Snap. Destiny Arrives

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Carol sat nervously next to Valkyrie's unconscious body, not taking her eyes off her injured friend once. She had been in and out of consciousness for an hour and every time she woke up she would murmer things under her breath inaudibly before falling back asleep after a few seconds.

She couldn't understand what Valkyrie was saying but what she could understand was playing in Carol's head like a broken record.

"It's not your fault." How could it be anything but my fault. I kicked her. I hurt her.

Carol started to hug her knees into her chest and chew her finger nails. She felt helpless. She had considered taking Valkyrie back to the ship to try call for help but she didn't want to risk hurting her by moving her. And there was no way she was leaving Valkyrie. Not even for a second.

Carol started to consider her options again but Valkyrie began to stir next to her.

"Hey... It's me. It's Carol, you're OK." She spoke softly, placing her hand gently on Valkyrie's face.

She looked confused for a moment until her expression changed, the pain clearly hitting her. She tried to sit up stiffly and Carol's hand dropped to her side.

"Mother fu- OW!" She said through gritted teeth as she collapsed back down.

"Are you with me this time? Are you gonna stay awake?" Carol asked cautiously. Valkyrie almost laughed in response.

"I'll try." She said, settling her hand on her stomach.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No, don't do that. It's not your fault you didn't..." Valkyrie's voice trailed off as she looked around the room before returning her gaze to her chest, avoiding Carol the whole time. "I have to show you something." She said warily and hesitated for a moment before starting to remove her chestplate.

Carol seemed surprised and started to look away before Valkyrie's hand grabbed her wrist. They both stared down at it for a couple of seconds before Valkyrie pulled away and continued with her armor.

"It's alright. There are clothes under here." She said with a hint of a smile.

Valkyrie paused before lifting the armor off her chest. Carol gasped then went silent in an instant.

The poison had spread. A lot.

"It moves quickly." Valkyrie said sadly. "If I wasn't Asgardian I'd be dead right now."

"No." Carol whispered. Her eyes were glued to the inky black veins that didn't leave a square inch of her chest untouched. Carol resisted the urge to trace her fingers over the veins from her leg armor to her sports bra.

They both realised the poison had advanced down Valkyrie's arms, just touching her elbows.

"I can't escape this. It's inevitable." Valkyrie admitted bluntly.

"You can't say that. You can't give up. I won't." Carol said stubbornly.

"We can't stop this... Carol, look at me." She met Carol's gaze firmly. "There is no cure." Tears started to emerge in Carol's eyes again as she shook her head furiously.

Suddenly, the ground gave a familiar tremble followed by unsettling shouting outside.

"Daeleknux." Valkyrie said.

"What? It hasn't been a full day!" Carol argued.

Valkyrie grabbed Carol's hand in her own. Carol looked at her but Valkyrie's eyes were on their hands. She threaded her fingers through Carol's and paused before meeting her gaze.

"Go."