Chapter 4: Thor

In our last strategy meeting, Clint had snarked at me that for all I had learned to serve my people with my life, I still did not know how to follow orders.

Knowing this was pure nonsense, I blustered at him about the might of Asgard warriors, and how we are taught how to take orders from the time we held our first practice blade.

Today proved him right though.

Thor. This building has a lot of valuable information inside of it- donot use your lightning.

I hadn't understood why at the time, but I nodded in agreement.

Once again our valiant Captain's hand descends upon my increasingly sore posterior.

If only I had listened…

Times like this I just want to bang my head against the wall. It seems like no matter how much I learned in Midgard, I always revert back to arrogance and pride, thinking that I know better with my age and experience, forgetting my complete lack of understanding of the rules of Midgard.

While as a Prince, leader, and future king, my orders are to be obeyed…but I am none of those things here.

A real king can listen to those who know better than them.

The next sharp strike to my posterior makes me wince; not only for the pain, which is indeed immense and building, but also for the guilt harbored within. But I am not yet ready to accept his chastisement… nor his forgiveness.

I can only imagine the look on my family's face- my father would be expressionless, nothing different there; my mother would look at me, eyes heavy with disappointment.

My brother would scoff.

While I may be Crown Prince in Asgard, on Earth I am a guest, a protector, yes, but also a guest. These people were different than my own, and worth no less than any on Asgard.

I am grateful I have a team leader such as the Captain, a human like the other Midgardians who can hold me accountable to their rules and customs, and keep me from acting like an arrogant fool, a proud deity I so often forget I am not.

It had not always been this way, however.

The first time this had been proposed, I had scoffed.

Yes, perhaps I may have used too much strength and destroyed the building, but the enemy was taken down much more quickly than the proposed plan, which could actually prevent civilian casualties from an extended fight. To my mind, Midgard should have stronger buildings; such destruction occurred far less often on Asgard than here.

The expressions on my teammates' faces before they turned to leave gave me the first twinge of unease, and I resisted calling for my hammer when left alone to face the Captain, who was considering me with a level gaze.

A gaze that brought on a second twinge of unease.

Despite his explanation, I refused to submit to such childish Midgardian consequences; I was unused to having any consequences at all, especially for something as trivial as knocking down a building during a battle!

The Captain accepted my choice, but the others were shocked when they saw me emerge unpunished.

Their stares were unnerving me, so I went to my room to get my hammer (Lady Pepper had expressed vehemently that unless in an emergency, I was not to call my hammer to myself while within the tower), more than ready to assault some of the new, reinforced gym equipment… and I couldn't pick up my hammer.

In the end, I acknowledged that whatever power controlled my hammer thought the proposed discipline necessary, and I accepted the censure with churlish flippancy, knowing that there was no way such a petty punishment would truly affect me. The Captain was mortal, after all, and I had regained my powers.

I was wrong.

And now, I knew what to expect. This would end with tears.

Not from pain- although the Captain's strength was indeed formidable! - but the knowledge that this is needed, that I justly deserve to be reminded of my wrongs, always draws true repentance from me. True tears.

I am never released until I acknowledge my errors and accept my actions. But there is more than that- the Captain also insists I release my guilt.

The gentle way the Captain is able to move me through the process of denial, acceptance of responsibility, and then finally release of guilt was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. This was a childish punishment, and I could see why- when done this way, it provided the unspoken message that we are cared for and supported, not left alone to deal with the world.

I acted like a child, and in the end I felt like a child- I felt disciplined, with a lesson well- learned, but safe- far safer than I ever had in my father's court.

His hand slows slightly, as if he knows somehow that I am finally ready to listen to him.

"You didn't listen to our warnings, Thor."

It isn't a question. I unable to suppress the wince that springs up unbidden; I cannot deny the claim. And although stated plainly, I can hear, now that I am finally listening, the small sting of hurt that lies hidden beneath the tone.

"I… I know!" I am extremely frustrated, and beat my head against the side of the chair. Why do I keep doing this?! Several sharp swats stop my frustrated banging.

"Did it not make sense to you?"

"No, it did, I just… ahh!" My agitated twisting is repelled again by several harder swats, which has me blushing as they remind me to keep my temper and hold still.

I more than deserve this.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself as the pain in my posterior continues to grow.

"You just… what?"

I resists to urge to squirm again, uncomfortable with what I am being asked to acknowledge, but that is the whole point, is it not?

I twist uncomfortably for another moment, before I finally slump, defeated, knowing what I have to admit. It comes out quietly, resigned and regretful, subdued.

"I thought I could handle it."

"Exactly." This is said sharply, like the crack of a whip, accompanied by several hard strikes rivaling any hitherto bestowed.

"I know you are used to fighting elsewhere, Thor, but this is Earth. We have different limitations, different things we have to consider."

Steve's hand continues to land unerringly, and I can do naught but put my head down in shame, listening to and accepting the accurate and just censure.

"We are exceedingly grateful for your help and company, but when you ignore our advice and rush in, you can cause more harm than you mean to because you don't know of these limitations."

While the captains voice stays level and fair, I can hear the underlying frustration. I wince, but stays silent, knowing I deserve any rebuke the Captain issues.

"Buildings can fall. People can get hurt. Innocents. Civilians. Those who never asked for a fight, and only want to live in peace."

The Captain is quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in as his hand reinforces his message.

Guilt settles into my stomach as I think of how much worse it could have been.

"You thought you knew more than us. You thought your experience outweighed our warnings and caution.

"This has happened before, Thor. People are hurt by this… you could be injured by this."

He is silent for a moment, letting me process that, and I desperately try to push back the tears that are forcing their way out.

His next sentence is spoken softly, to the point where I need to focus to hear it.

"The king you were raised to be is better than your actions today, Thor. You are better than them."

The disappointment with which he speaks has a far different effect than making me feel like a failure, rejected. It makes me feel guilty, like I let him, and myself down.

I have the same response I always do at this point- his finally hand stops as I burst into the most healing of tears.

Tbc...

A/N:

Here you go everyone! I am SO SORRY this took so long to post; on top of starting a new job, it just kept dividing into more side stories so the original one I had planned become about 4 different stories, so keep an eventual eye out for those. I know it's quick, I finally decided to just post what I had pieced together instead of continuing to edit, but I hope it still follows at least a little.

Next up will be Natasha, which might be awhile, though hopefully not as long. I am also starting school up again, so life is going to get busy. Also, any thoughts on who should deal with Steve? I was thinking Coulson, but I could see it more going the other way with his hero worship... maybe Bucky? Or Fury? Let me know if you have an opinion...

Thank you SO MUCH to all who reviewed, your encouragement and desire to see more kept me going. Otherwise, I would never finish anything, and just write whatever struck me at any given time. You guys are all amazing, please keep commenting. :)

Alright, well I will see you next time!