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You might actually kill Stephen. If Wanda doesn’t do it first that is. One moment you’re guarding the sanctum and minding your own business and the next you’ve learned that Wanda Maximoff has sent interdimensional demons to kill a kid to take her powers.
Despite only meeting her yesterday Stephen protected America with everything he had. It was slightly surprising honestly but it was a good surprise. Add good with kids under the reasons why you’re hopelessly in love with Stephen Strange. A love that always seemed to be one sided though. But no matter how hard you tried to move on, your heart refused to give up on him.
But now isn’t the time. Not with the way the walls of Karma Taj are trembling.
Unfortunately in a moment of terror, and it wasn’t her fault, America created a portal. Stephen seemed to have the bright idea of jumping into the portal. Without a second thought you jumped in after them. Falling through dimension after dimension until you landed on a rooftop. So now your day had gone from being almost murdered by the Scarlett Witch to lost in another dimension with no way to get back.
“Stephen!” You attempt to stand but your legs are wobbly from being thrown around the multiverse. A strong hand comes to help you stand.
“Thanks.” You mumble. You wish you could hold onto his hand or that his touch would last a little longer but it was gone before you could blink.
“Don’t mention it.” He says gently. You lean against the wall as you take in the view. This was New York but not your New York that was for sure.
“Well, Take us back.” Stephen says but America shakes her head.
“I can’t. I told you I can’t control it.” Anger flashes in his eyes as he takes a step forward.
“Stephen. She’s just a kid.” You put your hand on his chest as you step in front of America. His anger simmers as he lets out a frustrated sigh. After a bit of conversation you three decide the best way to get home is to find this world’s Stephen.
“Who are you?” America asks as you walk through the streets.
“I am Y/n, a guardian of the New York sanctum along with Stephen.” You say. She looks at you with some sort of recognition, but she doesn’t really know you.
“The other Strange. He worked alone but I saw pictures of you.” She looks towards your Stephen who was weaving his way through the crowd of people. Stopping suddenly in front of a building. Stepping onto a button that begins to project something.
“Are you and this Stephen, something more?” She asks. As you approach the building you see exactly what has caught his attention.
A memory, but of Christine. The night she gave him the watch he always wears. It’s too painful to watch, to see with your own eyes exactly what you had always known. He loves Christine. He always has.
“No, we aren’t anything.” You say quietly as he steps off the small area.
“This is a waste of time.” He says, clearly shaken by the memory. He turns to leave but you hesitate to follow.
What would it show you? Childhood memories you’ve slowly forgotten? Recent ones, the ones that give you nightmares?
“Y/n?” America asks as you step where Stephen stood. Curiosity getting the better of you. The memory that begins to play pulls you in.
Your heart stops for a moment.
It’s the day after everyone came back from the snap. You beg yourself to step off but as the scene unfolds it captures you like a spell. Enchanting you to relive this day. For 5 years you had been without half the world. Without Stephen. You learned a lot from Wong but you deeply missed the man you had slowly fallen in love with. After the battle everyone went home. The loss of Tony Stark weighs a heavy toll. You, Wong, and Stephen had gone back to New York. Wong had gone straight to his room but you and Stephen lingered in front of the stairs. Stephen looks around the sanctum. Things have changed. Relics in new places and though he was home. It didn’t feel like it.
“What was it like? For you?” You ask, breaking the silence.
“It was like a blink. In a single moment 5 years had gone by.” He looks at you. It takes everything to not tell him right there that you loved him. For years you had promised to yourself that if he ever came back you would. But here he was standing in front if you and the words refuse to come out.
“The last 5 years were hell.” You blurted out. Unable to stop yourself.
“I, I missed you Stephen.”
“I’m sorry, I truly am but it was the only way.” He says softly. His hand reaches for your face.
Clearing away the blood from your face. His hand hovers, almost as if it wants to stay. His gaze makes you tremble.
“Go, rest. After today we all need some sleep.” His hand falls and he walks up the stairs of the Sanctum. You watch his every movement. Every inch of you is screaming to tell him. Following him up the stairs you begin to call out his name.
“Step-“ Your voice dies out, steps falter. He stands in front of his door, holding his broken watch and staring at it like it’s all that mattered to him. The confidence drains from your body. Taking a step back silently you turn and hurry to your room. With tears in your eyes you quickly step off.
The memory fades and the world around you returns.
“You’re right. This is a waste.” Your eyes are glued to the ground. Refusing to look at Stephen for even just a second.
You couldn’t handle the rejection right now. You can feel his eyes burning a hole into your head but you turn and face America instead. She steps onto the little platform and suddenly a world you had never seen appears. Your heart aches for her as her worst memory appears before you. The day she lost her moms.
“It’s not your fault.” You say gently as she steps off. Just like you she had sadness in her eyes.
“You were just a child.” Stephen adds on. She doesn’t seem convinced but carries on anyway.
“I think we should talk.” Stephen puts a hand on your shoulder and you jump. America had chosen to walk ahead which left the two of you walking side by side.
“About what?” He raises his eyebrow.
“About your memory.”
“I don’t see how that’s going to help us right now.” You start to walk faster but he grabs your wrist.
“Y/n, what were you going to say?” He gently tilts your chin. His blue eyes filled with curiosity and concern.
“Stephen, I can’t. Not now.” You grab his hand and bring it away from your face. Your hands touch for a moment too long but neither of you seem to mind. He has more to say. He always does. But not now.
If only you knew how crazy the day would get from that moment. Your memory became the last thing on anyone’s mind. Meeting variants, being chased by Wanda. Seeing your Stephen with the darkhold. It was all too much to handle for one day. The darkhold disintegrates before your eyes and even though you had no clue what was going on in your world, Stephen comes back to you.
“Is America okay?” You ask as you help him sit up.
“She’s fine. She’ll be here to get us soon.” You let out a sigh of relief. It was over, for now. The madness never really ends.
Closing your eyes you shudder as you relive watching the Strange variant fall to his death. It wasn’t really your Stephen. He was evil. But watching him fall, for a moment you couldn’t tell who it was.
“Hey,” You feel the cloak wrap around your neck, almost hugging you as it wraps around you.
“Can we talk now?” Stephen moves to cup your face but you stop his hand.
“Do we have to? Can’t we just pretend nothing ever happened?” You smile as you talk but he sees right through it.
“I don’t want to pretend that I didn’t see that. I, I didn’t know you followed me.” He holds his hand out, it shakes slightly. He covers it with his other hand and drops them both to his side.
“I mean that was kind of the point.” The cloak flaps and drags you closer to Stephen.
“What were you going to tell me?” The cloak and Stephen refused to let you get out of this one. Grabbing his hand in yours you lean in and kiss his cheek.
“I’m in love with you, I have been for a while now.” A sad smile crosses your face as you gently let the cloak float back to him.
“Y/n,” He whispers sadly.
“It’s okay, I’ve come to terms with it a long time ago.” You gently run your fingers along his jaw.
Things aren’t going to be the same after this so all you want is to just, really look at him. As your Stephen even if he was never really yours.
“I’m scared,” He confesses, leaning into your touch. His eyes closing as he covers your hand with his. “I’m scared to love, to let myself be loved.” Your touch bringing him the solace he needs after the day he’s had.
“I loved Christine but it was never meant to be. From what I’ve gathered from all my other self, and the other other self, It was never Christine. I needed her to help me become the man I am now, the man who loves you.” You laugh in disbelief.
“Stephen,”
“Please, let me talk. I saw 14 million futures, I was dust for 5 years and when I came back things had changed. You changed. Those futures, I saw everyone’s pain, their loss and I saw you. I saw us lose to Thanos over, and over again.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He smiles and grips your hand tightly.
“Why didn’t you?” You let out a small laugh, he’s got you there. It almost doesn’t feel real. Those dreams of you and your life with him are coming true.
“Say it again for me, the thing you said earlier.” He asks as he wraps his arms around your waist.
“I love you Stephen Strange.”
“And I love you Y/n, every version of you.” Wrapping your arms around his neck you pull him into a passionate kiss.
For years you dreamed what his lips tasted like and now you finally get to know. Now he’s finally yours. Your lips for a small pout as he breaks the kiss.
“Oh don’t give me that,” He teases. “
One more? For the multiversal road.” He rolls his eyes playfully and kisses you once again. Short but sweet. A star shaped portal suddenly appears and the two of you jump apart. His hand is still holding onto yours.
“Ready for more crazy?” You ask as you prepare to jump into the portal. He smiles and squeezes your hand.
“With you? Always.”