The River of Dreams
You wake up, with a man lying in the bed by your side. The temperature in the room is quite chilly, and your bare legs feel like blocks of ice. You turn to the person beside you, who apparently has stolen half of the blanket from you. You blow out some air, frustrated, and harshly pull the covers back to yourself. A groan is heard, and as you tuck yourself back in, the figure turns to look at you. Lazy smile dancing on his lips, eyes still half closed.
"You thief." he says, reaching out to rub your arm that was resting on the covers.
"No, you're the thief, I almost froze in here." you answer, snuggling into the covers more. He lies on his back and fixes his hair a bit. The silver sides in his dark coal hair flow through his fingers smoothly. You scratch his shy beard underneath the lower lip, hand resting on his chest a moment later. He was more of a mustache guy.
"What are we up to, today, my dear wifey?" Stephen asks, pulling you close to him.
"Saving world perhaps? Or going to that festival in the city?"
"What festival?" he asks, now interested in what's happening. Smart and a know-it-all, Stephen was a helpless cause in ordinary deeds of the world.
"The festival of Lights. Haven't you heard of it?" you lean on your elbow and look at Stephen, not believing that he didn't know.
"No. You know, as the Master of the Mystic Arts, I have bigger things on my mind than some festival in the city."
"Aaaand here it is. Another chance to brag about your higher duties. And that's..." you lean close to his face, your breath dancing on his cheek, "that's why you have me, silly. And before you cover up with your 'higher duties' shield, we're going. At 9 pm. I hope you, Mr Strange, won't be late." you place a soft kiss on his lips and leave the bed, slipping on your silk robe and going toward the bathroom.
"I promise I won't be late, Mrs Strange." he calls back from the bed, sitting up and turning on his phone.
You turn around in your bed, legs feel numb and uncomfortable in the suit pants, the jacket that you're still wearing is almost melting on your skin. Finding a better position for a moment, you fall back into the dream.
You go towards the Master's chamber, the biggest room in the Sanctum. Having Sorcerer Supreme as your husband has its perks. 3 months as a wife of the man you would sacrifice yourself for in a blink, felt like days, not a moment longer. You enter the room, going to the bathroom, and turning on the shower, standing before the mirror until the water warms up. Taking off your shirt, you look at the various size scars scattered around your upper body and back. All they symbolize pain and suffering that you have experienced during battles with evil sorcerers, ancient spirits and creatures from the cosmos. Each of them is engraved not only on your skin, but also in your mind. A knock on the bathroom door makes you flinch and brings you back from the bad memories.
"Y/n, darling, you're ready?" Stephen calls on the other side.
"Getting in the shower! Give me 15 minutes." you hear his footsteps descending and dropping the rest of your clothes, you finally step into the hot shower. Water feels amazing, refreshing and relaxing every bone in your body.
15 minutes later you walk out the bathroom, seeing Strange sitting on the bed, still in his black robes, Cloak resting on the chair [look loosely based on 2018 Doctor Strange comic].
"What? You're not ready?" you ask, feeling disappointment rise in your chest.
"I can be quick, you know that." he shoots you a smile and with a snap of his fingers, his robes change into a casual look, Cloak safely pocketed in the inside pocket of his coat.
"Show-off," you scoff, and drop the towel on the floor, walking to the wardrobe and looking for some suitable clothes. Stephen watches your every move, thinking that if he lets you out of his sight for a longer time, you might disappear.
A pair of jeans in your hands, sweater already dropped on bed, you pull out a pair of boots and finally close the wardrobe. On the bed, you notice a black bra and a pair of same color underwear lying there comfortably. Not suspiciously at all, right next to Stephen.
"Thought you might like them" he says, eyes never leaving the page of the book he was reading.
"We'll see who will like them more." you tease. Two can play this game.
He grins to himself, and you begin dressing up.
"You know that we still have 20 minutes until the time that we actually decided to leave?" he asks, seeing through you once again. Being early for literally everything was a part of your lifestyle. And you hated yourself for that.
"Well, I left those spare minutes in case we get stuck in the traffic." you try to argue, but he laughs at your effort.
"Traffic in a portal? That's a new one for me, have to admit that."
"Things do happen when you expect them the least." you wink and tie your final shoe. "Let's go?"
He checks his coat one last time - making sure that the Cloak is still there - "yep, let's go."
You open a portal to an alleyway and after you both step out, a loud chatter and cheery music reaches your ears. The chilly weather is quickly forgotten as you get overwhelmed by the festive mood. Hand in hand, swinging arms a bit like a pair of high-schoolers, you and your husband reach the place of the festival - the most beautiful thing you've ever seen - and as a sorceress, you've seen a lot. Lights shining brightly, colored in green, red, blue and yellow, and like 4 shades of pink.
"Truly magnificent." Stephen says, and you look up at him, seeing how millions of lights reflect on his wide eyes. He looks at you and leans down to kiss your forehead. You close your eyes, enjoying his warm breath on your face.
As much as you want for this feeling to continue, it ends. You wake up, feeling sweaty and breathing heavily. Sitting up in the bed, you try to memorize every little detail of the dream.
Likewise, in another universe, Stephen Strange shoots up from his slumber, wiping his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand.
Both of you had the same dream, meaning one thing-
"There is a universe where we're together." you and Stephen say at the same time, more to yourselves than anyone else. Warm feeling in your chest is replaced by a wave of sadness, you and Strange are not meant to be together neither in your universe, nor in Earth 616, but at least you are happy somewhere else. Getting up and changing your clothes, you grab your new favorite shirt - Stephen's gift. The shirt still smells like him, and wrapped up in a warm, although imaginary embrace, you walk towards the kitchen, ready to make some mint tea.