destroy this titan,” Hela said. 

We? Hela seemed to sense your unspoken question.

“With the Aether, you can help me,” Hela grinned, “and I might just spare you.”

“He's looking for it. The Aether. I don't think I can withstand him if he has the other six stones. Furthermore, I have no desire to,” you said, “You can kill me, I don't care.”

You let out a tired breath. You didn't realize how tired you really were.

Forget Asgard, you might die here. Your body might give out sooner than you thought. 

In front of the goddess of death herself.

At least she wasn't such terrible company so far. 

 “In this state I think wielding it again might just kill me.” Perhaps you should sleep. 

You could barely make out Hela rolling her eyes dramatically. So dramatic, Asgardians. 

"You were named the Aether Wielder and you can't even wield it? Is the light poisoning you so?" Hela said, mocking, "and to think I looked up to your kind before." 

"There's nothing to look up upon. For generations Harudheeniksel only sought to return to the old ways. The old world. The great darkness. So focused on that that they forget to evolve with the world,” you said, still lying down, "so focused on never changing that we became weak because of it." 

You reached up to the sliver of light that penetrates into the chamber. 

Hela was silent then, seeming to be thinking quite hard. 

It was getting harder to stay awake. 

"I need to rest." Was all you said before you slipped into slumber.

Chapter Text

Sleep has graced you with a dream. 

A mountain of bodies scattered throughout a battlefield. Hela stood between them triumphantly. 

She turned to you and an obsidian sword pierced through you. 

.

.

You woke up with a gasp. 

"Well, well, well, I thought you were dead," came Hela's voice.

You sat up to see that she's almost hovering above you. Perhaps you had rolled down the steps in your sleep?

You stretched your arms. Everything still feels heavy. "How many cycles has it been?"

"About four," Hela said simply. Her tone had an odd nervousness to it that you couldn't quite understand.

You suddenly realised your mask was slightly loose. 

You raised your hand to fix it back in place. Had it gotten loose when you fell down the steps... or did Hela try to dislodge it herself? 

You fixed your mask and it clicked into place. You saw Hela look almost disappointed and you had your answer. 

"You Svartalfar sleep like you're dead," Hela pointed out. 

You huffed a laugh, “Only I… and perhaps I am dying," you replied. Hela frowned. For someone so eager and threatening to kill you she didn’t seem to like that you were dying. 

“Do you usually sleep for so long?” Hela asked. 

“No. I would guess a normal amount for me would be two cycles on Nilfheim,” you stretched your neck and it made a loud crack. 

“That’s still quite long,” Hela said, “I would say if ever I slept here it would be at most half a cycle.”

“For you, perhaps. Harudheeniksel sleep for what others consider lengthy amounts of time, I suppose,” you replied, “Sleeping is worship. Healing. If one is ill we could sleep for more than ten cycles.”

“That’s… terrifying,” Hela mused. 

“Why?” You cocked your head in question. 

“In a way you cease existing for that amount of time,” Hela said. 

“For a goddess of death, you seem quite terrified of it.” 

Hela laughed. “I profit off the death around me, not from it happening to myself,” she said, “You on the other hand, seem quite apathetic about it.”

“Again, I have nothing to live for, Hela,” you said. Hela seemed displeased by your depressing views. Not from a place of concern but mostly annoyance. “And to me, death is only the eternal slumber. Sleep will take me as hers for eternity.” 

“I never knew dark elves had a belief system,” 

“How could you when we’ve never opened our borders to other races? Especially not yours.” 

“Fair enough,” Hela conceded, “I would like to know more.”

“Why?” You cocked your head in question again. Hela took note of that behavior. 

“I’d rather talk about anything else other than your desire to die,” Hela groaned, “and I was interested in your culture. I learned Shivaisith on my own volition.” 

“I did wonder how you knew, without Allspeak,” you admitted, “they probably stole logs of our… my language after the first war.” 

“I have visited your realm before, Aerith,” Hela started, “I wonder what would have happened if I knew you were imprisoned there then.”

“You most likely would have killed me.”

“True.” Hela actually giggled. What a deranged woman she is. 

Even so, you somehow had no desire to leave. 

The rift has left you completely. Perhaps it was fated that you remained here with her. 

“What were you doing in Harudheen?” You asked. There was nothing else to do but talk to her. 

“My father was showing me the nine realms,” Hela scowled, “It was bare, your homeworld.”

“Yes, well, most of us were dead by then too,” you replied, “and there’s not much other life than us.”

“Wait, so what did you consume for food in Svartalfheim?” Hela raised an eyebrow. She did seem genuinely curious about your culture. You supposed not much information was available about your kind, and generations past did not care to extract the logs and history held in homeworld. You weren’t exactly a liked species. 

“I suppose an approximation I can give you would be specimens like what you call mycelium,” you explained, “things that grow in the darkness, consume dark matter. We don’t need much sustenance to survive. Sleep rejuvenates us enough. I have not eaten anything since the first war.” 

“Maybe that’s why you’re dying,” Hela muttered.

“Hm. A little sustenance would help my condition, perhaps,” you pondered in thought, “but I don’t think anything here would be suitable. Plants and livestock that utilize light would further poison me.” 

Hela sat down from her kneeling position. 

"What of you? Do you ever sleep?" You asked her.  

"I do sleep from time to time. It's not as if I'm exerting a lot of energy, so I barely need to rest," Hela explained, “most of my energy is spent yelling at the sky or plotting his death.” She laughed bitterly.

"Have you had sustenance?" You knew other beings needed constant sustenance to survive. 

"This curse upon me does prevent me from starving and the like," Hela sighed, "I don't know if it's for my mercy or my torture." She slumped, actually seeming more relaxed than before. 

"Does it hurt to be in that position for that long?"

"I stopped feeling it after some time. I could lie down, I suppose, but I have limited mobility of my arms as you can see." As she pulled her arms the chains always tension, preventing her from moving them too much. Her hands were also encased in what seemed like a metal cuff. "What about you? Your father didn't put you in chains like an animal?" 

In a way, you think Odin was more cruel than Malekith. 

It was your turn to pity her.

"No. I was confined to my room." 

"Oh what luxuries," Hela mocked.

"Yes, I suppose. The novelty wore away after the second millennia or third,” you stared into the distance, “it prevented my untimely demise. Being an impenetrable structure and all that.” 

"I’m surprised you're still sane after all," Hela said, “I already felt myself slipping away before you came around.” 

She admitted you were keeping her sane. 

"Maybe I'm not. I've just let go of everything because there is nothing left," you stared at your hands.

"Ah right, I forgot you're suicidal," Hela’s annoyance was back.

“I’m surprised you still have your will after all this time,” you said.

“It’s the only thing I have left.” 

You were both so similar yet so different. It was clear that it interested Hela. You supposed you did find it interesting too. 

Speaking with her seemed so… normal. Despite the circumstances. 

You didn’t know how to feel, but the emptiness within you was somehow dissipating. 

Was her company that pleasant or was she just the first person you related to after being cut off from the rest of the world for so, so long? 

As you listened to Hela speak of her pet, Fenris, you supposed both statements were true yet again. 

This Asgardian was an enigma, an anomaly you found by chance within the shroud. 

You didn’t know how many cycles you spoke with her. 

You don’t remember ever speaking to anyone for this long. 

Though, you supposed Hela was bored and you were the only thing there. 

After about the fifth cycle, you knew she ran out of things to talk about and were just trying to keep you awake. 

Despite her best efforts, sleep took you once more.

Chapter Text

This time you were shaken awake.

"Aerith! Wake up!" Came Hela's annoyed voice. And then a shove to your shoulder. "Wake up!" she hissed.

You stirred.

"Fucking wake up!"

You groaned groggily as a foot came in contact with your shoulder.

You only stretched.

"Finally," Hela said, clearly more annoyed than before.

"How many cycles has it been?" you ask. Still on the ground, staring at the ceiling. 

"Eleven. I started attempting to wake you after the tenth." Hela huffed. 

"Why not just let me rest?" You turned your head to face her.

A silence.

"I'm... bored." Hela said quietly.

You laughed, fully genuine this time. Hela growled at that. 

"If you weren't already dying I would kill you myself," Hela growled.

"What sense does that make?" You were still laughing as you sat up. You stretched your neck and gathered up your long braid to brush the dust off of it. 

Hela's eyes trailed your lengthy braided hair. 

Ah, you forgot it was absurdly lengthy. 

"It did not used to be this long..." you twirled the ends of your braid in your hand, "I never cut it, when I was imprisoned. I braided it everyday, used it to keep track of time passing. Each row is a cycle on Harudheen."

"Oh." 

There was a long and awkward pause. 

Hela looked away from you and you inspected her. Her dark hair was long, but not too long to be impractical for a warrior. It was tangled in knots and frizzed in some places.

She caught you inspecting her and laughed pitifully. "I know I don't look my best currently," she tried to deflect the embarrassment. 

It was likely demoralizing for a princess like her to be in this state. You knew it well. There was always pressure to look perfect in front of everyone. 

You didn’t know why you said these next words. 

"I can help," you offered. Hela made a sharp turn of her head and stared at you weirdly. "With your permission of course." 

She proceeded to stare at you for another minute before saying, "Sure. Why not." 

You stood up and slowly made your way behind her, carefully stepping over the chains that held her. 

She jerked the chains, making them clink loudly, which made you flinch a little. 

Hela laughed. 

You shook your head in mock disappointment. 

"Oh come on," Hela taunted, "Don't be afraid of a little metal. You said you wanted to die anyway." 

"I did not come all this way to die to your bindings," you sat behind her kneeling form. Despite your want for death, you’d still prefer not to die in such a ridiculous way. “I’d rather you kill me by your own hand.” 

Hela turned her head to look back at you. "Then it would do you good not to try to kill me from there," she mockingly threatened. 

"And why would I do that, my queen?" You taunted back. 

For just a split second, Hela's eyes widened and a slight pink dusted her cheeks before she immediately turned back to stare in front of her, hiding her face from you.

You didn't know what that meant. 

Leaning forward, you start to gather up her hair. She flinched at the brush of your hands against her bare shoulders. However, she made no comment about it and continued to stare forward. You combed through her hair as best you could with your fingers. 

Surprisingly, the knots came undone fairly easily. She grunted a little when her hair caught in your fingers a few times but otherwise made no struggle. 

You divided her hair into sections and started braiding it. A warrior's braid, taught to you at home. You and your brother used to bless each other with this braid before heading into battle. A long, long, time ago. So long ago in fact, before his health declined and you became the sole warrior next to your father. 

"What are you doing?" Hela asked. Perhaps she only expected you to comb her hair. 

"Giving you a blessing," you said, continuing to work on her hair, "for a warrior." 

You finished up the ends and took one of the ties from your braid to secure hers. You gently laid the braid on her shoulder and it fell to her chest gracefully. 

You went back to sit in front of her to inspect your work. 

"How do I look?" Hela mocked. You notice she tends to hide her embarrassment behind insults or mockery. 

"Ready for battle," you stated. 

Hela let out a growl, though she didn’t seem entirely upset about it. She was strange to you, always holding two emotions behind her words. You didn’t know what to make of it. 

"If you dislike it, we could undo it another time... I think I still need to rest."

You slumped back as sleep took you once more. 

Chapter Text

You woke up to Hela's eyes staring directly into yours through the mask.

She was trying to peer in to see your face. 

It shocked you a little and you flinched.

"Sorry," Hela actually apologized, but didn't move away. 

"How many cycles?"

"Just two."

"Mmm good. I suppose I am returning to normal."

"So you're not dying?" Hela feigned disappointment. 

"Not at an exponential rate as before, no," you held your head. You still felt somewhat ill but it didn’t feel as heavy as it did before. "I don't know what changed." 

"Well, all thanks to me, no doubt." Hela said smugly. She did that shimmy she does when she’s proud of herself. 

You stared up at her face. Maybe it was Hela. 

You felt something strange stir within you. 

"You do express." Hela said triumphantly. She could see your eyes through the mask. 

You turned away. "I've never realized."

"I suppose you don't notice it much since your people always wear those masks." Hela stated. She finally moved away as you sat up. You notice you were somehow positioned closer to her in the room. You didn’t mind it. 

The braid you did on her was already coming loose in some parts. Though, you admitted to yourself that perhaps it suits her more that way. Strands of hair hung over her face and framed her sharp cheekbones beautifully. 

Hm. You pondered about your own thoughts. 

You think she's beautiful. 

Well, she may not be homeworld's standard of something beautiful but, somehow you think so.

You shook your head. Hela took note of this. 

"I hate that mask you know," Hela interjected, "I can never see what face you're making. It makes you hard to read." 

"I will make it known if you displease me," you stated. 

"And there. You talk so straightforwardly. What am I to make of it?" 

"I don't speak with hidden meaning like you Asgardians. Or other beings in the realms. We've lived too long to bother with conceit amongst ourselves." You explained. "You want me to take off this mask?" 

"Well I know it will speed up your demise, so… maybe much later," Hela said, "when I don’t need you to entertain me anymore." There she goes again, concealing herself behind insults. You laughed. "It is nice to acknowledge you are not immune to my jest, at least" 

"You are just as fascinating to me as I am to you, Hela," you stated. It was true. She was quite an interesting specimen. Somehow the same yet different to all the stories and history you know about the Asgardians. 

That pink hue dusting on her cheeks returned again. 

"What does it mean? When you... redden like that?" You ask. Which somehow made her even more red. 

"I... It means I am.... Embarrassed. Or. Flattered." Hela explained through gritted teeth. 

"Strange you are Asgardians," you commented, shaking your head.

"It's not just Asgardians you fool! Most two legged intelligent life forms in the universe have some form of blushing as it were," Hela hissed at you, "In fact you're the strange one— do you not have blood coursing in you?" 

"Yes, I don't see how that's relevant," you replied.

"The act of reddening is the body's involuntary response, rushing blood to one's face," Hela explained. 

"I see…" you pondered, "it gives you away from your hidden meanings then I suppose." 

"It does. Which is why I dislike it," she spat. 

“Shame then, it looks rather flattering on you,” you commented. The red hue on her face extended to her shoulders and brought out the freckles on her otherwise pale complexion.

Hela stared at you blankly. Perhaps you had stepped over a line.

"Forgive me then, I will not attempt to make you redden once more," you said.

"No, you can continue..." Hela muttered, casting her eyes downwards. 

A pause. You were utterly confused.

"And yet you say I am strange, Hela," you sighed. 

She shakes her whole body and the chains holding her rattle on the floor.

"...I like being flattered, I just dislike that this bodily response gives it away to you that I am flattered." Hela growled. 

"Strange indeed," you mused. 

"Shut up!"

"Okay."

"No! I mean— ugh, you're infuriating!" Her face reddens more and you were about to comment when she hissed "No, this is from anger." 

"Ah." 

Hela stared daggers into your mask. Your faces were almost touching as she tried hard to read your expression through the lenses. 

"You want to know what I think of you,” you stated.

"Yes." She finally sat back down a distance from you. She looked like a petulant child waiting for your answer.

"I think your company has been enjoyable so far. Even if you are quite... Unstable at times." You said. She pouted and glanced to the side. "And against my best judgement, I find you beautiful." 

That made her face redden again. 

"Are you angry at me?" you teased. 

It did turn into anger at your jest.

"You know very well it wasn't before!" She hissed. "You say you dislike deceit but you have capability to tease."

"Teasing is not deceit. It is pointing out the truth," you stated, "and besides, though in daily conversations we do not conceal our meaning, there are some instances when one would, such as creating prose." 

"So you're saying you are capable of lying or concealing your feelings, but it is just not a part of your culture?" 

"Exactly." 

"Fascinating.” Hela replied. “What of war or with your enemies then? Or even as simple as talking to someone you dislike?" 

"We either say or we do not. We don't speak to many other races either way. It's never been an issue in war." You explained.

"How do your people convey and express themselves to each other then? If not with expression?" Hela narrowed her eyes at your lenses again. 

"Touch mostly. If one is likeable then we may touch them more to convey that they are in our good graces." You scooted closer to Hela, your knees were know almost touching as you sat on the floor, "Proximity as well." 

You saw Hela dampen her flushed expression.

"How do you convey embarrassment?" Hela asked, in what you would describe as a demanding tone. 

"We have our tells, I won't tell you," you said. A scowl appeared on her face and that filled you with mirth somehow. 

"Well that's hardly fair, considering I was truthful to you about mine!" Hela growled and bared her teeth.

You chuckled. 

"Only so I can have the upper hand," you said.

"Of what, exactly? You still wish to kill me?" 

"Not at all," you closed the gap and let your knees touch hers. Hela blinked at you and tried to hold back her expression. It was obvious she wanted to touch you in return, but is holding herself back. From pride, you supposed. 

She did say she didn’t want you to know that she found anything about you pleasant. 

"I must sleep once more," you stated.

"Are you going to die this time?" She mocked. At this point you knew her mockery was just to hide that she actually likes you. 

"I feel… better actually," you confessed, "I feel. Neutral. Which is a feeling I have not had since… Being imprisoned for many millennia." 

"I'm sure my company helps," Hela teased. She actually moved her knees so they were on yours, sitting ever closer to you.

Something shot within you. Something entirely foreign. It gave you a dizzying after effect and you felt like you just fell from a ship.  

"It does, actually." you said, almost slurring your words. 

The pink came back to her cheeks, but this time accompanied by a determined smirk. You were sure if her hands weren’t bound, she would have already lunged at you.

Oh it was such a sensation… you wanted to chase that high again. It filled the emptiness so much that you didn’t know it existed anymore. 

"I hope I'm helping you as well," you touched her knees with your hands. This elicited a hum from her. "If only for a little bit. I know how it feels to be alone for... A long while."

"Hm. Maybe." She put on the smug expression again. "At least you keep the endless boredom at bay– and, I suppose I haven't felt anything else but rage in quite some time. It's nice to rest from it." 

Mmm. 

You didn’t want to sleep anymore, but your body begged you. Reluctantly, you pulled away from her and lied down beside her. 

Then, an idea came to you.

"Lie down, Hela," you muttered.

"I'm not tired," she stated. An eyebrow raised. 

"I don't care, lie down with me." 

She did as you asked and laid on the ground beside you. 

You brushed your hand against her arm and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

This time you found it comforting to see Hela’s eyes through your mask as you woke. The concern within them faded the second she saw you open your eyes. 

You were slowly getting sore, unfortunately, so you went to sit up and stretch. Hela abruptly sat up as well.

"Where are you going?!" there was panic in her voice.

"Just stretching." You looked at her and cocked your head in confusion. 

A sigh of relief from the goddess of death. You stood up and stretched your body.

Hela sat up and you sat back down in front of her. You saw her braid was mostly loose at this point. Perhaps her hair was too silken to braid in the Harudheen way.

You reached out and Hela inspected you intently. You pulled at the tie holding the braid and her hair fell back to its previous state. You combed your fingers through the ones framing her face and flattened down any loose strands.

Hela's breath hitched when you brushed against her bare shoulders again.

"Tell me what that means," you said. That reaction gave you that dizzying feeling again. It’s as if pleasing her pleased you more. You’ve never felt this way before.  

"No." Her answer was immediate. 

"Very well." You replied in disappointment. 

"No– wait. Don't just accept that! I want you to want to know." Hela hissed. Strange, strange behavior again. 

"You set a boundary and I am not crossing it." You said incredulously. 

"How kind of you, but that's not how I like it," Hela's own words registered for a moment and she blushed. She bit her tongue. You found it adorable. You’ve never found anything adorable. 

"Strange." You commented. 

"Stop calling me strange!" 

"Okay." You conceded.

Hela screamed in frustration and pulled at her chains. It was amusing to see. 

"If I were free I would strangle you by now!" 

"You still wish to kill me?" You moved backwards, feigning fear, but Hela seemed to panic at this.

"No! No. I don't mean it like that." She growled, "It's infuriating that I have to spell everything out for you."

"Make me understand, then." You said, not moving from your position. 

"No, just forget it," she slumped. 

"Hela, I want to understand," you pushed, “you want me to understand.”

"Well you clearly aren't as fond of me as I thought you were, so just forget it." Hela stared at the distance between you. It wasn’t even that far away. You would consider this distance quite intimate. 

A silence. 

"Hela.”

“I need you to touch me.”

…

Oh. 

“Not… like that,” Hela mumbled, “Not yet.”

Your mouth was agape but Hela couldn’t see it. 

“Just. Hold me.”  Hela said defeatedly. 

Oh. She wanted touch after being starved of it for so long. Possibly even before her imprisonment. 

“Okay.” You moved closer to her and wound your arms around her body. She immediately slumped her head on your shoulder. You swear you hear her sob. 

It made you hold her tighter. 

“Hela…”

The shackles rattled as she tried to wrap her arms around you and failed. Another sob. You fell backwards and let her lay on top of you. 

This time, Hela fell asleep before you did. 

Chapter Text

The first thing you felt when you woke up was pressure on your hand. You heard Hela move as she noticed you stir awake.

"How many..." you started. You realized your hand was on her thigh.

"Two," Hela's voice was uncharacteristically low.

You didn't move your hand from her thigh. You didn't want to. It shifted up as she tried her best to maneuver herself and her chained arms to attach herself to your side.

She was warm. Almost unbearably so— to your biology. 

You, however, wanted this terribly. 

"Hela..." you muttered. You flexed your fingers on her thigh.

She let out a small whimper. 

The feeling in your chest boiled beneath your scars. A dizzying shot to your mind and body. You wanted to chase that high again.

You've never felt this before. 

"Aerith..." her voice vibrated the side of your mask as she spoke against it, "...touch me." 

You moved your hand up her thigh, fingers grazing the apex of her thigh, teasing the side of her sex through her clothes.

She hissed your name. Demanding as always.

You cupped her through the fabric. 

Her moan vibrated through your mask. You felt like you couldn't breathe. 

You used your fingers to feel her folds as best you could. Hela whimpered even louder. 

It felt like you were so alive you could die. It made no sense to you. 

Hela bucked her hips against your hand. 

You twitched and let out a shaky breath. 

"Don't die on me now, Aerith," she teased. You felt something hot against your faceplate, trailing towards your ear. You realized it was her tongue as she licked your mask to your ear, the one part of you exposed through your armor. 

You shivered and contracted your fingers against her. She bucked her hips even more. 

"Ugh. I hate this," she growled against your neck, frustrated. You were about to remove your hand when she closed her thighs and held it there. "Not this. I mean, not being able to feel you. See you." Her voice faded to a whisper. 

You moved your other hand to take off your mask when Hela stopped you. 

"No!" She hissed. "You will give me the honor to unmask you. When I am free from these shackles."

Her words gave you the dizzying feeling again. Hela was addicting. You wanted more of her. Even if you suspect she'd kill you when she's done with you. 

Suddenly, you didn't want to die. 

You wanted to savor Hela for the rest of eternity. 

You knew the state of your health and her ambitions wouldn't allow that, however. It saddened you a little. 

Hela noticed your shift in mood. 

"Aerith," Hela lifted her head and stared at your eyes through your mask, "Don't die on me now." She said, serious and full of concern this time. 

"No," you turned to face her and moved your hands to her hips and held her there, "only for you." You confessed. 

It was true. There was nothing left for you to die for except her. 

Hela let out a pleased laugh, leaning forward to touch her forehead against your mask. 

"My knight," she whispered affectionately. 

The flutter of her lashes was the last thing you saw before you closed your eyes and drifted off.

Sleep gave you a peaceful dream this time. Endless fields of grass and fog.

Hela stood in front of you, peering into the blur ahead. 

“Do you think there’s something for us here?” She spoke. There was no echo. It was as if her voice was directly in your mind. 

Well, perhaps it was. 

“I don’t know what you mean,” you said. 

“This is our end, I think, Aerith.” 

“Perhaps.”

Chapter Text

This time you knew you've slept just two cycles.

For once, Hela was the one asleep before you. She looked oddly peaceful— an expression you haven't seen on her since you met her all those cycles ago.

How many cycles have you been here for?

It was all so quick. Time passes differently for you, more so than for Hela.

Four years was not enough time to properly court her, you mused. 

You brushed her messy hair away from her face and traced the gentle wrinkles on the corners of her eyes.

Nevertheless, being with her made the emptiness you felt before seem so far away. You would be scared of how you've grown attached to her so deeply if you had anything else left to lose.

But as it stands, there's nothing else but her.

Her eyes suddenly shot open and she sat up.

Had you woken her—

"It's time," Hela breathed, looking up at the split ceiling, "he's dying."

Well, there it was. This time of peace with her was up as soon as it came. It may have been a long while to a Midgardian but to you... it was too short. 

You were happy for her, though. She would be free from her bindings and be back to her former glory. It excited you a little to wonder just how powerful she would be. You hoped she wouldn’t kill you immediately. 

Surely this time with her has meant something. At least a little? You hoped she returned your fondness, but with Hela, it was difficult to predict. 

Hela pulled at her chains. The metal groaned and warped under her strength. You watched in awe as she stood up for the first time in millennia. The wards and enchantments on the structure glowed gold for a brief moment before breaking away with the chains holding her. The shards and debris fell around you in loud clinks. 

Hela stood, facing away from you, freed of her shackles. 

She stretched her neck and shoulders. You could hear several cracks as she bent her form. 

Your gaze trailed down from her hair, her spine, to her backside. 

"Hm." You let out an appreciative hum. Well, if this was your last sight, it wasn’t a bad one at all. 

Hela looked at you over her shoulder menacingly. Her eyes were glowing a slight green color. 

You shuddered. You wanted more already. Just as you were about to get up, in a sudden flash, you heard something metal crash beside your head, cracking the ground. 

Hela was now on top of you, straddling your hips. A dark sword in her hand, just barely missing your head and destroying the ground beneath you. 

Now where did that come from? 

A rush of fear and arousal stirred within you at the sight. You instinctively put your hands on her hips. 

Hela's crazed smirk faded into a softer smile as she reached her other hand up, trailing a finger up your chest, neck, and finally landing on the cheekbones of your mask. 

She thumbed the marks that went down the underside of the lenses before grabbing hold. 

It slipped off your face with a click. 

"Äshlimär, geilää kirath," Hello, my warrior. Hela greeted. She set your mask aside carefully. 

You only had a moment to blink to adjust to the light and take in her admiring gaze before her lips were upon yours.

Hela descended upon you ruthlessly. Her tongue so eager to explore yours as you parted your lips to let her in. Her hands moved to your chest and you felt her immense strength as she pinned you down. 

You palmed her biceps that were bound before. She flexed. 

“Ugh,” she complained once more, “I can’t get this armor off of you, I know.” She clawed at the ridges of your chestplate. 

You moved your arms up to cup her face. She was ethereal above you, the light from the ceiling framing her frazzled hair like a halo. 

“I can still make you feel good,” you said. You wanted nothing more than to please her. Chase that addicting, dizzying feeling again every time you elicited a sound from her. 

Hela grinned. She grabbed your hands and lowered them to her breasts. 

“One day I will have the honor of stripping you bare,” she said determinedly. You realize she’s giving you a goal once more. Something to hold out and stay alive for. Just like when she wanted to unmask you. 

You supposed now you had to stay alive then. For her. 

It also relieved you that she didn’t want to rid you once you’ve had your use. You’d fight for her cause, sure, but it’s seeming as though she’s implying she’s going to keep you as long as she’s able. 

The dizzying feeling ebbed into something else foreign in your chest. 

“Aerith,” she whispered as she flexed her body and rubbed herself on the front of your crotchplate. You moved your hand back down to her hips, and then behind, grabbing her ass. She was biting her lip and clawing at your chestplate. 

“I want to hear you,” you said. She let her mouth fall open with a moan as she grinded even more against your front. 

Hela pressed her front against yours and gripped your chin, “And I want to see you.” You felt her lick your face and leave an almost too hot feeling. 

Just as you were about to touch her, she stood. 

“Hela—” 

“Look at me,” she commanded. You did. She trailed her hands down her body and with a burst of dark green light her clothes faded away. 

Oh. You blinked. You instinctively reached up to touch her. 

It almost hurt to look at her. All her being made from light. Your poison. A poison you wanted to drink from. 

Your hand landed on her abdomen. So warm. A kiss to her hip and Hela’s hand was on the top of your braids. She nudged you towards where she wanted your mouth to go. 

Hela spread her legs and you bared your teeth to nibble her sex. 

“Ah!” She hissed, bucking her hips towards you. You felt her slick on your chin. Knowing her, you weren't surprised she liked a little pain with her pleasure. 

You stuck your tongue out and licked her. She tasted divine. Your first drink after more than five millennia and it was her. You gripped her hips and lapped her up eagerly. 

"Oh, fuck!" She hissed as your tongue entered her. You stretched your tongue as deep as you could within her and Hela buckled in pleasure. "Ah, fuck you're... Oh, It's long..." her face was contorted in pleasure and you were relishing every bit of it. You caught her in your arms and steadied her. 

You suckled on her sex and Hela groaned loudly as she came undone already. You supposed she hasn't had pleasure for many millennia. No matter. 

You drank every drop she had to offer like you were thirsting. 

Hela fell backwards to the ground, your long tongue slipping out from between her folds with an obscene wet squelch. She laid there bare, her legs spread and pussy still throbbing from your ministrations. Her breathing was labored and her head was thrown back as she gripped her hair. 

"By Yggdrasil, that was..." she breathed. 

You were pleased to have elicited this reaction from her. Nothing in the nine realms could compare, you don't think. 

You crawled on top of her and let her straddle your hips once more. Her slick rubbed against your armor. 

Once she recovered, Hela gripped your chin and kissed you. She licked any remaining on your face and fell back once more. 

"You didn't tell me about..." Hela stuck her thumb in your mouth and pried your jaw open. Her nail pressed against your tongue. "...that." 

You nibbled her thumb.

"You can go harder, I'm not made of glass you know," Hela stated. At that, you bit down on her thumb and lunged for her neck, biting her there. 

Trailing bites to her chest, you gripped her hips and lifted her against you. She moaned as her sex hit your crotchplate and you rubbed against her there. 

"Are you soaked in there?" Hela asked, clawing the ridges of your armor once more. 

"I'm only slick when directly stimulated," you stated. 

"Ugh, your anatomy confuses me," she complained. 

"And pleases you," you taunted, placing a kiss against the bitemark you left. It stained black against her pale skin. Hela grabbed the back of your neck and looked at you with annoyance. 

"I just want to know you're enjoying this too," Hela whispered, a surprising hint of softness in her voice. She had learnt to state directly what she wanted from you. 

"I am. I thirst for you, erve kirath," my poison, you said. 

"Poison?" Hela laughed. 

"You are. My light." You kissed her jaw. 

"Hm. How romantic," Hela's eyes became half lidded and you burned the memory of her smile into your mind. It was nice to know your affections were at least returned— "We will rule the nine realms— and more... together, Aerith."

Oh.

You almost let out a gasp, instead it came out as a shaky breath. 

Nothing else mattered anymore. Hela was your new purpose. The poison worth living for. 

"As long as I draw breath, I will be by your side, Hela."

Chapter Text

“I bestow this to you, Aerith,” Hela was standing in front of you, still unclothed, her thighs still dripping with her slick from your activities before. The bite marks you left on her are still stark against her skin. She held the necrosword she almost stabbed you with in both hands and presented it to you. Again in this halo of light she seemed so blinding to look at, yet you wanted to remember the sight forever.

You received the sword and weighted it in your hands. It has been awhile since you’ve held a weapon, but you will do your best. For her.  

“You are my knight, but we will rule as equals,” Hela cupped your face with one hand, forcing you to look up at her. You saw her determined expression soften as you locked eyes. “You are not my weapon, but you are mine.” 

You both knew why she said that. Both your lives you were weapons to your fathers. No more. You’ll forge your own paths. 

In the depths of your mind, you knew you did not have a path anymore, but you would gladly help her forge hers. In a way, her path was yours. 

“Hela,” in a last second decision, you decided something. Using the sword, you cut one of the ends of your braids. Hela stared at you in confusion. “Give me your hand,” you said. She complied. You looped the strands of your hair on her ring finger and secured it there with a tiny braid. 

“You’re courting me?” Hela’s tone was incredulous but you see the flush that spread across her whole body betrayed her again. 

“I’ve not enough time to do it proper,” you said, “I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Hela held your face in both hands. You could feel them shaking. She was quiet in her approval but your chest constricted all the same. It was not enough time; to court her, and perhaps not enough time until your demise— the understanding between you hung in the silence. 

However long your death may be postponed, you’d delight in spending it bonded to her. Hela inspected the braided ring with a sad smile. 

“Stand up, my dear,” Hela commanded, her voice was soft, however. She phased her clothes back into place and laughed at your disappointed “hmph.”

You stabbed the ground between the two of you with the sword, the stone cracking as you used the blade to lever yourself up. Hela made an appreciative sound at this. You were also surprised by your own strength. You didn’t know where this energy returned from. There was something in this necrosword that felt familiar to you somehow. 

Perhaps the aura of death it emits was similar to the mycelium of Harudheen. 

You stood up slowly and heard Hela let out a surprised “Oh.”

“Hm?” You cocked your head in question. 

“You’re… tall.” Hela stated, the pink dusting her cheeks again. 

You supposed it was the first time you stood next to each other. You looked down at Hela, the top of her head just barely coming up to the base of your neck. 

Hela seemed to find this very attractive. 

She closed the distance between you, putting her hands on your chestplate. Hela stood on her toes and gave you a kiss. It was chaste and all too brief for your liking, but you could feel her impatience for the journey that awaited her. 

Your mask clattered and flew into Hela’s hand as she summoned it. She placed it back on your face with a click. 

The energy you felt from the sword was suddenly emanating a thousandfold from Hela. 

“I’ll miss your face,” Hela said, “but we shall pay my dead father a visit.” 

She took your hand in yours and a sort of rift enveloped you both.

Chapter Text

You appeared in the middle of a grassy field. Something like the dream you had a few cycles ago, but something seemed more worldly about it. It was Midgard, you concluded. Two men were standing in front, their stances at the ready. 

They were surprised by Hela, but even more bewildered when you stepped out behind her. 

“So he’s gone,” Hela said, “It’s a shame. I would’ve liked to have seen that.” 

“You must be Hela,” the blonde man said, “I’m Thor, son of Odin.” 

Ah, so these are Hela’s brothers. 

“Really? You don’t look like him.” Hela remarked. 

“Perhaps we can come to an arrangement,” the dark haired one said. 

“You sound like him,” Hela’s voice was dripping with venom. Her patience was wearing thin. She had wanted to come here and kill her father herself, perhaps, but she was met by her quarreling siblings. 

“Who are you?” Thor asked, he pointed his hammer at you. “I thought I wiped out every last one of you.” 

Hela turned to you with a scowl. “Oh, Aerith, hold me back, I can’t bear to hear him talk to you like that,” she taunted.

“I am no one,” you held up your sword. 

“We’re taking back Asgard,” Hela said, “kneel, before your queens.” You made note of the confidence and smugness. You don’t know if you could defeat these two Asgardians, but perhaps you don’t have to.

“I don’t think so,” was Thor’s immediate response. He tossed his hammer at Hela and she caught it easily. The hammer vibrated in Hela’s hand as Thor struggled to summon it back. 

A burst of lighting blinded you and the hammer was in pieces. 

“This can’t be possible,” Thor muttered. 

“Darling, you have no idea what’s possible.” Hela said. 

Witnessing this, the other brother cowered in fear. Hela held her hands against her head and a helmet with horns and spikes appeared on her head. 

You looked at her in awe as she summoned two more necroswords in her hand. 

So this was what freedom looked like on her. You couldn’t wait to see more. 

“Bring us back!” The dark haired one shouted at the sky. At an instant a rainbow shot through the atmosphere and lifted them away. The bifrost. Of course.

“Ugh,” Hela groaned, rolling her eyes. She threw the swords from her hands and beckoned you to follow her. “Hold on tight to me, Aerith.” 

You wrapped your long braid around her waist like a tether and held her arm. 

Hela shrugged. “That works.” 

She stepped into the light and you were both lifted upwards. 

In the bridge, Hela chased her brothers. 

“Loki!” Thor called out. Loki looked below him and tossed a dagger at Hela, who easily defected it back to him, throwing him out of the bridge. 

Thor put up a fight but he too was ultimately tossed out. 

When you arrived on Asgard, you were dizzy from the amount of intense light you were just exposed to. You stumbled and fell forward on one knee, leaning hard on your sword. Hela rushed to your side, a hand on your nape as she inspected you. 

“Who are you and what have you done with—” came a man’s voice, though he was promptly cut off with a gargle as Hela threw a sword right into his chest for even daring to interrupt the two of you. 

“Are you alright?” Hela asked softly against your ear. Her affections gave you the energy to stand back up. 

A man was screaming and charging at the both of you. You instinctively moved to stab him. He was immediately limp against your sword. 

Hela stared at you admiringly.

You could bask in that stare forever. 

“I’m just a janitor—” came another voice, before it was cut off with a slash as both you and Hela threw your swords to him, never taking your eyes off each other. 

Hela stepped to you with a gleeful smile. She was more alive than she ever had been and it was something to see and feel. 

She cupped your face and pressed a kiss to the lips of your mask. 

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you’ll be alright here?” Hela’s headdress faded away and her hair cascaded down her shoulders once more. She walked to the dead janitor and extracted your sword from him. You noticed that the sword she made for you was bigger than the ones she threw at the others. It was also distinct, with more ridges on the blade but softer shapes on the handle. 

“With you, I am,” you replied. Hela gave a “Tsk.” and handed you the sword. She grabbed your waist and pulled you both together. 

“So sentimental,” Hela’s tone was annoyed but she was touching and kissing you, ever the contradictory woman she is. You wrapped your arms around her and the sword in your hand landed on her backside. Hela let out a gasp. “Mm, careful with that.” She taunted. 

You grabbed her ass. 

“Oh, come on,” Hela complained, “We need to see my palace first.” She reluctantly broke away and pulled your arm to walk on the glistening bridge of the bifrost. 

You took in the sight of Asgard. It was disgustingly bright to look at you could throw up. You actually might. 

Hela looked back at you worriedly and you pushed back whatever ill feeling you were developing just then and stepped forward, walking with her towards the empire. 

“It's come to my attention that you don't know who I am,” Hela announced to the massive crowd of Einherjar, all their weapons at the ready and pointing them at the both of you. 

Hela didn’t seem worried at all, however, and whatever fears you may have of dying by their hands were quelled. She seemed so confident she could overpower all of them. You shivered involuntarily. 

You stood just slightly behind her, letting her have her moment and the audience.

“I am Hela, Odin's first born, Commander of the legions of Asgard, the rightful heir to the throne, and the Goddess of Death,” Hela’s voice projected in the tense silence, “My father is dead. As are the princes— you're welcome.”

Hela’s speech of how Asgard once reigned in the cosmos was met by disdain from a soldier in the crowd. 

“I’ve come to protect us all, a great force in the cosmos will one day wipe everything away,” Hela hissed. She actually listened to you. You smiled beneath your mask. 

“Whoever you are... whatever you've done, surrender now! Or we will show you no mercy.” The man stupidly yelled. 

“Whoever I am? Did you listen to a word I said?” Hela growled. 

“This is your last warning!” The man pressed on. 

Well, things were about to get violent. 

“I thought you'd be happy to see me,” Hela’s voice cracked and she gave you a sad glance. You gripped your sword and positioned yourself at the ready, signalling you would fight for her. 

They start attacking, barrels of arrows shot to the both of you.You used your sword to swat them away easily. The man from earlier put up a surprisingly good effort of deflecting Hela’s swords, but ultimately he was thrown to the ground. The einherjar swarmed Hela, and you tried your best to help her, but really she did not need much help as it is.

One of the soldiers managed to stab their spear through Hela and it fueled a rage within you so hot you felt like it could kill you. You charged at them and your sword went right through their face, splitting it in half. 

“My beloved knight,” Hela cooed. You looked at her and touched her shoulder, signalling your worry. Hela only giggled and pulled the spear right out of herself. “I’m alright.” It was true, she was unscathed. 

Just how powerful was Hela?

You didn’t have time to ponder more as a hoard of soldiers approached you. You and Hela make quick work of them. 

Soon, all the bodies littered all around you. 

You were struck with a sense of familiarity as you remembered your dream from many cycles ago. 

Surely it won’t end in your untimely death, though? 

Hela was gleeful as she turned to you. 

“Oh, I've missed this. Still, it's a shame. Good soldiers dying for nothing...all because they couldn't see the future. Sad.” Hela sighed, “Let’s go, my dear.” 

The citizens of Asgard cowered as you walked past them. Hela intertwined your fingers with hers and held you by her side as she walked proudly. 

“I don’t think I’m helping your image, my poison,” you said to her. Hela only held your hand tighter. 

“I don’t care,” she said, “let them cower before us.”

The guards of the palace barely put up a fight. Their numbers were sparse and hopeless. You didn’t know why they hadn't surrendered already. 

Hela’s mood was getting somber as she saw the throne in the distance. 

“Does no one remember me?” She said sadly, looking up at the fresco above. You followed her gaze and saw a mural of Thor and Loki, and what you assumed to be Odin and his wife. It depicted peace and prosperity across the nine realms, things you did not see when you were travelling through them before. “Has no one been taught our history? Look at these lies. Goblets and garden parties? Peace treaties?”

You knew very well what it’s like to be forgotten. Though in your case perhaps more so ignored. Your father remembered you, so did your people. They just pretended you didn’t exist. A shame to the Harudheeniksel cause. 

“Odin... proud to have it... ashamed of how he got it, ”Hela threw spikes into the ceiling and the mural came down around you, narrowly avoiding crushing you. 

Underneath the plaster was paintings of Hela and her father, riding into battle in glory. The nine realms subjugated under Asgard’s rule. 

You narrowed your eyes at the picture of Harudheen trampled by Asgard. It seems he even took credit for things before his time. Bor was the one that won against the Dark Elves. 

“We were unstoppable. I was his weapon in the conquest that built Asgard's empire. But then, simply because my ambition outgrew his...he banished me, caged me, locked me away like an animal. Before that, Asgard's warriors were honored, their bodies buried as heroes beneath this very place.” Hela’s voice was shaking. You approached her and circled your arms around her form. 

She gripped your chestplate and slumped her head on your shoulder, anger and sadness coming to her all at once. 

“Come with me,” she whispered.

.

.

She took you to the palace vault, where all the treasuries were kept. 

As the door opened, you felt something shift within you. 

Hypnotized, you stepped forward ahead of Hela and approached a red source of light at the end of the hall. Your heart was beating so loudly you didn’t hear Hela approach you as you stared unblinking ahead. 

The Aether. 

There it was, locked away in a case, gilded golden and made of Asgardian steel. 

Its light shifted in your presence and you could feel its power pulling you in. 

Perhaps you were called to Asgard for a reason, perhaps the Aether had beckoned for you to save it, wield it once more—

Hela stood between you and the case, grabbing your hand. You didn’t realize you were reaching for it. For some reason, a rage built up within you and the words came out of your mouth before you could stop it. 

“You still don’t trust me?” 

Hela’s expression became hurt and she threw your hand away from her. 

“Fine then,” she spat, side stepping you and walking away, “wield it again and let it kill you. Make me watch you die right here and now.” She didn’t look back and her voice faded as she turned the corner. 

You watched her leave and faced the Aether once more. 

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust you. She just didn’t want you to die. 

The red light pulses but you don’t feel it calling you within anymore. 

You hope to Sleep the steel won’t burn you as you gripped the handle. Thankfully, your armor was enough to protect you. You fastened the case on your hip and ran to Hela. 

She was standing in front of a big flame. 

“I am sorry,” you said, “I didn’t think…” Hela turned to you and made an annoyed expression as she saw the case on your hip. “I won’t wield it,” you stated, “but we must keep it safe.” 

Hela sighed. “Promise me,” she muttered, stepping close to you, “don’t die on me now.” Hela repeated. She was putting on a stoic demeanor but her lips trembled as she looked into your eyes through the mask. 

“I live for you, erve kirath,” you said. 

Hela let out a laugh at the nickname, her smile returning with only a hint of sadness. 

“Very well,” she held your head and pulled you down to touch your foreheads together, “would you like to meet Fenris?”

Chapter Text

Hela had revived her dead soldiers and her wolf. 

You didn’t know what to make of the giant animal. It seemed faithful to Hela and was very protective of her. You expected it to be hostile towards you, but one sniff of you and it immediately heeled. 

Did you really smell that much like her already? 

Hela had taken over the castle. Most of the servants finally fell in line, along with the remaining guards, though you knew their loyalty only extended to personal safety. They all gave Hela a fearful glance, and a bewildered one towards you. 

“Stop gawking,” Hela scolded them. You were walking to her new chambers, Fenris trailing behind you like a guard. “Aerith is my spouse. You will do well to respect her as such.”

Hela announcing you as her mate made you feel that rush in your veins. 

The servants backed and bowed in fear. 

.

.

The doors closed behind you as you reached her chambers, Fenris waiting just outside on guard. 

“Oh my darling, I need a bath,” Hela complained into the room. Her harsh exterior immediately fell away in the afforded privacy.

There was a lavish bed in the center, surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. Hela drew all of the curtains down with a wave of her hand. 

You set your sword and Aether by the foot of the bed as Hela was busy snuffing out all the torches and lights in the room. You realize she was trying to make you more comfortable, enveloping the room in darkness. 

Well, as dark as it could be with the Asgardian daylight seeping out from behind the curtains. 

It was at least dim enough to be more comfortable. You felt your nerves relax a little. 

“Thank you,” you said to Hela. She smiled, but pulled away from your embrace teasingly. You followed her pull into the bathroom. 

It was as lavish as the bedroom, a golden tub positioned in the center. Hela snuffed out the torches once more. 

“Can you even see?” You asked Hela teasingly. Hela reached blindly for your hands. She missed and you laughed. 

“I can,” Hela growled. Her eyes glowed green and it seemed she enchanted herself to be able to see. You covered her glowing eyes with a hand. 

“My poison,” you stated. Hela could hear the mirth in your voice. She swatted your hand playfully and the glow in her eyes subsided. 

“Fine, I only need to feel you,” Hela grabbed your hands forcefully put them on her breasts. 

You laughed. “I have an idea,” you said, prying away and eliciting a whine from Hela. “I know it’s important for you to see me.” You exited the room and returned with the Aether, setting it on the side of the tub. Its red light illuminated the room just enough for Hela to see. 

Hela eyed the Aether with an apprehensive frown. 

“One of the most powerful things in the universe,” Hela muttered, “and you’re using it as a lantern so I can watch us fuck.” 

You’ve never laughed so hard. (This was still, just a few stoic huffs of laughter.)

Hela held her hand out and the door to the bathroom slammed shut, engulfing you in complete darkness save for the red glow of the Aether. 

“May I strip you of your armor now?” Hela’s nails tapped against your chestplate as her other hand removed your mask. She set it down on the corner of the tub. 

“There is still ambient light, Hela,” you said, earning a sad whine from her, “But I can shed a few more things.” 

“Oh this I hope,” Hela cupped your crotch. 

“Yes, if you wish,” you stated. 

“If I wish?!” Hela hissed impatiently, “The only thing preventing me from ripping this off of you is that I do not want to damage the very thing protecting you from everything that’s killing you.” 

“On that subject,” you said, “is anything here made of Asgardian steel? Besides the Aether’s case.” 

“I don’t think so, why?”

“I can’t touch Asgardian steel. It burns me,” you stated, taking off your hand covers. Hela immediately took your hands in hers. You could feel her skin against yours and it made you gasp. 

“Ugh, everything kills you,” Hela commented, putting your hands on her cheeks. She leaned her face and kissed your palm. 

“Including you,” you said. 

Hela growled and bit your palm. 

You moaned. 

In a faint glow, Hela phased away her torn clothing. You trailed your hands down her body and felt every inch of her. As you suspected, she was almost too hot to touch. Her skin was soft, even the texture of what little scars she had. Hela palmed your crotch again. 

“Tell me how to get this off,” she said frustratedly. 

“Why do you want to stimulate me so badly?” You asked. 

“Are you seriously asking?” Hela blinked. There was a scowl for a moment before she realized something. “Am I too forward for your culture? Is this some sort of taboo?” Hela narrowed her eyes at you then. “But your tongue was inside of me.” She muttered in confusion. 

You found it adorable. Even if you don’t have a metric of what that feeling was. 

“No,” you replied. The short answer made her angry, which made you laugh in turn. “I just usually have a tool to stimulate me. It’s actually quite difficult to elicit sexual pleasure for me, physically.” 

“Just you, or is it a Svartalf thing?” 

“It is a Svartalf thing,” you repeated her. “It’s really difficult for us to reproduce. Not that we need to as much, given our longevity.” 

“I’ll take that as a challenge, then,” Hela clawed at your crotch plate impatiently, “give me.”

“A challenge? To impregnate me?” You cocked your head in question innocently. 

“WHAT—” came Hela’s embarrassed hiss. 

“You said—”

“Shut. Up!” Hela banged a fist on your chest petulantly. Even in this red light you could see her form turning rosy all over. Her ears were completely red and she was a great deal warmer than she usually was. “Don’t say things like that,” Hela scolded you. Though you took it to mean the opposite as the full-body flush was still in full force. “I cannot, anyway,” she said through her teeth. 

“I can—”

“HUSH—” a hand to your face, gripping it.

“Given the right tools—” you deadpan. You didn’t know why all this was making her so embarrassed. Females impregnating each other were completely normal on Harudheen. It required a great deal of effort, but no more than with a male and female sexed pair. 

“AERITH!” Hela buried her head in your chest. 

“Is it not normal for two females to reproduce?” You asked. 

“No.” Came her muffled reply. 

“Yet you find it arousing?” You were confused. 

“I do not,” Hela contradicted. You slipped a hand between her legs and felt her completely slick. Hela moaned against your collarbone.

“Someday, perhaps we could try—” you teased.

“Don’t—” Hela hissed, “I won’t be a vessel for you to repopulate your kind.” You felt more of her slick pool on your fingers. 

You made note of this particular interest of hers and hoped you would make it to a time where you could remake or retrieve the impregnation device from Harudheen. You don’t necessarily want to actually impregnate her— it was unclear if she was even suitable for a dark elf seed, but you certainly would like to perform the act of trying, since it pleased her so much.  

You kissed her forehead with a smile. “Please do not take offense if I am not stimulated, Hela. I do enjoy our intimacy and pleasing you,” you slipped a finger underneath your crotchplate and removed its fastens, setting it down beside your mask on the tub. 

“I know you enjoy pleasing me,” Hela backed up and sat on the side of the tub, “come to the light.” She beckoned. 

Hela’s face was positioned just in front of your sex. She was inspecting it in concentration, it was again quite adorable. 

You put one hand in her hair. It was soft against your palm. Scratching her scalp made her purr. 

“Doesn’t look different from mine,” Hela stated. 

“Based on my observations, yes, our anatomy is quite similar in position.” 

“Observations,” Hela rolled her eyes. Hela put her thumbs on either side of your sex and spread you. You felt her breath dangerously hot against you. 

Hm, perhaps she could stimulate you. You mused. The tool you use usually emits heat and vibration. One of few uses of heat in Harudheen. You didn’t factor in that Hela was a source of heat. 

Hela parted her lips and her mouth was on you. 

“Hm,” you pet her head in encouragement. It did feel quite nice. 

“Just hm?” Hela licked you. 

“I think I need more heat, Hela,” you said. Hela’s eyes widened in epiphany. 

“Get in the water,” Hela commanded, “unless that kills you too?”

“Hah, no,” you climbed into the tub, the water was almost burning. You flicked your long braid away behind you as you sat down. It was pleasant to your sex but—

Hela spread your legs and lifted your calves to the sides of the tub. She used her strength to freely handle and position you, which made you very attracted to her. More than you already were. 

She stepped over your thighs and slowly squatted down. 

“Oh,” you watched as your sexes touched in the hot water. The sensation made you involuntarily grip Hela’s arms tightly. 

“Oh?” Hela teased. 

Hela seemed all too pleased to see you reacting this way. She leaned down and kissed you on your lips. You could feel her smile on them.

A motion of her hips and your sexes rubbed together pleasurably. You were still frozen, gripping Hela tightly. She pried your arms off and moved them to her ass. You gripped her tightly there, eyes wide staring downwards.

You've never done it like this before. All of this was foreign to you. The few trysts you've had all those millennia ago were never this way. Then again, they weren't with her.

Your clits rubbed together and Hela moaned against your neck. You hissed and gripped her hips so tightly you’re sure it would bruise, were she not an all-powerful goddess. 

“Give me your tongue,” Hela demanded. 

You stuck your tongue out, not expecting her to suck and put it in her mouth. A pleasured moan escaped you as she kissed you, your tongue in her throat. 

This was all insanity. You figured. Your senses were being overwhelmed by her and only her. 

Hela sucked on your mouth and pressed her sex against yours. You felt everything envelop in darkness for a brief second as your hips buckled and you came. Hela felt your slick shoot against her and she pressed herself against you, trying to somehow get it inside her. Your fluids mixed in the water as she reached her high, biting your tongue. 

“Oh fuck,” Hela said, her voice hoarse from just having your tongue down her throat. She slumped against you in the bath. 

“Hela…” You stared off into nothing. Your mind was completely blank. 

What in the realms just happened?

That was the most pleasure you’ve ever felt, physically and mentally. 

“Ae…” Hela breathed. “...I want more.”

Hela propped herself back up with renewed energy and she laughed at your blank stare.