This was starting to get really confusing and really tiresome.
One second one place, the next second another, so many people all shouting their different views of the situation. Save my reality, save the other reality, why do you need to try and save both? Of course you should save both.
You are insane, I hope you are not insane, get them back, I don't believe you can get them back.
Everybody! Everybody had their own opinion and everybody just loved sharing it, it was getting really… Really tiresome.
"Point break, you heard me?!" Tony Stark's voice sounded from the speaker and his image was on the big screen. "You have to get them back! Do you understand!?"
Thor sighed, looking up at the screen… Why did all of this have to fall upon him? Why?
"I am doing my best, friend Stark," Thor informed in a very tired voice.
Tony looked seriously at him. "Thor, after Natasha contacted me and told me about the universe collapsing thing I… I did some readings. The world itself is out of whack!" he informed. "If you don't fix this then… What's going to happen to Morgan?" he asked.
Thor was sympathetic, he really was! He had seen Tony holding his little girl just once, and even then the look on Tony's face had been unlike any expression Tony had ever worn before.
In that moment, all his snarkiness and need to keep up a facade had been gone, his eyes had been filled with love and for just the slightest of moments he had been at peace.
That is until the tragedy of it all hit him and he turned to sorrow, it was obvious. The one thing keeping Tony floating was his own family. Pepper and Morgan, two people who he would do anything to protect.
Still, this was just yet another voice shouting at him. Do this, do that, don't do that, you must do that.
"Nothing is going to happen to her, I swear in the name of the All Father," Thor then stated. "Loki and I are going to get the Stones and then we'll bring them all back. And fix the universe. Put the pieces back together… I think."
"You think?!" Tony asked.
Thor groaned.
"Do you have a plan, how do you intend to piece the universe together? I can help, I can do science!" Tony stated. "And Loki?! Are you serious?! I wouldn't trust that bag of crazy further than I could throw him."
"TONY!" Thor shouted. "It's not the same this time! Loki and I are figuring things out."
"Well excuse me if I can't just take your word for it, you were always biased in his favor!" Tony exclaimed. "And this is my kid we are talking about! Let me handle some of it at least..."
"Friend Stark, I assure you. If I am in need of your specific help I will ask immediately. This concerns everyone. I am afraid though at this time, there is nothing you can do," Thor cut Tony off.
"What about the Stones, they are needed to stabilize this universe, right?" Tony asked. "Why don't you hand them over, just for a bit. I can examine them!"
"Tony, no!" Thor exclaimed. "The Stones stay with me!"
"Why?" Tony asked.
"Because," Thor sighed, "if I remove them from the other timeline I don't know what will happen to it."
Tony was quiet.
"Time doesn't move over there while I am here, but if I were to take the Stones out of the pocket dimension here and go back, now unable to retrieve them, I would have removed them from that timeline," Thor said. "I do not dare…."
"That timeline isn't even real, is it?" Tony asked. "It's just..."
"Don't say it," Thor demanded, cutting Tony off. "Look, nothing will happen to your family! I swear to you!"
"But..." Tony began.
"I'll talk to you later, friend," Thor stated, pressing the button which ended the call and then groaned as he sat back, only to realize someone was looking at him, and Thor turned to see Clint's harsh eyes from the door across the room.
Clint made sure to look very judgmentally at Thor and finally he left as Thor groaned deeply.
Then the screen beeped again and Thor looked up, fully expecting to see Tony's name as he would call back being angry that he was cut off. It wasn't though.
Thor blinked, then he reached forward to accept the call and saw the image of a dark skinned Asgardian warrior maiden. "Valkyrie," he breathed.
"Hey Thor, how's it hanging?" Valkyrie asked.
Thor groaned deeply.
"Ah, not good, I see," Valkyrie commented.
"No, I think things are going well," Thor replied. "I mean as well as it possibly could."
"Spend any more time with Lackey?" Valkyrie asked.
"Oh yes, plenty of time," Thor informed. "Only a few days worth of time has passed in this timeline, but I have been with Loki for weeks."
"And you're… getting along?" Valkyrie asked.
"Aye, I think we are getting along. Better than we did before. It's actually been quite fun," Thor smiled lightly.
"Oh?" Valkyrie asked.
"We went to Midgard together to look for the Stones," Thor informed. "I had Loki taste some Midgardian food. He didn't want to look like he was impressed but… Between you and me, I found an empty midgardian package in his room. He traveled all the way back just to fetch some more sushi."
Valkyrie chuckled, amused.
"Oh, we found the Stones as well, we got three now. That's half," Thor informed.
"That's very good news!" Valkyrie exclaimed. "Then why are you looking so doom and gloom?"
Thor smiled lightly. "Everyone is a bit pessimistic around here," he admitted. "I told them I was going to save both timelines. For some reason people don't believe me."
Valkyrie smiled. "I believe you, Thor," she informed.
Thor looked up, then he smiled. "Thank you. That does mean a lot," he admitted. "How are the Asgardians?"
"They are doing well," Valkyrie assured. "They are a strong and proud people, they won't be knocked down so easily. And they keep asking me to send you wishes of well being. They care about you, Thor."
"Aye, I am aware," Thor admitted with a sad smile. "I am only sad I couldn't live up to expectations."
"Thor, in your situation, I don't think anyone could have gone through that without breaking somewhat," Valkyrie commented. "But look at you now, the second you have a mission you are back up and running again. You lacked purpose, that's all. Now you're up and running again."
"I thought… Helping the Asgardians rebuild was my purpose," Thor commented. "I just… failed at it."
"Well..." Valkyrie hesitated. "So you're not a city planner, what shame is there in that?" she asked. "Thor, I don't blame you. You had a rough spot, but you know… The horrors you've seen go beyond comparison. I did the same thing, remember? Spent a hundred years just drinking my sorrows away."
Thor swallowed and Valkyrie continued in a soft voice.
"I saw you, how you handled yourself in front of Hela. Making the decision that needed to be made and putting the people first, before all else. I think you're a worthy king."
Thor swallowed as he looked at her.
"A far better king than Odin ever was," Valkyrie informed. "He ruled with so much deception, you, though, you rule with honesty and a very genuine idea of always trying to reach for the right thing, for the best. That is to be admired. You are just, yourself. And you're a good person, Thor. And a good king who cares so much for his people, his friends and his family. Those are not flaws, they are admirable traits."
Thor smiled lightly. "Thank you," he breathed. "It does me good to hear you think that," he admitted.
"You did everything in your power to stop Thanos. We all know that," Valkyrie continued. "And now you are doing it again, to save both universes."
"But what happens when my everything isn't enough?" Thor asked.
"Then you have others to rely on," Valkyrie reminded him. "Me, the Avengers. And Loki, it seems."
Thor couldn't help but smile.
"That's what I like to see. It's so good seeing you smile," Valkyrie informed, smiling herself.
"It feels good smiling," Thor admitted. "There's… hope."
Valkyrie nodded. "Go get them, Thunder." She winked. "You can do this, you and little old Lackey. I know you can."
Thor smiled. "Thank you," he said.
Thor was looking at the hammer, Mjolnir, still standing right there where Odin had left it… Only he who is worthy can lift Mjolnir.
Thor had not dared to even try, he could not even begin to imagine the heartbreak if he found himself unworthy.
Slowly he stepped forward, he looked at her, his wonderful companion. Then he reached forward a hand, and grabbed the handle.
The energy was so warm and familiar, welcoming him home, and then… He picked her up.
Thor was astounded, wide-eyed, he looked at the hammer in his hand. "I..." he gasped. "I'm worthy." He barely even breathed. "How?"
"Worthy is a very vague concept, isn't it?" A voice asked from the door and Thor looked up to see Loki leaning in the door frame. "I mean, worthy of what, exactly?" he asked.
"I… I am not entirely sure," Thor admitted. "The powers of Thor, I think."
Loki's eyebrow rose. "Who would be more worthy of the powers of Thor than, you know, Thor?" he asked.
Thor chuckled, amused. "Someone who doesn't misuse his power," he replied.
"Define misuse," Loki asked and Thor shook his head. "Thor, I'll be honest. I am pretty sure that you could have picked that thing up at any time if you had just bothered to try."
"I… Perhaps." Thor blushed deeply.
Loki quieted. "The second we grab the Reality Stone, Odin is going to know what we are doing. He will pursue us."
Thor nodded seriously.
"When we steal from this Thanos, he will know too. And he will also pursue us," Loki then continued and Thor nodded again. "We won't be able to just go back to Asgard, it'll just be the two of us… Alone."
"If I were to truly be alone on this quest, I would have my doubts I could do it," Thor stated. "But, together, dear brother," he smiled lightly.
"Odin is going to be angry with us when he finds out what we are doing right under his nose," Loki commented, then he glanced up, there was a silent anger in his eyes. "I can't wait for that."
Thor sighed, he personally didn't really have a desire to spite Odin, even if Odin had wronged him. But Loki was of course different, he would want to spite anyone who wronged him, especially someone he had previously looked up to.
It was good though, that Loki seemed to have taken Thor's words to heart, after first having gone through the shock he had now arrived at the quiet anger and he would no longer act to please Odin. He would act as his own person.
Hopefully it wouldn't just end in disaster this time.
"Well," Thor said. "The second we grab that Stone, there will be no turning back. Are you ready, brother?"
Loki smirked, a grim but determined smirk. "I am ready."
