"Don't be ridiculous."
Hearing Hela's question, Heisenberg shook his head calmly.
"You Asgardians really seem to hate the Celestials. Whether it's you or Odin, you can't stop talking about them. But rest assured, I'm not one of that lot!"
As Heisenberg spoke, he waved his right hand slightly.
Moments later, the silently hovering Danfort City slowly began its descent.
Hela stared at the city that looked like stacked toy blocks around her. Once again, she blinked in astonishment.
Heisenberg noticed her expression, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but lift.
How to describe this goddess? Odin had really been right about her.
In some ways, this woman was just like a child. She had an immense need for recognition and respect, and she was unbelievably stubborn.
Seeing Hela's adorably shocked expression, Heisenberg couldn't help but recall her original future.
In Thor: Ragnarok, after Surtur rose from the Eternal Flame, Hela could have escaped like Thor. She could have abandoned Asgard when it was clearly doomed. Even if leaving Asgard would have weakened her somewhat, it certainly wouldn't have ended with her perishing alongside her home.
But some people are just like that.
They never abandon the very thing others would sooner destroy.
A woman like Hela, hatred might not last forever in her heart. After all, even though Odin had imprisoned her for countless years, she had never really gone for the killing blow and wiped out Odin's remaining children. She definitely had the ability to do so, especially against a Thor without Stormbreaker.
And if she loved, then it was eternal.
Just like her deep love for Asgard. Since she loved it, how could she ever abandon it?
Thinking of this, Heisenberg reached out, habitually intending to ruffle Hela's hair.
That wasn't odd at all. This was Heisenberg, the old cat-stroker, the man who saw every creature and wanted to pet them.
But the moment his right hand approached the top of Hela's head, she reacted violently.
Like a startled cat, her eyes flew wide open. With a jolt, she immediately stabbed her Necrosword straight through Heisenberg's palm.
"What do you think you're doing?!?"
Hela was utterly alarmed. Of course she knew what Heisenberg was trying to do. The question was, how dare he? How could he have such audacity?!
Staring at the hand so close to her face, Hela turned her head away, refusing to look at Heisenberg's smiling face any longer.
The downturn of her lips was written all over with the emotions of a stray cat abandoned by its family.
Seeing Hela's flustered and shocked reaction, Heisenberg retracted his right hand and burst out laughing.
At the same time, a small, warm flame ignited in his right palm. His sunfire went to work, and within the span of a breath, the wound vanished.
Heisenberg then stepped closer to Hela. She involuntarily backed away under his approach, but he simply stopped and spoke.
"Most of the Chitauri are dealt with. The scattered remnants can be left to Asgard's warriors to hunt down. As for you and me, let's go back to Asgard and talk. How about it?"
"You dare let me return to Asgard?"
Hela was surprised, and an uncontrollable happiness flickered within her.
She had been banished from her homeland for over five millennia. She wanted nothing more than to go back.
But she wanted to fight her way back, not be brought there by her enemy.
Uh...
She instinctively shook her head. This man in front of her... maybe he was just an opponent.
No, he was her damn father-killer!
But such a damn formidable father-killer. And so handsome...
Heaven knows how many thoughts flashed through Hela's mind in those brief moments.
As for Heisenberg, he simply watched Hela and nodded gently.
"Why wouldn't I dare? It's your home, after all."
"Home. Hah. How... painfully sentimental of you to say!"
It seemed the word "home" had touched a raw wound. Hela snorted with dissatisfaction.
"It was in that very home that the father I fought centuries for imprisoned me. The Valkyrie Corps I took such pride in betrayed me. My army of the Einherjar was sealed away by Odin. Everything I had was stripped from me!"
"Isn't that Odin's fault? The home itself is innocent, don't you think?"
As Heisenberg spoke, he raised Gungnir toward the sky.
"Heimdall, find Frigga. Have her bring Hela and me back to Asgard."
The moment his words fell, Heisenberg received an immediate response.
"As you command, my king!"
Heimdall's voice sounded somewhat stiff. He still clearly hadn't gotten used to Heisenberg calling the shots.
But time would settle that.
Heisenberg lowered his arm and then, with the ease of an old friend, casually remarked to Hela.
"Wait a moment. Asgard's Bifrost hasn't been repaired yet, so we can't teleport instantly. It'll just be a moment."
"I heard. You need Frigga for the teleport. So who is this Frigga? Another one of Odin's children?"
Hela responded dismissively. What she didn't know was that in Heisenberg's eyes, this leopard-like feline of a woman answering at all meant that the heart hidden beneath her tsundere exterior was already slowly beginning to accept everything.
Heisenberg gave a knowing smile and answered softly.
"Frigga? She is Asgard's current Queen."
"Uh..."
Hela stiffened slightly and frowned.
"So she's your woman. She can command the essence of the Bifrost?"
"Don't misunderstand. She's Odin's Queen!"
Heisenberg refuted Hela's assumption, which made Hela's lips instinctively curl upward.
Then, with feigned indifference, she added,
"Odin found a new woman? And this woman kept her position as Queen even after you killed Odin?"
At this point, Hela frowned with disdain.
"During the days of my imprisonment, has Asgard truly fallen this low? Was there not a single person willing to fight you to the death for Odin?"
"Of course there was. You, for instance!"
Heisenberg winked at the scornful Hela.
"Aren't you the one who wants to avenge him the most?"
"Heh. I only hate that you stole my right to kill him, you bastard!"
"Haha, alright, alright. I believe you, haha!"
Heisenberg laughed out loud. His laughter made Hela feel utterly mortified.
"You dare mock the Goddess of Death of the Nine Realms?! I...!"
"What will you do? Draw your big sword right now and avenge Odin?"
"I will kill you, but not for his vengeance. For the honor of the throne over the Nine Realms! No one takes the throne of Asgard!"
"Just the throne? Don't give me that nonsense! Admit it. I can see the love for Odin in your heart. Even imprisoned by his own hands, you still love your father."
"YOU!!!"
Hela completely lost her composure. She drew her Necrosword once again.
But looking at Heisenberg, who merely smiled without any intent to fight, Hela suddenly lost the strength to attack.
Because Heisenberg was right.
Being seen through so completely was a deeply unsettling thing. For Hela to feel unsettled right now was only natural.
She held her sword aloft, hesitating for several seconds before finally sheathing it with a sulky expression.
"I'll kill you once we're back in Asgard, you bastard!"
"Mm-hm. Kill me. Then why is your face red?"
"That's my rekindled bloodlust and anticipation for war!"
"And your racing heart? Also because of that?"
"Obviously!"
"Then let me tell you something else. Odin lost, but I didn't kill him on the spot. The real cause of his death was the inevitable dissipation of his Odinforce. Before he died, perhaps to preserve Asgard's wholeness, he promised me many things. Want to know what he promised?"
As he finished speaking, Heisenberg gazed deeply into Hela's eyes.
Their gazes inevitably met. Hela panicked and quickly looked away.
"What did he promise?"
Even as she asked, it was as if Hela had already guessed something. Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated even more.
Watching the increasingly flustered Princess Hela, Heisenberg laughed heartily.
"He bet everything he had and lost it all to me. His Gungnir. His Asgard. His people. And his children. Oh, and he said you'd make a fine future Queen of Asgard. Hahaha!"
"BULLSHIT!!!"
Hela instantly exploded. Her flowing black hair trembled violently, mirroring the chaos of her emotions.
"I would absolutely never..."
"Hold on. The Bifrost is here!"
Seeing the rainbow bridge descending from the heavens, Heisenberg cut Hela off directly. He grabbed her and pulled her into the Bifrost's transmission.
Moments later, the two landed precisely within the royal palace.
In that instant, the feeling of returning home washed away every other thought in Hela's mind.
All the hatred, all the resentment, all the panic, set aside for now.
She was home!
Uncontrollably, greedily, passionately, Hela's gaze swept over every blade of grass and every piece of wood around her.
Wait...!
Where was her vast Asgard?
How had it all turned into ruins?!
Where was her enormous palace?
How was only half of it left?
Where were her great mountains and rivers?
Why did it look like they'd been trampled by colossal beasts?
Had Surtur already been here?
Had Asgard already faced Ragnarok?
Her head filled with questions, Hela walked dazedly toward the ruined plaza in the distance.
She took a single step, then froze.
What was grabbing her hand?
What the hell?
No.
What damn bastard was holding her paw?!
She immediately turned a face full of fury toward Heisenberg.
You actually dare...!!!
"This must be Princess Hela?"
Before the mortified Hela could speak, a pleasant voice from ahead cut her off.
Hela snapped her head toward the source.
Opposite her, Frigga acted as if she didn't even see Heisenberg and Hela's clasped hands. With her usual grace, she offered Hela a greeting.
"I am Frigga. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness, the Princess."
"Hah. So you're the Queen of Asgard?"
"Indeed."
Frigga nodded without hesitation. Her natural composure made Hela frown in displeasure.
"You're Vanir. No wonder you can control the Bifrost even when it's broken! Before I left, Asgard didn't have this kind of technique. I assume you brought it with you! I don't remember a Vanir named Frigga. So whose child are you? Njord's?"
"Correct. My father is indeed Njord."
"That makes you quite young then."
"I am indeed a few thousand years your junior."
"Heh. Sharp tongue."
"As you say."
"Your irksome mannerisms are exactly like your father's!"
"And yours are the same."
"I...!!!"
Hela was finally and truly bristling again.
But before she could fully erupt, Frigga simply shook her head calmly and smiled at Hela.
"Regardless, welcome back to the homeland you've been so long separated from, Hela."
As she spoke, Frigga stepped forward and gently took hold of Hela's free left hand.
Taking the cue, Heisenberg released Hela, allowing Frigga to lead the princess, her face a storm of nostalgia and discomfort, deeper into the palace.
/-\
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