The grand hall of New Asgardโs longhouse was filled with the low hum of conversation and the clinking of tankards. Thor was deep in discussion with Valkyrie about grain shipments when a sudden, sharp laugh cut through the noise. It was Loki, perched on a table like a pleased cat, staring into the middle distance with a wide, incredulous grin.
Thor frowned. That particular laughโless a sound of joy and more one of astonished discoveryโusually preceded news of a conquered realm or a cleverly unraveled treaty. "Brother?" he rumbled, his good eye narrowing in concern. "What is it?"
Lokiโs gaze snapped to him, green eyes glittering with malicious amusement. He smirked, a familiar expression that promised trouble. "Oh, nothing of consequence. I was merely recalling aโฆ message."
Thor set his tankard down with a definitive thud. "What have you done?"
"Me?" Loki placed a hand on his chest in a pantomime of innocence. "Nothing. It was something your mortal companion had done. The Man of Iron?"
"Stark?" Thorโs brow furrowed. Tony Stark had not been in contact for some time. The last heโd heard, the mortal had retired to raise his fledgling.
"Indeed," Loki purred, his smirk widening. "He sent a ratherโฆ inspired communiquรฉ to the All-Father some years ago. A thorough critique of his parenting skills. I believe the mortal words โshittyโ and โassโ were included with admirable frequency."
A snort of laughter came from Valkyrie, who quickly tried to disguise it as a cough. Korg, who was polishing the head of his axe, looked up thoughtfully.
"He's right, you know," the Kronan said in his gentle rumble. "That doesn't sound healthy. All that shouting and comparing. My mum always said a bit of encouragement goes a long way."
Thor felt a hot flush creep up his neckโa centuries-old instinct to defend his father, to cite the burdens of kingship and the weight of the Nine Realms. But the words caught in his throat. He remembered Jane, her fearless disdain for Odinโs arrogance, and the patient lessons from his Avenger friends about boundaries andโฆ well, therapy. He took a breath. "What did you do?" he asked, his voice low.
Loki gasped in mock offense. "Have a little faith, brother! I, as the wise, peaceful, and benevolent All-Father, merelyโฆ listened. And then I thanked him for his candor."
"Thanked him?" Thor echoed, utterly bewildered. Odin would have incinerated the messenger for a fraction of such insolence.
"Of course. You should be grateful."
"For sparing the life of your mortal companion," Loki stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Stark was determined to have his say. If it had been the real Odin on the throne, your friend, his tower, his precious Avengers, and a significant portion of that little island you're so fond of would now be a smoldering crater."
The truth of it landed on Thor with the weight of Mjolnir. The irony was so perfect, so vicious, it was surely of Lokiโs own design. The God of Mischief, condemned for trying to destroy New York, had saved it from the wrath of the very king who sentenced him. He had saved the man he once threw from a window.
"Isn't it delicious?" Loki mused, reveling in it. "The 'villain' saving Midgard from the 'benevolent' All-Father? The poetry is simply exquisite. I believe a 'thank you' is in order, Thor. A heartfelt one."
He leaned forward, his expression one of pure, teasing expectation. Thor held his gaze for a long moment, then a spark of lightning flickered at his fingertips. He reached out and grabbed Lokiโs forearm, delivering a sharp, static jolt.
Loki yelped and snatched his arm back, glowering. "That was completely unnecessary!"
Valkyrie, who had been taking a swig of beer, now choked on it, the liquid spewing from her nose as she dissolved into helpless, wheezing laughter. "Whoever this Tony Stark is," she managed between gasps, "he has my respect. It was overdue for somebody to yell at that old goat. I'm just sorry it wasn't me."
But Thor wasn't listening anymore. A strange warmth was spreading through his chest, mingling with the old, familiar ache. Stark, arrogant, brilliant, foolish Tony Stark, had been willing to confront a cosmic deity. For him. He remembered Janeโs lack of fear, a trait heโd always envied, but Jane had had his protection. Stark had only his suitโa magnificent toy, but nothing against the Odinforce. And yet, heโd been ready to fight. The thought was as terrifying as it was touching.
"I must go to Midgard," he announced, standing abruptly.
Loki, still rubbing his arm, perked up. "Do try not to crash into any more buildings."
"Or planes," Valkyrie added, wiping beer from her chin.
"Or power lines," Korg chimed in. "I hear they're a real hassle for flying beings."
Lokiโs eyes gleamed. "And don't forget that incident with the petting zoo. You nearly scared the poor things to death. For shame!"
"And all those times with the farms," Valkyrie finished, grinning.
"Your concern is noted," Thor said dryly, and strode out into the open air. He focused, calling upon the storm within him. His flight was stillโฆ experimental without Mjolnir. His departure from New Asgard was less a majestic ascent and more a stumbling launch, followed by a wobbly trajectory over the ocean.
He landed in a grove of trees near a peaceful lakeside house, clipping a few branches on his way down. He brushed leaves from his shoulders. "They don't have to know about that," he muttered to himself.
He approached the door and knocked. It was opened by a woman with intelligent eyesโPepper Potts.
"You are the Lady Pepper, I presume?"
She nodded, a hint of wariness in her posture. "Tony?" she called over her shoulder.
"What?" a voice echoed from a lower level.
"We have a visitor. A god visitor." Pepper turned back to Thor. "So, what is it?"
"The threat. The danger. The world-ending problem. Please don't say it's Thanos."
Thor shook his head, feeling oddly out of place. "It is none of that. I merely desire to talk with Stark."
A small child, no more than two, came tottering to the door, clutching Pepperโs leg. "Mommy, who is this?"
Thor stared. She was so small. So fragile.
"He's a friend of daddy's, sweetie," Pepper said softly.
Tony emerged from a staircase, talking as he came. "Okay, I know you said no more suits, but this one will be purely forโโ He stopped dead, seeing Thor. "Point Break. Is something wrong? What, did another secret sibling pop up and declare themselves the ruler of Mars? Did Thanos come back to life? Please say no."
"It is none of that, Stark."
"No apocalypse? Then what brings the Odinson to our humble abode? Did you run out of Pop-Tarts in New Asgard? We can do a supply run, no problem."
"Loki told me what you had done," Thor said, cutting through the banter. "How you defended me against Odin."
Tony's face went blank with confusion. "Wait, how does Loki know about that?"
"After the Dark Elves, he overthrew and impersonated my father."
Tony's eyes widened in dawning understanding. "That was Loki? I yelled at Loki!" A slow grin spread across his face. "That actually makes a lot of sense."
Pepper's mouth fell open. "You were yelling at Odin?"
"Well, Steve threw out my original plan!" Tony said defensively.
"Which was?" Pepper asked, her voice dangerously calm.
Tony looked sheepish. "To fight Odin. He sort of caught me trying to upgrade his shield so we wouldn't die in five seconds."
Thor felt that strange warmth in his chest again, hot and overwhelming. This foolish, brilliant mortal. "You were acting recklessly. You would have perished."
"Yeah, well. Somebody had to tell him. The guy was a grade-A, world-classโ"
"Tony," Pepper warned, glancing down at their daughter.
"โjerk," Tony finished. "So, why don't you come in?"
Thor stepped inside, his massive frame seeming to fill the cozy living area. "I'd get the apple juice, Pepper will get the Pop-Tarts," Tony said, bustling about. "Here, you hold Morgan for a second."
Before Thor could protest, the small, warm child was being deposited into his arms. He froze, every muscle tense.
"Here, don't drop her," Tony said casually, already heading toward the kitchen.
"Wait, Stark!" Thor pleaded, but Tony was gone.
Thor looked down at the little girl in his arms. She was light as a feather, her head resting against his armored shoulder. He wondered, with a sudden, painful clarity, if Odin had ever held him like this. If he had ever felt this terrifying responsibility, this paralyzing fear of causing harm. Had he felt it and simply not cared? Or was the flaw not in Odin, but in Thor himself? The ancient fear took root: he was too much, too loud, too rough. He would break it. He would break her.
As if sensing his panic, Morganโs face scrunched up and she began to cry.
Horror seized Thor. He had done it. He had upset Stark's offspring. After the man had risked oblivion for him, this was his repayment.
Pepper swooped in and smoothly took Morgan. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I am sorry," Thor said, his voice thick with shame. "I had done something."
Pepper sighed, rocking Morgan gently. "She's two, Thor. Crying is normal."
"Is everything alright?" Tony asked, returning with a juice box.
"It's fine, Tony. Thor, go sit on the couch."
Thor obeyed, his movements stiff. He watched as Tony took Morgan, speaking to her in a soft, silly voice, and how her cries quieted into hiccups. He saw the easy affection, the complete absence of fear in her eyes when she looked at her father. The scene was a devastating revelation.
What had he done wrong that he never had a father like that? Was it a punishment from the Norns? A flaw in his own soul that made him unworthy of such gentleness? The questions were a whirlpool, pulling him down.
He stood abruptly and walked out the front door, into the cool evening air.
"Hey!" Tony called from behind him a moment later. "Where are you going?"
Thor didn't turn around. "Your relationship. With your daughter?"
"You hold her as if she is a jewel of the Nine Realms. You calm her as she cries. She does not fear you." His voice was low, heavy with a centuries-old weight.
Tony was quiet for a moment. "And let me guess," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "You're wondering why your dad wasn't like that."
Thor said nothing. The silence was confirmation enough.
"I asked myself the same question a million times," Tony said, coming to stand beside him, looking out at the lake. "And you know what the answer was?"
"Our dads were awful. No excuses. No 'burdens of kingship,' no 'his dad was worse.' Justโฆ jerks. With too many issues and a kid to take it out on."
Thor finally turned to look at him, the grief raw in his eye. "But is there not more? A reason?"
Tony offered a small, sad smile. "Feels like there should be, right? But sometimes, a shitty dad is just a shitty dad. It wasn't about you. It was about him."
The simple, brutal truth of it hung in the air. It was not a glorious answer fit for a saga. It was a quiet, mortal truth. And for the first time, Thor felt the ancient, twisted knot of guilt and longing in his chest begin, ever so slightly, to loosen.
