Of Hammers and Horsepower

The Vault—Asgard

The vault of Asgard was a cavernous space, shrouded in shadows and filled with relics of immense power. At its center stood Loki, his figure silhouetted against the ethereal glow of the CASKET OF ANCIENT WINTERS. He reached out, fingertips brushing against the cold, ornate surface, and as he did, a shiver ran through him—a recognition of something long buried within his heart.

Memories flooded back to him, flashes of his time in Jotunheim with Thor. The ice of the Frost Giants had felt like a familiar caress against his skin, as if it acknowledged him, welcomed him. The realization twisted in his gut. Their touch had been deadly to others, but to him, it was different. It was… comforting.

He stepped closer to the casket, and in an instant, his skin began to shift, hues of blue seeping into his complexion, revealing his true form. The change was profound, igniting a fire of conflict within him. Just then, the heavy footsteps of Odin echoed behind him, a presence that radiated authority and weariness.

"Stop."

Loki turned, hurt flashing in his eyes. "Why?" he spat, emotion thickening his voice. "Am I cursed?"

Odin inhaled deeply, steadying himself against the gravity of the moment. "You are not cursed. You are my son."

Silence enveloped them, the weight of his words heavy in the air. Loki felt a storm brewing within, a whirlwind of confusion and betrayal. "No, I'm not," he whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "The casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim, was it?"

"It doesn't matter. You are my so—"

"NO! I AM NOT!" Loki bellowed, his face contorted with anguish, tears brimming in his eyes. "Just tell me the truth!"

Odin's gaze softened, yet the gravity of the truth weighed heavily on him. "In the aftermath of the battle, I found a baby in a temple. Small for a giant's offspring. Abandoned, suffering, left to die." He took a deep breath, the next words a painful revelation. "Laufey's son."

"Laufey's son…" Loki's eyes widened, his heart clenching in his chest. Tears shimmered like jewels in the dim light. "You kept this from me," he said, his voice trembling under the weight of betrayal. "You took me for a purpose… What was it?"

Odin was silent.

"TELL ME!" Loki shouted, desperation echoing in his voice.

"I thought we could unite our kingdoms one day," Odin replied, his voice laced with the strain of fatherhood and regret. "Bring about an alliance. A lasting peace. But those plans… they no longer matter."

"They don't? That's what you think? I am nothing more than a tool, another broken relic for your own designs, to be discarded when you no longer need me?!"

"You're twisting my words."

"Why didn't you tell me?! You could have told me from the beginning!"

"I did it to protect you from the truth," Odin said, his voice softening as he stepped closer to his son. "You are my son, Loki. My beloved son."

But those words only deepened Loki's pain. "Protect me? From what? The truth that I'm a monster?" His heart raced as his skin shifted further, the blue deepening, exposing the truth he had always sensed but never fully grasped. "A monster that parents tell their children about to scare them into submission?"

Odin's strength faltered, the effects of Odin's sleep pulling him under like a tide. "Loki…" he whispered, voice barely audible. "You are… my son…"

Loki's heart broke as he watched his father falter, the light of understanding slipping away from him. "No! Stay with me!" he cried out, desperation clawing at his throat. "Don't leave me! You can't just—"

But Odin's eyes fluttered closed, and he succumbed to sleep, leaving Loki standing alone, consumed by the void of his father's absence. The vault felt suddenly colder, emptier, echoing with his unspoken fears.

"Guards!" Loki shouted, the word tearing from his lips like a desperate plea. The emptiness of the vault amplified his cries, reverberating back to him as if the very walls were mocking his solitude.

In that moment, Loki felt the full weight of his identity crashing down on him, an insurmountable burden that would forever change the course of his life. Alone, vulnerable, he was left to confront the darkness of his lineage, unsure of where his path would lead.

---

SHIELD Facility – New Mexico

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Coulson, James, Jane, and Erik made their way through the sterile hallways of the SHIELD facility. Coulson walked with the casual ease of a man who knew more than he let on, while James trailed behind, hands jammed deep into his hoodie pockets. He still felt out of place, like a kid who stumbled into a superhero convention by accident. But hey, at least the company wasn't half bad.

Jane glanced around, taking in the surroundings with a mixture of fascination and scepticism. "Honestly, I thought you guys would be… more impressive," she said, her voice laced with just enough sarcasm to make James chuckle.

"I said the same thing," James added, nudging her lightly with his elbow, as she gave a small, amused glance in return.

Coulson gave a faint smile but didn't break stride. "We prefer function over flair. It's more economical."

Erik folded his arms. "Still haven't told us what this is really about. Something about a satellite, right?"

"Something like that," Coulson replied smoothly. "Better you see for yourself."

The group came to a halt in front of a set of heavily reinforced doors. With a smooth hiss, the doors slid open, and the four stepped into the heart of the facility.

The room was cold, cavernous, and silent, like the air was holding its breath.

Jane froze. Her breath hitched as her gaze locked on the center of the room.

There, lodged in the middle of a small crater, was a hammer—the same hammer described by a certain handsome, blonde stranger. The metal shimmered in the artificial light, and even from a distance, it seemed to hum with power.

"Oh my God," Jane whispered. "It's real."

James noticed the look on her face and raised an eyebrow. "Do… you know what this thing is?"

Jane snapped out of her daze, swallowing hard. "N-no, it's nothing," she lied, her voice uneven. "Just… funny how your 'satellite' looks exactly like a hammer."

Erik leaned toward her, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't hear. "You don't think this could really be–"

"Mjölnir," Jane finished softly.

James took a step forward, stepping in front of the hammer. "So, uh, according to what I know. Whatever this thing is, it's lodged itself pretty much into the ground. And no matter what we do, we can't lift it."

Coulson added. "We've had people from all departments try lifting it. Engineers, military personnel, even a forklift." He crossed his arms with an amused smirk. "Not a single budge."

Jane's heart raced as she looked at the hammer. If Thor really was who he claimed to be, this hammer could change everything. But how could someone like him end up here, of all places?

Erik leaned closer, a hint of irritation slipping into his voice as he observed her troubled expression. "Jane, come on. Do you seriously think he's… Thor? Really?"

Jane hesitated. "I don't know. But I think we're going to find out."

Erik groaned softly, rubbing his temple. "Please tell me you didn't send Darcy to find him."

Jane glanced away, her expression sheepish. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she mumbled.

---

Meanwhile, in a Pet Store Somewhere in New Mexico…

Thor stormed into the small pet store with the same energy as if he were leading a charge into battle. His expression was a mixture of determination and confusion as he approached the startled clerk at the counter.

"I require a horse," Thor announced with all the authority of a man who had no idea how absurd he sounded.

The store clerk, a twenty-something guy with a backward cap and a bored expression, blinked. "Uh... we don't sell horses."

Thor frowned deeply, as if the concept of a pet store without horses was the most offensive thing he'd ever heard. "Then bring me something I can ride!"

The clerk scratched the back of his head. "We have... hamsters?"

Thor's face twisted into pure frustration. "Hamsters are too small."

The bell above the door jingled as a van pulled up outside, honking twice. Darcy's grinning face appeared through the passenger window.

"You need a ride, big guy?" she called out, clearly amused by the sight of Thor in a pet store.

Thor's eyes lit up, recognizing Darcy immediately. "Ah! Yes. Darcy, the companion of Jane Foster. This will suffice."

He stormed out of the store with all the gravitas of a god who had just been saved from hamster-related humiliation. Darcy leaned over and popped open the passenger door.

"Hop in, Thunder Boy," she quipped.

Thor hesitated for a moment, inspecting the van as if it were some kind of foreign beast. "Does this vehicle possess great speed?"

"Great enough to get you to your hammer, if that's really a thing." Darcy said with a grin. "Now, get in before you scare away the neighborhood pets."

Thor climbed in, somehow managing to make the van seem even smaller than it already was. Darcy smirked, barely holding back her laughter.

"So, uh, how's the whole 'exiled god' thing going?" she asked as she pulled away from the curb.

"It has been... challenging," Thor admitted, looking out the window. "But soon, it will be over. Mjölnir awaits me."

Darcy nodded, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "Right. Well, just so you know, if you start talking to it like it's a long-lost girlfriend, I'm kicking you out."

Thor raised an eyebrow. "Why would I converse with a weapon?"

Darcy shot him a side-eye glance. "You'd be surprised what guys do with their toys."

---

2 hours later. Outside the Facility

Thor stood at the gates of the SHIELD compound, looking every bit like a god stranded in the modern world. Darcy leaned against the van, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a grin.

Thunder cracked across the night sky, electrifying the air with a wild energy that stirred something deep in Thor's chest. The storm was building, fierce and alive, like it was calling him, daring him to take back what was his. To prove himself worthy. And Thor was ready to answer.

"You sure about this, Thunder Boy?" she quipped. "There's still time to call Jane, y'know. Let her sweet-talk her way past security, and we all avoid... whatever this is about to become."

Thor flashed her a cocky smirk. "That will not be necessary. I shall reclaim what is mine."

With that, he strode forward, head held high, as if nothing in this world—or any other—could stand in his way.

Darcy pushed off the van and adjusted her glasses, the grin never leaving her face. "This is gonna be either really funny… or really bad." She paused, biting her lip in amusement. "Probably both."