Chapter 35: Worthy of Remembering
It was a rare moment of peace in the Avengers mansion. With no major villains to fight, and no huge catastrophe looming around the corner, the heroes had decided to take the night off. Several beer bottle, and sodas for Peter since he wasn't legal drinking age, littered the media room as they all laughed and joked. Thor had even brought out a special brew straight from Asgard, though he only shared it with Steve.
"Hey Point Break, share with the rest of the team," Tony said, lifting his glass as if to ask for some.
"Nay, friend Stark," Thor said with a shake of his head, sliding a small flask into his jacket pocket. "See this, this was aged for a thousand years, in the barrels built from the wreck of Brunhilde's fleet, it's not meant for mortal men."
"Yeesh, don't oversell it or anything."
"I doubt it's anything special," Clint dismissed. "Just a bunch of fancy words to make it sound all that. Like his hammer's trick that makes it so that only he can lift it."
"Trick?" Hank questioned. "Really?"
"It's gotta be," Clint insisted, gesturing to Mjolnir, which was resting amidst the scattered bottles and other garbage on the table.
"It's much more than a trick, my friend," Thor insisted.
"Yeah, whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!" Clint recited, putting on a deep and mocking voice before switching back to normal. "Whatever man."
"If you believe it to be a trick, please, go on ahead," Thor offered.
This got everyone's attention. Drinks were immediately lowered as everyone focused on Clint.
"Oh this is gonna be good," Peter declared.
Knowing he couldn't back down at this point, Clint got up and approached the hammer. He took hold of it and began pulling. As expected, it didn't budge. He tried for a few more seconds before letting out a laugh.
"I still don't know how you do it."
"It's alright Clint," Tony told him. "We've had a long week, no one will blame you if you can't get it up."
That got a snicker from everyone as Clint shot Tony a sly grin.
"What about you, Stark? You think you're worthy?"
"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge," Tony commented, standing up. "So if I lift it, I get to rule Asgard?"
"Yes, of course," Thor confirmed.
"I shall be fair but firm...ly cruel," he declared, grabbing the hammer.
Once again, the hammer did not budge. He gave it a few pulls, then paused.
"I'll be right back," he announced.
He returned a few minutes later with an Iron Man glove, and a suit piloted by JARVIS. He tried to pull, small rockets in his arms trying to aid them. When that failed, the suit came to try and help. Even so, nothing worked.
"Sir, it would appear that-"
"JARVIS, don't say it." Tony requested, withdrawing from the hammer.
"-that you are unworthy, sir."
"I just said don't say it," he admonished as everyone laughed.
After Tony was done, Hulk gave it a try. He grunted and groaned as he tried to lift it, everyone scooting back as he tried. After a minute, he gave up, growling at Mjolnir.
"Stupid hammer," he snorted.
Rick tried his luck, gripping the wrist strap and even planting a foot on the table. He tried as hard as he could, but ended up losing his grip and falling backwards. He got up, rubbing his head.
"Aw man," he let out. "That sucks."
"Maybe it just needs a woman's touch," Jan suggested.
Rick sidestepped and Jan approached, taking her turn. When it failed to budge, she shrunk down into her Wasp form, giving her wings a chance. Once again, she was met with zero success. As she returned to normal size and plopped back in her seat, Hank took his turn. He shrunk down, getting under the hammer (as it was propped up on some magazines, leaving it at an angle). He tried pushing at it, but just ended up face planting on the table. Peter took a turn next, trying to straight up pull the hammer off the table. When that didn't work, he shot several webs at it, trying to use those to yank the hammer off. He tried with all his might, but nothing worked.
"Oh come on!" Peter let out, ripping the webs off of Mjolnir.
"Maybe it takes another of royal lineage to lift it," T'Challa suggested. "Much like the mantle of the Black Panther."
"Okay, if he lifts it, I'm done," Clint declared.
T'Challa stood, grasping the hammer and giving it a tug. When nothing happened, he let go.
"What, that's it?" Clint asked.
"You expected something more?" T'Challa asked. "It did not move, so I am not worthy."
"Bet Cap can lift it," Rick suggested, turning to Steve.
Steve chuckled and stood up, walking over to try his luck. He gave it a tug and it moved ever so slightly, causing a flicker of concern to cross Thor's face. Jane seemed equally surprised as Steve adjusted his grip to try for another pull. This time, there was no movement, and Steve gave up like the others. Thor seemed to relax as he did.
"Haha, nothing," Thor let out.
Jane laughed as well, then rose to her feet.
"This has been fun and all, but watch a real master do it."
"Jane," Jan said with a shake of her head, "if we couldn't lift it, what makes you think-?"
Jane lifted it with ease, giving it a toss in her hand before catching it easily. She grinned at all the heroes, who were looking shocked. Thor just laughed, enjoying their expressions immensely.
"Okay… what?" Peter let out.
"You didn't know?" Jane asked playfully. "I've always been able to lift Mjolnir. I can even do this."
She gave it a toss right at Peter, the hammer stopping inches from his face before returning to her hand. Peter practically fell out of his chair. Thor just got up, smiling as he placed a hand on Jane's shoulder.
"It's rigged!" Tony declared. "The handle's imprinted, fingerprint scanner or something."
"That makes sense," Clint agreed. "You probably added Jane's prints after you started becoming serious."
"Exactly. Whosoever is carry Thor's fingerprint I believe is the literal translation."
"Well, that's a very interesting theory," Thor commented. "I have a simpler one… you're not worthy."
"Well if that's true, what makes Jane worthy?" Rick asked curiously.
"Yeah, how can she lift the hammer, but we can't?" Jan asked.
Thor chuckled again, but his eyes seemed distant.
"You know, there was a time I asked myself the same question."
"Really?" Steve asked. "Why don't you tell us?"
Thor sat back down, Jane joining him and returning Mjolnir. Thor looked at the hammer, and at the inscription written on the side. With a sigh, he began his tale.
"I have told the beast tamer of how I came to be on Earth. However, I did not go into detail. To make a long story short, I made a mistake. One that threatened to plunge the Nine Realms into war. When Odin found out what I did, he enacted a horrible punishment..."
…
"I, Odin the Allfather, CAST YOU OUT!"
Thor didn't even have time to react before a bolt of lightning shoved him through the Bifrost. Blinding, multicolored lights surrounded him as Odin, Loki, and Heimdall all vanished from view. As he fell for what felt like an eternity, he tried desperately to call out for Mjolnir, but did not feel the usual pull of its magic. After an unknown amount of time, the Bifrost finally dropped him flat on his face.
Grunting in pain from his abrupt fall, Thor struggled to get to his feet. He looked around, but saw nothing but an endless expanse of barren land in every direction. The occasional cactus stood out, but that was it. As he continued his search, he heard a small boom off in the distance. He turned, seeing something fall from the sky several miles away. It was too far away to tell what it was, but he knew that it could be only one thing.
"Mjolnir..."
With no other choice, he turned in the direction of the fallen object and began his trek.
…
Sometime later, Thor arrived at the sight of the crash. It had taken him several hours to get there, and night had fallen by the time he had. Unfortunately, others had beaten him to the sight. They had set up some kind of large structure around the crater, armed guards everywhere. Thor scowled at just how much security he would have to go through to reclaim his lost weapon. Down below him, he laid eyes on a lone man in a suit, speaking into a communication device.
"Dr Foster is cooperating?" he asked, pausing long enough to get his answer. "Good. She's the lead in her field, and we'll need her help to identify the 0-8-4, as well as assess its origins." He paused again as the person on the other end gave their feedback. "I figured as much. he can bring Dr. Selvig, as well as her intern. If their presence will make her move amenable, we can extend the invitation to them as well. Just get them here soon. I want to get this thing examined and contained before word gets out."
With that, the man put away his communication device and continued surveying the area. Thor quickly deduced that he had summoned extra help, which would make his mission all the more difficult. If he was going to get his hammer back, he needed to act fast.
…
Down below, one of the guards patrolling the area caught sight of movement moving along the outer fence. His eyes narrowed as he reached for his radio.
"Agent Coulson, we've got something outside the fence, west side. I'm moving in to check it out."
"10-4, Delaney," Coulson replied. "Proceed with caution."
Delaney moved towards where he saw the movement, just in time for Thor to jump down on top of him. Delaney didn't even have a chance to make a noise, dropping like a rock as Thor took cover. With Delaney down, he moved closer to the tent, keeping low to the ground. Unfortunately, he failed to notice Delaney's radio going off.
"Delaney, what do you see?" Coulson questioned. "Delaney!"
Fearing the worst, Coulson immediately put out a Code Red to every agent in the complex.
"Agent down, possible perimeter breach!" he declared. "All units, code red!"
Within seconds, an alarm began blaring and lights began to illuminate the entire area, much to Thor's aggravation. Grabbing the fallen agents jacket and hat, he hoped to slip into the facility undetected. Unfortunately, even with his stolen hat and jacket, he stood out like a sore thumb. Some of the agents moved towards him, pulling out their guns. Thor saw their weapons, instincts taking over as he quickly took cover behind some equipment boxes. Once the shooting stopped for a moment so they could reload, Thor quickly grabbed one of the boxes and hurled it at them, knocking them over. Thor noted how much heavier the boxes appeared to be, realizing just how weak he had become.
"I have been reduced to the strength of a Midgardian..." he muttered, glancing at the structure keeping him from his hammer. "But not for long."
The guards recovered from their fall, preparing to fire again. Thor didn't give them a chance, yanking the gun out of the hands of one before using it to smack a second away. He then kicked the third one in the head, knocking him out before tossing the gun aside and proceeding forward. He just managed to open the door when a large man blocked his path. A large hand shoved him back, sending him sprawling into the sand. Thor got up, meeting eyes with a man a good foot taller than him, and built like a tank.
"You're big," Thor declared, getting into a fighting position. "Fought bigger."
The big guy took a swing at Thor, knocking him to the ground. As the big guy approached him though, Thor kicked him in the stomach, but it didn't do much good. The big guy caught his leg, throwing him into a large stack of boxes. Thor grabbed a box and swung it at the guys head, knocking him back slightly. Thor quickly got back to his feet and punched the guy in the face repeatedly, though seemingly to no avail. Finally, the guy just grabbed his fist and began twisting his arm, forcing him to kneel over in pain. Thor grunted, flailing with his free arm and grabbing the agent's leg, yanking him off balance. The agent released Thor's arm as he got to his feet, delivering a solid kick to the man's head.
"You fought well," he commended. "But you were no match for-"
Suddenly, he was struck hard from the side by a large van, which send him flying several feet before he collapsed on the ground.
…
"Wait, what?" Tony questioned. "What happened?"
"While I reveled in my victory over my over sized foe, I neglected to see Jane's van approaching," Thor clarified. "Not until it hit me, that is."
"You got run over by a van?" Clint let out before bursting into laughter.
"Yeah, that was on me," Jane admitted, rubbing the back of her head. "I mean, if you saw what I saw that night, you probably would have reacted the same way."
…
As they drove across the New Mexico desert, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis were in the midst of a rather heated conversation.
"Erik, you don't get it," Jane insisted. "SHIELD is providing us with our first real lead to trans dimensional travel in years. We'd be absolute fools to pass it up."
"We'd be fools to trust SHIELD," Erik countered. "These people have a knack for taking something amazing and twisting it into something dangerous and terrifying."
"All the more reason for us to get involved. We can prevent them from turning whatever this 0-8-4 is into a weapon."
"Uh, what is an 0-8-4 anyway?" Darcy questioned, raising a hand.
"An unknown object of unknown origin and purpose," Erik clarified.
"So it's a fancy way of saying 'we have no idea what this is'," Darcy guessed.
"Basically, yes," Jane answered.
"But someone out there does." Darcy argued.
"Most likely," Jane admitted. "After all, it had to come from somewhere."
"We're here," Erik announced, pointing forward.
The van reached the gates of the complex, surprised to see all the lights on and sirens blaring. Jane pulled through, looking around curiously.
"What is going-?"
All of a sudden, two very large men (Thor and the over sized Agent) came out of nowhere, wrestling with one another. Without even thinking, Jane slammed her foot on the gas, shooting forward. Thor had just straightened up from his fight when the van slammed into him. The occupants of the van froze for several seconds, then scrambled to get out.
"If that was one of those SHIELD guys, I don't know you," Darcy declared.
Jane rolled her eyes as she ran out towards the man she hit. As she reached him, she rolled him onto his back, momentarily stunned by how unnaturally gorgeous he was. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she quickly checked for a pulse, sighing when she found one.
"Thank God," she said in relief. "He's alive."
Groaning, Thor slowly pulled himself up off the ground and started moving towards the facility. Erik quickly got in his way.
"Easy son, you just got hit by a van." He insisted, putting a hand on Thor's chest. "I think it would be best if you-"
"I need my hammer," Thor let out.
"You need a doctor," Erik insisted, giving both Darcy and Jane clear motions to get away. "You hit your head pretty hard."
Thor grabbed Erik by the front of his shirt. Jane gasped, and Darcy reached into her jacket.
"Unhand me!" Thor demanded.
"Ease off, pal!" Darcy insisted, pulling out a taser and aiming it right at Thor's chest.
Thor looked at the weapon, dropping Erik and turning to her. With a yelp, Darcy fired, the pins hitting Thor right in the chest. He shuddered for several seconds before dropping to the ground, out like a light. Jane and Erik looked at him, then up at Darcy.
"If anyone asks, that was self defense," she declared.
…
By this point, each of the Avengers were doubled over in laughter.
"Banished, depowered, run over, and tased?" Clint listed off. "Man, that must have been rough."
"It was… not my best night, to be sure," Thor admitted.
"Trust me, it was no picnic for me either," Jane spoke up. "Though Darcy did get commended for her quick thinking."
"So what happened after that?" Peter asked. "SHIELD couldn't have been happy about you breaking in."
"They weren't," Thor confirmed. "But someone did speak on my behalf."
…
Thor slowly came to, his head fuzzy and his entire body felt like it was made of lead. Voices in the background were slowly becoming clearer, giving him something to focus on.
"...did he know it was a hammer?"
Thor blinked, seeing three people standing over him. One was the agent, the other the woman who had tased him, and finally the third woman who had tried to help him.
"Yeah, this place is like, uber classified, so unless one of your guys spilled the beans, there's no way he could have known," Darcy pointed out.
"He is a security risk to this entire operation, one that assaulted several of my men," Coulson argued.
"He clearly has a connection to this thing," Jane observed. "and he's shown what he's willing to do to get to it.
"It's that willingness that's worrying me," Coulson argued.
"Look, you brought me onto this because of my expertise on the subject," Jane argued. "So let me do my job my way, alright?"
"Besides, I've got my taser on standby if he tries anything," Darcy promised, holding up the aforementioned weapon.
"Yeah, probably best to refrain from using that in the future," Erik commented.
Coulson looked among the three, then his eyes drifted to Thor.
"Well, it seems our intruder has finally regained consciousness," he pointed out.
Realizing he'd been made, Thor immediately tried to get up. Unfortunately, he immediately found himself stopped by several straps and leather cuffs keeping him strapped to a gurney.
"Impossible," Thor let out, trying to free himself.
Darcy brandished her taser, an action that immediately caught Thor's attention.
"Easy there," Darcy insisted. "I will use this."
Thor finally ceased his actions as Jane walked forward.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Thor, son of Odin."
There was a moment of silence.
"Just how hard did you hit him, Jane?" Darcy questioned.
Jane ignored her.
"Well… Thor..." Jane began. "Where did you come from? And why are you after the ah… the hammer?"
"The hammer is mine by right. It was cast into this realm by my father, along with myself. I merely came to reclaim what is mine."
"So… you broke into a top secret government installation… for a piece of hardware?" Darcy questioned.
"Mjolnir is no mere tool," Thor corrected. "It is so powerful that only those it deemed worthy can even lift it."
"That would explain why none of my team could extract it from the crater," Coulson mused.
"And you're saying you can," Erik pieced together.
"Of course I can," Thor answered.
"Alright," Jane decided. "We'll lead you to your hammer. But in exchange, you have to tell me more about how you got here, and where you came from. Deal?"
"Deal," Thor agreed. "Now, will someone release me from these confines?!"
"What's the magic word?" Darcy teased.
"Now!" Thor snapped.
"Easy, big guy," Coulson replied. "These three are the only reason I'm not throwing you in the deepest cell on The Raft, so it would be beneficial to you if you showed them some respect."
Thor sighed in annoyance, but relented.
"Fine," Thor replied. "Would you 'please' release me from these confines?"
Jane smiled, then did just that.
…
The agents were on high alert as Jane's trio and Thor entered the crater. Right in the center, surrounded by archaic symbols burned into the ground, was Mjolnir. He couldn't help but smile as he gazed upon his his beloved weapon. Lightning danced along the surface, as if sensing his arrival.
"Finally," he let out, walking towards it.
He wrapped his hand around the hilt of the hammer, hoping to lift it. To his shock, and growing horror, it didn't budge.
"What?" He let out, pulling it again to no avail. "How! Can this be!"
He gripped the handle with both hands and pulled as hard as he could, but it still didn't make a move. After a moment, Jane came over, taking his hand.
"Stop," she insisted. "You're going to hurt yourself. It's not moving."
"But… it must!" Thor insisted.
Jane shook her head, gently pulling his hands from Mjolnir. As she did, Thor noticed energy from the hammer growing more abundant as she grew closer.
"It responds… to you?" Thor observed.
"Me?" Jane questioned.
Thor stepped back.
"Try and lift it," he insisted, praying to the Allfathers that his suspicions were not true.
Jane faced him, then looked down at the hammer. Slowly and tentatively, she reached down and grasped the handle. Everyone gasped when she straightened up, lifting the hammer as if it were nothing.
"How…?" Thor let out.
"It's not even heavy," Jane shared, examining it. "Beautiful craftsmanship though."
"It was forged in the heart of a dying star." Thor explained.
"You're kidding," Jane let out before turning to Erik. "Erik, come look at this!"
Erik walked up as she handed him the hammer to him. As he took hold of it and she let go though, he immediately fell over with it.
"Erik!" Jane cried out.
She and Thor helped him up as Jane took hold of the hammer again.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "I swear, it's not heavy. I don't know why that happened."
"Jane, that thing weighs a ton," Erik insisted, rotating his wrist to make sure he didn't hurt it. "I'm lucky it didn't land on my foot."
"Before, only I could lift the hammer," Thor shared.
"But... now you can't," Jane added.
"You don't look like you skipped arm day," Darcy remarked, making a big show of feeling his large-sized biceps, "so what gives?"
"I have no idea," Thor admitted.
Jane looked at the hammer again, then paused when she spotted a series of small carvings engraved in the side of the hammer. She turned it so she could get a better look, squinting at it.
"Hang on… There's something written on the side."
Thor took a look at the side Jane pointed out and saw the inscription she was talking about.
"That was not there before," he insisted.
"What's it say?" Darcy asked.
"I don't know," Jane answered. "I think they're some sort of ancient text. Nothing I've ever seen before."
Thor read over the inscription silently, his eyes widening upon realizing exactly what it said. Coulson noticed his change in expression almost immediately.
"You know what it says, don't you?" He asked, though his tone indicated he already knew the answer.
Thor sighed before responding.
"I do. It reads 'whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy... shall possess the power of Thor'."
All eyes then fell on him.
"So… You really are the God of Thunder?" Erik asked.
"Aye," Thor confirmed. "Or at least…. I used to be."
"Jane, you're totally the new Thor!" Darcy cheered.
"What?!" Jane let out. "No! I'm a scientist! Not some Norse… warrior… you know!"
"Mjolnir deems you worthy," Thor told her. "That is a high honor."
"Myeh-myeh?" Darcy repeated, albeit horribly.
"The legendary hammer of Thor," Erik explained, still trying to wrap his head around this whole situation. "This is absolutely insane. How is any of this possible?"
"Dr Selvig, there are many things that are hard to explain, and even harder to believe," Coulson shared. "However, one thing is certain, if what Dr. Foster is holding is truly enchanted so only those worthy can wield it then I think it's safe to say we have nothing to fear from it."
"So what?" Jane asked, still freaking out somewhat. "I'm just supposed to lug this thing around for the rest of my life?"
"Study it, learn where it came from and how it works. We will be receiving a copy of your findings for security reasons obviously." Coulson then turned to Thor, gesturing to several other agents. "And, of course, we'll be taking the 'God of Thunder' into custody."
That snapped Jane out of her funk. She began sputtering somewhat as the agents grabbed Thor, cuffing his hands behind his back. Thor let them, seeing no point in resisting.
"Wait, why are you taking him into custody?" Jane questioned. "He was just trying to get back something that belonged to him!"
"He also destroyed government property, assaulted several of my officers, to name a few crimes he's committed," Coulson listed off.
The agents made to remove Thor from the room, but Jane quickly got in the way.
"Wait! You can't take him! I need him!"
Thor perked up in surprise upon hearing that.
"For what?" Coulson asked.
"He's the only person who knows anything about this hammer," Jane rationalized, holding up Mjolnir for emphasis. "He can help me figure out how it works, and help me make sure I don't accidentally hurt anyone with it. If this really is the hammer of the Norse God of Thunder, then I want to have the former owner there to walk me through wielding it."
Coulson paused for a moment, considering Jane's points.
"You make a good point. Fine, he'll stay as a consultant."
Jane smiled as the agents released Thor.
"However, he'll be your responsibility, so keep him out of trouble," Coulson insisted.
"Of course," Jane promised.
…
"So Thor started out… as your pet?" Clint remarked.
The imagery had everyone giggling into their drinks, even Jane and Thor themselves.
"I suppose that's one way to put it," Jane admitted, covering her mouth to try and stifle the giggles. "Honestly, I felt bad for him. I could tell he was hurting. I mean, he'd just lost his source of power, and nearly lost his freedom. He had nowhere to go, and frankly, I was scared that if he left, I'd end up frying half of New Mexico."
"I have to admit, I was surprised by her willingness to take me in," Thor shared. "Though I still retained a little bitterness that a mortal was worthy of wielding Mjolnir instead of I. So my gratitude was somewhat forced."
...
Jane's team got loaded up into her van, driving out of the SHIELD sight. Thor sat in the passenger seat, Mjolnir at his feet. Darcy sat behind him with Erik, no one saying a word. Thor glanced down at his hammer, then at the faint red marks around his wrists from the cuffs. Though his heart was still aching from his loss, he knew it would be rude not to say something in gratitude for his freedom.
"It seems I owe you my thanks."
"Well…" Jane replied sheepishly, adjusting her grip on the wheel. "I kinda owed you for running you over… and for Darcy tasing you, so…"
She let out an awkward cough, cutting herself off. Thor turned to her.
"So what now?" He asked.
Suddenly, his stomach let out a loud growl, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in some time. Darcy kinda chuckled at the loud noise.
"We could go get some breakfast," She suggested. "The local diner should be open."
"I think we have enough set aside for a diner trip," Jane answered. "What do you think, Erik?"
"Yeah, I suppose so," Erik agreed. "However, before we go, we need to lay down some ground rules."
"What kind of ground rules?" Thor asked.
"First off, no fighting whatsoever," Erik told him.
"And what if someone should try to attack us?" Thor asked.
Darcy let out a snort.
"In Puente Antiguo? Fat chance of that. We're so far out in the middle of nowhere that we're lucky to get wifi."
"Fine," Thor gave in. "What else?"
"No talking about the government site, or about anything that happened prior to this moment," Erik went on. "We could all get in trouble should word get out. Understood?"
"Indeed," Thor agreed.
"Lastly, you'll need a new name," Darcy added. "Thor, while cool, does not sound like a real name."
"Then what passes for a "real name" on Midgard?" he asked, glancing back at her.
Darcy paused, caught off guard by the question.
"You know…" she answered hesitantly, "a normal name. Like 'Donald' or 'Blake'."
"Donald Blake..." Thor mulled over. "I suppose it will do."
"Donald Blake…" Jane repeated, rolling the name on her tongue. "It's not bad. Pull your hair back, and I could see you as a Donald."
Darcy almost immediately reached into her purse, grabbing a brush and a hairband. She leaned forward expectantly, but Thor swatted her hand aside.
"I maybe in your charge, but my hair is not to be messed with!"
"Oh come on," Darcy replied. "You want to look like a mess in front of a diner full of people?"
"Thor, she's just trying to make it look neater," Jane admonished. "It's not like she's cutting it or anything."
"... fine," Thor relented.
Darcy began brushing his hair, then pulled it back in a low ponytail. Once she was done, she sat back in her seat, stowing her brush and smiling.
"Perfection," she announced, even going as far as to kiss the tips of her fingers and splaying them out dramatically. "See what you think."
Thor looked in the rear-view mirror to take a look. It certainly did look better, and he no longer looked as rough as he had before.
"Not bad," Thor admitted.
Jane stole a glance, hiding a small smile as she planted her eyes firmly on the road.
"Not bad at all," she said quietly.
...
At the diner, Thor was eating ravenously, decimating a large omelet in front of him, as well as a stack of pancakes. The others ate their meals, albeit with a bit less gusto. Jane watched him, an amused smile gracing her face.
"Well, if you're not the god of thunder, you're at least the god of empty stomachs," she quipped.
"You act as if you haven't eaten in days," Erik remarked. "You sure you're okay, son?"
"Fine, I assure you," Thor told them. "I'm used to larger meals."
"Well, I'm afraid large meals are a rarity with us. We live off boxed noodles, instant coffee, and so many different types of sandwiches."
"Why is that?"
"Well, our research isn't well known, or well respected. Trans-dimensional physics, the Einstein Rosenbridge, it's all theoretical stuff with little to no proof. We got lucky getting a lab out here, and the grant money barely covers expenses."
"Our intern isn't even from the science department, Erik snorted.
"Political science," Darcy argued.
"She was the... only applicant," Jane shared.
"I see," Thor observed.
"Still, we make it work," Jane insisted. "After all, nothing worth having comes easy. It takes hard work and dedication to get anywhere. I'm sure it's the same wherever you're from."
Thor said nothing in response, instead his mind wandered back to the lessons of responsibility and duty his father tried to instill in him over the years. He paid them little mind then, but now, he was beginning to understand why Jane had been deemed worthy over him.
Determined to pull his mind from those dark thoughts, Thor took a swig of coffee. He instantly found himself enjoying the beverage, downing the contents in a single gulp.
"This drink, I like it,'" he declared, lifting the mug over his head. "Another!"
He then shattered the mug on the ground, an action that had the entire diner staring. Erik, Darcy, and Jane all jumped at the sound, glaring at Thor.
"Dude! Not cool!" Darcy chastised.
"Sorry everyone!" Jane apologized as a waitress came over to clean up the mess.
Once the mess was cleaned up, Jane turned to Thor.
"What were you thinking?" she hissed.
"It was delicious, I wanted another," Thor explained.
"Then just ask. Don't throw stuff, okay?"
"I meant no disrespect."
"I get that, just…" Jane began, sighing slightly, "Just no more smashing things. Okay?"
"You have my word."
…
"Dude, I'm surprised nobody pegged you for an alien," Peter commented. "You stood out like a sore thumb."
"So it seems," Thor agreed. "Thankfully, they kept me away from the rest of the town until my 'people skills' were a bit more refined."
"For the prince of a land of gods, he had no idea how to act around normal people," Jane recalled. "Thankfully for everyone, he was a fast learner."
"So what was it like?" Jan asked. "Living with Jane in the beginning? Did you start training her to wield your hammer immediately?"
"Well… not exactly," Jane replied.
...
After breakfast, they returned to the lab, and Jane dropping Mjolnir on a lab table.
"Okay, I need full spectrum analysis on this thing," she began, slipping out of her outdoor coat and grabbing a well worn lab coat. "Darcy, where's that file Coulson gave us on the thermal readings?"
"Here," Darcy replied, handing her the file. "but, why not just ask Thor about it? Isn't that kinda why he's here?"
"Because I need hard copies to compare them to. Besides, Thor's had a rough day, and I figure he could use some rest."
She turned to Thor as she said that, giving him a smile.
"The sleeping quarters are on the second floor," she explained. "The couch folds out into a bed, so you can sleep there. We'll figure out a more permanent solution once the time comes."
"Thank you," Thor replied, heading upstairs.
Once he got upstairs, he managed to fold out the bed in the couch and laid down on it. It creaked loudly, and was by far the most uncomfortable surface he had ever had the displeasure of experiencing. He let out a groan, glancing up at the roof.
"I hope this is not a long term situation." He
…
A few weeks later, Thor, or "Donald Blake" as the town knew him, had settled in quite nicely. He's integrated well into Jane's team, doing what he could to help her with her research. As more time passed, he found himself enamored by her passion and desire for knowledge, and was more than willing to offer what he knew. One day, after a training session with Jane on how to wield Mjolnir, Thor was sitting on the roof of the lab, looking up at the stars. Jane let him be, walking down into the lab with Mjolnir on her arm. She set the hammer down and prepared to log her results when Darcy came sauntering over.
"So, what do you think?" she asked.
"Thor said my technique is getting better," Jane answered, not looking up from her work. "Even so, we've got a lot of work ahead of us before I'm ready to move on to summoning storms and stuff like that."
"I meant about Thor."
Jane sputtered at that, her thoughts derailing.
"Huh?" What? What do you mean?"
"Oh come on. you've been eyeing him from day one. Not that I blame you. He is pretty hot."
"Darcy, it's not like that. I mean, he's great to have around, but he's hopeless when it comes to the real world. I'll admit he's learning quickly, but he's still a complete mess."
"A hot mess." Darcy quipped.
"DARCY!" Jane exclaimed.
"Tell me I'm wrong," Darcy challenged.
"You…" she stammered, blushing furiously. "Look, I'm not gonna fall head over heels for some guy who doesn't even know how to ask for more coffee."
"Well, you did just say he's getting better, so you won't have that problem for much longer."
"Just... just…"
Jane let out a growl of frustration before gathering her stuff and walking out of the lab. Darcy watched her go, a knowing expression on her face.
"She's into him."
…
"Me thinks she doth protest too much," Tony jeered.
"Hey, cut me some slack," Jane insisted, her face turning red. "I was focused on my work at the time, and I didn't think he wanted anything to do with me."
"And now you two are in bed together on a nightly basis," Clint remarked.
"Clint!" Hank let out.
"What? It's not like the X-Men's little visit didn't clue us in enough."
"Dude, what did I miss that night?" Peter questioned.
"You're better off not knowing kid," Cap told him.
"Anyhow," Rick interjected. "When did you two realize you were in love with one another?"
"During one of Jane's training sessions," Thor answered. "The day I was to teach her how to command thunder itself."
...
Thor and Jane stood outside, the latter looking at Mjolnir in her hand, she lifted it into the air, cringing as she waited for something to happen. When everything remained quiet, she cracked open an eye before lowering the hammer.
"How does this even work?" she wondered.
"This isn't something you can master immediately," Thor told her. "It takes time and discipline."
"Then how did you do it?" Jane quipped before covering her mouth, realizing how insensitive the comment sounded. "S-sorry, I didn't-"
"It is alright," Thor cut off. "I admit, I wasn't the most controlled when I held the power. Perhaps that is why Mjolnir spurned me, and chose you instead."
"But I'm nothing special. I'm just a scientist."
"You took in a disgraced prince when others would've had me thrown in a cell somewhere. You've dedicated your life to pursuing science, even when others called it folly. You have continued to face hardships, and yet, they have not dampened your spirit nor darkened your heart. That, to me, is special."
Jane seemed surprised, and genuinely flattered by the praise.
"You really think so?" she asked, blushing slightly as she fiddled with her ponytail.
"I do."
They stood there for a moment, just smiling at one another. Before things could get awkward, Thor let out a cough, returning to business.
"Now then," Thor spoke up. "When it comes to summoning storms, first thing you must do is center yourself."
Jane did so, but her stance was way off.
"Not exactly," Thor told her.
He moved in behind her, gently adjusting her until she was in the correct position. This allowed him to get rather close and somewhat intimate, something that made Jane tense for a few seconds. Thor felt her stiffen and paused, worried he had done something wrong.
"Sorry," he apologized, "am I-"
"It's fine, I-" she stammered, "I just felt a chill. That's all."
It was summer. In New Mexico.
"Well…" Thor let out, returning to the task at hand. "A proper stance can be key for this sort of thing. May I?"
Jane nodded and Thor helped her get into position. She was blushing bright red by the end, but was thankfully able to somewhat control herself before Thor moved back into her line of sight.
"Now, raise Mjolnir into the sky and focus on what you want it to do," Thor instructed. "The hammer will do the rest."
Taking a deep breath, she did as she was told. Clouds immediately began to gather, darkening the sky. Thor smiled at that, his eyes on the sky and the swirling clouds.
"You've got it," Thor told her. "Keep it up!"
Jane continued doing what she was doing as thunder began to rumble above them. Then, a single drop of water fell on Thor's nose. This was soon followed by several more drops as a small, localized downpour began to fall. The two were quickly becoming drenched, but neither of them seemed to mind. In fact, Jane just began laughing happily.
"It's raining!" she cheered. "I made it rain!
Lightning then struck Mjolnir and Jane dropped it in shock, grabbing Thor in fright. He let out a small chuckle at her response, wrapping his arms around her as if on instinct.
"Looks like you threw your first lightning bolt as well."
"Uh... yeah," Jane let out. "Guess I got a bit excited…"
She still held onto Thor, and he onto her. Neither of them seemed to want to let go. Instead, they slowly began to meet each other's eyes.
"You... should be proud," Thor said, his voice barely a whisper.
They remained there for several minutes, then Jane spoke up again.
"Are you…?" she began. "Are you mad that… that I can do stuff like that? Stuff you used to do?"
"I admit I do miss it," Thor told her. "But if it had to go to someone… I can think of none better than you."
The rain continued to fall around them as Jane gave a small smile.
"Thanks... Thor," Jane replied as their eyelids began to droop.
"Ahem!"
The two snapped out of their little trance and turned towards Darcy, who was standing in the doorway of the lab with an umbrella open over her head.
"Coulson's here. He wants an update on our research."
"Uh... great!" Jane quickly backed off Thor as the rain came to a sudden stop. "I'll be right there."
She grabbed Mjolnir and rushed inside, maneuvering past Darcy. The intern shook out her umbrella before closing it and facing Thor with a knowing smirk.
"You two seemed cozy."
"I was just helping her understand Mjolnir's power."
"Sure you were," Darcy replied coyly. "Dude, have you ever had a girlfriend before? Do they even have girlfriends is Ass-burg?"
"Asgard," Thor corrected. "And yes, we have girlfriends there."
"But did you?" Darcy challenged.
"Well… no," Thor admitted. "The closest I came was an enchantress named Amora, though I believe the appropriate term for her would be 'stalker'."
"That explains it," Darcy declared, patting him on the back. "Tell me something. Do you like Jane?"
"Well of course I do," Thor insisted.
"I mean as more than just a friend," Darcy clarified, pinching the bridge of her nose before continuing. "You've been here what, a few weeks? I've seen the way you look at her. You want her."
"I... suppose I do," Thor realized. "She's been more than kind to me since I came here."
"Dude, you let her play with your hair. I come near you with a brush and you look ready to start a war. You drape blankets over her when she falls asleep at her desk, and don't even get me started on the corrections to her notes you've been doing."
"I... want to make sure her information is accurate."
"Why?"
"Because she is doing important work for the son of Coul and I'd hate for him to think less of her if something was out of place."
"Again I ask, why? Why do you care so much?"
"Well… I…"
"It's because you like her, pure and simple. And dare I say the feeling's mutual. So if I were you, I'd take her out somewhere nice, tell her how pretty she is, and finally freaking kiss her!"
"Perhaps… How would I suggest going about it?"
"I'm afraid you're on your own for that one," Darcy told him, patting him on the back. "Good luck."
She then walked back inside, leaving Thor alone to contemplate all he had been told.
…
"It would seem that this 'Darcy' character is fairly observant about these things," T'Challa noted.
"I have to agree," Jane nodded. "I am both eager and nervous to see what she'll do once she gets her Political Science degree and enters the governmental work force."
"One thing I'm wondering is how you managed to win Mjolnir back," Rick spoke up. "It couldn't have been easy."
"It most certainly was not," Thor agreed. "And it nearly cost me everything."
...
The next day, Jane came in from the store, her arms laden with grocery bags full of canned goods and boxed foods.
"I got more pop-tarts," she announced, dropping one of the boxes in front of Thor. "You like the cherry ones, right Thor?"
"Yes, thank you."
"You can thank me by not eating an entire box in one sitting. That should last you a week, got it?"
"I understand."
As Jane began putting away the rest of the food, Thor steeled himself and turned towards her.
"Jane?" he called out.
"Yeah Thor?" she replied, placing the last of the food in a cabinet before shutting the door. "What is it?"
"I... I was wondering..."
Before he could finish, there was a knocking at the door. Thor and Jane turned to see Lady Sif and the warriors three standing on the other side of the glass door, smiling and waving eagerly at the pair.
"Thor!" Volstagg called out.
"We found you!" Fandral cheered.
Thor was in delighted disbelief at the sight of his Asgardian friends.
"My friends!" He let out, rushing to the door and opening it.
The four of them entered, dropping their weapons in the entryway and embracing Thor happily. They slapped each others backs, laughing merrily the entire time as Jane just stared.
"It is good to see you again, Thor," Sif told him. "We were worried about you.
"As you can see, I am well," Thor told them. "Even so, it is good to see you all once more."
Volstagg glanced around the place, clearly surprised by the somewhat drab surroundings.
"This tiny hovel is where you have been living?" he asked. "Had we known, we would have come sooner."
"Hey, this 'tiny hovel' happens to be my home," Jane snapped.
The four turned towards her as if noticing her for the first time.
"Who is this?" Hogun asked, pointing at Jane.
"My friends, this is Jane Foster," Thor introduced. "She has been my host since my banishment, and has become a dear friend of mine."
"Pleasure to meet you," Jane greeted, giving a small, awkward wave.
"Jane, this is Lady Sif and the Warriors Three," Thor went on. "We have shared many battles in the past alongside my brother, Loki."
"Speaking of," Sif spoke up. "It is because of him we are here."
"What are you talking about?" Thor asked.
"After your banishment, Odin was beset with grief., Fandral began. "As such, he fell into the Odinsleep, and Loki seized the throne in his absence."
"There is more," Hogun went on. "Loki is not of Asgard as we believed."
"What?!" Thor let out. "Are you sure?"
"We heard him communing with Laufey, the King of the Frost Giants," Sif told him. "Loki declared himself a lost relic of Jotunheim, a Frost Giant child stolen by Odin after the Great War."
"He is Laufeyson, not Odinson," Volstagg concluded.
Thor stumbled back, reeling from the news. He took a seat in a nearby chair, Jane going over to him and taking his hand.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"My brother… a frost giant..." he whispered. "And all our lives, I spoke of nothing but slaughtering them all..."
"Thor, Loki plans to unleash the Frost Giants into the Heart of Asgard," Sif informed him. "He must be stopped. We need you to return with us so we can prevent this travesty!"
"I'd like to, but…" Thor paused momentarily. "I cannot return with you."
"If this is about your banishment, the Allfather will understand your return if the fate of the Nine Realms hang in the balance," Fandral reassured.
"It's not that," Thor told them. "Mjolnir… has found another."
That threw the four heroes for a loop. Figuring there was no better way to describe it, Jane held out her hand as Thor used to. Mjolnir flew across the lab and into her hand, much to the shock of the heroes.
"Thor is… no longer worthy of Mjolnir's power," Jane told them, squeezing Thor's hand as she said it.
Before any of them could even begin to question what was going on, there was a loud crash on the outskirts of town.
"What was that?" Jane questioned.
…
At the edge of town, a large, imposing figure that was fifteen feet tall and made entirely out of an unknown metal appeared in a blinding flash of multicolored light. It rose from a kneeling position, facing out towards Puente Antiguo. Slowly, it began marching into town, immediately catching the attention of the SHIELD agents posted there. Coulson looked out at the giant machine as one of his men turned to him.
"Think it could be one of Stark's?" The agent asked.
"I don't know," Coulson replied. "That guy never tells me anything."
Coulson then took out a megaphone and walked towards the metal giant.
"You are utilizing unregistered weapons technology! Identify yourself!"
The giant suit turned to Coulson as if scanning him. The slats on its face then began to lower as a bright light began to build inside of it. Realizing what was about to happen, Coulson quickly backed up.
"Take cover!"
The second he said this, a powerful blast of heat shot forth from the suit's face, decimating a car and leaving deep scorch marks in the ground. The agents began falling back as the suit shot out a second blast, destroying another car as well.
…
Back at the lab, the group looked out the window to see the towering figure coming closer.
"Odin's Beard..." Thor let out. "The Destroyer."
"The what?" Jane replied.
"The Destroyer," Thor repeated. "A sentinel from Asgard that usually stands guard over Odin's treasure chamber."
"Loki must have learned of our attempt to retrieve you and sent the Destroyer to stop us," Sif rationalized.
"And it will decimate anything in its way to accomplish that mission," Thor dreaded.
"The town..." Jane realized. "We have to evacuate the town!"
"Thor, you will fight with us, right?" Volstagg assumed.
"My friends, I am merely a man," Thor told them. "I will only slow you down, or worse, get one of you killed. But I can help these people get to safety."
"Aye," Hogun agreed. "The mortals are innocent. We must protect them."
"Get the people to safety," Sif told him. "We'll handle the Destroyer."
With that, the group split up, Thor and Jane running off to begin evacuations while Sif and the Warriors Three went to face the Destroyer.
…
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Peter interjected. "Jane, you had Mjolnir. You should have been helping fight the Destroyer."
"I had only been training with it for a few weeks, Peter." Jane pointed out. "I was nowhere near experienced enough to handle such a deadly threat. Much like Thor, I would have just gotten in the way."
"Okay, fair enough," Peter relented. "So, what happened next?"
"The Destroyer was a mighty foe, one designed never to falter," Thor went on. "Unfortunately, even the might of my friends proved of little use against its destructive power."
…
The Destroyer made its way into the town, leaving several small fires and overturned cars in its wake. Walking towards it as opposed to running away in terror like everyone else, were Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. They marched down the street right at the behemoth, determined to be its downfall.
"Keep it distracted," Sif instructed.
The three nodded as Sif went off to get in position. Volstagg jogged up to the Destroyer, throwing his axe at it. The axe embedded itself into the Destroyers chest, but it did little to slow it down. The Destroyer just pulled the axe out and tossed it aside, then opened up its face to blast Volstagg. He quickly moved out of the way as the blast hit a nearby building, blowing it up in a massive explosion.
Fandral and Hogun moved in next, drawing sword and spiced mace respectively, and struck the towering sentry. Their strikes did little more than scratch its hide, allowing the Destroyer to pick up Hogun and toss him aside as he blasted at Fandral. Fandral managed to avoid the blast, but the shock-wave knocked him into the windshield of a car. Fandral slowly regained his senses as the Destroyer stood over him with its face place folding back, ready to fire at him.
Before the Destroyer could blast him though, Lady Sif jumped down and stabbed her sword into the back of its neck, impaling it. Fandral chuckled at the last minute save as Sif panted in relief. However, the Destroyer's body began to shift, turning itself around to it was facing her. The Destroyer then fired a blast at her, forcing her to leap off the suit before the blast hit her. The Destroyer then melted the blade into itself before standing right up.
"Odin's Beard..." she let out, realizing just how difficult this task would be.
…
Thor meanwhile, was helping Jane, Erik, and Darcy evacuate the civilians to the outskirts of the town. Thor looked back and saw that Sif and the Warriors Three were being beaten soundly by the Destroyer, coming far too close to losing their lives. His hand flexed, wishing he could feel the pull of Mjolnir. However, the hammer remained hanging on Jane's belt, unmoving as she kept up the evacuation efforts. Seeing that the situation might be too perilous for everyone, Thor walked towards the Destroyer. Jane noticed, a wave of panic washing over her.
"Thor, what are you doing?" she questioned. "Thor!"
Thor stopped for a moment, turning back towards her.
"I'm sorry, but this is the only way," he replied before walking forward again.
The Destroyer seemed to turn to him. As Thor met its gaze, he could almost feel Loki seeing through its eyes.
"Loki, whatever I have done to hurt you… Whatever happened between us that brought about your wrath, I am truly sorry. But these people are innocent, taking their lives will gain you nothing… so take mine, and end this."
"Thor!" Jane screamed, Erik holding her back as she struggled to run to him.
The Destroyer walked towards Thor before stopping right in front of him, staring him down. It then made as if to turn away, then backhanded Thor hard. The impact knocked Thor through the air and caused him to tumble onto the ground. Jane immediately dislodged herself from Erik's grip, rushing to his side. She knelt down beside Thor and propped his head up.
"No, no, no," she let out. "Stay with me. Stay with me."
"It's… alright…" Thor let out weakly. "You're… safe…"
"Yes, I'm safe," she promised, tears in her eyes. "Just stay with me, okay? Please… I- can't lose you..."
"All that matters... is that you're alright…" Thor reassured.
His eyes then began to drift close, causing Jane to panic. She shook him, trying to get him to respond. Lady Sif, the Warriors Three, Erik, and Darcy all watched mournfully. Finally realizing her efforts were fruitless, she lowered her head in sorrow. She then suddenly noticed that Mjolnir was sparking, shaking on her belt. It seemed to be pulling towards Thor, as if trying to reach him.
"Mjolnir?" She questioned, removing the hammer from her belt.
"The hammer!" Sif cried out. "Give him the hammer!"
Jane didn't hesitate, dropping Mjolnir into Thor's hand. The instant she did, the sky started turning grey and thunder began booming around them. Jane looked up and saw the radical change in the weather, taking it as a sign to step back. Once she was far enough away, a bolt of lightning shot down out of the sky, striking Thor and engulfing him in blinding electricity. It was hard to make out, but through the lightning, Jane could see Thor actually standing up, lifting Mjolnir high in the air.
The Destroyer saw this and opened up its face plate ready to fire. Suddenly, Mjolnir flew out of the lightning bolt and nailed the Destroyer in the face. The hammer came back around before knocking the Destroyer to the ground. It then flew back into the hands of Thor, who was now in full Asgardian armor and completely healed.
"Oh. My. God," Jane let out.
Thor turned towards her and smiled, causing Jane to smile in kind. Thor then spun his hammer and flew into the air, coming up above the Destroyer. He then began spinning his hammer, creating a tornado around the metal behemoth. The tornado began lifting everything up into the air, including the Destroyer.
As the Destroyer was being lifted into the air, it fired off a blast at Thor, which he easily deflected. It fired off another blast, but the result was the same. Finally, Thor flew straight towards the metal menace, with it firing yet again. Thor continued blocking the blast with his hammer as he flew straight at it. The blocking of energy began building up more and more until Thor's hammer was right in the Destroyers face plate, causing the Destroyer to explode.
With his enemy destroyed, Thor called off the tornado, the winds dying down and a thick layer of dirt covering everything. He landed on the street and began approaching Jane, cars and trucks crashing down on either side of him. She met him halfway, looking him over.
"Is this how you usually look?" she questioned.
"More or less," Thor replied.
"It's a good look."
Thor nodded before addressing the group as a whole.
"We must go to the Bifrost site. I would have words with my brother."
About that time, a van with the SHIELD symbol drove up. Everyone tensed as it did, Coulson emerging from the driver's seat.
"It seems you got your hammer bac,." he remarked, glancing at Mjolnir in Thor's hand. "Congratulations."
"Listen well, Son of Coul." Thor spoke up. "You and I fight for the same cause, the protection of this world. From this day forward, you can count me as your ally, if you improve upon the living conditions of Jane and her team. Increase their funding, and ensure they never have to sleep on a "couch bed" again.
"That can be arranged," Coulson replied. "I'll also see if I can arrange the necessary paperwork for you to stay on earth. As I recall, the locals here know you as Donald Blake."
"Dr. Donald Blake," Jane corrected. "My partner."
Thor smiled at her, then held out a hand.
"Would you like to see Asgard?"
Jane was dumbstruck by the proposal.
"Wha… seriously?"
"You showed me your home. Only seems right I show you mine."
Unable to contain her excitement, Jane took his hand. He pulled her in close, then they both shot into the air.
…
"After that, the two of us traveled to Asgard." Jane went on. "Thor had to shut down Loki's attempt to cause a war with Jotunheim. It was a close victory, one that ended in him destroying the Bifrost."
"So you and Thor were stuck on Asgard for who knows how long?" Tony remarked. "Sounds less like a setback and more like a vacation."
"You are not wrong, Stark," Thor agreed. "I ended up taking Darcy's advice, taking her somewhere nice, telling her just how much she meant to me, and-"
Jane grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him into a kiss.
"I… think we get the picture," Tony replied.
Jane released Thor, the two smiling.
"So aren't you gonna tell us about Loki's plan?" Peter asked.
"That, man of spiders, is a story for another day," Thor told him.
Another filler episode. A bit of a long one, but it kinda got out of hand while we were writing. The idea for this one just came into our heads one day and we just decided to roll with it. Hope you enjoy it and be sure to stay tuned for what's coming next.
