Made of Matter

Chapter Eleven

I found Lee waiting for me in the common room of the temple. The two of us weren't alone, a scattering of masters sat around a muted television in the corner laughing about something quietly. Two others who I assumed were apprentices - from their youth - played pool and eyed me suspiciously as I entered the room and stalked over to Lee who was sitting in an armchair with his arms crossed.

Lee's disappointed expression dropped as I perched on the arm of the chair, his eyes bulging slightly at the red cloak settled around my shoulders, his eyes flickered behind me as if expecting Stephen to come storming in behind me.

'Doctor Strange is preoccupied.'

'Then I'm not going to ask about that.' Lee gestured toward the cloak. I couldn't fight back my small smile of triumph and thought to share with Lee what I had managed to do with my Master but as I glanced at the sling ring on my left hand I noticed that Lee's sapphire ring was gone, still on the floor of the kitchen where Stephen spat it.

I curled my fists and crossed my arms across my chest, trying my best to hide my hands and the smirk playing on my lips about how I had disposed of my Master. Lee hadn't noticed and sighed deeply, reclining back into his chair, I thought to try and lift his mood, that maybe I should try and at least make an effort in being happy that my fiancé had come to visit me. I had to convince him that what had transpired before in the kitchen was nothing unusual, just playful banter.

'What is going on between you and Stephen?' Lee asked, his hand resting on my arm, the weight of it as pressing as his question. He wanted my honesty and I willingly gave it, holding back some details.

'Mutual hatred.' I shrugged, Lee let out a deep breath through his nose. I tried not to imagine it was a form of disapproval, I wouldn't allow Lee to be painted as the villain because Stephen thought him to be one.

'Is there something happening between the two of you, Lina?'

'No.' I stood, Lee's hand dropping from me where it landed with a thud on the arm of the chair. I tightened my arms around my chest, my thumb caressing Stephen's sling ring on my fingers. It happened after you left, I thought to add but decidedly kept my mouth shut. Not for the sake of saving whatever engagement we had, but rather because what had happened between Stephen and I was strictly between us. No matter how I phrased it Lee wouldn't be impressed.

'It feels like a punishment you sending me away like that, dismissing me.' Lee didn't stand to speak to me and glimpsed over to the masters who had quietened down their chatter for the sake of some gossip.

My eyes fell to my bags laid on the floor beside Lee's feet, I reached down to grab them, already over this conversation and Lee trying to turn my dismissal of him into something larger than it was. I was in no mood for a lecture or to talk about my fucking feelings.

'I'm tired, Lee. That's all.' I heaved up the bags and looked Lee square in the eyes, 'And being Stephen's apprentice is hard. He's a terrible fucking master.'

Lee's eyes dropped to my hands grasping my bags. I saw his eyes narrow slightly at my missing ring but he said nothing, only a muscle twitching in his jaw gave away any sign of his displeasure.

'Maybe you're a terrible apprentice, Lina.'

I knew Lee hadn't said it to upset me and it didn't seem like he was saying it because my ring was missing. I felt he wanted to disarm me, it felt like he wanted me to react - about my apprenticeship or Stephen - but my judgement was too clouded to be sure.

It felt like an emotional attack like he wished to draw something from me other than anger like he wanted to tear that part away from me and reveal all of my sensitivities.