"Thor Odinson"
Thor squinted his eyes, straining to see into the darkened area from where the voice had come.
Making a good show of appearing unruffled, Thor tried to gain his equilibrium after having
apparently teleported into the building after simply knocking on the front door.
"God of Thunder" the voice enunciated slowly.
Jaw set and eyes now focused, Thor steadied himself as a dark figure levitated slowly towards
him. Although disguised as what the mortals called an "umbrella", the familiar weight of Mjolnir
was reassuring as Thor held the weapon between himself and the stranger, ready to defend
himself if need be. It wouldn't be the first time he fought in unfamiliar territory, and he was now
sure that this figure was the reason Loki had gone missing from his side.
He watched, muscles coiled and ready for action as a tall man floated into view. It was a
testament to the things that Thor had seen in his long life that he did not even bat an eye as the
stranger levitated across the open room straight towards him. The long red cloak, so similar to
Thor's own, gently lapped in the breeze as the man landed with a soft thud right in front of Thor.
The two men looked at each other for only a few moments before the stranger glanced at the
item between them and spoke again.
"You can put down the umbrella."
Thor stared at the man for a moment before slowly lowering his arm, placing the ratty umbrella
into the new conjured container beside his feet.
The quiet clang of the umbrella hitting the bottom was the only warning Thor received before he
felt an intense pull behind his navel. Gasping for air and looking around in confusion, he realized
that he and the unknown man were now in a different room of this unfamiliar lair. Fighting for
equilibrium, Thor did his best to act nonchalant as he strolled carelessly towards some type of
display, looking around discreetly for any sign of Loki as he went.
Plucking an arrow-shaped weight off of what Thor could only assume was meant to be "art", he
pointed it arrogantly at the stranger.
"So" He began in an almost bored tone. "Earth has more wizards now?"
Thor was almost disappointed to see that the stranger never moved from their perched position
against the far wall, his arms still folded in front of him.
He roughly put the arrow-shaped item back in its place, only to see the entire display fall, a
multitude of heavy pieces crashing and rolling along the table. Thor could almost see Loki rolling
his eyes from wherever he was being held.
"The preferred term is Master of the Mystic Arts."
Thor barely heard the wizard as he continued trying to set the display back to rights.
"...You can leave that now." The wizard continued.
"Alright, wizard." Thor said as he tossed the remaining pieces carelessly onto the table. "Who
are you? Why should I care?"
"My name is Dr. Stephen Strange, and I have some questions for you. Take a seat."
The gust of wind and pull behind his navel surprised Thor again as he suddenly found himself
seated in a comfortable leather chair. This new room he had been teleported to smelled of wood
and old books. The wizard was now sitting in an identical chair a few feet in front of him, a look
of concentration on his face.
"Tea?"
"I don't drink tea." Thor huffed with a sardonic laugh.
"Then what do you drink?"
"Not tea." Thor responded as he looked down at the tiny cup in his hand, the deep black liquid
steaming upward in inviting swirls. He began looking around, trying to, once again, find his
bearings after the sudden location change.
Feeling a change in his hand, he looked down to see that the steaming cup of tea had
transformed into a large mug of what he could only assume was ale. His eyebrows raised in
appreciation as he brought the mug to his mouth and began swallowing deeply.
"So I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this
world." The wizard began. "Your adopted brother, Loki, is one of those beings."
"A worthy inclusion." Thor responded gruffly as he finished off the large mug. He watched in
fascination as the mug immediately began to refill, the light from a nearby window causing the
liquid to gleam invitingly. Thor hummed in appreciation before bringing the drink back up to his
lips.
His attention was brought back to the man in front of him as the wizard leaned forward intently.
"Then why bring him here?" The wizard asked intently.
"We are looking for my father." Thor responded simply.
"So…if I were to tell you where Odin was, all parties concerned would promptly return to
Asgard?"
Thor smirked. "Promptly."
"Great!" The wizard responded with a clap of his gloved hands. "Then I'll help you."
Thor watched as the wizard began to stand.
"If you knew where he was.."
The sentence died on Thor's lips as he was again teleported into a new room. His ale was
sloshing over the side of the mug as he grabbed onto a nearby bookcase to steady himself.
"I'm just seeing if this incantation requires any Asgardian modifications." The wizard said
absentmindedly as he flipped through a large tome.
Looking up at Thor, he slammed the book shut quickly. "Nope!"
Thor gasped as stumbled into the next room into which they had just been transported.
"Oh, we don't need any of this." The wizard commented before the room began to spin again.
Landing in his third room in a matter of moments, Thor grasped tightly onto a nearby shelf,
breaking the thing whole and watched as books scattered all along the floor.
Catching his breath and righting himself, Thor angrily sat his mug on a nearby table before
looking over at the wizard calmly scanning several parchments.
"Can you stop doing that?" Thor asked in frustration.
"Enough, Stephen." A new voice spoke. "You've had your fun."
The decidedly female voice brought Thor up short, and he spun on his heel to see a figure
perched delicately on the arm of a large chair, her serene smile softening the scold she had just
directed at the wizard.
"Lady Granger!" Thor boomed in slightly confused excitement. He had grabbed her into an
overwhelming hug in an instance, completely oblivious to Hermione's squeak of surprise.
"'The 'Lady' still needs to breathe." the wizard snapped impatiently.
"Of course!" Thor boomed as he sat Hermione down back onto her feet. "What has brought you
to the home of this wizard, my Lady?"
Hermione's smile was bright as it always was when hearing Thor's manner of speaking.
"Well, it's actually not-" She began.
"Have you been captured by this floating wizard?" Thor interrupted suddenly, the stray thought
beginning to take root as he spun on his heel and glared at the wizard menacingly.
"Jesus…" Stephen grumbled as he rolled his eyes in frustration.
"You are completely misun-" Hermione tried before being cut off again.
"Lady Granger is under the protection of Asgard, floating wizard, and you will release her!" Thor
exclaimed firmly, his tone allowing for no argument. He seemed completely unaware that
Hermione was struggling and failing to remove herself from the iron grip he had on her arm - in
Thor's mind, keeping her safely behind himself and away from the assumed threat.
It seemed Stephen had had enough of the spectacle. Uncrossing his arms and making his way
towards Thor from where he had been perched on a door frame, he addressed the God of
Thunder.
"I would appreciate it if you would take your hands off of my wife."
Thor blinked several times uncomprehendingly, his stance frozen as he tried to process the
words.
"Your…what?"
"My WIFE." Stephen responded.
Hermione finally freed herself from his slack grip before scurrying around in front of him, her
small hand placed gently on his arm.
"Thor, I'd like to introduce you to my husband, Dr. Stephen Strange." Hermione spoke warmly.
"Stephen, I know you know this, but this is my friend, Thor Odinson, The God of Thunder."
"Your husband…" Thor said, still trying to catch up.
Blinking a few times more, the married couple were surprised when a bright smile erupted on
Thor's face as he bellowed once again.
"Your husband!"
"This is joyous news!" Thor laughed loudly. "The union of the mighty Lady Granger is cause for
much celebration!"
"Strange." Stephen snapped.
"What?" Thor asked in confusion.
"Strange." Stephen retorted. "Her name is Hermione Strange. So if you are going to insist on the
title, her name is 'Lady Strange'."
Hermione stared at Stephen in bemusement as Stephen resolutely refused to look at anyone.
"It seems the floating wizard is aware of the strength he has added to his family name!" Thor
laughed. "That is good. Lady Strange is a fine warrior - the pits of Hel are filled with the screams
of those she has slain!"
"Thor!" Hermione scolded, aghast at his statement.
"Ok. If we are now all content that Hermione isn't being held here against her will, can we get
back to the issue of your missing father?" Stephen grumbled. "I'm going to need one of your
hairs for this to work."
"Absolutely no- Ow!" Thor yelped as Stephen reappeared behind him and plucked a hair from
his flowing ponytail.
"Stephen." Hermione scolded, although, once again, the smile on her face and sparkling eyes
gave away her amusement at her husband's antics.
Stephen winked and threw her one of those smirks that made her insides flip as he began
twisting his hands into a series of complicated movements.
Thankful that they had made their way back into the large space of the Sanctum's foyer,
Hermione smiled and shook her head as she perched back on the arm of one of her favorite
leather chairs, intent on watching her husband work.
The large space was filled with the familiar orange glow as Stephen conjured the large sparking
portal that would lead Thor to his father. Taking a few steps back, Stephen gestured.
"There you go." He said."Oh, don't forget your umbrella."
"Right." Thor said before beginning to raise his hand.
"Absolutely not, Thor Odinson!" Hermione shouted suddenly.
Thor looked at the smaller woman in confusion.
She huffed in exasperation. "Don't you dare destroy this Sanctum calling that hammer!"
"Mjolnir is not a mere 'hammer'." He muttered petulantly.
"Stay put. I'll go grab it." She said. "And keep that arm down!" She added before popping out of
existence.
Thor looked over at Stephen, pointing his thumb at the spot where Hermione had just
disappeared. "How is she going to 'grab' Mjolnir?
"Don't you have a family reunion to be focused on?"
"I'll need my brother back." Thor responded.
"Oh, right."
Stephen glanced upward and began waving his hands in a large sweeping circle, the glowing
portal appearing several feet high just a few feet away from Thor.
The yelling of what could only be Loki was the only warning Thor had before his brother fell
through the hole and landed roughly on the ground with a loud thud.
Breathing heavily, the trickster god looked up from his prostrate position on the floor.
"I have been falling" He yelled, still trying to catch his breath. "For thirty minutes!"
"Right." Stephen responded, barely acknowledging the dark haired man still lying on the floor.
"I'll let you handle that."
Thor walked forward towards Stephen and shook his hand. "Thank you."
Shaking his hand firmly, Stephen responded. "Good luck."
Loki hopped to his feet with the grace and power of a panther. "Handle me?" He growled, still
breathing somewhat heavily.
Two identical daggers appeared in Loki's hands as he crouched slightly, poised and ready to
attack Stephen.
"Who are you?" Loki demanded. "You think you're some kind of sorcerer?"
One of the blades was flying through the air in the blink of an eye straight at Stephen.
Loki's grin of anticipation suddenly turned to a frown as the dagger met a suddenly visible blue
force. The dagger clanged off the shimmering light before stopping harmlessly several feet
away.
"It's not very polite to throw daggers at your host." Hermione said primly as she walked down the
Sanctum's main staircase.
Loki looked up to see the form of the woman who apparently had stopped his attack gliding
gracefully down the stairs, Mjolnir floating behind her like a loyal dog. It was all he could do to
keep his mouth from dropping open in shock.
Taking in the woman's long flowing curls, intelligent brown eyes, and obvious magical power,
Loki straightened his stance immediately before responding smoothly. "I wasn't going to hit him.
I have impeccable aim."
"He couldn't have even if he wanted to." Stephen added, suspicious of the trickster god's
sudden interest in his wife.
"Loki Laufeyson, God of Mischief, my lady." Loki said to Hermione, completely ignoring Stephen.
"You killed thousands when you released the Chitauri into New York." Hermione bit back. "I
know who you are.
"A misunderstanding, I'm sure." Loki continued as he reached to kiss Hermione's hand.
The dark god's eyes narrowed in suspicion as the hand reaching for Hermione's was suddenly
encased in an orange glow.
"I don't think so." Stephen said, obviously losing patience with Loki's attention toward Hermione.
"You don't think so?" Loki said, turning fully towards Stephen, fury etched all over his face. "You
dare deny a god?" He ranted as he began storming toward the Sorcerer Supreme. "If I want the
witch, I'll have the witch, and if you think for a moment that some second-rate…"
"Ok, bye bye." Stephen said crossly, having had enough of the trickster flirting with his wife.
Loki was brought up short and his eyes widened in shock as the orange portal leading the
brothers to Odin was flung directly at his person.
The sparking circle engulfed both brothers, and Stephen made sure to take the time to throw
Loki directly onto his face before closing it off quickly. As the final orange spark disappeared
from sight, Stephen turned back and faced Hermione, already feeling more at ease now that the
two gods had departed the Sanctum.
Hermione's arms were crossed and her eyes were dancing with amusement as she lifted a
delicate brow at her husband.
Stephen rolled his eyes, completely unabashed at his actions. "I'm not going to stand here and
watch someone make a pass at you, Mrs. Strange." He said as he pulled Hermione closer
before planting a lingering kiss on her lips.
Stephen pulled back and smirked at the dazed look on his wife's face. Her arms had wound
around his neck, effectively locking him into place.
"Mmm." Hermione murmured, nuzzling her forehead against his neck. "Say that again."
Stephen leaned down near Hermione's ear.
"Mrs. Strange." He said, knowing good and well how much his deep voice affected Hermione.
Planting a kiss to the shell of her ear, he then swapped to the other side.
"Mrs. Strange."
Planting another kiss to that ear, he then gazed at her lovingly before whispering.
"Mrs. Strange."
Hermione's eyes fluttered shut as Stephen's mouth descended upon her own.