The Ties That Bind Us

23

Since we've been back at the academy Hela has been distant, again. I have no clue what it is this time and I'm trying to work with her but she's making it so damn difficult! She won't talk to me at all, she acts like I'm not even there. I've been thinking that maybe she's depressed or something cause she never leaves the bed.

She won't eat, she won't sleep, and it's starting to affect me a lot. Not just because I care about her but because she's literally wasting away and it's taking a physical toll on me. I knock on Delia's office door and she softly mutters for me to come in. I close the door behind me and sigh deeply. "Still no luck?" she asks sympathetically, "literally NOTHING. It's like she's not even there..." I sigh as I fall back on the couch.

"Well she did destroy the only home she's ever known, dear. Just give her a little more time" she suggests as she sits next to me. "How much more time, Delia? I can't go on like this... it's not good for either of us" I remind her, "I know, sweetie" she replies. It's even worse now that she's knows, it's like the connection has strengthened somehow.

So now I can feel practically everything she physically feels. Emotionally, I know that she's dealing with a lot and I respect that. I just wish she'd talk to me about it, I mean if anyone can understand, it's me. She's not used to emotions and I get that as well but it's hard for me too. I can feel her inner turmoil but I can't tell what the cause of it is.

"She's worrying me, Dee" I whisper, "if it's really bothering you this much, tell her that. She cares about you, Isabella; she wouldn't want you hurting. But don't take advantage of that either" she warns, "I won't" I promise and she nods. I thank her and leave the office determined to get Hela to talk to me. I've given her a week to just lay there, not forcing her to interact at all.

I feel that enough time has passed now because she's been completely unbothered. Hopefully she's been thinking during that time and not just disassociating. I open our bedroom door to see her laying on her side facing the window. I step in her field of vision but her eyes make no move to actually look at me.

"Hela..." I mutter and she still doesn't show any indication that she heard me. "Baby, please..." I beg as I kneel in front of her so she can look into my eyes. She turns over, which saddens me but, it's the most acknowledgment I've gotten in a whole week. "What's wrong, honey? I just wanna help" I sigh, trying to think of ways to show her I mean it.

I slip in the very small space behind her, half of my body hanging off the bed. I wrap my arms around her waist and she scoots further towards the middle of the bed. I scoot closer, a small hope in my chest that maybe she just didn't want me to fall off the bed. When she doesn't make any further movements I smile.

"Tell me what's going on, sweetheart" I whisper as I stroke her hair and she sighs softly. I flip over her body so I can see her face and grab her waist again. "What if you don't really love me?" she asks in a voice so soft that I almost didn't hear her. My eyes widen as her own drop away from my face.

"W-what? Why would you think that?" I ask concerned and she shrugs. "You said my—Odin—tied our fates together... so is our attraction to each other even real? It could just be 'fate'..." she sighs. "He didn't intend for us to fall in love" I remind her and she shakes her head. "But he made it so that we naturally gravitate towards each other. It's the same thing" she states.

"It is not the same thing" I reply, trying my best not to get upset. "So... this has been because you think it's all a lie?" I ask, "isn't it?" she counters. "No. It's not. Even soulmates have a choice, Hela. You don't have to love anyone. I think our journey shows that better than anything. We fell in love before we even knew of this... thing" I point out.

Her eyes raise to finally gaze into my own and I smile sadly at her. "Do you love me?" she asks in a whisper, "yes. I do" I reply softly. "Do you love me?" I counter, "I really do" she sighs. "Then we can stop with all this, yes? Because I hate it when you don't talk to me" I admit, "I'm sorry" she whispers as tears fill her eyes.

"No need to cry, my love. All is forgiven. I promise" I whisper as I wipe her tears. "This feelings thing is hard" she whines, "I know, darling. I know" I giggle softly. "Don't laugh at me" she states before she sniffles which just causes me to laugh even more. She tries to wiggle out my arms but I hold her tightly.

"Stop, stop. I'm sorry" I mutter as my giggles die down. "I'm not laughing at you" I swear, "well you're not laughing with me either" she grumbles. "Touché. I know it's hard and I'm really proud of you for talking to me about it. It's just something we have to work on, together" I say, "ok" she mumbles.

"Now let's get you something to eat, hm?" I ask, "please" she whispers. "I'll ask Cordelia to order from that place you like and we'll go pick it up" I tell her, "sounds good" she mutters as she snuggles up to me. "I think I wanna stay here..." she whispers, "at the academy?" I ask. "Well maybe not here. I mean on Midgard, I like it here. It feels like home" she says and I smile softly.

"But you know what I think?" she asks, tilting her head to look up at me. "What's that, love?" I whisper, "I think 'home'... is wherever you are" she mutters. My smile widens and I giggle as I try not to cry. "I love you... so much" I whisper, "I love you more" she replies.