Father's Daughter

2.01

CHAPTER ONE

It had been months since the Battle of New York, and life at Stark Tower-or what remained of it-had returned to a state of calm. Well, as calm as things ever got when you were the adopted daughter of Tony Stark. Lyra had grown accustomed to the chaos, the endless work on new tech, and the stream of missions from Fury. At this point, they were just part of life.

Today, though, felt different.

Fury had called her in early, his voice crackling through the comms. "We have an anomaly. Something's happening where Thor's little girlfriend lives." He'd said it so casually, but Lyra caught the tension behind his words. "I need you to head over there and take a look."

Of course, Fury hadn't said much beyond that. It wasn't his style. Lyra hadn't minded. She had been restless lately, feeling the pull of something she couldn't quite name.

Anomalies happened all the time, especially when you were dealing with gods and aliens, but this one was different. Something was off-there had been reports of something red, pulsing with energy, in the same location where Jane Foster lived. Lyra knew it wasn't a coincidence.

"Great," she'd muttered to herself as she flew out on the Quinjet, gripping her staff tighter than usual. "A god and a human. Of course, people are going to come after her."

The flight had been uneventful. Lyra had landed near Jane's location, her boots touching the dry, cracked earth, and the shadows around her shifted as though sensing something was wrong. She stepped closer, her senses flaring.

And that's when she saw him.

Thor.

The god of thunder stood there, soaked from the rain, staring at Jane as though he had just seen a ghost. Lyra smirked, staying back for a moment to observe. The way Jane approached Thor, her hand lifted, the rain avoiding her-Lyra couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Always with the dramatic entrances.
---

"Jane..." Thor's voice was soft, hesitant. There was a vulnerability in it Lyra hadn't heard before.

Then Jane slapped him.

Lyra almost burst out laughing but quickly covered her mouth, stifling the sound. Oh, this was too good.

"Sorry," Jane said, shaking her hand as if surprised at her own action. "I just needed to make sure you were real. It's been a very strange day."

"I am." Thor straightened, trying to regain some dignity. "Jane, I-"

Another slap.

Lyra bit her lip, the laugh threatening to escape again. This is priceless.

"Where were you?" Jane's voice cracked, the pain evident in her eyes. "Where were you? Heimdall couldn't see you."

Thor winced, his eyes softening. "I was right here where you left me," Jane continued, her words tumbling out faster, the pent-up frustration and heartache coming to the surface. "I was waiting, and then I was crying, and then I went out looking for you. You said you were coming back!"

"I know, I know. But the Bifrost was destroyed. The Nine Realms erupted into chaos. Wars were raging, marauders were pillaging-I had to put an end to the slaughter."

"As excuses go, it's not... terrible." Jane huffed, crossing her arms. "But I saw you on TV. You were-"

"In New York, I know." Thor's voice dropped. "I fought to protect you from the dangers of my world, but I was wrong. I was a fool. But I believe that Fate brought us together. Jane, I don't know where you were or what happened, but I do know this-"

"What?" Jane asked, her voice softer now, the tension beginning to ease.

"I know-"

"You do?"

Thor blinked, caught off guard. "Do what?"

Jane blinked back, equally confused. "What?"

Lyra finally let out a quiet snort, unable to hold back her amusement any longer. But before Thor and Jane could finish their awkward reunion, Darcy-Jane's intern?-sprinted over.

"Hey! Is this you?" Darcy waved her arms dramatically, pointing up at the rain. Thor, distracted, instantly stopped the downpour. Darcy, drenched, raised an eyebrow. "Typical."

Jane groaned. "We were kind of in the middle of something."

"Um, yeah, and I'm pretty sure we're getting arrested," Darcy said, gesturing to the police cars that had just rolled up.

Jane shot a look at Thor. "Hold that thought." She then turned to the officers, her shoulders squared as if she could somehow convince them to let them go without issue. Lyra, meanwhile, leaned on her staff, watching the whole scene unfold with a raised eyebrow.

The police moved in, and then... something shifted.

Jane faltered, her hand trembling. A pulse of red energy rippled from her body, sending the officers flying backward. Lyra's eyes widened in surprise. What the hell was that?

Thor rushed forward, catching Jane as she collapsed. "Jane! Are you alright?"

"I-I don't know. What just happened?"

Lyra stepped forward, shadows swirling protectively around her as she moved toward the unconscious officers. Thor was already pulling Jane close, ready to whisk her away.

"This woman is unwell," Thor said firmly to the stunned police.

"She's dangerous," one of the officers stammered, trying to regain control.

Thor's voice dropped to a growl. "So am I."

The officer's hand hovered over his radio, his eyes flicking nervously between Thor and Jane. "Requesting armed response officers to the scene!"

Before Lyra could say anything, Thor pulled Jane close, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hold on," he murmured.

Jane barely had time to react. "What are you-"

The sky opened above them. The Bifrost.

In a flash of light, they were gone.

Lyra blinked, the imprint of the Bifrost still smoldering in the ground where they had stood. Darcy, looking somewhat stunned, muttered, "Holy shit."

"Yeah, that sums it up," Lyra replied, walking over to the spot where the Asgardian energy had left its mark. She tapped her staff on the ground, the dark energy swirling as she contemplated what had just happened.

Well, looks like I'm headed to Asgard.

The next thing she knew, Lyra found herself standing in the heart of Asgard, transported by the Bifrost. The golden city stretched out before her, majestic and gleaming under the light of the distant sun.

To most people, Asgard was awe-inspiring, its towers rising high into the sky, shimmering with otherworldly beauty. But Lyra-half-Celestial, with the power to create worlds of her own-wasn't as impressed. She'd seen greater marvels, creations that defied imagination. Her birth father, Scathan, could craft entire planets at a whim. He might not have raised her, but his power was hers, in part.

Still, Asgard was pretty.

As they stepped out of the Bifrost chamber, Jane gasped, her eyes wide with awe. "We have to do that again!" she said breathlessly, her excitement contagious.

But then she saw him.

Heimdall, the ever-watchful gatekeeper, stood at the entrance, his golden eyes fixed on them.

"Hi," Jane greeted him awkwardly, clearly unsure how to address the intimidating figure.

Heimdall nodded solemnly. "Welcome to Asgard."

Thor stepped forward, smiling as he clasped Heimdall's arm in greeting. "Lady Stark," Thor addressed Lyra, turning to her with a respectful nod. "Welcome back."

Lyra shrugged, the shadows at her feet flickering as she adjusted her staff. "Nice to see you again, Thor."