A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

FORTY THREE

[five years later]

     Five years had passed since the snap. Five years since half the universe had been wiped out. Five years since Thanos was killed. And five years since the stones were destroyed. Everyone had tried getting on with their lives. They tried to forget, but it was almost impossible.

Natasha sat alone in the Avengers compound, talking to a handful of the heroes that were visible on holo-screens.

"We boarded that 'highly suspect warship' Danvers pinged." Rocket was talking about their current mission.

"And?" Natasha sat forward in her seat awaiting the result.

"It was an infectious garbage scow." Nebula finished as Natasha sat back in her seat.

"So thanks for the hot tip!" Rocket aimed at Carol.

"You were closer."

"And now we smell like garbage-"

"I don't suppose you've heard from Thor?" Natasha interrupted their small argument. She hadn't heard from her friend in years. He had moved away from the compound along with Astrid.  They would do the occasional check up on New Asgard, but they were never seen. The group on the holo-screens looked to each other before one by one shaking their heads. They had lost contact with a lot of them. Everyone was trying to move on with their lives. Natasha would check in every now and then, asking about Thor, but leaving Rhodey to follow up on Clint.

"We've tried but, he doesn't seem to want anything to do with us now." Rocket spoke sadly, he wouldn't admit it but he hated not having Thor around.

"What about Astrid? Anyone know what she's up to these days?" Natasha knew she was probably still with Thor. He was the only family she had left and she wouldn't know where else to go.

"Assuming she's still with Thor." Rocket shrugged. "But who knows, we check up but she's no where to be seen. The villagers seem to be forgetting about her over the years. They say they haven't seen her face since moving there..."

"Can't say I blame the girl..." Okoye had been told about the girls past.

"Well, we can keep trying. As long as they know we're here for them..." Natasha saddened at the thought of the girl. Sure Thor was depressed following the loss, but Natasha saw how ill Astrid was. She had returned from space, weak as anything after losing Loki, then her child and still having the ability to fight. The Avengers were definitely impressed. But then the stones were destroyed and all hope was lost. She had stayed at the compound for a few weeks before her and Thor took off, and in those few weeks they saw her deteriorating. She refused to eat, she couldn't sleep and when she did she would wake up screaming from nightmares. Pepper and Nat were always there for her in the few weeks they knew her. But when she disappeared, they couldn't help but worry.

After continuing their meeting, the group parted ways again while Rhodey stayed on the line informing Nat of the updates on Clint. She had lost her best friend as well as some of her other friends, and hearing he had gone rogue broke her heart.

~

Meanwhile on New Asgard. Astrid sat on the edge of her bed looking out to her new home. She was smaller than usual. She had lost weight and she always looked tired. She was watching the remaining Asgardians carry on with their lives. She loved her people, but she hated them for that. She really had tried to move on, Pepper said it would get better but really... it didn't. Astrid heard a knock on her door, but didn't answer. She didn't even react, she only kept looking out over the village.

"Astrid?" Thor slowly walked in, he didn't want to barge in, in case she wasn't decent. Over the five years he had definitely changed the most when it comes to appearances. "Good morning, Astrid. How are you feeling?"

Astrid still only continued to look out of the window. Since the events of what happened five years ago, she was never the same. She knew Thor meant well, but she was in no mood to talk to him. She never was.

"Anyway, you have a visitor." Astrid turned her head ever so slightly, showing an interest in wanting to know who her visitor was.

Valkyrie steps in from behind Thor. "Hey, Astrid."

"I'll leave you guys alone. If you need me I'll be downstairs with Korg and Meik. He's brought a new game over that I'm quite desperate to try." Thor sounded like a 10-year-old, he was so excited to go play with his friends.

As he walked out, Valkyrie walked further into the small room to stand next to Astrid who was still staring out that window. "It's a nice day out, why don't you come for a walk with me by the docks."

But still... silence.

"Or how about you join me and the boys fishing?"

Again... silence.

At this point Valkyrie had started losing patience and walked to Astrid to place a hand on her shoulder. "Oh come on, Astrid. You can't sit here sulking forever!"

Astrid had suddenly shot up before Valkyrie could touch her and pushed Valkyrie back into the wall by using her powers. Her face held no expression as she watched Valkyrie stand back up. Thor had heard the crash and came running in, very out of breath.

"W-what's going on?!" He held the side of the doorway trying not to fall over from exhaustion.

Valkyrie held her hands up in defence to show she wasn't a threat. "All I'm saying is, it's been five years Astrid. Five years! You can't keep isolating yourself from this, you should try move on with your life. At least go out and talk to your people, you can't abandon them!"

"Like you abandoned them all those years when you ran from Asgard." Thor's eyes widened while Astrid said this. They all knew that was a sensitive subject to Valkyrie.

"That was different..."

"How?" Astrid raised her voice slightly. "How was that different?! You lost a fight as well as losing your loved ones. From what I can tell, this is the exact same. I may have been hiding away five years. But you ran away before Thor, Loki and I were even born..."

Valkyrie stood there stunned as Astrid continued. "...You are in no position to tell me to move on."

Valkyrie stormed out, pushing Thor out the way as Thor glared at Astrid. She may be his sister. But she was a completely changed person.

"That was a bit harsh don't you think?"

Astrid didn't say anything more as she also pushed past Thor. She needed some air, but she wanted to be alone.

"I'll be on the back porch."