Two Oruguitas (Marvel Fanfic)

Chapter 33: The Surprise

🦋Chapter 33: The Surprise🦋

"Uh, Matthew, this is Doctor Stephen Strange. Stephen, this is Matthew...my boyfriend." I said, introducing them to each other.

It felt so weird, introducing Stephen to Matthew as my boyfriend. I never thought this would occur. Yet here we are. The future was such an unpredictable thing, even with all my experience I had with time travel. I watched as Stephen's face fell as he stared, completely baffled. I thought I saw his eyes turn misty as I felt an overwhelming amount of pain from him. I had to take a step back and take a deep breath to adjust myself. Fortunately, Stephen didn't notice as he had lowered his head, hiding his face for a few moments before raising his head, wearing a smile.

"I'm happy for you, Mariana." He mentioned. "So, uh, this is what happened to you in the past five years?"

I grimaced, but gave him a nod. "Among other things, yeah."

Stephen quickly put two and two together, realizing why I didn't want to talk about the past as his face fell. But little did he know that this was just the tip of iceberg. Stephen then looked over at Matthew.

"It's good to finally meet you." Matthew said. "Mariana has talked much about you since...well, since you had vanished."

Stephen stared at me in awe and shock. I wore a sheepish smile as I tried to look anywhere, but at him. This was just too much. I didn't plan for Stephen to find out this way. But this was nothing, just wait until Stephen finds out Christine has a boyfriend now, and they have been quite steady. There were rumors that there would be a wedding on the horizon. I didn't doubt it as Charlie and Christine were practically inseparate.

However, I dared to look back at Stephen, and how I wish I never did. I thought I saw tears glistening in his eyes that once lit up with joy when I would bring him his cup of coffee or tea along with a snack when he would be buried nose deep in his books, forgetting to eat something. And the expressionless look on his face, it was something I had never seen before. In all my time I have known Stephen, he always had an emotion written across his face, whether it was anger, amusement, worry, or happiness. But not ever this...

"Take good care of her." Stephen advised, giving him a stern look.

"I will." Matthew assured him as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer towards him.

I looked away from Stephen, unable to take the expression on his face. It shattered my heart. I don't know why he had that look on his face. I thought he would be happy for me. However, maybe he was just upset that I hid this from him...

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My mind was still at the funeral, replaying Stephen's words and the look on his face. He was just shocked, that's all. And like I said, he was no doubt upset with me. My heart clenched. I should have told him earlier. I was just afraid of what he would think, of what he would say.

"Are you all right?" Matthew's voice rang out, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I quickly found myself back at the present moment, walking alongside Matthew in the park. Our arms were linked together as we walked side by side. We were on a date. Matthew suggested we go for coffee and once we finished, I offered a walk through Central Park.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" I questioned.

"Because you're quiet, more then usual." Matthew pointed out.

Damn, he knew me all too well. I let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, it's just...there's a lot going on in my mind."

"Does any of it have to do with Stephen?" Matthew asked.

My heart nearly dropped upon hearing his words. Why would he think that? Immediately, I shot it down. "No, it has nothing to do with him."

Matthew gave me a look, not believing me for a second. I grimaced as I remembered his special abilities. Right, he knows if I'm lying or not. I am constantly forgetting that.