Chapter Text
Tensions were high in the Baxter Building. No one could agree on their next move to resolve the mess of timestreams they were in.
All kinds of insane phenomena were happening all across the world ever since the present timeline had collided with the alternate future of 2099, and Doctor Strange was finding it difficult to wrap his head around it all. He hadn’t gotten much of the story during his last excursion to this realm, but he was very intimately familiar with Doom’s meddling with the timestream, perhaps more than anyone, having been the only person to directly oppose him in the process.
Stephen Strange had been stuck in the Mirror Dimension ever since the Timestream Entanglement, and when he had finally managed to free himself, it was only for a few hours; long enough to fight but not long enough to actually get anything done. That was three days ago now- but this time, he woke up in the middle of an overrun New York City, and was quickly found and rescued by Iron Man. He took the doctor straight to the Baxter Building, and immediately called this meeting with Reed Richards and a few other superheroes to align on their next move.
As the discussion began, Stephen realized his ability to stay on this plane of existence was growing longer, and he had a theory that the less he exhausted his magic, the easier it would be to keep himself here. But this meeting was quickly growing as unbearable as his soul being in another dimension.
On top of the Entanglement, Eternal Night had now fallen over New York, and Dracula’s army of vampires were roaming the streets. Because, of course they were.
Leave it to Victor Von Doom to bring about the next age of vampires while nearly destroying the space-time continuum...
Stephen pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked between them all. Tony was yelling about something and Reed was trying to calm him down, and the rest of the room watched in disdain. Stark had partnered with Mr. Fantastic to build the Timestream Reintegration Device, but even between them they were lacking the necessary resources to power it- a resource which the Emperor of Wakanda could potentially provide, if Tony hadn’t pissed him off.
Moon Knight, Squirrel Girl, Cloak and Dagger...this chaotic jumble of heroes sat about the table watching, some of whom Stephen had never met before, but everyone looked on edge as the superhero screaming match only seemed to escalate.
And then, across the room, Stephen’s eyes fell on the sea king.
Namor, the sub-mariner.
He knew little about Namor, about his history and even his affiliation with everyone else, but he was apparently a fixture within this group despite seemingly not being close with anyone.
Stephen couldn’t really help but stare, he found it difficult to look away once he’d started. Something about his presence demanded your attention, even when in a room full of superheroes.
He eyed the Atlantean curiously, studying him. His large trident was set against the wall beside him where he stood, the golden eye at the center darting about the room each time someone spoke. He wore a tight-fitting suit made of emerald scales and lined with black- Stephen thought it must be his formal wear. It was certainly a bit more formal than his shirtless outfit that he’d seen him wear during the last battle, which was the first time he had ever met the other man. His dark hair was swept back beneath the crown that adorned his head and a large golden pauldron decorated his left shoulder. Both pieces of armor had long protruding prongs that reminded Stephen of a sea urchin or a lionfish. The outfit seemed to perfectly reflect the man wearing it: a bit over-the-top and flashy like his attitude, sharp like his wits, and strangely, disarmingly… beautiful.
The suit had a high collar and a v-shaped cut down the center of his chest, all the way to his waist, exposing his pecs and abdomen, and those long lines drew Stephen’s eyes down and down and down...
“Excuse me, Doc Strange? Stephen Strange? Are you listening?” Tony said, snapping the fingers of his metal-plated gauntlet.
Stephen’s gaze snapped up, still locked on the Atlantean, and he was met with two sharp turquoise eyes, and a fierce smirk. Stephen tried to maintain his stoic expression, but a rare blush began to form on his cheeks as Namor stared at him, their eyes locking across the room.
“Y-Yes, of course I’m listening,” Stephen said, blatantly lying as he whipped his head back to turn towards Tony and Reed. The collar of his cape made a little flitting gesture back and forth towards Namor, as if to mock Stephen, but he ignored the sentient fabric. He couldn’t believe himself, or the fact he’d been caught by Namor after checking him out during a very important meeting about the fate of their dimension.
“We were discussing what we think the next step should be, and your part to play in this,” Reed said, but Stephen merely stared back at him blankly, unsure of what Reed wanted him to say.
Mr. Fantastic’s eyes slid from Stephen back to Tony, and they gave each other a knowing look.
“Stephen, I think it would be best if you just continue to lay low for now. You’re one of the best defenses we’ve got against Doom and you’re more familiar than anyone with the Darkhold,” Reed said. “You’ve already been through hell and back getting trapped in another dimension, and we’re not sure how long that will last again- so, until we have a better plan, just keep researching what you can on the magical end, and we’ll keep building the machine. You need to save your energy for the real fight.”
Stephen nodded resolutely. He was not in the mood nor the headspace to protest the decision of the ‘smartest man in the universe’ and his recent return to this realm had left him exhausted. He just wanted a moment to rest before thinking about the multiple worlds crashing around him.
“I believe the doctor should be moved elsewhere and guarded regularly. With Dracula’s spawn running loose across New York, it would be easy for Doom and the vampire lord to find Strange. He’s the only magical force that can oppose them, he should remain hidden until there is a more concrete plan.”
Everyone turned to look towards the person who had spoken. Namor hadn’t said anything the whole meeting, but his deep voice seemed to shake the foundations of the room. He wasn’t loud or criticizing, but the way he spoke was similar to the rest of his aura, in that it demanded your attention- but when he had it, he commanded it effortlessly.
“What exactly are you suggesting, Namor?” Reed said, eyeing the sea king with a cautious gaze.
“The doctor shall come stay with me in Atlantis, and he can conduct his research there. Dracula, nor Doom, will ever be able to find him.”
Reed was taken aback at the suggestion. He glanced at Tony who merely looked confused, defaulting to Reed who was more familiar with Namor.
“I think we can handle taking care of the doctor here in New York. Plus, I don’t imagine your Atlanteans will take kindly to a human staying in their presence.” Reed said, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Namor simply stood his ground, unfazed by Reed’s calculating stare.
“The Atlanteans will follow their king’s orders, as they know that I would never do anything to compromise the safety of my own people,” Namor said, shooting a glare at the heroes, and Stephen could almost hear the tension rising. “And in case you were unaware, Atlantis was one of the few places that housed the Darkhold before it fell into the wrong hands. I believe Atlantis’s magical prowess and vast libraries could offer some help to our Sorcerer Supreme,” Namor said, sending a very discreet wink towards Stephen.
“Wasn’t the first vampire from Atlantis?” Reed said.
“Yes, he was,” Namor said pointedly, “but if you are insinuating that all Atlanteans are evil because one of us became a vampire, I would sooner remind you that if we judged entire races based on single individuals, then the history of surface world has produced far greater horrors and evils. And you are always quick to remind me that not all of your people are the same- isn’t that right, Richards?” Namor said, his tone cold and sharp.
Reed pursed his lips, trying to shift the conversation back in his favor. “Well, regardless, the Sanctum, I’m sure, can provide just as much knowledge as Atlantis’ libraries,” Reed countered.
“Much of the Sanctum has...also been sucked into the Mirror Dimension, and we are working on bringing it back, along with myself.” Stephen said, a bit defeatedly.
“Well...” Reed said, nearly at a loss for words in this rebuttal, “Stephen, you can choose anywhere outside of New York to lay low, it doesn’t need to be Atlantis. What about Krakoa? Or Asgard?”
“The island will only allow mutants to enter- which means Namor, but not Stephen. And the last report we received was that Asgard has been overtaken by Loki and Hela, and Thor is AWOL,” Tony added with a groan.
“Well then, between sibling rivalry and vampire overlords, it seems Atlantis is one of the safest places in the world right now,” Namor said, eyeing Reed with a cocky look.
Reed tried not to grumble, long arms crossing over one another in frustration. That was the funny thing about Namor, and the reason so many of the heroes found him difficult to work with- he would always tell the truth, even if it was the last thing you wanted to hear. And he was never afraid to point out the elephant in the room, especially when everyone wanted to ignore it.
So, while they could certainly go out of their way to increase security measures for Stephen, the simpler solution was right there in front of them. And the simplest answer was, usually, the best.
Namor chuckled seeing that Reed was on edge, the gears in his rubbery brain grinding and turning, and his gaze softened as he held his hands up innocently.
“Regardless, it was still just a suggestion, Mr. Fantastic,” Namor said, using the superhero name almost mockingly. “The doctor’s safety is what matters, so wherever Doctor Strange believes he will be safest is where he should be.”
Namor looked across the table at Stephen, and the rest of the room turned to stare at the Sorcerer Supreme. Stephen gulped, suddenly feeling all the eyes on him, and sighed. He really was in no mood to make decisions, but he knew he had to say something to dissolve the tension in the room. Plus, he couldn’t deny that he was curious. Why was the sea king trying to advocate for him, why would he stick his neck out just to protect him? Why go so far as to allow him, a human, to enter the kingdom of Atlantis? Curiosity was one of Stephen’s biggest strengths and weaknesses, and he just had to know what Namor was thinking.
“I think... that perhaps Namor is right. It might be better if I stay hidden, somewhere Doom won’t be able to find me. It would be best to make Doom believe I haven’t returned at all. Eventually my magic will deplete and I will be forced to return to the Mirror Dimension- when I do, my body will remain here unconscious, and it will be unguarded. Since you all are busy fending off Dracula’s forces and building the device, it may be best for me to go to Atlantis if Namor is willing to offer his protection. They may provide some resources that the surface world cannot.”
“Strange, are you sure about this?” Tony asked, looking concerned.
Namor smirked again in response as Stephen eyed him carefully.
“We fought alongside each other during my last return to this dimension. I’m putting my trust in you to guard my body when my spirit is removed from it. Can you do that?” Stephen asked.
Namor nodded assuredly. “Of course. You will have my personal protection, my king’s guard, a suite in my palace, and all of my people’s resources at your disposal. Whatever you need, I will provide.”
Stephen studied Namor carefully. While he seemed eager to boast about the power he possessed, Stephen still sensed the king was being truthful, so he nodded towards Reed and Tony.
“Alright then, that’s settled. You all know your duties- meeting adjourned,” Reed called, and the rest of the room stood.
As everyone else began to exit, Namor started across the room to meet Stephen, but he was stopped when a long, stretchy arm blocked his path. The rest of its body followed, and Reed Richards pulled himself in between Namor and Strange.
“I don’t know what you’re planning, Namor, but if any harm comes to him while he’s in your care, you will destroy the last bit of goodwill I have towards you, and I will send all of Earth’s mightiest heroes after you, from every corner of the universe.”
Namor’s eyes widened. “Bold, Richards. I never would have taken you for the type to make a declaration of war so brazenly.”
“You know what I mean. Don’t try me on this,” Reed said, pressing a finger into Namor’s chest.
Namor did not flinch, however, turning his chin upwards at the other man and very slowly pushing his rubbery finger aside.
“Don’t worry, Richards, no harm will come to your sorcerer. I swear it. And so long as we are fighting together to fix the timestreams, my conquest of your world is on a… temporary ceasefire.”
Reed didn’t dignify him with a response, merely scoffed as he stepped away, but his piercing stare lingered on the Atlantean. Reed turned around to see Stephen standing behind him, listening in, and he placed a gentle hand on the doctor’s shoulder.
“Anything happens down there, you call us,” Reed said, before slinking away back to his lab.
Namor nodded to Stephen in greeting, and the pair began walking over to The Bridge, a teleportation device Reed had built.
“It is nice to see you again, Doctor. I am glad to see you back on this plane of existence.”
Stephen was caught off guard at Namor’s shift in demeanor once they were alone together. It seemed almost as if Namor was more relaxed suddenly, not nearly as on-edge as he had seemed during the meeting with the others. Before Stephen could think of a good response, Namor said a few numbers to H.E.R.B.I.E. who punched in the coordinates, and then they were off.
The pair stepped through the swirling light, moving from the Baxter Building to the edge of New York, standing somewhere along the Hudson River and New York Harbor. Stephen looked at the crimson red sky overhead, the large moon like a plate of bloodied silver looming over the entire city.
Eternal Night.
“Well, you don’t see that everyday,” he remarked. He then held up his hands, preparing to draw a circle with his sling ring.
Namor placed a hand on Stephen’s wrist to stop him, “It’s best that we get there another way. It would be good if you waited until we were in Atlantis before you used any magic, I am worried it may signal your return. Once we are there, you should be able to remain undetected.”
Namor motioned for Stephen to step back before he twirled his trident, muttering some kind of incantation, and a giant wave began to crest across the bay over to the both of them. Once it reached them, it flattened down, like a platform, which Namor stepped onto effortlessly. Stephen followed, and then the wave began to form a large bubble that surrounded the both of them, before it was pulled below the surface and they descended to the lost city.
“We couldn’t just teleport to Atlantis?” Stephen asked.
Namor smiled, crossing his arms over his thick chest, “I have an agreement with Richards. I told him I don’t want a device that can bring surface dwellers directly into my kingdom to exist- so either he vowed to ensure The Bridge could never be used to enter Atlantis, or I would destroy the device. You can guess how that went.”
The bubble continued to descend deeper and deeper into the ocean. The eye in Namor’s trident had a faint glow, illuminating the area around them as they traversed down into the dark waters. Stephen could make out fish swimming past, and the ocean grew darker and darker as they went.
“I have sent word to the palace to prepare your room, but it would be best if you cast a water breathing spell for most of your stay. Will that be too taxing, or do you think you can make do?”
Stephen nodded, a bit amused. A simple water breathing spell was child’s play for him, but he appreciated the sea king checking to be sure.
“But if I might ask, why did you agree to this?” Stephen asked curiously, glancing toward the man at his side. “You hardly know me, and taking me under your protection is more of a risk to you than anything. I imagine I’m also one of the only people to venture to Atlantis since it first sank. So, why?”
“Your alliance would be appreciated in the future,” Namor said plainly, almost coldly. “Your power, your magic, your knowledge of the mystic arts and the supernatural. I am aware of your abilities, and they would be a great benefit to my people once the timestreams are repaired. It would be useful to have an ally above, should I ever wage war on the surface world.”
Stephen was almost disappointed. He hadn’t really expected a different answer, but it still stung to hear it aloud. He didn’t let his face betray that feeling, though, and his expression remained distant, reserved.
“You must understand that I would have to oppose you should you ever go to war with us,” Stephen said dejectedly.
“I am aware.”
“And yet you still seek me as an ally?”
“Yes. Do not mistake me doctor, your alliance would be appreciated, yes...” Namor began, and after a long pause Stephen met the sea king’s gaze, as he said, “...but your friendship would be cherished.”
“My friendship?” Stephen mused, a bit charmed by the king’s surprising admission.
“Yes, I find you very...intriguing, inviting. I have few friends, even undersea, and virtually none on land. So while an ally would be nice, it would be an even greater honor to call you a friend, Doctor.”
As Stephen stared at Namor, he saw his hardened expression had grown soft, and his eyes were bright with a spark, a feeling. That same feeling he’d seen in the Ancient One’s eyes, in Wong’s, even in Mordo’s and Christine’s at one point. And he recognized that faint glint that appeared so apprehensively in Namor’s gaze: trust.
There was only a moment more before that faint glimmer faded from Namor’s eyes and he cleared his throat, turning away from Stephen.
But even as Namor shied away, Stephen could now see the man underneath it all. There was a man beneath that shell who was so painfully alone, someone who had been betrayed and dejected countless times, yet still wanted to trust in someone, despite everything. And for whatever reason, he wanted to put that faith in Stephen, that perhaps he could have someone at his side.
“Stephen.”
“What?”
“Call me Stephen, Namor.”
Namor’s eyes widened in surprise at the doctor’s words, and Stephen could see the blood rising to the sub-mariner’s cheeks, coloring his face and his pointed ears with a rosy hue.
“Alright, Stephen...” Namor said, trying to regain his composure as he looked away from the other man. Stephen noticed the tips of his ears seemed to wiggle as he got flustered. He probably wasn’t even aware he was doing it, but that small, involuntary motion was incredibly cute to Stephen.
Teasing him is going to be so much fun...
A few minutes passed in silence between the two, but after some time Namor peered out from the bubble into the dark sea and grinned wide. He turned to Stephen, placing a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. Namor held his trident out before him, and Stephen could see a faint glow in the distance.
“Stephen, welcome to Atlantis.”