It was probably not the smartest thing to return to her apartment, but heck, Maya was out of options.

To her fortune, the Draugr failed to close the door, thanks to the old lock body that tended to not close on its own, so Maya always had to use her keys to double lock it.

Unfortunately, Maya had to haul Val’s body up the stairs, like she did the first time. The Valkyrie was rasping for air and barely had the motor functions to take a step.

Maya worked her way up the stairs and plopped the Valkyrie down on her bed and not the couch, figuring she needed more rest than that old thing could give her.

“Next time,” Maya huffed. “I’ll buy an apartment on the ground floor. I. Do. NOT. Care!” She plopped herself down next to Val, waving herself some air.

She was overheating, tired and dirty, but looking over at Val, she couldn’t relax until she helped her.

“Ok, what did my friend say last time? Don’t use the inhaler more than you need to, and… and, AH, hot milk!”

Contrary to the common belief, an inhaler was not a panacea to fix all the asthma attacks you suffer throughout the day—that was a TV myth, which Maya also believed until proven otherwise.

She never had asthma before, but she heard from her friend that using it once was fine, but twice send you to Jitter Town. Something which Maya did not wish for Val, who was beyond exhaustion.

Instead, her friend told her that lying down and drinking either water or milk—she preferred the latter—were also helpful while hoping it got better or went away on its own.

If it didn’t, she would use her inhaler again or see a doctor.

Anyway, back to the topic. Maya warmed up the milk in her microwave and returned to Val while—lo-and-behold—she forgot about the glass shards on the floor!

Barefooted on one side, Maya accidentally stepped on one and cried out loudly, spilling half of the hot milk on the ground.

“Maya?” she heard Val cough from the bedroom. “Something. Happened?”

Maya forced down a whimper and bit the inner side of her cheek. “No,” she cried. “I’m fine. I slipped and strained my thigh, haha.”

The laugh was forced and strained, just like her smile as she tried to keep her composure for her. Val didn’t buy it for one second but could barely breathe to say much.

“Here’s your mug.” Maya handed her the milk, her hand jittering and her forehead sweating. “Watch out; it’s hot. Take short sips and lean back.”

“Where. Will you. Be going?” Asked Val, as Maya barely hid her limp.

“Cleaning up the mess that zombie did. See you later.”

Closing her bedroom door and the living room door, which was situated between it and the corridor, Maya leaned against the wall and slid down. She cried and inspected her foot.

An ugly long shard had embedded itself into the sole with many smaller ones in closed proximity. Maya dreaded the idea of removing them. The pain was already too much.

Wrapping some pieces of cloth around it and putting on a new pair of house shoes, Maya cleaned her way free from the shards and into the bathroom.

Half of the glass door was gone. Too many shards littered the ground. It took Maya a good half an hour to clean everything while she endured the pain that radiated from her foot and made its way up her leg.

Taking out the first aid kit, Maya sat on the closed seat of her toilet, unwrapping the cloth. She almost threw up and winced—unable to find the words to describe the wound without falling sick.

“This can’t be that bad. Just have to pull through- AH!” Maya yelped and dropped the tweezers. “I can’t do that. It hurts.”

There was a slight difference between getting a papercut or pulling shards out of your foot's soft flesh. Like in most books, Maya would read how the character would simply tough it out, grunt and pull the shards out as if it was just another day of slaying dragons.

For Maya, though, it was not. It hurt tremendously. She would rather get pinched by her brother until she got a bruise than do this—it would also hurt far less.

Maya tried again and only managed to get three grain-sized shards out before she threw the tweezers against the wall and sobbed.

“I’m not special. Just ordinary and useless. I can’t fight undead Vikings or even pull some stupid glass out of my damn foot!” Maya kicked the laundry bin and yelped, hitting her toe and nail. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. She’s better off without me-”

“Maya?”

—☾—

Val leaned against the metal doorframe, clutching her arm and breathing laboriously. She frowned at Maya’s bleeding foot and silently sat down before her, taking the tweezers and gently Maya’s foot in hand.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Hold. Still. I’ll make it. Quick. And Careful.”

“It will hurt, won’t it?”

“A lot,” admitted Val, breathing into the tweezers, bringing the metal to shine. “Think of something. Happy.”

Maya tried couldn’t suppress a smirk, but it was mixed with pain. “Then I’ll think of you.”

Val grinned at this. “That works.”

The Valkyrie went to work, plucking out the smaller shards skillfully. Maya barely noticed anything except for a lighter prick. She suppressed a whimper on the bigger ones, held a hand against her mouth and looked elsewhere, enduring it.

It might have been a coincidence that Val wore a top with a low neckline today, but it helped distract Maya just fine.

“This one. Will hurt.”

“Yeah, I can take it,” thought Maya, gaining some confidence during the process, but it quickly shattered like the mirror when the Draugr smashed it.

Maya yelped and then screamed into her hand. If Val didn’t hold her foot with the other hand, Maya would have already kicked her in the face to make her stop.

But Val didn’t and swiftly removed the shard. Maya let out a cry of relief. It was almost over. Val drenched a cloth in warm water and dabbed it against the wounds; Maya whimpered.

Val blew against Maya’s foot, closing the wounds until there was no sign of them left.

“How do you. Feel?” asked Val, brushing her thumb over the heel.

A little whine escaped Maya. “Still hurts a bit.”

Val suddenly kissed the base of her foot and met her eyes. “Better?”

Maya bit her lower lip and nodded with a blush from the surprise. “Better, thanks to you. Won’t even need to worry about walking,” she laughed.

Val smiled. “That’s good.” She gently kissed the top of her foot now and looked down. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

“Yours!?” Maya exclaimed. “How? No, it’s mine! I went up against those undead things because I thought I could take them. Fun fact, I COULDN’T!” Maya yelled, tears streaming down her face. “I was stupid and reckless. You exerted yourself by trying to save me.”

“But I brought. You. Into this,” said Val, her hand shaking. “You helped me. But I. Bring Danger. They even. Attacked you. At home.”

“It wasn’t so bad,” laughed Maya. “I mean, I got chased through my apartment, got my doors smashed, roped down my balcony in my gown—which I really hope to change out from finally—and stepped on glass. Sounds like a Tuesday.” Maya joked, but Val didn’t find it funny.

The Valkyrie sighed. “I shouldn’t be. Here. And drag you. Into. This. I should. Leave.”

“Please don’t!” Maya lowered herself to the ground and put her hand on Val’s. “I- I don’t want you to leave. I know it sounds weird, but I grew to like you… a lot. Let me help you. I want to help you.”

Val turned her hand and squeezed Maya’s, not feeling like letting her go. “I shouldn’t. But I don’t. Want. To leave… Are you. Certain? I can stay?”

Maya cracked a smile. “Totally. I grew addicted to your food and I can’t cook to save my life. Undead Vikings be damned. They’ll have to go through me.”

“Scary,” laughed Val, causing a chuckle out of Maya. “Thank you. Again. For your help.”

“Don’t worry about it. I mean it.” Maya stood up and tugged on her dirty gown again. She shuddered at her state. “I need a shower, or better, a bath. I feel dirty, but ergh, I don’t have the energy to scrub the tub.”

“Let me do—”

“NO!” protested Maya, keeping Val away from the cleaning equipment. “You did enough. Don’t pretend you can tough it out. Your breathing hasn't fully recovered. I can hear it. Go take a break.”

Val furrowed her brows, squirmed in place, and stapled her hands. “At least a. Little. Please?”

Maya narrowed her eyes at Val, whose squirming only worsened. Grumbling in response, Maya let out a defeated sigh. “Fine, but I’ll watch you, you hear me?” she gestured with her fingers from her eyes to Val’s, amplifying the statement. “I have to make a call. Don’t overdo it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Val saluted jokingly, cracking a smile after her hand went down.

Maya left the bathroom but glimpsed right back. Val waved at her until Maya slowly disappeared to pick up a phone—sadly, the Draugr destroyed hers.

Dialling a number, Maya waited for the other end to pick up. She blew a breath in the meantime. Feeling grimy and exhausted but happy, they were home.

She felt terrible for how she had forced Val to help her, but apparently, Val was also feeling remorseful for putting Maya in danger. “At least she will stay. I don’t think I would have liked her to leave.”

Maya put a hand on her heated cheek. Yes, she would have hated it if Val left.

“Whose calling?” came from the other end. Maya let out a relaxed sigh that Austin picked up despite the unknown number.

“Am I talking to the Ghostbusters?” she jokingly replied and waited for an answer. It beeped.

“Maya?” Austin eventually asked. “Where are you? What number is this?”

“Phone broke,” grumbled Maya. “Stepped on by a monster, but don’t worry, I’m fine. Val found me. We’re at home. Nothing should happen anymore, I hope.”

“Phew,” said Austin in relief. “Guess I don’t have to take the bus anymore. Would have taken ages anyway.”

“You’re so unreliable, you know?” joked Maya and Austin let out a mock reaction of shock.

“Maya. Bath is ready.”

“Coming!”

“What was that?” asked Austin. “Are you taking a bath together?”

Maya fumbled for words. “It’s not like that! We…” she whispered. “I don’t think I am ready for that yet.”

“Damn girl! Have fun. I have something to take care of, and apparently, you too.” Austin let the phone run a bit more, listening to Maya fumbling desperately for explanations. He laughed and snapped a twig underneath his boot as he approached the Draugr he destroyed.

One of them, the bulkiest one, was still struggling underneath the tree Austin uprooted to save Maya.

“Tell me. Who sent you?” Austin crouched before the Draugr and grabbed its face with his tawny hand. “Who are you working for? Loki? Utgard-Loki? Mimir? Thrym? Hm? Answer me.”

The Draugr gurgled from the pressure of Austin’s hand. The bones cracked, and an eyeball fell out before Austing crushed its head, turning it into mush.

“I know you never would have answered. Have a pleasant stay in Helheim.” Austin turned to the rest of the Draugr approaching him. “Ah, the cavalry, I presume? Do your worst.”

Austin’s arm enlarged. He slammed it into the entire contingent of undead warriors and turned the scene into a battlefield.