Oh Shit!
"Thor," I pushed a big pile of brush out of my way as the two of us stepped into the clearing, "What the fuck are we really doing out here? You know I can fight. My hand-to-hand is fine."
"You haven't even tapped into what real power you might have. We need to see what will trigger it. Maybe it's like when your red eyes come out and it only happens when you are under great stress" Thor pointed out, readying his short sword, "And if there is one thing I'm good at, you can ask Sif or Fandral or my siblings. Or anyone else I've ever come across in my life is that I am great at pissing people off."
"Pissing me off, right now" I mumbled. Thankfully Thor did hear me.
"So, tell me. What's something that pisses you off to no end?" Only one thing came to mind.
"Other than you?" I crossed my arms. maybe this is the restraint bollocks he was just talking about "I don't know, Sparkles. What is something that pisses you off?"
"Nice deflection," he noticed. He fucking noticed "You should know that calling me Sparklez only something mildly irritates me. Trust me, my friends here in Midgard call me much worse."
"You have friends and not people that tolerate you?" I dead-faced the man. Thor sighed and walked closer to me. I dropped my arms to my side.
"I'm serious, Rory. I'm talking deep fucking rage. What is it? The first thing that comes to mind. I know there's something in there." Thor poked my head before walking away. I wanted to fling a rock at him but the clearing is ironically, pretty clear.
"You don't want to do it that way, Thor," I assured him, "Keep pushing and it will not end well for you and I do not want to get on Sif's bad side"
"What? Did I bring up something that was painful?" Thor mocked "Life is difficult but you can get over it. You don't think I've seen my fair share of painful shit? I watched my father die at the hands of my sister. My mother died fighting against the Dark Elves. I thought my brother also died at their hand then he turns up out of the blue and then he is imprisoned at the hand of my sister" Thor started pacing, he might be good at pissing people off. But I am the master at it "Years later, I found out that my best friend whom I thought died, had a baby with my other best friend, only for me to find out she died a few months ago and her daughter is Hybrid. It's a matter of letting it get to you. It might not be healthy, but healthy is a fucking luxury for those that are survivors" Thor walked up to me and towered over me "Now, tell me something that pisses you off to no end, Aurora."
"Fine, You want to know what pisses me off?" I stood my ground, hoping to all holy I can keep myself in check, "Volstagg. He..." I could feel something bubbling up. I clenched my hands. I know what that's capable of. I need to control it "He hurt her. He left us. he might have been a saint in your fucking weird colour eyes but he is not in mine. My mother didn't deserve that. My mother was a fucking saint and he hurt her by leaving us"
"What else?" Thor kept pushing, "Do you want him dead?"
"He's already dead" I started shaking as tingles started running through my arms. I can feel the cold "Whoever killed my father... He had no idea what my father had done to the most wonderful woman to ever walk the face of this earth." I unclenched my hands "The person who stole my kill!" I screamed. And out of nowhere, my hands started glowing. I needed to let a little stream so I shot the cold out of my hands. I couldn't keep that shit inside anymore. I panted as I watched the tree line vaporise. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I then glanced at Thor, who looked over at me with amazement.
"Good, Aurora. Let it all out" He then started running. I ran after Thor, this time, shooting ice.
"That was supposed to be my kill! His head was supposed to be mine!" I summoned an ice sword and swung for Thor. Thankfully Thor blocked me. I kept throwing punch after punch and blow after blow.
"Rory..." Thor started to sweat. Good "You might want to slow down." I let out the most primal, ear-piercing screech I have ever had, clearing an even bigger chunk of the forest than my last attack and putting a massive hole in the ground. But when I saw Thor up in the air, I immediately snapped out of my rage fit. When he crashed to the ground, I ran to his side.
"Oh, Shit! Thor!"
I skidded to a stop and placed my hand on Thor's head. There was a bit of blood.
"Oh shit! Oh shit!" I heard a bark. I looked up and saw Fluff "Fluff! Go get Fandral!" The wolf took off running "Please be okay"
"Rory..." Thor's voice was strained. I let out a gasp. He could speak. Thor took my hand, "Are... you... okay?"
"I fucked up" I wasn't the one I was concerned about "You just took a nasty fall and it was all my fault."
"I wanted to push you" Thor assured me as he tried to sit up. I held him in place. He didn't put up much of a fight "I've been hit by worse. My ex's metal machine for one... Loki... tried to kill me many times... over the years... I think my ribs are broken"
"What did Loki do?" I sniffed.
"There was one time when we were children... he transformed himself into a snake... and he knows that I love snakes... So, I went to pick up the snake to admire it... and he transformed back into himself... and he was like, 'Yeah, it's me!' And he stabbed me... We were eight at the time." Thor explained. He then smiled like a child. Before trying to sit up.
"Stay still" I stopped him.
"Fandral is not going to tell you off. I highly doubt he will ever be able to bollock you" Thor grabbed my hand weakly. Oh, god. I broke a god.
"Look, I'm not worried about me."
"Someone... has to worry... about you, Aurora" he told me, As he flopped back to the floor "Now, where... the fuck... did that power come from?"
"My hands?" I shook my head, Thor tried to sit up "You really are a stubborn son of a bitch, you know that?"
"Not the first person... to...tell me that?" Thor winced, trying to sit up.
"You are a pain in my ass" I grumbled, Thor tried to move again "Will you stop that?! I don't know what kind of damage I've done."
"Rory, don't... blame yourself," he laid back down. At least he listens, "I knew Hybrids were powerful. Just not that powerful. Why don't you use that power more often?"
"Have you looked at yourself recently?" I scoffed "I can't control it. I will kill everyone around me"
I soon heard a bark and some ruffling of leaves. I looked to my right, tensed in case an animal came charging. Fluff comes shooting over and Fandral is right behind him.
"What happened?" Fandral ran over to us, quickly assessing the damages, "Thor? What are you doing on the ground? Are you taking a nap, lazy bastard"
"With good reason might I add" Thor pointed out, "Maybe I shouldn't have left the Stormbreaker at home" Fandral then looked at me.
"Blue... What happened?"
"My powers came out," I choked out, "I did this. I nearly killed him"
"Blue..." Fandral pulled me to his side, Holding me like you would a crying child.
"You should've... seen her, Fandral" Thor cheered "I think she could take... HULK in a fight. She made the battle that we cause against... the blights look like a pillow fight."
"I could have killed you, Thor" I swallowed the swelling lump in the back of my throat, "And you're pleased? Are you out of your fucking mind?!" a few tears escaped my eyes. Shit, that wasn't supposed to happen.
"Rory," Thor hushed me, holding onto my hand, "Can I tell you something? Living is our... luxury," he told me, "I've never been... afraid to die. Especially when you have... a family like mine. At this point, I can say I've done bugger all with my life. Apart from punching things and drinking my way to Valhalla"
"But I broke you" I sniffed.
"Rory, Anything that is broken in me... will heal. You do not need to worry about me... I'll be fine. I once survived falling from the sky and landed on the ground" Thor sighed.
"Also, you should know that Asgardians have accelerated healing" Fandral finally let me go "Let's get back him to the castle," Fandral suggested. Thor tried getting up, but between Fandral and me, we weren't letting him.
"How am I supposed to get back to the castle if you won't let me sit up?"
"Fluff!" Fandral whistled, The good wolf came running over. He happily licked my face "Aurora, Do you think we could very carefully and very gently put Thor on Fluff's back?"
"Fat fucking chance that I am riding this wolf" Thor snapped. Sighing I scooped him up in my arms like he was nothing. I'm a Hybrid. I'm strong "Who said I was okay with this?"
"You're the one that just took the nasty fall, Uncle Thor," I placed him gently on Fandral's back, "And no, you don't get a say in this. Especially when we're actually trying to help you."
"I hate you both."
"No, you don't," Fandral sighed. We both knew he was talking out of his arse. He loved us both whether he wanted to admit it or not, "You're just salty because you, my friend, have been overruled."
"I don't think there is much for a fight. Considering I have already had my ass handed to me." Thor and Fandral started arguing. I covered my face.
"Can you two try not to kill each other while we make our way back?"
"Oh, please. We're not children" Fandral rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He is a child. they both are. I turn around and lead Fluff out of the clearing.
"Eat shit and die" Thor grumbled.
"Yes. fuck you" Fandral growled. both started chuckling.
"Both of you, shut up before I knock your heads together. I can still feel the power running through me. We don't need to be fixing anyone else today"
"Sorry Blue" Fandral held his hands up. Thor dropped it, too.
"By the way, Rory. You did great today. I'm proud of you. And I know Layla and would be, too." And just like that, my heart dropped to my feet. I spun around and looked at Thor, who conveniently passed out from the pain.
"Wonderful"
And so, the three of us continued our quiet walk back to the house while I was left burdened with a heavy weight on my chest. I damn near throw the man over the brink of death and he has the audacity to say that kind of shit to me? And you tell me I'm something else.
"I can see why mama liked you, Thor Odinson"
When we got back to the house, I threw the door open, letting Fandral and Thor in first.
"Sif!" Fandral called out into the castle, "Could you come here, please? We have some fixing to do!"
"How bad is she?" Sif came running from upstairs, a large box in her hand. She was prepped for a moment like this.
"She?!" Looks like Uncle Thor woke up just in time.
"It's Thor," I told her, "He might have a broken rib or two. and possible concussion"
"How in the..." Sif looked him over, "What happened?"
"I got Rory to... tap into her powers," Thor groaned.
"You dumbass" Sif rolled her eyes as we lifted Thor off Fluff. I gave Fluff a good ear scratch. Everyone agreed that Thor was stupid.
"Okay... Maybe not the smartest idea I have... ever had but you should have seen her" Thor grinned.
"Stop bigging it up! I almost killed you" I snapped.
"Never. I'm proud of you" Thor went to reach for me but yelped in pain "I'm also in a considerable amount of pain here" Thor winced. That just made me feel even worse "Sif, Could you fix my ribs? I think one of them is pressing on my lung. I could do without one of them puncturing a lung"
"I can see what I can do" Sif wrapped Thor's arm over her shoulder "Can you walk or did you break a leg?"
"Wouldn't know. Neither one of them would let me walk" Thor winced as he stood up. But his legs were not broken.
"Because I launched you into the air! I was scared that I broke something vital. I swear if you weren't already so badly injured, I would beat the shit out of you" I ran a hand over my hair, leaving my hand on my neck.
"Bring it on" Thor smiled.
"You really are a stubborn pain in the ass, aren't you?"
"Welcome to the family, Aurora," Sif giggled to herself, "If Thor wasn't being stubborn, I'd be worried that I fell in love with the wrong man." Sif placed a gentle hand on Thor's face. Thor rolled his eyes.
"I love you too, Sif"
"I need a bucket" Fandral hushed him, "We really should get to fixing his ribs. Definitely his brain"
"Fandral..." Sif and I both spoke.
"I would say sorry but I ain't" Fandral shrugged.
"You two exhaust me," I sighed, rubbing the sides of my head "How do you deal with it, Sif?"
"Honestly, It's a miracle" Sif admitted "and Ale"
"You're welcome," Thor gladly took credit for that.
By the time we got Thor upstairs, it felt like we had been on the month-long trip I took with Hela from Jotunheim to Asgard. The sounds were the same when Hela punched Loki over and over again when she was bored.
"Loki..." I thought about the man. I hope he is doing ok. I know Hela and Morbius like their torture and Loki is everyone's favourite punching bag. I will rescue you soon Loki. I promise.
We got Thor back down on his bed. I know he told me he was proud of me, but I still couldn't shake the guilty feeling of putting him here in the first place.
"Ow" Thor winced as Fandral gently pushed him onto the bed.
"I really am sorry, Thor," I reiterated.
"I wanted to push you, Rory" Thor cut me off as Sif worked on setting his ribs back in place, "Stop apologizing. All we need to do with your power is try and get you to focus your attacks, Hela will be no problem. You'll never have to worry about fighting alone." a lightness returned to my heart "You're practically a one-woman army. If you master magic, No one will be able to touch you."
"Oh.." That's not what I thought he meant. So much for my warm, fuzzy feeling. Sif picked up on it, too, giving Thor a little nudge. It's nice having someone on my side.
"Ow! Sif!" Thor screeched. She then pointed at me "Oh, right. And you'll have us for backup, too."
"Thanks"
"Why don't you go study in the library for a while?" Thor insisted, "Sif, please be a little gentler."
"This is me being gentle," Sif pointed out.
"Sure it is" Thor rolled his eyes. Sif threatened to punch him in his good ribs "I have good ribs?" He then looks at me. He then tilted his head "You don't need to worry about me, Rory. I just need to wait for whatever drugs they gave me to kick in and I should be fine."
"Are you sure?" I picked my hand.
"Go on" Thor waved me away with his head. Maybe hiding away in the Calland hold could be good for me. I'm sure that between Fandral and Sif, Thor will live.
On my way out, I stopped by Fandral's cellar. I needed a drink. I grabbed an older bottle of wine and went down to the Calland hold. I wonder if I learn better when I have a little drink in me. Couldn't help to find out.
Once I got the fireplace start, I was standing in the middle of the library. I wonder where I should start.
"combat and battle strategy section would be the logical bit" I then started biting my nail. It would be nice to learn about different styles of combat but considering what just happened, I think starting in the medical section would probably be the best.
I picked several books from different shelves (I found an entire shelf of information about penises. Why does it even exist in the first place? Is it really that necessary? A whole section. Does impotence run in the family or is it a matter of pride? Why is this a thing? Even stranger yet, why did there need to be diagrams?) I ignored that section and moved on. I don't need to learn about penises.
I don't know how long I was done here but it had to have been a while. The fire was dying and I think I had a glass or two of wine left in the bottle.
"Aurora?" a gentle voice called from the top of the stairs. I looked up and saw Sif walking down the stairs "Are you still down here?"
"Hey, Sif" I put a bookmark in my book, closed it and gently set it down "What can I do for you?"
"I thought I would come by and check on you," she joined me. I offered her a glass of wine but she decline "After what happened today, you seem like you could use a friend."
"How's Thor doing?" I pulled my knees up.
"He's high on morphine and told me how much he loved me twice over" Sif chuckled "Then, after he told Fandral the same thing, he passed out. Fandral and Fluff dragged him to the bathtub. He should be fine by morning."
"Sif... Do you know any healing magic?"
"A little. Thor's mother taught us all back when we are kids for emergencies like this"
"Could you... Maybe... show me how to heal? For emergencies like this," I picked at my lip.
"Of course, I will"
"Thanks" I nodded as I sipped my wine.
"So have you had a good look around?" Sif asked, picking up one of my books.
"I just found the weirdest section in here and I don't understand why it is in here" I glanced at the penis books. Sif started chuckling.
"Let me guess? You found the penis section, too?" Sif assumed.
"Why do they keep that?" I squeaked.
"I thought it was weird as well" Sif giggled with me, "Now, I would be happy to show you some healing spells but we don't have any broken body parts."
"I can help out with that" I took my shoes off and grabbed a hold of my pinky toe, bending it all the way back until I heard it snap "Ow" I winced a little at the pain "Now, we do."
"What the hell!" Sif's eyes damn near popped out of her head.
"We needed something to work with," I reminded her. She's married to Thor and she finds this weird "Don't worry. I'm a Hybrid, remember? Even if we leave it alone, it'll be back in one piece in about an hour or two." Sif still wasn't sure what to think of me. I should have warned her that I can break my own bones.
"Right. Anyway, Bone-breaking aside. I need you to clear your mind. It needs to be completely blank in order for this to work."
"That is a lot easier said than done" I took in a deep breath and reached that state of pure tranquillity. Everything was silent. It was nice.
"Place your hands over whatever it is that you're mending and place your intent on it."
"I command you, my pinky toe. Go back into place and mend yourself." I thought. I watched the toe go from purple and then yellow and green colours showing me that my toe is healing "Is that it? That was anti-climatic"
"Just wait"
And then...
Pop!
"Oh! fuck me!" I yelled. That caught me off guard a bit. After a quick recovery, I could flex my pinky toe again, "Oh that is cool!"
"Healing spells are some of the simplest spells you can learn. But they are also incredibly useful."
"given the battle that is brewing, I will need all the help I can get" Everything I had been pushing back for the sake of casting that spell bubbled back to the surface. The battle with Hela. My powers are too strong for me to control "I feel like this is going to be a disaster."
"Aurora... Are you ready to fight for us?" I knew exactly what she meant. Not the collective us. Not Thor, Fandral, Sif, and me. For humanity as a whole. "Truthfully, I don't know what answer to give you. I know this is all about to come to a head soon. I just hope that I will be ready for it" I pick at my hand again. I was so lost on what to do. I wish my mama was here "My mother always told me how important I was. That I could change the world. I never thought that when she said that, she would mean that I was to save it as well. I don't know, Sif... I don't know if I'll be able to do it. I don't know if I will be strong enough"
"Aurora..." Sif put her hand over mine, "You won't be alone. I know that Thor doesn't exactly have a way with words and more often than not, he says the wrong thing while intending the right thing."
"That's just people in general" I scoffed.
"You may be a one-woman army on your own, but imagine what that army would be like if it had the support of people like us. That's the army Hela needs to be afraid of. When she makes her move, we'll be waiting for her. You have a family backing you up, Aurora. Always. We may be a little unconventional, sure but a family nonetheless. All Hela has is a spineless idiot and someone who is afraid of the sun" Sif pulled me into her arms.
"There's someone else I want to rescue before we go and kick Hela's ass. I know he betrayed everyone at some point. Stabbed Thor, he cut your hair and put worms in Fandral's underpants. And while he chose to help Hela a long time ago, he never knew what torture waits for him on the brown grass side. We need to save him"
"Are you sure he is on our side? This is Loki we are talking about." Sif sighed.
"He's on our side. Imagine what will happen when the people of Asgard realise that the Sons of Odin are still alive and what their precious Queen has done to them"
"We will..." a little smile stretched across her face, "We will be unstoppable. So, when should we make our move for Loki"
"As soon as possible. I made Loki a promise that I would get him out of there and I will be damned if I go back on that. Not that I am not already damned. I don't want to walk into a church anytime soon but you get my point." I smiled "Thank you, Sif. For talking to me"
"It's no worries. We will be able to do this, Aurora. I know we can." Sif patted my shoulder.
"Do you think you could show me a few more spells?"
"I know healing spells but I do know a few good books that will help" Sif hopped off the sofa and ran around the library. You know, I think we might actually be able to pull this off.