The Weight of Immortality - CH - 61

It didn’t take long for Harry and Hela to discover who had arrived in Midgard alongside Mjolnir. Just two days into their stay at the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, Hela’s brother, Thor, infiltrated the site.

He wasn’t subtle—far from it. Thor tore through the guards like a storm given flesh, knocking them aside with sheer brute strength. But as Harry observed him carefully, something felt off.

“He’s weaker,” Hela said, her voice sharp with disbelief as she stood next to Harry, watching the battle unfold from the observation deck.

“Weaker?” Harry turned to her.

“Not like an Asgardian should be,” she clarified. Her piercing green eyes tracked Thor’s movements. “He’s still stronger than most humans, but his power—it’s… diminished.”

“Stripped?” Harry asked.

“Banished,” Hela replied, her tone tight with suppressed emotion. “It’s the only explanation.”

Harry leaned against the railing, his sharp gaze never leaving the scene below. “Banished, huh? What could he have done to make Odin throw him out of Asgard?”

Hela’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Knowing Thor? Arrogance, recklessness, or maybe both.”

Below them, Thor had finally fought his way past the last group of agents. He stepped into the crater where Mjolnir rested, half-buried in the ground like a relic from another age.

Harry and Hela tensed as Thor strode toward it, confidence radiating from him. But Harry noticed something else—desperation, buried beneath that confidence.

“This is it,” Harry muttered.

Hela gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white. She could feel Mjolnir’s call to her, resonating in her very bones. It was almost painful to resist.

Thor reached out and gripped the hammer’s handle.

The tension in the air thickened.

Harry held his breath.

Hela’s nails dug into the metal railing.

Thor pulled.

Nothing happened.

Thor’s face fell as he strained, pulling again and again, his muscles flexing with every ounce of strength he had. But the hammer refused to budge.

The observation deck was silent except for the faint scraping sound of Hela’s nails against the railing.

“He can’t lift it,” Harry said quietly.

Hela exhaled sharply. “He’s unworthy.”

Thor dropped to his knees in the mud, his hands trembling as he rested them on the hammer’s handle. He whispered something, but the words were lost to the distance.

Harry turned to Hela. “What does this mean for him?”

“It means Odin stripped him of his worth,” Hela said, her voice low and almost bitter. “Without his worthiness, he has no power. He’s human now—fragile, vulnerable.”

Harry frowned. “And dangerous in the wrong hands.”

Down below, guards began swarming the area again, seizing the weakened Thor.

Harry straightened. “We can’t let them keep him locked up.”

Hela finally tore her gaze away from the hammer. “We won’t.”

Harry smirked. “I’ll take care of the guards. You—talk to your brother.”

As Harry vanished into the shadows, Hela’s eyes lingered on the hammer one last time before she moved toward the containment area where Thor was being taken.

Thor sat in the reinforced glass cell, drenched from the rain outside and caked in mud. His shoulders sagged, and his wrists bore fresh restraints, but it wasn’t the bindings that weighed him down. It was the crushing humiliation of failing to lift Mjolnir—the weapon that had once responded to his every call.

The cell was dimly lit, the faint glow of the overhead lights reflecting in the mirrored glass. He could see his own reflection, battered and defeated, staring back at him.

The door hissed open, and Thor’s eyes flicked up.

Hela stepped inside, her boots clicking against the polished floor. She didn’t wear her usual armor, but something about the way she carried herself screamed authority.

“Who are you?” Thor asked, his voice hoarse, though it still carried a regal tone.

Hela tilted her head, studying him with sharp green eyes that reminded him vaguely of someone he once knew.

“Don’t recognize your own sister?” Hela said, her voice steady.

Thor froze. “What?”

Hela stepped closer, letting her presence fill the small room. “You heard me.”

“You lie.” Thor’s voice sharpened, but there was uncertainty in his eyes.

Hela smirked. “Do I? Because I remember wielding that hammer before you ever did.”

Thor lurched forward, only to be yanked back by the restraints. “Impossible. I have no sister.”

“You do,” Hela said, stepping right up to the glass. “You just don’t remember me because Odin erased me from history.”

Thor’s breathing quickened. “What madness is this?”

Hela leaned in, her gaze piercing. “Madness? Is it madness to tell you that your precious father banished me—his firstborn—for daring to be what he made me? A conqueror?”

Thor’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Hela stepped back, crossing her arms. “Believe what you want. But know this—I’m not here to fight you. I’m here to get you out.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my brother,” Hela said simply.

Thor’s eyes softened for the briefest moment before suspicion returned. “And what do you want in return?”

Hela chuckled. “Nothing. For now.”

Before Thor could respond, the lights in the cell flickered. A sharp alarm blared overhead, and the doors to the containment wing began to seal.

Harry’s voice crackled through the intercom. “Hela, we’ve got company. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are moving to secure the hammer. They think someone else is coming for it.”

Hela cursed under her breath and turned back to Thor. “Stay here.”

“I’m not staying here,” Thor growled.

“You can’t even lift your own hammer,” Hela snapped. “You’ll just slow me down.”

Thor glared but didn’t argue.

Hela stood in the dimly lit corridor, her sharp green eyes locked onto Thor, who still dripped with rain and exhaustion. His piercing blue gaze bore into her, full of suspicion and uncertainty.

She took a steadying breath. The weight of her decision hung heavy. Revealing her identity as Thor’s sister was dangerous—not just for her own protection but for everything she and Harry had built in this world. Her cover could be blown, and the peaceful life they had carved out would shatter instantly. Yet, despite the risks, Hela couldn’t let Thor see her as just another stranger.

For all his flaws—his arrogance, his recklessness—Thor was still her brother. Memories surfaced, unbidden. She had spent centuries by his side, shaping him into the warrior he became. She had taught him to wield weapons beyond just brute force, to fight with precision and discipline. She had molded him into a leader when he was just a brash, impatient prince.

And Loki—her cunning, mischievous brother. She had whispered ancient spells to him in secret, guiding his magical talents long before Asgard acknowledged his gifts. Loki’s quick mind had always fascinated her, and she had seen a part of herself in his hunger for knowledge and power.

Those bonds, fragile as they had been, still lingered in her heart. But did they exist in this version of reality?

Hela’s stomach twisted. What if this Thor had no sister? What if, in this timeline, Odin had never spoken her name, never even admitted she existed?

Would he see her as a threat? A liar? Or worse, an enemy?

She shook the thoughts away. No—she wouldn’t let her doubts stop her.

Hela waved her hand, and the swirling light of the portal shimmered into existence. The crackling edges of magic illuminated the shadows cast by the rain-soaked terrain. Thor looked at the portal, then back at Hela, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

"Where does it lead?" Thor asked, his voice edged with skepticism.

Hela crossed her arms, her emerald eyes unwavering. "Not too far from here. Close enough that you can return when the time is right, but far enough to keep you out of immediate danger."

Thor hesitated, still gripping the handle of Mjolnir. "You’re not coming with me?"

"Not yet," Hela replied firmly. "If we vanish without explanation, questions will be asked. Eyes are already on this place, and we can’t afford unwanted attention—not now. You need to lay low until things settle down."

Thor looked unconvinced but nodded reluctantly. "I suppose you’re right. But I won’t be alone."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean?"

A faint smile played at the corners of Thor’s lips, and he straightened slightly. "I have someone with me. Jane. She’s… important."

Harry clapped a hand on Thor’s shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "You’ve only been here for a few days, and you’ve already got yourself a girl? Nice work, Thunder Boy."

Thor’s smile widened for a brief moment before fading again. "She’s not just anyone. She helped me when I had nothing—when I didn’t even know who I was without this hammer."

Hela watched the exchange silently, but there was a flicker of amusement in her gaze. She could see Thor’s fondness for Jane already forming into something deeper. It reminded her of how she and Harry had built their relationship—strong, supportive, and unshakable.

"Alright," Hela interrupted, her voice regaining its commanding tone. "You two can share romantic stories later. For now, get going."

Thor stepped toward the portal, but before he entered, he turned back to look at Hela. "I still don’t understand who you really are, or why you’re helping me."

Hela gave him a small, almost imperceptible smile. "We’ll have time for explanations later. For now, trust me."

Thor studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "I will."

With that, he stepped into the swirling light of the portal.

Harry turned to Hela as the portal began to shrink behind Thor. "You’re really just going to leave him with that girl? He doesn’t even know what he’s walking into next."

"He’ll be fine," Hela replied, though there was a flicker of doubt in her voice. "He will have his hammer back, and he has Jane. Besides, I have a feeling his story is just getting started."

Harry smirked. "Sounds like someone’s been playing the long game with her little brother."

Hela rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she waved her hand to seal the portal completely and turned to Harry. "Let’s get out of here before someone starts asking us too many questions. Thor’s journey may just be beginning, but ours is far from over."

With that, they both slipped away into the shadows, leaving the site behind—knowing full well that Thor’s return to power was only the beginning of a much larger storm that was brewing.

When Harry and Hela finally returned to their quarters, the first thing they noticed was the faint hum of tranquility that filled the space. The scent of incense lingered faintly in the air—something Harry didn’t even remember packing in his enchanted trunk. The sight that greeted them, however, was far more surprising.

Bruce Banner sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and measured. He was meditating, completely absorbed in the practice, his shoulders relaxed in a way Harry had never seen before.

Harry paused at the doorway, exchanging a glance with Hela. "Did we really leave the Hulk alone in here?" he whispered, half-joking, half-concerned.

Hela arched an eyebrow. "Apparently we did. And it looks like he didn’t smash the place, so that’s an improvement."

Harry stepped inside cautiously, waving a hand in front of Bruce’s face. No response. He turned to Hela. "Should I be impressed or worried?"

Before Hela could respond, Bruce opened one eye, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "You don’t have to whisper. I’m not going to Hulk out because you startled me."

Harry blinked. "You sure? Because last time I saw you, you punched a tank into the next zip code."

Bruce let out a breath, closing his eye again. "That’s why I’m meditating. I can’t change what’s inside me, but I can learn to live with it."

Hela stepped forward, her arms crossed. "Well, I hope that’s true because if you wreck this place, you’ll be paying for it."

Bruce opened both eyes this time, sitting up straighter. "You know, you’re a lot more intimidating than him." He jabbed a thumb toward Harry.

Harry snorted. "I get that a lot."

Bruce gave a small chuckle but then grew serious. "Thanks, by the way. For letting me stick around. I know I’m a walking disaster zone, and most people would rather toss me into a cage or shoot me full of tranquilizers."

Harry waved it off. "Trust me, you’re not even in my top ten list of disasters I’ve had to handle."

Hela smirked at that, adding, "Not even top twenty."

Bruce looked between the two of them, shaking his head. "You’re both insane. But… I’m glad I ended up here instead of in some military lab."

Harry sat down across from him, leaning back against the wall. "Speaking of military labs, we might have a problem."

Bruce tensed immediately. "What kind of problem?"

"Let’s just say there’s a certain hammer-wielding god running around now."

Bruce blinked. "Wait, god? Like… mythology?"

Hela raised a hand. "More like reality. He’s my brother, and he just showed up trying to reclaim his hammer. Long story short, he’s back in play, and we don’t know how that’s going to shake out yet."

Bruce stared at her in disbelief before muttering, "I really need to read more of these magic books."

Harry clapped him on the shoulder. "Good idea. But first, get some rest. Something tells me things are about to get a lot more complicated."

Bruce sighed and stood up, stretching. "Complicated seems to follow me wherever I go."

Hela smirked. "Welcome to the club."

As Bruce retreated to his room, Harry turned to Hela. "Do you think we can really keep this up? Balancing all of this—the magic, the science, the gods, and whatever else comes next?"

Hela gave him a rare, soft smile. "We’ve made it this far, haven’t we? And besides, we’re not exactly the type to back down from a challenge."

Harry grinned. "No, we’re definitely not."

And with that, they settled in for the night, knowing full well that this calm wouldn’t last long. Not with gods, monsters, and heroes converging on their world.