Summary: Every Sorcerer Supreme has an anchor. Someone whose magic is compatible with theirs, ensures that he is additionally protected and prevents him from falling prey to evil forces. You grew up in Kamar-Taj and studied the Mystic Arts there, but then you traveled the world looking for a more quiet life, a life away from magic and superheroes. When you return and meet the new Sorcerer Supreme, it soon becomes clear that you share a special connection.
Tags: Slow Burn, Reader is a master of the Mystic Arts, Magic!Reader, spells and magic, this is a cute one
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Chapter's Notes: I‘m very busy with work but here‘s the next chapter. Beta by @portia77. Thank you!
Chapter 2: Back home
You use the Ancient One’s Sling Ring to take you to the nearest Sanctum, the one in New York. Since you've been gone so long, you decide to be polite and open the portal in front of the building.
For now, you leave your suitcases in your apartment. You can still pick them up later.
As soon as you enter the streets of the big city, the background noises change and you hear the sounds of cars, construction work and sirens. You step aside a bit to stay out of the way of the people walking around you. This is very different from the town you just came from.
Without having to knock, the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum opens automatically as you step closer, and you enter.
It’s cooler here, and the lights are dim. Immediately you have the feeling of being home once again. Although you had been here just a few times in your youth, the hall was still so familiar, although surprisingly quiet today.
"Hello? Master Drumm?" you ask into the silence.
Usually there were always Mystic Arts students helping out or studying here.
Weird.
From somewhere on the second floor you hear a noise and walk up the stairs. At the top, you have a straight view to the large, round sealed window.
To your left side are relics on display, and that’s where you turn. You might as well look around a bit while you wait.
Finally, you hear a voice from next door and footsteps approaching. You look up as someone steps out of a corridor on the opposite side.
"What d’you want now? I don't think…", the person quietly grumbles to himself, but then he sees you and dons a neutral expression. "Good afternoon, I didn't realize we had visitors. Welcome."
He’s a middle-aged man, quite tall and with dark hair already slightly graying on the sides. He carries a rather cold aura about him, perhaps with a hint of pride that you dislike. You have never seen him before, but to your surprise he wears the Eye of Agamotto around his neck and the Cloak of Levitation on his shoulders. The latter rustles strongly and pulls him in your direction.
Respectfully, you bow in accordance with the old custom.
"Thank you. My name is Y/N L/N. I received an invitation and would like to speak to the Keeper of the Sanctum. Is it still Master Drumm?"
"I'm afraid not." The man shakes his head and once again pulls back an edge of the troubling cloak. "Behave yourself. You’re being rude. I don't know what's gotten into you", he scolds it, making you giggle. It’s just too funny to watch.
"If I may... I think it just wants to say hello." You hold out your hands, and the cape grabs them. "Yes, It’s nice to see you, too. Glad you found someone."
The cape returns your words with a rustle before it finally gets quiet. The man looks between you and you step back a bit again.
"Old acquaintance?" he asks.
"I used to care for it, along with a few other relics that were in the display cases,” you explain.
"Well, as far as your request goes, we're a little understaffed here right now, but I guess the keeper would be me, Doctor Stephen Strange. May I see that invitation of yours?"
You nod and are about to pull the ring from your fingers when you hear your name called somewhere behind you and turn around.
"Wong?"
The very same walks up to you, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. Delighted, you go to meet him and he pulls you into a warm hug.
"It's good to see you. You've been gone a long time. Let me look at you." He pushes you at arm's length and looks at you. "You've grown well."
Laughing, you release yourself from your former master's grip.
"It's good to see you, too. Have you gained weight?"
Wong pats his stomach.
"The Americans' unhealthy food is to blame."
"Like your favorite place in the world isn't the sandwich shop down the street” Strange rejoins the conversation. He stands next to you with his arms crossed, seemingly not quite knowing what to make of yet more of your old acquaintances.
"They make the best sandwiches,” Wong agrees. "Come, Y/N, we’ll have tea. There are some things to talk about. Strange, I'll take her from here."
Before the doctor can object, Wong beckons you to follow. You offer another polite bow to Stephen Strange and then follow Wong into the old kitchen.
"So you got the letter,” Wong notices, glancing at the ring on your hand as you sit down at a small table.
"Yes, and it caught me quite off guard. How exactly did it happen?"
You get the promised tea and a rough overview of what's happened the last few years since you left. In the same turn, you tell a little about your travels.
"What are your plans now?" the master asks afterwards.
You shrug your shoulders.
"I'm not quite sure yet. I'll probably see where I'm most likely to be needed."
"Then you can stay right here. We’ve plenty to do."
"I'll think about it," you smile.
~~
It's late in the evening in New York when you step through a portal to Kamar-Taj, where the next morning had already dawned.
You see the temples, smell the dry but herbal-scented air, and you know you are home. Many memories come flooding back to you as you walk through the halls and you see some familiar faces brighten as they recognize you.
First and foremost is a pretty middle-aged strawberry-blonde woman who walks happily toward you.
"Y/N, I didn't expect to see you. When did you get back?"
"Hello Eloise", you greet her with a grin as you are pulled into her arms. You've known her since you were a child, and she often babysat you when your mother was busy. Like her, Eloise is an exquisite healer. "I just got here."
"Do you have time? Let's have some tea. You have to tell me what you did these last few years.”
You have no objections that could dissuade her from pulling you along. Laughing, you give in.
It's good to be home again.
You decide to stay in New York for now, because you don't want to give up Western civilization quite yet. You also like the more modern facilities there, especially the showers.
At the same time, you want to use the time to get back into your studies.
When you return to the Sanctum Sanctorum, you experience the same morning as in Kathmandu. You had forgotten how exhausting time zones can be. But since you are way too tired to go through another whole day, you take one of the free spare rooms Wong told you about. They’re simply furnished, but with everything that you need. Right now that would be a place to sleep.
In order not to completely fuck up your sense of time, you nap only for a few hours and are back on your feet in the afternoon. Hunger brings you into the kitchen to look for breakfast or lunch. As you do so, you run into Strange, who is making himself a large cup of tea.
"Morning”, he greets you briefly and without looking up.
"Doctor Strange”, you nod back politely, and set a plate of bread and fruit for yourself, sitting down at the small table.
Unlike yesterday, you are wearing the robes from Kamar-Taj now.
"So you're the new Sorcerer Supreme."
During your visit in the temple, you had heard all sorts of stories about the man who had actually been a doctor in his previous life.
"And you were the protégé of the ancient one,” he replies, now turning to you. "What's it like when you don't get the position you were trained for?"
His eyes are on you, challenging, but you know better than to get provoked by that. Instead, you raise an eyebrow.
"Scared I'm coming for the title?" you ask back.
"Should I be?"
A few seconds pass, during which you continue to eat your meal nonchalantly, before shaking your head.
"I haven't been interested in it for a long time. Maybe I would be again someday, but until there's a reason, I'm not going to fight for it. And since the job has just been filled…"
Strange seems to relax a bit after this explanation, but his cool aura remains. Maybe this was just his nature, you guess. Or maybe that came with the still fairly new responsibility of being the head of the Mystic Arts.
"How long will you stay with us?" he wants to know.
"If you don't mind,” you answer. “Wong said you could use an extra pair of hands."
It's more of a formality to ask the keeper of a sanctum for permission to stay, but your mother raised you to follow the old traditions.
"Sure. Then I won’t be the only one Wong is complaining about when stuff is lying around.”
"Oh, I’m on his side with this."
"In that case, your request is denied."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that. My luggage has already arrived."
During these last words, you raise your hand and create a horizontal portal in the air beside you. Its counterpart is on your old bedroom floor, and a second later your suitcase and a larger box fall through it onto the kitchen floor.
Strange is either amused by this or annoyed, you're not quite sure which.
"Great, now I’ve got two of these"” he mumbles, and leaves the room with his cup in his hands.
You finish your breakfast before moving a hand over your plate, making it appear neatly back in the kitchen cabinet before magically moving your things to your new room.
