EYLIS ※ Tony Stark [3]

8 - EARTH'S BEST DEFENDER

"Ah," Alruna let out smugly "Now I got your attention."

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ANGIE SEEMED COMPLETELY unimpressed "Excuse me?"

The other woman smiled "Sorry. I was meaning to talk to you earlier but with everyone around I didn't get the chance."

Angie didn't know what to think. Her silence invited Alruna to continue talking. She took a step closer which made Angie stiffen. She was never fond of strangers getting too familiar.

"You're the Harpy right?" Alruna said on a confidential tone. It made Angie's eyes widen "The Harpy of Jötunheim. I knew I recognised you when you came out of the plane."

Angie was stunned "Do I know you?!"

"Oh, probably not," Alruna winced slightly "But I know you. Well, only by name and reputation really."

Her eyes narrowed "You're no Jötnar, though. I would've known if you were."

"You're right," Alruna shrugged "But I did stay on Jötunheim for a couple of years... sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself," she put out her arm "Alruna Refisdottir. From Asgard."

Angie's eyes widened again. This was the last thing she expected to hear. Her gaze dropped on Alruna's extended arm. Only then did it occur to her she wasn't offering the typical Earthling handshake but rather the Asgardian one.

Angie held out her own arm. Their wrists crossed as their hands closed on the other's forearm. It had been a while since she'd been greeted like that. It felt odd, but comforting. Like small taste of a home she didn't have anymore.

"You're Asgardian..." Angie muttered "I should've known."

As she was pulling her hand back, Angie's eyes landed on Alruna's forearm. There was a mark there she hadn't noticed before. Like a dark brown stain. It took her a second to recognise the symbol imprinted on the other woman's skin, but once she did, her head snapped up in shock.

"Why didn't you tell me you're a Valkyrie?!"

The tattooed symbol on her arm depicted a stylized sword with a round pommel and two wings on the side. There was no doubt about it, it was the ancient symbol of the Valkyries; Asgard's legendary female warriors.

Alruna seemed taken aback "I... was, yes."

"I thought the Valkyrie all died years ago..."

"They did," she nodded stoically.

"But you're here..."

"It's... uh, complicated."

Angie cocked an eyebrow "Complicated?" in her experience that usually meant there was something compromising there.

Judging by Alruna's expression, Angie could tell she was right. The Valkyrie stayed quiet for a long moment before gathering the strength to face her. The sudden pain in Alruna's eyes took her aback. It almost made her regret pressing for an answer.

"I was banished."

Her honesty caught Angie by surprise. It took a moment for her words to register fully. But perhaps the despondency was written all over her face because she distinctly saw a frown melting Alruna's expression.

"Banished?" Angie repeated.

"Yes. That's all I care to say about it."

"I see..." Angie trailed off "Is that when you came to Jötunheim?"

Alruna nodded slowly "That's when I heard about you.... You have quite the reputation."

Despite everything, Angie cracked a smile "I should hope so."