Fury stood still, watching Soren and Coulson vanish in a burst. There was no noise.
He exhaled shakily. "I really need to get a handle on that guy one day…"
But in truth, he knew the odds of that were slim.
Everlife Medical Center
Soren emerged in the bright corridor just outside the treatment room, his steps slightly sluggish. The usually ever-sassy healer looked... tired.
He took a long breath as he leaned against the marble column.
Reviving someone who had already crossed the threshold of death was complex… it cost him. In focus. In strength. In energy, he wouldn't easily replenish.
He brushes his fingers over his nose.
"Revival still drains me, but for Coulson, it was worth it."
Almost offhandedly: "I wonder what kind of genetic slop makes up a Chitauri warrior anyway…"
But before he could muse further, space itself bent, and a ripple tore through the courtyard.
FWOOOSH
Thor fell from the portal like a tossed ragdoll, slamming into the grass with a groan.
His hair was a mess of dirt and wind, his clothes little more than strips clinging to scorched armor. His cape was practically shredded. His aura was dim, and for someone who was a god, that was something.
Soren sighed.
"Great. Finished patching up one hero, and now another shows up..."
He grabbed a pot from the bench nearby and poured himself a cup of dark tea, sipping calmly.
Thor staggered into the hall and collapsed onto the couch like a boulder toppling over. He reached for the teapot and downed the remaining brew in three massive gulps.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
He wiped his mouth and let out a deep exhale, as color began returning to his face.
"…That was incredible tea."
"I feel… less like death."
"It's a custom blend. Took me years to get it right. But thanks to you, there's none left for our friend Phil."
Thor's eyes flickered. "Coulson…?"
His expression was saddened.
"Loki did it. He struck him down. I saw it happen. I~ I couldn't stop it." He looked away, shame creeping into his voice.
Click.
The door to the treatment room creaked open.
Phil Coulson stepped out, fully clothed in a clean blue shirt, looking confused but intact.
His hand instinctively went to his chest, remembering the pain that had once been there.
"Thor?" Coulson blinked. "What happened to you?"
"You're alive?!"
They stared at each other.
Thor jumped up, staggered forward, and grabbed Coulson into a bear hug, nearly crushing the poor agent.
"By the Nine Realms, I was just thinking of asking Soren to help you!" he said with a booming laugh. "And here you are, already whole!"
"I'm still missing my tea." Soren quipped from the side, swirling his now-empty pot.
Coulson chuckled, gently patting Thor's back to escape the hug. "It's… good to see you too, big guy."
He turned to Soren and bowed his head. "Doctor… I owe you my life. I remember, before everything went dark. I saw you. I thought it was a hallucination."
"It wasn't." Soren said plainly.
"You were dead. I brought you back."
The words hit with a strange gravity. Coulson swallowed hard. "Then thank you. Truly. I'll make this second chance count."
Soren shrugged, then tossed Coulson a small vial filled with shimmering blue liquid. "Mental fortification. Tastes like fermented socks, but it'll stop you from collapsing mid-sentence."
"Bottoms up."
He drank it in one go, grimacing at the taste but already feeling his clarity return.
Thor dropped back onto the couch, sighing heavily. "My brother… truly left the Ship. I don't know what game he's playing, but Earth will suffer for it."
Soren let out a short laugh, shaking his head at Thor's stubborn optimism.
"You keep calling him your brother, but Loki hasn't called you that in a long time." Soren's voice was calm but cutting.
"Power, fame, glory… he'd trade blood ties for either in a heartbeat."
Thor's shoulders slumped, and he sighed heavily.
"You just stand there and laugh at me… and don't even help."
"I can't help now." Soren stretched his arms.
"Resurrecting Coulson wasn't a party trick. Retrieving a soul from death like that… it takes a toll. I need a day or two to recover."
Thor raised a golden brow. "What if I sweeten the deal? Once Loki's handled, I'll bring you Asgard's finest mead, aged in the vaults of Valhalla!"
"And I'll even introduce you to some of our most radiant goddesses."
Soren paused mid-step, expression twitching. "Wait. Didn't you already find yourself a lovely Midgardian girl? Jane, was it?"
Thor blinked. "Er… yes. But I still know people."
Now it was Soren's turn to frown. He gave Thor a deadpan look.
"If I knew that was your idea of gratitude, I would've charged SHIELD by the minute."
Phil Coulson laughed from his seat. "Thor's definition of diplomacy really is a hammer."
Soren sighed, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Fine, fine. Since you're offering me both alcohol and divine matchmaking, I'll do my best. But you'll need to give me… ten days. Maybe eight, if I skip breakfast."
"Eight days?!"
"Relax." Soren smirked.
"I'm joking. Mostly. But seriously, restoring your divine power isn't the same as reattaching a mortal's soul. It's… it's spiritual. I need rest, rare herbs, maybe a nap."
Thor groaned. "This is punishment for the goddess comment, isn't it?"
"Maybe." Soren shrugged.
Phil chuckled again, clearly enjoying Thor's awkward squirming. "Maybe next time, don't offer your friends as currency."
Thor grumbled something in Old Norse and crossed his arms, sulking.
A few minutes passed. The air grew more serious as they sipped warm tea, well, Soren did. Thor was still pouting. Coulson's brow furrowed in thought.
"Doctor… if Loki intends to open a portal with the Tesseract, he'll need an enormous energy source. Where do you think he'll set it up?"
Soren didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned to Thor, a knowing look in his eye.
"Thor. You know your brother. What would he do?"
Thor's expression grew somber. He stared into the distance. "He wants power. Applause. A show. He wants the world to watch him… and worship him."
"And?" Soren prompted.
"…And he wants to be seen. He'll choose the loudest stage, not the most strategic one. He wants to be remembered."
"Exactly." Soren said, turning back to Coulson. "Now you understand?"
Coulson paused, pieces snapping together in his mind. "He wants a public display… a place where people are watching, where power is abundant, and spectacle is guaranteed…"
He stood up suddenly, the realization dawning on him like a sunrise.
"Stark Tower!"
Thor tilted his head. "What's a Stark Tower?"
Phil Coulson ignored the question, already pulling out his phone and dialing. "Director Fury. It's Coulson. We've figured it out. Loki's target is the Stark Industrial Building, yes, the one powered by the arc reactor. It's perfect for him."
He hung up and looked at the other two. "Fury's dispatching everyone. This is it."
Thor looked confused. "But why Stark's building?"
"Because it has the largest clean energy source on Earth… and because Loki's got a flair for drama."
Soren leaned back, watching Coulson with a pleased smile. "You caught on quick. Good. Now go warn the others."
"And what will you do?" Thor asked, raising an eyebrow.
Soren stretched, cracking his neck. "Me? I'm going to nap… meditate… maybe sip something stronger than tea. You two handle the next part."
He looked at them both, eyes gleaming.
"The real show is about to begin."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Dare you peek into my other tales? The opening three chapters of select stories are free to all.
PhantomDream