My One Constant - Supreme!Strange x Reader
I just needed to write some fluff for the man, I killed him last time I wrote him, he deserves this 😶
Paring: Supreme!Strange x F!Reader (childhood best friend)
Word Count: 6,569 (me telling myself I’ll just write a short fluff fic for him 🙃)
Description: Stephen’s known Y/N almost his entire life. The one person from his past he still has. He’s fought off his feelings for her for decades in fear of losing the friendship, but with her now working alongside him for the Illuminati, his feelings are getting harder and harder to hide.
A few slightly altered lyrics from “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” by John Lennon.
Other Things: Best friends to lovers. Childhood friends. Fluff. Two exceedingly smart idiots in love. They’re just silly and fun.
Warnings: Some swearing. Small bit of typical canon violence.
Masterlist
(Gif taken from Google, but credit on it. I didn’t want to use the one scene from MoM, so any clean shaven Stephen is going to be fair game for Supreme for me :P)
“Is it really wise to bring in an unknown scientist to help with something so delicate?” Reed Richards asks the rest of the Illuminati panel. “I’d feel far better if you gave us some information so I can run a proper check on this woman, Strange. At least her name and her qualifications.”
“I agree,” Peggy Carter comments, shifting her shield to sit against her seat. “A complete unknown seems like an unnecessary risk.”
“Just the fate of the Multiverse,” Maria Rambeau adds in.
“I’ve asked that you all just trust me on this,” Doctor Strange responds, checking the phone in his lap for nearly the hundredth time in the last five minutes. His foot taps impatiently on the tile.
“What has you so worked up?” Mordo asks from beside his seat.
“Nothing,” his foot taps faster and his eyes dart to his phone as the screen lights up.
A quick smile crosses his lips as he reads the message, pulling himself from his seat and heading toward the door.
“Where are you going? Isn’t that woman supposed to be here soon?” Richards calls out to him.
Pausing momentarily to look back over his shoulder, “She’s arrived, I’m going to collect her.”
“This woman needs to be greeted at the door by the Sorcerer Supreme?” Mordo asks incredulously.
“Yes, she does,” he shouts over his shoulder, letting the door slam behind him as he speed walks toward the entrance. A portal would have been far quicker and more practical, but he wanted to do this right. Plus the extra time to walk the distance to the entrance was needed to calm his racing heart.
Turning the last corner, his eyes immediately zero in on her. Standing between two bots just inside the doorway. He feels his pace quickening, and her eyes meet his, a smile spreading across her face.
Practically breaking into a sprint, he crosses the last of the distance, putting his arms out as she jumps into them eagerly, “Stephen!”
Hugging her tightly to his chest, he spins her around a couple times, her laugh reminding him why it is, and has always been, his favorite sound.
Setting her back to her feet, he suddenly becomes hyperaware of the eyes on them. Glancing over he sees several scientists from the nearby lab staring at them, “If you have time to stand around gawking, then I expect result reports tonight!” He snaps in annoyance and embarrassment, the tips of his ears reddening.
They quickly scatter to their various work stations as Y/N chuckles at his embarrassment. Quickly opening a portal to his office, he slips his hand in hers and tugs her through it, closing it behind them.
“That’s still always impressive,” she muses, looking at the place the portal once was.
“Suppose it is,” he says softly, reaching his free hand up to brush his fingers across her cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” she smiles back at him, laying her hand over his on her cheek. “Hopefully I’ll be able to be of use.”
“You’re brilliant, you will be. And if I’m being honest, just you being here is already useful to me,” he grins and leans back against his desk. “Been far too long.”
“You just stress yourself out too much Stephen. You’re going to be regretting those words when I’m making you actually go to bed and eat like a functioning human being.”
“And you’ll have to forgive me probably fighting that on a regular basis.”
“You’ve always been a stubborn brat Stephen, I’m used to it.”
“You would know,” he chuckles, reaching back to open a drawer on his desk and pulling out a photo frame that he promptly hands over to her.
She smiles down at the photo, running her fingers wistfully over the three children pictured in it. The two of them not older than ten years, and a younger girl with the same blue eyes as her brother. “I still miss her.”
“Me too,” he admits, clearing his throat abruptly. “You’re all I have left Y/N. From back then.”
“And you keep me shoved in a drawer,” she teases, setting the frame down to wrap her arms around him.
“I don’t like people asking questions…” he admits slowly, wrapping his own arms around her frame. “People try to dig. I don’t like it.”
“You can tell people your past you know, you don’t have to hide everything,” her chin rests against the ornate embellishments on his robe.
“I don’t want pity,” he mutters softly.
“Do you think I pity you?”
“Of course not,” his brows furrow as he looks at her. “You… you’ve always been there. You knew me back then. You knew all of them. You loved them too. You’ve known everything all along. There’s no need to open up and tell you, you just know.”
“I think you do a pretty good job of opening up and telling me things, I’ve not been here this entire time to see everything in person, but I still know about it,” one of her hands drops to grab his and she runs her thumb over one of the scars there.
“You’re just… different,” he insists, the familiar stubborn expression settling on his face.
“I just worry,” she says with a shrug. “About you not letting people in enough. I want you to be happy.”
“I do have other friends,” he assures her, squeezing her hand. “And I’ve got you for the rest, I only need you.”
“You only need me hm?” She asks playfully, a smirk on her lips.
His heart rate immediately spikes, praying she can’t tell as he sticks his jaw out obstinately, “Well like I said you’re the one that’s been there. You’ve known me since we were children, always around at my house and following me around. Then you even followed me to New York for university, lived in the same apartment as me, and have continued to put up with all of my shit I tell you about for the last however many years. It would just be… inconvenient at this point to find someone else.”
“Oh so now I’m the convenient friend?” She teases, letting go of his hand and dropping her arm from his waist. “If that’s the cause…”
Quickly tightening his hold on her, he pulls Y/N back to his chest and growls in annoyance, “You know you’re important to me dammit.”
“I know, I know,” she grins and reaches up stroke his cheek. “And you’re important to me. I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”
“Prospect of a high paying job for an important powerful organization isn’t enough incentive?”
“As nice as all that is, I uprooted my life to move here for you, not because I want to be involved with the rich and powerful.”
“Hm, you could have just asked to see me more, not come all the way here?” He asks with his own grin.
“Hey you’re the one that said you need me Stephen Strange, too late to take that back.”
“Mhm,” he buries his face against her hair. “Truthfully, I’m so happy you’re here. Having you nearby cuts my stress by an indescribable amount. I also think you’re exactly who we need for this position. I’m glad you took me up on the offer.”
“Me too,” she says softly, clutching at his robes. “Im looking forward to the work, and seeing you everyday.”
Sighing heavily, he pulls back from her, “I suppose we should get to the assembly room. They’re all waiting for us.”
“So how bad is this job interview going to be?”
“They know nothing about you, I’ve told them to trust me. So they’re probably going to be annoying. But you have this job. I will override them on it if need be, but they won’t,” he responds before opening a portal outside of the assembly room door.
Pulling the door open for her, he ushers her inside before floating to his own seat on the panel.
“Welcome…?” Richards asks as he looks from Y/N to Strange.
“Doctor Y/L/N,” he responds, flicking his wrist and making her resume appear in all their hands. “Throughly qualified as you’ll see.”
“Good to meet you Doctor Y/L/N,” Carter says with a trace of a smile. “You’ve been a hot topic here, one Doctor Strange refused to share any information about. So forgive any prying that’s about to happen.”
“He does that,” she scoffs and nods her head. “Nice to meet you as well Captain Carter.”
“It says here you went to Columbia University… at the same time as Strange. Is that where you two met?” Richards asks as he scans over the paper in his hand. “Doctorate in Physics? Tell me how it’s relevant to this.”
“Richards,” Strange says harshly, fixing his friend with a stern look.
Y/N chuckles lightly and gives the panel a smile, “Longer than that. Yes bachelors, masters, and doctorate in physics. Specific interest in atomic-molecular, high energy nuclear, and overall astrophysics. All things I know you’re well versed in and know the practical application of multiversal and portal travel in general.”
“What’s your experience with any of that?”
“Aiding Stephen, researching debris from said portals and openings and remains of beasts. I worked with Asgardians for a few years researching their magic and the science behind their technology and their bi-frost form of travel. My focus was never engineering but I have taken several courses in my schooling years and worked with Stark Industries for a period of time. The cross-section of physics, engineering, and magic are my primary interest.”
Richards grunts and runs his eyes over the paper again, “So how do you know Strange then? And why has he been hiding someone with apparent perfect qualifications from us?”
Y/N’s eyes drift to Stephen’s raising a brow at him. He makes a face back at her, she smirks and quirks her eyebrow.
“What are you two doing?” Rambeau asks, watching the exchange between them. “Are you telepathic?”
“No,” Charles Xavier answers before she can, a smile on his face. “They’re both just making faces at one another and thinking very loudly.”
Y/N laughs and grins sheepishly, “I was trying to determine if he wants me sharing that kind of information, seeing as he didn’t offer it freely himself.”
“Well what would you say you are to our Sorcerer Supreme then?” Mordo asks.
“His best friend,” she says simply with a shrug as if it’s obvious.
“You stand before a panel of his friends, who he’s never bothered to introduce you to prior to today, and claim to be his best friend?” Mordo questions, glancing down at Stephen. “Do you have something to say about this, my brother?”
Stephen’s mouth presses together tightly before sighing and slumping into his chair, “We’re here now, might as well. She’s telling the truth. We’ve known each other since we were young children. We did also go to college together yes. And I have stayed in contact with her since then. As for why I never introduced her, she had her own things going on. She always would have been a big asset to the Illuminati, but I wasn’t going to take over her life.”
“Doctor Strange, considerate?” Rambeau asks with a smirk.
“It happens on the odd occasion,” Y/N responds with a wink. “He’s also just embarrassed to bring me into this aspect of his life.”
“He’s worried we’re going to tease him for caring about someone,” Xavier adds, earning a glare from Strange sitting beside him.
“So are there any other specific questions you all have?” Y/N asks.
“Do you have any embarrassing childhood stories I can hold over his head?” Richards asks as he sets down the paper in his hands. “You seem good to go, I just want leverage now.”
Laughing and nodding along she smile, “More than you could ever imagine, but I’m loyal to Stephen. I won’t embarrass him like that.”
“So we’re all done now then yes?” Stephen asks as he hurriedly stands, the faintest blush on his cheeks. “Enough interrogation for one day?”
“I’m satisfied, anyone in disagreement on Doctor Y/L/N taking over as lead researcher of lab A?” Richards asks, nodding when no one says anything. “Welcome to the Illuminati Miss.”
-
“You sure it’s alright that I stay here?” Y/N asks as Stephen helps her pass the rest of her belongs through a portal into a room at the Sanctum.
“I’m Sorcerer Supreme and Master of the Sanctum. I say it’s ok, so it’s ok,” he assures her, closing the portal behind them and watching as she flops onto the bed.
“Been a long time since we lived together, been kind of looking forward to it,” she says as she turns on her side to look at him.
“A bit fancier than our last place,” he laughs and sits on the edge of the bed, his cloak flying off and out the door.
“That it is, though broke uni students apartment versus mansion of mystical masters is quite the change,” she says as she grabs his arm. “Show me around? Mainly so I don’t wander into an ancient relic that sends me back in time when I get up to get a drink in the middle of the night.”
“Needy needy,” he teases, standing up from the bed and walking to the door. “Let’s get a move on then.”
“Look at me, turning the Sorcerer Supreme into a tour guide,” she jokes, slipping out the door behind him. “I can’t imagine how much your time costs if you were to monetize it. The amount of crap you have to do. To think I wasted your important time with tire swings and picnics.”
“Expensive to others, free to you,” he remarks, offering her his arm. “Come on. With you I’m just Stephen you know that. No Doctor, no Sorcerer Supreme. Let me feel normal for a few minutes.”
Slipping her arm through his she looks at the nearest relic on the wall, “It’s just crazy to think about sometimes ya know? You’re always still going to be the boy I grew up climbing trees with and counting change in college trying to afford a shit pizza. Now I mean… holy shit.”
“I’m still him.”
“I know you are, and I’m insanely proud of you, hell I was crazy proud of you being the best neurosurgeon. You worked really hard to get there. And then you didn’t let your accident stop you. You pushed on and made a new life,” she gestures at the relic by them. “Now you live in a magic house with things like that. Speaking of which… what is that and why does it look like it came from a medieval torture chamber?”
“Crimson Bands of Cyttorak,” he answers, trying to ignore the heat in his cheeks as he pulls her closer. “I would suggest not touching it, it’ll wrap around you and imprison you.”
“So it is basically medieval torture equipment,” she hums and pulls on his arm to go further down the hall when Mordo comes out of a door in front of them. “Oh, hello Mordo!”
“I don’t believe I properly introduced myself,” he jokes, offering her his hand.
“Stephen’s talked about you plenty, oh and thanks still for getting him into Kamar-Taj in the first place,” she shakes his hand happily. “I’m glad he’s had you in his life.”
Mordo’s eyes glance at Strange for a moment with a smirk before looking back at Y/N, “I wish I could say he’s told me as much about you, however he’s been suspiciously quiet. Though it explains why he’s so possessive over his phone and taking calls for hours.”
“I have come to notice he’s kept me as some dirty little secret,” she laughs glancing over at Stephen. “Making me feel like I’ve been doing something indecent.”
“Of course not, I just… don’t prefer to share all aspects of my personal life,” he states firmly.
“So now that she’s here, you’re comfortable to share her with the rest of us?” Mordo teases, a smirk spreading on his face as Strange frowns. “You seem a lovely lady Ms Y/N, I and the others look forward to getting to know you.”
“Likewise,” she grins and places a hand on his arm. “I’m happy to finally get to meet all these people he talks about.”
“Are we continuing this tour or are you just going to stand around exchanging pleasantries with Mordo all evening?” Stephen all but pouts at their interaction.
“Always so impatient,” she tsks and nods a goodbye to the sorcerer beside her. “Maybe we could sit down and talk later?”
“Absolutely, I’m sure we can figure out a good time.”
“Great, great,” Stephen mutters, tugging on Y/N’s arm to lead her down the hallway.
After circling through the many halls of the Sanctum and going over which relics should absolutely not be touched, the pair comes to a stop in a family room of sorts.
Y/N glances around the room for a moment before pulling Stephen toward the large couch in the room.
Raising an eyebrow he glances down at her, “What exactly are you doing?”
“When did you last sleep?”
“Is that a trick question?”
“Stephen, when did you last sleep?”
“Time is relative.”
Releasing his arm, she turns him around and shoves him down onto the couch with a grunt, pressing on his chest so he finally lays back on it.
“Well that means it’s been awhile since you won’t give me a straight answer. And I’m tired.”
“And?” he questions as she climbs on top of him and grips onto his robes.
“We’re napping,” she states firmly, burying her face against his neck. “I’ve missed doing this.”
“Ok,” he manages to choke out, trying to settle himself as he wraps his own arms around her to pull her close. One hand makes a quick gesture to change them both into more comfortable clothes.
“Good call,” she mumbles against him.
As he starts to nod off, he feels her fingertips brushing lightly over his face as she sings softly against his ear, “Close your eyes, have no fear. The monster’s gone. He’s on the run, and I’m here. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy.”
His arms tighten slightly around her at her voice, and a smile tugs at his lips before he finally lets sleep overtake him.
-
“Sleep well?” Mordo asks as Stephen enters the kitchen clicking his neck with a groan the following morning.
“No,” he mutters walking to the coffee maker.
“Unfortunate. You two looked awfully cozy when I walked through earlier,” Mordo comments, sipping his own coffee.
Stephen gives him a harsh glare, “Not a word. That couch isn’t comfortable for sleep. Especially for an entire night. Hadn’t intended to sleep that long.”
“Or you’re just getting old.”
“Fuck off.”
“Well good morning to you too Stephen,” Y/N says as she enters with a yawn.
“Not you, him,” he grunts, immediately handing her the mug he just poured. “Your neck ok? That couch is probably hundreds of years old.”
“Mhm,” she responds taking a sip and bumping her hip against his. “I crawled on top of you to avoid the couch. So I’m good.”
“You mean put more weight on me so I sunk further into the damn thing,” he teases and makes his own cup.
“Exactly, you know you love me,” she stretches up to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m going up to shower and get changed, when are you taking off?”
“I’ll wait for you and portal us over,” he sighs and rolls his eyes. “One day you’re going to have to take a taxi or something though. This won’t be an everyday thing.”
“Or you could teach me magical Sorcerer abilities.”
“Not a chance, now get,” he shoos her off before looking back down at his coffee, trying to ignore the eyes on him.
“Friendship,” Mordo scoffs and takes care of his dishes. “I definitely believe you just love her in a platonic friendship fashion.”
“Once again, kindly fuck off.”
“You could just tell her how you feel, you two are clearly very close.”
“And ruin what we already have? One of the most important things in my life, the only stable thing I’ve ever had across my entire life?” he shakes his head vigorously. “I can be content with the way things are.”
“And then what happens once she decides to take a job elsewhere, or finds a partner here? You’ll be fine rarely seeing her once again, or seeing her with someone else?”
“We… have lived apart before plenty. And she’s dated. We both have had partners.”
“Strange, would you actually be happy with either of those things?”
Staring down at his cup silently, he finally sighs, “No.”
“Then say something. Or ask her on a date. If she really doesn’t want more with you, I doubt she will throw away everything you two already have. It’s obvious to anyone that spends more than a moment with the two of you that she cares about you. I doubt she’s put up with you for decades just to throw it all away in a moment because you asked her on a date.”
“Maybe… I’ll think about it, she just got here,” he responds and makes a quick gesture with his hands to change into his robes. “But for now, there’s work to be done.”
-
“Odd,” Y/N comments, eyes drifting to the clock beside her paperwork.
“What is?” Dr. Robinson, another scientist in the lab asks, leaning over her shoulder to look at the paperwork.
“Oh, no not this,” she says apologetically. “Just, the time. Stephen usually checks in by now if he’s not going to be back.”
She laughs and steps back over to her own work, “You’ve been here nearly half a year, and I’m still not used to hearing him referred to as ‘Stephen.’ Doctor Strange, Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Leader of the Illuminati, and several unfavorable terms definitely. But Stephen, not so much.”
“It’s still odd to me hearing people address him so formally and seriously, or trip over their feet to bow for him,” she chuckles as she sorts through the papers.
“Well he is a fairly serious man.”
Y/N snorts at the statement and rolls her eyes, “He’s good at focusing in and getting work done. And he wants to be respected, which he thoroughly deserves. But he’s far from serious. He’s rather silly and fun when he’s not in work mode.”
“Yeah, for you. I’ve seen more of him in the last six months than I’ve seen of him the entire three years I’ve been here.”
“He didn’t used to come down to the labs?”
“Rarely while we were here, only if he had questions about the reports or wanted more information. He spent more time here at night after we all left.”
“Hm,” she twists the pen in her fingers. “He’s not been doing that now as far as I know. We have dinner together and hang out, he reads whatever reports he has or spell books, then we both head off to bed.”
“Now he visits here during the day to do whatever he needs to do because he wants to see you,” Robinson responds, giving her a knowing look. “You had to have noticed.”
“Well yeah he comes by to say hi, but he’s working.”
“He does his work, but he keeps circling around wherever you are in the lab. Finding excuses to walk past you, looking up at you while he’s working on something…”
“And…? We are best friends, he’s probably still getting used to me being here.”
“The man went from avoiding having to interact in the labs at all, to being down here whenever he can and looking at you like a lovesick puppy, Y/N,” she thumps a finger against Y/N’s forehead. “You’re a brilliant scientist but take a look of what’s right in front of your face boss.”
“I really doubt that he-” she begins to say before stumbling back as the air sparkles and a portal opens beside her, a blur of blue fabric stumbling through the opening before it quickly closes.
“What the- Stephen?” she asks, stooping down to pull the cloak away from his face. His eyes stare back at her unblinking, blood dripping from several gashes across his face. “Holy shit, Stephen! Robinson get the medical team, now!”
Pulling the cloak from his shoulders, she works to flip him onto his back, finding more gashes on his chest, the fabric shredded in several places. Cursing under her breath she reaches for the scissors in her desk drawer and cuts the remaining fabric away. Pulling her lab coat off she wads it up and presses it firmly against the gashes on his chest.
“Stephen are you here with me?” she asks, bringing one hand down to press to the pulse on his neck, exhaling when she picks it up.
“Barely,” he coughs out after a moment as he stares up at her.
“Just stay with me alright? The medical team will be here in just a minute,” she responds with one hand applying pressure and the other twining in his hair to keep his attention. “What did this? Any poison or magic?”
“Magic,” his eyes flicker open and closed a few times.
“Keep ‘em open Stephen,” she scolds softly. “Keep looking at me, just focus on me.”
“Always… focused on you,” he mumbles, his head lulling back and his eyes drooping.
Gnawing at the inside of her cheek, she cheeks his pulse once again.
Shit. Too slow.
Removing her hand from the jacket to grasp his head, she presses her lips to his. His eyes widen immediately at the contact, and his pulse quickens under her fingers, “Just like that, stay with me Stephen,” she whispers against his lips, his eyes dart to her face.
Finally the lab doors fly open to the medical team who quickly usher her out of the way and get him loaded on their gurney and out the door as she follows behind them.
-
The ringing in his head pulls Stephen from his sleep, his eyes slowly opening to the too bright room in the Illuminati Headquarters’ medical ward.
He looks around the room, his eyes settling on Y/N currently fast asleep in a chair next to his bed, her hand reached out holding his own.
Running his thumb over her knuckles makes her stir, eyes blinking open and a smile on her face as she sees him looking at her, “Finally you wake up!”
“Did I keep you waiting long?” he chuckles, wincing as he shifts in the bed. “What happened?”
“About nine hours,” she answers and reaches over to brush his hair from his face. “You don’t remember? You opened a portal right in front of me, stumbled through, closed it, and collapsed. You were covered in gashes from… something.”
Frowning as the battle with the beast comes back to him he sucks in a breath, “Apologies for that, I wasn’t thinking, portaling there in that state. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Scare me? It was a fucking surprise for sure, and I was scared you were going to die. But hell yeah portal to me again if you need help,” she says firmly.
“So what’s the diagnosis?”
“You got a lot of stitches for one. Punctured organs. Variety of other things. They brought in two healers from Kamar-Taj that fixed most of the internal stuff. Medical team stitched you up, but they helped your healing along. I don’t even know exactly what was wrong, they were all running around frantically. You were a bit of a mess Doctor Strange.”
Nodding along, he leans back and shuts his eyes briefly before another memory hits him. His eyes fly open and he slightly turns toward Y/N, staring at her intently, “You kissed me. After I came through the portal.”
“You remember that part huh?” She asks, obviously flustered, her eyes avoiding his own.
“I do. Why?”
She clears her throat and shifts in her seat, “Well. You were fading on me, and I wanted you to stay awake and alert.”
“And a kiss was the medically sound way to do that?” he teases with a smirk. “I know you didn’t go to med school, but I think you know better than that.”
“Well I was just going off what had been mentioned to me… and thought maybe it would work to get your attention back on me.”
“What had been mentioned to you? Someone told you that’s a good way? At this lab?” he frowns in thought. “Either I need to go back through our staff and test some people or someone was teasing you.”
“No not like they told me to do that, just something about you and I thought it might work and I mean it did so…” she rambles and her hand twitches in his.
“What are people saying about me?” His brow furrows.
Taking a deep breath she finally meets his eyes, “There just might have been a few people that have mentioned since I’ve been here… that maybe, perhaps. That you may have feelings other than friendship for me.”
Stephen’s eyes immediately widen, the words hitting him like a splash of cold water. His mouth opens and closes several times as he tries to form a reply.
“I mean… I don’t know if it’s true. But I thought if it was maybe you’d… react to the kiss enough to get your attention back on me?”
“M-makes sense,” he stutters, his voice coming out hoarse as his mind races and body tenses.
“Maybe now isn’t the right time… but we’re here and it’s been brought up. If it’s a no we can forget we talked about this and leave it in this room. Is there any truth to that?”
“And if it’s a yes?” he asks quietly, his eyes darting away from hers and tongue quickly wetting his lips.
Y/N stands from her seat at his words, immediately making him regret it. He knew this would happen. This is why he’d always held it back. Now he’s gone and…
She closes the distance between her and the hospital bed, hands reaching down to gently cradle his head in her hands, “If it’s a yes, Stephen Strange, then I’ll let you know the feelings are mutual.”
His breath catches in his throat, turning his cheek into her palm as he stares up at her longingly, “T-they are?”
Leaning in close to him she stops just centimeters from his lips, “They are.” Her lips press to his gently, and he quickly moves his against them. Her tongue swipes across his lips making them immediately part, a strangled groan coming from his throat.
Slowly breaking the kiss, Y/N leans back as Stephen follows her up, sighing at the loss of contact. His eyes stare back at hers hazily, his hand gripping hers tighter.
Chuckling at his reaction, she leans back in and presses her forehead to his, “Let’s not overdo it right now, your face is barely holding together as is.”
“It’ll last,” he whispers breathlessly. “You’ve no clue how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
“I think I might have some clue,” her thumbs brush carefully over his cheeks. “Though I would be interested to know when exactly it changed for you.”
“It never ‘changed’ for me,” he admits, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm. “It’s always been there. It’s always been you. I never wanted to lose you, so I buried it.”
Pressing several small kisses on the uninjured skin on his face she gives him a gentle smile, “That’s been a lot of years and relationships we’ve been through Stephen. No wonder you hated all my boyfriends.”
“Why do you think they never worked out for me?” he grumbles. “And they weren’t good enough for you, any of them.”
“Only you’re good enough hm?” she teases.
“Well I have a few things going for me that none of them could ever touch,” he retorts with a smirk. “Sorcerer Supreme and leader of the Illuminati bring some perks.”
“I would say your biggest advantage is the way you’ve always been so attuned to me. Supportive, and caring from the beginning. The way you make me feel like I’m the most important person in the universe when you look at me.”
“You are the most important person in my universe, always have been.”
Finally releasing his head, she lets her hands slip to his shoulders and she presses another soft kiss to his lip, smiling as he relaxes into her touch, “I love you Stephen.”
“I love you too,” he responds, his eyes practically sparkling back at her. The most carefree and happy expression she’s seen on his face in decades. “Can we just make this official now?”
“Impatient?” she laughs as she sits back in her seat but still holds onto his hand.
“Exceedingly. I’ve waited decades Y/N, I don’t want to wait for some other asshole to come swooping in now. I don’t want to waste more time.”
“You have nothing to worry about, I’m reasonably confident about this one.”
“Only reasonably?” His lower lip jets out.
“You’re going to be trouble aren’t you? But I suppose you’re my trouble now,” she smiles and shakes her head at the man.
“If we’re being truly honest, I’ve always been your trouble,” he chuckles and intertwines their fingers.
“That you have,” she nods and lifts their hands to press a kiss to the back of his.
“How long am I supposed to be stuck here for?”
“Sounded like they wanted to watch over you for a few days, then you’ll have to take it easy for another few days once you’re out.”
Groaning loudly he flops dramatically back against his pillow and winces at the movement, “I have far too much to do to take it easy.”
“And here I was thinking you’d like a few uninterrupted days in your bed with me taking care of you,” she says innocently, trying to hold back a laugh as his head turns dramatically back toward her. “I requested the week off to take care of you, Richards and Mordo already agreed and are taking care of your duties and setting up Doctor Robinson to take my place while I’m out.”
“You should have led with that,” he says roughly, a new fire in his eyes. “I have you all to myself, all week?”
“That you do Doctor Strange,” she grins. “And in light of new revelations, I can make sure you are thoroughly cared for. If you agree of course.”
A growl of frustration leaves his lips and he tugs on her hand, trying to pull her closer, “And I thoroughly agree. Yet you tease me knowing I’m stuck in this fucking room for another few days.”
Standing up and going back to his side, she cups his cheek with her free hand and leans down to his ear, “Now, you just have something to look forward to love.”
Her teeth barely graze his ear as he groans and his eyes shut, “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“Mm, probably,” she laughs and presses a kiss to his cheek. “I’ve been here this long, I don’t plan on taking off anytime soon.”
“You’re my one constant,” he admits, his eyes opening to look at her lovingly. “You always have been, and I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. I’d have fallen apart one hundred times over by now.”
“Remember the promise I made you?” she asks him softly, gently running her fingers through his messy hair.
“Which one?”
“When we were 19. It was after your father passed, and you said you were all alone now. I told you I could never fill the hole they left, but that you’d never be alone. That I’ll always be there for you.”
“And you always have, through everything,” he smiles up and her and leans into her touch. “I love you, with all that I am. I’m yours without reservation, forever.”
“Well that was deeply romantic and Hallmark movie sounding, have you been planning that line for awhile?” she teases, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “But I love you too, there’s no place I’d rather be than here with you, and that’ll never change.”
“May have had some time to come up with that one,” he responds as he lifts his hand to her cheek. “I’m just… happy. Didn’t think we’d ever be together. And I was content with what we’ve had.”
“Content but not happy?”
He nods, “You make me happy, I’m happy being around you. I’m happy for you to be here. But I suppose… there’s that part of me that held on to what could have been. “
“Well there’s no more what ifs. We can start figuring out where we go from here now.”
“Bedrooms.”
“What?”
“You can keep things in the other room if you want, but I want you in my bed, with me.”
“And if I refuse?” She grins as he pouts. “I’m just kidding. I’ll happily cling to you like a monkey every night once your body is adequately holding itself together.”
“Or, more sound medical advice, you just do that now and hold it together for me,” he teases. “From the same medical school as kiss someone losing consciousness.”
“Hey you make fun of me for it, but it worked,” she argues.
“Mm that it did, but do me a favor and save that trick for only me?” His hand drifts down her arm.
“Let’s just hope I’m not in that position for a multitude of people. There’s so many people with a medical background in this building, if somehow another person starts bleeding out in front of me I’m just going to quit, because that’s just shit luck and I’m not that kind of doctor.”
“Do I need to make up a rule that no employee bleed to death in front of Doctor Y/L/N?” he grins as she sticks her tongue out at him.
“You’re awful.”
“Yet you still love me,” he says smugly, carefully lifting his arms to put them behind his head.
“Clearly either a chemical malfunction in my brain or some off-shoot version of Stockholm Syndrome.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” he winks.
“For someone who nearly died today then was stuttering trying to tell me your feelings, you’re awfully confident now.”
“Like I said, I’m happy.”
“While I’m happy you’re happy, let’s stop moving so much before you pop a stitch,” she says as she feels for them carefully under his gown. “You’ll probably be stuck here longer if you do.”
Sighing at her words he nods and brings his arms down, reaching out to grasp her wrists and bring her closer to him, “Another kiss to ease the pain?”
“Are you always going to be this needy?” She teases, leaning partially over the bed to bring her face just inches from his.
His lips brush softly over hers as a smile slowly breaks through, “For you? Of course.”
----
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