Chapter Fifty-Three


Author's Note: Why is this chapter SO. GODDAMN. LATE?! you're asking? Whelp, my boss decided to move to another store, I got a new boss, two co-workers got REALLY sick, one got fired, and three others who were about to get fired quit before that could happen. So in-between getting sick, having a birthday, and getting sick again, I've been working 5 and 6-day weeks. Fun times.

That is my excuse and I am really, truly sorry that this chapter took so long. So no, I'm not dead, this story isn't abandoned, and even though I have yet ANOTHER cold, here I am! Hope the wait was worth it!
Also, please remember; I play very liberally with the magic in this 'verse. So... yeah.

Dreamer


Rogers was busy evacuating stupid citizens who hadn't run when the first tree burst into flames. Tony didn't know what Romanov and Barton were doing- please be dead, he mused to himself- Thor was helping put out fires, and Bruce was... doing whatever Bruce did when he didn't want to unnecessarily Hulk out at the scene. So that left only Iron Man to land before the... wizard? Tony was gonna go with wizard.

The man before him was small, bald, with a thick, bushy beard. He was wearing... Tony didn't know how to describe his outfit, in all honesty. Light brown pants with a matching wrap-around shirt, a heavy black coat with clasps and a hood. He had his arms outstretched, fingers of one hand curled and the other flat, palm pointed out.

The dude definitely had magic- or, rather, access to magic. There was a brief flutter on the edge of Tony's senses and Tony wasn't sure how to explain it. It felt nothing like Loki's magic; large, dark, an all-consuming power that left Tony weak-kneed. This... this wizard was weak. His connection to magic was barely existent and it was broken, twisted, reflecting the madness of the man wielding it.

He wasn't connected to magic like Tony was; rather, he was forcing it to do what he wished. Someone had taught him the bare minimum and the man had thrown himself at the world.

He was weak, untrained, small... pathetic.

Tony sneered behind his faceplate as the wizard raised both hands and shot a large ball of red magic at the police cars parked on the side of the road. Buildings could be seen through the trees, uniformed officers rushing about with guns out.

They were all swept off their feet when one of the cop cars exploded, setting off a chain reaction that Tony was sure had killed more than one of them. The shock wave blew tree branches back, some snapping off and landing near Tony.

Tony stood stock still, taking it all in.

The wizard thrust one hand forward and another tree burst into flames. Another hand wiggle and the world... tilted? Tony raised his eyebrows as the paved path threading through the trees lifted and bent, twisting itself into interesting shapes before falling heavily back to the ground.

The wizard screeched.

'Well,' Tony finally said, voice amplified, 'that was impressive, I'll admit.'

The wizard snapped out of his daze and whirled to face Tony. 'The almighty Man of Iron!' he spat. 'Come to play?!'

Tony blinked. 'Er... come to take you in, actually.'

The wizard sneered at him. 'I will die before I am captured! There is no honour in defeat!'

'Wow, really?' Tony whistled. 'Sorry to burst your bubble, Malfoy, but you're gonna be dishonoured real quick.'

He... paused at that. Blinked slowly. 'What did you call me?' he hissed.

'Malfoy,' Tony said. 'You know, Draco Malfoy? You're clearly too unhinged to be Harry. I think the glasses make the wizard, in all honesty,' he said and gestured vaguely at his own face.

The wizard hissed. 'You will meet your fate here, by my hands, where other magic-wielders have failed!'

'Are... are you seriously dissing Loki right now?' Tony demanded. He had to admit that it kinda pissed him off. This guy thought that he was on Loki's level?

'Yes!' the wizard crowed, already acting like he'd won the battle. He wasn't even going to win this fight.

'Let me tell you, Lucius, you've got nothing on Loki.' Tony ran his eyes over the man's get-up. 'He has better style, for one thing.'

The wizard let out another screech and threw his hands in Tony's direction. A wave of red almost engulfed the genius but he took to the air, twisting out of its reach.

Unlike Loki, the mage wanna-be couldn't truly control magic. It kept going and engulfed trees, grass, setting everything ablaze.

Tony heard the man scream again and turned to see him running from the flames. Tony clucked. Weak.

He blasted after the wizard and reached him in seconds. He kicked the man in the back and sent him to the ground, landing a few feet from him. He turned to see the wizard scrambling to his feet, out of breath already and covered in sweat.

'Oh, honey,' Tony cooed, 'did that light show take it out of you?'

Another screech- really, the man was so dull. He fired a ball of magic at Tony and it bounced off of Tony's right shoulder, spiralling into the air and bursting into a shower of sparks. Tony looked down at his suit. The paint had been scuffed.

'No,' the wizard gasped, eyes wide. 'I have studied you. You cannot repel magic.'

Tony smirked and thought about the work he'd been elbows-deep in while Loki and Bruce had had their fun in Malibu.

'It probably won't stop Loki any time soon,' Tony said, 'but you? You're nothing.'

'I. Am. EVERYTHING!' the wizard roared.

Another bolt of magic but Tony dodged that one, taking a step forward. He continued walking and ducking, leapt into the air and flew over the man's head when he tried to throw another wave.

'Pitiful!' Tony called when he landed behind the man.

The guy lashed out, arm glowing red, and Tony grabbed his forearm with one gauntlet. He squeezed and the wizard whimpered, dark eyes jumping about before meeting the glowing holes in Tony's faceplate. 'You have a lot to learn,' Tony commented and lashed out.

His curled, armoured fist broke the man's nose and sent him to his ass.

'Well,' Tony mused while the man wailed and clutched at his face, 'that was disappointing.'

The wizard scrambled to his feet, coat flopping over his face and leaving him blind as he stumbled about. Tony watched with a faint air of amusement and disdain. Now, see, it was guys like this that gave magic-users a bad name.

Before Tony could put a stop to the truly horrific display- he was pretty sure the dude was crying- golden sparks leapt up between him and the wizard. Tony paused, one leg raised to step forward, and his eyebrows shot up as the sparks turned into a circle. Through it Tony could see a dark room, all wood and ancient furniture, a window that showed a stormy city day, and... was that a red coat?

And then the circle closed, Tony blinked, and there was a tall dude wearing red and blue standing between him and the wizard.

The newcomer muttered something, waved his arms, and the wizard Tony had been running circles around dropped to the ground, unconscious.

There was a sigh of annoyance. 'That,' a deep American accent said, 'was truly annoying.'

'Huh.'

The man turned around and Tony looked up into the eyes of someone he really had thought was dead.

'Stark,' he said, hands shaking when he folded them over his chest.

'Strange,' Tony returned.

Doctor Stephen Strange smirked at him and quirked one eyebrow. 'Sorry, was Kelton giving you trouble?'

Tony scowled.

{oOo}

Loki teleported to the park as soon as he saw the second sorcerer. While the first had been nothing to worry about, this new mortal... he was quite powerful, even considering his limited talents.

He was no match for Loki, even with that cute little eye he had hanging around his neck, but against Stark? Loki hadn't completed the man's training and Stark still didn't know how to completely hide his magical signature. While Thor would never be able to track it, this sorcerer might be able to feel that Stark had a connection to magic. Loki wasn't sure what Midgardian sorcerers were capable of and he'd rather be by Stark's side, even invisible, than leave the man to fend for himself.

He wrapped invisibility around himself and appeared behind a tree, immediately scanning the area for Thor. The Prince was making his way towards Stark and the sorcerer, hair slightly dishevelled but otherwise unharmed by the light show. How disappointing.

Loki stepped around the tree and approached his partner slowly. Stark seemed to know the man, judging by the sharp words the two were throwing back and forth.

So far the sorcerer hadn't seemed to notice Loki's presence and Loki counted that as a strike against Midgardian sorcerers.

'You got old,' Stark commented when Loki stopped a few feet away.

The sorcerer- Strange, was it?- scoffed. 'Like you have any room to talk, Stark.'

'Hey, at least I'm not grey,' Stark retorted.

Loki smirked. Stark's beard had been turning grey when they'd met. The Golden Apple seemed to have stopped any new grey hairs growing in, much to Stark's joy and Loki's amusement.

Strange raised an eyebrow. 'I'm still younger than you.'

Not for long, Loki mused.

'How do you know this guy?' Stark questioned as he walked closer to Strange. The other sorcerer was unconscious, dumped unceremoniously behind Strange.

'A former pupil of mine,' Strange said.

So Strange was some type of teacher. Apparently Midgard was full of sorcerers. That interested Loki; how many were there? Were they scattered all over the Realm? Did Strange hold a monopoly on all things magic related? If there were hundreds of sorcerers hiding out... well, perhaps Loki and Stark would have to go hunting after the Avengers and Asgard were dealt with.

'Pupil?' Stark smirked. 'Bringing out your own fashion line now that you're no longer a doctor?'

'No longer a practising doctor,' Strange corrected him. 'I'm still new to this whole... teaching thing,' he muttered. 'Some are bound to slip through the cracks.'

Stark paused at that and Loki watched him, head tilted. Loki could almost feel Stark tapping into his magic, trying to get a read on Strange and how he and the other sorcerer were connected. Loki smiled fondly. Stark had come a long way since that first afternoon in the younger god's penthouse. Loki still remembered touching Anthony's magic for the first time; that first taste and Loki had been lost. He hadn't known it back then.

He did now.

There was a shiver from Stark and the Midgardian frowned. 'When you say teaching...'

'Why, Stark,' Strange said, practically drawling the words, 'I've discovered the secrets to life.'

'Uh-huh.' Stark was clearly unamused.

Strange sighed. 'Magic,' he said. 'Not like what Doom uses- used, rather.' He paused, hummed. 'I heard through the grapevine that Loki was responsible for bringing Doom down?'

Loki smirked.

'SHIELD thinks it was a partnership gone wrong,' Stark commented. 'Keep talking, Strange.'

'There are magic users on this Realm,' Strange told him. 'Practised in the art of wielding all types of powers.'

Stark frowned at that. 'Wait... so you're telling me we've got a bunch of Lokis running around?'

Loki scowled and had to bite back the urge to send a little jolt Stark's way. The nerve of the man to even suggest that these sorcerers were anywhere near Loki's level.

'Different magic; different art; different practices,' Strange corrected. 'I don't know enough about Loki or what he can do to understand how he's so powerful. He doesn't appear to use any talismans or weapons to ground or channel what he does. It could just be because we're human.' He narrowed his eyes on Tony, head tilted ever so slightly.

Loki was more interested in Strange's coat than the words spewing out of his mouth. It was red, practically dripping with ancient magic, and clearly had a mind of its own. The edges were floating in an imagined breeze, the collar swiping at Strange's face softly.

Strange jerked out of whatever thought he'd fallen into and scowled. 'Stop that!' he ordered.

'Are you talking to your coat?' Stark asked.

'It has a mind of its own,' Strange replied.

Interesting, Loki mused.

Their conversation paused when Thor finally reached them, apparently tired of meandering. Loki turned away from the group to survey the area. Two trees were still on fire, though there appeared to be a great number of Midgardians hurrying to put them out. Loki narrowed his eyes slightly and could just make out the Captain helping two young mortals over a broken fence in the distance.

'Tony!' Thor's shout dragged Loki back. 'Have you felled our enemy?'

'Nope,' Stark said. He jerked his head at Strange. 'That was this guy.'

Thor frowned as he drew closer. He was taller than Strange, twice as large, but Strange didn't seem bothered when Thor got right up into his face. Loki rather wished that he could bash their heads together.

'You are a sorcerer,' Thor announced.

Strange blinked slowly.

'And Midgardian,' Thor added.

Loki's eyebrows rose slowly. Hmm, seemed Thor wasn't as dense as Loki had assumed.

Strange blinked again. 'Yes,' he finally said, 'to both those questions.' He glanced at Stark. 'Midgardians are humans, right?'

Loki rolled his eyes while Stark said, 'Thor, this is Doctor Stephen Strange. I'm assuming you've heard of Thor?' he directed at the sorcerer.

'Indeed,' Strange said. 'As I've been taught, and as I've said many times to my pupils; the Avengers protect Earth from physical attacks.' He spread his arms. 'Me and my own protect it from magical attacks.'

'Really?' Stark deadpanned. 'So where were you when Loki attacked the first time around?'

Loki was rather curious about that himself. Of course, he hadn't been in any state to go hunting down mortal magic-users when he'd first visited Midgard; he'd had a plan and a foreign being in his mind. It hadn't been about winning a war; it'd been about escaping with his life.

He edged closer to the group, making sure to keep all three in his immediate eyesight. The last thing he needed was any of them sensing him. Of course, Thor and Strange wouldn't believe him to be there with Tony. After all... this was the first time Loki was truly hearing about Midgardian sorcerers.

'Apparently Loki was too powerful and too unknown,' Strange said. He folded his arms again and turned his attention to Tony. 'The previous leader was aware that Loki and Thor were here and decided it was best to let Thor deal with Loki himself. Loki is, after all, of Asgard.' He glanced at Thor. 'But I see that you haven't dealt with Loki at all. Because here he still is, destroying various things that I assume belong to SHIELD.'

He hadn't destroyed anything of SHIELD's in a while. Loki glanced at Anthony. They really needed to attack another base together. Soon.

Tony hummed. 'And you know this how?'

'Ripples in the spaces all around the physical world,' Strange said. 'Loki's been a very busy, very naughty boy.'

Thor sighed at that, reaching up to scrub a hand through his hair. 'Aye,' he said, 'Loki has been busy. He has killed many Midgardians and I was unable to stop him.' His face fell. 'Those deaths are on me as much as they are on Loki.'

A smirk tugged at Loki's lips and he felt a similar tingle of excitement from Stark. Oh, yes, Loki was very much enjoying the heaping guilt he was putting on Thor. Stark seemed to enjoy it, too.

Stark gave Thor an obviously fake sigh and patted him on the shoulder. 'Hey, Big Guy, nobody blames you. Well, Clint might, but Clint hates Loki far more than is healthy, so...'

Strange was staring at Stark, blue eyes narrowed, and Loki let his entire attention shift to the sorcerer. Something... didn't feel quite right with him. The longer Strange observed Stark- and the longer Loki stared at him- the deeper the feeling ran. Loki wasn't sure what it was.

Strange didn't truly have magic of his own; he needed trinkets to connect to Midgard's magic, his core a channel rather than a bucket. While he could apparently feel the shifts in the metaphysical plane, he shouldn't be able to feel Stark's magic. For someone like Strange, Anthony's magic should feel the same as the magic that drenched Midgard. Sorcerers were never strong enough to be able to pinpoint a mage's magical signature.

So why, exactly, did it feel like Strange knew all of Stark's secrets?

'As he should!' Thor shouted. He was glaring now, eyes blazing on Stark but anger clearly directed at Loki. Loki shook his head and tuned back into the conversation. 'Loki has changed far too much, he has done things that no one should be allowed to do. When I capture him he will be punished, Tony Stark, you mark my words!'

Stark just nodded slowly while Strange stared between the two, eyebrows up. 'Well,' he finally drawled and flicked the collar of his coat from his face, 'that's all well and good, but are you certain you'll take Loki in? Because I am very annoyed about what he's doing on the planet I've vowed to protect.'

His eyes found Stark again and Loki drew his invisibility tighter around himself. A part of him wanted to strike Strange down. Another part wanted to watch and see what would happen.

'It would be different if Loki were simply existing here,' Strange continued. 'His plans mean little to me as long as he's not using magic to hurt people or change this planet in any way.'

'All you care about is his magic?' Stark asked.

Loki scowled. Even without magic, Loki could cause a lot of damage.

'My concern is with magic and magic only,' Strange said. 'Like I said; you protect Earth from physical attacks. I protect it from magical attacks.' He gestured at the unconscious sorcerer behind him. 'Case in point. Not only was this man a former pupil of mine, but he was using magic for nefarious reasons. That's why I'm here.'

Stark's eyebrows rose. 'So if he came out here and started knifing people-'

'The police would stop him,' Strange said dismissively. 'Now, if that's all, I really need to go.'

'I don't think so,' Stark said.

Strange scowled at him.

Pathetic little mortal, Loki thought.

'You're coming with us, back to the Helicarrier, and you're going to assure SHIELD that no more magic-user wannabes are gonna crawl outta the woodwork to start attacking people,' Stark continued. 'Because believe me, I've had enough magic to last me a life time.'

'Yes,' Thor said slowly, 'I agree with Tony. You should come with us, strange healer. Fury will wish to know that you are not in league with Loki.'

'In league with him?' Strange hissed.

In league with a mortal?! Loki thought with a snarl. Oh, yes, he was most definitely going to kill Thor now. No, he wouldn't merely wound the Prince, and he wouldn't simply trap him on Asgard, the Bifröst broken beyond repair. No, he would rip Thor open and spill his insides across his father's precious throne. Of all the nerve...

'I protect this realm from magical influence that doesn't belong!' Strange growled. 'It's your brother going around throwing magic everywhere!'

BROTHER?! Oh, it wasn't just Thor that Loki was going to kill. No, when SHIELD were dealt with, Loki was going to hunt this pathetic little creature down and show him what a true mage was made of.

Thor scowled, opened his mouth, but Stark groaned and pushed his way between the two. 'Okay, okay, let's stop throwing our weight around!'

'You're one to talk,' Strange muttered.

Stark, apparently the only mature being of the group, ignored him completely. 'Thor, I don't actually think that Strange is in league with Loki. Apparently he can use magic but he's not immortal.' He paused to glance at the man. 'Right?'

Strange shook his head. 'There are ways to become immortal. They're not ways that I'm interested in practising.'

'Okay then,' Tony said. 'Still, you're coming with us. Just because I believe you doesn't mean that Fury will. Fury doesn't actually believe anything I say, even when I'm being serious.'

'Are you ever serious?' Strange asked.

'Sometimes,' Stark said, ignoring his tone completely. 'So we all agree that it'd be in everyone's best interests to play nice and talk about this like adults?'

Strange stared at him, eyes narrowed, but finally nodded. 'Very well,' he said and stooped to pick his former pupil up. He hefted the guy over his shoulder and said, 'Lead the way, Stark.'

'Might as well call me Tony,' the god said as his helmet inched back over his head, 'I feel like we're gonna be seeing a lot of each other over the next few weeks.'

Loki watched as Stark blasted into the air, quickly disappearing between the tall buildings. Thor tried to make conversation with Strange but without Stark there to play mediator all attempts at small talk quickly fell apart. Finally Thor mumbled something and started walking towards the road; Strange hesitated briefly before following, the other sorcerer still tossed over his shoulder.

Waiting until they were a good distance away, Loki teleported back to Stark's penthouse. He fell onto the sofa and leaned back, socked feet up and crossed on the coffee table.

'Mr Laufeyson?'

'I am fine,' Loki said dismissively. There was no response from JARVIS.

Well, Loki mused to himself, magic trembling on the edges of his fingertips, this game just got a lot more interesting.

{oOo}

So, magic. Magic-users on Midgard. A lot of magic-users, apparently. Tony was sitting tilted back in his seat, one shin pressed up against the table to stop him from toppling over. The last thing he needed was to draw more attention to himself.

Fury had been pissed when Tony and Thor had waltzed into the Helicarrier with two guys dressed like extras from a Lord of the Rings movie. But Fury had known Strange by his face alone so had allowed the man into the briefing room. The other sorcerer had been tied up and tossed into the corner.

'Trust me,' Strange had said after removing a chunky gold ring from the other sorcerer's fingers, 'without this he's useless.'

Tony had spied a matching ring hanging from the brown fabric wrapped around Strange's waist like a belt but hadn't mentioned it.

Strange had done that for him. As soon as all of the Avengers had gathered, plus Hill and Coulson, Strange had stood and told them all who he was and what he was about.

Monasteries protecting Earth from magical influence, both good and bad. Apparently they were taught in a remote location that Strange wasn't willing to part with, but there were bases set up in major cities that all tied together. Strange had somehow saved the world without SHIELD being aware that the world was close to being destroyed. Strange had then become the head of the Sorcerer Guild or whatever the hell it was called.

Tony didn't truly start paying attention until Strange spoke about, and then demonstrated, his brand of magic.

It was... interesting, certainly. Strange could manipulate the world around them, bending the room until it was sideways, until the table was above them and the steel beneath their feet was zigzagging every which way.

But nobody else could see that. Nobody but Strange, Thor, and Tony.

'It is not the physical world being manipulated; not truly,' Thor told the group when Fury asked why Strange was just standing still. 'Magic flows within everything and the fabric of reality is not as strong as you think. There are gaps between everything. Mages can walk these gaps, for they have the power to see and survive the paths. Sorcerers can manipulate these gaps- this reality- depending on their skill.' He turned to look at Strange. 'I am impressed at your skill.'

Strange bowed slightly but Tony read the smugness on his face. 'Thank you,' he said.

'So you need that ring to work your powers?' Tony asked. He waggled his fingers just to make sure that his barb stabbed home.

Strange glared at him. 'I'm human, Stark. While Loki seems powerful enough to throw magic around without any type of grounding element, I can't do that.'

'Loki is a mage,' Thor stated.

Barton had been silent this entire time, though Tony had felt his rage even from the other end of the table. 'What the hell's the difference?' he demanded. 'You keep throwing those words around, both of you; wizard, sorcerer, mage. What the hell is the difference?'

The rest of the Avengers looked curious, too. Bruce actually sat up in his seat, apparently interested in the conversation, now. Tony was curious, too.

'A wizard does not have any magic themselves,' Thor explained, 'wizards and witches use objects to channel, store, and use magic. A sorcerer has a spark themselves and are able to tap into their magic and fuel it using the magic of the realm they are in. They do not have much magic themselves, but they have the talent to use it. They need objects to ground themselves and to help channel the magic. If they did not use objects the magic would kill them.' He looked at Strange. 'Midgardian sorcerers need an object to tap into both magics, it seems. Can you do what you do without that ring?'

Strange shook his head. 'Some things I can do, but I'm usually using another magical object.'

Thor nodded. 'Yes, that makes sense,' he said.

'And Loki?' Barton demanded, voice a hiss. 'Why the fuck can Loki toss magic around like it's nothing?'

'He's a mage.' And that came from Tony, now the centre of attention. Goodie. He rolled his eyes. 'Thor's said it himself plenty of times,' Tony continued. 'Mages are born. They have an abundance of magic. They're naturally inclined to use it and Loki's probably been studying and practising for a thousand years.'

'Aye,' Thor agreed. 'Mages do not need objects to channel their magic. They can throw raw magic or use words to channel it into spells; Loki needs nothing to help him use his power. He is the most powerful mage born in the last ten thousand years, at least. My father is worried that Loki will only grow more powerful, now that he can study and learn what he wishes, even those magics that were forbidden to him when he was a prince and my brother.'

Fury's eyes were on Strange. 'And you can't stop him?'

'Excuse me?' Strange looked offended. 'I can certainly try, but last I checked Loki was an enemy of the Avengers. I'm not about to reveal my existence if it's not necessary. I have people under my care. If Loki decides to turn his sights on us, I'm not sure we could actually stop him.'

'Aww,' Tony teased, 'your magic not powerful enough to fight the big, bad mage?'

Strange glared at him. 'I could trap him in a world of mirrors and smoke,' he growled, 'I could tilt the world around him, twist it, until he went mad trying to fight his way out. Believe me, Stark, I could certainly send Loki insane.' He leaned back and blew out a breath. 'But I can't contain him. And I'd most likely die trying to keep him locked up. I don't wish to die, so I'm leaving him in your capable hands.'

'And not helping at all?' Tony drawled.

Rolling his eyes, Strange said, 'I didn't say I wouldn't help. I can certainly lend my expertise. But Thor mentioned that he can contain Loki once you've captured him?' He glanced at Thor, who nodded. 'And you all know how to send him back to Asgard when you do capture him,' Strange continued. 'So consider me a consultant. I have no wish to be an Avenger or a SHIELD agent. So.' He drew a card from a pocket hidden within his wrap-around shirt. 'Call me if you need a consultation.'

Fury sighed and said, 'Motherfucker,' but nodded at Coulson, who swiped the card from where Strange had left it on the table. 'Fucking sorcerers and magical barriers and shit,' Fury growled. 'Strange!' he barked. 'You'd better answer if we call.'

'It would be my honour,' Strange muttered sarcastically. Tony snorted. 'Speaking of which,' Strange said, eyes now on Tony, 'we have some things to discuss, Tony.' One corner of his mouth quirked upward. 'I'll be seeing you.'

Well, Tony thought, magic bubbling in his chest, that didn't sound good.

The Avengers watched, most gobsmacked but hiding it well, as Strange slipped his own gold ring on and swirled up a golden circle that showed them glimpses of a stone courtyard drenched with rain. Strange nodded at the group after he'd thrown the other sorcerer over his shoulder, then he stepped through the golden circle. A few seconds after he was gone the circle sparked and disappeared completely, leaving nothing but a faint black mark on the floor.

'Son of a bitch,' Fury grunted.