A/N: This is actually from an RP that my friend and I have been doing together, so the format may be a little different than what you are used to. I just really enjoyed our characters in this and decided to share. I only wrote all the sections pertaining to Thor and the characters surrounding him. My friend wrote everything relating to Jane Foster. I regret to say that we don't have an actual plan for the story yet but if you all want me to keep updating this, then please let me know. As always, constructive criticism is welcome.
"That! That one right there, Erik!" Jane Foster said excitedly pointing at a photograph taken from a SHIELD satellite. "This constellation, i-it isn't ours. It's happening again." Her associate, Dr. Erik Selvig, was much more skeptical. He let out a sigh and offered her only a slight head shake. "Why are you brushing this off?" Jane protested, immediately standing to her feet and walking across her New Mexico lab. A bulletin board was set up at the far end of the room and all across it, various photographs, charts and graphs had been tacked up. She pointed out one photo in particular with her finger. "See?" Erik stood and made his way to Jane. "Jane, this has happened before. You know that. Please, you can't keep doing this to yourself."
"Erik, I have the answers. They're all here somewhere I just need to work them out." He nodded, knowing arguing with her further was futile. All the while Darcy, Jane's apprentice, looked on. Eyes shooting back and forth as the two argued as if she was watching an intense game of tennis. Erik sat beside her and she raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess once you go Norse god, you never go back..."
At nightfall, Jane found herself back up on that familiar rooftop, staring up at the night's sky. The stars twinkled and she smiled a bit. It had been just over three months since she last saw Thor. Every passing day she missed him just a bit more but she refused to give up hope. She laid back in her lounge chair and her mind wandered. She wondered if he thought about her half as much as she did him. People around her had started to think she was crazy, going through so much for a person they said she hardly knew. But in her heart, Jane knew it was more than that. And this wasn't just about Thor. It was about her entire life's work, about discovery... the stars... science.
Another night was spent on that rooftop, curled up. Her dreams were filled with the few stories Thor had told her. This only helped her cling to hope. She groggily stood and made her way down to the lab to make a cup of coffee. It was earlier than she thought it was and Darcy was passed out on the couch, snoring, her headphones stuck in her ears and her eclectic music playing. Jane walked over and draped a blanket over Darcy's body, the aroma from the coffee filling the room. As she walked back towards the small kitchen area to get a cup, her eyes widened as she lost her footing and fell face first onto the floor with a small thud. She gasped and sat up, glancing over at Darcy who still slept soundly. Then her eyes turned to the object she tripped over. It was Erik's briefcase. "He must have forgotten it." she thought to herself. As she stood, she bent down to pick the case up but when she did, it opened and papers poured out and onto the floor. She let out a groan and began to pick them up when something caught her eye. It was a chart that documented readings from a power source unlike anything Jane had ever seen. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she sat at the kitchen table and began to peruse each document carefully. Jane had known Erik was working with SHIELD but he never divulged any of what went on there. And then it struck her - this could be the missing link, the solution to all her failed formulas. She needed to see this thing for herself, examine it, test it. But this would require quite a bit convincing on her part. SHIELD owed Jane this, that much was sure. Over the past six weeks they'd been coming to her for help on various 'top secret' projects. Finally, she knew how they could repay her.
Thor felt the sunlight on the back of his eyelids and stirred. It seemed like only 5 minutes ago he laid down to sleep. Every day was spent with learning the ways of ruling this kingdom, walking in his father's place as an apprentice. By night, he searched for his brother, but the task seemed nearly impossible without a way to search the surrounding realms.
He groaned and rolled over to face his open windows. Nope, the light on his face wasn't a trick. The sun was already rising. He got out of bed, shaking the grogginess from his head and dressed quickly. He didn't bother with his armor today, just a casual Asgardian ensemble of reds and blues. He hooked Mjolnir to his belt and strode out of his room.
His first stop would be to see Heimdall. This is what he did every morning, and he counted this his most important task. He grabbed an apple and made his way out of the palace walls, giving a smile to everyone who stopped to bid him a good day as he passed. He made his way to palace stables and jumped onto his horse.
"Off to search for fair lady, once more?" said the ever cheerful voice of Fandral who walked into view.
"I promised her I would not give up until I may find passage to her side once more. Aye, I search for this fair lady once more," Thor replied with a wink.
Fandral just shook his head with a laugh. "Known her but two days and already your heart is smitten."
Thor looked at him, mouth open, trying to think of something to say in his defense, but no words came. How would he be able to describe the tenacity that Jane Foster had showed in her work? How nothing seemed to deter her from what she wanted. The way she smiled at him when he was clearly doing something wrong or the kind heart she had in taking in and caring for a complete stranger who, he had to admit, was rather rude to her?
Fandral laughed once more and cut him off of any reply. "You do me proud. Go now, storm wielder and let today bring you better luck!"
Thor grinned and kicked the flanks of his horse sending it at a gallop through the Asgardian city towards the remains of the Bifrost.
There he met his ever stoic friend, Heimdall, keeping his vigilant gaze upon the universe. Thor unmounted and walked up beside the guardian. "Good Heimdall, I hope the day brings you warm tidings." It was the same greeting Thor gave him everyday for he past three months. And as always, Heimdall replied with, "As good as tidings as a day can bring when it has just yet begun." Heimdall never showed any signs of annoyance by Thor's daily visits, always answering his questions in the same way. For this, Thor was always grateful.
He looked passed Heimdall's shoulder to the many workers below who worked tirelessly to rebuild the bifrost. It was no small feat, but they were making great time. "What news have you for traveling to other realms?" Thor asked.
"The bridge is strong, but it still lacks the power it needs to transport one away," he replied.
"What may I do to aid you in this?" Thor wanted to do everything he could to ensure that it was fixed in due time.
"Nothing," came Heimdall's answer. "You must remain within the castle and help lead this realm by your father's side.
Thor nodded in understanding. A few moments passed before Thor finally asked what he really wanted to. "And what of her?"
Hemidall didn't need to ask who he was inquiring about. Thor asked about Jane Foster every morning he came to see him. "She is well and continues with her research. She wonders if you think about her." Thor smiled to himself, trying to hide it from his friend. This meant she still felt something for him. He didn't understand why she ever would. They only knew each other two days, but this warmed his heart nonetheless.
He bowed in thanks to his friend before setting back off into the city to start his daily duties.
Dr. Selvig rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers, his elbows resting on the table he sat at. "Jane, these documents weren't for your eyes." Jane paced back and forth in front of him. "What's done is done. I saw them and I need to see this power source. Erik, you know this is what I've been looking for. This entire time it's been right under my nose! SHIELD doesn't even have to know that you were the reason I got a hold of this information." He dropped his palms on the table. "But they will know! They will, without you ever giving an inkling of a hint." Jane stopped her pacing right in front of him and leaned over the table to look into his eyes. "I have been working with them for nearly two months now. They've brought countless boxes of documentation to my lab and back to their headquarters, it's entirely possible and highly probably that some time during these exchanges something pertaining to the source found it's way here." As she said the last word, her fist hit the top of the table.
"Okay, alright…" Erik rose from his chair, starting to pace himself as Jane stood still and watched him. It seemed as if they'd traded roles. "Let's say that you go to them with what you know, right? And you ask to see… whatever it is you think they have. What then will you do? How will you turn raw power into the type of energy needed to open an Einstein-Rosen bridge?" If he was going to risk everything to help Jane get to the cosmic cube he'd been researching at SHIELD, he needed the reassurance that she knew what she was doing, that she had a plan. "Well… I'll have to run some tests on it, obviously. Compare it's readings to those of the portal that brought Thor here to begin with. If I can find similarities in the two, then using this power source for the same purpose is possible." He stopped his pacing and the two locked eyes. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed his coat and tugged it on. "Let's go, then." Darcy, who's eyes had been glued to the T.V., immediately perked up. "Can I go?" In perfect unison, both Erik and Jane responded with a resounding "No."
Minutes later Erik, Jane and Darcy had piled into Jane's truck and headed in the direction of the New Mexico division of SHIELD headquarters. "I can't believe you threatened to go streaking down Main Street if we didn't let you come." Jane said shaking her head. "What? I'm supposed to be hanging around you guys. I'm learning. Besides, there was nothing on T.V." Darcy plugged herself into her iPod and not another word was spoken the entire way there.
Once arriving at their destination, the trio made their way inside and Erik went to the front desk to speak to the secretary while Darcy and Jane sat in the small waiting area a few feet away. "So you really think they're gonna let you in there?" Darcy said, pulling her headphones out. "I don't know… it could go either way. I think if I can talk to Agent Coulson that my chances would be better." After a few moments Erik waved Jane over and told her he'd gotten her ten minutes with Coulson, not a minute more or less, to plead her case. She smirked at the agent that came to escort her to Coulson's office, then she looked back up at Erik. "I'll only need five."
The agent, whom Jane recognized as Agent Sitwell, lead her to the elevator and up many floors, down a long hall and around a corner. "Jesus, this place is huge. Have you ever gotten lost?" He smiled warmly as they reached the office. "Once or twice." He gave a faint knock on the door. "Let her in." the voice on the other end said. Agent Sitwell opened the door for Jane, she glanced at him before walking in. He gave Coulson a quick nod before closing the door once again. "Have a seat, Miss Foster." Coulson said. "Oh, no. I'm fine actually." Jane replied with a smile. "Suit yourself." he unbuttoned his suit coat and sat down, looking up at Jane's face. "So I understand you feel your work with us has gained you the privilege of accessing top secret government information. A privilege that civilians such as yourself, I believe, shouldn't have." This conversation had not started out the way Jane had wanted it to. But she had no intention of backing down. "So what you're saying is you believe you can use my knowledge, what I know, my resources for yourselves at absolutely no cost to you while you keep me in the dark." Phil scoffed almost silently. "If you want payment, all you hav-" she cut him off immediately. "I don't want your money. I don't need it. What I want is information. From what I can tell, you haven't exactly figured it all out when it comes to that power source that's probably buried in an underground lab beneath this office building. You need a fresh set of eyes and a brand new open mind and I can give you that." Phil studied Jane for a long time, his expression stone cold and unchanging. She wanted to shift uncomfortably beneath the weight of his gaze but she didn't let herself. After many agonizingly silent moments, Coulson stood. "Follow me."
Agent Coulson led Jane down. The whole secret underground lab bit of Jane's speech was a complete shot in the dark. She had no actual evidence or knowledge that it existed. But it did. She couldn't help but smile a bit at that fact. After going through what seemed like dozens of security checkpoints along the way, they finally reached the vault like laboratory. As they entered, Jane saw it, the power source. It was sat in the middle of the room on a pedestal-like table. The cube-shaped object had a faint white glow to it. "Go ahead." Coulson said, gesturing to it. The other scientists in the room paid no attention to Jane, too wrapped in their various experiments. She walked over to it and leaned in to examine it closely. She almost felt like a child but couldn't help but ask. "What happens if you touch it?" Coulson walked up behind her and tilted his head a bit. "Actually… not much of anything." Her brows furrowed before she peeked up at him. He sighed. "Go ahead." Jane smiled and reached out, her fingers hovering over the cube for a few seconds that felt more like hours. Finally the tips of her fingers came in contact with the cube. Much to the complete shock of everyone in the room, the cube began to glow. The scientists began to scurry about the room, Agent Coulson's eyes which were usually void of expression lit up and then there was a blinding light followed by a loud crash.
Thor threaded his fingers through his hair in frustration as he sat in the dining hall. Today had been very frustrating indeed. He dealt with the petty issues of the citizens, settling feuds, redistributing livestock for families in need, and hearing out everyone's issues and problems. In other words: it was tedious. As a child, he always imagined the role of a king to be much more glorious. Always fighting to defend the kingdom and wooing the damsels along the way. But the true work of a king proved to be very boring.
After all that, he met with the heads of the search parties who were looking for Loki. It was the same frustratingly bad news. It was impossible to find him if they couldn't leave Asgard, but Thor held hope that his brother still lived and that they would once again meet.
But now found Thor in the dining hall well after sunset, staring into his half eaten plate of food, listening to Fandral and Volstagg with their never ending bickering.
"You would do well to heed my words, pretty Fandral. For mine enemies have quaked with fear for eons, always knowing that should they do wrong, the Valiant Volstagg would right them!"
To this, Fandral just laughed. "Aye, but as fortunate would smile upon them giving them a generous warning of your arrival, for it would not just be they who quake, but the ground itself as you walk!"
"Villain!" Volstagg yelled, drawing his blade, pointing it at Fandral's throat.
Thor peeked through his fingers that rested on his face in exhaustion, watching in apathy, knowing this to be a normal routine.
"Steady your blade, voluminous Volstagg, for Fandral only jests as always," came the calm voice of rationale in Hogun. Volstagg waited a moment before sheathing his sword with a grunt.
"Very well. All the better to spend my time in savoring the succulent delicacies we share here today," Volstagg said taking a seat.
Thor felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked over to see the sympathetic eyes of his friend Sif. "I must say, this is definitely a first. The mighty Thor, not finish his dinner?" she said teasingly.
He relaxed back in his chair, dropping his hands to his lap and giving her a warm smile. "T'was a trying day, m'lady. I find myself exhausted in the tasks I have undertaken."
"If anyone can accomplish such things, I know it to be you," she said, her voice soothing. She always knew how to calm him down when no one else could. He smiled to her again, appreciating her presence. "Though, if I am wrong," she said, her voice taking on that haughty tone she liked to tease him with. "Perhaps Asgard will finally learn it takes a Queen to a King's job."
"Oh you think so?"
"I know so." They laughed a little and he breathed a sigh. It was the first time he relaxed all day.
This was when the doors burst open and a messenger came running through. He came up to the table and knelt on one knee, his right fist over his heart. "My lord."
Thor stood, walking around the table to speak with him. "Speak."
The messenger rose and said in a voice out of breath, "Heimdall requests your audience immediately. He says it is urgent."
Thor looked to his friends, getting a reassuring nod from Sif. He turned back to the messenger. "I shall take my fastest steed."
It wasn't long before Thor and Sif rode out to the edge of the bifrost, having left the warriors three behind to enjoy the rest of their night. Thor was the only one requested, and Sif tagged along in case he would need back up or someone to alert the others in Asgard. Thor jumped off his horse and hurried to his friend.
"Heimdall, what urgent news to you bear?"
"There is power where we lacked such. The bifrost can be used, but I fear this window will not be open long. If you truly wish to return to Midgard, now is your chance."
Sif walked up to Thor, looking worried. "My lord, what if you would not be able to return? Asgard needs you."
He turned to her, pleading with his eyes. "I must go. Perhaps there I can look into this power source and find a way to truly repair the bifrost once and for all. You must understand…" They both knew this was about more than just repairing the bifrost, but Jane's name went unsaid.
After a long moment, Sif finally nodded. "What shall I tell the others and our king?"
"The truth," he replied simply. "I have gone in search of this power source to reconnect our worlds so that we may once again be the protectors of Yggdrasil that we were meant to be."
Sif stood there, watching him, wanting to say so much more, but clearly she held it in. Without warning, she threw her arms around him in a hug, pulling away all too quickly. "Be safe, my lord, Thor."
"I always am," she said with a smirk. She rolled her eyes at his cockiness and stood back.
"Now. You must go now," Heimdall said.
Thor looked forward as a portal opened itself. It looked unstable with the apparatus not yet compete in its construction, but he trusted Heimdall and stepped forward. Instantly he felt the familiar sensation of being pulled forward and shot across the universe.
Just moments later he landed in a kneeling position, dust kicked up all around him in a huge cloud. Lightning crackled overhead and stood, grinning to himself as he recognized the landscape.