Through Space and Time | MCU Multiverse

13 - Strange

"Oh, so you think I'm good enough to be in the Master section eh Wong?" Cassie teased him.

He looked at her with an expressionless face before turning to grab a book on the shelf. "You should start with Maxim's Primer," he said to Stephen, knowing Cassie had already read it. "How's your Sanskrit?"

"I'm fluent in Google Translate," Stephen responded making Cassie snort back a laugh.

Wong took more books out for him. "Verdic, classical Sanskrit." He handed the books to Stephen before going off to get more.

Cassie sat on top of a table, letting her feet dangle off the side as she watch Strange walk towards the prohibited books. "What are those?" he asked.

"Books Wong won't let me read," Cassie mumbled just loud enough for Strange to hear.

"The Ancient One's private collection."

"So they're forbidden?"

"No knowledge in Kamar-Taj in forbidden Only certain practices. And I don't let anyone read them," Wong said, directing that last part towards Cassie. So perhaps Wong did hear her. "Those books are far too advanced for anyone other than the Sorcerer Supreme."

Stephen walked forward, taking one of the books down from the private collection. He flipped through it momentarily before realizing something was off. "This one's got pages missing."

"The Book of Cagliostro," Cassie told him, beating Wong to the explanation. "It's the study of time."

"One of the rituals was stolen by a former master," Wong added. "The Zealot Kaecilius. Just after he strung up the former librarian, and relieved him of his head."

"Not a pretty sight," Cassie said to no one in particular, remembering back to the opening of the movie.

"I am now the guardian of these books," said Wong.

"As am I," Cassie said jumping down from the table, standing in the toughest stance she could master.

"No, she isn't," Wong clarified.

"Yes, I am," Cassie insisted.

"Cassie," He warned her.

"Okay I'm not, but I do spend too much time in here."

"If a volume from this collection should be stolen again...I'd know it," Wong warned him. "And you'd be dead before you even left the compound." He reached forward and took the book out of Stephen's hands.

"What if it's just overdue?" Stephen said sarcastically though he and Cassie could tell that Wong was not the joking type. "Any late fees I should know about? Maiming, perhaps?" Wong held out more books to him. "Well, people used to think I was funny."

"Pretended," Cassie corrected. "Pretended to think you were funny."

Stephen turned to look at her, still confused about the purpose of a 16-year-old girl in this place. "And how would you know that?"

She gave him a nonchalant shrug. "I know things."

"Well, it's been lovely talking to you two. Thank you for the books, the horrifying story, and the threat upon my life," Stephen said, gathering up the new books.

"It was the least we could do," Cassie told him. He stood still staring at them before deciding to turn around and leave without another word. Wong turned back and placed the forbidden book back up in the private collection. "Well, that went well."

"You could give him a run for his money," Wong told her. "His sarcasm would run out in a day."

"I forgot how much of a prick he is, especially in the beginning. How is he supposed to help me get home I know more about the Mystic Arts than he does!"

"Give it time. There must be a reason the Ancient One picked him."

"There is but I'm not sure now if I trust it..."

The day went on and Cassie finally returned home from Kamar-Taj. She sighed as she sat down on her bed. No one was going to be home tonight and she was on her own. Surprisingly, she hadn't spent much time by herself since her arrival on this new earth so she didn't know what to do. Did she watch movies on the big tv? Each as much unhealthy food as possible? Did she train in the gym? She wasn't reading to go home from Kamar-Taj today but Wong had forced her to.

That's when an idea crossed her mind. With a smirk, Cassie got dressed in all black and rushed down to the elevators, and got off on the floor where all the Avengers labs were held. It was getting late so there weren't that many people down there; just some scientists and engineers finishing up their work for the day. Cassie snuck down the hall until she found Tony's lab. She crept inside and shut the door before turning on the lights.

The room was scattered in technology, every surface covered in a new prototype of something. Cassie walked over to the storage case in the back of the room, knowing exactly what she was looking for. When Tony starts a new suit, as kind of a base, he put a black eye mask over the mannequin. Cassie always thought they were cool, like the ones worn in The Incredibles, but Tony always ended up taking them out of the final design.

She grabbed one from the drawer and smirked. Maybe it was time to test her powers on a larger scale. Cassie took out the sling ring from her pocket and made a portal, stepping through almost instantly. It was becoming second nature from her, she didn't even have to know the place or think about it too clearly to form a portal.

Cassie found herself on the roof of a building in Queens. She glanced over the side to see that the streets were almost empty. It was her time to shine. Cassie cast every spell she could think of, firing at trees, walls, the air, and even a bird, though she immediately regretted it. This was the most fun she was having in such a long time. She may not have a way home but at least she could do magic freely.

She was having the time of her life when a familiar voice sounded out. "Hey what are you doing?"

She turned to see a flash of red and blue spandex heading straight for her...