Characters: Thor & Jane Foster

Summary: Thor was born to be a hero. That does not mean Jane needs to be saved.

More written for the 10 songs challenge. Sorry about delayed posting - college is a struggle and GPA is imperative to maintain. Song was Legend of Zelda, Main Theme Medley. Posted in accordance to EB's request to see some Thor and Jane.

Part IX: Drive

Thor was born to be a hero.

He's always known that fact, held secure in its knowledge. He rarely feels bowed under the expectations, rarely reflected over how in the greatest of stories, failures ring the loudest.

He will be too late, he knows that. Thor runs as quickly as he can, centuries of training propelling him forward with an urgency he rarely feels except in battle. Thor can feel the timestream around him, moments and seconds and impressions slipping past him all too quickly.

Thor throws himself forward. He was born to be a hero. He has to live up to it, he can't fail, he can't –

The lights of the complex abruptly flicker on, and for a moment Thor's feet falter. He pushes on, however. His lady is in jeopardy, doesn't know the danger her new employers pose to her. If he finds her too late, he won't be able to –

Mjolnir goes through a doorway, creating a hole large enough for him to throw himself through. Thor follows, his bulk moving aside whatever piece remain in his way.

Asgardians, as long-lived as they are, rarely feel the urgency of mortals. They have time aplenty ahead them, with the exception of battle. Even then, such things take time to plan, time to plot over. Asgardians, as a rule, rarely need to rush. However, that does not mean they cannot.

Thor rushes now, for he can see them – Jane and her newest employer, whom Natasha Romanov had just named as a member of Hydra. There's a gun between the two of them, a weapon Jane's fragile mortal body won't be able to withstand and where is Mjolnir, why is his hammer not returning into his hand in time –

His hammer hits his hand and Thor prepares to throw. Thor was born to be a hero. Heroes are supposed to help, to protect those they care for most.

(If Thor fails, will he be a hero?)

Except then the man goes down in a tumble. Thor doesn't realize what happened, not as first, but then Jane turns at the sound of Thor's thumping footsteps, Darcy's Taser in her hands.

"Thor?" she says quizzically.

Thor skids to a stop, Mjolnir still clasped firmly in his hand. Jane glances at it and raises an eyebrow.

"I-" Rarely is Thor at a loss for words, but now the power of Allspeak fails him. "I received a phone call from the Lady Romanov."

"Oh?" Jane waits, clearly desiring an explanation.

"Apparently, she was mistaken," Thor sidesteps the issue neatly. "Are you-"

"I decided to terminate my employment," Jane explains. "Of course, I'm not quite sure what to do with him now."

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