Chapter Text
“It’s impossible, I watched him die!” The words tasted familiar in Thor's mouth as he faced Stephen Strange. The calm manner of the man borderline infuriated the Asgardian.
“You watched me die, yet here I am,” He replied with raised eyebrows.
Thor lowered his voice, feeling as his anger was taken by sadness. “You were different, he didn’t die like a lot of you.”
“Tell me, Thor. Your brother is a native of Jotunheim, am I correct?”
Thor furrowed his brows.
“Yes,” He said slowly. “What does that have to do-?”
Strange cut him off.
“-Yet he looked normal after the incident?”
Thor nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat at the recollection.
“If your brother had actually died, the magic that made him look Asgardian would’ve lifted, but it didn’t.”
“So you're saying he faked his death... again?” Thor asked.
A look of bewilderment came across the sorcerer's face, but as soon as it appeared, he simply shook his head- likely deciding against asking.
“It’s possible, but I’m rather skeptical he wouldn't be in a dungeon if he had left on his own free will.”
“A dungeon?" Thor asked. "Why on Asgard would he be in a dungeon?”
“The Rinkos. A peculiar horde, they travel to and fro realms under complete discretion, kidnapping and enslaving anyone they can find. They like to refer to themselves as ‘population control’, but to most they're seen as a nuisance.”
Thor stood in shocked silence, registering what was said to him. His brother was alive. He should feel happy about the ordeal- of course he did- yet a sliver of bitterness lingered under the surface. Again, he would have to track down his estranged brother, who likely would return the favor with an annoyed 'why are you here?' and side-eye.
“Do you know his exact whereabouts?” He asked, looking up.
“Under the Baikal Mountains in Siberia.”
Strange materialized a small object, no bigger than the palm of his hand. It bore a deep bronze color, complete with a red dial under a glossy glass cover. Upon first glance, it looked identical to a compass but gave no coordinates. Instead, there were a series of smaller dials within it, all with different symbols.
“This should channel you into their precise location without being ambushed,” Strange said, handing him the device. "Just worry about the middle dial, the other just measures magnetic field anomalies and pressure changes."
“Can you not transport him here using your magic?”
“Their technology blocks out any outside magic," He frowned. "My powers are useless, and chances are, so are his.”
He continued. “Be warned, they have guards located in every sector of the forest surrounding the base. Pretty decent sized golems,” He patted Thor on the shoulder, “But I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t handle.”
“You are not coming with me?” Thor questioned, turning wildly as the man circled back around him.
“I am afraid not, I must go out and prepare an estate way out of town for a few guests. They’ll be arriving in-” He checked his pocket watch, “An hour, give or take. I can send you as close as possible, but you'll be on your own from there.”
“Thank you for all your help, again, Stephen.” He said. “I hope I can repay your kindness.”
“Don’t burden yourself,” He said. “If you need any assistance press this knob here” He pointed to a small button on the top of the object.
“I will keep that in mi-” Thor was cut short by the opening of a portal, taking the ground beneath him.
The portal that he prayed lead him to Loki.