Synopsis: You are a mortal and show up inside Kratos and Atreus' protection stave one fateful day. Fimbulwinter just started and you have no idea of your past so after much consideration, our two favourite gods decide to take you in. Flash forward to the events of GoW:R and you are now a part of the ever growing family - and in charge of the stupid. Which is why you unceremoniously decide to follow Atreus into Asgard where you meet a certain someone who may just simultaneously destroy you and put you back together again...
a/n: i've got some? fic writing experience but really only dabbled in it so far (never shared any of it either bc i'm super shy lol) so this is definitely my first proper one😶🤞 part of me thinks i should've started smaller ahsjsj but really, where's the fun in that??
⸺ ⟢ A huge thanks to all my lovely readers, your feedback keeps me going! Mwah♡
Summary: Some rather unfortunate events force you to cut your supply run short and head back home - unaware that you attracted the attention of two very curious Rabbits...
Warnings: Canon typical Carcass grossness and Rabbit bullying lol
a/n: nobody cares for these four edgelords so i had to care twice as much🐰🖤 aksks i just wish there was a video compilation of all their voice lines somewhere.. they may not have that many but that's basically all i can reference in regards to their characterization /sigh:')))
⸺ ⟢ Chapter 1 - Little Froggy
Moonlight refracted on the engraved gold between your fingers.
"Wherever the wind takes you, I will always be by your side."
You gently traced the letters until the tear in the clouds above you closed again, and even the most beautiful memories faded back into the shadows.
With practiced movements, you tucked the pendant back under your collar and took a deep breath, the sound eerily distorted by the protective mask you wore over your face. However, it was nowhere near as frightening as what you could hear beneath you: familiar hissing and growling, the gruesome language of the Carcass monsters - although it sounded much quieter now than it had a few minutes ago.
They had finally moved on.
This was your chance.
You poked your head through the balcony railing one last time to make sure the coast was clear. When you saw nothing but wet cobblestones and piles of rubble below, you squeezed through the rusty bars - carefully, so your backpack wouldn't get caught - and then climbed down the dilapidated facade of the building.
Malum District had indeed seen better times, but they had never been particularly bright. Ever since the mass production of the Ergo-powered Puppets ushered in Krat's "Golden Age" and led to massive urbanization practically overnight, this place had become more and more forgotten - and more and more impoverished, despite being one of Krat's oldest districts. But people were drawn to fortune, and that had soon lured them to the shiny new streets of the upper city rather than the old shacks down here. All that remained was poverty and neglect.
And those who refused to despair, no matter how dark things got around them. Yes, even in the darkest days, the people of Malum had kept its heart beating. Had filled this place with warmth and light and joy, and called it their home, despite everything.
You still called it that... although by now, this seemed less like proud perseverance and more like a serious mental illness.
Your target was a half-barricaded balcony door on the other side of the street. The rain made it dangerous to climb across the neighborhood rooftops, otherwise you would have risked taking the high route; but on the slippery tile roofs, a single careless step could mean certain death.
Or worse, attract unwanted attention...
As soon as you felt solid ground beneath your feet again, you glanced down the street. Then you quickly crossed it and immediately climbed up the downspout of a rain gutter until your fingers could reach the first balcony railing above. As you pulled yourself up, it made a worrying creaking sound - but held. You breathed another sigh of relief.
The rest of the climb flew by, and soon you reached your destination and found yourself inside the house, in a small living room to be precise. The residents of the apartment had fled and, like so many others, took only the bare essentials with them. At least, that's what you hoped (or rather, your growling stomach did) as you set out in search of something to eat.
If you didn't keep a calendar, you would have trouble remembering when this had become your new life. It hadn't been long, but the days blurred together and your memories faded more and more, so it sometimes seemed like half an eternity since hell had descended upon Krat. Or the "Three Plagues of the End Times", as some reverently called them: the Petrification Disease, the Carcass monsters, and the Puppet Frenzy.
What all three had in common was that no one really knew where they came from, so there were all kinds of rumors. Some believed it was an attack by a neighboring country, a declaration of war. Others were convinced that the mysterious machinations of the Alchemist group were to blame. Still others thought it was divine punishment, the literal apocalypse...
You had speculated as well, of course, but by now you considered it a waste of time to rack your brains over it. It wouldn't change the situation anyway, let alone bring back the dead.
Immediately, you got the urge to feel for the cool gold of your necklace again, but you reminded yourself to stay focused. You couldn't afford to reminisce about the past out here, not even in a supposedly "safe" place.
One could never be too careful.
You moved cautiously, pausing every now and then to listen into the night. Your eyes darted back and forth in the diffuse darkness. As always, you had chosen a building you were unfamiliar with for this supply run, so you didn't know the exact layout of the apartment. That came with its own risks, but it gave you more peace of mind overall, which was also worth something.
After all, it was bad enough to be haunted by monsters, both living and dead. No need to add terrible memories and a guilty conscience to the mix.
Guilt. You almost shook your head at yourself. It was pure chaos out there. People were committing crimes on a daily basis, ranging from theft to literal murder. And you felt guilty for stealing food from an abandoned apartment. It was honestly a miracle you had survived this long...
Finally, you entered the pantry next to the kitchen, yet at first it looked like you would still come up empty-handed: What little food you found had already gone bad. Time was rarely kind, you knew that, but every time your search for food led only to moldy bread again it worried you a little more. Because that meant you would soon have to make a decision you would really rather not...
You began to chew on your lower lip as your gaze wandered aimlessly around the room... until it stopped on a row of jars on one of the shelves to your left. Your eyes widened. At first glance, they all seemed empty, but there, at the very back... Moments later, you were holding a tall green jar in your hands and almost let out a scream of joy when you saw that it was full of pickles.
Your stomach made a strong case for digging in right then and there, but you reminded yourself to be patient and put your find in your backpack instead. Eating meant lowering your guard and that you would rather do at home.
Unfortunately, that was the only time you felt a sense of achievement in this place, but in the end, even a single pickle jar was better than nothing. Especially since there were still a few more apartments to visit; maybe one of those would prove more lucrative.
After all, the night was still young.
You never entered a building without vetting it first. Speed was of the essence in these operations, so you always ran through every possible scenario in advance to be prepared for any and all eventualities. Of course, it was also important to know which apartments were actually empty. You couldn't simply rely on illuminated windows; many people deliberately kept their windows dark to attract less attention. A strategy you greatly appreciated yourself.
However, based on your observations, you were pretty sure that the apartment directly below this one was vacant as well. The only problem: It had no balcony, and the windows were barred. Meaning, you would have to enter through the stairwell.
You frowned at the thought. After all, you had no idea what awaited you in there. But this also wasn't your first rodeo. You just had to be extra careful, then surely everything would turn out fine.
The front door creaked as you slowly opened it, making you flinch. But when you listened into the darkness beyond, everything was quiet. Still, you waited a few more seconds before finally stepping over the threshold and tiptoeing to the banister, never once taking your eyes off the treacherous staircase. To your great relief, however, nothing stirred, and the only sound you could hear was the pattering of the rain on the tiled roof.
You quickly made your way down the stairs and were glad to see that this apartment door was unlocked as well. The residents probably hadn't expected to return. This time, you were able to use the layout of the upper apartment as a guide, but that also made you a little less cautious...
And so you jumped back in shock when you suddenly found yourself right next to a corpse.
Your heart pounded in your throat as you stared down at the dead man with wide eyes. He was sitting with his back against the wall, legs stretched out in front of him, arms hanging limply at his sides. His head had fallen onto his chest - or rather, what could still be called a head, since it had practically burst open at the nasal bone, oozing a cluster of blisters, each filled with greenish-blue pus. Their slimy surface reflected the sparse light, making them appear strangely alive. Like sightless eyeballs… You suppressed a shudder and quickly looked away.
Further up, the disgusting growth had turned into a plant-like structure, its branches reaching up to the ceiling even. It was crisscrossed with fine veins of the same color as the pus balls, and here and there you could see small blue crystals, sprouting like thorns on a rose bush.
The Petrification Disease had been the first plague to strike Krat. It got its name because it caused those infected to slowly petrify from the inside out and eventually die of organ failure. Or mutate into a Carcass monster - at least, it was generally believed that these two phenomena were connected. After all, there was no evidence to the contrary, only all sorts of rumors about dubious characters... Devilish creatures that roamed the streets of Malum at night, turning anyone unlucky enough to cross their path into a monster...
Which, in your opinion, was complete nonsense. Yes, Malum District was especially dangerous at night, but that had little to do with the supernatural and much more with the fact that sometimes you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face in the dark alleys, let alone where you were going.
For a long time, the authorities pretended that the Petrification Disease was a single, localized outbreak. Nothing to worry about. Even when it suddenly appeared in other parts of Krat, they remained confident. They set up contact points and radio broadcasts, established rules of conduct and quarantine zones... Yet, they had already lost control of the disease weeks prior. The whole point of these measures was to prevent a mass panic.
And they succeeded - at least in the beginning. Along with ensuring that the plague could spread unhindered and that everyone eventually knew someone who was infected. With no hope of a cure.
Thus, this was by no means your first encounter with a petrified corpse, and yet you suddenly felt paralyzed yourself. But not from shock, no.
Your gaze was now glued to the man's upper body, or rather, to the jacket he was wearing. A uniform. With the clearly recognizable insignia of the Krat Local Police.
You felt your palms grow clammy and your heart beat even faster as the world around you began to spin. The dark apartment blurred into a swirl of colors, and for a moment, it was as though you had been transported back in time…
"...Something happened on Rosa Isabelle Street. I don't know the details yet, but... They've called all available personnel to the scene, so it must be serious. I'm probably gonna be late again, so don't wait up. And stay inside, you hear? No matter what."
You had to lean against the wall as the memories threatened to overwhelm you. It took every ounce of effort to keep control of your senses, and even more to push your father's familiar voice back into the farthest corner of your mind. But the dizziness remained, as did the trembling that had taken hold of your limbs during this brief journey through time.
Therefore, in the next moment, you had only one wish:
You had to get out of here.
No sooner had the thought crossed your mind than you spun around and left the apartment on unsteady legs. They hurriedly carried you up the stairs and back to the starting point, where you all but shoved yourself through the boards and out into the open again.
The urge to rip the mask off your face was almost overwhelming, but you resisted. Instead, you just pressed the back of your head against the cool stone wall, closed your eyes, and imagined the raindrops washing away the shadows of the past while you tried to calm your breathing.
It was a loud hiss that eventually snapped you back to the present, but by then it was already too late.
As you leaned over the balcony railing, you saw a pack of Carcasses below you - directly below you. They were running around wildly and making a hell of a racket, which, of course, only attracted more of them. From up here, they looked like a bunch of shiny bugs… It made your skin crawl. You briefly wondered what might have startled them, but that question quickly became moot when you glanced back at the balcony door. Apparently, your hasty retreat had caused one of the boards to come loose. Your backpack must have then knocked it over the railing while you were distracted.
Shit.
You had been on so many of these supply runs, and never once did you make such a stupid mistake. Although you were aware that this was simply the result of a rather unfortunate chain of events, you were still angry at yourself as you weighed your options.
There was a back exit, but you had no idea what awaited you on the other side. Besides, the mere thought of returning to that dark, cramped stairwell made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. No, you could certainly do without that option - which put quite a limit on the rest, however. That said, there was no way you could leave the same way you came; the streets below were now swarming with monsters, and you weren't particularly keen on waiting around until they calmed down again and moved on. Especially since that could take all night if your streak of bad luck continued (which wouldn't surprise you).
All in all, this left you with only one option, really...
You tilted your head back and scanned your surroundings until the rain obscured your vision. Then you wiped the goggles of your mask, stepped in front of the house wall and started climbing again. The bricks were slippery, but their rough construction made for steady progress. So it wasn't long before your fingers reached the edge of the roof.
Unfortunately, when you pulled yourself up, your right leg knocked loose a few roof tiles, which immediately thundered toward the ground. You winced at the ensuing commotion. Only when it died down again did you dare to take a deep breath and continue on.
With no protection from the wind, your clothes soon clung to your body like a second skin, but you didn't care; you were far more concerned with finding a secure path across the rooftops. You slipped more than once. Another time, you stopped walking just before your next step would have sent you tumbling into a hole in the roof. After every close call, you had to take a short break until your pulse returned to normal.
And until you made sure you were still alone.
You felt relatively safe from the Carcasses up here. They mostly stayed on the lower levels since they lacked the fine motor skills necessary for more complicated climbs. That didn't mean you could relax, however (dilapidated rooftops aside).
After all, disaster always provided ample opportunity for violence and crime to thrive, and the Malum District, remote and forgotten as it was, had provided the perfect breeding ground. Anarchy now reigned in its narrow alleys, and the few decent residents who remained were hiding not only from monsters, but also from those who sought to profit from the general suffering - which often amounted to the same thing, you found.
As luck would have it, your path led you past a hastily scrawled graffiti the next moment, and you grimaced. Speak of the devil...
It was everywhere, plastered all over house walls and other surfaces to show who was in charge here: the mark of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood.
It was probably meant to depict a rabbit, the signature animal of the Stalkers-turned-crime gang. But to you, it looked more like the head of a mosquito. An interpretation that was much closer to reality, actually, as they were literally sucking the blood out of Malum and its people. Almost every week, they announced a new "decree". Another ridiculous fee that the poor residents had to pay to avoid punishment. And since there was no one left to put them in their place, this would likely continue until these leeches had sucked this place completely dry.
You clenched your hands into fists at the thought, wishing for the umpteenth time that you were stronger. As good a fighter as they were. They would still have the advantage of being four against one, but maybe you could at least take one of them out. Show them, just once, what it meant to bleed…
But unfortunately, you were just a junkyard worker. Or rather, that's what you were before everything turned to shit. Now you were even less; nothing more than another desperate soul in this hell on earth. Too hungry to make a difference. Too weak to even dream of it. All you could do was try to survive another day and-
You were lucky that the rain had turned to a drizzle by now, otherwise you might not have heard the approaching voices over the clamor in your head. As it was, though, you managed to hide behind a chimney just in time before their owners stepped onto your roof. Seeing no point in risking your life just to find out who they were, you simply made yourself as small as possible and listened intently into the night.
You thought it was only two people, but couldn't be sure, since one of them was moving in a strange… hopping manner. But their voices - one female and one male - also suggested as much. You couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but judging by the sporadic laughter, they seemed to be in good spirits.
You closed your eyes for a moment and offered a silent prayer of thanks that you had spotted them in time. Judging by how calmly they moved, they could only be the worst kind of people - perhaps even members of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood themselves…! The thought of nearly running into them made you gulp.
It took quite a while for the pair to cross the roof, but eventually, their voices got lost in the drizzle. Nevertheless, you waited another minute or two before venturing out of your hiding spot and continuing on your way, albeit at a much brisker pace; you had absolutely no desire for a repeat of this incident...
Finally, you caught sight of the familiar rooftops of your neighborhood and let out a breath you didn't even realize you were holding. This night had definitely been far too busy for your liking…
And all that just for some pickles, you thought sourly before beginning your descent.
Once your feet were back on solid ground, you briefly felt the urge to drop to your knees and give it a big smooch. But you were so tired that you probably wouldn't have been able to get back up again, so you ultimately decided against it and instead took the direct route home.
There was still light in one of the windows across the street, which made you pause for a moment. Sure, your troubled soul could use a little company right now, but it was so late that you seriously doubted Leonora was still awake. She had probably just forgotten to blow out the candle before going to bed. You would pay her a visit in the morning.
With that comforting thought in mind, you slipped through the front door of your building and made your way upstairs. The old staircase creaked under your weary footsteps, but you didn't care. All you wanted was to collapse into your bed and never get up again. You yawned widely as you unlocked the door to your apartment.
Inside, you almost tossed your backpack into a corner, but caught yourself just in time when you remembered its fragile contents. So instead, you hung it neatly over the back of a chair and reverently took out the pickle jar. It caught the moonlight as you set it down on the table in front of you, making its contents look even more delicious. A few pickles wouldn't make for a particularly hearty meal, of course, but the taste alone made the evening a success. After all, it had been far too long since-
"How's the haul?"
You flinched violently and spun around. Then you stared wide-eyed at the two intruders in front of you, whom you had only ever seen on wanted posters.
One of them stepped out from behind the open door. He was a good head taller than you and wore a leather vest over a white shirt, loose-fitting pants, and sturdy boots. In one of his gloved hands, he held a dangerous-looking spear. What worried you a lot more, however, was the mask: It looked like a leather bucket he had pulled over his head. Goggles were embedded at eye level, a crudely drawn smile emblazoned underneath. And the sides had two belt buckles attached that gave the appearance of two floppy ears - and made your mouth go dry at the sight alone.
The Black Rabbit casually let the door fall shut, causing you to back away even further until you bumped into the chair behind you. Your fingers automatically tightened around the wooden backrest.
"No way!", a second person suddenly cried out.
It was a girl, judging by the voice and overall physique. Which would have surprised you more if you hadn't been scared shitless. After all, they called themselves a "brotherhood", and even the wanted poster didn't indicate that they had a female member.
However, living proof of that was currently sitting cross-legged on your bed, leaning toward you in excitement. Her mask offered a more obvious clue as to which group she belonged to: It covered the upper half of her face, had a rabbit nose and two upright rabbit ears. Beneath the left one sat a small top hat, and further down, a sort of monocle-style eye patch. The rest of her outfit looked just as elegant. At first glance, the hood she wore gave the impression of an artfully draped scarf. Frills lined her leather jacket (her leather tailcoat?) and delicate ribbons adorned the sleeves. Other than that, she also wore wide pants and the same kind of boots.
"Are those pickles?? Oh please, can I have one? Pleeease?" She clasped her hands together and looked at you with a pleading pout.
You were still too shocked to react in any way other than simply staring at her, which soon prompted her to tilt her head in question.
"C'mon, sis", her partner said. "Where are your manners? How about introducing us first, eh?"
His gruff, coarse voice made you shudder.
"Oh! Right, right. We..." She hopped off the bed and bowed deeply - a wonderful opportunity to admire (aka fearfully eye) the dual blades she carried on her back. "...are the Black Rabbit Brotherhood! Half of it, at least. But you probably already knew that. We are pretty famous around here after all, hehe!" She flicked one of her rabbit ears and bared her teeth before turning back to her companion. "How about now, brother? Can I ask her now?"
"Go for it."
Not a second later, she suddenly invaded your personal space and begged: "Please, please, pretty please??"
You felt like you had no other choice, so you turned around and, with trembling hands, obliged her request.
As soon as she held one of the pickles in her gloved fingers, she let out a squeal of delight and immediately took a hearty bite that sent its juices running down her chin. Giggling, she wiped it off with her sleeve. "Oh, I just looove how juicy they are!"
"So." In the meantime, Buckethead had leaned against the door with his arms crossed, reminding you once again just how fucked you were. "Mind returning the favour and telling us who you are?"
For a while, all that could be heard was the contented smacking of his partner.
Then you all but blurted out: "W-Why? It's not like you care."
Immediately, you felt like you had just made a huge mistake, and your heart went into free fall... But the Rabbit just shrugged.
"Eh, can't argue with that. But you know what I'm just dying to know? Hm?" His voice darkened. "What's another Stalker doing here, roaming our territory."
"Yeah! Don't think we didn't see you jumping around up there, little froggy", Rabbit Girl chimed in after swallowing her last bite. "We rule Malum District-"
"-and we don't appreciate gatecrashers", the other finished her sentence.
At first, you thought you had misheard them. Your mouth dropped open as the full meaning of their words sank in.
"Wait, you think I'm…? Oh. Oh, no, you- you're mistaken, I'm not…" With frantic movements, you felt for the back of your head and undid the straps of your mask to rip it off your face. "I'm no Stalker! See?? I'm just… just a normal girl, really!"
Silence.
Then Buckethead suddenly turned to his companion and said rather smugly: "Told you that's never ever a frog! Also, who would go for a frog mask anyway?"
She, too, crossed her arms now. "Well...! They shouldn't have made it look so frog-like then! And I, for one, think a frog mask would be very cute, actually."
"So you'd wear one?"
"I- wh- of course not, I'm a Rabbit! Besides, HQ's toast and nobody else makes masks, so it's not gonna happen anyway."
You could have sworn she sounded almost relieved at the end. Maybe that was why Buckethead's painted grin seemed even wider the next moment.
Or maybe you were just losing your mind, that was also very possible.
"You know what, though... You have a point there", he said slowly, before turning back to you. "Say, how come you have a brand-new model then?"
You might have lost your mind, but that didn't make you completely stupid; you knew it would be anything but wise to tell them now that the mask had been part of your father's police equipment.
"It's not new, I found it." Realizing this didn't sound very convincing, you quickly added: "A-At the junkyard. Where I was working."
After all, a little truth was to a lie, what water was to dry bread, no?
"'Found it', huh?" You ducked your head as Buckethead suddenly pushed away from the door and stepped right in front of you - but then he simply took the mask from your hands and examined it up close. "My, what a find... This thing even has a working spore filter."
A working what now...?
"I... guess I got lucky."
But he ignored you and turned away. "This look like junk to you, sis?"
"Can't say that it does, bro."
"Yeah… My thoughts exactly." You shrank back even further the second you were confronted with his sinister grin again. "Seems to me that a certain someone here likes to play a little fast and loose with the truth…"
That earned him an exaggerated gasp from behind.
You knew what they said about the Black Rabbit Brotherhood: If they thought someone was dishonest, they put them in the "Liar's Coffin" - something you could certainly do without, whatever that meant.
So you hurried to say: "But I'm not lying!"
Your counterpart laughed. "Ooh, haven't heard that one before! So, tell me then: Why don't I recognise your face, normal girl?"
You felt your blood run cold. "I… What?"
He started pacing in front of you. "You see, I never forget the face of someone we did business with…"
"He really doesn't!"
"…and that we already did business here is out of the question, otherwise this neighbourhood would be just as monster-infested as the rest of the district that was too stubborn to pay the protection fee on time. Which!" He stopped abruptly and raised his index finger in the air. "Can only mean one thing!"
You felt his eyes bore into yours as he slowly turned back around. At the same time, you wondered if you would even make it to the door...
"Time to pay up, sweetheart."
"I don't have the money", you replied a little too quickly, trying to hide the tremor in your voice.
No sooner had you finished speaking than he threw his head back and let out a loud groan. "Why can't you guys be a little more original for once, so I don't get bored to death every. single. time!"
Rabbit Girl giggled. "But you gotta admit, it's pretty funny to see her squirming around like that!"
"Why would I go out there and break into empty buildings to collect food scraps if I had the money?", you tried again. "Why would I take that risk when I could just buy it from one of the merchants??"
"Hm. That actually sounded like a real argument. What do you think, sis?"
His "sis" pensively tapped a finger against her chin. "That's a toughie, all right. I mean, could be that she's just doing it for the thrill of it. You know, like a total nutcase!"
Buckethead nodded solemnly. "Very true, very true…"
"I'm not lying", you repeated through clenched teeth before taking a step forward and spreading your arms. "Look around if you don't believe me! I have nothing to hide."
"That so? What's this then?"
"What-"
You barely had time to furrow your brows when you suddenly felt cold steel against your neck and instantly froze. Your eyes widened as you realized it was one of Rabbit Girl's blades. You hadn't even noticed her move behind you - or move at all, really! A rather impressive reminder of something you had nearly forgotten in your recent frustration: As seasoned Stalkers, the Black Rabbit Brotherhood was not only superhumanly strong and fast, but also utterly ruthless. And after all the unpleasant things you had heard about them, you were pretty sure they weren't above silencing the occasional loudmouth, either. Violently, that is.
You swallowed hard, which only increased the pressure of the blade and sent you into an even greater panic. Your heart was all but hammering against your ribcage when the Rabbit leaned over your shoulder and whispered in your ear: "Why look around when the real treasure is right in front of you, hm?"
As soon as she finished speaking, you suddenly felt a tug on your neck. At first, you expected the worst and squeezed your eyes shut... but the pain never came.
Instead, you were confronted with an entirely different kind of horror the next moment, when you opened your eyes and saw your necklace in front of you.
In a pair of gloved hands.
At the same time, the pressure on your neck disappeared. However, you paid as little attention to that as you did to the stark height difference between you and Buckethead as you rushed toward him, exclaiming: "Hey, that's-!"
He gave a low whistle. "Well, well, well. What do we have here… 'Nothing' used to look a lot less once upon a time, that's for sure."
"Give it back!"
You were about to reach for the necklace when you saw him raise his arm and toss it back to his colleague. She twirled it between her fingers until she noticed the engraving on the back.
"Aww, how sweet! Is that from your lover?"
"None of your damn business", you hissed.
All the fear you had felt mere moments ago was forgotten. Seeing your pendant in the hands of these criminals, seeing them read the words meant for you and only you, made you throw all caution to the wind.
The asshole behind you barked out a laugh. "Look who's all feisty now! Guess we hit the jackpot!"
You charged toward the smirking Rabbit Girl, who was dangling the necklace in your direction. But as soon as you got close, it sailed through the air again and landed in her partner's hands.
"Stop! It's not even- It's not even valuable, so please, just-"
"Ah, but I beg to differ. As it happens, it's worth exactly what you owe us. Lucky you!"
You clenched your trembling hands into fists, but before you could even think of a retort, Buckethead tilted his head and added: "Or would you rather we cut some costs around here to compensate for your missing payments? You know…" He sighed deeply. "It's really terribly resource-intensive to keep the hordes of Carcasses away from certain areas…"
For a while, it was so quiet that you could hear nothing but the steady Drip! Drip! Drip! of the raindrops falling from a hole in the roof into a bucket you had placed directly beneath it.
"You can't do that", you finally breathed out, even though you knew better, of course. But being confronted with the reality of this ugliness was much, much different than just hearing about it.
And much harder to swallow. You thought of your neighbors, of Leonora and her children, and simply couldn't believe that anyone could be capable of such cruelty.
"Your call…" By now, his grin stretched from one rabbit ear to the other as he dangled your necklace back and forth in front of you.
thank you sm for readinggg, i hope you enjoyed it!! feedback is always welcome and very much appreciated♥️
Summary: You meet a certain redhead and have some stew after your life's been threatened. Fun! Also, you definitely need a second change of clothes...
a/n: i won't tolerate any thrúd slander ok, she is the BEST!!! with that said, i know there's not much heimdall in this story YET but bear with me ppl, that'll change soon i promise👀 gotta get the chess pieces where i want them first!
⸺ ⟢ Chapter 3 - "What do we have here, a little spy?"
You woke with a start and had to take a moment to get your bearings in the semi-darkness. It seemed the afternoon had turned into evening while you slept.
Rubbing your eyes, you sat up, and let your tired gaze wander around the room. It was quite sparse. Here lay a few dusty books on a dresser (you doubted they had ever been opened), there stood a wardrobe with beautiful carvings... You stood up and strolled over to a shelf, where you found some jewelry - bracelets and a... belt? When you picked up one of the bracelets, it caught the light, and you took a minute to admire its bluish hue.
...Before your eyes drifted again to the dresser, or, more specifically, to the large sword stand right next to it. The sword on it was almost taller than yourself. It was polished and gleamed in the late evening sun, but you imagined you could still make out traces of the violence its owner had unleashed with it.
You swallowed.
Magni, son of Thor. And Sif.
The goddess had been rather taciturn when she led you to this room earlier. Her icy gaze alone... She certainly knew how to make someone feel her contempt without saying a single word. But that didn't come as a surprise to you, considering you belonged to the group of people responsible for the death of her son. And now you were sleeping in his bed...
So no, she didn't say a word about any of this, but there was no need, really. You quickly figured it out on your own. After all, Kratos and Atreus had told you plenty about the Aesir god, and, well; the broadsword was a dead giveaway, too. (No pun intended.)
You put the bracelet back and started fiddling with your new clothes instead. What little Sif had said was in regards to those: "There are clean clothes on the bed and fresh water in the basin so you can wash yourself."
And with that, she had left.
You were thrilled at the opportunity to wash up. The mud on your skin and clothes had dried into an annoying crust by then.
The new clothes, on the other hand... Those Odin could have kept. At first, you wondered if it was meant as a joke. You weren't a warrior like Atreus; however, your old clothes were at least practical in nature. But these?? They might have been practical if you were working in an Asgardian kitchen! A thin dress with some sort of leather apron on top, a simple belt holding it all together... You felt absolutely ridiculous and would have loved nothing more than to slip back into your own clothes, no matter how dirty they were. The only thing stopping you were the clean sheets. Lying in bed in dirty clothes was definitely out of the question.
So you had given in after all and had (reluctantly) slipped into the new clothes before finally stretching out on the big bed. It wasn't as comfortable as the one at the dwarf brothers' house, but all in all, you couldn't complain. Comfortable or not, you could have fallen asleep just about anywhere at that point.
Of course, that wasn't what you had originally planned, but at least you felt reasonably rested now.
Your gaze fell upon the door to your left. Had Atreus stopped by while you were sleeping...? Most likely. Judging by the position of the sun, at least two hours must have passed since you parted ways. Surely he had already returned from his little trip with Odin.
You bit your lower lip as your stomach suddenly started to growl. Great, just what you needed right now... You really didn't feel like wandering around outside alone. In fact, waiting here would probably be the smart thing to do. But who knew how long you would have to do that? Maybe Atreus thought you would sleep through the night and wouldn't come back to check on you... at least not today.
You paced the floor until your stomach growled a second time. Then you rolled your eyes toward the ceiling and gave up.
Slowly, you opened the door and peered out into the hallway. Not a soul in sight. You scurried over to Atreus' room, and knocked softly.
"Atreus, are you in there?"
You knocked again, harder this time, but still nothing. When you realized the door was unlocked, you poked your head inside.
The room was dark. And empty.
You frowned and looked down the hallway, unsure of what to do, until your eyes locked onto the large door at the other end. From what you remembered, it led to Odin's study. Maybe you would find Atreus in there...?
As you crossed the open space, you could hear the buzz of many voices in the distance. It was probably dinnertime in the dining hall. You ignored another rumbling of your stomach, cleared your throat, and finally knocked on the solid wood in front of you. There was a slight echo, making you wince... but otherwise, it was silent. Again. Of course.
You grimaced. Maybe they were all stuffing themselves with delicious food while you stood here like an idiot. A starving idiot.
Nevertheless, you pushed against the heavy door and, a moment later, blinked into the candlelit room. Maybe Atreus and Odin were crouching down somewhere, too engrossed in their studies to hear you...
"Hello...?"
You saw a few cluttered tables and dozens of shelves lining the walls, bending under the weight of their contents (mostly books). Also wood. Lots of wood.
Your shoulders slumped as you took a few uncertain steps into the room. Absentmindedly, your fingers reached for a small figurine on a sideboard - a miniature horse - and turned it this way and that until something else caught your attention: a door on the opposite side of the room.
You were just wondering if simply standing here wasn't already mistake enough, when you suddenly felt a slight tickle on your ear-
"Well, well. What do we have here, a little spy?"
You flinched violently and quickly backed away from the man who had suddenly materialized right behind you.
Heimdall looked at you with amusement as you rubbed your ear, still feeling the ghost of his breath.
"I-I'm not spying", you stammered, cursing yourself for how weak you sounded.
"Ha." The corners of his mouth twitched. "And I have heard better lies."
You could already feel your palms starting to sweat again. Why did it have to be Heimdall, of all people, who caught you here? Was this some kind of... divine joke??
What's more, you couldn't help but notice that he was once again blocking your only way out. You swallowed nervously as he started to slowly, predatorily, pace back and forth in front of you, never taking his eyes off you for even a second.
"Why else would you sneak into other people's rooms and go through their things? Or... are you just a petty little thief?"
You followed his gaze to your hand and quickly put the figurine back in its original place.
"The All-Father welcomed you into his home with open arms. And you steal from him on your very first day? Now, I must say..." He clutched his chest. "I knew you mortals were a little... backward in many ways. But to be so brazen...!"
"I just wanted to... take a closer look", you justified yourself, but cringed the moment the words left your mouth. Nice one.
"Ah, well", he commented dryly. "In that case."
Yeah... If you were in his shoes, you wouldn't have believed yourself either.
"And I'm only here because I wanted to check on Atreus", you quickly added.
Heimdall paused and curled his lips. "Sorry to disappoint, but Loki is still out traveling with the All-Father." He sighed deeply. "What he sees in that little half-breed is truly beyond me. Not to mention why he brought you two here in the first place."
In the meantime, you had backed away from him so far that you now bumped against the massive desk behind you. You gripped its edge while your eyes remained fixed on the Aesir god as he continued:
"I know that you will only bring disaster upon us. I can almost taste it in the air around you. The All-Father may look the other way, generous as he is, but I see through you."
With every word, he took a step closer until he was towering over you. You looked up at him in fear and didn't even dare to breathe. Your entire world was bathed in a brilliant shade of purple.
"O-Odin said you wouldn't hurt us", you squeaked pitifully.
Heimdall leaned forward until your faces were only inches apart. Then he smiled. "He's not here, now is he?"
"Ah, there you are!", a girl's voice suddenly called out.
The man in front of you held your gaze for a little while longer, then rolled his eyes and turned around.
"Thrúd", you heard him say. "Always such a pleasure to see you. Done with training already, or did mommy give you a hard time again?"
You looked past him at the girl in the doorway. She was wearing a lot of fur, had bright red hair that framed her face like a mane, and cool tattoos on her upper body. She looked absolutely fierce. Especially as she also had her muscular arms crossed and was fearlessly returning Heimdall's gaze.
You immediately liked her.
"You! Mortal!" She pointedly ignored the man standing in front of you. "All-Father wants to see you."
Your heart skipped a beat. What??
Apparently, your reaction wasn't quick enough for her liking, because the next moment she already rolled her eyes, came up to you, and pulled you out from behind Heimdall. You almost tripped over your own feet trying to keep up with her.
Just before the two of you reached the door, you heard Heimdall say loudly: "You can dress like us all you want, but you don't belong here. Neither the half-breed nor you, little thief. Don't forget that."
"Tell me something I don't already know", you muttered. Then "Thrúd" pulled you through the door and you could finally breathe again.
Until you remembered what the girl had just said.
"The... The All-Father wants to see me? Why? Is something wrong with Atreus?", you asked, before noticing the massive sword hanging from her back. That had to weigh more than you!
Thrúd shot you a sideways glance while maneuvering you up a flight of stairs. "No one wants to see you."
...What?
"Huh?"
When you reached the top, she stopped to face you, a mischievous twinkle in her bright eyes. "I only said that to get you out of there. You're welcome!"
You thought you had misheard her.
"Ah! Thrúd Thorsdottir, by the way." You took her outstretched hand, still baffled. "I already know your name. You and your Giant friend are the talk of the town, after all."
"We... are?"
Thrúd Thorsdottir... Of course! Thor's daughter! Upon realizing that, you immediately noticed some striking similarities between her and her father (and some striking differences between her and her mother). You wondered if it would be wise to revise your earlier favorable assessment of her. After all, none of Thor's children had been particularly nice so far...
But that thought quickly faded into the background when Thrúd suddenly burst into roaring laughter.
"Hey, relax! You look like you've seen a ghost. I mean - Heimdall can be pretty creepy. But believe it or not, he's actually okay, deep down."
"Really?", you asked skeptically.
"No. But hey! Now you've got me, and I'll make sure my dear uncle behaves himself." She grinned. "Just stick with me for now."
With pleasure, Thrúd Thorsdottir.
Only then did you fully process her words and shuddered a little at the thought of Heimdall as an uncle. To you, this guy didn't just radiate intense only-child energy, but intense only-anything energy...
She sniffed the air. "Ah, it's stew day! C'mon, you'll love it, I promise."
No sooner had she finished talking than she already pulled you along again, and you blinked quickly when the two of you entered the Great Hall moments later. You felt as if someone had hit you over the head. Just a few minutes ago, you had almost feared for your life, and now you were standing here, in the middle of what looked like a crazy party. Loud voices could be heard all around you; people were yelling, others laughing, and everyone was waving their mugs and cutlery about. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
Thrúd led you to an empty bench, and soon you were sitting in front of a steaming bowl of stew. You didn't have it in you to wonder where it came from, though. Instead, you dug right in.
The girl grinned. "And? Did I promise too much?"
You shook your head vigorously, but couldn't get a word out. Your mouth was otherwise occupied.
She laughed. "Told you! Jörgen is an amazing cook."
After you finished most of it, you took some bread and dipped it in the remaining stew. Gods... How was it still getting tastier?? Every now and then, you felt Thrúd's gaze on you again, but decided to wait until she spoke first.
You still weren't quite sure what to make of her. Sure, she seemed nice enough... but so did Odin - at first glance, at least. On the other hand, she had saved you from certain starvation, and, more importantly, from Heimdall. You gave her a lot of credit for that one. Speaking of, the purple-eyed menace had thankfully stayed away from dinner so far. Still, you couldn't help but let your eyes wander from time to time...
Thrúd remained silent, however, and soon you grew impatient and gave her a questioning look.
Immediately, she blurted out: "What's it like as a mortal? I mean, visiting the other realms and all that! Traveling everywhere, going on these big adventures... Meeting magical creatures and gods??"
You coughed. This was not at all what you had expected. "Uh, it's... okay?" She was obviously waiting for more, so you tried to be a little more detailed. "Pretty exhausting, and scary. Actually rather terrifying? Good for nightmares. I don't 'travel everywhere', though - I've only visited a couple realms. Most of the time, I stay at home and wait for the others to return from their big adventures."
She kept looking at you expectantly, and you had to rack your brain for something else to say. "Um... But the... the stories are fun...?"
Thrúd sat back slowly. "Oh, okay... So, just to clarify, you definitely weren't there when Loki and his father fought the Valkyries. Right?"
You shook your head and watched her slump a little. "No, sorry. Believe it or not, being a mortal can be... quite a hindrance in these big, deadly battles. I usually try to stay as far away from them as possible."
Again, there was silence between you, but then the girl just shrugged and said: "Oh well, never mind then. I'll just ask Loki tomorrow. Sooo. You play the role of the good housewife for him and his father, yes?"
That sounded wrong on so many levels...
"What?? No. No, no, that's more on the dwarves-" You quickly interrupted yourself with a cough; it was hard to gauge how much you could say without saying too much... "I, uh, help out where I can. I'm more of a... girl-of-all-trades, I guess. I do housework, yeah, but I've also learned how to hunt! Atreus is teaching me different languages, so I can help with translations, too. Sometimes. The easier stuff, at least. And then I'm also part of their training, usually. I mean, I might not be the best fighter, but even I can pick up arrows and stuff", you finished with a laugh.
Her eyes began to sparkle once more. "Training, you say... Interesting. Ever been to Valkyrie training?"
"...Was that a joke, or...?"
Now it was her turn to laugh. "No, silly. That, was an invitation."
You couldn't stop your mouth from dropping open as you put two and two together. "You're training to become a Valkyrie?"
"Sure am! Dad gave me this thing here just for that." The monstrous sword she had placed on the table next to you received a few gentle pats. "It's one of a kind, you know. Pretty cool, huh?"
You nodded appreciatively. And in that moment, you decided to trust her. Not completely, of course; she was still an Aesir. But you couldn't help but like her loud and unapologetically honest attitude. Sure, she was a bit gruff. But if there was one thing you lacked here in Asgard, it was allies. So why not befriend Thor's daughter? You couldn't ask for a better ally.
"Alright, I accept. Not like I have anything better to do anyway."
She grinned. "No, I don't think you do."
You waited another moment or two, but finally couldn't hold back any longer. "You've already met Atreus, then."
She blinked at you until it dawned on her. "Ah, sorry. Everyone else calls him Loki, so I was a little confused. Yes, I met him. Briefly this afternoon. Showed him around a bit before he went to see the All-Father. Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just wondering how he was doing, that's all."
Thrúd patted your arm, picking up on your dejected mood right away, despite your best efforts to hide it. "Don't worry, he looked pretty chipper. A little tired maybe and slow on the uptake... But otherwise as fresh as a daisy!"
You allowed yourself a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, she looked over your shoulder at something, and her mouth formed a thin line. You were just about to turn around when she said in a tense voice: "Ah, sorry. Again. There's... something I have to do, so I gotta run. Bye! Pick you up tomorrow!"
"Uh, sure! See you..." But by then she had already grabbed her sword and stormed off. "...tomorrow."
You turned your head, searching for a mop of fiery red hair, but the girl seemed to have already been swallowed up by the crowd. A very drunken crowd... As if on cue, you found yourself making eye contact with a tall, visibly drunk man the next moment, who then grinned suggestively. Shuddering, you immediately decided you had had enough for one day and fled the dining hall as well.
Only when you were halfway back to your room did you allow yourself to relax again. However, your thoughts were still racing, so you promptly bumped into someone.
But not just any someone.
It was Odin himself.
You felt your eyes widen and quickly put some distance between you, before bowing slightly. "I-I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and-"
The All-Father chuckled softly. "Ah, but there's no need for that, now is there. Your first day in Asgard must have been terribly exhausting! If anything, I should apologize, for letting our studies drag for on so long. You know how it is..." He laughed. "Time flies when you love what you do. And especially when you're making progress. But I see you've managed quite well on your own...?"
"Uh, yeah. Something like that. Thrúd showed me around a bit."
"Ah, little Thrúdie, how lovely. More useful than most, even at her tender age. I suppose she invited you to dinner?"
You weren't quite sure how to respond to all that, so you just nodded politely.
"I seem to recall that... there was stew on today's menu, right?"
You nodded again. "It was delicious."
Odin smiled. "Isn't it? Jörgen's special recipe. He's a real asset to our house." He paused for a moment before turning his head and looking at the door to your room. "Everything else to your liking, as well?"
"Oh, yes", you said quickly. "Thank you for the clean clothes. I really appreciate it."
"No need to be so formal, my dear! I'm very glad to hear that. They really suit you, I must say."
Riiight... You decided to ignore the odd compliment and instead end this conversation before it could get even more awkward.
So you feigned a yawn and said: "I think I should get going. Like you said, busy day and all that..."
You forced a small laugh. Then you cast one last quick glance toward Atreus' room...
"Of course, of course. I won't keep you any longer. Oh, but just one small note: Loki has already retired for the night, so I'd advise you to postpone your visit until tomorrow."
Naturally, he had seen right through you. Perceptive geezer.
You felt the corners of your mouth twitch, but still managed to give him a somewhat grateful smile before walking stiffly toward your room. Odin was still standing in the exact same spot when you were about to close the door behind you, watching you and smiling as you made eye contact one last time.
It took several hours for your mind to calm down enough for you to fall asleep. Until then, you could still feel Odin's eye on you. The goosebumps just wouldn't go away...
Synopsis: Hell has descended upon Krat. The only survivors in the Malum District live in constant fear of the dead - and the living; the Black Rabbit Brotherhood rules with an iron fist, and you do your best to keep out of their business. Until one day, you are forced to make a deal with them that will either save you... or doom you forever.
Warnings: Swearing, canon typical violence
a/n: this mini fic is the epitome of "the hyperfixation wants what the hyperfixation wants" basically lmaoo like these guys are barely characters yet my brain decided they're prime fanfic material SO I MAKE THEM prime fanfic material🙏😌
⸺ ⟢ If you share my vision, please know that I write this for the both of us (also ILY)♡
