"Is everything all right among the stars?" Thor asked as he stood on the steps beside Heimdall, gazing into the endless cosmos.
"All is as it has always been—each shining with its own light," Heimdall replied. "From here, I can see countless beings across the Nine Realms. Do you remember what I told you about the Convergence?"
He drove his sword firmly into the ground and descended from the platform. The observatory began to shift; the massive window once used for stargazing slowly lowered, while the transparent, lens-like roof rotated into its place.
"Of course. When the Nine Realms align as one—the Convergence. It's coming again, isn't it?" Thor asked, stepping closer to the transparent roof.
"The last time the Convergence occurred was before I became guardian," Heimdall said. "Few can sense it, and fewer still can truly see it. Yet every Convergence brings danger."
Thor stared into the heavens, but saw nothing beyond the infinite starfield. "Why can't I see anything?"
"Perhaps because your heart does not wish to," Heimdall answered quietly.
Within Heimdall's golden eyes, nine worlds of different colors were reflected.
Thor smiled faintly and changed the subject, asking the question that mattered most to him.
"How is she?"
His gaze remained fixed on the stars, as though he could pierce the void itself to find Jane.
"Your mortal friend is quite clever," Heimdall said. "She's studying the Convergence—and even researching certain things—"
He suddenly stopped, his golden pupils flaring as he stared into the distance.
"What is it, Heimdall?" Thor asked, a sense of unease rising.
"I… I can no longer see her," Heimdall said in disbelief. "She has obscured my sight."
Within the Nine Realms, only a handful of beings or objects were capable of doing that.
---
Jane dreamed she was a fish gliding freely through the ocean, weightless and at peace. The sensation was wonderfully soothing—until red flooded the sea, swallowing everything. Surrounded by crimson waters, she sank deeper and deeper, suffocated by despair.
She jolted awake, gasping for air.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, and she realized she was still lying inside the abandoned factory. The place was empty.
The wail of police sirens snapped her back to reality. Jane hurried outside and saw Darcy speaking to the police. The moment Darcy spotted her, she rushed over.
"Jane! Where did you go?" Darcy demanded.
"You called the police?" Jane asked, deliberately turning away from the flashing lights as dizziness lingered.
"I couldn't find you anywhere! You vanished for hours—what else was I supposed to do?" Darcy replied.
Just then, thunder rumbled overhead, and rain poured down without warning. The sky, clear moments ago, had turned violent.
"You shouldn't have called them," Jane said anxiously. "Once the police get involved, S.H.I.E.L.D. won't be far behind. They'll discover this place."
"You disappeared without a trace!" Darcy shot back. "Was I supposed to just accept that?"
Suddenly, both of them fell silent.
They realized something strange—rain was pouring down everywhere, yet not a single drop touched them. Within a five-meter radius around them, the rain simply stopped, forming a perfectly dry circle.
"This… this is impossible," Darcy whispered.
Jane raised her hand, testing the boundary—and then froze.
In the distance stood a tall, blond man in a red cloak, holding a hammer.
Thor.
Darcy followed Jane's gaze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Jane walked straight toward him. As she moved, the rainless circle followed her, leaving Darcy behind. The instant Jane stepped away, Darcy was drenched from head to toe.
"Long time no see, Jane," Thor said with a foolish grin.
Smack.
Jane slapped him hard across the face, leaving Thor stunned.
Smack.
Another slap.
"I needed to make sure you were real," Jane said calmly.
"Of course I'm real. No one could impersonate—"
Smack.
A third slap. Thor was completely dazed.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Jane snapped. "I tried to find you for so long, and there was nothing—nothing at all!"
She was furious. He had promised to return soon, yet vanished without a trace.
"I know," Thor said earnestly. "But I destroyed the Bifrost. Then rebellion erupted across the Nine Realms. I had to stop the slaughter—and without the Bifrost, I couldn't return to Earth."
"Fine," Jane said after a moment. "That explains some of it. But I saw you on television—in New York. I saw you clearly during the battle."
"Jane, I was trying to protect you and those around you from threats beyond this world," Thor replied. "That battle was my responsibility. I had to stop it."
Mentioning the Battle of New York reminded him of Loki, now imprisoned in Asgard—remarkably comfortable, all things considered.
"Jane," Thor continued, stepping closer. "You know how I feel. And now, I understand something clearly—"
Their faces drew closer, eyes locked.
"Hey! Did you cause this rain? Could you maybe—"
Darcy burst in again, interrupting them. She had an article of clothing over her head and looked like a drowned cat.
Jane shot her an annoyed look. Thor turned instead to Darcy.
With a snap of his fingers, the rain stopped instantly. The dark clouds began to disperse.
"I just wanted to say," Darcy muttered, "we're about to get arrested. The cops think we made a false report and want to take us in."
"Ms. Jane Foster?" a police officer asked as he approached.
"Yes, officer," Jane replied.
"After investigation, we've determined this is private property. You and your companion are suspected of trespassing. You'll need to come with us."
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