Love between the Multiverse

Chapter three

When the door glided open Stephen looked up from the book he was reading. The little glimmer of hope in his chest died quickly when it was just another one of the androids.

He returned his attention back to the pages in front of him. He didn’t really understand why he had been hoping that he would come to visit him so soon since he already expected that they would let him wait at least half a day. Probably
Professor Xavier still thought that he would talk eventually.

Stephen rose his eyebrows in slight surprise when the glass wall slid down and disappeared into the ground. He put the book back onto the side table and swung his legs out of the bed.

“You are expected”, the robot informed him.

“By whom?”, Stephen asked warily.

“This information is not authorized to be revealed.”

Stephen rolled his eyes but followed the android nevertheless since he didn’t think he had any other choice.

Instead of returning to the hearing room they made their way upstairs. They passed several closed doors to their left and right until the android stopped in front of one. It looked as inconspicuous as the others while revealing nothing about what or who waited on the other side.

The robot stood completely still and Stephen needed a moment to realize
that it was expected from him to knock. He lifted his hands that were still decorated with the handcuffs and rapped his knuckles over the wooden surface of the door.

“Come in”, a slightly muffled voice said. It definitely belonged to a man with a rather deep voice.

The robot opened the door for him and guided him into the room with a gentler shove than it had performed the first time. It didn’t follow him inside but closed the door behind him.

Stephen focussed on the only person that was standing in the middle of the room in a blue suit. There was no number imprinted on his chest. It seemed that the ‘Fantastic Four’ didn’t exist here, which confirmed America’s words that he had no wife.

Stephen’s heart rate quickened slightly when his gaze met warm hazel eyes and a soft smile.

“Hello, Stephen”, Reed greeted him in a gentle tone.

“Reed Richards. Smartest man alive”, Stephen said with a smug grin to conceal his nervousness.

It should have sounded a bit mocking but somehow his voice betrayed him. It came out more admiring than he had intended. Technically this man was indeed smart with his several degrees in various subjects. Yet there was no need to point that out so obviously.

Reed snorted in amusement. “Still as cocky as ever, I see.”

They gaze at each other for a long, silent moment which didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. It was quite the opposite though. While looking in those gentle eyes Stephen had the impression that he had known him for much longer than the few minutes he had talked to him... in another universe ... and to another version of him.

Reed cleared his throat. “Why don’t we sit down for a while?”

Just by then Stephen was able to notice his surroundings. Apparently Reed had invited him into his own bedroom which was large enough to serve also as a study room as well as a place for relaxation. Several books and papers were scattered over the desk in one corner. They shared a place with some primary lab equipment.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when he spotted his cloak hanging over the backrest of the office chair.

Two comfortable armchairs stood close to the lit fire in a fireplace. A bottle with a dark red, almost brown liquid is standing next to two glasses on a coffee table in front of it.