Work Text:
Confession
Kratos noticed. Mimir noticed. Most who saw them did.
Freya was acting different. Somewhat reminiscent of her days of rage towards Kratos. Reminiscent but nowhere near as intense or deadly.
At worst, Freya was just distant. When she could, Freya avoided Kratos. Mimir noted how that was quite the feat since they were living in the same house.
One day, it was raining in Vanaheim. Not a torrent but a pleasant rain. Mimir was with Sif and Hildisvíni to discuss some territories between the Vanir and Aesir. Kratos and Freya were enjoying the rain; the sights, the sounds, and the smell.
Freya stared up at the sky, “I love the rain.”
“Hrm,” Kratos grunted.
“It’s peaceful. Calming.”
“Agreed.”
Freya sighed and leaned on her hand. But, with how she placed her hand, it landed on top of Kratos’ hand. It took a minute for either of them to realize what happened. Freya’s eyes widened while Kratos managed to remain calm. Freya looked down at their hands, and Kratos looked at their hands, as well. Their eyes met at the same time.
Freya quickly moved her hand. “I… I’m… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Freya,” Kratos reassured.
“No, it’s not!” Freya stood up, swiftly, then stomped into the forest with the rain falling on her.
There was a time when Kratos would’ve let her walk away and let whatever was on her mind be hers to work through.
Since those days were behind him, Kratos hurried to his feet and followed after her, calling out, “Freya!”
Freya kept walking, though her steps were beginning to slow. She gritted her teeth and tears started to form. She wanted to scream. But she couldn’t catch her breath. She heard Kratos call again and she could feel the tug in her heart demanding her to stop and talk to him. She was trying not to listen but it wasn’t easy. She soon came to a tree that acted as a canopy, blocking the rain. She stopped by the tree trunk to breathe and attempt to gather herself.
Kratos slowly approached her, “Freya. What troubles you?”
“Why are you like this?” Freya whispered.
“What?”
“I said ‘why are you like this?!’” Freya spun around to face him, “Why are you this way?! Why do you care? Why are you kind?! Why am I… safe with you?! Where is the stoic, unfeeling, uncaring man who ordered his son to shoot my friend with an arrow just because they wanted to hunt a boar?! Where is the man who wouldn’t trust me simply because I’m a god?! Where is the violent, destructive god who swung his blades without mercy or care?!” Her voice caught. “Where is the man who… who killed Baldur?”
Kratos looked down in sorrow. “I’m still that man.”
“No, you’re not. You’re none of those people!” Freya struggled to keep her composure, slowly but surely failing. “You are kind! You care! You… I know… I’m safe with you!”
Kratos knew Freya was unleashing her emotions, but her last sentence compelled him to speak. “I merely wish to never hurt you again, Freya.”
“I know! And I just…” She huffed. “I-I just…”
“What is it?”
“And I just fell in love with you!” Freya shouted.
The admission seemed to quiet the world around them. The rain became a dull noise in the background. Kratos and Freya stared at each other, shocked in their own way.
Kratos paused. “…what?”
Freya exhaled. “I…” She looked away. “I said… I-I said…” She looked back at Kratos, “…‘I love you’.”
Kratos’ mouth fell ajar, as he looked around in shock.
“I’m… so sorry for my anger, Kratos. My distance. I just… I didn’t know how to… deal with these feelings. I still don’t.” Freya turned around, scratching his head. “I just… I know there are things between us that…” She exhaled. She turned back to face him. “This… feels… good. It feels right. And… it shouldn’t. It’s not supposed to. How can… what right do I have to feel comfort from you? After all I’ve done to you.”
“You fear receiving comfort from me?” Kratos asked.
“I don’t deserve it, Kratos!” Freya fought the urge to cry with everything she had. “I… I turned people against you! I hated you! I tried to kill you! I put Atreus in danger! Blamed you for the consequences of every decision I ever made! Used you as a weapon to get my revenge on Odin! What haven’t I done to you?!”
Kratos sighed. “Freya.” He took a step towards her. “I told you… you owe me no apology.”
“I do! For all of it!” Freya tried not to cry. She finally failed. “I’m sorry,” her voice was shaky as tears streamed down. “I’m so sorry. All of it. All of it! And… that’s why… that’s why I don’t deserve this. This… connection.” She uttered a gasp. “What… have I done… for you to care about me? How do I deserve that?” She shook her head and looked away.
Kratos took a deep breath. Freya’s admission may have begun unintentional, but that didn’t make it any less honest. He knew he had to do the same. “I’ve done nothing worthy of feeling the comfort I feel from you.”
Freya slowly straightened up at hearing that. She looked at Kratos.
“Since Ragnarok… since Valhalla… so much has changed.” He looked at the sky and the falling rain. “I felt… a peace of mind… a peace within myself… that I never have before.” He looked at Freya. “Valhalla was the beginning of that peace.” He thought for a moment. “No. That’s… not true. You were the beginning of that peace. Valhalla taught me how to accept it.” He thought again. “After Faye’s passing… I was certain any peace I had was gone forever. Then… all that transpired… the bond you and I formed… it told me there was a peace I could find again.”
Freya stared at Kratos in wonder. She braved a step towards him, “I’m sorry, Kratos. I’m sorry for all of this. This distance. The… coldness.” She took another step forward. “Yes. Yes, I love you. Yes, I feel safe with you. I trust you. I want this feeling we have to grow. I don’t want to fight this anymore. I want this.”
Kratos gazed into Freya’s eyes. “I want this as well. And I love you.”
That final admission was all Freya needed to finally let go of her apprehension. She rushed at Kratos and kissed him. After their kiss, they gazed into each other’s eyes.
“Thank you…” Freya whispered. “…for not rejecting me. For not… letting me go.”
“Letting you go…” Kratos said, “is something I’ll never do.”