Jane, Valkyrie and Sif

There had been a small twist of fate - in the Shadow Realm, Jane had been injured in the clash with Gorr. As much as she’d wanted to grab Mjolnir, she wouldn’t have been able to fight hard enough even if she had gone with Thor.

So Valkyrie had gone, and fought at the gateway to Eternity. She and Thor had come back, mostly victorious, and with a girl in tow and Jane wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to ask.

Which had left Jane healing, with access to Asgard’s more advanced medicine. New Asgard was as good a place as any. Thor had gone off to space with the girl, and Valkyrie had stayed ruling the town.

And after a few weeks, for the first time in a long while, Jane was feeling better. She’d been resting in Valkyrie’s spare room for most of that time, while figuring out what to do next - Mjolnir was on her nightstand, having been unused while she was healing.

“I know, I know, it’s been a while,” Jane murmured.

She tried not to think about the fact she was talking to a hunk of metal. She touched it, and lightning sparked between her fingertips. It was fine for her to use it now, according to the professionals, but she was still figuring out how she was going to handle that. Astrophysicist by day, Mighty Thor by night?

So yeah, there was no going home until she figured that out.

Then there was a rap at her door. Jane got up to answer, unsurprised to see another visit from Valkyrie. She slipped in. Sif was a step behind her; Sif and Valkyrie had become fast friends since Sif’s arrival in New Asgard, and Jane was used to royal attention as it was, so they’d inevitably started talking a lot.

“I hear you’re feeling better,” Sif said. She nodded to Jane. “I’m glad.”

“Thanks,” Jane said. “Yeah, good as new.”

“We should celebrate,” Valkyrie said.

“You need an excuse for that?” Jane said.

“I mean, properly celebrate,” Valkyrie said. “I mean, come on. We all fought hard, and helped save the universe.”

“I wish,” Sif muttered.

“Hey, you helped! A bit!” Valkyrie said.

“I could be down for a celebration,” Jane said.

She summoned Mjolnir to her hand, as if making sure she could. She grinned at the familiar thrum of it.

“Mm. I did have a thought - there was an old tradition,” Valkyrie said, slouching on Jane’s couch. “After a big battle, all the valkyries would return to Asgard, and when there we could party. But before that, there were these shared baths, places to wash off the grime of battle and come out refreshed.”

She threw an exuberant arm around Jane’s shoulders.

“On Asgard, we used to have these huge bathhouses,” Valkyrie said. “Always hot water, steam as high as the ceiling, they were a great place to unwind. And you’re basically a valkyrie now, huh? We should do it. Clothes off, in the water. Both to clean off, and great bonding exercise - not like you can keep any secrets like that.”

“Um,” Jane said.

She hesitated.

Valkyrie was beaming. And, okay, she had grown to get along with the King of Asgard, but Valkyrie still sometimes caught her off-guard.

Uncertainly, Jane glanced across the room to Sif; the other warrior was stood by the far wall, a little more rigidly.

“She’s right,” Sif said. “I remember them. Though those of the valkyries’ saw little use in my time.”

“…Not what I was concerned about, but good to know I guess,” Jane said. “Er. Pretty sure New Asgard doesn’t have any bathhouse like that, at least last I checked.”

“I tried. Zoning permissions are a pain,” Valkyrie said.

“Then I’m not sure how it’s really possible,” Jane said. “We. Er. Wouldn’t exactly fit in a bathtub.”

“She’s right,” Sif said, to Val. “It was crowded enough with just two.”

“What?” Jane said. She blinked.

“I thought of that!” Valkyrie said. “That’s no problem. We’ve got the sea, plenty of space. There’s a quiet beach just over the hill, no one goes there.”

“Er, we’re in Norway,” Jane said.

“So?” Valkyrie said.

“The sea. In Norway,” Jane said. “I don’t want to survive cancer and Gorr and then die of hypothermia.”

“Relax,” Valkyrie said. She gestured to herself and Sif. “Asgardian, Asgardian, and you’re pretty much an honorary Asgardian. Wave the hammer, get a boost, you’ll be fine.”

Jane hesitated. She could stay in Thor-mode for a bit after letting go of the hammer; she wouldn’t be able to throw it otherwise. It felt doable. Annoyingly.

“Say, do you have any viking ancestry?” Valkyrie said.

“Huh?”

“Was some interbreeding way back when,” Valkyrie said. “You might have a bit of Asgardian in you too - might help.”

“Pretty sure I don’t,” Jane said.

“Would you l-” Valkyrie began.

“I like this idea,” Sif interjected.

She seemed almost surprised by herself. Both Valkyrie and Jane looked at her.

“I always heard tales of the old Valkyries,” Sif said. “It would be an interesting experience, to partake in one of their - your - traditions. Even in an altered form. To bathe with fellow warrior-women for company.”

“That’s two!” Valkyrie said. She beamed at Jane. “What do you say?”

“You want to… bathe in the ocean?” Jane said.

“It’s a laugh,” Valkyrie said. “Go on.”

Valkyrie nudged her; a laugh escaped Jane’s lips. It was too easy to get caught up in Val’s energy, sometimes.

“Huh. Ancient Asgardian tradition of skinny-dipping,” Jane said. “Sure. That might as well be a thing.”

“That a yes?” Val said.

“It’s going to depend on where you’re thinking,” Jane said. Still, she was smiling. “But not inherently a no.”

Val grinned.

Valkyrie lead them over the hills, on a short walk from the town to a less-travelled plain. The grass grew high, and there was no path marked out, so it definitely didn’t seem to be the most frequently travelled area.

It was fairly quiet too. The wind was strong, but it blew towards New Asgard, carrying no sound save the cawing of gulls as they spiralled over the shore.

Val led them to a steep path in the side of the hill, leading down from rocky grass, to pale sand. Grey water lapped the shore.

“So, what do you think?” Valkyrie said.

“I had no idea this place was here,” Sif said.

“Barely anyway comes out here - too much climbing over rocks, and not much to see,” Valkyrie said. “Nice quiet spot though. You’re welcome to steal it if you need to get away.”

“Surprised you found it, then,” Jane said.

“I have a flying horse,” Valkyrie said. “Spotted it on a ride.”

Jane looked up and down the beach, half psyching herself up.

It wasn’t like no one ever did it; then again, her college years had been more focused on actually understanding astrophysics, and less on the wild drunken shenanigans of some of her peers, so it wasn’t as though she was experienced.

Not necessarily where she’d expected becoming a superhero to take her. She twirled Mjolnir in one hand, the cracks in the hammer lightning up, feeling herself reinvigorated by it.

A strong breeze filled the beach, ruffling Jane’s hair; she pushed it out of her eyes, glancing at her companions, biting her lip. There was a slight trembling in her manner, half-nerves and half excitement.

“Not quite an Asgardian bathhouse,” Valkyrie said. “Still. It’ll do. Everyone ready?”

“Fine company, even with the limited setting,” Sif said.

“I-I guess,” Jane said.

“So what are we waiting for?” Valkyrie said.

In the time it took Jane to open her mouth and reply, Valkyrie was already halfway down the beach, pulling her top off. Sif was slower, but just a step behind, jaw setting. Jane faltered.

“Hey! Hold on!” Jane said.

Valkyrie turned around. She was already topless; and while it was just the three of them, was making no effort to cover her breasts, her top balled up in one hand, and a cocky grin on her face.

“What?” Val said. “Don’t chicken out now, come on.”

Sif was slowly untangling her own shirt, one-armed, only to give a slightly undignified yelp as the wind caught her shirt; it billowed, but she caught it, yanking it back to her chest.

“Jane Foster may have a point,” Sif said. “I would much rather our clothes are waiting for us when we’re done. Bathhouses do typically have a changing room.”

“Hm. Fair point,” Valkyrie said. “Anyone have a paperweight?”

“I’ve, er, got this?” Jane said. She waved Mjolnir. “I don’t think the wind’s worthy.”

The hammer brightened for a second.

“Works for me!” Valkyrie said.

And she was already undoing her pants. Jane averted her gaze, cheeks warming; okay, maybe she’d need to get comfy with this, but it would take her a few moments to adapt to Valkyrie’s evident body-confidence.

Still, that answered one objection she supposed. Kneeling, Jane put Mjolnir on the sand, and began fiddling with the cape that came with her transformation.

“Never… normally have to… actually put this on…” she muttered, before at last finding the fastenings. The armour slipped off with eventual ease, leaving her in red underwear. She raised an eyebrow. “Did not think you gave me fancy panties.”

The cracks in the hammer brightened in response, shining blue-white light coming out from the old cracks.

“No, it’s great, I love it,” Jane said quickly. “Just… unexpected. I guess it makes sense. Just… hm.”

She reached back, fiddling with the bra. Holding her breasts in one fore-arm, she untangling it, laying it atop the armour.

A shadow fell over her. She turned, to find herself eye-level with Sif’s crotch, a strip of dark hair right in front of her eyes. Jane yelped, stumbling over backwards a little.

“Here,” Sif said.

The other warrior was admittedly slightly pink-cheeked, but nude now, with Valkyrie’s clothes and her own in her hand. She lay them in the pile of Jane’s, and Jane quickly obliged and pinned everything in place with Mjolnir.

Then, swallowing, she slipped off her last bit of underwear, slipped that too under the hammer, and stood up a little nervously.

She did like the changes Mjolnir made to her, admittedly - she felt stronger, hardier, and had abs to match Sif’s. It certainly made it easier to be naked around two women who’d been fighting at a peak beyond human fitness for centuries. Still, Jane flushed a little as she stood up.

Mjolnir would keep their clothes from getting blown away. They could go for a dip, laugh about it, and dart back with no one needing to know. It wasn’t even like they’d have to worry about clothes-thieves with Mjolnir in play.

The hammer twitched.

“What?” Jane said.

“Are you talking to a hammer?” Sif said flatly. She sighed. “Not you too.”

For an impassive, stationary metal object, she could feel the cuboid hammerhead staring at her as if with hurt feelings.

“I love the outfit, I do! Just can’t really get wet with it,” Jane said. “I’ll be back in a bit. Just stay there!”

She was still a little hunched forwards as she ran. The wet sand squished between her toes, but the water beckoned, at least feeling less out in the open as standing nude on the beach. Sif was a step behind her, standing haughtily and clearly not wanting to openly run, but making a pointed effort to walk towards the sea.

The water wasn’t cool, exactly - at least not in any way that bothered her.

Valkyrie was already in the sea, deep enough to lay on her back, bare legs kicking up out of the brine. She righted herself to wave as the two approached. Jane dove forwards as soon as she could, submerging her bare body below the water as quickly as she could, trying to convince herself that the sea somehow offered any modesty. She could feel the water against every inch of her body, her legs and stomach and butt and neck, the trailing ends of her hair clinging to her back.

Sif splashed in last of all, walking in cross-armed until deep enough that her chest was below the surface, and she let her arms drift out for balance. Jane shifted, letting herself float, treading water.

A wild laugh escaped her lips, seeing their clothes weighed down on the beach. Then she looked back at her two companions, face slightly warm, but managing a grin.

“Not quite what it was like,” Valkyrie said. “Still. Could get used to this.”