#i make myself mad every time I write Odin being a manipulative bastard

[kittiofdoom]

Parings: Referenced Eleanora x Baldur ( @hoesephseed​ ), Kenna x Odin 

Tags: Emotional Manipulation, Manipulation, Hurt/Comfort, Odin is an entire trigger warning, mentions of blood, little bit of gaslighting

Wordcount: 1423

A/N:  So after talking to Biggie about God of War feels about Nora and Kenna I was compelled to write this little piece because it would not leave me alone. I am suffering. Thank you so much for letting me kjsdhgkjdshgf about them.

Summary: Freya was gone and in her wake she left a trail of shattered pieces that Kenna was frantically trying to put back together all while falling apart herself.

— BLOOD TIES.

In the following months of Freya's departure Kenna's life was in a state of chaos. Odin had told her that she would always have a home here in Asgard and he had meant it—even when his and Freya's marriage had dissolved Kenna was welcomed like she had always been there. 

Freya, on the other hand, had abandoned Kenna.  Her once friend had left for Midgard and after Kenna had followed Freya all the way from Vanaheim to Asgard in support of the union that was supposed to bring peace. She would've even followed Freya to Valhalla once. Freya had been her dearest friend.

Not anymore. They walked separate paths now.

Odin had been right that it was in her best interests to stay. What life would she have led with Freya banished to Midgard? There was so much she had to do here—people needed her.

Manuscripts that she had once been careful with were strewn about the floor, pages torn out, rearranged, turned in any which way she could make sense of them. She burnt sticks of incense to help her concentrate and keep her awake. It was a thick acrid scent burning all the way to the back of her throat and causing the room to be coated in a haze. Her workbench was no better, several layers of blood staining through the cloth to mar the wood underneath. 

Kenna didn't hear the whispers of wings nor the chirps of birds as Odin appeared in the room behind her—she was too engrossed in her study.

“Kenna, what is this?” Odin asked, casting his one good eye around in surprise. He strode forward, grabbing her by the shoulder. “I leave you alone for a few weeks and-again what is this?”

That was enough to startle her out of her state. She squeaked and whirled around. It wasn't just her room that was a mess. She was a mess too. Tear streaked blood, make up and ink were smeared across her pale skin and it looked like she'd wiped it carelessly all down the front of her dress.

“Odin,” Kenna blurted out, grabbing a handful of her skirts in a practised sign of respect as she curtsied. She hadn't done that for years but everything had changed. Kenna didn’t know where she stood with him anymore.

Odin scoffed, grabbing her by the forearms to pull her straight.

“No, no, none of that, if I want you to curtsy I will tell you,” he began, words curt and sharp. “And since I am not telling you to do that, you will answer me; what is this about? Do not make me ask a third time. People say they haven't seen you in weeks. When was the last time you ate?”

Kenna looked away, attention drawn by a piece of paper from a new angle.

“Weeks.. right... I've been busy-”

“-I can see that,” Odin cut in, dryly.

“I'm trying to fix it,” Kenna continued as she pulled away from him to pick up the paper, holding it up to the light.

He was beginning to lose patience with her now, the lines on his face tightening as he all but shadowed her to pluck the paper from her to redirect her attention back to him. He gripped her tighter this time, not letting her escape and get distracted.

“Fix what?”

“Not what,” Kenna said. “Who! Baldur! What- what... she did to him.”

“Oh, that. Right.”

Kenna's brows furrowed together, a whole journey of emotion weaved together like threads that Odin could pull if he wanted to, but right now it was more interesting to watch them unravel and fray at the edges. 

“Yes, that—your son. He is suffering. Nora is suffering and Freya is too fucking stubborn, too fucking prideful to undo what she did. Have you seen them? They were so happy, Odin. Now look at the pain she has wrought upon my family,” Kenna stopped trying to pull away and merely gestured at the sum total of her research—nothing. “I have been through every book, every page. I have poured myself into this desperately trying to find a way to reverse what she did.”

Odin began to rub her arms, it was a slow movement but it was enough to settle Kenna down into some semblance of calm. He guided them down to both sit on the edge of her bed before he clasped her hands.

“Baldur is important to you,” he said simply.

“Freya said I would never understand; I don't have children,” Kenna spat and all at once that fragile calmness was shattered as she stood once more with a pained snarl. Kenna had to direct her fury at something. 

There was a crash of crystals and stone against the ground, precious ornaments being shattered as the papers flew up with the sweep of her arms. “But I tell you—I tell you—I held him as a baby. I watched him grow up all these years. I have seen his tears, his love, his joy, his anger. And now I watch him be consumed by his pain. It's TEARING HIM APART.”

Hands slammed down on the table and with it a wail escaped Kenna. She thought she had no more tears left to shed, but they poured forth in hot anger until she was sobbing.

“I AM MORE HIS MOTHER THAN FREYA WILL EVER BE AGAIN. SHE LOST THE RIGHT AFTER WHAT SHE DID.” Kenna screamed her throat hoarse. She just had to get it out before she exploded. All the emotions she’d been carrying for the past couple months bubbling to the surface in a volatile mix.

And when she was empty her whole body slumped forward, using the workbench to keep her upright with a sudden exhaustion. When she tried to speak once more her voice caught in a croak. She would force the words out if she had too even if they tasted of iron and salt.  

“I may not be his mother by blood,” she began, her voice gaining more power as she steeled her resolve. “But I would bleed a thousand realms dry if it meant bringing an end to his suffering.”

Odin was at her side, hands lifting her up and Kenna leaned into him. He moved them back to the bed, sitting down even as Kenna stumbled over herself to join him. Her head was spinning. When had she gotten so weak?

“You're of no use to anyone while you're like this, Kenna,” Odin said, holding her as she began to pull away at the harshness of his words. “No, no, none of that. Listen to me. Breathe. You can't help Baldur when you can't even think straight. You want to do right by him right, right by Nora? You want them to be happy again—see them smile and laugh?”

Kenna hiccupped, making a small noise of agreement. Odin let her pull away enough to look up at him but she could go no further. He cupped her jaw before brushing the wild strands of white hair away from her eyes. Normally there was happiness in those blue eyes of hers, but today they were cold like chips of ice. They warmed a fraction when she stared at him and it made him smile. Odin began to wipe her tears with his thumb—really it did little to help the mess she’d made of herself but it looked like it made Kenna feel better.

“No more of these hysterics, Frigg wins if you're like this and you don't want her to win do you?”

She shook her head, leaning into his hand.

“Exactly. What Frigg did was a shock to us all. You're right. She's hurt this family deeply but if you're that determined we'll get you cleaned up, fed, rested and I can set you up in my study while someone sorts this mess out,” Odin said, gesturing around to her room. “If anyone can crack Freya's magic it would be you, my little Blood Witch. Just, try not to redecorate so.. extensively. I like my study the way it is.”

“Thank you... Odin,” Kenna said. It still hurt to speak and Odin gave her an encouraging squeeze.

“Frigg doesn’t know what she’s talking about, you’re every part a mother to the children you helped raise. They’re lucky to have you—I’m lucky to have you.”

( If Kenna could reverse Freya’s magic, then perhaps she might be able to cast it herself. Odin may not have gotten all of Freya’s secrets…but he had the next best thing. )