#Thor is ooc I guess?? by the movies standards probably

[sjjdkdkwo]

Stephen probably ends up with a longer lifespan from his experiences, and probably ends up having to endure watching the few people he’s kept close die, and succumb further into the lonely lifestyle he’s subjected himself to. At least that’s what he thinks. The first time Thor knocks on his door, it’s after Tony Stark’s funeral.

Stephen had caught him stealing quick glances his way but thought nothing of it. Now though, standing awkwardly at his door fidgeting in place, Stephen doesn’t know what to make of him. So he lets him in. Thor accepts but tells him he won’t stay for long, he’d only wanted to speak to Stephen briefly before he left. Stephen notices that Thor regards him with an odd somewhat torn look, almost like he wants to ask a question but doesn’t know how to go about it. Stephen doesn’t push though, and eventually Thor asks him if he’s all right. Stephen frowns, because he’s not use to being asked that question these days by anyone except Wong on occasion. He reassures Thor that he’s fine, only for a doubtful look to pass Thor’s face. Before he can say anything though Thor goes on, talking about Tony briefly and everything that’s happened. Stephen answers where he can, not providing much but enough not to let Thor think he doesn’t care. He does, but he’s just so tired. He thinks Thor must noticed because suddenly he’s cuts himself off and asks something Stephen should’ve expected but didn’t in his weariness. He can’t help but soften as he listens to Thor’s voice quiver as he turns to look downward and lets the words tumble out of his mouth. He wants to know if there’s anything Stephen can do for Loki, because of course he does. Stephen doesn’t bother mollifying his answer and tells Thor a simple no.

Thor only nods quiet and still for a moment before looking back up with his usual smile. His eyes don’t match it though but Stephen doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t think anything he has to offer could ease the pain behind Thor’s eyes in that moment. He thinks that’s it and that Thor will leave then but he doesn’t. Instead he says something that further perplexes him. He invites him to go on his journey to the stars with the rest of the guardians. Stephen almost laughs at the absurdity of it before he realizes Thor is serious. When he asks why Thor merely says he thinks Stephen wouldn’t be bad company to keep. Stephen only gives him an awkward pat on the shoulder and tells him as tempting as the offer is; his life is here, performing his duties under the Sanctum. Thor accepts and tells him he’ll see him again, and this time with a bright smile. After he leaves Stephen only allows himself a brief moment to ponder the oddness of the encounter before arrives to inform of more work needed to be done. Stephen pushes the thought away completely and doesn’t think on it again. He has other things to worry about.

The second time Thor knocks on his door, Stephen doesn’t expect him either, and so soon too. But there he stands, still as scruffy and shambolic as when he’d last seen him with the same bright smile. Stephen lets him in again, more out of curiosity this time than out of courtesy. When Stephen asks why he’s stopped by Thor tells him Steve Rogers has died. Right, Stephen knew, he’d heard it from the grapevine. He hadn’t gone to the funeral this time, and he was certain he wouldn’t have been welcome if he had. Many of the heroes still aren’t ready to forgive him for what happened, for what he did. Stephen doesn’t bother trying to change any of their minds. In all the futures he saw, it never ended well when he did. Still it doesn’t answer Stephen’s question as to why Thor is here and he tells him so. Thor only shrugs and invites him to go on the journey to the stars with him again. Like the first time, Stephen is at loss for words. He wants to ask so many questions then, and so many thoughts flutter through his mind. But Stephen doesn’t have time to entertain any of them, and instead politely declines just like the first time. Thor doesn’t falter, still smiling and telling him he should go then, promising to see him again. This time Stephen does think on the matter later, when he’s alone in bed, and wonders if Thor really will return.

It’s a long while before Thor knocks again, Stephen is Sorcerer Supreme now and his duties have doubled tenfold. Stephen starts to wonder if somehow Thor knows when he’s home, or if he’s just lucky enough to catch him when he is. Thor looks different too, neater and better kept than he had, but the look on his face tells another story. This time Thor tells him Bruce Banner has died, Stephen already knew. The way he says it leads Stephen to believe they held a deeper relationship than Thor did with the previous departed, so he doesn’t say anything and instead nods. Stephen can’t help but reach up to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, like the first time and Thor offers a small smile of thanks. Stephen can see his eye are watery and turns away to let him catch his bearings before regarding Thor again. And like before Thor invites him on the same journey to the stars. Stephen offers him a smile this time when he says no, and Thor nods like he knew what his answer was going to be and turns to leave, promising to see him again. Stephen finds himself hoping that he will, just the tiniest bit.

The years go by and it dawns on Stephen that he hasn’t aged, whereas now he’ll blink and suddenly the person in front of him has gone completely grey and has a face full of wrinkles. Even Wong is looking older; Stephen tries not to let that bother him. Stephen continues on with his duties, working in the shadows and offering his assistances when needed. More heroe’s pass away, some not from old age, and by the time he realizes all the original avengers have died. And each time without fail Thor comes knocking on his door with the same offer. At one point Stephen sees he’s just as surprised as he is that he remains untouched (physically at least) by time too. Sometimes he stays to a little longer for admittedly pleasant conversation, and through his visits Stephen learns that even some of the guardians had reached their expiration, and the remaining few had disbanded not long after more than half had passed on. Thor was travelling alone now, only occasionally stopping by earth to reassure himself the rest of the Asgardians were well and cared for, and apparently to come see Stephen. Still Stephen comes to regard Thor’s visits with something in between sadness and happiness, the first because his visits always mean someone has died, and the second because Thor is one of the few familiar things left in Stephen’s life. He doesn’t age like everyone else, the same as ever. Just like Stephen. He doesn’t stop saying no to Thor’s invitations though; Stephen has other matters to attend to. So Thor becomes an afterthought, only resurfacing when he hears news that someone has died.

When Wong dies, it’s the first and only time Stephen refused to answer the door when Thor knocks. Distantly wonders how Thor even knows his friend has passed, but he’s too consumed in his own grief and despair to really think on it. Thor stops knocking after an hour anyway. When he later opens the door to make sure, he finds flowers on the doorstep, lilies to be exact. He takes them in and settles them on what used to be Wong’s favorite table and tries not to break under the grief, instead pushing down all his sorrow and returning to his duties like always. He wonders if Thor will stop coming by. He doesn’t. The years go by and Stephen keeps saying goodbye, and in turn Thor, without fail, always shows up at his doorstep with the same offer. And Stephen always answers the same.

Saying goodbye to the cloak is one of the hardest things he does in his life, something he never thought could be possible. But when his last loyal companion is torn to shreds Stephen is torn with it, because now Stephen is truly and utterly alone. Somehow Thor finds out, because he’s knocking on his door again. Stephen is quick to say no this time, and Thor accepts it but not without embracing Stephen before he goes, with the same promise to return. And Stephen wonders what else he can lose. It’s only later that he realizes Thor had appeared because he deemed the cloak important too. Stephen thinks about that for a long time after, but like always pushes it away eventually to focus on his duties.

When he loses the title of sorcerer supreme Stephen mourns again, for the loss of something that was integral to his identity for a long time, for failures that led to it, and for the people who suffered through them. He won’t stop fighting, and he won’t turn his back on the universe, he knows he won’t, but now more than ever though he feels out of place amongst the vastness around him. When Thor knocks this time, Stephen the first thing he asks is who died this time. Thor gives him a sad look before replying, “Your spirit did, Stephen.”

When Thor asks him to come along this time, Stephen says yes. He has nothing left after all.

Being on Thor’s ship is…an experience. There’s nothing wrong with said ship, it’s fine as far as ships go (not that Stephen has much experience in the matter but well). But it should’ve come to no surprise really that their first month on the ship would be uncomfortable. Neither of them actually knows each other, not in a way where they can comfortably navigate around the other without worrying about stepping over certain boundaries. And if Stephen is being honest with himself Thor is, not what he expected. Through a few of the other heroes he’d created an image of Thor in his own head, loud, boisterous, humorous in nature. Overall what Stephen would categorize as “a fun guy to be around”. Yet the man he sets off into space is none of those things, he doesn’t lack in kindness or manners—the result of growing up a royal and a prince Stephen thinks—but he’s quiet instead of loud, and doesn’t jabber on like so many had told Stephen, and if he jokes then Stephen’s certainly never noticed. No, Thor is…muted, reserved and more often that not Stephen can catch him looking off in the distance for hours on end. It’s not unnerving just, unexpected and Stephen begins to wonder how long Thor has been alone. How long he went without a single person to talk to.

Still, Stephen doesn’t mind because Stephen doesn’t talk much either, unused to company now after so many years immersed in his own solitude. And somehow that works in their favor, eventually allowing them to at least work around each other well enough that they don’t argue. It’s not long before Thor takes them to their first destination; Stephen expects it to be a pit stop to gather supplies. Thor never actually told him what his plan was with bringing out Stephen to journey with him, he starts to suspect he doesn’t even have one. He’s confused however when he finds that the first planet they make it to is somewhere not only practically off the map, but also barren of people or anything signifying any form of intelligent life. When he asks Thor why they’re there he only tells him he’d figured Stephen would enjoy the scenery. He’s not wrong, the planet is close enough in resemblance to earth that Stephen can enjoy a sense of familiarity but different enough that he can bask in the wonder of something new. Thor leads him through a dense thicket before they find themselves in small clearing. He joins Thor when he moves to sit and figures now is as good a time as any to ask why Thor had invited him to join him in the first place.

Thor only shrugs; waiting a beat before he tells Stephen he’d felt something resembling a connection of sorts between them, so many years ago after they’d defeated Thanos, saw something in Stephen that he understood, and found unfair. Because after all was said and done, Thor was grateful to Stephen and he found he couldn’t hate him too. Something about Stephen told him, there was a person who could use a little kindness. When Thor looks his way Stephen thinks he knows what he means to say: You say the future and somehow still ended up losing too, and I didn’t want you to think it was all your fault. Stephen says nothing, instead looking off into the distance as Thor shuffles around him for a minute before getting up to wander the clearing. Stephen doesn’t follow this time. He returns after while and plops down next to Stephen again, and starts digging into the dirt next to him. Stephen looks on, curious to see what he’s doing and watches him carefully tuck in a small seed into the dirt before covering it back again and pressing firmly over it. Stephen gives him a questioning look and Thor merely smiles softly before looking at him and tells him maybe if they’re lucky, something will grow from this.

Their journey goes on; slowly they grow even more accustomed to each other, enough to survive living on ship together. Stephen learns that Thor rarely sleeps and instead keeps to the main controls on the ship most of the time. Even when he looks like he’s going to pass out from exhaustion. Stephen finds himself worrying on occasion when Thor stumbles out of his seat and offers Thor help sleeping. Thor always refuses. Stephen also begins to notice certain changes around the ship; Thor makes little changes here and there to accommodate Stephen’s hands. Interestingly enough though, Stephen never catches Thor looking at them, though he knows they shake more now after years of abuse and strain on them. He appreciates the sentiment in private though, grateful to Thor for not saying anything on the matter. It’s not any easy topic, even now after so many years. And Stephen begins to find Thor’s company is comfortable, and Stephen makes do.

He keeps noticing new things about Thor in their time together, like how often when he speaks to Stephen it feels like he’s not really there, like he’s speaking to someone else. It unnerves Stephen when he first realizes it, and he keeps a closer eye on him. Conversations with Thor aren’t common enough for him to have to constantly think on the matter really. Still, as more time passes his perception of Thor changes completely, in the future he’d seen he never lingered much on Thor and in the ones he did he and Thor never became close enough for him to learn what had actually happened to the other man. So when Thor enters a sudden panic when something hits their ship, Stephen is lost. He watches Thor’s breathing pick up as his eyes widen. Watches him look franticly as he shakes before he starts mumbling something beneath his breath. Watches him lose control as he starts calling out names, Stephen doesn’t know any of them at first until he hears Thanos’ name, and then Loki’s and he can connect the dots. The statesman. Thor thinks he’s on the statesman again and is being attacked. And Stephen’s heart aches, because it’s who Stephen is, and he sets about helping Thor. He knows better than to make sudden movements, and knows especially not to touch Thor as he cries out. Instead he calls out to him, gently but loud enough to get through, telling Thor it’s not real, they’re not on the statesman and Thanos is dead. He doesn’t mention Loki. He helps him breath through it, before having him describe their surroundings once he starts to come back to. When he’s sure Thor is done with the initial panic he settles down, he’s already decided he’s not going to leave Thor’s side for anything in that moment. Thor says nothing, huddling into himself and staring off into the distance. Stephen doesn’t push him though, he understands.

Later Thor apologizes, for the incident and for not telling Stephen. Stephen doesn’t want him to, but he knows better than to dismiss him. He’d often done the same thing in the past too. So he lets Thor speak, and listens as he explains that since the statesman, ships and he don’t mix well. Before he can question what they’re doing on one Thor tells him how New Asgard hadn’t been any better. It’s one thing to panic alone on a ship where no one can hear you; it’s another to do so in front of the people who expect you to watch over them. He also tells Stephen that the guilt had been to much, it didn’t matter that they’d won, he’d never gotten over the feeling of failure from losing so many of his people, his friends, his brother. And after some time being in New Asgard he’d also come to the realization that he just couldn’t be around people anymore, at least not like before. Large groups sent him into a panic, and so hiding away with korg and miek in his small home had been easier than walking amongst others. He’d only pushed away his anxieties when Bruce and Rocket had come because he’d refused to fail a second time, and Thor had learned he’d been a surpassingly better actor than he’d thought he’d be. He tells Stephen he’d thought going with the guardians would be ok, they weren’t a big group and Quill’s ship had been no statesman. But he’d parted ways with them after the first episode he’d experienced. He hadn’t been able to go back though, didn’t feel right amongst the others, and in some odd way he felt almost comfortable to allow himself to go mad by himself in space. Like Loki had. And understanding passes through Stephen, this is Thor’s penance for failing everyone he cared for.

Stephen doesn’t tell Thor he doesn’t deserve his own self-inflicted punishment, because Stephen is no better in this regard. He knows well what it’s like to find pain a better alternative to guilt. He thinks Thor knows this too, and starts to believe perhaps Thor was right, they had more in common than he’d thought. Still he refuses to let Thor suffer alone after, and instead sets about placing wards all around the ship. When Thor questions him he merely says this way they can both get some sleep. From Thor’s smile he thinks he knows what he means to say is “you’re not alone anymore and I’m going to help you”. He starts taking his own shifts at main controls much to Thor’s protests, but Stephen shoots him a look and he accepts. Thor still doesn’t sleep as much as Stephen thinks he should, but he’ll get manage that somehow too.

After that, something shifts between them. At least on Thor’s part, he speaks more than he used to and while the dazed look in his eyes never leaves, Stephen begins to see less of it. They spend more time together and travel to more places, Stephen always taking into consideration the new information Thor’s shared with him and carefully watching his reaction whenever they have to interact with other species, and watching over the ship constantly to make sure they don’t hit anything that can send Thor into a panic again. They start sharing personal stories, and though there’s hurt in his eyes Stephen finds that Thor enjoys speaking about Loki and their past together. Stephen in turn shares stories of Donna and Victor, letting Thor know he’s also been faced with the final moments of a sibling and not been able to do anything about it. Thor appreciates the sentiment. Everything is all right for a while, until it isn’t again. And one day, Thor learns what fourteen million six hundred and five futures can do to a person.

Thor had known something was there, hidden behind the mask of indifference and calm collect. Like him, Stephen often got a faraway away look in his eyes when he thought Thor wouldn’t notice. But Thor was more astute than people often gave him credit for. And even years ago during Tony’s funeral could see something was wrong with Stephen, only to watch him fall apart further and further through everyone of his visits. Thor wasn’t used to talking, after so much time alone. And it seemed Stephen hadn’t even noticed that the only time Thor did was when Thor caught him slip off into something akin to despair, if only to offer a distraction. But unlike Thor, Stephen had dealt with more people in the years since Thanos, and he soon realized Stephen had more experience knowing how to conceal his own troubles. But unlike then, Stephen’s privacy is rather limited on Thor’s ship, and for a long while he gets away with it. Until at one point he can’t. Thor starts to notice something is off when he mentions their coordinates and what solar system their entering. Stephen suddenly becomes stiff and he swallows before excusing himself to his room. Within the next days he takes to meditating more than usual, and Thor tries not to worry. He offers conversation here and there, but unlike before Stephen’s replies are short and far in between, and Thor tries not to push. Stephen goes to sleep one night and Thor is glad to see him get some rest, settling back into keeping watch like usual.

Thor doesn’t think anything of it when Stephen stumbles out of his room, turning to greet him until he notices the alarm in his eyes. He makes his way over to ask what’s wrong when suddenly Stephen is trying to attack him. He barely manages to avoid being hit when Stephen starts attacking again. Thor doesn’t move to attack back, but defends himself nonetheless, trying to speak to Stephen in between each hit he receives. He realizes what’s wrong when Stephen mentions Thanos, and Thor changes tactics. Much like Stephen had during Thor’s panic he follows the same steps, waiting until Stephen can come to, trying to remind him where they are and that Thanos is dead. When Stephen returns, unlike Thor his face only scrunches up in confusion before he realizes what he’s done. He’s quick to stumble through and apology before overlooking Thor for injuries and Thor wonders what’s just happened. Stephen seems perfectly fine now, and when he asks Stephen just looks away abashed. Thor learns that use of the time stone had given Stephen lasting damage, and that on occasion he’d forget what time line he was in. Usually not common problem on earth, in space it’s a different story. More often than not Stephen never came back to earth, and he’d undergone his worst timelines when he’d been off world. Thor feels guilt settle and offers to return Stephen back to earth, worried that his time with Thor will hurt him more than anything. Stephen agrees, he doesn’t want to burden Thor or risk hurting him, he’d been in a lot places after all and that means its bound to happen again. Thor is quick to squander Stephen’s assumption that he’s any sort of burden though, reminding him that he’s also broken and instead asks Stephen if he wants to go.

Stephen hates himself for saying it, because he hates the thought of causing anyone trouble, but the answer is no. Because he’s come to enjoy Thor’s company, his gentle demeanor and their long conversations into what he assumes is night. He likes it here with Thor, finding new places even if it means crossing old painful ones. More than anything he finds himself admitting it in his own mind that he likes Thor. And when he looks at Thor he sees him beaming over him with a large genuine smile and he wonders if maybe Thor has started to like him too. And like that things start changing even more. Thor starts brining up facts and events that have transpired in between the days that go by, so Stephen can always remember what timeline he’s in. He starts making Stephen tell him if a certain planet of solar system brings back any unsettling thoughts and memories, starts taking care of Stephen too.

They get better at living together, at being together. Through their shared traumas they learn what to avoid what helps, and eventually they learn how to talk about something other than Thanos, than the other heroes and everything that’s hurt them. They learn how to enjoy things together. Thor starts to smile more, and Stephen starts to see bits and traces of the person people once told him about, except he’s not exactly the same no, but Stephen likes him all the same. Thor learns that for all his snark and quick wit Stephen is actually quite funny when he wants to be, and finds himself laughing at his subtle jokes. And before they know it, they’re not just making it work anymore.

They visit many places; more often than not they fall into trouble. Because even now at the end of the day they’re still heroes and their need to do what’s right often has them facing off evil tyrants, or space pirates, or whatever it may be that’s causing terror amongst the starts that day. Sometimes they argue; it’s only natural that they would eventually. Sometimes it’s Stephen’s fault, sometimes it’s Thor, and really he hadn’t meant to forget Sakaar or the grand master, it wasn’t his fault he hadn’t been blessed with eidetic memory. Together they manage to overcome everything that comes their way though, growing fonder and fonder of each other as the years keep passing by. Sometimes they make contact with earth, because for all his guilt and self-loathing Thor still thinks about his people everyday and often calls the Valkyrie to make sure they’re ok. In the same manner Stephen is always communicating with the other sorcerers and magic users around him, he may no longer be sorcerer supreme, but there’s not one person who practices magic who doesn’t know the name Stephen Strange. But there are new heroes now, and it seems that earth simply has no need for them anymore. It’s ok though, they have each other and that feels like enough.

At Thor’s suggestion they go visit their first planet together again, and to Thor’s delight the little seed he planted has grown. Stephen smiles too, because seeing Thor content and jovial makes him joyous too. And he learns to appreciate these quieter, simpler moments among the ones that have them battling out in full force and fury, they’re combined power a fierce force to be reckoned with. Because there are still sinister things beyond them, and Thor and Stephen refuse to turn a blind eye when they can help. Unfortunately it also means Stephen has something new to worry about, because Thor has no concept of self preservation and given he’s a “god” he’s usually the one standing in front of Stephen to take a hit. The first time it happens Stephen yells at him for an hour while he tends to his injuries. Thor only laughs because he’ll keep doing it again if it means keeping Stephen safe.

Thor is upset to learn Stephen is the same if not worse. He knew from other’s that Stephen had undergone less than ideal routes of magic in the past to save someone. Seeing it first hand and the damage it does to Stephen’s body is different though. And the first time Stephen performs dark magic in front of him he nearly passes out. Stephen thinks when he’s stalking up to him; face turned down in a frown it’s to deride him for his methods like so many others had done in the past. He readies himself for fury that he expects will follow, and for Thor to tell him he no longer wants him in his company. But before he knows it Thor is throwing his arms around him and demanding he never put himself through something so awful again. Stephen is glad Thor can’t see his face, because he’s pretty sure his eyes are watering. Thor refuses to let him out of his sight for at least a week.

Eventually they do return to earth, things happen and evil forces are active once again. And Stephen almost doesn’t recognize his old home. Things have advanced far more than the last time he’d been there, and he wonders how long it’s been. At hearing it’s been two hundred years since his departure he nearly panics, because he can swear he’d just been there not a year or two before. Thor is there to offer his reassurance, telling him he’s bound to be in for a few surprises now that he won’t age like before. Stephen can only nod in disbelief as he tries to navigate through earth now. By now nearly all the people they once new are long gone, and the ones that are still around had never been close enough to either of them. Still Stephen takes pleasure in visiting the sanctum once more along with Kamar-Taj; he’s welcomed with open arms and Thor convinces him to stay a little longer after they’d dealt with their evil foe. At Stephen’s suggestion Thor also visits New Asgard, surprised now how much it’d blossomed and grown and when he sees the Valkyrie he hugs her tight, thanking her for all she’s done. When Thor isn’t near, she thanks Stephen too, because now Thor is no longer alone.

They eventually leave earth and return on their voyage. Apparently they’ve become quite famous up in space, much to their grimace and surprise. Even so, while Thor’s initial anxieties of being on a ship never ebb away, he finds himself learning to enjoy their time on the ship if only because it’s just the two of them there. Stephen finds himself feeling the same way, and even though there have been and are times he tries to push Thor away—if only because his self hatred never leaves him—but Thor never lets the words get to him. Because he understands Stephen, and most importantly, Stephen is his friend.

When Thor asks him to teach him magic Stephen makes a face. Because technically Thor already has magic, not in the way Stephen does, but it’s magic none the less. Thor waves him off though, he wants to learn magic like Stephens…like Loki’s he says much quieter. They weren’t tied by blood, and Thor didn’t have much to remember him by, and this feels like a good enough way to have a part of him with him. There’s something else there, between the words that Thor refuses to say and Stephen’s eyes him suspiciously before he agrees and makes sure their next stop is somewhere more attuned with the mystic arts. Thor turns out to be a devoted student, studying every chance he gets, cheering softly to himself when he performs even the simplest form of magic. It makes Stephen smile. With time his magic develops into something steadier, more powerful but never seems to use it during battle, and the fact never fails to mystify Stephen. When he finally does use it, Stephen wishes he’d never taken the time to teach him. Stephen like usual, is not one to follow rules, so performing dark magic again is not out of the question. The fact that he hadn’t been prepared enough for the onslaught of energy or the strain it puts on his power however is unfortunate and he collapses. Before he can accept death though, he finds himself awake and, somewhat well? He’s certainly not on the brink of death anymore at least, and that can’t be right. But then he turns over and finds an equally half drained Thor next to him, trying to keep awake. When he looks down at the Thor’s hands and the markings there it makes sense. Magic energy transfer.

Thor had wanted to learn proper magic so he could help Stephen. The thought is as heartwarming as it is infuriating and Stephen doesn’t know whether to hold or yell at Thor and settles on both. Thor pays him no mind though, cradling him back with all the care in the world and reassuring himself that Stephen is alive and will live on another day. Stephen stops yelling eventually, but it’s a long time before he can let go.

They keep going then, letting the year’s bleed through and growing closer and closer. The first time they have to part ways is torture, but Stephen is needed amongst the sorcerers again, and Thor finds he can’t leave the planet under attack alone without help. Through the magic Thor now has though, they can connect better, and they worry a little less about whether or not the other is alive. When they reunite, the first Thor they do is run toward each other and embraces. Thor scoops him up and holds him close and Stephen lets him because he’d missed him too. They try not to make a habit of separating often after. Over the years they keep visiting the tree Thor had planted, it’s grown large and tall and when Stephen looks up at it then at Thor he thinks he was right, something did end up growing.

One day Stephen is surprised to learn Thor has a new favorite magic trick when he walks into the main control room, and instead of Thor finds a little red snake curled up in his seat. He knows Loki had a preference for the form, and when he asks Thor tells him he thinks he knows why now. It’s much easier being small when the world seems so big. And from then on when they have to travel through crowded places Stephen can be seen with a little red snake curled around his neck, little head tucked carefully under his chin, murmuring soft words of comfort to it as they pass by. The comforting weight reminds him of an old friend, and Stephen finds himself enjoying when Thor takes on the form too.

It’s been a few thousand years when they pass through the spot. Thor freezes up and tries to breath though he familiar fear that enters him as they do. It doesn’t take long for Stephen to know why. This is where the statesmen had been attacked, where the Asgardians died. Where Loki died. Stephen is about to tell him that they can turn back when he feels it, the familiar sensation of magic. It should come as no surprise; sometimes traces of magic could linger in one spot long after someone died, the energy and emotions settling in one spot. So Stephen grabs Thor’s hand, giving it a tender squeeze before reaching out to pull in the bit of magic and let it flow through him, and right into Thor. And Thor can feel it, can feel Loki. His final emotions, from the fear he’d felt when facing Thanos again, to the agony he’d felt when he saw Thor get hurt, the pain, and suffering and finally, the love. The love for Thor that even through out everything that had occurred, has remained steadfast and strong. And before Stephen knows it Thor is sobbing for his brother, for his family, for his people and everything in between. And thanks Stephen, for gifting him the relief of knowing that even with everything that had transpired between them, his brother had loved him too. Stephen takes it back then, he’s glad he’d taught Thor proper magic after all.

Stephen doesn’t know when it happened, but after some time he comes to staggering realization. He loves Thor. Not in the traditional sense, not any way he’s loved anyone else. But in a way that transcends any human comprehension of love. Somehow Thor had managed to worm his way into Stephen’s world and someone precious to him, and the thought scares Stephen because he wonders if Thor feels the same way. When Thor holds him tight after a battle though, close and unyielding like he never wants to let Stephen go though he thinks he knows. Thor loves him too.

So when he finds that Thor’s hair and beard have started going grey he panics. Because Thor is not a god, he is born, he lives, and he still dies just as humans do. Just as Stephen doesn’t know if he can anymore. When he points this out to Thor though, he only laughs, and asks Stephen if he’s looked in a mirror lately. When he does, to Stephen’s delight and happy surprise, he sees he’s aged too. His hair is completely white, and there are wrinkles that he thought he’d never see. He thinks it must be odd to be happy to grow old, but more than anything he’s happy this means he won’t have to live an eternity without anyone else, without Thor.

Thor keeps aging, but so does Stephen so he’s not as afraid anymore. They find that less people need their help anymore; there are newer and newer people to save the day as time goes on. It’s almost like the universe is given them permission to go, to rest now. And suddenly it dawns on them just how tired they both are. And they find themselves settling back on their first planet, making a home for themselves there. Alone, just the two of them for it seems in all their years together no one but them have stopped by here. Their days are quiet, and more often than not they merely talk or sit simply enjoying each other’s company. It’s enough, and they don’t need much else. They haven’t for thousands upon thousands of years.

Stephen thinks it’s unfair that Thor should die first. During his final moments though he doesn’t dare cry, not as Thor says goodbye. Because he wants Thor to know how much he’s enjoyed his friendship and love more than he wants him to know how much he’ll miss it. So he smiles and bears through it, smiling with Thor until his last moments. And then Thor tells him he loves him, and promises to see him again just like he had in the beginning and closes his eyes forever. Stephen hates that he hadn’t gotten to say it back almost as much as he hates that Thor is gone. And Stephen cries, for the first time in a very long time, over Thor’s body. Because he loved Thor, and Thor had loved him back. And Stephen is alone again.

Stephen buries him next to their tree. He thinks it’s only fitting. And everyday without fail he sits underneath it speaks to Thor. He knows it’s pointless, Thor has passed on, but a part of him still hopes that somehow Thor can hear him as he tells him about his day; about the flowers he’d taken to growing his tree, about how much he misses him.

He’s lying beneath the tree when he falls asleep, the gentle breeze around him lulling him to sleep. Only to be awoken by a knock. Stephen grumbles first, because he’d been sleeping damn it, before he realizes two things. One, he was completely alone. And two, Stephen was outside. So he opens his eyes in alarm and panic only to realize he’s not beneath the tree, and he’s not on their planet. He’s…in the sanctum. But that shouldn’t be possible, the last time Stephen had been there had been about three hundred years ago. He takes in surrounding, feeling odd and reasonably worried when he hears the knock again. And that’s another thing, even if he was in the sanctum no one knocked on Stephen Strange’s door. No one except…oh.

Stephen is running before he knows it, almost trips over himself as he rushes down the stairs and flings open the door. And it’s him. Thor. He looks younger, his face free of wrinkles and his hair no longer white, but his smile is warm and bright as he looks at Stephen and Stephen flings his arms around him and clings to his friend with all his strength, sobbing into his shirt as he tells Thor he loves him too. And Thor holds him back. And Stephen is so happy he barely registers that this must mean he’s dead too, because he has Thor again. Thor who’d come knocking on his door so many years ago, Thor who’d never stopped knocking even when Stephen turned him away, Thor who’d taken him away from his own misery and gifted him with new purpose and a second chance, Thor who’d never let Stephen pushed him away, Thor who loved him, wholly and completely.

Later he’ll find everyone else. Will twirl Donna in his arms and embrace Victor and tell him he’s sorry. He’s find Wong, and hold him as he thanked him for staying by his side for so long. He’ll see his old teacher again and tell her thank you and this time he’ll take the time to learn more about her. He’ll find Tony Stark and he’ll apologize only to have him brush him off, he’ll find Christine and his parents and everyone who’s ever given Stephen Strange purpose.

But right now he’ll cling to Thor. His last friend in life, and the first friend to greet him in death. Because when Stephen had nothing left, Thor gave him everything.

And Thor will stay by his side, like always.