"I used mind-reading to check them." Queenie said calmly. "Their thinking was… extreme."
"I didn't want any deeper involvement, so I erased their memories and sent them away."
Garfield regarded her with clear approval. Given Hydra's true nature, she had handled the situation almost flawlessly.
Despite how ineffectual they sometimes appeared in films, Hydra in reality was a deeply entrenched, globally dangerous organization.
"You did the right thing." Garfield said. "They're lunatics, paranoids trying to 'save' a parasite from the depths of the universe because they believe it's a god."
He briefly explained the true nature of the Hive.
Queenie's expression immediately turned to disgust.
Leaving aside the fact that it was a parasitic organism that inhabited human bodies, its twisted consciousness alone was enough to make her uncomfortable.
"That's revolting." She said, clenching her fist. "How can anyone believe in something like that?"
Garfield smiled faintly. Her reaction was sincere and unguarded, precisely the kind of moral clarity he admired in her.
"Whenever humanity encounters something it doesn't understand." He explained gently, "It tends to mythologize it."
"Wizards frighten ordinary people for the same reason. Ignorance only disappears when a species evolves far enough to confront reality without fear."
As they spoke, the kitchen had nearly finished its work. Prepared ingredients hovered patiently in midair, lining up to enter the pot in perfect order.
At that moment, a golden circular sigil opened beside Garfield.
He glanced up. "Master? Are you coming for dinner?"
The Ancient One considered for a moment, then nodded. "I'll join you shortly. Also, consider this a warning. You're about to receive one or two visitors."
"Visitors?" Garfield blinked.
She smiled faintly. "Your future elder brothers."
…
On the outskirts of New York City, inside the grounds of an abandoned factory choked with weeds and reeds, two feral dogs suddenly bolted from the tall grass, tails tucked tightly as they fled.
Behind them, a crude scarecrow woven from reeds, missing one leg, hopped awkwardly in pursuit, flailing its arms and emitting strange, broken cries.
"Hold—still—"
"Don't—run—"
"The—nest—is—not—open—"
The sky, moments ago clear, darkened abruptly. Clouds churned overhead as a column of seven-colored light crashed down between the fleeing dogs and the scarecrow.
Thor and Loki stood where the light faded.
Both stared at the one-legged scarecrow.
The scarecrow froze, staring back at the two figures who had appeared out of nowhere.
Thor frowned. "This thing looks familiar. I'm certain I saw it two days ago."
Loki tilted his head thoughtfully. "Isn't this the reed-monster you mentioned earlier? The one you said invaded the Nine Realms?"
"Look, it's missing a leg."
Thor's gaze dropped to the broken limb. A faint trace of lightning crackled along the severed edge.
"There is residue of my thunder." Thor declared coldly. "A creature that dares invade the Nine Realms shall be judged. I, Thor Odinson, will~"
The scarecrow turned and fled. Its single leg made escape impossible.
A bolt descended from the heavens, obliterating the ground where the scarecrow stood. When the thunder faded, one of its arms had been reduced to ash.
The creature lay in the smoking crater, weakly croaking a single, unintelligible sound.
"Wo… lu… mei…"
Thor and Loki approached.
The body disintegrated before their eyes, leaving only scorched earth and drifting ashes.
Loki crouched, examining the crater with interest. "I don't think it's dead," he said thoughtfully.
"It likely survived by sacrificing its limbs to absorb your lightning."
Thor nodded, fully convinced. "That must be it."
"We'll return at once and inform Heimdall. Such creatures must not be allowed to invade the Nine Realms again."
Loki straightened, his expression composed.
Internally, he made a note.
Thor Odinson, allowed a hostile creature to escape after invading the Nine Realms twice.
A useful detail.
Very useful indeed.
Loki swept his gaze across the surroundings. Overgrown weeds, abandoned land, and the faint smell of decay stretched in every direction.
It was clearly not a place where ordinary humans lived, but for stray cats and wild dogs, it was ideal.
He could not help muttering, "This hardly looks like somewhere civilized people would choose to live."
"Cats, perhaps but are you telling me our brother lives in a place like this?"
Thor frowned, visibly troubled.
"We live in the splendor of Asgard." He said heavily. "If our brother truly lives here… by the All-Father, that makes me sad."
"Loki, I think we should bring him home today. He deserves better."
Loki's expression mirrored Thor's concern, though inwardly he was thoroughly unimpressed.
He's a cat, Loki thought. Living in the wild suits him perfectly. What, exactly, is tragic about that?
After a brief moment of shared sighing, Loki cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should split up and search."
"If we return too late, Mother will worry."
Thor nodded. "Agreed. Call out if you find him."
They had barely moved to separate when a golden portal unfolded silently in front of them.
Years of battle-hardened instinct took over instantly. Thor raised Mjolnir, lightning crackling faintly around the hammerhead.
Loki produced twin daggers from nowhere.
"Who goes there?" Thor demanded.
On the other side of the portal stood a calm, bald figure in simple robes, hands folded behind her back. She was in what appeared to be a modest living room.
"I am the Ancient One," She said, introducing himself with a few quiet words.
Thor and Loki froze for a heartbeat, then simultaneously lowered their weapons and offered respectful bows.
"Greetings, Supreme Mage," They said in unison.
"It seems your father has spoken of me," The Ancient One replied mildly. "I also know why you are here. He cannot remain where you are searching."
Thor and Loki exchanged glances.
Thor's eyes clearly asked, What do you think?
Loki's response was immediate, Let's go home.
Thor frowned slightly. Why?
Loki leaned closer and muttered, "We came here without permission. If the Supreme Mage reports this to Father…"
What Loki did not say was the storm of suspicion raging in his mind.
Father, Mother, and the Ancient One… there is far more entanglement here than they let on.
It was merely a hypothesis, pieced together from instinct and fragments of information, but Loki trusted those instincts.
Thor, however, was not a man given to subtle conjecture. Growing impatient, he seized Loki by the arm.
"What are you worried about?" Thor said cheerfully. "We're here to find our brother. Let's go."
Before Loki could protest, Thor dragged him straight into the portal.
They emerged inside Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One closed the portal behind them with a casual gesture and pointed toward a low table crowded with cups and utensils.
"Sit," She said. "I know your purpose. Have some tea first. I'll take you to dinner afterward."
"Oh."
Thor set Mjolnir aside and dropped onto a seat without ceremony. He eyed the tea skeptically and asked, "Can this be changed to something else?"
"Beer, perhaps?"
"Yes," the Ancient One replied simply.
With a flick of her hand, the teacup transformed into a large glass filled with golden liquid and frothy foam.
Thor examined it with fascination, then took a deep drink.
A moment passed.
"Ahhh~excellent!" Thor declared. "Fine ale!"
"Authentic German beer," the Ancient One said calmly.
Loki watched as Thor shamelessly asked for a second glass and then a third with growing regret.
I enjoy drinking as well, Loki thought bitterly. Why can't I be as thick-skinned as he is?
Thor drank heartily while the Ancient One briefly explained Garfield's circumstances, his origins, and the complexities surrounding him.
By the time Thor set down his glass, fully satisfied, the Ancient One stood.
"Come," She said. "I'll take you to supper."
Thor rose eagerly.
Loki followed equal parts wary, curious, and increasingly certain that this visit would change far more than either of them expected.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream