THE APPRENTICE III

28

The next chapter is my fave chapter of all time

Thanks to Hazel's powers, restoring Kamar-Taj was a breeze. It took her the rest of the day to do so, meaning she was knocked out, asleep, for the majority of the next day. She got into her tunics and felt a shift by her door, so she approached it.

"My ring was glowing furiously." Heskit immediately wrapped her around in an embrace as soon as the door creaked open. He pulled away and held her hands. "Strange told me everything. What happened sounded horrible...are you alright?,"

"I am." She gave a firm nod.

To be honest, all the events that took place were still settling in her mind. It was quite a lot to take in, and her desensitization to these matters certainly helped. He shook his head and sat her down on the bed.

"No, don't do that. Tell me how you feel about it— and not what you think again, how you feel." The prince shook his head and demanded. Hazel bit her lip in thought.

"I...feel...weird." She began and leaned back a little. "What happened with the Illuminati, I was...they...didn't treat me well,"

"They tortured you." He completed, his tone uncompromising and firm. The prince was completely serious and showed no signs of his signature playfulness, which was always so estranging to her. His jaw began to clench and so did his fists.

"Because of my power. And I don't know what'll happen, now. I'm worried that, if people find out, I'll get into trouble." She explained to him. "And I just explored the multiverse! I've met myself, that's so weird! I feel so small. I feel like everything's changing and I'm just...so, so uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed,"

"I know you do." He nodded along and squeezed her hands. "I'm not a sorcerer, so I'll never know, but...know that I'll always be here. There are things and people that are constant in your life, no matter what, and I'm one of them. When everything feels new and overwhelming, know that there are some people who will always stay. You can come to me, and you can rest."

She gave him a peck and the lips and wrapped her arms around him. He returned the hug and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm worried about Stephen." She confessed and sighed. "He used the darkhold. I know it was just once, but...as they say, it exacts a heavy toll. I don't wanna lose him,"

"You won't." He comforted and pulled away with a small smile. "He's a formidable sorcerer. Plus, he has you by his side."

There was a silence that enveloped the room a bit. He could tell she was about to say something, so he remained silent.

"So...do you still wanna do this?" She asked, scrunching one cheek. There was anxiety in her veins and she nibbled on her lip. "I mean, do you still wanna be with me?"

He shook his head a little and chuckled.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" He raised a brow. He turned a little. "But...do you?,"

"I do." She nodded and gave him another hug. "Thank you."

He stroked her head and kissed the back of her neck. She grinned at this and got up from the bed, then gestured to the door. He habitually offered his arm and she looped it around his as they made their way to Kamar-Taj.

The students greeted the two accordingly and they watched the masters taught the classes. Among the sea of students, she spotted a struggling America Chavez.

"Your robes are tied wrong." She snuck up behind her and tightened the tie around her waist.

"Oh, uh, thank you." America stopped the spell she was attempting and turned to her.

"It's no problem." She gave a shrug and she motioned for the prince to come closer. She pointed to the man. "America, this is-,"

"-King Heskit, I know." She nodded and gave him a bow. He gave her a questioning face. "I've met you in other universes,"

"Just as charming, I'm sure?" He gave her a smile as he offered to shake her hand. "And you, miss, must be America Chavez,"

"By the way, he's not king yet." Hazel corrected amidst the eye roll she made from his introduction.

"Oh, so prince Heskit." She hummed with a frown and looked to her. "So you're a princess?,"

"What?" She immediately lost composure and shook her head. "I'm...what?! We just started seeing each other...What?!,"

"Oh, sorry." She showed her hands in surrender.

The prince shot his brows up at Chavez and gave her a sneaky yet satisfied wink. Heskit drew his face closer to the woman's, millimeters from her cheek, teasing her as she avoided his gaze.  America snorted a little at the sight.

"Oh, shut up, both of you." Hazel, once again, rolled her eyes. She dug a finger into Heskit's chest. "I don't want you setting a bad example for her,"

"Me? A bad example?" He pointed to himself and faked his shock. "Never!,"

"You know, all the Doctor Stranges in other universes said that to you, too." America revealed and looked to her with a laugh. Her smile faded a little. "But...I guess it's fine if you don't...like me, every universe is different-,"

"-I was in the moment. I was being stupid and jealous." She shook her head. Slowly, a smirk grew on her face. "You know, I know a thing or two about learning magic as a teenager,"

"But how did you get so good?" She looked up at her with awe. "It's so hard,"

"Well, grief." She thought aloud with a head bob.  "Plus, speaking fairly, I had inclinations. I was bonded to the time stone and apparently was a source,"

"Wow!" Heskit exclaimed sarcastically and put a hand under her chin teasingly. "Look at you, goddess Wolfe! That's the most alluring thing. Kiss me,"

"Oh, fuck off." She put her palm on his face as he went in for a kiss and pushed it away. America cackled at the sight. "Don't you have a kingdom to rule?,"

"Are you two fighting again?" Wong passed by them as he oversaw the classes.

"Us? We'd never fight." The prince put his hands behind his back and copied his stance."It was Hazel, who was just flirting with me,"

"Excuse me, I-,"

"-Honestly, Hazel. If you wanted my attention you could've just said so." He shot her a teasing smile and clicked his tongue a few times. The sorcerers around them laughed at the growing frown on her face. "Okay, gorgeous?,"

"Heskit, I swear to god, I'm going kill you. As in, you're going to lose your life." She gripped his collar tightly.

He gave a chuckle and began to stare at her lips, but as he leaned in, she bounced his head off her with a finger. She directed her attention back to the girl.

"Plus, it...did help that I had great teachers." She brought up with a reminiscing tone.

"I was mentioned? Well, what can I say?" Doctor Strange snuck up from behind the two with a smug look. "It's all part of the job,"

"I was talking about Wong." She leaned back a little so she could make eye contact with him.

The sorcerer supreme snapped his fingers and gave her a finger gun from afar and she returned it. Stephen grumbled at this and she snorted.

"I'm kidding, yes, it was also him." She said with slight defeat and crossed her arms.

Stephen lifted his nose up in the air proudly. She shook her head and looked up a little, then frowned at Heskit and Stephen.

"God, how did I end up with the two cockiest guys in the universe?,"

"Perhaps by being the cockiest girl." Heskit shot back. Stephen let out a laugh and offered him a high-five and he took it.

"Shut up, you love us." Stephen continued and leaned in closer to get on her nerves. His expression changed to a more serious one and his demeanor changed. "Come with me."