Thunderstorms in the middle of the day were rare in New York. Especially when it had been sunny three minutes before.

Sam had been gardening (a new habit he'd been working on, but wasn't very good at) when he saw the clouds roll in. Groaning, he had put away his dollar store tools before walking inside. In the middle of washing his hands, a bolt of lightning hit his driveway. The loud crack and suddenness of it made Sam jump and shriek, his knee slamming into the cabinet below the sink. Drying his hands, he limped over to the freezer to find an ice pack for his knee when a knock sounded his door.

He looked up, hitting his head on the freezer door, and groaned in frustration and pain. Slamming the freezer door closed, he hobbled over to the front door and pulled it open to see a tall, blond man wearing what Sam could only describe as a medieval costume.

"Um, hello?" Sam asked, having no doubt this man was an Avenger but too focused on how much his knee and head hurt to try and figure out which one he was.

"Sam, Son of Wil, I have heard great tales of you!" the man boomed. Sam groaned. This guy was definitely going to stay for awhile. "I am—"

"Thor," Sam grumbled, finally remembering who the god was.

"—Thor, Son of Odin!" Thor finished proudly.

Sam nodded unamusedly then asked, "I suppose you want to come in?"

Thor smiled and walked inside, standing in the living room in confusion while Sam shut the door and limped over to the couch. He sat down and moved the ice pack from his knee to his head, not sure which needed it more. With his wide smile, Thor followed him and sat down right beside Sam.

"What a fine household!" Thor declared.

Sam shrugged, moving the ice pack on his head so it didn't freeze his brain so quickly.

"I heard from Steve that you are a good friend."

"He seems to be telling everyone that," Sam muttered.

Not picking up on Sam's irritation, Thor began telling Sam the story of how he and Steve met which was really just a recap of the battle of New York and his brother's battle to take over the world.

"Loki is back, now," Thor said happily after recounting the tale of Loki's ultimately fake death. "Ah, sometimes I wish he would just live happily so we could be at peace with each other."

Sam wasn't sure how it had changed from story time with grandpa Thor to emotional reveals.

"I don't know what to tell you, man," Sam said, but Thor just shook his head sadly and turned to Sam.

"It is not your fault, son of Wil," Thor said comfortingly.

"My dad's name is Paul," Sam said even though he knew it wouldn't make a difference.

Thor placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, staring off sadly. Sam glanced at it warily, knowing that lightning had come from it only a short while earlier, but Thor didn't remove it.

"My brother is simply misguided," Thor said, looking at the floor. "I try to set him on the right path, but he always deviates."

"Maybe you should just tell him how you feel," Sam suggested, not really caring and just wanting the god to leave so he could be in pain alone.

"I've tried," Thor said sadly.

Now, Sam thought, this is just getting strange. Thor was pouring his heart out to some guy he didn't even know and couldn't call the right name.

"Fake your death," Sam suggested jokingly. Thor perked up visibly and Sam groaned inside. Really? That was the idea Thor liked?

"What a wonderful plan," Thor exclaimed. Gleefully, he stood up and turned to Sam. "Thank you, Sam. You really are as good as Steve said."

"Thanks," Sam replied dryly.

As Thor walked towards the door to leave, Sam didn't even get up.

"Until next time, son of Wil!" Thor declared, raising his hammer. From outside the window, Sam saw clouds gather.

"Don't—"

Sam groaned as lightning struck his driveway once again. "I hate lightning."