"He is one of the Avengers' Big Three," Fury thought, replaying Lucas's words. "A powerhouse. A tactical nuke with a hammer."
Even though the current Thor was a depressed, mortal mess, Fury couldn't ignore the potential. The narrative arc was clear.
"Think about it like a movie," Fury strategized, channeling his inner Hollywood producer. "Or like Tony Stark's life."
"Act 1: Arrogant hero falls from grace."
"Act 2: Hero suffers, learns humility."
"Act 3: Hero regains power, but now with wisdom."
"Act 4: Hero defeats the villain and saves the day."
"Tony Stark built a suit in a cave to escape Act 1. Thor needs to lift a hammer to escape Act 2."
"But what's missing?" Fury tapped his chin. "A villain."
"Iron Man had Obadiah Stane. Who does Thor have?"
"Loki?"
Fury hesitated. Thor insisted they were best buds. But the diary said otherwise. And the whole "secret invasion" plan was a red flag the size of Asgard.
"But if not Loki... then who?"
"Maybe the Frost Giants? Or just his own ego?"
Regardless, Thor needed a push. And Fury had just given him one.
"You're right," Thor said, his voice rising with newfound determination. "I need to pass this test! Not just for me, but for Asgard!"
"Loki is King now," Thor reasoned, pacing the cell. "But being King of Asgard means ruling the Nine Realms. The Dark Elves, the Fire Demons, the Frost Giants... they will test him. They will rebel."
"Loki is clever, but he is not a warrior like me," Thor declared, puffing out his chest. "He needs my strength. He needs his brother by his side to crush the rebellions!"
"I must regain my power to protect his reign!"
Fury listened, trying not to roll his eye.
This guy is delusional, Fury thought. He thinks he's going back to be Loki's bodyguard. He has no idea Loki is probably the one instigating the rebellions.
But he didn't say anything. Whatever motivated the big guy was fine by him.
"Yes," Fury nodded gravely. "Asgard needs you. Loki needs you. Now go eat your pop-tarts and get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day."
Thor grabbed the box of strawberry pop-tarts and marched off to his bunk, looking like a man on a holy crusade.
"Self-hypnosis is a powerful drug," Fury muttered. "Now let's hope Lucas takes the bait."
Queens. Lucas's Apartment.
Lucas unlocked his door, humming a tune.
He had just finished tutoring Gwen Stacy. Her grades were skyrocketing, thanks to his Super-Intelligence (a perk of the Kryptonian physique).
Captain Stacy treated him like a son-in-law already. The free dinners were nice.
"American education," Lucas chuckled, tossing his keys on the table. "They preach 'Happy Education,' but the elites know better. Grades are power."
He grabbed a soda and flopped onto the couch. He turned on the TV, flipping through the channels.
News. Politics. Election garbage.
"Same old circus," Lucas sighed. "Vote for the red clown or the blue clown. Nothing changes."
He was about to switch to a movie when a breaking news banner caught his eye.
[BREAKING NEWS: MYSTERIOUS OBJECT FOUND IN NEW MEXICO CRATER]
The screen showed grainy footage of a small town. A perimeter fence. SHIELD agents (blurrily) moving in the background.
And in the center... a hammer.
Lucas sat up.
"It's happening," he whispered. "The hammer is down."
"Wait," Lucas squinted at the screen. "Is that... Iron Man?"
The camera zoomed in. A red and gold blur was flying over the site. It landed near the hammer.
Then, a large blonde man in a flannel shirt walked up to the suit. They seemed to be... talking?
"Tony Stark and Thor meeting this early?" Lucas frowned. "That's not in the script."
"And why is SHIELD letting cameras get this close?"
"Unless..."
Lucas's eyes widened.
"Unless they want people to see it."
He grabbed his diary.
[Interesting. Very interesting.]
[Thor's hammer is in New Mexico. But Iron Man is there too?]
[Is this a crossover episode? Or is Fury cooking something?]
He started typing furiously.
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