Steve lowered the cigarette down and away from Thor as he took a seat. He didnât have to look to know it was him: Thor had always had an energy about him, above and beyond when he was literally coursing with lightning, that had made him the soul of the Avengers and a boon to anyone who had the honor to fight alongside him. Heâd missed it, he was realizing now, but it was also pretty irritating that theyâd all had to go without him.
âIâm sure you are,â he said stiffly. But then he looked to Thor.
âHow are they?â he said, more gently now. âHowâs Jane?â
Thor looked to his hands, which were clasped on his umbrella. âThe twins are fine. They ask about all of you sometimes. I donât know if you heard, but Jane and I have another son. His name is Dean, after her father. And Jane is...adjusting to the life of being queen.â
There were so many questions he wanted to ask Steve. He was arrested once when Jane was imprisoned, and then again? He knew very little details, and part of him wanted to keep it that way. In his heart, Thor knew that he would look for any reason to run from his future.
It was strange to think there was a time when Steve had felt worthy of Thorâs friendship. Now, sitting in on a bench in Battery Park with a cigarette in his hand and his leg bouncing sharply against the synthetic wood, all he felt was anxious. Angry. He thought he might have hidden it well when heâd left a voicemail for Thor on a wing and a prayer, but he was also notorious for having a lousy poker face.
He had to know how much Thor knew. Why heâd left with only a note, and why he hadnât come back when the team had needed him â when his own wife had needed him. Thor was the closest thing to a god Steve thought he knew anymore; did he know something the petty mortals didnât?
Steve took another drag of the cigarette and slowly released the smoke so that it obscured his view of the harbor. Maybe Thor wouldnât show, and maybe that would be for the best. Steve had enough bridges to either rebuild or walk away from on his own damn planet, and really, could he fault Thor for wanting to go home?
Thor told his mother and Jane he was taking a day to head back to Earth. He always left the phone Tony gave him near the portal, as it had service sometimes. He didnât expect to hear from Steve. Even after everything that happened before the SRA, they werenât exactly the best of friends anymore.
Heimdall knew everything, but was under orders from Odin to say nothing. After Odin died, Thor was told the full scope of what was happening on Earth. With the kingdom in mourning, he couldnât leave his people or his family to go help. It hurt him to know that his friend caused them so much pain. Heimdall wouldnât speak of the horrors he saw, because it would only prompt Thor to run to their aid. The walls between their worlds were taller than ever.
Dressed in Midgardian casual-wear, he clung tightly to Mjolnir [disguised as an umbrella] as he walked through the city. A blond man sat alone on a bench overlooking the harbor - his head was clouded by smoke, but the build was familiar. He walked around and took a seat.
Before an awkward silence could manifest, Thor said, âThe twins were excited to hear your voice. I couldnât bring myself to listen to your message, so they did for me.â
Jane remained in Thorâs arms for the moment, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as she pressed herself into his warmth. Sure, there was some part of her that had expected this might happen- although Jane had secretly hoped not in her lifetime, whatever length that may be. Â
She sighed.  âWell, letâs promise to let the kids be kids, and not banish any of them,â Jane joked somewhat.  She and Thor were completely without a clue how to proceed.  At least the kids still werenât quite old enough to understand, and there was no great worry about the line of succession just yet.
âFrigga will be a great help to the both of us,â she agreed.  âIâm sure your mom has picked up enough tricks from watching your father for so long. She can teach you a lot as well.â Jane was greatly in awe of Frigga; her poise, her demeanor, her wisdom. The mortal woman would never have that queenâs stature or even the adoration of the Asgardian people, but she would be greatly honored to learn from her.
Jane laughed.  âWhen you put it that way, it sounds stupid. But, look, I just had a baby two⌠three? months ago, and Iâm tired and not back on a regular anything schedule,â she moaned.  âSo yes, cold roast.â Jane pulled herself back from Thorâs embrace to look up at him with a soft smile. She could see the exhaustion carving lines into his face, and it made her heart ache. She reached up and brushed a thumb over his beard.
âWell⌠Iâd say this is the first night in a while that all of the kids are asleep at the same time,â she said.  âSo, Iâd consider that a victory.â And before that was the Raft, fleeing Earth, all the madness that accompanied Thorâs tenure as an Avenger.
âItâs been too long. But you know Iâm always by your side- just because everything else is changing doesnât mean we have to. We just have to⌠adapt. And I have faith we will.â
Somehow.
Thor smiled and kissed Janeâs forehead. âNothing you could ever say will sound stupid, I can assure you. Your mind is so deep, full of wonder and theories - no offense to my mother, but I think you will forever be remembered as the Brightest Queen of the Realm Eternal. Being intelligent isnât all about the advanced knowledge, but sometimes remembering the basics. Like cold roast, down in the kitchens.â
He felt like he was rambling, but he never wanted Jane to feel dumb.
âI know you are always here. And even if my title has changed, I will always be here for you,â Thor said.
Before he could continue, he heard a tiny yawn from the crib across the room. When the stirring baby was quiet again, he motioned for Jane to follow him out of the room. He left the door open a crack, just in case he woke up again.
The two were standing out in the living area of their quarters. Thor asked for the abundance of gifts to be sorted elsewhere, otherwise their moderately well organized home would be packed to the ceiling. Of course the twins were hitting the age where they wanted anything and everything. With his mother in mourning, she has been spoiling them more often, which didnât help their attitude.
He had his time as the spoiled prince, he didnât want to start his legacy as a greedy King.
Thor sighed again. âDo you think we should donate the coronation gifts? I suppose we can pick out a few things we like, but I canât imagine we have need for everything. My first act as King...giving away gifts? Would that be...good?â
âChange is good,â Jane agreed, stealing another moment to look upward and observe her husbandâs new cut. She couldnât tell if it was the stress or the shorn locks, but he looked a bit older than he had just weeks ago. She leaned herself back into his embrace when she felt his arms around her.
âI know what you mean,â she said with a lightness in her voice as she continued to waggle her finger while Dean maintained his babyish grip. Â
âBut I think youâll get used to the gold in time. You may have worn silver, but youâve always been the golden child of this realm,â Jane joked softly.
As the infant began to nod off to sleep, Jane adjusted her hold on Dean and swayed side to side to comfort her son.  âI know itâs frightening, Thor, and I wish I knew what to say to comfort you,â she sighed, looking down at her feet and the swaying skirts of her gown.  âBut, I think all I can do is be honest. I know nothing about what is expected of you, or even me, at this point.â
She looked up at her husband.  âYour father taught you everything he could. Still, I think⌠he could never really prepare you for this moment while he was still king, you know? There are some things youâll just have to find out for yourself.â
Jane frowned a bit.  âSorry, this probably doesnât help at all,â she muttered, moving to put Dean into his crib as his eyelids grew heavy.  âIâm glad this one isnât old enough to talk yet. Not old enough to ask questions I donât have answers to.â She drew the blanket up over Deanâs legs and brushed the fuzzy hair on his head gently. Â
She turned back to Thor. Jane walked over to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, gently squeezing him, feeling utterly useless to ease his sorrow.
In a change of subject, she asked, âDo you think I could persuade the kitchens to⌠run up some leftovers? I was planning on a late night and I canât stop thinking about the roast we had at the coronation.â
Thor sighed. His reputation was built upon being the âgolden childâ, but he didnât want that to be his legacy. His great grandfather scavenged the galaxy looking for a place to settle his people, his grandfather was the first King of Asgard, and his father conquered the nine realms... everyone had to start somewhere, but they all had direction.
âNo, youâre right. There are things I need to learn on my own, but the more I think back... my father never really taught any of us how to rule. He would just pit me and my siblings against one another. It ended up with most of them being banished...â
He watched as Jane put their youngest down in his crib. He vowed never to treat his children how Odin treated Thor and his siblings.
âIâm just glad my mother is still around,â He said softly. âIf she canât help me, then at least she can guide you.â
Thor had so many questions that his father could no longer answer, and he hadnât thought to ask while he was alive and well. He had known for so long that he would end up on the throne, even if he didnât really want the title anymore.
It was too late for that, though.
Thor hugged Jane carefully, but he didnât want to let go. He felt so much more relaxed with her in his arms.
âYour first act as queen is requesting cold roast,â He chuckled softly. âYes, I am sure they will bring you something.â
He was going to suggest going down to the kitchens together, but he knew the castle was still crawling with foreign nobles and diplomats that would do anything to speak with the new King and Queen. He just wanted to be alone with his family.
â...how long has it been since weâve had time alone?â
Today was one of those rare instances in which Jane wished that it was only the weight of the world on her shoulders. Being beside Thor standing tall on the dais in the throne room, she could feel the collective nine realms settle squarely between them, as the new crowned king and queen of Asgard.
This wasnât covered by her doctorates.
There was a strange air to the customary coronation feast, as Asgard collectively celebrated the new kingship and mourned the loss which had brought them all to this point.
Jane had already been exhausted, both emotionally and physically, by the pressures of the days leading up to this. She and Thor were still trying to communicate to the twins, who had some difficulty understanding the circumstances of the grandfatherâs passing. Thankfully, Dean required no more attention than he usually did, at nearly three months old. Â
On top of caring for the children, Jane had done her best to be an emotional rock for Thor. She and Odin had a combative history, surely, but she could see how deeply this impacted Thor. The man had been an Allfather and a regular father for centuries, a span of time Jane could scarcely imagine living.
And then there was the hour sheâd spent with the healers, as she did every morning, hoping to control her errant abilities. It had been quite a long time she had lived with the Extremis infection, and for a while it was heroic. As of late, it was annoying, more than anything. Some days she discharged incredible amounts of energy, exacerbated by the magic of the realm eternal, as well as the increasing stress of her day to day activities. The healers did their best to keep it under control with their varied methods. Before the coronation, Jane had required a bit stronger precautions, and so she spent most of the day feeling rather sedated, once the anxieties and adrenaline had calmed after the festivities.
Back in their quarters, Jane was trying to coax Dean to sleep as her husband arrived. Somehow, this day had aged the both of them unfairly. She noted Thorâs demeanor, and an air of uncertainty pervaded the room. Jane cleared her throat.
âSo⌠your haircut,â she said.  âItâs different⌠it looks good.â Jane paused and gave her son a finger to latch onto. It was useless to ask, but she attempted anyways. âHow⌠how are you feeling, Thor?â
The Mighty Thor was finally (and officially) King.
Thor was trying not to let the pressure of the day get to him. Standing before all of Asgard, trying to give a grand speech that would tell of his plans for the nine realms was difficult. His friends and family were all at his side during the feast, but he still felt so empty.
Having Jane nearby kept him grounded in reality. Thor wasnât entirely sure she would ever get a chance to be Queen, nor did anyone else who could have prepared her better. If not for his mother, the two would be totally lost. Her guidance and wisdom in the upcoming future would be more invaluable than ever.
Before the coronation, in a fleeting state of panic, he cut off all his hair. Anytime it was brought up, he said some bullshit about ânew beginningsâ and âstarting freshâ. In reality, the handmaidens had spent all morning trying to style his long hair and he just wanted to get rid of it all. It was the only choice he had made in the past few weeks that was entirely his own, and once he was back in his quarters, it actually felt nice.
Royal officials, funeral and coronation planners, and all sorts of interplanetary diplomats kept pulling him every which way since Odin died. He barely had any time with his family, and he felt terrible. Jane was obviously stressed - he often woke to small jolts from her fingertips as she slept. The healers were doing her best, but the only person in the universe who actually knew how to help her was billions of miles away and not exactly friendly with Jane.
Thor quickly switched from his new regalia to some sleeping clothes. He didnât want to look at his new armor anymore. It didnât look or feel right. He wasnât the Golden King of Asgard yet - he still felt very silver.
As he stepped out of his bedroom, he saw Jane in the nursery with Dean. He walked into the room quietly, but she noticed him right away.
So... your haircut.
Thor combed his fingers through his short hair. âThank you, I... I needed the change.â
He continued forward and wrapped his arms around Janeâs waist, staring over her shoulder at Dean. He looked tired, but not enough to fall asleep.
When Jane asked how he was feeling, he absently replied, âSilver.â
Then he frowned. âI mean... I donât know. I donât like my new armor.â He paused. âI know this is the golden realm, but does everything have to be so.... gold?â
Into the Realm Eternal, the Immortal Lay to Rest | Solo
those that are come from the gods,
which the high Powers wrought, and which Odin painted:
then silence is surely best.
Thorâs fingertips traced lightly across the arm of the throne.
He slowly stepped forward -Â not even his boots could pierce the silence. It felt as if all of the air had been sucked out of the room. There was no noise anywhere on Asgard.
The people were awaiting the news of their beloved King.
-
Some day that Odinâs secrets run deeper than the roots of Yggdrasil. It was true that he grew weaker as the years went on, but the extent of his illness was unbeknownst to all. When he became bedridden weeks before, the realms were told it was another sleeping spell, and he would be himself again soon. Of course, the truth was that he had fallen. He was rushed to the healers, where they were unable to stop the damage in his brain. Jane said he had what Earth called a stroke. His aging body was no match for the stress of his power and the pressure of keeping the Nine Realms safe.
The bubble finally burst that it was not another Odinsleep, and briefly Asgard fell into a contained chaos. People were crying in the streets, begging for someone to save him. People tried to remain hopeful, but Thor knew there was none left.
Odin had been King for thousands of years. He watched his empire rise and fall, and he was the spark of hope across generations. He was leaving behind a legacy that was almost too much to bear.
His fingers curled into a loose fist, and his knuckles rested on throneâs arm. His chest shook as he took in a deep breath, and he looked out to the hall.
Thor walked towards the stairs leading to the throne.
He stepped down.
--
On the second to last step was where he married Jane. The wedding was sweet and exactly what he wanted... though the reception to follow still left a bad taste in his mouth. To his knowledge, the last time Steve and Tony were civil was at his wedding.
Of course, he hadnât spoken to Steve in nearly a year, and Tony only briefly showed up to ask about the Novas. He couldnât believe how terrible things had gotten, and how many things he could have done to prevent the worst.
---
The step below was where he begged Odin for Janeâs life. He had dropped to his knees and cried on the stairs in front of his father. Thor never felt so low - his entire world crumbled around him before it had even began.
It was never in his plans to have children so soon, but the pain of Jane not being able to see her children grow old still hung high in his chest. He didnât dwell long on those feelings, because too many equally painful memories followed.
So he moved down.
----
The day he could finally lift Mjolnir was a joyous day - a memory he held dearly to his heart. It took him most of his life before he had committed enough courageous acts before he could raise it over his head.
Odin kept the hammer on a pedestal in his relic chamber. Every so often, he would go down and see if it would budge. The moment Mjolnir was free of resistence, he cried happily. He ran out of the relic chamber and up to the third step to show his father what he had finally accomplished.
That was only a few years ago - perhaps five or six. And he thought that his life would fall into place the moment he could wield Mjolnir. In theory, the hammer was why his life was thrown into chaos, as only a few days later he was banished to Midgard.
---
But before Midgard, his life was set on using Mjolnir. He knighted the Warriors Three, and proclaimed them the best warriors of the Nine Realms on the second step. Odin made the commands from his throne, and Thor handed them their medals and honors.
They were his best and most trusted friends. They fought by his side since he was a young boy. Hogun and Fandral would come on Thor and Lokiâs wild adventures when they could; Volstagg, being older, was usually sent to supervise the Princes.
How he missed those days. Being young and carefree - nothing could stop him.
--
âYou were both born to be Kingsâ, Odin used to say to him and Loki.
Thor thought of those words often the past few years. He wondered what would have happened if Odin didnât hold him up like the golden child, and instead gave a fair chance to all his siblings to earn the title of true heir. The favoritism towards Thor caused a lot of animosity, and it was only chance that he and Loki still spoke after all they had been through.
When the two were children, before they realised Odinâs plans, they would often hide out on the bottom stair during council meetings. It was close enough to hear discussions, but the brothers were small enough not to be seen. They couldnât understand what everything meant, but it made them feel important know what was going on.
He hesitated.
The ball of his foot pressed to the ground.
After a moment, he stepped down.
So much of his life was spent on the floor beneath the stairs.
It was where he asked Odin to let him stay on Midgard, to stay with the Avengers. It was where he announced Jane was pregnant, and where he was banished for a second time. He asked for so many things, gave news, and numerous other instances and events he could barely recall.
Thor turned around and stared up at the throne.
The doors behind him creaked, snapping him back to reality. Frigga poked her head into the hall. She didnât say anything - she simply bowed her head.
-
Silently, he followed his mother to Odinâs chambers. He was moved there when the healers were unable to do anything else for him. Nobles and royals from other realms waited scattered throughout the castle - most of them appeared numb and distraught. No one looked up at the Asgardian royals, save for Hogun and Volstagg. They were guarding the entrance to the royal suite.
Jane and the kids were sitting outside of Odinâs bedroom in Friggaâs lounge. Dean was sleeping, and the twins were quietly holding onto their mother. They must have known something was wrong - he and Jane were still trying to figure out how to explain what was happening.
They stopped outside of the closed door. Frigga touched Thorâs shoulder and squeezed his arm before pushing the door open.
Laying still on the bed was Odin. Everybody had cleared out of the room, and Frigga shut the door behind him. Thor stood at the foot of the bed looking down at his dying father.
âMy son,â Odin said weakly.
Thorâs eyes started to burn - he wanted to look away, but he couldnât.
âIâm sorry to leave you like this, in chaos such as this,â He coughed. He wheezed his next words, âCome closer, my boy. Please.â
He bowed his head and abided his fatherâs orders. Thor knelt down at the right side of Odinâs bed.
âYou know the rites in which I must pass onto you.â
Thor nodded. âI do.â
âTell me, what were the vows you made?â
âA new generation must sacrifice to maintain peace. I must achieve responsibility, duty, and honor. These are not simply virtues to aspire, but are essential to every soldier and to every King. I swore to guard the Nine Realms. I swore to preserve the peace. I swore to cast aside all selfish ambition and pledge myself to the good of all the Realms.â
Odin nodded. âVery good.â
Thor watched as his father faded in and out of consciousness. Part of him wanted to beg and plead him not to die, but they were far beyond that stage. Thor would become King with or without Odinâs final blessing.
âI wish - I could have - seen your family - grow. Who knows - what I will - see - from Valhalla.â Odin reached out and cupped Thorâs face. He took a few deep breaths. After a few moments Odin looked stronger, as if he were saving all his energy for his next words.
âI, King Odin, Son of Bor, Son of Buri, Son of Ymir: Allfather of Asgard have seen all your triumphs and failures. Thor, Son of Odin, I bestow upon you Gungnir, the legendary spear, blessed with my power. I bestow upon you the Odinforce, the almighty gift of the Aesir. It will grow with time. Use it well and with care. I bestow upon you my relics both on and off Asgard. May you never find a use for them.â
He took in another few deep breaths.
âMy son, though you may not feel it, you are worthy of the throne. You have become a humble and strong man who will lead Asgard to greatness. Your compassion and perseverence towards all living creatures gives you a strength I was unable to possess.â
The light in Odinâs eye was fading.
âI, Odin Allfather, now bestow upon you the title of King Thor, Allfather of Asgard, the Realm Eternal. In my dying breath, I give you - my blessing.â
Memories from Thor and Janeâs wedding, as harsh as they could get at certain points, were tame compared to the memories from Starkâs last argument with Thor, and those were the memories that struck him once he turned and saw Thor headed toward him for the first time in months. Thor was pushing something, and Tony narrowed his eyes for a second before realizing what it was â a stroller. He at least knew enough to recognize an Asgardian stroller.
Tony had figured that Thor and Janeâs youngest had already been born. Heâd thought about it a few times over the recent weeks, never dwelling on it long enough to send word to the couple or a gift to the kids, regrettably enough. Now that this family was safely out of Rossâ reach, Tony had decided that they would be better off if informal communication ceased for the time being, unless informal communication was proven necessary. Thor hadnât reached for Tony either, which wasnât terribly unexpected. Jane herself had a world of reason never to want to talk to Tony again; heâd known from the very get-go that he would have to adjust to this sort of rift.
He mustered up a smile at Thorâs greeting.
âWell, Iâve always wondered what being a charity case felt like,â he said. It was meant as a joke, but there was an undercurrent of bitterness to it that had Tony biting his tongue and briefly casting his gaze away from Thor, lest he ended up forehead deep into some nervous, inappropriate, and defensive verbal vomit guaranteed to make this encounter even more awkward, if not downright unsustainable.
Stay on topic.
âThereâs this uh, kid. Who came to me with a âmissing dadâ story.â Tonyâs eyes lingered on the baby in the stroller for a moment before he forced himself to look up. Cute kid. Of course it was a cute kid. âTurns out the dad is part of the Nova Corps. He was asked to report back to Xandar, but then he was captured and now heâs being held in a Chitauri vessel last spotted at the edge of the Andromeda Galaxy.â Some urgency had started bleeding into Tonyâs tone, and he shoved a hand into the front pocket of his jeans. Good God, an intergalactic crisis was about the last thing they needed right now. And heâd made a lot of impulsive reassuring promises to Sam that now felt outrageously unrealistic, like pacifying lies. âI donât know the whyâs and the howâs, but we have all the intel and the people weâd need to knock on their doors or something. I just donât have ââ The paperwork. Tony bit his bottom lip then scoffed and let that turn into a smile. âThe jurisdiction. To do much at the moment. But I was â I was wondering what youâd do.â
Hypothetically.
Or maybe not.
He didnât know what he was doing here, really â maybe he wanted to pass Thor a message in some inconspicuous, non-compromising way. A help me do something call not outright stated for anyoneâs records.
(Steve would catch the message.)
(Actually, Steve would indeed catch the message, even before Tony intended to send it, then heâd make a big fucking problem out of it, if the past year was any indication, and this was all part of the reason why these conversations needed to happen with the three of them in the room, he and Steve and Thor. Together. And that was done.)
âWe have a strained relationship with the Chitauri, of course,â Tony continued. By then he wasnât looking directly at Thor anymore. âThis feels like a dormant act of war â I donât know if itâs against the Nova Corps, or against us, or both, I just know weâre sitting on this and itâs more than some diplomatic kerfuffle but if we treat it as more than a diplomatic kerfuffle then we will have a war in our hands and I canât afford ââ Tony stopped himself, inhaled, exhaled. Smiled again.
Christ, he was the worldâs worst fucking Jenga tower and he was going to collapse.
âThe kid is cute, by the way, I should have sent a gift.â Â
Dean made some uneasy noises, probably due to the uncomfortability of the room.. The surprise visit caused a lot of uncomfortability in Thor, and Tony was always on edge for one reason or another.
Then the mention of the Chitauri made his fists clench.
Volstagg was still attending meetings with the Intergalactic Senate, though only if he were summoned. He vaguely remembered hearing about a treaty coming to an end, but he couldnât remember who between. Thor hadnât interacted with Xandar directly yet, though he felt in his chest it was time to pay them a visit.
âWe have representatives in contact with the Xandarians, but they have made no mention of this. I know the last time the Chitauri were in action, they were under the command of the Mad Titan Thanos, as he is known. I recall you were the one who blew up their vessel...â Thor said, looking to the floor.
His mind briefly drifted back to the battle. Everything was happening so quickly, he had no idea the destructive power of the Midgardians was so great. He thought their accomplishments had peaked at the Iron Man, but he was wrong.
He hushed his voice and continued, âIf what you say is true, then that means we only destroyed part of their army.â
Thor lifted his head up and Tony was looking away. âThere are three major empires in the Andromeda Galaxy, and they are likely most interested in Xandar. You neednât worry about another space war...â
He felt it best to leave out Thanos were in control of the Nova Force, he could level any world he saw fit. At least that was what the rumors suggested - Thor had little knowledge on the true power of the Novas. This was a space matter, and Tony had enough to worry about back on Midgard.
The kid is cute, by the way, I should have sent a gift.
Thor looked to Dean. He looked rather disgruntled. His arms shook about as he looked up to his father. Thor knelt down and took his son from the stroller.
âItâs quite alright. He has plenty of gifts - many of which the twins have taken for their own.â Thor turned to Tony again.
âI donât believe you were introduced. This is Dean Rosen Thorson.â He paused. âWould you like to hold him?â
Ross had suspended Tony after the mass breakout at the Raft, and instructed him to await further instruction. Starkâs assets would be frozen, heâd said. He didnât follow through; heâd been more than satisfied to receive Steve Rogers back, along with a handful of others (Hydra â thank God at least some of the Raft inmates deserved to be there), directly from Tonyâs hands. Tony had turned Steve in, and it wasnât until hours later, well removed from Rossâ presence, that he began to wonder and worry if Ross had initially benched him on purpose expecting that exact outcome. Maybe heâd found out how he could push Tony to act exactly the way he wanted while still guaranteeing that any negative repercussions would fall squarely on Tonyâs shoulders, because you see, Tony had been instructed to stay down. Â
But he hadnât. Heâd broken protocol and heâd dared to think that was rebellion for a second there, right before he ended up doing exactly what Ross would want of him, and upon seeing Ross again heâd said âmy apologiesâ and âthank youâ and âsirâ and heâd walked away feeling a twisted sense of relief that he still got to be there, that he still got to be the one arresting his friends, like he was a fear-conditioned lab rat whoâd just learned that someone was going to get shocked if he bit the hand that tried to squeeze him out of breath.
He wasnât assigned any field missions during the weeks that followed. The radio silence had Tony biting his nails bloody some nights, he was certain heâd had fucked everything up in very major ways and now Ross didnât trust him for shit and someone was going to end up dying as a result sooner or later. Early May arrived ready to wreck him even further â on the 3rd, his captivity anniversary, Mrs. A noted that Tony looked tired when he arrived at the office. Then she made the usual question, would he take coffee or iced tea this morning? And Tony wrapped her up in his own indecisiveness for five minutes before Mrs. A decided for him: both. Then neither, after Tony protested some more. âWhatever I want, then!â she said, tossing her hands up in the air in complete exasperation before Tony gripped the edges of her table and leaned his weight on it and closed his eyes and tried to inhale-exhale his way out of the panicked certainty that whatever he drunk this morning, coffee or iced tea, would come back to haunt him somehow. Somebody was going to get hurt because of it.
Ross called him that afternoon. Tony stayed on the line for four hours, pretending he still had a sure grasp on who he was and what he chose to do. He found an opening to suggest that the recon missions in the Andromeda Galaxy be prioritized. Ross said that was none of his concern, he needed to focus on straightening out the mess heâd made over here on Earth.
On the 5th, Tony received a message from Sam Alexander.
You promised.
Using the access point at the Avengers Tower to transport himself to Asgard had been the first thing in weeks that Tony knew, with relative certainty, that heâd wanted to do. Being there was exhilarating for the few seconds it took for homesickness and guilt to settle in his stomach again. He hadnât been to Asgard since the wedding, and he hadnât talked to Thor since their last⌠disaster of a conversation. He couldnât be sure that Thor would want to see him, but he was certain that Thor would spare him a few minutes if it was in service of something greater than just the two of them. He asked for a meeting with Thor, Avengers business. Then he was ushered to the throne room, where he waited.
Tony didnât turn around when he heard steps echoing in the room. Thor had a way of filling the environment whenever he stepped in, Tony knew it was him without having to look. He inhaled and tried to blink back any tears and bitter longings and nostalgia. He could still see Thor standing on that altar beaming down at Jane. He could feel Leiaâs weight in his arms. He wondered how big she and Luke had gotten over the past few months. When Tony finally turned around, he had a smile plastered on his face. âThis is much smaller than I remember,â he said, waving his hand to indicate their sumptuous environment. Hopefully the sarcasm had come through, it had been taking him some effort not to speak in a monotone these past few weeks. âSorry to barge in. I just need a consultation with an expert in deep space, intergalactic diplomacy. Whatâs your going rate?â
The past few weeks since Dean was born were quiet. Jane recovered quickly (compared to after the twins were born). He was adjusting well to palace life - always being pampered and spoiled with gifts from across the nine realms. Dean was living the dream, which was fitting because he could barely keep his eyes open. Infants slept so much, which worked well considering the twins were always full of energy.
Jane took the twins out to the market to gather some supplies theyâd needed. Thor kept Dean indoors. He was still too small to be among the common folk - he may catch a cold, or worse. The thrill of a new royal baby was keeping Asgardians happier than ever.
After Dean had woken up from his nap, Thor decided to take a walk with him around the palace. The day was quieting down, and he needed to stretch his legs. He put Dean in a stroller, which was usually the best deterrent for Royal business. However, after immediately exiting his room, he was approached by two guards.
âPrince Thor, Sir Tony has just arrived from Midgard with news on the Avengers. He is in the throne room.â
He wasnât expecting guests...Tony least of all.
The last time the access point was used was...well, when he brought Jane home from her arrest. The other time he âvisitedâ, he used the Bifrost. He remembered the argument he had with Tony after Jane was arrested, and how âentitledâ he seemed to continue walking through the realms uncaring. It was because of Tony that he had only returned twice since November - once for Jane, once for Fandral.
Thor nodded. âThank you. I will go speak with him now,â He said, dismissing the guards. He looked down at Dean. âLooks like you get to meet Uncle Tony today.â
But not Steve...not yet.
He walked quickly through the castle, but not so fast to upset Dean. He was so sensitive to everything, even the quietest noise could disrupt his calm. He couldnât remember if the twins were like that...he was so busy trying to take care of them and Jane, everything was a blur.
Thor approached the throne room, stepping through the open doors. He felt awkward pushing the stroller through - he usually carried himself like a God. He was far less threatening with a baby. He stopped the stroller and stepped in front, a few feet from Tony. He was standing near the altar and he remembered his wedding. Everything was so perfect, until the reception...bitterness washed over his tongue. That was all in the past, now.
Still...he was glad to see him. Tony was a constant in his life on Midgard, and not seeing him around saddened him greatly.
Sorry to barge in. I just need a consultation with an expert in deep space, intergalactic diplomacy. Whatâs your going rate?
Thor smiled. âMore than even you can afford, my friend. Though Iâm sure we could work out a deal - a realm-to-realm discount of sorts.â
âWhatâs going on?â He asked, as his smile faded. âIf thereâs something happening in space, this is the first Iâm hearing of it.â
Walk from the Darkness | Thor & Fandral, ft. Loki & the Bloodwraith
March 10th, 2017
Thor was standing in the countryside of the British Isles. A broken castle sat before him, and he had been staring at it for some time. His fingers absently ran across his neck, where he could feel a bruise forming. His body was still covered in blood - though most of it was an illusion, some of it was real. Whatever being took hold of Fandral was eating him alive from the inside.
âThis gloomy old thing is where that beast wants to rule?â A voice asked, breaking Thorâs gaze. He looked to the ground, staring at Lokiâs boots.
âThe true castle is in a pocket dimension. This is merely a façade.â
Thor had scoped out the area already when he arrived. The entrance to the next dimension was hidden well within the fake tomb of someone named King Arthur. An hour had passed, he didnât know what took his brother so long, but he still had the Chitauri staff with him. He mustâve been speaking with Odin, but he didnât want to ask. He stared straight ahead again.
Both began walking into the ruins, neither one speaking. Thor thought about the twins and how their birthday was in two days, and how upset Jane would be if he missed that. After everything he expressed to herâŚit would shatter her heart.
Over the past eight months, he had been scraping to find himself. He lost himself somewhere. Perhaps it was the day Fandral went off the deep end and no longer having his oldest confidant available to him. Or maybe it was when he cried the night Jane was arrested, and the twins were crying for him. Maybe - just maybe - it was the day he came to Midgard years ago, before anything begun to happen; when Stark Tower still stood and Shield was whole.
These thoughts pressed against his skull as they traversed into the crypt beneath a small church. There were two lines of tombs running along the wall. It was almost pitch black, and Loki created a light with his magic. They walked along until they found a solid wood door, untouched by time. There was a lock on the door, but the lock had been broken. Upon looking down, he finally noticed the streaks of blood on the floor. He went for the handle, and Loki placed a hand on his shoulder.
âAre you sure you want to do this? Isnât this what heâs been looking for?â
Thor paused. He remembered the seconds where Fandral was separated from the Wraith. He had pain and desperation in his eyes, and he looked like he hadnât seen daylight in centuries. Nobody deserved that fate.
Over his shoulder, he replied, âI canât leave him like this.â
He pushed the door open to reveal a room that felt as if it were a door passing through reality. The air around them swelled with energy and magic. The walls were like waves, flowing between universes. On one side of the wave, the room was stone and dark; on the other, torches illuminated the area brightly. In the center was a coffin, presumably the placeholder for the previous King. Across the room, another door faded in and out of existence.
As they walked from one side to the other, the lighted room was the dominant illusion. The door that once moved with the room solidified, while the one they walked through faded. The two looked at each other, seeing the same streaks of blood as before. Without hesitation, Thor took the handle and pushed the door open.
Thor blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the new room. It looked to be the same tomb they walked through before, but this one was brightly colored and well lit. The stairs at the end of the hall glowed with the luminance of daylight.
Strange how the two worlds were connected, yet their time was off-sync. He wondered how long this place had been sitting dormant - it mustâve been created within the last thousand years. The stonework and decor was pristine, save for the blood marks left by the intruder. Even the air around them felt cleaner than the world they had just left.
Thor led the way up the stone steps, which had a red carpet lining them perfectly. The castle, despite its preservation, was completely abandoned. Perhaps it was an effect of the original spell. He was curious as to the conditions under which this castle was separated from the main reality, but the history would have to wait. They walked through the church and into a hallway. The streaks went to the left, which they followed down until they saw a grand archway. It mustâve been the throne room. The creature could be heard now; its loud breathing echoed through the halls.
Loki walked ahead now, quietly stepping along the carpet towards the arch. Thor followed closely behind, and the two peered inside. The dark red smoke was billowing out from the back end of the room, though the tendrils didnât quite reach the exit. Fandral was sitting on a red throne, and the red shadowy monster was looming behind. The wraith leaked blood, the crimson color overtaking the bright red of the decor.
âI think I can get Fandral for a few more seconds with my scepter. I could feel his presence was weak,â Loki whispered.
Thor nodded. âSee if you can find another way around. I shall distract him.â
Loki nodded in return, and without another word headed back towards the church. Once he was out of sight, Thor looked back to the throne room. Worst case scenario, the wraith engages immediately. He straightened himself, gripping Mjolnir tightly. With heavy steps, he turned the corner and through the archway.
â â
âI was wondering when you would find me,â Fandralâs voice filled the room. âI was beginning to wonder if there was anyone left in this world to kill.â
Thor stopped at the foot of the throne, where the smoke went halfway up his calves. âOnly one of us here needs to die today.â
Fandral laughed. âYou wouldnât kill me, would you? I am your Fandral, after allâŚam I not?â
âYou are not Fandral,â Thor snarled. âYou have possessed him - you, Wraith, whatever you call yourself, are nothing like him. He would never slaughter thousands of innocent people!â
âOh, but he has. The bloodwraith can only be awakened by the killing of thousands. You see, the ebony blade collects souls of the dead. It craves death because that was how Merlin enchanted it centuries ago. The most powerful sword in existence comes with the most deadly cost. It was carelessly given to a warrior who had served in hundreds of wars over thousands of years. Fandral is not revered as the best swordsman for nothing.â
One of the pieces Thor couldnât put together was why it reacted to Fandral so much differently than the Black Knight. He realised that it was a cumulative total, much like Mjolnir. His good deeds compounded were the reason he could lift the hammer. He was overtaken by the sword so quickly, and Thor was too busy planning his wedding to see how much his friend was hurtingâŚ
âŚbut the sword must have a failsafe of some sort. Enchanted weapons of this magnitude needed something for rebalance. He remembered Fandralâs warning. If there was anywhere in the universes that sword could be âcleansedâ, it would have to be in Camelot.
Fandral stood and stepped to the edge of the stairs. Thor had counted fifteen stairs - fifteen steps between him and the wraith.
âYou know how I can tell Fandral is still alive?â He asked.
Thor didnât respond. Instead, he locked eyes with Loki, who was standing on a balcony above the throne.
âI can hear his thoughts. I know everything he knows. For some blasted reason, he is holding onto this life. I can hear him screaming somewhere in my head. He calls for you more than anyone. He thinks of you as his savior, even though you sat dormant for months. It wasnât until I attacked Asgard that you finally decided to care about the worlds I destroyed.â
The last statement hit Thor harder than he would have liked. His hammer crackled with lightning. He leapt - landing on the third step, and jumping into the air. He brung the hammer up over his head and it crashed down hard on Fandral. It hit him between the head and shoulder, when he leaned to cover his face. The force knocked the imposter to the ground, meanwhile a large red hand swung at Thor. A green and gold blur appeared in front of him as he was knocked backwards and halfway back down the stairs. He saw a blue glow and once again the wraith dropped out of sight.
Thor quickly got to his feet again and ran up the steps again.
âBrazier of Truth - inside the church,â he heard Fandral sputter. Thor made it to the top of the steps before he could hear everything. He locked eyes with Fandral. âIt can only be lit by someone worthy.â
The green shimmer in Fandralâs eyes dulled as they clouded over. At the same time the effect wore off, Loki scrambled over to Thor.
âTo the church - now!â Loki directed. Thor lingered for a moment, watching as Fandral transformed. Nothing physically changedâŚbut the aura around him made him look like a complete stranger. As the wraith rose from the ground, Thor ran down the steps, following Loki.
âWhat did he say?â Thor asked.
âThe sword must be cleansed. We have to get it away from him and cast it into the fire of the Brazier of Truth.â
âWhich can only be lit by someone worthy?â
Loki nodded. âPrecisely.â
The two turned into the church and looked around. There was a podium in the center, and off in the corner sat a metal fire pit. Not seeing anything else, Thor assumed that was the Brazier. Some logs sat inside already, pristine and perfectly cut. He could hear the echoes of the creature coming towards them. He ran to the wall and picked up a torch. He stood over the brazier for a moment, glancing at Mjolnir. He didnât have time to wonder if âworthyâ transcended time and space. He dipped the torch into the logs.
A heavy blaze shot out of the brazier just as the wraith made it to the church. It snarled back in fear. He heard Fandral shouting No! as the echoing footsteps shifted to a sprint. While Thor was figuring out the flame, Loki had been preparing something of his own. Six blasts of energy shot through the room, all landing directly on Fandral, who yelped in pain.
Thor stepped around the flame and readied his hammer. âGive up the sword,â He demanded.
âNever.â Fandral looked up. He leapt forward, pulling the sword from its sheath. The sword slashed horizontally through the air, and Thor jumped backwards, but he was barely too slow. The blade had cut straight through his armor, and a razor thin wound showed through.
Thor didnât hesitate to swing the hammer once more. He swung four times, knocking Fandral back a ways. He waited a few seconds for Loki to let off another blast from him and his clones. The wraith itself was still at the entrance, staring in fear that the brilliant flame.
The Fandral imposter wasnât ready to give up just yet. The battle continued, and at no point did the wraith budge from the door. This made Fandral easier to take down. Thor and Loki both fought.
Fandral tried to hop over the pews to directly get to the fire. Thor threw Mjolnir, breaking the wood and he crashed to the ground. He recalled Mjolnir quickly, only to place it back down on the imposterâs back. He wriggled around a bit, trying to break himself free, but it was no use. Thor stepped down on his right wrist - the one holding the ebony blade.
âIf you take this sword, you will be cursed as well,â Fandral said, struggling for air. âThe moment you take the sword, you will be forced to kill me. Within minutes, the Wraith will mold to your entire being.â
It took months before Fandralâs corruption took hold. But, since the wraith was already manifested, perhaps he was telling the truth. He did remember Fandral killing the Black Knight immediatelyâŚ
Thor looked at the blade and then to the fire, still gleaming ten feet away. While he was caught in the moral dilemma of whether or not to take the sword himself, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
âIâll do it.â
Thor inhaled sharply. âLokiâŚdonât be foolish.â
âMy mind is stronger than yours. Should I falter, youâre strong enough to overpower me. Drag me, push me, or even throw me in. Whatever you have toâŚjust donât touch the sword.â
âThe two of you will both be connected until the sword is cleansed. If this failsâŚâ
âIt wonât,â Loki said.
Thor finally turned to Loki. The scepter was sitting on the pew behind him, and his eyes were glowing yellow. He used his scepter on himselfâŚwhy?
Loki stepped past Thor and knelt down. He watched his brother, who hesitated for a moment before wresting the hilt from Fandralâs hand. He groaned and staggered backwards. A dark aura started to manifest at his feet - the shadow of the wraith was spreading. Lokiâs hand was shaking, and Thor lurched forward and grabbed his brother by the waist. He was resisting and the glowing of his eyes began to dull.
The blaze grew bigger and sputtered about as the blade drew closer. Thor firmly planted himself behind Loki, who appeared to be at war with himself. The shadow was growing bigger in the room, and the wraith was getting stronger.
âLoki! Now!â
A hot white flash overtook the room.
Thor threw his hands in front of his face and stepped backwards.
When he opened his eyes again, Loki was lying on the ground, and the sword was sticking out of the extinguished brazier. The entire room was filled with thousands of pale orbs, floating up into the rafters and out into the hallway. Two of the orbs in front of him molded and grew until they took a humanoid form in front of him. One looked like an ancient knight, while the other he vaguely recognized from Midgard.
âMy name is Sir Percy of Scandia. This is Dane Whitman. We are the two former wielders of the ebony blade. Thank you for setting all of us free.â
Thor squinted. âAre you the souls that were trapped?â
âIndeed,â Dane replied. âThanks to you, we are now able to pass on into the afterlife.â
âI am glad to have helped you.â He turned to see Fandral lying still on the ground. He recalled Mjolnir before turning to the ghosts again. âWill he be alright?â
âHe was trapped for a long time. He will regain consciousness soon, but he may not be the same right away. Your companion, I am not sure. His mind was shielded from the bladeâs curse. Whatever allowed him to do that must have required a lot of energy,â Percy said.
Thor frowned. âAnd what shall I do with the sword?â
âYour companions should be able to touch it without issue. Their death toll can no longer count against the sword now that the souls have been freed. You, however, will restart this chain reaction again.â
âBe well, son of Odin.â
Thor bowed his head. He was confused, but at least he knew not to touch the sword. Perhaps someone would be able to break the curse. He placed Mjolnir on the ground next to Loki and rolled him onto his back and watched him for a moment. He was still breathing and he groaned as he was moved. He had a lot of questions for Loki, but for the time being he was satisfied.
He went over to Fandral and gently rolled him onto his back. He couldnât see his chest rising or falling. Thor then let his hand hover over his friendâs mouth, and he could feel faint breaths.
Linda helped Jane to arrange some pillows behind her back so she could sit up and see the family better. Â Janeâs mother smiled and then moved back slightly. Â âIâll be here for at least a week to help you and the family. Â Thereâs no rush. Â Iâm so happy to see you, Jane.â Â A healer approached her, now that she was awake, and took a few brief scans. Â All well, apparently.
âOh⌠well, itâs good to see you all,â she smiled weakly.  She hoped they werenât expecting her to be too composed.  âGood morning, everyone.  Thanks, mom.â  Jane nodded at her husband.  âI think I should hold him.  Is he hungry?  Because I can do that now, or⌠we can wait until everyone has said hello.  Has he been fussy?â
Jane was a flurry of questions, even though her mouth and mind were moving faster than her body. Â She reached her arms out for the baby, and caught the eyes of her other children. Â Jane smiled at Luke and Leia, who were sitting with Thorâs parents. Â âHi, sweetie,â she said to Dean as he was lowered into her loving embrace. Â âWould you like to meet your family? Â Are you alright to be social?â Â She smiled down.
âLuke, Leia, do you want to come here and say hello to your brother?
âHe, er,â Thor looked to the healers who werenât paying much attention now. âI think he woke when we arrived. He seems to be fine so far.â
The Leia walked over first. Neither of the twins had been around other children very often - at least not younger than they were. Leia jumped up and down and Thor lifted her into his arms. He brought her in a bit closer to the baby and she reached out to him.
âGentle, Leia. Heâs still very soft,â Thor instructed.
Leia had a determined look on her face and she pat carefully on Deanâs blanket. âBaby...â She said quietly.
âThatâs right, this is Dean.â When she pulled back, Thor looked over to Luke, who was clinging to Friggaâs dress. âWould you like to see him too?â
Luke hid further into his grandmotherâs dress and she laughed. âOh, heâs shy. Letâs give him some time.â
He turned back to Jane, shooting her a worried look.
âThank you, Thor,â she yawned, closing her eyes after she watched the healers taken Dean from her husband. Â Jane was sure they would wake her if they needed her. Â She hoped that just for a few hours they didnât need her.
Sleep quickly came from beneath her, wrapping her body like a blanket and pulling her under.
-
Sunlight gently filtered in through the high vaulted ceiling of the Hall of Medicine. Â Janeâs body felt heavy and sore as did her eyelids. Â One eye slowly peeped open, then the other.
For a moment, her mind was blank. Â And then the pieces started to fit back in- she just had a baby. Â Where was he? Â Where was she? Â Asgard. Â Oh, god, her body would not let her forget the baby she just had. Â Her stomach was still swollen, but now her legs were sore and her chest ached. Â But she was still alive, which was always a good thing.
âGood morning, sweetie,â she heard a voice say. Â Jane moaned and licked her lips.
âHuh?â
Jane sat up slowly, taking stock of the scene before her. Â There was Thor, holding Dean. Â Luke and Leia were beside him, and then there was Thorâs mother. Â And Thorâs father. Â A hand brushed Janeâs hair from her face and gave her a kiss. Â It was her mother, smiling over her.
âMom? Â When did you get here?â Â She rubbed her eyes and was still a little confused, partially asleep. Â âHow long have you all been in here? Â Howâs Dean?â
Thor sent a few palace guards to retrieve Janeâs mother, though he waited for her at the Bifrost. In case anything happened, he needed to be around. The sun was starting to rise over the horizon when she arrived, and he imagined the twins would be awake soon. They were still in their early-to-rise phase - which wasnât terrible as long as they went to sleep early.
Linda made it safe and sound, and the two made their way back to the Hall of Medicine. Jane and Dean were asleep still, and Thor didnât want to wake either of them just yet. Instead, he took Janeâs mom to a guest room where she unpacked her things.
By the time they made it back to the hall, his parents and the twins were waiting outside. They hadnât been waiting long, fortunately, and the twins were very excited to see him.
Thor picked up Luke and walked into the room. He asked the healer if he could bring in the family, and Dean started wriggling around. They were finally allowed in, and he instructed the twins to stay quiet. He hoped they would listen - he didnât want anyone screeching this early in the morning.
The room looked much nicer than before - everything had been cleaned up, including Jane. She must have been really tired to still be sleeping through all that, he thought.
Odin and Frigga sat down on a nearby bench while Linda took a seat next to Jane. The twins clung to Thorâs parents, watching curiously as Thor went over to Dean. He carefully picked him up, and inside his wrapping he was trying to kick around.
Thor stood in between everyone and said, âThis is Dean. Dean Rosen Thorson.â
After he spoke, he heard Jane stirring.
âItâs been a few hours - we only just arrived,â He assured Jane, bringing Dean closer to her. âWould you like to hold him again?â
Jane lowered the shoulder on her night shirt as Thor handed her the child. Â She supported his head gently and wondered if it would be easy to feed him- she hadnât fed the twins right away due to being so sick after they were born. Â She was certainly nervous.
âHey, Dean, there you go,â she cooed, feeling slightly more awake as she focused on making sure her son knew how to eat properly. Â Jane yawned and tried to keep her eyes open, looking around the room at her husband and the healers and guards.
This tiny life in her arms⌠Jane was so grateful that Thor had agreed to the name Dean.  To honor her father.  Rosen for the name of the theory, the actual real life bridge that brought her and Thor together.  And Dean was a Thorson.  The twins shared her last name, and had been named for Star Wars- a joke as Jane had once suggested before her death.  But the names were special, endearing, and unique to them.  Jane hoped that they never felt that their younger brother was loved any more or treated any better than they were.  Despite the difference in circumstances surrounding the birth, all three children were perfect representations of her love with Thor.
âOh⌠I donât even know what time it is now,â she admitted with a tired laugh.  âIâd guess itâs about lunchtime in London, but Iâm sure sheâd drop everything to come back here.â  Jane gave a mighty yawn and then felt a cold dribble of spit going down her chest.  Ew.
âAll done?â  She gently pulled Dean away from her breast and gently shrugged her shirt back into place.  âThor⌠if you or a healer could take him, Iâd like to try to get just a little bit of sleep now that heâs fed.  Is that alright?â
âI donât mind, you deserve some sleep after all that,â Thor motioned to take Dean, but the healers got there first.
âYou both should get some rest, we will care for him for now.â
The only thing he wanted was to hold his son, but he imagined they had other medical examinations to do right away. He remembered waiting a while before he could see the twins [even allowing himself time to calm down]. However Thor, incomparison, did minimal work and was hardly tired.
âI will send someone to go fetch your mother,â He leaned in and kissed Janeâs forehead. Having their whole family together for the first time since the wedding was exciting. Soon the twins would meet their new brother.
Part of him also wanted to send word to Steve and Tony - but that could wait.
Despite the energy she felt when presented with her child, Jane could not deny how absolutely exhausted she was.  Most of the sharp pains had dulled, but her entire body felt pulled and pained.  Thor reached for the child and Jane tiredly grunted, âUh huh,â so that he could take his son.
Once the baby was taken from her, one of the healers presented Jane with a cup of liquid to drink- some watered down medicine of some sort, perhaps to help her sleep.  She felt like she was melting slowly, and so just laid there with her eyes closed for a bit.  By all accounts, that entire birthing process was⌠normal.  Much more normal, at least, than the last time.  Nothing remarkable happened.  And her pain was the pain of every mother.
Maybe the first normal thing that had happened since she met Thor.
She tried not to entertain the thought of the fact that when the twins were born, there was no immediate warmth, no touch and no love. Â Jane hoped that would not affect them, but only time would tell.
Hearing Thor speak to the child, she turned her head and opened one eye.  âYes, our son.  We have three beautiful children, arenât we lucky?â  Jane closed her eyes again, feeling so worn out.  Keeping her eyes closed, she mumbled, âI should feed him soon before I fall asleep⌠then maybe you two can have some time to visit.â
Since she was planning to sleep, two healers came over and helped her sit up so that they could change her into a nicer dressing gown. Â There was still some cleanup to do, but it could be taken care of once Jane was out. Â She felt her eyelids getting heavier, and whether that was a symptom of the draught she was given or just her own exhaustion, she was ready for sleep.
âDean Rosen Thorson,â she hummed softly. Â âWelcome to our crazy family.â
Dean Rosen Thorson.
The name sounded so melodic. They had discussed Deanâs name more thoroughly than they did the twins. He couldnât imagine them being called anything other than Luke and Leia, but their origins werenât as meaningful to Thor or Jane. Leia still sounded like royalty, and Luke was strong but not in the way of a warrior. More like a diplomat. The name Dean sounded...home-y.
Thor placed Dean back on Janeâs lap as she prepared to feed him. He wondered, for a moment, if this was what it meant to be normal. This pregnancy came with Jane being imprisoned for nearly a month, and Thor spent some time away here and there fighting off universal crises. Outside of that, everything was calm and almost repetitive. Without realising it, he had fallen back into his old life, before he knew the Avengers. The biggest difference was that he had a wife and three children.
âDean,â He said aloud, staring down at his newborn son. Then, in an instant, his eyes widened and he inhaled sharply. âOdinâs beard, we didnât send anyone to fetch your mother! What time is it on Midgard?â
Jane could tell that Thor was somewhat bothered, or bored, or unsure of what to do with himself at the moment. Â Unfortunately, she didnât really care to assuage his concerns while she felt like her insides were being wrung out.
The healer had returned with her equipment and an assistant, and they began to talk to Jane, although their talking sounded like the adults on Charlie Brown. Â She could barely understand although she seemed to have some vague knowledge of what she was supposed to do now.
The next two hours were a flurry of voices, including Janeâs own, talking and yelling and giving directions. Â Hands came and prodded Jane, towels wiped her forehead, and she remembered Thor being there, gently reassuring her. Â The time seemed eternal, but also passed very quickly as she pushed, shouted, breathed, and did it all over again.
But suddenly, unexpectedly- or perhaps, as she had been expecting the whole time- one of the healers declared, âThere he is!  Just one more healthy push and he should be here.â
Jane was so tired, but those words spurred her and she dug deep within herself. Â A roar echoed throughout the Hall of Medicine in the dead of night, and then a small, shrill voice broke the night stillness.
-
As the child was briefly cleaned, Jane unwrapped the cloth top she had been given to wear, exposing her chest. Â She was anxious to hold the child, something she had been denied once before. Â The lead healer laid the baby down on Janeâs bare chest, and she finally found a moment of calm although her body still ached and tears stung her eyes. Â Her heart fluttered as her son stopped his whining and rested against her.
âHello, baby,â she cooed, exhausted. Â âI love you.â
All of the world around them just disappeared for a moment. Â It was just Jane and her son. Â And it was new and beautiful.
Thor had finally become useful once the process really began. He encouraged Jane as much as he could. He would wipe down her forehead and try his best to keep her cool. When the healers were yelling, he would either talk to Jane quietly or not say anything. There was so much going on around her, sometimes he didnât want to add to the noise.
The time flew by, which was a relief from waiting half a day before Jane could begin pushing. Watching her tiny body try and push out the half-Asgardian baby was scary - he half expected them to need another surgery to remove the child, like they did with the twins. Thor was pleasantly surprised as Jane continued pulling through.
One final shout came from Jane and the chamber echoed to silence. An eternity passed and Thor looked over to the healer, watching intently as she pulled the pink baby into view. The baby let out a small cry and Thor sighed in relief. Their child was healthy, and this time everyone survived.
He kissed Janeâs hand before standing up. She looked so exhausted, she probably didnât notice. He walked over to the door to their room, where two guards were standing firm.
âWould one of you send word to my parents that the baby is born? If they arenât awake, check again in the morning.â
The one on his left nodded and rushed off. Thor shut the door again and resumed his seat next to Jane. The healers were still cleaning off the baby and he watched as patiently as he could.Â
A healer walked over and placed the newly bundled baby on Janeâs chest. He watched the two of them bonding in his first minutes of life, and Thor was at ease. This was how the process should have gone the first time. He considered for a moment that neither himself or Jane were able to hold the twins after they were born. Steve and Tony wouldnât allow Thor to hold either of them, and by the time he had calmed down, he had already spoken with Jane in a different plane of existence. The whole night was a mess.
This felt normal.
Thor reached over and gently cupped underneath the baby. âMay I hold him?â He asked Jane. He waited until he heard some kind of confirmation before standing up and pulling the baby into his arms. He stared down and smiled, feeling tears welling in his eyes.
His heart was bursting, both in joy and heartache. âI love you. My son...our son,â He looked over to Jane.
The healers set Jane up on a comfortable piece of furniture, or equipment, or something. Â She could see that it had technology ingrained in it, perhaps as a way of reading vitals. Â They still assured her she had quite some time before the baby was ready to arrive, and so she tried to relax.
Healers rotated in and out, poking at Jane, wiping her forehead, checking the equipment to ensure that she and the baby were well. Â While they waited for Thor to arrive, Jane tried to make small talk that was often cut off by a wave of pain. Â It was decided that Asgardian sedatives would be too strong for Jane and possibly put her too deeply into sleep during the process, which was not desirable.
And so she stayed awake- and alive- for the whole process. Â But it wasnât exactly an easy time.
-
Janeâs waters had broken around the midday. Â Now, in the dead of night, her pains had escalated unbearably. Â The lights of the room had comfortably shifted from golden sunlight to the cool bright of the moon.
âOh, Thor, this hurts,â she moaned, realizing that the last time this had happened, she had died shortly thereafter. Â The pain of the death was worse than this, but she couldnât remember that feeling- Janeâs mind was consumed by the present pain of trying to deliver her son.
Shortly, one of the healers told her that it was possible for her to begin to push the child out. Â âGive me your hand, or something to hold onto, please,â Jane demanded. Â She wondered if these healers thought she was small- one had already gave commentary about her weak hips- and incapable of having the child. Â Her wondering was cut short by a contraction and she bellowed in pain, her voice reaching the vaulting ceiling of the Hall of Medicine.
âGet him out of me!â
Thor was just about clueless when it came to childbirth as a whole. He hadnât learned much about reproduction other than which parts make babies - or if he had learned more, it was lost over the years. The process was like a much slower, drawn out version than before. When she arrived at the hospital on Midgard, she had already been in labor for the entire jet ride. He vaguely remembered her being induced by Killian, but it still didnât take this long for the twins.
The circumstances being different than before, he was bored and anxious. Hours had passed. The afternoon soon turned to night, and they were told she still had a while yet.Â
-- --
Midnight came and went. Jane was in pain, and Thor was right at her side, unsure how to help. He reached out his hand, and she clenched onto him with a force he had never known before. He half expected her extremis to sent a jolt through his body.
âIt will be alright Jane, not too much longer...right?â Thor looked up to the nurse with a pained worry.
The nurse checked Jane once more and she stood up and smiled. âYes, I believe sheâs about ready. Let me get some supplies and we can begin.â
Thor was irritated at how calm and slow the nurse responded when Jane was clearly stressed. He took in a deep breath - he had to stay strong and optimistic.
âThatâs perfect,â she nodded, looking at the twins fondly. Â Jane hoped all this talk wasnât scaring them, but to keep them present for the birth of their brother would probably be more frightening than anything. Â âThank your parents for me, I hope itâs not too much to ask of them.â
Jane turned to the healers, who helped her to stand from the chair. Â The woman winced a bit as she felt a contraction. Â âOooh,â she groaned. Â âOkay, ouch.â Â She gave Thor a look that indicated they were both in for a long afternoon, at the least. Â âGo, get the twins comfortable. Â Weâll meet you there.â
Slowly, gently, the healers helped Jane to walk towards the door, with the guards following behind. Â The mortal kept one hand to her stomach as she lumbered out of their home and towards whatever healing chambers the Asgardians intended for her to use. Â It surprised her how calm all of this was- well, she wasnât terribly calm, but everything was so normal compared to the terror of the last time they did this.
âSo, uh,â she said, trying to break some of the tension, âslow day in the Hall of Medicine?â
âExcellent. I will be there when I can,â Thor planted a firm kiss at the top of Janeâs head. He and the twins watched as Jane was walked carefully out of their home.
Everything seemed so calm, part of him was waiting for something terrible to happen. A sudden invasion, or the World Tree getting sick once more. While he anticipated the worst, it was still seemingly a normal day. He spent a few extra minutes cleaning up the living area and the play room. He took the cushion off the sofa and placed it near the âto be washedâ pile. Overall, no damage done. Just...baby fluids, he figured.
Thor walked the twins over to where his parents lived. At their age, they were getting more adamant about walking everywhere themselves, as opposed to being carried or in a stroller. He couldnât believe how big they were getting...two years to him felt like two weeks. Asgardian babies aged much slower, so he had no point of reference at all.
When they arrived, his mother was already waiting. Someone must have delivered her the news. She was extremely excited, and the twins were happy to see her. Neither of them really understood what was going on - only that their baby brother would be born soon.
âWhen we see baby?â Leia asked, tugging on Thorâs pants.
âVery soon,â Thor said, patting her head. âAs soon as he arrives, I will send for you all so you can come meet him.â
Lukeâs head popped up from behind a couch nearby. âWhere is he from?â
Thor looked over at his mother and she put her hand to her mouth - they both knew what he meant. âHe is, uh...â
âA stork is bringing him,â Frigga chuckled. âIâll tell you all about it while your parents are away.â
Both twins seemed rather interested in the story. It didnât take them very long to get comfortable, so he bid them farewell for the time being. Thor then trekked back across the castle towards the Hall of Medicine.
Jane sensed the fact that Thor was understanding a bit more what they had to do. Â Even though this all was quite foreign to the both of them. Â So new.
âHere, Thor, let me give them both a kiss,â she said, gesturing to Luke first and then Leia. Â After she had assured them both that everything was fine and this was an exciting time, she let Thor move to get the things the twins would need. Â Honestly, Jane wasnât sure how long the normal labor process would take- sheâd heard horror stories, though.
âThank you, Leia,â she murmured as her daughter stood sentinel by her legs. Janeâs contractions were beginning to feel more noticeable, but she didnât want to indicate her discomfort to the child. Â Still, going into labor wasnât exactly subtle. Â
She did her best not to startle Leia at all, and soon enough Thor returned, just as several guards and healers appeared at the door. Â âOh, good,â she breathed, relieved to see everyone gathered. Â âBabyâs coming.â
Two healers approached her while a third removed some sort of baton or wand which emitted a yellow light down its length. Â They moved to check her health and the childâs, while the guards stood watch at the door.
âShe is in the early stages of labor, enough so that we may comfortably move her to the Hall of Medicine to properly observe her contractions and deliver the child,â the one with the wand informed Thor. Â The healerâs focus returned to Jane. Â âDo you have everything you might need in preparation for the birth?â
Jane nodded and then gave Thor a small, nervous smile once again. Â âCan you get the kids to your parents, and then meet us there with the baby bag?â
Thor went quickly around their home, trying to decide what would be best to bring. Comfort items for the kids went in one bag, and comfort items for Jane in a second. He gave Luke the important job of grabbing a few toys to bring along. He sat on the ground, picking up item after item and calculating carefully which ones he [currently] liked the best. Thor let him take his time, especially since he was choosing for two kids.
As the healers walked in the door, he had just finished packing. Luke was chewing on his plush dinosaur, and Thor handed Leia hers. He was holding both bags and watching as the healers looked over Jane.
He sighed in relief when she said the baby wouldnât be due for a while. His only experience with birthing was when the twins were born - and that entire scenario was urgent and exhausting.
âSince we have the time, I will ensure the twins are comfortable before heading over. Is that alright?â He asked Jane. He was trying to think about what was best for the twins.
