“Now, now you act?” Freya shouted as Odin summoned his battle spear,

“That was my wine she took, mine.” and Freya rubbed her forehead,

“It was one bottle, and after all the damage, the lives lost you go to war over a bottle of wine.” and Odin huffed,

“It was the last one, and it was our wedding year. So yes.” Freya smiled and stepped forwards, taking Odin's head in her hands,

“You are either a romantic fool or just a fool. I think the Odinsleep damaged your mind. You cannot go to war over a bottle of wine.”

Odin huffed, “I can, and I am.” but as he made to stride forwards, Freya twirled her hand and his robe wrapped around his legs.

“You once told me that I was not allowed to interfere. So, now I am telling you., Let them settle this themselves. And forget your damn wine.”

Odin scowled, “It was our wedding year,” he huffed.

“It doesn't matter what year it was you, giant buffoon, it was a bottle of wine. Oh no, let's watch as Loki messes up and makes a cock of things, let’s watch Thor lose his way and get kidnapped, and finally, let's watch the Asgardian fleet become the tool of the Skrull empire and the Kree destroy it. I swear Odin, whatever is wrong with you I will smack you senseless if you dont snap out of it.”

Odin huffed, “I was enjoying the first holiday we have had together in several thousand years. Loki had things under control. The nine realms are actually headed towards peace after the Kree made a mess of things. Thor is pouting like a child as he lost his hammer, and the Kree are about to learn a very painful lesson dear, that the Earth is not to be trifled with. A thousand years ago they kicked Thofin from their planet, even without our help, and right now that supreme moronisence is about to earn that creating monsters only gets you one thing. Bitten.”

Freya waved a hand at him, “it's immaterial, I already took care of it.”

Odin sighed, “what did you do dear?”

“Peter seems to love women so much, so I sent him somewhere to meet a new one.”

Odin paled, “you didn't?”

Frays shrugged, “you gave me no choice.”

“You may have doomed us all.”

“Oh stop being so dramatic you old fool, and you wonder where Loki gets it from.”

~

Peter hadn't even seen the portal open as it swallowed him and he was stood in front of a swirling circle of fire. As he looked around, all there was, was the circle and nothing more than stark whiteness, 

“Uh hello?” he said and was answered by the breaking of chains.

Save her, give her a reason to live, and in turn, she will help you but be kind, she is fragile, much more than she appears.

“Ooookay. Strange voice in my head. Save who?” Peter asked, “Hello? Anyone?”

The portal rippled and a woman walked through.

Hela stood before Peter, she was amazingly beautiful he thought, slim, tight leather wrapping a curvy figure, high cheekbones and dark raven black hair, even her black eyes were still piercing and as she stalked towards him he knew she was more than just an Asgardian, she was Death incarnate.

“So the old fool’s finally dead,” she said as she ran her hands over Peter's shoulder and round his chest, “and they sent you? A bug to stop me?” She stopped in front of him and smiled “now, the question isn't whether you can stop me, it’s whether, after I kill you, you wish to serve” 

“Serve you?” Peter looked down, “why would I serve you?” and he gently lifted her hand from his chest. “I don’t even know who you are.”

Hela laughed, it was a deep throaty laugh, one that sent shivers down Peter's spine, one that was mirth covering icy death. “Me?” and Hela raised her arms “I am Hela of Asgard. Firstborn of Odin Borson, and I am the Goddess of Death.”

“Uh, that's nice. I’m Peter Parker, Son of May Parker, and I guess-” but she reached forwards grabbed him by the throat and lifted him from the ground, his toes dangling comically only a few inches off the ground as their high difference became apparent.

“I don’t care who you are. I only care about escaping this prison.” but his symbskin covered him, and as it leached over her hand, they connected.

She saw him, a baby, as his mother fought valiantly, the one-armed masked man was brutal in his blows but still, she fought on, caring nothing for her own safety, only that of her son

He saw as Odin stared into the crib, one eye peering at her “death” was all he said and Freya covered her mouth and gasped as he walked away, afraid of his own child

She watched as he tried to get to the old man, he lay bleeding on a jacket of a passerby and as he was held back by a policeman he cried.

He watched her train, never gaining her father’s approval, never knowing her mother’s touch. The one time she sprung forwards and touched a servant she felt it as the woman's spirit left her body and entered her, the empty meat sack collapsing. Her meals were served before she got there from that point on

She watched as the young boy pushed and punched him, taunting him over loss and weakness

He watched as she fought, each death making her more powerful, each life adding to her own. And then she found that those who she killed could be made to serve her and she got what she always wanted, a puppy

There, Peter thought and he took her mind from her, focusing on the one thing she cared about and saved, a dog of all things. He could sense its remains were still on Asgard, that she had lovingly preserved it, even more so than her army.

It wasn't love but it was the closest thing to it, he took her pain and sealed it, fading its sharpness and masking over it with the simple joy of a dog

“What are you DOING!” Hela yelled as the symbskin retracted from her “I am death, I am rage and sacrifice. The love of a dog, are you kidding? You sought to face death herself with“ and she stopped as a single tear ran down her face.

“It's not about the dog, it's about what it represents, and look” Hela looked down and Peter still had her hand “it's about a father, teaching his daughter to kill when she didn't have to. When anyone can kill but only a father and mother can love a daughter”

“No, no. I refuse to give in to stupid feelings” and she pulled her hand away from Peters but found his grasping her tightly “no, how?”

“I have the Mind Stone, you don’t want to be Queen, you want to be loved. It’s stupid and small, so you yell and scream, but it's fine. You can be. Just you know, no murder hoboing around the galaxy.”

“So what, you’ll be my puppy is that it? to continually watch over me? to take you for walkies and make me clean up your mess?” she spat at him, twisting her arm to try and get herself free

“Well, I was more thinking, the other way around, that you could learn to enjoy life, to see the wonder and accept that death is just a part of nature as life, and well, yes, to maybe persuade you to not kill anyone.”

“Ha, I saw your mind as well Peter, you just want to fuck me, that’s all you think about, oh who can I screw now? Like a little game, a pathetic fantasy where you’re the big hero and all  us little girls wet our panties and come running.”

Peter shrugged “who doesn’t want to be loved Hela? Take that and look at it properly, not just the sex but the love, see where each of us connects and is better for it. Only a cynic sees the sex and ignores the feelings”

“Oh so that’s me then is it, I’m supposed to join your little club of women and get all touchy-feely, let you ravish me till I can't walk and then be grateful you've taken pity on me, I’d rather die than submit to you,” she yelled

“Submit? If that's your kink sure but what part of that is about submission, look at who I share my life with, look at them and think if there is any part of submission in that, plus, getting a little specific there aren't we, do you want me to ravish you till you can't walk?

He touched her mind once more

A small woman wearing spectacle had tied him to the bed and was currently running crop over his naked body “and you will not cum until I say mister” and she slipped herself over him he tasted her and her mouth was slick over his manhood

“STOP! I do not wish to see your deranged fantasies. You are disgusting,”

“Really, Liv loved it. What two people do in the safety of their own lives is nothing to be ashamed of”

The blonde lay on top of the raven-haired woman and Peter could see both of them, they kissed and pressed and rather than enter, he thickened and slid between them, hearing them moan

“STOP! I Will not be subjected to your male delusions”

He projected at her once more, 

she saw herself and he was holding her, she had cuddled up to him, sat on his lap and he gently held her as he stroked one leg.

“STOP!”

They were sat on the roof and they watched the sunset, death of another day he said and she smiled, it was strange, death existed in so many forms and all she had been taught was to kill

“NO!” And tears began to drip down her face

They stood at a grave, she couldn't read the name but he cried, it had been so long for them, but not for him, he looked the same as he did all those years ago and as he felt his pain she tasted the death around her, life moved forward, death was apart of that and no one could escape it, not him and not even her

“Please, no” and she fell to her knees, tears dripping from her face and she wailed uncontrollably, for the life unlived, for the father who imprisoned her, for the mother who abandoned her

She watched as he faded, his body breaking down and he cupped her cheek with his hand as he began to wither and flake into nothing “I love you” was all he said as he left her and she felt him one last time as he became a part of her

She wailed uncontrollably as the sadness and grief from Peter washed over her, the pain of death, its true weight too much for the lonely goddess to bear. He came over and even as she recoiled from his touch he gently patted her back and stroked her head.

She stood alone, as she watched the last star wink out, as the primordial essence of the universe grew cold and as her mind faded she felt one last spark. As with all death, it was only the beginning.

She wailed, and grasped onto him, he held her close and ignored the crushing weight of her arms and the dripping tears over her face

“Do it, do it” she screamed and as his symbskin flowed over her, it covered her and then retracted back to him, leaving her covered in her own.

“We are Reaper.” The symbiote screeched.

It was pitch black, even more so than Peter, it seemed to absorb all the light around it, giving it a strange and eldritch shape. As Hela slipped her back she stared at Peter, who had retracted his own armour.

“So, defeated by kindness and some touchy-feely crap,” and she put her hands on her hips and stared at him “I could still kill you you know. Go on a rampage and conquer the galaxy, having her won't change that.”

Peter shrugged “if that’s what you want, but let’s be honest, ruling is a pain, you’ve got taxes and laws, rules and people bugging you every single day for stupid reasons, my attitude, why bother? Sounds like a pain. I mean, even killing everyone, You know there are millions of planets right? It's just a chore.”

Hela laughed “So don't conquer the galaxy, it's too much effort,” and Peter shrugged and nodded “oh, oh my,'' and Hela laughed and sat down on the steps of the Gate to Hel, “oh my word” and she laughed, holding her stomach, laughing “oh, I can see why they sent you,” and as she shook her head “but you, you little shit, no more,” tilting her head, “I’m number 11, I mean really, 11. And that one, come on? I hope you realise Asgardians have a huge amount of stamina, oh. oh, I see.” Hela sighed, “you and I are having a talk young man, I mean really.” and as Peter sat next to her she leaned her head on his shoulder, ”any more and I’ll kill you” and Peter kissed the top of her head. 

“Of course dear” and she stared at him, 

“No really, I will, so no more.” and she took his head in her hands and kissed him softly “I’ll make sure you don't want any more” and Peter knew that while that sounded nice, it also sounded like a threat.

~

As a new portal opened Peter found himself with Hela back at the warehouse, where she immediately summoned her armour and lunged at Jean, drawing a huge black sword.

As she swung, and Jean deflected the blade with her powers she screamed at her “Now I see, you want to kill me,” and as the group summoned their armour, he threw darts of necrotic energy at them, staining the carpet with black ichor.

“Nobody is trying to kill you,” Peter roared and as he stepped in front of her the Mind Stone wrapped itself around her and she fell to her knees gasping for air,

“Do it then, fulfil my father's wish, just kill me,” and she hung her head, ready for the final blow.

“Pete, what the hell?” Jean said as she floated down from where she was capturing and deflecting bolts. Jean choked and gagged, “what the hell is that? she’s foul,” and Jean back away

Hela snorted, “not so wonderful yourself,” and as she stood she cracked her neck, “You didn't know?” and Peter shook his head,

“No. And would someone please explain what the hell is going on,” he yelled.

“Goddess of Death. All death, plants, bugs, planets, galaxies and eventually the universe. I'm a true immortal, as is she, well not in that fatsuit anyway.”

Jean snorted, “at least I dont smell like a dead skunk, and my powers Pete, I guess Pheonix isn't just a name?”

Hela snorted, “and seems all the fat stayed at the front and none made it into your skull, You are an avatar of life, and it's disgusting. You taste like sunshine and ice on a summer's day. I want to be sick just being in the same room as you.”

Peter rubbed his forehead, “like the stones yeah?” and Hela nodded.

“There were more primordial forces in play than those six rocks. And things older than you can imagine. Your girlfriend here is one of them, but not her, just her core. I bet she glows like a sun, yes? Unimaginable rage, and uncontrollable power?”

Peter nodded, “uh?”

“Birth is pain, you idiot. Death is quiet and sad, life is vibrant and violent, it grabs hold and takes root, it spreads, “ and Hela snorted, “like disease, and you can never get rid of it.”

Jean crossed her arms, as the group began to clean up the mess they had made, “better happy and full of life than a miserable old sadsack. So now we’ve got Drusilla queen of the vampires as well?”

Peter rubbed his forehead, “Jean, not helping, and Hela, not helping either. The pair of you can behave or you can go sit in the corner.”

Hela snorted “I hardly think you are powerful enough to stop me from snuffing out this little candle. I might have let you win me over, but I won't bend over for,” and she waved a hand at Jean, “for this.”

The warehouse door creaked open, and an elderly gentleman, dressed in a tan suit, with a gaudy Hawaiian shirt and topped off by a tan fedora entered, followed by who Peter could only imagine was his wife, a blonde rather attractive older woman, wearing a pale blue sundress.

“He might not be able to, but I'm sure that I can.”

Hela threw her hands up, “and here was me think you had the decency to die, but now my day can't get any worse.”

“Uh, anyone?”

“Father, this is Peter. Your new son in law, and no you dont get to argue.” and as Hela looked over at Peter, “and neither do you.”

Odin smiled, “I am aware of Mr Parker, and as Midgardians go, he is acceptable.” and Freya batted him on the arm,

“Behave you incorrigible old fool. Mr Parker, unlike my husband, I am Freya, Queen of Asgard, and this grumpy old sod is my husband, Odin.”

“Thor's mom and dad?” Gwen asked and Freya smiled at her,

“Yes, and Hela as well. It is so nice to see you, dear.”

Hela rolled her eyes, “then you should have visited. Hel was so nice at this time of year, I could have wiped my chains down, made them really sparkle.”

Freya crossed her arms, “and I will have none of your lip either. I am more than capable of sending you to your room young lady,”

Hela huffed and threw up her hands, “fine, so what do you want. I dont imagine I was allowed out to simple chat and have tea.”

“Loki,” was all Odin said,

“I have no idea who that is father. You locked me in Hel for the past four thousand years.” Hela said, sitting at the table, and giving peter a pointed look she glanced at the coffee machine and the kitchen, “and I am hungry and thirsty.” she said at him, raising an eyebrow.

Gwen stifled a laugh, “yeah Pete, we’re all hungry, so get to it,” she said with a smirk, and he just rolled his eyes before pouring Hela a coffee and checking in the fridge to see what was easy and quick to make.

Jane stood at the end of the table, “I dont want her here. She is wrong, and,”

Hela snorted, “We are just opposite, so calm yourself or I shall do it for you.” as Hela sat she let her necro armour slide back, setting in a plain white robe, “oh that is boring,” and concentrating, she looked around the room and paused at what MJ was wearing, a pair of tight jeans and a white t-shirt with Venom’s face on it, “yes, you.” and her clothing changed to match.

“You gave her a Symbiote?” Jean asked, “what happened to making sure it was okay?” and she crossed her arms,

Peter had taken a mix of fresh vegetables out and was chopping cold meat into slices to mix into it. “She didn't ask, like you, she took one.”

Jean huffed, “I still dont like it.”

Odin stared at her, lifting his eye patch and Peter felt the energy seep from him, “Almost a goddess, how interesting. It seems I have been on Asgard too long.” he said, and ignoring Peter he grabbed two cups, a large bowl of sugar. and two cartons of cream

Sitting the cups in front of himself and Freya he poured coffee into both and opened a jug of cream, adding it to his

“Which one”? Freya asked, taking her cup and adding sugar,

“Life,” Hela replied, adding heaps of sugar and cream to her own cup, 

Freya laughed, “No wonder you hate her, come here dear.” and Freya motioned to Jean who looked at her confused. “Oh come on, do you think we could have a daughter embodying death without some countermeasures. I mean Thor electrocuted half a dozen nannies before we got the wards right.”

Giving Hela a fearful look, Jean moved and stood next to her. Her hand glowed blue for a moment and as an aura washed over her, Jean felt the incredible pressure melt away. 

Gwen stared, “Was that Asgardian magic?” and Freya nodded.

“It is my domain, I am Freya, Goddess of magic and sorcery. Are you?”

Gwen lifted her palm, and a yellow circle arose from it, before spinning, “I am, but uh. Stephen will want to meet you.”

Freya looked sadly at her cup, “I am afraid that is why we are here. Your Sorcerer Supreme was murdered by Loki, to get the stones he possessed.”

Gwen looked over at her, “What?” and as she circled her hand, she found her access to the Sanctum was blocked.

Stephen had once told her that in the vent of the Sanctums leader's death, access would be blocked to anyone barring the scorer supreme, and as Stepehw s both in New York, that meant Freya was right.

“Shit, Wanda?” and grabbing her phone she called, and was relieved when she answered, “Wanda, get to the sanctum, Stephen” and her voice cracked, “please, check on Stephen.”

Gwen sat up straight, “Loki is going to die for that.” 

Odin shook his head, “I am afraid not. Loki searches for the Infinity Stones to right a pain, but we must stop her.”

Gwen clenched her fist, “If she’s dead, she’s stopped.”

“No!” I will not allow you to kill my child, no matter what she has done, she is still Asgardian, and she will answer for her crimes. On Asgard.”

Gwen stood, pushing back her chair, “so? She kills people here, she murders and rampages and you stride in spouting some bullshit about authority. This isn't your planet, you old bastard, and if you stop us. Then you can join her.”

Odin stood, and as lightning crackled around him he bellowed “I WILL NOT BE THREATENED TO BY A MERE MORTAL!” but he paused, as a blade lifted his chin,

“Odin of Asgard, She is right, and Earth is not part of your Empire. You are not a god, you are merely more powerful, and I am willing to test that.” Peter said calmly as his armour slid over him,  “Now, we can discuss this like adults, or we can fight. I am willing to die to protect my loved ones, are you?”

Hela snorted, and stood, “and, even if he is a mere mortal, I am willing to stand with him. He is so charming when he’s angry, dont you think?”

“Oh sit down you four, all this posturing is tiresome. Odin, Loki needs to be punished, and by Earth and us, I told you this little game of hers would end badly, and you peter. I am aware of your power, but please. We both know that Asgard and Earth are not enemies, and there is no need to make it so.” Freya said, pouring herself another cup of coffee and stirring in cream, “Now, behave, or I will show you, just how angry a mother can get when unruly children misbehave.”

Peter huffed, “Queen Freya, I agree, as long as you keep Odin in check.”

Odin rubbed his beard, “Dear, it was fine, I wouldn't have done,” but he sat back down as Freya glared at him, “A nag I tell you. A nag. I don’t understand why you would pick eleven. One can be a handful.”

“I remember Aunt Frigga has seven, and what was it fourteen children.”

Odin paled, “yes, poor woman, I would not like to be the Goddess of Fertility on any world.”

Freya smiled, and patted Odin's hand, “You are still recovering from the Odinsleep, and are becoming belligerent. Once this is over I shall rule while you rest properly. And it was up to twelve men, with fourteen women.”

Odin huffed, “I want to visit Hawaii, and then I shall sleep.”

“There is still the issue of Loki,” Peter said as Gwen moved around the table to sit next to him, glaring at Odin,

“If we can capture her, we shall make sure she pays for her crimes, and we can collect and safely store the stones as well,” Odin said, smiling,

Peter had difficulty reading alien minds, but as the stone pulsed within his chest, he knew Odin was lying, there was more to the stones than he was letting on, and Peter knew if he didn't find out, they would all regret it.