Don't Let the Light Go out
"Oh, you're back! Thank God!" America engulfs you in a hug, and you quickly tap her back a couple of times.
"Yeah, yeah, what happened? What trouble is there?" you ask, looking around the room, then noticing that you're out of your robes and dressed in a shirt.
"What?" Stephen asks, loudly, closing the book and looking more nervous than he is usually around you.
"Trouble! What's happening? I've been warned that something is happening." you catch your breath and get out of bed, already grabbing a jacket from the rack. "Stephen!"
He looks guiltily at the ground before forcing himself to lift his head towards you. "We think the incursion has started."
"What?! Why are you still here, we have to go, to do something. Anything!" you grab the door handle and run into the corridor, hurrying to the lobby.
"Y/n, wait, Mordo's dealing with it..." Stephen's words echo in the place, and you stop mid-step.
"Mordo?"
"I could use the help of the Sorcerer Supreme if she's already up!" Mordo shouts after hearing your voice ring in the corridor.
You stop at the top of the stairs and look at the view at the end of them - Mordo, alone, creating various spell combinations, stands in the middle of the lobby, a huge book open on the table near him. A table that is slowly disappearing into thin air.
"What the hell..." you whisper and, as fast as possible, run down the stairs to the man. "When did it start? When did you start?" you ask him, gesturing first at the table, and then at the open book.
"Since you fell into Nightmare's trap, probably. And maybe half an hour ago." Mordo says not looking at you but focusing on the book.
"How long I've been out?" you ask Strange, who appears at the top of the stairs.
"Couple of hours."
"In that shithole, time goes differently. Fuck. Alright, how bad is it?" you say and drop your jacket on the ground, already taking a step towards Mordo, looking at the spells he's performing.
"You're in no condition to do anything! How did you even manage to escape?" Mordo asks, quickly glancing at you.
"Didn't you say a moment ago that you needed help? Anyway." you roll your eyes and, reading a spell twice, begin the incantation. "Some dimensional traveler helped me."
"Really? Who?" Stephen asks, reading the spell too.
"Some girl." you purposely did not mention her name. "I almost got out."
"I'm really glad you're back." Strange shoots a quick smile before casting a spell. America watches three powerful sorcerers unite for the first time in perhaps forever, for the greater good.
"You do know that you'll have to leave. Along with the girl." Mordo says, eyeing Strange and you.
"Girl stays. She's not dangerous. I am the one who caused this. I leave." Stephen says, focusing entirely on his hands and not the people beside him.
"Don't boss me around, especially when I have to fix your mess," Mordo says through gritted teeth.
"I wanna remind who gives orders now. And it's not you. He is... Grown enough to decide for himself. Although as a guardian of this universe, I think it would be best for Mister Strange to..." words get stuck in your throat. You had to make a decision, as hurtful as it is. But it's for the best. "To temporary put his journeys to this universe on hold."
The lobby becomes silent. Strange looks at the floor, Mordo's hands drop to his sides, he turns with his whole body to look at you. "Never have I expected for you to make such a smart decision. I see the title has really changed you. For the better, I hope."
"Focus on the problem, Mister Mordo." you look ahead of you, watching how magic leaves your hands, not thinking about what just happened, but instead, thinking how one's magic can be purple... Déjà vu hits you again, as you remember Sinister Strange's magic being purple. You shake your head slightly. Surely there is no way these two might be connected by something bigger power.
Strange knows why you're acting like this. All professional and polite, hiding a harsh truth. You both knew that soon will come the inevitable time to put a stop to your multiversal travels, but you never thought it would come so soon.
What felt like hours later, only it was merely 15 minutes, you drop your hands, feeling weary and breathless, although you draw power for the spells from the Dark Dimension and not yourself, this one made you especially tired.
"You think it worked?" you ask, looking around the Sanctum, noticing that the table is no longer disappearing into nothingness.
"I think so. But he has to leave." Mordo says, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"I know," you say and guiltily look at Stephen.
"One last moment, Miss?" he says, putting on a fake smile and gestures to the Sanctum's library. America's eyes follow you both until you're no longer in sight. Stephen closes the doors heavily and sighs.
"Stephen, I'm sorry." You begin before he even has a chance to open his mouth. "It was selfish of me to use you like that. To pretend you're someone else. It was selfish and stupid to try to replace him with another him... It was... I'm sorry if I ever gave you false hope." you sniff a little, feeling the tears build up in your eyes.
"Maybe it was me who gave you the false hope. Don't blame yourself." Strange says, stepping closer to you, and cautiously puts his hand on your shoulder.
"You'll take care of America, right? I'll push Stark to make that device, I... I just want her to be happy. Not only that, but I also want you to be happy, Stephen. Return to your universe and find your happiness. Find someone who will love you the way I do."
Stephen tears up, you try to hold yourself together, to be as strong as possible, because this is the moment where your life changes completely. Admitting to yourself that your Stephen is gone, and nothing will bring him back, no one will replace him. And you're simply not capable of fooling yourself any longer. You can't destroy this Stephen's future for selfish reasons, he has a whole lifetime before him. You just can't take this away from him.
"Why the goodbyes are so difficult?" Stephen whispers, connecting his forehead with yours. You close your eyes and a single tear slips away.
"Maybe because we lose a part of ourselves in the process," you whisper back and just enjoy the moment, the closeness, the warmth radiating from the man. One last time.
"I wish all the best, y/n. You managed to turn around my life in a week. I'd say that's a record." He huffs a short laugh, placing a kiss on your cheek.
"So long, partner. I'd say we make one hell of a team." You linger for a moment longer before pulling away.
"I go get America. She's staying here?" Stephen asks now standing a step away from the door.
"Probably. But if you... Need company, I can manage on my own." You smile and he nods. Neither of you say goodbye because you knew that this would put a full stop to your story.
Returning to the lobby, you see Mordo sitting in the corner, an unreadable expression on his face and America, sitting at the end of the stairs.
"Take me back home?" Stephen asks the girl, and she stands up, looks at both of you weirdly but doesn't say a word, already getting ready to open a portal. "You're coming with me or?"
"I..." America looks at you, and you nod encouragingly. "Yes. I'll go. Bye, Y/n." She shortly waves and punches into the air in front of her. The Portal opens with a loud bang and wind comes out of nowhere from worlds beyond.
You smile at both of them, nails digging into your palm, a way to keep you from crying. Stephen takes America's hand, and they both step into the portal. Hall becomes silent again.
"It's for the best," Mordo says, reminding you of his presence.
"I know. You can go home now," you say, turning to go upstairs. "Thank you for your help, Mister Mordo."
"Y/n, I know what he meant to you. But it was just pretending." Mordo says before opening a portal and leaving you all alone in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
"I know." You softly whisper to no one. "I know."
***
Days, weeks and months flew by, and you carried on, crying yourself to sleep from time to time, as emotions and memories took over.
Stark created the device, however, succeeded only after the 3rd time. Stephen sent you an update that everything's been going well in his universe. And he actually met an interesting woman recently. America's still learning, often visiting you, and helping you create a plan for the search for her moms.
Today you, after training the students, returned to the main grounds of Kamar-Taj, only to be informed by Mark about a man waiting outside.
Opening the doors to the one who's seeking magical help, you see a familiar face standing in front of you.
"Let me guess," you say, fixing your belt, a knowing smile playing on your lips, "You're... Wong?"
"Yes, Master, how did you know?" The man asks, looking astonished.
"Well, Sorcerer Supreme knows a lot of things." You smile and let the man inside.
Your journey just begins, or maybe comes to an end?