Watching Thor get his ass absolutely handed to him by the champion had been hurtful for Aurora to see, but she had no choice but to watch from above. Her heart ached for her friend as they had watched that night, but she knew in herself that a god could not be destroyed that easily.

"Will he be alright? I don't know how you watch such dreadful things," Aurora spat, looking down as people cheered for the defeat of the so-called "Lord of Thunder."

Valkyrie shrugged, "You get used to it. Besides, he'll be fine. I know where they're taking him and I'll see him when I go to help Hulk train tomorrow anyway."

"Really?" Aurora's ears perked up at the sound of a way in, "Could... could you take me to see him? Please? I'll do anything."

The other woman looked taken aback by this, placing her now empty bottle on the floor of the ship before she spoke again. Despite how heavy of a drinker she was, it was rare to see her impaired. Maybe it took more for Valkyries to get drunk than a human. After all, she was Asgardian.

"Uh, you don't have to do anything, what would I want with you?" the woman asked, her voice dripping with confusion, "From... I mean from. You're not a prisoner if you would like to see this God, detestable as he may be, who am I to stop you? I just need to get my job done which is to train the guy that kicked your friend's ass."

"Charming as always," Aurora bit back, hesitating before continuing, "but thank you, that's awfully kind of you."

"Please never use me and the word kind in the same sentence ever again, I might vomit."

Aurora rolled her eyes, "It's as though you have already forgotten our conversation from earlier. Did your tolerability meter run low? There's more to you than I thought, I know that now and I refuse to let you forget it, either."

"Charming," the woman scoffed, but anyone could see the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "Didn't know telling you of my dead lover added so much depth to my character, but boy am I glad you think so."

"Ah, how could I ever forget what pleasant company you are, hm?" Aurora sighed, "I feel my power draining the more I'm around you, that's how negative you are."

"Oh, that is not how it works," Valkyrie complained, "If it was, then I could make a joke and you would regain power. That's not, though, is it? You do not operate off of temporary joys or bitterness, it's the feeling in the soul of those around you. That's why it's so dreadful to be around me, is it not?"

The woman sighed, her eyes meeting Valkyrie's. They shined with something dangerous, but Aurora couldn't identify it. She wanted to bite back, to spit something truly vengeful at this woman who irritated her so much, but that was not how Aurora preferred to operate. She was made up of stars and light, so she might as well kill this somewhat-awful woman with kindness.

"You're right," she admitted, "It's the core of a person I feed off of, not temporary emotions. When you spoke of the one you loved, something in you changed. I gained power. Do not forget what you have given me. I do not know you well, but I have felt your soul radiate and I know you are better than you think you are and better than you will choose to be. Don't test me because I am not someone you can easily lie to, Valkyrie."

The woman across from Aurora hesitated and she could tell that she had managed to strike a nerve which was exactly what she had wanted. Aurora believed in truth and she believed in potential, two things Valkyrie could fulfill if she decided to. The only problem was she was content to live amongst the garbage and drink her days away.

"Brunnhilde," she spoke after a brief moment of heavy silence. Aurora furrowed her brow, meeting her bitter gaze with confusion. In lieu of an explanation, all she offered was, "You may call me Brunnhilde."

Aurora smiled smugly, somewhat proud of herself for getting something real out of Valkyrie. Out of Brunnhilde.

"Don't look so proud of yourself," she scoffed, her eyes darting around the ship as she noticeably avoided Aurora's gentle gaze. "I just... I'm not a Valkyrie anymore, no point in calling me one."

"A Valkyrie is a warrior, someone who has seen horrors and continues to believe in the sisterhood. Even as you cover up your mark, as you claim there is nothing left to live for, there is still that hope inside of you. It's obvious, I saw it in your eyes when Thor realized what you were. You are still a Valkyrie, Brunnhilde," the name flowed off her tongue in a way that felt more natural than any other name for the woman would, "and you always will be."

"Enough of this," the woman stepped closer, her tone contained a warning but Aurora was contempt not to listen to it. Sure, it might get her in trouble, but she didn't care much anymore. She was no more threatened by Brunnhilde than she was by someone like Thor. "You don't know me, remember? Just because you have weird "happy" powers does not mean you can see into my mind or soul or some shit. My fellow warriors have been dead for a long time now and with them, so did my title and my spirit so stop pretending as though you know me because you don't and you never will."

It was then that Aurora noticed how close Brunnhilde had gotten to her. It was meant to be intimidating, but if she was being honest it was everything but. Whether she wanted to be or not, she found things with the other woman to be more comfortable than they expected. Sure, they were at each other's throats about half the time, but at this point, that simply seemed to be part of the fun. It was at that moment Aurora realized how little the distance was between them and how silent Brunnhilde had gotten.

Deciding to break the tense silence, a half-smile quirked at Aurora's lips as she mused, "I think you have given me more of yourself than you mean to. Isn't that right, Brunnhilde?"

Aurora had never been kissed before, but she knew how powerful love and affection was for humans and how much it fueled happiness in the world. In the moment when Brunnhilde's lips brushed hers for the first time she understood. Something in the way a woman so harsh and rough around the edges kissing her so gently made everything make sense. Although the kiss had been unexpected, Aurora obliged in kissing back with ease as she had allowed herself to be pushed up against the wall of the ship by Valkyrie. Something in the way the other woman cupped her face with calloused hands and a tender touch was electric in its own right.

When Brunnhilde pulled away, out of pure instinct Aurora chased her lips for more, but the woman pulled away. Letting go of Aurora she avoided her eyes as if she was scared of her reaction. Aurora didn't know how to feel considering up until this moment she had been fairly sure Brunnhilde hated her. However, now that was decidedly not the case.

Instead of an answer or an explanation, Valkyrie simply walked away, saying, "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."

Next thing, Aurora was alone.

AHHH this chapter had me BUZZIN y'all anyway i know it's been forever but i missed aurora and Brunnhilde so they're back and i love them!