“Urp- I don’t feel good.” Maya knitted her brows and rubbed her bloated stomach, churning from all the snacks she devoured.

But now, it was also fighting to digest a bunch of sandwiches Val made as an apology and took Maya on an evening stroll as they ate them.

“I shouldn’t have eaten them all, but I couldn’t say no to her… or to the sandwiches.”

Maya regretted eating so much like she always did, but this time it was worse. She desperately wanted to appear attractive towards her and not look like a pig with a bloated stomach. Maya's impulse control was already broken when she was stressed, but now it seemed Val’s mere presence only amplified it.

“At least my clothes can hide it,” Maya hoped. She tentatively put her hand under her shirt to rub her stomach, straining against the fabric of her pants. It hurt. “I’ll walk this off and go on a diet later. I just hope I don’t burn out before the end of the project.” 

Maya grimaced at the prospect. A burnout would only make things worse.

“Maya. Maya.” Val nudged Maya’s shoulder, pulling her attention to the Valkyrie. “Are you. Alright?” 

Maya groggily shook her head. “Sorry, did you say something?” 

Val stopped Maya by grabbing her by the shoulder. “You almost. Walked into. A tree.” 

“What?” Maya turned and touched the tree almost with her nose. “OH! Since when is that thing here!?” 

“Maya.” Val cupped Maya’s hand and kissed it. “You. Alright? Talk. To. Me. Please.” 

“Ah, there it is again,” thought Maya, noticing Val’s speech impeding again. “It’s nothing. I just feel a bit… sick.”  

“Sick?” Val squeezed Maya’s hand lightly. “Food. Mine. Bad?” 

“Huh?” 

“Was. It. Terrible? You. Not. Like. It?” 

“What? No, no, no.” Maya frantically waved her hands before them. “It was amazing! Your cooking is literally out of earth. Better than anything I could ever do. It’s just… I have had this problem since my childhood. It’s embarrassing.” 

“I want to. Understand,” said Val, rubbing Maya’s hand with her thumb. A gentle kind of touch Maya never thought she would ever receive. It was so small, yet strangely meant so much to her. “Tell me. Only if you. Want.” 

Maya furrowed her brown further. An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach—this time, it was not the food. 

“How many people do you know that eat a lot of food? Like, A LOT?” Maya asked. Her fists clenched and unclenched. “To the point, they feel like throwing up from fullness and shame,” Maya mumbled the last part.

“A lot,” Val replied matter-of-factly, confusing Maya with the statement. “Einherjar are loud. Rowdy and eat. Too much food.” Val’s face contorted to utter exhaustion and agitation. “Serving them is. Exhausting.” 

Maya didn’t expect this kind of answer. It was a new site to hear Val complain. “Do you have female Einherjar, too?” 

Val cocked her head in thought. “Yes… no? Not sure. Probably… Why?” 

“I… well, grrr…” Maya’s words were stuck in her brain and came out as a tangled mess. “How am I supposed to address this subject? Telling her I have a problem with food? She wouldn’t understand. She’ll feel hurt and think I don’t like her food.” 

Maya let out a tired sigh. “Never mind that. I think I am just worried about you. Did you find any new clues about your missing gear?”

The change of subject disgruntled Val and how Maya pulled away her hand, hiding it underneath her sleeve. She sickly rubbed her stomach and took deep breaths to calm herself. 

The Valkyrie didn’t know what was going on, but she knew she couldn’t force it out of Maya—no matter how much she wished to so she could help her. 

“Maybe.” Val pointed down the street and tugged on one of her braids as she looked down. “Not. Far. Strange. Energy.” 

“Good.” Maya nodded and led the way. “I could use a walk, anyway. Shall we?” 

“:.. Yeah…”