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"Hello?” A soft voice quietly spoke.
Stephen perked from his crouched position, deciding to look up. He had no idea how long he's been trapped within this purple universal prison- but apparently long enough he started hearing voices. That's what he thought until he heard the voice again.
"Hello? Mr Strange are you there?”
At the sound of the voice saying his name Stephen found himself standing up with a confused quirk to his brow, he could feel his cape awkwardly shift on his shoulders as he stood.
"Who's there?” Strange decided to reply. He continued to look around his cramped purple coated surroundings hoping to find the source of the voice.
After a moment a harsh sound echoed, causing Stephen to shiver. Whatever was happening was for sure some type of magic.
A portal snapped open directly in front of him. After a moment of it just sitting open a red clad foot poked out from within it as someone on the other side stepped through.
Of all the things Stephen expected to see he didn't expect to see a brown haired teenager in a red and blue bodysuit walk through. He also didn't expect to see the cloak of levitation snuggly fitted around his shoulders.
Of the many things Stephen has done- killing his trusty cloak has definitely been one of the highest mistakes on his list.
The boy beamed as he stood in front of him. He could see the cloak around his shoulders slightly perk at the sight of him causing his eyebrow to once again raise.
"Hello Mr Strange, We're in need of your assistance.”
"We?”
The boy nodded as he pointed his thumb forward at the still open portal.
"The multiverse is in some major trouble.”
Stephen's eyes widened as he took a step closer to the teen.
Of all the thoughts swirling through his mind- his immediate one being that he was the cause of the possible multiverse of chaos.
"What happened? What's happening?” He rasped out in desperation, he could feel the tears trying to break through his normally calm facade.
The boy's eyes widened at his reaction before he began to rapidly wave his hands around.
"Oh no no- you didn't do it.”
The teen briefly turned back toward the portal before look back at Strange.
"We just need your help man- will you help us?”
Stephen glanced at the portal for a moment before turning all of his attention back to the brunette. The sorcerer sighed as he glanced around his purple encased surroundings once more before nodding.
"I suppose- it's not like I'm needed here.”
"Great! Let's go!”
In an instant the boy grabbed Stephens forearm as he quickly pulled them both through the portal.
For a moment everything in his sight flashed black.
— — —
After hastily blinking the black dots from his sight Stephen took a moment to take in his surroundings- and what he saw wasn't so pleasant.
Everything was destroyed- he wished that was an exaggeration.
Besides his destroyed surroundings he instantly took notice to the people standing stiffly in front of him. Even with the people's stiff forms the teens' smile never wavered.
"I got Mr Strange!”
"Its Doctor.” He mumbled as he decided to take a hesitant step closer to the teen.
"Good job Kid, that should be everyone.”
A battered redhead woman spoke as she shifted where she stood.
"Oh!”
The boy turned toward Stephen again instantly taking hold of his hand.
"Let me introduce everyone! I'm Peter and over there is Natasha, Peggy, Thor, Gamora, Killmonger and T'challa.”
The woman Peter pointed out as Peggy stalked forward instantly taking hold of his other hand.
“Thank you for deciding to come".
"Your welcome?” He replied as he decided to shake the women's hand in return.
Peggy gave a small smile before pulling away to walk back to the group.
"Let's brief the situation.” T'challa spoke as he stalked forward to stand in the middle of the small group.
"As said by Thor, apparently a robot traveled to his universe harnessing infinity stones.”
At the mention of the stones Stephen awkwardly shifted. He could feel the weight of the time stone hanging from around his throat. He could taste bile rising up in guilt.
That damn stone and his arrogance led to the demise of his universe after all.
"From what we can tell it's trying to take over the multiverse- and we have to stop it.”
Peter rapidly nodded, causing Strange to mirror the notion.
“I may have failed my universe- but at the very least I can save the rest of them!” The teen declared, pumping his fist up in determination.
Stephen found himself raising both his eyebrows in obvious confusion. He had zero idea what the kid meant about failing his universe and was even more clueless to how optimistic the kid was being about it.
"The robot- Ultron is from my universe. Natasha decided to add as she walked forward to stand besides T'challa.
"I've been surviving in my universe by a thread after Ultron destroyed the planet. I wish to stop him before the Multiverse gets the same fate.”
"Did Ultron collect all six infinity stone?” Stephen decided to ask.
If the android did collect all the stones they would for sure have plenty of issues. Defeating someone with all six would in no way be an easy feat.
Natasha nodded before taking in a shaky breath.
"He was already too strong without any of the stones- he was basically unbeatable with all of them, but we don't really have a choice anymore. Now it's do or die time.”
"Couldn't have said it better myself.” T'challa said with a slight nod of his head.
— — —
"Mr Strange you alright?” Peter questioned shuffling to sit besides the sorcerer.
Stephen stayed hunched in his seated position barely taking notice of the teens sudden appearance. After a moment of quiet silence the cloak of Levitation harshly slapped the brooding sorcerer's arm causing him to jolt in his spot. He turned to glare at the piece of fabric, but his expression quickly softened at the sight of Peter.
"You alright?” Peter decided to ask again as he took the Cloaks corner within his clenched hand.
Stephen sighed before giving the teen a shaky nod.
"I suppose-.”
Peter tilted his head at the other males response, before letting out a weak sigh of his own.
"You sure? You don't seem like it- you know it's ok to not be ok. My aunt May used to tell me that.”
The cloak wiggled its way out from the young boy's grip to gently pat Stephens now shaking hand.
Stephen could now feel the tears welling up in his eyes. He cried plenty of times in his purple encased prison but it felt different this time. This time he was no longer alone, now he was with people. He didn't know how long he's been trapped but to him it felt like an eternity. So with the gentle weight of the cloak against his hand and the concerning glance from the puppy eyed teen, Stephen found himself once again crying.
Peter hesitated for a moment before deciding to twine his arms around the sorcerer's shoulders. The cloak instantly took it upon itself to wrap around both of them.
Back then Stephen would have never been caught dead crying- nor crying in the arms of a teenage boy wearing spandex.
He didn't know long they stayed in that position but it was long enough to where his cries reduced to sniffles and arms became numb. Though somewhat surprisingly Peter's grip around him did not once falter.
"You ok now?” The teen softly questioned his grip around him, only seeming to tighten.
Stephen found himself letting out a broken laugh as he gently dug his fingers into the torn fabric of the cloak.
"I'll never be ok.”
Peter nodded before hesitantly deciding to pull himself away from the embrace. Almost instantly the cloak wrapped itself back around the boy's shoulders as he stood.
Stephen let out one final sniffle before deciding to ask Peter something that's been stuck in his mind ever since he met the boy.
"What happened to your universe?”
At the question Peter jolted where he stood. He scratched the back of his head as a grimace rose onto his usually smiling face.
"Zombies- then half of the universe got erased. What about you? What happened to your universe?”
"I destroyed it- I broke an absolute point in time and destroyed it.”
The boy's eyes widened as he gave a slow hesitant nod.
"W-why did you want to break an absolute point?”
Stephen found himself once again sighing before giving his reply. “My girlfriend died- and her death was vital to me becoming the sorcerer supreme.”
Peter once again nodded as he gently placed his hand against the other man's shoulder.
"I would've done the same thing for my family.”
— — —
"Last I saw thine robot was in my universe.”
"Then we'll go there.” Peggy replied as she instantly took the lead. She smoothly and quickly strapped her shield to her arm as she turned to look at the group.
Ever Since Stephens breakdown it seemed Peter clung to him. The teen basically did cling to him- as the group of thrown together heroes discussed their plan to action Peter stood closely beside Stephen with his hand tightly clutching the fabric of his sleeve.
"Is everyone ready?” Peggy once again piped.
In surprising sync the group nodded as Natasha opened the portal which led back to Thor's universe. When they walked through to the other side everyone gaped.
The planet was trashed...
Natasha scowled at the destroyed surroundings, it instantly reminded her of her home. When Ultron won this was exactly how her planet ended up looking.
"Are we too late?” Peter meekly questioned as his grip grew impossibly tighter around Stephens sleeve.
"Dammit.” Gamora snarled as she harshly slammed her sword into the dirt below her feet.
"Too late for what?” A robotic voice said, breaking through the group's previously tense silence.
Stephen quickly looked up to find Ultron floating above them with his red face poking through his metal exterior. He could feel Peter shift closer to him with his grip growing somehow tighter around his now insanely loose sleeve.
"To stop you.” Stephen piped deciding to take a large stride forward.
At the sudden movement the sorcerer felt the teens grip drop from his sleeve. Though it only took a moment for him to stand back besides him.
Ultron gave a glitched laugh as he floated down to the ground. The stones on his chest and head lit up as he landed.
"Foolish- I can destroy you with a single though! Die!”
Stephens eyes widened as Ultron held his arm out with the intent to shoot power from the stones. With little hesitation he quickly casted a protection spell over his multidimensional comrades.
Peter gasped at the feeling before a wave of power shot around him- luckily being stopped by the yellow shield around him.
"Alright let's go!”
Stephen called as he floated into the air, sparks of red surrounding his hands.
T'challa nodded as he and the rest of the heroes ran forward with plans of attack in mind.
"Doc?”
Stephen briefly glanced at the teen at the sound of his soft voice before quickly facing back toward the now advancing Android.
"Follow the plan no matter the cost!”
Peter gave a shaky nod before floating into the air with the cloak tightly clasping around his shoulders. With a deep breath the teen flew forward instantly shooting webs in Ultrons direction.
Instantly chaos ensured.
Peggy and Natasha threw their shields at the Android.
Thor was shooting lighting and throwing his hammer.
T'challa was shooting his gun while floating around, while Peter flew besides him attempting to restrain Ultron with his webs.
Gamora and Killmonger stood below trying to catch the Android by surprise whenever he ended up landing.
While Stephen made sure to float directly in the androids line of sight attempting to keep its focus off everyone else.
Soon T'challa finally was able to latch onto the androids shoulder only to get thrown away. Almost instantly Ultron took notice of his missing Soul stone.
With a glitched growl the robot shot a purple beam from the power stone towards T'challa.
The man harshly clambered to the floor as the soul stone flew from his grip.
Ultron instantly charged towards it only to be stopped by one of Stephens tentacle arms. As that happened Peter quickly caught the stone before flying backwards to keep his distance.
"Let go!” Ultron yelled as a surge of green shot out from his chest.
Everyone in the surrounding area froze- well except Stephen as a bright green light lit from his own chest.
"What?” The Android questioned as Stephen freed everyone from their frozen state.
"It's you! Your in my way!”
Ultron once again surged forward- but instead of going for the stone he headed straight toward Strange.
His vibranium hands wound around the sorcerers throat causing him to instantly gasp for breath. The stone at his chest once again lit up but instantly came to a stop as Ultron harshly ripped it from his throat.
"Enough of that.”
He snarled as his hold around Stephens neck tightened.
Stephen gasped in pain as three dragon heads sprung from his back. The three shot flames out toward Ultron in attempt of freeing the sorcerer from the androids tight hold.
"Pitiful.”
Stephen continued to gasp as the power stone sizzled the dragon heads into nothingness.
"It's over.” Ultron snarled.
Stephen only smiled showing off his blood stained teeth as he allowed his hands to wound around the robots bulky wrists.
"Yes- for you perhaps.”
"Wha-.”
Before Ultron could continue a flash of orange blew him away from his life threatening hold on Stephen.
At the release of his chokehold Stephen plummeted from the sky only to be wound by web and dangled in the air.
The sorcerer let out shaky and heavy breaths as he attempted to regain his composure.
He glanced up to see the web tightly held up by Peter. The teen had the meanest glare on his face as he looked to where Ultron once floated. The soul stone was held out in his other hand as proof of his attack.
"Nice aim kid.” Stephen rasped as he allowed his body to go lax in the webs hold.
Peter looked down with his face changing into instant concern.
"You ok doc?”
Strange found himself nodding as Peter lowered the both of them to the ground. The cloak being careful with the twos landing.
"You guys alright?” Peggy questioned as she ran towards them.
"Yes mam.” Peter replied as he helped Stephen to his feet.
"We aren't done yet.” Stephen rasped as he lightly leaned against the teens shoulder.
"We have to get the rest of them.”
Peter nodded as his grips tightened around the sorcerers arm.
"Then let's do it.”
Stephen grinned as he gently pulled away from the teens grip allowing his cape to float him back into the air.
Peggy grinned at the pair before running off back towards the rest of the group.
As predicted Ultron was once again in the air and much angrier then before.
"Why won't you guys just die!”
"Guess you aren't trying hard enough.”Stephen snarked only angering Ultron more.
"Pest!” He hollered as all his remaining stones lit up his chest once again.
Stephen only grinned as from behind T'challa was able to snatch another one of the stones. This time being the reality stone.
"Maybe you should pay more attention.”
"What?”
The sorcerer grinned once again showing his row of blood stained teeth as his pointed at Ultron's chest.
As the Android looked down Mjilonr hit at him causing him to fly back a few feet. Almost instantly both Peggy and Natasha's shields pushed him back in forth making him disoriented.
With that chance Peter was able to hastily take the space stone from him.
Gamora threw her blade up causing Ultron to stagger as it pierced into his leg.
Stephen grinned as he shot forward to the robot. Both his first transforming into tentacles as he gripped onto both of Ultron's arms attempting to keep him in place.
What Stephen didn't expect was for the mind stone to shoot out from the Androids head and hit him directly in the stomach.
Strange gasped as he harshly skidded to the ground.
"Doc!” Peter cried as he saw the sorcerers crash landing.
For Stephen everything blacked out- the next thing he remembered was being shaken awake by a red eyed Peter.
"Doc! We got the rest of the stones! What do we do next?”
Stephen could feel an obvious wound in his stomach surely from the mind stone. He gasped as he attempted to sit up.
Peter gently held onto his shoulders as he sat.
"Careful.” The teen mumbled looking down at Strange's stomach with his red rimmed eyes.
"You- you got a hole in you stomach.”
Stephen looked down and surely enough a big gaping hole rested in his center.
He chuckled causing a splash of blood to drip down his chin. He shakily wiped it away with the back of his hand. It seemed his protection spell broke off him first- figures.
"G-give me the stones".”
At his words everyone moved forward -how did he not notice everyone before?- they all placed the glowing stones into his blood soaked lap.
Shakily Stephen cupped all the stones in both his hands. As he collected all the stones he shuddered as all their energy transferred through his body.
Loud creaking came from behind the group. At the sound Stephen looked up over Peters shoulders to see a stoneless Ultron staggering over with anger radiating from him.
"Watcher.” Stephen rasped.
Almost instantly the magical blue portal snapped open from behind the group. The mans large hand poked through it to cup the entirety of the group -besides Stephen- and begun to pull them through.
"Stephen!” Peter cried as the Watcher pulled them all away.
The sorcerer smiled, completely ignoring the blood leaking from between his lips.
"Good luck kid.”
"NO!” Peter once again cried as the portal then quickly snapped shut.
Shakily Stephen stood keeping the stones close to his chest.
"Goodbye- monster.” He spoke instantly erasing the Android from existence.
As all the stones power surged through him he though of Christine and Peter for one last time before everything went dark.
— — —
Everyone returned to their universes- well except Peter and Natasha.
"I'm not going through that door- I'm not going back there.”
Peter nodded in agreement with Natasha's words. Their was no way in hell he wanted to return to his zombie infested world.
Peter rubbed at his red stained eyes as he looked up at the Watcher.
"Haven't I had enough heartache?”
"We are just stories to you- none of us matter.” Natasha added.
The Watcher looked down at his feet before looking back up at the two.
"You guys are more then that- you guys- your stories are everything to me.”
Natasha shook her head as she sucked in a harsh breath.
"Then fix our worlds".
"I can't- but I can do this.”
— — —
The next time Peter opened his eyes he had bright rays of sun blinding him. He hastily raised his arm over his eyes.
Instantly he gasped taking notice of his arm. It was no longer covered by his grime covered spider suit but instead by a white long sleeve shirt.
"Pete you awake?”
If any possible the teens eyes widened further. With the fastest speed he could muster he turned- only for his eyes to instantly lock onto Tony Stark.
"Mr Stark?”