Little One

Chapter 16

School was quiet. Upon leaving class, I was greeted by a dark-haired woman in a suit.

"Hello, Astrid." I looked up at her.

"Hi," I said slowly.

"You probably don't remember me much. You were passing out."

I cocked my head and nodded. "You look different with the... helmet thing," I said.

She nodded. "I'm going to walk you home." She stated.

I nodded. "So, you're the goddess of death?" I asked.

She nodded once again. "Yes, did you tell your father and uncle?" She asked.

"Yeah."

She nodded and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Are they okay with me helping you?"

I nodded. "That's good. They need help."

She stated, deadpan.

I paused for a moment. "How come you're helping me?" I asked.

"My father often neglected me during our conquest. He banished me when when I continued in an attempt to impress him. He did something very similar to your father, and I want to get back at Odin. Proving him wrong about your father and you is an easy way to do that." She said.

I nodded. "Well, thank you," I said.

"You're welcome. I'm sure your father is happy to have extra eyes on you as well." She said.

I nodded. "Probably. He's worried sick about me."

She nodded. "You've been attacked several times." I shrugged, and we walked up to the tower.

"Come in?" I asked. She glanced up.

"No. my father's here. Go take care of your father." I hugged her and ran upstairs.

"Dad! I'm home!" I shouted loudly in hopes of getting Odin to not fight with Dad.

He ran into the room and scooped up my entire 5'5" self like it was nothing.

I mean... he's almost a foot taller, but I digress.

"Hello, Astrid!" He exclaimed.

"Aunt walked me home," I whispered into his ear.

He nodded and walked me in.

"You didn't get to talk to her much, but this is my mother, Frigga. She's lovely."

She opened her arms and hugged me tightly.

"Hello, Astrid. I'm sorry about our last visit." I nodded.

"It's okay, you tried," I said.

She nodded. "You look so much like your father."

I smiled then looked back at him.

He smirked.

"Friday! Tell everyone I'm home." I said, moving into the kitchen.

Steve walked in. "Hey, Astrid. How was school?" He asked.

"Great. Is everyone here good?"

"Almost everyone." He muttered, glancing at dad.

"Where's Uncle?" I asked.

"Out on a mission with Tony and Natasha." I nodded.

"So that's why dad's getting grilled." Steve nodded.

"Oh boy." I walked into the living room upon hearing yelling.

"How the heck would you know I'm a bad parent! I've never gotten the chance to be one, thanks to you! I'm doing everything I can to be a better father to her than you were to me, and you still want to take her?" Dad shouted.

"Aw heck naw." Odin turned as I spoke.

Tony stepped into the doorway. "Our kid's the happiest she's ever been. She's not going anywhere, and you can take her over my dead body." Uncle nodded behind him.

"Tony, please stop being so self-sacrificing? You're not taking her, long-story-short." Natasha added, wrapping an arm around me.

"You all seem to think you're far more powerful than you are. Asgard's army..."

"We have a Hulk," I said.

Bruce popped his head in. "Is something wrong?"

"Odin wants to take Astrid," Tony said.

"Uh uh. That's a tremendously bad idea. The other guy is very protective."

Odin laughed as if part of this was actually funny.

"I don't know why you're laughing. We're all deadly serious. She's not going anywhere." Natasha snapped.

"Give the child here. I should've known better than to leave her in the hands of mortals." He said, suddenly morbid.

Dad stepped in front of me. "No. I won't let you take her from me."

"We have custody of her like filed with the government. She's been naturalised. If you take her, that's kidnapping." Steve said.

"Let's ask Astrid. You wanna go live with a grumpy old guy with only one eye and a nasty disposition or your dad?"

I cracked up. "Definitely, dad," I said.

"He's taking exceptional care of me. He's helping the avengers so he can stay with and care for me. He's already explained he was being controlled during the whole event anyway."

"He tried to murder my son even before that. If it wasn't for his selfish ambition, none of it would have happened."

"You said he was your son too! You lied. You filled his head with ambition then told him it was for nothing. You took him to use him. You said you loved him. I don't think you even know what love is. I know my dad loves me. Thanks to you, he can't say the same. What in the heck makes you think I want you to mess me up too."

Odin became more enraged with each pointed accusation, but at this last one, he blew his lid. "YOUR FATHER IS A LIAR AND A MURDERER AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF YOUR MOTHER. You think I'm going to mess you up?"

I looked at my dad. "You said she died in an attack," I whispered.

"She did." Uncle put in.

"Thor," Odin growled.

"And Odin was responsible for the said attack. He'd recently provoked Alfheim out of pacifism and into an attack. The only reason you weren't killed along with her was because of Loki. Why don't you tell her of your lies and murdering as well, father? How your solutions to everything are to cover up, banish, or imprison, or kill it. You were a conqueror too. But you'd love everyone to forget that, wouldn't you?"

I turned and saw my aunt in the doorway in the same suit as before.

"Hela?! What are you doing here?" He shouted, face now matching Uncle's cape.

"Visiting my beloved niece, of course. Now, why don't you tell her what you did before you sent her down here."

"SILENCE!"

"No, I don't think I'll let you sweep this under the rug. I'm hanging around with Astrid because his first thought was to put her in Hel with me. She spent a week there before deciding she'd be better off with you all. During that time, I placed a protection and strength charm over her to help with her powers. Since she was going to live with a load of mortals. That's why she's already so proficient."

Silence settled and suffocated like a comforter before dad broke it. It was one rage-filled whisper that sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

"You sent my daughter to Hel?"

I backed to my aunt, feeling rage radiating off him. She placed a hand on each shoulder and held me tightly.

Perhaps this wasn't my wisest move. I heard in my head.

I really don't want a knockout drag-out fight.

"YOU SENT MY DAUGHTER TO HEL!"

A dagger formed in my father's hand, and I pulled away from my aunt. I clung to his arm.

Please don't do anything you can't take back.

He looked down at me. "Get out of here before I decide not to heed my daughter's advice. You're dead to me, Odin."