Mar-Vell College (Valkarol)

Sooner the better

"Please let me help."

"Nope. I got it."

"Your stubbornness is gonna get you hurt." Carol protested. Valkyrie paused and tried to get a better grip on her crutches.

"Carol. I'm already hurt."

"Exactly." Valkyrie shook her off and continued limping a bit faster than before. She was gradually getting the hang of it.

"See, I got this." As they left the reception area the city air hit the pair. It was busy outside the hospital. People rushed past them with worried expressions painted across their faces.

"I still think it's stupid they're making you leave so early." Carol said.

"Look around, Carol. These people need the bed more than I do." Carol looked around at the faces around them. Valkyrie was right. She could walk, just, and she was still making jokes. She was fine. A broken bone was small compared to other things that went on in the building behind them. Valkyrie knew she was lucky.

"So where's our ride?" Valkyrie asked. As if on queue, a car swurved through the car park and screeched to a halt infront of Carol and Valkyrie.

Valkyrie recognised the car, and driving, and gave Carol a look of horror. "We're gonna be back here in no time." She whispered as Thor jumped out of his car in a flash and enveloped his arms around the smaller girl before she had time to react.

"This is not fair! I'm injured!" Valkyrie protested and Carol chuckled.

"So now you wanna play the injured card." Carol smiled. Valkyrie shot her a death glare.

"You're not helping."

"I thought you didn't want my help." Carol said, holding her hands up.

"You're lucky you're my girlfriend." Valkyrie murmmered.

Thor finally pulled away and helped Valkyrie into the back seat. He held her crutches as she got in and allowed no objections.

As they drove away, Thor decided to put some music on and what came on surprised no one in the car. Lady Gaga's Born This Way blasted through the speakers and Thor sung along to every word and tapped at every beat. This was followed by Panic! At The Disco's Girls/Girls/Boys and multiple Hayley Kiyoko songs. It didn't take long to realise Thor knew more of the words than either girls, which bothered and surprised no one.

"Thor?" Carol asked over the music. "Do you have a gay playlist?"

"Of course!" He beamed. "Don't you?" Carol and Valkyrie smiled at each other. They had put one together weeks ago and played it in their dorm most of the time they were there. It took them a while but both girls enjoyed every moment.

"Of course." Carol repeated.

***

Their was a soft knock on the dorm room door. Carol got up before Valkyrie moved a muscle. She opened the door and saw Amy standing in the corridor.

"Hey, Carol." She smiled.

"Hey, you wanna come in?" Carol offered.

"Sure, thanks." Amy shut the door behind her and gave a friendly smile to Valkyrie.

"Hi, Amy."

"Hey, how are you?" She asked as she went to sit on the edge of Valkyrie's bed.

Carol went back to her own bed and picked up a book. She didn't want to intrude.

"Better. They gave me a load of painkillers to help with my leg." Amy nodded and her eyes wandered down to Valkyrie's cast.

"About that." She said slowly. Valkyrie furrowed her brow, unsure where the convosations was going. "Coach wanted to know what happened. So I told him but he still wants to talk to you." Valkyrie sighed and leaned back against her board. She saw Carol's eyes flick up from her book to meet her own. Valkyrie knew what Carol thought was best.

"OK, I'll talk to him. The sooner the better. I'm getting tired of this already."

***

"I hate everyone!"

"Nice to see you, too." Carol smiled as Valkyrie slumped down in her chair. She rested her head on the table and sighed. "Everyone?" Carol asked curiously. Valkyrie turned her head to Carol.

"You're OK I guess."

"Love you too." The pair smiled as Valkyrie sat up. "So the talk with your coach didn't go well?"

"What 'talk' ever goes well? He already knew the basis of what happened, I just told him the rest."

"You gonna tell me what happened?" Valkyrie paused and stared down at the table.

"She was a homophobic bitch. I don't know what else to say. I didn't know her before. I didn't know anyone on that team. One moment we're winning, the next I've got a broken leg." Carol studied her expression, trying to make out any lies.

"You really don't know a lot, do you?"

"No." She said firmly. "I don't." Carol nodded. "I don't want to see, or hear, about her again. Once my leg heales I can play and go back to normal."

"Do you think your coach will want to talk about it again?"

"Probably." Valkyrie said lowly. She tapped her pencil against the table uncomfortably.

"You don't have to talk about it with me." Carol said, finally. Valkyrie turned to her and gave a small, sincere, smile.

"Thank you."