For you, there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do. – Avicii
Aphrodite was unfortunately unable to transport herself directly to wherever Thor was, and was calling out for her. That required either one of two things, firstly the Bifrost opening up to her, obviously which didn't seem like much of a possibility, or second a level of magic that she hadn't quite reached yet.
Instead she choose to focus on the other feeling that had been calling to her, one of the Infinity Stones though she couldn't tell exactly which one yet. Perhaps the keeper of whichever stone it was would be willing to help her.
That was how she found herself back in New York for the first time in quite some time, moving with the large crowds along sidewalks, doing her best to remain inconspicuous so as to not draw attention to herself since she was technically a wanted criminal.
Slowly Aphrodite began to realize that despite the crowd she was moving with, she herself was being pulled towards a building that she hadn't realized until she was write in front of it.
There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the building, it was tall like most buildings in New York tended to be, it appeared ancient but well kept, the most curious thing about it was the symbol at the top jutting out from the window. That and the power she could feel coming from inside it. 177A Bleecker Street the plaque on the outside read, she'd have to remember that.
That symbol though, it drew her attention the most, as a practitioner of magic she was no stranger to magical symbols and needless to say that the symbol at the top of the building was one, even if she wasn't sure exactly.
Tentatively she walked up the steps that led to the door and knocked twice, at first nothing happened so she knocked again, then reached for the handle to see if by chance the door would be open, it wasn't so she knocked a final time and through the glass on the side of the door caught sight of a red figure, before it disappeared and then the door opened.
Moving with caution she went through the open door and closed it behind her peering around the inside of the building curiously. Straight ahead of her was a large staircase, and all across the foyer were glass containers, and vases that all looked quite valuable and quite intriguing.
"Hello?" she called out to the seemingly empty space before the sound of a quiet rustle like that of fabric greeted her. She followed the sound to a dark corner of the room where she could barely see the red figure of who she assumed was the person that opened the door. "Hello there." She greeted politely and the figure rustled again. "Are you the one that opened the door?" The figure shifted and she took it as a yes. "Well thank you. I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for here, so perhaps you'd like to come out? Into the light?"
She stepped back and expected the sound of another set of footsteps to accompany the sound of her heels on the floor as the figure came out from begin the container, when they didn't she was puzzled. And nothing was cleared up even when the figure revealed itself to be a cape, just floating in the air, with no person attached to it.
"Oh," she breathed out astonished staring at the fabric, she could tell that if it had a face it would be hiding it bashfully if the way that the collar was turned downward was any indication. "Can you talk?" the cape shook it's collar as if it were a head. "Didn't think so," Aphrodite muttered to herself, "Is there anyone else here? Someone more, I don't know, living?" she trailed off not wanted to offend the caped but it seemed to perk up, whipping up one side of its sleeve to wrap around her wrist to begin tugging her in the direction of the stairs then up them.
Up the stairs were more containers along with what she could only describe as relics, but before she could fully take them in the cape was at eye level with her, its collar popped up in what seemed to be happiness.
It let go of her wrist only to bring up its sleeve and point to Aphrodite then at the ground, it did that twice before Aphrodite realized what it meant.
"Got it, stay put." The cape nodded then floated off. "Why does nothing surprise me anymore?" she questioned out loud to herself taking a look around the room she had been left in but doing as instructed and not moving, save for leaning back against the bannister of the staircase.
"Stop!" Aphrodite heard a deep voice instruct as it approached her, "What is it? I thought I sent you back to your case?"
Then around the corner came a tall man, with black hair that was greying at the sides, wearing an annoyed expression on his face along with the cape attached to his shoulders. He looked up and spotted her and his expression melted away into surprise and he froze where he stood.
"Hello." He greeted politely if not warily.
"Hi." Aphrodite responded waving.
"Pardon my shock but we don't normally leave the door unlocked." The man said suspiciously.
"You didn't, your um," she gestured to the cape attached to his shoulders. "Cape let me in."
"Cloak actually," the man was quick to correct. "Cloak of Levitation." He added.
"Alright, well thank you again." She said addressing the cloak who curled its collars down and if it were a human Aphrodite was sure it would be blushing.
"I'm surprised," the man said noticing his cloaks behaviour, "It's normally a fickle thing."
"Can't imagine why." Aphrodite joked.
"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself," he said coming closer and offering her a trembling hand. "Doctor Stephen Strange."
She took his hand carefully and noticed the scars that lined it, "Aphrodite Odindottir,"
"Odindottir," he finished with her. "I recognized your right away, I've read a lot about you."
"Thank you."
"That and your face has been on every major news station for the past year."
"Right that."
"May I ask what brought you here?"
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what 'here' is."
"This is the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, I am the keeper." Stephen said proudly.
"Those words mean almost nothing to me." Aphrodite muttered making his slightly proud grin fall as she move past him to take a closer look around the room at the relics, "So what you're some kind of wizard?" she questioned looking him up and down.
"Master of the Mystic Arts, actually."
"Noted." She said picking up a cylindrical object and inspecting it before placing it back down. "Then perhaps you're just the man I'm looking for. You see I need help finding," Aphrodite cut herself off when she realized something, "What an interesting necklace you have there."
Stephen looked down at the Eye of Agamotto hanging down over his robes. "Thank you?"
"Has there, by any chance been someone else that's come through here?" She questioned casually getting closer to look at the Eye more closely. "A man, that looks like me."
"No I don't think so, I'd remember someone that looks like you." He added looking her up and down.
Aphrodite's lip quirked, "Then he doesn't know its here."
"Who?"
"My brother. He doesn't know that there's an Infinity Stone on earth. How did you come to find it?"
"Maybe we should have a seat?" Moments later they were sat in a parlour of sorts, and Aphrodite held a small cup of tea in her hands, curtesy of Stephen, "Tell me, are you familiar with the Ancient One?
"The name sounds, somewhat familiar." Aphrodite said shrugging.
"Then you should know that she died recently," Stephen said solemnly and he went onto explain about how he used to be a renowned neurosurgeon, got into a car accident which horribly affected the nerves in his hands, leading to them trembling and shaking like they were, he sought help in the Kamar Taj, became a sorcerer fought against a former master of the mystic arts as well as an inter-dimensional being known as Dormammu, to become the Sorcerer Supreme.
"And you're aware of the implications that come along with being in possession of an Infinity Stone?"
"All too aware."
"Then you should know that, that stone," she said nodding to the necklace, "The time stone is the forth stone that I've some across in the last few years. Somehow that doesn't strike me as a coincidence."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, that this could mean something bigger is coming, my brother and I believe that we all have been made pawns of an intricate game that someone has been playing. And the endgame, involves all six stones."
"I swore an oath to protect the stone, I intend to keep it."
"Good," Aphrodite said nodding, "Then I know it's in good hands, but need to ask a favour." Stephen gestured for her to go on. "I need to get to my brother, problem is I can't get to him. But I know where he is."
"I thought Asgard gad a gatekeeper that was supposed to do just that?"
"We do," She said nodding, "Only it seems that he's been instructed not to answer my calls."
"Hmm," Stephen hummed. "Then I'll help you." He said slapping his thighs and standing from his seat."
"Really?" Aphrodite asked standing as well.
"Yes," he nodded, "Helping you find your brother would decrease my list of beings that could be a threat to this planet."
"Trust me," Aphrodite said looking up at him. "I'm the last person you need to worry about threatening this planet."
"Noted." Stephen mocked before they both were transported to the other side of the library where a bookshelf was. "Transport spell, transport spell." He muttered to himself scanning the books spines while Aphrodite caught her balance, so that what that felt like. "Ah, here it is." In a blink they were over at a table with the book laid out, "Where did you say he was?"
"Niflheim." Aphrodite groaned out.
"Got it." He said before taking them back to the book shelf and then to the table before she could catch a breath. "Oh, I forgot the-"
"Just leave me here!" Aphrodite snapped leaning over the table and hanging onto it like it was a lifeline, before he could teleport them again then grabbing a piece of paper and a pen nearby as Stephen went alone to the book shelf and was back in a blink.
"Let's see does this spell require any Asgardian modifications, nope. We're all set."
"Wonderful."
"There's just some small, could I get a lock of your hair?"
"My hair?"
"Yeah just one I need it for-" he cut himself off as he appeared behind her hand outstretched to snatch a strand of her hair but Aphrodite stopped his, gripping his wrist tight.
"Never," she stated warningly, "Touch my hair." She finished and Stephen nodded then Aphrodite reached up herself to pluck a single strand and hand it over to him he began to infuse it with his magic as he recited the necessary spells when Aphrodite stopped him with a heavy note to her voice. "Could I ask you for one more favour?"
"Sure." He said opening up a portal.
"I need you to deliver a message to this address, tonight." She said handing him a card with an address on it along with an envelope.
"I'll be sure to." Stephen accepted the items nodding, "You should hurry."
"Right," she said shaking herself, "Thank you again." She said shaking his hand. "And thank you." She added nodding to the cloak.
"Good luck." Stephen said and Aphrodite nodded before stepping through the portal.
Niflheim was known to most as the world of fog and mist, and for centuries it had lived up to its name. After the portal closed behind her Aphrodite could hardly see anything in front of her, but she allowed her instincts to guide her as she was taught, and soon enough she came upon the distinctive sound of thunder and lightning along with Thor's grunts as he fought against an enemy that she could not see since he seemed to be stuck in the middle of a storm.
Quickly Aphrodite covered herself in her golden magic making her was to the center of the storm where Thor was indeed in the middle of battle, and not doing too well for himself if the many cuts and slashed across his body were any indication.
Aphrodite eyes glowed as did her hands before the storm suddenly stilled then she used the stilled mist as a weapon to her advantage sending it out like a whip to the enemies that were attacking Thor.
"My sister!" Thor shouted jovially with a huge grin, ducking down when a body flew of his head.
Aphrodite scoffed but couldn't help her smile if she tried, "My brother." She said shaking her head.
With the arrival of his sister's Thor's battle had come to an abrupt end and the two of them were seated in front of a fire that she'd conjured up to ebb away the chill that resided over Niflheim.
"You want to tell me what has happened?" Aphrodite questioned working on resetting Thor's dislocated shoulder.
"Not really." Thor responded grimacing as he waited for the coming pain, then pop and relief, what came instead was his sister pressing down hard on his injured shoulder. "Ow, ow, ow! Okay! Alright!" she released him placing her hands in the proper position. "If you can't tell my search for the stones has been so far, unsuccessful. It's been a pain trying to get to the realms without the help of the Bifrost, I've had to bargain with some shady characters. And for some reason every realm that I've visited seems to have a vendetta against Asgard, they're saying that they're not being protected as they were promised." Thor groaned and nearly bit a hole in his tongue when she finally popped his shoulder back into place.
"But our father is the protector of the realms, that doesn't make any sense." Aphrodite said walking on her knees to kneel at his side and adjust his arm to a more comfortable position while it healed.
"What makes even less sense are the dreams I've been having since I left earth." Thor confessed. "Asgard-"
"Falling to ruins," Aphrodite finished. "You have them too." She sighed "None of this makes any sense, but you need to rest, and heal. We'll stay here for rest of the night. Move on in the morning."
She sat down next to him and guided him back gently so he was resting his weight on her, his head tucked just under her chin.
They stayed like that wrapped in comfortable silence with nothing but the crackling fire to break it. Aphrodite ran her fingers soothingly through her brother's hair as she began to speak.
"Do you remember when we were young," she began hoping to distract him from the pain for the time being. "I used to chase you around the forests outside the palace. To make you faster." He hummed in agreement. "And you would help me learn to fight, to make me stronger."
"You are strong." Thor said glancing up at her, then back down. "Stronger than I'll ever be."
"That's not true," she huffed still carding her fingers through his hair. "And you know it."
Thor huffed but didn't comment on it further. "Thank you for coming."
"I'll always come when you need me. No matter where you are, or where you'll go. You call, and I'll be there." She pressed a kiss to his head and began humming an old tune that Frigga would sing to them when they were children as they both lulled to sleep.
"Looks like some of my old KGB contacts still pull through," Natasha said by way of announcing herself as she entered through the door of their latest safe house. "Got us some dinner."
Steve and Sam looked up from the files and maps they were pouring over about the latest terrorist group in possession of Chitauri weapons at the mention of food. Making room for the containers at the table Natasha sat herself down and handed them each a box.
"Bon Appétit." She announced already digging into her food.
"This ain't like the last time you brought us food from one of your friends is it?" Sam asked eating the food anyway but referring to a few weeks ago when she had presented them with a Russian delicacy as she put it that did not agree with his stomach.
"Relax Wilson, you know you should be thanking me?"
"What exactly for?"
"Expanding your culinary horizons." Natasha teased and Steve smiled into his box before the playful mood was broken by the very centre of the table suddenly glowing, the three of them stood back as a circle grew and produced a small wind that tossed their papers, just as quickly as the circle appeared it disappeared and in its place was an envelope.
"What the hell?" Sam questioned as Steve took charge as he always did stepping forward to get a closer look at the envelope then immediately snatching it up once he recognized the fancy writing of his name on the front.
"Is it from her?" Natasha questioned.
"Yeah." Steve responded.
"We'll give you a minute." Sam said then he and Natasha quietly left the room.
Steve sat back down in his seat and carefully opened the envelope smiling at the familiar writing on the inside, he could almost swear it smelled like her too.
'Steve' it read, 'My love,'
'I thought that finding Thor would be easy, and that I'd be back in your arms in days. But of course things never work out the way we hope.
I was right about the Infinity Stone, it's not Vision's, there's another on earth. But it might be best, safer for you if I don't tell you where it is. But it's in good hands, the person that has it helped me to find Thor, and that's where I'll be by the time you read this. This isn't me saying goodbye, I wouldn't do that to you, not like this, and I never plan to. But this is me saying I will be gone for longer than I thought.
I want you to stay with Sam and Nat (and give both of them my love), and keep being the solider you were born to be. But in that time, don't lose sight of who you truly are, a good man and my fiancé, because the moment I get back I'm going to marry you no matter what.
Speaking of being a solider, I noticed you seem to have forgotten something back at the facility, so I took the liberty of picking it up for you, discreetly of course, maybe one day it'll guide us back to each other. I love you Steve Rogers, and the moment I've done all I can here I'm coming back home, to you.
All my love,
Aphrodite Odindottir
Steve smiled at the note and shook out the only other content of the envelope, his compass tumbled out into his hand and he smiled flipping it open to look at her picture inside. He noticed that she must have done something to it, enchanted it somehow because the picture was moving, nothing too dramatic it was the same picture that had been in there the entire time only now he leaned in to kiss her cheek and her face scrunched up before she relaxed smiling at the camera, there was a flash and it started again.
"She coming back?" Sam questioned from the doorway.
"No," Steve shook his head closing the compass and sliding it into his pocket for safe keeping, "She's not, not for a while at least."
Sam came further into the room as Steve folded the note placing it into his pocket as well. "You alright brother?" he questioned placing his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Steve responded sincerely, "Where's Nat? Food's getting cold."
STTNCB: Hey, hey. Ikr, the proposal we've all been waiting for. But sorry to say that this'll be the last time we check in with Team Cap for some time, because next chapter we're jumping write into Ragnarok.
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Thank you, much love as always.
BrittStar1199: Yes yes, both living for and dreading writing Infinity War. Happy you liked the proposal, it kicked my butt writing it.
Love. Fiction. 2018: You're awesome.
Ivana bocanegra: Bitchhhhh, it's been a crazy month but I missed you and you're awesome reviews and suggestions, as you can see Aphrodite did meet Strange but I didn't have her go straight to her father like some people were suggesting. I went I different route. Babe, I've already told you I love you're fireball idea and its in my notebook. I'll definitely be using it, just have to figure out how to still give Thor his badass entrance along with it. If you have something please let me know. I like the Ares face claim, but unless I decided to describe his features so heavily, just like with Aphrodite everyone id free to imagine him however they'd like. That is if I decided to use him in this story.
MidnightPenguin: Perfect description of the madness and pain that is to come.
Alright friends, some stuff happened in this chapter, Aphrodite met Dr. Strange and he helped her find her brother, just in the nick of time too. Also Thor is a golden retriever, who love his sister lmao. Steve knows what's going on with his girl to some degree, and he's totally cool with it. Lol when I wrote that scene and letter I imagine Steve, just being like 'Yup that's my girl you go ahead and kick ass in outer space, I'll be right here when you get back'.
So you guys know what that means, next chapter (which will be posted tomorrow) we're diving straight into Ragnarok which is still in its early stages but I'm so excited for you guys to read. But as always I'm still taking suggestions on what you guys would like to see. So keep sending me predictions and ideas, I love them.
As always let me know what you think and what you'd like to see in the future. Leave me a review too, as you can see I'll be answering/responding to the ones can. So feel free to say or ask me anything.