Asgardian Twilight

If I Were a Thor, Where Would I Be?

The Bifrost had deposited Dean and Lockjaw in a place he knew immediately- Greenwich Village, New York. He had shed his winter gear prior to venturing to Asgard and was now dressed in a maroon Henley and some jeans. He wore a ball cap and sunglasses and hoped that this, along with his new beard, would keep him anonymous.

"Okay," he said as he turned back to Lockjaw. "You wait here," he said as he pointed to the darker portion of the alleyway.

Lockjaw snorted irritably at him.

"Because we can't draw attention to ourselves," Dean explained.

Lockjaw let out a little whimper.

"Because there aren't massive bulldogs on earth, silly. You'd stand out!" Dean sighed as he walked up to the dog and laid his hands on his face. "Just stay here. I'll be back for you as soon as I find out something, okay?"

Lockjaw licked Dean's cheek and obediently disappeared into he shadows. Dean sighed and turned around. He walked out into the sunlight and immediately lost himself in the crowds. If Thor had indeed been brought here, there was sure to be talk of his presence. He moved among the crowds, listening in where he could. He also reached out with his empathic powers, attempting to find any traces of emotions associated with seeing Thor.

Excitement greeted his senses immediately and he followed it like a scent. He moved along the sidewalks, conscious of the emotions he was following as well as the presence of law enforcement. At one point a police car sped past, its sirens and lights blaring. Momentary panic seized him and he chuckled at his tension.

"I can't believe we just met Thor!" a distant voice squealed.

Dean turned and immediately began to follow the source- a group of young girls. They looked to be college-aged to him. He followed close behind, maintaining a safe distance while keeping close enough to hear what they were saying.

"Maybe since Lumen wasn't with him they maybe broke up?" a girl suggested.

"Oh, I should have asked him out," another mentioned. "I'm sure I could turn him."

Dean sighed. It doesn't work that way, sis, he thought in amusement.

"It's weird how he and his goth friend just disappeared like that though. I wonder what that golden ring was?" one of the girls said as they all started to walk into a coffee shop.

"Yeah, and why were they looking at that demolished nursing home?" another girl asked as the door closed behind her.

Demolished nursing home, Dean pondered as he turned away and began walking in the direction the girls had been walking from when he'd discovered them. His path took him to the demolition site the girls had alluded to. He stood on the corner of the street for several minutes and stared at the rubble in confusion. Why were Thor and Loki there of all places?

A sudden thought occurred to him. If Thor and Loki had purposely gone to earth together, then they had to be searching for Odin. Would Loki have placed the All-Father in a nursing home on earth? He wanted to dismiss the notion outright on the grounds that it seemed too crazy to be believed. Knowing that this tended to be the flavor of choice where Asgard was concerned, he decided not to rule it out.

A white card on the ground caught his eye and he picked it up to find a single address printed on its crisp surface. He creased his brow in confusion. Unsure of whether this was related or not, he decided to follow the address. He had no other leads to speak of anyway.

"Okay, Lockjaw," he sighed as he walked back into the alley. "I have a lead. Maybe. It's a card with an address."

Lockjaw- who had been scratching at his ear with his hind-leg- stopped mid-scratch, looked at Dean and snorted.

"Yes," Dean said with a smile. "You get to come with me." Lockjaw trotted alongside Dean as he led them through the alleys. "Best if we stay to the shadows on our way," he explained to the dog.

They meandered through the network of back alleys, using Lockjaw's teleporting abilities whenever they needed to get ahead or behind anyone they came upon. Eventually they arrived at Bleecker Street and before a large townhouse.

"This is the place," Dean murmured as he gazed up at the building in awe. "Let's get inside before we're seen," he said as he led Lockjaw up the front steps and knocked on the door.

A rush of wind swept around them and Dean suddenly found himself and Lockjaw in a comfortably-furnished sitting room. Dean looked straight ahead and spotted a figure with their back to him, facing a window. His features were hidden by a high-collared cape.

"If you're looking for the Asgardian you've just missed him," the man said without turning to look at Dean.

Unaffected by the turn of events, Dean said as he stepped further into the sitting room and looked around curiously. He could smell Thor's scent and his heartbeat sped up. He had just been in this very room. "I am. But he's more than just an Asgardian to me. He's my fiance."

The man turned around and his cloak floated about him as if alive. "You're Dean Allen. Lumen."

"Yes," Dean said with some confusion. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. You are?"

"Stephen Strange," the man said as he strolled forward and extended a hand. "You can call me Dr. Strange."

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Strange," Dean said in a strained voice as he shook the man's hand.

Dr. Strange looked from Dean to Lockjaw, who had found a cozy spot to lay on the carpet of the sitting room. "And who is this magnificent bulldog?"

Dean looked over his shoulder. "This is Lockjaw."

"Charmed," Dr. Strange said as he waved a hand and conjured a large bowl filled with meat and another with water. Lockjaw perked up and began to satiate himself. Dr. Strange then turned back to Dean. "Would you care for something?"

Dean shook his head. "No, thank you. I apologize if I come off rude, but I can't waste much time. I have to find him. Can you please tell me where he went?"

Dr. Strange regarded Dean with a curious look. As if he knew a secret about him that he wasn't willing to share. It made him wish he had more time to ask Dr. Strange why. His empathic powers saw absolutely nothing. There was a barrier guarding Strange's emotions. Finally the man smiled and nodded his head. "Of course. I can do you one better- I can send you to him."

Dean smiled and let our a sigh of relief. "I really appreciate this. You have no idea how much."

"I think I can imagine," Dr. Strange said with a smile. "But I have to warn you- your fiance is involved in some dangerous dealings."

"Of course he is," Dean said, unaffected by the warning. "It wouldn't be Thor otherwise."

Strange paused and a confused expression claimed his features. "Odd," he murmured to himself. "I could swear that's where I sent him."

"What is it?" Dean asked.

"I don't believe he is on earth anymore," Strange went on, his expression becoming more concerned. "Wherever I sent him, he's elsewhere now. But I can still sense his presence in the universe. I can send you there. But I'm afraid it will be dangerous.

Dean met these words with determination. "I'm not afraid." He would face down whatever he had to if it meant reuniting with Thor.

Dr. Strange smiled, but the shadow of concern was still etched on his features. "Very well. I will send the two of you to his location." He paused and looked at Dean with that same curious expression. "You must take care of yourself, Dean. You must."

Dean nodded his head slowly, thrown off by the way Strange addressed him with such concern. "I will. And thank you again."

Dr. Strange waved his hands and a golden ring of energy swirled before Dean. A strange landscape greeted him from the other side. It looked like one big landfill to him. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked over his shoulder at Lockjaw and beckoned him to follow. The dog took one last bite of food and gulp of water before walking after him and through the ring.

Dr. Strange took a seat and lost himself in thought. Destiny was a funny thing. He smiled broadly. "Quite a destiny that one has," he said as he conjured up a cup of tea for himself and stared into the distance. "I can't wait to see what happens with him."