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Stephen doesn't want to do this. He remembers his words to Peter just before he’d stolen the Machina de Kadavus from his hands, how their sacrifice meant much more than their lives in the grand calculus of the multiverse. But he knows Peter. Not just that, but no one deserves to be forgotten.
But Stephen can also tell that he won't be able to hold the spell for much longer. He clenches his jaw and tells Peter to start saying his goodbyes.
Stephen takes a deep breath. He doesn't want to do this but he will.
He opens his mouth but just as he's about to start chanting, a portal opens up.
Stephen doesn't simply sigh from relief. He can feel his whole body unclench at seeing Wong.
Wong asks no questions, he just starts casting to close the breaches. Stephen loses no time in joining in and somehow, they manage to close them. Stephen sends back to their own worlds the ones who came through from the original spell and then… it's done.
Stephen and Wong go down. Peter is crying and Stephen gives a small, tight-lipped smile. He nods, gets more tears back but a smile as well.
"So," Wong says and nothing else. Stephen sighs, turns to him.
"Thank you for coming."
Wong grumbles, "something told me you were in trouble."
"This one wasn't my fault," Stephen says and opens a portal to the sanctum, letting Wong pass by first before following. Wong makes his way to the kitchen and Stephen goes after him. Neither talks as Wong starts making tea, Stephen leaning against the door to watch.
Wong passes him a mug - chamomile -, takes a sip from his own and then, "how was this not your fault?"
"The boy, Peter, kept changing the spell," a raised eyebrow, "he didn't actually want everyone to forget he was Spiderman."
"His friends and family," Wong says, and he doesn't quite sound understanding but it's not judgement coloring his voice either.
Stephen nods. Then he rolls his eyes, "of course, he couldn't have told me before I started casting."
"It called upon the people across the universe who knew Peter Parker was Spiderman," Wong doesn't make it a question. Stephen still nods, and then he finally takes a sip from his tea. Wong had added honey. His lips twist up and he receives a just as quick smile.
"What was the plan if I hadn't arrived?"
"Make everyone forget Peter Parker," Stephen says and he doesn't sound amused in the least.
"I'm glad I got there in time, then."
"Me too," Stephen says and doesn't try to hide the relief in his voice. Wong gives him another small smile and Stephen takes a sip from his tea, using it as an excuse for why he can feel his face warming up. "How was Kamar-Taj?"
"The same."
Stephen nods. There's something he should say. Or, at least, he should say something. But he can't think of anything. Stephen isn't used to feeling off balance and he doesn't like it. It's not that he's mad that Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme. If anything, it should have been him from the start. It's just… five years is a long time.
"Stephen," Wong calls his name and Stephen almost drops his mug. He's able to keep it from falling, but only for it to be taken by Wong. He leaves both mugs by the dishwasher. Stephen will wash them with a spell later.
"I'm glad you were able to help the boy," Wong says and he sounds nothing but honest. Not that Wong is in the habit of sounding dishonest. Just another thing for Stephen to like in him.
"Me too," Stephen says and his voice sounds rougher than usual. So he continues with a joke, "he reminded me why I never wanted kids, though."
"Oh?"
With Wong's eyes on him, even amused, Stephen is regretting choosing this topic of conversation. But too late now. "Too much responsibility. Commitment. It was never something I wanted." A pause, then, "you?"
Wong doesn't answer right away. Then he shrugs, "I think I would have been a father if life had taken a different path. It did not." Stephen isn't sure how to reply so he says nothing. There's still a spike of energy running through him that he doesn't know what to do with.
"Should I leave?" Wong asks and Stephen doesn't know why, but he opens his mouth the slightest amount to exhale. He thinks of shooting back, "you're the Sorcerer Supreme, why are you asking me?" but playing dumb will certainly make Wong leave. And Stephen very much doesn't want that. So he shakes his head.
"Good. How about a game of go?"
Stephen makes a face. He's absolutely horrible at go and Wong knows it. Which is why he never loses an opportunity to ask Stephen to play, of course.
Stephen still leads Wong to one of the smaller living rooms. He wiggles his fingers to start a fire.
Wong makes an appreciative sound and finally takes off his outer coat.
They sit down. Wong is the one to put the pieces in their starting position. Not that Stephen doesn't know how to, but picking up small things with his fingers still hurts. It's not something he's ever told Wong. He simply seemed to know.
"When do you have to leave?" Stephen thinks but he doesn't let the question out. It's not something he wants to know.
Wong is quick to force his full attention to the game. He's ruthless, uncaring of how much of a newbie Stephen is. Well… It has been a few years. It's simply not his game.
Wong beats him. Of course.
Neither gets up, simply continue to lay back on the armchairs, staring across the small table at each other. They haven't spent that long with each other since Stephen came back. At least not for anything truly serious. He opens his mouth, closes it. He doesn't like this not saying things. But he truly doesn't know what he wants to say.
"Would you like more tea?" Wong asks and Stephen already knows that if he says yes, Wong will be going to the kitchen to brew some. He says magic gives it a weird taste. He nods and then he gets up with Wong, who sends him a look which Stephen… ignores. Pretends he doesn't see it.
He follows Wong once more and it's only as they're entering the kitchen that Stephen remembers Wong isn't as warm anymore. So he casts a warming spell.
"Thank you," Wong says, turns to him and Stephen nods.
When Wong hands him a new mug - lavender and once upon a time Stephen wasn't able to distinguish teas simply from smell - Stephen presses his fingers against Wong for several seconds before changing his hold and taking the mug.
Wong smiles, "you cause too much trouble. Get caught in even more. But I am thankful every day that you came back."
Stephen exhales. Wong had told him something similar after he'd first come back, after the battle against Thanos. "I'm glad you're back."
Stephen lowers the mug onto the counter, grabs Wong's and does the same. Then, not bothering with an inhale to summon his strength, Stephen lays a hand against Wong's cheek. Wong smiles and Stephen smiles back. He exhales, leans forward to press their foreheads together. Wong raises a hand to the back of his neck; it's warm from the tea.
In a low tone, Stephen says "I'm glad to be back."