My Friend Loki: The Price You Pay

Part 4

"Dear God, no..." I whispered, not being able to think straight. "Wh-what kind of trouble is he in?"

It was a shock to hear the news that my dear friend was in trouble, despite him usually being a proverbial magnet to it. It brought on a new nest of butterflies in my stomach to once again steal my oxygen.

However something else Thor had said to me soon hit my brain, "wait, scratch that." I said, "what makes you think I can help Loki? I'm not one of those people in that New York group."

"No," Thor said with a smile, his large hand gently lifting my chin, "you're something better. You're Loki's friend."

I don't know what that meant, but despite my worry, that made me smile and feel a bit better. I seemed to also be able to breathe normally again.

"And what kind of trouble is my friend in?" I again asked.

"Very deep, I'm afraid. I'm here to take you to a place where they can tell you all the details. After that, we'll see if you're able to help my brother."

"Let's go then," I said, with no hesitation.

Thor pulled what looked like a cell phone out of the pocket of his jacket, and spoke into it.

"Call Doctor Stephen Strange."

Nothing happened.

Thor looked at the phone, shook it, then said into it, much louder this time, "CALL DOCTOR STEPHEN STRANGE!"

"Umm, Thor?" I said to him, reaching out my hand, gesturing for him to give the phone to me.

Thor handed it over, and upon pressing a button, I powered on the phone. I then handed it back to him.

Thor smirked.

"Call Doctor Stephen Strange," he said, again.

In seconds an orange portal, that had edges like a Spirograph drawing, opened up before us.

"After you," Thor said, gesturing with his hand.

I swallowed hard. I was going to go through that?! I cautiously looked at the portal, then looked at Thor. He gave me a look of assurance. I took a step closer to the orange ring. I closed my eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and focused on one thought that mostly calmed my mind and gave me strength.

For Loki.

I took a leap of faith...

I appeared steps away from some kind of official building. As I looked at my surroundings, from what I could tell, I was no longer in Canada.

I heard the footsteps of Thor behind me, and an odd whoosh sound of the portal closing.

"Thor, where are we?"

"We are at an auxiliary SHIELD facility... where Loki is being held."

"SHIELD?!" I said, incredulous. Recalling what Loki had told me of his previous experience... I felt the onset of anger. I turned to Thor, grabbing the fabric of his jacket - or what I could of it due to my height, "how could you leave him alone in there?" Strong emotions within me escalated and I began trembling with upset, "do you know what they are capable of doing to him..?!"

"Beverlee," Thor said, soothingly, "easy now," he knelt to face me, then took both my assaulting hands from his jacket, to hold them in his own, "Loki's fine. He's safe. SHIELD won't do anything to hurt him." Thor gave me a wry look, "if they did, they would have to answer to me."

Thor's hands were warm as they held mine. How he had spoken to me and the way he also looked at me... My anger, along with the trembling that came with it, soon ceased.

Despite the friction between the brothers, at this moment, I felt I could trust Thor. And while it might have been common knowledge that Thor truly cared about Loki, it felt good that I experienced proof of that.

I extricated my hands from Thor's and then put my hand on his arm, "I'm sorry," I whispered, "it's just that... Loki means a lot to me."

"I understand," Thor said, "despite what you witness, my brother means a lot to me too."

Thor stood up, then we boldly marched into the facility.