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The Baymax Company's Peripheral Research Laboratory hummed with quiet activity in the New Mexico desert. After the previous incident that had brought Thor crashing into their lives, Baymax had invested heavily in Jane Foster's astronomical research. The facility now bristled with cutting-edge equipment - radio telescopes, quantum sensors, and atmospheric analyzers that could detect dimensional disturbances light-years away.
Dr. Banner walked between workstations where robotic assistants calibrated delicate instruments. Jane's team had grown from three people working out of a trailer to a full research division with unlimited funding and resources most scientists could only dream of. And protecting them all, though the humans didn't know it, was Jazz - the Autobot had been secretly assigned to keep watch over the facility after Aidan realized how many cosmic threats seemed to find their way to Earth through scientific research.
"Any unusual readings today?" Banner asked one of the technicians.
"Nothing major, Doctor. Some minor electromagnetic fluctuations around 3 AM, but they faded quickly."
Probably just Thor visiting Jane again, Banner thought with a slight smile.
Meanwhile, in London, England, by Bassenthwaite Lake, the late afternoon sun painted the surrounding hills in shades of gold and amber. The highest peak, Skiddaw, cast long shadows across the water while elegant villages dotted the shoreline like something from a postcard. Walking by the lake, one couldn't help but sigh at the grace of nature.
The peaceful atmosphere was broken by the sound of laughter echoing across the water. Thor, who had become something of a folk hero among the locals, appeared on the lakeside path, strolling leisurely with a girl with light yellow hair. Jane's research had brought her to England for a conference on atmospheric phenomena, and Thor had seized the opportunity for a rare moment of privacy.
The two of them were smiling as they walked, lost in their own world. Thor would glance at Jane and feel her undisguised love radiating from her like warmth from a fire. Jane would catch him looking and shyly brush the drooping hair beside her ear, her cheeks flushing pink in the golden light. Other visitors to the lake gave them space, somehow sensing they were witnessing something precious.
"The sunset here is almost as beautiful as Asgard's golden halls," Thor said softly, his deep voice carrying easily over the gentle lapping of water against the shore.
"Almost?" Jane teased, bumping his shoulder playfully.
"Well, the company makes all the difference," Thor replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
They paused near a wooden bench overlooking the water, the moment stretching between them like a held breath. Jane turned to face him, her mind temporarily overwhelmed by the simple human emotion in his gaze.
Just when they were getting closer, when the space between them seemed to crackle with possibility, a circle of sparks appeared not far in front of them. Golden light danced in the air, forming geometric patterns . Then a familiar figure stepped through.
"It looks like I didn't show up at the right time?" Aidan said, slightly embarrassed as he took in the romantic scene he'd just interrupted. His portal closed behind him .
"No, no, no, you came just in time. We were just saying goodbye," Jane said with a smile, though her flushed cheeks suggested otherwise. She looked at Thor with eyes that held all the longing of someone who knew their time together was always limited.
Thor didn't seem bothered by Aidan's presence at all. His attention remained completely focused on Jane, drinking in every detail of her face like he was trying to memorize it. The distance between their lips gradually decreased as the world around them seemed to fade away. They closed their eyes at the same time, lost in a moment that felt both eternal and far too brief.
Aidan cleared his throat quietly and turned to look at the peaceful lake, watching a family of swans glide across the mirror-smooth surface. Give them a minute, he thought, studying the way the evening light turned the water into liquid gold.
The kiss lasted longer than strictly necessary, carrying all the weight of separation and the promise of reunion. When they finally broke apart, Jane rested her forehead against Thor's.
"I have to go," Thor whispered, his voice rough with emotion.
"I know," Jane replied, her fingers intertwined with his. "Just... be careful up there."
"Always am."
"Liar." But she smiled as she said it.
"Let's go," Thor said finally, turning to Aidan with visible effort. His voice was steady, but his hand lingered in Jane's for another heartbeat before he let go.
Jane stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself as the evening breeze picked up across the water. She gave them both a small wave before heading back toward the village, her silhouette gradually disappearing among the trees.
"Aren't you taking your girlfriend with you?" Aidan asked curiously, watching Jane's retreating form.
"No," Thor shook his head, his gaze following Jane until she was completely out of sight. "The Nine Realms Rebellion has not been resolved, and I will continue to fight after I go back. I am afraid that she will be wronged in Asgard. When the situation in the Nine Realms stabilizes, I will come to pick her up again."
Aidan raised an eyebrow. "His Excellency Odin shouldn't try to embarrass a mortal woman."
"Although my father did not approve of what happened between me and her, he won't dislike her yet. I'm just afraid that there will be no one to accompany her." Thor's expression grew troubled. "Asgard can be... isolating for someone not born to it. The court politics, the customs, the simple fact that everyone else has lived for centuries while she's barely seen three decades."
"Yeah, after all, she's not familiar with the place," Aidan agreed. The difference between life in Asgard and on Earth was vast - like comparing a medieval court to modern civilization, except with magic and cosmic consequences.
Thor seemed to think of something, his face brightening slightly. "How about you take care of her for me? Don't you want to learn magic in Asgard?"
"Me?" Aidan was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head. "Don't do it. I'm pretty good at magic already. I'm going to Nidavellir soon to learn forging; I really don't have time."
The thought of babysitting Thor's girlfriend while learning dwarven smithing techniques was less than appealing. Besides, Jane Foster was perfectly capable of taking care of herself - she'd managed to survive first contact with an Asgardian prince, after all.
"Well, then I can only solve the Nine Realms Rebellion as soon as possible," Thor sighed, disappointment clear in his voice.
"It's still a long time away, and it's not that bad," Aidan said, patting his shoulder in comfort. "When the elixir of immortality is refined, I will send it to you as soon as possible. At that time, His Excellency Odin should not be against you."
Thor's expression grew hopeful. "You really think the immortality elixir will work?"
"If it doesn't, I'll figure out something else. There's always a solution if you're willing to look hard enough."
"Well, let's go to the S.H.I.E.L.D. prison and bring my brother Loki out," Thor said, his mood shifting to something more serious. The moment of vulnerability was over; now he was preparing for duty again.
"What are you going to do with him?" Aidan asked curiously while beginning to trace the familiar patterns of a portal in the air. Golden sparks followed his fingers, forming the geometric shapes that would carry them across dimensions.
"He will be imprisoned for life and locked in the dungeon," Thor said matter-of-factly. The portal stabilized, showing a glimpse of a sterile government facility on the other side. "There are some extremely vicious people inside, repeat offenders from all over the Nine Realms."
Aidan followed Thor through the dimensional gateway, the familiar tingle of portal travel running along his skin. "Then your brother will be miserable in the future," he said with dark amusement.
"Yes. No one can escape from there. It has the strongest defenses in all the Nine Realms." Thor's voice carried the weight of someone who'd seen those defenses firsthand. "My father does not believe in half-measures when it comes to justice."
When Aidan and Thor materialized in a sterile government office, Director Fury was waiting in his signature black trench coat, his single eye tracking their arrival with the alertness of someone who'd learned never to be surprised by interdimensional visitors.
But he wasn't alone. The entire Avengers team filled the room - Captain America stood near the window, his shield propped against the wall, while Black Widow leaned against a desk with her arms crossed. Hawkeye sat in a corner chair, absently checking his bow, and Banner looked up from a tablet displaying what looked like energy readings.
"You are all here," Aidan said, genuinely surprised to see the full team assembled. "I wasn't expecting a welcoming committee."
"I was also worried that you would appear directly in the prison," Fury said, stepping forward. "Wouldn't want you accidentally triggering every security system we have."
"I wouldn't be so rude," Aidan shrugged, then studied the room more carefully. Everyone looked tense, like they were preparing for bad news. "Do you have anything to do with me? Obviously, you're all here for more than just a social call."
Tony Stark, who had been unusually quiet in the back of the room, stepped forward. His usually immaculate appearance was slightly rumpled, suggesting he'd been working through the night again. "I have something to discuss with you. Let's go outside and talk."
Without waiting for a response, Tony pushed the door open and walked into the hallway.
The corridor outside was thankfully empty, their footsteps echoing off institutional walls lined with generic government artwork. Tony walked a good distance from the office before stopping, clearly wanting privacy for whatever he had to say.
"What do you want to talk about alone?" Aidan asked, studying Tony's unusually serious expression.
Tony was quiet for a long moment, staring at a point somewhere past Aidan's shoulder. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower than usual, carrying none of his typical confidence. "After this alien invasion, I have some ideas."
Before Aidan could respond, Tony continued, the words spilling out like he'd been rehearsing them. "I found out earlier that although Loki can control other people's minds, he has no effect on a mechanical body. And in the face of an invasion, although we barely resisted, it was also because of your abilities. But what if it happens next time? What if you're not there? What if we're facing something even worse?"
Aidan remained silent, understanding where this was heading. Tony was right to be worried - if there hadn't been a business arrangement between them, Aidan probably wouldn't have gotten involved in the Battle of New York at all. He didn't share the same protective instincts for Earth that drove the Avengers.
"And your company gave me inspiration," Tony continued, his engineer's mind clearly working through complex problems. "I want to create a more powerful mechanical army, an artificial intelligence commander that can protect the Earth when we can't."
The admission hung between them. JARVIS was impressive for a human-created AI, but he was designed to assist, not command. The White Queen managed Baymax Corporation's internal systems, but even she couldn't directly control the thousands of Baymax units worldwide - they were independent intelligences that simply shared common programming and goals.
"What are you going to do?" Aidan asked, though he was already forming suspicions about the answer.
"I want to borrow the scepter in your hand," Tony said, his usual swagger replaced by earnest desperation. "I need the Mind Stone."
Aidan sighed. He'd been expecting this request ever since Tony had gotten a good look at Loki's scepter during the battle. "It hasn't been a long time since the accident of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research on the Tesseract. Are you sure there will be no problem with your research on the Mind Scepter?"
"I'm not the same as them," Tony replied quickly. "S.H.I.E.L.D. was trying to make weapons. I want to make protectors. And besides, our Earth's research on the Tesseract has already been made known to hostile forces across the galaxy. I have to find a way to give us the ability to resist on our own."
His voice took on a slightly pleading tone. "The Tesseract will be taken back to Asgard. The Mind Stone is our only chance to create something that can stand against the next invasion.
Tony Stark asking for help instead of declaring he could handle everything himself was rare enough to be genuinely concerning. The man's ego was usually large enough to have its own gravitational field.
Aidan considered the request carefully. The timeline had already changed significantly under his influence - maybe Ultron, if it emerged, wouldn't default to genocide as the solution to humanity's problems.
And Tony's motivations were genuinely altruistic, even if his methods were questionable. The man had already proven he was willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good.
"Yes," Aidan said finally. "But I need to use it for a while longer. I'll have Dr. Banner contact you when it's ready."
"That's great!" Tony's relief was immediate and overwhelming. He stepped forward and pulled Aidan into an enthusiastic hug, his usual emotional barriers completely dropped. "Thank you so much. Thank you for trusting me."
I just hope I won't regret this, Aidan thought as he returned the embrace. But sometimes you have to take risks for the greater good.
"Just... be careful with it, Tony. That stone has a way of amplifying what's already inside someone's mind. Make sure what it finds there is something you can live with."
Tony nodded seriously, understanding the warning. "I will. I promise."
As they walked back toward the office, Aidan couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just set something monumental in motion. Whether it would save the world or doom it remained to be seen.
Guess we'll find out soon enough.
PLZ throw powerstones