Goddess | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter 7: Heroes

Two guards and by the door to Hulks room. Valkyrie walks through, kicking one of the guards spears and chuckling. "Angry girl" Hulk greets cheerfully. She laughs and runs over to him. Hulk swings his large hammer at her but she ducks underneath it, grabbing his leg and kicking him in the hip. Hulk falls over. Valkyrie stands by Hulk.

"What's going on? What do you...?" Valkyrie begins to ask, but she pauses upon noticing Thor and her smile drops. Thor, awkwardly tries to lean his arm on the drinks shelf but struggles to find the right place to put it and up giving up, crossing his hands over in front of him. Al offers Valkyrie a small and stiff smile as she looks between the god and the woman.

"I'm really sorry about him. You've made him nervous" Aloisia offers trying to make up for Thors awkwardness and dissolve the tense atmosphere. Hulk steps away, allowing Valkyrie to stand.

"You're so thick-headed that you can't tell when someone's hiding all the way across the universe and wants to be left alone?" Valkyrie begins to walk away.

"We need to talk" Thor explains, following her.

"No, you want to talk to me" Valkyrie turns to Thor to reply, before quickly turning away from him again to leave.

Thor turns to help, "I need her to stay"

"Stay? Valkyrie is at the exit when the upper jawbone of Hulk's massive skull bed crashes infront of Valkyrie, blocking the doorway. "Stay!" Hulk shouts "please" he adds

"Please" Thor repeats.

"I think Thor meant stay here alive" Aloisia mutters. Valkyrie shoots an annoyed sneer at Hulk.

Valkyrie looks him up and down. And Hulk grabs a red ball and begins bouncing it against the wall. Valkyrie walks over to Hulk's bar, "All right. Here's the deal. I'll listen to you till this is empty" she picks up an unopened bottle of liquor. Valkyrie tips back the bottle and starts chugging.

"Asgard is in danger and people are dying. We need to get back there. I need your help...wow" Aloisia chuckles at Valkyrie and Thor.

Al nudges the god, "you two should have a drinking competition"

"No cause she'd win"

"I know but i'd find it funny"

"Finished. Bye" Valkyrie says as she begins to leave once more. She drops the glass and it shatters loudly as she walks away.

"Odin is dead" Thor states. Valkyrie stops suddenly, frozen. "Hela, the Goddess of Death has invaded Asgard"

"If Hela's back then Asgard is already lost" Aloisia frowns at her words.

"I'm going to stop her" Thor says confidently

"Alone?" Valkyrie wonders

"Nope. I'm putting together a team. It's me, you, Al and the big guy" Thor explains, pointing to everyone as he does so.

"No team. Only Hulk" Hulk shouts slamming the ball into the wall again.

"It's me and you. And Aloisia of course" he corrects

"I think it's only the two of you"

"Wait. Just listen. The Valkyrie are legend, elite warriors of Asgard. You are sworn to defend the throne" Thor adds desperately. Running in front of Valkyrie and standing to face her.

"I'm not getting dragged into another one of Odin's family squabbles"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your sister. Her power comes from Asgard, same as yours" Valkyrie begins £When it grew beyond Odin's control, she massacred everyone in the palace and tried to seize the throne. When she tried to escape her banishment, he sent the Valkyrie in to fight her back. I only survived because..." Valkyrie trials off

"I'm sorry" Aloisia offers her, she knows it doesn't count for much but it's all she can give. Valkyrie nods at her, some appreciate for the gesture.

Valkyrie continues, "Look, I already faced her once back when I believed in the throne, and it cost me everything. That's what's wrong with Asgard. The throne, the secrets, the whole golden sham. Thor moves towards Valkyrie, and grabs her arm as she goes to leave.