Irrational

Chapter 17 - Who's there?

-Meanwhile at the hospital-

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to Christine?” Strange furrows his brows at her and shakes his head slightly.

Christine smirks and lets out a little laugh, “Stephen, you never get flustered. When you were the leading neurosurgeon no tumour was impossible, no aneurysm too tricky to clip. When you lost the ability to do that, you found the arts, and you blossomed into well” she takes a step back and gestures to him “…this”.
He still gives a confused look.

She sniggers “you only ever got flustered over something you were not a pro in. You are exquisite in everything you do and also I doubt you’d be coming to be about helping save the world. So I’ll ask again, who is she?”.

He drops his head “Y/N Y/L/N. She’s one of the Avengers, specifically Tony Stark’s pride and joy. She’s brilliant, so powerful, now her powers are exquisite, she’s so graceful, and…” he stops to consider his next words.

“And you’ve been a complete ass to her since the second you saw her and you don’t know how to pull yourself out of it?” Christine intervenes.

He looks at her, shocked and slightly puzzled.

She laughed and dropped her head, laughing into her chest, covering her face. “Stephen, you’re an amazing doctor, sorcerer, but your personal skills are terrible. If you are interested in her, make it clear. Don’t skirt around the issue, stop being scared. Find that guy in you that took you to the people who helped become this sorcerer and he will help you through this.”

She places a comforting hand on top of his for the next part of advice she has to give.

“Do it. Because if she is half as great as you paint her, you’re not going to be the only one to notice and you might be too late by that point. We don’t wait around forever, especially if we have no guarantee there’ll be anything there for us. Trust me Stephen. Don’t let it slip you by.”

She gives him a consoling look before turning on her heel to walk away.

“Christine.” He calls after her.

She turns and looks expectedly at him.

“Thank you. I’m sorry you had to wait… for nothing”.

He gives her a sincere look, sharing the deeper meaning of his words.

She looks down and smiles “it wasn’t for nothing Stephen, I was waiting to have the old you back. He’s right in front of me. Someone else saw me waiting, Stephen. You took too long and he wouldn’t let me wait anymore. Don’t let that happen to her. Or you. Not again.” She gives a subtle nod with a small smile on her face.

With that Strange finds a quiet area and creates a portal back to the compound.

“Hey Strange, where’ve you been?” Steve asks curiously.

Not saying a word, he does a quick scan over the faces in the room, not spotting you.

He gets a knot in his stomach, initially it confuses him and then he realises.

He’s worried about you.

Where you are. If you’re safe. If you’re okay.

The panic starts filling him up and making his blood boil, making him hot.

Angry. Demanding. Irrational.

He started frantically looking around the compound.
The compound grounds, going to the roof. Anywhere he could of think of.

The training room and as he was making his way through the main seating area.

“She’s in her room with Pietro and Tony, Strange” Bucky’s husky defeated voice called out as he heads to the kitchen.

Everyone gives Bucky a puzzled look, not noticing that Strange has already taken off down the hall.

“Oh Dr Strange can I have you for a moment?”, grabbing hold of Strange and guiding him into the next room, Wanda looks back at Steve with wide eyes, acting as a distraction.

Whilst doing so, Sam and Steve approached the kitchen and quietly but excitedly asked “what the hell were you thinking man?” “You’re not giving up that easy, surely?” Asking different questions in nearly perfect unison.

Clearly Bucky hadn’t kept it to himself as well as you thought…

“Pfft, don’t make me laugh lads. She is entranced by the wizard, she’s lasted years and not made a move or give me any inclination of anything since she stepped foot in here. Don’t start making me actively pursue her now because there’s another man about. She’s not a prize or a toy to be claimed because I don’t want anyone else to have her. I respect her too much for that juvenile bollocks.”

He sighs and puts his hands on the counter pushing his weight against the counter top and then pushes himself up and runs his fingers through his hair.

“If she wants me, I won’t say no. I’m still semi-human. But I won’t chase a woman who wants another man, just be the one who wins her.” Bucky continues before looking at Steve and Sam and sees Steve shaking his head at Sam.

“Man that is the stupidest thing you’ve ever said in your life. If you want her, fight for her goddamn it! That wizard has been nothing but disrespectful to her since he saw her. He glares at Pietro like he’s trash and thinks he’s better than the rest of us. She deserves better than that” Sam exclaims with confidence and gesturing towards to hallway.

“Now move your metallic ass down there and put your heart on the line. It’s been too long, you massive idiot.” Sam forcefully encourages him.

Steve nods and gives Bucky a genuine smile and he takes off down the hall.

As he disappears, Wanda emerges and Steve and Sam panic.

“Where’s Strange, Wanda?” Steve asks in a panic.

“He scarpered out using a portal… where’s Bucky?” She whispers in a worried tone.

“Giving it super soldier speed to her room… wonder who will be first” Sam ponders.

Leaving them all staring at the hall seeing who comes back gleaming and who’s seething.

Meanwhile at your room, your sat talking to Pietro and Tony on your bed.

When three knocks on your door capture all of your attention.

-knock, knock, knock-