The Man Out Of Time

Chapter 6: Worthy Once More

The Bifrost swept around Steve in a cascade of vibrant light as he traveled to Asgard, his hand gripping Mjolnir tightly. He had made a promise to return the hammer to its rightful place, but more than that, Steve knew he had to see Thor one last time. The last time he had seen his friend was right before Thor left with the Guardians of the Galaxy, still wrestling with guilt and self-doubt over everything that had happened. Steve hoped that maybe this visit would bring them both some closure.

As the rainbow bridge faded and Steve landed in the peaceful realm of New Asgard, a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia settled over him. The crisp air, the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the serenity of it all—it reminded him of why Thor had chosen to retreat here. It was a place to heal, to find oneself again. A place Thor needed more than ever after losing so much.

Steve looked down at Mjolnir. The hammer hummed with power in his hand, its weight both literal and symbolic. He wasn’t sure how Thor would react to seeing it again, especially now that Thor himself had doubted his own worthiness.

Walking into the heart of New Asgard, Steve spotted familiar faces. A few Asgardians, including Valkyrie, were milling about, their eyes widening when they noticed Mjolnir in his hand. Whispers spread quickly, but Steve kept moving forward, knowing that the only person he needed to see was up ahead.

Valkyrie stood near the cliffs overlooking the sea, her form stoic as she gazed out into the horizon. Steve took a moment to appreciate how much she had changed since they first met. Now a leader, a queen even, but with the same strength she always had. She didn’t flinch at the burdens placed upon her; she faced them head-on.

“Captain Rogers,” she said as he approached, turning to face him. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Steve nodded, standing beside her. “I’ve come to return something.”

Her eyes drifted toward Mjolnir, recognition and surprise flashing across her face. “Didn’t think I’d see that again either.”

“It belongs here,” Steve said softly. “With Thor.”

Valkyrie’s expression softened, and she let out a small sigh. “Thor’s… been through a lot. Losing his home, his family. He’s still not sure who he’s supposed to be.”

Steve exhaled, feeling the weight of everything he and Thor had gone through together—the battles, the losses, the sacrifices. He had tried to keep it all together, but Valkyrie’s words made it clear that Thor was still on his own journey. “I understand. I’ve lost friends too. We won the war, but it came at a price.”

Valkyrie’s eyes held his for a moment before she nodded. “It always does.”

Before either of them could say more, the heavy footsteps of Thor echoed from behind them. Steve turned to see his old friend approaching, looking different from the last time they’d fought together. Thor’s long hair had grown wilder, his eyes still carrying traces of the pain he’d been trying to overcome. But there was also something else—a flicker of hope, a glimmer of the old Thor still hidden beneath the surface.

Thor’s eyes widened as they fell on Mjolnir, disbelief mixing with surprise. “Steve... you brought it back.”

Steve offered a small smile. “Figured you might need it again.”

Thor hesitated, his gaze flickering between Steve and the hammer. His hands twitched slightly, but he didn’t reach for it. “I don’t know if… if I’m still worthy.”

That was it—the heart of Thor’s struggle. He had been broken by failure, weighed down by guilt over not stopping Thanos in time. His self-doubt had consumed him, and now even the idea of holding Mjolnir again filled him with hesitation.

Steve held the hammer out toward him, his grip firm but welcoming. “I think you’ve always been worthy, Thor. You just forgot it for a while.”

Thor’s eyes met Steve’s, and for a moment, there was a shared understanding between them. They had both been soldiers, both carried the weight of the world on their shoulders, and both had lost pieces of themselves along the way. But they were still here—still standing.

Thor reached out slowly, his hand hovering over Mjolnir before he finally grasped it. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, a surge of electricity crackled around Thor’s hand, and Mjolnir responded to his touch, roaring to life with power. Thor’s eyes widened in surprise, but then a smile—small, but genuine—crept across his face.

“I guess you were right,” Thor said, his voice rough with emotion.

Steve grinned. “I usually am.”

Valkyrie watched the exchange with quiet pride, her gaze soft as she looked at her friend. “It was never about the hammer, Thor. It was always about your heart. You’ve always had the strength to rise again.”

Thor nodded, his grip tightening on Mjolnir. “I’ve just… I’ve been lost. For a long time. I don’t know if I can be the king they need.”

“You don’t have to be the person you were before, Thor,” Steve said, his tone serious but kind. “You’ve been through hell. But you’re still here. You still have people who believe in you. And I think you know what it means to be worthy.”

For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, the weight of their words lingering in the air. Thor’s eyes grew distant as he looked out toward the sea, lost in thought.

Steve watched his friend, knowing that the battle Thor faced wasn’t one he could help with. This was something Thor had to fight within himself, just as Steve had wrestled with his own demons. But seeing Thor with Mjolnir once again, seeing that spark of the old Thor return—it gave Steve hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could all heal from the wounds that time had left behind.

“I’ll be leaving soon,” Steve said softly, breaking the quiet. “There’s still one more stop I need to make.”

Valkyrie’s gaze settled on him, her knowing eyes seeing far more than Steve could ever express. “I sense this journey isn’t just about returning what was borrowed. You have your own path to walk, don’t you?”

Steve hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah… I guess I do.”

Valkyrie smiled warmly, her voice gentle but full of strength. “We all have a destiny, Captain Rogers. And while the future remains unwritten, I believe you’ll find the peace you’re looking for.”

Thor turned back to Steve, his face a mix of gratitude and brotherhood. “Thank you, Steve. For everything. I’m not sure I’d have made it this far without you.”

Steve smiled, extending his hand. “You would’ve. You just needed to remember who you were.”

The two friends clasped hands, a silent promise passing between them. Whatever happened next, whatever choices lay ahead, they had faced the worst together. And now, they could face the future—however uncertain it might be.

As Steve stepped back, Mjolnir once again in Thor’s possession, he felt a sense of closure. Returning the hammer wasn’t just about keeping the timeline intact—it was about reminding Thor of his strength. His worth. And as Steve turned to leave New Asgard behind, he felt a small weight lift from his shoulders.

One more stop. One more goodbye.

He took a deep breath and stepped into the portal, knowing that the hardest decision still lay ahead.