~ Day 6 of Surveillance ~
Tony was on his way to New Mexico. Last night, just as he got home ready to relax, he found that JARVIS wasn't responding. Apparently, someone had tampered with his systems.
- Flashback -
"So, you're here again to invite me to your little superhero club?"
Tony said sarcastically.
"They're called the Avengers, Stark. And no, that's not why I'm here. We know you took care of your problems: Justin Hammer, Ivan Vanko, even the palladium poisoning. All wrapped up as if you already knew what to do and how to fix it"
Fury replied, clearly hinting at something deeper.
"Let's skip the word games. We both know how I did it and what that means. So why don't you get straight to the point?"
"Fine. We recently detected an extraterrestrial object in New Mexico. We're analyzing its technology. Thought it might interest you."
Fury got right to the point. He knew Tony Stark well enough to skip the small talk.
"So, you need my help. Sure, I'll go. After all, who wouldn't want to see the alleged hammer of Thor?"
"I never mentioned a hammer,"
Fury replied immediately.
"Well, JARVIS told me. Or rather, a version of him isolated from the rest of the system. I prepared for the day your ultra-secret organization broke into my house again."
Tony spoke with that blend of arrogance and pride so characteristic of him. At least he learned from his mistakes.
- Back to the present -
Tony arrived at the hammer site and was greeted by SHIELD agents. At the front stood a familiar face: Phil Coulson.
"Mr. Stark, it's a pleasure having you here. We've been investigating since yesterday, but haven't found anything useful yet."
"Call me Tony, Coulson. We're friends. So where's the hammer? I'd love to see if I'm worthy."
"It's over there," Coulson said, pointing before continuing, "However, no one has been able to lift it. We think it's not about brute strength, but some kind of energy surrounding it... Not that you're listening."
He sighed as he saw Tony already walking away in the direction he'd pointed.
"All right, let's see what this is all about."
Tony rolled up his sleeves and tried to lift the hammer. When it didn't budge, he suited up and tried again. Same result.
"All right. Maybe Asgardians have weird standards. Like dying in battle. No way this is my fault."
He sighed and told JARVIS to start analyzing. Just then, Coulson spoke behind him.
"According to our analysis, it's not about mass. In fact, it has so much mass it should still be falling. It's surrounded by some type of energy that only someone who is 'worthy' can control. Like a spell."
"So, alien programming. They just use unknown energy and set it to react only if certain conditions are met. Is SHIELD into magic now?"
Tony was skeptical. To him, magic was just advanced tech nobody understood yet.
"Let's say yes"
Coulson answered, avoiding the debate. He probably wouldn't believe it even with proof.
"So what's the plan? Just wait around?"
"Exactly. Our plan was to wait for an expert."
"An expert? Who? Thor?"
Tony joked.
Coulson nodded.
"According to analysis from the painting Hammer of the Unworthy, myths, and satellite images, the figure represented could be Thor Odinson."
"You're kidding, right?"
"After the hammer fell, something else entered the atmosphere"
Coulson said, showing him satellite images.
Tony frowned as he looked.
"Is that... a person?"
"Yes. Most likely from the same place as the hammer. Matches the figure in the painting. Based on the myths, he could be Thor, its rightful owner. And we found him."
"Then why haven't you brought him in?"
"We want him to come voluntarily. So far, surveillance shows no signs of special abilities. Just a lunatic claiming to be a god. But that might change if he gets the hammer back. We don't want to be on the wrong side of a god. Of course, all of this is just theory. If nothing happens tonight, we'll keep investigating. After all, unless he really is a god, no one can take something from SHIELD."
---
That night, while everyone was inside, alarms blared. Someone had managed to break in. Of course, the agents had orders to let him through if he showed up.
At the hammer site, they found a scene straight out of the painting. Thor was kneeling by the hammer, defeated, mumbling that he was no longer worthy.
Coulson approached without hesitation.
"Thor Odinson, if I'm not mistaken?"
Hearing his name, Thor stood alert, but relaxed once he saw they recognized him.
"You know me?"
"Earth has legends about your kind. Myths. Though few believe them, we learned of your arrival a few months ago."
Thor frowned.
"That's impossible. My father only just banished me. This wasn't planned. And he has no reason to inform mortals."
Still, deep inside, doubt crept in... Could this have all been part of his father's plan?
Coulson noticed his expression and added:
"We didn't get any notice from Asgard. There are people on Earth who surpass human levels. One in particular learned of your arrival by seeing the future."
"Impossible. Not even Heimdall, who sees all, can see the future."
Thor was shocked. Even in Asgard, such an ability was unthinkable.
Coulson smirked to himself. He hadn't shared that information randomly—it was Fury's idea. Show Thor that Earth also had exceptional beings, to avoid being seen as inferior.
Of course, this only worked because anyone with an internet connection could track Leonardo's activities. If it were SHIELD-classified info, they never would've mentioned it.
As Coulson prepared to continue, he was interrupted.
"Agent Coulson, we found other intruders outside. Seem to be related to him, so we brought them to you."
"Thor! Are you okay? What happened?"
A young woman ran up to Thor, worried.
"Jane, I'm fine... I just couldn't lift the hammer. I'm a regular person now, just like you."
"Regular person?"
Tony chimed in from behind.
"Wow, that sounded insulting. An alien who thinks he's better than humans?"
Thor turned, annoyed.
"Who are you, mortal? Powers or not, I won't tolerate disrespect."
"Tony Stark. Genius, philanthropist, billionaire, superhero. You think you're better just because you're a so-called god?"
Then Tony got an idea.
"If you think you're so great, how about we fight? Of course, you've got no powers, so it'll be a different kind of battle."
Even without his powers, Thor would never turn down a challenge.
"All right, human. Let's have your so-called battle."
---
"Ha! Tony Stark, you're good. If I had my powers, you wouldn't stand a chance!"
"Yeah, sure. If you had your powers... Your parents took them away so you could learn a lesson."
"You gods have some seriously weird parenting styles. Haha."
After several rounds of drinks, Tony and Thor were completely drunk. Thor had told him everything: his story, his banishment. They kept drinking until Tony passed out.
[ Significant changes, Tony and Thor weren't supposed to cross paths yet, SHIELD was already aware of Thor's identity and the hammer, Loki did his thing as expected and tricked Thor, we still have to see where these changes lead, but there's nothing wrong with having another hero to help. ]
---
~ Day 7 of Surveillance ~
Tony woke up with a massive hangover. Still, he went to speak to Thor, who was talking with Jane and looked even more depressed than the day before.
"What now? You look worse than yesterday."
Thor, having already figured out that sarcasm was Tony's native language, simply answered:
"My father is dead. Because of me. The war and my banishment were too much. My mother forbade my return to Asgard as a condition for a truce with Jotunheim. I'm stuck on Earth. I can't go back."
"And how do you know all this?"
"My brother Loki came last night. He told me. I can't go back."
Tony frowned.
"And you're sure that's true? I mean... I don't know your brother, but the myths call him the god of lies."
"No. Loki wouldn't lie about this. We fight sometimes, but I still trust him."
"I see..."
Tony didn't trust someone with that title one bit, but he changed the subject.
"Thor, come with me. There's something I want to show you."