Chapter Text
The multiverse was out for him.
More specifically, the multiverse was out for Wong's tuna sandwich. Sometimes, it was a Hulk. Sometimes, it was a She-Hulk. Sometimes, one of the apprentices would accidently teleport the Sorcerer Supreme's comfort food to a dimension full of screaming banshees. And sometimes, it was a big wooden box that somehow managed to get through the Santum's defences.
The blue box that was the size of a phone booth had definitely seen better days. Smoke seeped through the closed doors. There were numerous scratches and dents criss-crossing its surface. The words 'Police box' were written on the top, like some of those public booths he'd seen in some places in London when he visited their Sanctum.
The question was, what on earth was this thing doing here?
His question was answered (perhaps not quite answered) when the door of the box opened and a man stepped out clutching a crumpled card.
"Hello there! D'ya happen to know a Tao? I ha....." The man collapsed. Wong barely had time to shift the armchair under him to cushion his fall.
Well, there goes the sandwich. Again.
There was a card clutched in the man's outstretched hand just as he had collapsed. A card that was now giving readings of an artifact that no longer existed. An infinity stone.
"Is it real?"
"Oh, it's definitely real. It's got her aura over it. But not just that."
"What else?"
"I picked up traces of the... stone as well."
"That's impossible, Wong. You know it."
"Why would I lie?"
"The stones are gone, Wong. Every last trace of it. I saw it with my own eyes. They no longer exist in this universe."
Stephen and Wong looked at each other, an unspoken conversation passing between them. Wong broke the silence first.
"We should ask him."
"You could, but for that.... He needs to wake up,"
"What do you think happened to him, Stephen?"
"Probably sleeping off the effects of something. He doesn't look hurt."
It was right about then that the man stirred. Stephen waved his fingers in the direction of the armchair just as its occupant woke up and tried to stand up. In an instant, the man was stuck to the armchair.
"Huh?" Obviously not happy at his predicament, the man started struggling against the invisible force. Stephen watched him in mild amusement for a moment or two before deciding to take pity on him.
"You've been enchanted." He spoke, by way of greeting.
"Sorry, what?"
"Encanted to be stuck in that armchair until you've answered all our questions."
"Enchanted?" He asked, looking incredulous. "What, like magic? That doesn't exist." Englishman, Stephen figured from the accent.
"Believe that if you want," Wong spoke, "But magic is real for us and it is not a force to be played with. So you are going to answer some very important questions regarding yourself and your arrival in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Starting with your name."
"Oh, I'm the Doctor."
"That's a title." Stephen spoke, annoyed. "What is your name?"
"Well then," he said, pulling out a little black card from a pocket of his trenchcoat, "My name's John Smith, Doctor of ah, everything, really. See for yourself."
Sure enough, there was writing on the card that confirmed whatever 'John' was saying, but Stephen knew better.
"You know John Smith is one of the most common names in existence, right? You really should have chosen a better cover identity."
The Doctor smiled guiltily. "You're right, my name's not John. But you also refuse to believe my actual name, which is the Doctor, so what am I supposed to do?"
"Alright, let's leave names aside. What dimension are you from, then?"
"Well, according to my very reliable screwdriver's readings, I'm in the wrong universe, apparently."
"Now there's an answer one does not hear everyday." Wong commented.
"Really?" Stephen remarked.
"It's true. You would know that if you actually spent your time performing your duties as a wizard."
"Reading the ancient tomes is a perfectly reasonable way to both amass knowledge and better protect the Sanctums. Honestly, Wong, weren't you the chief librarian of Kamar-Taj? I expected better from you."
"I have never been against amassing knowledge, Stephen, only against the fact that you often neglect your duties. If you could have performed your Sorcerer Supreme duties alongside your recreational activities, I wouldn't be lecturing you right now."
"Ow, Wong. You wound me."
"You'd be always wounded then."
"Sorry to interrupt, but can you ask your cloak to stop tickling me?"