Unforeseen¹

Chapter 24- Choices

Her mouth fell open as the long, golden-haired man strutted into the room with wide strides.

"Thor?"

He looked a lot different from his smaller counterpart, Mini Thor, but he was recognisable.

"Hello, young one, you must be Jayden of unknown." Thor smiled, adjusting his great hammer in his hand. "And you must be her ferocious guardian, Theodore."

The bonded pair stared and then exchanged glances. His presence was certainly... something, and she wasn't exactly sure what that something was. Her brow furrowed at the title, but she shook her head. Ask later. Then it dawned on her: if Thor was there, did that mean so was Tony? The rest of the Avengers?

Thor towered over her as he stepped forward, but despite that, he didn't feel overwhelming. She had to crane her neck to keep his gaze. Being so tall must come with being a god. He crouched to make it easier.

"You have made many people very worried," he softly said, placing his free hand on her shoulder, which made her flinch. He frowned but said nothing as he moved his touch away.

"I- you're here?"

"Of course, when my friends call for help, I will always come," he nodded. "Now, how about we relieve them of worry?"

Her stomach clenched as she nodded. He straightened and tapped his ear.

"I have located young Jayden and her companion." For a moment, she feared he might have gone mad, but then realised he was talking into an earpiece. "She's in perfect health, man of iron. There is no need to worry. Yes, of course, we're on our way."

Her hearts jumped. Tony. Of course, he was here. There were no doubts, but for it to be confirmed made her dizzy with relief. What would she even say to him?

"Shall we move to safety?" he questioned, holding out his hand.

She moved to take it, but a thought jerked her back. "Curls! We can't leave her!"

He blinked owlishly at the unconscious girl as though in disbelief that he hadn't seen her sooner. "Of course, nobody will be left behind."

As he took her in his arms, Jayden bit her tongue. She knew what she had to do. She had to, but it didn't help the heaviness in her gut.

"Wait," she whispered, summoning the collar with gravity. "Something wrong. Not herself."

Thor hesitated, but then nodded. "Very well, we must do what we must. Apply the device."

Jayden timidly enclosed Curls' neck with the damper. It wouldn't be for long. She'd make sure it wouldn't. After Thor got Curls settled in his arms, he twisted his neck to regard Jayden.

"Do not stray from me."

Her feet carried after him as he left through the door, and Theo zoomed on ahead. "I'll scout ahead."

The god agreed, but warned the Conjuncta to stay close. In the halls, they passed many fallen soldiers and doctors. Her gaze lingered on each of them with a cool satisfaction. They deserved every bit of it. Her pace quickened as they went by some with white coats.

"Thor? Can you tell the others that Doctor Terries is here?"

"What does he look like?"

"H-he has a scarred eye, blond hair, and he's wearing a... blue tie."

After relaying it into the earpiece, he promised they would keep an eye out.

After another few minutes with no near conflict, Theo returned to her shoulder. They soon reached a four-corridor crossroads. Thor quickly went straight, but as Jayden went to follow, a figure caught her eye. Doctor Terries, with a handful of guards, were hastening down the opposite side. They were so preoccupied that they didn't catch her gawking.