A/N: Quick note on this one, trying to get it posted before bed time. Got a bit on at the moment.

So, here's the chapter, and I'll talk to you at the end... :D

Chapter Twenty-Four

Tony patted Thor's arm. "I'm trying to fix something, but the minute I need something broken into a thousand pieces, Thor, you're my go to guy."

Thor knew his strengths weren't in technology based areas so he took no offence. "Very well." He watched Bruce and Tony leave to go and deal with the unholy smell coming from the buildings air ducts and considered calling Jane but now Thor was beginning to wonder if he should go and see her in person. He could only hope the words would come more easily if they were standing face to face. Thor considered that option and realised he wanted more than anything to be able to put his arms around Jane again and hold her, knowing that everything would feel right again in his world when it did. He turned around to head for the elevator to organise a way to Switzerland when an unexpected guest strolled through the rotating doors of the Avenger's tower. Thor immediately faced off against the other man and crossed his arms in front of his muscled chest. He knew what an imposing figure he could cut when he wanted to.

Justin Hammer grinned as he walked up to him, hands shoved in his pockets. "Have they got you working bouncer detail, Thor? That's a bit of a come down for the son of a god," he noted cheerily.

Thor didn't know what a bouncer was, but he suspected Hammer was mocking him. He took Tony's teasing good-naturedly because he knew the other man meant no harm and it was simply his way. This Justin Hammer was another thing entirely. "What do you want, little man?" His expression promised pain and suffering if Justin didn't get to the point quickly.

"Okay, touched a nerve, have I?" asked Justin blithely. "Duly noted." His eyes ran over Thor's imposing frame. "I have to ask," he said, eyeing one of Thor's massive biceps, "how do you get those guns? Is there a lot of weight training in Asgard, is that the trick?"

"Our time is well spent in tossing annoying insects into deep crevices," said Thor and gave him a warning look.

Justin grinned. "I'd like to see that one day."

Thor's voice was deep and imposing. "The day may come sooner than you think, mortal."

Justin made a thoughtful face. "You're scarier than the blue tights and red cape might first suggest, Thor."

Thor made an impatient noise and stepped towards Justin who took a couple of hasty step backwards and held up placating hands. "Okay, whoa there, big guy, no need to get physical. I'm just here to offer the Avengers an invitation."

Thor looked down at him coolly. "An invitation?"

"I'm holding a press conference tomorrow at three," said Justin eagerly, "but I sure would like to give the Avengers a very special preview of what I'm going to be announcing."

"And why would the Avengers care for this announcement of yours, Justin Hammer?" Thor demanded to know.

"If they're smart they'll care," said Justin. He grinned up at Thor. "I'm going to reveal my Magnum Opus to the world, my hammer wielding friend, and I want the Avengers to be the first ones to see it, in all of its glory." Justin tapped his watch. "Now then, I've got places to be, but you be sure and tell the others, won't you? Two pm tomorrow at the Statue of Liberty, be there or be square."

Thor only understood about half of what Justin had just said, but he understood enough to know the when of the conversation, just not the why. He just stared impassively at Justin, not making a commitment one way or the other.

Justin nodded as the silence between them grew. "Okay, like I said, things to do, but you pass that message on, Thor. This is going to be a game changer." He winked at Thor and then turned around, heading back out the rotating door and now whistling a jaunty tune.

As soon as Justin was out of sight Thor was marching towards the elevator. "Jarvis," he barked, "take me to Bruce Banner and Tony Stark."

"Very good, master Thor," said Jarvis accommodatingly.

Less than a minute later Thor was striding out of the elevator to where Bruce was standing on a pool table handing tools up to Tony as his legs dangled from the roof, a piece of the panelling sitting on the pool table. "Justin Hammer was just here," he announced.

Suddenly Tony's legs were replaced with his head as he stuck it out to look at Thor. "What? Are you kidding me? Jarvis, why didn't you tell me Hammer was in the building?"

"Hawkeye and Black Widow are undertaking the surveillance of Justin Hammer, sir," pointed out Jarvis. "I alerted them."

"But you need to tell me as well," said an aggrieved Tony.

"You weren't clear in your instructions on that matter, sir," observed Jarvis, "and I thought, seeing as the Black Widow and-"

"Don't think, Jarvis," said Tony in annoyance, "just do what I tell you."

"I'm an artificial intelligence unit," pointed out Jarvis. "If I do not think, sir, I do not exist."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Don't get all metaphysical on me, just tell me if Hammer comes close to this building or to Pepper, got it?"

"I think so, sir," responded Jarvis cheekily.

"Enough with the smart back talk," said Tony, still clearly annoyed. "Keep it up and it's another overhaul for you."

"Please, no," Bruce pleaded. "The last time you tried to 'fix' Jarvis he told me I had a pretty mouth."

"It is very shapely, sir," Jarvis noted.

Bruce shook his head. "See, disturbing."

"What did he want, Thor?" Tony wanted to know.

"Hammer desires our presence at the Statue of Liberty tomorrow, at two o'clock," recited Thor.

"Why?" Bruce quizzed him.

Thor frowned, less certain of that answer. "I believe he wishes to reveal to us his magnificent octopus."

Tony and Bruce looked at each other in consternation.

Tony arched an eyebrow. "If Justin Hammer even has an octopus, I can guarantee you, it isn't magnificent," he commented dryly.

Bruce frowned. "Are you sure that's what he said, Thor, magnificent octopus?"

Thor hesitated. "I believe so. The man spoke quickly and with much movement, but I believe those to be his words."

"I have no idea what that means," said Bruce slowly. "Do you think we should be worried?"

"I believe it would be in the Avenger's best interest to attend this meeting and see Hammer's magnificent octopus for ourselves, so we know what we are up against," said Thor gravely.

Tony face wrinkled in disgust. "If that guy tries to rub his octopus up against me, magnificent or otherwise, there is going to be some definite ugliness."

"We should tell Fury," said Bruce decisively.

"Let me get my stuff and we'll call him together," said Tony as his head disappeared back inside the ceiling and he could be heard to be scuffling about.

Bruce picked up the ceiling vent and attached it to the hole Tony's head had been and quickly screwed up the edges, sealing off Tony's exit.

Tony came to get out and there was the sound of him hitting against the metal vent. "Ah, B, you seem to have sealed me in here, buddy."

Bruce jumped down from the pool table. "You're remembering it wrong, buddy," he shot back at him sweetly. "You were in danger of falling out of that big, dangerous hole, so I helped you out."

"Okay, I get it, this is your revenge for the plane thing, ha ha, very funny, now let me out," came Tony's voice from the ceiling.

"I'll get right on that," said Bruce as he promptly walked out the door, motioning for Thor to follow him.

Thor walked out with Bruce, the doors sliding close behind them as Tony called out after them. "Okay, guys, enough with the games, let me out now... guys... GUYS!"

Thor looked at Bruce as they walked away. "Are you sure about this, Bruce Banner?"

"Tony built this building," said Bruce confidently. "He'll find a way out, eventually."

Thor smiled. "Your revenge is most cunning, Bruce Banner."

Bruce's lips twitched as they headed towards the comms room to contact Fury. "Yeah, well, I am a genius. Now let's see if we can figure out this octopus conundrum before tomorrow."

Thor frowned. "Do you truly believe this magnificent octopus of Justin Hammer's is something to be concerned about, Bruce Banner?"

Bruce shrugged as they walked along. "It doesn't give me a warm feeling inside thinking about it." He grimaced. "A confused one, maybe. What the hell could a magnificent octopus be?"

"Something more glorious than a regular octopus?" suggested Thor.

"That's still wildly unhelpful, Thor," said Bruce dryly. "What, Hammer is keeping a giant octopus somewhere and is going to announce it to the world tomorrow, with the Avengers getting a preview?" he asked in confusion. "It makes no sense."

"So, you think all of the Avenger's should be in attendance tomorrow?"

Bruce gave him a sideways look. "Got somewhere else to be, Thor?"

Thor hesitated. "I thought I would travel to see Jane Foster."

Bruce smiled. "I'm sure that won't be a problem. Whatever Hammer has up his sleeves the rest of the Avengers can handle it. Go and see your girl."

Thor gave him a curious look. "What of your woman, Bruce Banner, I have heard you speak of her. Why do you not seek her out?"

"I'm guessing for the same reason you've been on earth for nearly a month now and are only going to see Jane now. Relationships aren't so simple when you have our kind of issues. There's a lot to think about and sometimes there is just too much risk involved."

Thor understood Bruce's reservations. "You fear you would hurt your Betty Ross?"

"I can't control the other guy," said Bruce grimly. "He's so powerful, he could kill her with a flick of his wrist."

"But he hasn't," Thor pointed out. "And your beast is most tender with the maiden Pepper Potts."

"So far," said Bruce anxiously. "If he's in one of his rages there is just a whole lot of smashing and throwing of things and he doesn't care who gets in the way of that."

"I think you do not give the creature within you enough credit," said Thor firmly. "Whilst the beast might have hold of you, there is still Bruce Banner's heart beating within and that is the heart of a good man."

Bruce gave a humourless laugh. "Is this little pep talk sponsored by Tony Stark by any chance? He's always beating the same drum to me."

"If you ask me whether these opinions are anyone's other than my own, then the answer is no, Bruce Banner. My mind is my own to speak, which I do now."

"Sorry, didn't mean to offend, Thor, it's just I can't see what you two are seeing in the other guy. He's just a mindless brute who scares the hell out of me."

Thor stopped walking and turned to face Bruce. "When I was a boy looking to prove myself to my father, he took me to a realm where flying creatures as large your buses filled the sky. They were powerful winged beasts which could bite a man in two without even trying. Their bodies were covered in leathery hide, but on top of their heads was a brilliant plumage of feathers all the shades of the rainbow bridge which joins our worlds. Odin told me to fetch him a green feather from one of the beasts and then he would know that I was on my journey to becoming a man and knowing where true strength lies."

Bruce looked curious. "And you got the feather?"

Thor told his story. "For three days I hunted these creatures, tried to find where they rested, where they fed and drank. I would hurl myself at them from great heights in hopes of gaining that single green feather. My weapons were useless against them, I could neither catch nor kill any of them. After three days my father returned to find a battered, bruised and exhausted son, a son with no feather to show for his efforts. In my vanity and frustration I declared the task he'd set for me an impossible one. That no man, even the son of a god, could conquer such a creature." A small smiled of remembrance tugged at Thor's lips as he remembered his youthful self's outrage and frustration. "My father did not speak, he simply walked down to the nearby stream and waited for one of the creatures to drop from the skies to slate its thirst. When one did, Odin walked up to it and I heard him speak in a low voice to the giant beast. Then the creature was lowering his head, so that my father might pluck the green feather from its mighty crest."

"What did Odin say?" asked Bruce in amazement.

"I asked my father that question," he said wryly. "And he told me that they were his words to speak and I must find my own to face down the monsters in life, he could not do that for me."

Bruce seemed to think about that for a long moment. "Your father, he's kind of a smart guy," he observed at last.

"I did not think so for a long time, but now I believe him to be the wisest of all men. Tony Stark wishes you to find your own words to quieten the beast inside, Bruce Banner, and I do believe there is a way."

"You're likening Tony Stark to Odin?" asked Bruce sceptically.

Thor had to laugh at that. "No, but I have learnt that teachers may come in many forms. For many years my father strived to show me what really mattered in this life and I did not understand. Now I do, and so many of his lessons come back to me and teach me to look at my choices with fresh eyes. Just because something was, doesn't mean it always will be. My father was right to exile me so that I might learn that lesson."

"All I've been trying to do for so long is get rid of the other guy," admitted Bruce. "I've found a way to live with him now, but I feel like it's on his terms."

"The Hulk cannot exist without Bruce Banner," Thor noted. "Perhaps it is timely for you to remember this."

Bruce smiled. "You know, I think you should talk more, Thor. You have more than a few good things to say and we all could do with a break from Tony's endless noise."

Tony's voice came from the walls. "Are you talking about me? I heard my name!"

Bruce wrinkled his nose. "I may not have thought this revenge through. Now he's in the walls."

"No," said Tony easily, "I'm in the air conditioning duct."

"Have fun with that."

"I will," said Tony defiantly.

"Good."

"Great. Glad I could make you happy."

"Oh, I'm happy."

Thor shook his head as he listened to the two men bicker and couldn't help but smile. "I do not believe I will ever understand this realm," he concluded.

A/N: And there you have it, gentle reader, where the title of the fic comes from. Yeah, vaguely weird I know, but that's what you signed up for. LOL