An Open Doorway | Stephen Strange x Oc (UNDER REVISION)

One: Learn to Let Go

Author's Note: Hey guys! So, this is my first shot at a Doctor Strange story and the first thing I've publish on Wattpad in years. I'm probably a bit rusty, so please bear with any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. 

Enjoy!

-Mundie

Stephen remembers the first time he saw Hayden with crystalline clarity, despite the months that have already passed. As he lays in his bed in his small room at Kamar Taj after a long day of study and practice, he closes his eyes and allows the memory to wash over him.

Stephen glances left and right at his fellow pupils, the sling ring cold and uncooperative on his tremulous and equally uncooperative fingers. He copies Mordo's instructions to perfection, brings up an image of the operating room at his previous place of employment in his mind's eye, yet, despite making the exact circular motion with his right hand like everyone else, he's getting nothing more than some pathetic sparks. Strange heaves a quiet sigh and lets his useless hands drop to his sides as Mordo calls the lesson to an end. Everyone present for the lesson begins to disperse and that's when Stephen sees her walking toward him.

She has the most vibrant red hair he has ever seen. There's so many subtle shades and nuances to it, he can't decide exactly what kind of red it is and the light catches it in such a way it is almost blinding to look at. Stephen would liken it to the radiance of the sun. Strange stands frozen to the spot as she gets closer. When she passes him, their gazes meet for the briefest of moments. Her eyes are a beautiful and bright green, shot through with gold around the pupils. She almost immediately breaks the eye contact and lowers her freckled face, shoulders hunching, in embarrassment or discomfort, Stephen doesn't know.

He turns a little to watch her go, a voice in the back of his head telling him to stop staring creepily at her, but the sight of a pair of bright red wings folded tightly against her back drives the thought away. The sun catches the feathers and, with the combination of her movement, turns them to shimmering and dancing fire. Stephen has never seen anyone like her before in his life.

"It's rude to stare, Strange."

Stephen jumps at Mordo's sudden appearance by his side, too caught up in that unusual and extraordinary woman to notice his approach. "Who is she?"

Mordo claps his shoulder with an amused smirk. "Her name is Hayden Jones and she arrived here two months ago. If you want to know more, talk to her instead of staring at her with your mouth hanging open."

With one last hardy clap, Mordo turns and walks away.

"My mouth was not hanging open," Stephen calls after Mordo's retreating back.

Stephen smiles to himself as he settles fully into bed, allowing the tension from the day to ease from his body. He never would have admitted it, but Strange could have caught flies had Mordo not said anything to him.

Hayden steps out into Kamar Taj's central courtyard, letting the early morning sunlight wash over her. She stretches her arms above her head and raises up on her tiptoes, her back giving a few satisfying pops. She lets out a long sigh as she next unfolds her wings and opens them to their fullest.

"Enjoying showing off?"

Hayden turns around and refolds her wings, reminding herself she doesn't need to squeeze them against her back anymore.

She smiles sweetly at Stephen, who stands behind her with his arms folded loosely and a confident smirk on his face. "I'm sorry, me, showing off? That's hilarious coming from you, Strange." She takes a couple steps back, returning his smirk. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for my morning exercise."