—✧—

With a forkful of blueberry waffles in one hand, a cup of coffee at her side, the laptop in front of her, and a tablet full of notes, Maya reviewed her papers once more. She went right back to editing, taking a bite, a quick sip and typing away, repeating the process. 

She adjusted her glasses, tapped her nose at the side with her finger and focused on editing. Typically, she didn’t need glasses, but on some days—when she worked on her laptop—they helped her concentrate. They also had a neat blue light filter to lessen the strain from the laptop light.

It was rare for her to get a hearty breakfast, a fresh brew, and concentrate so much on her work. 

If it weren’t for Val, Maya would have hungrily worked on her papers with a rancid cup of coffee. It was a luxury for her to enjoy her morning. She didn’t even change out of her nightgown as she got ‌busy this morning—not that it would have been any different on other days, though it was a pleasant change of pace. 

Maya then heard something clatter down on the ground. She craned her head, spotting Val crouching in the living room. 

“Val? Is something wrong?” 

No reply. Maya stood up to investigate and found Val having cleaned the living room. The sofa was not in its place—she tried to vacuum behind it. 

“How come I didn’t hear anything?” wondered Maya, noticing that Val also dusted off the walls alongside the lamps—she had even brushed the old rug. 

Work which Maya neglected on how much of a chore they were. 

“Val, you shouldn’t have been cleaning,” said Maya. She touched Val’s shoulder and noticed her shivering, her breathing laboured. “What’s wrong? Val, are you alright?” 

Turning her around, Val leaned with her back against the cough. She gave Maya a frowned smile, her left-hand jittering. “Out. Of. Breath. No. Worry.” 

“Yes, worry!” exclaimed Maya and helped Val to the couch, who was too weak to protest. “Take a breath, ok? What exactly happened?” 

“I- ngh.” Val’s face was turning grey, and her breathing was erratic. She was hyperventilating. 

Maya was panicking. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back!” 

Maya returned with an inhaler she kept from a former friend in case of an emergency. Usually, it was not a good idea to share inhalers, but you couldn’t argue that this was one.

“Thank the gods I didn’t throw it away.”

Val barely moved. She concentrated on keeping her breathing steady as she reclined her head against the couch.

Maya rubbed her back while she instructed her how to use it, but Val could barely understand it. Shaking it for her, she helped Val take a puff. 

She struggled to take and keep it in for the duration, but thankfully her breathing stabilised slightly after a moment or two. Maya stayed with her a while longer until she got better. 

“Thank. You.” Val took a deep breath and shook her head. “I feel. Better.” 

“I’m glad, but I didn’t know you were asthmatic.” 

“Me. Neither,” replied Val sheepishly. “I’m not at… My Strength. Anymore… I feel. Weak.” 

“Then why did you cook and clean so much this morning? You also moved around furniture even though you’re clearly not well.” 

“Didn’t want. To be. Useless,” Val said, breathing deeply, her chest rising with each breath. “Wanted to. Support you. Like you do. With me.” 

Maya gave her an honest smile. “Thank you, but don’t overexert yourself. Try to be more careful next time, alright?” 

Val didn’t meet her eyes at how embarrassed and weak she felt, but she gave her a light nod. “I’ll try.” 

“That’s all I’m asking.” Maya’s eyes went up and down. She noticed she sat rather close to the Valkyrie, to the point their knees were touching. She coughed. “Do you want me to help you lie down? You can use my bed, and I can—” 

Ding. Dooooooong. 

“Frickin’ Hel!” Maya cursed and stormed to the door. Again, there was no one there. She stepped out of her apartment to yell. “Show yourself, coward!” 

Running to the balcony, she tried to spy something. A shadow, childish giggling; anything to find the miscreant who disturbed her moments of sleep and with Val. 

“I swear, I will wring those children if I catch them,” grunted Maya and stepped back inside. “So, ehm, I was thinking—” 

“I thought to. Start Running. Again,” said Val, keeping herself steady with some effort. “I need to. Get back in. Form. Need to get. Strong.” She skipped past Maya and stopped, returning for a moment to squeeze Maya’s shoulder. “I’ll clean. The table. And come back. Later. For Lunch. See you. Later.” 

Maya leaned dumbfounded against the kitchen doorframe and observed how Val—despite her unique asthma attack—was busily cleaning and getting herself ready to head outside. 

Filled with worry, Maya couldn’t even appreciate the new outfit as she always liked to do. “Are you sure you should go out for a run? Especially after your attack?” 

Val stopped before the door and turned around, her fingers stapled. “I should train. Especially. After the attack.” 

“I- I get it, but maybe you should do it later. Take a seat and—” 

“Thank you. For worrying.” Val suddenly brushed her thumb over Maya’s chin, making her look up. “I’m alright. I’ll be back. Soon. Promised. Look forward. For later.”

The door closed behind the Valkyrie, leaving Maya still wondering whether or not it was a smart decision to let her go. “Maybe I should have been more forceful,” she wondered, tugging at her gown. “And I seriously need to change into some casual clothes. Can’t believe I spent the entire morning in this… with her.”

Maya shook her head and gathered her notes, which Val carefully avoided touching while cleaning. 

Her worries gnawed at her consciousness and preoccupied her mind. Val was a Valkyrie, yet, but she was still not fully in her game. They had found her shield, yes, but the sudden asthmatic attack proved to Maya how much Val was still recovering. 

“Yet she chose to clean the apartment and cook for me every day.” Maya looked back at the breakfast she had, noticing that Val barely ate anything. Concluding that Val must be a light eater who usually skipped breakfast. “I need to do something for her to help her recover-” 

Ding. Doooooong. 

“AGAIN!?” Maya shouted. “Wait, maybe Val got back? She doesn’t have any keys yet.” A light thought came to Maya’s mind. “I should make her a spare one, yes. That’s a good start.” 

Maya opened the door. “Val, welcome back–”

Met by a groan, Maya realised that it was not Val behind the door. Nor prankster children ringing the door since morning.

“Grrruuuurgh.” 

A Draugr was at her door.