Doctor Strange One Shots

The Art of Seduction - Part 7

"Well," Stephen started, his hands still playing along her skin as they talked, but more casually now, for the sake of comfort as opposed to the sexual nature it started out to be. "I mean, it was school. I'm not really sure what I should talk about." He spoke through a slight chuckle, feeling a little confused as to what (Y/n) wanted to hear.

"Is it anything like the movies?" She asked, causing Stephen to tilt his head up in her lap, a questioning look prompting her to reword her question for him, "Like, you know: frat parties, relationship drama, 'best time of your lives' kinda thing?"

But Stephen simply laughed, his head returning to its comfortable place on her lap, nestled between her legs.

"(Y/l/n), I was there to learn, so that's what I did."

His voice sounded a little wounded, almost as if he, too, once had stereotypical expectations as to what his university life was going to be like, and was let down by his harsh reality. But as his mind started to remember the loneliness he experienced back then, he felt (Y/n)'s hands begin to play about his hair, drawing soothing circles with her fingers along his scalp. It was as if her touch was drawing out his memories, beckoning him to talk despite his normal aversion to.

"Oh, come on. Not even a few friends?" She asked with a slight giggle, her own brow raised in disbelief.

And she felt Stephen release a halfhearted breathy chuckle against her skin, causing a small smile to form across her lips.

"Alright." He smiled at her words, "Maybe a few."

But (Y/n) felt him pause, his words hitched in his throat before he continued correcting his statement.

"Well, maybe back then they seemed like friends."

Stephen felt her hands slow their movements through his hair, and he understood that (Y/n) was most likely giving him time to think, awaiting some sort of context, or clarification. So, he sat up, momentarily sombre to the loss of their touch against each other as he started to recall.

"I've had plenty of time to look back at everything and really think about all these small things I used to experience," He sighed, his eyes glued down to his fidgeting hands as he spoke, evidently a little nervous about his next words, having never really talked about such things before, "And while I would have considered these individuals friends once upon a time, now I think they were merely acquaintances who wanted to use me."

(Y/n) felt herself frowning at his words, feeling defensive for him as he spoke with a heavy heart.

"Use you?"

And Stephen's eyes momentarily flicked up to meet hers, seeing her fierce features as a reaction to his words. So, before he resumed, he let one of his hands rest atop of hers, still patiently stationed on her lap, his thumb grazing gently across her knuckles, reassuring her that he was fine and she needn't get so upset.

"I was always in the library. I thought there was no reason to waste my time not trying to do my best. And whenever I was invited out, it would always be for 'study groups'. But those would normally end with me having done at least half of their homework."

Stephen paused yet again, letting the words truly sink in for the first time.

"Eventually I started declining, and started to focus my energy purely towards my own work. I think that annoyed them in all honesty," A small smile started to appear, slowly, upon his lips as he continued to recall, "They'd always call me over, 'Vince, Vincent! Don't be so boring!'" He chuckled, remembering such an event. "But in all honesty, I guess I just preferred being by myself."