“Uh, Coulson,” Fitz hurried into Coulson’s office without knocking, some sort of device clutched in his hand. “We’ve picked up a Bifrost arrival signal.”
“Thor coming back to the Avengers?” Coulson smiled with a certain glee. “Maybe he can knock some sense into Stark’s dense head. I can’t imagine the Accords going over very well with Asgard.”
“Um, no, sir. This is an arrival… here.”
Booted feet sounded in the corridor outside, and Coulson stood up, waving Fitz to one side. “Lady Sif again, perhaps…” his eyes widened as Sif indeed strode into the office, followed by a red-cloaked, blond giant. “Uh. Thor.”
“Son of Coul.” Thor nodded at him without the slightest expression of surprise, which made Coulson wonder just how long Thor had known he wasn’t dead. And just who had told him. Considering the serious expressions both Asgardians were wearing, he knew this wasn’t the time to ask that particular question.
“What can we do for you?” he asked instead.
“We left the Inhuman with you because you assured me that she would not be a threat, Son of Coul,” Sif said, and her expression was disappointed. “Yet, through her actions there are new Inhumans popping up all over Midgard, and Daisy herself is no longer with SHIELD, but acting as a lone vigilante.”
There wasn’t a lot Phil could say to that. He sighed, dropping his eyes for a moment. “Yes, but - she is not a threat to anyone but - but bad people.”
That gained him a raised eyebrow from Sif and a cynical snort from Thor. “This is why you have been chasing her around the country trying to catch up with her, is it, Son of Coul?” Thor boomed.
Fitz winced. “She - was upset when she left,” he put in, quietly. “Lincoln, her - friend, he died stopping Hive.”
“That was a truly noble act,” Sif said with a nod, “and we know well how the loss of a loved one can cause someone to become… distraught.”
Thor firmed his lips, fingering Mjölnir’s handle, but he didn’t say anything, as Sif looked at him sidelong.
“Distraught, yes. Daisy - she felt that SHIELD wasn’t the best place for Inhumans. She was doing amazing work here, building a team we called the Secret Warriors. Elena and Joey are the only two left now, you should meet them, they’re both wonderful people…”
Thor held up a hand to stop Coulson. Phil bit his lip, but fell silent.
“We do not doubt the integrity of the Inhumans working with SHIELD. Heimdall the Guardian has been keeping watch. Asgard has intervened more than once, in situations of which you know nothing.”
Phil opened his mouth, and then shut it again. “So you’re just here about Daisy,” he said finally.
“Her activities must be halted,” Sif said, not unkindly. “The All-Father has commanded it.”
“It’s not like we haven’t tried!” Fitz said defensively.
“Which is why we are here,” Thor looked at him with a nod. “SHIELD has done its utmost, but Daisy’s abilities are beyond what you are able to deal with, and the Avengers - well, the Avengers were never yours to call, but they are no longer available anyway.” A muscle ticced in his jaw. Fitz and Coulson looked at each other in silence.
“So you’re here because…?” Coulson said finally.
“Merely to advise you not to attempt to intervene,” Sif replied. “We will apprehend Daisy and remove her to Asgard. Removing her from Midgard will hopefully remove the cause of her despair, her rage; we can offer her a new purpose on Asgard, if she chooses not to return.”
That made Phil gulp. “Not to return?”
Sif’s expression softened. “You love her as a daughter, Son of Coul, we understand this. Is there any message that you would have us give to Daisy for you?”
“Just…” Phil looked at Fitz, then back at Sif. “Tell her that I love her. That we all love her, and that there will always be a place here for her.”
Fitz nodded, a lump in his throat, unable to speak. The Asgardians looked at them both in silence for a few moments before nodding and quietly taking their leave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thor and Sif fully intended to take Daisy by surprise. They returned briefly to Asgard and waited with Heimdall until the Guardian told them that she was sleeping.
“Let me handle this,” Sif told Thor as they quietly approached the motel on foot. “She knows me.”
“As you will.” Thor left Mjölnir on his belt. He’d long since learned that when Sif had a plan, it was usually a workable one.
Seeing Sif go flying past him less than three seconds after she opened the door was rather unexpected, though. Thor’s eyebrows rose. Plucking Mjölnir from his belt, he strode over to check on Sif.
“You are unhurt?” he checked. Sif scowled up at him, pulling herself painfully up off the crushed car she’d landed on.
“I am fine!”
“Be at ease,” Thor saw her now, a tiny figure, standing in the doorway, hands held out before her, dark hair tumbling around her face. Wearing only yoga pants and a tank top. Such a little thing, to cause so much trouble. A small smile quirked his mouth. “I will handle her.”
“Ha,” Daisy said scornfully, “You couldn’t handle me if I came with a user manual!”
Thor stared at her incredulously for a moment before beginning to laugh heartily. Letting Mjölnir drop to the ground with a resounding clang - it sank a couple of inches into the parking lot’s asphalt - he spread his hands unthreateningly. “Very well, my lady. We shall not seek to ‘handle’ you. We are here only to extend an invitation.”
She eyed him warily. “An invitation. Last time Sif came looking for me, she wanted to put me down.”
“Last time she found you, you were not even close to being in control of your powers, and still she trusted that you would not harm any innocent, of your own free will. Now that you do have control, is that still the case, my lady, that the innocent remain safe from you?”
“Yes,” Daisy said, after staring at him thoughtfully for a moment.
“Still, it is decreed that you may not continue on your current path.” Thor’s tone was firm, but not unkind. “One way or another, this ends tonight.”
Daisy’s jaw clenched. “I’m not done.”
“Yes,” he said gently. “You are.”
She stared at him for a long moment before dropping her hands. Tears began to well in her dark eyes, and Thor approached her slowly, marvelling again at how small she was for one so powerful.
“Come, my lady,” he said gently. “Asgard awaits, and a new path, should you choose it.”
She was so tired, so tired of running, of fighting, of having to hold herself apart from everyone in case she hurt them. On Asgard, she would be among equals, among those she probably couldn’t seriously hurt even if she wanted to. Thor’s huge hands closed gently on her shoulders, and Daisy couldn’t help herself; desperate to feel human contact again after so long, she stepped forward, put her arms around him and leaned her forehead on his armoured chest.
Startled, Thor still recognised her need. His massive arms folded gently around her, wrapping her in a warm, close embrace. “It will be well, my lady,” he rumbled softly. “All will be well.”
She looked up at him with tear-bright eyes, and he was struck suddenly by how very beautiful she was. His heart lurched in his chest.
“Be not distressed,” Thor told her. “We are not here to harm you, but to offer our hands in friendship, as allies. The Son of Coul asked me to give you a message; that he loves you still, and that there remains a place for you with SHIELD, if you wish to return to them.”
Daisy shook her head. “I can’t. Everyone there - they’ve all risked their lives, and suffered for my sake, again and again. Too many people have died because of me. I won’t put them at risk any more.”
“As you will. Would you come with us to Asgard, then? You would be our honoured guest there. My personal guest,” something impelled Thor to add.
Daisy gave him a small smile. “I - I am honoured to accept that invitation, Prince Thor.”
“Just Thor. Please.” Dropping his arms from around her with some reluctance, Thor reached out a hand, calling Mjölnir to him. “We shall be friends, you and I.”
“I’d like that.” Daisy’s smile grew a little wider, as her eyes fell on his arms, muscles bunching thickly as he hung the hammer from his belt. She couldn’t quite resist reaching out, poking lightly at his bicep. It felt exactly like human flesh, albeit firmer and more muscled than any other she’d ever touched.
Thor startled, looking back down at her questioningly. “Just checking. For a friend of mine,” she gave him a mischievous little grin, remembering May’s long-ago comment on Thor’s arms.
“Any time you wish,” a little bemused, still Thor shrugged and smiled down at her.
“If you two have quite finished flirting?” Sif interrupted dryly. She was sitting not too far away, on the hood of the dented car.
Thor actually coloured slightly over his cheekbones, which caused Daisy to blush too. “I’ll just… grab my stuff,” she gestured at the open door behind her.
“What could you possibly need?” Sif asked blankly. “Clothes will be provided for you, and your primitive Midgardian technology will be of no use on Asgard.”
That actually froze Daisy in her tracks. “Still, I don’t necessarily want anyone else to get their hands on my stuff,” she said. “I’ll be just a moment.”
“Do not look at me like that,” Thor said when Sif came to stand beside him as they waited.
“What, you think I do not see that you already look at her with your heart in your eyes, you great fool?” Sif nudged him affectionately in the ribs. “Perhaps you should be glad that your lady mother is no longer with us. She would have the two of you handfasted before you even had time to blink.”
The door opened then, and Daisy came out, dressed in jeans and jacket, sturdy boots on her feet, a knapsack over her shoulder. “So how do we do this?” she asked a little uncertainly.
Thor held out a hand to her. Sif snorted, not at all under her breath, and he shot her a sideways glare, but Daisy ignored Sif and put her hand into his, allowing him to lead her to the centre of the parking lot, away from other vehicles. Sif came with them, moving to stand on Daisy’s other side, not quite touching her.
“So is there some sort of magic word like open sesame or ohhh,” Daisy gasped with astonishment as the Bifrost sparkled to life all around them, all the colours she could name and some she couldn’t, roaring with a silent cold fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“They’re gone, sir,” Fitz reported quietly. Coulson turned to look at him, nodded silently.
“Do you think she’ll be all right, Fitz?” he felt suddenly compelled to ask.
“I think she has the happy knack of making friends everywhere she goes,” Fitz said after a moment. “Everyone loves Daisy. You wait, sir. Next time we see her, she’ll probably be queen of Asgard.”
The remark had the desired effect of making Coulson smile, and Fitz walked away feeling a little better himself.
Of course, six months later when Sif turned up to invite them all to a royal wedding, Coulson asked Fitz if he was quite sure he hadn’t developed precognition.
So... I was supposed to be writing Skye/Thor smut for the Crackship Armada Sexytimes.
Turns out that Thor is far too much of a literal Disney Prince to just jump in and bang his (eager) soulmate senseless. He has to be all chivalrous first, god damn it.
After hitting the 10k word mark and they hadn’t taken their clothes off, I gave up and turned it into their own story!
The story is set immediately after S2E10 (San Juan) and is canon-divergent thereafter, hence why Daisy is still referred to as Skye throughout.
