Chapter 103: Clear Accounts Conserve Friendships

The dark storm clouds that had blanketed the sky just moments ago began to roll back, as though chased off by some unseen force. Gradually, streaks of sunlight cut through the gloom, bathing the city in a golden hue once more. And yet, on the ground just outside Luke's grocery store, Sharon Carter stood still, wreathed in flickering arcs of silver-blue lightning. Crackling bolts slithered around her body like curious serpents, gently weaving across her arms and shoulders. But rather than harming her, the lightning danced with her, as if rejoicing in their newfound mistress. Raising her hand experimentally, Sharon discharged a bolt of electricity into the air. With a snap, it vanished, only to come spiraling back into her palm, obedient and playful like a loyal hound. Her bright eyes now shimmered with a silvery glow, eerily similar to the divine spark that had just moments earlier lit up Thor's gaze. The only difference was this: Mjölnir, now resting firmly in Sharon's grip, pulsed with coursing electricity, while the axe clutched in Thor's hand remained inert. Heavy, yes. But otherwise... ordinary. Nick Fury's single eye blinked wide, his lips parting slightly in disbelief. Behind him, Hill covered her mouth with both hands, while Barton simply stared, wide-eyed, stunned silent. As for Thor... He forgot everything. His awakening. His power. Even the rush of thunder inside his blood. He just stared, stunned and slack-jawed, at the blonde woman walking calmly through the doorway. She looked like him. Her power felt like his. Could she...? "...Sister?" Thor muttered under his breath, bewildered. "Another child of Odin?" It made no sense. Mortals from Midgard couldn't harness the power of the storm. And yet, here she was, walking calmly across the store, arcs of lightning crackling harmlessly along her arm like loyal pets. As the electric currents faded from both their bodies, Sharon stepped back inside, casually spinning Mjölnir by its handle before letting it rest on her shoulder like it belonged there. Nick Fury's thoughts suddenly slammed back into motion. Wait a second. That hammer, Mjölnir, had just passed through three different people. Luke had picked it up casually and lobbed it to Wanda like he was tossing a soda can. Then Wanda had passed it to Sharon, who now held it like it had been forged for her. Meanwhile, Thor, the rightful wielder, still couldn't budge it from the ground. Fury blinked, shook his head, and muttered under his breath, "I seriously need a vacation... or a priest." Everything that happened in this damned grocery store felt like a fever dream. Thor finally broke his trance. He raised a finger, pointing directly at Mjölnir on Sharon's shoulder. "That's... Mjölnir." His voice was soft, uncertain. Luke stepped in fast, clapping a hand on Thor's shoulder and guiding him away, blocking his line of sight like a stage magician redirecting attention. "Let's not get distracted by the past," Luke said cheerfully, ushering him toward the store shelves. "Let's talk about your future." Thor blinked. "My... future?" "Yes!" Luke grinned. "Now tell me, how do you feel?" A slow, boyish smile broke across Thor's face. "I feel... amazing. It's like the storm is part of me now. I don't need the hammer, I am the storm." "Exactly!" Luke beamed, squeezing his shoulder. "You're not the God of Hammers, you're the God of Thunder! That axe you carry suits you better anyway." He gave Thor a light nudge toward a nearby shelf. Thor tilted his head. "Wait, where are we going?" "Don't worry about it," Luke said with a wink. "Just a little formality." They arrived at a simple metal shelf. A handwritten price tag was pinned beneath a plaque that read: Stormbreaker Price: $900,000,000,000 Thor's smile froze. His brow furrowed as he stared at the string of digits like they were written in an alien language. "Stormbreaker?" he asked slowly, eyes narrowing. "That's the name?" Luke clasped his hands together proudly. "You like it? Strong name, right? Dignified, legendary. Definitely worthy of a king." Thor's lips parted in disbelief. "And... this is the price?" "Oh, absolutely!" Luke said brightly, as if it were a bargain. Thor squinted at the zeros, muttering aloud: "One, ten, hundred, thousand..." His voice trailed off in horror. "Nine hundred billion?!" "American dollars," Luke added helpfully. Thor stared at the axe in his hands as if it had just transformed into a live cobra. "You expect me to... pay for this?" he asked weakly. Luke blinked in exaggerated surprise. "Well, of course! My friend, this is a grocery store, not a charity." He spread his hands dramatically. "Or do Asgardians just walk into shops and take things for free?" Thor frowned. "Well... no, but... I thought..." "Ah, so it's because you're a prince, isn't it?" Luke cut in with faux realization. "It must be nice living in a world ruled by your father. But down here in Manhattan, even kings pay up." Thor scratched his head in confusion. "But I don't have... I mean, I never carry Earth currency." "No problem," Luke said smoothly. "There's a lovely old saying here: 'Clear accounts conserve friendships.'" He draped an arm around Thor's shoulder. "So if we want to stay friends... it's best we keep things clean." Thor nodded slowly, his brain visibly processing. Luke continued with a smile. "You could always borrow the money, right? Ask a friend, maybe?" Thor's head shot up, eyes locking on Nick Fury with a hopeful gleam, as he seemed the most likely to have a lot of money among the ones present, being the director of S.H.I.E.L.D and all. Fury, who had already sensed this coming, nearly choked. "No. Absolutely not," he said, holding both palms out. "Even if I sold all of S.H.I.E.L.D, twice, I wouldn't come even close to that amount." He turned to Luke and muttered, "You're not really trying to sell that thing, are you?" Luke just smiled cryptically. "Who says I'm not?" Fury sighed and looked back at Thor. "If anyone could come close to afford this among the people you know, it's Tony Stark. But even his net worth's only in the double-digit billions. You would still be over eight hundred short." Thor deflated. He looked down at the axe in his hands and then back at Luke, feeling helpless. Luke gave him a pat on the back, sympathetic but unmoved. "This kind of legendary weapon," he said seriously, "is priceless. Honestly, I should be charging more." Thor sighed heavily. "That... makes sense." From the back of the store, Sharon, Mjölnir still resting casually on her shoulder, let out a small chuckle. ...