Avengers Preferences

Strange ~ Away

Name: Joanna

Age: 39

Time: Doctor Strange Movie

Powers: None

Relationship: Best Friend

--

"Stephen, are you doing the hand exercises you were told to do? The sooner you finish the sooner we can go for a walk. Maybe I can drive to the beach?" I asked, walking over to him seated at an empty table with the mechanism. It rang around each of his fingers and connected to his palm. Although it was supposed to strengthen his hand, it was making him mentally weaker that he couldn't even open his hand up.

He sighed, ripped off the device, and threw it to the ground. I took a step back. "What's the use, it's not working."

"It won't be instant-"

"It will never be complete."

I walked towards him and placed a hand on his shuddering shoulder. "You have to try-"

He violently shrugged off my hand, spatting back, "You have to stop."

Turning my body towards the window in front of him, in which he stared at, I quietly muttered, "I won't be here to watch you realize that pushing me away won't do you any good."

He looked up at me, frazzled, "You won't be there?"

"If you want to push me away, then I'll let you."

I walked over to the couch where I left my purse, heels clicking and resonating against the walls.

"I know you," his voice shook. "I know you, Jo. You wouldn't just leave me like th-"

"And why not?" I interrupted it, speaking behind him. He refused to turn around. "Because I'm just supposed to let you throw my feelings around until you feel like treating me with respect? I understand you got in a car crash, Stephen. I know you're not yourself right now, you're being held back because of a disability that you never wished on yourself. But none of that gives you the right to treat me like you do. You aren't yourself right now, so I'll come back when you are."

He whispered something under his breath as I turned towards the door. I paused, asking, "What was that?" I still faced away from him... but was it really him?

"I don't know when I'll be myself again," he said slightly louder, obviously in anguish. We stood their in eiring silence. He broke it finally, "You can go, Jo. I'll take you on that walk one day, when I'm better- if I'm better. I promise."

I giggled to myself and muttered, "Super double ultra promise?" We used to say that to each other as kids.

"Ultra double super promise, Jo." He laughed to himself as he normally did. He was in there somewhere.

"Goodbye, Stephen."

--

It's been about a year since I've seen Stephen. I've avoided him at all costs. I stayed at my apartment and continued my work as a pedatrician. I wasn't going to let his downfall cause mine.

As I threw away the emptied mac and cheese cup in the trash, I felt a sudden force behind me.

I turned around swiftly to see Stephen standing there. "Stephen!" I screamed. "What the hell are you- Why are you- What are you wearing?"

He took my hand and said, "Look, it's gonna take a lot of explaining, and you aren't going to believe me. Either way, I still super double ultra promised you that walk, so why don't we go?"

"Not with you dressed like that." I laughed at his outfit. He wore blue robes and a red, flowing cape, but why?

"Just come with me." He threw out his hands and a ring of sparks appeared before us. I peered through, discovering the beach. Leading me through, it literally brought us to the beach. I was speechless. It had to be some sort of trick.

"Stephen, I, I don't know what to-"

"Long story short I'm a wizard now, more specifically master of the mystic arts, and I can do things like this." He laughed at himself. He was a new person. Not the Stephen I knew before.

"To cut to the chase..." He went on.

I interrupted, "You're a wizard, now?"

"Close," He laughed, closing the portal behind us. "It's the mystic arts. I can move my hands again, and a lot more. This magic stuff... it saved my life.

"What else can you do?" I asked, jokingly with the face of an engaged child.

He looked off into the distance and moved his hands. The world rotated around us, shifting, phasing in and out of forms.

I finally spoke up, "This is a lot more fun than neuroscience."