Love between the Multiverse

Chapter six

After Stephen was finished he lay down on his back next to him. He slid closer until he was able to drape a leg over Reed’s. Reed’s fingers brushed over his hand and they interlaced their fingers as if it was the most natural thing to do.

Reed took in a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. “So, what now? I don’t want to take you back to your cell.”

“But you have to. Otherwise they will imprison you as well.”

“I don’t mind.”

“You are saying that now. But after I’m gone you would regret this decision.”

Reed turned his head to observe him with a frown between his eyebrows. “What do you mean with ‘when you’re gone’?”

Stephen grimaced. “Actually I-“

He was interrupted by a rather forceful knock on the door. Reed’s eyes widened in panic.

“Reed?”, a female voice called out to him from the other side.

Reed turned his head from one side to the other in one slow motion. He pressed a finger on his lips.

The handle of the door was pushed down but it appeared to be locked because it didn’t budge. The relief about it only lasted about a second when the knock was repeated.

“Come on. Open up”, the woman demanded. “Now is not the time for your researches. Professor Xavier told me he has informed you about the Stephen from the other universe. He isn’t in his cell anymore and the cameras revealed that he was escorted by one of Ultron’s androids. You don’t happen to know something about it?”

“Shit”, Reed muttered. “Quickly. Get dressed.”

“Reed!”, it came from outside the door more urgently.

“I’m...” He cleared his throat when he noticed how hoarse he sounded. “I’m coming. Give me a minute.”

They both hurried to get out of the bed. While Reed only needed to slip into his underwear and his suit it took Stephen a bit longer to get into all the layers of his clothes. Stephen took his belt and moved in a corner of the room that allowed him to stay hidden from whoever would risk a glance inside. As if his cloak was able to sense the tension it rose from the chair and flew over to him to wrap itself around his shoulders.

Reed unlocked the door with a mechanism Stephen wasn’t able to detect and opened it just wide enough to meet the person on the other side.

“What took you so long?”, the woman complained.

“I was still in bed.”

A long moment of silence followed which indicated that the other person doubted his words even if they were partly true. In the meantime Stephen wrapped the belt around his waist and got into his boots. He brushed his fingers through his strands to smooth his dishevelled hair. It only worked mediocre.

“Where’s Stephen?”, she asked then.

“How should I know?”

“Ultron’s records were modified. Exactly between the time the android escorted Stephen out of his cell and it’s return to the hub. There is only one person who would be able to do that.”

Stephen’s skin started to prickle as if the air in the room was charged with static. He knew exactly what that meant and he couldn’t think of a worse moment for America’s portal to appear. Reed must have sensed something as well because he turned his head over to him.

Stephen gestured him to get rid of her immediately.

“What’s wrong?”, she asked when Reed’s attention was focussed on something else.

“Nothing. I was just checking on my running experiments.”

“Just a moment ago you said you were sleeping.”

The faint silhouette of a star was forming in the middle of the room. It illuminated not just Stephen’s face but Reed’s as well.

“I lied since I know how upset you can get only because I get lost in my researches again”, Reed hurried to explain. “If you’ll excuse me now, Maria? I have to go back to my desk before I cause another explosion. Tell the others I’ll join you in five minutes.”

“Five minutes. And no second longer”, she warned him. “You know how dangerous a version of Dr. Strange can be. We have to find him.”

By the time her footsteps receded the portal had reached its full size and was emitting it’s power in steady waves. Reed closed the door and locked it again. He turned around. His eyes shone in astonishment while he observed the five-pointed star in the middle of the room.

Stephen noticed America standing on the other side. When she made an attempt to step through he shook his head.

“Give me a moment”, he mouthed at her.

“Is this... a portal through the multiverse?”, Reed asked, disbelieving.

“Yes. It means I have to go back now.”

Reed had his arm stretched out to the glowing portal in an attempt to touch it. But Stephen’s word made him stop in the middle of his movements. He stared at him uncertainly.

“What about me?”, he asked quietly.

“You are going to explain them that I was the one who manipulated the records. Being the smart man that you are, you will find out that I have left the universe again. After that you can live your life as if nothing had happened”, Stephen suggested. “Unless you want to come with me.”

Stephen didn’t know why he even had said the last part. It was meant in a sarcastic way but the sudden realization about his desire of Reed actually joining him punched him painfully in his chest.

“Yes”, Reed answered barely audible that Stephen thought for a moment he had misheard.

Stephen must have failed to hide his shock about the single word because Reed stepped in front of him and cupped his face with his hands. He leaned down to place a loving kiss on his lips.

“Please, take me with you”, he requested. “I can’t bear to loose you again.”

“I can never replace him.”

“What makes you think I want you to replace anyone?”

“We barely know each other even if it might feel otherwise.”

“If things won’t work out you could still drop me off back here and I can claim that you abducted me.”

To be honest Stephen had made his decision long before they had started arguing. He shook his head.

“All the travelling through the multi verse must have driven me crazy”, he muttered.

He placed his hands on the sides of Reed’s neck and lifted his head to connect their lips in a quick kiss. Then he released him and made a few steps towards the portal. When he noticed that Reed wasn’t following he turned around to him.

“I thought you wanted to come with me. Or did you change your mind?”

“No”, Reed mumbled. Then a bit louder: “No. Of course not. Don’t make me regret it though.”

Stephen gifted him a reassuring smile. “Never.”