Lilac and Hunter were eating alone, just the two of them in his house much like that time when he first came to Alfheim years ago. But this time was different, more intimate. They were drinking a fancy alcoholic beverage [similar to wine] and Hunter was feeding her food he had prepared himself. Hunter reached his hand to her face and gently rubbed her cheek. He pulled her in a little closer as his hand moved to her ear. His index and thumb rubbing on it, moving to the pointed tip, needing it like delicate dough. Lilac tried her best to restrain herself, to hold in her voice, but it was no use. Her light whimpers turned to moans. “H-Hunter~ That place is sensitive~” Hunter didn't verbally respond, but his smirk told her he knew. He pressed on anyway. “Y-you.. naughty~” Lilac’s voice continued to come out against her will. Hunter moved in closer to her ear, his breath softly hitting it. He whispered gently into her ear.
“Ready for more~ Then I guess I'll have to carry you to the bed and-” Hunter was interrupted mid-sentence by a loud crowing sound.
Lilac woke up laying in Hunter's bed, her arm stretched out over an empty spot. “H-Hunter?”
Lady Hel was sipping some hot drink standing in the bedroom. “Called away by Vidar to go to Idavoll. Something urgent came up I guess. Apparently he found something in Odin’s old treasure room. Went looking for something he saw and forgot about till I brought up some stuff Lulu said about multiple trees of life. If you want to go meet up with everyone I can take you there. Though I'll give you a minute to collect yourself. All that shuffling around… you have a nightmare or something? About Hunter's death maybe?”
“N-no. The opposite of a nightmare.”
“Eh? Oh! Oh. You had that kinda dream. Damn. Well, was it good?”
“Blasted bird woke me up before I got to the good part. I hate when that happens.”
“I'd ask who the lucky guy was, but considering we both shared an awkward but uneventful night in his bed last night I don't think I have too. I agree that it sucks to wake up during the foreplay of a naughty dream, but we should focus on the important things right now. Come on, get dressed, we have responsibilities to tend to.”
“Why did we agree to both snuggle him in the bed?”
“We both wanted to have a night with him and we're both too stubborn to back down. If one of us knew when to quit, the other would probably not have to hope for a naughty dream.”
Lilac sighs. “I was being rhetorical.” She starts to get dressed and get ready for the day.
Meanwhile, on Idavoll, Hunter is just getting into the basement below the King's cabin belonging to Vidar. Vidar led him down there. “I've explained this a few times already Hunter, it's better to show it to you then explain it. Just be patient.”
“I lift a warm bed with two lovely ladies in it. When will my ugly ass ever get a chance like that again? So, in common and easy to grasp terms, this better be fuckin worth it Vidar. I've got an expiration date looming over me and I've yet to get past hand holding, kisses, and cuddles.”
“Maybe it's for the best since you still haven't narrowed it down to one. Should probably do that before, you know, sealing the deal as your brother would put it.”
“Ugh, don't remind me about him regularly talking like that.”
Vidar laughed as they finally entered the bunker-like basement that is Odin’s treasury. A room full of bookshelves, scrolls of paper, chests of gold and gems, various magical artifacts, and anything else Odin considered valuable.
Hunter would whistle in amazement if he could. “Wow, quite the hoard. All this survived Ragnarok?”
“Yep, this bunker was made to make sure this stuff survived. Including his notes on what he saw in his visions from the well. That's why I wanted you down here, to see this.” Vidar moved a bookshelf to show a wall painting showing a map of the realms. It was like Hunter's with all the changes he's made. The map was large and included actual art of each realm as it looks in the modern age.
“Okay, so… he mapped how the realms would look including the cataclysms in the current age with the correct placement. I don't see how this helps me.”
“This is the first in a three part set.” Vidar moved a second bookshelf to show a large painting of a tree at the center of a lake. The tree had things hanging from it that almost looked like bodies.
“The mannequin tree, the one mocked up to look like a twisted Yggdrasil. Odin and Loki saw it too?”
“Yeah, and it gets crazier when you see the third part.” Vidar moved a third bookshelf for a third painting.
A large Yggdrasil, but where the symbols or depictions of the realms would be were smaller Yggdrasils. The one in the center had a circle around it indicating that Odin knew our tree was the Midgard of these fifteen trees. Each tree looks different, ever so slightly. Hunter noticed the one where Helheim would be is the “Mannequin Tree”. The darkest of Yggdrasil in the cluster. Yggdrasil Black.
“I don't understand, what does this mean? Why would I be shown another Yggdrasil for realms outside this one? Why would any of us be shown this when it's clear none of us are leaving the confines of the World Tree we have.”
“I think this was intended for you Hunter, the living Bifrost. Only you have the potential to travel the Bifrost beyond the Yggdrasil we know. Only you have the potential to pierce the veil.”
“I'm going to be dead in a few years or so, I'm not going to have the chance to do anything because I will die in the war.”
“I’ve been thinking, what if the line “sacrifice happiness for the sake of the happiness of others” wasn't poetic license? What if it is literal? Because you, the living Bifrost, become with it and reach a level beyond any we've ever known. You have already reached a point one could call godhood, equivalent if not beyond an Aesir. What if you keep climbing, what if you transcend this reality?”
“My sacrifice of happiness is a different kind of death? The inability to ever see my loved ones again? I'd rather just die and be remembered than live with knowing I'd never be able to come home.”
“The robed figure felt familiar, the only answer I could come up with is that it was you. You traveling to other World Trees in the cluster and… I don't know… being a guardian of the orchard of fifteen trees and the fruits they produce.”
“I just want a happy ending Vidar, even if I don't get to see it. I don't care about the specifics. I'm staying the course.”
“I knew you'd say that, just felt you had a right to know. Should we tell the others?”
“No. You were right not to give them too much info. If this is a possibility then knowing it would complicate things. They might waste time looking for me when I'm impossible to find, waiting for me when it's impossible to return.”
Vidar nods. “Let's go back up then. We're done here.”
Hunter nods and follows Vidar back up and they seal up the secret basement once again before returning to the throne room. “You know it's surprising you care this much about me. I thought you hated me, or at least strongly disliked me.”
“Oh no, I dislike you quite a bit. But I care about Hel and her happiness. She likes you, and I want her to have a chance at being happy. With everything she's been through, she deserves it.”
“She does deserve happiness, I just don't know if I can give it to her in my limited time.”
“You are a good man Hunter Steel-Bone. I may not exactly like you, but I will work with you. For the good of my realm, for the good of them all. If it meant going through burning Muspelheim or freezing Niflheim. If it means going to Helheim and back, again. I would call you shield brother if it means pushing back the fire that threatens to consume our World Tree and everything in it.”
Hunter chuckles. “Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost.”
“What is that?”
“The first lines from a book where the writer describes the afterlives of the faith he was a part of. Heavily inspired by Greek philosophies and poetry. The first of his three books, Inferno, was for the bad place. The first line was the author expressing how lost he had felt during the time in his life. However, I am not lost in a dark forest. I know exactly the path I must walk. Much like ol' Dante however, it'll take me through the fire and back.”
Vidar nods. “Through the fire then, together. You are not alone.”
“Together then.” Hunter turns to leave the throne room when a very cross looking Lilac and Hel enter the room with crossed arms glaring daggers at Hunter. “L-ladies. Something wrong?”
“We awoke to an empty bed this morning, without warning. That's not okay.”
“I woke up in the middle of the night, or I guess early morning, to see a text from Vidar. It seemed urgent but I didn't want to wake you. Turns out it was just the senile scribbles of Odin’s madness but there might be something there to parse out. It'll take time but every advantage is to be taken right?”
Hel uncrosses her arms. “I know we said we would give you all the time you needed but… you only have so much to give. If you are worried about making one of us mad, losing them, or messing up the alliance, we promise to remain friends and not take it personally.”
Hunter got a bit animated with his talking and raised his voice a little, clearly frustrated. “I know that but how am I supposed to choose between two really great people whom I click really well with! I can easily see myself living out a full and happy life with either one of you and being happy. You are both great, and it makes this so much harder. I know that I'll still have a friendship with the one I don't pick but that doesn't make it any easier. I care for and have feelings for both of you, but I know I have no right to try and ask you to share me. You both deserve to be happy and I… I don't know if I can make you happy with the time that I have.”
Lilac uncrossed her arms and walked to Hunter to put a hand on his shoulder. “You've already made me happier, even early on when we were just getting to know one another and we're not even properly friends yet, you already made my life better by being in it. In fact, although you have suffered much and been given a bad deal by the hands of fate, everyone, every life you've touched, has been made better by you being in it. I'd hate to imagine what kinda state the realms would be in, if another was chosen in your place.”
Hel nodded in agreement. “You've reminded me, that despite everything I've been through and all I've endured, that I'm still capable and worthy of love. That I deserve love. Even if you don't pick me, even after you are gone, I'll live knowing that I can and should be allowed to be happy. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy, including you.”
Vidar hurmphs “Look Hunter, I may not exactly like you, and I have no idea why, but regardless of what you think; the world, the realms, they are better and will improve yet still because you exist. Lady Hel is right. Everything, everyone you e touched you've made or tried to make better. I understand that you may have made mistakes in the past. I understand that you feel there are things you have done that are unforgivable. If you ask me: the only time one becomes unforgivable, the only time they become truly irredeemable, is when they stop trying to do better or make things better for others. You are not your choices, you are not your mistakes. You are a person, simply trying to do his best. At the end of the day, what more could one really ask of you? If there is an afterlife, one waiting based on the deeds you've done throughout your life, then I truly think when you finally reach the end of the road you'll be worthy of paradise.”
Hunter gives a small but genuine smile. “Thanks guys. It's good to get a pep talk every now and then. I need it sometimes. Are we done here then Vidar? Everything covered?”
“There is a book I wanted you to look at. I showed it to Hel but she couldn't make heads or tales of it. I was hoping since your auto translator has been exposed to more languages it could figure it out.” Vidar hands an old leather bound book to Hunter.
Hunter takes the book and opens it up. He then shuts his eyes hard and blinks repeatedly before grabbing his head and grunting in pain. “Ugh, fuck. That's definitely unpleasant.”
Hel put a hand on Hunter's shoulder. “You okay? Is it not translating?”
“It's translating, but that's part of the problem. You see this crap that looks like gibberish written using characters from different languages? It's actually like… three layers or so of codex. My translator learned a number of different ways to encode messages or rather decode encoded messages.” Hunter pulls out his own notebook and starts writing. “There, that's what it looks like decoded.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Vidar looks at it and squints. “This… is still gibberish. I can't read this.”
Hel grabs the notebook, squints at it for a bit, then loudly goes. “Oh!” Before chuckling. “It's written in English. Sort of. Odin used runes and alphabets from different languages that look like English letters. That's some extra level of paranoia. Let's see… apparently, according to this, just before going to battle at Ragnarok, Odin took a second dip in the Well of Knowledge with a new question. He wanted to know more about…” she squints hard “The Cosmic Tree? Does he mean World Tree? Wait, no, he explains it here. Much as the Yggdrasil we know has the realms as fruit, so does the Cosmic Tree have smaller Yggdrasil trees as its fruits. Let it be known, that it is as above as it is below, and the number of trees on its branches equals fifteen. Each tree hanging on its branches and roots, fifteen fruits in number. This must be what Lulu meant when she mentioned that this Yggdrasil was part of a cluster of others. Seems Odin wanted to see what the realms were like for the other Yggdrasil trees in our cluster because he started having doubts as to whether or not he made the right choice. Seems even the All-Father wasn't immune to the inner dragon of self doubt.”
Hunter let out a nervous laugh. “That… actually kinda makes me feel better. Even the so-called god of knowledge and wisdom didn't have all the answers.”
Everyone nods then laughs at the absurdity they find themselves in for a while. Eventually Michael walks over with Thrud, the two holding hands.
“Oh hey Bro, how's life? Are you enjoying yourself here in Ivadoll since you moved in full time?”
“Yeah, Thrud and I are getting along swimmingly. Things couldn't get better. I even ate one of those golden apples and got some magic tattoos. That way I'm not pulling a Yamcha and getting bodies by an overgrown brussel sprout or some shit.”
“You did the trial of the apple and succeeded?”
“I'm almost as stubborn as you. Why are you even surprised?”
“That's true, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.”
Lilac and Hel get closer to Hunter and Lilac whispers to him: “Are… Is your brother and Thrud dating? How long has that been a thing?”
Hunter whispered as well, only Hel and Lilac hearing him. “Like… almost a year now. I'm pretty sure they're fucking.”
Hel has to keep herself from choking. “What?! After such a short amount of time?”
“He's spent all of that time with her, uninterrupted. He hasn't been going to other realms to work a day job or help form an alliance.”
“This seems unfair.” Hel crossed her arms. Lilac nodded with a grunt and did the same.
“I have responsibilities.” Hunter said in a normal voice.
Vidar looked into the distance. “Speaking of, it looks like an onvoy from Olympus is here.” Vidar pointed to a flying Greek style ship that floats and parks itself in the sky over Idavoll.
The onvoy consisted of three people. Two females and one male. The first female was clad in shiny golden Greek armor with a horse plume helmet and held a spear and shield looking like a hoplite. The second wore a sparkling long strapless silver dress that almost resembled a disco ball. The male was a scrawny, lanky, wired looking man with crazy red hair that was unkempt and looked like he had just hopped out of bed. The man was figgity and couldn't sit still.
Hunter and Vidar both walked up to greet them. Vidar speaking first. “Welcome honored guests, to what do I owe this honor?”
“Considering that they sent Athena, Aphrodite, and Hermes this is likely a diplomatic mission or peace negotiation. For those that don't know and haven't met, allow me to introduce: The Lady Athena in armor here, goddess of wisdom and battle. The Lady Aphrodite in the stunning dress here, goddess of beauty, peace, and love. The Lord Hermes looking like a caffeine addict, god of travelers and messenger of Olympus.”
Hermes laughed. “I'd take offense but I do look quite the mess. King Vidar, care to introduce the three that'll be on your side of the talks?”
Vidar nods and bows lightly before signing. “Introducing myself, Vidar the Silent, King of Idavoll and god of vengeance… I guess? I'm not sure my father ever gave me a proper title. This here is Lady Hel, Queen of Helheim and goddess of the damned. Last but not least we have…” Vidar looked at his options for a peaceful delegation. “Hunter Steel-Bone, The Crownless King and Living Bifrost.”
Athena raised an eyebrow. “He's not a god?”
“Neither are we despite the titles we give ourselves. Besides, he's reached a level comparable to our own. As I recall, Heracles was born of Midgard.” Vidar signed.
“Speaking of, he tagged along. Something about a sparring match. That can wait till after the negotiations.”
Vidar nodded and led the group into a meeting room in his cabin with a long table where everyone sat.
Athena started the talks once everyone was sat. “The reason we are here is because the news that realm travel, although limited, has been resumed. As such, since it has been over five thousand years, it has been deemed necessary by his divine highness and king of Olympus Zeus, to renegotiate what territories a domain we will hold on Midgard.”
Hel tilted her head. “Ex-excuse me? Midgard has been independent for half a lifetime by our standards. By Midgard standards our very existence is mere myth. Are you really suggesting you expect to go back to Midgard, after all this time, and rule over it as if nothing happened?”
“Clearly not, because if that was the case we wouldn't need to renegotiate new borders.”
Hunter leaned forward in his chair. “A lot has changed in Midgard since you were last able to go there. If you go to Midgard, and voice an intent to rule over even a portion of it, there will be problems. Midgard has, with minimal access to Bifrost energy, found ways to reproduce relics you'd need magic for, without aid. They have created weapons that can render an entire realm a lifeless husk. If they think there won't be repercussions for Midgard because it's technically a different planet, they won't hesitate to use them. The only thing stopping them from using them on themselves now is the concept and consequence of mutually assured destruction. Picking a fight with Midgard, especially now, is a bad idea. Not to mention that even if you adjust for life span you are essentially acting entitled to something you lost relatively speaking fifty years ago. That's absurd.”
“Five thousand years, a million years. They are below us and always will be. No amount of time will change the fact that by nature humans are but maggots to us. Not to mention the fact they were modified, on a genetic level, to be subservient. They were engineered to be slaves. They should be thankful we only request worship and not complete servitude.”
Hunter stands fast sending his chair back with a skid. “You stuck up, closed minded, entitled b-”
Vidar put his hand up and cut Hunter off before signing. “Lady Athena has made her opinion clear, but we have yet to hear from the other two delegates from Olympus.”
Hunter sits back down. “You’re right Vidar. How about your opinion Lady Aphrodite? Do you agree with Lady Athena?”
“I feel Lady Athena has maybe let her anger get the better of her. A tactician of her caliber should know it's best not to act until you have all the information. She's said similar things in the past when she's had her wits about her but even she is not immune to emotional sway. That said, sometimes the best way to ensure peace, is to remove the option of war.”
Hunter grumbles. “I was under the impression that the alliance was going to help free the realms from the threat of tyranny under Hastur, not be put under new management. I got several of the realms to join the alliance under the promise they would remain independent. It would be unfair not to give Midgard the same assurance.”
Vidar waved over to Hermes..”Lord Hermes, your opinion?”
“This is above my station if I'm being honest. I think we should just leave things alone and not rock the boat. Everything is going fine without stirring a mess.”
Hunter nods. “This is all or none people. We either stand together, or fall alone.”
Athena takes a breath and lets out a sigh. “Right, sorry. We should let calm minds prevail and think strategically. The issue of Midgard should be at least tabled. I should be able to convince my father of that.”
“Apologies Lady Athena, but that's not good enough for me. I want… no I need your word that Midgard will be left alone even after the war.” Hunter's voice was surprisingly firm.
Athena raised an eyebrow at Hunter. “I hardly think you are in a position to make demands, however I think I might humor you. Heracles joined us on coming here because of something to do with a truly worthy challenge, first of it's like since Thor. If you take that spot, soar with Heracles, and win. I'll give you my word that Olympus will not make any moves against Midgard in any way.”
Hunter put his hands over his mouth, knitting his fingers together to cover the small devilish smirk on his face. “Oh really? You're placing a net then? If that's the case I want you to swear it on the river Styx.”
Athena was taken aback but did her best to keep composure. She probably didn't expect someone outside of Olympus to be familiar with that particular tradition. “I ..” she hesitated.
“What's the matter?” Hunter teased “You sounded so confident before. Could it be, the goddess of battle tactics and wisdom was bluffing?”
“Fine, I swear on the river Styx that if you beat Hercules in a spar, Olympus will make no moves against Midgard.”
Hunter gets up and does a stretch. “I'll be at the arena getting ready. Just send him my way.” He leaves the meeting room to go to the arena.
Hel chuckled lightly. “Hunter was the one Heracles was coming here to spar, I think he just played you Athena.”
Athena’s eyes widen for a bit before normalizing. “False bravado, there's no way he can beat Heracles in combat.”
“We'll see. But I highly doubt someone would bet their realm if they didn't actually think they could win.”
Everyone gathered at the arena to see the match. Heracles was in full gear. His leather armor is made from Nemean lion, his bow and arrows, his club, and a sword.
Hunter did some more stretching at the arena before unsheathing Light-bringer, the sword floating and summoning its ghost swords. He then transformed into his Butcher form before calling forth his armor and shields. Once ready, the two clashed hard, sending a blast wave from the impact kicking up dust. The two matched each other blow for blow. Kicking up dust and using everything in their arsenal. Lightning fired in all directions from both of them. Fire and ice soreat from Butcher during some attacks. The earth shook multiple times. Heracles alternated between his club and a sword and shield set up during the fight. He even used his bow from time to time.
Between the physical and magical strikes and the constant explosions from the cannons on Butcher's shields it didn't take long for the area to be so covered in loose dust that the people watching couldn't see anything. Only the clash of metal, the burst of elemental energy, and the blasts from the cannons. The two fighters, they could see just fine. Butcher continued to parry arrows and physical attacks as he did his best to land a solid hit.
Lilac put her hand to her eyes and squinted. “I can't see anything.” She exclaimed “How am I supposed to know who's winning?”
Hel chuckled lightly. “Honestly, you shouldn't even need to ask. This is Hunter we are talking about. His entire realm is at risk. Do you really think he'd put it on the line if he didn't think he could win? I'm not worried in the slightest, and if you look over there you'll see neither is Vidar. So just sit back and wait.”
It felt like hours had passed. Butcher was bruised, bloodied, and beaten to shit. So was Heracles. They both huffed and puffed ragged breaths as they struggled to keep going. Eventually the dust settled and the crowd could see the pair again. Panting like crazy and struggling to throw punches. Light-bringer had been stabbed into the ground and was glowing but couldn't free itself. The bow was sitting on the ground near the wall, the string broken. Hercules was out of arrows anyway and all but one of Hunter's shields lay partly buried like Light-bringer was.
As they continued to let out heavy breaths, Heracles laughed. “Best fight I've had in ages, but it looks like I win.”
Butcher struggled to talk over his own heavy breath. “You haven't been paying attention have you?”
Heracles did one final charge, but as he did the ground under him collapsed and he fell into a hole.
“All those little quakes that hardly managed to throw you off balance, I was digging a pit fall trap.”
“Well played, but it's not over yet.” Heracles struggled to try and climb up but couldn't quite find the strength.
Butcher tossed a rock at Hercules' face causing him to fall and lose the little progress he'd made. “Just stop being stubborn already and take a nap. We can always have another go later.”
Heracles flops to the floor. “Yeah, fine. We still have to clean this place up anyway.”
Athena was shocked. Although Heracles was clearly stronger, Hunter was able to match him with his own durability. The strategy Hunter used proved him the smarter of the two. Though Heracles wasn't an idiot, he was no genius either. “Well then, it looks like Hunter wins. I'll keep my word.”
“Good, cause imma takin’ a nap.” Butcher pocketed his gear minus Light-bringer and collapsed to the floor before reverting to normal Hunter.
Athena let out a sigh. “I guess I'll move him to a bed.”
Hel took a step forward. “Now hold up there you-”
Michael, who had been watching the fight with them, put his hand on her shoulder before whispering to her. “If you are worried about her trying anything, don't be. If I remember what Hunter told me correctly, Athena is one of three major Olympian goddesses who've taken vows of chastity.”
Hel relaxed a bit. “Nevermind, go ahead.”
Athena picked up Hunter off the floor. “He's earned my respect, so it's the least I can do.” She carries Hunter off to a guest building so he can rest.
Everyone that gathered for the fight starts to scatter but Vidar stops Hel. “One second, there's something we should discuss. Privately.”
Once everyone else has gone on to do other things Vidar starts to sign to Hel. “You were right, about me not telling you everything that I saw. I did get clear visions like those before me but had a number of fears about some of the things I saw.”
“I know Vidar. I think we already talked about this. You have your reasons for not giving information.”
“I know, but there are some things I kept to myself because I didn't want to burden you more than necessary. I wanted to allow you to make your own choices and your own mistakes but… you should back off from trying to be with Hunter. I'm not saying there's no chance of him picking you, because that's not true. It's because of his expiration date.”
“Look, I don't care if I only get five to ten years with him, I'm not giving up. I'll just have to treasure what I get and make the most of it.”
“That’s the thing Hel, he doesn't have five to ten years. I don't know who or where that estimate first came from but I ran with it because I thought the truth would be harder to handle. The truth is, he dies next year. By the time he's chosen someone to be with, the best they'll get is a season or two. You should close your heart to him now, let the elf take the full burden. Save yourself some heartache.”
“Are you fucking serious?! After everything I've been through, everything I've sacrificed, when I finally find something… someone that could make me happy. Just when I was starting to think five years would be okay.”
“He's been on a ticking clock for nearly a decade now. From what I can tell Ymir was triggered when the cataclysms started to become noticable. I'm not sure why it took five years for him to jump the first time but from what I've seen in Odin's notes some futures he saw had Hunter jump sooner. I'm guessing he's been getting pulled at since the power first linked with him but he's been able to resist the pull till eventually he couldn't.”
“Are you saying that I could have had more time, he could have had more time, if someone had given him a push? My father could have been in Midgard waiting and been more active. Then Hunter would have longer to be happy before his death.”
“Then how would he have been there to give Hunter the eyes of Himedol and explain things to him? Do you really think Loki could just sit in Midgard for five thousand years without anyone noticing and without messing around with people?”
“I don't know, but somehow Odin and my father set it up so an artifact that attracted Ymir’s Midgard segment ended up in a museum he knew Hunter would be at over five thousand years later. Clearly they could have done something.”
“That's assuming they gave a single fuck about Hunter and his happiness. We are talking about people who crippled you, started a realm spanking war, and committed long form suicide in the name of their goal. Do you really think they spent even a fraction of a second thinking about how you or Hunter felt?”
“I… I… but it isn't fair!”
Vidar clawed and shook his hands out of frustration before signing. “Life isn't fair! Besides, last time we talked you weren't even sure if you had romantic or sexual feelings for him. So why the fuck do you care so much?”
“I at least wanted a chance to figure it out, I at least wanted the time to… have something. Once again it feels like I'm being robbed of the choice.”
“You have a choice, you can start moving on and hope someone else comes along. It's a whole lot better than clinging to someone who's going to die in a little over a year.”
“So you want me to do what? Let Lilac take in the full burden of the heartbreak? Either way someone is getting a broken heart.”
“Yeah, but it doesn't have to be you.”
“You'd rather me push the suffering to someone else, someone you don't know well, then watch someone you care about endure heartbreak. In the end, this isn't about me, is it? This is about how you'll feel seeing me in shambles. You haven't changed at all. Even when doing your best to help others, you somehow find a way to make it about you. We're done talking here. I'll go live my life as I see fit, and I don't want nor need any more advice from you.”
“That's not what I- You're so frustrating sometimes!”
“Well so are you.” Hel leaves with a huff to find something she can throw or break for a while to vent her frustrations for a few hours. When she's finished she goes to Hunter's guest cabin. She finds Lilac is already there, watching over a sleeping Hunter who is stirring a lot in his sleep. “Is he having a nightmare again?”
“I think so. I thought they were getting better but I think it might be getting worse.”
Hel takes a seat next to Lilac. “Maybe he knows, subconsciously, just how little time he actually has.” She spoke under her breath but Lilac could still hear her.
“What do you mean? I thought he had at least five years, ten tops.”
Hel shook her head sadly. “He's got till the end of next year max. Vidar just told me.”
Lilac slumps in her chair. “So even if he were to make a decision in the morning, we'd get about a year and a half tops. That… just sucks. What… what do you want to do?”
“I don't know. Vidar suggested I distance myself and let you have Hunter in order to save myself some heartache. I mean I still wasn't sure I even wanted to get romantic with him or not. I needed more time, more than we have. But I don't want to just give up.”
“Neither do I.” Lilac puts her hand on Hel's. “I at least know what I want from Hunter though so you better figure it out fast. I'm already thinking of baby names.” Lilac chuckled.
Hel also chuckled, then let out a sad sigh. “If… if you do get to that point. He'll… never get to meet the child.”
“I… wasn't even thinking about that. Regardless I'm not giving up and I'll keep moving forward with Hunter. If you want to keep trying as well I won't stop you. Ultimately it's up to Hunter and he already said he wouldn't feel right trying to have us both.”
“I don't think I'd be comfortable sharing him anyway. Not once things get to a certain point. Kind of envy you though. Even if he chooses me, I'll never be a mother.”
“Let's not think about any of that for now though. Let's just get some sleep and remain by Hunter's side.”
Hel nodded in agreement and they both climbed into bed with Hunter. Dozing off with him between them.