Roots of Eternity

Chapter 31 - A New Hope

The quiet hum of the Quinjet was almost comforting as we flew back toward Stark Tower. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, New York had been a battlefield, and we had been caught in the middle of a war. But now, as the city slowly returned to its usual rhythm, the weight of what we had accomplished began to settle in. We had won. We had stopped Loki. Yet, the scars remained-on the city, on our hearts.

Thor sat beside me, his posture as upright and unyielding as always. His presence was calming, like it always had been, but I could sense his thoughts drifting elsewhere, probably toward Loki. I wanted to say something, to comfort him the way he always did for me, but the words wouldn't come. I still wasn't sure if anything we did had reached Loki at all.

The silence was broken by the sound of Tony's voice as he piloted the jet. "All right, team, once we're back at Stark Tower, I'm ordering pizza again. And this time, Helena, I'm letting you pick the toppings. You're part of the crew now."

I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "Why do you assume I'm obsessed with pizza just because I liked it once?"

"Because I'm Tony Stark, and I know these things," Tony quipped, turning in his seat slightly to wink at me. "Besides, it's the best comfort food, and after what we've all been through, I think we've earned it."

Thor grunted, his eyes flicking toward me. "I still don't understand your fascination with this Midgardian food."

Tony shrugged. "That's because you haven't had the right toppings, Point Break. But don't worry, I'll fix that. Pepperoni and extra cheese-it'll change your life."

Thor raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I think I'll stick to Asgardian cuisine, thank you."

I stifled a laugh as Tony and Thor exchanged playful banter. It was strange how quickly things could shift from the intense battles we had fought to this... lightness. It felt good, though-a reminder that there was more to life than war and chaos.

As the Quinjet landed on the rooftop of Stark Tower, the doors opened to reveal the familiar sight of the sprawling New York skyline. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the city, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.

"Home sweet home," Tony announced, hopping out of the jet with his usual swagger. "Welcome back to the best place on Earth, everyone."

Thor and I followed him out onto the rooftop, the cool evening air brushing against my skin. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the breeze carry away some of the tension that had settled in my shoulders.

"You seem... lighter," Thor said quietly, his voice full of warmth.

I opened my eyes and looked at him, a soft smile forming on my lips. "I think I am."

Thor's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze searching mine. "You've been through a lot, Helena. You're handling it well, but I can still see the burden you're carrying."

I sighed, running a hand through my grass-green hair. "It's hard to let go of everything that's happened. But... I'm trying. I feel like maybe things can be different now. Like maybe there's hope."

Thor's expression softened, and he stepped closer, his hand resting on my shoulder like he always did when he was worried about me. "There's always hope. But you don't have to rush to find it. You're still young-you have time to figure things out."

I looked up at him, feeling a familiar tug in my chest. "I know I'm young to you, Thor, but I want to be more than just your little sister. I want to help, to make a difference."

Thor smiled, his eyes full of pride. "And you are. You've shown incredible strength, Helena. But it's all right to lean on us, too. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."

I nodded, appreciating his words even though I still felt the need to prove myself, to show that I could stand beside him and the others. But for now, I let his reassurance settle over me like a warm blanket. I wasn't alone in this.

Tony, who had been standing by the edge of the rooftop watching the sunset, suddenly turned around, clapping his hands together. "All right, enough of the heartfelt sibling bonding. It's pizza time."

Thor sighed heavily, giving Tony a look that could've turned anyone else to stone. "You really think pizza is the solution to everything, don't you?"

Tony grinned. "In this case? Absolutely."

We made our way down to the lounge inside Stark Tower, where Tony promptly ordered more pizza-this time insisting that I pick the toppings. As we waited, the mood in the room shifted to something softer, more relaxed. Steve and Natasha joined us, and for the first time in days, we weren't talking about battles or strategies. We were just... there, sharing a quiet moment in the aftermath of everything.

Tony, leaning back on the couch beside me, gave me a sidelong glance. "You know, Helena, I've been thinking."

"That sounds dangerous," I teased, arching an eyebrow.

Tony laughed. "Touché. But seriously, I've been thinking about you. You're this goddess of nature, right? And I've got this big ol' building that could use a little more... greenery."

I blinked, unsure of where he was going with this. "You want me to... grow plants here?"

Tony nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. You could turn this place into a paradise. A garden of... whatever you Asgardians call gardens."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'm not sure your tech-heavy tower is ready for a garden."

"Hey, if anyone can pull it off, it's you," Tony said, nudging me playfully. "Besides, I think the world could use a little more of what you've got."

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, a sense of belonging that I hadn't expected. "I'll think about it."

As the night wore on, the pizza arrived, and true to Tony's word, I was allowed to pick the toppings. We sat around, eating and laughing, and for a while, it felt like the weight of everything we'd been through had lifted. Tony cracked jokes, Steve shared stories from his time before the war, and Natasha-well, she mostly watched us all with that quiet smirk of hers, but even she seemed to be enjoying the moment.

But amidst the laughter, I caught Thor watching me, his expression thoughtful. It reminded me of the way he used to look at me when I was a child-full of both pride and concern, always wanting to shield me from the worst of the world.

"You're thinking too much," I said softly, catching his eye.

Thor smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's hard not to. After everything with Loki... I worry about you."

I set my plate down and turned toward him. "Thor, I'm okay. I'm still figuring things out, but I'm not that little girl anymore. I can handle it."

He nodded, though I could tell he still wasn't convinced. "I know you're strong, Helena. But no matter how much time passes, I'll always see you as my younger sister. It's hard not to want to protect you."

I smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I'll always be your sister. But that doesn't mean you have to protect me from everything."

Thor chuckled softly, giving my hand a squeeze in return. "You're right. But I'll always be here for you. That won't change."

I looked at him, the warmth of his words sinking in. Despite everything-despite the battles, the chaos, and the uncertainty-I knew that I wasn't alone. I had Thor. I had Tony. And maybe, just maybe, I had found a place for myself here in Midgard.

As the night continued, and the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, I felt something new bloom inside me-hope. For the first time in a long while, I believed that things could get better. That the future held something more than just pain and loss.

And that was enough to carry me forward, into whatever came next.