Beyla ~ (Loki)

24.

I walk in the direction of the address. I look behind me to see Thor having more pictures taken. "Thor! Come on!" He rushes away from the ladies to me. "So you knew." He asks walking along my side. "Mhm. Yep. I did. We turn right here." Thor continues, "You could have told me, Beyla." I scoff, "Told you? Just for you to put him back in a cell? Make me sick to the point of death? No, Thor, I was right not to tell you." I walk closer to a building leaving him behind.

177A Bleecker Street. "Care to do the honors?" He knocks once, twice, and then suddenly we're inside the building! "Thor Odinson. Lady Beyla." From a dark corner, I glimpse at a shape. A man levitating, he drifts towards us. "God of Thunder. Goddess of Bees." Thor holds up the ratty umbrella, ready to defend himself. While I, on the other hand, am more interested. Who is this wizard?

"You can put down the umbrella."

Thor gives the man a sideways look but then sets his umbrella down. I watch it hit the handle and when I look back up, the environment is furnished. I laugh spinning around. The man looks at me with a smile. Thor points at the magical master. "So the earth has wizards now?"

"The preferred term is "Master of the Mystic Arts." "Alright wizard, who are you? Why should I care?" "My name is Doctor Stephen Strange and I have some questions for the both of you. Take a seat." Thor, Strange, and I are now sitting in high-backed chairs. Strang leans against his arm. "Tea?" I nod with a smile. "Please." A full cup of tea appears in my hand.

"I don't drink tea," Thor complains. "What do you drink?" "Not tea." Thor now has a stein of beer in his hand. He drinks it, but it always stays full. "So I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this world. Your adopted brother Loki is one of these beings." I nod in agreement. "Understandable." "He's a worthy inclusion."

Strang leans in, "Then why bring him here?" "We're looking for my father."

"So. If you were to tell you where Odin was, all parties concerned would promptly return to Asgard?" Thor smiles, "Promptly." Strang nods with an easy grin. "Great. Then I'll help you." "If you knew where he was, why didn't you call me?" Thor questions.

"I have to tell you, he was adamant that he not be disturbed. Your father said he had chosen to remain in exile... And you don't have a phone."

"No, I don't have a phone, but you could have sent an electronic letter. It's called an email."

"Yeah, do you have a computer?" Thor scoffs, "No. What for?"

"Dr. Strang, Odin is no longer in exile. So if you could tell us where he is, we can take him home." Dr. Strang nods at me breaking a small smile. "Gladly. He's in Norway." Strange stands up and suddenly we are standing by a bookcase. Strange takes down an ancient book, flips through it.

"I'm just seeing whether this incantation requires any Asgardian modifications." Thor reaches out to the bookcase to steady himself.

Suddenly they are both across the room at Strange's workstation. Because Thor was touching the bookcase, he has magically brought it across the room as well.

"Oh, we don't need that." Suddenly Thor is back across the room. Books fall off the shelf and Thor's beer spills. While I on the other hand am steady. "Will you stop doing that?" Strang turns and smiles at Thor. "I need just one strand of your hair." Thor bursts out, "My hair? Let me explain something, my hair is not to be meddled wi-!"

Strange is behind Thor, he plucks a strand of hair. Strange extends the hair, infuses it with magic, does a few gestures that create a bright light, and suddenly- we're at the bottom of the stairs. Strange is standing. I am walking down the steps. Thor is rolling down. A magic portal leading into a peaceful meadow has opened beside Strange. I help Thor stand. "We could have just walked." He says out of breath.