Chapter 23: A Woman's Scorn
In a secret AIM weapons factory, the Avengers were in the middle of an all our firefight with the maniacal beekeepers. Iron Man and Hawkeye were back to back shooting at any AIM agents in sight.
"So much for a stealth approach to this," Clint remarked, letting loose another arrow.
"Talk to the kid about that one, Clint," Tony retorted, letting out a repulsor blast.
"Hey, I said I was sorry," Spidey apologized, webbing a pair of agents to the wall. "The rafters were dusty, and I had to sneeze."
"We can worry about who's to blame later!" Cap called out, throwing his shield at a few agents. "Let's focus on getting the job done!"
"Not like it needs much focus, Cap," Wasp remarked, zipping around and zapping several more agents. "These AIM clowns are pushovers."
"Don't get too cocky, Jan," Ant-Man warned as a swarm of ants overtook one of the agents. "We're still outnumbered 20 to one."
"Numbers never won a battle, Ant-Man," Thor boasted, swinging his hammer at a few agents.
"Still, perhaps we should even the odds," Natasha suggested, leaping over an agent before stabbing them with her stingers. "Stark, think you can shut this place down?"
"As a matter of fact," Iron Man replied. "Hank, Jan, you might wanna steer clear."
The two immediately got out of the way as Iron Man powered up his suit's EMP device. The EMP wave spread throughout the room, disabling the AIM agents' guns. They looked down at their useless guns, then over at the Avengers.
"Heed my words, Agents of Villainy," Thor declared, slamming his hammer into his palm. "Surrender now."
Knowing they didn't stand a chance, the agents threw down their guns and raised their hands in surrender.
"Maybe next time, we should open with that," Spidey remarked.
"Where would the fun in that be?" Clint retorted, sheathing his bow.
Outside of the factory, a large clock began to chime, signaling the time. Once Thor heard it, he went slightly pale.
"Odin's Beard, is it that late already?!"
"Everything ok, Point Break?" Tony asked.
"Forgive me, my friends, but I must be off," Thor told them before flying away.
The Avengers watched him go, more than a little confused.
"Where is he going in such a hurry?" Jan questioned.
…
Jane Foster sat in front of Madison Square Gardens, a suitcase beside her and a scowl on her face. Thor, now dressed in his Donald Blake persona, ran up to her a bit short of breath.
"Jane! Jane, I'm sorry I'm late."
"The presentation was two hours ago," Jane snapped, getting to her feet. "Two hours, Thor! You promised you'd be here, and you gave me your word!"
"I know, I'm sorry," Thor apologized. "But the Avengers-"
"The Avengers needed you, I know!" Jane interrupted. "That's been your go-to excuse for everything these days. You rarely help me in the lab anymore, you never show up on time for date night, and now you're absent for the biggest presentation of our career! I've put up with a lot to be with you Thor, but I can't even remember the last time you put me first."
Thor was dumbstruck, unsure how to respond.
"You know, I'm starting to think you care more about the Avengers than me," She concluded.
"Jane, that's not true," Thor insisted.
As he said this, his ID card began to beep. His hand instinctively reached for it, much to Jane's disappointment.
"I knew it..." She grabbed her suitcase, turning away. "I'm taking the first flight back to New Mexico."
"Jane-"
"Goodbye Thor."
With that, she turned her back on him and walked away. Thor watched her go, then his ID card beeped again. Hesitantly, he answered it.
"What is it?"
"Thor, we need you back at the mansion," Tony answered. "We need to figure out what AIM's next move is."
"I'll… be right there."
…
Thor got back to the mansion, walking into the Assembly hall. There, Tony was standing in front of the Mansion's archives, going over everything they had on AIM.
"Oh, Thor, glad you're here," he called out, not even looking up from the archive.
"You said we should be making plans about AIM?" Thor questioned, walking over to him.
"Yeah. I was hoping you'd bring Dr. Foster. I wanted to have her look over some of the tech we found, get a second opinion on its origin. Where is she?"
"Jane has… decided to return to New Mexico."
Tony winced at that, though kept his eyes on what he was working on.
"Ouch, that's rough. Probably for the best though."
Thor raised an eyebrow at that last comment.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you're basically a god, right?" Tony asked, finally looking over at Thor. "That means you're ancient. Hell, you've probably seen generations of us mere mortals live and die in a blink of an eye. Maybe even had a few mortals like Jane over the millennia."
Thor scowled at Tony's remarks.
"There has never been, nor ever will be, a mortal like Jane. Though considering your reputation, such vulgar remarks are to be expected."
"Whoa, whoa, easy there." Tony held his hands up in a pacifying gesture. "I'm just saying it would be better for Jane to find a mortal man that can grow old and die with her rather than an immortal who's just trying to pass the century."
Thor stepped back for a moment, taking time to process what Tony was saying.
"I… I never considered that."
"Come to think of it, you haven't been considering her at all lately," Tony pointed out. "I guess for all that talk, you're no better than me."
"What do you mean?" Thor asked.
"A playboy that flirts with any pretty girl that crosses his path but ditches her when things get serious. Face it Thor, Jane's better off without you."
That final comment finally pushed Thor to his limit. He summoned his hammer and raised it into the air. Suddenly, a massive technicolored beam of light shot down and beamed him into the sky. This left a giant hole leading all the way outside, as well as a rather surprised Tony. His surprise melted away into a triumphant smirk.
"Finally."
Just then, a green mist began surrounding Tony, replacing him with a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a revealing green outfit.
"We will be together soon, Odinson… but first, I mean to deal with your mortal companions."
...
Meanwhile, Hulk and Rick were in the kitchen, scarfing down on some of the snacks in the pantry. Rick had an entire box of cereal in his grip, scarfing down the contents as Hulk dug into a full thing of ham right on the bone.
"Man, I don't think I have ever been this well fed," Rick declared, leaning on Hulk as he wiped his mouth. "I keep expecting to wake up and be back to hiding out and eating what we can scavenge from dumpsters."
Hulk just scoffed at the thought.
"Yeah, I hear ya, big guy. I'm gonna go grab a broom so Stark doesn't fuss at us for making a mess again."
Hulk just nodded as Rick walked off, leaving him to down some popcorn from a tub. Just then, a green mist swirled across his vision, making everything go cloudy. Hulk shook his head to try and clear his mind, but it seemed to do nothing. As he opened his eyes, he saw the mansion destroyed, fire and debris everywhere. Through the destruction, he could distinctly hear two familiar voices.
"Big guy! Help!"
"Hulk!"
"Rick… Betty…"
Instantly, Hulk's face hardened, as he charged off through a damaged wall, intent on finding his friends.
…
As Rick opened up the closet to get a broom, he heard a loud crashing sound. He groaned, closing the closet door once more.
"Pete!" he called out. "You better not have tried another one of your pranks! JARVIS is still fixing the kitchen from your last attempt!"
All of a sudden, a surge of green energy hit him, knocking him out before the energy lifted him into the air. The closet door was then flung open, allowing Rick to be plopped inside. He groaned listlessly as the door slammed shut, a shimmering shield preventing it from being opened.
…
In Asgard, the realm eternal, Thor entered from the Bifrost and was greeted by Heimdall, its gatekeeper.
"Welcome back to Asgard, Odinson," Heimdall greeted, his bright golden eyes seemingly staring right through him and out into the cosmos. "Your arrival is most unexpected."
"I just felt the need to return home," Thor told him.
"So, you say. Whatever your reason, your Father and allies will be most pleased to see you again."
"I can imagine."
With that, Thor spun his hammer and rocketed off towards Asgard. Within moments, Thor landed at the steps of the palace he once called home. The palace was a large structure that seemed to span for a mile. It was made from the finest gold, the walls paved with mosaics depicting ancient myths and legends of the Asgardian people. He walked into the Grand Throne room, where Odin sat on his throne. Thor approached the throne and knelt before it.
"Father, I have returned home."
Odin sat silent for a few moments,
"You have been absent from your realm for a long time…" Odin smiled slightly. "...Welcome home, my son."
Thor rose to his feet, but no smile graced his face. Odin noticed this, leaning forward and stroking his snow-white beard.
"Something vexes you, my son. Tell me, what ails you?"
"Some of the mortals I have befriended… did not turn out how I thought they would."
"Mortals are rarely what they appear. Their limited lifespan has seeded much greed in their hearts. I am sorry you had to learn this the hard way, my son."
"As am I."
"Perhaps, you should take stock in what Asgard has to offer. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three have recently returned from a journey of their own. They are in the Great Dining Hall, should you wish to join them."
Thor smiled at the idea, preparing to walk off.
"Perhaps you are right."
…
Back in Avengers mansion, Hulk continued tearing through the place, intent on finding his friends. Upon hearing the destruction, Spider-Man came running, his eyes going wide at the sight.
"Whoa, Hulk!" he called out. "What's with the tantrum? Hawkeye take the last of the peanut butter again?"
Hulk turned towards Spider-Man, but his clouded vision saw him as one of Ross' soldiers, Glenn Talbot.
"You!" Hulk yelled, raising his fist.
Thinking fast, Spidey shot a webline and zipped out of the way before the fists hit the ground.
"Ok, guessing this is more than that," Spidey surmised.
"Where's Rick and Betty?!"
"Betty? What's she got to do with-?"
Hulk leapt towards him and tried to smash him again. Spider-Man quickly flipped out of the way before taking a stance.
"Though Rick would make total sense of the situation right now. Why don't you hang tight while I find him. Try not to smash anything while I-"
Hulk brought his fists down again, forcing Spidey to backflip away before swinging off.
"Right. What was I thinking?"
As he swung through the halls of the mansion, he pulled out his ID card and began calling Rick
"Yo, Rick, where are you? Hulk's on a rampage and seems to think you and Betty are in some sort of danger."
As he rounded the corner, the same green mist that affected Hulk suddenly fell over him too. This caused him to slip from his webline before falling to the ground, clutching his head as his Spider Senses went absolutely bonkers.
"What's… what's happening…?"
Just then, an all too familiar cackling filled the air, causing his blood to run cold.
"Can Spider-Man come out to play?"
Spider-Man looked up, seeing a figure in an orange and blue costume on a metal glider hovering over him, a sick smile on his goblin masked face.
"Hobgoblin…?"
It wasn't really Hobgoblin, but actually Iron Man.
"Kid, what's going on? Hulk's going ballistic and-"
Spider-Man didn't give him a chance to finish, shooting two weblines past him and launching himself forward. He punched Iron Man in the faceplate, knocking him towards the ground.
Kid? What's gotten into-"
Spider-Man quickly swung towards him, kicking him into a wall. He collided hard before dropping to the ground, suddenly taken over by the green mist. He shook his head as he got back up, being greeted by the sight of his old nemesis, the Mandarin.
"Still trying to atone for your sins, Stark?" he taunted. "You will never be more than an engineer of death."
Iron Man instantly blasted him, not knowing it was really Spider-Man he was fighting. Spidey collided hard with a wall, instantly shaking it off as he returned to the battle.
"That all you got?" Spidey taunted in anger. "Not all I got!"
Iron Man continued blasting at him, forcing Spider-Man to leap out of the way of his attacks. He then shot a web at Iron Man, snagging him so he could spin him around and send him flying. Iron Man tumbled on the ground, quickly activating his jet boots so he could plow into Spider-Man, sending him crashing through a wall.
...
In the Great Hall, four of the most mismatched warriors in all of Asgard sat at one of the tables, enjoying a grand feast. The only female of the group, a dark-haired woman in battle-worn armor, laughed happily as a young man with blonde hair, a goatee, and green colored armor was regaling the group with a grandiose tale.
"And then what happened, Fandral?" the woman, Lady Sif, questioned.
"Well after the troll grabbed me from behind, I tossed my sword into the air and it embedded itself into the skull of the beast," Fandral boasted.
"Yes, that's how it happened," Volstagg, the more rotund warrior with a beard and red armor, replied after taking a bite of meat. "Not that the troll tripped on a rock or anything like that."
"As I recall, the troll impaled itself on an old log," Hogun, a more Asian looking warrior in bluish armor, remarked.
"Well I suppose the tale is open to interpretation," Fandral replied. "But the means isn't really what's important, is it?"
"If you say so, Fandral." Volstagg jeered.
"Trying to convince them you bested that troll yourself again, Fandral?" Thor's voice called out. "How did you best it this time? A unicorn?"
The others turned to see their old friend entering the hall.
"Thor!" they all let out, jumping to their feet.
They wasted no time running over to him and greeting him with hugs and back slaps.
"Thor, when did you return?" Sif questioned, smiling brightly as she released him from her hug.
"Just now, actually," Thor told her. "Things on Midgard got complicated and I thought I could sort them out here."
"Well, it is fortunate you have returned when you did!" Volstagg declared. "The four of us were about to go out on our next mission. Skurge has shown himself on Asgardian soil."
"The Executioner?" Thor inquired. "What's he doing here?"
"That is what Odin wants us to find out," Hogun informed him. "We would be honored if you would join us."
"The honor would be mine," Thor replied, readying his hammer.
…
Back in Avengers Mansion, Cap, Wolverine, Ant-Man, and Wasp were making their way up from the sublevels in response to the chaos going on upstairs.
"Anyone wanna tell me why Hulk's going ballistic and Stark and the webhead are going at it?" Wolverine asked.
"No idea," Ant-Man admitted. "But we need to figure out what's going on before they destroy the entire mansion."
"Our first priority should be the Hulk," Cap instructed. "If we don't calm him down, this rampage could spill into the city."
"Where's Rick Jones when you need him?" Wasp wondered, shrinking down and hovering in the air.
"A fair question. Those two are never separated unless Rick's in the bathroom, and even then… Search the house. Find him."
"On it, Cap!" Wasp declared, flying off.
The other three meanwhile made their way toward Hulk, who was in the middle of tearing apart the lounge. Giant-Man instantly went big and wrapped his arms around him.
"Hulk, you have to stop this!" Giant-Man insisted.
Hulk instantly broke free and grabbed hold of Giant-Man's arm, flipping him onto the ground. Before Hulk could respond, Wolverine leapt up and extended his claws. He slashed at Hulk, causing him to cry out in pain before grabbing Wolverine by the arm. He slammed him into a nearby bookshelf, causing him to grunt in pain before stabbing into Hulk's arm. Hulk yelled in agony as he dropped Wolverine. Cap took this chance to leap onto Hulk from behind, wrapping his arm around his neck.
"Hulk, stand down!" Cap demanded. "What's gotten into-"
Hulk then grabbed hold of Cap and yanked him off. Cap held up his shield as Hulk punched, sending him flying. As he skidded across the ground, the same green mist from before swirled across his face, dull his senses. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to regain his senses. As he opened them though, he saw the mansion was in ruins, with massive holes that showed hordes of HYDRA troops marching down the street.
"No…" he let out. "It… it can't be…"
"Oh but it is, Captain."
Cap turned around, seeing none other than the Red Skull lording over him.
"This is HYDRA's world, Captain. And you do not belong in it."
Instantly, Cap lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. Skull managed to kick Cap off, but Cap quickly threw his shield at him, knocking him back. The Red Skull, in reality being Wolverine, quickly leapt back to his feet, thoroughly confused as to what was happening.
"Cap, what the hell are you doing?!"
Cap only responded by swinging his shield at him repeatedly, forcing him to dodge and evade as best he could. He blocked one blow before kicking him back, the green mist quickly overcoming him as well. His own vision became clouded, recognizing Cap as his old enemy, Sabertooth. He growled before shooting out, his claws clashing against Cap's shield.
As Giant-Man recovered, he looked around and saw the destruction being wrought by his teammates and was about to intervene when the green mist hit him too. What were once his friends were now agents of AIM, clearly here to raid the mansion. He sprang into action, swatting them aside before being suddenly attacked by the Hulk.
…
Outside the mansion, the woman in green watched in twisted delight as the heroes tore each other apart.
"So much for Earth's mightiest heroes," she mused. "And now, for Thor."
…
Back on Asgard, Thor and his steadfast allies made their way towards one of the darker parts of Asgard. As they walked, Volstagg explained what they were doing.
"Heimdall informed us that Skurge had appeared in Asgard a few days ago," he told Thor. "However, whenever he would come to this part of the realm, he would mysteriously disappear from his sight."
"Interesting," Thor pondered. "You have mentioned Skurge many times but have said nothing of Amora."
"It is only him that has been seen," Volstagg told him. "No one has seen Amora in quite some time."
"Strange..."
"We believe that Amora is somewhere around here, no doubt responsible for the block in Heimdall's vision," Sif proclaimed.
"I'd believe it," Thor concurred with a small nod. "How much further?"
"We're nearly there," Fandral told him. "Just on the other side of this plaza.
The group then made their way through the plaza and walked up to a decrepit old manor on the edge of the city.
"This is Amora's old stead," Thor recalled. "You say Skurge is in here?"
"Aye," Hogun confirmed. "Where else would the Enchantress keep her infernal Executioner?"
"A valid point," Thor admitted as they approached the door. "I suppose it would be fruitless to knock."
He then swung his hammer at the door, knocking it off its hinges. It fell in with a mighty crash, revealing a dank, dusty interior of the manor
"If Skurge has been living here, he has not bothered keeping it clean," Thor remarked.
"He never was the cleanest of fellows," Fandral commented.
They then proceeded to move throughout the mansion, looking for any signs of Skurge. As they searched, they got the gravest feeling that they were being watched. They all kept their weapons at the ready as they searched the manor room by room, each one yielding less results than the last. Then, Thor opened one room that held something that made him drop his hammer. Hovering in the center of the otherwise empty room, surrounded by a halo of green energy, was a sleeping figure Thor recognized almost immediately.
"Jane?"
As he walked into the room, the door slammed shut with a loud thud. Thor turned to see Skurge standing there, wielding his deadly axe and grinning maliciously at Thor.
"Skurge..." Thor's voice shook with a furious tone. "What is Jane doing here? Where is Amora?"
Skurge merely tightened his grip on his axe, maintaining his silence.
"Still keeping with that vow of silence. Shame. I was hoping to do this the easy way."
Thor then swung his hammer at Skurge, only for the Executioner to block it with his axe. He then shoved Thor off and tried swinging his axe at him, which Thor barely dodged. Hearing the commotion, Sif and the warriors three quickly tried to come to his aid, but the door had been barred shut. Volstagg took a few steps back and charged at the door full force. The impact shattered the door to pieces. Skurge looked up to see Sif and the warriors three enter the room. Thor took advantage of this distraction and quickly clocked Skurge across the face with Mjolnir. Skurge went crashing into a chest on the floor, nearly knocking him out.
"Hold him!" Thor called out.
The other four wasted no time restraining Skurge before he could fully regain his senses. Thor slowly made his way over to Jane's sleeping body. Before he could reach her though, a loud creaking sound rang out. He looked up, seeing a large statue on the far side of the room slowly moving towards him. It swung its arm, striking Thor. he collided with the wall, dropping hard before a green mist surrounded his mind. He shook his head, looking up and seeing the Destroyer armor looming over him. He smirked, gripping his hammer before charging at the armor.
"Have at thee!"
…
Back at Avengers Mansion, Wasp continued flying through the halls in search of Rick.
"Rick! Rick, where are you?!"
As she passed by a closet door, she heard a knocking sound from it. She stopped, doubling back and approaching the door.
"Rick?"
"Wasp?! Look, I don't know what happened, but I can't get out!"
"Hang on!"
She grew to normal size and tried to open the door, but when she grabbed hold of the handle, it sent a shock through her body, causing her to pull back.
"Okay, someone booby trapped the door."
She tried using her blasters to knock down the door, but it seemed to have no effect.
"Damn. We need something powerful to bust this thing down."
Suddenly, Hulk's yells of fury cried out throughout the mansion, giving Wasp an idea.
"I'll be right back," she reassured, shrinking down and flying off. "Don't go anywhere!"
"Where would I go!"
…
Back with Hulk, he continued wrecking the mansion, knocking away the other Avengers as they fought around him.
"Where's Hulk's friends?!"
Just then, he felt a sharp stinging in the back of his neck. He turned around, seeing Wasp hovering behind him.
"Hi," she greeted cheerfully. "You really want to follow me now. There's something I need you to smash."
Hulk just roared as Wasp flew off, quickly giving chase. She flew back towards the closet as fast as her wings could carry her, hoping to stay ahead of the Hulk. Finally, she made it back to the closet, positioning herself at just the right angle.
"Rick, I'd take a few steps back if I were you!" she called out.
Rick didn't even bother arguing, pressing himself into a corner of the closet before taking cover. Hulk roared in fury as he barreled towards Wasp. in an instant, she flew upwards, causing him to crash into the wall near the closet, tearing down the door. As the smoke cleared, Hulk looked down towards Rick, who quickly got to his feet and approached his friend.
"Hey big guy," he said softly, holding out his hands in a gentle manner. "It's me. It's Rick."
Hearing his voice and seeing his face started to get through to Hulk, the green mist from before slowly fading away. He shook his head, the fog quickly fading away as he was still greeted by the sight of his friend."
"Rick…?"
"Hey big guy."
Hulk reached out, poking Rick in the chest. Rick stumbled slightly, catching himself on the wall.
"It's really me. I'm here, I'm okay."
Hulk smiled in response, beyond happy to see his friend.
"So, what was that all about?" Wasp asked. "Why'd you go all smash crazy?"
"Thought Rick and Betty were in trouble," Hulk answered. "Tried to find them."
"Someone must have screwed with your head," Rick surmised. "Then locked me in the closet so I couldn't stop you."
"Whatever it is, it's happening to the others," Wasp informed. "We have to snap them out of it."
"Well, let's see," Rick mused, "Hulk said he saw me and Betty hurt. So, we can assume that whatever's happening is targeting our weak points, our triggers that really piss us off. It's safe to assume that introducing the opposite can fix that."
"Like how seeing you helped Hulk... alright, I think we work with that."
…
Back in Asgard, Thor and the Destroyer armor continued to have at it, much to the Thunderer's delight.
"At least make it a challenge for me!" he boasted, lunging at the armor again.
He hit the armor in the face repeatedly, causing it to stumble backwards. The armor then fired an energy blast at him, prompting Thor to block it with his hammer. Down on the ground, once they had Skurge restrained, Sif and the Warriors Three quickly went to check on Jane.
"She seems well," Sif noted. "But some sort of enchantment has befallen her."
"Then we'd best get her out of here," Fandral declared, scooping her up in his arms. "Thor! We make for the healing pavilion!"
Thor didn't seem to answer, instead focusing on the fight in front of him. The others just moved on, hoping to get clear of the thing. As Thor continued to battle the Destroyer, he threw his hammer at it, hitting it in the chest plate and sending it tumbling back. He then charged his hammer up with lightning, spinning it before flying forward and plunging it into the Destroyer's chest. The armor spasmed, suddenly knocking Thor up and causing him to tear through the ceiling. This caused the roof to begin cracking and the house to start falling apart. Skurge saw the destruction and silently snuck away, unbeknownst to the heroes. As the four warriors made their way towards the exit, a column suddenly crashed down in front of them
"That's a problem," Volstagg let out as he and Hogun rushed forward to try and lift it.
Thor slowly picked himself up, more than ready to return to the battle. Before he could, the straining of his friends caused him to turn towards them. He was about to say something boastful, but his words died out at the sight of an unconscious Jane. Suddenly, the green mist started dissipating from his mind. He shook his head, finally able to see clearly. This also allowed him to see a massive chunk of the ceiling crashing down towards them. Thinking fast, he spun his hammer and darted forward, tackling all of them outside just as the ceiling collapsed. The five individuals all rolled on the ground slowly coming to a stop. Thor slowly picked himself up, rushing over to Jane who was still out.
"Jane..." he let out, holding her close. "Jane, I am so sorry. I know I have gotten caught up in being the hero of Midgard, but you are the most important thing to me, in this or any realm… I wish you knew that."
He then leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips. As he pulled away, Jane let out a soft gasp, sitting up as her eyes flew open.
"What the-?" Jane let out. "Thor? What's going on? Where am I?"
"Jane!" Thor said, barely comprehending what was happening. "Y-you're awake. How is that possible?"
"What are you talking about?" Jane questioned, confused. "All I remember was you bringing me some coffee, then all of sudden I felt really sleepy."
"Jane I… when did I bring you this coffee?" Thor asked. "Last we met, you were heading back to New Mexico after I missed the presentation."
"Missed it?" Jane asked, confused. "But the presentation isn't for another two days."
Thor fumed a bit, beginning to put the pieces together.
"It was not me that gave you that coffee. It was Amora the Enchantress."
"That psychotic sorceress that is obsessed with you? But why would she do that?"
"It would seem she is jealous of the love I have for you. This was all a trick to get me to leave Earth and return to Asgard."
"Then we best get back to earth so you can teach her a lesson," Jane declared, getting to her feet. "Besides, I want to have a few words with her about making me miss my presentation."
"Verily," Thor replied, smirking.
...
Back at the mansion, the other Avengers were still duking it out with each other, hoping to vanquish their imaginary foes. The other three quickly entered the room the fight persisted, seeing Giant-Man trying to slam his hand down on Wolverine as he leapt over it before trying to tackle Spider-Man. Spidey leapt over him, webbing him in the back before flinging him into Cap. the two tumbled on the ground as Spider-Man dodged a blast from Iron Man, before leaping up to punch him.
"Oh man, this is bad," Rick commented. "We need to stop this now."
"Any ideas where to start?" Wasp asked.
"I got one," Hulk replied, walking forward.
Wolverine was knocked aside, rolling on the ground before getting back to his feet. Before he could engage with Cap again, Hulk grabbed hold of him, slamming him into a wall.
"KNOCK IT OFF!" Hulk yelled.
"Not exactly delicate, is he?" Wasp noted.
"Eh, I don't think he even knows what it means," Rick said with a shrug
Hulk then dropped Wolverine to the ground, causing him to groan in pain as he sat up. The green mist cleared as he looked up, seeing the Hulk towering over him.
"Remind me to kill you later," Wolverine told him.
"You're welcome."
Just then, Cap's shield came whizzing by, causing Wolverine to duck as it bounced off the wall back to Cap.
"Cap, you gotta snap out of it!" Wolverine insisted as Cap ran up, swinging his shield at him. "Whatever you're seeing, it's not real! Someone's messing with your head! You gotta fight through it!"
Wolverine finally caught Cap's shield as Cap pinned him against a wall.
"Come on, you gotta remember me! Remember the war! Remember you, me, and Bucky!"
The mention of the last name sparked something inside Cap, forcing him to pull back. He held his head in pain as the green mist began to clear up. He looked back up, this time not seeing an enemy, but an old friend.
"Jimmy… What the hell is going on here?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, Cap."
Just then, a webline shot out, allowing Spider-Man to zip in and knock Wolverine aside. He turned towards Cap, seeing a green variation on the Hobgoblin. This got Spidey's blood boiling as he kicked and punched Cap, causing the super soldier to dodge and deflect as many of Spidey's attacks as he could.
"Spider-Man!" Cap called out. "You're being controlled. You have to block it out!"
Spider-Man just kicked Cap in the chest, knocking him back. He then shot a web line that connected with Cap's shield. Cap took hold of it and yanked hard, pulling him in close. He tried hitting Spidey with his shield, but he quickly landed on it before flipping over Cap and knocking him to the ground.
"Spider-Man!" Cap tried again as Spidey stood over him. "Peter!"
Hearing his real name caused him to stop for a moment.
"You're stronger than this! You prove that everyday, and I need you to do it now. Fight through this, and come back to us!"
Cap's words seemed to resonate with Spider-Man, forcing him to pull back as the green mist slowly faded from his mind. He shook his head as he looked down at Cap, feeling more than a little embarrassed as he offered him a hand up.
"Uh… sorry."
"Happens to the best of us," Cap replied, taking the hand so Spidey could pull him up.
"So, who's left that we have to-"
Suddenly, Iron Man flew in out of nowhere, plowing right into Spider-Man.
"Whoa!" Spider-Man let out, firing a web at a wall.
He yanked on it hard, causing the flight path to veer into the wall as Spider-Man flipped out of the way.
"Stark, you might wanna debug or something!"
Iron Man just turned towards him, repulsor gauntlets both at the ready. Thinking fast, Spidey shed his mask, revealing his face.
"Stark, it's me, Peter. You know, the kid? Don't ya wanna… I don't know, say something condescending to me or something?"
Iron Man hesitated, his face plate not revealing his stance one way or another. Finally, Iron Man cut power to his jet boots, landing on the ground as his face plate slid up. Peter let out a sigh of relief as he put his mask back on.
"Had me worried there for a second," Spidey admitted.
"I know how you feel. So, what are we thinking? Some kind of mind control?"
"Clearly, but how?"
Their conversation was cut short by Giant-Man tearing through the wall towards them.
"Get away from here!" he cried out, slamming a giant hand towards them.
The two heroes leapt out of the way, Iron Man quickly taking off into the air before blasting at Hank.
"Hank, snap out of it!" Iron Man insisted. "You're being controlled."
Giant-Man responded by swatting at him, knocking him out of the air. Spider-Man landed on a nearby wall as Wasp flew up.
"Get him to shrink down," she instructed. "I'll take it from there!"
Spidey nodded before swinging off.
"This is gonna take a lot of web fluid," he remarked as Giant-Man brought his fists together to try and bring them down.
Spidey acted fast, shooting web at the fists so they would be tied together. He then landed on the arms, crawling around them and tying web around them like an actual spider. He then leapt off and fired two web lines at Giant-Man, swinging around him to make sure he was doubly entwined. As he touched down on the ground, he fired a few more webs at his feet and web lines at his back, tethering him to the ground. Giant-Man struggled against the webs as Wasp grew to normal size, hoping her plan would work.
"Come on, Hank," she whispered. "Come back to me."
Having had enough, Giant-Man shrunk down, allowing the webs to cascade to the ground. Once he was out in the open, Wasp leapt forward and opened up his faceplate before pressing her lips to his. Ant-Man was surprised by the kiss, but slowly came to recognize who it was doing the deed, allowing the mist to clear away. He then wrapped his arms around her, returning the kiss in kind. The heroes all gave odd looks as they watched.
"Well…" Spidey let out. "That's one way to do it."
Finally, the two pulled away, Hank back to his full senses again.
"Jan…" he let out.
"Knew that would work," Wasp remarked.
"Great," Iron Man commented. "So now what-"
Suddenly, a blast of green energy shot out, hitting Iron Man and knocking him back. The others turned to see the woman in green standing in an archway with Skurge behind her.
"A lady Loki and death metal lumberjack?" Spidey questioned. "Wish I could say I was surprised, but… no, no, I still am."
"I am Amora the Enchantress," the woman introduced.
"You're the one who's been messing with our heads," Cap accused. "Why?"
"I had hoped for you to destroy each other, leaving nothing for the Son of Odin to return to. But since that failed," she raised a fist that glowed with energy. "I'll have to do it myself!"
She fired blasts of energy at the group, forcing them to scatter. Wolverine rolled in front of Skurge, who swung his axe at the ex-X-Man. Wolverine leapt over it as he kicked him in the face. Skurge stumbled back before taking another swing, knocking him back. Hulk meanwhile leapt towards Amora, attempting to smash her, but she ported out of the way just in time. He looked around, seeing her appear beside her. He tried hitting her, but she ported away yet again. She then appeared behind him, blasting him in the back. He cried out in pain as Wasp flew up to Amora, firing her stingers at her.
"Hey, witch!" she called out. "When you attacked the Avengers, you forgot me!"
"That's because you are nothing to me!" she cried out, using her magic to restrain Wasp.
"Oh…"
Seeing this, Giant-Man grew to massive size, swatting Enchantress away. She tumbled on the ground, looking up at her massive foe.
"Executioner! I need you!"
Skurge then turned and swung his axe, unleashing a fireball that hit Giant-Man in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Hank!" Wasp cried out.
"Take off the giant one's head," Amora ordered. "It will look good on my mantle."
Skurge just smirked as he approached Giant-Man. Just then, the Bifrost blasted down on the ground next to them. Mjolnir sailed out, hitting Skurge in the chest as it returned to Thor, who stepped out of the Bifrost with Jane.
"No," Amora exclaimed. "It can't be!"
"But it is, Enchantress," Thor rebutted. "Your petty scheme has failed."
Amora raised her arms to fire, but Spider-Man's webs snagged her, pulling her into a wall.
"Nice try, lady," Spidey quipped. "But I think I speak for everyone when I say keep your hexes to yourself."
Amora tried blasting at Spider-Man, but quickly leapt over the blast. She then turned towards Thor, seeing Jane standing next to him. She smirked, her hand flaring with magic. She then turned and fired right at Jane, who quickly dove for cover. She fired again, but this time, Thor stepped in and deflected it right back at her, knocking her back. She and Skurge picked themselves up, seeing the Avenger slowly surrounding them. Seeing that the odds were no longer in their favor, she surrounded herself and Skurge with green energy, causing them to disappear from the mansion.
"You really know how to pick 'em, don't you Thor?" Tony asked, lifting his faceplate.
"Indeed," Thor replied. "Though I doubt we have seen the last of the Enchantress. I must return to Asgard to inform Odin."
"You better come back though," Jane lightly chastised. "I need to know just how much damage that woman did to my life."
"I give you my word I will return soon," Thor promised before looking up. "Heimdall!"
The Bifrost opened once more, pulling Thor back through before vanishing all together. Jane smiled at it, letting out a sigh.
"Never gets old."
Unbeknownst to the Avengers, a mysterious man in a trench coat, scarf and hat was watching the whole battle just outside the gate. He smiled maliciously before walking down the street.
…
Back on Asgard, Thor entered the throne room and saw Odin talking to Sif and the warriors three.
"I take it Skurge is no longer in our custody," he guessed.
"You would assume correctly," Odin replied. "He was transported away not too long ago, no doubt by Amora."
"Aye. Amora escaped from the grasp of me and the Avengers not long ago. No doubt she is somewhere on Midgard, plotting her vengeance."
"Why presume she is still on Midgard?" Odin asked, stroking his beard. "She would have no reason to stay now that her scheme has failed."
"That will not stop her from concocting another one. Already she has stooped so low as to endanger the life of Jane, and attempt to bespell the Avengers into tearing each other apart. I fear she may try again, thus I must remain vigilant."
"Then staying on Asgard should be the best course of action," Odin told him. "It is you she seeks vengeance upon after all, not the mortal Jane Foster, nor these Avengers. They are merely tools to use against you."
"I cannot abandon Midgard," Thor argued. "The realm needs me; the Avengers need me… Jane needs me."
"Heimdall tells me the mortals are more capable than you give them credit for."
"That may be so, but after Loki's stunt with the Tesseract, I have an overwhelming sense of foreboding. Something is coming, and I must be there to face it."
"Asgard is your responsibility. Would you abandon it so easily? Especially with the Odin Sleep nearly upon us?"
"Asgard has survived long enough without me. Every time I leave Midgard, I find myself returning again and again because their world is spawning dangers that mankind has never seen before. Evil that will consume them, unless I am there to stop it."
"You speak highly of these mortals, yet you insist on catering to them like children!"
"I do nothing for Earth that I have not done for Asgard time and again! Asgard is home to countless warriors and yet it calls upon me for aid! Midgard is no different!"
"Enough!" Odin yelled, slamming his staff down hard on the ground, the sound echoing throughout the throne room. "You dare defy me?"
There was a heavy silence as Thor gripped his hammer.
"Should Asgard need me, I will be there. But until then… I choose Earth."
With that, Thor turned around and left the throne room. Odin watched him go, then sagged on his throne, sighing heavily.
...
Jane and the Avengers were waiting outside the mansion when he returned to the Manor. She threw her arms around him, pecking him on the cheek.
"Any luck?" she asked.
"Nay," Thor lamented. "It seems the Executioner has fled as well."
"Well, they're gonna show up again," Cap reminded them. "And we need to be ready for them when they do."
"Jane, any notes you have on Asgardian energy manipulation could be helpful," Tony said. "Maybe I could find a way to counter her 'magic'."
"It's not magic as much as subatomic fission of various atoms," Jane explained. "I have some notes on it from my time examining Mjolnir that I'd be willing to share with you."
"Though if you don't mind Stark," Thor spoke up, "I'd like some time alone with Jane for a few days. While it was Amora trying to drive a wedge between us, she was not wrong when she said my focus has been split as of late. I mean to correct this."
Jane turned to Thor in surprise.
"Thor… You know I understand your attention is divided. I understood this when we started our relationship."
"But I have been taking advantage of that, Jane," Thor told her, taking her hand. "You mean more to me then I can ever express in words, and it's time I show you that."
Jane blushed hard, turning even redder as Thor kissed her passionately. Both Spidey and Rick turned away, making gagging faces.
"Get a room!" Rick shouted.
"An excellent suggestion," Thor replied, sweeping Jane off her feet.
"That is not what I meant!" Rick called out as Thor flew off with Jane.
"Don't even bother," Spidey told him. "It's pointless."
…
Meanwhile, Amora and Skurge both materialized in an old warehouse somewhere in New York. Immediately, she turned on Skurge with an angry glare.
"You had one job to do, my Executioner. Keep the mortal woman out of my way!"
Skurge just bowed his head in shame.
"Yes, you should be ashamed!" she screamed. "Now Thor will be weary of my schemes, and no doubt Odin and his forces will be watching for us on Asgard!"
"Then perhaps you should stay on earth for a while," a voice suggested.
Amora and Skurge both turned towards the source of the voice, the two of them prepared to strike.
"Who dares to disturb the Enchantress?! Show yourself!"
The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself to be the trench coat clad man watching her battle with the Avengers earlier.
"Just someone who has taken interest in your talents. Perhaps we can benefit each other."
Amora snorted at the idea, lowering her defenses.
"What benefit is there for me to gain from a mere mortal like yourself?" she questioned condescendingly. "Executioner, get rid of him."
Skurge nodded and walked over to the figure and readied his axe. Before he got the chance to do anything, the figure took off his hat and threw it at Skurge's face, temporarily blinding him. The figure took advantage of this and leapt into the air kicking him in the face. As Skurge stumbled back, the figure jumped onto his back and placed some kind of device on him before jumping off. As Skurge turned to face him, the figure pressed a button, causing the device to explode and Skurge to fly across the room. Before Skurge could get up, Amora held out her hand, signaling him to stop.
"You have my attention, mortal. What may I call you?"
The figure then discarded the trench coat and scarf, revealing a purple outfit with white trim around the base of his arms, yellow boots and gloves, and a purple mask with eyes graced with a golden crown on top.
"My name is Zemo, and if you want to get to Thor, we must first deal with the Avengers."
"I have already tried to eliminate them once already, and it failed. If I cannot defeat them, then what chance does any plan you can concoct have?"
"My dear, you've overlooked one simple fact: the Avengers form a powerful team. Thus, if we wish to take them one, we must have a team of our own."
...
Any die-hard Marvel fans know what he means. Looking forward to the next chapter!
