Sophia Strange: The Newest Avenger (Steve Rogers x OC)

3 - A Brotherly Visit

A few days later, Sophia was surrounded by Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Shuri, and King T'Challa. They were all chatting with her, laughing and sharing stories. Bucky had hardly left her side since that first day he'd come in. They'd fallen into an easy friendship and understanding. While their stories were very different from each other, his early life was very different from hers, something about his arm and her legs seemed to have bonded them in a way that they both now took very seriously but also very humorously at the same time. They had shared lots of laughter in a way they never expected and everyone around them were quite alarmed by.

Steve and Tony had both made frequent visits as well. Sophia couldn't believe she was here, surrounded by these people and enjoying the conversation with them. In such a short time she'd already come to feel like a part of a new family.

"My King, incoming magic detected!" A nearby guard shouted from a computer station.

Sophia shifted to sit up straight, automatically using her magic to form shields on her wrists. "My brother!"

But before she could do more, those around her turned. Tony had twisted his wrists and was surrounded by one of his Iron Man suits, Steve had his shield on his Arm, Bucky's arm was raised in guarded position, which was enough of a weapon in and of itself, T'Challa had gone into Black Panther form, and Shuri's wrist gadgets had gotten much more menacing looking.

When the portal opened, Tony had his hand repulsor ready to fire when the voice rang out.

"Where is my sister? Sophia?"

"Doctor Stephen Strange, I suggest you exit the way you came in and choose a wiser approach into Wakandan territory." King T'Challa spoke.

"And I will only ask my question one more time. Where is my sister?" Stephen said.

"And I suggest you get your ass back into the portal you came thru, Mr. Wizard. You aren't welcome here." Tony said.

"Sophia, I just want to talk. Please." Stephen spoke loudly. "Listen, clearly you are on the other side of these thugs standing here guarding you."

"If she wanted to talk to you, Strange, you think we'd be standing here?" Steve Rogers said as he stood guard with his shield up.

Meanwhile, Sophia lay back, shaking, tears falling down her cheeks.

"She. Is. My. Sister. My twin sister. Please. Please, let me see her. Let me just see her. I need to see her. Do you understand what it means to have a twin? I need to see her. To hear her."

Sophia broke. She always broke for Stephen. She knew it wasn't smart. She knew he would hurt her. He always hurt her. But he always knew what to say. He was right. It's what having a twin meant.

"Let him through," she whispered.

It was Shuri who turned towards her. "Are you sure?"

Sophia nodded and wiped the tears away. "I'm sure."

The men stood down, parting to each side of Sophia's bed. Shuri went to the head of the bed. Bucky and Steve were on one side, Tony and T'Challa on the other, and Stephen walked to the end of the bed, seeing his sister for the first time since that day and the fight against Thanos.

"Oh god, Sophia. What have they done to you?" he said, looking at the stumps, now only her upper thighs remaining where her legs had been amputated in preparation for her new prosthetics.

"Only what I've allowed. Only what I've told them to do, Stephen."

Stephen looked up at his sister, anger and sadness filling his face. "Then you're a bigger fool than I ever realized."

Bucky lept first, but the rest of the men weren't too far behind. They shoved him back through his portal. "Get out, and stay out!" Bucky shouted at the top of his lungs as the portal closed.

Sophia wept into Shuri's shoulder.

What no one saw was the weeping Stephen Strange at the New York Sanctum ever so far away.