"I'm heading to the top ridge for overwatch. If anything happens, call me there."
He grabbed a raincoat and stepped into the cold night.
Coulson didn't question it. James's role here was security, after all.
And if anything came out of that crater—or fell from the sky again—he'd be ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It didn't make sense for a billionaire to be on duty, but since he volunteered, Phil didn't call him back. Maybe he really did enjoy it.
James just wanted to find Thor first and let him try to lift the hammer. He wasn't actually interested in standing guard. He liked being an agent—but that didn't mean he liked night shifts.
At the top of the iron frame, two SHIELD assault team members were already stationed. James didn't bother to speak to them. Most of the assault teams at HQ were Hydra moles. No reason to get chatty.
He threw on a raincoat and started scanning the surroundings with a night-vision scope.
It wasn't raining yet, but it would. Wherever Thor went, thunder and lightning followed.
James watched for a while, then got bored and wandered the platform. Before long, the sky started to rumble. He took out his phone. The signal was unusually strong.
[Electromagnetic activity increasing,] Cortana noted.
"Looks like Thor's here. Begin a passive scan." James didn't bother with the scope anymore. It couldn't match with Cortana's tracking—but keeping her active too long used up too much energy.
Soon, he spotted a man and a woman. The man had long blond hair and took off his coat to wrap around the woman. It looked like he was getting ready for something.
That was Thor.
James raised his binoculars again and locked on the target. He watched as the man carefully approached the perimeter.
Thor forced open the barbed wires. Even without his power, he was still strong. He slipped inside—but when he looked up, he saw dusty leather shoes and a smiling face above him.
It was James.
"Hello. What's your name?" James asked with a friendly tone.
"Thor, God of thunder" the man answered, straightforward.
"James Gibson. Nice to meet you. Came for the hammer?"
"Yes. I have come to retrieve it."
"Then come with me," James said, turning to lead him in.
But Thor didn't move. He hesitated.
"What are you trying to do?" Thor asked.
"I'm taking you to the hammer. What's the problem?" James replied, confused.
"You want to trick me. Lead me inside and bound me," Thor said, more sure of it now.
James raised an eyebrow. "You're overthinking. That hammer has patterns recorded in our mythology. And you came along, a blonde athletic man, looking Norwegian. I doubt you know who we are or what we're capable of. So I'm guessing you're not from here. Am I wrong?"
Thor hesitated again. Just then, a SHIELD squad ran over and pointed their weapons at him.
James raised his hand. "Stand down. Do your job. Nothing more."
"Agent James, your level clearance isn't high enough to order them," came a voice from behind. Clint Barton walked up with a bow on his back.
James didn't care. "level aside, pointing guns at someone like him is a good way to make enemies we don't need. He says the hammer is his. I'm letting him try. If he can't lift it, fine. If he can, we'll know more."
"I get that you're special," Clint said, "but SHIELD has protocols."
"I'm not breaking any. Just starting with respect. We don't need a galactic war. If he lifts that hammer, then he's not some lunatic. If he can't, then it's just a failed retrieval attempt."
Clint paused. He had no response.
James turned to Thor. "Let's go." He walked.
Thor hesitated, but then followed. He'd heard everything. James wasn't hostile—just practical.
Phil watched from the monitor and finally spoke.
"Hawkeye, let them through. Clear the area. Everyone back away from the crater."
James and Thor walked all the way to Mjolnir without any fuss.
"I consider you a friend now," Thor said. "You've shown me trust."
James didn't answer. Thor stepped forward, grabbed the handle of the hammer—and pulled.
Nothing.
He tried again, using both hands, gritting his teeth. Still nothing.
The clouds roared. Rain finally poured down. Then Thor dropped to his knees.
"AHHH!" He screamed at the sky.
James stood there, watching. 'He's not worthy yet. It's not Odin doing—it's him.'
"Hey," James said. "No need to break your lungs. Come inside, get some hot water, and think it over."
"You still trust me?" Thor in despair asked.
"Why not? You were confident before. Now you're devastated. Your eyes tell the truth. So I believe you," James said.
He turned and Thor followed.
They went to the command center. James had someone set up a small table, two chairs, and hot water.