ADRIA KAECILIUS once thought she loved QUENTIN BECK. Now, she swears to uncover the truth about the man he really was. If that means returning to the so-called "sanctum" that cast her out seven years ago, so be it.
But what happens when her resolve...
"THANK YOU." Marionette says, placing her hand gently on Casey's knee, "I know about the spell you used. I know what you had to sacrifice."
Casey shakes her head with an easy smile, staring out at the water, "Your boyfriend didn't give me much of a choice."
"I'm joking," She adds quickly when the older woman seems alarmed, squeezing her fingers until the tension in her shoulders disappears, "I'm glad I chose you, M."
After her revival, they had become good friends and even Casey's relationship with Loki had improved as a consequence. Still, she couldn't quite enjoy their time alone when he seemed like the type to harbour resentment.
Pushing off the bench, she lets her bare feet meet the cool grass, ambling to where a single gray gravestone sits by the waterside. Crystal waves lap against the granite as she kneels beside it and reaches forward with an outstretched hand, letting her fingertips caress the list of silver engravings. A month has passed since she used Kaecilius' final spell to save Marionette and it has been a month full of mourning. While her father's death had brought immediate relief, in the following weeks she couldn't help but dwell on what could have been between them. In another universe, there's an Adria Kaecilius who's happy. An Adria who wasn't expelled from the Mystic Arts or forced to endure her mother's untimely death. An Adria whose father didn't have to die. Then there's Quentin. She's been staying with Wanda and the company of such heroes has taken some of the weight off her shoulders but still, she misses him, even when she knows she shouldn't.
"He doesn't deserve this," A boy echoes her thoughts and when she stands to face him, she's startled to see none other than Peter Parker behind her. His feet are planted firmly in the soil and his trembling hands are clasped in front of his waist. She thinks they're shaking with anger but from the look in his eyes, she realises it's anything but. Their current whereabouts must be taking quite the toll on him emotionally.
"I don't know how it was between you and I don't want to but...he wasn't a good man. His name doesn't deserve to be here, not with-"
"Peter!" Interrupts a feminine voice and a frazzled woman she recognises as his aunt streaks toward them, lugging a bright pink suitcase.
"I'm sorry," Casey says before the woman can reach them, "I'm so sorry for what he did-"
"That doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what he did to me, what matters is..." Peter pauses and she follows his gaze to the LED lights spelling out Stark-Romanova Memorial Centre above two Vibranium statues, "Him. And her. And those like them."
Her heart goes out to this boy and the horrors he has endured at the hands of someone she once admired but before she can form a response that begins to capture those feelings, he turns and walks away. For a moment, she's disgusted with herself.
"You alright?"
Casey shrugs at the advancing figure of Stephen Strange. When he stops beside her, she collapses into his side, concealing a smile when he staggers back to catch her. A strong arm encircles her waist but the look in his eyes is sober. He must have overheard them.
"I feel like you should be asking Peter that," She says, watching the boy recede into the forest.
"He's still recovering. So are you. Sometimes we say the wrong things when we're hurt."
Though she wishes she could, she can't accept Stephen's excuse. Beck can't repent his mistakes but she still can.
"No, no, he's not wrong. Quentin was willing to sacrifice half of Europe and kill a...a teenager to get what he wanted. Look, maybe he loved me as much as I thought I loved him but that doesn't change what he did. I was just so desperate to find someone who had lost everything that I didn't let myself see what he really was. Not until now. Quentin was a...a narcissistic sociopath who doesn't deserve to be rewarded any more than Kaecilius."
"It's not your fault," Stephen says, taking her hand in his, "You know that, don't you?"
"But I could've stopped him. I could've persuaded him not to do it or fought him or...or anything, except I didn't. Because I wanted it to happen. I...I liked it."
"Past tense."
She looks up at him wordlessly then pulls away, taking a shaky step toward the stone monument. Beck isn't buried here but the mere presence of his name beneath Tony Stark's is enough to repel her now. The voice that told her to take pride in his memory has vanished and she's left with shame. Parker was right. This isn't okay. Inhaling deeply, she glances at Stephen then presses her fingers to the course material and lets her magic travel into the brass. Her lower lip trembles as she erases Quentin Beck's name from the metal.
Allowing a single tear to fall from her eyes, she leans back on her elbows and listens to the rustling of leaves as Stephen settles down beside her. She turns toward him and then to the wood cabin in the background. Once upon a time, it belonged to Tony Stark. Immediately after his passing, Pepper had restricted public access but after a series of break-in attempts, all of which ended poorly for the miscreant, she had closed off the area for private services only. Now, there are 24 hour security patrols.
Casey lets Stephen help her up with a sigh, riding a wave of relief as she realises her trials with both Quentin Beck and Kaecilius have finally come to an end.
"Let's go home." She says, scrunching up her forehead at the faint smile on his lips, "What?"
Stephen laughs.
"I'm proud of you."
. . .
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author's note!
I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of that gif.
Anyway, that brings this story to a close...at least for now. There will probably be a sequel once we get more details about the Multiverse of Madness but I hope you've enjoyed this and if you're willing, please go back and vote or leave comments. Also, if you have any questions, comment them HERE
BTW, I have other works including The Syndicates which has two different (romance) plots with Steve Rogers and Loki Laufeyson, and White Chrysalis (Jerome Valeska from Gotham)
