Thunder

"Welcome to Asgard!"

They bowed. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, King Odinson. I-"

"Yes, yes," said Thor dismissively coming down from off his throne. He ignored Walt and went straight to Jen taking her hand and kissing it. "The lovely lady She-Hulk is always most welcome! She shall always find the arms of Asgard open to receive her."

Jen grit her teeth in a smile that didn't seem quite as pleased. "Thank you, Your Majesty. That's so kind and flattering to hear."

*Oh boy howdy that's not good,* Walt thought looking at the two of them they were already struggling as Jen tried to take her hand back and Thor possesively clutched at it. They both laughed but neither sounded genuinely happy.

Walt sighed. He was irritated by Thor's behavior... but he was like that sometimes and Jen could definitely handle herself. A disturbing number of "supers" had darker egos and impulses. Thor wasn't without his flaws but he was generally a good person. This Thor had been through a lot. With his missing eye and beard he'd begun to resemble his father. He'd recently struggled with 'worthiness', mighty foes, losses and now the burden of rulership and come out the otherside.

Which is why his smile was disturbing... it was forced. Unnatural. Walt decided he was trying too hard to be as he once was. Boisterous and jovial. Thor was certainly still interested in Jen sexually... but he was just as interested in a good scrap too. He was desperate for a glimmer of who he once was. A being of sporting, cheer, action and excitement... who'd had his joys stripped away from him. It wasn't a good look. Walt had likely looked similar in the past. Heavy was the head that wears the crown. He felt just a bit sorry for this Thor even if he was being a bit of a jerk on purpose.

Jen had finally managed to snatch her hand free and Thor had moved on to first Gwen and then Jubilee. He was still being obnoxious and the girls weren't buying his flowery words but were being nice... but he didn't pull the same thing with either of them that he did with Jen. It only reconfirmed Walt's impressions. This Thor was spoiling for a challenge. From Jen -

*Or is it me?* he wondered as he watched Thor kiss Jubilee's hand. He had to admit he wanted to punch him in the teeth just a bit listening to him try his 'charm' and flattery with them as well. The way he talked down to Shocket and Linda.

*Which is what he'd like... so don't play his juvenile game,* he thought. *End it instead.* "Friday," he whispered. "Release five seals for a maximum durability spread and dump any remaining power into shock resistance and endurance and health regeneration, please? Thank you."

("Understood. Releasing five seals. Epic durability and immunity achieved. Endurance increased to double the super human maximum. Health regeneration level one reached. Reminder warning. You are well beyond the superhuman maximum. While you lack the epic strength to say bend steel bars like a piece of small gauge wire, if someone like Thor threw you your nigh invulnerability could cause serious damage. Even a normal punch will be like hitting someone with a hammer. For someone with your usual superhuman strength you could kill them. Status changes will stay in effect until reset."))

She was right... Which was what he wanted as Thor stepped up like a cocky jerk. He smiled and said, "and your attendant is welcome as well of course," as he magnanimously took the mere mortals hand firmly and then clapped Walt on the shoulder even harder.

Walt rocked just slightly shifting his foot. Coming from Thor it was a bit above a love tap and should have easily sent any normal person flying. Even an exceptionally strong human would have been bowled over easily. Walt didn't as he took the somewhat less than friendly blow. That surprised Thor a little... but not nearly as much as the pain in his hand as Walt firmly gripped him. Not the right hand he was holding... but the left hand that Thor had "playfully" swatted him on the shoulder with. It stung. Like he'd just slapped his hand against something too solid. Something unyeilding.

Walt looked into Thor's surprised eyes as he squeezed back. Walt was superhumanly strong but not nearly on Thors level. Still his grip was harder than iron. As Thor narrowed his eyes squeezing more It was... totally unyeilding. Uncomfortably so.

Shocket and Linda weren't quite sure what was going on but they were amused. "I'm afraid you're mistaken your Majesty," Linda said.

Shocket grinned and nodded chuckling. She'd been right... this was amusing already. "Walter here ain't an attendant or servant he's... our captain."

Linda took her hand and nodded. Shocket might not be ready but Walt was willing to wait for her. "He's our friend," she added.

"Is that so?" Thor asked bearing down.

"It is," Walt told him simply.

"And the man I love," Jubilee said.

"Me too," said Gwen. "And a great hero in his own right!"

Jen smirked. "And I as well... and he's an equal and our leader."

"I see," Thor said squeezing down hard. There's a flicker of a current of electricity between them and still no resonse... then after a tense moment of getting nowhere he finally let go laughing. "That's good to know! I shall make a note of it. Welcome to Asgard, Walter."

Walt smiled. "Thank you for the warm welcome, your Majesty. It is good to be here, King Odinson. You may simply call me Walt if you'd like."

Thor actually smiled a bit like his old self. "Fine. Walt, it is. Then please feel free to adress me informally as well as Thor."

---

"So it's similar to the Future Foundation that Reed Richard was forming?"

Walt nodded. "Yes, your- sorry, that's somewhat correct, Thor. But not as a 'super team'. Also our focus will be on the betterment of all involved. The whole Earth or Midgard needs help... but I know that Asgard has suffered hardships of late as well. I'd like to invite you and Asgard to the table for Asgard's benefit as well as Midgard's. I'd also like to try to help here personally and thus demonstrate that goodwill, if you'll permit us? Then you might be better judge firsthand the benefits of entering into an alliance with us."

Thor lifted his eyebrow. "I see... judge by your actions for myself your intentions and worthiness, is it? A generous offer."

Walt shrugged and smirked. "That's one way of looking at it but in business it's normal to have to give away a sample of a product first to really grab your potential customers. We have a saying, 'The first hits free, kid.' It's just good business to prove the product."

Thor shook his head but he smiled. "And the price of more help is to then join and provide aid as well, is it? You really are a Stark!"

Walt smiled and dropped a small bomb. "I am and not just in name. As of 6 hours and 37 minutes ago I became the controlling interest in Stark Industries with 52% of shares ownership as well as in negotiations to sueze control of as many other Stark interests and properties as well." He sighed. "I don't want to go home after this. I'm afraid of being buried under all the paperwork... maybe it's time to look for an assistant in running all this?"

Jen and Jubilee blinked then stared at him. "Are you saying you're-"

Walt held up his hand. "I'm not Tony and I'm certainly not Ironman. Honestly I hope he just shows up and saves me the hassle. I'd happily turn it all back over to him asap if he did it quick enough... but someone has to step into his place responsibly and do the job he did... even if I'll do it differently. My way."

Thor nodded as the girls explained to the others what Walt meant. "Is that enough, I wonder?" He looked out the balcony of the meeting room they'd adjourned to after their 'formal' introduction and out across Asgard. "Would that be sufficient?"

Walt joined him. "Why wouldn't it be?" Thor gave him a look and Walt continued. "Even for the people of Asgard, just like everything else, all things are change. But change isn't necessarily good or bad. It's just different. Something new... I can't be Tony or Reed or anyone else who's missing but that doesn't mean I can't do what I can and do the job my own way... and while you're connected to him and the Odinforce in many ways you can't be Odin. You have to do things your way. Your father didn't rule like your grandfather Bors did. Your people need you to lead them, true. But you can lead them as Thor the Allfather... you might even find Thor the Allfather becomes quite good at it in the future."

Thor smiled a bit. "Do you really think so?"

Walt shrugged. "That remains to be seen but I believe that the potential is there. I see it."

Thor shook his head. "You remind me of him and Heimdall a bit. Your words are wise."

Walt smirked. "True wisdom is gained in the understanding that we know very little. Like any muscle it must be exercised and trained. Sharpened by experience and then testing it... tending to it like so, it grows with time and develops differently for each person. You have tons of experiences to draw upon. Your father, your adventures, your triumphs and your losses... and your friends and companions along the way. Maby if them wuse leaders in their own way. Use all of that to assemble the 'wisdom of Thor' and I think it'll have the potential to be the wisdom of the greatest king that Asgard has ever known."

Thor nodded. "Is that your "free sample" then? Advice?"

Walt shook his head. "No... that was just an old man talking to the wind. Carrying words to who knows where." He winked. "Pretty careless really of a doddering old, fool. He's likely forgotten his conversation with the wind already. " He walked back over towards the table. He sees Elyia bringing in a pitcher. "Ah! Thank you, Elyia. Is that mead I smell? Yes please!"

Thor smiled shaking his head. He hadn't known what to expect this day exactly... but he was finding it interesting already! The Allfather nodded and turned back around as well. "Aye, let's have some drinks poured by the beautiful Elyia and hear more about what it is that you can do for Asgard."

Elyia served them. "And that's a good point right there!" Walt said. "For one thing the population of Asgardians has declined significantly over the last several years. It's obvious that the misfortunes, strife, battles and wars have taken a significant toll on Asgard's population. Have you ever thought about taking in citizenry?"

Thor blinked. "You mean... like we had to do no Earth? Immigration?"

Walt nodded. "Asgardians were originally two seperate peoples who became united. The Aesir and the Vanir. Your own brother was a Jotun and several of your subjects are like him or carry giant, elven or dwarven blood if not actually giants, ekves or dwarves themselves. Jane is a human though I suppose as Valkyrie now she's technically an Asgardian. You have inside of you a human as well. I'm not saying you have to open your borders completely... but have you ever considered it?"

Thor shook his head. "I'd once asked Jane to come live here before but she couldn't leave earth then... and so I stayed there instead. Things are as you said different now." Thor frowned slightly before shaking his head. "But no I never considered it... and I don't know that people would want to immigrate to Asgard. Besides it's a moot point without the Bifrost."

Walt swallowed the mead and shook his head. "I think you underestimate how many would jump at the chance to come here. It's quite marvelous. Why the Renaissance fair set will be beside themselves with joy... but you have a point which is your biggest obstacle. The Bifrost. We should find a way to fix it or a work around for it. Honestly that's how I'd like to help and why we came. Everything else is moot if that particular problem isn't addressed. The Odinforce can't just fix it?"

"Odinforce?" Gwen asked.

Thor shook his head. "The power of the Allfather... and no. The Bifrost was created in olden times by a person known only as the Architect who was a wizard."

Walt smiled. "I see... tell me more about this wizard?"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

Party in Asgard

Coming Soon]