i am mighty thor

@mjolnirmade

Hal is reckless–that’s like, fact number one that people learn about him. He is the man without fear, highball, the greatest Earth Lantern there ever was–and you don’t get those titles without pulling a few stunts, and ever since Doom revealed the list at that party–effectively cementing his own power for the time being–it’s felt like something Hal has needed to do. He cuts his dives a little closer than he normally would because he likes the rush of the ground screaming towards him, he takes on larger groups of demons because he needs something to do–some way to prove to himself that he’s doing something to get himself back to his city and his friends. 

But not every risk has rewards, as is evidenced by the fact that his shoulder is very much not where it’s supposed to be, and is currently supported by a sling constructed out of green light. He’s hoping that this clinic is open, and won’t ask too many questions about the whole masked man emanating green light thing–otherwise he’ll have to do it himself and he knows from experience that is going to hurt worse than anything. The door is open, luckily, and he manages to push it open with his good arm with only a sharp wince through his teeth. “Hey, please tell me you’re not shut up for the night–” He says when what he hopes is a doctor appears. “This–hurts.” Eloquent as always Jordan. 

When Mjolnir wasn’t informing Jane of danger around New York City, she was typically inside the clinic. Of course she understood the merits of a social life, but recently, that goal was difficult to attain. Her time had been split between using injured superheroes and ensuring that the public was safe and as one woman, it rarely left her time to enjoy what New York City had to offer. Honestly, she couldn’t entirely miss when she had spare time to visit with her friends — business kept her mind away from the family that she had lost — and Jane was helping to save the world. Anyone who resented that was undeserving of their power.

Carefully, Jane continued supplying her clinic, ensuring that every inch of her workspace was properly equipped for every and any disaster that walked through her door. Though she had a specific contract with the Avengers, Jane was always clear that she was every enchanted person’s doctor and would never turn away a patient, money or not. It was a noble goal, she supposed, and one of the many ways Jane hoped to make the world a better place. Despite the late hour, she heard her front door open, and while she was guarded, it only took her a moment to place the Green Arrow. “I’m never closed when someone needs care,” Jane promised, stepping forward to examine his arm. “What happened? Come, sit,” Jane said, leading the Green Arrow into an empty examination room. “If you remove the… green, I’ll be able to look more closely,” Jane instructed.

@mjolnirmade

If there was one thing Valkyrie had learned throughout the years, both from her ordeals with Odin and from her time spent away from Asgard, it was that most of those in authority were untrustworthy at best. She wished she could claim surprise when the President leaked his list, thus betraying the heroes who had been willing to work with him and those who hadn’t, but she couldn’t.

Lack of surprise, however, did not translate to lack of anger. She was furious at the turn in events, and it was clear she was hardly alone.Thor – the one who wasn’t the crown prince of Asgard, and therefore the one Valkyrie preferred – seemed to share in the anger.  “We should do something,” Valkyrie declared, feet propped up on the barstool next to her. “Where can we find the government officials in this city? I think I’d like to talk to them.” Her expression betrayed exactly what sort of ‘talk’ she had in mind.

Political corruption had always been particularly disgusting to Jane. Throughout the years, she had witnessed countless horrific dealings that wealthy, privileged politicians made in an effort to gain power and while it was no surprise that President Doom was among such horrific people, it was disappointing. Leaking the list and betraying its heroes was a cause that Jane obviously took personally, and while she could do little in her civilian clothes, Thor was capable of demanding an answer. It was the just thing to do, and important to protect the heroes she was very technically allied with.

Valkyrie, as Jane suspected, was equally as enraged by the turn of events. As a woman who had the misfortune of knowing Odin, Jane suspected that Valkyrie, too, had been treated poorly by the men in power. “Yes, we should do something,” Jane agreed, her armour clanging as she leaned against the wall near Valkyrie. “I’m sure there will be some staying at hotels near the Empire State,” Jane replied thoughtfully. “Or inside the Empire State, politicians stay close together. Edward Knottington is one I would especially like to meet,” Jane informed her friend. “We should talk to him.”

Thor had not made countless allies in her time as a superhero, although Jane hadn’t bothered attempting to grow close with the Avengers or the Fantastic Four whilst she was in her armour, Mjolnir in hand. Perhaps if she had, things would be different now that Doom had released the list and Jane was attempting to uncover a solution. Her immediate impulse, likely fuelled by the powerful hammer in her hand, was to attack the president and force him to admit that he had intended to release private information. Jane was not a naturally violent woman, but the more time she spent with Mjolinr, the more she had noticed slight changes in her demeanour. Once she had fought against that immediate inclination, Jane slowly began considering alternatives, like holding a press conference where every popular hero could speak their peace. Unfortunately, civilians were unlikely to listen.

Ultimately, after flying across the small expanse of New York City several times, she was landing on the Avengers Tower rooftop, patiently awaiting Thor’s arrival. Perhaps it was due to their history or their connection through the hammer, but Thor was usually aware when Jane arrived. Shortly after, he joined her, and Jane, dressed in her armour, turned to face him with a sigh. “I want to fix this,” she informed Thor, not bothering to hide her anger and distress. What Doom had done was a gross betrayal of trust and it angered Jane endlessly. “I’m not sure how we can fix the civilians’ opinions, but there’s surely a way. Do you have any suggestions? I’ve been brainstorming alone for hours.”

Rich stands outside of Jane’s apartment door for a long moment, inhales slowly. He would never keep her at any sort of physical distance–he couldn’t cause her that kind of pain after everything they’ve been through together, not after he’d gone through losing her that day in the Cancerverse (even though he’d done it to keep her safe, that had been probably the hardest thing–knowing that she would have another person to grieve, that he would never hear her laugh or roll her eyes after he knocked on her window, looking for a patch job before being called away again), but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been keeping a kind of emotional distance, even from her. He just doesn’t know where to even begin or if he even wants to subject her to it, after everything she’s been through–but at the same time, who else is he going to talk about it to? Jane is it for him as far as people go, and she always has been. The answer is simple and yet complicated, all in the same breath. He knocks on the door slowly, feels his breath leave his body when it opens to reveal her face. 

He hugs her back equally as tightly, and it simultaneously aches and eases some of the weight that he’s been carrying around. “You too Jane, always.” She lets him go and he smiles genuinely, probably the most so since he’d come back to life. “What’s new with me? That’s a loaded question,” He chuckles and can’t help but wrap an arm around her shoulder as she tends to something on the stove, press a kiss to the side of her head. “I’m Nova Prime without a Nova Corps, which means I should basically go back to calling myself the human rocket, which as you know, was a terrible name.” He laughs and sighs exasperatedly. “Other than that, it’s been a lot of trying to catch up with where the world is now, and trying not to think about the Cancerverse.” He shrugs his shoulders like it’s nothing, like that’s something he ever thought he would have to re-learn how to do, what it felt like to know he was at home in his own body. He must be doing somewhat better however, as Jane smiles and tells him that he looks healthy. Or he’s significantly better at faking it. “But I’m really happy to see you, and you’re definitely going to tell me what’s new with you at some point. You’ve got to be busier than ever right? Stitching up demon wounds in your sleep?” 

After coping with the loss of her son and ex-husband, Jane couldn’t imagine losing person. She had never had full custody, that had always been Keith’s job — he was a full-time parent, as Jimmy had deserved, but they spent time together regardless of their divorce — but she had loved her family fiercely. The thought had quite literally made her sick, and after withstanding the loss of her mother to cancer as a child, it had always been a prevalent fear in Jane’s life. Loss was complicated, nuanced, and there was no way to perfect working through it. If anything, loss was something carried with you, and Jane had learned ways to honour Jimmy and Keith as she had her mother. For her ex-husband, Jane continued her practice with as much passion, knowing that he had always supported her career, and for Jimmy, a kind, loving boy, Jane continued to offer care and patience wherever she could. Truthfully, she hadn’t been prepared for losing Rich so soon afterwards, and though she had searched for ways to save him from the Cancerverse as Thor, nothing worked. Honouring him had been more difficult, he was like a brother to her, but no answer readily came until she realized something simple: all Rich would want for Jane was happiness. Unfortunately, that was no easy feat.

Luckily, Jane no longer had to cope with the loss of Rich. He was alive once more, free from the Cancerverse (memories excluded) and he looked healthy. It was truly all she could hope for, a miracle, and Jane had been faced with plenty of those recently. Not too many people survived cancer, and not too many people were worthy of the Mjolnir. “Thank god I came shielded,” she said lightly. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine what Rich was experiencing, but Jane intended to support him in anyway possible. It was the least that she could do. “I think you can pull of the human rocket,” she said with a grin. “Nova suits you better, but we could make the latter work. Maybe get you a new costume with a rocket on the front?” Her voice was light, teasing, but Jane quickly turned more serious. “Is it possible to recruit Nova Corps?” She didn’t understand the intricacies, but Rich was a born leader. “Do you have any questions about the new world? If you ever want to discuss what happened in the Cancerverse, I’m here,” she added. For Rich, she could listen to any horrific stories. “My superheroes are doing decently with the demon threat,” she replied, careful not to mention her new alter-ego, Thor. “The patient list has been growing recently, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ve learned to function well on a few hours sleep. Do you think I should make the Human Rocket my new patient for free?”

When you lived a life like Clint’s, being friends with a doctor was generally a good call. Even when he wasn’t falling off buildings or catching bullets from some mobster’s gun, he had a knack for getting himself into all kinds of shit. The term ‘walking disaster’ had been used generously on more than one occasion. Jane had always been good at piecing him back together after things like that, never judged him when he got his injuries in a less than badass way. She was a good friend, too, and Clint figured he would’ve been drawn to her even without the whole doctoring thing. When he needed to go grocery shopping on a day when Nat was busy, he didn’t hesitate in asking Jane to accompany him. He was entirely capable of going by himself, of course, but it always made Nat more comfortable when he had someone else with him, and he was reminded why when he managed to trip in one of the aisles and knock down several shelves in the process. Clint blinked at the cans rolling across the floor, looking forlorn at the sight. “Aw, cans,” he sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck before looking back to Jane. “It just happens,” he told her with a shrug. “I’m all right. I’m… Gonna be broke if they make me buy all this. Is there a ‘you break it you buy it’ rule for, like, the store itself? Is that a thing?”

Clint was a magnet for bad luck, and Jane didn’t say that lightly. She’d never believed that people could be cursed with luck, never believed in luck at all, in fact, until she met Clint Barton. Perhaps that sounded dramatic, but after witnessing the man miraculously knock down several aisles by the sheer force of his own poor footing, anyone’s mind would change. That being said, Clint was also one of the kindest and most loving people Jane had ever met. Being burdened with something embarrassing was hardly a bother when she got the gift of his friendship in the process and thanks to her fondness for Clint, Jane tried to stifle his laughter. He didn’t look seriously injured, she was allowed to be amused by it. “The cans deserved better,” Jane agreed, bending over to pick up a dented can of tomatoes. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay,” she replied, speechless by the fact that this just ‘happened.’ “I don’t think they’ll make you buy all of it,” she said thoughtfully. Honestly, Jane wasn’t sure that there was a policy on quite literally destroying an aisle. “Should we speak to the manager just to be sure? Would you rather leave?” Jane paused before asking, “What do you normally do in these situations?”

It hadn’t taken long for Tony to realise that the Avengers needed someone a whole lot more specialised than the standard emergency doctor at Metro General. The heroic community was expanding rapidly, his own team along with that, and Tony’s ultimate priority was ensuring that the Avengers were safe and well cared for. Jane Foster had come through with a great recommendation, and she was already a close friend to begin with. Trusting her with confidential medical information was an easy thing to do, and her kind, caring nature meant that even the most distrusting of the team found themselves relaxing in her company, allowing her to tend to their wounds, and monitor their training regimes to prevent damage to their bodies.

Of course, there had been moments when Tony was sure that she was hiding something from him. She was there in a professional capacity, but their friendship extended beyond that, and contrary to popular belief Tony was not completely oblivious to signs that someone was holding back. Tony had been standing by the window listening to FRIDAY’s daily tactical report when he saw a flash of golden light, and it said a lot about his life that he hadn’t flinched.

It was entirely probable that it had been a glint of light against the building, but Tony doubted it. “Damn, and the Greek place in Doom Square closed half an hour ago. I guess I’ll have to deal with this cardiac incident all by myself.” He held up his hands after that, a grin on his face. “Joking, by the way.” Tony’s disregard for his own health, after all, was well documented. It would be entirely in character for him to joke about having a heart attack. “We’re friends, aren’t we?” Tony asked, trying - and failing - to maintain casual. “Like, friend friends? Close friends, I mean. We tell each other things. I told you about that weird disease I picked up in Marbella, you tell me … things as well. Now that I’m thinking about it, you’ve never told me anything comparable to ‘foreign STD,’ so we’re gonna need to even up those scales, doc.”

Spreading herself too thin was a concern that Jane had frequently. Her job as a doctor, especially to the enhanced, required the utmost focus. Jane was a privileged doctor, able to know her patients intimately due to the limited amount of her patients — there were many superhero teams, many superheroes, but it was nothing compared to the sheer amount of patients in hospitals — and Jane had no intention of taking that for granted. She memorized their medical records, their special quirks, what traumas they may carry, and honestly, it took a significant amount of energy. Jane loved her job, she never once regretted the path she took, but Thor, too, was a major responsibility. Jane intimately understood how crucial it was for heroes to be attentive, and unfortunately, she intimately understood the disasters that struck when they were not. She worked endlessly to ensure that no civilian endured the loss that she was forced to, and similarly, she monitored her patients closely to ensure they would not suffer from crippling ailments.

Ironically, Tony Stark was one of her closest friends (truthfully, Jane had few friends due to her unique schedule) and one of her most difficult patients. He was negligent about his health, though slowly, that was beginning to change. Jane suspected that was due to his bettered mental health. “I’ll settle for scrambled eggs,” Jane replied lightly, offering her friend a fond smile. She knew Tony well enough to realize that he had been joking, though it wasn’t uncharacteristic for him to joke about his health. “Now that you ask, I’m not so sure… Are we friends, Tony?” The more cavalier Jane acted, the less likely it was that Tony would think too deeply about the flash of light that he had seen. “Well, you had no choice but to tell me about the STD that you had,” Jane pointed out. “That being said, I did tell you when I was fighting cancer and I can honestly tell you that I’ve never had an STD. Bladder infections, on the other hand, I used to get often. Satisfied?”

Of all the things he put his time and financial resources into, charities such as this were among the closest to T’Challa’s heart. In the past, Wakanda’s rulers had stubbornly refused to let their resources extend beyond the country’s boarders, refusing to share their vast wealth with any people but their own. For a time, T’Challa had followed the tradition himself, though he regretted it greatly now. Just because someone was not fortunate enough to have been born within the walls of his own country did not make them unworthy or undeserving of his help, and he was working to rectify the mistake of his predecessors by setting up and donating to charities all across the world. While stuck in his current situation, his reach only extended to New York, and he’d been pouring in extra work within the city’s limits as a result. Working alongside Jane Foster – a woman beyond worthy of his assistance – he was helping with New York’s current medical and infrastructure situations. A little went a long ways, he found.

Clearing rubble was not something T’Challa was entirely accustomed to. Due to his position as king, he rarely did work such as this. He occasionally cleared debris from collapsed tunnels in the vibranium mines back in Wakanda, but that was far different then clearing away the remnants of buildings. Looking up as Jane spoke, T’Challa offered her a smile. “Not too busy for this,” he assured her. “I don’t have as much to do as I usually might. It is hard to be a king when your nation is unreachable. This is admirable work, and more than worthy of my time.” Smile widening slightly, he added, “And I am glad to be spending this time with you.” His relationship with Jane had been brief, and nowhere near as deep as the one he’d had (and continued to have, in a manner of speaking) with Ororo, but it had been fun nonetheless. She was fun to be around, a joy in spite of the hardships she had suffered. 

Mjolnir had only been part of Jane’s life for a short period of time, but she frequently found herself missing the strength and stamina it endowed her with. She was largely picking up small pieces of debris and rubble, but with the hammer securely in her hand, Jane would be capable of clearing the entire area within minutes. Unfortunately, that was not within the realm of possibility. In the immediate aftermath, Thor had been actively aiding the cleanup efforts, but enough time had passed that New York City was largely restored. Now Jane Foster had her role, and she played them both dutifully. Jane’s work was equally as important as Thor’s, keeping their superhero population healthy, able to serve, and volunteering among citizens too poor to pay for medical care. Not all heroes wore capes, as the saying went, though both definitions applied to Jane.

T’Challa had never once faltered when they were requested to do difficult, physical work, and that was one of the many reasons Jane respected the King of Wakanda so greatly. His position never seemed to faze him, the privilege had not affected him, and she was proud to call him a friend (and an ex-boyfriend technically). “I don’t think anyone is too busy for this. It’s important work,” she said quietly. “How have you been coping with the isolation?” Jane asked, the concern evident in her voice. During their time being isolated, she frequently thought about T’Challa, knowing how difficult it must be to be separated from his kingdom and people. It was incomparable, but she often wished she could be on Asgard once more, especially now that she was so connected to the city as Thor. “It is worthy of our time,” she agreed with a smile. “I’ve missed you lately,” she admitted. “We should make more time for each other.”

Although it felt like a long time ago, it had really only been the course of four years since Thor had stood in front of his father and turned down the throne of Asgard, saying that he would rather be a good man than a great king. Once upon a time, Thor had mistakenly assumed that the two were much the same thing. Jane had shown him what it truly meant to be good. The weeks that he had spent on Midgard following his banishment were some of the best of his life, and considering the fact that Odin assumed they would be a punishment, that was truly something. It was all because of her, showing him the world that she was a part of, inadvertently opening his eyes to what it meant to really be a hero. It didn’t involve running into battles blindly, fighting without any thought to surrender. It didn’t mean showing no mercy. In fact, the bravest thing a person could do - the very thing that Jane had done the moment she met him - was to accept someone, to welcome them, in spite of their differences.

Jane Foster was a better person, a better god, than Thor could ever hope to be. If she had been present on that planet, perhaps more of its inhabitants would have made it out safely. “A little of this, a little of that,” Thor said, shrugging slightly as he finished off his drink. He reached for the crab cakes, but Jane had already beaten him to the punch, putting a smile on his face, and reminding him that was in no way an answer. “On Sokovia, I had a vision of a dying planet. When Ultron was vanquished, I set off to prevent that vision from coming to light. I did not succeed.” Thor looked at the bottom of his empty glass until the waiter interrupted by refilling it. “I did, however, manage to preserve the lives of fifty of that planet’s people, and bring them to Asgard as refugees.” Fifty, from thousands, perhaps even more than that. “This is a party, and I would much rather speak as to what I missed when I was away from you, Jane. How have you fared with Mjolnir?”

Thor was much more complicated than Midgardians — Jane’s people — gave him credit for. The majority of praise he received was from people who found him attractive, and while she could never deny that he was handsome, Thor’s heart was what had made Jane fall for him in the first place. He was capable of change, evolving to become one of the bravest and best men that she knew. Few people, let alone gods, were capable of such feats. Not only that, but Thor had chosen to defend a planet he hardly understood, and in the process, saved millions of life. He was noble, he was caring, and he deserved all the love in the world — in many worlds. Jane was aware that some of her feelings on Thor Odinson were clouded by their brief romance, but she had spent ample time considering the depth of her feelings and how they had arisen. Ultimately, it had been because of the man Thor had become in such a short period of time, and while he would undeniably say Jane was responsible for his changes, the truth was that Thor was brave enough to embrace them.

As Thor attempted to divert her question, brushing it off easily, Jane saw through the act immediately. He was typically an honest, unguarded man. “And what is this and that?” She questioned, tilting her head to the side. Considering that Thor had essentially disappeared, Jane could only imagine how important what he had been up to was. “A dying planet?” Jane asked, furrowing her brow. “I could have helped — I wouldn’t have been Thor then,” she said quietly, cutting herself off. Now that she was a superhero thanks to Thor’s generosity, Jane intended to save every living, breathing being that she possibly could without discrimination — assuming it was possible. Some life was too violent to allow to continue. “That’s incredible,” she said quietly, touching Thor’s hand. “Fifty lives worth so much, and you managed to accomplish that alone. I’m proud of you, Thor.” When Thor changed the subject, she smiled faintly. “Mjolnir is incredible. We’re so… deeply connected,” she said, unsure how to describe the feeling. “I’ve never felt more powerful or liberated in my life. Thank you,” she said sincerely. “I know how much she means to you.”

@mjolnirmade

For as long as Thor could remember, Mjolnir had been the equivalent of another limb. He had fought thousands of battles with it by his side, accompanying him in the most adverse of circumstances, and the most mounted of odds. Together, they had remained victorious, and had made it possible to say that there was peace among the Nine Realms under his father’s reign. As time moved on, though, Odin began to suggest more and more that Thor was using it as a crutch, rather than the source of power and strength that it should have been. Indeed, the second he passed the hammer to Jane, never once doubting that she would be worthy of wielding it, Mjolnir seemed to breathe with new energy, new life, a vitality that he had not seen in hundreds of years. Truly, she was something to behold.

That was why, contrary to his new philosophy, Thor had actually sought out a battle that morning. He had shown up at Jane’s door with two protein shakes and a few bags of the granola she liked, and once breakfast was over, he had announced that he wished to get an up close and personal view of the demons across the border. Truly, with Stormbreaker and Mjolnir, they were invincible.

“I believe my count is thirty-three at this point,” Thor said, landing beside Jane with a smile, lightning sparking from his fingertips and channeling into Stormbreaker. “If we were going for light exercise this morning, I would have suggested a jog instead. Perhaps we should increase the pressure with a competition. All friendly, of course!”

Truthfully, Jane couldn’t imagine how Thor had felt when he surrendered Mjolnir to her, claiming that she was worthy. He had intended the gesture to save her life, and while it was possible, Jane had ultimately chosen modern, Midgardian medicine over Asgard’s magic. She didn’t trust that magic was priceless, and Jane’s comprehension of cancer cures, both modern and natural, was thorough. Thanks to the loss of her mother, she had made a point to study all possibilities, and once the world was in relative peace, she had dedicated time to her recovery. Now that the process was over, Jane was pleased with her health, having made a full (albeit monitored) recovery and Thor was a hero on the rise.  

Without Thor, it wouldn’t have all been possible, and for that, Jane was eternally grateful. She had always known that her ex-boyfriend was truly incredible, kind and giving, but the extent had shocked even Jane. Naturally, spending time with him was wonderful, and naturally, it could also be difficult. Their feelings for one another had been intense and genuine, though she was no longer in a position to act upon them. They were friends and nothing more. Well, that wasn’t entirely true: Thor and Stormbreaker were an incredible team.

There were countless impossibilities in their world. Science wasn’t always accurate, although Jane had been lucky with her discoveries a time or two, following her intuition. Gods existed, and in many ways, Jane herself was one whenever she clutched Mjolnir, connecting with the hammer on a spiritual level. There were ten acknowledged realms, expanding far beyond Earth, and allegedly, her beloved city could be moved entirely. Impossibilities didn’t just exist, they were surrounded by them, but she was shocked nonetheless by Rich returning to life. Grieving him had been a difficult process, one that reminded Jane intimately of the pain she experienced after losing her ex-husband and son, but by the time she worked through it, suddenly the closest friend Jane had had throughout her life was alive once more. She wasn’t yet aware what he experienced whilst lost in space, commanding the Nova Corps, but Jane knew that it couldn’t have been easy. In this life, nothing worth it was easy.

Rather than meet Rich in a public setting where their words would be forcibly guarded, Jane invited him to her apartment for dinner. Mjolnir was carefully hidden in her closet, the pasta was finished cooking, and Rich had just arrived. Strangely, Jane was nervous to be reunited with her childhood best friend. She had known Rich for a long time, he had been present at her mother’s funeral, her wedding, her graduation, but nothing compared to speaking to someone you had mourned. There were no guidebooks for it. “It’s nice to see you,” she informed Rich, hugging him tightly. “I would tell you about my exciting new life, but I’d rather hear about what’s new with you,” Jane said with a warm smile. Avoiding the topic of Thor would make it much easier to keep a secret from Rich. “You look good, healthy,” she added. As a woman who had suffered from crippling illness, healthy was a mighty compliment.

G.I.R.L. wasn’t an organization that Jane entirely understood, but after Nadia Pym, an intelligent young woman with admirable goals, Jane couldn’t help but agree to be a member. It sounded like an excellent idea in theory, but without knowing details, Jane couldn’t easily help Nadia form her dream group. Of course she wanted to, she was honoured to be invited. Expectedly, the space that Nadia had found to create a lab for G.I.R.L. was small, but truthfully, Jane was impressed that she had managed to create her own lab to begin with. It was yet another reason that she wanted to support Nadia, she was tenacious, driven, and it was wonderful to witness.

“What exactly are we going to be doing at G.I.R.L.?” Jane asked with a bright smile, looking around the lab. She touched the equipment gently, checking to see what she could use and supply from her own resources. “I have some extra lab equipment I could give you as well,” she added, turning back towards Nadia. “I can also ask some colleagues of mine, powerful women, of course. I’m so thrilled that you asked me to help, Nadia.” She wasn’t exactly sure whether she was helping with G.I.R.L. or a member, but either way, Jane was thrilled.

Clint was one of Jane’s closest friends in the world, she had patched up countless wounds he’d gotten during missions, Clint had come along with her while she adopted Artemis (a long winded name for a cat, but one she liked nonetheless), and now, Clint was with her grocery shopping. It wasn’t an outing Jane expected when Clint asked her to spend the day with him, but allegedly, Nat hated when he grocery shopped alone. Frankly, Jane had no desire to ask why, knowing Natasha, it would be a valid reason. Currently, they were walking through the canned aisle, and Jane was reading over ingredients in canned corn when she heard a loud crash. Startled, she looked up, and Clint had managed to fall into and knock over an entire aisle. “How did you do that?” She asked, sounding understandably appalled. “Are you okay, Clint?” Jane asked after a moment, leaning over him to inspect whether he’d been seriously injured.

Charity work was always of the utmost importance to Jane. Giving back to the world, especially when one was in a privileged position, was crucial. It was their duty to give back to communities that had treated them well, and in Jane’s position, it was quite simple. Medical care was a universal need and in America, it was also very difficult to afford.  After all of the attacks on New York City, including recent demon ones due to provocation and their unique targets. For the King of Wakanda, things weren’t so simple in Jane’s humble opinion. He was a genius, an excellent inventor, and Wakanda had many assets, but giving back was much more difficult. That being said, T’Challa was admirable for helping and he seemed content to do so. Naturally, Jane respected him immensely for it, and the friendship that had grown between the two of them was one of the most rewarding she had had. (Their brief relationship was also quite enjoyable, though Jane rarely thought deeply about it.)

Currently, she and T’Challa were working outside of their respective comfort zones, clearing rubble from one area that had been hit particularly hard by the Skrull Invasion. Without Mjolnir increasing her strength, Jane was struggling, though she proudly refused to show it. She had faced far worse, albeit in a mask. “Thank you for helping us,” she said to T’Challa with a smile. “I’m sure your schedule is pretty busy, isn’t it?” T’Challa may have been separated from Wakanda as she was from Asgard, but the responsibilities never disappeared and the worry was suffocating.

Working amongst Avengers (and Fantastic Four and any other superhero that needed urgent medical care) whilst concealing a superhero persona was no easy task. Jane was careful about her transformations between Thor and Jane Foster, always attempted to do them far from the Tower and the Baxter Building, but unfortunately, it was not always possible. Mjolnir was never patient when an urgent crisis struck, nor did Jane want the hammer to await on times convenient for her — heroism was not an obligation, but an honour, and Jane fought for the people’s safety, health and happiness fiercely. Today the timing happened to be abysmal, the hammer awaking her at dawn, warning her about demons invading a journalists home. When Jane arrived on scene, it was clear the demons had ravaged the house, attempting to find Georgia Davis, one of the New York Bulletin’s finest. Jane had found her hiding in a cellar beneath her home, clutching her daughter, and she had had very little mercy as she vanquished the demons that threatened the woman and her family. After tending to the Davis’ minor wounds, Jane was nearly late for work. With little choice but to transform outside of her clinic, a building Tony had a very unfortunate clear view of, Jane did so with bated breath.

By the end of the day, it was abundantly clear that Tony hadn’t witnessed the golden light of Jane’s transformation from human to god… At least that was Jane had mistakenly convinced herself. When Iron Man was standing in her doorway, she remained composed. Of all people to discover her secret, Tony Stark was hardly the worst. He kept numerous identities secret. “I closed twenty minutes ago, Tony, so if you’re injured, I’m going to need to buy me Greek to compensate for my overtime.” Jane’s tone was fond and the smile on her face revealed none of her concerns. Whether lying was a useful skill or not, Jane wasn’t sure, but she had been improving on it recently.

Thor was a hero, and Jane didn’t mean that solely because he was capable in a fight. Thor Odinson was a hero because he actively chose to protect a home that wasn’t his, a planet that his people had largely forgotten and left forsaken and once he had proven himself, Thor continued to aid Midgard in whatever way he saw fit. It was for those reasons that Jane had fallen for him originally, and it wasn’t something that she regretted in the least. Absolutely there were some exes that she refused to admit to, ones she wished that she had never met, but Thor Odinson would never be among them. That being said, Jane had no idea how she could possibly repay him for the gift of Mjolnir, the power of Thor, which she had chosen to use to better the world, offering help to every and all New York citizens — and soon the galaxy — without bias. No threat was too small for Thor, Jane intended to prevent people from the pain she had unfortunately experienced. She no longer blamed Thor or the Avengers for their oversight, though getting to that point had been painstaking, but willpower had ultimately won in the end.

Rather than continue their heroic careers, tonight Jane and Thor were attending Victor von Doom’s celebration. Understandably, she was suspicious of his motivations, as were most heroes, but refusing to be present at the event would leave people vulnerable to their President’s influence and without being confident in his pure intentions, Jane thought it best. She also intended to spend more time with Thor, particularly now that she was declared cancer-free. It wasn’t done magically as Thor intended, but wisely Jane didn’t trust the price of magic. “You never told me what you were doing after you left Earth,” Jane said quietly, wordlessly handing Thor a crab cake. People were dancing, drinking, enjoying themselves thoroughly, but she much preferred catching up with someone she cared about deeply. In Jane’s opinion, that was an ideal party.