"So basically no one remembers you?" America asks.
"Yeah", peter plucks the thread of his sleeve, " I didn't even know strange remembered me until a few months ago"
"That must be hard", America says , licking her pop sickle.
"Yeah, well I don't have any friends anymore" peter shrugs. "What about you? Any friends at Kamar Taj?"
"Well there are not many young people at Kamar Taj exactly", America smiles, "just old grumpy sorcerers".
"Grumpier than strange?", Peter licks the stick clean and throws it towards the dust bin.
"Believe me, Strange is one of the nicer ones", America says throwing her stick away as well.
"No way!", Peter laughs.
Just then Strange's voice booms in the sanctum,
" Wong!!! What a pleasant surprise!"
"Oh shit", America curses and rises up, pulling peter with him behind the mahagony book shelf.
"What th-" peter starts but she clasps her hand on his face, "Wong doesn't know I'm here", she whispers.
Wong appears above on the staircase from behind the door leading to the library, " I thought she might have come to you". He says angrily.
"Why would she come to me?", Strange follows closely behind him.
"Where is she now, then???" Wong says, exasperated and opens a portal to Kamar taj.
"Maybe she got out to get something to eat, you know, grab a bite", Strange shrugs as he looks around suspiciously.
"I told her not to leave till she has done her practice", Wong basically yells.
"She has not done her practice?", Strange frowns.
Behind the bookshelf, America lets out a whimper.
"You lied to him about practice huh?" Peter asks.
"He's gonna be so mad", America shakes her head. "He's scary when he's mad".
"Yeah I saw him fighting Thanos. He was kinda scary", Peter says, peeking at Strange's cloak.
"He told me you also fought Thanos. " America nods, "he said you were very brave".
"Did he?", Peter says. A smile slowly spreads on his face.
"If you see her send her back", Wong says and vanishes into the portal.
"Oh I will", Strange waves as the portal closes.
"That's it! you two!" Strange shouts and waves his hand.
The shelf slides across and peter and America find themselves slipping on the floor and land in front of him.
"I can explain", America pleads.
"You said you had done all week's practice", Strange crosses his arms.
"I said I almost had done all practice", America started wringing her hands.
Strange raises his eyebrows before rubbing his eyes with his fingers.
"God, kid I told you not to get into trouble"
Peter remains there silently watching the two. It seems all so...... familiar.
"Young lady you are not to return here until you have done all your weeks practice", Strange says sternly.
"Of course, I have done more than half it'll hardly take me a day or two t-"
"And all the spells I taught you last week. You need to practice those too", Strange says.
"What!", America cries, "No fair, those spells are difficult and it would take me ages".
Without diverting his gaze from America, Strange makes a circle with his left hand and a portal opens to Kamar Taj.
"Fine" America sighs, "bye parker".
Peter mumbles a good bye.
"What if I want to see you?", America asks before she enters the portal.
"I'll come and see you soon. You don't need to risk Wong's wrath for visiting the sanctum." He replies. Although he is not smiling, Peter can feel warmth in his words.
"Promise?" America asks, now standing on the other side of the portal.
"Practice your spells!", Strange says before closing the portal and turning back.
He looks at Peter who is still huddled on the floor.
"Don't you have any homework to do?" Strange frowns.
"Yes Mister Doctor Strange sir", he stands up abruptly, hugging his backpack to his chest, " I was just leaving"
Strange smirks. The kid was shaken.
"Did you eat something?" Strange asks politely
"I had pop sickles with America". Peter answers.
Strange shakes his head.
"I meant lunch?"
"Oh no not yet", Peter says.
"You're here almost every week. The fridge has food. Eat something" Strange says, turning towards the staircase.
"Okay sir." Peter says placing his bag down, "I will just eat and leave. I was about to leave anyway." He was now babbling.
"What about homework?", Strange pauses on the staircase and turns back towards him.
"Yes, sir I'll do that when-"
"Do it here"
"What?" Peter scowls.
"Have a proper lunch and do your homework here, kid", Strange says climbing back up. "Leave after you do it"
"Okay." Peter pauses. "I'll do it sir".
"Call me Stephen", Strange says and disappears behind one of the doors.
Peter looks around the place before walking off in the direction of what he assumes is the kitchen.
It was past 10 at night when Stephen completes his regular spell castings. He feels dead tired and with a swift movement of the hand, closes all the open books that were practically hovering around him moments before.
As he makes way downstairs, he spots Peter, lying on his chair, with an upside down book on his chest.
He stops by him, contemplating what to do for a moment. The cloak hovers above peter as if about to wake him up.
"No", Stephen says quietly, "let him be", he walks off to his bedroom. A blanket moves from one of the rooms and tucks itself around peter.