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"Are they the reason you told my uncle pain was an old friend?"
They were lying on a nineteenth century leather sofa. The Sanctum Sanctorum's living room looked like a gentlemen's club set in the Regency era. The only modern thing about it was the Led tv that was currently turned off. Clea was leaning against the sofa's armrest, sitting behind Stephen, her legs bracketing him in, her arms wrapped around his. She had taken his right hand in both of her hands, tracing the pink scars gently. The question wasn't unexpected. He knew that sooner or later Clea would be curious about his scars.
"Dormammu mentioned that to you?"
"We have long talks in the rare occasions he's not trying to kill me."
He couldn't see her face but he heard the smile in her voice.
"No, they're not the reason. Not really. They still hurt sometimes, specially when the weather is cold."
Her hands got a little bit warmer around his hand, while her body temperature remained the same. It would never cease to amaze him how Clea could control her heat with such precision. He was thankful she had that ability otherwise they couldn't be together intimately. And he wasn't just thinking about the mind-blowing sex. Not in that moment. Being in her arms, holding hands... They wouldn't be able to do any of that. The Faltine were made of pure energy manifested in living flames. Clea was only half Faltine but he had seen up close how she had melted the Mindless Ones, turning them into glass. Stephen lifted her right hand and kissed its palm with reverence.
"Thank you."
"For what, my love?"
"I don't deserve you."
She kissed the side of his neck and then nuzzled his hair.
"Why wouldn't you deserve me? You're such a sweet, caring man..."
"I'm arrogant, selfish, reckless... Some say I'm a bit of a jerk."
"You're not selfish. In fact, you're the most generous human being I've ever met."
"So, you agree with the rest?"
Stephen turned around and looked her in the eyes. Her gorgeous green eyes looked back at him with so much love and fondness that his heart skipped a beat.
"Arrogance is not a bad thing when you can back it up. Your recklessness is just part of the everyday life of a sorcerer. And you are not a bit of a jerk... You are a complete jerk sometimes. But I kind of like it."
Her playful smile turned softer. She cupped his jaw tenderly and kissed the corner of his lips.
"When you're ready I want you to tell me what pain you were referring to."
He took a deep breath and decided it was time.
"I had a younger sister named Donna..."
And just like that the floodgates opened. He told her everything, not just about his sister's death, and it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. Clea's warm embrace made him feel strong enough to face his past mistakes, his failures, his guilt...
"And you took all that pain and turned it into something good. You're a protector. You saved America by possessing your own corpse..."
"The kid needed me and I couldn't let her down like the other other me did. It was the least I could do."
"The least you could do? By Oshtur!"
Clea's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Stephen, what you did for that child was extraordinary. And after all you sacrificed for this universe, time and time again, no mortal or immortal would have remained sane... I can't imagine myself watching millions of futures and making a choice like the one you made. And I'm sorry to say this, I know he's your friend, but the current Sorcerer Supreme couldn't have done half the things you did. Wong was willing to sacrifice America's life for the greater good instead of finding another way. He's a good man but he doesn't have your imagination. Or a heart as big as yours."
Stephen didn't deserve the praise. He did what he had to do. I'm not special.
"You are."
"Clea, I'm not worthy of your praise or anyone's praise. I've screwed up so many times..."
"But you always fixed everything in the end."
"Until the day that I can't..."
"If that day comes you won't be alone. We're a team, remember? We stopped an incursion together."
"I adore you."
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his eyes filled with tears. No, Stephen didn't deserve her. He could only give Clea his heart and his soul, and expect it would be enough for her to always come back to him. Please, always come back to me.
"I miss you so much when I go to the Dark Dimension. I have the urge to abduct you and make you my prisoner. But then I remember that this world would perish without you. Fortunately, I don't need to stay there for long periods of time or not even the fate of your world would stop me from abducting you."
"You would make me your prisoner?"
"It's just a fantasy of mine. Don't worry. I won't do it."
"That's a shame..."
She laughed at that. Clea knew he craved her dominance and she knew how much he trusted her. When she grabbed his wrists and growled playfully, he let out a soft moan.
"Maybe I'll steal you away someday, my love."
Stephen hoped so.