A/N: So here's a short story I wrote for a friend of mine. It's a mini Thor-centric prequel for the Avengers. I hope you like it! Thanks to Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl for catching me on a plot error. It's been edited.
It was one of the rare moments when Thor had convinced Heimdall to leave his post at the edge of the ruined Bifrost for a short time, and he treasured the momentary peace it gave him. Even though he couldn't see the Earth, he knew it was down there, and he knew his Jane was waiting for him to return. He also knew that somewhere, out in the vast emptiness sprawling before him, his brother had died. Thor turns away from the edge with a sigh, suddenly unable to stand the quiet, and sees his father approaching. Thor makes a short, respectful bow, and Odin puts his hand on his oldest son's shoulder.
"My son…still grieving for your brother?"
"Of course, father. How can I not? He was not simply a brother, but also my friend, the best part of my childhood. I wish I had seen more clearly the doubts he was suffering, so that perhaps I could have helped him, counseled him as he so often did for me."
Odin smiles sadly. "You are not at fault for this, Thor. Yet you still bear so much grief…grief for your brother, grief for your lost love…and now I, poor father that I am, must add to your troubles and ask you to gird yourself once more for battle, if you can bear it."
Thor straightens up and grips Mjolnir's handle a little tighter. "Are we under attack?"
"Not directly, though the situation is no less dire. The Tesseract has been awakened."
"What? But Father, none save you or I have the knowledge to use its power!"
Odin shakes his head, his mouth set in a grim line. "There is one other who knows how to use it, Thor."
"…Loki? But…he is dead…"
"I believe it is possible for him to have survived that fall. In fact, I suspect that is the case, now that the Tesseract has been awakened."
Thor stands there for a moment, stunned, before replying. "My brother is alive?"
"It would seem so," Odin replies. "You know that we cannot allow him to keep the Tesseract, Thor."
"What are you asking me to do?"
"Find it, and your brother, and bring them home. Loki will face my judgment."
Thor bows again, more deeply this time. "Yes, father. Where am I to go?"
"The energy from the Tesseract has been sensed on Earth. We do not know what Loki intends for that world, but as it is the location of his recent humiliating defeat, I do not think it will be pleasant."
"Earth? But the Bifrost is ruined."
"I shall send you there myself. The cost of such magic is great, but the cost of losing the Tesseract to Loki is far greater. When you are prepared, I can—"
"I am ready," Thor interrupts. "I want to leave immediately. If the Earth is in danger…I must go."
"Very well." Odin put both hands on Thor's shoulders, and dark energy begins to swirl around him. "Be safe, my son, and fight well. You will make me proud."
"Yes, father." Thor bows his head, bracing himself for the journey to Earth. "I will return once I have located Loki and the Tesseract. Farewell." He feels a sharp jolt and the surface of the rainbow bridge seems to drop out from under his feet as he is flung out into the vastness of space, propelled by Odin's magic towards a small blue dot in the distance that gradually gets larger and larger…
A/N: Reviews? Thanks!
