First, thank you to everyone for your support. I'm okayish I guess, but I'm still dealing with everything. I am trying to get back in the swing of everyday life, so I probably won't update my stories as often as I have been. But for now, here's the next chapter.
A bit shorter than usual, but I hope you guys enjoy it.
Nora 11: Clint is likely always going to hold a grudge against Loki for what was done to him, but he will feel some sympathy for him, especially after these next few chapters. Glad you enjoyed it.
Jason Hunter: I don't think Eitri will need new hands at the time when the viewers return to the past. In order for the mid credit scene of AOU to make sense in the context of Ragnarok and IW, it has to take place shortly before Ragnarok.
Daddy Issues: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. Thanos abducted Gamora after slaughtering her mother and father, then killed her, and tortured Nebula and replaced all of her body parts with cybernetics. Odin may not have been a very good father, but Thanos is far worse.
Yanny: Thanks, I think.
Green Hal37: Thank you.
Guest 1: Thank you.
Guest 2: Yep, that is the difference between muscles and strength.
Guest 3: Thank you. He was a Dachshund. He was a good dog.
Guest 4: Yeah, looking back, they should have been more freaked out.
Guest 5: No, I'm not. The story is important for The Avengers, and the events of Doctor Strange aren't really important for them.
Guest 6: I appreciate your input but even if I wanted to do the Guardian movies, it wouldn't make sense to do them at this point.
Guest 7: I've given him a break by not doing Homecoming, which show Tony in a very unflattering light. I've given him a break by not pointing out how Tony technically broke the Accords even before he recruited Peter. I've called him out when necessary, but I've not been overly harsh with Tony unless the situation demanded it. The fact that he needed to be called out so much is the fault of the writers, not me.
Guest 8: Yeah, the only evidence Shuri is smarter than Tony is Kevin Feige saying so and, considering the nonsense that comes out of his mouth lately, that doesn't amount to much.
Back on Asgard, Hela sat on the throne in her palace as a loud banging is heard from outside. She asks about the noise as Skurge said a resistance was trying to knock down the front gates.
Thor smirked with pride in his people for refusing to bow down to Hela. However, there was a hint of fear in his heart at what Hela would do to ensure their compliance.
"Somehow, I have a feeling that won't work out too well for them," Sam muttered, unknowingly voicing Thor's thoughts.
"People like Hela will always try to control those who don't obey through fear," Steve said in a surprisingly gruff voice, thinking of Red Skull and Hydra.
She gestured to her undead Berserkers and they ran out to deal with them. Hela asked Skurge to tell her about himself. He started explaining his family history but she said she was asking about his ambition. He only wanted a chance to prove himself, recognition Hela noted.
"He just wants to do his part," Steve noted, feeling empathy for Skurge as he remembered his own desire to serve his country prior to becoming Captain America.
Thor frowned, considering Skurge. Skurge wanted a chance to prove himself, as he himself had before Odin had banished him. And like Thor, he was making the wrong choice. Perhaps there was something he could do about that when he returned, Thor mused.
Hela told him when she was young all great Kings had an executioner not just to execute people but to execute their vision, but mainly to execute people. It was a great honor though.
"Yeah, being the executioner of a homicidal maniac must have been a huge honor," Tony said sarcastically.
Tony realized his tactlessness as Natasha and Clint glared at him and everyone else shot him a look as Thor flinched.
"Sorry," Tony said immediately but Thor waved him off with a sigh.
"It's not as if you're wrong," Thor said wearily.
Hela got up and said she was Odin's executioner and now Skurge would be hers as she summoned a Bloodaxe and handed it to him. They were now going to begin their conquest. Hela, Skurge and the undead army arrived at the Observatory but found that Hofund was missing. Hela said that sword was the key to opening the Bifrost to other realms.
"That's not gonna make her happy," Scott noted uneasily.
"And how she reacts will likely not be pleasant," Vision noted and Thor tensed.
Hela asked him to round up the people who weren't falling in line.
Thor clenched his pants legs tightly at this, worry for his people shooting through him. Sensing his concern, T'Challa placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him.
In the forest of Asgard, some children and adults ran as the undead army chased after them. They bumped into someone and the man took off his hood, revealing himself to be Heimdall.
"Heimdall," Thor said, smiling with relief.
"So that's the famous Heimdall. He's…thinner than I expected," Tony said.
He brandished his sword and swiftly took down 5 of the undead Berserkers before telling them to follow him.
"That was awesome!" Peter cheered as Thor smirked.
"Heimdall is more than just a gatekeeper," Thor said simply.
He led them to an ancient Asgardian stronghold, pressing his hand on runes to open it. Several Asgardian refugees were in there, safe. He told them they'd be safe too and led them in there as they reunited with loved ones.
Thor was relieved that at least some of his people were safe. But as long as Hela was on Asgard, no one's safety was guaranteed, Thor thought grimly.
On Sakaar, Thor was being washed up and bandaged by nurses when he woke up with a roar and they all ran off. He got up and looked around, shirtless. Thor then found his Sakaarian armor and put it back on before hearing a sound in the water and turned to see Hulk there. He asked if they were cool and Hulk nodded as Thor gave him a thumbs up and joked how Hulk was in a hot tub.
"Well, that's something I thought I'd never hear," Clint said amused as they all laughed.
Thor asked how long Hulk had been big, green and stupid and Hulk said he was always Hulk.
"So since Sokovia then," Natasha whispered.
"And now he can speak in full sentences," Tony said.
"I guess the longer he stays as The Hulk, the more intelligent he becomes," Vision noted.
Thor asked how he had gotten here and Hulk said by winning as Thor said it was cheating, pointing out the Obedience Disk.
Thor crossed his arms, muttering about handicaps and cheating grandmasters as everyone laughed at him.
Thor asked how Hulk had gotten here and he did a swirling motion with his hand into the water, saying it was a Quinjet. Thor eagerly asked where it was now and Hulk got out of the bath, making Thor close his eyes due to the nakedness. He walked past Thor who said it was in his brain.
"And now it's in my brain," Tony said with a grimace.
"It's in all of our brains," Scott said as they all grimaced.
"I did not need to see that," Clint said disgusted.
"Seriously," Peter agreed, looking a little green.
"Why'd they make us see that?" Wanda asked, looking nauseous.
Suddenly, a post it note appeared on Tony's head. He pulled it off and looked at it.
"If we had to suffer through it making this, so do you guys watching it," Tony read.
"Oh that's fair," Sam grumbled.
"Wizards are never fair," Thor deadpanned.
Hulk pointed at the Quinjet outside the window and Thor noticed, feeling happy.
"There it is. Now I just need to get to it," Thor said eagerly.
"I have a feeling it won't be that easy Thor," Steve pointed out.
Hulk wore a towel and sat down, eating as Thor said he was getting them out of this awful place and that Hulk was gonna love Asgard. Hulk said he'd stay but Thor said his people needed him as he put on his gauntlets, telling him they must prevent Ragnarok which was the prophesized death of his home world but Hulk interrupted him by yawning loudly.
"It doesn't look like Hulk wants to leave," Peter noted.
Thor said if Hulk helped him in getting back to Asgard, he'd help Hulk in getting back to Earth. Hulk said Earth hated him.
"Because of me," Wanda said guiltily.
"Not just because of you kid," Clint said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Clint's right. What you did may have worsened the issue, but even before that, for everyone that loved the Hulk, there were just as many people who were terrified of him and wanted him captured or contained," Natasha told her.1
"And blaming yourself won't help in any case," Steve pointed out.
After a moment, Wanda nodded. She wasn't sure she believed them, but Steve was right that blaming herself was not going to change what she had done. She couldn't take back what she did, no matter how much she wanted to. All she could do was move forward.
Thor said Earth loved him as he was one of the Avengers and one of his friends. Friends supported one another. Hulk said Thor was Banner's friend but Thor said he preferred Hulk to him and that he didn't even like Banner who was into numbers and science.
"So that's why we don't get along," Tony joked.
"I'm desperate and trying to convince him to help me get home!" Thor exclaimed.
Hulk said Thor would go and he'd stay and Thor angrily turned around, saying the place was hideous due to red and white and they should just pick a color. Hulk said he had smashed Thor but Thor said he hadn't smashed anything and he had won their fight.
"I would have if that lunatic hadn't interfered," Thor grumbled, his pride still sore.
Hulk said Thor had baby arms and Thor called him a moron as Hulk threw his fruit and Thor avoided, calling Hulk a big child. Hulk told Thor to go and he said he was before a red barrier stopped him, dazing him and he fell down while Hulk laughed and told Thor to go again.
Thor groaned as everyone else laughed at his expense.
"Oh laugh it up, go ahead," Thor grumbled.
Hulk said this was 'Thor home' as Thor got up, staring out the window at the Quinjet. Hulk put on his armor and picked his hammer, saying he'd train as Valkyrie arrived. The two walked off, with her calling him big guy and him calling her angry girl. She asked what he was up to and he said winning and she laughed.
""They seem to get along well," Natasha noted.
"She's angry, he's angry. Makes sense," Tony said and she nodded
Later, Thor looked down at the Quinjet again before closing his eyes and asking Heimdall to help him see. Heimdall saw and heard him and as Thor opened his eyes, they had the same color as Heimdall's and he was standing in Asgard.
"Wait, he can do that?" Rhodey asked all of them shocked as Thor nodded.
"To members of the royal family, yes, he can give them his sight for brief moments. Although it takes a lot of practice," Thor explained.
Heimdall said he saw Thor but he was far away. Thor asked what was going on and Heimdall told Thor to see for himself. Thor walked forward and saw the people hidden and Asgard was on fire. Heimdall said he was providing refuge in a stronghold built by their ancestors but would have to escape via Bifrost if the garrison failed. Thor realized Heimdall wanted to evacuate Asgard.
"Evacuation," Thor said in shock.
"I don't think Hela is giving them much choice," Clint and Thor sighed.
"I just never thought it would come to this," Thor said sadly.
Hearing the sound of a growl, the pair and the refugees sprang to the corners as some of Hela's Berserkers passed, thankfully not seeing them. Heimdall said they wouldn't last long if they stayed because Hela's power grew the longer she was on Asgard.
"If she's not stopped soon, she'll be unstoppable," Natasha noted and Thor paled.
Heimdall led the refugees to safety and said Hela would consume the Nine Realms and Cosmos if they let her leave. They needed Thor. Thor said he was working on it but didn't even know where he was. Heimdall said he was on a planet surrounded by gateways and needed to walk through one. Thor asked which one and Heimdall said the big one before brandishing his sword and killing a Berserker through Thor who disappeared and was back at Sakaar.
"This is bad. Like really, really bad," Scott said uneasily as tension filled the room.
"No kidding Tic-Tac," Sam muttered.
At night, Thor tried to rip the Obedience Disk out but it didn't come off. Hulk was awakened by the noise and sat up in bed. Thor was sitting sadly as Hulk said 'Thor sad' but Thor said he wasn't. Hulk walked over to him and again said 'Thor sad'. Hulk pushed him off before Thor angrily got up and said he wasn't sad but pissed off. He angrily said he had lost him father and hammer as he kicked a piece of Hulk's armor. Hulk said he whined and cried like baby while Thor angrily kicked stuff at him, saying he wasn't listening. Hulk threw stuff back as Thor said he was being a bad friend but Hulk called him bad friend. Thor then angrily said everyone called him ' the stupid Avenger' while Hulk called him 'tiny Avenger' and threw a shield which Thor barely avoided. It could have seriously injured him.
"Hey, that could have killed me!" Thor shouted.
"Well, you're both acting like one of my daughter's friends when they thaw a temper tantrum," Scott said and shrugged when Thor shot a look. "Hey, I'm just saying!"
"He's not wrong," Clint said and Thor sighed in defeat.
Thor angrily asked if Hulk was crazy, which Hulk said he was as he picked up a large mace. Thor angrily said Earth did hate Hulk, which seemed to hurt his feelings as he put down his mace and turned away angrily, throwing his arms in the air.
"Looks like you hurt his feelings," Rhodey said as Thor sighed guiltily.
He then sat angrily as Thor sighed before he walked towards him regretfully but Hulk shook his head and turned away.
"He's kind of like a big toddler," Clint noted and Scott and Natasha, the only other people in the room who had been around young children as adults, nodded in agreement.
Thor apologized for saying those stupid things and said nobody called him the stupid Avenger. Hulk said it was okay as Thor said he couldn't throw shields at people as it could have killed him. Hulk apologized and said he was just angry all the time. Thor said they were the same, a couple of hotheaded fools.
"You two do have a lot in common," Natasha noted and Thor nodded.
"Perhaps," Thor agreed.
Hulk disagreed, saying he was like fire while Thor was like water. Thor said both were like fire but then Hulk said he was like raging fire while Thor liked smoldering fire and Thor laughed before asking Hulk to do something for him.
"Looks like you have a plan," Wanda noted and Thor nodded.
"Indeed little witch," Thor said with a smirk, already having an idea about what it was.
1: I'm not saying that Wanda setting Hulk on Johannesburg didn't make people afraid of Hulk, but I doubt it was the only reason. Even if you ignore the events of The incredible Hulk, which has a few incidents that would make people afraid of him, a big green monster that comes out when a man gets angry and can smash through buildings is bound to make a little uncomfortable. Especially when he smashes through buildings fighting aliens.