There are just some things in life that need to happen. That's just the way it is and Erin was on a mission to make sure something that needed to happen did.
"Ow! You're hurting my arm!" Jane protested, trying to keep up with Erin who was tearing through the park, dragging Jane behind her.
"We're running out of time!" Erin panted. She paused for less than at a fork in the path and turned her head in a very owl-like manner as she tried to locate something. The momentary delay in movement allowed Jane to rub the shoulder Erin was practically yanking out of its socket. For such a petite girl she was surprisingly strong. This was something Jane hadn't found out until that morning when her seemingly innocent new neighbour had practically kidnapped her from her home and whiskered her away to New York.
"Where are we going?" Jane asked for the hundredth time as Erin shot off in another direction.
"You'll see!" Erin huffed, speeding up.
And Jane did see. She saw a sight that made her want to laugh, scream and cry all at one. She saw a sight she thought she'd never see again; a sitght that would have normally made her stop dead in her tracks but with the brunette propelling her forward it was impossible to do so. She saw and she stared in shock for a moment before trying to make her legs move independently of Erin's force so that she could run to him faster, so she could confront the man she'd been waiting for for over two years.
Then Jane noticed the other people, making the group before them eight in total. That would be eight people Erin would knock over with the momentum they were moving at if she didn't hit the brakes. Eight people with superpowers.
"Watch out!" Jane shouted but it was way too late.
With an almighty crash Erin took down the largest of the group: a big man with long blonde hair, a red cape and a painful suit of armour that bruised Erin's entire torso. This beast of a man was linked to a tall, skinny male with sleek black hair who was sporting green and black robes and a mouthpiece that reminded Erin oddly enough of a harmonica despite it having been knocked sideways out of his mouth. The four of them lay in an awkward heap for a moment, Jane rag-dolling on top while the shifty man struggled between Thor and the pavement as he tried to free himself from the strange device that bound his hands together.
"Idiot mortal!" Loki hissed as Thor thundered "Watch where you're going!"
"Nice timing C-" Tony smirked, striding over to the pile and extending a hand to Jane who was on top of her. She glared at him which cut him off before he could pronounced her last name.
"Sorry I'm late sir. Took a wrong turn." She apologised. Steve offered her a hand to help her up but she smoothly ignored it and stood on her own.
"You know her?" Thor asked unhappily, dragging his brother to their feet.
"I hired her to collect Miss Foster here." Tony admitted smugly.
For the first time in what felt like forever Jane and Thor looked each other in the eye, battling to keep their emotions from rushing to the surface. It was a mistake to keep things bottled up but each feared the other didn't feel the same way so stunned silence hovered between them.
"Oh look, the clumsy girl brought my brother his pathetic little human back." Loki drawled, sneering in their general direction. "I thought you were fine leaving her here on this wretched planet Thor?"
Thor broke his gaze to glare at Loki but before he could retort Erin pounced on the god and punched his jaw. Once, twice, three times Erin's fist smashed into Loki's face before Steve grabbed her and hauled her off in the way he might have dealt with an angry puppy. Erin struggled against him and clawed at the villain but she wasn't strong enough to break out of Steve's restraints. That didn't stop her getting a good kick in at Loki who remained on the floor. As he howled Steve dragged her back, much to Erin's displeasure.
"Savage child!" Loki snarled, truing to clutch at his face with his bound hands.
"Erin, no." Tony scolded. "Go put her in my car will you gramps?"
"No! I'm not going with him! I'll behave." Erin protested, trying to worm free of Steve's grip.
"For some reason I don't believe you. I wonder why?" He said loftily, appearing to search the air around him for an answer to his question.
"Because I'm too much like you?" Erin snorted.
"Bingo," Tony tapped her nose lightly with a single finger in the most patronising way he could muster. "Now go wait in the car with Steve."
Erin wasn't having it though. She squirmed in Steve's grip and kicked his shins in a feeble attempt to escape. Sighing, he picked a scowling Erin up around her tiny middle and slung her over his shoulder. She writhed and kicked harder as he took her to Tony's cherry red convertible, cursing as they went. He was impervious to her protests though and didn't react, even when her chestnut hair smacked him in the face.
"What was all that about?" Natasha asked, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.
"Erin is… emotionally invested in this meeting." Stark shrugged, glancing over to where Jane and Thor had moved to in order to have a private conversation.
"Jane," Thor frowned at her blank face. "Say something. Please."
In response her hand shot out and smacked him across the face. "You said you'd come back!" She glowered at him.
"I know. I know and I'm so sorry but you have to understand-" Thor began to excuse himself but Jane wasn't having it.
"You're wrong! I don't have to understand! I spent a year waiting for you down in New Mexico! I thought you had forgotten me! I thought you had lied!" Her voice rose unintentionally as she revealed her inner-most fears to him. All the hurt she'd felt and suppressed over the last couple of years resurfaced all at once so Jane was forced to feel her heart break all over again.
"I could never forget you! The thought that I might not be able to see you again killed me inside a little more with each passing day but I was not permitted to see you! The bridge is still broken and I have been bound by duty to my home." Thor yelled back.
"Bound by duty? What does that mean?" Jane asked with exasperation. Duty was not prioritised before love. Well maybe it wasn't love at all. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was nothing to him.
"I WAS MOURNING MY BROTHER!" Thor exploded. "I thought him to be dead! No matter what he is now, no matter what he has done Loki has always been and will always be my brother! It wasn't until I learned that he was alive that I was able to suspend my grieving! Can you comprehend what that was like for me?"
"Actually, I can." Jane replied in a low, angry voice. He didn't know her as well as he thought. He was clueless to the loses that littered her past.
There was a pause as the two stared at each other wordlessly again. They were both breathing heavily and feeling that electric desire couples get to jump into each other's arms. Why did this have to be so hard? Why were the feelings still there? Jane wanted to know so that way she could delete them or remove them or something. She knew that Thor felt something too but that didn't make it any better. Or did it? She could see emotion there in his eyes, proof to his claims. She didn't know whether to trust them or not. Even worse, she didn't know if she could trust herself.
Eventually it became too much and overwhelmed, Thor turned his eyes to the other Avengers. They'd all moved further away to give Thor and Jane as much more privacy as they could in the public setting. It was clear they were still trying to listen although they acted differently. Clin and Natasha tried to make out they were talking quietly to one another while Bruce kept a close eye on Loki who was still trying to clutch his throbbing jaw. From the car Erin watched the couple through the rear-view mirror unashamed, ignoring Steve and Tony's fruitless attempts to steal her attention.
"I should go," Jane decided, pulling Thor's attention back to her. "This was a mistake. I didn't even want to be here." She turned to leave.
"Jane, wait." He looked torn but she couldn't see. Her back was to him and her eyes were cast to the floor so she wouldn't have to look their audience in the eye. "Come with me." He offered hesitantly only because he feared rejection.
He couldn't see Jane bite her lip as she blinked back tears. She had only just given up on Thor and the possibility of him returning for her. She was meant to be moving on and she had in a way by making massive progress not only with her research but with the little family she had left. It wasn't just because of them that Jane rejected the idea initially though. Going with Thor would undo all her hard work. There were still things she had yet to discover but then again, going to Asgard would give her a whole new world to discover. But what if she couldn't return to Earth again? She'd be very dependent on Thor and with all of his duties he wouldn't have the time for her that she needed.
"No." She said firmly, keeping her back to him.
"No? What's changed? Is it a man?" Thor hid his hurt behind suspicion and envy. He walked around so he could see her face. This was something they couldn't try and hide from one another.
"No. No men or man or anyone." Jane shook her head, avoiding his eyes. No man could ever compare to him. Surely he knew that?
"Then what is it?" Thor demanded. Ha had to know because the suspense was driving him insane.
"What if I go to Asgard with you and you get bored of me? What if something goes wrong and I'm left on a strange planet with no one to help me? What happens then?" Jane finally cracked. Meeting Thor's eyes she transferred all of her fears and uncertainties with a single look which he tried his best to understand.
"Get bored of you Jane? Never. We have so much to learn about one another and to teach each other. As my bride, the people of Asgard will always be willing to help you if something happened to me. Come with me Jane." Thor tried to tackle her fears but he knew that there was a lot more left unsaid.
"Your bride?" Jane faltered. She laughed nervously because marriage… well marriage was such a big idea. Too big to think about yet.
"If that is what you desire." Thor nodded sternly as it was what he wanted somewhere down the line. He would never, ever force her into it though.
"I- I-" Jane turned to Erin whose eyes were practically popping out of her head. She couldn't help but laugh at her new friend. The girl was tiny and mad. Jane would miss her.
"I want to go to Asgard with you." Jane admitted.
"But?" Thor sensed there was more to it that Jane initially stated.
"But I don't know if this will work," Jane let out a shaky breath. "And I don't know if it's the right thing. It feels right though."
"It will work," Thor beamed.
He took one of Jane's hands in both of his own. He moved in close slowly enough to give her time to pull away if she wanted. She let him, trying to think of a reply. In the end she didn't need to as he kissed her, soft and sweet on the lips. In the background Erin cheered and Jane couldn't help but laugh at her.
"You friend is very enthusiastic, is she not?" Thor chuckled, resting his forehead against Jane's.
"Yes she is." Jane agreed before kissing him again.
They broke apart again as Erin barrelled into them, engulfing them in a massive hug.
"Thank you for restoring my faith in love." She rejoiced, not letting go.
"No! Down Erin!" Tony pulled her off the laughing couple.
"I wasn't finished!" She protested but upon seeing Steve advance on her she moved away instantly.
"Wait, what am I doing? I'm not going to Asgard now am I?" Jane clapped her hands to her cheeks, ignoring the filthy look Erin threw at Steve's back.
"Of course you are." Thor replied cheerily. He couldn't wait for many reasons and the reality of the situation made him incredibly happy.
"But what about my things?" Jane breathed. It was all happening so fast.
"I've got you covered," Erin interjected. She took Jane's wrist again, more gently this time, and led her over to Tony's car. Popping the trunk she handed her a completely stuffed black backpack. "In here are enough lady bits, make up, underwear and snacks to last about a month. Mr Stark and I have already had a team pack up your apartment - which we'll rent out on your behalf – and have had everything placed into storage for you. Your research is being shipped to Stark Towers where Thor can pick it up when the bridge between worlds is mended. I've already sorted a cover story for anyone who might want to know where you've gone but for whatever reason can't handle the truth so you really don't have a single thing to worry about." Erin assured her.
"When did you do all of this?" Jane laughed in surprise. The sneaky girl had thought of just about everything.
"While you slept on the plane mostly but Mr Stark and I have had this planned for a couple of days." Erin shrugged like it was no big deal.
"Thank you so much." Jane hugged Erin tight, bringing tears to both girls' eyes.
"Let's get you gone," Erin smiled sadly, squeezing her new friend slightly.
Jane nodded and Erin turned her back. She hated watching people leave. Instead she wandered off a little ways and took out her phone. Now that the chaos was over she thought it would be a good time to call her dad. They hadn't spoken in a long time and she figured an alien invasion would be a good a reason as any to catch up again. After several attempts though there was still no answer. Erin didn't worry though. He missed a lot of her calls. If he wanted to talk he'd call back. She just knew it.
When she swivelled round to face the group again she was met with the sight of just Steve standing alone, hands in his pockets as he waited for her to be done.
"Can I give you a ride anywhere?" He asked graciously, indicating his waiting motorbike with a nod of his head.
"No, I'll walk." Erin declined with as much civility as she could muster.
"You sure? Because I don't mind." He tried not to insist but he didn't feel comfortable just leaving her alone. He had this strange feeling whenever he looked at her that he couldn't quite place.
"Yes." She answered shortly.
Before he could detain her any longer Erin dodged around him and walked in the general direction of her apartment. Steve watched her go and felt strangely sad to do so. Something about her interested him. The way her mood changed radically, her aversion to him and her attitude all reminded him vaguely of someone he once knew. That was enough to make up his mind on several matters that had sprung to mind as he watched his fellow Avengers leave. From his jacket pocket Steve pulled out the strange mobile telecommunications device that Director Fury had bestowed upon him and after several minutes of semi-confused faffing he managed to call the person he wanted to talk to.
"Come on Grandpa, surely you know better than to call someone while they're driving." Tony scolded mockingly.
"I need your help." Steve stated, frowning because asking for help was not really his strong point. Usually he was the giver of aid, not the one in need but the 21st Century was a strange time and he was definitely out of his depth.
"You need my help?" Tony laughed half-heartedly. "See that, he can't go five minutes without needing my help." Tony added to Bruce who humoured him with a hollow chuckle. "What can I do for you?"
"It's about Erin." Steve let out a big breath, bracing himself for the teasing.
Instead he was greeted by silence on the end of the phone which made Steve worry that the line had gone dead. The sound of traffic in the background assured him that Tony was just remaining silent though.
"Tony?"
"You're barking up the wrong tree there Captain." Tony finally spoke, all trace of jokiness erased from his voice.
"What do you mean?" Steve asked defensively. He knew full well what Tony meant. He didn't understand why he was saying that though. They'd only just known one another for a few seconds.
"Co- Erin had no interest in you. Just leave her be." Tony told him firmly.
"How can you know for sure? She's only just met me." Steve pressed him. He deserved a chance at least. Everybody deserves one chance as it's only fair. Sadly life isn't fair sometimes but that was fine. Steve had always fought to change that. He wouldn't stop just because Tony said so.
"I'm related to Sherlock Holmes so I can tell." Tony replied offhandedly.
"Impossible. Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character." Steve pointed out.
"Very possible," Tony countered in that arrogant way he always did.
"It doesn't matter. Look, I – I just need to find a way to connect with her, to get to know her. Can you help me? Please?" Steve was trying not to get frustrated. Tony could be infuriating sometimes.
There was another pause and then a small sigh.
"I'll see what I can do."