The Sorcerer's Apprentice {Stephen Strange}

Twenty-Eight

You Dropped A Bomb On Me by The Gap Band

"You can take a shower before me because I need to go help my dad change the oil in his truck," Emerson tells the sorcerer. She had already gotten dressed in some work clothes that she doesn't mind getting dirty. Strange on the other hand has yet to get out of bed. He rarely gets to relax so of course he'd still be in bed when he gets the chance. Strange looks up from a book he brought with him with a raised eyebrow.

"Would you like me to help?"

"No, no. It'll be super easy. Take your time getting ready for today and I'll be back up to shower once I'm done," the sergeant responds before shutting the bedroom door and heading out to the driveway. The sun is hidden behind a cloudy sky while snow falls, covering everything in a thick layer of white fluff. Winter in Colorado is one thing Emerson misses. She pushes herself up towards the car, the snow getting caught in her wheels, making it harder to push herself outside. She sits still beside the truck, surprised to not see her father already outside working.

"What a coincidence," behind her a familiar voice says. She turns her head and her chair only to see the God of Mischief leaning against the back end of the truck. With wide eyes, Emerson makes his way closer to the god. He shouldn't just show up announced, startling the sergeant.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" She shouts before realizing she shouldn't be so loud. "I am with my family..." Emerson snaps, raising her hand to gesture at the house. Her father could walk outside any minute and see this mysterious dark-haired man standing in their driveway.

"And I thought you'd be excited to see me," Loki scoffs before walking away from her and into the garage. "I come bearing a holiday gift for you."

"You found it?" The sergeant whispers as she follows Loki into her garage. She glances around, hoping no one is near. He must have brought her the Elixirs of Renewal.

"I did not just find it. I had to fight for it," Loki boasts as he magically pulls the vials from behind his back. "You're welcome."

"This is it? All I have to do is drink them both?" Emerson questions, skeptical about the two little vials in the trickster's hands. This seems too easy. She hasn't done nearly anything to earn the potions. Surely the God of Mischief is up to something.

"Yes," he says before a dirty grin appears on his face. "You drink them both however the process is-- from what I've heard-- excruciating. Should you drink them now, you will be bedridden for days upon days so may I suggest you hold off until after your little vacation?" The trickster relays the information to the sergeant.

"I can do that," Emerson nods, choking down the anxiety. She never would have thought the cure to her injury would be more pain. "Anything else I should know?"

"Hmm," he thinks to himself before speaking up once more. "Do not take that ring off under any circumstances or there will be consequences. Also, keep next Friday night free... I have something for you to do," the god spits out before disappearing. Emerson sits completely still, shocked by her conversation with the god. What more does he need from her? The sergeant carefully sets the potions down before making her way towards the truck once more.

"Hey, kiddo. Ready to get started?" Emerson's dad asks, oblivious to the fact that Loki was just here. The sergeant glances back once more to make sure the god really is gone.

The God of Mischief really just showed up at her family home, announced and ready to cause problems. Sure, he's the God of Mischief but he doesn't need to be a pain in the ass. Emerson mentally curses herself for talking to him behind the sorcerer's back. The guilt lives in the back of her head, reminding her that she is hiding the truth from the man who has given her all of his time and patience. He doesn't deserve to be lied to, and there is no reason why Emerson can't tell him what she's done. She has the elixirs now so he couldn't possibly stay mad at her once he finds out. That doesn't stop her from feeling absolutely terrible though. She just looks back towards her father before speaking once more.