An Entity Within | Stephen Strange

13 - The Start Of Her Training

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Tessa had been laid in her bed; her thin beige blanket was draped over her carefully. In the corner of her room sat Stephen in a chair, reading one of the many books from the Kamar-Taj library. He hoped that she wouldn't mind him staying just so he could keep an eye on her, being a doctor and all. The sorceress shifted in her bed briefly, drawing his attention away from the Sanskrit but when he saw she was still out, he sighed softly and returned to his reading.

Our joint abilities take a great toll on you, child. You are weak.

Tessa certainly felt weak after having transitioned back to herself, she felt like she could sleep forever. But why? Why couldn't she handle it if they had bonded to the point of it being virtually unbreakable? It didn't make sense to her.

Our physical bodies differ too much perhaps?

And yet it wasn't like two dense bodies had become one. Before, the Entity was a spirit-like conscience with no absolute physical form – it could be as fluid as it wished, like water...ugh, she thought, there was a science to this that she just couldn't quite click with in understanding. Maybe it was their consciences that were the problem? Two in one body...the Entity had said that as a child, she couldn't take the extra mind within her without it being repressed.

We will find a solution, I am sure. Practise may be all you need to get used to your exertion.

Perhaps they did just need to practise more...

I sense the protector waits for you. Try to wake, child.

Another soft groan left Tessa's lips as she slowly cracked open her eyes. Her gaze met the dark cement ceiling, and she rubbed her hands over her face. Stephen stood and silently stepped over to her, craning his head over the bed to see past the blanket, to see if she was okay. When Tessa drew her hands away from her face and found herself staring up into Stephen's eyes, she offered him a soft smile.

"How many times are you gonna pass out on me?" He teased her.

"It's not like I intend for it to happen." Tessa then corrected him, "And that first time you made me pass out."

He moved back slightly as she sat up in the single bed, "For your own safety."

"Which I appreciate but you still chose to do it." She yawned, covering her mouth as she did, "How long have I been out?"

"Around...six hours."

"Six?!"

"It's less than the first time the Entity took over. Last time it took you eight hours to come round."

"So...actually it is getting better?" Tessa smirked, "Maybe I should pass out again in the midst of a doctor...you know, to see if the results are reliable?"

"I'd rather we keep that to a minimum. One wrong fall and you could injure yourself badly."

"Hence why I said in the presence of a doctor?"

Stephen breathed a laugh, shaking his head, and raising his shaky, scarred hands, "I wouldn't be able to do much now. I only have the knowledge, not the means to help anymore."

"You still help though; you found new ways to do so." She smiled kindly at him, "Plus...being a sorcerer is way cooler than being a doctor, but I could be biased."

Stephen nodded, a smirk reaching his lips as he looked at the sorceress fondly, he chuckled quietly, and Tessa caught on to his small chuckle too as they looked at each other.

You are...attracted to him.

Tessa's eyes widened suddenly at the statement and her subtle chuckling turned to spluttering. Absolutely not. No. Don't even for one second suggest it, she thought to herself as she tried to calm down. Stephen stepped back over to her, but she raised her hand and looked away to signal that she would be fine. He hovered there awkwardly awaiting more confirmation that she would be okay.

What is wrong? I merely stated a fact.

Tessa shook her head as she stopped coughing, "Sorry, I'm good, just...choking on...air."

In response to my statement?

"Okay," Stephen gave a nod, the corner of his lip curving upwards slightly, "I guess we all have those moments sometimes."

Choking on air is a response to the matter of attraction? Is this a human thing?

Tessa chuckled suddenly and she looked at Stephen, a light in her eyes that he had not yet seen in this first week at Kamar-Taj with her. Of course, he had missed the joke though and quirked his one eyebrow upwards in response as he watched her giggle.

Have I said something wrong?

The sorceress shook her head, trying to stifle her laughter but to no avail.

"Have I...done something?" He couldn't fight back his own smile.

But she shook her head at him too, tears of amusement streaming from her eyes, "No, no. I'm so sorry, Tee just said something...oh my God..."

"Right," Stephen nodded, moving to the door of her room, "Well, I'll let you get some more rest then."

Tessa nodded, "Th – thank you."

Stephen smiled at her before he went, shutting the door behind him. The joint-being was left to its own devices.

Not that you want rest...

"Tee!"

We share a mind. No thought of yours is exactly secret.

Tessa grabbed her pillow, smushing her reddening face into it to prevent herself from squealing like a young teen had just told their best friend about a crush – although not even she acknowledged she was 'crushing' on her new mentor until the Entity had mentioned it. But as she thought about it more, she did begin to realise that she was starting to fancy the Master of the New York Sanctum. Bringing her face out of her pillow, she rested her chin on it, a soft smile on her face as she thought about Doctor Stephen Strange.

I can still see what you are thinking.

"Tee!"