Changing history
"You sure you have everything?", Tony asked as he handed Stephen his plne ticket.
"I hope so."
There was this weird feeling inside of Stephen that really wanted him to just stay. But he couldn't and he knew that. The attackers would not wait forever and he needed and wanted to be prepared. His partner had disagreed immensely when he had voiced the want to go back to Kamar-Taj, saying that he wasn't ready. Not recovered yet. Too mentally and physically drained. But the doctor just didn't accept a no anymore.
"Bye."
Tony who had put his hoody and his sunglasses on, gave him a quick kiss. Stephen was also dressed way differently with a beanie and oversized shirt. They didn't need this to be the big talk. They didn't want it to be.
"Bye, I love you", the shorter said and waved once Strange walked to the plane.
Soon he leaned back in his seat and exhaled shakily. Was what he was doing the exact right thing or was it just stupid? His phone vibrated.
"Hello?"
"Stephen?"
"Christine?"
"Yeah. Hey. I got the information that you were leaving?"
"Uh- yeah. Yeah, I'm going on a trip, why?"
"Because I will miss you."
The doctor smirked.
"You will miss the work I do for you."
"You know me so well. Can I send you a few records? I need a second opinion."
"Is Josh there?"
"Yeah."
"Then you had a second opinion, what you need is a confident one."
"Don't talk about your father like that."
"Don't call him my father", he chuckled.
Josh. Yeah. Dad. He truly was. And Stephen was unbelievably grateful for it.
"Can you give him to me?"
"What?"
"I know that he's there."
"Fine", she sighed and a moment later he heard another familiar voice.
"You little arrogant-"
"Daaad."
"Stop. Oh my god", the older doctor laughed.
"How are you?"
Strange looked out of the small window and had to smile slightly.
"Better. Truly. I am- recovering. From a lot of stress. How are you? Are you managing? Do you need help?"
"Mate, I ruled this damn hospital when you were still not even in the planing. Okay. That is a bit of a stretch. But I know what I'm doing."
"Why is Chris calling me then?"
"Because she has a massive crush on you and- ouch! Don't box me, I'm old."
He shook his head in adoration.
"I have to end the call. We are about to take off. Give her a kiss from me and I promise to have a look at it as soon as possible."
"Thanks, boy. Bye."
"Bye", he said before hanging up.
Stephen knew his patients in good hands with those two. They were a team. All three of them. And they trusted each other blindly. Christine was the heart, Josh was the right and Stephen the left part of the brain. They worked so well together. Once he was in the air, he relaxed. Strange was about to do something very stupid but also very important. Magic. He finally called it what it was. He closed his eyes and once they were open again, he felt the ground underneath him. God, he really still needed this. The way out of the plane and into the streets of Kathmandu were short. Well, relatively short. And then he heard that voice.
"Stephen?"
"Hello, Karl."
"What- God, you're back."
The man pulled him into a tight hug.
"You came. We- were worried."
"Me too. How is she?"
"Hopeless. Because she thought she had lost you."
"Am I that important?"
"Yes. Yeah, you are. Very. Come on."
The teacher brought Stephen back to the Sanctum. And for Christ's sake, it was still as overwhelming as it had been the first time he'd come here.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you."
Wong stood there with a book in his hand, letting the sun shine down onto him.
"Beyonce! Eminem! Adele!"
"Oh god. For the love of- Stephen."
"Missed me?"
"No."
"I missed you too."
He gave the man a quick hug.
"You are the only one who shares my distaste for people. I connect with you on such a high level."
"What?"
"You don't laugh, you say it as it is, you don't give a flying- The hell?"
The doctor looked at a levitating piece of clothing behind Wong who turned around.
"Cloak! What are you doing here?"
It settled down onto Stephen's shoulders and wiped over his face.
"Yeah. Okay. Cool."
"Stephen, this is cloak. I don't know if you have met already."
"Met?"
"Yes. Cloak. It has its own personality and will."
"Oh. Hey."
When it shook Stephen's hand, he almost lost it.
"Finally something really, really useful here. Do you have a name? Not a title but a name?"
Cloak shrugged and then shook its head.
"Levi. You're Levi."
It nodded in agreement.
"Damn, it likes me. Where is Bruce Willis?"
"Who?", Wong asked.
"Forget it. Where is the ancient one?"
The man pointed towards a door and the doctor nodded.
"Thank you."
He knocked on it and waited patiently until it was pushed open.
"S- Stephen?"
"Yeah, hey. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
He couldn't finish his sentence as the woman pulled him into a tight embrace.
"For the love of the Sanctum, you are well. You returned."
"Yes. Yes, it's alright."
"Tea. Come on. Tea and then you tell me what happened."
And that is what they did. Talked. Just talked. Without any accusations or her making him feel guilty for having this- bad temper.
Stephen stayed for a few days until he was back on track. Then he practiced. Day and day again. Until he could do everything they could possibly teach him. And he did it well. Weeks passed. Eventually months. He kept in touch with Tony everyday. Spent the nights with him on Skype. It was- horrible. Truly horrible. He missed him so much. And each day that separated them made his hands twitch more. His skin itch. His fingers burn. And then one day he woke up with terror on his face.
"Look! What- I mean-"
The ancient one immediately approached the sorcerer, taking his hands carefully.
"The scars are coming back", he observed.
"That's because you are separated so long from him."
"What- Tony? He healed my-"
"Yes. He is the reason. He has- a certain bond with you."
"A bond?"
"Your souls are connected."
"What?"
"Yes. You and him are sharing a soul basically."
"We were informed that we don't have a soul."
"Yes. Well. You do", she smiled.
"And I think you have learned enough to return. It was an honor teaching you. Don't lose contact to us."
"Never", he promised and hugged her as a goodbye.
"Levi?", the doctor asked sheepishly.
"The cloak is coming with you. It chose you. It has found its master."
Levi was excited. It hugged Stephen tightly.
"Good. Good, yes."
"I'll see you, Sorcerer Supreme", the woman smiled.
"You too. Where is- Wong?", he turned.
In that moment, the man came into the room with Mordo by his side.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes. Yeah."
"I was talking to the cloak", Wong joked.
"No, you weren't."
"No, I wasn't. Goodbye, Strange", he hugged him and actually-
"You smile. Are you that excited for me to leave?"
"Yes."
"Kiss my butt, Nena."
"What?"
"German singer. You- Don't worry about it."
Karl had to chuckle as he pulled the other into a short embrace as well.
"I have not heard the last of you."
"Of course you haven't. I'm an Avenger now."
"Yeah. Well, good luck with that."
"Thank you. Goodbye."
The ancient one created a portal into Stark's living room through which Stephen disappeared. Once the last sparks flew and the portal closed again, the woman turned to the two Masters.
"Gentlemen, take a moment to realise that history is about to change."