THE APPRENTICE III

18

They wouldn't let Hazel use her staff to aid in her walking. As soon as her feet if the floor, her knees gave out and she hit the floor. He couldn't bear to watch her like this. One of the robots picked her up and threw her over its shoulder. The doors slid open to reveal some kind of conference room— or a stand, she couldn't figure it out. It was almost like they were on trial. She looked up and found a few chairs, or as she saw it, thrones, positioned above them.

"Stephen Strange, Hazel Wolfe." Mordo's voice echoed all around the chilly room as it placed her down. "You are now called before the Illuminati. I, Baron Carl Mordo, the sorcerer supreme-,"

"-Carl?" Strange repeated in mockery, and a shield came flying across the room. Hazel squinted her eyes to make of the image— she looked to be some kind of female captain America, or in this case, Britain.

"Captain Carter, the first avenger,"

"Blackagar Boltagan, keeper of the terrigen mists, the Inhuman king."

"Inhuman? Now I know who was behind the shock collar." Hazel muttered and Stephen had a smirk plastered on his face.

"Blackagar Boltagan, hey-the-ga hey-the-gere!" Stephen pursued his lips and gave a wave and Hazel fought back a smile. Satisfaction ran through him; he knew Hazel would like that.

Boltagan gave them a look of annoyance.

"Nice. Blackagar Boltagan and Carl." There was a cheeky tone in her voice when she nodded along, a smile ghosted on her face. "The team's really comin' together,"

"Captain Marvel, defender of the cosmos,"

"And the smartest man alive, Reed Richards, of the fantastic four." The two of them acknowledge the sorcerers and Hazel squinted her eyes at this.

"Hello Stephen, Hazel." The man greeted as he clicked a button.

"Fantastic four...did you guys chart in the 80's?" Stephen mocked and the four of them furrowed their brows at this.

"I'm sorry, is this a joke to you?" Captain Marvel challenged with a stone cold look on her face. Hazel clenched her jaw, begging he wouldn't make another joke as she pressed her lips together.

"Well, this guy has a fork on his head, so, yeah, little bit." He mused. Hazel let out a loud wheeze and broke composure.

"Like a science project!" She added and leaned forward a little.

The man joined with a snort, relief coming from her display of warmth. Blackagan made a few hand gestures to silence them, clearly displeased.

"You're grateful black bolt doesn't engage you in conversation," Carter said.

"Why, does he have bad breath?," he continued.

"Stephen!" Hazel gasped and gave his arm a punch. She leaned in closer and gritted her teeth. "He could be mute! That's a very rude thing to say! Apologize!,"

"What? I'm not gonna apologize!" He shook his head and curled his lip. "You shouldn't assume everyone's mute."

She glared at him and cocked her head. He sighed with frustration. Black Bolt couldn't help but smile at this exchange.

"Fine, I'm sorry, even if you might not even be mute," He turned to her. "Happy?,"

"This Stephen's more arrogant than ours," Captain Carter observed.

"No, just more alive," he returned.

"For now." Captain Marvel threatened. Hazel backed up a little. Stephen noted her reaction and straightened up, expecting her to snap again.