Backdated to Feb. 11, 2015

"What happened to you?" She drew him in by his filthy hand. Hers were pale, small on his paw, red knuckled from work and flour dried in cake moons up near and mimicking her cuticles. Sweat and centuries old dust from his own smeared dark greys on the insides of her fingers. He followed, letting the scent of cinnamon and coffee wash over him. There was a hint of lavender- she'd been making marshmallows or meringue. Even when she wasn't at work, she was baking. It was her job, it was her relaxation, it was her life. He loved that of her, learned it of her and tried to emulate it- to make his passion his job. "Nalle, what have you done to yourself? You were supposed to be camping and training?"

Björn couldn't really smile, his teeth were too dry and his lips too cracked. "Kan jag få ett glas vatten ?"

She pursed her brows, and continued dragging him all the way to the kitchen where she placed the hand she'd claimed in the sink in wordless demand. Björn complied, setting his other hand to the sink and getting on with the motions of washing his hands, forearms, face. Anna pulled a glass from the cupboards and drew filtered water from another tap on the fridge to set waiting for him at the well-built wooden table against the wall. Then she pulled towels from the lowest drawer and pulled his shoulder down to dab at his neck and shoulders with wet cloth. He gave in, lifting away momentarily to set down all the gear he was carrying and remove his shirt, shoes, and socks.

After half an hour of quiet cleaning and tending, and three glasses of water, they both nursed coffee. He was sat on the table, legs too long now for years to dangle and slowly kick. He crossed his ankles instead. She sat on the table next to him, but her feet didn't reach the floor. "Mamma..."

Anna looked over and up, expectant.

He swallowed. "There is a lot of trouble."

She nodded, sipped her coffee.

"I've put everyone in a lot of danger. I was pressed to serve those people on the TV. The 'vigilantes'...the Negaverse. "

"Ja. That was at least a year and a half ago that report was on the TV. That reporter, Tag, he was going on with the interviews. I remember it. " Anna reached a hand over and set it gently, comforting and encouraging, on his wrist.

"It was at that marathon. I told you about how they invited me to the afterparty and it was strange, even though I didn't win? That was when it happened. That is how I have spent my evenings after work and the gym. "

"That is why you keep having bruises and cuts?"

"It is. And more. They have real magic. They fight with weapons. It is like a fairy book. But they are evil, mamma. It has taken me this long to figure it out. There is a throne for a rule of Earth, and a whole city. You wouldn't really believe it. It is like Asbjornsen and Djurklou stories. "

"You are afraid I won't believe you."

"Why should you? No one believes in magic. But that is not so bad, magic. Mamma, I have killed people for this organization. I have defended them, thinking I was protecting the Earth. "

Her fingers squeezed on his wrist, gentle but firm. "Show me, Nalle. Show me and I will believe you. "

He set his coffee aside, stood up from the table and turned to face her. Then transformed into his uniform- clean and precise unlike its wearing some hours ago on his way to the apartment. He summoned his hammer out of the air and set it on the floor with a thud. She jumped at the sound, her eyes wide and taking in all the details. This was her son, somehow. "Like this, they call me Captain Titanlåvenite. I have hunted traitors. I have killed civilians to feed the engine of the war for my commanders. I have fought the children senshi and their allies...which are Knights to the different planets and worlds out in space. And it is all for a Usurper that would eat the Earth and all the people on it. And now...I can see that. I have proof of it- I found buildings of the old capital where knighthoods were marked. I'm supposed to be a knight that serves a title and the lands of the Nærøyfjord. "

"A knight, Nalle? We've no noble lineage. "

"Not very like that. I don't know. There is a whole different history, different places that can't be found that are owned by the magic. They are hidden like fairy forts. I didn't believe it myself- You know I've hiked all over the fjords with Håkon. But it is there. " He turned hurriedly to his pack on the floor, digging through it to produce the appropriate stall plate to hold out to her. "It is that crest. That's the fjord. That is the man I was supposed to be. But the Negaverse pumped its magic into me first, fed me its lies and stories and I believed them, mamma. They say they are protecting the Earth, and there is such sadness there.....in their fallen. In the city drowned in stone. It makes it so easy to pity and to believe. But they are lying. The Queen Metallia is only interested in power and eating. Empty and always eating. She isn't even a person- no body, no presence. It is a great, black energy like a gloom that comes and spoke to her army sometimes. And if I leave them....it is you and our family that will be found next and made to pay for me. "

She was silent a long time. Seconds into minutes, and he let his uniform drop away so as to bring no more risk of attention to her apartment. She turned the ancient plate over and over in her hand. Finally, words came again, " I believe you, Nalle. You cannot leave secret military and it be safe. But you must leave them and do the right thing. You tell me, because you have thought about this a long time?"

"I have. There was another traitor I tracked, looking into all his personal life I could to try to find reasons. If I am known a traitor, they may do the same to you, or to Colin, or to any of the family. I thought...if I seem to just die, there will be no reason for them to take revenge. You cannot be used against a dead man. The magic that will free me....it takes so much. It will take away all my memory, my name, my life and give me that new one. I won't know you anymore. But I won't be recognizable by anyone either. You couldn't have recognized me from a photo of Captain Titan....it is a strong magic. "

She nodded, giving no questions and just mulling over the acceptance of such things as truths. "So you pretend to die...but really...you do die. And this Knight of Nærøyfjord is what you become. "

"Yes."

There was passing silence. "Why must you forget everything?"

"The magic of the Negaverse is like cancer and has to be cut out of my soul, mama. Whatever is left after that....it will take time to heal, and it will be missing a lot. Memory is some of that. But I can leave letter to this new person, and tell him about you. About the family. If you would still like to know him. I think it will be painful. It would also be dangerous. The more involved you stay, the more risk of the Negaverse ....taking prisoners, or killing the family. They are not like governments. "

She offered the plate back, looking him in the eyes. "You must make right with your life, Nalle. And this is real, so I cannot look away from it. You are my son. We are your family. We will help you and the others. I don't know how yet, but we will. En svensk tiger, Nalle.....this is not far from the 1940s. Not far enough that there aren't people who can remember what to do with fear like this. I remember my parents' and grandparents stories. "

Björn released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thank you, mamma. I thought maybe if you go back to Sweden, or to Norway, maybe it will be safer. There is Negaverse there, but the front is here. It may be easier there, and with mail and distance, to cover tracks. If we pretend that we must return there, I can arrange to transfer to that division....and just die before ever returning. It is short notice. Do you think we could find a reason?"

"Ja, we can. I like the United States. It will be sad to leave it...but another city is not so final and convincing? Will the magic not change us, if we are your family? What about Colin? Oh, Nalle, I thought you would marry him? Does he know? Will he be safe?"

Björn strode forward, kneeling on the floor to rest his temple against his mother's knees. "I have to break his heart. He doesn't know. I can't ask him to drop his whole life. I don't know how I'm asking it of you, except to ask to keep you safe. I don't think the magic changes the family. Just the person. I have to break his heart. I cannot marry him. I cannot ask him to stay with someone who won't know him. He is a dancer. He makes beautiful things. He should not be pulled into a war. I don't know how....what do I say to him? He will hate me, and I deserve that. I have not been good to him. If he hates me, would that make it easier for him? "

"I don't think it will. There is no reason to lie, even if you cannot tell him the truth about it. Don't break his heart more than it will be already. If you really love him, Nalle, be as truthful as you can....so that maybe he can heal someday and trust someone again. Even when it won't be you. "

Björn nodded slowly. Their coffees grew colder in the blue-white dim of the kitchen light. "Do you mind if I stay here to help you pack and while we make the plan? Maybe something with your Visa? The faster it is moved, it will be more believable that was part of it. "

"Ja. I will call my brothers and see what we can do. You can tell me more tonight. Tomorrow. Tell me everything, Nalle. I will believe my son. I have seen the hammer on the floor and the skull on your shoulder. I have seen the despair in your eyes."