Strange Connection (Stephen Strange x OC)

Chapter 24

It was a peaceful day in Kamar-Taj. Stephen, Ariana, and Wong had been called there for a meeting with the other Masters. After the meeting, the couple had chosen to enjoy their time there with a joint meditation session in the courtyard.

They each sat cross-legged, though their bodies no longer touched the ground—they levitated above it. After a moment, Ariana decided to try something.

Stephen. She projected the thought towards him.

She could sense his smile without ever opening her eyes. Ariana. This is new.

It works.

It does. So you are as adept at telepathic skill as you are other areas.

I'd been wanting to try it. But to be honest, I didn't want to go messing around in Wong's head. Or anyone else for that matter.

My head is fair game?

Well—yes.

Good. I like this.

Me too.

They were 'quiet' for a while before he spoke again. It's ironic, don't you think?

What's that?

We're sitting here, or floating here I should say—meditating together—in the same place where we sparred each other weeks ago.

I'd like to forget that memory.

Hmm, I wouldn't.

Really? You want to remember when I almost killed you?

It wasn't that bad.

It could have been.

I'm not saying you couldn't kill me. I have no doubt you are strong enough to. But it was an important part of our healing.

I suppose that's true.

They were quiet a few more minutes.

I'd like to keep conversing with you, but it seems silly to keep the guise of meditating when we could take a walk and talk. How about the bell tower?

At the same time they both touched the ground again and opened their eyes, smiling at each other as they did. They stood and made their way to the bell tower. As they entered, he took her hand and they walked up the stairs silently. When they made it to the top they stepped over to the large opening she had sat in that day years before when he'd first promised her his commitment to her.

"I'm so glad you didn't leave Kamar-Taj that day when you were up here in the bell tower."

"You made a convincing argument."

"Hmmm. I know we promised each other that we were going to stop apologizing and stop regretting what happened with Thanos, and after—all that. But there is one more thing I regret."

"What's that?"

"I should have asked you to marry me."

"What??"

"We dated for two years before the snap. I knew all along that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Why didn't I do something about it?"

"You still would have been gone."

"Yes, but—I don't know, maybe things would have somehow been different."

"But you said it yourself, no matter what the could-have-beens or would-have-beens, we are where we are now and this is our path."

"Yeah, and I'm done waiting."

"For what?" she said, finally turning away from the sunset to look at him.

"This—" he reached into his tunic and pulled out a small box. She stared at it a moment before looking up to him.

"Stephen?"

"Ariana." He opened the ring box, revealing a white gold ring with a diamond surrounded by amethysts. His hand slightly trembling, as always, as he held the box. "I stood on this spot once and told you that you were stuck with me. I told you I wanted to be with you, to talk to you, to learn how you tick—the rest of my life. It's just as true now as it was then. I told you, Ariana—I choose you. And I want to make that official. I want the world—the universe—to know it. Marry me, Ariana. Be my wife."