Loki's Little Witch [en]

special: origins

A young 22 year old, Stephen Strange, continued humming that same melody that he had been singing since he had gotten off the elevator, as he turned down the hallway that led to the conference rooms of the Metro-General Hospital, where he had been doing his residency for the past year and the place that would finally give him the recognition he deserved since he had been called by none other than the director of surgery to that sudden meeting.

Nevertheless, that cocky smile that had covered his face all the way from the ER faded in a matter of seconds the moment his eyes landed on that man with the peculiar beard and ridiculous glasses who was waiting for him on the other side of the room, flipping through papers in a folder.

Someone who was definitely not the director of surgery or any kind of doctor to be specific.

"Mr. Strange," an almost thirty year old Tony Stark, greeted him, giving him a friendly smile, "you are a very difficult person to contact."

Strange couldn't help but let out a silent chuckle, closing the door behind him as he got a vague idea of where that meeting was headed, "it's doctor," he clarified.

"Oh yeah, my bad, Dr. Stephen Vicent Strange," Tony nodded, looking back to a page from the folder in front of him, "graduated from Columbia Secondary School at 16. Went straight to Columbia where you graduated last year with a M.D. and a Ph.D. You started your residency here at the Metro. I heard you are interested in specializing in neurological surgery and you even submitted a paper on a new laminectomy procedure."

Stephen crossed his arms as Tony's eyes looked back at his, "was that supposed to impress me?"

Tony was the one who couldn't help but chuckle this time, "no, of course not. I assume it takes a lot more than that to impress someone like you. I think we're the same in that sense," he said, putting his hands in his pockets and taking a step towards the young man, "I'm part of an extra-governmental agency tasked to maintain global security, S.H.I.E.L.D., I'm sure you've heard about us from the large number of emails and messages that you've very kindly ignored us."

Strange rolled his eyes. He had to assume that sooner or later something like that would happen. He just didn't guess that they would send a public figure like the amazing Iron Man, much less that someone like him would agree to work under the government's orders. Millionaires really were so unpredictable.

"My job is to recruit talents, extraordinary people like you. I am sure our science department could greatly benefit from your skills.

"Well, I'm truly flattered that they're so interested in me that they'd send someone like you here, but my lack of answers should have given you an idea that I'm not interested."

Stephen raised his shoulders trying to turn, but he was quickly stopped by Stark's voice, "perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Our scientist got their hands on your paper and they say it's the discovery of the decade. I am sure that with our unlimited resources and with the total freedom that we'll grant you, you will be able to make a dozen more in your life, you will be able to help save the lives of our agents, of entire nations, help change the world, make it a safer place for your kids and your grandkids and all generations to come. To become a hero like me."

Strange scoffed, "oh yeah, a hero like you," he took a step closer to him this time, "what was it?" he feigned curiosity, "13 casualties in Gulmire. 29 victims in Boston. Something around 35 in Monaco...

Tony gulped at his words, causing his smile to fade for the first time, knowing that he did very wrong in underestimating the young man. He had appeared on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar for a reason.

"I don't think we're anything alike, Mr. Stark. I think you're still the same murderer you were when you were manufacturing weapons, only now hiding behind a shiny suit, pretending to be a hero to the people without realizing that you are the cause of all those wars," Stark couldn't help but narrow his eyes, "your own strength incites challenge, challenge incites conflict and well, conflict only ends in catastrophe," he took another step, this time standing face to face to the man, "I am not like you. I really care about people and I want to make a real change in their lives, here... Not hidden behind any suit or agency.