Funeral for a Friend
The next day America returned to Earth 616, promising to visit you again, during the official ceremony of you becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. You knew she'll be back soon but the goodbye was still bitter. You were also pretty sure that she will tell Strange and Wong about what happened with Mordo, and that Strange is going to be angry as fuck.
Mordo did return to the Sanctum the same evening. Said he'll announce his resignation during the funeral of Illuminati members. But never apologized. Typical.
You were busy organizing funeral stuff and crying your eyes out in the spare time. After you learned the truth, it was much harder to accept the fact that your Stephen was gone. Along with your friends - Charles and Reed.
Two days after your return, was the day of the great funeral - the Illuminati members, to ordinary people known just as America's (or even world's) greatest heroes, were surrounded by their supporters on their very last journey. The hall was full, Mordo took the stand and looked at you, fixing the microphone.
Your face hardened and he looked away.
"Today, we say the last goodbye to Earth's greatest defenders - Reed Richards, Captain Peggy Carter, Captain Marvel or as the closest ones called her - Maria, Charles Xavier, Blackagar Boltagon and scientist Christine Palmer. They were all victims of a brutal attack from the cosmos and sacrificed themselves to protect us. To protect you. Many great ordinary people gave their lives away as well, and even though they are not here, together with great heroes, but already resting in their final destination, I, Sorcerer Supreme, want everyone in this hall, and everyone in the world, watching, to pay your respects with a minute of silence. "
Mordo stops, looking at the ground for a minute. The hall is quiet, only some of the closest friends and family members of the fallen ones are crying silently. The camera man in the left corner wipes his eyes, a woman behind you sighs loudly. You're trying to keep calm, although the loss of your friends is tearing you apart.
"Thank you." Mordo says loudly, bringing you out from your thoughts. "Now before we all go to the graveyard, I have an announcement. Possibly for the first time in years, as this has happened only couple of times in the past, I am... I am resigning from my position as the Sorcerer Supreme and leaving the magic world. My place will be soon taken by my student, my closest friend, and the woman I respect the most, y/n y/l/n." a loud wave of murmuring passes through the hall, and you're sure that people near the TVs are doing the same. "The decision was a difficult one to make but it had to be done. Thank you for the opportunity you all gave me to help and serve you and protect the world. I'm sure you'll be just as safe in great hands of a great woman." he points at you, sitting in the first row, dressed in black suit. You feel everyone's eyes on you, hear every word of dissatisfaction.
"Please, y/n, take the stand for a couple of words before we go to the graveyard." Mordo says, pushing you into an uncomfortable situation before the whole world. You feel how blood is leaving for face, and you're damn sure that everyone, especially Mordo, noticed how pale you've became.
Climbing up the stairs you feel your legs getting wobbly, and the heels are not the case this time. You reach the stand, Mordo stands aside. With one hand fixing the microphone, you take a moment to look at all the people sitting here. Everyone united by the same pain, everyone here with the same purpose. You awkwardly cough, desperately searching for something to say but then you decide to go with your heart.
"Like my colleague said," you shoot a glance at Mordo, "today we say goodbyes to greatest defenders, who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. Their unselfish action will be forever engraved in our hearts and minds." you fall silent for a moment. Everyone is looking at you and you suddenly feel so small in this big hall that you fight the urge to leave and never come back. "Sorcerer Supreme's decision is highly respected and welcomed. I'm sure that for some of you it will be a great loss but I promise... I swear to protect you from any threat that's yet to come. Thank you." you bow to the people and stand aside.
Mordo returns to the microphone and announces, "now we will go to the graveyard where we will say a final goodbye to our brothers and sisters." he leaves and as everyone stands up, casting one last look at the six caskets, covered with America's flags, all except Peggy's - she's honored with United Kingdom's flag. You have almost reached the stairs when heartbreaking funeral music began and someone side-hugged you. Mordo. Pretending to be a gentleman one last time and your friend as well, he helps you get down the stairs, placing his hands on your side so softly that you almost puke.
"That was a nice speech. Although it lacked something." he says, face close to yours, you feel his breathing on your skin.
"A punch to your face, right?" you answer, not liking how close he is but pretending to be a lonely heartbroken girl who needs assistance in front of everyone.
"Charming as always. The ceremony will be held next week, I hope you will enjoy the dangers of being the one in charge." he spits, patting your shoulder a bit roughly and leaving you alone.
You are among the people who leave the hall last. You don't want the attention, everyone looking at your back or anything else. You just want to go back to Sanctum and wrap yourself with warm sheets. Or go back to Stephen.
A car wait for you outside and you sit in the front, greeting the chauffeur. A handsome young man, probably in his 30s.
"You're late Miss, we were supposed to take off alongside the friends and family." he says calmly. You feel that he's not judging or complaining about you leaving the last.
"I think what matters is that we go there at all." you sign and look at him. He shoots you a shy smile and starts the car.
"So uh... Were you that girl who fought along with Doctor Strange versus Thanos?" he asks after a moment of silence.
"Yes."
"Whoa, cool." he says and you raise an eyebrow. "I-i mean not cool.. I'm not saying that it probably wasn't cool but not cool to remind you about your friend. Shit." he focuses on the road, all red from embarrassment.
"Thanks for a little understanding, some people don't even have it." you say and sink into the seat. You dread the moment you reach the graveyard and have to not break in front of everyone.
"Yeah, you're welcome." he answers, glancing at you once in a while until you see the crowd of people, so thick that you can't even see half of the gravestones. The car stops and young man beside you smiles sadly. "We're here. From the looks of it, I think you've missed the beginning."
"Yeah, could be." you say, not moving an inch from the seat. He takes off his seatbelt and grasping the wheel in front of him, looks at you again.
"You're coming, Miss?"
"Yeah. Yeah." you mutter, slowly taking off the seatbelt and opening the car door.
"You need company, Miss?" he asks, eyes full of compassion.
"If you don't have anywhere else to be, that would be okay." you answer silently, looking at the man for a moment longer.
"No, Miss, Mr Stark said to fulfill all your wishes."
"Stark? Is he here?" you almost jump out of you seat.
"No, Miss, he is abroad with Miss Potts."
"Oh." you say and push yourself to get out of the car.
He gets out as well, trailing behind you. Reaching the graveyard you stop in the back.
The sun is shining brightly - the atmosphere is nothing close to the one that was during Stephen's funeral. An hour later, all the attendees began to leave, family and friends too. Susan Stom passes by, sobbing into her brother's chest. You feel terrible and somehow responsible for what happened and cast your eyes to the side.
Everyone leaves, you see how Mordo opens a portal to an apartment, and you guess that it's where he's living now.
You look around and notice your driver standing near the entrance to the graveyard. As much as you don't want to keep the guy waiting, there's still one place you have to visit.
Taking small steps in your heels, you go to Strange's grave. Fresh flowers in the vase, you wonder who was here.
'Stephen Vincent Strange, beloved mentor, neurosurgeon, and Earth's Mightest Hero' you read over and over again, words engraved in the white stone.
"Oh, baby, I miss you so much." you let yourself be corrupted by pain and fall to your knees, crying.
The chauffeur notices the weird action and hurries to your side, thinking that you have fainted. He finds you sobbing uncontrollably, whole body shaking, lungs barely getting any oxygen. He, at first, puts a hand on your shoulder, but seeing that you don't push him away, he falls to his knees as well, hugging you. Feeling at least a bit of support, you hug him back, fingers grasping the hem of his suit jacket. He says nothing, just patiently waits for you to calm down.
What felt like forever later, you finally calm down, and apologize to the poor man.
"It's okay Miss, don't you worry yourself about that." he offers you his hand and you stand up, nails almost digging into his forearm. You reach the car and he helps you sit down, putting on the seatbelt.
The move and touches might seem intimate but for whatever reason you completely trust the guy, he did wait for you patiently, although he definitely knew that you could just open a portal and get straight home. A knight in shining Stark's car. That's how would call him. Or you could just ask his name.
"Hey. This might seem stupid but I never asked your name." you say as he starts the car and begins driving, sun still shining brightly, but the air feels somewhat chilly.
"It's William, Miss. Or Billy for short." he answers, smiling a bit, but not letting his eyes off the road. Ahead you notice a huge traffic jam.
"Well, nice to meet you, Billy. I'm sure you already know who I am."
"Yes, Miss y/l/n. I believe that you're going to be a perfect Sorcerer Supreme." he blushes a bit.
"Why, thank you, Billy. That's very kind of you." you both fall silent again, and you feel that you should ask something again. Having a conversation with someone out of a completely different sphere felt refreshing.
"So... How long have you been working for Stark?"
"3 years, Miss."
"Oh. So, uh.. Drive anyone important?"
"Yeah, the President."
"Wow, that's really important." you say and he laughs.
"I think, Miss, that you're even more important than the President now." now it was your turn to blush and you were beyond glad when he took a turn to a different road and avoided the traffic. You recognized the familiar neighborhood and houses - Greenwich Village. In a moment the car stopped. You saw the Sanctum, now completely empty and cold.
"Thank you, Billy. Truly. For everything." you say undoing your seatbelt and opening the car door.
"No need to thank, Miss. I hope you have a great evening." he says, blushing like a schoolboy.
"You too, Billy, you too." you close the car door and walk up the stairs, the big Sanctum doors opening on their own for you. Before going in, you turn around and notice that Billy still hasn't left his previous spot. He shyly waves to you. You wave back and watch him finally drive away. A least there's still some goodness in the world. You go inside, opening a portal to your room, too tired to climb million stairs. Without even undressing, you fall onto the bed and feel how sleep overtakes your body and soul. A weird dream engulfs you and takes you away from the Sanctum Sanctorum...