A Strange Turn of Events

What Did You Do?

*Stephen's perspective*

The glow of a crescent moon assists a small lamp in lighting the study as Strange sits in his sanctum. It has been a few weeks since Dormammu left Earth and he's been placed in the New York branch as the new Sorcerer Supreme. Maddie, refusing to return to Kamar-Taj, stays as his assistant. This being the case, the building is almost always quiet as both are relatively solitary people. Staying to their own devices, but she's always there when Strange needs her help either to get something or take part in a two person spell. His assistant also took it upon herself to rearrange the sanctum into more of a living space, even moving the stairs. He didn't stop her, finding her adjustments did make this old shack feel like home. A lot of the priceless relics got a new home in a protected vault as well. Always a bonus.

Currently, Stephen's entertaining his mind with the new magical prospects he's reading about in his book. The pages yellowed and the edges softened from years of use, the spine worn down with age to let the pages lay flat no matter where in the book his interest happens to fall. The scent of the old leather binding soothes him as his fingers turn the page, his hand steady as it crosses his vision to the other side of the book. He pays no mind to the minor obstruction and continues into the late hours of the night. His tunnel focus jerking away when a loud honk echoes through the room, the male jumping in his seat as his gaze is ripped from the page to snap towards a blinking digital clock on the table. The time replaced with the words.

'STEPHEN GO TO BED!'

His eyes close and he shakes his head with a tender smile. She's always mother henning him about not getting enough sleep, despite being the biggest hypocrite as he hears his own alarm of a train horn accompany a shrill shriek from the common area below him. Some shuffling later and he knows she's still down there, refusing to follow his clock's instructions of,

'MADDIE GO TO BED!'

and trying to be all sneaky and quiet while continuing to draw on her laptop with the lights off. Which is even worse for her eyes, but he couldn't control the woman if he tried. With a hum he stands, clasping the book carefully before striding to the shelf to put it in its proper place. His body freezing as he watches his hands remain still despite the effort of lifting the heavy tome. He draws his arms to himself and examines his fingers. His brows curving until he detects the flow of magic in his hands. Realization seeps into him like a steady flow of ice water into a tank, a shiver running up his spine as he turns to race toward the stairwell.

"Maddie!"

His voice echoes, rolling over the steps as his feet thunder down the stairs. The blonde locks eyes with him, and as soon as he meets her hazel orbs he knows. His index finger catches the switch, flicking on the light before throwing up his hands.

"What did you do?"

His voice is shaking, Maddie's eyes avoiding looking directly at him, her hands shutting her laptop and setting it aside as he moves closer.

"What did you do?!"

He repeats. If she's doing this she'll never be able to do magic again without dropping the spell.

"I-"

She whimpers, and her eyes begin to wall with water, making his stomach twist. Her head drops and her hair falls in front of her face like a veil.

"I'm throwing you a rope."

Her shoulders shake, voice cracking in a weak sob. The words have him reeling backwards. It had been a long time since those words have crossed his mind.