#mordo

Sequel to one, two, three, and four.

Stephen’s hands shook a little as he stared at the door in front of them. It looked close to a perfect replica of the door the other had remembered.

“We don’t have to do this,” Tony said, tone sincere, if a little concerned. He’d said it a few times now, each time corresponding to Stephen’s own moments of weakness. Tony had said he believed Stephen, even if Stephen could see that Tony’s belief was emotional, rather than logical.

“Yes we do,” Stephen said. “I need to do this.” Of everything he’d learned while the other had been inside of him, taking over him, Stephen hadn’t learned how to fully protect himself so it could never happen again. He had to. He had to make sure this could never happen again. The people who could teach him that were just beyond this door.

Stephen took a deep breath and stepped forward to knock on the door.

It was less than a minute before the door opened to reveal a man that Stephen thought he recognized. The hair was different, but the face was that of an old friend of the other: Mordo. Suddenly, Stephen couldn’t speak, words lost to him.

“What brings you here?” Mordo asked, when Stephen didn’t speak immediately.

Stephen’s mouth felt dry and after a moment Tony stepped up to stand beside him. “We’re looking for answers,” Tony said. His chin tilted up almost defiantly. “Something—” he stopped. “Someone happened to Stephen. We want to make sure it won’t happen again.”

Hearing Tony say it, it felt almost as though Tony believed Stephen fully. Stephen knew Tony was trying to believe him, that his heart trusted Stephen—even if the other had spent months damaging that heart, ripping at that trust—even if Tony’s brain hadn’t caught up yet. Stephen didn’t blame him, not really, it sounded so… impossible.

Mordo’s brows furrowed in non-comprehension. “Someone?” he asked.

Stephen finally found his voice. “We seek the Ancient One,” Stephen said, voice steadier than he’d expected it to be. Surprise flickered across Mordo’s face, clearly he hadn’t believed they truly knew where they were. “I would prefer not to tell the story twice.”

For a moment it looked like Mordo would deny them, but it didn’t last. He opened the door wider, gesturing for them to enter.

Fear flickered in Stephen’s chest and he wasn’t sure he could move. Tony’s hand caught his, his touch warm and gentle. The touch gave Stephen what he needed to step forward Tony by his side as Mordo led them through Kamar-Taj. Tony’s breath caught the first time they saw actual magic while passing a training space, but he made no other signs that he was surprised. Stephen had explained, briefly, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to show Tony the magic himself.

Not yet.

Magic was the other’s, and if Stephen’s desperate use of it had also saved Stephen, then that just meant Stephen’s feelings on the subject were complicated.

The Ancient One’s rooms were not quite as the other had remembered them, but the tall woman who stood waiting for them, however, looked exactly as the other had remembered her. “Stephen Strange,” she said, gaze scrutinizing. “Your presence here is unexpected.”

That's it. That's the prompt. Angst or comedy your call.

Have two of these... but the next one is like... 40 prompts away, so no clue if I'll be feeling the angst or the comedy by the time that happens. For now... a wee bit of pain for Stephen.

Stephen tried to breathe past the agonizing pain radiating throughout his body from where he’d first been taken down on his way to the deli.

Stephen hoped Wong realized something was wrong, and soon. Stephen didn’t foresee this going well.

Mordo stood over Stephen where Stephen was tied to an altar—Stephen could hear Tony’s voice in his head, talking about cliches and poor taste. “You have defied the natural law for the last time,” Mordo told him. “Your blaspheme on Titan cannot go unanswered.”

Stephen let out a ragged laugh. “You’re a fool, Mordo.” Mordo couldn’t even imagine what Stephen had saved them all from. No one could. No one but Stephen.

And then agony. Mordo’s magic ripped through Stephen, searching for Stephen’s connection to dimensional energy. Except Stephen had been remade, to remove his connection would be to remove his soul.

Terrifyingly enough, he doubted that would stop Mordo. Mordo would consider the destruction of Stephen’s soul justified.

Every nerve in his body screamed in concert, his soul’s attempt to express its pain.

And then…. Nothing. The pain was gone. Stephen went limp, a sob escaping him part pain, part relief. 

Everything was blurry, distant. Hands touched him. He flinched away. “Hey, I’ve got you.” Tony’s voice was gentle. Stephen relaxed. “Gonna have to dock this Mordo guy style points,” Tony said, as he untied Stephen, hands gentle. “Altars, so cliche.” 

A laugh—sob—escaped Stephen. “You shouldn’t be here.” Magic wasn’t Tony’s battlefield. No, on this battlefield Tony was too vulnerable. Except Stephen was unbearably grateful. Because if Tony was here, Stephen was safe. 

Friday Sketch

Again sorry for the wait! hope you like it! Will finish the other mordecai doodle in a bit! (I was very tired that’s what the wait was abt >_<)