25. Meeting Thor

A Week After Ivan's Incident

At this moment, Tony, Pepper, and John were having breakfast together, chatting casually.

"So, should I call you sister-in-law or just sister?" John suddenly asked, catching both Tony and Pepper off guard.

Tony paused mid-bite, staring at John in surprise, while Pepper blinked, equally shocked.

"When did you figure it out?" Tony asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

John rolled his eyes dramatically as he continued to stuff his mouth with toast. "You two are practically glued together these days. It's not rocket science."

Pepper chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Just call me Pepper like always, okay? Let's not make things awkward."

John nodded and reached for another piece of bread but then suddenly froze, turning his head toward the door. "Oh! We've got a guest."

Both Tony and Pepper followed his gaze, looking toward the door. "There's no one there—" Tony began, but he was interrupted as the door swung open, revealing Agent Coulson.

Coulson stepped in with his usual calm demeanor and was momentarily surprised to see everyone staring at him. "Good morning, everyone," he greeted politely.

"Good morning!" Pepper and John replied in unison.

"Good morning, Coulson. So, what's the mission this time?" Tony asked with his usual sarcastic tone.

"It's not about a mission, Mr. Stark," Coulson replied, unfazed by Tony's sarcasm. "I just came to say goodbye. I've been assigned to another mission."

John perked up at this, his thoughts racing. This must be the mission where Coulson encounters Thor. If I tag along, I might get the chance to meet him earlier than planned. There are things I can only gain by being close to him in the future.

"Coulson, do you think I could tag along?" John asked, feigning nonchalance. "I'm bored out of my mind here, and these two could use some alone time. What do you say?"

Coulson looked surprised but didn't dismiss the idea outright. "I'd need to check with my superiors."

Pulling out his phone, Coulson quickly dialed a number and waited.

On the other side of the call, Fury listened silently as Coulson relayed John's request. Fury's suspicions about John being the black-armored figure had been growing. This is a good opportunity to keep an eye on him.

"Alright," Fury said finally. "He can come, but make sure he follows protocol."

Coulson hung up and turned to John. "You're in, but you'll need to follow some rules."

"Deal," John replied, grinning.

---

Arrival in New Mexico

A few hours later, Coulson and John arrived in a small desert town in New Mexico. The heat was intense, with the sun blazing down on the dusty roads and sparse vegetation. The town, surrounded by barren desert, appeared quiet and isolated, with modest homes and a handful of local shops.

"So, where exactly are we going?" John asked, stepping out of the aircraft and shielding his eyes from the bright sun.

"I've got business to handle at a site nearby," Coulson said, glancing toward the horizon. "It's about ten miles out of town, but I suggest you explore the town for now. I'll come back for you once I'm done."

John raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Sounds like a plan. Don't take too long, though. This place doesn't exactly scream excitement."

Coulson chuckled. "You might be surprised."

---

As Coulson drove off toward the distant site, John wandered into the town, taking in the laid-back atmosphere. Despite its remoteness, there was a charm to the place—friendly locals, a few small businesses, and the kind of simplicity that seemed to belong to another time.

Feeling the growl of hunger in his stomach, John found the only restaurant in town and stepped inside. The interior was cozy, with a mix of locals chatting over coffee and a few visitors passing through. John ordered a meal and settled by the window, watching the quiet life of the town as he ate.

Once he'd finished, he decided to stretch his legs and explore further. However, as he walked to the outskirts of town, something unusual caught his eye—a line of vehicles heading out into the desert.

---

Curiosity piqued, John followed the convoy from a distance, eventually finding himself at the edge of a massive crater. In the center of the impact site was a strange hammer lodged in the ground, its metallic sheen catching the sunlight. A handful of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were already there, setting up a perimeter.

John hid in the crowd of onlookers, carefully observing the shield personnel as they set up the perimeter with practiced efficiency. It was clear they were well-versed in handling such situations.

By evening, John managed to hitch a ride back to town by asking a passerby for help. Once there, he went straight to have dinner. After his meal, he checked into a small hotel for the night. The following morning, he returned to the same restaurant for breakfast.

With his hunger satisfied, John resumed his search, exploring places he hadn't visited the previous day. Yet, after hours of walking and scanning the area, the person he sought remained elusive. Frustrated, he returned to the restaurant for lunch—and that's when he finally spotted them.

Thor, Jane, Darcy, and Erik were seated together, their conversation lively. John decided to wait. After some time, they stood up and walked outside. Thor and Jane headed to a nearby car while Darcy and Erik stayed behind, chatting near the entrance.

John took a deep breath and approached as Thor and Jane started the engine. He waved to catch their attention. "Hey! Excuse me!"

Thor looked to the side , his brow furrowed. "What do you want?"

"Sorry to bother you," John said with a disarming smile. "I was wondering if you could give me a lift. I'm heading in the same direction as you."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Why should we? We don't even know you."

John scratched the back of his neck, trying to sound genuine. "I get that, but I'm not some random hitchhiker. I have my reasons for going there. I promise I won't be any trouble."

Thor exchanged a glance with Jane, who sighed. "We're not exactly running a taxi service here."

"I know," John said quickly, "but come on, it's a big crater, right? The more eyes on it, the better, don't you think?"

Thor smirked, amused by his persistence. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

After a brief, whispered discussion, Jane shrugged. "Fine. Get in the back."

"Thanks!" John said, hopping into the car.

As they drove off, John felt a sense of relief.