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Thor had been eyeing up Carol ever since she came to Earth. It’s not like he liked her or anything, but he knew someone that would. After they had no luck finding the stones, Thor went back to New Asgard. And he dragged Carol back with him. She put up quite the fight at first, but she grumbled and agreed to go with, just to entertain him. “Thor, why am I here? I have places to be.” Carol moaned as she stood outside his place on New Asgard.
“I want you to meet someone. I told her I had a surprise for her.” Thor said positively beaming “I feel like the two of you would be good friends.”
“Who is she?” Carol asked intriguingly
“A friend of mine. She doesn’t really have any friends apart from me and a bottle of alcohol. I thought I could introduce the two of you. She’s a Valkyrie. The last of the kind actually.” Thor noticed the confused look on her face and grinned. “The Valkyrie was the protector of the throne for a long time, many years ago. That was until they were all killed by my sister. She’s the only one left.”
“I can only manage the survivor's guilt,” Carol said quietly
“Yeah, she drinks a lot to forget.”
“What’s her name?”
“We don’t know. She hasn’t given us any other name to call her other than Valkyrie, Val for short, but maybe you could find it out when you become the best of friends.” Thor practically squealed the last part. Carol had to grin at his pure excitement. It was adorable. They walked over to where Valkyrie was staying, and Thor gave her door three quick knocks. The walls were quite thin, and they could hear she was singing an Asgardian war song. She stopped singing and called out “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Thor.”
“What do you want?”
“I have that surprise we talked about.” There was a silence before the locks turned and the door opened. She looked Thor up and down, noticing he didn’t have anything in hand. She narrowed her eyes at him, and Thor presented his arms to his side. There was no one there. Thor turned his back, saw Carol idling behind him, and moved her so she was standing in front of Valkyrie.
“Val, this is my friend Carol. I hope the two of you will make very good friends.”
“She’s the surprise? You could have told me you were bringing a pretty woman to my door; I would have tidied up a bit.”
Carol blushed slightly at her kind words and Valkyrie let her in. She waved goodbye to Thor even though he lingered behind, trying to peek in through the window. Valkyrie gave him a big face grin before closing the curtains so he couldn’t look in. Carol stood awkwardly in the middle of the room and Valkyrie smirked. “You can sit you know.”
“Oh.” She quickly sat down, with her back straightened and her hands placed flat on her lap. Valkyrie slumped down next to her and Carol looked over to her and tried to imitate the position she was in. “So, how do you know Thor?” Valkyrie asked trying to get rid of the awkward silence in the air
“Well, I don’t really know him, know him. I was sent a distress signal from a friend of mine on Earth about the blip, but he got dusted away. And then, me and Thor’s friends went to find the stones to reverse it, but no such luck.”
“Quite the story. Are you one of those Avenger thingy’s that Thor loves to talk about all the time?”
“God no. I’m more of a one-person organization. They were named after me, though.”
“Good for you.”
“So, Thor tells me you’re a Valkyrie.”
“I’m not surprised. He tells everyone that he’s friends with the last one. You know, he always wanted to be one until he found out they were all women. He also likes to remind me about it every chance he gets. ‘The Valkyries are so cool. I always wanted to be one,’ he would tell me.” Carol let out a small giggle. That is definitely a Thor thing, she thinks.
“You are very quiet. I’m not that intimidating, am I?” Valkyrie kidded
“What? No, I’m just taking in what you’re saying.”
Valkyrie hummed in consideration. “Maybe you would talk a bit more if you had a drink.” She jumped up to her feet, disappeared around the corner, and then reappeared with two bottles in her hand. She handed one to Carol, she cracked it open and took a long swing before her face puckered up as she had just eaten a lemon.
“Holy crap, that is strong.”
“Only Sakaar’s finest.” She said proudly “I managed to steal a couple of boxes before we left there.”
“They must be built like beasts to handle this.”
“Some were. Now, let’s talk about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you have some sort of superpower, suit, or very good fighting skills? Because going up against Thanos without one of those would have been very hard.”
“It’s a mix of the three. I have a suit, but it’s not like Tony Stark’s. I wear it when I fight and it more of a uniform. I was trained to fight, and I can fight and shoot photon blasts from my hands.” Valkyrie’s eyes lit up in interest.
“Now, that would be cool to see.”
“Really, well I can’t do it inside; it would level the building. Do you know a place near water?”
“I have to perfect place.” Valkyrie took her to the docks and made sure no one was around. Carol pointed her hand at the water and shot out a photon blast that gave a huge splash, drenching the two of them. “That was epic.” Valkyrie laughed “How did you know you could do that?”
“It’s a bit of a long story, but I got hit by a space stone and I got them.” A cold gust of wind blew in from the sea that made them shiver to their bones. “I think we should head inside,” Carol said as her teeth chattered a bit.
“Agreed. I never knew how cold Norway could be.”
After they went back inside and warmed up, Carol realized how late it was getting and she needed to be on her way. “As much as I have enjoyed hanging out with you, I need to go. A lot of other planets have been affected by the snap and someone needs to assist them.”
“Oh, that’s okay. It was nice hanging out with you too. See you soon?”
“See you soon.” And she flew off
It had been a couple of days since Valkyrie had seen Carol. She knew she had business elsewhere, but she enjoyed the company. In this time, she would just go to Thor, even though he was just a tad on the odd side. He would have random outbursts of laughter; he farts a lot. He is always fascinated by the things Midgard has to offer, even though he had been there many times and he would always raid and empty her fridge. She allowed Thor to stay only if he controlled himself.
“So, is your new friend?” Thor asked while they were playing video games
“We are doing fine, and I know you are only trying to distract me, so quit it.” Thor gasped over dramatically. He was always one for theatrics. “I would never do such a thing. I’m just curious as to whether my plan worked or not.”
Valkyrie scrunched her face up, wondering what he was referring to. “What plan are you talking about?”
“The one where I try and find you some friends,” Thor smirked when he saw he won the game while Valkyrie just rolled her eyes at him. “Find me, friends? I have friends.”
“Friend.” Thor corrected “I am your only friend.”
“That is not true. I have many friends, thank you very much.”
“Oh yeah? Name them.” Thor obviously knew she didn’t have any and so did Valkyrie. but she wasn’t going to give Thor the satisfaction of being right. “Well, there’s you, then urm, um.” It took her a while to think of an answer. “Oh, there is that man by the docks.” She felt proud of her answer, but Thor just shook his head.
“The man at the docks.” He repeated, “Just so we are talking about the same man, is it the one who can barely see what he’s looking at 75% of the time?”
“Maybe, but that’s beside the point. I do have friends.”
“Well, it can never hurt to have too many.”
“It can when you find out they are all fake.”
“What a dark turn. Anyways, Carol said that she will be coming back in a couple of days.”
“How would you know?”
“She gave me this communicator thing so she can contact us whenever she wants and vice versa.” He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Valkyrie. “This thing looks ancient, even older than me.” She examined it carefully, then Thor accidentally nudged his arm, and she accidentally pushed a button. The small screen started to show a red and blue symbol and Valkyrie quickly dropped it on the couch.
“Urm, what did I just do?” she asked anxiously
“From the looks of it, you pressed the emergency button.”
“Emergency button?”
“And she probably got the alert and would probably be on her way over soon.”
“On her way?”
“Yes, and stop repeating everything I’m saying.”
“Sorry, did I just mess up?”
“Not necessarily, she might not have been busy.”
“And if she was?”
“Didn’t really think that far.”
And not just a few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Thor opened it with an awkward smile on his face while Carol had a worried look on his face. She was out of breath and cocked her head at Thor's face. He didn’t look like he was in any trouble. “Is everything okay? I got your signal while I was passing by, but it doesn’t look like you are in any trouble.”
Valkyrie popped up from behind Thor’s large frame with a sheepish look on her face. “Yeah, about that. I may have accidentally pressed the button. I didn’t know how the thing worked. I’m sorry; I hope you weren’t busy.”
Carol let out a relieved sigh and put her hand over her heart. “Oh, thank god. I thought you were in serious trouble. And it’s okay, I wasn’t really busy. Just doing what I normally do on a normal day.”
“I got scared for a second. I thought I was going to get my arse handed to me by you.”
“You just might,” Carol said with a serious face but laughed when she saw how their faces dropped. “I’m just playing with you guys. I’m free now, maybe we could hang out?”
“Yeah, sure. We were just playing video games. But don’t play with Thor, he cheats.”
“I do not. You’re just jealous that I beat you every time.
“Yeah, right. We will see about that.”
After a couple of rounds and drinks, Thor was passed out on Valkyrie’s couch. The two of them just laughed and a little shocked at how low his alcohol tolerance was. “You know, for a literal god, I thought he would handle alcohol better,” Carol said
“Same here. On Asgard, the amounts of drinks that were drunk would make you think that you were immune to getting drunk. He probably isn’t used to Sakaar’s alcohol. I just surprised that you weren’t the first one to pass out.”
“What can I say? It’s almost like I absorb it like a sponge, then later on, if someone were to just squeeze me, I would empty of every hole.” They both laughed at her analogy. “So how did you end up on this place, Sakaar? Because I thought you were Asgardian.”
“I left Asgard after the fall of my sisters, was flying over the realms until I crashed landed on Sakaar. Sent many years there, until Thor landed there and brought me back to fight his sister and blow Asgard to bits. It’s kind of depressing, but it makes for a good story. What about you? everyone has got a sob story.”
“Well, after I got hit with the infinity stone, it made me lose my memory. The people who took me manipulated my mind, saying that showing emotions is a weakness and used me for my powers. They said the people we were fighting, the Skrulls, were the bad people when it was the other way round. The Skrulls were just looking for refuge. After I found out what they were doing, I helped the Skrulls and left the Kree.”
“They sound like real arse-holes. Good thing you left when you did.”
As the days went on and Carol visited more, the two grew closer. Carol would notice the small things about Val: She would play with her hair if she were bored, scratch the back of her neck if she were confused, and so on. Carol would often stare without knowing and when Val noticed, she would just laugh. “You keep staring,” she would say. Carol would try and laugh it off, saying she was just daydreaming. When she turned her back, she would resume staring. ‘Her hair looks pretty today. I wonder what shampoo she uses. Is it weird that I want to smell her hair right now?’ Are just some of the things she would think about.
Val took Carol to one of the bars Thor had suggested. He said it had a good vibe and alcohol. It did have a good vibe and the alcohol was moderate, but Thor neglected to tell them it was a gay bar. And they loved every second they spent in the bar. “I haven’t been in one of these since 1989,” Carol shouted over the loud music.
“What?” The music was drowning out their voices, so Carol moved her head, so her mouth was right next to Val’s ear.
“I said, I haven’t been to one of these since 1989.”
“Oh, isn’t that like thirty years ago?”
“Yeah. They’ve changed a lot since then.”
“I can tell you this, this is one of the most vibrant bars I’ve been to in years.”
“That’s because everyone is gay.” Those words left Carol’s mouth before she could even think about it it. She started to deeply regret it until Val started to laugh. Carol relaxed and let her body move with the music. Then a karaoke challenge was announced, and the winner gets free drinks for the rest of the night. “Val, we have to do this. I know we can win.”
“What is karaoke anyways?”
“It’s where people sing along to recorded music using a microphone.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know any of Earth songs.”
“I’ll help you and they give us the lyrics. Please? The winners get free drinks.” Val could never turn down free drinks or resist the look on Carol’s face, so she gave in. Carol squealed in joy and they walked over to the stage. The DJ started to play My Heart Will Go On and of course, they won.
-
Over the next couple of days, Val wouldn’t stop giving Thor the side-eye. He knew what he was doing, sending them to that bar. Thor noticed the looks Val was giving him, and for some reason every time he looked away and looked back, she would always be one step closer to him. The went on until she was standing in Thor’s living room. “Well, isn’t this a lovely surprise? What can I do for you Val?”
“That bar you suggested to me the other day.”
“Ah, yes. It was a lovely bar.”
“Did you even step foot in it?”
“Possibly, maybe, no,” Thor admitted honestly. “I just thought it looked like a nice bar.”
“I thought so.”
“Why? Was anything wrong with it?”
“No. Absolutely nothing.”
They were watching a movie that Val picked out to watch on the couch. Carol had never seen the movie, but Val clearly had because she was describing what was happening in every scene. After about forty-five minutes into the movie, Carol was more focused on Val. On her mouth, more specifically. The way it moved when, she spoke, laughed, or drank. Every time it moved; she would stare. Carol didn’t know this, but she clearly had an oral fixation. When Carol wasn’t answering Val’s question, she turned to her side and saw Carol staring and occasionally blinking. Val couldn’t help but giggle at how mesmerized she was by her lips. It wasn’t the first time it happened either.
“Carol are you still in there?” she waved her hand over his face a couple of times until she jerked back to reality.
“What’s happening?” She said confused
“You were staring again.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t notice.”
“It’s okay. When you’re as pretty as me, you get used to it.” Val teased playfully. They went back to watching the movie, but Carol started to stare again so Val decided to use it to her advantage. She paused the movie and turned her whole body to face Carol. “Let’s play a game.”
Carol looked up to Val and looked into her eyes God they were beautiful. “Yeah, sure. What game?”
“Truth or dare? You know how to play right?”
“Course. I’ll ask first. Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
“I dare you to crack an egg over your head.”
“What? No. I just washed my hair.”
“A dare is a dare.” Val walked over to the kitchen and got an egg from the fridge. She was very much regretting wanting to play this game. She closed her eye and slowly pushed the egg on the top of her head until it cracked. Carol just laughed as she saw Val’s face as she used a paper towel to get rid of the egg on her head. “This is gonna dry up on my head. I hope you’re proud.”
“Very.”
“Right, your turn. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.” Val’s lips twitched a bit because Carol fell right into her trap
“What is one thing in the world that you would rather do now?” Carol sucked in her cheeks trying to think of an answer.
“I think it might be this.” Val put her lips to Carol’s. At first, Carol was shocked but soon leaned into it. Val pulled away and smirked. “Was my guess, right?”
“Not sure. Maybe we should try again.” Their lips met again, and Carol pulled Val onto her lap. She ran her hand through her hair, avoiding the egg, pulling at it slightly, making her whimper at the back of her throat. Then there was a knock on the door. They stilled their movements, making no noise hoping whoever it was would leave. “Val, open the door. It’s Thor, your best friend.” Val cringed internally when he said that.
“Um, Val isn’t here right now. Please try again later” She said trying to ward him off. His knocks just came louder, this time more desperate. “Please. I-I’m not doing so good.” Val knew that tone anywhere and quickly opened the door. He wasn’t in a good state and had an empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. She quickly led him inside and sat him down on the couch. Carol excused herself and stood outside to give the two of them privacy.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she spoke softly, taking the bottle out of his hand so he couldn’t smash it.
“He’s really gone. He’s never coming back, is he?” Val knew he was talking about Loki. She pressed her lips together and flared her nose. He wasn’t coming back but he didn’t have the heart to tell him.
“You don’t know that. Maybe he pulled one of the tricks. He could still be alive.”
“Don’t give me hope. He would be back by now.” Val didn’t know what else to say. He had been in and out of this phase for a few weeks. “Thor, try and sleep off some of this alcohol. It will only make you feel worse. Come on, I’ll take you back.” She took him to his place, with his entire weight leaning on to her. When she saw Carol, she shot her look to say sorry and Carol shot back another look to say it’s okay. She laid him down on his couch, making sure he was comfortable
Just as she was leaving, Thor spoke to her. “You and Carol.” He slurred a bit
“Hmm?”
“I saw you two mushing faces through the window.” He pressed his palms together, trying to imitate them. Val felt her skin burn and was grateful he was drunk so he wouldn’t remember.
“Just get some rest, Thor. You’ll feel better.” And he dozed off
-
“Is he going to be alright?” Carol asked when she got back
“He will be. He just gets like that. After he saw his brother get killed, it has been happening quite a bit. It’s just so heartbreaking sometimes. I wish I could do more.” She put her head in her hands and sighed. Carol sat down next to her and rubbed her shoulders. “It will be alright. And so will he.”
It wasn’t a surprise when Val saw Thor on her doorstep in the morning. He always did this whenever he felt guilty for the previous night. He would try to apologize, but she wouldn’t accept it, insisting that he didn’t have to. But since she wasn’t accepting it, he brought up another matter. One Val hoped he would have forgotten.
“When did Carol leave?”
“Last night.”
“When did the two of you get so close?” He asked leaning on the door frame
“I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe it’s the hangover talking.”
“I’m sure it is. Because I’m pretty sure I saw the two of you kissing. Maybe even, what’s the saying? Slipping each other the tongue.” Thor walked over to the kitchen counter, clutching his side in laughter.
“Seriously, stop. You’re making it sound horrible. It actually wasn’t.”
“Are you going to spill what happened?” He had his elbows on the counter with his hands cupping his face, like a child. “Why are you so curious all of a sudden?”
“Just curious as to what’s happening with your life.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would have thought you planned this all.” Thor stayed silent enough to tell Val everything she needed to know. “You did plan this!”
“Only just a little bit.” He stuttered
“The gay bar, the whole friend’s thing?”
“And possibly the communicator. But the bar wasn’t planned. I just picked for you two to ‘hang out in.”
“I don’t know whether I want hit or punch you right now.”
“Aren’t they as equally bad?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but you have to admit it worked.”
“I’m not admitting anything.”
“Only because I’m right.
“Try me again and you won’t be.”
It had been three weeks since Val had seen Carol. Three weeks since… She was probably busy anyway. Carol was a very busy person, so she couldn’t always be in two places at the same time. “I feel like she’s avoiding me,” Val says over a drink in the bar with Thor
“And why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
“Or maybe, you’re just falling in love,” Thor said in a sing-song way that annoyed Val
“Shut up. It’s only been a few weeks.”
“A month and a half actually. And in that time, you’ve flirted, made out, and been to a gay bar together.” Thor counted on his fingers. “If you ask me, those are the bases of falling in love.”
“You have to be a smart arse about everything, don’t you?”
“Always.”
-
When they went home after the bar, Carol was sitting on Val’s couch twiddling with her thumbs. Val shut the door quite loudly that made Carol jump to her feet. “Oh hey.” Carol started “Hi. How did you get in?”
“The door was unlocked.”
“Right.” There was a silence in the room that was broken by the two of them trying to speak simultaneously, and it resulted in awkward giggling. Carol gestured for Val to sit down next to her, and she agreed. “I wanted to start by saying sorry for being MIA for the past few weeks.”
“It’s okay. I understand you were busy.”
“But I wasn’t. I needed to clear my head.”
“That’s fine. We all need to clear out heads sometimes.”
“You’re not getting it. You see how I told you about the Kree; how they told me never to show emotion?”
“Mhmm?”
“Well, now I’m feeling a lot of things right now and I don’t know how to deal with them.”
“Feeling about me?” Carol nodded her head and Val felt her heart melt and grabbed both of her hands. “I feel the same way about you too.”
“You do? You feel like you’re going to mess everything up, something might go wrong, or that I’m falling for you?”
“All the above.” They gave each other a long soft kiss
“You guys are so adorable,” Thor said from behind them.
“How did you get in here?” Val asked, throwing her hands in the air
“You’ve really got to learn to lock your door