An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Whumptober 2022 Day 14: "I'll Be Right Behind You"
Characters: Stephen Strange, Wong
Summary: Stephen's no stranger to choosing who lives and who dies
Stephen struggled to keep the gateway stable as Wong tightened the restraints around the villain, "Strange has an aversion to killing people. We do not share this sentiment." He then looked over to his friend and whispered, "what do you think we should do with him?"
Their prisoner, Gnuatryon, coughed and spat out blood, "Strange." He drawled, dragging his violet, cat-like eyes up to meet Stephen's. "The weight of Death drips off you as thick as molasses. You're a man who is more familiar with dying than living. But tell me, have you ever killed?"
Stephen swallowed, "yes."
Gnuatryon bared his fangs, "are you prepared to do it again?" At Stephen's hesitation, he continued, "did you forget I have an entire world under my command? A world on the brim of disaster. I am simply leading my people to a better future. Would you not do the same?"
The two sorcerers looked at each other, unsure. Stephen asked, "could we support the inhabitants? Let them live in secret on Earth?"
The other man shook his head, "doubtful. He's had most of the natives under his command and control for so long that they seek to kill anyone that isn't of their species."
"But they're still innocent?" Stephen reasoned. He looked through the wavering gateway to the other side. The ground beneath them was crumbling and the sky was quite literally falling. Women, children, and entire families were lined up at the gateway for refuge. A girl no older than fourteen held tightly to her younger brother, tear tracks glistened on her face. They made eye contact through the haze, and Stephen saw the fear of prey in her gaze turn into the hunger of a predator. He gulped.
Wong nodded sorrowfully, "however, if we grant them access to our world, they're sure to massacre us. No matter which we choose, someone is going to die."
Stephen shook his head frantically, "no. No, we can-"
Gnuatryon laughed hysterically, "you cannot be both the creator and the destroyer, Strange!"
Stephen stared wide-eyed at the prisoner. He had sworn an oath to do no harm, but how could he hold that oath while also fulfilling his duty to protect the Earth? He looked over at Wong, who seemed to be thinking along those same lines. "I'll be right behind you," Wong assured.
"You're right," Stephen confessed to the alien, who in turn looked at him expectantly. "I can't be both, but if saving my world means the end of yours, then so be it. I chose the path of the destroyer."
The prisoner gaped at him, "you can't! You'd be murdering millions!"
Stephen stared at his boots, "but I'd be saving billions."
"You coward! You'd just let us die in the name of logic? You're no better than the Mad Titan that decimated our forces all that time ago!" Gnuatryon was practically pleading with him now. "You're a monster. A heartless man who cares for no one."
"I'm sorry," Stephen apologized and hoped Gnuatryon could see the sincerity on his face, "I don't see the harm in letting you stay in our world if that's any consolation. You could live."
Gnuatryon turned away and closed his eyes, "no. I'd rather die with my people. It's only fair."
Wong spoke up, "are you sure?" Gnuatryon nodded slowly. "Very well."
Stephen watched through the gateway helplessly as Wong released Gnuatryon. He couldn't help but be reminded of all the people he had manipulated into sacrifice, if it could even be called that. Wasn't convincing someone to kill themselves no better than killing them yourself? The world on the other side would be ending soon. Stephen spotted a man wiping tears away from a woman's face. He really was a monster, wasn't he?
Gnuatryon stepped through the gateway and was immediately met with a toddler waddling her way up to him. He stooped down to pick her up and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Somewhere just over the horizon, the ground was giving way to lava. People started scrambling for the gateway, desperately trying to escape their inevitable deaths.
He and Gnuatryon held eye contact as the gateway spun to a close. He heard the people cry out in disbelief and fear. The girl from earlier was looking around frantically for her missing brother. She would never find him. Stephen knew because he saw his body get consumed by the lava a moment earlier.
He let the portal collapse and suddenly he couldn't hold himself up. He felt a firm grasp guide him down to the floor, "easy." Stephen watched where the gateway had been, and to his shock, felt tears begin to form. He had just killed an entire planet. He was no better than Thanos. Wong held him as he sobbed. "I'm right here, Stephen. It's going to be okay. I'm right behind you."
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