𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄, doctor strange.

The Battle

Mordo strutted about the other end of the building, a twisted smirk playing upon his lips. Ana's lips were twisted into a snarl, her eyes smothered in a rage and malice. Steven's expression was blank, but something hid behind his iridescent eyes, something that scared Ana to her core and sent shivers down her spine as she glanced over at him, and she gulped, an overwhelming fear working its way into her mind.

" Glad you could come. Almost thought you'd be a no-show," Mordo said with a charismatic voice, his lips twitching into a fake grin as she clapped his hands together in mock praise. Ana stepped forward, her stomach churning, but Steven held his arm out, making her stop abruptly and make her send a fleeting glare his way. He glanced over at with authority in his eyes, his jaw setting fiercely, and Ana nodded once, stepping back again. Steven took a cautious step forward, his hands balled into shaking fists, his knuckles white.

" You have killed and hurt innocent people, Mordo. You cannot continue this charade of darkness. I know that finding out the Ancient One's powers were fueled by Dormammu was painful, and you felt betrayed. I get it. But that is no reason to do this," Steven said confidently, his voice menacing but calm. Ana stayed behind, listening intently as Mordo's smirk faltered slightly, his eyes filling with something like pain before it disappeared again, covered by his rage.

" I do feel betrayed, Steven! You broke the laws of nature for your own personal gain, and the Ancient One? She was just as worse!" His booming voice made Ana flinch in terror, slowly coming around the edge of Steven. Said man glanced at her, hesitating to let her talk, but she began anyway, a fiery malice in her eyes. " You're the one who is killing innocent people for your entertainment, and you want to talk about the bad things we've done?" she barked at him, pointing an accusatory finger. Steven reached for her shoulder to pull her back so she didn't get too heated, but she shrugged him threateningly, moving ever closer to Mordo.

Mordo sneered in disgust at Ana, walking forwards too. " Well, if it isn't the little protege, huh, Mrs. Johnson? You look so much like your mother when she begged for mercy at Kaecilius's hands. And your father, so distraught, couldn't even fight him anymore," he jeered, smirking victoriously. Ana stumbled in her trek, eyes bubbling with a murderous glint, and even Steven could see it, and he was scared of it. Walking forwards beside Ana, he readied his hands, clenching them into furious ball of hate. " Well, let's see how you do any better," he yelled, before his whip rose into the air, a line of sparks and fire building together as he shot it towards Mordo, whose victorious smirk dropped as the spear came hurtling towards him. Enveloping himself in violet smoke, the spear zipped right through, but Mordo was gone from the spot. 

Ana turned around, and caught movement in the corner of her eye, and flicked around just in time to see Mordo throw some transparent at her, and before she could react, Steven's shields dashed in front of her, protecting her as the weapon shattered against Steven's defenses. He looked back to her, and jerked his head behind him, to which she gladly agreed, protecting his six. Mordo cursed under his breath and vaulted in the air with his boots, but instead of the usual red steps underneath him, they were a menacing navy, and he came down on Steven, breaking the man's defenses. Steven groaned in pain, but forced himself to his feet, and turned around to check on Ana, only to find she wasn't there. Gasping with terror and darting his head around wildly for any sign of his friend, his eyes landed on Mordo, who held Ana in his clutches, his dagger held dangerously close to her throat as tears silently ran down her cheeks, her eyes pleading for help.

" Now, let's make a deal, Steven," Mordo jeered, grinning maniacally. " You can give me the Eye of Agamotto and leave the fight, or Ana can die. Your choice." Steven's eyes widened with terror at the deal, and he felt his heart quicken exponentially with fear and disgrace. Mordo's hand rubbed Ana's cheek softly, and Ana reared back in disgust, lunging with her teeth at his hand. Mordo brought it back, pursing his lips in thought. " Oh, a feisty one, eh? I like her," he prodded, looking at Steven with expectancy. Distraught, Steven finally gripped the stone around his neck, feeling it pulse in his hand, urging him not to remove it. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he removed it and threw it to the ground in front of Mordo, who smiled greedily. " Thank you for your cooperation. Now, let's let Ana, who can't even fight with magic like her parents before her, go. I mean, why would you risk the safety of an Infinity Stone for some magic-less girl? Her parents would be so disappointed in her."

That was the last straw. 

Ana's hands writhed with raw power as she let out a blood-curdling scream, one that sent hands to both Steven's and Mordo's ear as the latter released her, causing her to fall to her knees. Waves of energy exploded from her body, sending Steven and Mordo backwards into the surrounding buildings as Ana continued to scream, before, her energy spent, she collapsed onto the surface of the building, gasping for air as she turned onto her back, her lungs burning and her fingertips tingling with power as wisps of white smoke floated from them. Steven grunted as he made his way to his feet, before he caught Ana's crumpled form, and rushed over, ignoring the gnawing pain in his legs as he collapsed beside her, gripping her shoulders. Mordo pressed his hands to his temples, groaning with the pulsing that thrummed in there, and his eyes set murderously on Ana, who Steven calmed as she struggled to her feet.

" I did it," she murmured to Steven, gaping at the pure light that emitted from her hands. Steven grinned admiringly, nodding enthusiastically. " You did. Yes, you did," he whispered back, locking eyes with Ana. The sound of Mordo's footsteps broke them from their reverie as they both turned to the staggering man, who clutched his temples in agony. " Let's see you dodge this," he seethed, before violet light spilled from his hands, sending shards of steel towards them. Ana, her energy restored, prepared her hands, trusting the white light to protect her as the steel shards raced forward. Steven's shields appeared in both his hands, and he smiled at Ana confidently, to where she smirked back, the shards collapsing against Ana's transparent and Steven's maroon shields to bits.

Steven didn't turn around and see Mordo throw his last spear before it was too late.