Worlds Away (p)

Luke was a lion. Like, literally, he was shapeshifted into a lion right now, wandering the streets of Boston, when he heard a few kids talking- well, really, they were some elves he knew. He heard them talking about some frost giant being unleashed into Midgard. He learned the location of it (even though it wasn't hard), and he went after it, being the stupidly brave adventurer he was. Luke stopped when he saw the giant, and turned back into a human. He drew his sword and charged the beast, and took out one of it's legs, downing it. He then turned into a lion and attacked it's head, tearing it open. The giant flung him off, prompting him to turn to a bird and fly off.

He noticed a downed girl by a wall. Luke flew over, and turned human. He gasped at the sight: it was the Valkyrie he met the other day, Kehlani. Luke quickly went over to her and brushed her face with his thumb. She was out. Luke picked her up and tried to run off, but the giant smashed and nearly took them both out. Luke dropped her and turned around and just as he was about to shapeshift, he felt a piercing pain in his chest. The frost giant had sent an ice block through him. Luke fell over and felt his life slip away from him. His body dropped to the ground, and next thing he knew, he opened his eyes to Valhalla.

Luke heard Kehlani's voice upon arrival to Valhalla. He panted, looking around, frightened. They were in a hotel room, and he was laying down. He quickly got up, and tried to process what was going on. Did he just...no, it couldn't be. But he felt so much better. Stronger, faster, inhuman. It wasn't like waking up from a regular nap, it was like waking up from a nap after taking a dip in the fountain of youth. Luke looked at Kehlani. He didn't know her that much, but so shaken up from just experiencing death, he hugged her.

"Kehlani...what...did....I died," he said, holding on to her, almost in tears. "Am I in Valhalla?"

Luke nodded and followed her. He listened to what she had to say, trying to calm himself down. "So, as an einherji, do I still get to eat and enjoy li...death and stuff? Do I still get enjoyment?" Maybe it wasn't as bad as Luke originally thought. "I just can't believe it, I'm so damn stupid! Why did I go after that giant, why did I do that? I could still be alive if my mind didn't wander. Oh my gods, what about my family? My mother and my cousin? What do I do? They're going to freak out!" he started freaking out again. Others were staring at him.

Luke was instantly calmed down by her taking his hand and telling him things would be okay. It was a calming sensation, like a mother telling her child nothing bad would ever happen to them. In hind sight, he was dead now, meaning nothing much worse could happen. And on the bright side, he'd get to spend eternity helping Odin and others fight back against the inevitable end of the world, Ragnarok. Also, even if he didn't completely want to admit it to himself, Kehlani was here with him. That was all that mattered.

Still, Luke worried about his family. He hoped they'd be alright and take the news well that he was dead. Luke's thought process was deep, and he didn't even realize he was in the dining place until Kehlani told him to sit. Luke obeyed and did so, leaning back on a chair. "I suddenly feel calmer," he admitted, rubbing his thumb against her hand.

"Alright," Luke said, and smiled. "Thanks, Kehlani, I really appreciate it." He sighed after looking at her for a few seconds. In a weird way, his death brought them closer than before. Luke had never felt like he trusted a person so much, which was ironic. He usually couldn't be trusted. Luke realized, in that moment, how much he was grateful for Kehlani, and how much he liked her, even past physical appearance. She was the only one left, the only one around him who made him feel welcomed and relieved in this scary adventure. After a few moments, Luke heard his name and went up. He watched his death, and after a few moments of discussing, the others decided he'd stay in Valhalla for trying to kill the giant and help out Kehlani.

"Thanks," Luke said, examining the rune. "I really appreciate it, Kehlani. This isn't as bad as I thought. So, where's the training area here? Like, don't we train for Ragnarok here?" he asked and looked around. "This is the rest of eternity for me...Kehlani, I can't honestly tell you how glad I am that you're here with me. If it wasn't for you, I'd be so stressed out right now." Luke looked at her in the eyes. "Thank you so much. Uh, Estoy agradecido, Valkyrie hermosa. Did I get it right this time?" he smiled.

"Sorry, my Spanish is not top notch, I'm shocked I didn't screw that one up." Luke nodded and used his rune to get them there. "I don't know what to think of that, that's like kind of cruel and cool at the same time." Luke looked around in his room. It resembled a mansion, and was like he was rich. Luke stared in awe. "This is more than I've ever had when I was alive." He looked at Kehlani. "So, you want to have some fun? I mean, not like that. Like milkshakes and inviting over some people to party," he said and laughed.

"Oh, that's right...I'll just invite some hallmates." Luke clicked on a button and magically, two milkshakes appeared in front of them. Luke handed her one. "A toast to being dead," he joked, "well, me, at least." He took a sip. His was strawberry, his favorite flavor. "So Kehlani," he said and looked at her. "It's there a place here for normal human things, like dates? Because, well, uh, I know this beautiful Puerto Rican Valkyrie down the hall. I had planned on asking her out when I was alive, but, what are you going to do?" he asked, just teasing her.

Kehlani looked at the Oreo milkshake in her hand and took a sip of it through the red and white straw. It was amazing, nice and creamy with the perfect chunks of Oreo bits. "Well, there's five hundred and forty floors. There's bond to be something that I would like." The Valkyrie handed the drink back to Luke. "Try and get to know me a little better before you ask me out. You might regret it." Kehlani teased back.

Luke laughed. "I'd say the same back, but I think after dying, I have a different look at life. And I say, what the hell. You're hot and like my best friend right now, and I have eternity, so why not?" he said and laughed and drank a bit more of his milkshake. "Is there some sort of diner-like place here? How about we go there?" he asked. He put her cup in the sink.

Luke nodded. "I'm sure that's true. I'm more than I appear, too. At least, I was." Luke listened to her offer. "Alright, I'll make you a deal then. We'll go to training tomorrow, to the death. However, if I win, then I get you take you out on a date, and you kiss me. If I lose, though, I won't ever ask you out again, for eternity. I won't even look at you, if you want." He raised an eyebrow and put his milkshake cup in the sink.

"Oh, yeah, you're right about that fight to the death thing. And, sorry, I was just trying to amp up the competition," Luke said. "But, I'm still up for that fight. And, question, Valkyries, when they die, are they still a Valkyrie?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "And, when are you up for that fight? Is there even time in Valhalla?"

Luke nodded. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then." He reached in his pocket and realized his phone was still there. It was weird, he actually felt better dead. "Text me when you want to fight, Kehlani. Oh, Odin, that sounds messed up," he said and laughed. "But, anyway, bye." Luke headed off to take a shower and get to bed. He was nervous, it'd be the first time he'd sleep in Valhalla, and it was his first time alone without Kehlani since his death. Luke got to bed and fell asleep.