Fenrir's Binding: The Queen and The Barbarian

Prologue: Descent

Fenrir's Binding: The Queen And The Barbarian

By evolution-500

Genres: Romance/Angst

Feedback: Always welcome

WARNING: This story contains violence, coarse language and mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.

Disclaimer: Killer Instinct" is a property belonging to Rareware and Microsoft while "The Boys" is a property by Garth Ennis and Dynamite Comics. I do not own these characters.

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Prologue: Descent

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry."

- Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell to Arms"

Queen Maeve stared out through the window of her plane at the dark midnight clouds as she sat alone in first class, watching the lightning ripple through the darkness as they rumbled with trembling fury, as if in judgment of her.

"Your martinis and bottle, your Highness."

Turning to face the flight attendant, a young woman with long blonde hair done up in a bun who seemed to be in her early twenties and a hawkish nose, Maeve forced herself to smile.

"Thank you," she said as she took the glasses and bottle, placing them down on the table in front of her.

"I have to say, it is an honor meeting you!" The attendant gushed. "You probably get this all the time, but I am such a huge fan!"

"Is that right?" Maeve said with mild disinterest, taking a sip from her glass. Here we go again.

"You bet! You are so amazing, an inspiration to women everywhere!" The girl said ecstatically before suddenly standing in an exaggerated akimbo style, puffing her chest out, "'Girls Get It Done', right?"

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever," Maeve dryly replied, taking another gulp of her drink. With any luck the martini will knock her senseless and make Miss Annoying's ramblings seem less irritating.

"I've read your biography over a hundred times! It's such a good read! What is it like being the Empress of the Netherworld, if you don't mind my asking?"

Maeve gave her a glance. "Listen, uh..."

"Carol."

"Carol," Maeve repeated. "Don't you have somewhere else to go?"

"Oh no!" Carol waved, clearly too airheaded to not have gotten the hint. "I'm going to be having my break soon."

"Lucky you."

Turning away, Maeve continued to drink as the girl rambled on nonstop.

"If you don't mind my saying so, your Highness, both you and Homelander look soooooo good together!"

Looking back at her, Maeve forced herself to smile, trying to resist the urge to throw up and/or beat the girl to death. Part of her really wanted to punch a hole through her head.

Badly.

'Control yourself, Maeve,' she told herself. Keep calm.

Just a few more hours, and then she'll be in Sweden in time for the premiere of her latest film. She just needed to keep calm.