As they left Bruce in his room, the quiet of the hallway was quickly broken by the distinct ping of Tony's phone. Stephen raised an eyebrow as Tony pulled it from his pocket, his expression quickly twisting into an exaggerated grimace.
"Great," Tony muttered, holding the phone up for Stephen to see. "Fury's still pissed. Harlem's got him pulling his eyepatch tighter than usual."
Stephen smirked faintly. "You've been dodging him for days. What did you expect?"
"I expected a bit of understanding, maybe," Tony replied with a sarcastic edge. "I mean, it's not like you saved a bunch of civilians from two gamma-powered rage monsters or anything. Oh, wait. You did."
Stephen folded his arms. "And left the military and Ross scrambling to clean up the mess afterward. You're lucky Fury is still defending me at all."
Tony sighed dramatically, leaning against the wall. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I pushed him off because of the whole ceremony and Bruce. But apparently, Ross is calling for your head now."
Stephen's brows furrowed. "Ross? What does he want?"
Tony shrugged, his grin turning sharp and humorless. "Who knows? Probably thinks if he yells loud enough, you'll come and somehow fix all his mistakes. But Fury's buying us time, pointing out that the whole problem was Ross' fault to begin with. Ross hasn't pushed yet as he's still happy with having Blonsky."
"How's Ross even 'happy' with Blonsky right now?" Stephen asked, his tone skeptical. "I doubt that'll last long."
"Ross is probably thrilled Blonsky is out of the picture and locked in his human form—for now, at least," Tony said. "But you're right, the clock's ticking on that one. Once he realizes Blonsky's transformation isn't just locked, but also locked out of his DNA, Ross is going to blow a gasket. The moment he figures out Blonsky is useless to his precious little experiments, it's going to be a whole new mess."
Stephen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Which is why it's better to meet Fury sooner rather than later. If we explain things to him now, he'll have time to prepare for Ross' tantrum. And trust me, I don't want to deal with Fury in a worse mood than he already is."
Tony gave him an exaggerated pout. "But Fury's so fun when he's mad. All the glowering and the ominous one-liners..."
Stephen arched an unimpressed eyebrow. "Do you ever stop deflecting?"
"Not really," Tony admitted with a grin. "But fine. You're right. We should deal with this sooner. I'll text Fury and let him know we're ready to debrief." He paused, glancing at Stephen slyly. "Of course, 'we' means I'm coming with you."
"Naturally," Stephen said dryly. "Because clearly, dealing with Fury alone wouldn't be dramatic enough with only me."
Tony's grin widened. "Exactly. You get me, Strange."
Stephen just shook his head, turning to walk down the hallway. "Let me know when he replies. In the meantime, I'll be meditating and preparing for yet another long conversation filled with thinly veiled threats."
Tony followed after him, still grinning. "Thinly veiled? You're giving Fury way too much credit. That guy doesn't veil his threats. He just puts them in bold caps-lock."
Stephen chuckled softly despite himself, but his amusement didn't last long. As they continued down the hall, his thoughts drifted to Blonsky—the fanatic gleam in his eyes, the sheer awe and desperation that had been etched into his face after Stephen had pushed his soul out of his body. It had been a necessary measure, but the implications lingered like a shadow. That kind of reverence could turn dangerous, and Stephen wasn't certain he'd made the right decision in handling Blonsky that way.
He sighed inwardly. I need to talk to the Ancient One about this. She'll have some insight.
Stephen glanced at Tony, who was now distractedly fiddling with his phone as they walked. "Come with me," he said suddenly.
Tony arched a brow, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Where to, oh wise and mysterious one?"
"To see the Ancient One," Stephen replied, his tone firm. "I need her perspective on something, and I figure you'll enjoy pestering her with questions while I do."
Tony grinned. "You know me so well."
It wasn't long before they reached one of the many courtyards in Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One sat under the shade of a large tree, a cup of tea cradled in her hands. She glanced up as they approached, her serene expression softening with the faintest trace of a smile.
"Stephen," she greeted calmly, her gaze flicking briefly to Tony. "And Mr. Stark. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Stephen inclined his head respectfully before sitting across from her, while Tony leaned casually against the tree, arms crossed. "I need your guidance," Stephen admitted, his voice steady but laced with unease. "It's about what happened in Harlem... about the other Hulk-like creature: Emil Blonsky."
The Ancient One set her cup of tea down, her full attention now on him. "Go on."
Stephen hesitated for only a moment before diving in. "During the fight, I pushed his soul out of his body. I needed to make him understand the larger forces at play—what his actions were doing to himself and the world around him. I... I sent his soul through a journey, a glimpse of other realms, to show him his insignificance in the grand tapestry of the universe."
The Ancient One's serene expression didn't falter, but her sharp gaze betrayed her concern. "And how did he respond?"
Stephen exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "With fanaticism. When he returned to his body, there was awe, yes, but also... a dangerous reverence. I think I broke something in him. He sees me as a savior now, and it's unsettling. I didn't intend for that to happen."
The Ancient One's gaze remained steady, but her tone became more pointed. "Tell me, Stephen. Have you done this before? Even in your own universe?"
Stephen nodded slowly. "I've pulled souls out of bodies a few times when the situation called for it. And as for the... traveling, yes, but only with disciples. Ones who needed perspective or a deeper understanding of the mystical arts."
Her expression didn't change, but there was a weight to her words as she spoke. "And there lies the difference, Stephen. Those disciples were already students of the mystic arts. Their souls had been prepared, fortified to endure such an experience. Blonsky, however, is not. He is a normal man—one who sought power recklessly and whose soul was unready for what you showed him."
Stephen frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I wasn't a disciple when your counterpart did the same to me."
The Ancient One's eyes softened, though her tone remained firm. "You weren't officially a disciple, but you were far from ordinary. You have always possessed a rare aptitude for sorcery, a gift that allowed your soul to endure what most could not. Blonsky does not share that aptitude. What you did to him has left his soul fragile, fractured. That kind of awe, Stephen, is not meant for everyone. It can turn them into prey."
"Prey?" Tony interjected, his casual demeanor gone. "Prey for what?"
The Ancient One turned her gaze to Tony. "Demons, spirits, entities from other realms—beings that seek to snare a soul weakened by fear or desperation. Blonsky is now a beacon for such forces, and without proper guidance, he is vulnerable."
Stephen's frown deepened. "So what do I do? Undo what I've done?"
She shook her head. "You cannot undo it. What has been seen cannot be unseen. But you have two options. The first is to leave him as he is, vulnerable and untethered, which will almost certainly lead to his corruption or destruction. The second is to take responsibility. To guide him—not necessarily in magic, but in healing. Help him rebuild what was fractured. Strengthen his soul."
Stephen leaned back slightly, his expression conflicted. "I'm proficient in soul magic, but I'm far from a master."
The Ancient One gave him a knowing look. "You are fortunate, then, that before you can help him heal, you must first gain his trust. He will not open his soul to you willingly without it. Start there. Build a connection. The rest will follow."
Stephen rubbed his temple, feeling the weight of her words settle heavily on his shoulders. "So you're saying this is my responsibility now?"
"Every action has consequences, Stephen," she said gently. "You've taken your first steps into shaping this man's destiny. Whether or not you see it through is up to you."
Tony, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "Well, at least you've got a plan now. That's more than I can say for most of my escapades."
Stephen shot him a dry look. "I'm glad my moral quandary amuses you."
Tony shrugged, the smirk returning to his face. "Hey, at least you're not dealing with it alone. You've got me, remember?"
Stephen huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "That's what worries me."
The Ancient One's lips quirked into a faint smile as she lifted her tea. "You'll find your way, Stephen. You always do."
The Ancient One sipped her tea calmly, her serene gaze shifting to Tony, who was leaning casually against a nearby pillar with his signature smirk. The silence stretched for a moment before Tony, unable to resist, spoke up.
"So," he began, his tone light and probing, "Gotta say, for being a glowing beacon of mystical enlightenment, you don't look much like Yoda. No offense."
The Ancient One quirked an eyebrow, her expression as calm as ever. "And yet, I find that many of your actions mirror young Skywalker's—impulsive, brash, and occasionally disastrous."
Stephen sighed audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Oh, no."
Tony's grin widened. "Hey, I'll take that as a compliment. Luke saved the galaxy, didn't he?"
The Ancient One tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, amused smile. "Indeed. After years of reckless behavior and many close calls. A cautionary tale, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Stark?"
Stephen groaned, shooting the Ancient One a pleading look. "Please don't encourage him."
But Tony was undeterred, his smirk only growing. "Oh, I like her, Steph. She's got bite. You sure you didn't pick up a thing or two about sass from her?"
The Ancient One turned her serene gaze to Stephen, the barest hint of humor glinting in her eyes. "I do hope some of my lessons have rubbed off on him. Though," she added thoughtfully, "Stephen has always had a tendency to attract... unique personalities."
Tony's eyebrows shot up, his grin now positively gleeful. "Unique, huh? Is that what we're calling it? What else has he told you about me?"
Stephen felt his face heat up, and he threw his hands up in exasperation. "Enough. Both of you, enough. This is not a bonding moment."
The Ancient One raised her teacup to her lips, unbothered by Stephen's frustration. "Stephen, you must learn to embrace the connections in your life. They are what ground you."
"And some of them," Tony interjected smoothly, "are what make life interesting."
Stephen shot Tony a look of pure exasperation, his voice tight. "You're not helping."
Tony chuckled, completely unfazed. "Come on, Steph. You're the one who keeps me around. You must like the entertainment value."
The Ancient One's calm, knowing smile returned. "Perhaps you should consider that, Stephen. After all, humor is an excellent coping mechanism for the burdens you both carry."
Stephen stared at her for a long moment before letting out a sharp sigh. "I can't believe this. My mentor and my... you are ganging up on me."
"Your you?" Tony repeated, his grin widening. "Is that a technical term, or are you just bad at admitting I'm your friend?"
"Enough," Stephen said quickly, turning toward the Ancient One in an attempt to steer the conversation back on track. "I'll return later for the schedule of my responsibilities as a Master. In the meantime, I need to get him," he jerked his thumb toward Tony, "out of here before he pokes at someone else and causes a diplomatic incident."
Tony clutched his chest dramatically. "Diplomatic incident? Come on, Steph, you wound me. I'm great with people."
"You're great at annoying people," Stephen muttered, grabbing Tony by the arm and pulling him toward the nearest courtyard where he could open a portal. "Let's go, Stark."
As they reached the edge of the courtyard, Stephen glanced back at the Ancient One, who was still seated serenely, her hands folded around her teacup. "I'll see you later," he said with a slight bow. "Thank you for your guidance."
She nodded, her calm expression never wavering. "I look forward to your return, Master Strange. And do try to keep him out of trouble."
"Easier said than done," Stephen muttered under his breath as he opened a portal to Malibu.
As they stepped through, Tony shot one last grin over his shoulder. "Nice meeting you, Galadriel. You're way cooler than Steph lets on."
The portal closed before Stephen could retaliate, leaving the Ancient One alone with her tea. A faint chuckle escaped her lips as she sipped, her gaze distant but amused. "Unique personalities, indeed."
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