Chapter 74: The Madman

Jane Foster, ever the brilliant scientist, quickly pieced things together. She realized it couldn't be a coincidence that Thor was here—he must have followed her from the start.

"Of course not," Thor replied smoothly. "I just sensed Mjolnir's happiness at meeting its new owner, so I thought I'd come see for myself." With a casual gesture, he traced a circle in the air, forming a golden portal showing the bustling streets of New York. "See? I can go from New York to New Mexico in the blink of an eye."

Jane's suspicions faded as her attention shifted. She stared, captivated.

"Oh my God, this is spatial science! Actual teleportation! So magic really does exist!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Top of her class, and yet her mind was racing in a completely different direction. Thor realized she was seeing this through the eyes of a scientist.

And since he was already making an impression, why not impress a little more?

"Not only is teleportation real, but even time travel isn't out of reach," he added, grinning. "I'm the Captain Blake everyone thought disappeared after World War II. In reality, I'm from this time and traveled back in time."

Thor's words sparked a look of fascination in Jane's eyes, as if he were the perfect research subject.

"I knew it!" Daisy chimed in, grinning. "Jane's always admired Captain Blake. She even told me he was her 'ex-boyfriend'!"

Thor paused, caught off guard, but then connected the dots.

In the comics, Thor's human alias was Dr. Donald Blake. In this world, it seemed he'd come full circle and become part of Jane's story once again.

"No, no, I didn't say that!" Jane stammered, flustered and barely able to speak.

Both Daisy and Thor couldn't help but notice her nervous denial. She was trying a little too hard to cover it up.

…

"Alright," Jane said after calming down. "I'll accept the whole 'new Thor' thing for now, but I don't really understand why. I mean, I prefer astronomy—I'm just curious about magic, energy, that sort of thing…"

"Because the world needs you," Thor replied. "More superpowered beings are emerging, and they're here to prepare for future crises. Earth isn't as ordinary as it seems. In fact, it's practically the center of the universe, bearing the brunt of countless cosmic threats. As the new wielder of Thor's power, you have a choice—to walk away, or to use this power to help others."

Though Earth seemed obscure compared to other realms, it had birthed some of the universe's greatest heroes. The Ancient One, Black Panther's goddess, the Avengers—even Thanos' quest ended on Earth. In another reality, a powerful figure once claimed that if he hadn't been sealed away, Earth would be the very center of the universe by now.

Jane's expression grew serious. "I understand. With great power comes great responsibility. Isn't that right?"

"Yes—and no." Thor added, "It's a reminder for the powerful to control their actions, not an excuse for others to burden them with unreasonable demands."

Thor placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression earnest. "There will be people who try to manipulate us through guilt or obligation. You need to be ready for that."

…

Jane eventually followed Thor back to his manor, Mjolnir in hand. Although she was now connected to the hammer, she had little combat experience compared to fighters like Captain America or Natasha. She would need Thor's guidance to master her newfound powers.

"This is teleportation?" Jane said in awe as they stepped through the portal. "There's no discomfort at all. I'd expect sudden spatial shifts to make mammals dizzy or even nauseous."

No sooner had they arrived than she began rattling off observations, quickly switching into "mad scientist" mode.

Thor shook his head, amused. No wonder they broke up in the original timeline, he thought. Two people so determinedly logical—separation and reunion are bound to be their pattern!

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