Aurora and Valkyrie had yet to speak to each other since the previous night, but she hadn't kicked her out yet so that was a bonus. Aurora didn't try to speak to her either, recognizing that if Valkyrie was icing her out it was likely for a reason. Strangely, Aurora trusted Brunnhilde. She trusted the woman not to throw her out onto the streets of Sakaar to perish and she knew the woman would keep her safe. However, that wouldn't stop them from going at each other's throats regardless of last night's events.

"Why do you train him if he beats everyone regardless?" Aurora questioned as the two made their way through the capital building to Hulk's room. "I mean, he's a giant, why does he need any training at all? It simply seems redundant."

With a sigh, Valkyrie stopped them in their path and asked, "Do you ever stop talking?"

"Do you ever smile or show any emotion other than annoyance?" Aurora teased, noting the small ticks of annoyance clear in Brunnhilde's expression. Angry or not, they definitely weren't at each other's throats as much as they were. This was a relief for Aurora as she felt a little more secure in her survival on this garbage planet.

"You're going to drive me insane," Valkyrie muttered, causing Aurora to roll her eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me, I don't have to take you with me, you know. I could just let you roam on this planet and see what happens."

Aurora smirked, speaking matter-of-factly, "Yeah, you could, but you're too nice to do that. Besides, you like me a little bit or else you wouldn't have kept me around this long. So, Brunnhilde, thank you for being my first friend on this planet."

"We're not friends," the woman spat as they began to continue walking. The capital building was brightly colored, which Aurora found entertaining as she ran her fingertips along the red and white walls of the hallway.

"Ah, forgive me I'm a little rusty on these Asgardian customs," Aurora teased, "Do friends not kiss each other? I have no idea what is considered friendship in your realm."

Valkyrie stopped in her tracks, looking at Aurora with a vaguely pissed off expression which brought her joy. "We're not going to talk about that. Last night didn't happen. Got it?"

"I think you're a coward," Aurora spoke the thought that had been bouncing around in her mind as soon as she woke up that morning. The woman turned and in moments had a dagger to Aurora's throat, pressing her against the wall, but the blonde could only laugh. "My, we have to stop meeting like this."

"I am not a coward."

"You kissed me because you were weak and I reminded you of Ira, right or wrong?" Aurora spat, her voice losing all of the teasings it had before. She was speaking of a question she didn't realize she had until the moment it slipped through her lips. When the woman hesitated, the blonde knew she was right. "If you wanna kiss me, fine, but don't kiss me because I remind you of someone else because that's bullshit. I may not have been human for long, but even I know that is shameful. I don't exist for you to pretend she is still alive."

Valkyrie sheathed her dagger but didn't move from their position. The woman's shoulders visibly loosened and dropped, but her expression was still tense. If Aurora was fooling herself it almost seemed like the woman facing her was remorseful. But who was she kidding? The woman remained close to her, but Aurora had no idea what her intentions were. Strangely, though, she wasn't afraid.

It seemed like ages before Brunnhilde found her words, but when she did her voice was softer than Aurora expected. "I-I, that's not why I kissed you, Aurora."

"Then why did you?"

This time, her response was instant and more honest than Aurora thought it would be, "I don't know. I don't trust people easily and I don't... I don't know why I seem to trust you to a certain extent when you represent everything I hate."

"What? Happiness?" Aurora scoffed.

"Hope," was all Valkyrie said, "To me, you represent hope. You're naive and you're certainly in over your head, but sometimes... you make me want to hope for something better."

Her voice softened when she spoke, all traces of mockery abandoned, "There's nothing wrong with having some hope, Brunnhilde. Without hope that the worlds and realms can be better, that the people on them can be better, I'm nothing. Literally. Even being on this planet full of trash, cannibals, and all-around terrible people as made me weaker than I ever imagined I could be. Being... being around you has been one of the only things to keep me from fading away faster than I should be."

"All I've done is make things more difficult for you," Valkyrie sighed, "Come on, I need to get Hulk to his training."

After what felt like an eternity, Valkyrie let Aurora go. She breathed a sigh of relief as they continued walking. Something was eating Aurora up; the fact that in a short period of time she had managed to represent something better for Valkyrie. Maybe that was just an effect of her powers, but she wanted to believe it could be something more.

"Wait..." Aurora spoke, not knowing what she was going to do. When Valkyrie stopped in front of her, the blonde reached for her wrist to turn her around to face her.

"What are you--" Brunnhilde began to ask, but Aurora cut her off by pressing their lips together. Her hand left Valkyrie's wrist to cup her face gently, her fingertips dancing over the woman's cheekbones, brushing the markings under her eyes with a gentle hand. Valkyrie leaned into her, kissing back eagerly as her hands gripped Aurora's waist. This one was different from the previous night, it seemed almost... hopeful. Last night had seemed sad, something meant to be regretted. This was purposeful.

When they pulled apart, their eyes met for just a moment. The feeling in Valkyrie's eyes was unrecognizable, but the toughness and abrasiveness that was almost always present had melted away. No words were spoken as Valkyrie chased Aurora's lips for more and they met again.

Brunnhilde was the first to pull away, but she didn't avoid Aurora's eyes this time. Instead, she held the blonde's face for just a moment. Nothing was said, but words weren't necessary in that moment. All that mattered was the way Valkyrie was looking at her.

"Training," was all Aurora could say, not knowing what else. This was all so new to her, she hadn't been human long enough to make sense of anything she was feeling.

Valkyrie nodded, "Yeah, training."

someone convince me to have them stop kissing and have a normal slow burn progression i stg