Eye of Agamotto, the Time Stone
April 1st 2012
Kamar Taj, Himalayas
5.25 AM
After another 5 minutes of more backflips, a series of handworks and body movement, James was able to put his daughter on the cold stone floor. They were both grinning as they looked at each other’s faces even when one of them managed to defeat the other one.
Teddy smiled at the delightful expression showed on their faces. It’s been a month since the father and daughter got to see each other and trained together. It’s been 2 years since James retired from helping Tony with his crime-fighting days against HYDRA. But his father-in-law never ceases to train himself in his free time.
When Nat found out about this, she pestered her father to train with her. James was reluctant to do so because he didn’t want his daughter to be reminded of their days in the Red Room. His darling girlfriend, now wife told him that James was her light and strength in that place. He made her into a survivor, so it would dishonor her memory of him if he refused to train with her for that reason.
The two former KGB assassins showed their affection through light touches of fondness and a squeeze on the back of the neck. It was rare for Teddy to see James gave a light peck on his daughter’s hair.
He always feel envious when he saw his friends’ interaction with their parents. As an orphan, he only ever had the love of his grandmother, godfather with Tony and his family. It wasn’t the same with that parental love he craved all those years ago. His heart ached when he saw his wife and his father, but instead of envy, he felt insurmountable of adoration towards them.
Uncle James deserved happiness as much as his wife. Their lives have been nothing but a roller-coaster of pain, manipulation and survival. He was relieved that they found each other again as parent and child. Moreover, he was proud to be accepted into their little family.
As much as the ex-winter soldier showed an ongoing battle between being his badass uncle and his stern father-in-law, he still treated the auror as family and now he even treated him as if he was his own son.
The sun has just risen and as if noticing they have been watched, uncle James and Nat turned their heads around at the same time to watch them. Although, with these two spies, they probably knew they were being watched the moment he and Strange stood here to watch them.
That habit of theirs usually creeped a few people around, even Tony still felt creep out when they gave him that twin stare. He wondered what Strange would do and what kind of expression he would show as he was being faced with their habit.
“Do they do that a lot?” The former surgeon whispered, looking amused. “It’s kind of sweet.”
Well, that’s new, he said to himself. Usually people would be weirded out.
The wizard answered softly,” Yes. It’s their father-daughter thing.”
With a snap of his fingers, Teddy transfigured up a towel out of his handkerchief and a jacket from his scarf . It’s one of the few spells that he could do wandless. Having Tony, the prodigy wizard and Harry as his godfather really drove his sense of improving his magic.
Next to him, he saw Strange doing the same thing. He conjured up a towel and jacket in his hands from out of nowhere. The doctor smirked a little smugly and Teddy just frowned amusingly at him. In Tony’s words, ‘The sorcerer’s got game’.
The Auror knew about the sorcerers, Kamar Taj and their three Sanctum Sanctorums in New York, London and Hong Kong. Their numbers weren’t as many as the wizards but they usually kept to themselves, protecting their Sanctorums or temples. It was rare for his kind to meet theirs, so they couldn’t really measure their level of magic. Even though he didn’t have a scale to look at. He could feel how powerful this Doctor Strange is.
He’s only been the head of sorcerer in Kamar-Taj for two years after the Ancient One’s death and the whole Kaecilius and Dormammu debacles. Before that, it’s been said that he has been training in Kamar-Taj for less than a year and half of the time under the guidance of the Ancient One. He understood now why he was chosen as the Sorcerer Supreme. The man was a prodigy in mastering Mystic Arts and had an immense power if he could master whatever that amulet he had on him was.
Ignoring the sorcerer, he walked slowly to his wife. Uncle James stood up a little and bent down, holding his hand towards Natalia. She had accepted his hand before he pulled her up to her feet.
She walked and met Teddy, who smiled warmly as he stood a few inches away from the love of his life. He held out the jacket to her and she gave him a quick peck on his lips as a thank you. After she had worn the jacket, Teddy looked her over. Black really suited his wife well.
“How was the training?” He asked her as he began wiping the sweat off of her face.
“Great,” she pulled out a tiny smile then subtly looked sideways at his father and the sorcerer. “I saw you were bonding with him.”
“Just giving him some shovel talk, luv,“ he grinned toothily.
She hummed softly, keeping her eyes on them. “Yasha is happy.”
Uncle James was sitting on a wooden chair, probably conjured up by (show-off arse) Strange. He has his jacket on while the doctor was standing behind the chair, trying to dry off his hair. With the wind around this place, his job wouldn’t be difficult to do.
It seemed like what a normal couple would do, although his uncle was never an ordinary person. Therefore, founding him letting the goatee man standing behind his back stunned the auror.
The assassin was a cautious man and he never let just anyone get on his vulnerable side. And if he did, it meant that that person had his trust and that was a very rare thing. Only Tony and Nat that he trusted enough to do so, and now so had Strange.
“Blimey, James is in love with him, “ Teddy uttered softly, feeling stupefied.
James jerked his head up a bit under the towel. The wizard cursed under his breath. It’s so easy to forget that the man is a super-soldier and that their location helped to travel their voice through the wind easily.
“If he hurt you, I’ll castrate him and feed the organs to himself, “ she uttered calmly, which Teddy was sure wasn’t directed at him. His uncle gave a short nod under Strange vigorous dry-handling towel.
He couldn’t help but snogged her enthusiastically on the lips. They were out of breath as he pulled his lips away from her. His wife looked rather flush and Ted was sure it’s not from the training she just had with her dad.
“You’re so, “ the wizard felt himself out of breath, “so sexy when you’re being overprotective.”
“I can see that, “ the red-headed cocked an eyebrow up, grabbing the lapels of his jacket so their noses touched. “I like it when you take charge.”
Before they could start getting off, somebody cleared their throat.
“As much as I love you, I refuse to watch you making out with my daughter, sigoltteugi (korean), “ his favorite uncle drawled.
Nat chuckled, hiding her face behind Teddy’s nape as he could feel his face reddened and not because of the cold weather. “Sorry, uncle James.”
“Oh James, “ Strange looked amused. “People in love live in their own world. You know that.”
Looking at his lover, his father-in-law tilted his head up a little and smiled softly. “Do I?”
“You need a reminder?” The neurosurgeon waggled his eyebrows playfully as he put a hand under James’ chin.
“Maybe, “ he answered mischievously.
“Oh Morgana, “ Teddy cringed in embarrassment. “I get it, James. Merlin, it’s like watching…”
“Watching your dad flirt?” Stephen Strange rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know that feeling very well.”
“Well, uncle James is not…” he was stopped from saying further by a pinch at his waist. Nat pouted at him from under his chin. “He’s mine as much as he’s yours, kotehok.”
His heart beat faster at her declaration and he whispered,” I know. Thank you for the reminder.”
“Well I’m going to make some coffee,” the surgeon shrugged, he held his hand for James to take. “And get some breakfast in the kitchen. The first lesson will start in an hour.”
Before they could take a step in the direction of the kitchen, a loud explosion could be heard in the side of the temple. Smoke could be seen raising from that area. Shouting could be heard around there and few monks with disciples emerging out to see from the temples around.
Strange looked conflicted between leaving uncle James behind and go to help his sorcerers. The ex-winter soldier cupped his face and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Go. They need you.”
He gave him a stiff nod before transforming his robe into his Sorcerer’s Supreme robe and a red cloak flew to settle between his shoulders. He ran and disappeared behind the building as Teddy and his family stay alerted.
“Better safe than never,” Teddy took his wand out of his wand holster on his belt. The wizard even outfitted his wife with the black widow suit that he accio-ed along with her multiple knives, guns and widow bites (made by Tony with his metal charming ability).
Out of his peripheral vision, James cracked his neck a big and stretched his arms. He knew James hasn’t told the sorcerer about his past as an assassin, so he respected his decision not to put on his suit.
Teddy was not worried though. Tony has gifted his father-in-law with a bracelet that would immediately covered him with his new winter soldier’s garments. James only needed to stroke it twice and whispered a keyword and he would immediately be envelope with his battle costume.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t need it.
***
The wizard really do need holiday and being in Himalayas supposed to be relaxing for him and his wife with a simple meeting between them and James’ boyfriend. Never have he ever expected to fight for his life during his holiday.
OR fighting gruesome-looking aliens.
He knew about London and their invasion problem, but seriously, they’re in one of the most peaceful places in the world and basically almost nowhere. Bloody Hell!
The metamorphmagus held on his wand tightly, twisted it between his hand and attacked a few aliens with Bombarda. Everything could happen in 15 minutes and the worse of the worst have happened.
Natalia has been killing some of them and Teddy protected her back as best as he could, while James was holding his own with only his super strength and agility. Any deadly attack has been thwarted by the talisman he had, the one given by Tony.
Strange has protected and sent off his monks and pupils to transport themselves to all three Sanctorums. With their combined magic, they have sent most of the residents away safely, but there were some victims died caught by the explosion or by the aliens killing them. Half the temples around have been decimated and ruined.
They have destroyed all of the alien soldiers and were just now really seeing all of the destruction surrounding them. It was a devastating loss in hundreds of years old properties and innocent lives. He could see the pained look on Strange’s face, but suddenly he did something with his hands and the amulet brightened with green light. Like a movie being rewinded, all stones and rocks began to turn back into temples. Even the dead inhabitants of Kamar-Taj were resurrected.
The auror could feel his jaw-dropped at the unbelievable scene he witnessed in front of him. The former neurosurgeon opened up a portal and started barking orders at the survivors to evacuate.
After the evacuation was finished and the portal was closed, James asked, “Vincent, what was that?”
He held his glowing amulet,” This is called the Eye of Agamotto. It held an infinity stone, specifically the Time stone. It was clingy and I think it was warning me of this attack.”
Before the doctor could give a further explanation, two alien beings appeared from above. One had jumped from the roof of one of the last standing temples while the other floated down and still levitating on air.
They were both grey-skinned. The one who jumped was a giant being in grey and horrific-looking. He has big arms and looked like the scariest bouncer he had ever seen. And his friend looked like… Well the best description he had was a grey squidward with battle costumes.
“Hear me, and rejoice,” squidward opened up his arms. “You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos,” pushing his chin up,” Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to…” (Excerpt. Avengers 3)
“Squidward is talking,” Nat raised her eyebrows, looking sideways at Ted. “Is he real?”
“As real as he could get, darling,” he answered nonchalantly, but tightened his hold on his wand. Strange immediately flew next to James who was standing closed to himself and Natalia.
“I’m Ebony Maw, not squidward,” he squinted his eyes a little. “And this is Cull Obsidian. We are here,” pointed his fingers at Strange,” to take that off of your hands.”
Slowly, the Sorcerer Supreme pointed a finger at himself in confusion. “Me?”
The giant, Cull something something grumbled loudly. He held his alien axe above his head and before he planted it in the ground, Strange grabbed hold of James and flew upward while Teddy stood in front of his wife and shouted, “ Protego.”
Pieces of concrete flew everywhere when that axe made impact with the ground. Teddy muttered under his breath, “ He has more anger issue than you, uncle James.”
“Really, Teddy?” he asked dryly from above. “Now?”
“Sorry, “ he murmured an apology. Even Nat gave him a light slap on the back of his head.
“All this chattering exhaust me, “ Ebony made a swift motion. “Bring me the stone.”
When the beast began to descend on them, Teddy apparated a few feet away with his wife while Strange flew with James to their side. Natalia told her father, “ Yasha, it’s time to get serious.”
Teddy heard and saw James cupped Strange’s face and looked sorrowful at his eyes and said, “ I hope you still love me after knowing who I am.”
He stroked the bracelet in his left wrist twice and whispered, “ tús nua.”
Like a chameleon changing its color, a ripple of his new winter soldier outfit glued on him as well as a silver and gold metal arm for his left arm. He smiled sadly at him. “I kill people. You might know me as the Winter Soldier.”
The auror casted a giant protective barrier to protect them from the onslaught attack from the alien beast.
“I know, James, “ the doctor informed him with eyes filled with warmth, putting his hand behind James’ neck. “I know since the first week you stayed here. As the Sorcerer Supreme I need to know everyone’s background and I have my ways.”
James had no expression on his face, but he looked as if he was holding his breath when his boyfriend said, “ I want you to tell me on your own time, but this is as good as any. You're still the sweetest man I know who loves to take beautiful sceneric pictures, so you don’t have to worry. You will always have this.”
The doctor took his hand and put it on his chest. “Always.”
As cheesy as it sounded, James flipped Strange’s hand and put it on his chest and smiled a little. “You have mine too.”
“I’m happy for you two, “ Natalia prepared her widow bites, cautiously overlooking the barrier Teddy tried to hold on. “but you might want to prepare yourself for that.”
She pointed at the beast. The former brainwashed soldier pulled himself away from his lover and stretched himself. “Let me handle him.”
“Uncle James, I know you’re strong and I never doubt you, but that, “ he cocked his head at Cull, “is not something you can handle. I think that beast is as strong as Dr. Banner’s alter-ego.”
When the barrier broke, James pushed a button on his earpiece and a black mask appeared to cover the half of his face. When the beast moved to axe him, James used his metal arm as a shield.
The axe didn’t even make a dent on the arm. Teddy could see the glint behind Natalia’s eyes at how badass his father is. Strange was looking very turned on… Eew, eew, eew… Don’t think about it, Teddy! Eew!
“You should never underestimate Tony’s invention, “ the former soldier pushed his axe until the beast almost tripped on his own feet. James pulled his arm far enough to hit the beast and sent him flying away.
“Enough, I shall handle this, “ squid… Ebony said. He flew towards them so fast and managed to swift his hand against James and magically pushed him away, hitting the concrete pretty hard.
In anger, Strange fought back. Natalie threw knives at him as Teddy threw as many offensive spells as he could. Ebony succeeded in defending himself and in the end he knocked Natalia out and Teddy was stuck against the wall covered from neck to feet in rocks.
The alien pushed Strange against the wall, his hands were held by two pieces of metals like a pair of unbreakable cuffs. He almost won but when he tried to take the amulet, he jerked back as if his hand was burned.
“Such a simple spell, but quite unbreakable,” Strange smirked.
“Then I’ll take it off your corpse,” Ebony hissed, tightened his hand on the surgeon’s neck.
“You’ll find… Removing a dead man’s spell… Troublesome,” he voiced out.
Chuckling evilly, the alien informed him,” You’ll only wish you were dead.” (Excerpt. Avengers Infinity War)
Before he could give him more threats, James appeared and hit squidward in the face.
“Don’t you ever. Put. Your. Hands. On. Him,” James growled, pulling the metal off of Strange and held the doctor’s waist to help him stand up. “Vince, I think we should retreat now.”
“Good idea,” Strange spelled the rocks off of Teddy. The wizard immediately took his wife, who started to regain her consciousness in his arms and together the four of them stood in front of a portal the sorcerer opened.
The second they stepped into the portal, the beast Cull tried to follow and Strange snapped the portal closed and it cut the monster’s from hand to elbow. The organ was limped on the floor.
Natalia was fully awake so he put her down and looked her over. It always scared him when he saw his wife hurting. But their jobs were always dangerous and he had accepted from a long time ago that he’s in love with an independent woman who could kill a man with her thighs and filtration smile.
Looking around, Teddy noticed they were in an east mixed western-style building from the look of the inside of the building. There was a group of Strange’s students and a couple of teachers in the background. Some of them were healing the injures and they were happy to see Doctor Strange.
The Sorcerer Supreme was standing up with the help of James’ arm holding him up. “Welcome to New York’s Sanctum Sanctorum.”
Teddy was relieved to know that they were in New York. He needed to consult with Harry and Tony immediately about what happened in the Himalayas and Strange’s time stone.
One of the two monks came up to him,” Sorcerer Supreme. There is something you should know.”
“What is it master Lee?”
“There are Unidentified Flying Object outside, “ he told him nervously. “Right here, in New York.”
“UFO?! In New York?!” Strange looked dumbfounded. “The hell!”
Teddy was sure he wasn’t the only one who looked as flabbergasted as the ex-neurosurgeon. Strange walked towards the front door and opened it. James, Teddy and Natalia followed behind him and they walked through the street.
It was chaos. There were building destroyed and cars wrecked around them. Strange did his thing and fix the buildings and cars back into its origin. The whole neighborhood was fixed. As they looked up, there really was a huge circular ship floating over.
Familiar alien soldiers emerged from behind a building and Teddy muttered under his breath, “I don’t think you’re the only one they’re after, Strange.”
Before they could attack them, bullets started hitting those aliens and a circular object the size of a giant frisbee swirling and cut three of them down. Teddy turned around and saw a couple of people he knew well.
“Steve?” James turned off his mask.
Steven Grant Rogers, aka Captain America and Margaret Carter aka former Director Peggy Carter walked straight towards them. The circular object was Steve’s shield and like a magnet, it flew back towards him. Aunt Peggy has her hand full with guns.
They looked well-prepared.
The former female agent of SHIELD nodded her head at Natalia who answered back with, “ Former Director.”
“Aunt Peggy, “ he smiled and greeted his aunt gratefully. “As much as I’m happy to see you, what are you doing here?”
“We were on our way to see Howard before we go to the airport when that, “ Peggy tilted his head up at the spaceship, “ appeared.”
“James, “ Steve smiled, embracing his best friend with a bear hug when he arrived in front of him. “I thought you were in the Himalayas.”
“Well, we were, “ he sighed tiredly. “Until some aliens tried to kidnap my boyfriend.”
The blonde man looked at Strange and gave him a once over before acknowledging him. “Dr. strange, I’m Steve Rogers.”
“Like Captain America?”
“The one and only, “ James informed him.
“But how… What…?”
Steve clasped his hand upon the doctor’s shoulder and said, “ The explanation can wait. We have a problem to deal with.”
They all looked up at the spaceship grimly. A problem? That’s the understatement of the year.
***