Chapter Text
"Why me? Why would you come to me of all people?" Pepper's tone of voice is bitter. She had disliked the doctor from the first moment he turned up on that fateful day in the park – the day when a world ended for her, five long years ago.
"Because he loves you." Agitated, Strange paces up and down her office, like a caged animal.
"Why would that matter?"
"Because that's how this spell works." He stops, looks at her. "It is an unbelievable powerful healing spell, but it can only be performed by a person who loves the other person. And it must be mutually. The 'he loves you' is just as important as the 'you love him' to make it work."
She stares at him, contemplating.
"Do you doubt your love for him?" he asks.
The question makes her angry.
"No certainly not! But I know nothing about magic."
"I will teach you. It is a very complicated spell, but it is our best shot."
Against her will, hope flares up in her. She sworn to herself that she would not resort to healers, holy men or other quacks when academic medicine would fail them to cure Tony's condition.
But now she has the "Sorcerer Supreme" in her office, and all he asks in return for bringing Tony back to life is that she performs the magic herself.
She is so endlessly tired.
It has been two months sonce the battle at the Avengers Compound.
Two months after the second snap... and the third...
Two months of visiting Tony at the hospital every day just to sit helplessly beside his lifeless body. The doctors say he should be dead, that it's a miracle really he's still alive.
Two months of telling Morgan her daddy could wake up soon and knowing this is a lie.
Two months of coordinating the help efforts provided by Stark Industries and the Maria Stark Foundation to a world whose population had doubled again overnight.
Deep down, she knows it's unfair, but she blames the man in front of her desk for all this. She is aware that ultimately Thanos was the one who caused the catastrophe that had afflicted the whole universe for five years, but she can't let go of the fact that the sorcerer has been the one who sacrificed Tony's life like a chess piece in the game for the fate of the cosmos.
He starts to pace again like a maniac. "Listen. This spell, if performed correctly, will reverse the complete damage the stones have done. At least in theory. We could even save his arm! ...maybe. I'm not sure about that since they had to amputate it."
Her resolve starts to crumble. She wants Tony back so desperately. With one last look at the sorcerer, she makes her decision.
"When do we start?"
"Do you have a babysitter for tonight?" is his only answer.