~ Chapter 54 ~

A/N: Merry Xmas, everyone.


"Allow me to introduce myself," the stranger bowed deeply before standing straight. "I am Doctor Strange - Sorcerer Supreme."

"What do you want?" Thor's finger itched against the handle of his hammer, ready to fight at the slightest sign of danger.

"I came to see the one responsible for opening a galactic gateway." The sorcerer's eyes traveled to the sleeping figure as he felt his skin tingle. "My only question is if it was intentional or unintentional." he let the words float around them.

"Both." Thor didn't let his guard down. "My mate was kidnapped from our realm and only tried to get home. I know that as much as he wanted to go home, he never meant any harm despite his injuries."

"I see." the stranger said as he conjured forward a chair to sit down in. "In that case I must say that we were all lucky. The gateway opened up in every part of the universe, even in places that should never have access to anything living. We were lucky that nothing managed to get through before the gateway collapsed. There are beings out there that could level a planet by themselves."

"I'm sorry."

Thor snapped around and saw Loki's head turned to the side and looking at the newcomer with drowsy eyes. His mouth open slightly as he breathed in and out.

"Loki," Thor put his hands on the Jotun's chest and cheek. "You shouldn't be awake yet. You need to heal."

"Do you know what you have done?" Doctor Strange asked, the white in his hair stood out against the red of his cape. His black dressed legs was crossed over as he watched the couple calmly.

Loki thought carefully through his memories and somewhere he knew that he had done something magical, but exact what he wasn't sure.

The sorcerer saw the unsure lines in the pale face and had mercy on him. "You connected all of the universe with a galactic portal. You almost let dangerous creatures roam freely and put all life in danger." Thor threw him a warning glare. "Thankfully, nothing could cross before the gate closed so we are all safe."

"I thought I heard Thor calling for me." Loki confessed as his memory grew stronger. "He was telling me to come home."

"I didn't call you." Thor injected. "I came here after you and I barely found you when the portal opened."

He looked up at Thor and tried to make sense of what he was saying. "But I heard you."

"That might," Doctor Strange interrupted. "be the work of Dormammu."

"Dormammu?" Thor repeated, now holding Loki's hand in his.

"Yes." The doctor said. "I feel his energy around this building so I can only guess that all this was his attempt to invade this world." He looked right at Loki. "I don't know how far his influence stretch but he probably manipulated you into using your unstable powers to open a gate for him to use."

"Who is Dormammu?" Loki felt his mind echo with an unfamiliar voice that were telling him the answer, but still refused to come clear.

"He's a demon from a world outside the one we know. He's the Lord of Chaos, Dormammu the Dread. He rules the Dark Dimension where his slaves, every living being, gives him power. Part of his abilities that I know off is that he's immortal, can use telepathy, and manipulate mystic energy. He's tried before to invade this world but failed." The sorcerer stood up and the chair disappeared in a puff of smoke. "I can sense that you hold great magical power, such that only someone born to magic can have, opening a portal across existence is no small feat. Where do you hail from?"

"Jotunheim." Loki answered.

The expression of pure amazement and joy was clear on Doctor Strange face."A Jotunheim sorcerer. How rare. I've only read about your kind in books, to actually meet one is beyond fabulous." he took a step forward but stopped when he saw the hostile energy from the God. "I mean you no harm, but as long as your powers are unstable you will always be a target by Dormammu, and any other powerful fiends."

Just at that moment, the doors to the room flew open and people started to rush inside. Banner in the lead, the Avengers right behind him, and Fury's men just outside the special room. One of the guards had seen the newcomer on the security camera and alerted everyone else.

"How do I change that?" Loki asked without paying attention to the mortals. "I don't want to cause something like this ever again." With great effort, Loki sat up and leaned against Thor, soaking up his strength.

"For a Jotun Sorcerer it's most important that their internal balance is stable. If they are even the slightest out of harmony then it can go from bad to worse." Strange walked closer until he was standing a few feet away, his face every bit the professional he was. "For a royal sorcerer it will be even more needed to have a stable balance."

"How did you-?"

"I'm Doctor Strange," he threw his arms out. "There's little I don't know." Next he glanced over at the humans before focusing on the pair. "Besides, you are quite famous." he smiled at them. "As mates I take it you have bonded already." he looked from one to the other.

"Our marriage is in another ten months." Thor said.

"But you have at least done your bedroom duties?"

"Not... all of them." Thor wasn't that up to talking about his private life with a stranger.

With a great sigh, Doctor Strange rubbed his forehead. "That will not do. That will not do at all." he focused on Loki. "Your body needs the bond to your mate, in a way, your mate will act as an anchor. There are a lot of rules for a Jotun Sorcerer to pass before he can use his powers to his full capability. I understand that you have your own plans on how you wanted to handle your personal life, but believe me when I say that for as long as you wait, you risk falling prey to someone else who wants to take advantage of you. Or just kill you. To them you are a source of power, and a threat at the same time." Strange walked back to where he first had appeared. "Nothing is a coincident in this world. Everything happens because of a reason. I suggest that you complete your bond as soon as possible, before Dormammu or anyone else can get to you."

"How do we know that you are not one of them?" Thor asked sharply. "You could just be after Loki's powers yourself."

"You don't." Doctor Strange smiled. "You'll just have to trust me when I say that I have no interest in your powers. All I want is to keep everyone safe, and that won't happen if Dormammu escapes his realm. Think carefully about it. If you need me, then just call for me." And with a cloud of smoke, the sorcerer faded away until it was like he had never been there.

"Are you all right?" Banner asked them when he walked forward.

"Aye." Thor said as Loki nodded. "We think we got some answers."

"I would hope so." Tony Stark said from the side line. "He's always been a pain in the ass to get a hold off, but his information is never wrong."

Black Widow walked up next to Tony. "Is that the man you were going to call?" she asked.

Tony nodded. "Seems you did a number that called for him yourself." he looked at the pair. "Whatever he meant, I suggest that you think carefully about it. No one knows magic like him."

"He did seem... knowledgeable." Thor mussed.

However, their conversation didn't go much further as he felt Loki began to sag against him. He wrapped his arms around Loki to prevent him from falling and hurting himself.

"You should sleep, Loki." Thor said. "Gain strength. Heal. I will watch over you."

The prince nodded and although he wanted to stay with his mate, he couldn't resist the drowsy darkness nudging at his eyes. "Stay with me." he whispered before sleep once more took over. This time, his body began to work in expelling the last of the poison he had ingested not long ago.

He would no longer fall victim to others.


In his own home, Doctor Strange shimmered into place as he walked down the corridor. To see a living Jotun Sorcerer had been a treat, and it also explained how anyone had been able to create a galactic gateway. Jotun Sorcerer's were extremely rare, and one of the most powerful.

But magic had a consequence; the more powerful gift, the bigger compensation. Their fate had until now been an endless cycle of pain and death, and it was not only magic that bound those two together. If they wanted to break free, they would need to heed his words.

TBC