-5 years ago-
"My son, you must learn to control your rage, to focus it into each strike. Anger is a powerful emotion, and an even stronger tool. If utilized properly, your anger can become your greatest asset." Odin says to a younger me, after I had charged at him in a blind rage after hours of frustrating sparring. I hadn't even landed a single blow on my father, and it was incredibly frustrating.
"I'm trying! I still can't hit you no matter what I do! Fuck!" I yell, trying to hit him with my sword but ultimately failing once again. I'm starting to get tired, and it's making my form worse as time goes on.
"Watch your language, boy, before your Mother catches you talking like that," Odin says, his one good eye glaring at me.
"Too late." My mother says as she walks into the training area. Both Odin and I flinch at her voice, and fear instantly grips my heart.
"W-wait a minute! Mom! NOOOOOO!"
-
Thinking back to that day, I still hadn't felt this much anger. Even then it was impossible to control, yet for some reason, right now I feel more focused than that time. All of my rage is focused on one goal.
One thing. Killing that monster.
My friend is dead.
My comrade is dead.
Avaria died right in front of me! This will not stand!
"AGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" I scream out like a madman as I charge forward, my eyes glowing bright as my emotions force my powers to activate. I can see the movements the monster will make 1 second into the future, and I'm easily able to adapt. It tries to dodge, but I adapt, swinging my sword down as I chop it's fucking arm off with one swing.
"RARGHHH" The monster screams out, dodging backwards before standing up on its hind quarters and swinging it's other arm at me. The attack is so fast I'm unable to dodge, especially after just landing on the ground, and I get launched backwards several feet, claw marks cutting into my skin.
"Argh, FUCK YOU!" I yell out, launching at it again. This time I change my tactics, and I wait for the monster to swing its arm at me, and using my eyes, I duck under and put my sword in the way. The deviant doesn't predict my evasion, so It swings it's arm right through my sword like butter, and the severed arm quickly falls to the ground.
However, instead of reeling in pain, it fights through, spinning around and slamming it's tail into me with incredible force. I go flying back, having the wind knocked out of me and slamming my back into a tree.
"Argh, shit..."I mutter as I try to catch my breath, but my break is short lived as the deviant quickly launches at me, it's jaws open and deadly. I try to move out of the way, but it manages to grab my left arm, and begins to thrash around.
"ARGHHHHH!" I can feel the flesh slowly ripping as it's jaws tear through my flesh. The pain is insane, but I can feel my brain numbing the pain automatically. It's a strange feeling, going into shock. You can feel everything, and yet the pain is numb. However, for some reason I can feel my heart go into overdrive as I focus even further, lifting my sword and stabbing the deviant in the brain.
With one last thrash, the deviant simultaneously rips off my left arm at the shoulder and dies at nearly the same time, it's body going limp next to me.
And with one last sigh of relief, I feel my mind go blank and my body grow heavy, the blood loss getting to me.
The last thing I hear before unconsciousness overtakes me is the simultaneous screaming of my name.
"VERDANDI!"
-
"Ah, my dear brother, visiting me already I see?" I hear a feminine voice whisper in my ear as I awaken in a dark place. With just a glance around I notice dark rock spires and a Grey sky. I can tell the world around me is gloomy and depressing, even in spite of the fact my vision is all cloudy.
"Unfortunately it's not yet your time, not for a long while. Begone, Verdandi Odinson." I hear the voice again, and a womanly figure appears in my vision. I don't recognize her, but I know who she is instantly.
Then, my vision goes black once more.
-
"He's waking up! Guards, get the Allfather!" I hear the voice of my mother, who sounds excited and overjoyed.
"Mom?" I call out as I open my eyes, the dim evening light of the sun enveloping me in a warm hug. I take in my surroundings, and I'm once again in my room, lying on my bed, exhausted. I try to move my arms to sit up, and my right responds, but for some reason I can't feel the other one.
Fuck, I'm down an arm.
"What happened? Ugh, is everyone okay?" I ask, leaving against the headboard of my bed and looking her in the eyes as she leans over to hug me gently.
"Oh, my darling boy, I'm so glad you're okay." She says, her voice and body both trembling, I can even feel her tears hitting the skin of my shoulder, "Everyone is fine, the eternals made it out okay... but we lost Avaria... and Axl is devastated. It seems he truly loved that girl."
Sadness and pain fills my heart as I remember watching her die right before my eyes.
I watched axl's heart get torn in two.
I could do nothing to stop it.
"God, I'm so powerless..." I say as I begin to sob into my mother's shoulder. I hug her as tightly as I can as I weep, holding onto her for dear life.
"I know Verdi, I'm so sorry... Avaria was a brave and beautiful young warrior, and she will be sorely missed. I'm surrounded by now she is surrounded by our fellow asgardians in the halls of Valhalla." She says, but it only eases the pain a little. The reality of having lost a friend hitting me hard.
"Where's Axl?" I ask, still hugging her. My voice is trembling, but I know I need to comfort my friend.
"He's surely on his way, Verdi. Just be patient. Don't try to get up, you'll only fall on your face. You've been asleep for over a month." Freya says as she pulls away. I can feel the love in her gaze, and I feel so bad for worrying her, but I know apologizing won't get me anywhere.
"I need to be stronger..." I say to myself as she sits on the bed.
"Then train. Train like there's no tommorrow, but don't you dare beat yourself up about this. I personally spoke with the Eternals about what happened, and if it wasn't for your plan things could've been much worse. You did good, Verdi. You couldn't have saved her, it wasn't your fault." My mother says, her hand squeezing mine in comfort.
"Tell that to Avaria." I say, the anger in my voice stabbing like a knife into my mother, but being the Mature and kind mother she is she simply shrugs off my anger, knowing where it's coming from.
"I know you're grieving, so I'll let your tone slide this time, but watch it. I'm still your mother, and you will speak to me as such. Do not take my caring nature as weakness." She says with a small glare, and I feel a chill go down my spine.
"I apologize." I say, suddenly scared for my life. She has every right to hit me upside the head for my disrespect, but thankfully she let's it go.
"You're forgiven. Ah, and it seems your loved ones are here." She says as she turns to the door, which then swings open and several people run in; Axl, Thor, Loki, Odin(who is walking not running), and Voltair.
"Verdi! I'm so glad you're okay!" Says Thor, who immediately grabs me in a bear hug and squeezes me. I can feel a slight tremble in his body, even despite his smiling face, but I font point it out. I simply hug him back, to which the others join in, all except Odin, who simply smiles at the scene next to Freya, who moved to make room.
"Thanks guys, but I can't breathe." I squeel out, the dog pile crushing my lungs. They all laugh and proceed to get off me, and I take a dramatic breath in, which gets another laugh.
"Alright, I'm glad you're all here, and I'm okay, missing an arm, but I'm fine. Hopefully I can get a nice prosthesis of some kind in the future, who knows." I say, making light of literally losing an arm.
"Well, I for one am glad you're okay, but it did get kinda dicey there. Loki over here was crying about whether or not you'd make it. HAHAHA!" Thor bellows put, to which Loki immediately slugs him, a slight blush on his face from embarrassment.
"So we're you, you Oaf!" He shoots back, to which Thor then immediately shuts up.
"Anyways, as much as I'd like to chat some more, I need to speak with Axl and Voltair, if you all wouldn't mind stepping out for a minute." I say, looking into everyone's eyes one by one, to which most of them nod and begin to leave the room.
Once they leave, I open my mouth to speak, but Axl cuts me off.
"Don't you say a damn word! I know what you're gonna say, and I don't wanna hear it! I know you're sorry, I know you feel terrible, that's just who you are, but it wasn't your fault! We both know that! There was absolutely no way you could've seen that coming, so don't you dare give me your pity, your self loathing, or your shame! All it's gonna do is piss me off even further! It was a battle, Verdi. We both know the risks. Ava knew the risks. Her... death... while deeply painful, is also the reality. You can't see the damn future, no one knows what is gonna happen until It happens! I know you've got that weird precognition ability, and it's super cool, but it's not perfect! So just shut the fuck up and let everyone grieve!" Once he finishes his monologuing, despite his harsh words, his face is flushed red and tears are streaming down his face.
Voltair puts a gentle, comforting hand on his shoulder, a tear going down his face as well. I try to stand up, only for my legs to not work in the slightest as I fall down. Voltair catches me with one hand, and pulls me up by my one good arm.
"Thank, Voltair." I say before bringing Axl into a comforting hug, one I'm sure we both need.
The next 5 minutes are filled with the quiet sobs of Axl, and nothing else.